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 with wacky ideas.” Clive once organised a volley-


ball match between firefighters from Scotland and England in blizzard conditions on the sum- mit of Ben Nevis, for Children in Need. The following year he organised a world record pole- sliding 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 JohnO’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 Maidstone Riverside, Clive, wife Sue and other Rotarians, have just returned from India where they took part in the na-


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.


Focus on sport TO celebrate the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, Holmesdale Technology Col- lege PE teacher Claire Tyler, arranged for professional coaches to visit the Snodland school. Over two focus days, year 9


students tried sports such as boccia, which is the only sport that is done solely by athletes in the Paralympic Games, sit- ting volleyball,wheelchair bas- ketball and judo. Many students at the school


go on to become young sports leaders and volunteer at local primary schools to help run sports days and tournaments


24 Malling


Clive Bradburn and, right, gymnast Courtney Tulloch


tional polio immunisation proj- ect. India is now on the brink of eradicating polio. He is also involved with Roma-


nia Connect and the Maidstone Swimming Club for the Disabled. Other local people who will


carry the torch include Julia Chilcott, from Allington, who was selected for her commit- ment to foster caring. Julia (55), has provided a loving environ- ment for more than 80 children. She said: “It’s an honour to


have been picked and I’m very excited.” 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


JUBILEE and Olympic celebra- tions in Tonbridge andMalling have been given a cash boost by the borough council. Twenty-four organisations in


the borough have received grants totalling over £31,700. The fund was set up using money allocated from the Gov- ernment’s New Homes Bonus Scheme to back local projects. The borough’s cabinet mem-


ber for finance, Cllr Martin Coffin, said: “We received bids for funding for all sorts of events, from street parties, gar- den parties and village picnics to flower displays, quizzes and


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.”


Cash for summer celebrations


Jubilee beacons. I’m pleased we have been able to support these events.” Among those to benefit are Ditton Jubilee committee, who will receive £1,500 for their Ju- bilee event, and West Malling Parish Council, which will re- ceive £1,500 for a street party. The council also agreed to al-


locate £24,135 to 13 commu- nity projects led by parish councils. Mereworth council will receive £2,000 to improve its cricket pitch, and Snodland council will receive up to £1,885 for drainage in the com- munity centre car park.


He said: “It’s a great opportunity and it’s all about the involve- ment.” NLL Academy Year 10 stu-


dent and talented gymnast, Courtney Tulloch, has also been selected. Courtney, an artistic gymnast who trains with Pega- sus Gymnastics Club 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 Maidstone Mile, 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.


Village parade WATERINGBURY missed out when the route of the Olympic torch was announced, so resi- dents will have their own pro- cession through the village. The Friends ofWateringbury Primary School are hoping res- idents will line the route of the parade. which will be led by year 6 leavers, and then join in the fun at the school’s Olympic-themed summer fete. BowRoadwillbeclosed


from 11.45am on Saturday, July 14, to enable the children to carry the “Olympic” torch and flags from the village hall to the school, just before the opening of the fete at noon.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48