News Centre seeking


warmemories DITTONHeritageCentre is hoping to hear from any descendants of those listed on the village’s war memorial. Like many other groups, organ-


isers are planning a special event to mark the centenary of the end of WWI in November. They would like to hear from


those who knew or is related to anyone listed on the memorial at DittonCorner. They are also on the look out for anyonewith anyWWI memorabilia. Anyone who can help should


contact Tony Mulcuck on 01732 844195 or email mulcuck.an- thony@sky.com.


Focus on charity


A PHOTO historian is hoping to take his fundraising tally past £18,000 in yet another calendar of three villages. Ray Sturgeon’s 2019 effort will


include 36 images of times gone by in Eccles, BurhamandAylesford. Since 2003, he has raised almost


£18,000 from the calendars, which this year will go on sale at the end of May and cost £5. The Heart of KentHospice and other local good causeswill all benefit.


downsmail.co.uk


Campaign to raise funds to refurbishWWI tribute


A MONUMENT to the war dead of West Malling is to be refur- bished as part of a salute fromthe town on the 100th anniversary of the end ofWorldWar l (WWl). The prominent feature was built


in 1921, at a cost of £525 and 7d(old pence), donated by the public. It is nowhoped that those living inWest Malling will sponsor a facelift for the monument – now showing its age – through a crowd-funding campaign. Three contractors, including a


bronze specialist, have been lined up to repair the base and re-enamel the names on the 14ft ragstone trib- ute at St Mary’s Church, ahead of the town’s major Remembrance Day parade inNovember. Thework is set to cost just over £8,700. Rev David Green said: “In 1921,


the people ofWestMalling paid for a permanent memorial to its war dead and I amhopeful that the pub- licwill step up once again. “While our war dead should be


remembered every day,we feel this is a fitting and honourable tribute to


Rev David Green at thememorial


ensure that those who lost their lives are rememberedfor at least an-


other 100 years to come.” He added: “We’ve got £6,500 to


raise and I’mhopeful theworkwill be finished by September.” Thememorial bears the names of


48men fromWestMallingwho lost their lives inWWI and 26who died in WWII. It replaces a makeshift shrine outside Arundel House in the High Street, where grieving families used a noticeboard outside the one-time hotel to pin photos and details of those lost in action. The highly visible permanentme-


morial on the High Street is a key location for remembrance services across the borough and wreaths will be laid here by dignitaries, in- cluding themayor, Cllr Roger Dal- ton, and Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge & Malling, following a 2.30pmservice at StMary’s on Sun- day,November 11. To youwould like to contribute to


the fund, visit bit.ly/dmwarmem; al- ternatively, post your donation, in an envelopemarkedfor thewarme- morial, through the door of the vic- arage in theHigh Street.


downsmail.co.uk


downsmail.co.uk


Business Focus Eye2Eye teams national recognition


OPTOMETRISTS Chirag and Manish Patel have cemented their reputation within their industry after being invited to lecture at a prestigious conference. The brothers, who run the highly-regarded Eye2Eye in Allington, delivered an address to the National Optometry Tomorrow 2018 conference in Birmingham to 150 top UK specialists across the country.


They spoke on how to effectively and efficiently manage and treat patients in a community practice - essentially delivering a hospital service on the doorstep. The lecture topic was 'anterior eye disease' and how to treat it in a community setting and why being able to treat patients on a local level saves the NHS money.


Eye2Eye is in the top three in the UK for enhanced optical services.


As previously reported, the practice underwent a complete refurbishment in October last year, resulting in a total transformation of the look of Eye2Eye. However, what hasn’t changed is the first class service that the independent family-owned business offers. Owners Chirag and Manish Patel, who are both specialist therapeutic optometrists, pride themselves on providing the highest standards of patient care at their clinic in Castle Road, Allington. Their higher qualifications mean that they are eye specialists, not just regular opticians, and now provide


CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tip- ping on a country road have been made by the local borough coun- cillor.


Burberry Lane, near Kingswood,


has been targeted by waste dumpers for years, but in recent months, the problem has become more acute withwaste often strewn across the middle of the road. Cllr Gill Fort, pictured right, said:


“Every month we are having toi- lets, sinks and construction waste dumped in the village, specifically in Burberry Lane. We are now thinking of installing cameras on private land to oversee the problem area.” A recent event in Burberry Lane


Find us at: Unit 8, Mid-Kent Shopping Centre Castle Road, Allington, Maidstone Kent ME16 0PU


E:eye2eyeallington@gmail.com


STAPLEHURST vineyard Hush Heath will send its sparkling wine to Canada after landing a deal with one of the world’s largest alcohol buyers. Hush Heath’s Balfour 1503 Clas-


www.eye2eyeonline.co.uk 01622 672563


sic Cuvée is the first English sparkling wine selected for the Liquor Contril Board (LCBO) of On- tario’s Vintages Classics Pro-


the only accredited primary care acute ophthalmology service for the Maidstone area. This means they can accept emergency and acute referrals for any eye problems and provide medical treatment in-house. They accept walk-ins, optician referrals, GP referrals, referrals from NHS 111 and A&E. Chirag and Manish are both part of a select group of optometrists in the country who can treat patients by issuing prescriptions. The brothers have worked in many different settings from hospitals to independent practices.


Illegal fly-tipping is costing local authorities hun- dreds of thou- sands of pounds, says Cllr Gill Fort


saw a caravan burned out while a car remains on a footpath nearby,


Eye tests are carried out with the use of state-of-the-art equipment, including OCT eye scanning. The lenses used in their spectacles are from the world-renowned camera company Nikon which are of the same high quality as their camera lenses. Chirag and Manish bring a wealth of experience to the practice and like to take time to talk to patients to help them to relax and ensure their concerns or needs are met. Call today to book your appointment.


CCTV call to sto


more than a year after itwas


dumped and torched. The church car park has also seen illegal dump- ing.


But it is also a problem in many rural areas, including Langley,


Head year, cleare more since proac prom


Vineyard ‘bubblin


gramme. The “significant deal” was announced as Prime Minister Theresa May was in Ottawa for talks with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on how the UK and Canada can further strengthen their ties to build the closest, freest


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