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Abrus bowled over by village’s ‘lovely people’


IT COULD be described as the kindness of strangers rather than an act of charity borne frompity. A simple envelope, signed from


“Your friends from Staplehurst”, found on the doormat ofAbrus and Muckbala Ali’s Marden home meant much, much more than the £330 inside. Readers of DownsMail had been


moved to read of theAlis’ terrifying armed robbery at their terraced home in January, when masked raiders stole possessions worth about £8,000,most notablyMrsAli’s wedding jewellery. Mr Ali (62), who runs the Taj of


Kent restaurant in Church Green, Marden, said: “We were just stunnedby the generosity of people. It was such a kind and thoughtful thing to do and we thank them so sincerely for it. It hasmeant a great deal. “Some people seem to have put


an envelope through the front door and therewas amessage saying that itwas from‘Your Friends in Staple- hurst’.


Abrus Ali in the living roomwhere he and his family were held captive


“The note said how sorry they


were to hearwhat happened and al- though it cannot replace the things we lost, they asked us to accept the money, perhaps to buy my wife something. “When I read this tomywife, she


started to cry again.We have been so moved and are so grateful for


this lovely gesture and would like to say thank you through your newspaper to those lovely people.” Mr Ali, his wife of 40 years and


their son were in the family home when five masked raiders barged their way into the property and stole cash and jewellery, while threatening themwith knives and a chisel. They took £600 in cash set aside


for a wedding gift, but the robbers demanded to knowwhere the fam- ily jewellerywas kept. The men – all described as white


with local accents – left the property but not before they had used bleach sprays on every surface of the house, presumably to destroyDNA evidence. Apolice spokesman said: “This is


very much an ongoing investiga- tion.” If you can help please call Kent


Police’s appeals number on 01622 604100,


quoting reference


YY/002018/18. Alternatively, call Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.


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News Hector’s hoping


to raise the roof HEADCORN’s hairy pop hero Hector features on a CD that is hoping to raise enough to “raise” the roof at the village’sMethodist church – or, at least, repair it. Rev Fiona Haskett’s dog fea-


tures on the release of music and poetry, which it is hoped will cover the cost of repairs to the church ceiling. Priced at £10, the CD also in-


cludes more traditional rendi- tions from Kay Sheehan Swift, Annie Hawkes and Bob Chance and the Headcorn handbell- ringers. CDs, produced free of charge


by Meridian Records, with art- work byHeadcorn Photo Factory, Peter Fryd and Sally Musker, are on sale at the Weald of Guitar music shop and the George and Dragon pub in the village.


Spring clean-up VILLAGERS in Chart Suttonwill take to the streets for a spring clean on Saturday,March 24. Residents are asked to join the


litter pick, from10am, outside the village hall. Pickers and black sacks will be


provided.


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