Your Maidstone, Issue 19, January 16, 2008

34.5 MB·English

by  KOS Media

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THE NEWSPAPER FOR MAIDSTONE, MALLING, LARKFIELD AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES January 16, 2008
WWIINN AA PPAAIIRR OOFF TTIICCKKEETTSS
TTOO TTHHEE CCEENNTTEENNAARRYY……
SEE INSIDE FOR FULL DETAILS ON HOW TO ENTER
MOTHER DIES IN
LATE EDITION
STORM TRAGEDY
(cid:1)BY JON COATES
WHAT’S ON & WATCH
yourkenttv.co.uk
A YOUNG mother was killed when
gale-force winds blew an oak tree on
to her car – but her four-week-old son
miraculously survived.
Claire Bolton,26,died instantly in the storms
lashing Britain, but her son, who has not been
named,suffered only minor injuries.
The baby was taken to hospital and kept in
overnight for observation, but has since been
released to the care of his family.
Miss Bolton, from Staplehurst, was a civilian
forensic worker at Kent police’s headquarters in
Maidstone.
National newspaper reports said she had been
WINTERWILDLIFE due to marry her partner in the spring.
A short nature film, by Paul Jerreat She was killed when the strong winds brought
the 30ft oak tree crashing down on to her car on
the B2244,south of Merriment Lane,in Bodiam,
ALSO INSIDE East Sussex,on Thursday at 2.30pm.
Sadness
LEISURE & TV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGES 18-29
Pieces of her wrecked Subaru car were scat-
HOMES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGES 31-40 tered 20ft from where the tree fell.
CARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGES 41-50 A spokesman for Kent police said:“All those who
knew and worked with Claire are deeply dis-
JOBS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGES 51-58 tressed upon hearing the tragic news of her death
and our thoughts remain with her family.”
SPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 62-63 INVITE TO A LOFT PARTY
He added:“Every death dealt with by Kent police
is done so with great compassion and sympathy for
the family.The death of a much-valued employee
JOIN the Bloc Party when a member of the acclaimed band comes to Maidstone. Guitarist Russell comes with even greater sadness.
Lissack (pictured, right) will be demonstrating his skills on the turntable at The Loft nightclub on “Claire was an extremely valued and popular
member of the forensic department where she
Friday. Bloc Party have achieved incredible success, with their debut album nominated for the
worked as a performance analyst and she will be
Mercury Music Prize. The band has announced it will play alongside the Manic Street Preachers, very sadly missed by all her colleagues.”
Kaiser Chiefs and Klaxons at February’s NME Big Gig at the O2 Arena. Before working in the forensic investigation
department in Maidstone, Miss Bolton was a
SEE PAGE 19 FOR DETAILS OF ALL THIS WEEK’S LEISURE HIGHLIGHTS
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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NEWS IN BRIEF
TOP TV CLIPS
Nuisance motorbiker
is caught by police
A MOTORBIKE was seized by police
after officers staged a stakeout in a
rural village in an attempt to catch a
nuisance rider.
Police took measures to seize a bike
after seven homes in Marden com-
CLEANER:Maidstone Hospital is beating the superbug according to new figures plained of a motorbike causing noise
and riding without its lights on
Docs’ relief as around the area of the Orchards,
behind The Cockpit.
The rider was caught on the
evening of December 12.
Pensioner banned for
infection rates
being over the limit
A PENSIONER was banned from
Winter Wildlife in Kent with Paul Jerreat whose short film
1 driving for a year after having a beer
will surprise and fascinate. See Community TV too many on a cross-Channel ferry.
Gordon Lawrence, 67, of Farleigh
continue to fall Court, Barming, had been returning
from a trip to Belgium when customs
officers stopped him at the port of
Dover and smelt alcohol on his
breath. A test showed he was just
three milligrammes over the limit.
Magistrates also fined him £100,
ordered him to pay £60 costs and a
(cid:1)BY JON COATES tions,thanks to £270 million a year of £15 victim surcharge.
extra investment by 2011.
