Retiring magistrate ‘won’t miss the job’


THE town’s longest-serving magistrate has retired, following a distinguished career spanning 37 years. Alan Sheppard, 70, left his position on


June 5 and has reflected on his time at the bench and the changes that had taken place. He said: “I shall miss the people Iworked


with, but not the job itself. Unfortunately politicians of all parties have interfered with sentences, court houses have closed and justice is no longer local.” Mr Sheppard said that when he began his


career in 1976, there were 13 magistrates’ benches, but this had been reduced to three. Cutbacks hadmeant that as well as Maid-


stone,Mr Sheppard could be called to serve over a wide area, from Sevenoaks to Sit- tingbourne and beyond. The Ringlestone resident said the vital


A NEW service to help connect and “care for” carers has been launched in Maidstone. Connecting Carers, a Health


and Social Care Volunteer Fund Project, has been set up to re- cruit and train carers and vol- unteers to support their peers in the caring community. Funding for the project was awarded when Maidstone and Malling Carers Project identi- fied a need to ensure carers did not become socially isolated. Volunteer coordinator Katy Abson was recruited in March this year and will co-ordinate


Chairman of Central Kent magistrates Lynda Jones with Alan Sheppard


local element to justice has been lost and that knowledge of an area and its issues al- lows magistrates to be better informed.


the Connecting Carers Service under the supervision of Bar- bara Hagan, project manager. Katy said: “I am looking for-


ward to bringing carers together so that they can share life experi- ences, interests and information under an umbrella of under- standing and non-judgement. “A carer may not have chosen


their life path, nevertheless it is worthy of recognition. The po- tential for skills and experi- ences to be used in other areas of life and to help other people must be maximised” Training for the first cohort of


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Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk The qualified butcher, who has worked


across Kent, including at the former Co-op in Bearsted, also expressed concern that there was too much emphasis on the of- fender, and not enough on the victim. He said: “I am concerned that the victim


is not always properly represented and that so much time is spent on stopping people from re-offending, that the victims of crime are forgotten.” Mr Sheppard was presented with a cer- tificate and gift by Lynda Jones, chairman of Central Kent Magistrates’ Bench, before the start of Maidstone Court The father and grandfather, who has been married to wife May for 48 years, says that he intends to spend longer enjoying his gar- den and may contemplate voluntary work in the future.


Service aims to keep carers connected


potential volunteers begins in June. Carers will be trained to support their peers in a friendly and supportive way. Ongoing supervision and support will be provided to ensure the service promotes healthy and positive connections throughout the car- ing community. If you are or have you been a


carer, you could be a volunteer for Connecting Carers, or maybe being connected with a carer would be a help to you. Call Katy Abson, on 01622 685276 or 07923 431115 or email katy.abson@vam-online.org.uk


School canopy


plan agreed PLANNING consent has been granted to erect a freestand- ing canopy at Poplar Pre School in Allington. The canopy, which would measure a maximum of 3.1m, is to be erected at the Giddyhorn Lane Pavilion to provide an outside covered area for nursery class chil- dren.


Maidstone Council’s plan-


ning committee voted unani- mously to approve the application.


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