Town July 2015

downsmail.co.uk

News

New head takes over at primary

MARK Chatley will take over as head teacher at Palace Wood Pri- mary School in Allington after the summer holidays.

It will be

the first per- manent ap- pointment to the post since July 2013. The school

will continue under execu- tive head Mary Priest-

ley until September. Mr Chatley (32) joins the school

from Woodlands Junior School in Tonbridge. He takes up the post after Ofsted inspectors praised re- cent changes at the Talbot Road school, but advised further im- provements were still needed. Mr Chatley completed a law de- gree before deciding his passion

was for teaching and he started his graduate teacher programme at Is- tead Rise School in Gravesend. While there, he met his wife and married in 2009. He said: “After five years, I

moved to become deputy head at Woodlands Junior School. In my fifth year at Woodlands, I was given the opportunity to be head of school, which reaffirmed to me that Iwanted to be a head teacher. “Having visited Palace Wood, I

knew from the enthusiasm of the staff and children that it was the right school for me. “I am delighted and excited

about the prospect of working as headteacher and I amlooking for- ward to working with all of the staff, governors, parents and chil- dren to continue the improvement that Palace Wood has already seen this year under Mrs Priestley and Miss Ridout.”

Summer music programme

THE stage is set for a summer of music in Maidstone – but for one of the town’s leading musical lights, it is the end of an era. Maidstone Youth Music Society

(MYMS) started the summer’s en- tertainment in Brenchley Gardens on Sunday, June 21, when three dif- ferent bands and a percussion en- semble performed for the public. But the concert byMYMS,which- coincided with World Music Day, was the final time conductor Steven Seeds wielded the baton to lead the senior band, the Maidstone Youth Wind Orchestra. Steven has decided to retire after

being linked with MYMS for 30 years, so it was an appropriate set- ting for a man who has led hun- dreds of performances in his time

Charity call

HI KENT, the charity that sup- ports people with hearing loss, is looking for volunteers to help with hearing aid maintenance at its clin- ics in Park Wood and Shepway. No experience is necessary as full

training will be given and travel ex- penses paid. A DBS check will be paid for by the charity. Hi Kent’s Debra Jones said: “This

is an opportunity to make a real difference to our charity and its deaf and hard-of-hearing clients. Manual dexterity, a friendly and caring disposition and a willing- ness to learn are important.” Anyone interested should call

01622 691151 or send an email to a.lincoln@hikent.org.uk.

with Kent Music. For those who missed theMYMS

event, there is another opportunity to enjoy free entertainment in the gardens on July 12, when the BAE Systems Brass Band takes to the bandstand and again on July 19 when it is the turn of the popular Maidstone Wind Symphony. All performances start at 3pm. The summer also sees a number

of other music events taking place in the town, with an action-packed programme for Jubilee Square, as part of the Maidstone Arts Festival. A range of bands and other en-

tertainers will perform in an unusu- ally decorated Square on July 11, while July 4 sees the Maidstone Pa- rade, which will fill the town with fun and colour.

Theft case

A WOMAN has been sen- tenced at Mid Kent Magis- trates’ Court after admitting two counts of shoplifting and denying two counts of receiv- ing stolen goods. Michelle Smith (35), from Chatham,was convicted of all four offences, one of which was the theft of perfume val- ued at £159.50 from a shop in King Street, Maidstone. She was sentenced to 108

days in prison and ordered to pay a £180 criminal courts charge, £100 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

2015 OPEN DAYS in support of our conservation work

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VISIT OUR 50+ CATS INCLUDING. TIGERS, LIONS, LEOPARDS & CHEETAHS

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