Charity needs


radio enthusiast BRITISH Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF) is looking for a radio enthusiast to help look after its internet radios. The charity provides spe- cialist radio equipment to blind and visually impaired people throughout the UK. One of its services is to re-


pair broken or damaged sets, free of charge, and more than 1,000 items are fixed every year.


These sets are all centrally managed through the Maid- stone office, where an oppor- tunity has arisen for an individual to oversee this role. The volunteer would be


asked to give a commitment of about 10 hours per week, split over two days. The role would involve stock control, manual production, CD burning and packing sets ready for posting. BWBF is looking for some-


one with basic knowledge and experience of IT. The ability to work to deadlines with at- tention to detail is also impor- tant. You would also need to be patient, with good interper- sonal skills. Full training would be pro- vided, and travel expenses may be available. For details, call David Beard


on 01622 754757, or email him at dave@blind.org.uk


Mother and son remembered


THE lives of a Maidstone mother and son who died within days of each other were celebrated after a joint funeral at Vinters Park. Friends gathered at the Hilton


HotelinBearstedRoadtore- member Grahame Brownless and his mother Joan, who were well-loved members of the com- munity in London and Loose. Although he was born in Bromley, the family moved to Maidstone when Grahame was a boy and he went to the boys’ grammar school. He was articled to Maidstone chartered accountants Larking & Larking Ltd and later became a member of the Association of Consulting Actuaries. Grahame (pictured) bought a


house in London in 1971 and 20 years later, he became an active


volunteeer with the Fitro- via Neighbour- hood Association, helping with their accounts and financial affairs. He un- derstood charity finance and wassaidtohaveshown great patiencewhen helping staff and and explaining the intricacies of accounting. He also did the VAT returns


for an electrical retailer and be- came involved in a number of internet projects during the 1990s dotcom boom. He obtained an MBA from Cranfield University in 1981. Mr Brownless had his first


heart attack at the age of 48 and, just aweek before he died, aged


DOWNS Mail editor Stephen Eighteen has raisedmorethan£1,000for Wildlife Heritage Foundation after running his first London Marathon. Stephen (33) completed the 26.2-mile


Downs Mail editor Stephen Eighteen with his marathon medal


course in a time of three hours 17 min- utes and 33 seconds, placing him 3,015 out ofmore than 34,000 finishers. Themoney raisedwillhelpWHF,based


near Headcorn, continue itswork to pro- tect theworld’s big cat species. Stephen said: “People had toldmebe-


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65, he had been told he needed heart by-pass surgery. He col- lapsed with a heart attack at his mother’s home in Broadoak Av- enue, Loose, on March 25. Both Mr Brownless and his mother had been supporters of the Loose Valley Conservation Society, particularly since he had moved back to Maidstone to care for her. However, as Mrs Brownless developed dementia, she even- tually needed more care and moved into the Loose Valley Nursing Home, where she died aged 93, five days after her son. Mrs Brownless had been a member of the Townswomen’s Guild, the Trefoil Guild, a vol- unteerwith the Citizen’s Advice Bureau andMeals on Wheels. She had also been a prison visitor at Maidstone jail.


Stephen achieves his marathon ambition


fore about the atmosphere generatedby the crowdin London, but Ineverbelieved itwould be quite as incredible as itwas. “Given my job, I’m ashamed to say I


have not been able to come up with words of sufficient magnitude to de- scribe the experience. “I would like to thank all those who sponsored me and have backed this wonderful charity. I could not have ful- filled a lifetime’s ambition without so much generous support.”


We are open 7 days a


week 9am – 5.30pm including Sundays & Bank Holidays


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