FolkestoneExtraFE

Justice at long last for rapist

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Paul Hooper A FORMER Folkestone shoe shop manager is beginning an eight year jail sentence for a rape committed more than 25 years ago.

At the time of the attack, police issued a photofit picture of the man they were seeking, which Martin Eke, now 46, posted on his shop window.

Eke claimed that victim Jacqui Spriddell had agreed to have sex with him in October RIGHT: An artist's impression

Auschwitz horrors are recalled by prisoner of war

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Sam Lennon slennon@thekmgroup.co.uk A WITNESS to the horrors of Auschwitz joined a Holocaust Memorial Day service in Folkestone.

Leslie Birch, 92, of Sellindge, was in a forced labour gang repairing the railway line to the Nazis' most notorious death camp.

He told our sister paper the Kentish Express: "I remember children penned in trains being taken to the camp. It was terrible and if pe

College paying £50 to tempt drop-outs back into education

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

`Kick Start enables them to have two days of advice that could change their lives' by Andy Gray agray@thekmgroup.co.uk A COLLEGE has taken the unusual step of offering school drop-outs £50 to attend a two-day course.

It is a way of trying to tempt 16-18 year-olds back to full-time education.

K College, which has sites in Ashford and Folkestone, hopes the cash incentive will make its Kick S

Youth admits sex with under-age girl

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A GIRL, who had just turned 13 met a man for sex sessions on Folkestone beach, a court heard.

The schoolgirl had engaged in sex talk on the social network website Facebook with the 19year-old and when later interviewed by police, she admitted she wasn't a virgin at the time. But Nicholas Culpan knew the girl's age when they agreed to meet near the harbour, Canterbury Crown Court hea

Homes plan for old ambulance station

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE former Folkestone Ambulance Station may be replaced with housing.

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has applied for planning permission to build 14 homes on the site in Church Road.

The application has gone to Shepway District Council. Geoff Catling, SECAmb's programme director of estates, said: "Folkestone Ambulance Station is no longer required and an applicatio

Phone app will help cut teenage pregnancy rate

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Thom Morris tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk CONDOMS are being given free to children as young as 13 in schools and youth clubs across Shepway without their parents' knowledge.

And now a new iPhone app has been released with a map showing where they are available.

The venues include Sainsbury's, Harvey Grammar School, Boots and The Village Children's Centre in Denmark Road.

The app has been cr

Homeward bound

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Sam Lennon slennon@thekmgroup.co.uk A PUB manager and chef is returning to the place he first ran 27 years ago.

Peter Laidlow, the first landlord of the Master Brewer in Perries Mead, Folkestone, is now back in charge after a vacancy came up.

He now takes charge in a far harsher market than the 1980s, with pubs rapidly closing because of the smoking ban, high bar prices and low supermarke

Pupils compete for £1,000 maths prize

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE annual Chinese World Mathematics Olympiad was held at Folkestone's Pent Valley Technology College.

The event was organised by the Canterbury English studies centre Concorde International.

Chinese pupils from Concorde and their Kent counterparts competed for a top prize of £1,000.

Pupils from Pent Valley, Borden Grammar and Westlands in Sittingbourne and the Marlowe Academy, Ramsgate,

Parking changes are `not set in stone', claims council

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Sam Lennon slennon@kmgroup.co.uk "MACHINES and paint" have not already been bought for Shepway's controversial parking changes, according to the council's leader.

The plans are still only proposals, not set in stone, and residents will be fully consulted, Cllr Robert Bliss has claimed.

Cllr Bliss (Con) took out an advertisement in our sister paper, the Kentish Express, in a bid to

Cats Protection Cat Search

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Cat Search is a free register of lost and found cats produced by the Extra in association with Cats Protection, which aims to reunite lost cats with their owners. If you have lost or found a cat please call Frances Baker on 01303 275942, Lynne on 01303 247540, Lin on 01303 237744, email fcb8130209@yahoo.co.uk or visit folkestonehythe.cats.org.uk Please contact Frances Baker at fcb8130209@yahoo.c

Rare tapir born at animal park

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A RARE Malayan tapir has been born at Port Lympne the animal park's 10th successful birth.
The young male, named Manado, was born to mother Malacca and father Hunter.
The first tapir birth in captivity was in 1989 and now Port Lympne's tapir house is home for Manado and Kejutan, who was born four months ago to his mum Lidaeng.
Hoofstock keeper Bob Savill said: "This is Malacca's first c

Gurkha cuts a `gross injustice'

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

SHEPWAY Labour members have joined the protests against plans to slash 400 Gurkha posts in austerity cuts.

Folkestone and Hythe Labour Party says it will write to Defence Secretary Philip Hammond to condemn the plan.

It will also write to the area's MP Damian Collins and local councillors to rally support.

Secretary Peter Wallace said; "The Gurkhas are known worldwide for their loyalty an

Teams needed to take part in charity quiz night

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

TEAMS are needed for a major charity quiz.
Hi Kent, for the deaf and hard of hearing, is holding its fundraising Big Quiz Night on Saturday, March 24 at Hythe Cricket and Squash Club at The Grove from 7.30pm.
Teams, one per table can contain up to six people and the cost will be £7 per head, which includes a ploughman's supper. There will also be a raffle with prizes.
Toe book a table

Elderly man died in fall from window at nursing home

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

AN ELDERLY man fell to his death from the upstairs window of a nursing home.

