Elderly benchmark Meet councillor Sam, aged 18
may be 55 TAYLORWimpey has ap- plied to lower the threshold of its elderly development at TheWillows, Church Green, Marden. Planning permission exists
for the erection of 22 units for those aged above 60, but the developer wants this to cover the over 55s to “im- prove the marketability” of the scheme.
SAM Lain started his political career long before he could even vote. Now, the 18-year-old from Staplehurst is Kent’s, if not the country’s, youngest parish councillor. He already counts borough councillor Eric Hotson and local MP Helen Grant among his friends. Sam first met Mrs Grant two years ago when she convinced him to become a member of the local Conserva-
tives. He joined her on a pram walk in protest at Maidstone Hospital los- ing its maternity serv- ices and recently spent a day at Westminster as her guest. Inspired by the MP
and her campaigning, Sam (pictured) did not think twice when he read about a vacancy for a co-opted mem- ber on the parish council. At first, he thought he faced
only one other candidate – a teacher at his former school. But on the night of the vote he heard that Richard Lusty, chair- man of Maidstone’s planning committee, was also in con- tention. “I was amazed that he had put
Best ever medal haul for karate club
A LOCAL karate club topped the medals table at a national championship for the first time in its short history. The Kimura Shukokai club, which runs club sessions at Maidstone, Kingswood,Mar- den, Lenham and Charing, brought home an impressive
11 gold, three silver and five bronze medals from the Birmingham venue. Seven club members,
who will represent England in July’s European Champi- onship, are appealing for sponsorship as there is no central funding available.
his name down. It was a close call between me and Richard but in the end I got more votes.” Reasons given to him for his success were that he was “young, enthusiastic and moti- vated”. He also has plenty of ex- perience of managing events, such as Kent’s Talent, an annual competition he set up in 2007 in memory of his grand- dad Brian Rose, who died of cancer the previous year. Sam, who has only been old enough to vote since April 1, is now a committee member plan- ning next year’s Staplehurst di- amond jubilee celebrations, as
well as being on the committee responsible for publicity and the council website. On the day the Downs Mail met him at his home in Offens Drive, Sam was on a tight schedule, between his college job and a
meeting of the village’s carnival and fete committee, on which he is the council’s representa- tive. His mum Alison said: “My
uncle, Barry Rose, was on Mar- den Parish Council a few years ago.
“Sam’s involvement with events comes from my side of the family. My dad, my uncle and Mike Apps set up the Mar- den Social Interest Group that organised the biggest carnival in the South East as well as other events.” Alison’s family is steeped in
the retail trade – her dad had three shops in Marden at one time. She works in a Staple- hurst supermarket and husband Kevin is the local postman.
Model engines theft ANUMBER of model steam en- gines were stolen from Lark- store Park, Lodge Road, Staplehurst, after thieves forced the front door to the commercial premises.
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