Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘Caring Julia’ a much-loved part of our borough
Julia James had worked in the Ashford borough during her time with Kent Police, focusing mainly on Tenterden, Wye and Ashford town.
Tenterden town councillor Sue Ferguson said: “She loved the town and surrounding villages and would spend a lot of her time either walking up and down the town, visiting the shopkeepers and having coffee and chatting to the community.
“She would attend the infant and junior schools and help with the police presentations to the children.
“Even after she was posted to another district she still found time to patrol the area as she often said she has a soft spot for our town.
“She was the most caring and kind-hearted person and nothing was too much trouble, she loved helping people and being a PCSO was the perfect opportunity to be abletodoso.”
Tenterden Town Council’s clerk Claire Gilbert said: “Julia is very fondly remembered as Tenterden’s PCSO some eight years ago; someone who was always ready to help with a smile.
“TTC sends their sincerest condolences to her family, friends and Kent Police colleagues.”
Authorities from across the borough have spoken out after her death including The
Central Ashford Community Forum.
A spokeswoman said the forum was “shocked and saddened” to hear of the tragic death.
She said: “Julia spent some of her service career as a PCSO in Ashford; we pay tribute to her selfless public service helping to keep us all safe and secure within our community.
“We wish to extend our deepest condolences and
our thoughts are with her family and friends at this most difficult time.”
An Ashford Borough Council spokeswoman said: “We are saddened to hear of the death of PCSO Julia James who was a familiar face within her role in the Ashford borough, particularly in Tenterden.
“We would like to send our sincere condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.”
A member of the council said: “I am very upset to read of Jo’s untimely and tragic death; my heart goes out to her family friends and colleagues.
“She supported me and the community she served in. Jo was a fantastic
PCSO ready to get involved in solving people’s problems and in making our town a safer place.
“She was a real credit to the force and to the borough, where she proved herself to be an incredibly caring and effective officer.
“My sincere condolences go out to her family and friends, I hope that they find justice and the guilty party is caught and punished.”