When you look at the headstone on a grave you are given very limited information about the person resting there. We want you to know more about Betty, the world she lived in, the family she loved and the life she lived.
Betty was born in 1936 to Sarah and Sammy Kemp in Victoria Street, Whitstable. At that time she had 3 brothers (Henry, Reuben and James) and 1 sister (Patience). Two more younger brothers were to follow (John & Tony).
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Sarah and Sammy Kemp were Romany Gypsies whose families had travelled the roads of Kent and Sussex for generations. Bettys older brothers and sister had been born while the family were still travelling but circumstances dictated that it was time to put down some roots and although the family never gave up the travelling life or the field work completely, they settled to live and work in Whitstable.
The war years came with the Kent coastline being a prime target for the enemy aeroplanes Whitstable saw a fair bit of action including the home that the Kemps were living in at Victoria Street being bombed to the ground. Fortunately it was empty at the time and so none of the family were injured.
The family moved eventually settling into Canterbury Road where Sam & Sarah remained for the rest of their lives.
Betty aged about 3
Betty attended the Endowed School for Girls in Whitstable and performed very well, however further education was never an option in those days for girls such as Betty and so she left to take up employment in a a variety of jobs from working in the Biscuit factory to making eye glasses at Maflins. However, as soon as the opportunity arose, she was off to work in the Hop fields and the fruit fields continuing the family tradition and loving every minute of it
If one word had to sum up Betty it would be Matriarch. Everyone depended on her. She was the go to person for family and friends whenever there was a problem to solve, a form to fill in or a difficult conversation to be had.
1954 saw a young London man visit the Kent coast on his discharge from the army. Gordon Dean was living at Court Lees Manor where his parents were in service. Betty met Gordon at a dance and in 1955 they were married
She loved her family with a passion. That's not to say she wouldn't give you both barrels if you deserved it but woe betide anyone else who dared to say a bad word about the people she loved.
Shortly after Betty and Gordon were married they moved from Whitstable to Chester while Gordon worked in the Liverpool docks. This was the first time Betty had ever been away from her family. A new home, a strange city and yet she thrived showing what an incredibly strong character she was.
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In May 1957 Betty gave birth to her first child, Stephen in Chester City Hospital.
The family returned to Kent with a few years spent living in Gillingham before returning to her birth town of Whitstable. 1961 and 1966 saw the birth of two further children, daughters Linda & Tarina.
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Betty continued to work spending a number of years at St Heliers Nursing home helping to care for new mums and assisting to deliver hundreds of new Whitstable residents. She also worked in the very popular Valenties cafe in Whitstable High Street serving up the most delicious Nickabokaglories.
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In later life Betty spent several years working at the residential care home called Laidsfield something that she excelled in bringing both care and humour to a very challenging job.