Paramedics battled to save the 86-year-old but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

He had also suffered a heart attack.

It happened at Wells House Nursing Home in Radnor Cliff Crescent, Folkestone, at 4.20pm on Sunday, January 22.

Both police and health and safety officials are now investigating.

Kent Air

Question of politics for baroness

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A SCHOOL hosted a talk by a member of the House of Lords to encourage pupils and students to get more involved in politics.
Baroness Wheatcroft visited Folkestone Academy, where she was informally interviewed by law students and sixth formers Adam Smith, Tarnya Gowar Joshua Bennett and Essa Siris.
She then gave a presentation to the Park Farm school on the work of the House of Lords, which

Campaign to cut VAT on boilers

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A HEATING company is urging the government to reduce VAT on new boilers to clamp down on rogue gas fitters.

Swale Heating says it was called out 10 times last year in Shepway to deal with appliances that were not installed to current regulations by more unscrupulous engineers.

It warns that their poor work can ultimately lead to fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Sitting

Bands battle for a slot at prestigious Hevy music festival

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

UP AND coming bands have the chance to perform in this summer's Hevy music festival at Port Lympne.
They can enter a competition, the Red Bull Bedroom Jam, aimed at getting young musicians out of playing the guitar in their bedrooms to playing onstage.
This years's Hevy event is at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park on August 3.
Eight unsigned groups have the chance to appear in this or the t

Chance to see reworking of Cold War classic

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE new film version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is being show this Thursday.
It is being shown at the Quarterhouse in Tontine Street, Folkestone, at 8pm.
The movie, released last September, stars Gary Oldman as George Smiley, codenamed the Beggarman.
It also has John Hurt as Control, the head of British intelligence, and Colin Firth as agent Bill Haydon (the Tailor).
The film is ba

The gloves are off for comedian's show

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE quick-fire comedian Reginald D. Hunter appears in Folkestone next week.
He will be at the Leas Cliff Hall from 8pm next Friday.
Hunter is a well-known face on TV, a frequent quest on the brutally funny panel show Have I Got News For You.
He has also appeared on Live at the Apollo and the thinking man's quiz show QI hosted by Stephen Fry.
Hunter, an American from the Southern States

Marathon trampolining session gives cash lift to cancer charity

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

HAVE you ever tried trampolining? It looks so simple and so much fun doesn't it?
Now imagine doing it all day, with a 15 minute break between stints. Okay, it still sounds fun, but it is far more physical and tiring than many would believe.
This was the challenge set to students of Pent Valley Technology College last Friday by organiser Charlotte Humphrey, who arranged a 10-hour non-stop tra

For fans of Fifties music

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE smash hit Fifties musical The Twist comes to Folkestone for a one night special next weekend.
The show is described as Happy Days meets Buddy, a merging of the classic TV sitcom set in the 1950s and the musical about rock `n' roll pioneer Buddy Holly.
It will be at the Leas Cliff Hall from 7.30pm on Saturday .
The performance features the vocals of Zoe Tyler, from ITV's Loose Women, a

Father and son perform

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A FATHER and son play together at Folkestone Jazz Club next week.
Saxaphonist Alex Garnett is on stage with dad and tenor sax player Willie Garnett from 8.30pm on Thursday, February 2.
Alex turns up after a string of successful gigs at Ronnie Scotts in London and a nationwide tour and Willie is a big band leader in the capital.
Their rhythm section are keyboard player Roger Lewin, double

Monster of a movie night

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE film drama Tyrannosaur, released in January last year, is being shown at the Quarterhouse on Friday, February 9.
The story is about Joseph, an unemployed, heavy drinking and explosively tempered widower who develops a relationship with a Christian worker, Hannah, who is married to a violent and abusive man and Joseph comes to her rescue.
It stars Peter Mullan and Olivia Coleman and is di

Gig guide

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Tower Theatre, Shorncliffe, 01303 277175: 8.30pm, Folkestone Jazz Club with the Alex Garnett & Willie Garnett Quintet.
City of London, Dymchurch, 01303 870747: 8.30pm, country karaoke.
The Lord Morris, Guildhall Street, Folkestone, 01303 259224: 8pm, karaoke with Jock & Joe.
The Grand, The Leas, Folkestone, 01303 222222: Jazz at The Grand.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Bank Ba

Top concerns not covered by agents

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Buyers are most concerned about the safety of the neighbourhood and whether their close neighbours are noisy, yet neither of these factors is really covered by official documents, a new survey says.
According to the survey from conveyancer 1st Property Lawyers, more than nine in 10 buyers (93%) would like information which is not normally revealed by an estate agent, property survey or property

Heated mirrors add to Leon's appeal

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As the harsh winter temperatures set in, Iain Dooley tested how his Seat Leon SE Copa 1.2 TSI handled the cold. Never underestimate the power of heated exterior mirrors. Sure, it only takes a minute to manually de-ice them along with the rest of the car but, if you're already warm and cosy inside and realise you can't see, it could be a disaster.
OK, so it's never really going to be a disaste