downsmail.co.uk Firm donates sculptures to park


A CROCODILE, giant dragonfly and grasshopper are among the crea- tures that can now be found by those exploring Leybourne Lakes Country Park. The wooden sculptures have been donated by South East Water and its contractor Farrans Construction. Over the past year the water com-


pany has been investing £9.2 million maintaining tap water supplies to homes and businesses in the Snod- land, Ditton, Larkfield, Leybourne and Aylesford areas. The new 7km pipeline, which


weaves through Leybourne Lakes Country Park, Larkfield, Ditton and


Chicken firm


eyes up site FAST food retailer Nando’s could be moving into South Aylesford Retail Park after two rival firms called off plans to occupy units. The restaurant would be located at


the main entrance to the Quarry Wood site on part of the car park next to the Pets at Home store. The Crown Estate, owner of the


centre, obtained planning permission from Tonbridge and Malling Council for two units with KFC and Subway as the prospective occupiers. How- ever, the landowner said discussions with them had not progressed well and it now wished to let the building as a whole to Nando’s. An amended applicationwas being submitted.


Mollie Richford


MOLLIE Richford (88) lived in various houses in East Farleigh from 1960, spending most time in Vicarage Lane. She was a teacher in a number of village junior schools, and regularly aended East Farleigh Church. Born Mollie Picke


in Benover, Yalding, she grew up in Nelestead and Wateringbury and trained as a teacher in Cambridge. Mollie taught in Biddenden


and Rochester before marrying Paul – who worked as a county architect – and the couple lived in East Peckham before moving to East Farleigh. Molliewas mother to David, Mark and


Mary and over the years taught at schools in Hunton, Nelestead andWateringbury. David said: “My motherwas an independent-spirited woman who had clear ideas about theway shewanted things done. “Her faith was very strong and shewas


involved with East Farleigh Church as a chorister, bell ringer, sidesperson, organist


Burham, replaces an old pipe buried within Burham Marshes, which has burst nine times over the past five years and is difficult to repair. Chris Love, delivery manager at


South East Water, said: “The entire length of the pipeline has now been


laid and I would like to thank the local community for all their patience and support over the past year. “This project was one of the most complex pipe-laying schemes South East Water has ever carried out and wewanted to give something back to the local community, which is why we, along with our contractor Farrans Construction, donated this play equipment to Leybourne Lakes Coun- try Park.” Ben Jarvis, Leybourne Lakes Coun-


try Park Ranger, said: “We’ve been working with South East Water for several years during both the plan- ning and construction phases.


“We are grateful to South East


Water and Farrans Construction for donating this educational play equip- ment, which will be enjoyed by chil- dren, young and old, for many, many years.” Last year, the company used a spe-


cialist tunnelling machine, 2m in di- ameter, to drill under the M20 motorway, River Medway and Med- way Valley Railway Line. Although work to lay the water


pipe has finished, over the next two months the company will be cleaning and testing the main and making the final connections before it starts sup- plying homes and businesses.


Homes plan for village’s last remaining pub


A VILLAGE’s only pub could be converted into three homes after its owner said she could not make it pay.


The grade II-listed Queen’s Head


in Butchers Lane, Mereworth closed in September, having been the village’s last remaining public house after the closure of the Torrington Arms 20 years earlier. The building, part of which dates


The Queen’s Head in Mereworth


back to the 18th century and is in a conservation area, was bought by Linda Sutton in 2006. But despite improvements including a new kitchen and a detailed marketing programme, she said the pub was not viable. In March 2011, she rented the Queens Head to


and archivist. As an archivist she looked in to whether the church had ever been dedicated to any saint, discovering that it never has. “My motherwas also a Guide captain


and district commissioner and – after being widowed in 1999 – had an amazing end to her life with solo trips to places like Canada, Iceland and Morocco. She visited the Galapagos Islands seven times, becoming a personal friend of Philip Darwin – a descendant of Charles Darwin – and being appointed as a guardian of the Galapagos because of her dedication to the islands.” Mollie leaves her children, seven grandchildren and three great- granddaughters.


Joan Boyle


JOAN Boyle (78) lived in East Peckham for most of her life. She came to the area when shewas


evacuated from Wood Green in London as a child and returned after training with the Salvation Army in 1959. Born Joan Perry, she marriedWilliam


Boyle (originally from Dundee) and the couple made their home in East Peckham from 1964.


experienced operators, but the business still did not work. In a planning application to


Tonbridge and Malling Council, she said: “The only interest I have received for purchasing the pub is from property developers.” Consultant BHD Architects told


the council the property’s rural location and restricted floor space made its use as a pub unsustainable. It said the trend was now to use modern restaurant facilities mostly found in urban areas and town centres. The proposed conversion would


provide two family units and a one- bedroom cottage, involving minimal alterations to the building.


Joan worked on


farms andWilliam worked in plant hire and as a roller driver. Later in life, Joan became an occupational therapy helper and worked with mentally- handicapped elderly


people at Oakwood Hospital, retiring from that part of her working life when the hospital closed. Joan andWilliam raised sons David and Stuart. Son David said: “My mother’s passion


was her work with the Salvation Army. She and my father built up and ran the local corps in East Peckham, where my mother served for more than 40 years. In a move that is highly unusual, I took over the corps from her leadership, along with my wife Suzanne, when her health declined. “Shewas loved by everyone and always


had time for people. Shewas known as Auntie Joan andwas a cherished presence in her community. There is a thanksgiving service for her life at Holy Trinity Church, East Peckham at 3pm on April 17.” Joan – whowas widowed in 1996 –


leaves her sons and grandchildren Jasmine and Joseph.


There is no charge for our obituary service. Call Neil Nixon on 01622 630422 or email nlnxn@aol.com 34 Malling March 2016


Obituaries


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