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Tributes to former owner of the Kentish Lady, Tony Cheeseman, of Cowdrey Close, Barming, Maidstone

By: Ed McConnell emcconnell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 00:00, 13 December 2014

Updated: 09:27, 13 December 2014

Tributes have poured in for a man who was at the helm of a Maidstone tourist attraction for several years.

Tony Cheeseman died just two weeks after being diagnosed with a rare combination of leukaemia and bone marrow cancer.

Together with daughter Sara he ran the Kentish Lady river boat tours for 11 years. He recently sold the craft and was preparing for retirement with his wife of 47 years, Shirley.

Tony Cheeseman who captained the Kentish Lady for 11 years tragically passed away last week

Mr Cheeseman, 66, of Cowdrey Close in Barming, worked in the building trade for 40 years before investing in the vessel which toured the Medway.

Mrs Cheeseman, 64, who met her husband when she was 15 and married him aged 16, said: “He was such a lovely man.

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“We travelled extensively and were planning more trips. I once mentioned that I would love to go on a particular tour to China without any expectation we might go, the following day he told me he’d booked it. That was the sort of man he was and he will be greatly missed.”

Tony Cheeseman with his family, wife Shirley, daughter Sara and son Martin

Described as a workaholic by his family, Mr Cheeseman’s son Martin, 47, recalls his father telling him he had spent 15,000 hours building a 44ft yacht which the family used to own.

Daughter Sara added: “We were like two peas in a pod. When he came to me with the idea to run the Kentish Lady he knew I would say yes.”

Mr Cheeseman died on Wednesday, December 3, and spent time in Maidstone Hospital’s intensive care unit. His family were at his bedside.

Mrs Cheeseman said the family highly praised the care he received while in hospital.

David Naghi, a close friend of Mr Cheeseman, paid tribute to him as one of the nicest men he had ever met, adding: “Tony made a huge contribution to Maidstone and was a supporter of the River Festival.

“This is a huge loss for the town.”

Tony, Sara and Shirley Cheeseman by The Kentish Lady on the River Medway at Maidstone

His funeral takes place at 2pm on Friday, December 19, at Vinters Park Crematorium and men are asked to wear pastel pink ties as a celebration of Mr Cheeseman's life.

His family have requested donations to Maidstone Hospital’s intensive care department instead of flowers. This can be done via Family Funeral Service, in Beverley Road, or on 01622 725704.

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