Big-hearted Bethany on mission to aid poor girls


BIG-hearted Bethany Penman was so touched by the plight of poverty-stricken youngsters in India that she set about raising money on her return from a re- cent trip there. Her initial target was £450 for


a fridge but in the end she col- lected almost three times that amount, which paid for a top- of-the-range model as well as a water purifier and sports equip- ment. Bethany now aims to raise even more – for a new floor in the rat-infested dining room of a girls' hostel. Art student Bethany, 18, of Barleyfields,Weavering, visited the country three times last year while a pupil at King's School, Rochester. The city’s cathedral has links with St George's Cathedral in Chenai (Madras), which is the nearest city to the girls' school she vis- ited with her brother Giles and three other school pals. Bethany was appalled at the


living conditions of the hostel, which is linked to the school.


Bethany stocks up the new fridge She explained: "There are


very few bunk beds for the girls. The doors are hanging off lock- ers and cupboards, and the kitchen has major hygiene prob- lems. They had a dilapidated fridge freezer which didn't actu- ally work." After raising enough money,


Bethany returned to Chenai where her cathedral contacts bartered a good deal for a 510-


AONE-HECTARE irrigation reservoir is to be constructed on land at Ivy Farm, in Headcorn Road, Liverton Hill. The L-shaped reservoir will measure about 155m length and 124m width. G Charlton and Sons’ proposal, which will go ahead as permitted agricultural develop- ment, will have a total storage volume of 17,800 cubic metres and will be used to aid the yield of the farm’s apple orchard.


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Bethany with some of the girls at the hostel


litre Samsung model. There were still enough funds


left over for the water purifica- tion system plus sports gear for volleyball and table tennis. Now, Bethany – a triplet, whose sister Eloise is already at university – is pushing on with a new project. "The floor in the dining room has holes in it and rats come outwhile the girls are eating. I want to raise enough to


ATHIRD attempt to get planning per- mission for the development of a re- placement home in Harrietsham has been successful. Plans to demolish and rebuild Stubble Hill Cottage in Sandway Road were deferred in August over the survival of rare bat breeds. Five


replace the floor." Among the recent donors was


the Spire Alexandra Hospital, Walderslade, where her father David Penman, is a gynaecolo- gist. Bethany was given £100 by the hospital after she took pro- fessional-quality photographs for its website. Those wishing to donate can


email her at bethany_pen- man@hotmail.co.uk.


Reservoir to boost apple yield Bat boxes mean home plans can go ahead


months earlier, they were delayed by- landscape and biodiversity issues. The latest plans satisfied both Maidstone’s planning committee and Harrietsham Parish Council after the applicant proposed to site two addi- tional Ecosurv bat boxes in the re- placement dwelling.


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