downsmail.co.uk


Marge, 96, happy to keepworking atMall


AS a way to beat loneliness, a Maidstone widow who is soon to be 96 seems to know the an- swer…she goes to work. Marjorie Rose, from College


Road, has no plans to retire after working as a cleaner at The Mall in Maidstone for over three decades. Majorie, known asMarge, right,


said: “I still feel fit and healthy so I will keep going. I love working at the shopping centre, I have got to know so many people and everybody is always happy to have a chat. “When I’m at home, I just get


lonely. I don’t think I will ever give it up.” Born inCornwall in 1923,Marge


moved to Kentwhen shemarried her late husband Bill. She spent nearly 40 yearswork-


ing as a fruit picker for Alan Firmin Ltd. But cold winter shifts affected her knees, and she


switched to cleaning. She joined the shopping centre


in October 1986, when it was still called the Stoneborough Centre. The great-grandmother of seven


is stillmopping and cleaningwin- dowswith a smile on her face five


days a week, rarely taking a day off. Suzie Brindle, theMallMaid- stone’s marketing manager, said: “Marge has been with us for over 30 years nowand there’s not a day when she doesn’t inspire or amaze us. “She is one of the hardestwork-


erswe’ve ever had the pleasure of workingwith here at TheMall. “When she’s not busyworking,


you’ll see her chatting with cus- tomers and bringing a smile to people’s faces. She’s a pillar of the Mall’s community.” Valerie Wilson, of Bearsted,


said: “I have known about this lady over the years and I was just so excited when I saw her still working at TheMall. “She said shewas going to be 96


in April. There she was with her dustpan and brush and she was talking away to someone else be- cause she is so well-known. I just had to go up and say hello.”


News Birds aacked


POACHERS are using catapults to target valuable game birds while trespassing on private land near Maidstone, police have revealed. Farmers and residents in rural


communities have been asked to be vigilant following recent reports of illegal hunting incursions. Kent Police said two incidents


were reported in January. An 18- year-old man from Snodland has been issued with a community protectionnoticewarning, banning him from having any weapon ca- pable of causing harmtowildlife.


Help needed


VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help keepMaidstone’s parks in good order. TheMote Park Volunteers meet


every Wednesday of the month, starting at 9.30am and finishing around 1pm. Theymeet at the vol- unteer office next to the cafe. Fur- ther details can be found at www.moteparkfellowship.org.uk/ events. 'Friends of South Park' meet on the first Monday of each month. They meet at the Pavilion at 9.30am and finish at about 12.30pm. Email parksandopen- spaces@maidstone.gov.uk


Business Hours


Mon to Fri - 8:00AM to 5:30PM Sat - 8:30AM to 5:00PM Sun - Closed


Maidstone March 2019


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