It’s more than luck of the Irish for talented young dancers


YOUNGSTERS from an Irish dance school were jumping with joy after achieving success in a major competition. Thirty pupils, aged from six to 18, from the


Reel Eire School of Irish Dance, which has classes at Linton and Allington, travelled with their families and friends to Dorset to compete in the Celtic National and European Champi- onships. The school came away from the weekend com- petition with four Celtic National and European champions, 14 top five podium places and 21 top 10 places in all. Principal Francesca Heskett, 23, said: “We are


over the moon and could not have hoped for bet- ter results at our first CNEC. I am very proud.” The competition is the biggest of the year held


by the Celtic Association of Irish Dancing. The school was set up three years ago with the


help of the Prince’s Trust business programme and has grown from two students to 120. Classes for all ages are taught at St Nicholas’s Church, Allington and Linton Village Hall.


Modesty of the New Year’s Honours recipients


A YALDING man whose recent work has placed him near the epicentre of the na- tion’s financial crisis has been made an OBE in the New Year Honours list. Martin Duffell, of Oast Court, is chief


dealer at the UK Debt Management Office of HM Treasury. He has worked for the City- based agency, which deals with financial market operations on behalf of the Treasury, for the past 12 years. He said: “I’m very proud. As well as being a personal recognition, it’s also an acknowledgement for my team and the office where I work, plus the market I work in. We could not achieve what we have done without the support of the banks and the investment in- stitutions.” Father-of-two Mr Duffell has lived in


Yalding with wife Debbie for 15 years. He said the honour was also a reward for his family following his long hours of work during the recent financial crisis and pub- lic deficit situation. Paul Murray, from Maidstone,


was


awarded an MBE for services to education. The 56-year-old started teaching in 1975 and is now head of community cohe- sion at the Isle of Sheppey Academy. He said: “I’m very shocked. It’s been


Sporting extension plan


WEST Farleigh Sports Club has applied to erect new changing room facilities in Elmscroft Park, in Charlton Lane. The proposal, which would see the demoli-


tion of an existing portacabin and garage, would be used by members of the village’s first and re- serve teams on Saturday afternoons during the football season. Should Maidstone Council grant planning permission, the club would receive free wood and labour from residents of twinning town Ringstedt in northern Germany to help build the L-shaped structure.


6 South


quite difficult to come to terms with. There are lots of other people that are deserving.” Mr Murray has spent his whole career


working on the Island - at the former Danley and Cheyne middle schools and now at the Academy’sWest site in Sheerness. He added: “The kids are the best thing


about the job - they are just brilliant. “There are lots of people I work with who


are better teachers than I am. There are lots of people that do lots of brilliant stuff with the kids – there are so many, I just happen to have been mentioned.” Another Treasury employee, GillianMcK- innon, who lives in Marden, has been made an MBE. During her career, Ms McKinnon has worked as a senior personal assistant and a diary secretary for the Chris Martin, director of public service and environment. Meanwhile, DrPeterCullum, chairman of


the Towergate Partner- ship whose HQ is at Eclipse Park, Maid- stone, was awarded CBE for services to business and charity. Born in 1951 in Nor-


folk, Mr Cullum be- came the youngest person to pass the Chartered Insurance Institute fellowship examinations at the age of 21. He started his career with the Royal In- surance Group, and moved through Com- mercial Union, ITT, Economic Insurance and Hiscox before founding the Towergate Underwriting Group in 1997. He merged the company with the Folgate Partnership to create Towergate Partnership in 2005.


BUSINESS forums are planned in rural Maidstone by a woman who founded the scheme in Marden five years ago. Elaine Collins's network recently spread to the Yalding area – and she plans to launch more forums in the next few weeks. One will cover Langley, Sutton Valence,


Chart Sutton and Leeds; and the other will cover East and West Farleigh, Hunton, Linton, Coxheath and Tovil. Heavy snow failed to deter those at- tending a launch meeting of the Yalding


A billionaire, Mr Cullum is a noted fan of


Norwich City FC, where he once played in the club’s youth team. He established the Towergate charity


along with the company, which has made many charitable donations especially to the hospice movement, including a £500,000 donation to the Norfolk Hospice. He lives in Sevenoaks. Professor Ian Walsh, of Bower Mount


Road, Maidstone, has been named an MBE in recognition of more than 20 years’ service to highways engineering. The 67-year-old spent the majority of his


career working for Kent County Council’s laboratory, ensuring the quality of materials used for roads were of high standard. He retired in December 2009 but still of-


fers advice to councils and also acts as a vis- iting professor for highways engineering at the University of Ulster in Belfast. The father-of-three, who has been married


to Francine for more than 40 years, said: “I was completely surprised when I was told I had been made an MBE. I have no idea of who nominated me but I am very grateful.” Other local honours: CBE – Leslie Thomas Cramp. Deputy


chief executive, Insol- vency Service, Depart- ment for Business, Innovation and Skills. (Maidstone) OBE – Robert Cum- (pictured).


mines


Chief executive, Un- lock. For services to reformed offenders. (Lordswood). MBE –Leyland Rid-


ings. Lead member for children’s services at Kent County Council.


Elaine expands her rural business network


Area Business Forum at the Chequers Inn, Laddingford, last month. Mrs Collins, who owns businesses in Marden and Yalding, explained how the non-profit making forum works and the benefits of its £50 annual membership. Info: www.nrbf.co.uk


Temporary gypsy consent THREE-YEAR temporary planning con- sent was granted for a mobile home and touring caravan to remain at Green Tops, Symonds Lane, Yalding.


Visit Downs Mail’s website—downsmail.co.uk


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