Liquor Contril Board (LCBO) of On- tario’s Vintages Classics Pro-


downsmail.co.uk News


Former editor’s death mourned


A FORMER editor ofDownsMail and leading light of local life in Hollingbourne has died, aged 63. Alan Bennett died in Maidstone


Hospital after reportedly suffering kidney failure and a heart attack on October 20. He had spent many years battling the effects of diabetes. Mr Bennett,who lived in Eyhorne


Street, near Hollingbourne, had a long career in local journalism be- fore his health problems, including the amputation of a leg, forced him to retire. He continued to play an active


role in Hollingbourne, as a parish councillor and village spokesman. Mr Bennett was often seen repre-


senting his community, giving colourful speeches in the town hall or public meetings, having put his journalistic writing skills to good purpose. Mr Bennett was also plain-speak-


ing and used his knowledge of the news industry to give Holling- bourne issues awider airing. In his latter years of his career, he


edited DownsMail for a short time but he had alsoworked on newspa- pers in Hertfordshire, Bucking- hamshire and Kent. Parish council member David


Ardley described the news as “dev- astating” and fellow councillor An- dreaMarshall said it was “very sad news indeed”. On Facebook, local people left tributes toMrBennett.LeaReynolds


wrote: “A good man who will be greatlymissed.” Mr Bennettwas involved inmany


village organisations including All Saints’Church andtheRoyalBritish Legion. A sports fan, friends re- member him as a keen member of KentCountyCricketClub, a regular at the St Lawrence Ground in Can- terbury anda follower ofMaidstone United Football Club. He was a supporter of the village


fete, opening the event in 2011with fellow residents Arthur C. Clarke and Barry Humphreys.Mr Bennett is pictured at the event in 2015, sell- ing copies of the Hayl Hola book aboutHollingbourne. He leaves hiswifeAnne, a former


nurse, and his brother Roger. Obituary, page 34


Mote Park flasher warning


POLICE are investigating re- ports of a flasher who followed two young women on his bike. Between 2.30pm and 3pm on


Friday, October 19, police were informed that a man was inap- propriately “touching himself” in Mote Park, Maidstone. The mother of the victim, who


turned to Facebook to warn oth- ers in the area, said: “My daugh- ter and niece have just encountered an incident in Mote Park Maidstone. A man in his 50s, silver hair and a grey T-shirt and jeans was playing with him- self in the bushes and jumped out on them with everything ex- posed. “They ran off and he then


chased them on his bike. Luck- ily my daughter shouted phone the police and he fled. Police out looking for him now. Hoping


cafe have CCTV footage as he rode back past there!” A spokesman from Kent Po-


lice said: “Officers are investi- gating following a report of a suspicious incident in Mote Park, Maidstone between 2.30pm and 3pm on Friday, Oc- tober 19. “A man was reportedly seen


touching himself inappropri- ately and following two females on his bicycle. Officers attended the area, but the man had left prior to their arrival.” Enquiries are ongoing and


anyone who may have informa- tion about the incident is asked to contact Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting YY/38031/18. Alternatively, contact the in-


dependent charity Crimestop- pers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555 111.


EXCELLENCE IN EYE CARE in Maidstone


At Eye 2 Eye Opticians, we provide eye examinations to the highest standards. We offer a full range of services including eye health photos, specialist cornea scans, full OCT eye scans, and specialist dry eye clinics. All at affordable prices and carried out by experienced specialist optometrists.


• Suppliers of Nikon Lenses


• NHS Emergency referral and walk in clinics available


• Free Parking


• Specialist Dry eye clinic


• Independent family owned business


• Experienced friendly staff • Disabled access


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


E: eye2eye.allington@nhs.net 01622 672563 www.eye2eyeonline.co.uk


Malling November 2018 17 GUARANTEE


double g We can AVe can SAVE


AV y, AV y, AV VE Has your SAVE money, ener , energ rgy & time


Cloudy2Clear is a leading local glass replacement company, established for over 10 years. By saving your window we can... SAVE money, SAVE energy, SAVE time.


y, AV VE time Replace the pane, not the frame


The good news is you don’ t need to go thr ough the expensive process of replacing the whole frame. Yo


glass. Our quotes on average take no longer than 20 minutes. Yo Your local our local trusted expert All glazing backed by our Hinge, lock & mechanism re repairs You can just replace the Has your


steamed up? We


le glazing VE your windo ws!


Canada can further strengthen their ties to build the closest, freest


just in “Th


Local, friendly engineer


We are Which?


Priority free


rea


e a


Trusted Trader re phone


SAVE


AV money - SAVE


AV energy - SAVE time AV


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48