Laura follows a Signal boxes make the grade


different beat LAURA Bailey, community de- velopment co-ordinator of the Beat Project in Snodland since the beginning of this year, has moved on. Started in Snodland in 2008,


the group helps young people build self-esteem and self- con- fidence. Laura said: “I’ve really en-


joyed working with the com- munity in Snodland and I am sure whoever takes over will get stuck in. “I am taking up the role of arts


and regeneration officer for North Kent with KCC, which is a really exciting opportunity.” Coffee and Chat sessions are


held from 11.30am-2pm every Wednesday at the Sports and Social Club, Holborough Road. A Job Club takes place at noon every Friday, at theWolfe Cen- tre, Holmesdale Technology College, where computer train- ing is available and help is given to update or write a CV. There are advice sessions on benefits, debt, budgeting, work skills, volunteering, health mat- ters and links to specialist help. An Art Club has also been formed meeting every other Monday for two hours from 10am at Christ Church Hall, Malling Road. More information can be ob- tained from Nikki Dennington on 07918 615025 or email nikki@nikki-dennington.com.


Patrick Harvey PATRICK Norton Harvey (86) lived for over 50 years in Pe- nenden Heath. He was known locally for 38 years of service with Reeds Paper Mills


of


Aylesford, in- cluding founding and managing the Packaging Advice Centre (PAC) for Reed Corrugated Cases in Aylesford. He managed PAC from 1958


until he retired in 1987. Born in Bebington, Merseyside, Patrick had begun an RAF ca- reer before complications aris- ing from peritonitis brought about a medical discharge. He completed his studies at Cambridge University – where he met wife of 48 years Eliza- beth “Betty” – before joining Reeds. While at Cambridge, where his friends included Freddie Mutesa, future king of Buganda, Patrick competed in rugby and rowing. Patrick helped to found


Aylesford Rugby Club and Mote Park Sailing Club and competed at a national stan- dard for Medway Yacht Club (MYC). He also served MYC as wayfarer class captain, sailing secretary and a flag officer


20 Malling


FOUR railway signal boxes in Malling and Maidstone from the golden age of steam have been officially declared as historic buildings, with the granting of Grade II listed status. The boxes at Aylesford, Maid-


stone West, Snodland and Wa- teringbury, are among 26 of the best-preserved in England. The list, announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, includes signal boxes dating from late Victorian times. In the 1940s, there were as


many as 10,000 signal boxes, but now, fewer than 500 are in use by Network Rail, which has joined with English Heritage in seeking out the best examples to ensure they are preserved. The box at High Street, Snod-


Wateringbury signal box


landwas designed by the South Eastern Railway Company in the late 1870s and still has its original windows, access bal- cony and signalling instru- ments. TheWateringbury box in Bow


Road opened in 1893 and was chosen because it is almost in- tact. It forms a group with the nearby station and goods shed, which are also listed.


Dogs invited to annual show THE annual Snodland Fun Dog Show will take place at the cricket meadow on Sunday, September 29. Registration for the show will start at 10am, and the show opens at 11.30am. Entries cost £1 per class, which include musical sits, best six legs, scruffiest dog, best rescue dog, and many others. The show will feature specialist stalls including advice on nutri-


tion, training, rescue dogs, vet advice andmuchmore. Local groups that would like to hold a stall should email Lorraine on lor- raine.baseden@yahoo.com. There is no charge for stalls, but char- ity donations are welcome.


Tyre company submits plans for signs ASSOCIATED Tyre Services in Forstal Road, Aylesford, is seek- ing planning permission for one illuminated and one non-illumi- nated sign and additional graphics. Tonbridge and Malling Council will decide on the planning application.


We will remember


serving two years as each of rear, vice, and ultimately full commodore (1977 – 1978). Friend John Harvey said: “Patrick travelled the world and lived a full life. He lived in Finland where he studied forestry, pulp and papermak- ing. He marked his 70th birth- day with a flying lesson and took great delight in flying to Edinburgh on a British Air- ways plane captained by his son.” Widowed in 2009, Patrick leaves his children and seven grandchildren.


Linda Gemmell LINDA Gemmell (65) lived in Chainhurst for 29 years. Her former homes included Coxheath and Aylesford. She was a management con- sultant who had worked inde- pendently as Linda Gemmell and Associates and in firms Gemmell-Maskell and Fen- wick-Gemmell-Reid. She was also an accom- plished amateur dramatic ac- tress, who had performed in many local productions. Born in Ayr and raised in Al-


loway, Scotland, Linda began working in marketing for Kim- berly-Clark and moved locally


from Birmingham while work- ing for the firm, before setting up on her own. Her friend, Lesley Phippen,


said: “Linda was well known locally. Her amateur dramatic work included membership of the County Players in Maid- stone and Players Anon. “She had been chairman of Lenham Players and one of her more recent roles was Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest. She was an ac- complished actor and director. “Linda had a vibrant person-


ality. She loved gardening and her involvement in a local reading group and was well known for walking her labrador dog in the local area. She was very funny, great com- pany and very intelligent and faced her final illness with bravery; always looking for- ward.” Linda leaves her many friends and colleagues locally, as well as one sister, one niece, one nephew and a great-niece.


Micky Spillane R.C. “MICKY” Spillane (81) lived in Maidstone from 1958, moving locally from London, having grown up in Somerset, to work in electrical engineering.


Three-storey Maidstone West


in The Broadway dates from 1889 and still has many of its original instruments, levers and bells, having been carefully re- stored after severe damage dur- ingWorldWar II. Aylesford’s signal box was


built to a new design for the South Eastern and Chatham Railway in the 1920s. It is the last survivor of its kind. Heritage minister Ed Vaizey


said: “Our interest in everything to do with trains and railways – and the golden age of steam in particular – is one of our most endearing and enduring na- tional preoccupations. “Signal boxes are a big part of


this, and so I am very pleased indeed to be able to list these lovely examples of the type.”


Leisure lease TONBRIDGE and Malling Bor- ough Council has approached East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council over plans to set up a charity trust to run Lark- field Leisure Centre. The centre is on land which


is leased to the borough by the parish council.Acharitywould not have to pay full business rates, thereby achieving savings for the borough. The trust would need a sub


lease and the parish has re- ferred the matter to its solici- tors.


His professional work for


GEC included involvement in electrification of the local rail- ways and Micky was excep- tionally well-known locally for his lengthy and significant in- volvement in Maidstone rugby and Kent rugby. Micky played for a number


of Maidstone teams, including significant time with the first team. Current Maidstone rugby president Bob Beney said: “I’m told by a teammate that Micky was a dependable player with very high standards on the field.” Micky went on to serve the


club as secretary from 1974 to 1980 and president from 1995 to 1998. He also served rugby on a county-wide basis as a ref- eree, member of the Kent Ref- erees’ Society, as Kent Fixtures and Match secretary and as vice-president of the county. Bob Beney said: “Micky was


also a golfer who belonged to Tudor Park Golf Club from its inception and had a keen in- terest in cricket; with col- league Des Payne he ran the rugby tent during Maidstone cricket week at the Mote. He never forgot his Somerset roots and remained a man with firm views and very strong princi- ples.”


Married for 56 years to Jan-


ice, Micky leaves his wife, children Christine and Lewis and five grandchildren.


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