Pupils get to work in woods


STUDENTS from New Line Learning Academy showed their true community spirit when they went out and about in Maidstone performing a vari- ety of tasks. From painting and gardening,


to helping with primary and nursery school children, all Year 10 pupils spent a week putting their backs into work to benefit the community. A group of students had great


fun in the sun learning tech- niques of dry stone walling, helping members of the Loose Valley Conservation Society re- pair a wall near Hayle Mill, while some of their colleagues worked nearby clearing wood- land and taking out excessive undergrowth, carrying out fenc- ing repairs and laying weed-re- stricting membranes. Six groups also worked in local primary schools – Loose


Juniors, Greenfields, Loose In- fants, Park Way and Senacre Wood Primary – preparing play- ground activities for break and lunch times, while at Five Acre Wood, students helped the chil- dren prepare stands, bunting and craft stalls for the school’s upcoming music festival, “Five AcreWoodstock”. Another group worked in the garden at Little Learners Nurs- ery to move and paint two wooden sheds and build deck- ing to make the space more inviting for the youngsters, while atMoleHill Copse School


Twinning association holds annual meeting


THE annual meeting of the Maidstone-Beauvais Twinning Association was held in the Beauvais Room, at Maidstone Town Hall. Long-serving chairman Glenda Goldfinch took up


the post of honorary life president and Bryan Vizzard became chairman. Wendy Hinder was elected vice- chairman and Michael Yates and Alan Cocks con- tinue as secretary and treasurer respectively. Denise Joy, Bob Hinder, Glenda Goldfinch, Patrick


Sellar, and Clive English were appointed to the com- mittee, and itwas agreed thatMike FitzGerald should be asked to fill the remaining place. It was also agreed that the GlendaGoldfinch should represent the association alongside the mayor, Cllr Clive English, during the annual visit to the Jeanne Hatchette festival in Beauvais. It was decided to hold the membership subscription


at £6 and to seek to expand the membership and ac- tivities of the association. In order to help with this, the association agreed


that its constitution needed to be revised, and agreed that Clive English would draft initial proposals for circulation. Anyone who would like to knowmore about the as- sociation should contact Bryan Vizzard at 1 St An- drews Close,Maidstone,ME16 9LP, call 07957442994, or email bryanvizzard@maidstone.gov.uk


and – in 1977 – married sec- ond wife Betty, acquiring step- children Sally and Greg. Through Betty, Eric became a regular worshipper at St Luke’s Church in Maidstone and was confirmed into the church. His faith became a central part of his life. He served on St Paul’s Fellowship for many years, re- mained on its committee for nearly 20 years and was very involved with the social side. Eric was a very active mem-


ber of the Camera Club. He was widowed in 2006 and leaves his step-children.


Marion Green MARION Green (91) lived for about 40 years in Sutton Va-


grounds, students continued work started last year, develop- ing walkways around the grounds, planting and helping with general maintenance. Each year a team stays behind


at NLL, working in the wood- land area, clearing the pathways and building habitats for the in- vertebrates and woodland floor species that live there. Another group started work on creating an exciting new science garden at NLL, to be used as a useful learning resource throughout the year. Finally, some students got


stuck into a charity carwash, with the task of raising at least £200 for a charity of their choice. Bryn Cornwell, from Loose


Valley Conservation Society, said: “The students were keen to learn and a great help to the team.”


Plan for 37 homes


A 37-HOME affordable housing scheme is the latest proposal for former Maidstone Council offices near Maidstone West sta- tion. The Chartway Group has applied to build


26 two-bedroom flats and 11 one-bedroom flats at 26 Tonbridge Road. Moat Housing Association would manage the homes. A supporting statement said: “The pro-


posed development to the front of the site, showing a provision of traditional dwelling houses, is in keeping with the street scene and in particular responds to the neigh- bouring properties to the front of Tonbridge Road and has regard to the character of the area. Should Maidstone Council grant planning per- mission, each home would have its own parking space and there would be one ad- ditional space.


Yellow brick homes order PLANNING permission was granted for three new homes at 62 Bower Lane, Maid- stone. UK Homes & Properties was given consent, on condition that the homes are constructed using natural slate and yellow stock brick.


Bike shed in Mayfair CHRISTOPHE Mauriange was given retro- spective planning permission to construct a bike shed in the front garden of 31 Mayfair Avenue,Maidstone.


We will remember


lence. In the 1970s she became governor of East Sutton Park, re- tiring from the prison service in 1977. This marked the end of a remarkable career. Born Mar-


ion Farmery, near Wake- field in West Yo rkshire, Marion fol- lowed wartime mu- nitions work with a highly successful police


career, becoming the first female inspector in the Leicestershire and Rutland Constabulary. In 1959 she moved into prison governorship, holding assistant governor posts at Aylesbury Borstal for Girls and HMP Hol- loway in London, before taking over at East Sutton Park. Marion married Remy Bar-


cham Green, who ran Hayle Mill in Tovil, becoming step- mother to Sarah and Simon. She took early retirement, but re- mained hugely active as amem- ber of Sutton Valence Women’s


Free school is approved


A MAIDSTONE church has been given approval to open the town’s second free school. Jubilee Church hopes to open


the primary school in Septem- ber 2014 after getting the thumbs up from the Depart- ment for Education. Teacher and chairman of the Jubilee Primary School steering group, Estelle McCabe, said: “We are over the moon to hear that we have got the go ahead. The group is now gearing up for the task of opening the school in 16 months’ time.” A suitable location has not


yet been identified for the school, but it will open with two reception classes plus one year one class. Eventually the school will cater for 420 pupils. Jubilee Primary School will follow the National Curricu- lum, but will focus on giving pupils a rounded education, paying attention to the individ- ual needs of each child, with particular emphasis on the arts and sport, the steering group promised.


Join hospice’s


Moonlit Walk TV’s Loose Women presenter Carol McGiffin is urging people to put on their pyjamas and join the annual MoonlitWalk. Carol will be taking part in


the event on Saturday, Septem- ber 21 in aid of the Heart of Kent Hospice. It starts and fin- ishes at Kings Hill. Registration is £15 in ad- vance. Volunteers are also needed to


help on the evening, as the hos- pice can’t run events like this without support. Bookings can be taken on


01622 790195, email fundrais- ing@hokh.co.uk or via theweb- site www.moonlitwalk.org. To volunteer, please call or email.


Cash machine plan AN external cash machine is planned for the Cheltenham & Gloucester branch at 16 High Street, Maidstone.


Institute, a regular bowler, an active member of the Darby and Joan Club and a hugely active member of the congregation of St Peter and St Paul Church; where she also served on the parochial church council. Daughter-in-law Maureen


said: “She was a quite remark- able woman, very active and committed in everything she did.


“The family has received lots


of messages telling us just how admired and respected she was. She was a well-liked and well- known figure in the local com- munity.” Marion leaves her step-children, one granddaugh- ter and many other members of her extended family.


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