This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Crowds welcome the torch


THOUSANDS of local people came out in force to experience themomentous occasion of the Olympic torch relay coming through the borough. Arriving in Harrietsham at teatime on Thursday, July 19, the torch finished the day at Leeds Castle, where a ticket- only evening of music and en- tertainment was seen by 8,000 people. Simultaneously, there was a free event viewed by 10,000 in Mote Park, where the torch began its journey the fol- lowing morning. Primary school youngsters


from Kingswood, Barming and Leybourne lined part of the route to tell Olympic-themed jokes in their own comedy relay. The torch took in the centre


of Maidstone en route to the River Medway, where a bearer boarded a replica royal barge that was rowed to the jetty at Maidstone Rowing Club and on to James WhatmanWay, before leaving the borough for Med- way by convoy.


The flame, carried by David Boyle, is rowed across the river at Maidstone. Right, Julia Chilcott lights the cauldron at Leeds Castle. Below: Pupils from Bredhurst School wait for the torch at Leeds Castle, and left, Stephen Kirchner carries the torch through Maidstone


Carrying the


Olympic flame MAIDSTONE canoeist Peter Bannister (17) took the torch through Harrietsham. Maidstone gymnast Court-


neyTulloch (16) took the flame towards Leeds Castle. He won gold at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Turkey and led the British team to vic- tory in the International Coupe Avenir in Belgium, where he won two gold medals. Julia Chilcott (55), from Maidstone, a foster carer for more than 24 years, lit the cauldron at Leeds Castle. Chris Bury (17), of Langdale


Rise, Maidstone, was the first torch bearer from Mote Park. The Scout Association mem- ber helped raise £205,000 for a climbing centre in Sandling. Evie Goodman (18), of


Joan sees the torch...again AN86-year-old Harrietsham pensionerhas seen theOlympic flame passing through her village for the second time in her life. Joan Reeves, who is pictured with her daughter Diane Gibson,


watchedthe2012procession fromChegworth Lane,near thevery spot in the village where she sawthetorchin1948. Thenaged 22, Joan livednearher currenthomeinHolmMill Lane,andwitnessed “about 10 people come out for the occasion”. Backthen, the torchwent onfoot non-stop in two-mile intervals


from Dover to the Olympic Stadium inWembley. Itwent via Harri- etsham on itsway toMaidstone from Charing. “This was only a tiny village back then,” she said. “I thought I


would be turningmy toes up before seeing a second torch going through Harrietsham.”


Pupils make Olympic pledges OLYMPIC rings have been on display in thehallatThe Malling School to in- spire pupils. The five rings rep-


resent the Olympic values of PRIDE – personal excellence, respect, inspiration, determination and equality. Pupils have made their own pledges to do with sport or school


life, which have been added to the display. They included revis- ing hard for a maths exam and making friends with someone from another year.


22 Malling


Rotary club keep relay on move MEMBERS of Rotary Club of Malling were on duty as volunteer stewards as crowds joined in the carnival atmosphere for the Olympic Torch relay at Borough Green. President Don Ingram said: “It was most enjoyable and an hon- our to be there to take part in this historic event.”


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


Mynn Crescent, Bearsted, ran from Bank Street to the bottom of the High Street in Maid- stone. She recently finished her A Levels at Invicta Girls’ Grammar School, where she was head girl. She was nomi- nated by Vanessa Norton, of Ashford Road, Bearsted, who was part of the Coca Cola team sponsoring the Olympics. West Malling man Felipe Alviar-Baquero (32), who set up a company to help abused children in Colombia, ran the torch through Maidstone. Maidstone man Mel Moor


(47), who has run 21 consec- utive London Marathons, took the torch through Chal- lock.


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