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Austin William Hines (16 Dec 1936 - 25 Jun 2018)

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Funeral Director

Bournes Funeral Service, Sittingbourne

Funeral Service

Location: Vinters Park Crematorium Bearsted Road Maidstone ME14 5LG
Date: 11th Jul 2018
Time: 11.45am

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In loving memory of Austin William Hines who sadly passed away on 25th June 2018 Aged 81 Years. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.

Austin was born in India in 1936 to parents Creena and William Hines. He was one of 10 children. Austin's siblings were Yolande, Wendy, Paddy, Gerry, Anthony, Terry, Derryck, Gill and Chris. He attended St. Joseph's College at Darjeeling in the Himalayas.

At the age of 11, Austin's family left India in 1947 on the ship the Empire Ken arriving at Southampton in February 1948 when Austin was aged 12 as he had had his 12th birthday on board the ship.

He then attended the Gordon Boy's School at Woking and subsequently joined the Army in 1952. Austin joined the Army Apprentices College at Chepstow where he completed his training. He served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Austin served on Christmas Island in 1957 when the atomic bomb nuclear tests were carried out. He was also posted to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and the island of Labuan. He worked alongside the Gurkhas and part of his job was to service helicopters.

Upon leaving the Armed Forces after serving for over 19 years, having attained the rank of Sergeant, he worked as a Postal Officer with the Post Office. He was based at the 24 hour a day Post Office at Trafalgar Square where he met his wife Julia.

As a younger man Austin married and became a father to 3 sons and a daughter. The marriage didn't work out and he went on to meet the love of his life Julia. Austin often said that his life truly started when the couple met.

Austin and Julia have been together for 47 years, being married in February 1974. They have a daughter Melanie. Austin was also a grandfather and great-grandfather.

As for hobbies, Austin loved to travel and visited Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong with Julia many times. He enjoyed horse racing and visited both Sha Tin and Happy Valley racecourses in Hong Kong and Changi racecourse in Singapore.

Austin and Julia also visited Canada and travelled by train from Vanvcouver to Toronto taking in the spectacular scenery of the Rockies. Ottawa was another favourite destination.

Since 1997, Austin and Julia visited the island of Madeira each year until their final visit in April 2018. He always enjoyed the many gardens and unusual flowers to be seen on the island. He met many Madeiran friends there over the years and had some wonderful memories of his visits there.

Austin began to play lawn bowls for the Post Office team which he thoroughly enjoyed. In 1987, he joined the Mote Park Indoor Bowls Club in Maidstone where he ran a Men's Triples team called the Newfoundlands. He liked nothing more than to meet up with friends at the bowls club and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere.

He also loved music and was particularly fond of jazz and country and western music. Reading was another hobby and he had an extensive collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy books.

Christine DAVIES donated £10 in memory of Austin

RIP Austin

02/08/2018

Julia Hines wrote

"Feel no guilt in laughter" from Austin's Service

Feel no guilt in laughter, he'd know how much you care.
Feel no sorrow in a smile that he is not here to share.
You cannot grieve forever; he would not want you to.
He'd hope that you could carry on the way you always do.
So, talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared,
The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.
Let memories surround you, a word someone may say
Will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day.
That brings him back as clearly as though he were still here,
And fills you with the feeling that he is always near.
For if you keep those moments, you will never be apart
And he will live forever locked safely within your heart.

16/07/2018

Julia Hines wrote

A Poem by Christina Rossetti from Austin's Service

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.