downsmail.co.uk Rescue team
put to the test SIX emergency responders from Maidstone have been ranked among the best in the world. The team of six from Maidstone
wereamong69 officers from fire and rescue services in theUKto attend a training exercise in Germany, where they gained the highest ever grade achieved within six areas of best practice. This puts the UK contingent – in- cluding the Maidstone men – amongst the best International Search and Rescue (ISAR) teams in the world. Jim Chaston, technical rescue crew manager from KFRS, said:“Wewere really put through our paces and tested in some very tough scenarios." The teams faced a simulated hur-
ricane that had struck a mock coun- try called The Republic of Azuria, with wind speeds of 195kmph. UKISARwas deployed alongside colleagues from other countries in- cluding Spain and The Czech Re- public, involved in all aspects of technical rescue including chainsaw cutting, rope rescue, heavy lifting and breaking through concrete structures to rescue casualties. The other Maidstone team mem-
bers were technical rescue team manager John Mazzey, crew man- ager Steve Partington, firefighter Mark Fox, crew manager at Maid- stone and on call firefighter Ian Selfe and watch manager at Deal, Mal- colm Cowie.
Bag snatched
AWOMANhadher bag snatched as shewalked by the river in St Peter’s Street, Maidstone. Two men gave chase after the woman, in her 60s, was pushed to the ground and her bag stolen at about 11.50am on Tuesday, June 14. The suspect is described as white,
aged about 30, ofmediumbuild and 5ft 7in tall. Hewaswearing sky blue clothing. The victim’s bag was later recovered. Officers are keen to hear from the
two men who gave chase and any- one with information. Call 01622 604100 quoting YY/12743/16, or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
Crafting date
MAKEmore of your hobby by shar- ing it with others at a coffee and craft session in Maidstone. Take along your knitting, patch-
work or card-making bits to 74-80 Union Street, Maidstone, from 9am to noon onWednesdays. The Salvation Army also runs an
Art Together session on the same day from 10am to noon. Artists will be on hand to offer advice and for £1 you can use the paints and brushes provided. Call 01622 681808 for de- tails.
4 Maidstone Town July 2016 Awards recognisework to cut crime
THE 10th MaidSafe Awards cele- brated the 20th anniversary of Maidstone’s Business Crime Reduc- tion Partnership, but also marked the appointment of partnership manager Mandy Smith. The awards acknowledge the
hard work and dedication of the members and affords the partner agencies – One Maidstone, Kent Po- lice and Maidstone Borough Coun- cil – the opportunity to extend their thanks and appreciation for all those involved. This year’s event was held at the Gallery nightclub in Bank Street and
supported by the main sponsors – Gallery Nightclub, FremlinWalk, The Muggleton Inn and Source Bar. Among guests were council leader Fran Wilson and the deputy Mayor, Cllr Malcolm Greer. JointMCs for the nightwere Chief Inspector Mick Gardner and Maid- Safe chairman John Barnes. The eveningwas recorded by local photographer Gemma Norton. One Maidstone’s town centre co-
ordinator Ilsa Butler said: “Wewould like to thank all of the town centre businesses that generously donated some superb raffle prizes, raising
£185 for the Street Pastors.” The award winners, some of
whom are pictured, were: Best Individual: Kerry Elkington, House of Fraser; Team Award: The Maidstone Street Pastors; Night Time Economy Award: Urban Blue; Innovation: St Peter’s Street Re- tailers; Timpson’s Award: David Williams, Maidstone Street Pastors; The Linda Gillette Award: PCSO Neil Lettington (chosen by the police).
News
Tiny libraries may be start of something big
A MAIDSTONE couple have built their own library and it’s open all hours for everyone to use.
John and Liz Viner were inspired
to start a free book exchange after seeing similar ones inAmerica. They have set up the Penenden Heath Lit- tle Free Library in a red and white box outside their home in Byron Road. It currently houses about 30 books
which anyone can borrow, keep, re- turn or replace or they can simply leave a book. The opening doubled the number
of these community book exchanges in the town. John said: “Out of a worldwide
total of almost 40,000, there are a mere 26 in the UK and Maidstone has two of them.” The Little Free Library movement
began 10 years ago inWisconsin and offers a network of sites which are for everyone and are always open. TheViners decided to build theirs
after a trip toAmerica.“Wewere vis- iting our son inWashingtonDCand in the suburbs, we passed a Little Free Library, and then we saw oth- ers. We thought this was a really good idea and a good way to serve the community and it’s fun,” said John, an education consultant, who is chairman of Sandling Primary
Catherine Crowhurst opens the Viners’ Little Free Library
School governors. Through a worldwidemaponline,
the couple made contact with Catherine Crowhurst, who is the steward of Maidstone’s first Little Free Library in Lenfield Avenue. It started life as a chicken house, but now serves the community in the Vinters area. The Viners’ library, whichwas of- ficially opened by Catherine, was purpose built. “There are plans on the website
which you can use,” said John. “We greatly enjoyed building it.We think
Little Free Libraries
Founded in 2006 in Wisconsin by Todd Bol as a tribute to his teacher mother. There are almost 40,000 sites worldwide with 26 in the UK Kent has three sites including two in Maidstone For more details, go to
www.lit-
tlefreelibraryproject.org.uk
it looks good. People have told us it looks like a bit of New England, which seems appropriate.” Every book is registered with on-
line book exchange site bookcross-
ing.com, so readers can track its previous travels throughout the world. The books at Penenden Heath
range through adult, teen and chil- dren’s fiction and include donations from the local book group which Liz runs. There is also a guest book for users to sign. John said: “The stock is constantly changing. People can take a book and keep it or bring it back, or leave
others.Yesterday,we had a book just left in it.”
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