The Bexleyheath, Welling & Crayford Chronicle October 2008

A Bexleyheath schoolgirl who received excruciating back and neck injuries after a selfdefence class was held in a classroom without safety mats has been given compensation. Tanya Malone was a year 10 student at St Catherine’s Catholic School for Girls, Bexleyheath, Kent, when she was injured in a fall with the class instructor in January 2005. The incident happened when the female instructor, working for an independent contractor, was demonstrating a manoeuvre while holding Tanya, now 19, in a headlock. The instructor lost her footing, falling heavily and sandwiching Tanya between her weight and the carpeted concrete floor. An ambulance had to be called and Tanya was taken to hospital on a spinal board with her neck in a brace where she underwent scans. She suffered ongoing back problems after the accident and had to undergo several sessions of osteopathy to cure muscle and ligament damage, injuries she only recently overcame fully. The pain disrupted Tanya’s GCSE studies and she initially thought the injuries would jeopardise her life-long ambition of becoming a police officer. Lancashire-based law firm MWR Solicitors represented Tanya and successfully negotiated an out-of-court compensation settlement. Tanya said: “When it happened I really panicked as I could not breathe. I went to the hospital in an ambulance and the pain was so bad I thought I might be injured permanently. It was a traumatising experience. “I’ve always dreamed of joining the police and I thought the injury had ended those chances. It took a long while for the doctors to find out exactly what was causing the pain and I had to have lots of treatment. It took six months just to be able to sit comfortably again. All the hospital visits caused a lot of disruption at school and my GCSE’s went terribly. “It made me angry because a lesson like that should never have been allowed to go ahead in a room without safety mats. It’s only when I look back now I realise how dangerous it was. ” Howard Moorby, a personal injury solicitor said: “Holding a self-defence class without safety mats was a clear breach of health and safety that resulted in Tanya sustaining painful back injuries. These injuries caused a significant amount of distress to Tanya and had a significant impact on her schooling and personal life. “The case should serve as a warning to schools that they must ensure all necessary safety precautions are taken when organising lessons of this kind. ” Tanya has recently been accepted to become a trainee police officer with the Metropolitan Police. “I’m over the moon to be accepted to train as a police officer,” added Tanya. “It’s a dream come true, especially as I thought I might never get the chance following the incident. ” Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE 40p Where Sold Chronicle Bexleyheath,Welling & Crayford T h e Vo i c e o f B e x l e y h e a t h 26 Movies20 Motoring16 Competition OCTOBERwww. bexleychronicle. com October 2008 Special Creative New Menu (only available on Wednesday) TAKE AWAY SERVICE AVAILABLE Telephone 020 8298 9233 258 Sherwood Park Avenue Sidcup. Kent 198-200 Broadway Bexleyheath Kent Tel:020 8303 6290 T/Fax 020 8301 5702 www. laughingbuddharestaurantbex. co. uk No service charge. Prices inc. VAT. DRINKS NOT INCLUDED. LUNCH BUFFET - Over 30 Dishes available Mon - Sat. 12. 00 - 5pm. £5. 50 Children under 140cm £3. 50 Take Away Service 1st container £4. 00 thereafter £3. 50 KARAOKE HAPPY HOURS Sun - 12-5pm • Sun - Thurs 9pm - midnight • Fri - Sat 10. 30pm - 1. 00am (BOOK IN ADVANCE) EAT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN 200 Different choices. Freshly cooked from menu £13. 45. Children under 12 £7. 95 (available 2 or more only). Sun. 12 noon - 5pm plus live “KARAOKE” Evening Sun - Thurs. 5pm - 12 pm. Enjoy this unique “South-East Asia” Chinese meal Seating for 150 people Paddling for Silver! A group of adventurous youngsters have just completed an expedition for their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award by spending three days kayaking along the River Medway. During the expedition, the group spent 18 hours in their boats, covering a total of 38 kilometres of waterway. The youngsters learnt how to use locks to navigate the river and also carried out research into the effect humans have had on the river over the years through development, agriculture and pollution. The group was comprised of six Bexley students, aged 15-17, from Townley Grammar School, Cleeve Park School and Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School. They prepared for the Medway mission by meeting together every Thursday evening at Danson Lake over a period of five months, during which time they gained canoeing qualifications and learnt the necessary skills. The sessions were run in partnership between Danson Watersports and Bexley’s Integrated Youth Services. After completing the expedition, James Durkin, 15, of Cleeve Park School said: “I enjoyed the kayaking but most of all I enjoyed getting to the campsites and relaxing with friends. ” Civic offices evacuated An emergency evacuation was called at the Bexley council civic offices when a member of staff smelt smoke. The Fire & Rescue team attended and found the smell was caused by a burnt out ballast unit in a light fitting over the the servery area in the old restaurant. Electricians on site made the safe the problem and all staff returned to their desks a short while afterwards. The quick action by the staff member was commended. GENEROUS CRAYFORDLocal MP David Evennett, met with founders and volunteers at the Macmillan Cancer Support shop in Crayford High Street to discuss their efforts locally and the services and money they have helped to raise. The shop, which opened nineteen years ago has raised over £1 million for Macmillan cancer support services, including funding for nurses at Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary’s Hospitals. Mr Evennett congratulated them on their million-pound milestone and spoke with customers. Afterwards, Mr Evennett said “To have raised so much for vital cancer support services is a real achievement, and I hope they continue to go from strength-to-strength. However, they can only survive with the help of volunteers. So if you can spare some time, please do”. To find out more about volunteering with Macmillan Cancer Support, or making donations, call 01322 555 483 or visit them at 10 Crayford High Street. Call free 0800 163 186 53 The Oval, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 9ER 5 Lessness Ave. , Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 5SH *Autumn Specials* on Alternators, Batteries & Starter Motors Cutting the cost of Winter repairs Batteries for every make of car BRAKE DISCS AND DISC PADS AT LOW PRICES Schoolgirl hurt in self-defence class gets pay out