Carrying the flame for town
ROTARIAN and retired fire- fighter Clive Bradburn is one of the 8,000 people nationwide chosen to carry the Olympic Flame on its journey around the UK to London. Clive will carry the torch at Redhill, Surrey, at 2.15pm on Friday, July 20. His wife Sue, who nominated
him for the honour, said “Clive has always been keen on raising money for charities, often com- ing up withwacky ideas.” Clive once organised a volley-
ball match between firefighters from Scotland and England in blizzard conditions on the sum- mit of BenNevis, for Children in Need. The following year he or- ganised a world record pole-slid- ing attempt in Maidstone Studios during ITV’s Telethon charity show. He has swum in a cross-chan-
nel relay, run marathons, com- peted in the World Masters swimming championships and run in a relay from John O’Groats to Land’s End. After his grand- daughter died in 2007 he and his sons cycled from London to Paris to help the paediatric ITC unit in St Mary’s Hospital, London. A founder member and past president of The Rotary Club of MaidstoneRiverside, Clive, wife Sue and other Rotarians, have just returned from India where they took part in the national
Concert welcome THE Olympic Torch will be welcomed to Maidstone with a free community concert at Mote Park on July 19. It will start at 5pm with live screening of the celebrations as the flame arrives at Leeds Cas- tle. The town’s school choirs will sing “Traditional Values”, a piece written specially for the occasion by Orlando Gough. The winners of the “Maid-
stone’s Got Talent” competition will take to the stage, followed by local star ShaunWilliamson, alias Barry from EastEnders. The evening finishes with a performance from 70s rock star Alvin Stardust and a firework finale.
Panto success CINDERELLA did go to the ball when villagers in Hunton per- formed their first pantomime. The venture, directed by
ChrisNorris, wassaidtobea great success. The castwas made up of peo-
ple of all ages and from all parts of Hunton, who started re- hearsing for the production at the end of last year. Cinderella was played by
Daisy Andrews, Prince Charm- ingwas Becky Dolman, Buttons was Ali Backshall and the Ugly Sisters were Sam Andrews and Jonny Aucamp. Music was played by Nick Drewe and Derek Hudson.
Clive Bradburn and, right, gymnast Courtney Tulloch
polio immunisation project. India is nowon the brink of erad- icating polio. He is also involved with Ro-
mania Connect and the Maid- stone Swimming Club for the Disabled. Other local people who will
carry the torch include Julia Chilcott, from Allington, who was selected for her commitment to foster caring. Julia (55), has provided a loving environment for more than 80 children. She said: “It’s an honour to
have been picked.” Melwyn Moore (47), from
Fant, will also carry the flame. He has been a detective sergeant for Kent Police for 18 years and has run 21 London Marathons.
TWOmembers of staff at a Maid- stone hospital are celebrating after being chosen to be volun- teer “Games Makers” at this summer’s Olympic and Para- lympic Games in London. Mike Kennaird (50), a princi-
pal operating department prac- titioner and Lacie Midgley (21), an administrator, work at BMI The Somerfield Hospital in London Road. Mike, from Maidstone, will be working with St John Ambu- lance in the Olympic Park, while Lacie will take athletes and dig- nitaries around the volleyball venue at London’s Earls Court. Mike said: “This will be one
of life’s achievements. I’m really looking forward to being part of the games. It’s going to be hard work, but something I’ll be able tell the grandchildren.” The hospital’s executive di-
rector Connie Stocker said: “We’re very proud of both of them.”
Porch plan for country park THE erection of a porch has been proposed to the front of the re- ception area at the Little Venice Country Park, Hampstead Lane, in Yalding. According to applicant Godden Sheridan Design, the existing reception building is badly designed. The design statement said: “The proposed entrance porch, with its lean-to pitched roof, will provide a focal point and add visual interest to the front elevation of the building, thereby improving the appearance of the site within the context of the wider street scene. “Secondly, it will provide an obvious entrance to the building, enhancing the attractiveness of the park to visitors and guests. Thirdly, it will allow for an increase in the size of the waiting area next to the reception desk, making this area more user friendly, particularly for those arriving at the park for the first time and, finally, the increased size of the entrance door will rep- resent a more comfortable introduction to the building compared to the existing narrow entrance.” Maidstone Council will decide on the planning application.
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He said: “It’s a great opportunity and it’s all about the involve- ment.” NLL Academy Year 10 student
and talented gymnast, Courtney Tulloch, has also been selected. Courtney, an artistic gymnast who trains with Pegasus Gym- nastics Club in Bearsted six days a week, recently returned from the Youth Olympics in Turkey with two gold and two silver medals and was part of the GB U18s team that finished second. He said: “It’s my ambition to
win a gold medal at the Olympics one day.” The young gymnast has been preparing for the European Championships before compet- ing in the Olympic Trials.
Invitation to torchbearers
MORE than a dozen Maidstone people have been selected to carry the torch at some step of its journey – but only a couple of them will run inMaidstone. So Clive Bradburn, who is carrying the flame in Redhill, Surrey, is hoping to get all local torchbearers to sign up for the MaidstoneMile, on July 20 The event has been organised
by Maidstone Council to get local people involved in the celebra- tions, by running a mile at 6pm. Clive said: “My intention is
to keep the celebrations going by getting the torchbearers to run in a group, in our official suits, with our torches.” Clive said: “I don’t mind where I’m running, as it’s an honour to be chosen, but it would be nice to do something in Maidstone.” Clive has asked the Downs
Mail to help him track down the other Maidstone torchbear- ers. If you are one of them, call Clive on 01622 747819 or email
clive@clivebradburn.com. For details of the Maidstone mile, go
towww.maidstonemile.com. Clive’s run is between 2 and
3pm in Redhill on July 20, after which he aims to dash back to Maistone to run the Maidstone Mile, then don his wetsuit to swim the Maidstone River Mile.
Hospital staff are ‘Games Makers’ Kent ragstone
for 2012 venues RAGSTONE from Hermitage Quarry in Maidstone is to be used at two Olympic and Para- lympic venues. Gallagher Group, which owns
the quarry, has been appointed to deliver two schemes for ISG plc, the principal contractor on behalf of LOCOG. The schemes are the white
water rafting centre, at Lee Val- ley, and Hadleigh Farm, the venue for the Olympic moun- tain bike course. Gallagher Group has also re-
stored the walls of the River Lee, which runs through the Olympic Park in south London.
Marina still on THE development of a 200-boat marina in Yalding is still on the agenda. Three years ago, Maidstone Council’s planning committee narrowly granted permission for a 27,000 sq m marina in the Little Venice Country Park, Hampstead Lane, as it was felt it would boost tourism and use the River Medway as a leisure resource. The scheme has so far failed
to get off the ground, but appli- cant Two Chimneys Ltd has ap- plied to renew the permission after it expired in April. Maidstone Council will again determine the application.
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