News


downsmail.co.uk Goldsmith rings up 30 years


ADEDICATEDjeweller,who oncemelted down his ownwedding ring to ensure he had enough gold for a client’s order, is celebrating 30 years’ trading inWestMalling.


Martin Wilde (61) started out


with no tools, no money and no customers but, throughsheer talent and hard graft, he became a cor- nerstone of town life. Making a name for himself by


initiallyworking fromhismother’s Maidstone conservatory,hemoved into SwanStreet threedecades ago. He told DownsMail: “I worked


the first seven years, seven days a week, 14 hours a day just to get the business going.” “When I opened I had no tools,


nomoney and no customers.” But by the close of business on his first day of trading, he had se-


Crash death


A MOTORCYLIST in his 70s has been killed in a fatal collision in Aylesford. The incident happenedin Forstal


Road at its junction with the en- trance to Cobtree Manor Park at about 12.30pmon Friday,May 31. The collision involved a blue Ford Focus, a blue Suzuki motorcycle and an unidentified vehicle. The motorcyclist, from the


Burham area, was taken to a Lon- don hospital with serious injuries where he died on June 16.His next of kin have been informed. A spokesman for Kent Police


said: “Officers are urging anyone who saw the two vehicles or the motorcycle inthemoments leading up to the collision, or who have dash cam footage from the area around the time, to contact them. “Witnesses can call the Serious


Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798 538 with reference KH/COJ/66/19 or email them at sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk.”


Picnic fun


THE carousel turned and the sun shone for the third successful Pic- nic on The Rec in Larkfield. The event organised by the com-


munity group included livemusic with Dr Syn, displays by Prima Dance and Kent Samurai Jujitsa, stalls, a raffle, tombola, a beat the goalie competition anda barbecue. There was a fancy dress parade


for youngsters, and a dog show sponsored by Sandhole Vets. Larkfield Community Group


was formed in 2017 to bring Lark- field together.


4 Malling July 2019 School cricket triumph


LEYBOURNE Primary School saw off allcomers when it fielded a side in this year’s borough-wide Kwik Cricket Festival. Pupils took on eight rival teams


from five other Tonbridge and Malling schools at KingsHill Cricket Club on July 2. And, despite 100 budding sports-


men and women flocking to the field from the four corners of the borough, the runners-up were also local youngsters fromWestMalling School. The festival was organised by


Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council in partnership with Kent Community Cricket. Teenagers fromtheYoungCricket


Leaders Programme, as well as the borough’s community cricket coaches, did the scoring and umpir- ing. Mayor Jill Anderson watched the teams playing and later presented


trophies to thewinners. She congratulated Leybourne on


a “most impressivewin”, adding: “It has been a pleasure to watch stu- dents playwith such enthusiasm. “I would like to thank all the


young cricket leaders and the coaches involved and the staff at Kings Hill Sports Park for hosting a fabulous event again this year.” Kwik Cricket was devised by the


sport’s national governing body, the ECB, to encourage boys and girls aged five to 11 to try their hand at the game. It is playedwith a plastic bat and


ball, and teams of eight players bat for eight overs. Bowlers can use ei- ther underarmor overarm. As a result of their win, the team


fromLeybourne Primary Schoolwas due to represent Tonbridge and Malling in the county final in Can- terbury on Thursday, July 11, as DownsMailwent to press.


cured enoughwork for a fortnight, and with careful juggling bought the specialist tools he needed. Today his business, which still


bearshisname, involveshisdaugh- terLianandhiswifeMarlene…the couplemet at school at 14,married at 20, and have worked alongside each other since their honeymoon inMargate. Martin said: “There were tough


times. I made both our wedding rings, but one night Iwasworking on a piece and ran out of gold, so I meltedmine down to finish the job and I’ve never had a chance to re- place it since.”


Martin opted for a career in the


specialist jewellery business after insisting, at a young age, on a ca- reer in art, while his classmates wanted to play football orwork in a factory. “Itwas a determination that led


himinto design and goldsmithing. He said: “I’m still in the work-


shop six days a week and when I go home I design. “It’s a lovely business to be in,


with generations coming back to buy important gifts, wedding rings and keepsakes for thewhole family. It’s a happy place to work.”


Rail trespass AMANwas arrested and tasered after trespassing on railway tracks inWateringbury. Officerswere called to the scene


just before 4am on July 9 to re- ports of a 31-year-old man walk- ing along the track. A spokesman for British Trans-


port Police said: “At 3.47amtoday officerswere called to the railway close toMaidstone after reports of aman trespassing on the tracks. “Officerswere quickly on scene


and a 31-year-old man was ar- rested on suspicion of obstructing the railway. He was taken to po- lice custody. During the arrest a Taser devicewas discharged.”


Charity quiz USE your brain to raise cash for charity at a quiz night in Kings Hill. The Spitfire pub (upstairs) is the


venue for the challenge on Friday, July 19, starting at 7.30pm. Entry is £5 per person,with teams of up to six. There will be prizes and a raffle, and a collection for theMis- carriage Association. Book in ad- vance at The Spitfire, in Liberty Square, on 01732 220754.


Award hope SPADEWORK has been short- listed for the Community Organ- isationAward forDisability at the National DiversityAwards. The charity, based in Teston


Road,Offham, provides life skills, training and work experience to thosewith learning and other dis- abilities. It will find out if it has won in September.


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