Marathon efforts for a ‘top man’


TWO pals 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, announced 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 every- one and still much missed.” More than £6,000 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 organised 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.”


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 hours “It was tough and thewater around the City was particularly challeng- ing.” 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 sparkling wine for


being the Kayakathon’s top fundraiser. Jon completed the London Marathon in an ex- cellent time of 3 hours 47 minutes.


Patients’ favourite is pampered LOIDA Tuazon has been voted favourite nurse by patients at Maidstone’s Somerfield Hospital. Loida (40), of Tonbridge Road, has been a nurse at the London


Executive director Connie Stocker (second left), nurse Loida Tuazon and director of clinical services Katherine Catchpole, surrounded by col- leagues.


Road hospital for nine years. She received some glowing comments from patients, such as ‘I couldn’t fault her manner and professionalism’. Loida, whose prize was a bouquet of flowers, champagne and a pamper hamper, said: “I’m thrilled. It’s such a lovely surprise – and it means even more tome that it comes from the patients I’ve cared for.” All 65 nurses and health care assistants at Somerfield were pre- sentedwith a pen torch on International Nurses Day, May 12, the birth date of Florence Nightingale.


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An injured Ian Rennie in his kayak on the Thames and (inset) Simon Tilyard, who died from cancer.


Campsite go-ahead


AN application to set up a tented campsite at Allington Lock, Maidstone, has been granted.


Maidstone Council granted planning permission for the campsite to be established on the garden lawn in Lock House on condition of no tented occu- pancy beyond three-week stays and between November and February. Lock keeper Tim Benger said


in correspondence: “We envis- age the maximum number of pitches to be available at any one time to be no more than 20 two-man sized tents. This will ensure sufficient spacing be- tween tents.”


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