News
downsmail.co.uk Civic pair’s year of celebration Continued from page one
forward to serving out their time on the council – Peter until 2015 and Daphne to 2016. Although both have spent the
lion’s share of their life in the Gar- den of England, neither was origi- nally from Kent. Peter, from Berkshire, is the son
of the famous Lambourn jockey Bill Parvin, who raced in no less than 16 Grand Nationals, while Daphne is an Essex girl, whose fa- ther was an Ilford publican. In someways, itwas thewar that brought them together as Daphne’s family relocated to Minster, away from the dangers of London and the Woolwich Barracks when she was still a child. Widowed and with three girls to
bring up, Daphne’s mum ran a boarding house and shop in the village – frequented by the teenage Peter, who had joined the police force and was stationed at Deal.
Scout’s plea
for Japan trip A SCHOOLBOY attended the full council meeting of Bearsted Parish Council to ask if it would donate money towards a trip to Japan for the 23rdWorld Scout Jamboree. JoshuaWillis, a leader at Bearsted Scouts, needs to raise £3,500 to at- tend the event in Kirarahama in July/August 2015. He plans to be present for a service to mark the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, whichwould help him in his GCSE history course. The meeting heard Joshua had provided help in the community, including planting trees at Bearsted Woodland Trust. The finance committeewas to de-
cide whether to help him finan- cially. Any grantwould be made to Bearsted Scouts.
Lime tree plea
A LIME tree could be removed from Ivy House in Bearsted Green because it attractswasps. A conservation area application
states the tree “produces vast quan- tities of sap throughout thewarmer months which coats the house”. “This sap also attracts significant numbers of wasps and makes the front garden inhospitable for the entire family including our two small children. “We would like to remove this
tree and replace it with a native species that is more suitable further away from the property.” Maidstone Council will deter- mine the application.
6 Maidstone East April 2014
The couple married at Minster Church two years later and, in due course, both their children – Simon and Gaye – were baptised there. The family moved to Maidstone
in 1963 when Peter was promoted to a post at Kent PoliceHQand son Simon was born. He later trans- ferred to the Met, while Daphne, a nurse, ran a residential home for the elderly in Buckland Road. The couple then bought a small- holding in Caring Lane, Leeds, where they set up a cattery, to- gether with Simon and his then wife Debbie and their three chil- dren, Lucie, Peter and Daisy. They have lived in Meadow
Walk since 2000, just a stone’s throw from Mote Park and daugh- ter Gaye and family, who live in Mote Avenue. Gaye also has three grown-up children – teachers Ben and Katy and hairstylist Suzannah – and the couple have another “adopted” grandchild, Taku, from
Simon’s second marriage. The daughter of Ilford’s first charter mayor, Daphne was brought up surrounded by local politics, but it took her seven years to win a seat in Maidstone, finally being elected in 1984. As a policeman in Kent, Peter
was barred from taking an active part in local politics, but finally bit the bullet in 1995, representing their then home ward of Leeds. Daphne is a member of both Hollingbourne and Stockbury parish councils, aswell as five bor- ough council committees, while her husband sits on four commit- tees and chairs the licensing com- mittee. They are also active on a number of rural charities and com- mittees and support the Relief in Need charities. Peter is also a trustee of Age UK. One of his proudest claims to
fame, however, couldn’t be further removed from the cut and thrust of
WIshows artistic side
ARTIST Carole Robson helped turn the work of a group of would-be WI artists into a veritable garden of colour. Carole, a member of
the South East Open Studios, led aworkshop for the ladies of Bearsted and Thurnam WI, showing them how to use a water sprayer to create a soft, loose effect on watercolours Carole said: “The re-
sults were rather im- pressive.” Carole, who trained
at St Martin’s School of Art in London, settled in Marden in 1986 and now works from her studio in Laddingford, dividing her time between painting, exhibiting, giving demonstrations and teaching a variety of art courses and workshops.
the council chamber. As a regular entrant in the Leeds Amateur Gar- den Society Show, it is Peter’s prize cabbage that usually takes the top slot for being the biggest. Life hasn’t all been “ups”, how-
ever. The couple tragically lost their son in an accident five years ago, and feared for the worst last year when his grandson – and their great grandson – Louis suffered a fractured skull when he was crushed by a wardrobe. Fortunately, the two-year-old
made a miraculous recovery and will be among family and friends celebrating all that 2014 has to bring for Daphne and Peter. Both agree that the highlight of
their respective political careers was the time they spent represent- ing the borough as mayor. And the down side? “Turning
out to meetings, in the dark, at 6pm, when everyone else is settling down to a night in front of the TV!”
Mystery day
THE History and Mystery Day at All Saints’ Church, Ulcombe, will take place on Saturday, April 26. There will be two performances
of the mystery play (11.30am- 12.30pm and 3pm-4pm), concert (12.30pm-1pm and 4pm-4.30pm) and talk on church music (11am- 11.30am and 2.30pm-3pm). There will also be bell-ringing sessions, food and other activities. The church needs to raise £80,000 for repairs.
Church memorial
CHURCH windows can be spon- sored as a memorial for loved ones. The church council hopes to re- furbish the draughty window above the organ at Detling Church. Info:
tim.cathcart@
btinternet.co.uk.
Homes could replace church
THE former United Reformed Church in Maidstone Road, Lenham, could be demolished to makeway for 25 new homes. Applicant Akehurst Epps Homes
has applied to remove the congre- gational chapel and church hall, which dates back to 1951, for a de- velopment of four four-bedroom, 14 three-bedroom and seven two- bedroom homes. A number of trees will be re-
moved. A consultation involving the parish council, village cricket club and residents of 58 and 60 High Street focused on two main concerns: proximity of dwellings in the southwest corner of the site to the cricket pitch; the siting of the nearest
“There are three detached
dwellings and lack of parking spaces. A supporting statement said:
“The applicant has taken these con- cerns into account and the submit- ted proposals indicate that the existing hedgerow boundary will be retained and lower density de- tached housing is proposed in the southwest corner of the site closest to the cricket club boundary.
dwellings proposed in this part of the site where gardens adjoin the cricket club. The garden areas to these properties are generous.” It adds that the “utilitarian ap- pearance” and “limited historical significance” of the existing build- ingswould allow for demolition. The church has unveiled a plan to provide improved access and bet- ter community facilities at its site in Week Street, Maidstone. Secretary John Williams said services in Lenham stopped in June 2012. The congregationwas usually less than 20. He added: “Any of the worshippers from Lenham will be very welcome to join us but most have already found church homes in more local churches.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72