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downsmail.co.uk Cyclist Kate’s recovery bale


TWO years ago, Kate Bosley’s life was turned upside down by a cycling accident, which left her with a serious head injury.


The mother-of fourwas left fight-


ing for her life and unable to con- tinue in her role as chief executive of the Heart of Kent Hospice. Now Kate, from Weavering


Street, Weavering, has written her story in a book which she hopes will inspire other head injury pa- tients and help them to come to terms with their new – albeit dif- ferent – life. “Recycling me: back on the bike”


is the story of how Kate has pieced back together the fragments of her former life and learned new ways of working and living. She said: “My biggest problem


was social isolation. I had a busy and fulfilling life before the accident.My four children and foster child kept me busy. I loved cycling and was passionate about my career. “I suddenly went from having a


very nice job that I loved to having nothing. I loved what I did and missed it passionately. I couldn’t work, I couldn’t drive and, because


After an initial assessment, Kate


was simply asked to travel to the RBLI by bus two days a week, say hello to the staff, and travel home again.


Gradually, she was given differ-


ent tasks whichwere achievable. With her old “can do” spirit


firmly back, Kate decided to write the book for two main reasons – firstly for personal therapy, but sec- ondly as inspiration to other people recovering from trauma, particu- larly head injuries. She said: “There’s no getting


I have lost a quarter of my visual field, I couldn’t even cycle.” Katewas a fitness fanatic prior to


her accident and regularly com- peted in time trials. She took the first tentative steps


on her road to recovery by volun- teering with the Royal British Le- gion Industries at Aylesford – but even that wasn’t without its chal- lenges.


away from it; it is hideous. But there is a future. It is a different fu- ture, but there is still a good life to be had.” Kate has had incredible support


from her husband and children, who have all contributed to the book. Indeed, itwas daughter Han- nah who hit on the title. Husband John also recently bought a tandem, which has en- abled Kate to get back in the saddle


and allowed them to enjoy a sum- mer cycling holiday in the Alps – something neither of them would have dared dream of during the long, dark days when Kate lay on a ventilator in hospital. Although her memory is badly scarred, she continues to recover. Volunteering with the RBLI has helped her to combat the social iso- lation she felt, to meet people and be part of a team, and to develop and re-learn skills. She has also started volunteering


as a fitness instructor at the Village Hotel, working with other people who have disabilities. Kate’s book is available to down-


load on Kindle and has already sold almost 100 copies. She said: “I didn’t set out to be a best-selling author, but Iwanted to tell my story to help other people facing the same difficulties and to inspire them. When you have lost everything, you have to find rea- sons to carry on.”


PCSOs rewarded for their bravery Home ‘needs


TWO community support officers who seized a firearm from a man in Headcornwere among 60 police of- ficers, civilian staff and members of the public to receive awards at the West Division area commander’s ceremony. Maidstone PCSOs Dave Rowley


and John Boyd wrestled the gun from the 64-year-old man, who had reported nuisance youths near his home. They are pictured with mayor Cllr Daniel Moriarty. Two officers who discovered a cannabis farm in EastPeckhamwere also recognised. Sergeant Joe Breen and PC James O’Gorman seized £50,000 worth of cannabis and arrested the man re- sponsible in October 2014. Offender


David Hill, who later admitted the farm yielded about £100,000 a year, was jailed for three years. Also honouredwas detention offi-


cer Danielle Finlay, based at Maid- stone police station, who was recognised for her outstanding ob- servation skills after finding a quan- tity of the class A drug fentanyl hidden in a secret pocket within a newspaper, which a woman had


tried to smuggle in while visiting a detainee. Victoria Hicks (38), of Sunningdale


Court, Maidstone, was jailed for 21 months after admitting possessing a classAdrug with intent to supply. West Division commander Chief Superintendent Steve Corbishley said: “Kent Police officers are called to difficult and potentially danger- ous situations every day, and risk their own safety to protect the pub- lic.


“It is right they get the recognition


they deserve, and I amvery proud of everything they do. I would also like to congratulate those members of the public who showed tremendous courage in difficult situations, whose awards are alsowell-deserved.”


Birthing song wins Clea a global audience


LOCAL singer-songwriter Clea Llewellyn had an unlikely hit when a video starring her and amidwife went viral, gaining 100,000 hits in 24 hours after being placed online. Clea – who has lived in Snodland


and worked in Maidstone – is known locally for her gigs, including running an open mic night in Chatham, but she did not expectworldwide attention when she agreed to brighten up amidwifery conference at the William Harvey Hospital. Clea (pictured) said: “Being amum


of two, this subject is close tomy heart, so when Virginia Howes of the independent KentMidwifery Practice asked me to perform a song with her


30 Malling October 2015


at the conference I agreed.We wrote new lyrics to the tune of the AmyWinehouse hit ‘Rehab’ which turned it into a song about the birthing process. Once a video of this appeared online it got rapid shares in the birthing community. “The message has resonated with


mums around the world and midwives, especially independent organisations like KentMidwifery Practice. I never expected this attention, but I think it’s great that this message has found such an audience.” The video can be seen on: https://www.facebook.com/sophie.m .harrell/videos/1015320128645587


improvement’ A HOME for the elderly providing care for those with special needs has been told it must improve. An inspector from the Care Qual-


ity Commission said Pelican Court atWateringbury needed to improve on all counts, from leadership to its level of care, describing the safety of its practices as inadequate. The government inspector noted


that the home, which provides nurs- ing care for up to nine pensioners with learning and physical disabili- ties, offered residents a “relaxed at- mosphere”, but not always enough staff to assist whenresidents needed help with activities, such asdrinking tea, which meant they had towait. The report went on: “Staff were trained to meet people’s needs and were supported through regular su- pervision. However, staff were not always considerate and respectful when speaking about people.” It added that people were not al-


ways supported or encouraged to develop their independence and staff did not consistently follow res- idents’ risk assessments to keep them from potential harm. It also noted that records relating


to the recruitment of staff were not available and residents did not al- ways have a choice about meals. The report concluded that staff


knew people well; people could have visitorswhentheywanted and all complaints were dealt with promptly. However, it gave the home a rating of “requiring im- provement” overall.


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