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Fantasy novel’s history lessons


A MAIDSTONE nurse is hoping her “Harry Potter spin on history” will encourage fans of fantasy books to revisit some of Britain’s most historic moments.


In the first


book from Kathy Elkins, The History Sphere, her grand- daughter Olivia and her dog Archie re- pair the earth’s his- tory by


beating Warlock Brogan’s evil ef- forts to change the passage of time at pivotal world events. The gallant duo, a pocketful of


powers and a companion dwarf, elf and pyskie, travel back in time to an Otherworld called Theia to restore order. The book, which has taken Kathy, from Chart Sutton, five years to research and write, pays particular attention to historical events, including the Gunpowder


plot, the Great Fire of London and the Battle of Britain. Kathy is writing under the pen


name of Katy Chalk and is already working on a sequel. She left Maidstone Hospital’s cardiology department in 1997 to take up her love of history studies at Kent University, achieved a Masters in archaeology and ran history workshops at schools be- fore starting her writing career. Kathy said: “I realised that if we


want children to learn about this country’s important historical events they need to be presented in away that makes them interesting. “I was keen to ensure the book


was ready by the time Olivia was 10 and able to appreciate it. She’s now very pleased to be the hero- ine, along with her dog, inmynew book and can’t wait to read where she’s going to be next.” She believes the book will appeal to anyone over eight.


The book is available at the Shop on the Green, Chart Sutton, for £8.99 from Waterstones and Amazon. Buy direct from the au- thor for £5 – call 01622 843086.


Garden theft of spaniel Fifi


A FEMALE golden cocker spaniel has been reported stolen from a house in Collier Street. Fifi (pictured) was taken from the garden of a home in Haviker Street. The owner says the dogwas taken at


about 1.25pm on Sunday, January 22. Police say it is not, at this time, being connected to the theft of half a dozen spaniels from the Birling area earlier this month. Anyone who believes they witnessed


anything suspicious in the area, or who believes they may have been offered the dog for sale, is asked to call Kent Po- lice on 01622 604100 quoting YY/1891/17. Alternatively contact Kent Crimestop- pers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.


Call for views on monitoring


THE health watchdog is asking the public for its thoughts on future monitoring of NHS services. The Care Quality Commission


(CQC) says that after a comprehen- sive inspection of everyNHStrust in England at least once, it is time to fine-tune its operation. It has launched an eight-week in- vitation, which closes on February 14, inviting comments onhowit reg- ulates primary medical care and so- cial care over the next five years. The CQCwants to improve its in- formation gathering and run smaller


and more targeted inspections, with increased emphasis on the leader- ship of trusts. It also intends to carry out unannounced inspections of at least one core service, such as urgent and emergency, or child and adoles- cent mental healthward. View the consultation document


at www.cqc.org.uk/nextphase and respond to nextphase@cqc.org.uk or by writing to Freepost RTTE-JTBT- ZTHH, Next Phase Consultation, Care Quality Commission, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W9SZ.


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