Town Talk


A SEARCH is on for the relations of a Snodland man who was shot down over Holland in the Second World War and whose body was not recov- ered. Sgt Robert Gerald Sloman, aged


24, was the son of Frederick and Edith Sloman. Mr Sloman was the manager of the National Provincial Bank (now NatWest) in the High Street and lived in the adjoining Bank House. Sgt Sloman was attached to the 75


(New Zealand) Squadron based at RAF Bomber Command, Mepel, and was one of seven crew members of a Lancaster HK 569 flying to bomb a fuel refinery depot at Homberg, Ger- many, in July 1944.


Sgt Robert Sloman, who was shot down over Holland in WWII and (right) his name inscribed on the Snod- land cenotaph.


PIPS has plans to revitalise play area


A GROUP of Snodland residents hope to improve and increase play- ground equipment in the town and to provide facilities for teenagers. Ella Randall, of Cox’s Close, and Jane Adams, of Saltings Road,


jointly chair newly formed P.I.P.S (Parents Improving Play areas in Snodland), with an “enthusiastic and passionate” committee of 12. “We have set up to raise awareness of the lack of recreational


and play facilities for our young children and our youth in the recre- ation ground and in Nevill Park,” said Ella, mother of four. “We aim to raise funds to provide safe, fun, imaginative play equipment in the existing play areas in Snodland to promote our children’s learn- ing and development through play. “Ideally we would like to develop either an existing park further or


use a new area to create a play park which makes use of the sur- rounding natural environment and wildlife, using natural materials like large boulders, sand, tree trunks etc, put in picnic tables and in- tegrate play equipment for children of all ages and abilities.” Jane, mother of Davey, aged 18, and seven-year-old Charlotte,


said the equipment in the recreation ground and Nevill Park had been vandalised and sprayed with graffiti. “If teenagers go to the parks there is nothing for them to do,” she continued. “We want to talk to them, to see what they want and en- courage them to take ownership of the equipment.” The group is starting off by “cheering up” the play area in the recreation ground by painting the equipment. The town council is giving the funds to cover the cost. P.I.P.S will have a stall at both the carnival on July 9 and the fun


day at Nevill Park on July 30 to promote its aims. Ella and Jane will be applying for charity status for P.I.P.S, which


would help the group obtain grants. However, to register as a char- ity, the group requires funding pledges of £5,000. Anne Moloney, chairman of Snodland Town Council, said:“It is


lovely to have a group of parents who want to do something.” Just to replace the existing equipment, like for like, would cost £100,000 in each of the recreation ground and Nevill Park. Ella can be contacted on 01634 323263 or email ellarandall@blueyonder.co.uk


Local news for Snodland and Halling Search for relatives of shot down airman The aircraft was shot down over


Kessel, Limburg, in The Netherlands. Six of the crew died, one bailed out and was made a PoW by the Ger- mans, and one body was recovered and buried in the cemetery where the grave has been tended by the Dutch ever since. Five bodies, including that of Sgt Sloman were never found. On July 21 a memorial plaque is to


be unveiled on the bank of the River Maas in Kessel in memory of the men who died. The name of Sgt Sloman is on the cenotaph in Snodland cemetery. Barrie Davies, an Englishman who


lives in Holland, is helping the Dutch to try to trace relatives to invite them to the ceremony.


Bobby meets the Queen BOBBY Cummines, who spent 13 years in prison for bank robberies and organ- ised crime, has been honoured by the Queen. The chief executive of Unlock, the Na-


tional Association of Reformed Offenders, which is based in Snodland, was made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) at Buckingham Palace. Pictured with his wife, Ami, at a recep-


tion at the National Liberal Club in White- hall Place, Bobby has been recognised for his work in helping reformed ex-pris- oners overcome social exclusion and dis- crimination. He told Town Talk: “The Queen said to me ‘You have a colourful


past and the distance you have travelled gives me great pleasure to honour you with this medal’.”


JULY 9TH TH 2011 SNODLAND at Potyns Sportsground from 2pm


The parade will start at Holmesdale Technology College and travel down Malling Road, turn right into High Street, along Queens Avenues, into Holborough Road and right into the High Street to Potyns Sportsground.


The parade will start at Holmesdale Technology College and travel down Malling Road, turn right into High Street, along Queens Avenues, into Holborough Road and right into the High Street to Potyns Sportsground.


Sable leads the procession


SABLE, a miniature Shetland pony, led the Palm Sunday walk in Snod- land from Christ Church, down Malling Road and into the High Street to the United Church. An open-air service was held at Rectory Close, led by the Rev Hugh Broadbent, rector of Snodland, Rev GaryWatts (United Church) and Eileen Calkin, Catholic church representative.


The theme this year is “Inventions”


Join in the fun at Potyns: Fun fair, sideshows and entertainment in the arena - a great day out for all the family!


Town Talk 3


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