News
Helping hands THERE’S a chance to learn about becoming a volunteer at an event on Tuesday,March 1. The open day, which will provide information about the range of roles in Maidstone and Malling, is free. It runs from 11am to 2pm at the Vol- unteer Centre, at Maidstone’s Town Hall in Jubilee Square. Lizzie Lowrey, Involve Volunteer Centre manager, said: “There are vacancies for boatsmen, rangers, prison visitors, guide dog boarders, woodwork tutors and even volun- teers at a local goat sanctuary. Call the Involve Volunteer Centre
on 01622 674252 or email volun-
teer.centre@involvekent.org.uk
Walk for health PEOPLE looking to become more active are invited to join aWalking forHealth group in Bearsted. The group is organised by the Pa-
tients’ Participation Group in col- laboration with the NHS Kent Community Health Foundation Trust and Bearsted Medical Prac- tice.
The first walk leaves from Holy
Cross Church on Church Lane, Bearsted at 10.30am on March 15 – walkers should be there by 10.15am. There are two options: a gentle 30- minute walk suitable for the newly active and those recovering from a recent illness, or a 60-minutewalk.
Historic radar mast
A MAIDSTONE man says he is dismayed by the loss of an historic radio mast from the skyline and hopes developers will remember its role in the country’s security. David Jones (77) has long ad-
mired the view of masts at Frining- ham’s
radar
station. However, work has started to redevelop the for- mer MOD trans- mission site off Coldblow Lane, near Thurnham, with five four-bed- room homes. The wooden
WorldWar II radio mast and the metal mast (above) have now been demol- ished. Two enor- mous communication dishes on the sitewere dismantled in 1985. Mr Jones, who lives in Sutton
Road, said: “This sitewas a hugely important part of our history and the security of this country. People so soon forget how the skyline once
lost to housing scheme Wartime role
looked, so it is important to recog- nise these places for posterity.” He would like to see a plaque or
an appropriate road name given to the estate – within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – to mark the radar station’s contribution to the security of the country, particularly during the ColdWar. A spokesman for the Maidstone construction company developing the site, said: “This was a very im- portant listening and communica- tions post and we would like to recognise that. We would be pleased to consider any sugges- tions for a name from Mr Jones if he would like to contact us at
www.sellingdevelopments.co.uk.” Christine Rayner, publisher of
the local history magazine Bygone Kent, said: “It’s a great shame that the Coldblow Lane site has been lost. “It played a vital part in Nato communications during the Cold War. We hope the developers will at least put an information board at the site detailing Coldblow's past.”
COLDBLOW Lane operated two transmitter stations during World War II and by 1956was one of five sites that hosted the Ace High tro- pospheric scatter/microwave link system. This was developed by Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (Shape) as an early warning system capable of launching the “tripwire” retaliation strike. The communica- tions’ network stretched from Nor- way, through Europe to Turkey. The principle of the tropospheric
forward scatter system was to beam high-frequency signals against the troposphere (five to 10 miles above the earth), pick up part of the reflected signal and beam it onward. But, with the development ofmi-
crowave and satellite communica- tions in the 1980s, the system became redundant. With the de- mise of the Ace High network, the Coldblow station closed in the 1980s and was sold in 1986.
MAJORS LAKES FISHING SYNDICATE A beautiful Lake set in a 5 acre woodland
Stocked with Carp up to 25lb plus
Tench, Roach, Perch, Barbel & Chub
downsmail.co.uk
FRESHLY
RESTOCKED WITH SILVER
FISH THIS YEAR!!
Memberships start at just £85 per adult
£40 for children under 16 Tel: 01795 880441 ~
keely@swattwood.com www.countrysports.co 14 Maidstone East March 2016
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48