downsmail.co.uk Playgroup told Pond sinks from plan


to improve STAFF at a playgroup in Marden have been told it requires improve- ment. The Ofsted finding on Marden Pre-School, which meets at the Me- morial Hall, follows an inspection on June 30. Although the inspector reported


that the pre-school was good at meeting children’s needs, more should be done to improve the con- tribution it makes to youngsters’ wellbeing and to improve leader- ship. The report also said it needs to


carry out more thorough recruit- ment checks on staff. It continued: “Overall, staff teach childrenwell and help them to gain the skills and attitudes they need for school.” However, it said youngsters


would benefit from more frequent mathematical challenges and fur- ther efforts to improve their lan- guage skills.


Carey Lander


CAREY Lander (33), whowas born and grew up in Maidstone and aended Maidstone Grammar School for Girls,was the keyboard player and backing vocalist with Scoish indie band Camera Obscura. She appeared on four of the band’s five albums andwas widely recognised to have contributed greatly to a distinctive image and sound that assured the band of steady cult success, especially in Scotland. Careywas the


daughter of Eileen and Bob Lander. Her mother spent years as vicar of St Paul’s Church in Boxley Road and her family have thanked friends and fans for their support and donations to a Just Giving page established by Carey to raise funds to fight cancer. Carey got involvedwith the Glasgow


music scene after moving to the city in 2000 and joined Camera Obscura in 2002, making her debut on a John Peel session for BBC Radio One.A second line-up change in the band left Carey as a centralmember, and she remained in the line-up until her death. Their two most recent albums – My Maudlin Career and Desire Lines – reached the UK Top 40, and charted in the USA. In 2011 Careywas diagnosedwith osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer. The lack of awareness of the disease motivated her to raise funds and awareness to help fight the condition. Her appeal raised almost £50,000 during her lifetimewith another £15,000 coming immediately after her death. Among the many tributes and articles


A MEMBER of Maidstone Council's planning committee was forced to climb down from his demand that a pond should be created on a new housing development in Yalding. The committee’s refusal of


Wealden Homes’ scheme for three four-bedroom detached homes next to Eastwells in Kenward Road was overturned on appeal. When the application returned to the committee with slight amend-


ments to the style of housing, Cllr Tony Harwood demanded that a pond, which had been filled since the original hearing, should be re- instated elsewhere on the site. He said: “Ponds are a key land-


scape motif in the Low Weald and we have to demand that it returns.” He felt there could be a ground


for refusal under council policy ENV 41, but he changed his mind after failing to receive support from


a case officer. The scheme was accepted through nine votes in favour, one against and one abstention. Cllr Richard Ash said: “It is all


verywell having a pond butmyson has a large pond at his home in Blackheath and it is fenced off be- cause of concerns about children falling in. There are a lot of fatalities when you have ponds and you have got to be careful.”


Work starts to replace memorial hall roof


THE work to the roof of Marden Memorial Hall is finally underway. There were fears that the hall


might have to close if the funds could not be found to repair the century-old Kent peg tile roof. Millwood Designer Homes pledged £20,000 towards the repairs as part of the developer’s contribu- tion of building 85 homes at Stan-


ley Farms inPlain Road and the hall trustees have been sourcing grants and raising funds. Scaffolding now surrounds the building which means parking is restricted until at least Christmas. The hall, built in the early 1900s, houses the parish office and hosts community groups. The roof has increasingly suf-


about Carey, The Scotsman newspaper noted of the band: “Their blend of pristine, emotive guitar pop and a lyricismwhich toys with themes of wrymelancholy has ensured them a dedicated international following.” Carey’s parents added they had been “deeply moved by all the gifts and messages” given to her fundraising campaign, adding: “They have brought real comfort to us.” Carey leaves her partner Kenny Macleod, Camera Obscura’s sound engineer, her parents and her many fans.


IreneMilton


IRENEMilton (91), who died in Hythe four days before her 92nd birthday, was known for many years as a community midwife in the Maidstone area. Born Irene Mallery in Battersea, London she trained as a midwife in Hackney during the war years and met and married Alan in 1944. They were married


for 38 years and had two children, Jane and Paul. The couple moved to the Maidstone area


in the early 1960s when Irene returned to work as a community midwife, living first in Sandling and later in Fairbourne Heath, Harrietsham. Paul said: “Mum returned to work as a part-time and later full-timemidwife in the Maidstone area, graduating from a bicycle during the war years to anAustin Mini to do her visits.” In retirement she moved first to Loose


and later to Hythe, remaining very active, enjoying music, travel and local history. She learned to play the piano, joined


For obituaries call Neil Nixon on 01622 630422 or email nlnxn@aol.com 34 Maidstone South November 2015


fered to the point where consultants said it needed to be replaced, as it was no longer safe to climb on the roof to carry out emergency repairs. Aspokesman for the hall trustees


said: “We apologise for any incon- venience but once work is com- plete, Marden will have a hall which will last for many years to come.”


choirs and travelled all over the world including visits to family in Africa, South America and New Zealand. She was described as a capable and giving person with strong ideas of what was right. Irene, who was widowed in 1982, leaves


her children, grandchildren Clare, Ross, Bradley, Nick and Richard and six great- grandchildren.


Ronald Godden


RONALD Frank Godden (80) of Langleywas well known from more than 50 years as a self- employed engineer. Prior to living 31 years in Langley he had


lived in Brooklands in Chatham Road,Ayles- ford and Sandling. Ronald learned his trade in the Army dur-


ing national service and returned home to es- tablish a noted local business in which his talents extended to machining and making car parts when the manufacturer’s own parts were unavailable. With wife of more than 60 years – Rosemary


– Ronald raised children Marion and Paul. Daughter Marion said: “My fatherwas a very giving person who would do anything for anybody. His love of his work meant he never wanted to stop and hewas involved in every- thing from towing, spraying, welding, pro- viding MOTs and the engineering work that allowed him to sort out all kinds of problems.” Ronald was still working in his 80th year.


Heleaves his widow, children, five grandchil- dren and 16 great-grandchildren.


The Stone Shop


Memorials. Any natural stone supplied, lettered and installed anywhere.


Inscriptions added to existing memorials


Renovations and memorial cleaning


The Stone Shop Station Hill, East Farleigh, Kent.


01622 726633


Obituaries


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