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Tributes have been flooding in for a village postman who sadly passed away at the weekend.
Paul Dunmill, from Sutton Valence, died in hospital on Saturday from Covid. He had been ill for three weeks. He was 57.
Mr Dunmill had been a postman for 40 years and for the last 20 had been delivering the mail in East Farleigh.
Typical of the tributes posted online were those of Gary French: "He was a gentleman of the highest order, never a bad word spoken," and of Bob Baker: "He was the most friendly, cheerful and helpful man."
Maggie Payne said: "I am in total shock. Paul was one in a million. He will be missed by so many people. Everybody loved him."
Neil Lee described him as "A wonderful caring man with a fantastic personality."
Simone Perkins, from East Farleigh, has set up a Just Giving appeal as a tribute to Mr Dunmill and to provide support for his family, son Craig and wife Sue.
The appeal has already raised more than £8,100.
Mrs Perkins from Gallants Lane said: "Paul was the absolute sunshine in everyone’s day in East Farleigh.
"He was honestly the loveliest man to walk these paths and lanes.
"The kindest man, the most honourable.
"Wind, rain or shine, his cheerful soul would deliver our post with always that same giving smile.
"Always time to chat, to care, to leave those parcels hidden, to play and love our pets who adored him."
Mr Dunmill had been born in Coxheath and lived in the Maidstone area all his life. He had been a pupil at Coxheath Primary School and then Cornwallis Secondary School at Linton.
It was at the secondary school he met his wife in 1978 and the pair eventually married in October 1986 at Sutton Valence Church.
He joined the post office immediately on leaving school.
For a long period, he drove the Royal Mail's 40ft articulated delivery lorries, but he was put onto mail delivery after he developed diabetes in 1998.
He liked gardening and listening to reggae music, but his main passion outside work was snooker.
He had competed in the Maidstone Snooker League for years, at one time playing in the Bearsted Workingmen's Club team with his son Craig.
Craig Dunmill said of his father: "He was the most kind-hearted man you could ever meet. He would do anything for anybody.
"The world is going to be a dull place without him and I'll miss his sense of humour.
"When he was unwell he didn't moan once because that was the type of person he was, we will be lost without him."
The funeral arrangements have not yet been determined.
You can visit the appeal for Mr Dunmill here.
Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone
