KentOnline

A man has gone on trial accused of killing two women in Tunbridge Wells more than 30 years ago.Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce were found within months of each other in 1987 – hear from our reporter at Maidstone Crown Court.
Also in today’s podcast, a man who was apprehended by security guards at Bluewater and accused of stealing has returned to the shopping centre in a bid to celebrate diversity and change opinions.Cephas Williams says he was targeted because of the colour of his skin and has put on the Portrait of Black Britain in a bid to tackle racism.Hear the moment he was approached at the shopping centre back in the summer and find out why he’s decided to return.As Cop26 takes place in Glasgow, all this week we’re going to hear from some of the people in Kent doing their bit to tackle climate change.Today you can hear from eight-year-old Summer Harman from Northfleet who was inspired after watching a David Attenborough documentary.A Kent teenager who lost both of his parents within months of each other was at the Pride of Britain awards at the weekend.Jeremy Daubeny from Tunbridge Wells raised more than £37,000 for The MND Association and The Brain Tumour Charity in memory of his mum and dad.He’s been describing his epic challenge to find the best cooked breakfast.Kent drag queen River Medway has been speaking after leaving Drag Race UK.She sashayed away after losing the Lip Sync battle last week.And in football, find out why some fans have been banned from Priestfield and the boss reacts to a frustrating weekend on the pitch.

A road in Maidstone is to remain closed for another week as repairs on a sinkhole continue.The voice on the A26 Tonbridge Road in Barming opened up a week ago when a water main burst.It’s feared the extended closure could now affect back-to-school traffic after half term as well as nearby businesses.Also in today’s podcast, a row between Britain and France over post-Brexit fishing arrangements is continuing.The French ambassador has been summoned by the UK’s Foreign Office for talks.We have a Covid update as latest figures show the number of people in hospital in Kent has gone up by more than a third in the space of a week.With the start of Cop26 just two days away, the KentOnline Podcast has been told the UK government is setting an incredibly bad example.World leaders will be meeting for climate talks in Glasgow from Sunday – hear from a green party councillor from Tonbridge and a man who is planning to protest at the conference.Work has started on a huge production that’s going to take place at Rochester Castle featuring dancers, parkour runners and performers.’If Not Now’ has been inspired by the pandemic and will look at how communities can come together and force change – whether that’s tackling inequality or climate change.Nancy Hirst from Icon Theatre explains more.Jax was on the Hit List on our sister radio station kmfm last night – hear what she had to say.And we catch up with the Gillingham captain ahead of this weekend’s game against Accrington Stanley.

Hundreds of people have gathered for the funeral of a father and son who died in a crash in Headcorn.Johnny and Johnboy Cash were among four men who lost their lives when the vehicle they were in hit a tree earlier this month.Hear from our reporter who was outside the church in Park Wood in Maidstone today and also from Father Desmond Mbidoaka who led the service.Also in today’s podcast, the Ramsgate mum of two sisters who were murdered in a park in north London has paid tribute to them after their killer was jailed.Danyal Hussein, who’s 19, stabbed Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman in Wembley in June last year and has been locked up for 35 years.We have more reaction to yesterday’s budget.Some have questioned whether hard-up families in the county will benefit from changes to Universal Credit.We’ve spoken to Medway Foodbank.The UK government says it’s prepared to retaliate if France continues to block British fishing vessels.A trawler’s been detained there even though the company which owns it says it had the correct documents.We’ve got reaction from John Nichols who is chair of the Thanet Fisherman’s Association.The chief executive of Visit Kent has reacted to part of Kent featuring in Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel 2022 guide.The county is the only UK destination to feature in the list of top 10 countries, cities and regions to visit next year.

More than a dozen people have been arrested following another Insulate Britain protest.The group said yesterday they would stage action despite another injunction aimed at trying to stop them.They gathered not far from the Dartford Crossing this morning – hear from a man who was caught up in the traffic.Also in today’s podcast, find out what chancellor Rishi Sunak had to say in today’s budget.We’ve also spoken to the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.Women are being urged to avoid pubs, clubs and bars in Kent tonight as part of the Girl’s Night In protest.They want to raise awareness of drink spiking and say they’re worried about the number of cases.The president of the Kent Union has spoken out and we’ll hear from the owner of Club Chemistry in Canterbury which is shutting tonight in solidarity.In sport, Gillingham are out of the EFL Trophy – we have reaction from their assistant boss following last night’s defeat to West Ham under 21s.

Hundreds of people have lined streets in Maidstone to remember four men who died in a crash near Headcorn.Johnny Cash, his son Johnboy, Miles ‘smiler’ Cash and Jacko Cosgrove died when the car they were in hit a tree earlier this month as they travelled to watch the fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder on TV.
An inquest into their deaths has also got under way – hear from our reporter who was there.Also in today’s podcast, millions of people are set to get a pay rise next year.The chancellor has announced the minimum wage will go up from from from 8-pounds-91 to 9-pounds-50 and a freeze on public sector pay is also being scrapped.But many fears families won’t be any better off – hear from Neil Charlick who runs the Gillingham Street Angels and a Chatham woman who’s on universal credit.The owner of a Maidstone restaurant fears his business could suffer again, after another large sinkhole closed the road outside.The Taj Barming suffered an estimated £200,000 loss in revene the last time a void opened up nearby.Mimi Webb has been telling us how her music teachers at Kent College gave her the confidence to get into the industry.And the Gillingham manager reveals he’s not interested in the EFL Trophy ahead of their game tonight.

