Concern at bouncy castle on Green
PARISH councillors in Bearsted have expressed concern over a parent’s plan to site a bouncy castle on The Green for a chil- dren’s party. Liz Slavik-Smith had written
A buyer is all smiles as he snaps up this wooden statue
Bargains at
safari market GREY skies did not stop cus- tomers from flocking to this year’s safari market in Holling- bourne. The event, organised by the village WI, gave residents the chance to sell a wide variety of goods from their doorsteps. Food and drinkwas also sold at the Cardwell Pavilion. Hollingbourne resident Robin Dearle won a competition to visit as many stalls as possible.
New road name RESIDENTS of four new homes offWare Street have applied to Maidstone Council for a proper postcode. Thurnham Parish Council
has backed an idea by villagers for their formal address to be known as Birkdale Lane, after the historic BirkdaleHouse that once stood opposite.
Tina Ruffle CHRISTINA “Tina” Ruffle (57), of Barming, lived locally for 17 years, after moving to the home where her husband Bob had lived all his life. Born Christina Perryman, she
had lived in Pembury, Lamber- hurst, Goudhurst and Hastings. Tina worked in shops and trained as a nurse before meet- ing Bob. She took a degree in nursing and worked in the Maidstone area in a care home
to the parish council asking per- mission for the inflatable castle on The Green, opposite her house, as part of her young son’s birthday celebrations. But Cllr Geoff Licence said: “Insurance companies shudder when you mention bouncy cas- tles. They have been known to cause all kind of injuries – bro- ken arms and legs – even fatali- ties.
“And what if the children
BIG-hearted businesses in Bearsted have dug deep to buy a defibrillator for use by the local community. The British Heart Foundation
were to run across the road and be knocked down? I could not live with myself!” But chairman Cllr Richard
Ash said he believed The Green was a community asset and, as such,shouldbeusedasmuch as possible by the community. Cllr Licence argued this would be a private use of part of The Green, while his son, Cllr Tim Licence, said the council should show caution. “It could set a precedent. Everyone will want to start using The Green instead of paying for a hall, re- sulting in lost revenue for local halls.” But Cllr Trevor Smith said:
“During our lovely summer, there were no end of family groups using the green for pic- nics and having fun. What’s the difference?” Cllr Barbara Dunford said she thought it was “fantastic” that people wanted to use The Green. “It’s a great facility and great to see it being used,” she added.
Members agreed the party
could go ahead as planned, and Cllr Geoff Licence would look into any insurance implica- tions, although members felt it was the family’s responsibility to obtain the necessary insur- ance and supervise the event.
Club helps to buy defibrillator Homes replace Mr Pollak said: “I heard some-
is one of several organisations that has been encouraging more community groups to purchase the potentially life-saving piece of kit, which can be used in an emergency when someone suf- fers a heart attack. Guy Pollak, a committee member at the Bearsted and Thurnham Club, has raised enough money through a raffle and donations from local busi- nesses to buy the £1,000 piece of equipment, which will be put in secure storage close to the centre of the village. Organisations involved in ac- tivities on The Green, as well as licensees at pubs and clubs in the area, will have access to the facility in case of emergency.
one from Swanley Golf Club saying how using one of these hadhelpedtosavesomeone’s life when they suffered a heart attack, and thought it was some- thing we ought to have. “The businesses have been
very generous and we have now raised enough to buy the equip- ment – we just need a bit more to cover training.” At the end of August, ex-
Ryder Cup captain and golf leg- end Bernard Gallacher spoke about how he owed his life to a hotel having its own heart de- fibrillator when he suffered a massive heart attack as he was about to give an after-dinner speech. Anyone who would like to
know more – or who wants to make a donation – should speak to Guy or one of the committee members at the club.
We will remember
before becoming a senior staff nurse at Maidstone Hospital, where she worked until her final illness. Bob Ruffle said: “Everyone
loved Tina. She was very cheer- ful and popular andmanaged to keep these qualities into her final illness. She was always strong and positive and was al-
ways respectful to her patients. “Quite a few of her colleagues
are devastated; she was known to them as ‘Truffle’ and to some of the younger nurses as ‘Mum’.” Christina leaves her husband and her mother.
Joyce Payne MAIDSTONE Model Engineer- ing Society marked the life of Joyce Payne (90), who died ear- lier this year, with a Bank Holi-
Serving the local community since 1985
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village ‘clutter’ KEVIN Done has unveiled a scheme that would see the in- troduction of two homes partly through the conversion of tra- ditional courtyard buildings in The Street, Boxley. His planning application for
Street Farm would also see the demolition of a redundant cat- tle shed. Mr Done says the pro- posal would improve the appearance of the area through the removal of “clutter”.
Playgroup opens A NEW playgroup has opened for tots nearWillington Street. Little Steps, organised by members of Bearsted Commu- nity Church, is based at the Maidstone Skills and Commu- nity Centre, in Titchfield Road, Senacre. It will run each Tues- day during term time, from 10am to 11.30am.
day Sunday devoted to collect- ing fares and donations for the Heart of Kent Hospice. Joyce married Amos Payne
who was president of the society for many years and was a life member of the society herself. Shewas involved with several charities, including MENCAP, and was a member of the WI. Joyce was born in Stone Street
and moved with Amos to the Shepway Estate. She was widowed in 1997, and
before she died she moved to northWales where she was cared for by daughter Julia.
Albany Funerals
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