Learning on cultural safari
RUSTIC skills, country crafts and classicalmusicwere part and parcel of a “cultural safari” in Yalding. A history walk around the village, bell ringing and
flower arranging in the church pulled in the crowds to raise funds forGamBLE- Building Links inEducation in the Gambia. More than 100 people joined in the activities in the
village church, the school, the youth centre, various homes and the High Street. With tea and cakes at The Tatt, French crepes and a
littlehelp from the ladies of the WI, therewas food and drink to whet the hungriest of appetites, and the chance to try everything from clog dancing, to jew- ellery-making, sewing and flower arranging. Blacksmiths were busy in the forge and there were
poetry recitals in the Hop Barn, spinning and stool making in the school, aswell as painting and garden- ing.
The day, organised byKaren and Tony di Marco,who
Nine-year-old Scott Paige with his flower arrangement
have been working with the Yalding School in Farato for 12 years, raised £800. Tony said: “There is a wealth of talent in the village
Youngsters learn how to make felt balls for jewellery
and itwas awonderful day to showcase everythingwe have to offer, while raising a terrific sum to help our friends in The Gambia.” Tony and Karen make regular visits to the Gambia,
along with volunteers from the village,whosupport the school, its 15 teachers and a range of building proj- ects. For details go
towww.gam-ble.co.uk.
New year start for sorting office
ROYAL Mail’s new sorting of- fice at Park Wood should be opening its doors early in the New Year. The £1.9m postal centre, which will have the latest tech- nology to handle high speed mechanical sorting, is being built on the former Whatman complex in Bircholt Road, cov- ering a 0.72 hectare site. It will replace the centre at Sandling Road and will employ
more than 200 staff, turning over some 36,000 items an hour. Postage volumes have de- creased significantly with the rise of email – from 84 million items a day in 2004 to 58 mil- lion now – and the emphasis has switched from letters to packets and parcels, with more people shopping online. The new Park Wood office is
part of Royal Mail’s plan to re- place sorting and delivery of-
Monumental Stonemasons Est. 1973
NAMM, BRAMM & NAMLC Registered
fices more than 25 years old. It is anticipated all the staff will transfer from Sandling Road to the new operation. The servicewill operate virtu-
ally around the clock, with a ground floor sorting hall with ancillary offices, plus first floor offices at mezzanine level. The total internal area will be
1,822 square metres. Itwill have 24-hour camera surveillance and security lighting.
Some of the services currently undertaken at Sandling Road will be transferred to Cuxton and the vacant site sold off. Maidstone Council still has
hopes of a shopping and super- store development on land near Maidstone East station. It has been suggested that the borough looks into buying the Royal Mail land and creating a trans- port hub to incorporate the town’s first bus centre.
PAUL MILL
Television Ltd 01622 751000
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01233 636500 01795 436178 2 Sutton Road Maidstone Kent ME15 9AH 68 Kent Avenue Ashford Kent TN24 8NQ Howt Green Bobbing Sittingbourne Kent ME9 8QP
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info@downsmail.co.uk Est. 1981
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