Busy year for the Samaritans
VOLUNTEERS at the Samaritans of Maidstone centre in Grecian Street dealt with more than 15,000 contacts during the year, the charity’s annual meetingwas told.
Directorof the branch,WillMerrifield reported
that these included 12,576 by telephone, the other2,772 being a mix of emails, texts and vis- itors.
The centre has a total of 79 volunteers includ-
ing 16 new recruits and is open every day throughout the year.
Samaritansprovideacontactpoint foranyone
in distress or despair to talk through their feel- ings and concerns.
Mr Merrifield said that as well as the work in the branch, the team supports and trains the24
listeners in local prisons as well as visiting cen- tres for the homeless and those on probation.
BranchchairmanMar-
garet Bell told guests whoincluded theDeputy Mayor ofMaidstone Cllr Richard Thick and the Mayor and Mayoress of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr andMrs HowardRogers, that it takes £55 a day simply to operate the branch. Announcing the introduction of some newfundraising initia- tives to secure the branch’s future, she said there had been significant expenditure during the yearonbuilding maintenanceandthiswould
Tonbridge andMalling Mayor andMayoress, Cllr andMrs Howard Rogers, with Samaritans branch chairman Margaret Bell and directorWill Merrifield
continue for this year. Thebranchhadadeficit of £2,038 on the year and was grateful for grants from a number of prominent charitable trusts, some specific project grants from members of KCC and the efforts of members in the team to raise
funds.Noongoing financial supportwas re- ceived from any central sources.
Bus depot cleaner lost her leg
ABUScleanerhad to have her leg amputated after stepping on a piece of metal at work in Maid- stone. Izzy Lloyd (49) was working at
the Arriva depot in Armstrong Road when the metal pierced her work boot and penetrated her
skin.Thewoundbecame infected with flesh-eating bacteria and sur- geons were forced to perform the life-saving amputation. Medical staff told the mother shehad been “four hours from death”. Speaking at a liability hearing at
the Mayor’s and City of London Court, JudgeWilliam Birtles said: “On stepping onto the floor she felt a sharp metal spike pierce her work boot and penetrate her foot.
On the floor of the engineering bay and where the claimant had her accident there were pieces of metal, probably pop rivets, which should have been cleaned up and were not.
“Unfortunately the wound be-
came infected resulting in necro- tising fascilitis to her left foot and ankle.” MsLloyd,whohas been unem- ployed since her accident in April 2010, said: “Going to work is not meant to result in a life threaten- ing condition.HadArrivapaid at- tention to health and safety and operated a proper cleaning policy this would have been avoided. “Instead, I have suffered ever since and had to have an amputa-
tion of my left leg in January 2013. The compensation I get from this case will help me to move on with my life, but noth- ing could ever give me back the family time and lifestyle I had be- fore.” Ms Lloyd will not find out for
at least another year how much compensation she will receive from Arriva Southern Counties Ltd but Mr Weatherby said any money she did receive wouldpay for support and equipment to help her lead as normal a life as possible. Arriva’s regional managing di-
rector, Heath Williams, said: “I would emphasise that the safety and well-being of our employees
is very important to us. “Wework hard to provide clear
and safe working areas in our de- pots to minimise the risk of any- one hurting themselves at work.”
New top policeman CHIEF Superintendent SteveCor- bishley has returned for his third stint at Maidstone police station to take up the role of divisional commander forWest Kent. The division coversMaidstone,
TunbridgeWells, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge and Malling. He suc- ceeds acting Chief Superinten- dent Andy Rabey who held the position on a temporary basis fol- lowing the departure to force headquarters of Matthew Nix.
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