by Mark Gardner

Former mayoress of Faversham Joan Tovey, instigator of the hugely-successful town bike ride, has died at her Ospringe home just a few days short of her 75th birthday.

Wiltshire-born Mrs Tovey made her mark as mayoress during husband Brian’s mayoralty from 1993 to 1995.

Her livewire personality made her extremely popular and she carried out her duties beneath a succession of wide-brimmed, colourful hats.

As Brian recalls: “Joan was in great demand for official engagements and was often invited individually.

“This was a great help to me in taking the pressure off because I still had council responsibilities and a living to earn.”

As mayoress she was involved in much fund-raising, helping charitable groups and individuals with her efforts, which were not always publicised.

For example, she learned that a promising young athlete could not afford a pair of running shoes, so she raised the necessary finance.

When she and Brian launched the Faversham Bike Ride in the late 1980s, the event soon proved to be a tremendous boost for multiple charities.

The annual cycle ride ran for 19 years and raised more than £750,000, besides promoting cycling as healthy exercise.

Joan Tovey’s optimistic and generous approach to life did not obscure her campaigning instincts. She was at the forefront of opposition to the Perry Court housing development.

Brian and Joan were teenage sweethearts who met and fell in love when taking ballroom dancing classes at their school.

They married when Joan was 19 and Brian 21. Their son Stuart was born in 1968 and, now 51, he works in IT.

A qualified heating engineer and plumber, Brian was working in London and Medway when the couple considered a move to Kent.

They saw an advertisement for a large property in Ospringe and after looking over the house, Joan declared: “We must have it.”

It is where the couple spent most of their 55 years of happy marriage, although, as Brian remembers, “it took us 20 years of work to get the house as we wanted it”.

Joan organised a special dinner to raise money to fund a book of poetry, copies of which were donated to every Faversham school as well as those in local villages.

She also provided cash to help junior football clubs.

In recent years Joan had fought a long and painful illness with characteristic courage and without complaint.

A private funeral will be held before a memorial service in Ospringe Church at 2.45pm on Friday, September 27.

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