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downsmail.co.uk Joe ‘free from pain he suffered’


FRIENDS and family of a 29-year old formerMaidstonemanwhodied after being hit by a train have paid tribute to his “generous and loving spirit”.


A massive social media search


was mounted after bar supervisor Joe Jensen went missing on Christ- mas Day. Joe, the youngest son of former Lashings owner Jayne Jensen, had moved with his family to East Sussex and was living in Brighton at the time of his disap- pearance. It is believed he had been suffer-


ing from schizophrenia. AFacebook page set up to help in


the search to find him was shared 3,348 times in the space of 17 hours. His elder brother Jonnie posted: “3,348 shares in 17 hours looking for


New land for


wine growers A VINEYARD with slopes near Aylesford is to expand production to land at Boxley. The Chapel Down Group (CDG)


has completed a long-term lease on 53 hectares in Street Farm, The Street.


CDG’s chief executive Frazer Thompson said: “The Boxley site is close to our vineyard at Kits Coty and our other previously announced newsite at Court Lodge Farm on the North Downs. “We believe this area of the North Downs offers the finest terroir in England for sparkling varieties, and successive excellent crops from Kits Coty prove it.” This acquisition, with another


newly-signed lease on 20 hectares at Sandhurst near the company’s win- ery in Tenterden, takes Chapel Down’s estate up to 132 hectares.


Calendar sales


THE2015 Offham “OurVillage” cal- endar has sold out and plans are al- ready underway for next year. Parishioners are invited to submit


their entries to offham.pc@hot- mail.co.uk by March 30. Winners of the photographic com- petition will be displayed at this year’s May Day celebration and placed in the 2016 calendar. The competition is open to anyone


who lives in the village or any pupil of Offham Primary School. Any profits will be used for the benefit of the village. Each month can be sponsored for


£30 – contact the parish clerk Lynne Mackie for more details.


Garage plan


A PLAN to demolish a double garage at 20 The Stream, Ditton and replace it with a single garage and self-contained residential annexwas submitted to Tonbridge and Malling Council.


28 Malling February 2015 Shoppers pick up fresh produce at Aylesford Farmers’ market Market in line for award


AYLESFORD Farmers’ Market is in the running for a top prize in this year’s Taste of Kent Awards. The farmers’ market, held on the


third Sunday of the month from 9.30am to 1.30pm at Aylesford Priory, is one of the largest farmers’ markets in the Maidstone area, offering local produce including game, cheeses and preserves. The marketwas chosen from550 businesses in 11 categories in the awards, organised by Produced in Kent. It now has to beat off the


markets at Capel-le-Ferne and nearby Elm Court, Gillingham to take the title in the farmers’


markets category. The three finalists in each


category will be judged bymystery shoppers and diners or an expert judging panel, with the winners revealed at the Kent Event Centre, Detling on March 12 . Hadlow College sponsors the Kent


Farmers’ Market of the Year. Other local finalists includeMB


Farms, Stockbury (Kent butcher/ meat producer); Balfour Brut from Hush Heath, Staplehurst (best Kentish wine); Chegworth Valley, Harrietsham and Juice Executive Maidstone, Otham (best Kent juice); and Hotface Sauces, Maidstone (Kent food producer).


Joe Jensen


him. You all played your part. Joe is free from the very difficult pain he suf- fered. Think of your loved ones, think of your neigh- bours, think of


the


stranger youwalk past and wonder if they are ok. Life is good. So is Heaven xx” It is believed Joe stepped out in


front of the 6.55am Ramsgate to London Cannon Street train near Hildenborough station, shortly be- fore 9am on December 28. A British Transport Police spokesperson said the incident was being treated as non-suspicious, adding that “medics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended but the person was pro- nounced dead at the scene”. Joe studied law atWest Kent Col-


lege from 2002 to 2004, but had lat- terly been working as a bar supervisor at the Amex Stadium, Falmer, home of Brighton & Hove


Albion FC, as well as working at The George Payne pub in Hove. After the identification of the


body, the family posted on Face- book: “The saddest news has ar- rived. Today Joe Jensen lost his battle with schizophrenia.With sad heart and the fondest memorieswe thank you for all your support. RIP Joe you were a generous loving spirit andwe will miss you.” Joe’s funeralwas due to be held at


St Francis RC Church,Week Street followed by burial at Maidstone Cemetery in Sutton Road and a cel- ebration of his life at Lashings.


Pupils join


arts project CHILDREN from Eccles and two other villages near the new Peters Village development are taking part in an arts project with £3,500 worth of prize money at stake. Primary schools in Burham, Wouldham and Eccles have agreed to join the “Why I LoveMy Valley” project, sponsored by developer Trenport Investments Ltd and con- tractor Bam Nuttall. Individual winners will receive vouchers and the winning school will get £2,000 cash. Kent artist Charles Newington


will work with the schools and it is hoped the project will produce at least one landmark public artwork.


Village quiz


AQUIZ night atWateringbury vil- lage hall on Saturday, March 14, aims to boost village hall funds. Teams of six to eight people are in-


vited to take part, and entrance costs £8 per person. Participants are in- vited to bring their own drinks and snacks and doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. To book call Phil Rex on 01622 814483 or email an- nerex@btinternet.com.


School earns upgrade at Ofsted inspection


HARD work has paid off at Ditton CE Junior School, which has re- ceived an upgrade after its latest Of- sted inspection. The 215-pupil school, in New


Road,was pronounced “good” over- all by inspectors who visited in Jan- uary. Ofstedwas impressed with the school’s achievement in hauling it- self up from the “requires improve- ment” grade it was given at its previous inspection two years ear- lier.


The latest report praised senior leaders and governors for their “ro-


bust action to tackle past weak- nesses.” This had led to big im- provements in teaching and achievement, and standards were now above average with writing a significant strength. Ofsted said the school, led by in-


terim head teacher Robert Worth, worked hard to meet the needs of all pupils. Gypsy and Roma children were supported well, both socially and academically. Provision to sup- port disabled pupils and those with special educational needs was con- sistently good.


The school’s governors, chaired by


Dr JohnWainwright, were well-in- formed about pupils’ achievement and the quality of teaching andwere increasingly effective in supporting the school. Ofsted said that to improve fur-


ther the school needed to ensure that the progress of disadvantaged pupils was closely monitored, that sufficient time and priority was given to subjects other than literacy and numeracy, and that the current strengths in marking of writingwere also translated to other subjects.


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