Hospitals will now be able to hire Are you a witness
HOSPITAL bosses were two infection control nurses,two iso-
this week revealed dramati- lation nurses and an antimicrobial
to chickens theft?
pharmacist to stop outbreaks of bugs
cally reduced superbug
like MRSA and C diff.
infection rates. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells POLICE want witnesses to come
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust welcomed the announce- forward after more than 450 chick-
NHS Trust was the subject of a ment,saying employing extra staff is ens were stolen from a farm in a
damning Healthcare Commission important to maintain hygiene im- quiet rural village.
report in October,which blamed the provements made during the year. The free-range chickens, worth
deaths of 90 patients from The trust’s lead nurse for infection £1,700, were stolen from a farm in
Clostridium difficile on poor infection control Gail Locock said this invest- Boughton Monchelsea on New
2 The Picanto city car is an even better buy after surgery, says control and management failings. ment will be good for both staff and Year’s Eve,when thieves cut a hole
motoring editor Steve Loader. See Motors TV Since then the senior directors patients. in two of the wire panels near to the
have quit and been replaced by tem- She said:“This announcement will farms outbuildings.
porary managers battling to turn the enable us to have more specialist A white Ford Transit van was seen
under-fire trust around. infection control staff on the ground in the area at the time.
The trust, which runs Maidstone, working alongside frontline staff to Women are giving
the Kent and Sussex in Tunbridge reduce hospital acquired infections
Wells,and Pembury hospitals,is now even further.”
heading for a 30-40 per cent drop in The Trust is currently recruiting as good as they get
infections in 2007-8. two more infection control nurses for
It had 226 cases of stomach bug its hospitals – at a cost of more than
WOMEN who are tired of the man in
C diff between March and December £80,000.
their life moaning about man-flu are
last year,compared with 352 over the Barrie Collins,director of infection
beginning to fight back.
same period in 2006. prevention and control,said:“As the
Research has shown that one in
The figures were released as the body that funds care for the patients
three men in the county town has
Government announced new plans to of west Kent,we are delighted infec-
seen girlie-flu emerging in their part-
help hospitals fight superbugs. tion rates at Maidstone and
ners,who are exaggerating symptoms
Health secretary Alan Johnson Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust are con-
of a common cold and forcing their
announced last Wednesday that tinuing to drop and that the hospital
men to fuss over them.
every NHS trust in England can will now be able to employ more
The survey by Lemsip Max All in
recruit more specialist staff to help infection control nurses helping to
One Lemon,said mans reign as ‘king
tackle healthcare associated infec- drive down rates further.” of cold suffering’ is being challenged.
Gillingham Football Club have signed Port Vale midfielder
3
Craig Rocastle on an initial one-month loan. See Sport TV
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SEE OUR SISTER PAPERS KENT ON SUNDAY
AND THE SATURDAY EDITIONFOR ALL THE
WEEKEND’S COUNTY NEWS AND SPORT
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NEWSEDITOR:Jon Coates 01303 817048
GROUP EDITOR: Gary Wright 01303 817032
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yourmaidstone.co.uk
Telephone editorial: 01303 817200 3
Email [email protected]
Hislop to help Tories Nuisances can be
banished for up
to 48 hours
find Ann’s successor ANYONE aged over 16 can be banished
from public places if it’s believed they are
being a nuisance, thanks to new police
powers.
Officers can now issue a form forcing a
member of the public to leave an area for
up to 48 hours if they believe they may
commit alcohol-related violence.
Following two arrests during the fes-
Candidates to face
tive period for drunken behaviour,police
have warned,“leave when you’re told or
you could be arrested”.
The two men who were arrested
30-minute grilling
ignored the form they were issued in
Maidstone High Street on December 21
and entered a pub nearby, where they
were quickly arrested by officers and
by political expert
later formally cautioned.
The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006
provides the police with a power to issue
a direction to an individual aged 16 or
over to leave a public place and not
(cid:1)BY LAUREN MUMFORD
return for up to 48 hours.