Two sisters from Canterbury have made the brave decision to speak out about the abuse they suffered at the hands of their grandad.
Sophie and Toni Quirke were aged about eight and six when the abuse started.
Paul Wallis from Hoades Wood Road in Sturry has now been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Also in today’s podcast, with less than a week to go until COP26 gets under way, the first ever Climate Action Week is taking place in Canterbury.
Hear from Dr Carl Wright who’s chair of the Canterbury Climate Action Partnership.
Some of the incredible people in Kent who’ve been helping improve mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic have been recognised.
The first even Kent Mental Health and Wellbeing awards have taken place. We caught up with 16-year-old Madison Hinton from Sittingbourne who made positivity boxes during lockdown.
Olympian and South Kent Mind ambassador Jack Green also spoke at the event.
And, the Gillingham boss was disappointed following their 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers at the weekend.

A man has admitted going on a wrecking spree at a hotel in Maidstone after getting frustrated with his job.A court’s been told the rampage caused around £100,000 worth of damage at Larkfield Priory Hotel.Hear from our reporter Sean McPolin who covered the case.Also in today’s podcast, a Palestinian refugee says a giant puppet of a young asylum seeker that’s been visiting Kent will change perceptions.Amal arrived in Folkestone earlier in the week and has also visited Dover and Canterbury.But, not everyone is convinced – hear from Nigel Farage who’s described it as ‘rather sinister looking’.There’s been a blow for those calling for the old Manston airport in Thanet to re-open for freight flights. Our political editor Paul Francis has more.A debate had been taking place in the House of Lords on assisted dying – hear from a nurse from Sevenoaks who’s backing a change in the law after her father took his own life while battling cancer.The Gillingham boss has been speaking ahead of their game against Bolton Wanderers this weekend.And Kent Olympian Kate French has picked up a special award after winning gold at the Games in Tokyo back in the summer.

The rules on booking coronavirus booster jabs have changed in a bid to speed up the rollout as cases continue to rise.NHS England’s updating its website so anyone who had their second dose six months ago can book, even without an invitation.Hear from Kent GP Dr Julian Spinks on the pressures they’re currently under.Also in today’s podcast, Kent Test results are out today.The results will determine which children can apply for a place at a grammar school in the county for next September.Education expert and former headteacher Peter Read gives us his thoughts on the results and the system.A little boy from Kings Hill who was abused by his birth parents features in a new book to mark National Adoption Week.Tony Hudgell’s inspirational story is told in Bravely Being Me which has been put together by charity Aoption UK.His mum Paula has spoken about their adoption journey and the difference he’s made to their lives.And, Maidstone has got its own version of Monopoly.Leeds Castle takes the Mayfair square – and there’s even a spot for our sister newspaper, Kent Messenger.

Caravan owners on Sheppey say they fear some people could be left homeless after suddenly being told they need to pay thousands of pounds.
Those with mobile homes over 10 years old at a number of sites are no longer going to be able to pay ground rent and water rates monthly.
Hear from our reporter John Nurden who’s been following the story.
Also in today’s podcast, are we heading for another national lockdown this winter?
The business secretary has spoken out after health bosses called for face masks to be mandatory again.
We’ve also been hearing how the music industry has been affected by Covid despite a recovery fund from the government.
Plain-clothes police officers will video call a uniformed colleague to confirm their identity when stopping a lone woman.
It follows the murder of Sarah Everard by then serving police officer, 48 year-old Wayne Couzens from Deal.
It’s hoped a giant puppet of a child refugee that’s going through Dover later can help challenge the stigma around asylum seekers.
Little Amal has been travelling through eight countries from the Syria-Turkey border since July.
And, the Gillingham boss has given us his views following their 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers at Priestfield last night.
 

Tyson Fury has paid tribute to four men who died in a crash near Headcorn.
They’d been travelling to watch the boxer’s fight against Deontay Wilder on TV when the vehicle they were in hit a tree.
A 15-year-old boy remains in a London hospital after being seriously injured.
Also in today’s podcast, the Archbishop of Canterbury has led a memorial service to MP Sir David Amess who was killed while holding a surgery in his constituency last Friday.
Fellow MPs have also been paying tribute in the commons.
The chairman of Gillingham Football Club has threatened to ban some fans from the ground after trouble at Saturday’s game against Sunderland.
A group of supporters were heard shouting ‘Scally Out’ at Priestfield and an arrest was made following a scuffle in the club’s Factory bar at half time.
Hear from Paul Scally and our reporter Luke Cawdell who was at the game.
Find out about the Kent village that could more than double in size if building work is given the go ahead.
It’s hoped the opening of a new community café in Folkestone will help young adult with learning difficulties to develop the skills they need for work.
And we look ahead to Gillingham’s game tonight as they welcome Doncaster Rovers.