Continued from page one


adventure. "If the money raised helps future generations of Scouts or sends a message to others about the dangers of water we will have known that something good has come from this devastating tragedy.” Cameron's canoe capsized in fast-flowing


water on April 17 and he died despite the brave efforts of the friend he was with, passers-by and the emergency services. Cameron had a British Canoe Union 2-star qualification and had done the sport for four years. His mother Sue said: “It’s impossible to


put into words how much he will be missed, I feel like I have lost a little bit of me. The house is so empty without him, he was bigger than life and when Cameron was round you would feel his presence. He was


OVER a quarter of shoppers tested in Maidstone were warned to seek medical atten- tion over high blood pressure. Members of the Red Cross


and the Rotary Club of Maid- stone Riverside offered free blood tests. The annual ‘Know Your Blood Pressure’ campaign was set up in The Mall and checked 270 people in one day. Around 75 (27%) of the shop-


pers had high blood pressure and were advised to see their doctor. Peter Bodycombe, the Rotary


Club president, said: “If only one person is warned in time to avoid having a stroke, the day will have been worthwhile.”


Peter Bodycombe has his bloodpressure checked.


Get ready for fun and games


SPORTS and dancing displays will be part of a fun-packed day when Aylesford Royal British Legion Village holds its Southern Games. The event, on Saturday, July 16, from noon to 7pm, will have attractions for all the family, who can bring a picnic and join in the activities. Among the sports will be athletics, boxing, judo, football, mar-


tial arts, gymnastics, karate, as well as track and field events, a three-mile cross-country race and tug-of-war competitions, for everyone to compete for medals and cash prizes. In the early evening there will be an open air concert per- formed by local bands. All proceeds will go to the Heart of Kent Hospice, Demelza Children’s Hospice and the Royal British Legion.


Drop-in centre A NEW cancer drop-in centre will open its doors inWest Malling every Monday from June 6, from 10am to 1pm. Star Cottage Holistic Centre,


in Offham Road, will provide free support for patients and their families andcarers. Complementary therapies


will also be available, free of charge.


Medway teen canoe tragedy


such a huge part of our lives.” His dad added: “He was my shadow. We


used to go hunting and salmon fishing to- gether, which was one of Cameron’s pas- sions and we’d have the time to set the world to rights. "Although he was usually a man of few


words, he had a quiet independence and had a great ability to make others laugh, with the most fantastic sense of humour.” Older sister Hannah (18) will remember


him for his great smile. "I thought the world of him. Although we were siblings, we got on really well and were great friends too." She said shewould cherish the memories of


Shoppers’blood pressure warning


the last few days they spent together. Mrs Sandell continued “We have to live


for Cameron’s memory now. Cameron loved hillwalking in Northumbria and we used to go as a family every year. "As a child, we used to plant chocolate at


the top as a surprise for him and he would think the mountain was made of chocolate. We plan to go back again this year and plant some chocolate in his memory. "He would have been 15 in June and on


his birthdaywe’re going to the beach and re- lease Chinese lanterns at the end of the day. It’s where he would have wanted to be.” Cameron, who was very close to his grandparents Michael and Marion Sandell, was a pupil at Mascalls School, Tonbridge. An inquest has been opened and ad- journed.


Solar farm plan for sheep pasture


PLANS have been unveiled for a 40-acre green energy site on farmland between Aylesford and Eccles. The project, which would in-


volve rows of solar panels in two fields beside Bull Lane, would provide power to the nearby Cemex quarry. Any sur- plus would be supplied to the National Grid. Each panel would be two to


three metres high and they would be around four metres apart. A small cabin containing electrical equipmentwould also be built in each field. The scheme, which is close to Bushey Wood, has provoked local concerns about the visual impact and the effect on the en- vironment. But Low Carbon Solar Part-


ners, the Cirencester-based firm which would install the panels, said that, in terms of noise, pol- lution and traffic, there would be no adverse effect on visual impact or biodiversity. No trees would need to be removed and existing hedgerows and foot- paths would be protected. Around 150 lorry loads


TRIBUTES have been paid to a Larkfield lorry driver following his death in a motorway smash. Zdislaw Piorko (53), was killed when his truck collided with a coach carrying 49 passengers on the M11 near Stansted, Essex, on April 30. Originally from Poland, the father of one had moved to UK six years ago and lived in Larkfield with his partner Bozena and her 20-year-old son. She said: “He will be missed and cried for by


all who knew him.” Mr Piorko, who had two grandchildren, was


Garden tour and delicious cream tea THERE’s a chance to visit a beautiful garden and enjoy a cream tea at St John the Baptist church in Tonbridge Road,Wateringbury. Along with floral displays visitors can dedicate a flower in mem-


ory of a loved one on Saturday, June 25 from 10.30am to 5pm and on Sunday, June 26 from 2pm to 5pm. Refreshments, cream teas and home-made cakes will be available. On the Sunday, visitors can combine a tour of Broomscroft Gar-


den, 143Canon Lane,Wateringbury, with a cream tea at the church. The garden will be open from 2pm to 4pm in aid of church funds. Parking is available. Tickets for the garden and cream tea cost £6, while garden only is £3.50, with accompanied children free. Info – 01622 813032.


8 Malling


Cllr FitzGerald after the abseil.


would be needed over six months to move all the equip- ment on to the site. Once the solar array was op- erating, only two visits a year would be required for routine maintenance and the land could continue to be used for grazing sheep. The company says the panels


are designed to last for a mini- mum 25 years and are recycla- ble. At the end of the lease, the land would be returned to solely agricultural use. The firm has made an initial approach to Tonbridge and Malling Council, prior to sub- mitting a formal planning ap- plication. The council has decided the company need not provide an environmental im- pact assessment as part of the planning process. Eccles Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinatorWilliam Hadley ex- pressed concern at a meeting of Aylesford Parish Council that many residents of the village had been unaware of a public exhibition of the project and had therefore missed the chance to research and comment.


Tributes to truck driver killed in motorway smash


trapped in the cab of his HGV which was carrying fruit and vegetables. He and a 63-year-old woman passenger on the


Dover-bound coach were pronounced dead at the scene. Six people were also injured. Mr Piorko, whose 30-year-old son lives in Poland with his wife and two children, was de- scribed as “a quiet man” who was very interested in current affairs and had “a very positive and happy” outlook on life. The bus was on a day trip in Belgium.


Oldest abseiler in town?


AT the age of 73, borough Cllr Mike FitzGerald can lay claim to being one of Maidstone’s old- est abseilers. The Independent member for Boughton Monchelsea andChart Sutton wardraised money for Maidstone Christian Care - of which he is trustees’ chairman - by abseiling down FremlinWalk into Earl Street. The Maidstone Christian Care team, which supports homeless andvulnerable people. raised around £1,500 in individual sponsor- ships.


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48