Fundraiser Paul inspired by vital water project


WATER worker Paul Kidd has returned from a visit to Bangladesh to see where the money he helped to raise towards healthier con- ditions is being spent. Since 2007, Paul, of BrookfieldAvenue, Larkfield, has been South


EastWater’sWaterAid representative, and has helped to raise more than £15,000 for the charity which improves access to safe water and sanitation in developing countries. His group visited communities whereWaterAid is already work-


ing and saw how the money which had been raised was helping to lift people out of poverty. In the city of Khulna, he saw how improved water can empower communities while in the Satkhira region, he found out how the charity is helping people to build a disaster-resilient pond to pro- tect their supply against saltwater floods. Paul, a telemetry systems engineer at South EastWater’s head of-


fice in Snodland, said he wanted to use his experiences to encour- age even more people to get involved and raise funds. “My trip is over, but the work has only just begun.”


Right: Paul Kidd is pictured with one of the residents benefitting from theWaterAid project.


Locker thief faces jail


LARKFIELD Leisure Centre was among the gyms targeted by a thief who stole money from lock- ers.


John Fletcher admitted two counts of stealing


cash from the David Lloyd gym in Maidstone and several other similar offences were taken into consideration when he appeared before magistrates. Fletcher, 37, of Hastings, who has a lengthy


criminal record, duped gym staff into thinking he was joining health centres to work out. But he used his membership card to get into changing rooms and prised open lockers with a screwdriver. Fletcher was due to be sentenced this week


but was warned he faced a spell in prison. In the meantime, he has been banned from any gym or health centre in the country.


Your chance to make a splash for charity


YOU could be part of the world’s biggest swim and raise sponsor money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.


Larkfield Leisure Centre is among places throughout the country that are taking part in Swimathon 2011. The centre will be putting on ex- clusive sessions from 6pm to 9pm on Saturday and Sunday, April 9 and 10. Participants can sign up for one of seven challenges catering for a wide range of abilities and expe- rience. Enter in January and receive 50%


off your registration fee. Visit swimathon.org, call 0845 3670036


Tyre-slashing suspects


TWO young men were arrested after vandals went on a tyre-slashing spree in the Offham Road area ofWest Malling. Officers including a dog handler went to the


area after the first report of tyres being damaged on a parked car at about 1.15am on December 21. At least 15 vehicles suffered similar damage during the same night. Two people, aged 21 and 16, and both fromWest Malling, were arrested at around 5am on suspicion of criminal damage and taken into custody. Supt Rachel Adams, the deputy area com- mander for west Kent, said: "It is extremely frus- trating for people who are already having to cope with the extremely challenging weather condi- tions to have the added burden of having to deal with the outcome of someone else’s mindless be- haviour."


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