downsmail.co.uk


News Royal lover’s medals sold


IT WAS a story of forbidden love which gripped the hearts of the nation – newspapers filled with the tale of a princess besotted with a dashing Battle of Britain pilot.


In 1944, Group Captain Peter Townsend, pictured, was


ap-


pointed as equerry to King George VI, and began a secret af- fair with Princess Margaret, the sister of the current Queen. It was an enormous scandal in its day as Townsend was a di- vorcee, a status then frowned upon by the Church of England. As the news of the liaison be- came public knowledge, the princess was told, bluntly, that if it were to continue, she would lose her titles and royal status, so she reluctantly called it off. Townsend’s fame was more re- cently rekindled when the doomed romance was portrayed in


the Crown.


While he was notorious forever because of his association with the young princess, he had al- ready cut a dash in the skies as one of Churchill's “The Few”. Stationed at the RAF base in


£700k drinks


theft alleged A SUSPECTED booze thief, who targeted supermarkets in Maid- stone for bottles of spirits worth £700, has been charged with theft. Frank Matthews is alleged to


have damaged and removed se- curity tags to steal the drink. He is further charged with criminal damage and motoring offences. A Kent Police spokesman said: "It is reported that between May 5 and June 13, bottles of spirits worth more than £700 were stolen from Tesco stores in Lunsford Park, Larkfield and Farleigh Hill, Maidstone. "On Tuesday, July 6, officers stopped a car in Westree Road, Maidstone and arrested the driver, Frank Matthews. "He was later charged with five


counts of theft and three counts of criminal damage (to security tags). "Mr Matthews, of Crispin Court, Coxheath, was further charged with possession of cannabis and with driving with- out insurance or a valid MOT. He is bailed to appear before Maid- stone Magistrates’ Court."


hit Netflix series, The


West Malling (Kings Hill) in 1943, where he was commander, Burmese-born Townsend was al- ready a war hero.


During the Battle of Britain in


the summer and autumn of 1940, he was the first to shoot down an enemy plane, the first of 11 “kills” in more than 300 sorties. His own aircraft was hit twice


by enemy fire, and on both occa- sions Townsend made his escape by parachute, once while injured. He won the Distinguished Fly- ing Cross for


intercepting an


enemy aircraft at dusk and shot it down after a protracted fight. The citation acclaimed his leadership, skill and determination. That medal and 10 others, along


with logbooks covering his flying career have now gone under the hammer at auctioneers Dix Noo- nan Webb, London-based experts in medals and militaria.


The auction of the medals, which was due to take place on July 21, as Downs Mail went to press, was expected to make up to £200,000.


Crash airlift


A DRIVER was airlifted to hospital following a crash involving a lorry and car in Loose.


MP Helen Grant with Marden parish clerk Alison Hooker and deputy Rachel Gillis-Coates


MP joins food handout


MP Helen Grant has been working with the charity Rapid Relief Team (RRT), to help deliver food parcels to vulnerable families and individuals across the con- stituency. They took boxes to people in


Tovil, Staplehurst, Marden, Cran- brook and Benenden Parish Coun- cils. The parcels can feed a family of four for several days. Established in 2013 by the Ply- mouth Brethren Christian Church


(PBCC), RRT has served more than 386,602 meals across the globe. Mrs Grant said: "Food parcels


are an unfortunate reality for too many families, but they can make a world of difference. The Rapid Relief Team, like many other char- ities, are the unsung heroes of the pandemic." Piers Crane, from RRT, said:


"Our help spans four key areas of support ... for some families these parcels can be invaluable.”


The crash happened at about 9.40am on July 8, near Linton crossroads. The road was shut from Wheelers Lane to Heath Road. A South East Coast Ambulance spokesman said: "Ambulance crews were joined at the scene by the air ambulance service. One per- son was treated at the scene before being airlifted to Kings College Hospital in a serious condition."


Music returns


THE United Reformed Church in Week Street, Maidstone, has re- sumed its weekly Midsummer Music event for the 33rd year. It takes place every Wednesday


from 12.30pm. It is free but dona- tions are welcome. Midsummer Music was suspended last year due to the COVID-19 crisis.


Death call


A MAN was pronounced dead at Biddenden Close in Maidstone on July 1. Police and paramedics went to the scene at the Willington Street junction at 1pm.


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