Town Talk


THE itchy stage has gone and the wirey stage is on the way out for the Hairy Plonkers. In the last edition of Town Talk we re- ported how three regulars at the Monks Head public house, in Constitution Hill – Smifffy (Martin Smith), Dimples (Mick Coomes) and Zebedee (Dan Buckwell) – had their facial hair removed to raise money for Kent Air Ambulance. They still have a long way to go. The chal-


lenge finishes at the pub’s annual Picnic on the Patio on August 3, when they will shave and have their hair cut. The trio has received a great deal of sup-


port and is asking for it to continue. There are collecting boxes around the town and contributions can be left behind the bar at the Monks Head. To make a donation by phone, text PLNK99, then a space and the amount to be donated. Updates are posted at www.hairy- plonkers.org.


Smifffy (50), of Roberts Road, Zebedee (29), and Dimples (61), of Pridmore Road, as they are now, and right, after the shave and haircuts


Youngsters win colouring prizes


TWO Snodland youngsters have won prizes in a colouring com- petition designed to raise aware- ness of water efficiency. As reported in the last Town


Talk, almost 2,000 water meters were being installed in the town by South East Water and the competition was run in two age groups: for children aged be- tween three and six, and those aged seven to 10. All entries were displayed in the library in the High Street. Entries were judged by the


Cerys bounces to save lives


Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Dave Davis, and his wife Mary, and the winners were Bethan Grace May (10) and Cameron Lane (six). A spokesperson for the com-


AN eight-year-old girl raised £30 for Comic Relief by bouncing a mile and a half to school on her space hopper. Cerys Vanns (pictured), of New


Hythe Lane, Larkfield, started her journey at New Hythe station at 7.55am, where she caught the train to Snodland. Mum Carolann said: “She bounced all the way from Snod- land station to the Church of Eng- land Primary School in Roberts Road, arriving there at 8.58am. Al- though she found it very tough, she was very proud of herself, as we are.” The money was donated by parents along the way. Cerys told her mum: “That’s six vaccina- tions, six lives saved.” Carolann explained that Cerys


saw a talk about Comic Relief on Blue Peter and was upset by the scenes she saw. Last year Car- olann, Cerys and her brother, Seth, who was two at the time, ran a mile for Sport Relief and Cerys wanted to do something this year.


pany said the competition un- covered an abundance of creative talent in the area. Bethan told Town Talk: “I am


really proud ofmyself for winning and so are my mum and uncle.” Cameron said: “I was really ex-


cited when I found out I had won. I have never won a competition before and I thought I had lost.”


Local news for Snodland and Halling Hair-raising stunt continues to help air ambulance


Bethan May and Cameron Lane with the Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Dave Davis, and his wife Mary


Both winners were presented


with book vouchers and goody bags by the mayor, who said: “I was really impressed with how well all the children grasped the concept of saving water with their colouring designs. “It was a tough decision choosing the winners, as they had all done so well, but I felt that both Bethan and Cameron showed excellent creativity and their finished pieces of art really made me smile.” Metering manager Charles


THREE Snodland women have abseiled down Miller House inMaidstone to raisemoney for char- ity.


Friends take the plunge for autism charity


The last issue of Town Talk featured a story


about nine-year-old Saoirse Twomey, who won a Young Carers award for looking after her brother, Tadhg (five), who is autistic, has learning difficul- ties and is non-verbal. The children’s mother, Leanne Manser, of Nor-


man Road, and two friends, Carley Smith and Emily Egglesden, both of Saltings Road, raised more than £300 for the Kent Autistic Trust. Leanne, who is pictured with Tadhg, explained


that the charity had helped her to get a place for him at Milestones, a special needs school at New Ash Green. She said she was told the Miller House building was 175ft high and more than 100


Leanne, Emily and Carley ready to go


people took part in the abseiling event, for 27 dif- ferent charities. The weather on the day could have been kinder


for Leanne, Carley and Emily. It was raining heav- ily and there was a strong wind blowing during their descent.


Healey said the competition helped highlight the customer metering programme. He said: “The programme will


mean that nearly all of our cus- tomers will have a water meter by 2020 which, we believe, is a fairer way of paying for water. “Customers are able to visit


www.southeastwater.co.uk for information on how the metering programme might affect their bills, and financial support op- tions in place for those needing help paying their bill.”


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