Birthday gifts boost cancer care


BIG-HEARTED Snodland resident Wendy Gaskill decided to celebrate her three score years and 10 by raising 10 times her age with donations to charity. Instead of accepting gifts from her family


and friends, Mrs Gaskill, from Birling Road, asked them to make a donation to Marie Curie Cancer Care. Guests from all over the world – includ-


ing eight from Australia – attended her 70th birthday party at Cobham Hall. Among them were her two sons Lee, from


Yorkshire, and Carl, from Ashford, and her daughter Shannon, from Cuxton, as well as her grandchildren and great grandchildren. But one person was missing – Mrs Gaskill’s husband Ken, who died from can- cer three years ago. Mrs Gaskill has supported Marie Curie Cancer Care ever since. She said: “They en- abled Ken to spend his last days at home and I requested donations, rather than flow- ers, at the funeral. “Claire, the Marie Curie nurse, was ab-


solutely brilliant. She was always at hand and provided enormous comfort to the whole family. Her care was amazing, and the memory has stayed with me ever since.” Mrs Gaskill’s generous party guests do-


nated a total of £700 for the charity, which will help them care for terminally-ill pa- tients this year, in hospices and in their own homes. Many of them also bought daffodil brooches – the symbol of Marie Curie Can- cer Care.


“Celebration giving” is now proving a


Shape up at new-look gym Continued from page one


fitness manager James Davis. Thegymwas closed for sevendaysoverChristmas for the


transformation – which includes new carpets, lighting, TV screens and graphics. However, memberswere able to use facilities at the Angel Centre, Tonbridge in the meantime. The borough council’s leisure contractsmanager,Martin Guyton, said: “We have a GP referral scheme and the PCT funds a weight management programme.We also offer a pay-as-you-go facility for 11-18 year olds who might want to come for an hour after school, for example.”


Wendy Gaskill with pictures of her 70th birthday party


popular means of fundraising and Mrs Gaskill hopes other people will follow suit – each £20 raised provides an hour of Marie Curie nursing care. She said: “At my age, you don’t want presents and nobody knows what to buy you anyway, so I’d encourage everyone to ask for donations instead. That’s what I did and it’s easy. All you need to do is put a note on each invitation.” Mr Gaskill lived with cancer for 14 years,


after being given just a year to live. The cou- ple made the most of their time together, travelling all over the world, including trips to China and Peru. Mrs Gaskill, a former nursery nurse at Maidstone Hospital, said: “We banked lots of dreams in the timewe had, and made the most of everyminute. Kenwas able to die at home, as he wanted to, thanks to the care and support ofMarie Curie.” Mrs Gaskill now has a photobook of mem-


ories from the party – the best gift she could have received!


Room to improve at children’s nursery


AN Ofsted inspector who visited Hol- borough Day Nursery in Snodland found that the early years provision was satisfactory. The environment, toys and re- sources were of good quality, and of- fered a choice of activities. Parents had good relationshipswith


the staff, and support was tailored to children’s needs. Strategies were in place to address individual needs. Food was varied and healthy, and


was almost all freshly-prepared. Chil- dren’s dietary needs were understood by staff. To improve their rating, activities


such as story time should build chil- dren’s vocabulary and communica- tion skills through discussion and questioning. Activities should be better planned,


so as to offer opportunities and space for children to contribute, such as movement to music.


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