The legislation was launched in a bid to
minimise the likelihood of alcohol-related
THE Tory candidate who will try
crime or disorder taking place.
and replace Ann Widdecombe as
the county town’s MP at the next
general election will be chosen on VIEW THIS CLIP ON
Sunday.
yourkenttv.co.uk
Political expert Ian Hislop will grill the six
men and three women still in the running for
the coveted Maidstone and Weald seat at an all- LOCAL
day selection meeting. QUESTIONTIME:Ian Hislop will grill each of the candidates for half an hour as part of the selection process
Local party association members will watch
the editor of satirical political magazine Private Devlin, Vicky Ford, Helen Grant, Jon Lord, Widdecombe, who has been Maidstone and
Eye interview the nine remaining candidates Julia Manning and Kulveer Ranger. Weald MP for 20 years,announced she will be
at the ‘Big Event’ at Oakwood House in There are also two reserves – David Godfrey standing down at the next election in October
Maidstone. and Lynne Hack. last year.
They will each face Hislop,who is famous for Mr Hislop,who lives in Sissinghurst,said he She plans to retire to Dartmoor in Devon to
putting politicians on the spot on BBC TV cur- agreed to help find the successor to Miss
walk her dogs and write books.
rent affairs review show Have I Got News For Widdecombe after a request by his local coun-
There were 98 applications for her post,
You,for 30 minutes each from 9.45am onwards. cillor:“I rather like Ann and now she is retiring,
which were whittled down to the nine candi-
A vote from the association’s 500 members my local councillor asked me if I’d be prepared
will then select a shortlist of four to go before its to give the would-be successors a grilling. dates and two reserves by a 13-person selection
executive council for the final decision, which “I was delighted to accept:given that they are committee.
Miss Widdecombe will reveal to the public at seeking to replace Ann, I think some tough The association’s executive committee,which
6.30pm. questions about hunting and celibacy will be in will make the final decision,is made up of coun- Yourkenttv’s Biscuit Rapper allows
The nine candidates are Stephen Barclay, order.” cillors from the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells you to meet his family
James Brokenshire, Conor Burns, Jamie Former shadow home secretary Miss wards of the constituency.
She was in New affordable
the wrong
housing is given
place at the
wrong time
the go-ahead
CONTINUEDFROMFRONTPAGE
processing and administrative
assistant for the police in Ashford.
Residents who lived near the
PLANS to build 85 modern homes changes and added greenery, could
tree-lined B-road where she was
on a council depot site have been be a catalyst in improving the char-
killed said the wind was particular-
approved in a bid to maximise the acter of the area.”
ly strong on the afternoon of her
use of the land. Councillors voted unanimously in
death.
An application to build 51 two-bed- favour of the application,saying they
Bill Martin, 55, told a national
room flats, nine two-bedroom hous- should maximise the use of the land,
newspaper:“She just happened to
es, 16 three-bedroom houses and providing certain designs in the
be in the wrong place at the wrong
nine four-bedroom houses at the site development were amended and
time.
in Armstrong Road was agreed at a brought back to committee.
“The tree was falling as she drove
along and it crashed on top of her planning committee meeting last Greenery
Wednesday.
car.
Of the 85 homes, 40 per cent of The development will be encased
“It’s a miracle her baby was not
them will be marketed as affordable with greenery and set back from
killed as well.”
housing.Some of the homes will be Armstrong Road to ensure it fits in ROVIC TILES LTD
Miss Bolton’s family has declined
town houses,others flats and houses with the area, the entrance to the
to speak about her death.
or various heights and designs. estate will be inviting and will be full ...because every one is different
A spokeswoman for Sussex
Cllr Tony Harwood said: of plants and trees, the size of the
police, which is investigating the
incident,said:“They are devastat- “Changing the depot into housing is proposed car park will be reduced,a OPEN 7 DAYS
a big improvement,but only if it is pedestrian route added and a path-
ed.”
