Village stunned by loss
A GRIEVING village has been coming to terms with the sad loss of popular teacher Frances Cappuccini who died after giv- ing birth to her baby son. The much-loved 30-year-old,
who taught at Offham Primary School, suffered a haemorrhage after her childwas delivered by Caesarean section at Pembury Hospital on Tuesday, October 9. The baby, named Jack Frankie
after his mother, weighed 7lbs and 15oz when he was born at 8.30am. She was able to hold the little boy before she died later that day. The school in Church Lane
was closed next day as head teacher Philip Hunter and staff came to terms with the tragedy and parents were emailed with the shocking news. Tributes to the Year 1 teacher
poured in from colleagues and families and a book of remem- brance was opened at St Michael’s Church. A steady stream of vil- lagers lit candles and left flowers and messages. One from pupil Jacob said: “You were the best teacher in the world.”
Another from Sophia said: “I will always re- member you as the
kindest
teacher.” Kent County Council area education officer David Adams said: “Frances was a much-loved teacher and will be greatly missed. Our
RESIDENTS have paid tribute to Teston’s popular sub-postmaster John Zygmant as “a pillar of the community” following his death after a long illness.
Mr Zygmant (66) had revealed a few weeks
earlier that the post office in Church Street was facing closure after he was diagnosed with an incur- able cancer.
Villagers saidhewould besadlymissedbyeveryone.
Meanwhile, they have rallied round in a bid to save their post office
services.Somany people packed into a meeting at the village hall that some had to stand outside and listen through open windows.
thoughts are with her family, friends and the school commu- nity.
Afffectionately nicknamed “Mrs Coffee” by the pupils, because of her name, Mrs Cappuccini had been a teacher at Offham for nine years and was in charge of blue class. She lived in West Malling with her hus- band Tom, and their three-year-old son Luca. A statement on the school website said: “The staff would like to thank everyone for their support, understanding
and empathy over the last few days and our thoughts are with her family at this very difficult time.”
Tributes paid to ‘community pillar’ postmaster The parish council pledged to investigate
alternatives and is seeking planning permission for a portable building which could house a village store and post office.
Council chairman Peter Coulling said: “The
parish council has applied to Maidstone Council for a temporary portable building at the village hall. The idea is to provide facilities for a post office and storewhichwould be run on a commercial basis.”
The nearest post offices are at Wateringbury and Barming.
Monumental Stonemasons Est. 1973
NAMM, BRAMM & NAMLC Registered
BHS store to close THE BHS home furnishings store at Quarry Wood, Ayles- ford, is to close on January 13. The branch is one of 250 throughout the country that were earmarked for closure by parent company Arcadia Group after a 40% fall in
profits.An estimated 60 jobs will go with the closing of theAylesford store. The lease was sold in 2011 to Irish-based Smyths Toys and planning approval was granted a year ago to divide the prem- ises into two and add a mezan- nine floor, enabling BHS to downsize into a smaller unit.
Wateringbury hosts
a Dickensian Xmas WATERINGBURY Players will present “A Dickensian Evening at Christmas” to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens. Performed on Thursday, Fri-
day and Saturday, December 6, 7 and 8, at 7.30pm at the Church of St John the Baptist, Tonbridge Road,Wateringbury, it will include excerpts from some of Dickens’ stories that have a link with Kent, as well as from “A Christmas Carol”. There will also be songs of Dickens’ time. Tickets £7 to include a glass
of wine or juice, from Water- ingbury Post Office and The Handy Stores. Further details from 01622 813206.
We will remember New Memorials Tablets, Plaques & Vases
Cleaning, Renovation & Restoration Safety Inspections
Memorial Insurance Arranged
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24 Malling
Effie Lund EFFIE Lund (87), who has died in Devon, lived inWest Malling for 20 years, from 1991. The daughter of a master mariner, shewas evacuated from her na- tive Gravesend to Norfolk in the war and moved again to Greenock, where she started work in a drawing office. Trained as a driver and me- chanic in the ATS during wartime, she moved to Nuneaton, and when the family returned to Gravesend she served as a driver to the chief constable in the town. Effie went on to work for the Med-
way Port Authority as a carto- graphic draughtswoman and lived with her parents until her mother’s death in 1987. Her move to West Malling
came after retirement and al- lowed her to share a home with her best friend. Effie’s niece Julia said: “My aunt lived in Neville Court and was known locally. She was one of the first members of the VW Owners Club and more recently worked as a cartographer for the West- ern Front Association.” Effie leaves younger brother
Colin and Colin’s family, along with the family of elder brother Jack, who pre-deceased her.
Serving the local community since 1985
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