Mandy wins praise for business crime crackdown


ACAMPAIGNto reduce town cen- tre crime in Tonbridge and Malling has been recognised with an award, thanks to the efforts of Safer Towns Co-ordinator Mandy Smith. Traders who are members of the


borough’s Safer Towns Partnership can rent a radio which is linked to other businesses, the CCTV con- trol room, the co-ordinator and the police. They share information about criminals and can ban per- sistent offenders from their prem- ises. With Mandy’s efforts, the part- nership has expanded with 48 town centre businesses in Ton- bridge now taking part, and 12 in West Malling. The partnership was presented


King of spin LESLIE ‘Les’ King (82), who played village cricket for 50 years, once claimed the scalp of an ex-England captain with his spin bowling. Les, of NewingtonWalk, Vin-


ters Park, Maidstone, was aged 68 in his last season for Teston – but he still topped the bowling aver- ages.


Born in Wa- teringbury, the youngest of nine children, he spent time as a butcher's boy before going on to work as a cricket ball maker for 44 years at Readers in Teston. It was while playing for the village team in 1956, in an an- nual fixture against club presi- dent Sir Albert Stern's XI, that he took the wicket of George (FG) Mann, who had skippered England on the successful 1948-49 tour of South Africa. But Les was good with the bat


as well as the ball, as his nephew Geoff King reminded mourners at Les's funeral. Teston were playing Bluebell Hill and needed six to win off the last ball of the game. Les obliged by pulling the ball over the mid-wicket boundary. Les had previously played for Hollingbourne and Mereworth as well as being a member of Mote Park Bowls Club. In his younger days, Les was


noted for his dancing, which is how he met his future wife June at Chatham Town Hall. They married in 1957 and had twins, Suzanne and Joanne. They lost Joanne to leukaemia in 1978 and June died three years later.


with the Safer Business Award from the Association of Business Crime Partnerships, a national not- for-profit organisation working to reduce problems such as anti-so- cial behaviour and shoplifting. The council’s chief executive


David Hughes said; “Many con- gratulations to Mandy Smith and her colleagues who have worked tirelessly to secure this award for the safer Towns Partnership in Tonbridge and Malling. “There is no doubt that the part-


nership is helping to make the bor- ough an even safer place for businesses, residents, shoppers and visitors and I’m delighted that more and more businesses are signing up and benefiting from the scheme.”


The Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling Cllr Sue Murray with Safer Towns co-ordinator Mandy Smith and Sandy Hobbs from the Association of Business Crimes Partnership.


We will remember


Shelly Baker SHELLY Baker (nee Amos) (38), lived locally her whole life. Born in Maidstone, she moved with her family to East Malling as a child and re- mained in that area until her death. Her homes included Jas- mine Close (where her par- ents still live) and Larkspur Close. After work-


ing at Kent Ware and Lark- field Leisure Centre she raised children Zak, Savannah, Chelsea and Peggy with husband Tony. He said: “Shelly was very lov-


ing, she lived for her children. She was strong in the face of the illness she fought for the final year of her life. She was a loving mother, daughter and friend who will be missed by everyone who knew her. She also had a real love of pigs, and collected lots of models of them including stuffed toys and pot- tery models.” Shelly leaves her widower, children and parents.


Stephen Hunter NOTED interior designer Stephen Hunter (58), of Town Hill, West Malling, enjoyed an impressive and varied career. Born in Maidstone, he worked in his youth at Church Farm, Offham, KCC highways department and Page & Wells estate agents in Larkfield.


Albany Funerals


(Independent Local Funeral Director) 22 Malling A course at Medway College


of Art and Design set him off on his chosen career. He also stud- ied in Manchester and went on to work as far north as Cumbria, where he was involved in inte- rior designs for nuclear sub- marines built at Barrow-in- Furness. In the mid-eighties he moved


to West Malling, settling in Offham Road. He went on to work on high profile design projects, rising to direct operations including Di- ageo’s headquarters in Park Royal and BT’s City Place at Gatwick. Friends and colleagues have


paid tribute to his immense tal- ents. He was also known as a music lover, with a huge col- lection of records. Twice married, Stephen met


his first wife Marianne at Man- chester Polytechnic.His second wife Helen cared for him dur- ing his battle with prostate can- cer.


Stephen leaves his widow and sons Chris, Nick and Tom.


Ivy Sells IVY Grace Sells (nee Green- away) (97), who has died in Nottinghamshire, was raised in East Farleigh and went into do- mestic service, aged 13, for the family of newspaper proprietor Roy Pratt Boorman. She spent 10 years in the job before marrying Victor “Vic” Sells, settling in Coxheath and joining her husband in farm work. Ivy raised children Linda and


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Roy and the family eventually moved to Kilnbarn Road, Dit- ton, in a home linked to Vic’s work at the East Malling Research Sta- tion. Vic died just before re- tirement in 1974, and Ivy and Linda moved to New Road, Ditton. Roy said:


“My mother was noted for her well-presented gardens. She was friendly and cheerful and a popular babysitter in Ditton. She followed Maidstone United for many years, attending some games, and later on followed Arsenal.” When daughter Linda moved


to the south coast, Ivy moved to Nottingham to be with Roy. She leaves her children, grandchil- dren Joanne and David and great-grandson Jonathan.


Stones’ captain GORDON Bailey (91), who skippered Maidstone United during the post-war years, has died, aged 91. He had lived for the last 33 years in Trap- field Close, Bearsted, and prior to that in Sutton Road, Maidstone. Derbyshire-


born Gordon married Mar- garet ‘Peggy’ in 1944 before going to France with the Royal Engineers. Widowed in 2002, Gordon leaves his children, step-chil- dren, three grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.


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