done properly,which I hope the com- way replaced with more plants. 51 367 E6 Chaucer 10
Homes and businesses near the
mittee has achieved. Outside the main entrance to the High St Blanford Rd Business Park Cuxton Road
River Medway in Maidstone were
“Maidstone South Park is over- site,Kent Highways proposed that a West Malling Beckenham Kemsing Strood
yesterday put on alert for flooding looked by the site and hopefully this zebra crossing and metric signs put 01732 848250 020 8658 7272 01732 765308 01634 727577
as torrential driving and strong
development, with its design up to ensure residents are safe. www.rovic.co.uk
winds continued.
yourmaidstone.co.uk
4 Telephone advertising: 01303 817110
Email [email protected]
Hard work to get
yourmaidstone
NEWS IN BRIEF
to top of the table
Does this stolen cricket
equipment belong to you?
OWNERS of stolen sports equipment have
been asked to come forward after the items
were found dumped in a field. (cid:1)BY LAUREN MUMFORD ON
Some of the equipment was found in a field HT
G
by Fairhurst Drive in East Farliegh, along OU
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with a number of other stolen belongings SCHOOLS in the county town HIL
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cricket equipment,trainers and two squash mar schools excelling.
rackets.
The school league tables, published this
The owners can call 01622 690055 to claim
week,saw Invicta Grammar,Maidstone Girls
them.
Grammar,Maidstone Grammar and Oakwood
Explorer raises school’s Grammar notch up impressive results.
Invicta Grammar came top in the county
town,with 99 per cent of pupils scoring five or
flag at the South Pole
more A* to C grades in last summer’s exams.
Exciting
A SCHOOL’S flag is flying high in the South
Pole after being carried across the Antarctic Maidstone Girls Grammar also achieved a
by an extreme explorer. 99 per cent top grades pass rate,with a slight-
Sutton Valence Preparatory School’s pen- ly lower overall score to Invicta.
nant was planted at the pole eight days ago Maidstone Grammar notched up a 97 per
by Jonathan Bradshaw, 36, for his second cent success rate, with Oakwood scoring 93
cousin Isabella Gordon, 10, from East per cent.
Farleigh,a pupil at the school. Michael Liddicoat, the headteacher of TOPMARKS:Maidstone Grammar School achieved impressive results in the latest GCSE league tables
The gruelling 52-day trek involved travel- Invicta Grammar, was delighted with the including English and mathematics,by 14 per “The schools,even though they improved their
ling a distance of more than 1,100km while
results,saying:“I am very happy for the stu- cent to 41 per cent. performance,were closed on August 31 so they
hauling a 150kg sledge.
dents. But not all schools in the county town were no longer exist.
Your memories of Mote “I put these results down to the quality of able to show off their achievements,the New “This is why out results weren’t published.
teaching, the individual care we give to our Line Learning Schools Cornwallis, Senacre That’s just the way it is.
Park can help its future pupils, the parental support and most of all and Oldborough Manor were omitted from the “What we have now compared to what we
their hard work. league tables because they officially closed at had before is completely different and hopeful-
“Very few headteachers are in favour of the the end of last year and transformation into ly the academies will continue to perform
PEOPLE have been asked to share photo- league tables – however,I think they are excit- academies. well.”
graphs and memories of how Mote Park has ing.It’s so rewarding that our girls have done The academies were left out of the league The schools’ GCSE results were announced
been used over the past 80 years. so well and I am really proud of them and tables because the Government felt that par- in the School Achievement and Attainment
The council wants to know how Mote Park their achievements.” ents might make ‘unfair’ judgments about Tables, which are published by the
has changed to compile a detailed history for Valley Park Community School in the schools, which technically no longer Department for Children, Schools and
future management plans. Maidstone also improved its results by 24 per exist. Families after the grade appeals procedure
The research plan will set out ways to pre- cent,to 66 per cent and its five A* to C results, Chris Gerry,NLL Academy spokesman said: was concluded.
serve the park, outline how it is currently
used and how a wider audience can be
reached,and will look at access.
Farmers target ethnic youth
Contact Eva Girling on 01622 602735 or
email [email protected].
