Scouts are honoured at ‘Oscars’ evening


TOP accolades were handed out atMalling District Scouts’ first ‘Oscars’ ceremony, at- tended by more than 200 people. The glittering event even included a red


carpet welcome for guests, who included the Mayor and Mayoress of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Brian Luker and his wife, Joy. Hosts for the evening at The Malling School, East Malling, were 18-year-old An- drew Jolley, fromWilliamWarriors Explor- ers in Kings Hill and Mereworth and Alex Rolfe (16), from Quintain Explorers, Bor- ough Green. After the gold envelopes were opened, awards were presented for achievement, in- spiration and innovation to Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and leaders. Chief Scout awards were also handed out. Members of the Pheonix ExplorerUnit in


Aylesford were singled out as inspirational to the younger sections, having gained Duke of EdinburghAwards along with Plat- inum and Diamond Chief Scout Awards. Special honours went to Chris Hardy from Larkfield for inspirational leadership


Porsche driver’s


drink-drive ban ILYA Michailovitch Severon (32) of Cooper Road, Snod- land, was banned from driv- ing by Dartford and Gravesham magistrates for drink driving. On August 22, he drove a Porsche Cayenee along Shell- bank Lane, Bean, while over the drink drive limit. He had 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 35 mi- crogrammes. Severon, who admitted the offence, was disqualified for 24 months and fined £350 with £85 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge. The ban can be reduced by


six months if, before January 2013, he satisfactorily com- pletes a rehabilitation course costing £192.


The Mayor of Tonbridge andMalling, Cllr Brian Luker, cele- brates with Malling Scouts District Commissioiner Elaine Greenwood, Assistant District Commissioner Ken Sharp and some of the winners


and Sam Collins from Blacklands Scout Group, East Malling, for his IT skills. Sam, who said he had not slept for a week, had prepared all the presentations for the evening and had sole control for sound and lighting.


Highlight of the evening was the Stephen


Young Award, which was presented for the first time this year in memory of the Malling Districtmemberwho lost his life at the age of 18 in a hill-walkign accident in February 2010.


Reece Hayes receives the Stephen Young Award from County Commissioner Kevin Holford


This award was presented by County Commissioner Kelvin Holford to Reece Hayes (13) from 1st Ditton Scouts. He had been nominated by his leaders after over- coming tremendous obstacles to be able to enjoy the opportunities in Scouting. District Commissioner Elaine Greenwood


said: “I am delighted to to be able to cele- brate the achievements of so many children and leaders in such a fun way and hope that even more children and adults will be in- spired to join the adventure.”


Mencap group battles on


AN appeal for volunteers has been made by Maidstone Men- cap to safeguard the future of its Saturday gateway club for dis- abled children. Claire Smith, who has worked


for the charity for the past two years, said: "It is mainly young people who give up their time for the club, but with this month's return to university the club is in danger of losing the majority of its dedicated and ex- perienced volunteers. “This club makes such a dif- ference to the lives of the chil- dren, and their parents who receive a short respite every Sat- urday morning.” The children, aged from five


to 18, face a wide variety of dif- ficulties including autism, ADHD, physical disabilities, global development delay and


for the children of Chernobyl ALORRY load of aid has made its way to young victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster - thanks to Maidstone Lions Club. Ten tonnes of clothes, toys


and other items collected dur- ing the summer months were packed onto an artic that re- cently set off for Belarus. Club president Malcolm Luxton (pictured) said: “Every year the Lions clubs of the South East - but mainly Maidstone, Gillingham and Swale - send an artic lorryovertothe town of Gomel. Their wages are about £200 a month and many are still suffering from the fallout of the Chernobyl disas-


10 Malling Lions club roars into action


ter 25 years ago. “A huge number of young-


sters are in orphanages be- cause their parents have died. Their life expectancy is about 28 years. “We have set up a Lions club


in Gomel so we know that the aid is being distributed in the right way.” It is Mr Luxton’s second stint


as president – the former teacher and ex-borough coun- cillor served three years ago. He hopes he canraisethe club’s membership from its current 23. “There are so many charities in this coun- try that, even with more helpers than ever, they are spread so thinly,” he added.


chromosome disorders. Claire added: “Without new volunteers the club is in real danger of being forced to close and with parents fighting for places for their children to at-


tend it would be a huge loss to the local community if this were to happen.” Claire can be contacted by emailing clairesmith-91@hot- mail.co.uk


...but time is up for historic club


THE Maidstone Club is set to close to end an era that began in Earl Street in 1873. At its annual general meeting in August, the club’s management committee supported a recommendation from trustees to end the business. Areduction inmember numbers means the Maidstone Club is no longer viable and will be put on the market, though there is enough available money for it to continue until at least the end of the year. Secretary Roger Bettle said: “The committee knew that it didn’t


have any other option but to close it.” He added: “There was a very small number who voted against,


but if it hadn’t been carried I’m not sure what we would have done as I don’t know how it would continue in the current circum- stances with such a small number of members.”


Fatal smash after epileptic fit


ANepileptic fit caused aman to lose control of his car after visit ing his mum in Maidstone Hos- pital. Wayne Buss’s BMW hit the


kerb near the Premier Inn hotel in Tonbridge Road, Watering- bury, smashed through a boundary wall, overturned and came to rest on a petrol station forecourt. Mr Buss (43) died at the scene. An inquest heard that Mr


Buss, a car breaker, had been hit on the forehead by a crane sev- eral years earlier and had re- ceived medication for seizures. Mr Buss was travelling home


to Hadlow with his stepfather, Edward Clark, of East Peckham, after the hospital visit on July 19 last year. Mr Buss was slow- ing down as they approached the traffic lights, said Mr Clark. Next, he recalled Mr Buss being unconscious as the vehicle hit the kerb and ended on its roof.


Maidstone man Martin Bridger was in the garage shop whenheheardaloudbang as the BMW smashed through the wall and stopped after glancing his parked car. He ran outand sawMrBussupside down in the driver’s seat, his body shaking – “fitting”. He was later declared dead at the scene.


Pathologist Dr David Rouse


said the evidence suggested the cause of Mr Buss’s death was post-traumatic epilepsy with subsequent positional as- phyxia. He was a large, muscu- lar man and, suspended upside down, his weight pushing down on his diaphragm would have stopped him breathing. Coroner Patricia Harding gave


a narrative verdict that the inci- dent was caused by Mr Buss having an epileptic fit brought on by his earlier industrial acci- dent.


Support YOUR local paper — and we can support YOU - advertise on 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