News


downsmail.co.uk Helene beats pain in marathon


A BEARSTED mum braved the pain from an injured leg to raise an amazing £3,400 for charity in the London Marathon.


Helene Poursain (40) kept on running, despite having aggra- vated a sciatic nerve just three and a halfweeks before the big day. She finished the course in a cred-


itable four hours, 54 minutes and nine seconds, but said she had hoped for a faster time. “I was hoping for a much better


time, but I thought a week before the race that I would be deferring. But I didn’t want to because I had put so much work in.” Helenewas cheered on by her 17-


year-old son Jacob, as well as her mum Janet, husband Ady, and lots of friends and colleagues. Her time was more than an hour


faster than her previous entry in 2006 when she ran the course in around six hours and seven min- utes. She also smashed her fundraising


target of £2,500 by nearly £1,000. The money will go to Macmillan Cancer Support, where she is area fundraising manager for the South East.


Hunted One


pair arrested KENTPolice have arrested two men – one from Maidstone – from an anti-paedophile vigi- lante gang. The news came after a senior


police officer warned against groups taking the law into their own hands and conduct- ing citizen arrests. Officers arrested the men,


one aged 43 from Blackheath and another aged 34 from Maidstone, on Friday, April 21, on suspicion of impersonating a policeman and false impris- onment. A number of men have been arrested in the Maidstone area recently, following the activi- ties of The Hunted One group. It is not known which stings the alleged offenders were in- volved in. A statement from Kent Po-


lice said: “The man from Blackheath was also arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Bothwere bailed.” Detective Inspector Rob Chithamwarned that capturing suspected child sex offenders could lead to other offences. He added: "This could divert


police resources away from safeguarding child victims and other crimes.”


10 Maidstone East May 2017


She said: “I had some special painkillers and some running straps which held my leg together. The pain kicked in towards the end and I don’t think I noticed anything in the last kilometre.” Helene’s training programme


had been going well until the end of March, when she was running from Lenham back to her home. “I had to hobble home with pins and needles and pain in my foot


and leg. It turned out to be my sci- atica nerve.” More than 40,000 people lined up


for the start of this year’s London Marathon, which was considered the most successful in the event’s history. It was given the royal seal of approval, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry applauding runners on the 26.2 mile course. “The atmosphere was incredi-


Fir treemystery is solved


HAVE you noticed the new tree on the roundabout near Hollingbourne? We set about finding whether the free fir was the work of some green- fingered guerrilla gardener, after the parish council said it had no idea of its roots. In search of a solution to a good oldmystery, we called the Kent


County Council, which confessed it had been responsible. The Austrian


or Black Pine was planted by the Highways Authority to “enhance the visual amenities of the area”. Hollingbourne


parish councillor John Cobbett (pictured) says that while the council had no idea of the county council’s tree intention, they aremore than happy with its arrival. Cllr Cobbett confirmed the parish council has for some years discussed a “welcome” planting scheme on the roundabout, but said issues with its wire and concrete base had presented a seemingly impenetrable problem. He added: “All of a sudden the tree arrived with no announcement. If


you were in France this wouldn’t be unusual as most regions offer some sort of welcome on their roundabouts, a bit like in Ashford, so we are pleasantly surprised and think it looks rather nice.”


ble”, said Helene. “The crowds were amazing and they really did help you on.” Although she thought this might


be her last London Marathon, the day was so successful that she is now considering getting back into training for next year. You can still donate on Helene’s fundraising page at www.justgiv- ing.com/fundraising/Helene-Pour- sain2


Estate agents’ new offices


WHENit comes to moving home… estate agent Simon Miller had the whole job done in three days. But, the speed at which the busi-


nessmoved out ofLenham,where it set up home 12 years ago, left some buyers in a spin. Lenham Council’s parish clerk,


Margo McFarlane, from Harriet- sham, said: “I was using Simon Miller to find a house in Lenham andwas due to look at some proper- ties.When I needed clarification of viewings I thought I’d call in, but on Thursday theywere there and by the Saturday they had gone.” She added: “Rather than just put-


ting up a poster in the window, it would have been a courtesy to at least offer a thank you to the com- munity that has supported it.” Gavin Curd, Simon Miller’s man-


aging director, said hewas surprised at any suggestion that people were unaware of the closure, saying phone lines had been transferred and “anyone impacted by themove” was contacted within 24 hours. MrsMcFarlane maintains she only learned of the move when shewent to investigate. Simon Miller told the DownsMail


that the decision to leave the village was for commercial reasons, follow- ing the opening of its Bearsted branch in 2015, which comple- mented its branch in Headcorn. Mr Curd said the lease in Lenham had reached its end.


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