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Farewell to Paddy Rayner who helped raise money to help others from the Kind Hearts charity shop in Sea Street in Herne Bay

Friends and relatives have said a final farewell to an inspiring lady who raised more than £120,000 for charitable deeds in Herne Bay.

Freda Eleanor Rayner, known as Paddy, died last month and her funeral was held on May 1.

She was born on October 15, 1923, in Deptford in London, and grew up in New Southgate as the daughter of carpenter Samuel Roker.

Freda Eleanor Rayner, 1923-2015
Freda Eleanor Rayner, 1923-2015

The family settled in West Cliff Drive in Hampton in 1938 after spending many happy holidays in Herne Bay. She was best known for setting up the Kind Hearts charity shop in 1963.

It helped elderly people across Herne Bay, first providing tins of biscuits at Christmas, and then coach trips and supporting Herne Bay’s hospital and ambulance station.

The shop in Sea Street had previously been set up as a greengrocers by her father, close to Hampton Primary School.

She was known for taking sandwiches to workers in local factories and for serving children sweets on their way home from school.

The Kind Hearts charity shop in Sea Street
The Kind Hearts charity shop in Sea Street

She died on April 7, aged 91, and had been on dialysis for many years. But according to nephew Mark Harrison, she remained determined to help and serve other people.

Mr Harrison said: “She was an unbelievable fighter. She wouldn’t go into an old people’s home. She would do all her own cooking and cleaning, and she would still open the charity shop up every morning, six days a week.

“We always said to her she could sell the property and use the money to enjoy life and go on a worldwide cruise. But her mantra was that a day without service to others is a day wasted.

“She set up the charity in the room upstairs with my mum and her sister. The charity has been her life.”

Paddy was a barrage balloon operator in Hull during the Second World War, and was briefly married to a Canadian airman until their marriage was annulled.

She met engineer Ted Rayner before the end of the war, and got married. They returned to Herne Bay and Ted opened a workshop next door to the grocery shop, and was well known at the golf and sailing club.

Ted passed away in the 1970s but Paddy continued to raise cash for charity. In 2012 her efforts were recognised when she got to carry the Olympic torch in Birchington.

Paddy Rayner carried the Olympic Torch in front of cheering crowds in Birchington in 2012
Paddy Rayner carried the Olympic Torch in front of cheering crowds in Birchington in 2012
Paddy proudly holding the Olympic Torch in 2012
Paddy proudly holding the Olympic Torch in 2012

Friend and customer Eric Winters worked in the engineering workshop next door. He said: “She was a lovely, kind lady who always had time for a chat or to give advice.

“If something was on her mind she would let you know it. We were all proud of her for carrying the Olympic torch.”

On Facebook former customers have remembered her razor sharp mental arithmetic and her not-so-friendly cat, which did not like to be stroked.

Mr Harrison said the stock inside the Kind Hearts shop is now being sold off in a final closing down sale.

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