EDDIE THOMAS

We were all deeply saddened to hear that Eddie, one of the quiet stalwarts of our organisation, had died just after his 63rd birthday, much, much too young.

He supported Shepway FoE since its beginnings and was a loyal participant in many of our events over the years. He could always be relied upon to turn out for a demo at Dungeness, or a cycle event, and helped out at the Eco Fairs in Folkestone precinct, although he drew the line at ranting at people in the street and the hurly-burly of the jumble sales. We sometimes called upon his photographic skills, which he gave generously, sometimes at unsocial hours.

He would attend meetings and sit quietly at the back of the room until the louder elements were pausing for breath, and then put a thoughtful comment or question into the discussion which invariably reflected experience of the world, careful thought, and his own high principles.

On occasion, he would initiate his own campaigns for recycling or to preserve his beloved countryside - he was recently incensed at the decision to create a chalk white horse on the downs above Folkestone. For Eddie, the countryside was at its best with no visible sign of human activity.

The large congregation at Eddie's funeral showed how much we all valued him - the school where he taught generations of girls to appreciate the natural world, the White Cliffs Countryside Project to which he happily gave his time and energy in recent years, our own FoE and many, many neighbours and friends.
Our sympathy is with Carol and their two boys, both of whom are carrying on Eddie's philosophy of caring for people and the countryside.

Rhona Hodges

DON LITTON

The service at Saltwood church was as full as the pews for Don had lived a very full life. He became an active member of Shepway Friends of the Earth from its beginning. Many will remember his contributions, for example at the spectacular 'Earth Moves' gig in Horn Street in1989, and his formation of a Saltwood FoE Group, where we met regularly in his Saltwood home.

From the tributes made to his memory in the Church service we learned that FoE was but a small part of his great contribution to his Church, his village, and to Folkestone His Quaker family upbringing explained his love of Peace and his pacifist attitude to war.

When cancer stuck him down it was typical that he was giving his all as he struggled to fulfil his ambition to contribute funds for the Rainbow Trust in Folkestone by walking all the way round Britain.

We will carry on his good work.
Trevor Denniff