Become an e-citizen and
A YOUNG man has been given £1,000 to fund securing funding and resources for training.
save the town hall cash
a research project to help attract a wider ethnic “The final component of this research will look
mix of young people into farming. at what role schools and agricultural colleges can
PEOPLE can now get their council tax bills The Young Farmers’ Clubs Champion Steven play with YFCs as a bridge between young peo-
by email in a bid to make the county town Paine, from Maidstone, received a grant from ple and a career in agriculture or horticulture”.
more eco-friendly. SEEDA,which agreed to fund a survey of 2,000 Farmers could win a £50 prize for taking part
Maidstone council’s online e-citizen service farmers across the South East to establish in the survey,which has been commissioned by
allows customers to receive electronic bills what training activities are already offered by the Farming and Rural Issues Group.
instead of a paper one posted through the door. YFCs, and what aspects of personal develop- There will also be cash prizes for clubs which
It has been predicted that e-billing could ment need introducing or improving. generate the most responses.
save the council thousands of pounds by Mr Paine,21,said:“One major aim is to inves- Young Farmers’ Clubs allow people aged 10 to
reducing the amount of paper used as well as tigate how clubs can be made attractive to 26 to learn and develop new skills,compete in
saving office time. young people from a more diverse ethnic and farming competitions and take part in various
For more information visit www.digital- social background than at present. fun activities.
maidstone.co.uk and follow the e-citizen link DIG FOORVICTORY:Members of the YFC “Another will determine mechanisms for To find out more visit www.yfcresearch.co.uk.
or email [email protected]
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yourmaidstone.co.uk
Telephone editorial: 01303 817200 5
Email [email protected]
‘In ten years time there Museum post
will be captial
A CAMPAIGN manager will be employed
at one of the top museums in the south
won’t be any pubs left’ east to help raise important re-develop-
ment funds.
Maidstone Museum was granted
approval by the council to hire a new full-
time capital campaign manager for the
next two years at a recent meeting.
The manager will be tasked with co-
ordinating efforts to raise £1.6 million for
the completion of the museum's east wing
MOREamd more owners fear they EXCLUSIVE entertainment because the poor bloke ended up development project,which will free other
spending most of the evening singing to himself staff to concentrate on developing and
will have to close due to the increas-
because everyone kept going in and out to implementing the plans.
ing number of smokers choosing to (cid:1)BY LAUREN MUMFORD smoke.” The museum,which is owned and oper-
drink at home. Colin Beck, landlord of The Dragoon in ated by Maidstone council, wants to re-
The smoking ban came into force on July 1 Sandling Road,also said his pub no longer puts position the museum entrance, create a
Six months after the introduction of the last year and made it illegal for people to smoke on entertainment due to the impact of the con- visitor information centre and build a new
smoking ban they say their businesses are suf- in all enclosed public places. troversial ban. cafe.
fering,with former regulars not enjoying a cig- However, pub owners say their trade has He has spent more than £18,000 from his It aims to provide two easily accessible
arette with a pint after a hard day’s work being education rooms with high quality visual
been hit the hardest, with smokers staying own pocket on an outdoor smoking terrace,dec-
the biggest setback. and audio facilities,washing facilities and
away in their droves and the expected new oration and furniture,to accommodate the ban.
Mo Russell, who has been landlady of The business from non-smokers not materialising. He said: “The government said this ban toilets,as well as using a new eco-friendly
Fountain Inn,Tonbridge Road,for the last 30 Miss Russell said:“People come to a pub to would bring in new customers who didn’t go to heating system.
years,said:“Since the ban has come in business relax with a cigarette and a drink,now the free- pubs because of the smoke,but where are they? The museum will also provide a range of
has slowed. dom of smoking has been taken away from peo- “Money has been spent to improve facilities, courses linked to the National Curriculum
“We don’t get the customers coming in after ple,they prefer to stay at home. but these new customers haven’t been in yet. for school groups,with the aim of provid-
work as we did and have found most people just “Pubs should have had the choice – there “It’s the locals who are supporting the pub, ing workshops for 14,000 schoolchildren
each year by 2011/12.
