Iggy’s bolt from the past!
A DINOSAUR that roamed the Maidstone area 140 million years ago may resurface as a mascot to generate interest in the Olympic Torch's pro- cession through the County Town next summer. The iguanadon - popularly known as Iggy - has
been linked with Maidstone since remains were found here in 1834. It led to the first skeletal re- constructions of the creature. Cllr Martin Cox, chairman of the town's river festival, is on the committee looking at how to make July 19, the day the torch passes through
IT’S well known that Aylesford Priory has a calming effect on visitors – but from next spring it will also have an amazing peace garden. And Bill Byles, whose pottery
is based in the grounds, has been commissioned by The Fri- ars to make hundreds of tiles showing the word ‘peace’ in every language in the world. He is also creating four
water-fountain towers for the garden. The other elements of fire, wind and earth will be represented. It has been a busy time for
Bill, who learned recently that he features in the latest Guin- ness Book of Records for mak- ing the most pots in an hour. He broke the record two years ago and forgot all about it until his daughters, Sophie (11) and Megan (18), spotted their dad in this year’s edition while browsing in a bookstore.
Maidstone, a high-profile occasion. He said: "We need to come up with a brand for Maidstone, just for the torch, maybe something to do with the iguanadon. Iggy emerged as a charac- ter at the festival in the 1980s. We could revive Iggy and have him carrying the torch." Cllr Cox said a children's art competition might
be run, with tickets going to the winning school. But entrants should bear in mind that the 3-
tonne iguanadon was no Usain Bolt. It had pow- erful legs but they were not built for running.
‘Peace be with you’ - in every language!
Oaken Wood inquiry
date announced A DATE has been set for the public inquiry into plans to ex- tend a quarry into OakenWood, near Barming. It will start on February 7 at Oakwood House hotel in Oak- wood Park, Maidstone. The proposals by Gallagher Aggregates, of Aylesford, were approved by KCC's planning committee earlier this year but were called in by the Commu- nities Secretary following protests by local residents, parish councils and national bodies such as the Woodland Trust.
Local MP Helen Grant re- cently described Oaken Wood as a "historic rural treasure".
Dig this PUPILS from Holmesdale Technology College, Snodland, have linked up with East Malling Research Station where they have begun digging their own plot of land as part of a community allotment proj- ect.
Bill Byles is paving the way for peace at Aylesford Priory BENTLEYS
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Arthritis group THE Maidstone Rheumatoid Group has launched at Maid- stone Hospital, which will be a monthlymeeting point for peo- ple living with arthritis. The first meeting was at the hospi- tal’s Postgraduate Centre in Hermitage Lane.
Now open Saturdays
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