Stella’s story is key to the Guides’ reunion


PLANS are in place for a reunion of Girl Guides from the 1950s. It follows a story in the Downs Mail about Stella Holton (nee Clark), who had lived with her two sisters in Shepway, Maidstone, and is now county chairman of the EssexWest Trefoil Guild. In last May’s story, Stella recalled how 1st Maidstone Guides had been struggling to keep going until Dee Caiger got the com- pany back on its feet. Now, the “girls” plan a reunion at St Philip’s Church hall on Saturday, April 9. Stella said: “I have had contact with more


than 30 interested people andmany of them know of others.” She added: “In searching my old Guide bits I found a silver key (pictured) signed by


all the girls and given to me on my 21st birthday in 1956, plus wooden trefoil book-


Continued from page one andWeek Street. I believe that by delivering 1a and 1b we can raise the prosperity of the town." Cllr Garland said the public would not want


the council to get into significant debt, and the way the scheme was now being phased may re- sult in no debt at all. Cllr Malcolm Greer, Cabinet member for re- generation, said it would increase jobs, footfall and Maidstone's economic base. He compared it to the £2m investment in New Road, Brighton, which had boosted footfall by 170%. He added: "We want to show the way to drive Maidstone forward and that we are open for business." Finance director Mr Riley said: "We have


done what we can to rationalise the scheme to make it affordable." Opposition spokesman on regeneration, Cllr Tony Harwood had suggested a better way of


ends which are still in use.” Of those listed on the key, Stella has al-


ready made contact with Maureen Clark, Christine Elson, Carol Green, Rachel Sta- bles, Mary Pierce, Molly Kershaw, Audrey Button, Glennis Bourne, Hilary Stone, Wendy Moore, plus sisters Ann and Judith Petherbridge. Other names on the key are Linda Finch,


Glenys Ogden, Mary Rickerby, Celia Young, Lesley Bedford, Lesley Sainsbury, Susan Wise, Norma Binney, Mary Weedon, Diane Perryman, Jill Stickley, Mary Byrde, Anne Hext, Susan Dixon, M Wade, J Beckham, Zoe Taylor, Janet Young, Judith Ely, Sarah Jenner, Brenda Rogers and Margaret Bull. Stella can be contacted on 01708 743326.


Two-phase High Street project under fire


funding it would be through a higher percent- age of business rates coming back to local au- thorities, rather than going to the Government as now. His suggestion, that Maidstone could pilot such a scheme, was sent in letter to Whitehall, signed by CllrsWilson and Garland. Cllr Wilson said, if the High Street could be


funded that way, her group would remove its objection as the finances would be coming out of business rates, not out of the council's rev- enue account. Meanwhile, Cllr Garland told the cabinet, which endorsed the plan, not every council in Kent was in the fortunate position of having a capital budget that could deliver long-term benefits, which included “two-thirds” of the High Street at minimal debt” plus the museum extension and Mote Park revamp. KCC is contributing £600,000 to the High Street scheme.


Couple get 5 years for revenge attack


A LEEDS man and his partner have each been jailed for five years for a brutal attack on a relative's ex- boyfriend. Lauren Trundle (22) and Shane Jestin-Cull (26), of Wykeham Grove, took revenge on RichardWinter over the failed relationship. Trundle struck Mr Winter with a


snooker cue and Jestin-Cull threw him into a fish tank after a car chase to the victim's home in Park Wood, Maidstone. They denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent but were convicted by a jury. Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr


Winter had four months earlier split up from Trundle's sister and the pair became involved in the matter.


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