News


downsmail.co.uk Plaque tribute to war hero


HALLING Historical Society has successfully raised funds to place a blue plaque on the former home of WWI hero Thomas Harris VC, MM.


Sgt Harris was living at 79 High


Street, when he enlisted in the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment in 1914. The recipient of both the Mili-


tary Medal and the Victoria Cross, the highest and most pres- tigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, Harris enlisted at 22 years of age in August 1914. Posted to France in June 1915,


he was promoted to corporal in June 1916 and wounded in action a month later. Following hospi- talisation in Britain, he was awarded the Military Medal and returned to the Western Front in May 1917. He was promoted to Sergeant


in March 1918, but was killed in action near Morlancourt on the evening of August 9. His Victoria Cross citation and accompanying


Road works for 20 weeks


THERE will be highway improve- ment works for 20 weeks in Ditton. The works will take place be-


tween New Hythe Lane and Ditton Place on the A20 London Road. The existing traffic signals will be


turned off, to be replaced by an ad- vanced temporary traffic system which mimics the existing layout to keep the traffic moving and re- duce the possibility of delays. The carriageway re-surfacing


will take place overnight for five nights. Footway improvement works will mean localised footway closures and pedestrian diversions whilst maintaining two-way traffic. Pedestrian island works will be constructed using temporary traf- fic signals outside peak hours. The road is due to reopen on June 19.


Market back


THE West Malling Farmers’ Mar- ket will return this month. The event takes place in the


High Street, from 9.30am to 1.30pm on the fourth Sunday of the month. The market offers farm pro-


duced meats, fruit, vegetables and cheeses, as well as artisan made breads and cakes. The next mar- ket is on Sunday, April 26.


8 Malling March 2020 Popular church saved


A CHURCH at the “heart of the parish” has been saved from clo- sure, following a public outcry to stop it being sold for housing. The St Thomas More Church in


West Malling had been earmarked as having development potential, alongside the priest’s house and a pre-school, recently converted from stables at a cost of £85,000. Father Peter Soper (pictured)


who has lived on the site for over 20 years, said: “We are absolutely delighted. The West Malling parish covers 36 miles and 10 vil- lages, which have all been brought together through the church.”


At a meeting on February 20,


the Archbishop of Southwark, John Wilson, told campaigners that the Catholic church, attended by over 200 regular worshippers each Sunday, would no longer be sold.


saved, questions remain over the future of the pre-school and parish centre in Lucks Hill. A statement from the archdio-


were causing heavy casualties. He captured the first gun, but was himself killed when attacking the second.


“Throughout the operations, he


showed a total disregard for his own safety and set a magnificent example to all ranks.” His body is buried at Dernan-


court Communal Cemetery Ex- tension, Somme, France, and commemorated at St John the Baptist Church, Halling. His Victoria Cross is displayed


Sgt Thomas Harris and his home in Halling


notification in the London Gazette, October 1918, reads: “For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack when the advance was much impeded by hostile machine guns. Sgt Har-


ris led his section against one of these, capturing it and killing seven of the enemy.” “Later, on two successive occa-


sions, he attacked single-handed two enemy machine guns which


at The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum in Maid- stone.


Administered by English Her-


itage the blue plaque scheme cel- ebrates the links between notable figures of the past and the build- ings in which they lived or worked.


Volunteer day


at the hospice THE Heart of Kent Hospice is hosting a volunteer open morn- ing. Visitors are invited to come and


find out about the amazing con- tribution volunteers make by giv- ing time regularly or on an ad hoc basis. A hospice spokesman said: “We


have a variety of volunteer roles in our shops, with patients in the community or on our inpatient unit, at our events or on our Liv- ing Well sessions. “We are particularly interested


in volunteers with training in the arts, music, storytelling, exercise techniques such as tai chi and yoga and complementary thera- pies.” For more information, call vol-


unteer services on 01622 792200 Ext 225 or send an email to vol- unteers@hokh.co.uk.


But while the church has been WI Park talk


THE Aylesford and Eccles WI will be hosting a talk about Mote Park. Simon Ginnow will talk about


cese said they were looking for ways to keep the school and parish centre at the current loca- tion, but confirmed the priest’s house will still be sold.


the well-known amenity at the meeting at the Brassey Centre in Aylesford, at 7.30pm on Wednes- day, March 25. For more information phone Eileen on 01622 715205.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40