JOHN CROFTSThe Margate man credited with the idea for a J M W Turner gallery in the town died aged 87 on 7 March after a battle with cancer..John Crofts came up with the idea in the early 1990s proposing there should be a small gallery showcasing some of the pictures Turner painted of Margate.He was born in Margate and after serving in the Second World War became an electrical engineer.Daughter Sheona Jones said: “He was interested in history and was very proud to have come up with the idea for a Turner gallery in Margate. We’re all very proud of him.“It started as a small gallery, perhaps in a house, and he had been up to the Tate to negotiate having some of the pictures on loan."He still kept in touch with the people involved such as the director Victoria Pomery and they’ve said they want to put a plaque on the gallery when it’s built for his input into the project. It’s very sad that he didn’t live to see the finished gallery but he was always proud that it is going to happen.”A life-long member of the Margate Civic Society and former president of the club Mr Croft brought the idea of a gallery up at a committee meeting.Current president of the Civic Society, Ralph Handscombe said: “It is very sad news to hear he has died. He was the instigator of getting the Turner Contemporary gallery started, it was his idea, and he was looking forward to coming down and being involved when it opened."When the first plans were revealed Mr Crofts, who expected just a small gallery, was amazed. The gallery estimated to cost £17.5 million is due to open in 2011.He said: “It’s remarkable isn’t it? They’ve turned it into a sculpture - and like all forms of art it will receive all sorts of criticism.”
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