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downsmail.co.uk Sir JohnWells remembered


FORMER MP Sir JohnWells, who served Maidstone for 28 years, has died aged 91. Sir John – who earned a knight-


hood in 1984 for his public service – was a colourful character in parlia- ment, noted for an ability to stage eye-catching stunts to make his point. Hewas also credited with a robust


ability to grasp the complexities of key issues and argue local causes. As an MP, he once noisily chomped on a Kentish apple on the green benches of the House of Com- mons to highlight the issue of cheap foreign imports from France. On another occasion, Sir John


made a point about the importance of rural life to the UK by riding his horse to parliament, whilst dressed for work in a bowler hat and pin- stripe trousers. The striking black and white


imagewas published in many of the national newspapers of the day and


Churches get together to


lead theway LOCAL Christian churches are joining together to in a bid to connect better with Maidstone residents following a focus group consultation. The Waypoint Project is bringing Church of England, Methodist, Baptist, Pen- tecostal and others under one umbrella for a series of events.


Aproject spokesman said its research showed Maidstone people are “open to exploring matters of faith as long as they are not pressured”. Project director Heather May (pictured) said: “On a journey, a waypoint helps us find our way, by showing us where we are and reminding us of where we have come from. “We then decide where we


are going and how to get there; and this is the essence of The Waypoint Project. “Our research indicates that people in Maidstone are open to opportunities to explore faith, providing there is no ex- pectation or pressure.” About 45 people took part in


six focus groups last summer. Arange of events is planned


– for details go to waypoint- maidstone.org,uk


10 Maidstone East March 2017


has served as the illustration to ac- company his recent obituaries. Sir John lived at Mere House, Mereworth, andwas elected to par- liament as a Conservative in 1959. He stood down before the Thatcher landslide of 1987. Far from retiring from public life,


Sir John took on the role of Deputy Lieutenant of Kent in 1992. Before entering the House ofCom-


mons, he unsuccessfully fought the seat in Smethwick in the Midlands in 1955, but impressed enough to be chosen to stand in relatively-safe Maidstone. Sir John, pictured,was educated at


Eton and Corpus Christie College, Oxford, and saw war service in the RoyalNaval Volunteer Reserve, join- ing in the ranks and earning a posi- tion as an officer in 1942. He worked as a marine engineer,


businessman and farmer before being elected to the Maidstone seat. Sir John was married to Lucinda,


who died in 2013, andwas father to Andrew, Oliver, Julia and Henrietta.


Many tributes have praised his


love of the countryside and country pursuits and recounted his aware- ness of tradition. Sir Johnwas proud of the fact that his great, great, great uncle – who was also called John Wells –wasMPfor Maidstone from 1820 to 1830.


Hildenborough Farmers’ Market,


with which Sir John was long asso- ciated,posted on Facebook: “He will be long-remembered by us, many of whom may be looking out of our windows onto some of his wonder- ful snowdrops aswe look forward to the coming spring. “Avery special gentlemanwhowe


were so pleased to have at our mar- ket. He made a difference to every- one he spoke to.” Lauren Barber added: “What a


lovely man and true gentleman. He will be very fondly remembered.”


Pointing to the future for Lenham


A NEW tree of black and gold fingerposts is taking pride of place in Lenham Square, thanks to an ongoing initiative to upgrade the village centre. The “Square gentrification project” is a parish council initiative


that has found support of nearly £2,500 from county councillor JennyWhittle and sponsorship from local businesses. The refurbishment project will also include new litter bins,


refurbished benches and the renovation of the oak-framed bus stop opposite StMary’s church. MargoMcFarlane said: “It is some time since money was spent


on the square and things were starting to look a little tatty.We want to encourage tourism in the area to sustain our local shops and businesses and make it a nice place for residents to be and this will make a huge difference.” The parish council is actively pursuing several other projects,


such as repainting the village signs, installing CCTV coverage and upgrading the parking facilities at the Maidstone Road car park. Parish council chair Richard Greenwood (left) and highways rep- resentative Paul Scrivens are pictured with the signpost.


Village school expansion fury


HARRIETSHAM villagers have re- acted angrily to a county council plan to expand the village school. The parish council, which is also unhappy about the idea to increase the size of the school by 210 pupils, says it would mean parents bringing pupils in from miles around to a school al- ready unable to cope with demand be- cause of new housing.


This view is backed by Kent County Council’s housing chief Roger Gough, who says the county needs to provide 23,000 new school


places in the next five years to meet the housing expansion and a rising birth rate. Parish council chairman Eddie


Powell (left) says: “The suggestion is already being made that houses can be built in Hollingbourne, which has no school spaces, because children could be accommodated at Harriet- sham. This is making a case for housing on the promise of school places that don’t yet exist. “There is a major shortage of


school places and the bubble of un- dersupply is going to burst soon.” Headds that fewer than 40 people attended a public consultation held by KCC about the expansion idea at a time when the first of 300 addi- tional homes are nearing completion in the village.


Cllr Roger Gough, KCC’s cabinet member for education, said: “As the school age population continues to grow, we will plan for and respond to this demand.” Of the 23,000 places which will be required in the county, 15,700 are for secondary places and almost 8,000 for primary pupils. Residents are also angry that any


school expansion on to Tong’s Meadowwould see the second evic- tion of great crested newts relocated here to makeway for new homes. Cllr Powell said: “It is well docu- mented that tomove a native species from a site it has chosen to occupy is likely to result in loss of life and to suggest this should happen for a sec- ond time has really got people’s backs up.”


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