A ‘big-hearted’ Ramsgate tattooist and former firefighter who could lay claim to being the first person to open an ink studio in Thanet has passed away at the age of 84.
Don Carfoot’s studio in Hereson Road has been a fixture in Thanet life since it first opened in 1977 but the dad-of-two began his passion for tattooing aged just 15 when he worked from a shed at the bottom of his mum’s garden in Wigan.
Born in Wigan in November 1940, Don was an only child. His mum, who was widowed, worked long hours as a nurse so in the summer holidays Don would stay with his aunt in Nixon Avenue, Ramsgate.
It was there that he met his wife to be Enid, who lived just a few doors up. The couple were just seven at that time but it was to be a lifelong relationship with the pair getting married at St Luke’s Church when they were 18.
Initially living in Wigan, they returned to Ramsgate in 1966 so Enid could be closer to family.
Daughter Annmarie said: “He was in the fire brigade for 27 years but had some spare time because they did shifts so he also worked on the door at Nero’s and him and a friend had a van and did window cleaning and removals and he did the tattooing as well. He was always busy.
“When they moved back here in 1966 he did the tattooing from home then he opened the shop on Good Friday in 1977. It was the first tattoo shop in Thanet.
“There were three tattooists in Kent then, Dad, Geoff in Deal and Charlie in Medway.
“Dad was still going to the shop last November even though he was really poorly. He went there when he felt well enough.”
Enid also worked at Nero’s in the restaurant while Don was on the door and had a variety of other jobs including at a boutique and behind the bar at the Montefiore Arms.
As well as being a dad to Annmarie and her sister Helen, Don was a proud grandad to Annmarie’s sons Patrick, who is training to be a teacher, and Shaun who is a teacher now living in Oldham.
Despite a busy working life, Don also packed in lots of leisure interests. He was a keen supporter of the Wigan Warriors rugby team, enjoyed fishing and was a huge fan of quizzes, even running quiz events locally, but his biggest love was family.
Annmarie said: “Dad was a big personality, a big man, and a big-hearted man. He was lovely. He loved his friends and family. He was always happy when he had all his friends and family around him, he was never happier than that.
“He loved sport and rugby and Wigan Warriors and he liked fishing. We would have an annual family fishing competition with family here and from Wigan, there was even a trophy.
“He loved quizzes and he ran quizzes at the Blazer {Blazing Donkey} then when that shut at Feeney’s and then when that closed at the Honeysuckle Inn.
“One of his proudest nights was when we had a family team of me, Dad and my boys and we won. He was made up!”
Annmarie says the posts on social media of stories and ‘so many nice things’ about her dad has been overwhelming, adding: “It’s been incredible really.”
Scores of people have posted recounting how Don did their first tattoos and recalling how he was “a true gentleman” and a “legend.”
One memory from Sharon McCann says: “Never a Saturday back in the day when there wasn’t a queue outside. Bums sat on the wall,shifting up as one went in,” while many others simply remember Don as an “absolute legend.”
Annmarie says she was finally prompted to get her first tattoo, aged 58, after one of her sons had his. She said: “I’ve had one each year since then and I’m so glad I did as I will always have him with me.”
Don passed away from cancer on January 4.
A service to celebrate Don’s life will be held at Thanet Crematorium on January 31 at 1pm followed by a wake at Thanet Wanderers club.
All are welcome – family flowers only- and those who would like to can wear a splash of red in honour of Don’s passion for ‘cherry and whites’ Wigan Warriors.
Donations to Cancer Research UK c/o Twyman and Holmes Funeral Directors, tel 01843 852761.
