A fundraiser has been launched to ensure a good send off for Margate’s Maurice Morris who died last month aged 91.
Maurice had lived his entire life in Margate and was a much-loved and well-known character.
Mick and Shirley Tomlinson have been looking out for Maurice for more than 20 years since he underwent chemo treatment for cancer and then went into remission. Mick had known Maurice since their days at Dreamland in the 60s.
Shirley and Kay Eastoe, who also looked after Maurice, have now set up the appeal with the aim of raising £12,000. This will be used to pay for the funeral, headstone and a memorial bench.
Shirley said: “The funeral will have horses and we have booked double time at the crematorium as we are expecting so many people to come. We also need to pay for the celebrant, live streaming, a headstone and hopefully a bench. We want to give Maurice a good send off and we know he was well-loved and known by so many people.”
A date for the funeral has not yet been set but it is expected to be in May to ensure two of Maurice’s close friends who are abroad until the end of this month are able to attend.
From the 1950s to 1990s Maurice worked in various roles at Dreamland, including as an usher at the cinema. He was also known to many of the big bands who came to Dreamland in the 60s and 70s, , including The Who and The Yardbirds, as he would bring in their equipment.
Maurice was a regular at Margate events and most years could be seen at Margate carnival in his Pearly King suit – which he is expected to be dressed in for the funeral – and at parades such as Margate Pride.
He was also known for delivering local papers and was a much loved resident of Dane Valley, receiving a Dane Valley citizen award in 2017 in a scheme launched by the then-ward councillors.
