News
New heart treatment has ‘saved my life’
A YALDING man has been given a new lease of life, thanks to a revolu- tionary new treatment for heart failure.
Richard Reach (59), of the Little
Venice marina, Hampstead Lane, had advanced heart failure when the procedure was carried out at King’s College Hospital in London. MrReach had a heart attack at the beginning of last year and, on ad- mission to King’s, was found to have two blocked heart vessels. Heunderwent surgery to unblock
the vessels but his heart muscles were severely impaired and the valves leaking, meaning further surgery was necessary. Conven- tional treatments, such as open heart surgery and pacemaker inser- tion,were deemed too high-risk. The cardiac team at King’s was granted permission from the Medi- cines and Healthcare Products Reg- ulatory Agency to use a Mitra-SpacerTM device, a balloon shaped instrument the size of a small chilli pepper, whichwas suc- cessfully inserted via keyhole sur- gery in June 2015.
Prof OlafWendler and Richard Reach His condition improved signifi-
cantly and, by November,MrReach was deemed strong enough to have conventional surgery. The device was removed and a regular valve replacement opera- tion was performed. Mr Reach is now recoveringwell at home. The cardiac team at King’s was
the first in the world to use the new device to improve the strength of the heart valve. Olaf Wendler, professor of car-
diac surgery at King’s, who led the team treating Mr Reach, said: “This new treatment gives new hope for patients with advanced heart fail- ure. Open-heart surgery is a very invasive procedure and not always suitable for very unwell patients. “This device can remain in the pa-
tient indefinitely or it can be used to strengthen the valve so that the heart has time to recover before un- dergoing further surgery.” Mr Reach said: “Iwas in hospital
for more than three months follow- ing my heart attack and spent sev- eralweeks in the critical care unit. I needed regular dialysis and felt very weak. Just as it seemed the medical team had run out of op- tions Professor Wendler suggested the new treatment. “Now I’m walking around and feeling better each day. What the team has done for me is nothing short of a miracle. I owe my life to them.”
Villagers prevent expansion
PEOPLE power in Coxheath has saved the village from becoming a rural service centre (RSC) in Maid- stone Council’s emerging local plan.
Officers believed the village should be upgraded from its “larger village” status to an RSC, to sit alongside Staplehurst, Head- corn, Marden, Lenham and Harri- etsham, based on the size of the village and its public amenities. However, residents and local councillors argued that the village
did not have a railway station and was unable to satisfactorily sup- port major new housing develop- ments. Villages tend to serve only their own community, whereas RSC’s serve a wider hinterland. Coxheath Parish Council has
been fighting against the change in its status since 2009 and therewere real fears it would be passed through as part of the local plan. Officers maintained that Cox-
heath fulfils the role of a rural service centre, with two pre-
Calendar hits new high
SCOUTS and Guides in Staplehurst have reaped the rewards fromsales of this year’s village calendar. More than £1,704 was raised
from the sale of 404 calendars, di- vided between the Staplehurst Scout Group and Staplehurst Dis- trict Guides, each receiving £852. Calendar illustrator Ken Collins
presented the cheques at the Scout HQ in Nicholson Walk to two of his great-nieces – Madison Hicks, rep- resenting the Guides and Emily Sanders, representing the scouts. This is the 12th calendar pro-
duced in the village and this year’s raised the most money so far. In total, the calendars have raised more than £18,000 for charities and organisations in Staplehurst.
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schools, a primary school and Cornwallis Academy nearby. It has a recreation ground, foot-
ball pitches and a scout hut, with convenience stores, shops, restau- rants and a post office. Officers say it has good transport links, with a regular bus service, and relatively easy access to the town centre. However, members voted to re-
tain the status quo, which is now out for the final round of public consultation before it goes to a government planning inspector.
Happy 95th
THE Weald of Kent Bridge Club – affectionately known as WOK – which meets at Headcorn Village Hall, celebrated the birthdays of two of its most senior members. Jane Bracher turned 95 in No-
vember, a few months behind Joy Warner attaining the same age. The club was founded in 1992 and Joy and Jane are two of its longest serv- ing members. They both still venture out in all
Ken Collins, centre, with local Scouts and Guides
Mr Collins thanked sponsors, the
local shops who sold copies, all those who bought them and the Hop Press, Marden, for printing help.
Maidstone South February 2016
weathers on a Monday evening to pit their card-playing wits against other members of the club, as well as the Wednesday and Friday af- ternoon groups. Members of the Monday evening
bridge club threw a surprise party, complete with celebration cake, for the two ladies.
downsmail.co.uk
Church all set for busy year
YALDING Church Preservation So- ciety is planning a bumper year of fundraising to help preserve the historic fabric of St Peter and St Paul Church. The YCPS holds its AGM in the church on Tuesday March 22 but planning is already underway for several sizeable events. There will be an alfresco produc-
tion of "Outside Edge" by Richard Harris in the gardens of YCPS trustee and treasurer Rob Bird, Par- sonage Farmhouse, on June 24, 25 and 26. YCPS is confident the ticket sales will go a long way to filling the coffers for the coming year. After the success of a similar
event, the village’s secret chef Hari Covert is hosting a “Pop Up din- ner” at the top of the church tower. This takes place on July 2 and he will also be serving up a light sup- per for lucky draw winners in the churchyard. Details of how to bid for a place will be announced. Another success which is going
to be repeated in 2016 is the Teddy Parachute Jump, launched for the first time at the September Church Fete. This proved enormously pop- ular and great fun, so the YCPS is repeating the exercise, with prizes for the best bears, costumes and calibre of jump. Anyone interested in the future of
the church or who can assist with administration or fundraising is welcome to attend the AGM. Con- tact chair of trustees Peter Chapman on 07973 839266 to confirm your at- tendance for planning purposes.
Bluewater bus
service back THE Maidstone to Bluewater bus has been reprieved – by a new op- erator.
County Connect has taken on the
risk of running the twice weekly service, on Wednesdays and Satur- days, after Arriva gave it up on Janu- ary 9 this year. The first bus (703 service) left Maidstone at 9.45am on Saturday January 16, travelling via Allington, Larkfield, Snodland and Cuxton to Bluewater. The route is the same, except that it
now serves the Snodland Estate at St Benedict Road, as other buses do. The company has also introduced
two additional journeys on Satur- days, giving people more choice on how long they want to spend at the shopping centre. County Connect managing direc-
tor Jordan Cousins said: “This serv- ice will still be provided commercially, meaning it will oper- ate without any direct funding from the council, which is why it is so im- portant that it iswell used.”
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