Swanscombe man Colin Ash-Smith appears at Maidstone Magistrates' Court...

Swanscombe man Colin Ash-Smith appears at Maidstone Magistrates' Court charged with murdering Claire Tiltman in Greenhithe

 

Claire Tiltman was found dead in an alleyway in 1993

By Tom Morris
tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

A man has appeared in court for the first time today charged with murdering Greenhithe schoolgirl Claire Tiltman 21 years ago.

Colin Ash-Smith, from Swanscombe, did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody.

The 45-year-old is next due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday morning. 

He appeared before magistrates in Maidstone via video link this morning. Wearing a white t-shirt and black trousers, he spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

The public gallery was packed with friends of Claire and Ash Smith's father, Aubrey.

Ash-Smith is being prosecuted after lawyers were handed a file by Kent Police following a cold case review.

Tilt, as she was known to her friends, was stabbed more than 40 times in January 1993 in an alleyway off London Road, Greenhithe.

It was just four days after her 16th birthday and not far from her home in Woodward Terrace.

The Greenhithe alleyway where Claire Tiltman was stabbed

Her mother, Linda, died in 2008 and her father, Cliff, in September 2012 without seeing justice.

Claire, an only child, had been on her way to visit a friend when she was attacked between 6pm and 6.30pm.

Claire, a Dartford Grammar School pupil, had hoped to join the fire brigade and regularly visited her local fire station while completing her Duke of Edinburgh Award.

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FREE Dog Micro-chipping - 6 March 2014.

FREE Dog Micro-chipping - 6 March 2014.

Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council. Please call 0207 8370006 with enquiries or for further details of this event.

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Former Dracula movie make-up artist Thomas Maylott from Greenhithe wants Hammer Films to return in Kent

By Alex Matthews
Mail to: almatthews@thekmgroup.co.uk 

Thomas Maylott, 66, worked for the Hammer Films company

A former movie make-up man needs those who care to scare to join his new film company in north Kent. - with stars such as Christopher Lee - for more than 20 years as a make-up artist. He is now looking to set up his own cinematic production group, the Hammer Film Preservation Society.

The group, based in Stone, Dartford, hopes to produce horror films similar to those made by the company in their early years.

Launched in 1934 by jeweller William Hinds and cinema owner Enrique Carreras, Hammer made a series of successful horror films throughout the decades with many, such as Dracula starring legendary actor Christopher Lee, later gaining cult status. Mr Maylott, of Carlton Avenue, Greenhithe, worked on films such as Dracula: Prince of Darkness, Plague of the Zombies and The Reptile.

Thomas Maylott, right, shakes hands with Christopher Lee in his make-up artist days

He is now hoping to showcase his skills in his latest project, Dracula Walks the Night. The make-up man plans to film around Dartford and said that former Hammer actors have shown an interest. Now he is trying to organise funding.

Mr Maylott has had a passion for cinema ever since he was a youngster, but has a particular affinity with Hammer’s horror films, something he is hoping to pass on to a new generation of movie enthusiasts.

He said: "I used to like classic westerns but I just got into Hammer. I've got lots of signed photos from different people and ex-Hammer people and I just want to get this going. "We can do talks about the history of Hammer. It's a fascinating thing because the films were made in four weeks, back-to-back."

Mr Maylott, who retired after a heart attack, wants budding actors and crew members to join.

He said: 

 "What we’re trying to do is a community thing, to help teenagers and young people have a go at filming..." - Thomas Maylott

Mr Maylott transformed many actors into monsters during his career and said that it took a skilled hand to make a man a beast.

Taken around 20 years ago, this is Thomas Maylott in Highgate Cemetery

He said: "It took about three-and-a-half hours on the Curse of Frankenstein the make-up was horrendous. "It was a sort of mortician's wax and I had to spread it. The actor couldn't eat or anything that day. That was my favourite, that was a top monster. "It takes a lot of skill and definitely a steady hand."

For information on the Hammer Film Preservation Society, email Mr Maylott at maylott@btinternet.com or phone 07412 925576.

Stone Parish Council QUID PRO QUO... the art of making unacceptable development acceptable?

Stone Parish Council QUID PRO QUO 

...the art of making unacceptable development acceptable?

Ordinarily it could be argued that 16 4-bedroom houses at this location could be considered inappropriate, but we think what makes this development palatable is the inclusion of the multi-use community building. 

As is so often the case with developments, especially those in Greenhithe, is they are delivered without providing the community infrastructure which can be as  simple as a hall 'somewhere to meet', which we see as the essential building blocks  required to bring about community cohesion which is so often missing or left lagging way behind the growing communities needs. 

