Town Talk Co-op store planned for Bull


THE Co-operative Group has an- nounced plans for the former Bull public house to be opened as a new food store and for one of its other stores in Snodland to close. The new store,which is expected


to open in autumn next year, will have a sales area of about 3,000sqft and will offer shoppers fresh and chilled products and an in-store bakery. The post office counter will also be transferred. A spokesperson for the company


told Town Talk: "When the landlord decided to lease the Bull pub to a convenience store operator, we saw the potential for a community- focused store. Relocating from 46- 48 High Street will ensure that the food store and post office are far more central and we will have on- site car parking. "A convenience store with a


strong emphasis on fresh produce will enable us to provide an even better service to the community. The location is ideal for us and we are confident the new store will be an asset to the area." Staff at the store at 46-48 High


‘Good Samaritan’ Bill dies


ONE of Snodland's most popular and well-known characters has died at the age of 86.


Bill Booth of Holborough Road was found dead at his home by a neighbour. Booth Close


at Berkeley Homes' Holbor- ough Lakes es-


tate was named after him in 2006. In theDecember issue of Town Talk he was presented with the maga- zine’s Good Samaritan award for services to the community. Bill was nominated by Editha


Piper, who described him as "an absolute character". She said: "He obliges everybody and will give up his time to do anything for every- body. He does my shopping and gardening and goes down the road and pays bills for me."


We described Bill as the epitome


of Good Samaritans. We said he helps people with shopping, walk- ing dogs, gardening and running errands – he would probably go to the dentist and have a tooth filled for you!” Bill, who remained a lifelong bachelor, was born in Birling Road and lived in Snodland all his life. He attended Central School (now Holmesdale Technology College) and was a projectionist at theWar- dona Cinema, later to become the snooker club in the High Street. He did his national service in the


Army and worked in the building trade and at TownsendHook paper mill. He worked at Leybourne Grange Hospital for 30 years be- fore retiring. At the age of 40 Bill started dis-


tance running and completed 50 marathons, including in the United States, before retiringwhen hewas 76.


Street will transfer to the new site and the store at 11 High Street will not be affected. The Bull public house is in the


centre of the town at the High Street junction with Malling Road and Holborough Road. A


Local news for Snodland and Halling


A Downs Mail supplement produced in conjunction with the Snodland Chamber of Commerce.


spokesman for owner Enterprise Inns told Town Talk that the com- pany had retained the freehold and granted the Co-op a 20-year lease. Hayley Honey, landlady of the


Freemasons public house, inHam Hill, Snodland said her partner, Steve McMorrow, who died last year, bought the lease in 2010. She surrendered it to Enterprise Inns as it closed. The manager, Joe Hey- burn, has left the area. Windows and doors have been coveredwithmetal sheets on both floors at the rear of the premises and on the ground floor at the front. The Bull was built in 1881 when


the old Bull, on the opposite side of Holborough Road fronting theHigh Street, was demolished. The old Bull was built in 1705 although theremay have been a pub on the site since the 1600s.


Three cheers for school team


AGROUPof cheerleaders from St Katherine's School, Snodland have won a national competition. Katherine's Kats (pictured) took part in the National Future Cheer Championships at Crystal Palace, open to schools from all over the country.


Coached by teacher Kirsten Holt, they won all three events they en-


tered – level 1 stunt team, level 2 stunt team and the Team Future Cheer competition. As a result, Kats were named the National Future CheerChampions – the best school cheerleading team in the country.


St Katherine’s School Nursery offers stimulating


opportunities for learning through play within our spacious, inviting environment.


St. Katherine’s Lane, Snodland ME6 5EJ www.stkatherineskent.co.uk


01634 240061


Come and meet our qualified and dedicated staff and see the wonderful facilities we can offer. With places available now for children aged 3.


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