Norman was a member of Swanley and North Downs Lions Club for nineteen years. He was a Past President and Committee Chairman and an inspiration to us all.
He was enthusiastic about the club – a third of the current members were recruited by him,
He was enthusiastic when it came to fund-raising. Few people got past Norman when he was shaking a bucket, especially if it was for the hospice. And whatever the event you could rely on him being there and doing more than his share of the work – he even turned up last year at Bike Around Brands on one of Joan’s fleet of scooters, clearly unwell, but his first words were “what do you want me to do?”
Norman had a big heart to match his stature.
As Father Christmas he could bring a smile to the face of any child he met and the cream teas and panto visits he organized were a hit among our older residents.
Norman’s motivation was that he cared about people and was always willing to offer a helping hand.
Whatever the need he just kept on saying ‘I’ll do it’ even up to a couple of months ago – and somehow he could always get one of us to help him!
When I invited comments from club members the words, kind, enthusiastic, supportive, encouraging and ‘a real friend’ were repeated time and again.
Lion Shirley wrote “I will always remember Norman as an exceptionally kind person. I admired him very much, especially the way he did so much for the community. He made a difference. Special people become a part of who we are and our lives are richer for it’.
We are indeed all richer for having known Norman – he will be greatly missed.
If you listen carefully you can hear a voice saying "hang on St Peter, I'll give you a hand..."
On behalf of Swanley & North Downs Lions
13th April 2016
Thank you for setting up this memorial to Norman Mayes.
We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.
Sent by Doves Funeral Directors on 06/04/2016
I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are.
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.
Extract from a poem by Henry Scott Holland