The following obituary was published in The East Kent Gazette on the 21st of May, 1945. The photos are from the Hartlip archives.

Almost every inhabitant of Hartlip, from the oldest to the youngest, are experiencing a great sense of loss by the passing after a comparatively short illness of Mr. S. D. Hollands, of The Street, Hartlip, who was everybody’s friend in the parish, and who was widely known outside its boundaries.

Mr. Hollands suffered a seizure in the week before Easter, from which he never properly rallied, and he passed peacefully away on Friday last, in the 71st year of his life.

The sixth son of William and Rebecca Hollands, Sidney David Hollands was born in the parish and was virtually a lifelong resident. In business life he was the village postmaster, taxi-owner and gardener. Privately, he was the general factotum of the public, church and social life of the parish, and almost everybody in trouble or in search of advice consulted Mr. Hollands – nor did they come away empty.

For 25 years of his life he was the servant and friend of the family of the late Lieut.-Colonel R. G. E. Locke, to whom he first acted as coachman and later chauffeur. He was also for three years in the service of Major Wedderburn-Maxwell, and he was away from the parish from 1915 until the end of the last Great War, when he served overseas in the Army, and was in Italy when the war ended.

Limitation of space do not allow us to do justice to this remarkable man, but, needless to say, his first great love was his Parish Church. He had sung in the choir since he was seven years of age; had been a bellringer for over 50 years; an original member of the Parochial Church Council, he had been its secretary for over 20 years; and during a like period had been a churchwarden. He had also been a school manager since 1925.

Sidney Hollands in seated on the right next to the Vicar.

For many years a member of the Parish Council, he had functioned as its clerk for over 20 years. In social matters he had been a prominent member and sometime secretary of the local Gardeners’ Society. He was also a member of Miss Fausett-Osborne’s band from 1889 until it was dissolved in 1934. He was the founder member of the Hartlip branch of the National Deposit Friendly Society and its secretary.

Moreover, he served on every other committee in the parish. In addition to this, he was always doing somebody a good turn, and the older people in the village, particularly those suffering from disabilities due to advanced years, have lost a great friend.

In 1931 he succeeded his sister, the late Miss Helen Hollands, as the postmaster at Hartlip. In another direction he was kept almost fully employed for his commodious Hillman car had proved a boon to the residents of Hartlip and district during the war, since petrol restrictions have compelled people to dispense with their own cars.

This advert appeared regularly in the Parish Magazine

He is survived by four brothers – Messrs. Osborne Hollands (Hartlip), Tylden Hollands (Gillingham), Frederick Hollands (Wales), and Herbert Hollands (U.S.A.). The deceased gentleman was a bachelor, but he had brought up and cared for two nephews, Messrs. Basil and Dick Chambers, who were orphaned early in life.

The funeral

Indicative of the great loss the village has sustained was the crowded church at the funeral service on Wednesday afternoon. The Vicar (the Rev. J. W. Burley) conducted the service, assisted by the Rev. J. W. Neilson (lately priest-in-charge), and Miss Fausett-Osborne was at the organ. The hymns were "Lord, Thy Word Abideth" and "A Few More Years shall Roll."

The principal mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Osborne Hollands, Mr. and Mrs. Tylden Hollands, Messrs. Will and Bert Hollands, Mr. and Mrs. Will Hollands, the Misses Nellie and Doreen Hollands, Q.M.S.L., Basil Chambers, R.E., and Mrs. Chambers, A.Q.M.S. and Dick Chambers, R.E.M.E., and Mrs. Chambers, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Kitchingham and Winifred, Miss Doris Skinner, Mrs. Norah Harrison, and Mr. W. H. Miles.

Among those present at church were noticed Mrs. R. G. E. Locke, Mrs. Fausett-Osborne, Colonel and Mrs. Boyall, the Misses K. and N. Mackinnon, the Misses Donnan, Professor Donnan, Mrs. Mutter, Mrs. Burley, Mr. Seymour Wakeley.

Mr. W. S. Stevens (also representing Hartlip Parish Council), Mr. H. T. Flavin (head post-master, Sittingbourne), Messrs. Stratton and Moffat (solicitors), Mrs. Scattergood (Milton), Mrs. Rainey, Mr. H. Miles.

Mr. and Mrs. W. Kitchingham, Miss Winifred Kitchingham, Mrs. Orr, Mr. T. Walker, Mrs. Hope, Miss Clout, Miss A. Godden, Mr. H. F. Auger, Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. Purt, Miss H. Cork.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Mr. Titcomb, Mrs. W. Harris, Mrs. Dixon, Mr. F. T. Roots, Mr. Mabbs, Mr. Friday, Mr. Friday, Mr. Hadlow, Mrs. George Clout, Miss M. Ransom, Miss D. Skinner, and Mrs. Metters.

The beautiful floral tributes came from:- His loving Brothers and Sisters; Basil and Dick; Lil, John, and Ron; Win; Ada and family; Isobel and Charlie; Eileen and Judy; Will, Mary, and Jill; David, Isobel, and family; Gert, Will, and Winifred; "L.W."; L/Ac Harris, "Ted," and Dr. Harris, "Ern"; Lou; Doris and Frank; Mr. and Mrs. Lambeth and family; Mr. and Mrs. Goodhew; Mr. Stratton; Mrs. Locke and Mrs. Hope; Mr. and Mrs. Wicks; H. L. Cork; Mr. F. Leoanrd; Mrs. Miles, Harry and Myrtle; Mrs. Wilfrid Luck; Kate and Nancy Mackinnon; Colonel and Mrs. Boyall; Eveleen H. Mutter; “London”; Mr. and Mrs. Shaw and family; All at the Stores; Mr. and Mrs. Harris and family; Mr. and Mrs. Titcomb; Mr. and Mrs. Moon; Mrs. Denson; Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Stevens; Mr. and Mrs. Read; Mr. and Mrs. Twort; Mr. and Mrs. G. Clout; Mr. and Mrs. Payne and family; Staff and scholars of Hartlip Endowed C. of E. School; Professor and the Misses Donnan;