News


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 and


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


18 Maidstone Weald 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.”


They thought Snoopy was pile of rags


ANIMALwelfare charity RSPCA is investigating how after a dreadfully emaciated lurcher was found collapsed on a busy road in Maidstone. The dog, now nicknamed Snoopy, was so


thin tht she wasmistaken for a pile of rags by the people who found her. Inspectors were called after the young female tan dog was found by passing motorists onWoolley Road, Maidstone, on February 16. RSPCA inspector Rosie Russon said: “Snoopy


was curled up and collapsed in the kerb when she was found. The people who found her said they at first mistook her for a pile of rags, she was so still, and they had to swerve tomiss her. “Thankfully, they realised in time and kindly


rescued her and took her to a nearby vet who called us the next day. “She is extremely thin - almost skin and


bones - and weighing just 10 kilos rather than the 16 kilos which would have been a healthy weight for her size. No medical condition has been found so this emaciation seems to be due to not being fed. She is very young - we think less than two years old.” Got information? Call the RSPCA’s inspectorate line on 0300 123 8018.


School expansion ‘is notwanted’


VILLAGERS have reacted angrily to a county council plan to expand Harrietsham’s school. The parish council, which is also unhappy about the idea to increase the size of the school by 210 pupils, says it wouldmeanparents bringing pupils in from miles around to a school already unable to cope with demand because 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. Warning the bubble “may burst


soon”, a parish council spokesman said: “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 educa- tion, said 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.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48