Help at hand for head injury victims


PEOPLE living with the long-term effects of brain injury are to get their own drop-in centre in Maidstone town centre. The local branch of the Headway charity


is opening a new weekly facility at the Switch Café, off the High Street, to mark Ac- tion for Brain Injury week (May 9-15).


BRAIN injury can have devas- tating effects on a family, such as theWellers who live in Cow- drey Close, Fant. Keith was an active man who played cricket for Holling- bourne, liked a game of golf and was in partnership with his twin brother in an electrical business. In November 2002, Keith’s life


was turned upside down when he suffered the first of three brain aneurysms – a life or death situation. He emerged from a coma and 10 days in an intensive trauma unit facing a long struggle to recover. Wife Maureen said: “He had


to learn to walk, talk, wash, dress and feed himself all over again. It was like watching a person being reborn. Keith had a problem with hismemory and had trouble recognising people. His eyesight had also been af- fected. “Keith has to have a compan-


ion with him if he goes out any- where as he cannot remember where he is going, which must be very hard for him, but you


Service manager Di Drummond said:


“Over the years we’ve assisted very many people who are coping with this sometimes very complex condition. “Recognising a need for support in the Maidstone area, we are delighted to open a new service on Thursdays, commencing


Recovering from a nightmare


never hear him complain. “Keith has lost his short-term memory and cannot transfer new events into his long-term memory. This is such a shame, as he enjoys whatever he is doing at the time. “To anyone who does not


know Keith, they would think that there was nothing wrong. His brain injury is a hidden problem, which is very hard for people to understand as it is not like meeting someone with a broken limb. “Keith attends Headway


twice a week, which he really enjoys. He does activities such as pottery, music and word games among other things and he meets up with people with similar problems, which gives him a social life outside the home. “His memory has improved slightly since attending Head- way; he can now remember some of the names of the staff and other attendees. This is fan- tastic! Attending also gives him independence and not having to rely on me all of the time.


AN alcoholic woman probably fell backwards at home, causing a fatal head injury, an inquest heard. But the coroner recorded an open verdict in


the absence of any firm evidence about the cir- cumstances. Zowie Faulds (32) was found dead on her set-


tee, with an empty vodka bottle nearby, at her home in Northumberland Road, Shepway, on Sunday, September 12, last year. She was alive last on the previousWednesday. Pathologist David Rouse estimated she had


died nearer to Sunday than Wednesday, which could explain why there was little evidence of alcohol in her system. Det Insp Dominic Kilbride said police spoke


to neighbours after they failed to get a reply at Mrs Fauld’s house in connection with an unrelated issue. One neighbour’s daughter had said she did not look well and had asked


Maureen (seated), and (l-r) her son Daryl Roots, Keith and his daughterLauraWellerat the couple’s wedding in June 2009


“Headway has also been a


great help to me. I know that I have friends at the end of the phone or in person when I at- tend Headway social events. It is reassuring that there are oth- ers who understand what we are going through. “We are so grateful for all the help Keith has had over the last


Open verdict recorded on alcoholic’s death


not to be disturbed. When police entered via an unlocked back


door they found the TV on, a wallet with £80 and no signs of a disturbance. There were also no indications how she had sustained an injury to the back of her head. Mr Rouse concluded it was the result of an “accel- erated” backwards fall, possibly from the lower steps of the staircase, but there were other pos- sible explanations. Coroner Roger Sykes said there was no evi-


dence to indicate how the head injury was sus- tained but it was possible she had been intoxicated and had fallen, but survived for long enough for the evidence of alcohol to have evap- orated. Mr Sykes recorded an open verdict on Mrs Faulds, who had had “frequent and repeated stays in hospital” for drink-related problems. He said it was sad she had died at such a young age.


Officers take on challenge for wounded police colleague


The Three Peaks challengers from Kent Police Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


EIGHT specialist officers from Kent Police’s tac- tical operations group are taking part in the na- tional Three Peaks Challenge in June to raise money for the Blue Lamp foundation. The foundation was established by PC David Rathband, who was shot and blinded by Raoul Moat in Northumberland last year. It supports emergency service workers criminally injured in the line of duty. To make the challenge even more difficult, the officers will take it in turns to carry a medics bag, weighing 15kg, which is not only heavy, but un- comfortable. The bag is used operationally but not designed to be worn for long periods. More details at www.justgiving.com/blue- lamp3peaks


22 Town


eight-and-a-half years, includ- ing what Headway has done and is still doing. But life will never be the same. We live for the moment because after the moment, Keith will have forgot- ten.”


Further information from Headway on 01892 619001 or at www.headwaytwells.org


Inn to restaurant PLANNING permission was granted to convert the closed Fountain Inn pub in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, into a Spice Fusion restaurant. Applicant Enamul Haque plans to serve Indian and sub-continental food on the site, and also ex- tend a toilet block and conser- vatory.


Recycling review A KENT-wide review of household waste recycling centres, including Tovil’s, will include the possibility of charging users. Charges of £2 a visit at four Somerset recycling centres were brought in this month. KCC’s environment and


waste scrutiny committee heard that a review of its 19 sites would be completed by late summer. Executive director Mike Austerberry said that “noth- ing is off the agenda”. Sue Barton, business devel- opment manager for waste, said increased income could come from a variety of sources, such as sales of recy- cled materials. Cllr Malcolm Robertson (Maidstone Central) said re- cycling centres are highly valued by the public but he believes there are ways of get- ting better value from them.


May 12, from 11am to 2.30pm.” Initially, Headway will have a drop-in


service for people with brain injuries and their families and also some activities at the café. A buddy service will be developed so that individuals can visit the facilities in the company of a friend.


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