Bank holiday fun turned to tragedy


MAIDSTONE Council is con- sidering erecting warning signs at the spot where a youngster drowned in the River Medway. Alex Chappell (12), from Hay-


don Close, Barming, died when he slipped from a rope swing and fell into the river at Tovil on theMay bank holiday last year. Alex (pic- tured), who wasapoor swimmer,was playing with two friends, Alfie Burfoot and Callum Dunmall, near Stampers Park, when he lost his grip on the rope swing, a Maidstone inquest heard. He twice came to the surface, shouting for help but then dis- appeared from sight. Callum’s stepfather Stephen Francis plunged into the water but could not find him, while Alfie


Lent campaign ST Simon Stock School in Maidstone raised more than £500 to provide clean water for people around the world. Pupils from the Catholic school undertook a range of fundraising activities as part of Catholic aid agency CAFOD’s “Give itUp” campaign for Lent, including selling cakes, spon- sored silences – even magic shows.


CAFOD’s Lent appeal was awarded pound for pound match funding by government.


Fuel theft charge A MAIDSTONE man is due to appear in court in connection with an incident where fuel was stolen from a vehicle after a holewas drilled into the tank. The 45year-old was charged


with theft of fuel in Paynes Lane,Maidstone, between May 17 and 19 and was bailed to ap- pear before Maidstone Magis- trates Court on June 18.


Volunteer drivers IN last month’s Downs Mail,we suggested that the Voluntary Action Maidstone-run commu- nity car scheme had lost its funding. The service is, in fact, self-funded and there is no pos- sibility of VAM’s Transport service being unable to operate. The organisation in question was a Tonbridge-based charity.


A MAIDSTONE mother of two who was found hanged in the yard of a town centre DIY store had a history of depression, an inquest heard. Ruth Sayers (46), from Pevensey Court, was found hanging from a skip in the rear yard of Homebase in St Peter Street in December 2010. She had been reported miss- ing by her family the previous


30 Town


and a passer-by dialled 999. Mr Francis told the inquest


the water was cold and murky. “Ittookmybreathaway,”he said. “It was very dark. I could not see anything whenmy head was under the water.” Mr Francis made two unsuc- cessful attempts to findAlex be- fore the emergency services arrived. Fire teams found Alex’s body less than two hours later, not far from the spot where he had fallen in. However, all at- tempts to revive him failed. In a statement read out to the


court, Alfie (also 12), told how the three boys had been into Maidstone and were walking back along the river bank when they decided to have a go on the rope swing. Each took a turn, but Alex decided he wanted a second swing. It was at that point that a


stick, which was fixed through a knot on the rope, slipped and Alex fell, said Alfie. After dialling 999, Alfie sent


THE Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Rodd Nelson-Gracie, met young entrepreneurs showcasing their ideas to business leaders at a MidKent College trade fair. Cllr Nelson-Gracie and col- league Cllr Dennis Collins were among guests invited to grill the students about their business plans, including a pet-sitting service, cake-making firm and video game club. Abbie Spence (18), from


Bearsted, was named overall winner for her “Carping Around” plan to utilise Kent’s natural re- sources by way of a fishery with accommodation. Themayor said hewas very im- pressed by the quality of the ideas on display. MidKent College is currently


AFATHERand sonteamare planning to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise money for charity. Mathew Russell, of Chatham


Road, Sandling, and his son Conor Montague are planning to leave John O’Groats on July 27, and arrive in Land’s End on August 6, and are making the 1,000-mile trip in memory of their friend Mark Porter, who died from cancer, aged 43.


Callum to get help and went in search of a lifebelt. The inquest heard that it was possible the nearest available lifebelt was missing, as checks by the council three weeks be- fore the accident found it was there, but a week after the tragedy, it was missing. Detective Sergeant Martin Davies told the inquest that there were numerous rope swings tied to trees in the area. As soon as they were removed, others took their place. How- ever, he said the tree branches at the site of the accident had since been removed. The scene of the tragedy is just


yards from the children’s play area at Stampers Park, which is unfenced, as is the river. Pascale Bates, representing Maidstone Borough Council, said the council made regular checks along the river banks for items such as rope swings and other potential hazards and had them removed. Lifebelts were


Mayor meets budding entrepreneurs


checked monthly, sometimes weekly during the school holi- days, and low branches were also periodically removed. There had been no previous history of accidents at that loca- tion, the inquest heard, but the coroner, Patricia Harding, said while the river was less danger- ous at that point than at many other places along the Medway, she would not encourage peo- ple to swim in it. Mr Bates said the council was looking at the whole stretch of the river to identify danger “hotspots” with a view to erect- ing warning signs. In recording a verdict of acci- dental death, the coroner de- scribed the event as a “tragedy” and said: “Even though the river looked benign at that time ... it was cold and there were reeds at the bottom. “Even a proficient swimmer would have had difficulty and Alex, unhappily, could not cope in it.”


Walk aims to top


£200,000 target THEWeald of Kent Rotary Club is hosting its 27thAnnual North DownsWalk on Sunday, July 1, in aid of Cancer Research UK and other local charities. The annual walk has so far


Maidstone Mayor Cllr Rodd Nelson-Gracie with Cllr Den- nis Collins and Kim Owen, MKC's programme area leader for business


working to help establish a sep- arate organisation called En- train, which aims to help young people set up their own busi- nesses and bid for work.


Charity cycle ride is a family affair


They hope to raise £10,000, which will be shared between two charities – the RoyalMars- den Cancer Charity and the Children’s Trust. To sponsor the pair, visit


www.virginmoneygiving.com/ MathewRussell. Mathew and Conor are also raising money at an open day in Barclays in Maidstone High Street on July 7, when the bank will match donations pound for pound.


day, after failing to return home. CCTV footage showed Miss Sayers, from Pevensey Court, Maidstone, buying two pieces of rope in two separate transac- tions at the store, an hour apart. Her mobile phone revealed a string of missed calls from her family.


Depressed mother killed herself The Maidstone inquest heard


that Miss Sayers had suffered with mental health problems for a number of years and had re- cently been diagnosed as bipo- lar. She was on several prescription drugs, which in- cluded a mood stabiliser and an anti-depressant.


raised £190,000 for Cancer Re- search UK and this year they want to see that figure break the £200,000 mark. Organiser Chris Jesson said:


“We are looking for 500 walkers to take part in this fantastic event and help to raise £30,000 for research into cancer.” The walk starts and ends at Harrietsham Village Hall, near Lenham, and passes through stunningWealden countryside. Participants can choose from


either a five or 10-mile route that takes them away from the roads as it crosses farmland and over country stiles, with spec- tacular views along the way. At the end of the walk, par- ticipants will receive a certifi- cate, ploughman’s lunch and strawberries, with entertain- ment from a local jazz band. Entry to the walk is free with sponsorship and donations or on payment of £10 on the day. Walkers can give 100% to Can- cer ResearchUKor split it 50-50 with a charity of their choice. For more information, visit www.wealdofkentrotary.org


She had tried to take her own


life on at least two previous oc- casions, her mother,Mrs Shirley Sayers, told the inquest, and, despite ongoing support from her family and care workers, her moods remained volatile. Maidstone and Mid-Kent Coroner Patricia Harding recorded a verdict that Miss Sayers killed herself whilst suf- fering from depression.


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