Mourners line streets in farewell to ‘Mr Snodland’
The popular local journalist died this month from cancer
Friends, family and local residents braved pouring rain to pay their final farewells to a journalist affectionately known as ‘Mr Snodland’ as he he was laid to rest.
Peter Rimmer, who worked for many years for both the Kent Messenger and Sevenoaks Chronicle, died on June 15. He was 77.
He passed away after a short battle with cancer.
Because of coronavirus restrictions, only family members were able to attend the funeral ceremony, which took place on Tuesday.
However, Mr Rimmer’s relations sent out an invitation to mourners to line the streets of Snodland, and pay their respects as the funeral cortège made its way through the town. In moving photos and video, residents can be seen clapping as the hearse make its way from his home via Constitution Hill to the cemetery.
A message posted on behalf of Mr Rimmer’s family, by Snodland Town Council, on Facebook, said: “Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 we are not able to celebrate Dad’s life as we would like to and can only allow family to attend the ceremony. “Thank you for all the kind words, flowers and messages that we have received so far.
“They have really shown the impact Dad had on the people of Snodland and we hope in future to be able to celebrate his life and the contributions he made to Snodland.”
Once coronavirus restrictions are lifted, the family will organise a memorial service - details of which will be announced in due course.
Mr Rimmer, a pillar of his community, worked for the Kent Messenger and Sevenoaks Chronicle during the 1960s and 1970s.
He went to work for other local publications as well through his retirement.
Former Sevenoaks Chronicle editor Bob Ogley, 80, met Mr Rimmer as a young reporter and they continued to socialise after Mr Rimmer left the paper. Mr Ogley, who edited the paper for 20 years, said: “He was a lovely fellow and very well known in West Malling, where he was the reporter, he got to know everyone.
‘Due to Covid-19 we are not able to celebrate Dad’s life as we would like to’
“He was very kind and likeable.”
A committee member of Snodland Town Football Club, Mr Rimmer helped promote the club in the local press and was a steward at home games.
In a statement on Facebook, the club offered their condolences, adding that Mr Rimmer had been a “stalwart” of the club for many years.
Peter also ran a local newsagents - which the cortège paused by as it made its way to the cemetery - and was a founding member of the Snodland Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Snodland Partnership, and a school governor.