Team scales new heights for charity


Tree felling request MOTE Cricket Club has ap- plied to fell a group of pro- tected poplar trees fronting WillowWay, Maidstone, out- side the main pavilion. According to Brian Piper’s application: “After being top- ped eight years ago they are dangerous. As suggested, they will be replaced with six lime trees in the same place.” Maidstone Council will de- cide on the application.


Park CCTV cameras NEW CCTV cameras are being earmarked as part of the Mote Park improvement project. The three 8ft-high poles are to be located at the Burning ground, a newly cre- ated car park; existing main car park, currently being up- graded, and at the ice cream kiosk, an isolated facility that attracts vandalism.


Stamps to buffets A MULTI-ethnic buffet restaurant is lined up to oc- cupy the disused former Post Office building in King Street, Maidstone. Maidstone Council granted


a premises licence for the two-storey building to East andWest Restaurants of Soli- hull to set up Jimmy Spices, seating up to 402 people.


A MAIDSTONE member of the Kent Search and Rescue (KSAR) team has helped to raise more than £3,500 for the charity during a mission to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Nicky Richardson (32), from Allington, who


works as volunteer co-ordinator in the planning and environment department at KCC, was part of a four-person team from the countywho made the


The Kent Search and


Rescue team, who


scaled the


heights of Africa’s highest peak


A28-YEAR-OLDMaidstone man died suddenly when his heart failed due to a rare condition that showed no warning signs. Trainee shop manager Chris-to-


pher Burrows was found dead in his bedroom by his father, William, at the family home in Square Hill Road, on April 12. Mr Burrows told an inquest at Maidstone that his son had no medical problems, although he had recently lost weight. The family had attributed this to his shift work patterns. Recording a verdict of natural causes, Coroner Patricia Harding


six-day ascent to reach Uhuru Point – at 5,895m the highest point of the Tanzanian peak and the highest mountain in Africa. The group joined 22 other trekkers, all raising funds for charities around the country. Kent Search and Rescue is a 65-strong group of volunteers called upon by Kent Police and other emergency organisations to assist in the search for any of the 1,800 people who go missing in the county each year. Nicky has been a member for the past 18 months. The team are called in to help find a range of missing persons, from children and young people to the elderly or those with Alzheimers’ and De- mentia; anyone considered vulnerable. It costs £13,000 each year to run the service, even with the support of the volunteers. Nicky said: “The funds will make a big impact.


We can buy new first aid and radio equipment amongst other things to better help us when we are called out.”


Tragic sudden death of young store trainee


ruled that Christopher’s was a case of sudden cardiac death, a little-known syndrome that af- fects fewer than 800 people in the country each year, mainly young men. Mr Burrows said his son, who worked at Sainsbury’s, had seemed well when he last saw him on the evening before his death. But next day he had found him on the floor near his bed.His face was against the edge of the cabinet and he had cuts and bruising on his head. He said: “I tried to give him first aid. As soon as I touched


New Year New challenge - Pass that driving test!


DAVID Smart has a passion for seeing his learner drivers ripping up their L plates as soon as possible.


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David was trained by Learner Driving Centres, which claim to save individuals about £450 in lesson costs.


According to Government figures, learners each buy on average 52 hours of driving tuition. In total, those who passed had on average 67 hours of driving experience including practice with family or friends.


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David said: “Everybody is different and the LD System allows for flexibility in lessons so that you learn to drive safely at a rate that suits you.” For a limited period only David is offering the first five hours of driving lessons for only £60, plus the LD workbook worth £14.95 free of charge. This offer is not available to those nearing test standard.


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him and went for his pulse, I knew he was dead.” Pathologist Dr David Rouse


said the post mortem showed nothing significant and therewas no evidence of alcohol or drugs. After further tests by consultant Dr Mary Sheppard, it was con- cluded Christopher had a genetic condition leading to sudden car- diac death. The coroner said: “Although


this is an unusual death, it oc- curs in a very small percentage of the population, usually young adult males. It is a natural cause of death.”


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You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


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