A memorial service has taken place for KM Group president Edwin Boorman who died last month aged 76 after a short illness.

Around 1,500 people packed Maidstone’s All Saints Church on Tuesday to celebrate his life, including Sir Ray Tindle, founder of Tindle Newspapers, who  gave a reading and described Edwin as a ‘one off”.

The two had been friends for over half a century, Sir Ray said they remained the very best of friends ‘while trying to outdo one another’.

Said Ray: “Your passion for newspapers, your skills in publishing them, your devotion to Kent, your work for charities, your kindness, your loyalty and your solid unwavering friendship of over half a century will live with me and all of us forever.”

Edwin had previously served as managing director, chief executive and chairman of the family-owned company, which owns a portfolio of weekly newspapers, websites and radio stations across Kent.

He took on the role of president in January 2006, passing the chairman’s baton to his daughter Geraldine.

He was also a former president of the Newspaper Society, serving from 2001 to 2002, and He was awarded an OBE in 2002 for his services to the Royal British Legion in Kent.

The service today was led by The Reverend Canon Christopher Morgan-Jones, vicar of Maidstone.