Local News

A very special memorial opened in Sittingbourne earlier today (Friday 13th December).

Swale Borough Council have been working with the East Kent Baby Memorial Garden Charity to install a baby memorial board in King George V Playing Field, where residents touched by pregnancy and baby loss can have a place to remember them. 

The board was provided by the charity and displays personalised terracotta tiles, featuring a name and significant date, in a beautiful garden. 

People who had already ordered a tile were invited to attend the council’s ribbon cutting ceremony along with anyone from the public earlier who wanted to show their support for the initiative.  

The charity, which hosts events, spreads awareness and offers support to families, currently have over 500 baby names recorded across their locations in Ashford, Faversham and Canterbury. 

The tiles for the new Sittingbourne memorial board can be ordered for £40 , from the charities’ website. The money raised supports the charity’s important work. 

Cllr Sarah Stephen, Swale Borough Council's ward councillor for Woodstock, told SFM News: “This special project has been very close to my heart, having worked as a Community Midwife locally, and later in London specialising in early pregnancy loss, I have sadly seen first-hand the emotional devastation that losing a baby has on families. We feel incredibly proud to have been able to create this special memorial garden working with this wonderful charity. It will be a very special place for the families touched by the sadness of losing a baby to visit, and remember their little ones and know that they are not alone in their grief.” 

Cllr Richard Palmer, Chair of the councils Community and Leisure Committee told SFM News: “I would like to thank the charity for their work, and help, to bring something so special to Swale - it is a small but meaningful way for us to show our support for those dealing with baby loss. The fee helps the charity continue operating and enables the creation of more memorials like this one, so get in touch with them to help remember your special baby with one of these name tiles, or if you need support.” 

Chris Twydell, the Volunteer Treasurer for East Kent Baby Memorial Garden charity, told SFM News: “We are delighted that our plans have come to fruition and are so grateful to Swale Council and Cllr Sarah Stephen in particular for their help and support. Sadly, baby loss is something that affects so many people, and having this lovely new area is one way of helping local families, by providing somewhere special for their very special babies. The tiles we offer are available to anyone to remember any baby that has passed away in any circumstances and at any time.”

For more information, support and self-care advice you can visit: Support for you – Baby Loss Awareness Week. 

The search for a 65 year old man missing from Sittingbourne for more than two weeks is continuing.

Peter Henderson was last seen in the Pear Tree Walk area of Newington at 12.17am on Tuesday 19th November 2024.

Since his disappearance officers have carried out various lines of enquiry, including reviewing CCTV and house to house enquiries but Mr Henderson remains missing.

He is described as white, around 5ft 10in, and has light grey combed over hair. He also has a short grey beard and wears glasses.

Peter was last seen wearing a green raincoat, brown trousers and shoes and a grey backpack. He is also believed to have been in possession of an orienteering map.

Swale Chief Insp Vanessa Foster stoldSFM News: "Peter has been missing for more than two weeks now and we remain committed to ensuring he is safely found and reunited with his family. We know from CCTV that when he was last seen in Pear Tree Walk he walked north west towards Orchard Drive. I’d like to encourage people with garages and outbuildings to keep an eye out for Peter and for anyone with CCTV or doorbell footage that they believe is useful to get in touch with us so it can be reviewed."

Anyone with any information is asked to call Kent Police on 999 quoting reference: 21-0434.

Cllr Tom Nundy, Chair of the Swale Community Safety Partnership, is calling on the Government to continue their funding to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG).

In the last five years there has been a 37% increase in violence against women and girls, with 1 in 5 crimes (20%) in Kent and Medway being domestic abuse related in 2022/23.

Despite this Swale Borough Council are anticipating a loss of funding of at least £250,000 from April 2025 for local services tackling VAWG, due to a variety of funding streams ending such as Safer Streets and other specialist funds paid to the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner. 

Cllr Nundy has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, and local MPs Kevin McKenna (LAB) and Helen Whately (CON), asking them to work with the council to continue tackling violence against women and girls.

Cllr Tom Nundy, chair of the Swale Community Safety Partnership and SBC’s White Ribbon ambassador, told SFM News:  “Local domestic abuse services are supporting more and more people each year, but the funding to do this remains precarious at best. We are disappointed that the Government’s Autumn Budget didn’t address the urgent need for funding to tackle VAWG, despite domestic abuse being experienced by a large proportion of women. We are calling on our local MPs to bring this important issue to the attention of the Government. We need their support and an urgent review of funding available to tackle VAWG issues or services will close, expertise will be lost, and many victims will have to wait longer for help.”

New CCTV has been released by officers today (Tuesday 26th November) who are continuing to search for a man who was last seen in Sittingbourne one week ago.

Peter Henderson, 65, was last seen in the Pear Tree Walk area of Newington at 12.17am last Tuesday (19th November).

Following enquiries officers have released a CCTV image of Peter, which was captured in Pear Tree Walk and shows him heading north west towards Orchard Drive.

He is described as white, around 5ft 10ins, and has light grey combed over hair. He also has a grey short beard and wears glasses. In the CCTV he is believed to be carrying an orienteering map.

He is believed to be wearing a green raincoat, brown trousers and shoes and a grey backpack.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kent Police on 999 quoting 21-0434.