Kenneth Edmund Lawrence (17 Sep 1936 - 28 Aug 2016)

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KennethAlzheimer's Society

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KennethDemelza Hospice Care for Children

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Location
Medway Crematorium Robin Hood Lane Chatham ME5 9QU
Date
19th Sep 2016
Time
1.15pm
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In loving memory of Kenneth Edmund Lawrence who sadly passed away on 28th August 2016.
Our beautiful, intelligent and oh so funny Dad and Grandad, who made us laugh so much, right up to the last day of his life. We also have an extended family in Gill, Stephen, Natalie, Matt, Oliver and Charlie, and his nephews Christoper and Stephen and their families, who will miss him dearly.
A Gravesend boy through and through, Dad made so many friends and acquaintances throughout his life. Everywhere we went together, he knew someone, and enjoyed a chat and catch up. From his Grammar school days and throughout his life, his love of sport and a beer or two he lit up the room with his presence.
Following a couple of years National Service, Dad travelled Europe for a year in a black cab with 3 of his dear friends. He continued to keep in touch with them, as he did with many of his childhood friends. Both he and they shared many precious memories with us over the years. After getting his degree, he started his career as a teacher, we can honestly say, that any of the pupils he taught over the years have all said he was their favourite teacher. He probably let them get away with far too much. He also said on numerous occasions that he'd wished he trained as an accountant!
After he retired early to spend some time with his beloved Mum when she was ill, he continued working, providing private tuition.
In his younger days he loved playing rugby and cricket, and as he got older he played bowls, where he founded the Lignum Bowls Association. An avid reader, we almost felt disappointed when he'd finished his spanking new Christmas books by Boxing Day, and he loved to write stories, songs ( he had over 200 in his library), and was a keen artist. His zest for life, right up to his last days was there for us all to see, and he got so frustrated that he couldn't concentrate long enough to get more of his ideas down on paper.
He found the love of his life in Marjorie they were married for 42 years, he missed her so much when she died in 2012. He met so many lovely people over his life, many that we have never met, but am sure he will be missed by all who knew him.

Please feel free to add any comments about Dad, as we would love to read about your experiences with him.

If you wish to send flowers please send them to Lewis Solomon before 9.30am on the 19th September or alternatively please click on the charity of your choice on the 'charity' button and donate in his honour. With Thanks.

Jean Murray donated £20 in memory of Kenneth

Love and miss you. My best friend

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Lisa Hoyle donated £50 in memory of Kenneth

In loving memory of Ken. Our thoughts are with you and your family lots of love and support from Darent Valley Radiology Dept xx

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Lisa Hoyle donated £50 in memory of Kenneth

Julie, Condolences from all your friends and colleagues at Darent Valley Hospital. Thinking of you and your family at this sad time xx

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Rosie Lawrence donated £20 in memory of Kenneth
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Rosie Lawrence donated £20 in memory of Kenneth
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Rosie Lawrence wrote

£20 From Joyce Perkins. Thank you Auntie Joyce xx

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Frank Turner wrote

I first met Ken when I went to the Gravesend Grammar School in 1947. Although we socialised at school it was not until I left school and joined the Old G' Rugby club that we shared interests. Four former pupils , Ken Lawrence, Colin warner, Harry Brown and myself, purchased an old London taxi cab (reg, JXU36) and decided to tour Europe. We left Dover in late 1957 and travelled to The World Fair in Brussels via Ostend. We then travelled through Belgium and France and spent several weeks with the wine harvest in the small village of La Livinire before moving into Spain for the winter. During the grape harvest Ken taught the vineyard owner's daughter English. Ken kept a diary of our travels and sent this regularly to The Gravesend Reporter to keep their readers informed. Whilst in France we all worked for a company called Burgess et co, scrap dealers on a big scale. Ken found an 8" metal nut and we took this to a restaurant one evening and placed it under our table. He then called the waiter over and asked if they could turn up the lights as he had lost a nut from his watch on the floor. You can imagine the uproar when the huge nut was discovered. I could relate many a tale from our trip involving Ken. Colin, Harry and myself will always carry these happy memories of a great mate. To complete the story we travelled down through Spain to Gibraltar and from there returned through France and went to the Channel Islands working on the potato harvest before returning home to the Uk with a lifetime of memories. God bless you Ken.

