From left, award winners Bethany Simpson, Phoebe Percy, Savanna Green, KirstenWarren, Katie Bishop and Edward Carter Youngsters’ commitment is rewarded


TALENTED and community- minded young people from across theMaidstone area have been recognised at the annual TryAngle awards, organised by Kent County Council. The Try Angle Awards were introduced in 1994 to raise the profile of young people in the community. Eight awards, from hundreds


of nominations, went to young- sters from Maidstone deemed to have given outstanding serv- ice to their peers and the com- munity. The awards were presented during a celebration evening at the Hazlitt Theatre by borough and county councillors from Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling, as well as officials from the police, Kent Fire and Rescue and youth workers. The Arts award went this


year to a whole group of inspi- rational young people – the Info-Zone Youth Centre’s Flash Media Group. Rosie, Charlotte, Patrick,


Will, Chanisira and Ben pro- duced a short documentary to raise awareness of self-harm – ‘Silent Scream: Why do young people self harm?’ The DVD has received great reviews from young people and has been well received and en-


FLOODLIGHTING to extend the use of a new multi-use games area at Madginford Park Junior School has been approved by county councillors. The school, in Egremont


Road, applied to install four lighting units on 8m high posts, one at each corner of the site, to increase opportunities for play and sport, especially in the win- ter months. The MUGA is used for mini tennis, basketball and five-a-side football. KCC’s planning applications committee heard that one neighbour had raised concerns


ST Nicholas’ Church in Otham is holding an activity day, from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, Sep- tember 28. Outdoor activities include treasure hunts, rockets, bug hunts and bubbles. Inside, there are craft activities, flower-ar-


dorsed by other agencies as an excellent project, highlighting this sensitive issue. The Music award went to Amelia Henderson and Phoebe Percy, pupils at Maplesden Noakes School. Both are active members of Info-zone and have been the backbone of a three piece band called A Little Bit Awkward, playing guitars and singing their own songs and covers. The band has performed at


the last three Don’t Abuse The Booze Gigs in Maidstone, and are an inspiration to other young people as well as great role models for young women. Savanna Green, from Ton- bridge Road, who became a peer mentor, while trying to complete her GCSEs as well as caring for family members and dealingwith issues of her own, received the Good Friends and Young Carers award. Savanna is now mentoring another through the same scheme and has recently started an apprenticeship at Kent County Council. Kirsten Warren, from Fant, received a Bravery award, for coping in the face of adversity. Kirsten has been quite ill dur-


ing the past academic year, with regular hospital appoint-


Floodlights at school agreed


about the height of the lighting columns, their visibility espe- cially when alight and the pos- sibility of the facility being hired out, which might impact on traffic and parking. The school had proposed to


use the lights until 9.30pm on weekdays and Saturdays, with no use in the mornings and on Sundays or bank holidays. Fol- lowing a request from Bearsted Parish Council for an 8pm cut- off, the school had offered a compromise of 8.30pm. Use was restricted to week- days only, until 8.30pm.


Invitation to church activity day


ranging and tower tours, with the added attraction of three new bells this year. Other planned attractions in-


clude handbell ringing, and food will also be available. Any- one who can help on the day can call Joan on 01622 202239


ments, and has been very brave during an incredibly difficult time for her and her family, De- spite all the difficulties, she is still a bubbly, friendly and po- lite young woman. Matthew Burton, who lives


in the London Road area, re- ceived the Citizenship and En- vironment award. Matt was elected as a Kent


Youth County Council member in November 2012. He became chair and has since worked hard to drive the KYCC cam- paign forward. He has been selected to sit on


theNational Youth Select Com- mittee - one of only 11 young people across the UK to do so – which is looking at the curricu- lum in schools. Matt is currently working


and lobbying schools to sign up to deliver a curriculum for life, which will include political education, sex and relation- ships, cultural awareness and finance skills. Katie Bishop, from Coxheath,


won the Volunteering and Service to the Community award and Bethany Simpson, from Loose, received the Per- sonal Development award. Martial arts black belt Ed-


ward Carter, from Eccles, won the Sport or Outdoor Activity


Award. Maria Kelly, business man-


ager for KCC's Integrated Youth Services, said the theme for this year’s awards was keeping children and young people safe.


“Safeguarding children is everyone’s business,” she said. “Every child has the right to a safe, happy childhood, and yet we know there are many in- stances where children and young people are put at risk, ei- ther by their own actions or by the actions of others. “This can be from a number


of issues, including bullying, e- safety, and problems at home and in school. We also know that there are many instances where vulnerable children have been supported and helped by their peers, or stood up for themselves. “We want to celebrate this


and acknowledge the actions taken which have made a dif- ference to young people’s lives.” All nominees received a Try


Angle certificate and the eight winners will go forward to the Spirit of Try Angle Awards, a county celebration eventwhich will highlight the best of the nominations received from across Kent &Medway.


Judge retires from bench


ONE of Maidstone’s most promi- nent district judges, Edwina Mill- ward, has retired from the bench. Judge Mill-


ward (69)made national head- lines when she waselected the first woman presidentof the Association of District Judges in 2008, al- though she almost never made it into court! Born in an era when fewwomen


had high-flying careers, Edwina didn’t study Latin at school–apre- requisite for law back in the 60s. Instead, she went into teaching domestic science. Still yearning to better herself,


she signed up for a part-time law degree course with London Uni- versity inthe evenings,which took her five years to complete. She


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


joined the Maidstone firm of Gill, Turner Tucker to do her articles in 1967andwas admitted as a solic- itor in 1972. She became a senior partner in 1990. She was the national president


of the Federation of Business and Professional Women from 1985- 87 and president of the Kent Law Society in 1994-95 – the same year she became a full-time dis- trict judge, having been appointed by the Lord Chancellor to sit as a deputy district judge in the Maid- stone district county courts six years previously. This placed her as one of just94


women among the association’s 455members. Having hung up her judicial wig


for the final time, Edwina is look- ing forward to spendingmore time with her husband David in their ruralWeald home, aswell as pick- ing up her former hobbies – needlework and swimming.


East 43


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