go to the off-licence for some cans and sit should have been non-smoking pubs and smok- without them it would be extremely difficult to
To find out more about the museum’s
indoors,where they can enjoy a cigarette with ing pubs.The whole atmosphere of the pub has carry on.”
east wing development visit www.mus
a drink.The way things are going,in ten years been ruined.” To hear more about the plight of worried pub
eum.maidstone.gov.uk.
time there won’t be any pubs left.” The landlady added:“We have had to stop our owners visit www.yourkenttv.co.uk.
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Landlord Colin Beck says his business has been hit hard by the smoking ban, as regulars prefer to Dining Set
drink at home where they can smoke indoors. He is not alone and many pubs face tough times.
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yourkenttv.co.uk
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Three for one planning deal
£949.00
A BID to replace a bungalow with three large it must be on a smaller scale and in keeping
houses in a scenic village has been turned with the area.
down by councillors. The council received 20 letters of objection
The application to demolish Charthurst,in from residents and opposition from Sutton
Chart Road,Sutton Valence,and build three Valence parish council and Weald of Kent
two-storey four or five bedroom detached Protection Society.
houses, all with large double garages, was Phillip Ponsford, director of developer
unanimously turned down at last Thursday’s Brenchley Homes,said:“We were very disap-
planning committee meeting. pointed and it’s a shame our application was-
Cllr Pauline Stockell said:“I think the prob- n’t successful for this site,but we respect the VISIT OUR OTHER STORES
lem is the size of the dwellings and the detail- views of the residents and parish council who
ing. The garages are almost as big as the opposed it.
houses and they overlook the houses below “We are now looking at the possible
and on the other side of the road.” avenues we can go down,whether that will be www.homeco-furniture.co.uk FREE PARKING
Committee members said the principle of appealing or revising our current applica-
replacing the existing bungalow was fine,but tion.” 163 High Street, Chatham, Kent
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TODAY’S FORECAST WEEKEND Aggressive drunk
HIGH TIDES
111555 knocked over
Chatham Saturday 6:29am 5.4m
policeman at bar
Sunday 7:42am 5.2m
Dover Saturday 5:43pm 5.6m
Sunday 6:14am 5.8m A MAN flew into a rage and
Dungeness Saturday 5:46pm 6.4m “squared up” to a bouncer he
Sunday 6:18am 6.6m claimed had thrown his friend
down a flight of stairs after a
Ramsgate Saturday 6:13pm 4.3m
drunken night out.
Sunday 6:44am 4.4m
But Shaun Orris,25,was arrested when he
Sheerness Saturday 6:17am 5.2m failed to calm down and knocked a police offi-
SUNRISE SUNSET cer over,a court heard this week.
7.54AM 4.17PM Sunday 7:30am 5.0m He pleaded guilty to obstructing a police offi-
MOONRISE MOONSET 111888 Whitstable Saturday 6:17am 4.8m cer, when he appeared in the dock at
11.05AM 2.42AM Maidstone Magistrates Court last Wednesday.
Sunday 7:30am 4.7m Orris was fined £200 and ordered to pay £50
FIVE-DAY KENT FORECAST compensation to the officer,£60 for prosecution
AROUNDTHE costs and a further £15 in court fees.
The magistrates heard how the man from
Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon WORLDYESTERDAY Bexleyheath was out in Maidstone town cen-
Ashford 8°C 10°C 11°C 12°C 11°C Gravesend 8°C 11°C 11°C 12°C 11°C tre for a friend’s birthday at popular night
spot,River Bar,on August 6.
