downsmail.co.uk


Birthday boyMike takes to the skies in a Spitfire


WHEN it comes to achieving a bucket list ambition on your birthday – nothing beats a flight in a Spitfire. Mike Cuming used his 70th birthday for his flight of fancy from Biggin Hill as a magnificent man in a memorable flying machine. He said: “I’d been saving for a year and with the money from my birthday and the choice of a party or the flight, I leapt at the chance.” And, says the Maidstone bor-


ough councillor from Madginford, the trip did not disappoint, with him taking the controls over Maid- stone for a spectacular fly-by of Leeds Castle. Mr Cuming, whose dream of be- coming an airline pilot was shat- tered by an allergic reaction as a boy, admitted his love of planes, trains and automobiles had never left him. He said: “My dad and father-in-


law were in the RAF and we spent weekends watching the planes at Croydon airfield, close to where I grew up. In fact, I earned my glider’s licence before I could drive a car.


News Station appeal


COMPLAINTS about the poor state of Hollingbourne train station are being taken up with Southeast- ern train bosses. Issues, including the lack of light-


ing on Station Lane and fly-tipping were to be discussed with Maid- stone station manager Matthew Fraser on March 27. Councillors say the road is unsafe for pedestrians after dark and rubbish has been al- lowed to accumulate since South- eastern told Maidstone Council to remove its recycling point last year. Hollingbourne Parish Council,


has pressed railway bosses for a number of years to release the for- mer goods yard for housing.


Flower festival


Mike Cumng in the cockpit of the Spitfire, ready for his birthday trip “As the next best thing, I landed a


job with an American survey com- pany that saw me flying around the world in the course of my job.” He also became a training in- structor for the Air Training Corps, first in Croydon, and then the 40F Squadron at Invicta Barracks when he moved to Maidstone. Helen, his wife of 46 years, and fellow aviation fans and friends


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Denis Spooner and retired BA pilot Colin Brewer joined Mike for his flight as guests. His pilot was Don Sigournay. Helen said: “This is something


that Mike has alwayswanted to do, and I was surprised at how moved I was by the experience, even from the ground. The roar of the engine of this well-known war plane was mind-blowing.”


THE Church of the Good Shepherd in Harrietsham is holding a flower festival in May. The event will celebrating Good Shepherd Sunday at the 1881-built church, which served a place of worship for railway workers con- structing the line between Maid- stone east and Ashford. The festival in Rectory Lane runs


from May 5-7 from 10am until 4pm.


Entry is free but donations are


welcomed. Contact Fr Geoffrey Pointer on 01622 736100 or email him at parishpriest@catholic- bearsted.org.uk


01622 738772


7 Yeoman Court, Ashford Rd Bearsted, Kent ME14 4ND www.directorshairandbeauty.co.uk


Sunday 30th


April 2017


Discounted early bird entry until 14th


April 2017


Walk amongst the bluebells on the North Downs and through the beautiful Kent countryside in support of Heart of Kent Hospice.


Starting at Harrietsham Village Hall | Dogs Welcome


Register Now! Visit: www.hokh.org Tel: 01622 790195


Email: fundraising@hokh.co.uk Heart of Kent Hospice


@Heartofkenthosp RCN No. 298164


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