Bearsted flood land site for 70 homes?


Continued from page one


development on land notorious for flooding after heavy rain. Mrs Whittle added: "Wimpey Homes had an option on that land about 20 years ago and they gave it up. The cost of draining it would drain away much of the profit of developing it." She said The Street was "just


about passable" after a downpour at the end of February and that Pauline Moore, of Sutton Street, remembers knee-deep floods at her property in the 1960s. Mrs Whittle said: "If that land


was built on where would the water go? The properties in Sut- ton Street would be in peril." She stressed: "The locals need


to rise up in the samewayasKIG. We are going to have gradual in- fill that will destroy our very spe- cial environment." Mrs Whittle urged residents to


lobby Bearsted’s three borough councillors, Richard Ash and newcomers Val Springett and Mike Cuming. The borough's planning committee would de-


Joyce Verrall JOYCE Verrall (89), of North Pole Road, Barming, was known throughout the area for her tremendous achievements as a charity fundraiser who – with a dedicated group of friends – had raised more than £320,000 for Cancer Research UK since 1981. They were awarded the or- ganisation’s Certificate of Out- standing Achievement when they hit the £200,000 mark.


Joyce’s ac- tivities in- cluded running a keep-fit class with pro- ceeds going to the charity, and high-profile events such as her abseil down Miller House in Lower Stone Street in 2009. Gillingham-born, Joyce was married for 60 years to Denis,


cide on any application. Under proposals by developers Ashfold Estates, the parish would be offered woodland and path ex- tensions to Bearsted Woodland Trust. A possible visitor cen- tre/village hall and children's play area have also been mooted. The proposition was outlined recently to the parish council's planning committee by Ashfold's founder Guy Osborne and Martin Davies of estate agents, Page & Wells.


"Failing this site, the possibility


of another site onWareStreetwas mentioned by Mr Osborne," said the meeting'sminutes. The two men will make a full presentation to this month's council meeting. A consultants' water cycle


study for Maidstone Council last year identified greenfield land at Cross Keys and Roundwell as having at least half of its 11.5 acreswithin the functional flood- plain. That would "limit permis- sible development," the study concluded.


Veteran cyclist dies, aged 100


PETE Avis, the longest serving member of the local San Fairy Ann Cycling Club, has died aged 100. He was only the second VTTA (Veteran Time Trials Associa-


tion) member to reach the 100. A special certificate was pre- sented to him on his birthday in January. Born in Sutton Valence, Pete spent most of his life in the Maid- stone area, most recently in Queen Eliza- beth Square. He wasmarried for 65 years to Nora, andwas father to Christine and Andy. He served in Detling as an anti-aircraft gunner in the war and went on to work for many years at Alabaster Passmore’s paper works in Tovil before moving to Fleetway Press in Northfleet. He rode to work at Fleetway, giving him-


self exercise that made him extremely com- petitive in the veteran races for which he was then qualified. Pete raced for most of his cycling life. His


friend and fellow San Fairly Ann member Dick Bradley said: “Cycling was his pas- sion,hewasagoodracingman andvery


dedicated to the club.” Pete and Nora lived in Florence Road for many years. From


1967 to 1975 the cellar of their home – which Pete and son Andy had converted into a bar – doubled as the San Fairy Ann club room. In the mid-1970s, he and Nora moved toWales. Andy said: “He had time for everybody, he was very sociable.” Pete had a fund of great stories.One of themost celebrated con- cerned his first ever outing with San Fairy Ann, aged 15, when he caused an accident that brought down everyone riding around him. Widowed in 2006, Pete leaves his children, six grandchil- dren and 16 great-grandchildren.


We will remember


and mother to Anna and Julie, who said: “Mumwas the centre of our family, she embraced life and had a warm and generous heart. She will be greatly missed by us all.” Joyce served with an anti-air-


craft battery during the war, seeing postings around the country. She remained loyal to the services and spent years working for the Air Training Corps in Maidstone. She also regularly attended the Old Rec- tory gym in Maidstone and often went to ballets in London. Widowed in 2005, Joyce leaves her daughters, three grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.


Dr Sreedhan Roy DR Sreedhan Roy (72), who lived in Vinters Park for the last 27 years, was a mathematician


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who taught for almost a decade at Maidstone Grammar School. Born in


India, Dr Roy came to the UK in 1966. He achieved first and sec- ond degrees before com- pleting a PhD in mathemat-


ics at Imperial College, London. As well as working in Maid-


stone he went on to teach at Mid-Kent College in Chatham, from where he retired. Married for 37 years to Sukla, Sreedhan was father to daugh- ters Curie and Somali and son Dravid. His widow said: “My hus-


band was a loving and caring family man. His work was his passion, he published aca- demic papers in international journals and was absorbed in maths.”


John Blackman JOHN Blackman (48) was also known as Balloonatic the Clown, the name he used when working as a professional chil- dren’s enter- tainer. He moved


to Headcorn three years ago, having previously lived in Sut- ton Valence, Lenham and Biddenden. John died in an accident in-


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volving hismotorbike and a car on the A28 near Rolvenden on April 26.


Gravesend-born, he had trav-


elled the world and enjoyed many adventures. John’s eventful life also in- cluded a spell in the Army and a period of HGV driving. His interest in balloon ani-


mals began in San Francisco around 1993, afterwatching the local entertainers there. He worked throughout the


local area and much further afield as Balloonatic, entertain- ing at children’s parties, shows, events and promotions. His partner of four years, Maggie Doig, said; “John loved travelling, experiencing other cultures and meeting people. He was outgoing and sociable and had many friends.” Maggie said: “John was also a talented golfer, and won dozens of trophies. He lived life to the full – ‘can’t’ was a word he did- n’t understand.” A Facebook tribute to John


read: “He was an incredible source of enthusiasm, encour- agement and strength.”


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