Nursery could John’s Olympic dream


house gypsies Continued from page one


the land if the price was right.” The land has lain derelict


since the nursery, which grew beans and dahlias, closed some eight years ago. The bottom fell out of the market for beans and the family-run business found it- self unable to compete with the mass imports of Dutch dahlias.


Maidstone has to find 157


gypsy pitches in the borough – 105 of them by 2016. So far 23 permanent gypsy pitches have been approved in the borough. The target is to be achieved through the council’s Core Strategy gypsy policy by granting planning permis- sions and the creation of the new public site. The council has narrowed


down its search for sites to seven key areas – of which at least four are understood to be in the south of the bor- ough, in Coxheath, Linton and Boughton Monchelsea. The area between Ladding-


ford and Paddock Wood has become a magnet for the travelling community since 2005.


STAPLEHURST carpenter John Briffa has achieved his own per- sonal gold, after being ap- pointed as a volunteer Gamesmaker for athletes com- peting in the recent Olympic Games and the Paralympics. John (63) applied to be a Gamesmaker for the Olympics and the Paralympics, about 18 months ago.With over 15 years of experience with the London Marathon Committee, he was snapped up for both events. His daughter Caron Holden


said: “Dad has enjoyed sharing the experience with everyone he knows and even took his uniform in to his grandsons’ primary school for a class talk.” John is working at The


THE Rev PeterWalker is leaving the Garden of England for pas- tures new in Devon. Rev Walker, who has man-


aged the parishes of Coxheath, Hunton, Linton, East and West Farleigh since 2005, is taking on a part-time post covering five smaller parishes, with a com- bined population of just 1,000. He will be based in the village


of Offwell, near Honiton, and li- censed as rector on October 24. Rev Walker (61) came to the Diocese of Rochester from the


Newham Centre, where the ath- letes have been training, and the Olympic Stadium. His job in- volves tasks such as combing the sand on the long jump pit


and


straighten- ing the hur- dles on the track.


John, who has been a keen runner since 1988, has com- pleted 23 marathons, including 12 London marathons. Even though he has not taken


part for the past few years, he hasmaintained his place on the


Diocese of Europe, where he worked as chaplain to ex-pats on the Costa del Sol. He and his Australian-born


wife, Diana, also lived in Somer- set, Lincolnshire and Tasmania. Of his time serving the Far- leighs, Coxheath, Hunton and Linton, he said: “We have been very happy here and made some good friends. Hopefully, we leave the parish in good order and hope a new incum- bent can be appointed as soon as possible.”


committee and every year is part of the team which puts on an exhibition and distributes the race numbers. Since the death of his wife


two years ago, John has taken up fundraising and volunteer work, fitting it around his car- pentry business and looking after his grandsons. In June, he organised The Ju-


bilee Riverside Run in memory of his wife and in aid of Cancer Research.


Staplehurst parish Cllr Peter Spearink,who has been a friend of John’s for almost 30 years, said: “John is such a shy and modest man but is incredibly good-hearted. It is time he had the recognition he deserves.”


Vicar moves to Devon as minister to a new flock The vicar said both he and his


wife, Diana, had felt the need to slow down for some time and, following the recent death of his mother, found circumstances had changed even more. He said: “We have worked in


the South West before and I have many contacts and friends in that area.” A farewell party is to be held


on Saturday, September 29, prior to a joint benefice service at East Farleigh at 10.30am on Sunday, September 30.


Get back into or take up horse riding


Rekindle or discover the joy of climbing into the saddle and forgetting your worries, building a relationship with a horse and soaking up the fresh air and countryside…wherever life has taken you, find a little ‘me time’ to unlock that feeling and ‘Take Back The Reins’.


It’s never too late to discover or re-discover your love of Horses pick up that journey and enjoy riding….


Your local participating Take Back the Reins riding centre is: Coldblow Equestrian Centre, near Maidstone 01622 739997 www.coldblowridingschool.co.uk


8 South To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


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