Town Talk
A GROUP is on target to raise its first £1,000 for new playground equipment at the recreation ground, Malling Road, Snodland. PIPS (Parents Improving Play
Areas in Snodland) was formed 15 months ago and members have painted the existing play- ground equipment and asked schools and young people what new equipment they would like. The group has also applied for charitable status. Secretary Debbie Alford-Smith
said the target was set by SMP, a play equipment company, to prove that PIPS had the support of the community – and particu- larly to the organisations which will be approached for grants. Students at Holmesdale Tech- nology College had organised a fun day, allotment holders had made a donation from its stall at the Diamond Jubilee fete, a jum- blesalewas heldatChrist
Kayak challenge
boosts charity A SNODLAND man has paddled the 134 miles of the Grand Union Canal from Birmingham to Lon- don in a kayak inmemoryof his fa- ther and brother-in-law. Steve Field, of Saltings Road,
is supporting the Macmillan Cancer Trust, whose nurses looked after his father during his five-year battle against cancer. His brother-in-law Peter Jones died in March 2005. Steve’s wife, Lee, drove the support car and they camped overnight. “She put up the tent, made
bacon sandwiches and resusci- tated me when we got back to Brentford,” he joked. The trip took six days and
Steve, who expected to raise £500, has received over £600 so far. His just giving page at
www.justgiving.com/stephen- field1707 is still open for anyone wishing to make a donation. “It was hard work,” he said. “I
have bruises left, right and cen- tre. It was a one-off, there will not be a repeat performance.” “I only fell in once,” he added.
“I was just getting into the kayak when a huge gust of wind caught the front of the boat and pushed it away from the edge.”
THE Deputy Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Howard Rogers, made his first official visit to Snod- land to hand out trophies to mem- bers of the town’s chess club. The evening started with a
game between George Hollands and Rob Thompson to decide the winner of the Challenge Cup. Treasurer Neil Miners ex- plained: “The moves were trans- ferred to FIDE Master, Steve Giddins, in the main club room who analysed each move and
Local news for Snodland and Halling Playground group nearing its £1,000 target
Colin Preston, of the allotment advisory committee presents a cheque to PIPS members
Church hall, a dog show was planned for August and the town council has given its backing. The playground equipment at
the recreation ground is split in two sections and Debbie thought it would take 18 months to raise £85,000 for the new equipment
Students’ efforts are rewarded
lent work and progress in specific subjects or for contri- bution to school life and the community. Elleshia Bridger (15), from
Kings Hill, won the trophy for Whole School Effort and Ben- jamin Hook (15), from Ditton, pictured right, was awarded the prize for overall school achievement. “It was impossible, this year, to single out just one student to re-
ceive the Community Service Award,” said Sue. “It was decided to award it to the nine members of the student council.” The mayor presented the trophy to Deanna Hay, Emma Osen-
ton, Ellie Russell, Jessica Mayne, Alisha Almond, Gemma Oram, Paige Baker, Amy Gearing and Josie Brennan.
THE United Church in Snodland town centre is to be converted into affordable flats and houses. Closed in August last year, the church, built in 1888, has been bought by Berry Estates, the company which developed Picture House Terrace in Queens Avenue. The owners, United Reform Church, had put it on the market in November for offers in the region of £250,000. Town planner KevinWise told Town Talk he had been asked by the company to design a scheme for affordable homes and submit a planning application to Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council. “It will be done as sensitively as possible,” he said: “The building is in a prominent position in a conservation area.”
Church to be converted into homes Deputy mayor presents trophies at chess club
gave a commentary of the match. “It proved to be an exciting
game with the advantage chang- ing between the two players throughout, with George Holland eventually winning.” Prizes were presented to George Hollands (‘A’ League, club champion, Speed Chess Champion and Challenge Cup winner); Bob Fenn (‘B’League); Brian Stock (‘C’ League); Rev Hugh Broadbent (Most improved
player); David Lettington (Best game of the year). Chairman, Bob Fenn said 2012
had been an excellent season for the club. David Fowler had cap- tained a team to victory in the Harvey Cup and Nick Allen had captained Snodland’s Intro Cup in the Kent Chess Association tournaments. He thanked everybody who
had contributed to the club’s success and looked forward to another successful year in 2013.
MORE than 100 Year 7 to 10 students received tickets and trophies presented by the the Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling, Cllr Dave Davis, at an awards evening at Holmesdale Technology College, Snodland. The awards were for excel-
which would be in one area away from the houses inMalling Road. It would be for children of all ages, including the disabled.
Publicans’ move
RICHARD and Jeanette Steele, stewards at Snodland Working- men’s Club in Holborough Road, for seven and a half years have moved on. They are now “mine hosts” at
the Walnut Tree public house, East Farleigh. The couple previously ran the
Welcome Stranger at Crowbor- ough for five years and The Cas- tle at Sheerness. Richard lived in Snodland for
most of his life. He played football for Snodland, Ryarsh and Eccles and was invited for trials with Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs. Richard’s nephew, Damian Steele, is the interim steward at the Working Men’s Club.
School parking SNODLAND Police Community Support Officers, Kim Bashford and Charlie Culshaw, will work with traffic enforcement officers to stamp out bad parking by parents outside St Katherine’s Primary School. Kim said: “The school will not tolerate abusive language from parents asked tomove if they park on yellow lines outside the school gates. “We will patrol outside the school in the mornings and evenings and are supportive of the aims of the school in raising issues about child and road safety.”She said there were also parents who parked on the pavement. “They are not setting a good ex- ample for the children.”
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