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Memorial service for KM
Group president Edwin Boorman

Touching tributes have been paid to KM Group president Edwin
Boorman at a memorial service.

Around 1,500 people packed Maidstone's All Saints Church to
celebrate his life this afternoon.

The Gillingham Band and Ashford Choral Society provided music at
the service, attended by leading industry figures as well as Kent's
political and business leaders.

Mr Boorman passed away last month after a short
illness. He was aged 76.

The service today was led by The Reverend Canon Christopher
Morgan-Jones, vicar of Maidstone.

Among those to give readings were the Viscount De L'Isle, Lord
Lieutenant of Kent, and Sir Ray Tindle, founder of Tindle
Newspapers, who described Mr Boorman as a "one off".

With a friendship over half a century, Sir Ray said they
remained the very best of friends "while trying to outdo one
another".

He said: "Your passion for newspapers, your skills in publishing
them, your devotion to Kent, your work for charities, your
kindness, your loyalty and your solid unwavering friendship of over
half a century will live with me and all of us forever."

Among the hymns at the service were Onward Christian Soldiers
and The Hallelujah Chorus.

Mr Boorman had previously served as managing director, chief
executive and chairman of the family-owned company, which owns a
portfolio of weekly newspapers, websites and radio stations across
Kent.

He took on the role of president in January 2006, passing the
chairman's baton to his daughter Geraldine.

Mr Boorman is a former president of the Newspaper Society,
serving from 2001 to 2002.

He was awarded an OBE in 2002 for his services to the Royal
British Legion in Kent.