Town Talk


A PRAYER walk created in All Saints’ Church- yard, Snodland, will be dedicated by the Archdeacon of Tonbridge & Malling, the Ven Clive Mansell, on June 22. All Saints’ Church is a 14th century grade I


listed building, although an earlier building on the site was mentioned in the Domesday Book. It stands at the point where the Pil- grims’Way crosses the River Medway. Clearance work in the churchyard has un- coveredmany old gravestones and the hedge at the river bank side has been opened up to see across the river to Burham. There is a hard base to the river, called Snodland Rock, near the old Ferryman’s Cot- tage. At low tide the river becomes so shallow it can be crossed on foot. It is here that the pil- grims travelling from Winchester to Canter-


bury would have crossed the river. In 2005 Town Talk reported that Kaddy Lee- Preston, BBC South East weather presenter, walked across the river in a scene shown in the television series “Inside Out”. Rev Hugh Broadbent, Rector of Snodland,


said the prayer walk consisted of eight celtic stones set into the ground, each about two feet high and arranged at different points around the churchyard close to the boundary wall.


Each one has a traditional Christian symbol engraved on it, relating to different aspects of Christian life. “All Saints’ is one of the greatest jewels in


the crown of Snodland,” he said. “A Christian place ofworship for over 1,000 years, it marks the spot where Pilgrims crossed theMedway.


Local news for Snodland and Halling Prayer walk remembers pilgrims


In relation to the prayer walk, it is an appro- priate place to focus on our journey through life.”


The £2,400 cost of the walk has been cov-


ered by a grant from the Bishop’s Fund for Mission. Mr Broadbent said Rev Sue Brooks was preparing prayer cards and there would be a number of different walks, some using all the stones and others using just a few. He would encourage schools from across


the area, not only those in Snodland, to use the walk. The dedication coincides with the 21st an- niversary of the Friends of All Saints’ becom- ing a registered charity and there will be a garden party from 2pm to 5pm with tours of the church at 2.30pm and 3.30pm.


Georgina runs the extra mile


GEORGINA Nicolettos raised an amazing £2,570 – enough to buy two defibrillators – when she ran the London Marathon. Inspired by the campaign launched by her


boss, Chatham and AylesfordMP Tracey Crouch, Georgina (24), originally set out to raise £1,200 to buy one defibrillator. The money started rolling in and, after complet-


ing the big challenge in 4hrs 35mins, there was enough to buy two, followed by a donation of a third one from Cardiac Science. One of these was allocated to Snodland Town


Hall and two other sites in the community are yet to be confirmed. Georgina, whose family owns Andrews Fish Bar


in Snodland, works in Miss Crouch’s Chatham of- fice as her diary secretary. She is pictured left, passing the Cutty Sark. She said running the marathon was an amazing experience, adding: “I am both astonished and so grateful for everyone’s generosity.” Miss Crouch has already secured defibrillators


for Holmesdale Technology College at Snodland and Aylesford Sport College, as Town Talk re- ported in February, and is campaigning for more of the life-saving equipment to be made available in the community.


Wedding bells


SARAH Broadbent, daughter of the Rector of Snodland, the Rev Hugh Broadbent and Jane, mar- ried Crispin Walker-Buckton at All Saints’ Church.


Boxer puts club on map Football players on target


A SNODLAND Amateur Boxing Club member has won a Kent Boxing Club championship and has qualified for the Southern Counties championships. Jack Burren (14), of Halling,


joined the club when he was nine. His dad Mark, who used to be an Ashby amateur boxer, is a coach at the club. Jack boxes in the category of boys born in 1999 weighing between 70 and 75 kilos.


Mark said his son was not a natural boxer and had worked hard to gain the standard he has reached. Club chairman Dave Phillips


said Jack (right) had put the club back on the map. “We have not been doing too


well, just jogging along," he said. "He has come along, full of en-


thusiasm and is the sixth Kent champion we have had. We needed something to happen and, thanks to Jack, it has.” The club meets at Snodland Community Centre every Tues- day and Thursday.


SNODLAND Town Football Club raised almost £4,000 at a com- bined penalty shoot-out and presentation evening. About 160 children from the Under 6s to Under 16s age groups


took part in the fourth an- nual penalty shoot-out of the Nomads at Potyns Sports Ground. They managed to take


7,350 penalties compared with a projected 6,000. Jason Cook, chairman


of the football manage- ment committee, said: "We have always been lucky with the weather and are always well supported by the par- ents." The community centre was packed to the rafters for the presen-


The Under 7s line up to take their penalties


tation evening. Jack Payne, ex-Gillingham and now Peterborough United midfielder, presented trophies to every youth player as well as awards to players’ player and managers’ player of the year. Jason said: “The total we raised helps towards the continued de- velopment of the club.”


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