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Memorial poppies are reaching for the skies


THESEpoppies – grown by former Para Richard Gough in his Maid- stone garden – are the likely holder of a new world record. The 6ft seed-grown specimens reached for the sky after being thrown aside by the old soldier, fol- lowing a failed attempt to match the Tower of London’s memorial dis- play two years ago. The Downs Mail reader contacted


us this week after the “beanstalk” plants in his Clarence Court garden kept on growing. A call to the Guinness Book of Records confirmed that, while an online story from a seed company boasts a 7ft specimen, no official record exists. Officials at the Guinness Book of Records have now invited Mr Gough to apply for the title. The 84-year-old said: “That sounds a bit of a giggle. I will defi- nitely put them forward.” He bought the seeds at Tesco in


Grove Green in 2014 and planted them in memory of his comrades.


63rd Gurkha Brigade, before joining the Parachute Regiment with the Territorial Army. A bit of a giant himself, at 6ft 1in,


Mr Gough said: “I guess all flowers look for the sun, like bluebells in the woods. After I dumped them at the back of the border, they must have landed around the roots of a clema- tis that got very big andwere forced to grow so tall.” Richard and his wife Rona,whois


the gardener of the house, say the plants have flowered ever since. Richard added: “The only thing


they are not enjoying is the heavy downpours.” Aplant expert atRumwoodNurs-


Richard Gough with his poppies


However,whenthese didn’t take, he abandoned the rest of the packet in a border. Born in Wales, he spent his Na-


tional Service in Malaya in the Sig- nals regiment, serving alongside the


eries at Langley, near Maidstone, said six-foot poppieswere undoubt- edly tall for the species, adding: “As these are growing at the feet of a clematis, the lack of light and the dry conditions will have provided the kind of conditions that would have prompted this kind of growth. “Poppies don’t like being over- damp andwere looking for light.”


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News


Driver banned A 45-YEAR-OLD man from Maid- stone who drove on the M20 with nearly four times the legal limit of al- cohol in his body has been banned from the road, given a suspended jail sentence and a curfew.


Andrew James Gee, from Merton Road, admitted drink driving after he was stopped on the M20 at Maid- stone in his Toyota Aygo. A breath test showed he had 128mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35.


Mid Kent magistrates sentenced Gee to 84 days in prison, suspended for 12 months, and banned him from driving for 30 months. He was given a three-month curfew to remain at an address in Ardenlee Drive, Maid- stone, between 9pm and 4am daily. The curfew runs until September 12. He must also pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.


Summer fayre CREAM teas, cakes and refresh-


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Activities include face-painting, games and a barbecue and there will be a raffle for prizes including a day out at Leeds Castle, dinner at the Kings Arms, Boxley and a massage at the Fig Tree Spa, Lenham.


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