Marathon efforts for a ‘top man’ Bumpy rides
MORE than a thousand pot- holes were repaired in the Maidstone borough in the first three months of this year, following the pre- Christmas snowfalls and ice. One of the worst affected
areas was Ulcombe where Eastwood Road had 102 holes filled, Pye Lane (11) and The Street (7). Harrietsham’s blackspots
were Chegworth Road (30), Chegworth Lane (11) and West Street (16), while Scragged Oak Road, Detling (49), Otham Street, Otham (49), Greenway Court Road, Hollingbourne (39) and Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood (32) were not far behind. Also in double figures
were George Lane, Leeds (19), Church Lane, Bearsted (15), The Landway, Roseacre (15), Broomfield Road, Kingswood (15), Faversham Road, Lenham (15), Burberry Lane, Leeds (11), Headcorn Road, Lenham (11) and Dunn Street Road, Bredhurst (11). The repairs – 1,070 in
total – were reported to April’s Maidstone Joint Transportation Board.
TWOpals made a marathon effort – one on foot, the other in a kayak – to raise thousands of pounds in memory of mutual friend Simon Tilyard, who died of cancer a year ago. Ian Rennie was so inspired by the good cause
that he paddled 26 miles along the Thames, de- spite a back injury. Donations came flooding in when he and Jon
Ford, who ran the London marathon, an- nounced their plan. Ian – known as ‘Ren’ – said: “Simon passed
away a year to the day that Jon and I did our re- spective marathons. We could have had no greater incentive. He was a top, top man, loved by everyone and still much missed.” Atotal of £5,600 has been raised so far for the
Institute of Cancer Research. It included £1,200 from a golf day, £400 at a karting event – both or- ganised by Jon – and £264 from a bowling night. Ren said: “The money donated says a lot about
how highly Simon Tilyard was regarded by his family and friends and that is why they con- tributed so much.”
Aninjured IanRennie inhis kayak onthe Thames and (inset) Simon Tilyard, who died from cancer.
Mr Tilyard (48) used to run a garage in Tovil.
His widow, Karla, of The Landway, Bearsted, praised Ren and Jon for their efforts. “They’ve both been amazing. It’s very much appreciated.” Ren did the Kayakathon in five-and-a-half
Air ambulance collection warning
SUPPORTERS of Kent Air Ambulance are being warned of a door- to-door recycling collection service called Air Ambulance Service. Representatives of the registered company are asking for dona-
tions of goods such as clothes, toys and old mobile phones. Leaflets advertising the collections state: “We are working to-
wards providing financial assistance to cover or reduce the cost of ground and air ambulance medical transportation for patients caught in difficult medical circumstances, having an unfortunate accident or illness in another city or country.” Kent Air Ambulance says it has no association with Air Ambu-
lance Service. Chief executive Adrian Bell said: “I would like to make clear that the Air Ambulance Service is not a registered char- ity and we will certainly not benefit from any donation you make to them.” To donate to Kent Air Ambulance, call 01622 833833.
hours “It was tough and the water around the City was par- ticularly challenging.” A year ago, Ren was a non- paddler but joined Maidstone Canoe Club to prepare for the event. He trained at least once a week until a back injury – since identified as a fractured vertebra – slowed him up at the end of January. Ren was awarded a bottle of champagne for being the Kayakathon's top fundraiser. Jon completed the London
marathon in an excellent time of 3 hours 47 minutes.
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
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