News
downsmail.co.uk Tributes to popular ‘Titch’
WARM tributes have been paid to Francis O’Sullivan, a father-of-three and former Gulf war tank driver, who died tragically in a charity event.
“Titch” O’Sullivan, who was popular throughout the Maidstone area, died from head injuries after his vehicle flipped over in the an- nual charity pram race at Sutton Valence on New Year’s Day. He was just 52 and had worked for Kent Frozen Foods in Aylesford since returning from Germany six years ago and after leaving the army. A spokesman for Kent Frozen
Foods would only say she had vis- ited the family and it was their wish that no comment should be made by the company about Mr O’Sullivan, who they described as “a very private person”. While Mr O’Sullivan lived in
Girl grabbed
by van man POLICE have released this e-fit image after a man reportedly jumped out of his vehicle and grabbed a young girl in Snod- land.
The com-
puter gener- ated image is of a man who maybe able to assist with en- quiries. The teenage
girl told police that she was
walking along Bramley Road to- wards Malling Road at about 6.30pm on Friday, December 16, when a white Transit-sized van with two male occupants parked next to her. The driver spoke to her and, as
she carried on walking, he jumped out and pulled her sweatshirt. The girl broke free and ran away. The van reversed towards her
then drove off towards Birling Road, returning later to drive in the direction of Malling Road. The driver is described as
being white, late 20s with short straight hair and a beard, and the passengerwas said to be late 20s.
The van is described as having
a diagonal orange stripe on the rear.
Anyone with informationwho
is yet to speak with officers is asked to call 01622 604100 quot- ing reference YY/028396/16. Al- ternatively, you can contact Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
8 Malling January 2017 Healthy living awards presented
SIX businesses and organisations from Tonbridge and Malling, in- cluding the borough council, have received Kent Healthy Business Awards.
Recipients from across the county
who attended a ceremony were RARK Solutions Ltd, East Malling; Royal Mail Medway Valley Deliv- ery Office, Snodland; South East Water, Snodland;Veolia, Tonbridge Depot; Wilkinson Construction Consultants Ltd, Kings Hill.
Launched by Kent County Council in 2014, the award scheme assesses workplace wellbeing in areas such as leadership, absence manage- ment, health and safety, mental health andwellbeing, environment, physical activity, healthy eating, smoking and tobacco-related ill health, alcohol and substance mis- use.
Since the scheme started, 32 Kent Healthy Business Awards have been awarded in the Tonbridge and
Malling area. The borough council’s Healthy
Living Team continues to work with all of the award-winning workplaces to progress the scheme. In 2017, they will also be working
withTMActive, Larkfield; McDon- alds, Tonbridge; Heart of Kent Hos- pice, Aylesford; The Bridge Trust, Tonbridge; Royal Mail Delivery Of- fice, Tonbridge; Hugh Lowe Farms, Mereworth and Southeastern (Ton- bridge Station).
Langley, he was also well-known in Leeds village, where his mother lives. He sometimes worked part-time
in The George pub in the village – just one of several places where floral tributes have been laid since the accident. As part of a three-man team in
the charity event, Titch took the controls of a makeshift Spitfire he and his friends had created for the race. The landlord of The George, Jason Tharp, was also in the team, is pictured right. In a film clip posted online, spec-
tators could be seen gasping and shouting “no way” as they saw how fast the makeshift plane was
travelling, seconds before it flipped over. Mr Tharp was one of those who joined first-aiders and onlookers to assist Mr O’Sullivan before he was airlifted to King’s Cross Hospital, where he died in the neurological unit on January 3. In an emotional tribute to her
son, Kathleen O’Sullivan spoke of her tragic loss, having welcomed Titch home from the risks he faced as a tank driver in Iraq during the first GulfWar conflict in 1990 with Prince Harry’s former regiment the Blues and Royals. Kent Police say an inquiry has
revealed there were no suspicious circumstances and the matter will be referred to the coroner.
Grateful Rachel’s fundraising success
A KINGS Hill mum has completed a year of fund-raising to hand more than £7,000 to the hospital that saved her daughter’s life Rachel Burns has ticked off 12 chal-
lenges over the last 12 months to fund a new Vapotherm respiratory machine forTunbridgeWells Hospital. Her charity stunts having included swimming in icy water, abseiling, cy- cling, rowing and completing anarmy assault course, closing with a run around Kings Hill in festive fancy dress just before Christmas. The mum-of-two was inspired to
take on the challenge after her first daughter, Ava, was born seriously ill but was nursed back to health by hos-
pital staff using a Vapotherm ma- chine. The support received for her
Breathe4Pembury campaign has in- cludeda£500 donation fromKent Po- lice’s Property Fund. Rachel said: “Last year, was an in-
credible year. I have learnt a lot about myself, met some amazing people and friends have shown incredible support, and my family’s support leaves me speechless, especially how loud Ava can yell ‘Go mummy, go’, like her nana! “And of course,Ava’s cheers always
remind me of the whole point of doing this ... to say thank you to the neonatal unit for saving her life.”
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