Canterbury 9°C 10°C 11°C 12°C 11°C Maidstone 9°C 10°C 12°C 12°C 12°C Amsterdam 8°C Madrid 10°C It happened at 12.20am when Orris, who
Chatham 8°C 11°C 12°C 12°C 10°C Ramsgate 9°C 10°C 11°C 12°C 11°C Athens 13°C NewYork 6°C wfriaesn ddr duonwkn,c ala filmigehdt ao fb sotuenpsc.er had thrown his
Barcelona 10°C Paris 10°C
Dartford 8°C 11°C 11°C 12°C 11°C Rochester 8°C 11°C 12°C 12°C 10°C Beijing -6°C Rome 10°C doPwonli,ceb uitn hteer vceonnetidn uaendd tot rbieed a gtgor ecsaslimve hainmd
Dover 8°C 9°C 10°C 10°C 10°C Sevenoaks 7°C 9°C 10°C 10°C 9°C Bombay 31°C Sydney 20°C squared up to the officer, causing the police-
CapeTown 33°C Tenerife 20°C man to fall and land against a broken railing.
Faversham 8°C 11°C 12°C 12°C 10°C Sittingbourne 8°C 11°C 12°C 12°C 10°C Cardiff 8°C Tokyo 5°C Orris told magistrates his concern was with
Folkestone 8°C 9°C 10°C 10°C 10°C Tonbridge 8°C 10°C 11°C 12°C 10°C Gibraltar 15°C Vancouver 7°C the bouncer and not with the police officer.
He later said he was humiliated at being in
HongKong 16°C Warsaw 4°C
Gillingham 8°C 11°C 12°C 12°C 10°C TunWells 8°C 10°C 11°C 12°C 10°C LasPalmas 20°C Wellington 22°C cthouart tw,awsa hs igrehmlyo ursnelfiukle layn tdo rite owccausr .an episode
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yourlocalinterview
QHow did you get involved with the alcohol service? and have powerful consequences both for socie- are no longer problematic,though it can be a
ty and the individual.We have a national prob- good idea to have a few weeks without alcohol.
QUESTION & ANSWER
AI joined the alcohol service in 1979 having lem with alcohol and this is reflected as much
worked as a mental health nurse in general in Kent as any other part of England. QWhat can friends and family do to help?
psychiatry.I’d become interested in treatment
BILL approaches at Mount Zeehan in Canterbury QHave you seen an increase in alcohol addiction in Kent? AIt can be very stressful to be around some-
and learned that working with problem one who is drinking too much,but friends
drinkers was rewarding and productive. AThe numbers who seek and are referred for and family should try to be honest with the per-
READING help have never been higher. The rise in son who is drinking by expressing their con-
QWhat is the role of the alcohol service? demand for treatment exceeds growth in the cerns and offering to help where they can.
population; more people are seeking help for It is important not to take responsibility away
AThe service has two functions.Firstly,it pro- drinking problems than in previous years. from the individual drinker and to recognise
Much of the problematic alcohol use remains
vides services to those affected by the use of that each individual must make their own
hidden and cannot be measured accurately in
alcohol and those who suffer the consequences choices. It is seldom a good idea to discuss such
terms of the number of people approaching spe-
of drinking by others.The second role is to pro- matters when someone is actually drunk.
cialist agencies for help.Alcohol is cheaper and
vide support,training and advice to profession-
more widely available and we know people are
als who deal with alcohol misuse such as doc- QDo you have any advice for people who may be concerned
drinking heavily at younger ages.It seems like-
tors,social workers,and probation officers. about their drinking over the recent festive period?
ly the number of people with alcohol problems
in Kent will continue to increase. AFor many people,alcohol will have formed
QWhat do you provide? part of their celebrations with no lasting dif-
QWhat advice can you give to people who are worried ficulties. Some people drink more during the
AWe provide a range of services throughout about their drinking habits? festive period than normal and simple meas-
east Kent,including different types of group AIt’s important to recognise alcohol problems ures such as alternating with non-alcoholic
treatment, individual help and help for fami- drinks,not drinking on an empty stomach and
can be solved with or without specialist
lies.We are able to accept self-referrals to the not drinking too early in the day can help.
help.There are many things which people can
service and help is free and confidential.The do to reduce their consumption,such as keeping If people did over-indulge it is a good idea to
main aim is to help people to help themselves. a record of consumption and trying to reduce follow this with a period of reduced drinking,or
this,and talking to someone who is trusted.If not drinking at all,to allow the body to recover.
