News


Waving the flag for England and St George


MAIDSTONE will come alive with a plethora of patriotic music and dance to mark St George’s Day.


Cllr Daniel Moriarty


Baton-twirling morris men, clog dancers, traditional music and in- novative folk rock will be among the enter- tainment in the town’s Jubilee Square during a day-long cele- bration of every- thing that is English. The national


Saint’s day falls on April 23 – but the town celebrations have been moved to Saturday, April 25, to en- able more families to take part. The festivities kick off at noon


with an official opening by the deputy mayor and mayoress, Cllr and Mrs Daniel Moriarty, after which there will be a performance by the rock folk group Green Diesel, who will take centre stage with its take on traditional melodies. Combining traditional instru- ments with electric guitar, the


Classroom bid A NEW classroom block could be built to the east ofNewLine Learn- ing (NLL) Academy in Boughton Lane, Maidstone. KCC has applied to build two classrooms, an office and toilet, as well as a barn with two store rooms. Paddocks and a horticultural teach- ing area would also be created. The scheme would provide teaching and agricultural facilities for the adjoining Five Acre Wood school. The development would be on the northern part of the field, with the remainder occupied by sports facilities for NLL Academy. KCC will decide the application.


Faversham-based band put a unique stamp on whatever they play, whether it is throwing a reg- gae twist into an old sea shanty or spicing up a jig with jazz funk. Later in the afternoon, the five-


piece indie folk band Black Lion Courtiers from Rochester provide vocal harmonies and foot-tapping tunes.


There will be a face painter to brighten up proceedings, aswell as a children’s “cuddle corner”, where youngsters can meet furry friends from the museum of Kent Life. Local art studio This Art of Mine


will also be on hand offering chil- dren the chance to join in an arts ex- travaganza, where they can produce pictures of dragons. The celebrations have been or- ganised by Maidstone Town Team and Maidstone Town Centre Man- agement with the support of Maid- stone Council. Town Team events committee chairman Ken Scott said: “Although Britain does not recognise St George’s Day as a public holiday, we thought it an opportunity to fly the flag for England and put on a


BRITAIN’s Got Talent finalistAdam Chandler, who lives in Eccles, was cleared by a jury of deliberately breaking his girlfriend’s cheekbone. The 29-year-old singer fromMack-


enders Lane, who appeared at Can- terbury Crown Court under his real name Adam Diplock, was said to have hit Amy Evans after they ar- gued on theway to a car auction. His band, Jack Pack, was expecting to land a record deal after its success on the television show last year, but he was sacked after police arrested him. The court hard that his former partner, Ms Evans, a mother of one,


Full timetable of


day’s events 12.05-12.35pm – Green Diesel 12.35-12.55pm – Kits Coty Morris


12.55-1.15pm – Kettle Bridge Clogs


1.15-1.45pm – Green Diesel


1.45-2.05pm – Hazlitt Youth Theatre


2.05-2.25pm – Kettle Bridge Clogs


2.25-2.45pm – LooseWomen Morris


2.45-3.15pm – Black Lion Courtiers 3.15-3.35pm – Kits Coty Morris


3.35-3.55pm – LooseWomen Morris


3.55-4.15pm – Hazlitt Youth Theatre


4.15-4.45pm – Black Lion Courtiers


spectacle that represents some of the great British traditions of music and dance. It should be a foot-tap- ping addition to all that Maidstone town centre has to offer and boost everyone’s spirits – as well as trade.”


Singer cleared of assault


sustained a fractured cheekbone but did not report the incident for three months. She said she had changed her mind about reporting it because of the effect on her daughter who had witnessed it. She denied she had made the complaint as part of a vendetta to wreck the band’s chances. Diplock was acquitted after he


said that he had been slapped as he drove near Yalding and had put his hand up to stop being hit again. He said he accepted that what he


didwas wrong and irrational but he was not “some crazed man”.


Staff triumph in bid to get active


STAFF from Tonbridge and Malling Council triumphed by one point in a handball match against a team from Kent Sport. The eight-strong borough council team was boosted


by two community wardens for the game on the ball court near the community centre in Gibson Drive, Kings Hill. The final score was 11-10. The challenge coincided with No Smoking Day and


was part of a county-wide initiative aiming to promote healthy living. HeidiWard, Tonbridge and Malling Council’s healthy


living co-ordinator, said: “It really was great fun. Very few of us had played handball but we soon got the hang of it and we all felt better for getting some exer- cise after work. “The workplace challenge encourages staff to record


26 Malling April 2015


their daily activity and earn points by being as active as possible. It’s proving to be a great way to motivate staff to get active and have fun at the same time.”


downsmail.co.uk Extension for


special school FIVE Acre Wood School in Boughton Lane, Maidstone is in line for a two-storey extension and re- furbishment. KCChas lodged a planning appli-


cation to improve facilities and add 54 places at the special school, which caters for youngsters between four and 16 with learning difficulties. Astatement said: “The proposal is


to refurbish and make minor, non structural alterations to the existing school to provide enhanced facilities. “The primary focus of the pro-


posed works centre on a two-storey extension on the school’s existing car park, enlarged school hall and kitchens and a relocated entrance. “It would include many facilities


such as the existing hydrotherapy pool to be retained, sensory integra- tion rooms, group rooms, and a shared SEN resource. “A car park and pupil drop-off arrangement is proposed.” ShouldKCCgive the go-ahead, by September 2016 the number of pupils at the school will rise to 260. Maidstone Council lodged no ob-


jection but the North Loose Resi- dents Association raised concern about lighting in the car park and called for measures to reduce traffic.


Church marks


anniversary ST Andrew’s Church in Barming Heath is holding a series of events this year to mark the 90th anniver- sary of it being dedicated as an of- ficial church within the Anglican Communion. An Easter egg hunt was held


after the service on Easter Sunday, and on Sunday, May 24 there will be an all-age worship service, fea- turing the history and future of St Andrew’s compiled by Tony Deane. The service starts at 9.45am. Events planned through the sum-


mer include an organ recital, a bring and share lunch, a cream tea and a flower festival and arts and crafts exhibition. The Bishop of Dover, the Right


Rev Trevor Willmott, will lead the anniversary service on October 25, and there will be a social evening to mark St Andrew’s Day. For more information call Jean or John Sweetman on 01622 728233.


Parking plea KINGS Hill Parish Council has re- minded residents that parking on the development continues to be a “huge issue”, and to use the park- ing areas on their properties rather than the road or pavement. The council said there had been


a collision on FortuneWay and an incident when an ambulance had difficulty in reaching a resident due to inconsiderate parking.


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