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'We will never forget you Smit'
RELATIVES and friends of a Royal Engineer killed in an explosion in Afghanistan have paid tribute to their diamond in the rough . Sapper Mark Smith, 26, of Dale Road, Swanley, died in a friendly fire incident as he cleared improvised road-side bombs in S... » MORE
Budget cuts could haldt speed cameras
SPEED cameras across the county could be turned off following budget cuts. About £500,000 has been slashed from the grant provided to Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership, following reductions to Kent County Council s budget and the future of the dev... » MORE
Women hurt in traffic collision
Two women pedestrians were taken to hospital following a traffic collision involving several vehicles. A blue Ford Mondeo, blue Jaguar and a grey Mini Cooper were all involved in the incident in Lowfield Street, Dartford, at about 6pm on Wednesday July 28... » MORE
Fatal road smash 'preventable', say anxious residents
A FATAL road accident which has seen four children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter was preventable, according to the ward s councillor and residents, writes Michael Adkins. Passenger Michael Baker, 47, died on July 24 when the rescue truck he was t... » MORE
'I could have died too'
A MOTHER-OF-TWO who nearly died when a yob hurled a brick through a car window screen in a similar incident has urged the community to give up any youngsters who may be involved. Passenger Tracy Thewlis, 46, suffered a broken collar bone, smashed shoulder... » MORE
Racer's horror smash
A RACING driver is lucky to be alive after a horrifying crash in race two of the Superleague Formula at Brands Hatch on Sunday. Kiwi Chris van der Drift, who has scored four victories this year for Olympiacos, was looking to overtake AS Roma s Julien Jous... » MORE
'Thanks to Times for putting us in spotlight'
As talks begin to resolve a dispute in which theatre staff claimed they were being sidelined in favour of volunteers, unionists praise your Times for an article that prompted the intervention of professional mediators. Members of staff at Dartford s Orc... » MORE
Euro gold rush excites champ ahead of 2012
TWO-time Olympic gold medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes hailed Team GB s performance at the European championships, saying it bodes well for London 2012. UK athletes won 19 medals, second only to Russia s haul of 26, when the European Athletics Championships... » MORE
CCTV appeal after 91-year-old injured in smash
This CCTV images of two woman wanted by police after leaving the scene of a crash when a 91-year-old was seriously injured have been released by police. Mary Hollingum, who has just recovered fron thyroid cancer, shattered both her arms when a car reverse... » MORE
Boy arrested over fatal smash
A 10-year-old boy has been arrested by police investigating a fatal crash thought to have been caused by yobs throwing stones on to vehicles in a weekend marred by two serious lorry accidents. Detectives are investigating reports that youths threw stones... » MORE
Letters
England were right to drop this bungling goalkeeper
I UNDERSTAND Andy Young s reasons for defending Rob Green and his horrendous mistake. Goalies do have it hardest compared with other positions, but I cannot support the idea that he should play again. If we translate the job of England keeper...
Forward-thinking Darts are an example to neighbours
I M so proud of what the mighty Darts have achieved. To see the Princes Park stadium linked with England s 2018 bid to stage the World Cup is another sign of the club s stature in the footballing world. The club and facilities are fantastic and it makes...
Care for pets in hot weather
With the recent bout of hot weather, we should be reminded that animals suffer and die when temperatures soar. Dogs die very quickly in hot cars and they should not be left inside them even for short periods. Other animals suffer, too. Rabbits must not b...
Hospital treatment was just marvellous
I WOULD like to say how grateful I am to Darent Valley Hospital for the excellent care I was given when I became ill while staying with my partner s parents in Hartley. I am at present being treated by a Birmingham hospital for cancer. The staff there...
Prime Minister gives us pride in our county
AT last we have a British Prime Minister who stood for Britain. When Mr Cameron stated on German soil in front of the German nation and German Chancellor that Britain will not dump the pound coin for the Eurodollar, British taxpayers will not bail out fa...
Villages are green, not concrete blocks
ON national television Tesco s plans to build four villages in the south east, including one in Dartford, were announced. This must be the Lowfield Street site, which already has a current planning application for a Tesco Extra store with 926 multi-st...
What is your top Darts footie team?
YOU kindly published my letter in May 2008 which mentioned that Dartford FC s title-winning side had, that season, recorded their highest-ever number of league goals (107) at Southern League level or above. Now, a mere two seasons later, I am stirred aga...
Minister has short term memory loss
LORD Adonis and his previous incumbent, whose name fails me at present, certainly did not talk to each other and Kathryn Smith did not do her homework on this issue. A few years ago when the £51 million profit from the Dartford toll crossing was under di...
Readers differ over election campaign
I SEE very little evidence of an economic recovery. Recovery will be the result of hard work by people running small businesses, working long hours, risking their savings and borrowing money against their houses. These are the people who create jobs no...
Upset by 'fishing trips' by Tory letter writers
I WOULD be interested to know if any other Dartford residents have been the recipients of unsolicited letters from the local Conservative Association thanking them for agreeing to display a poster in their window. I received such a letter some months ago...
