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downsmail.co.uk Centenary party for former head


PAST pupils, friends and a village community gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of the former headmistress ofWest Farleigh Primary School.


Pippa Wakefield taught at the


school from 1955 until its closure in 1976, when she retired, after the roll dropped from 68 children to just 30. Villagers close to the school in


West Farleigh, where Pippa still lives, organised a special thanksgiv- ing service in All Saints’ Church, with plenty of fizz and party food. Born in Manchester, Pippawent to Bangor teacher training college to pursue her love of music and the arts.After qualifying, she took apost inWingham, Kent, as therewere no jobs closer to home at the time. She had every intention of return-


ing north, but only made it as far as West Malling, where she was head of the boys’ school for a time. AtWest Farleigh, Pippa employed


fellow teacher Sylvia Whittle, which led to a long association with the charity Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. Sylvia was hearing-impaired and together they raised about £40,000 for the charity – enough to buy and train 16 dogs.


Grants to get


more active YOUNGSTERS throughout the county are to benefit from the latest round of SportivateAwards. The awards are providing more


than £90,000 shared between 46 projects in Kent andMedway to en- able more young people to get in- volved in sports. Sportivate is aimed at 11- to 25-


year-olds who do not play sport in their own time, giving them the chance to find a sport they enjoy. They are then helped to find a


club where they can take part. Atotal of £828,000 has been given


out by Sportivate since it started in 2011, giving almost 13,000 teenagers and young adults free or discounted coaching courses. Among the new Sportivate proj-


ects on offer is climbing with the Kent County Scout Group in Maid- stone, street games with Shepway Rookies and an angling course via Cornwallis Academy. Kent and Medway Sports Board chairman Dick Fedorcio said: “We review applications for support every month and would encourage anyone with an idea for a project to get in touch with the Kent Sport and Physical Activity Service.” For more information visit www.kentsport.org/sportivate, call Carolyn Dool at Kent Sport on 03000 411949 or send an email to carolyn.dool@kent.gov.uk.


Formore local news www.downsmail.co.uk 32 Maidstone South March 2015 The couple ran coffee mornings at


home and spoke about the valuable work of the charity. Pippa said:“We were in our 70s and one charity said wewere too old for them to do that – so we did it for Hearing Dogs in- stead!” Sylvia, who died in 2002 aged 89,


was a keen gardener and plant sales were another fund-raiser. Pippa said: “I wasn’t quite so good. I just followed and picked up the bits!” Rev Eileen Doyle led the thanks-


giving service, paying tribute to Pippa and her contribution to char- ity and the community. The Farleighs WI choir, which


Pippa once tutored, performed songs and led a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday and Auld Lang Syne, before Pippa cut her cake. Among past pupils who joined in


the party was Doreen Larkin, from Maidstone, who used to live in Ken- ward Road and attendedWest Far- leigh Primary School from 1952 to 1958.


PippaWakefield with Peter and Geral- dine Baggot and EdwardWalter and right, with Rev Eileen Doyle


Brother and sister Geraldine Bag-


gott and Edward Walter were also pupils at the school in the late 1950s, as was Geraldine’s husband Peter, who used to live at Mill Cottages, Tutsham. The couplenowlive inSta- plehurst but retain a keen interest in the village and the sports club. Pippa well remembers all her


pupils and retains a healthy interest in current affairs and village life,


Dental practice extension


A DENTAL practice in Staplehurst could be extended to provide “state of the art” facilities. The first floor of Forge House, in


the High Street, has been a dental surgery for more than 40 years and its existing dental surgeon, Dr Sandeep Sharma, who has run the practice since 2002, wants to ex- pand into the ground floor. A supporting statement reads:


“This is a former estate agent’s of- fice and apart from three months in 2013/14 it has been vacant and up for letting for over six years. In that time no suitable long-term tenants have been attracted to the shop/of-


fice and it remains empty. “Mr Sharma would like to have


space on the ground floor to con- struct a state-of-the-art additional dental surgery to provide first class dental services to more people in the area, which is particularly im- portant given the number of houses planned and under construction in Staplehurst. “He would also like to have a


level High Street entrance for wheelchair users and full disabled toilet facilities on the ground floor.” Maidstone Council will deter-


mine the change of use planning application.


Village shop to become homes


PLANNING consent was given to convert a former shop and post of- fice in Laddingford to three homes. A host of objections were lodged by neighbours concerned about parking provision, character of the area and potential flood risk. The building, Glyndale, dates back to the 18th century and the shop closed more than 25 years ago. A neighbour wrote: “The property has some noteworthy and


historic features and is the last re- maining shop-type frontage and sideage in the village and should be preserved for future genera- tions.” Another resident felt the proposal was an “over-intensive use of the space”.


Despite Maidstone Council rais- ing concern about on-site parking, an officer report said: “This is not considered to be of sufficient weight to warrant refusal”.


Help needed with church fete PEOPLE in Langley are being urged to get involved and help organise the church fete on June 20. Anyone who is able to run a stall or who has ideas for raising funds can


contact the organising committee or call Dot Hooker on 01622 746571 or Scott Raffle on 01622 863089.


where she is a member of the Ever- greens club. She said: “I don’t get out as much as I used to but I amfortu- nate to be healthy and have good friends. Itwas a wonderful day and I amgrateful to everyonewhomade it so special for me.”


Driver banned A DRIVER from Yalding, stopped by police on Christmas Eve, has been banned from driving after he was found to be over-the-limit. Colin Featherstone (46), from Lughorse Lane, was driving his Ford Fiesta in Canterbury when he was stopped. A breath test gave a reading of 58mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35. Featherstone, who admitted the charge, was disqualified from driv- ing for 40 months, fined £260 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £26 victim surcharge.


Oak must stay A PROPOSAL to fell an oak tree in


Chestnut Drive, Kingswood and re- duce the height by 30% of two oth- ers was refused.


An applicant felt the work was needed to improve the shape of the protected trees, but Maidstone Council felt the scheme would have a “detrimental impact” on them. An officer report added: “The council does not consider that be- cause a tree is considered large [it] is justification to reduce or fell it.”


Damage case DAVID Smithers of Hampstead Lane, Yalding, was jailed for 42 days after being convicted of caus- ing £2,450.68 damage to a Honda motorcycle. West Kent Magistrates’ Court,


Sevenoaks, ordered the 54-year- old, who denied criminal damage, to pay full compensation.


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