Obituaries

OBITUARIES HENRY ROY PRATI BOORMAN, C.B.E., M.A., F.J.I. Henry Roy Pratt Boorman, member since 1932, life member 1946, died on 18th June, 1992, aged 91. He was an active member of Council from 1937, being elected a Vice-President on his resignation in 1972 and a Patron in 1984. He was undoubtedly a loyal and considerable benefactor to Kent, both in his profession and his considerable public service. Roy was born in Maidstone, educated at the Leys School and Queen's College, Cambridge (B.A. 1922, M.A. 1925). He succeeded his father as Editor/Proprietor of the Kent Messenger in 1928 and, in 30 years, increased circulation from 22 to 100,000. He was no absentee proprietor, taking many photographs himself, distributing editions and travelling widely abroad on journalistic missions, for example, during the Second World War when he served as a War Correspondent. He was a member of the Home Guard with the rank of Major and Deputy Welfare Officer for Kent. He was made M.B.E. in 1945 and C.B.E. in 1966. In 1950, he took part in the Brighton Run, driving his 1901 Panhard. He became Mayor of Maidstone in 1962 (as his father had been before), a Councillor 1934--46 and 1961-64 and Alderman 1964 to 1970. It was about this time, however, that an accident exacerbated a spinal weakness that was soon to severely impair his mobility for the remainder of his life and against which he fought with great determination. He was editor of the Journal of the Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men 1931-1962 and a Kent County Councillor 1933 to 1946. He is remembered by a contemporary councillor as thrusting and outspoken with an attractive, persuasive personality, a sharp brain and a champion of causes he felt needed attention. By his staff, he is remembered as a kind and considerate gentleman. He was a Deputy County Lieutenant 1968 to 1982. The newspaper group commemorated his 80th birthday by presenting a tenor bell ('Roy') to Canterbury Cathedral. His anonymous generosity to our Society in times of adversity was considerable. Your contributor also well remembers his attendance 429 OBITUARIES at Council meetings and the courtesy of he and his wife on an outing to their home, St. Augustine's Priory, Bilsington. He was twice married, in 1933 to Enid Starke and, in 1947, to Evelyn Clinch.T hey and his son Edwin, who succeeded as Proprietor of the Kent Messenger Group, and a daughter, Mary, all survive him. His published works include Kent tells the World (1933, 1934, 1951), Hell's Corner (1940), Merry America, Kent our Glorious Heritage (1951), Kentish Pride (1952), Kent Churches (1954), Kent and the Cinque Ports (1957), Kent Messenger Centenary (1959), The Newspaper Society ... (1961), Pictures of Maidstone (1965), Recalling the Battle of Britain . .. (1965), Kent a Royal County (1966), The Spirit of Kent ... (1968), Tonbridge Free Press Centenary (1969), and Ashford's Progress . .. (1977)'. The assistance inter alia of the Kent Messenger Group for information is gratefully acknowledged. P.H.G.D. SIR JOHN WINNIFRITH, K.C.B. Sir John Winnifrith died on 1st January, 1993, at the age of 84. Sir John was educated at Westminster School and read Greats at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating with a first. A career civil servant, he served in a variety of posts, latterly as permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1959-67), from which post Sir John retired in 1967 and settled in Appledore, joining the Society in 1969. He is remembered for the active part he took in the deliberations of the Rules Committee a few years ago and for the clarity of his mind and experience which he generously placed in the service of the Society. From a very brief acquaintance, I retain the memory of a very courteous and generous gentleman: a civil servant par excellence! A.P.D. 430