News
Vandals kill off cricket square
MINDLESSvandals have wreaked havoc on a village cricket pitch – only weeks after the club warned they could face closure. Yalding Cricket Club were founded in 1798 but are in further doubt after this latest attack. A lack of funds and a shortage of
players had already brought the club to the brink of collapse. But when the team turned up for a recent match, they found the cricket square had been sprayed with chemicals. The grasswas dying and there are
fears the soil could also have been contaminated by weed killer or something similar. The wickets have been badly damaged and areas of the square are unplayable. Kent Police is investigating the in-
cident while the England andWales Cricket Board has taken soil samples to check for contamination. The club’s lack of funds means it
has struggled to repair the square, despite help fromECBofficialsPeter Robinson and Tony Leach. Club press officer James Fenn said: “Several individuals have put in a
huge amount of work to get the square in a position to be usable for both the adult and junior clubs, and to have such mindless vandalism ruin all that is a huge setback.” Mr Fenn said:“We have managed
to play a couple of home games at other grounds, but this is unlikely to be possible everyweek. Everyone in the club is determined to continue to keep cricket being played inYalding but these further setbacks continue to threaten our survival. The cricket clubwere badly hit by
the floods of December
2013.Players drifted off to other clubs and a huge amount of repair work was needed to the pavilion, which was virtually submerged. This latest setback could be the final straw. Anyone who saw anything suspi-
cious or has any information about what has happened to the pitch can call 101 or Crimestoppers. The club still needs new players, a groundsman and financial support. Anyone able to help should sent an email to
jmfenn@clara.co.uk or visit
www.yalding.play-cricket.com.
downsmail.co.uk Trust’s tea for volunteers
HELPERS at the Kenward Trust in Yaldingwere thanked for their contribution at an afternoon tea tomark Volunteers’Week. AmongthemwasConnie Archibald, fromYalding,whoassists with the gar-
den enterprise and Miranda Fox, from Laddingford, who works in the busi- ness and development unit and runs aweekly arts and crafts class. The charity’sCEODavid Philpott, trustees and members of the senior management team were amongthose at the event. More than 50 volun-
teers support theKenward Trust charity, which has its head office in Yalding. The trust’s head of human resources Diane Jenner said: “We are hugely grateful to our vol- unteerswhoassist us in so many ways, like Connie, who is a wonderful lady that we couldn’t do with- out. The tea was a won- derful opportunity to say thank you.” The KenwardTrust provides support for those recovering fromdrug and al-
Connie Archibald with a Kenward Trust resident
cohol addiction and support and training for those leaving prison. It helps about 200 people across Kent every year. The Kenward Trust also opens its new garden and craft shop at Yalding on
Saturday, June
20.Anyone interested in finding outmore about volunteering with theKenwardTrust, where opportunities include gardening, helping to sell produce, sport, crafts, life skills and admin support, should email
diane.jen-
ner@kenwardtrust.org.uk.
Thanks to the Festival’s media partner, the Downs Mail – Parade photo gallery on our website w/c 6th July
www.downsmail.co.uk 4 Maidstone South June 2015
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