Many residents may not like the idea of 16 more homes but it can be seen from the application documents that much care and thought has gone into meeting the communities needs and more importantly how the development of these homes will provide the necessary funding for the delivery of a new community centre at no direct cost to residents.   

This is not a new or unique approach, developers often revert to this approach in order to justify higher densities or paying less S-106 contributions. However in this case it seems that Stone council have seized the initiative and the parish council are to be commended for their proactive approach and vision. Something we feel all local parish and town councils would benefit greatly from following Stone Councils example is a masterclass in how to get the most out of development in your area. 

Planning application Ref: 14/00028/FUL is for the Erection of 16 No. 4 bedroom houses in two terraces and erection of a multi-use community building with access road and ancillary works at  Land Adjacent The Lodges Cotton Lane Stone Kent.  

The full application and the link to lodge a formal comment regarding the application can be found Here...

Devastating weather wreaks havoc at Ingress Park Greenhithe

Wind rips open the top of a new build flat in Greenhithe

By Heloise Wood

The weekend's tempestuous weather wreaked havoc in Greenhithe as winds ripped a huge hole in a new build apartment complex. 

A gap is clearly visible under the roof of the building in Ingress Park, London Road, following extreme weather on Friday evening (FEB 14). 

The incredible pictures, showing gaping gaps where bricks should be, were captured by resident Tom Harris. 

The devastating weather is continuing this week with 16 severe flood warnings in place for southern England and the Met Office has issued a yellow (“be aware”) weather warning for certain parts of the UK.

A SIZE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TITANIC AND A MODERN CRUISE SHIP

A size comparison between the titanic and a modern cruise ship

Beware don't phone back area codes 0809,0284,0876 it will cost you £1,500 a minute

Happy Valentines Day

Statement On Behalf Of the Justice For Claire Team

JusticeForClaire

Justice For Claire Tiltman

JusticeForClaire

Justice For Claire Tiltman

JusticeForClaire

Justice For Claire Tiltman

JusticeForClaire 
Justice For Claire Tiltman

 

Statement On Behalf Of the Justice For Claire Team
Posted on February 12, 2014

We have been told today of the decision to go ahead with a prosecution relating to the murder of our dear friend.

We welcome this decision on what is a very emotional day for us all and we would like to thank Kent Police and the CPS for never giving up.

I am sure you will understand we cannot comment further at this time but would like to thank everyone for their support.

We wish to reiterate strongly that both Kent police and the CPS have stated ‘It is very important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings’ with regards to Claires case.

We hope, beg & plead with people to please abide by this xx -

BBC News Kent Claire Tiltman murder: Colin Ash-Smith to be charged

Claire Tiltman was murdered four days after her 16th birthday

A man is to be charged with the murder of 16-year-old schoolgirl Claire Tiltman, who was stabbed in Kent 21 years ago. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had sufficient evidence to prosecute 45-year-old Colin Ash-Smith.

Claire was stabbed more than 40 times in an alleyway near her Greenhithe home in 1993, days after her birthday. Mr Ash-Smith will appear at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on 28 February via video link. no-one had ever been charged with the Dartford Grammar School pupil's murder.

"Claire Tiltman's unsolved death is one of the longest-running cases for Kent Police and has remained in the forefront of the minds of investigating officers for over two decades"

Det Supt Rob Vinson

Her father Cliff died in September 2012 and her mother Lin died in 2008. 

'Complex police investigation'  

Det Supt Rob Vinson, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate Cold Case Team, said: "Claire Tiltman's unsolved death is one of the longest-running cases for Kent Police and has remained in the forefront of the minds of investigating officers for over two decades.

"Colin Ash-Smith is now to be brought before a court following our investigations and subsequent consultation with the CPS."

Nigel Pilkington, of the CPS South East, said: "In November 2012 I received a file of evidence from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate relating to the murder of Claire Tiltman on 18 January 1993. 

"The investigation by the police has been a lengthy and complex one.

"Following further investigation, my review of all the evidence in the case has now been completed and I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to prosecute Colin Ash-Smith, 45, for the murder of Claire Tiltman on 18 January 1993 in Greenhithe, Kent."

Friends organised a walk to mark the 20th anniversary of her death

Mr Tiltman made a fresh appeal for information about his daughter's death from his nursing home bed months before he died.

Former school Friends of Claire have organised regular memorial events, candlelit walks and a fundraising concert over the past two decades in a bid to keep the case in the public eye.

Marina rethink!

Recent weather and flooding have led to a rethink about the prospects of a marina on the Thames...
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GREENHITHE INGRESS PARK