News Pothole bli
ELEVEN contractors have been appointed to deal with potholes in the area. KCC Highways says the issue
remains its priority, with dedi- cated gangs assigned their own district to focus thework. Highways cabinet member
MikeWhiting said: “This year, so far, has been relatively mild so we’re ensuring that we get out there and fill potholes. We have teams in each district to respond to reports of specific holes as we receive themand to fill those they findwhile out there.” Duke Contractors will be re-
sponsible for repairs acrossMaid- stone and TomBody Jr, Swale, in Tonbridge andMalling.
Friendsmeet
MEMBERS of the Brassey Centre in Aylesford are hosting regular friendship afternoons. The events include arts and
crafts, games and talks. Tea and cakeswill also be available. Meetings are from 2pm to 4pm
on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Call Janet Holdstock on 01622 710083 for details.
downsmail.co.uk
Fighter pilots’ pub is facing the bulldozers
ITWAS once the favouredwater- ing hole of the men known in WWII as the “Dambusters”. The Startled Saint pub in West
Malling,whichwas close to the fa- mous strategic airfield, was even mentioned in a book by the man who led the missions to the Ruhr dams,GuyGibson VC (pictured). As leader of 617 Squadron, Gib-
son led the daring night-time raids as part of Operation Chastise, in which bouncing bombswere used to destroy reservoir walls and flood the industrial valleys below. But during his team’s down
time, they would gather at the Teston Road inn. Gibson wrote in his memoir,
Enemy CoastAhead, when amis- sion was aborted due to bad weather: “Down to the Startled Saintwewent,with groundcrews, to sample beer. It was good and everyonewas happy.” Itwas a pub until 1992, then be-
came home toRichardandPauline Neve,who have planning permis- sion to replace itwith five houses. The building’s place in Kent’s
war history prompted objections. The parish council objected on
the grounds that the site is part of the community’s connectionwith the former RAF base. TheMalling Society cited harm
to rural character, lack of afford- able housing provision and its connection to the war. Gibson, who won his Victoria Cross for his part in the raids, but did not
survive the war, was not the only famous airman todrink at the Star-
tledSaint.GroupCaptainJohnCun- ningham, a fighter ace creditedwith downing 20 enemy planes, was a customer. Fellow group captain, Peter Townsend, who would later have a scandalous affair with the young PrincessMargaret, was also rumouredtohave visited. Thepub’s signshowedStLeonard
with a halo of five airborne Spitfires, which were often stationed at KingsHill.
12 Malling February 2019
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