News


Time ticking by in bid to find home for clock


HOPES are high that an historic clock could be returned to its home-town ofWestMalling. Built by the renowned master


clockmaker Oliver Usmar, in West Malling during the 1800s, the time- piece is on the market for the first time inmore than 60 years. Oliver, who died in 1872, reared


four sons inWestMalling, the eld- est beingWilliam, who went on to play cricket for England – another historic detail linked to the time- piece. Partingwith the family heirloom


isHeather Button,who explained a little more about the life of the his- toric long case clock that came into her possession in 1985. The teaching assistant remem-


bers visiting her great uncle’s home in Square Hill Road, Maidstone, where it stood in the lounge, chim- ing sweetly on the hour. Mrs But- ton, who also lived in Maidstone, believes the clockwould have been passed on to him by her grand- mother. “My grandmother, Mrs Mary Turk, took over the running of her


Heather Button is hoping her long case clock will find a worthy home near to where it wasmade


mother’s antique business inMaid- stone and my great uncle used to repair clocks for her. She ran the shop, inClarenden Place andKings Street, all her life and I suppose he


would have had it for at least 60 years.” The clock, which bears the West


Malling inscription and themakers name, also comes with a service history, having first been looked at in 1849. Since itwas last restored in 1995, it has beenwound every day, keeping time at Mrs Button’s in- laws – safe from her two, now grown-up – children. Mrs Button (58) returned toWest


Malling last week and hopes the owner of one of itsmany character properties will provide it with a home. She said: “It’s time to find this


wonderful clock a forever home, hopefully backwhere itwasmade. “Our house is too modern to do


it justice; it needs a period property where it can guard its threshold andmeasure its time in amore ap- propriate and becoming setting.” She hopes the 6ft high oak clock


will realise around £900. Find the details by visiting


www.downsmail.co.uk,where our readers are able to place private items on sale for free.


downsmail.co.uk


Pensioners get tea time treat


PENSIONERS from Snodland are invited to afternoon tea atHolmes- dale School. The school in Malling Road is


hosting the festive feast on Friday, December 8. A quiz, bingo, raffle, songs from


the choir, and a selection of Christ- mas snacks will be provided from 2.30pmto 4.30pm. Louise Bates, PA to the head-


teacher, said: “Our invitation is open to all pensioners from the community, even if you do not have a family member at the school. However, places are lim- ited, so please tell your friends or share our post.” To request a place, call the school


on 01634 240416 or email office@holmesdale.kent.sch.uk.


Drugs arrest


A WOMAN has been arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle drugs intoMaidstone Prison. An estimated 40 grams of


cannabis were recovered from a locker area by prison officers using a sniffer dog on November 20. A 19-year-old woman from


Chingford, London, was subse- quently arrested. She has nowbeen released pending further investiga- tion.


10


Malling December 2017


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