QIs there a problem with alcohol in Kent? people are concerned they cannot reduce their A good piece of general advice is to check that
consumption,it is easy to get help. alcohol is being used to enhance celebrations,
AA recent study showed that levels of alcohol The staff at the alcohol service can give rather than using the celebrations as an excuse
consumption in Kent are relatively high advice. Although some people find they will for increased drinking.
compared with other parts of England. need to stop drinking completely,many others • The Kent & Medway Alcohol Service can be contacted by
Alcohol problems occur across the country can reduce their consumption to levels which telephoning 01227 761310
&
Bill Reading, head of Kent and Medway Alcohol Services, talks to Rob Livingstone about Kent’s increasing
problem with alcohol, and what can be done to assuage it, as well as explaining where to turn for help
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(cid:1)BY JON COATES Ladies saddle up for
TWO women will attempt to cycle
300 miles through a desert and a
tiger reserve in India to raise vital
funds for the hospice for the termi-
nally ill where they work.
300 miles of desert
Chief executive Kate Bosley and community
services manager Joan Pointer will take part
in the ten-day Rajasthan Tiger Challenge next
month for the Heart of Kent Hospice in
Maidstone.
Fundraisers for the hospice, which helps
adults with terminal illnesses,have to climb a
mountain every year to find the £2.9 million
needed to stay open.It receives a government
grant of £700,000,but the remaining £2.2 mil-
lion must be found from the community of the
county town.
During the charity challenge the senior man-
agers will use basic bicycles bought on arrival
to travel an average of 60 miles a day through
desert landscapes with forts and natures
reserves in temperatures reaching 35C.
Crocodile-infested
They will have to camp in reserves with croc-
odile-infested lakes and tigers, as well as
snakes and scorpions.
Kate and Joan,both married with families
and from the Maidstone area, have already
raised £2,738 in sponsorship,but have a target
of £5,000 before setting off.
They will fly from Heathrow to Delhi on
February 22, arriving the next day. After
exploring the street markets of the Indian cap-
ital and seeing landmarks like the Red Fort,
they will travel by train to Agra – the home of
the Taj Mahal.
After visiting the most extravagant monu-
ment to love ever built,the five days cycling will
start on small roads and dirt tracks through
Rajasthan – which means Land of the Kings.
They will visit Fatephur Sikri, a fortified
ghost city, Keoladeo Ghana National Park,
which is rich in colourful bird species,
Ranthambore National Park,which is famous
for its tigers but also is home to cheetah,wild
boar,leopards and hyenas,before finishing the
challenge at the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur.
For Kate,who has a fear of flying,touching
down in India will be a major achievement,but
she is most concerned about stomach illnesses GOODCAUSE: Chief Executive Kate Bosley and community services manager Joan Pointer will take part in the ten-day Rajasthan Tiger Challenge next month for The Heart of Kent Hospice
and the heat.
She said:“I am most worried about succumb- after a ten-day trip covering 220 miles across “We spent a year getting ready for it. We rience.I just hope Rajasthan lives up to it.”
ing to the change in diet and becoming unwell, Cuba in November 2006,which raised £15,000 joined a local cycle club, which we still cycle The friends and colleagues have taken holi-
as I will not give up easily.” for the hospice. with every week.We have got so much from day time from work and are paying their own
Her friend and colleague Joan does not like Kate said: “We both cycled, but had never this, in terms of personal fitness and well- travel expenses,so all the money they raise in
“creepy crawlies”,so is not looking forward to done more than 15 miles in a day.Joan said being,and a whole new group of friends. sponsorship will go to the hospice.
camping in the nature reserves. she would love to cycle across Cuba, so we “It changed my life,so that I am fit and have If you would like to sponsor the pair visit
This will be their second charity challenge decided to do it for the hospice. more energy.Cuba was also a wonderful expe- www.justgiving.com/kateandjoan.
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