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  • Lovely memories Frank. Thank you for coming to the funeral. He will be so missed ?

    Posted by Rosie on 23/09/2016 Report abuse
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Frank Turner donated £30 in memory of Kenneth
Ken, Harry, Frank and Colin about to set off on their trip.

Ken, Harry, Frank and Colin about to set off on their trip.

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  • What a brilliant photo, they must have had a fantastic adventure.

    Posted by MELISSA on 29/09/2016 Report abuse
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Rosie Lawrence wrote

£20 donation to Alzheimers from Joyce Perkins. Thank you

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Rosie Lawrence wrote

Donated on behalf of Joyce Perkins. Thank you

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Rosie Lawrence wrote

Donated on behalf of Joyce Perkins. Thank you

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Rosie Lawrence wrote

£20 donated to Alzheimer's Society on behalf of Joyce Perkins. Thank you Auntie Joyce

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Rosie Lawrence wrote

£20 donated for Alzheimers Society on belhalf of Joyce Perkins. Thank you Auntie Joyce

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Gillian Nee Faulkner wrote

So sorry to hear that Uncle Ken has left us. Uncle Ken is the cousin of my father, Eric, and you can certainly see the family likeness! I remember Uncle Ken from when I was very young when he would visit Nanny (Amy Faulkner, nee Humphreys - the sister of Kens mother - Elsie). Nanny lived down the road from us in Sandwich and it was always great to see Uncle Ken and Aunty Marjory and Aunty Elsie. He was always joking and teasing. I was a shy young girl and he took great delight in tormenting me. But I honestly thought he was such a handsome man and had a secret crush on him. Last time I saw Uncle Ken was at the funeral of my Cousin Sharon's husband (Dads brother Alan Faulkner's daughter) who died very young. My son, who is now 37, was only a baby and Uncle Ken told me I could do with losing a bit of weight! When I stood up he looked me up and down and told me that he was wrong and perhaps just a few ounces round my face because I had chubby chops!!!

I know that Dad would have liked to have gone to say goodbye to Uncle Ken. He will be 88 on 30th September and unfortunately had a fall last year which he is having a little problem getting over. He is in fabulous mental order and so like Uncle Ken in many many ways - but the fall has prevented him doing as much as he used to! (He still thinks he is 21!)

God Bless Uncle Ken and please pass the Faulkner family kind thoughts to all his family.

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  • Hi Gill, I don't know you, but thank you for lovely account of your memories, it sounds just like the things Dad would say, sorry! Give Uncle Eric our love. Rosie x

    Posted by Rosie on 20/09/2016 Report abuse
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James West donated £10 in memory of Kenneth
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gill Stigwood donated £70 in memory of Kenneth

When I first met Ken my first impression was that he was the polar opposite to my dad and that he would make my mum , Marjorie , very happy, I wasn't wrong .He was such a gentle , intelligent man who always put mum first , especially in her later years and for that I shall always be grateful . He was a wonderful granddad to my children although they always called him Ken . They looked forward to our visits to see mum and Ken because he managed to make them entertaining and interesting at the same time . I'm sure they grew up knowing more about the history of Gravesend than anyone else at their schools in Hertfordshire !
Thank you Ken for being a wonderful husband to mum , step father to me and a great granddad.
Gill , Stephen , Natalie , Oliver and Charlie

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  • Perfect Gill. Thank you all for being there yesterday . Keep in touch. Rosie xx

    Posted by Rosie on 20/09/2016 Report abuse
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Jean Gander posted a picture
Jean and Sylvia with Ken and Marjorie in Ilfracombe in 2014  they were very good company will always be remembered

Jean and Sylvia with Ken and Marjorie in Ilfracombe in 2014 they were very good company will always be remembered

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  • Lovely photo Jean, and thanks again for the donation. Rosie x

    Posted by Rosie on 20/09/2016 Report abuse
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Vicky Crowhurst donated £20 in memory of Kenneth

What a sad loss. Always a sunny disposition he will be missed by so many including his devoted girls

