Camper van death ‘misadventure’


A MIDDLE-AGED man had an inexplicable fatal fall from a camper van window on a motorway in France, an inquest heard. The incident happened almost five years


ago when Dave Manktelow, 45, of Cham- berlain Road, Maidstone, was travelling with three friends to the Le Mans 24-hour motorcycle race for a “lads’ weekend away”. Driver Darren Golding told the


hol, said there was banter but no arguments as they headed south on the A28. By 3am, the other three men seemed to be


asleep – his brother on the settee, Mr Roberts in the passenger seat and Mr Manktelow in


Some time after, Mr Golding noticed a


The coroner criticised the French emergency services for an “in- excusable delay” in tendingto Mr Manktelow, who had suffered a fractured skull in the fall. Mr Sykes said it must have been “highly distressing” for those present.


hearing that Mr Manktelow and the two oth- ers – brother Tony Golding and their friend John Roberts – had shared two bottles of red wine and some vodka in the van, after their evening crossing from Dover in April 2006. Mr Golding, who had not drunk any alco-


No-go for houses AN outline application to erect two houses at 422 Loose Road was refused on appeal. Maidstone Council refused


the application last April. A planning inspector agreed that the proposal would harm the living conditions of future oc- cupiers and the character and appearance of the area.


Change of dental use PERMISSION was granted to convert a dental laboratory to a dental practice in Postley Road, Maidstone.


the double bunk above the driver’s cab. Mr Golding, who owned the camper


van, had told Mr Manktelow not to put his feet on his pillow as they smelled, and asked him to open the side window as he intended to sleep in the bunk later.


Escape from Alcatraz


A TEACHER at SandlingPrimary School is to face the challenge of a lifetime. Stephen Honey, 24, from Penenden Heath, is to swim the gruelling 1.5 miles from the fortress island of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay to the mainland – in aid of Bowel Cancer UK. His “ultimate adventure” on April 12 will


see Stephen battle against strong currents and cold water as he swims from the im- posingabandoned prison. Triathlete Stephen decided to take on the challenge after


his father was diagnosed and successfully treated for the dis- ease, Britain’s second biggest cancer killer. Donations at http://www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Honey.


Leaves damaging house A REQUEST has been made to prune a pro- tected lime tree at West Lodge, St Andrew’s Road, Maidstone, to reduce water damage to the house caused by excessive leaf litter.


Children’s care home THE Regard Partnership has been given planning permission to convert a home into a residential cen- tre providing specialist care for children at 76 Bower Mount Road, Maidstone.


man’s foot, followed by his midriff, hanging from the outside of the van, near the mirror. He remembered making eye contact with Mr Manktelow through the glass. Mr Golding braked hard and shouted: “No”, wakening the other two men who got out to look for Mr Manktelow . Coroner Roger Sykes asked Mr


Golding if Mr Manktelow may have been playing some sort of game, trying to give him a fright by dangling out of the window. But Mr Golding, who had known the de- ceased since their schooldays, replied: “He did not do that sort of thing. It would be to-


tally alien to Dave’s character.” The following day, the


stunned friends tried to repeat what Mr Manktelow seemed to have done. The inquest heard Mr Roberts managed to squeeze through the window back- wards, but only with discom- fort and some pain. Mr Sykes, who ruled out sui-


cide, recorded a verdict of mis- adventure. He said that on the balance of probability, Mr Manktelow’s actions were de- liberate, albeit with unintended consequences. Also, the coroner told the hearing it was not until No- vember 2009 that the Foreign Office told him the French au- thorities would not be sending him a report into the incident. A further request from him failed to produce a response.


The place for plants


We are an independent garden centre run by a team of people with a passion for plants and an enthusiasm to share it.


Whether you’re a fair weather gardener or a plant lover and collector, we have plenty to offer with an incredible selection of seasonal bedding and an extraordinary choice of hardy plants, from alpines to climbers and roses to fruit trees, to name just some.


So if you’re looking for something special or


are preparing for a summer in the garden, we know we’ve got something to suit you, but don’t take our word for it, please come and see us. We look forward to seeing you soon!


Bigger and better for 2011


We’ve been busy over the winter, come and see what we’ve been up to!


We stock the free 2011 Yellow Book for Kent and MBC Garden Waste Bags


01622 737801


Ashford Road (A20), Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4NH www.thepottedgarden.co.uk


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk Town 21


We are open 7 days a


week 9am – 5.30pm including Sundays & Bank Holidays


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