Local News

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) held a special awards ceremony at Oakwood House in Maidstone yesterday (Tuesday 4th October) to honour firefighters and a South East Coast Ambulance Service advanced ambulance technician.

They were all presented with a Chief Executive's Certificate of Congratulation, in front of colleagues, family and friends at the special ceremony attended by Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant for Kent, Viscount De L'Isle MBE, the Chairman of Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority (KMFRA) Nick Chard and KFRS Chief Executive Ann Millington.

Ross Millburn from Sittingbourne ambulance station and Sittingbourne fire crew: watch manager Neil Ryder, crew manager Kev Ford and firefighters Terry Godley, Nick Gammon, Nick Williams and Antony Forster all received the award for their attempts to save the life of an 18-year-old girl, after she collapsed and fell onto the tracks at Sittingbourne train station last November. Sadly despite their valiant efforts the girl later died in hospital.

KMFRA Chairman, Nick Chard told SFM News: "Our firefighters and their emergency service colleagues do a difficult job in challenging circumstances. This was a very harrowing experience for everyone involved and you all did your absolute best to try to save this young girl. Our thoughts are with her family. We greatly value every one receiving awards and recognise the important contribution you have made. I would also like to pay tribute to all of KFRS' firefighters and staff and to thank each and every one of you for always going above and beyond to keep us safe."

Work has begun on the new community centre for the Great Easthall estate in Murston.

Lakeview Village Hall is being built on the edge of the development, with funding coming from the estate developers, with the construction works are being overseen by Swale Borough Council. Once completed it will be open to anyone who needs to hire a hall or a room for their functions.

Cllr Duncan Dewar-Whalley, Cabinet member for Finance and Performance at the council, told SFM News: "I'm glad to see work beginning on this vital community resource, which will provide much-needed space for the local area when it opens next year. Since we started planning this hall, we've been lucky to have the active involvement of local people in the whole process. Not only have they helped design the building, but they will be taking on the running of the site to make sure it works for the local community for years to come."

The hall has been designed with input from a committee of local residents, who are forming a trust that will manage the site.

Andy McGowan, Chair of Lakeview Village Hall Trust told SFM News: "We are really pleased that the construction of the community hall is underway. There has been a lot of background work with the development of the hall and the committee would like to thank all that have been involved so far".

The hall is set to open June of next year (2017) and will provide a vital meeting place for local residents, groups and clubs.

Kent Police officers, investigating a rape in Sittingbourne last weekend, have charged a 32-year-old local man.

George Orwa, of Agate Court on The Meads, was charged with rape on Saturday (20th August) and appeared before Medway Magistrates Court earlier today (Monday 22nd August).

His charge follows an incident where a woman reported being raped near a church on Sittingbourne High Street between 1.28am and 1.58am on Sunday 14th August.

Orwa was remanded in custody to appear before Maidstone Crown Court on Monday 19th September.

Officers are continuing to appeal for witnesses and would urge anyone who may have been walking in the High Street between 1am and 3am, close to the junction with Bell Road and Crown Quay Lane, to get in touch by calling 01634 884010 and quoting XY/031571/16. They can also contact Kent Crimestoppers free and anonimously on 0800 555 111.

Hundreds of sixth form students from Borden Grammar, Fulston Manor, Highsted, Sittingbourne Community College and Westlands picked up their A Level results earlier today.

Nationally a record numbers of university places have been offered this year - with A-level results showing a marginal fall in top grades for the fifth successive year. Nationally the proportion of A* and A grades was 25.8%, down by 0.1% on last year but the pass rate of 98.1% remained the same. The UCAS admissions service said that 424,000 places had been offered, which is up by 3% on results day last year.

Local results were:-

⦿ BORDEN GRAMMAR: It was the school's best A-level for four years with 44% awarded grades at A*, A, or B - an increase of almost 10% on last year. The top scholars were: Joseph Stevens with A*AAAA, William Hutson with AAAA, Zack Taylor with AAAAB and Jack Hutton with A*AAAB.

⦿ FULSTON MANOR: A total of 123 students sat the full A-level exam in 30 different subjects, with 110 achieving A* to C grades, an increase of 5% compared to last year.

⦿ HIGHSTED: The number of A*/A grades was 31% (up 11% on last year), A*/B grades were 66% (up 10%) and 63% of the A Level students achieved at least 1 A* or A grade (up 2% on 2015). The average for students was the equivalent of 3 x A* grades.

⦿ SITTINGBOURNE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Swale Sixth Form Principal Jackie Noble spoke to Pete Flynn on 'In The Bourne' earlier and confirmed that a record number of students had obtained A*- B grades which she said: "reflected [on the school's] relentless drive to ensure that all students achieve their potential. All the SCC students were successful in achieving a place at the university of their choice. Some of the successful students getting University places included Ayden Tahmazova, who is off to London Metropolitan University to study Interior Design, Ayla Hunnisett studying Psychology at the University of Surrey, Rhys Tatton off to study Accounting & Finance at the University of Brighton and Steven Walker, who will be studying Physical Geography at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire.

⦿ WESTLANDS: A total of 88 students completed A-level and Level 3 Vocational courses across 26 different subjects. 86 students achieved at least one C grade with many achieving A, A* and Distinction* grades.