Sport
Willis on Cricket: Jones and Bandara led by example. Now let's all focus on a decent finish
IT WAS great to see Jonah (Geraint Jones) get a big hundred (178) in our draw with Somerset as we have not had too many this year. Going into the the crucial part of the season, it s good to start seeing a few guys come into form because that is going to...
Legends to attend Kent dinner marking title joy
TICKETS have gone on sale for next month s dinner commemorating the 40th anniversary of Kent s County Cricket Club s remarkable County Championship success in 1970. All bar two of the 12 survivors from the 1970 team are expected to attend, including the l...
Blue Square South challenge excites Dartford boss Burman
TONY Burman insists his Dartford side should relish a tough start to life in the Blue Square South as some highly-fancied clubs loom on the horizon, writes Alex Leach. The Ryman Premier-winning Darts kick off proceedings at home to Havant and Waterloovill...
Addicks blow three-goal lead in cup defeat
CHARLTON surrendered a 3-0 lead at Shrewsbury as they bowed out of the League Cup in a 4-3 defeat on Tuesday night. Millwall, however, edged through to the second round, overcoming Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 after extra-time at Adams Park. The Addicks raced in...
Kent League Round-Up: Borough sink Fish to clinch top spot
GREENWICH BOROUGH kicked off the new Kent League, Premier Division season in style with a 3-1 triumph at Fisher. Ex-Fisher man Duke Binitie opened the scoring after just four minutes before Rafael Akala levelled matters on 37 minutes. Parity didn t last l...
Addicks appeal harsh Semedo sending off
CHARLTON appealed on Monday against Jose Semedo s sending-off against AFC Bournemouth over the weekend. The midfielder was shown a straight red card by referee Grant Hegley in the second half following a tackle on Cherries striker Michael Symes, but most...
Sport In Brief: Lions maul sorry Robins
MILLWALL made a triumphant return to the Championship with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Bristol City. England goalkeeper David James was making his debut last Saturday at Ashton Gate, but the Lions were in the mood to spoil the party with goals from Darre...
At The Races with Ian Bland at Crayford Dog Track: Here's a real Moneyspinner, with all the fun
AS ONE of Kent s premier sporting venues, we are always keen to support local concerns. The exciting news at Crayford this week is that the Moneyspinner event is about to be launched, which will give organisations the opportunity to raise some much-nee...
Tales of a Fisherman with Steve Butler: Hats off to the fine work that Fishing For Schools are doing
AS NATIONAL Fishing Month is ongoing, it is a good time to update you on the important and inspiring Fishing for Schools initiative being run by The Countryside Alliance Foundation. Fishing for Schools genuinely transforms young lives through fly-fishin...
Battling Gilham claims class podium double at Snetterton
DARTFORD racer Tony Gilham was in fine form as he claimed two second-place finishes in the pro-am1 class of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Snetterton. After a seven-week summer break and with the Croft meeting during June a distant memory, the Collins ReDe...
Sykes is just two good
RYUICHI Kiyonari was the big winner in the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, despite seeing Kawasaki WSB ace Tom Sykes claim two race victories. HM Plant Honda star Kiyonari followed up a third-place finish in race one last Saturday with suc...
What's On
Comic Jim is back on home turf
MENTION Gravesend or Dartford and comedian Jim Davidson gets serious – they re where he used to spend some of his happiest times as a youngster, writes Tony Patey. He s playing Gravesend s Woodville Halls tomorrow (Friday) – but in the dressing room he l...
Neighbours with a strong bond
In World Cup summer you may not believe this. France, especially northern France, has more in common with Kent than any of our own English counties. Somewhere around the end of the third ice age we were part of the continent of Europe and the Thames was...
The rat that never stopped running
THE last remaining member of the legendary Rat Pack is to perform at a summer festival, having moved to England, declaring show business in America is dead, writes Lizzie Thornton. Piano-player and singer Buddy Greco, who penned classics like Lady is a...
Meet Vince, king of the festivals
HAVING nurtured an entertainment empire worth £60million, including a 40 per cent share in Glastonbury, the godfather of festivals Vince Power is putting Kent s music scene on the map, writes Kate Nelson. The 63-year-old, who sold Mean Fiddler group in 2...
Make a meal of Lille
MEANDERING through the cobbled streets of Lille s Old Town, surrounded by designer cloths stores and bustling bars, you are constantly struck by the vitality of this northern French city. Less than 20 miles from the Belgian border, the city is a charming...
Strictly big-band dancing
YOU can relive the big-band heyday of the 50s as an orchestra that has performed regularly for the royal family appears at the Mayor s charity dinner. The Joe Loss Orchestra, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, is due to perform at Woodv...
Veteran band hopes to lure the next guitar hero
UP and coming bands are expected to join the famous Red Touch when they perform next month. The group are set to play the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone on February 7, with support from local band Sticky Tyres and Forerunner. Fronted by Vic Hyland and C...
In search of a character..
The Comedy Theatre has hosted many illustrious productions and actors since its opening in 1881. Laurence Olivier, Harold Pinter and the Rocky Horror show have all passed successfully through its doors. Now it plays host to the latest screen idol Keira K...