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  • Thank you Vicky xx

    Posted by Rosie on 20/09/2016 Report abuse
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Vicky Crowhurst is attending the funeral and the reception
Charlie Tibbs wrote

I first met Mr Lawrence when my husband and I moved to Devonshire Road in 1994, moving in opposite he and Marjorie. Mr Lawrence was such a gentleman, always cheery, and would always say 'hello neighbour!' whenever he saw me, his gentle smile and kind manner always brightened any day. We moved in 2004 and I left Mr Lawrence our black T bar used to turn off the water from the street, a tool that Mr Lawrence often borrowed! Mr Lawrence's Christmas card was always the first one we received in the post every year, last year was the first time no card was received, and I then learnt he was poorly. Shortly after Mr Lawrence lost his beloved Marjorie, he moved to St James's Oak and strangely lived opposite my nan and grandad! Mr Lawrence will always be remembered with great fondness and happiness. Sending love to his family and all those who will miss him. Rest in peace Mr Lawrence, you were a special man, and enjoy being with your beloved Marjorie once more, with love from Charlie, Jason, Georgie and Frankie xxxx

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  • Lovely memories, was good to meet you yesterday Charlie. Thank you for coming. Rosie x

    Posted by Rosie on 20/09/2016 Report abuse
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Charlie Tibbs is attending the funeral
Charlie Tibbs donated £20 in memory of Kenneth

I met Mr Lawrence when I moved to Devonshire Road in 1994, moving into the house opposite him and Marjorie, he was always such a gentleman, and a pleasure to see, always politely saying 'hello neighbour' every time we saw each other. His gentle smile and caring ways always brightened any day. We moved in 2004 and Mr Lawrence's Christmas card was always the first one I received every year in the post. Strangely, after Mr Lawrence lost his beloved Marjorie, he moved in opposite my nan and grandad in St James's Oak. He was a pleasure to have known and will always be remembered with great fondness, rest in peace Mr Lawrence, glad you and Marjorie are together again, love Charlie, Jason, Georgie and Frankie xxxx

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Liz Haggar donated £10 in memory of Kenneth

Ken was my neighbour when he lived in Devonshire Road and we always stopped for a chat. Every year he would sneak books to me for my kids, wrapped and labelled from Father Christmas. I'll always remember you Ken, such a wonderful, engaging, lovely man.

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  • Thank you for your memories and kind words Liz, he loved your boys, always said how well behaved they were, he also loved a book or two! Thank you for coming yesterday . Rosie x

    Posted by Rosie on 20/09/2016 Report abuse
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Liz Haggar is attending the funeral
Elizabeth Haggar wrote

Ken was my neighbour when he lived in Devonshire Road and we always stopped for a chat. Every Christmas he would sneak books to me for my kids, wrapped and labelled from Father Christmas. I'll always remember you Ken, such a lovely, engaging, wonderful man.

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Christine and Colin West donated £20 in memory of Kenneth

Ken, you will be sadly missed and it was a privilege to have known you. Thanks for the French lessons!

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  • Thank you for coming yesterday. Rosie x

    Posted by Rosie on 20/09/2016 Report abuse
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Christine and Colin West is attending the funeral
Derek Holmes donated £50 in memory of Kenneth

I met Ken in 1947 when we both started at the Grammar School, in the same class for five years.
He was popular, embarrassingly good at all sports and very witty.
He lived in St.John's Road, which, with mock pomposity he called Sinjons Road.
Working and living away from Gravesend, I saw little of Ken for many years until fairly recently when I went to the O.G's lunches with Ken and other contemporaries. He was always smartly turned out, very friendly and knew almost everyone there.
He will be sadly missed.

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  • Hi Derek, as I said yesterda, brilliant story, sinjons! Thanks for coming, good to se you again. Rosie

    Posted by Rosie on 20/09/2016 Report abuse
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Rosie Lawrence posted a picture
Sylvia and Jean met Ken And Marjorie on holiday in Ilfracombe in 2004. It was a please to meet them, they were great company. Since then they always sent postcards when they were on holiday. Ken used to say

Sylvia and Jean met Ken And Marjorie on holiday in Ilfracombe in 2004. It was a please to meet them, they were great company. Since then they always sent postcards when they were on holiday. Ken used to say "keep the postcards coming girls"

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