A pillar of the community George Kingston from Mabe, who even had a street named after him, has had his final wish granted with one final story in the Packet to say farewell and thank you to everybody.
George sadly passed away at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske at the age of 95 on March 24 following a very full life to say the least!
George was born in Glendart, County Cork, Ireland and came to Cornwall when he was 14 years old.
He had a great sense of humour and a great love of people.
Due to his sense of humour, his love of people and his dedication to the village of Mabe, he was quite a celebrity and over the years he appeared many times in the Packet.
His daughter Bev Sewell told us: “He always said after he had passed, he wanted one final story in the Packet to say farewell and thank you to everyone for their support and friendship over the years.
“It would be so lovely if you could please grant him his final wish!”
She said she wanted to say a big thank you from the family to everyone who cared for him at Treliske hospital and most importantly, all of his wonderful neighbours and friends who looked after him in the village of Mabe.
Mr Kingston loved old time dancing and was a member of the Woodlane Social Club in Falmouth where dance sessions were held every Monday afternoon.
He was a member of the Falmouth lodge of love and honour for 46 years, he was made an honorary member for his services and recognition of his famous raffles.
He was the verger at St Laudus Church Mabe for over 60 years. Bev said he would say religion to him was helping others and “Treat people like you would want to be treated yourself,” he would say.
He spent many hours painting and maintaining the church and together with Father John he built the outside toilet.
In 1971 he was a founder member of a committee to raise money to start the Mabe Youth and Community Project their aim was to build a community hall and a playing field.
To help raise money for the project, for 58 years he organized a Christmas raffle. Every Friday night he would walk miles around the village selling 10p tickets for the 300 club - or two shillings as he insisted on calling the ten pence piece! - he soon became infamous and known as the two shilling 10p man.
The project achieved its goal and the hall was finally built and opened in 1997 with the playing field following shortly after.
In 2016 he held his final Christmas raffle raising the grand total of £1,520 which he was immensely proud of and frequently reminded everybody of.
In 1971 he help form a committee to hold a village fete which became known as the Mabe Steam Up and Shindig. It was an annual event and one of his great passions.
He spent months organizing it, spending hours in the garden shed making signs for the show.
He was also on the Industrial tribunal committee for 30 years which gave him great pleasure helping people and giving them advice.
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He was a parish councillor for 44 years. One of his great achievements was overseeing the installation of the bus shelter.
He was voted citizen of the year in 2003 by the then Kerrier District Council for his services to the parish. To thank him for his services to the parish the council named a road after him as the “Kingston Way Road”
Mr Kingston’s funeral will be held at Mabe St Laudus church on Friday 26th April at 12 noon.
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