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News


downsmail.co.uk Elderly ‘have so much to share’


IN SPITE of mobile phones and the internet, more and more elderly people in Maidstone are looking for good old-fashioned face-to-face contact – and a chance to chat.


Fred Hatcher, from Titchfield


Close, is a classic example. At 91 theWorldWar II veteran has an ac- tivemind, a highly-tuned sense of humour and a source of life-long memories ofMaidstone. He featured in an Ealing black


comedy, served as a retained fire- man in the town, a papermill worker, a highways technician for Kent County Council, a “shilling taxi” driver, a bus conductor, an RAF telephonist, is a father of three, and fostered a dozen more children. He told Downs Mail: “I’ve had


everything:Awonderful life, a lov- ing wife, surrounded by beautiful children. I still want to do things, but my bones are just a bit older. I’ve hadgreat fun andlove to share mymemories of all the things I’ve seen and done. I’d do it all again, given the chance.” He rates friends, family and so-


cialising high on the list of things that make him happy, relegating money to last place. He said: “Life is life, Brexit or


not, it’swhat youmake of it.” He concedes he is affected by


loneliness, not least as a widower. So getting out and meeting others means a great deal,when he is not


Mayor backs


befriending MAIDSTONE Mayor Cllr David Naghi made The West Kent Be- friending Service one of his cho- sen charities.


He said: “One


of the greatest gifts in life is that of


friendship,


having someone to talk with, to laugh with. We have so many


older members in our community who are so richly deserving of those relationships, but who feel that they are very much alone. “I have been inspired by the


willingness of people of all ages to get involved with The West Kent Befriending Service, bringing the gift of friendship, putting smiles on faces and a sense of belonging. “I am very proud to have been


asked to be an Ambassador of Supporting Friendships, enabling me to continue my relationship with this wonderful charity.”


26 Maidstone May 2019 He adds: “Some memories are


harder than others, but there were wonderful times that make me laugh, likeworkingforBillyCham- bers at Shepway Farm in fields of hops, strawberries and apples; crammingCanadian airmen inmy Austin 18 to taxi themtoHeadcorn and taking the stars ofKindHearts and Coronets from The Star in Maidstone to filmatOtham.” Another key event in his lifewas


meeting his wife Thelma, who livedinBarming.He said: “When I came back from leave with the RAF she toldme,marryme nowor never. She was a strong lady and we had a wonderful life and have somany stories to tell.” He hopes the wider public will


Fred Hatcher has his first selfie, with Jess Sutton, from the Tudor Park


managing his home, garden and collection of photographs, books andnewspaper cuttings, especially of Spitfires. He describes his monthly out-


ings through charity Contact the Elderly as the best thing in his diary. He said: “I lovemeeting up and


chatting,what couldbe better?Our last gathering was at the Marriott


Tudor Park in Bearsted. Itwas bril- liant. They treated us like kings.” And Fred certainly has plenty to


talk about.He sees theRAF,which brought him discipline, as one of themajormilestones in his life. He remembers bombs falling in


the town on Maidstone Museum and in George Street,which killed his Southborough School friend Freddie Fiddament.


Fred was a conductor for Maidstone Bus Corporation for just 10 days. He loved the job on the double- deckers between Barming and Loose, but when he refused to cough up 10 cloth- ing vouchers for his uniform, he was fired.


recognise the importance of what the elderly have given and still have to share.


Contact the Elderly is a national charity, with a base in Maidstone offering those aged 75+ living in an 8-mile radius of the town a tea party one Sunday a month with a host family. Free transport is provided.


Apply as a guest, host or volun- teer driver at www.contact-the- elderly.org.uk or call 0207 2400630.


War farewell


FRED joined the RAF in 1944 and remembers his tearful mum and sister waving him off at Maid- stone station. It was the first time he had been out of the town on his own. Describing himself as “one of


the lucky ones”, he spent the first part of his service at RAF Sun- ninghill Park, Ascot, before being transferred when Princess Eliza- beth and Prince Philip planned to live there after their marriage.


Fred enjoys tending his garden and col- lecting cuttings and photographs


of


wartime Maidstone. However, he misses


sharing memories with Thelma, his wife of 45 years. For him, and many


others, meeting up with


new-found


friends through Con- tact The Elderly is a life-line.


Friendly visit


WEST Kent Befriending Service offers dedicated volunteers to visit the lonely. With referrals coming in every


week, the free service is under pressure. Its Supporting Friend- ships Campaign invites everyone to make a regular donation. It has already received pledges of sup- port from Maidstone’s mayor and MPs. Find out more at www.westkentbefriendingser- vice.org.uk or call 0800 048 4668


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