Alcohol and cold led to death


ANEAST Farleigh man froze to death on one of the coldest days of the year, after wander- ing into Barming woods. Following an extensive search by police, friends and family, the body of Peter Finch was discovered in the snow onMarch 17, al- most a week after he went missing from his home in St Helen’s Lane. AMaidstone inquest heard that 60-year-old


Mr Finch suffered from depression but had been receiving treatment and had been feel- ing much better. The weekend before he went missing, he


had been making plans with hiswife Jennifer for a sailing trip, been with her to a quiz and enjoyed a walk to a local pub. Onhis last visit to hisGP some three weeks before, Mr Finch had asked for his medica- tion to be reduced. Although he had fallen into the river Med-


way four months earlier, after he had been drinking, and told his doctor at the time that he “partially intended to end his life”, he told the doctor he now had no thoughts of self- harm and had his alcohol intake under con-


ANart exhibition to raise funds for education in Africa is being held in Yalding Parish Church. Artwork, ceramics, jewellery, sculptures, drawings and paintings will be on view and for sale on Saturday and Sun- day, November 9 and 10. The exhibition has become a regular event,withmuch of the work produced by local artists


trol following counselling. However, he disappeared on the afternoon


of March 11 and the last time he had any con- tact with his family was when Mrs Finch spoke to him on his mobile phone at 8.19pm the same night. She told the inquest: “It wasn’t a conversa-


tion. He wasn’t coherent. I don’t think he knew I was on the phone. Hewas mumbling and there were long periods of silence.” Mrs Finch told the inquest her husband


had been struggling with his work and lost his job in the spring of 2012, after which he began to take the anti-depressant Sertraline. He had wandered off occasionally and had


been found at the bottom of the garden sev- eral times, in the dark, in a confused state. Witnesses from the Spar and Nisa stores in Barming said Mr Finch had bought alcohol from them on the day he disappeared and when his body was found, there was an empty cider can and an empty 200ml whisky bottle nearby, as well as empty paracetamol and Ibuprofen packets. However, assistant coroner Alison Grief


and craftsmen. Funds raised go to support


the Yalding-based charity Gam- BLE, which supports education in Farato, a small village in the Gambia. The charity was set up by


Yalding couple Karen and Tony di Marco who regularly visit Farato, along with sup- porters from the village and the


said tests showed his body contained only therapeutic levels of the drugs. Consultant pathologist Dr David Rouse


found no signs of any third party involve- ment or cause of death, other than signs typ- ically involved with hypothermia. Although the retired customer services of-


ficer had set out wearingwalking boots and a warm coat, both his hat and coat were found near his body – symptomatic of paradoxical undressing, often associated with hypother- mia, the inquest heard. Mr Rouse said hypothermia also caused disorientation and clouding of conscious- ness, which would have been exacerbated by the alcohol. Mrs Finch said her husband did have bouts


of depression and alcohol was a further de- pressant but added: “I think it was the most awful piece of bad luck that this was the cold- est day of the year.” The coroner recorded a narrative verdict, stating that the alcohol intoxication predis- posed Mr Finch to hypothermia which ren- dered him unable to protect himself.


Artists show work to help education in Gambia


surrounding area, to build walls, wells and gardens as well as providing teacher train- ing support in conjunction with the Gambian govern- ment’s primary education and early childhood programme. The exhibition is open from


10am to 5pm on the Saturday and 11am to 3pm on Sunday. Refreshmentswill be available.


Forum invitation THE rural older persons’ forum, organised by Voluntary Action Maidstone, will meet at Lenham Community Centre on November 15. The event is open to anyone


over 55 and living in the rural areas of Maidstone borough. A free lunch will be served at


1pm. For more details, email office@vam-online.org.uk or call 01622 677337.


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