Go Compare at festival


OPERAstarWynne Evans, who features in the “Go Compare” TV ads, will be Katherine Jenk- ins’ special guest at Music on the Hill. Wynne, whose debut album


“A Song In My Heart” was re- cently at number one in the classical chart,will be perform- ing with the National Symphony Orchestra on the opening night of Friday, June 24, at Kings Hill. The singer recently signed a six-album deal with


Warner Music, but hemight be better known to au- diences as spoof opera star Gio Compario in theTV adverts for a price comparison website. He was also the opera voice for Gary Lineker in a crisps advert. He has also performed at more than 30 interna-


tional rugby games. He said; “I am really looking forward to accom- panying Katherine Jenkins on stage for Music on the Hill in June. It’s a fabulous event to be part of,


A DETLING childminder has re- ceived a glowing report from Ofsted. Mum-of-four Michelle Archer,who


looks after children at her home in St Martins Close, was rated outstanding for all aspects of her care. A recent Ofsted report says Michelle and her assistant Pamela Hughes have an excellent knowledge and understanding of each child’s unique needs, meaning they effec- tively encourage children’s develop- ment and well-being. The youngsters explore and learn


by using interesting resources in a secure and safe environment. The report says that the partnership with parents and outside agencies is a key strength and contributes significantly to ensuring that the needs of all children are met very well. Registered six years ago, Michelle uses the


COURSES are being offered to senior citizens who want to learn computer skills. The provider is Training Highway, which spe- cialises in teaching OAPs in associationwith Maid- stone Borough Council and the Older Persons Forum. The trainer is Peter Waite, of Caring Lane, Thurnham,who said: "At the end of this coursenew students will be able to confidently send emails and search the internet, as well as understand howusing a computer can helpwith everyday life." For exam-


to perform in a more inti- mate setting and for two great causes.” Music on the Hill will


take place in a dedicated arena at Kings Hill, and all profits will go to Demelza Hospice Care for Children and The Children’s Devel-


opment Trust. Tickets for the Katherine Jenkins concert cost


£35, and those for McFly the following night are £33.50. The line-up for the family fun day on Sun- day, June 26,will include ABC, Bjorn Again and re- ality TV star Stacey Solomon. Family tickets are £80. Top girl band The Sugababes will be joining


McFly on the bill for the Saturday. Sugababes mem- berHeidi Range and boyfriend,DJDave Berry,who is in the line-up for the following day’s family fun day, have supported the hospice for several years.


Childminder Michelle is outstanding


whole ground floor of her home for childminding and has a fully enclosed garden with outdoor toys including a playhouse and tram- polines. She also provides a pick- up service to local schools. Children are provided with ex- cellent and stimulating activities, they read books together or are en- couraged to solve problems and develop as independent learners. Their safety is a top priority and


they are also helped to develop an understanding of the wider world


and how to save resources to reduce the carbon footprint. They have a very good range of activities in the garden everyday and go for frequent walks to the park or visits to such places as Leeds Castle and Kent Life.


Highway is still open for senior computer users


ple, Peter recently ran a session on how to fill in the census form. He added that the needs of many retired people


shift to social, domestic or leisure usage rather than purely business. The next introductory session is at The Gateway in King Street, Maidstone, on June 7 (10.30am). The subscription is £13.99 a month, which includes access to centres elsewhere, includ- ing Bearsted and Thurnham. Info - Peter on 01622 735209 onwww.traininghighway.org.uk


Walkers step out for Bluebell event MORE than 1,300 peo- ple took part in the an- nual Bluebell Walk, which raised around £30,000 for the Heart of Kent Hospice at Ayles- ford. The hospice’s 24th


walk covered an 8.5- mile circular route across the Downs and through privately owned woodland opened spe- cially for the event by the Torry Hill estate. New faces joined regu-


Apologies for bus blaze


A BUS company boss has apol- ogised for inconvenience caused when one of his vehi- cles burst into flames outside The Bull pub at Penenden Heath.


Norman Kemp, of Nu Ven-


ture, said the fire appeared to have started in the bus's rear engine and then spread through the vehicle. It was the 130 serv- ice from Twydall to Maidstone, which serves Bredhurst and Boxley. There were no passen- gers on board and the driver es- caped uninjured. Emergency services attended promptly to tackle the blaze, just after 5.30pm on May 4. Mr Kemp said: "We are very grate- ful that everything was re- solved safely. "We have been trading for 35


years and never anything like this before.Itwasamostun- usual incident. We have oper- ated these particular vehicles for over 10 years." Mr Kemp said he saw the smoke from some way off as he approached the scene in Boxley Road. "It must have been quite frightening for people locally. I am sorry for the inconvenience. Roads were shut and it caused access problems."


Ducklings saved ABANDONED ducklings were rescued after a car ran over their mother in Grove Green. Amember of the RSPCA took


them home and gave them a hot water bottle for the night. The five baby ducks had followed their mother onto a busy road but were not harmed. The mallards are now being looked after at a wildlife centre near Hastings.


Fitness fundraiser WOMEN raised £564 for the National Childbirth Trust at a fitness boot camp in Lower Grange Farm, Sandling,


Police body names new chief THE man who managed the Met’s campaign to cut knife crime is the new chief executive of Kent Police Authority. Graham Hooper,who starts his new job in July, coordinated Operation Blunt across 32 London boroughs. He also spent 10 years in policy roles in Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, the Home Office and National Policing Improvement Agency. Mr Hooper, who wasmost recently a senior lecturer in criminol-


Walkers Nichola Aleen, Lynne Hornby and LouiseWilliams.


lars at Harrietsham Village Hall for the start of the walk and this year there were around 500more participants than last,which de- lighted staff, volunteers and supporters of the hospice. Each walker was rewarded with a ploughman’s lunch at the end, donated by Tesco staff at Grove Green. The hospice’s patron, LadyMonckton, who attends every year, thanked “all the gallant walkers and their dogs” and the many dedicated volunteers who helped “on this glorious and enjoy able day.”


ogy at Thames Valley University, will work with KPA chair Ann Barnes and the 17 members, made up of local people and council- lors, who hold the Chief Constable to account. He succeeds Mark Gilmartin, who had spent five years working for KPA and departed to take up a new role at Metropolitan Police.


Sittingbourne Road homes refusal MAIDSTONE Council has blocked Ron Frazer’s outline planning application to build four five-bedroom semi-detached homes at The Lodge, Sittingbourne Road,Maidstone. The borough’s decision notice said: “The proposed development, including the levelling of the site, clearance of trees and vegetation and the erection of four dwellings would result in a cramped de- velopment that would harm the spacious and sylvan character of the surrounding area and is likely to provide inadequate garden space for the family dwellings.”


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk East 21


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