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downsmail.co.uk Man charged with murder


A STAPLEHURST man has been charged with the murder of pensioner Roy Blackman as his devastated family paid a heartfelt tribute to the “wise, kind and private” widower.


Mr Blackman (73) was found


dead at his home in Headcorn Road, Biddenden, on Monday, March 21. Mark Love (37), of Frittenden


Road, Staplehurst, appeared before Medway magistrates and was re- manded in custody to appear be- fore Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, May 6. He is charged with murder and aggravated burglary. The charge came as Mr Black-


man’s loved ones described him as a man who “lived a simple life without extravagance”. Officers have also arrested a sixth person in connection with the case. A 41-year-old man from the Maidstone area was arrested but was released on police bail, pend- ing inquiries, until Friday, July 1. Four others, who were previ-


Awards for


Kent wines TWO wine producers from the re- gion were able to raise a glass to their own success at the Taste of KentAwards. Hush Heath at Staplehurst – pro-


ducer of the country’s most exclu- sive pink fizz – took the Kent Countryside Award after judges praised the business for its “incred- ible attention to detail and real care for the landscape” at the black tie awards night at the Detling Show- ground. Also picking up an award was


Nick Hall, whose Herbert Hall Brut 2013 Traditional Method sparkling wine was runner-up in the Kent Wine of the Year category. The handmade sparkling wine,


which is on sale at retailers includ- ing Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum and Mason, is produced in Marden from estate-grown or- ganic chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes. The judges noted: “This is very


well balanced, with fresh bright notes and a touch of cobnut and honey. It is crisp and elegant and better than a lot of champagnes I have tasted.” Nick Hall said: “Kent is produc-


ing some world-class sparkling wines. Iwas surprised thatwewere the only sparkling wine among the three finalists. As winemakers we were all pleased to receive some local recognition and approval.” The other category finalist was Ortega, from BiddendenVineyards and the winner was Bacchus, pro- duced by Chapel Down Vineyard, Tenterden.


16 Maidstone South May 2016 Roy Blackman


ously arrested in connection with the case, remain on police bail. In a statement, the family said:


"We, Roy’s family, are devastated by our loss and have been unable to comment until now on what has


been such a terrible shock. “It is unthinkable to us that a vul- nerable 73-year-old alone in his home could be harmed. “We would like to thank every-


one for their kind thoughts and of- fers of help and support during the past few dreadful weeks. We would also like to thank the police, who we know have been working extremely hard to capture those re- sponsible. “Roy lived a simple life without


extravagance; he desperately missed his wife (Eileen) who passed away six years ago. “This July it would have been


their golden wedding anniversary. To keep himself busy he continued to work and pursued his hobby of breeding rare wildfowl.” Mr Blackman came from a farm- ing background in Smarden, but


later became a motor mechanic spe- cialising inAudis andVWs. He moved to the Heartsay Garage more than 30 years ago. The family statement added: “He


had grafted all his life and was a kind, wise and private man who loved the countryside. “Roy will be sadly missed by his daughters and sons-in-law, his grandchildren, his brother and sis- ter, his brothers-in-law and all his other family, close friends and the wider community. “We can’t believe that we won’t


see him again or hear his laughter and we will never come to terms with the manner of his death.” Police arrested a seventh man,


aged 52, who was stopped on the A28 near Tenterden on suspicion of assisting an offender. He was bailed until June 15.


New owner and a new era for village cricket


FOR 68 years cricket has been played on one of the most picturesque village grounds at West Farleigh – but never on a Sunday. All that will change this summer


now land ownership has transferred with the death of prominent farmer and adjacent churchgoer Don Goodwin to his son Nigel. Cricket club stalwart Paul Baines


said the club had now entered a division of the new Kent 20/20 overs league and he hoped this would attract new players. Several


friendly fixtures had been arranged. The small tree-lined ground off


Lower Road features a large thatched pavilion donated by the


supportive Day family in the early days of cricket on this land. Formore details of the club, call 01622 720810.


MP backs meningitis campaign


MP HELEN Whately has wel- comed a campaign to raise aware- ness of meningitis B. The member for Faversham and


Mid Kent (pictured) called on the Government to do more to make sure par- ents, teachers and health pro- fessionals recognise the symptoms of the disease. She raised


her concerns in a parliamentary de- bate following the death in Febru- ary of two-year-old Faye Burdett from Maidstone. Jane Ellison, the parliamentary under-secretary for health, an- nounced a campaign to raise pub- lic awareness of meningitis and septicaemia.


After Faye’s parents Neil and Jen-


nifer Burdett published a picture of their daughter Faye gravely ill in hospital, over 800,000 people signed a petition calling on the Govern- ment to vaccinate older children. Jane Ellison also confirmed that


the Government is legally bound by the decision of the Joint Com- mittee for Vaccination and Immu- nisation [JCVI], which ruled that it would not be cost-effective to vac- cinate older children against meningitis B. Helen said: “This campaign, led


so bravely by Neil and Jennifer Burdett, has changed government policy. “Jane Ellison, the public health minister announced a new public awareness campaign to help par- ents spot the signs of meningitis and septicaemia, which will be launched later this year.


“Most people know to look out


for a rash, but actually, by then it may be too late. There’s a list of other symptoms – including cold hands and feet when a child has a fever – that everyone needs to be aware of.” Britain is the first country in the


world to routinely vaccinate against the B strain. Mrs Whately said: “Parents are desperate for small children to be vaccinated, not just babies. The Government can only do that if it gets guidance from a committee of experts that it’s ‘cost effective’.” Mrs Burdettt told ITV: “We do it


for others, and we also do it to make sure that her dying isn't in vain. However long that fight will be, we will make sure that other children do not have to suffer, and as a family they do not have to be torn apart, like we have.”


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