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Tributes to friends after fatal car crash


MAIDSTONE and InvictaGrammar schools have paid tribute to former students,who died in a car accident on RomneyMarsh.


Ex-MGS pupil Harry Skilton


and former IGS girl Beth Eves (pic- tured), both 21 and fromBarming, were killed when theMiniCooper they were travelling in left the road and plunged through a barbed wire fence into a water channel at around 3.40amonMay 18.


On Twitter, MGS said: “The


school community at MGS is, of course, terribly sorry to hear of the tragic death of both Harry and Beth, andwe send our sincere con- dolences to their families and friends.” Invicta Grammar School head


teacher JulieDerrick said: “We are deeply saddened to hear the tragic news regarding the deaths of Beth Eves andHarry Skilton.Bethwas a lovely, hard-working and popular student. “Our thoughts are with their


friends and family at this incredi- bly difficult time.” After secondary school, Harry


worked with his parents at their distribution company, but had set his heart onworking in landscape and design. He was studying at Hadlow College. Beth was a de- sign apprentice at Google. The company’s UK managing


Drug suspects


stopped in car SUSPECTED drug dealers have been intercepted by police after trying to drive throughMaidstone at nightwithout headlights. The two unnamed men were


stopped by a patrol car in Royal EngineersRoadat around12.30am on Thursday,May 30. Officers noticed one of the car’s


occupantswas acting suspiciously, and both were arrested on suspi- cion of possessing ClassAdrugs. A search of the vehicle uncov-


eredcash andnine bags thought to contain cocaine and cannabis. Thedriver, aman in his 20s from


Rochester, and his passenger, a teenage boy fromLewisham,were bailed to return to Maidstone po- lice station on June 26, pending in- vestigation.


News Brexit victory


shocks Tories THE Brexit Party secured more than 45%of the vote inMaidstone borough at the European election. The Conservative Party, which


has two MPs in the district, se- cured just a 10% share, sending alarm bells through the con- stituencies. The Tories polled just 167more


than the Green Party. One loyalConservative activist,


who declined to be named, said: “If there is a general election to- morrow, we have got to be wor- ried, reallyworried. “This may have been a protest


vote but we cannot assume that our supporters will switch back again. If the Brexit Party stands, it could split the vote asunder and let someone else in. “There is always the possibility


Crash victims Harry Skilton and Beth Eves were both 21


director, Ronan Harris, said: “I was deeply saddened to hear about this tragic accident. “Our hearts and thoughts are


with the friends and family of Beth Eves andHarry Skilton. “Beth was a highly-regarded


Google colleague and will be sorelymissed.” BenO'Reganwrote on Facebook


of Harry: “Rest in peace, my bro. Can't believe this has happened.” Cameron Ryan posted on Face-


book: “Harry and Beth. I can’t de- scribe how empty I feel knowing that when I next come to Maid- stone you’re not going be there.


Music and fun at free park event


INVICTA Jazz Orchestra opened Proms in the Park – a free event providing a showcase for the area’s singer songwriters. Clea and the Dubs were among


those to draw a crowd at What- man Park on the warm Bank Holi- day. Groups from the Hazlitt Theatre, along with local musi- cians also performed, with Maid- stone Wind Symphony rounding off the day. Children’s entertainment, in-


cluding a stiltwalker,was also pro- vided for the free event by Maidstone Borough Council.


Harry, you’re a brother, a friend and an excellent human being and you improved the life of everyone youmet by being so generous and friendly. “I hope everyone who sees this


takes extra care behind the wheel going forward, because life is pre- cious and can be taken away in the blink of an eye.” A third person in the car was


rescued and is not thought to be in a serious condition. Kent Police has appealed for witnesses. Call 01622


798538 HW/DC/056/19/, or sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk.


quoting email


of a pact or agreement among other parties which could see a non-Tory entity sneak in. It is rather hypothetical, granted, but not beyond the realms of possibil- ity.” The Liberal Democrats secured


22% of the vote in a turnout of 44,532. Lib Dem Kent county councillor and barrister at the Maidstone law courts, Antony Hook, became anMEP. Both the Maidstone and the


Weald and Faversham and Mid Kent constituencies had Labour coming a distant second place at the last general election. The respected Electoral Calcu-


lus website predicts the current 35% majority of the latter con- stituency being slashed to 12.4%. InMaidstone and theWeald the


majority could collapse from34% to 12.8%, according to thewebsite which uses polling, trends and analysis but not local factors in coming upwith its findings.


Idris at club


BRITISHactor andmusician Idris Elba is coming to Maidstone to performat The Source Bar. The Golden Globe winner will


host the 12-hour street party at the club on Saturday, July 20, The Source Bar wrote on Face-


book: “He is best known for tak- ing versatile acting roles, never the less he is far from your aver- age actor turnedmusician, having begun his career as a DJ long be- fore stardomon the big screen. “Whether spinning surprise


sets in small east-London bars or thrilling thousands in theworld’s top clubs, Idris' credibility as aDJ and selector iswithout question.”


Maidstone July 2019 21


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