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Memorial wrecked for the second time

Chris Sim
Chris Sim

A plaque erected in memory of a young man who died in a crash has been stolen for the second time in less than two years.

Chris Sim's family is distraught and are now wondering if they should even bother trying to replace it.

His mother, Angela, has expressed absolute disbelief that the site – sacred to her family – should have been targeted once again.

Mr Sim, 20, from Headcorn Road, Sandway, near Lenham, died on Saturday, October 7, 2006 after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a car on the A20, Maidstone Road, Charing.

The former Swadelands School pupil was travelling from Maidstone to Ashford when the accident happened.

After his death, his family created a memorial for him at the spot where he died.

However, in September last year vandals stole the plaque and wrecked her son’s memorial only days before the anniversary of his death.

The plaque was replaced, but last Sunday , when Mrs Sim visited to place fresh flowers, she discovered it had been taken again.

She said: “I just want to know why someone would do this. The scrap value can be no more than about 15p.

“I just could not believe it had happened when I discovered it was gone.

“Whoever has done this has no respect for us or for our feelings.”

Mrs Sim has penned a poem expressing her feelings and pinned it to the fence beside the memorial.

It reads: “Please tell me what satisfaction, You get from such an act? Is it just your lack of compassion? More likely, it’s respect, that you lack.”

The family are now considering whether to replace the plaque.

She said: “I don’t think it is right to leave it without anything, but if we do replace it I will constantly be wondering if it just going to be taken again.”

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