This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
downsmail.co.uk Retake control of borders


Dear Sir – After 70 years living here I am appalled at how Maidstone has been forced to change over the past five years or so and I too will be voting to exit the EU (Mail Marks, March). Maidstone has become so overcrowded


and immigration is radically changing the culture of our town. It will get worse until Britain gains full control of its borders. We are having huge residential


developments imposed on us very much against our will; road journeys now take so much longer; our GPs and hospitals are totally overstretched and delays for patients are unacceptable; and too many parents have deep concerns about finding desired places in schools. Brexit may bring early uncertainties but I


will live with these to expel the hand the EU casts over our country. Robin Brand - by email


Hope article sways votes


Dear Sir – Iwas so pleased to read Dennis Fowle’s article regarding the EU, and that you plan to vote to leave. It is good that people who have not made


their minds up will read your view and it could help them make their choice. I’m like you; I reallywant to leave the EU but I am sad when I see so many lies from people on the news, sayingwe need to vote to stay in. It’s the only chancewe will get to vote


out, and it would be fantastic ifwe do get out. I’m so disappointed that David Cameron is trying to keep us in the EU; he is on the wrong side. I’m sure the Queen, if she could say,


wouldwant out.We can close our borders, we will save so much money,we can


Contact our team ...


Stephen Eighteen Editor stephen@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 231


Sir Peter Maxwell Davies


SIR Peter Maxwell Davieswas a patron of Kent Music. The Lancashire-born composer and conductorwas a major figure in the UK classical music community; a personal journey took him from being the composer of difficult and challenging works to become the Master of the Queen’s Music. Despite living in the Orkney Isles from


1971, Sir Peter was a noted advocate of local music, and remained passionate about music education. He had been a patron of Kent Music since 2006. The association’s chief executive Peter


Bolton described Sir Peter as “a great supporter of music education for all” and noted “we will cherish his patronage and his musical legacy”. Sir Peter first came to prominence when forming the group New Music Manchester with composers Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr, Elgar Howarth and John Ogdon. Hewas a keen environmentalist. One of his best known compositions – Farewell to Stromness – celebrates the


Diane Nicholls


Assistant editor diane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 232


Jane Shotliff Journalist


jane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


environment around his Orkney home.


Basil Bishop BASIL Bishop (84), of St Faith’s Lane, Bearstedwas an auctioneer who rose to become a senior partner at estate agents Page andWells.


The businesswas celebrating 20 years of operations when Basil joined in 1949. His ability to manage the demands of an operation which at the time also dealt with local produce soon made him a familiar face at local


markets. With a break for national service, Basil


served Page andWells and contributed to their rise to become one of the largest independent estate agents in the area. Hewas married for 45 years to Patricia,


and they had a daughter Belinda. Tributes included praise from his former colleagues who highlighted his decency and diligence.Amessage from Belinda described


Dawn Kingsford Journalist


dawn@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


her father’s loyalty to local businesses including Rossco’s hairdressers in Snodland, where he got his hair cut for many years after helping the business find their shop. Widower Basil leaves his daughter and granddaughters Eleanor and Sophie.


FrankWoolle


RESIDENTS have lost a popular Police Community Support Officer. Frank Woolle (64) lived in Medway but


was known especially in Teston and Barming for his work in law enforcement and building community support. Frank worked in the legal community and later trained as a PCSO. Barmingward councillor Fay Gooch said: “Frank’s funeralwas packed and many local peoplewent. Therewas a massive turnout from his police colleagues. “Hewas held in high regard, and perfectly combined the community qualities of engaging with people and the ability to uphold the law. He will be much missed.” Frank leaves his wife, daughter and one grandson.


There is no charge for our obituary service. Call Neil Nixon on 01622 630422 or email nlnxn@aol.com 32 Malling April 2016


choose whowe let inwe can stop importing other countries’ criminals, and the moneywe save can be used to make Britain great again. Australia and America don’t let in criminals, so why shouldwe?We won’t have so many people using our NHS that we pay into and they don’t, so thank you for your article. John Maplesden, by email


Vote for Brexit


Dear Sir – I feel guilty my generation is creating through EU membership a diminished Britain I will be ashamed to leave tomy children and grandchildren. (Mail Marks, March). I ampatriotic and have loved living in Maidstone, Kent and England. I cannot bear to see what now happens through overcrowding and the financial crises I consider are closely linked to our EU membership, especially onwelfare payments. I love Europe too, and believewe can


workwell with our friendly neighbours without all the serious downsides of EU membership. We have to give this a chance and vote for Brexit. Mary Jameson, by email.


Jobs an illusion


Dear Sir – When yet another supermarket proposal comes up, I have to give a wry smile as the bid always includes “hundreds of new jobs” (Downs Mail, February). With the proliferation of supermarkets


and Tesco even closing some down, it’s obvious that one person’s supermarket job, is another person’s redundancy.


We can only buy so much. There isn’t an inexhaustible supply of money, unless you’re in government of course. Why not merge the park and ride in with


the store, to supply all the local shops? It’s something that more understanding councils seem to manage quite easily! Phil Granger, Alma Road,West Malling


Lower Thames Crossing


Dear Sir – I note that KCC prefers the Lower Thames Crossing Option C coupled with widening the A249 as a beer long- term option than using the A229. I agree with this suggestion but only if KCC rectifies a long-standing deficiency in Kent strategic highway routing. KCC has beenwell aware for some time


that the A249/M20 interchange is already at peak capacity at certain times of the day because traffic which needs to bypass Maidstone to the East also uses this junction, in addition to the main traffic route of A249/M20. KCC has, by default, utilised the residential route of Bearsted Road, New Cut Road, Ashford Road,Willington Street and Suon Road as a heavy goods route instead of constructing a Leeds Langley bypass from the Suon road directly to M20 Junction 8. This already creates major delays from M20 Junction 7 along this residential route to the industrial Parkwood area and the agricultural businesses serving south, south east and east of Maidstone. This will only get worse because of the vast amount of housing already under construction and planned for the future in these areas. S Russell, Matfield Crescent, Maidstone


Comment


Obituaries


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48