Childminder’s More homes at Grange


good rating AYLESFORD childminder Shakila Master has been given a good rating by Ofsted follow- ing an inspection in October. The mother-of-two, who


cares for children from birth to eight years old, works from her home in Medway Court. In- spector JaneWakelen, who vis- ited the premises on October 1, said Ms Master demonstrated a good understanding of learning objectives and promoted chil- dren’s personal, social and emotional development. She said Ms Master encour-


aged children’s communication and language skills, which helped them to “flourish in her care and make good progress in their learning”. Communication with parents


was effective too, with infor- mation about the children being shared on a daily basis. Ms Master, who registered as a childminder in 2010, was also judged by the inspector to be committed to training and up- dating her skills. She missed out on an out- standing rating because re- sources were not always “displayed interestingly”, and there was a lack of unusual items available for children to explore and experiment with. Observations were carried


out in the downstairs playroom and first floor of the house, which are allocated for child- minding.


NEW plans have been put for- ward for more housing in the Grade II listed part of the former Leybourne Grange hospital. Permission to convert the original manor house into 20 residential units, with the use of Gardener’s Cottage as a single dwelling, was granted in 2004, but has now expired. TaylorWimpey has submitted


new proposals for 29 dwellings, including six in a new mews courtyard building and three additional units within the con- version/extension of the listed building. The mews courtyard would comprise one and two storeys with garages and some living space at floor level and the main living accommodation above. The developer says the plans are linked to the major develop-


AN ADDINGTON woman has written a history of her village, which includes a visit by Ad- miral Lord Nelson. Addington: The Life Story of


a Kentish Village by Patricia Richardson covers the village’s beginnings during Saxon times and the execution of a young man for his part in a plot against Queen Elizabeth I. It also reveals that Nelson at- tended the funeral of his men- tor and close friend, Captain William Locker, at the parish


We will remember


Lorraine Williams LORRAINE Williams (47) re- turned to Park Wood for the final decade of her life, after previ- ously living in Shepway. The former Senacre School pupil was known throughout the local area from her time as a tough-tack- ling right back for Maidstone Ladies and Maidstone Ti- gresses. Lorraine was part of one of the most successful sides in the history of women’s football locally, and her talents had taken her to play in USA, Greece and Spain. Lorraine had one daughter – Stacey – and went on to work for UK Envelopes in Aylesford where workmates included her football teammates. Stacey said: “My mum’s teammates still say they’re glad she was on their side because they’d have been scared to face her on an opposing team! “She was very loved and very loud and loved a laugh and a


22 Malling


joke and could be very outgo- ing. She was really close to her grandchildren and lots of peo- ple are really going to miss her because she had that loving quality that allowed her to do anything for anyone. She was my mother, but also my best friend.”


Lorraine leaves her mother Linda, two sisters, her daughter and grandchildren Owen, Harley and Honey.


Barbara Roebuck BARBARA Irene Roebuck (87) lived for 61 years in Shepway, and was formerly a resident in Bower Place, Maidstone. Born Bar-


bara Stone in London, she moved locally as a young woman and had been in the ATS and worked in a furniture shop be- fore marrying husband Donald. Donald was away in the Army and Barbara raised children John and Diana. Diana said: “My mum was known for her witty sense of humour and willpower. She


ment of the wider Leybourne Grange site, which has permis- sion for a total of 702 houses. This specified that no more than 300 may be occupied be- fore conversion of the listed building is complete. Tonbridge and Malling coun-


cillorswere told TaylorWimpey claimed “very special circum- stances” to justify the addi- tional build in the green belt. The dilapidated condition of the listed building would make the conversion unviable unless the extra units were allowed. A planning officer’s report


said: “Therefore, without the additional units, the delivery of the wider Leybourne Grange site is claimed to be put in jeop- ardy, which would threaten the council’s ability to meet its housing needs.” The manor house was used as


Book traces history of village


church. Ms Richardson, who came to the village with her family in 1976, is a member of the Kent Archaeological Soci- ety and intends to donate any profits from the book to char- ity.


The book costs £14 and de-


livery is free in the Malling area or £3 outside. Contact Patricia Richardson


at St Vincents, Addington, West Malling, ME19 5BW, call 01732 842303 or e-mail patri- ciarichardson@tiscali.co.uk


was very feisty and independ- ent minded. She worked in a range of jobs locally, including time at the Granada Cinema in Lower Stone Street, in Wool- worths, as an industrial nurse at Reed’s paper mill and a job in the canteen at Mid-Kent Col- lege in Maidstone. “She also did a lot of other things locally including mem- bership of St John’s Ambu- lance, attending the Salvation Army twice a week as well as sequence, ballroom and line dancing. She baked and grew flowers. “She took swimming lessons


in her 70s and learned to drive at 75, when my father became too ill to do it and needed to be ferried around. Her father had left her family when she was young and in 1985 she made contact with six half-siblings in Devon.” Barbara was widowed in


2003; she leaves her children, grand-daughter Nichola and great grandchildren Ryan, Holly and Emily.


Jennie Newman TRIBUTES have been paid to Jennie Newman (51), of Ditton, who was known locally from years of fundraising for Ditton Junior School. Jennie leaves her husband of 29 years, Rob, and children Natalie and Nigel.


an administrative building for the former Leybourne Grange psychiatric hospital and has stood empty since it closed in 1996. The first phase of housing –


75 homes – has been completed in the extensive grounds and a second tranche of 187 homes is under construction. Councillors, whowere recom- mended to approve the propos- als, were told that the historic fabric and character of the listed manor would be maintained. The planning report said: “At this stage in the deterioration of the building, this can only be beneficial to its long-term sur- vival.”


Leybourne Parish Council


said it did not have the required specialist knowledge and relied on the borough council to make the right decisions.


Church asks for help


to choose a name A CHURCH group in Kings Hill has asked the local community to help choose a title for itself. Around 20 worshippers have


been meeting each Sunday for around 15 years but the congre- gation has never had a name. Although Kings Hill is not an ecclesiastical parish, the congre- gation has been given permission by the Church of England to choose a title. Members decided to ask resi-


dents to help choose anamefrom three options – Christ theKing, St Gabriel’s or St Leonard’s. A new website was set up with voting open until the end of November. With the Diocese of Rochester involved in discussions on the possibility of a third primary school atKings Hill, it is possible that the choice of church name may have an effect on the iden- tity of the school. Rev David Green, priest in charge of West Malling and Offham, is one of two clergy re- sponsible for Kings Hill. He said: “Everyone who lives


in a parish can be baptised here, have a funeral or burial and of course celebrate marriages. Sowe felt it was only right that every- one in the community had a chance to participate in the choice of a name since the church belongs to them too.”


Surgery group WEST Malling Group Practice, which consists of surgeries in West Malling, Kings Hill and Leybourne, now has a Patient Participation Group (PPG). Anyone who would like to


help shape local services is in- vited to attend open evenings and workshops. Further information on the


PPG is posted on notice boards in each surgery, or email wmgpppg@gmail.com, or view the practice website at west- mallinggp@nhs.uk.


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