News Kings Hill hits


big place list KINGS Hill has hit the big time, being singled out as one of the country’s most successful new communities. The development is streets ahead


of others because residents feel a strong sense of community and an attachment to Kings Hill as part of their identity, according to latest re- search. The upmarket estate is also a


good investment as house prices consistently outperform the local area, says the report by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Kings Hillwas praised for its loca-


tion and the fact that a local devel- oper installed public artworkswhich became landmarks before residents moved in. The survey also looked at the quality of architecture, transport links, parking provisions and com- munity engagement.


New police chief


ASSISTANT Chief Constable Tony Blaker has joined Kent Police from neighbouring Sussex, where he served for 25 years. He will take up responsibility for central operations, which includes departments such as firearms, pub- lic order, roads policing, public protection and ports policing.


Horse tack thefts


POLICE have warned horse own- ers to be vigilant after thousands of pounds worth of tackwas stolen in two separate burglaries in the area. Horse rugs and head collarswere


taken from a stables at Mereworth and at Trottiscliffe, two saddles worth £2,000were taken along with four bridles, valued at £600. Anyone who has been offered


cheap horse tack or rugs or has any information should contact police on 01622 604100 quoting reference YY/013842/16 or contact Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.


Brassey bazaar


ORGANISERS of Brassey Bazaar at Aylesford held a Summer Special event on Saturday, June 4, which raised £423.34. The bazaar is open every Satur-


day from 10am to noon at the Brassey Centre and sells items in- cluding bric-a-brac and DVDs in aid of Aylesford Parish Church.


More tea, vicar?


AFTERNOON tea, coffee and cake are on the menu at St James the Great Church, East Malling, every Sunday afternoon, from 3pm to 5pm until September 4. Events will include crafts and


sales, music from the choir and an art exhibition. All proceeds will go to the upkeep of the church.


4 Malling July 2016


Former Malling School teacher Ann Noble


downsmail.co.uk


Exchange of ideas for village phone boxes


WHAT do you do with an old phone box when the telephone has stopped ringing? Two neighbouring Malling vil-


lages have come up with quirky ideas which are giving their iconic red phone booths a new lease of life. Youngsters at Ryarsh Primary School entered a competition to help the parish council come up with suggestions for a use for their village box which is now being con- verted into a children’s book ex- change. Parish council chairman David


Storey said: “When BT discon- nected the phone box, they found just one call had been made in the last year, butwe didn’twant to lose it as itwas part of the village”. The council planned to install a defibrillator in it but after advice from a local health professional, de- cided to site the equipment in the porch of the village hall. Cllr Storey said: “We asked the children to suggest uses for the phone box and the quality was ex- tremely good. The ideas included somewhere for messages, the his- tory of the village and even an aquarium, which would have been a bit difficult. Almost unanimous was a kids’ book exchange”. The bottom half of the box is


MP TomTughendhat, second from right, at the opening in Offham


being fitted with shelves donated by a villager, and a pinboard will be placed in the upper half. Meanwhile, the K6 phone box at nearby Offham is now called the Book Box, having been officially opened by Tonbridge and Malling


Malling makeovers


AT Addington, the parish council has preserved two phone boxes, one in the village centre and the other on a village forecourt. Both house defib- rillators, which are inspected each month by a qualified electrician. West Malling’s High Street phone box was due to be scrapped but was


given a new lifeline after being fitted with a defibrillator funded by Malling Lions.


Changeling set to conquer Review by Dennis Fowle


CHANGELING Theatre mixes Oliver Goldsmith’s ‘She Stoops To Conquer’ with Shakespeare’s ‘All’sWell That EndsWell’ for its long summer open-air programme – an conquers. This still-popular wonderfully-


written 1773 comedy offers a wel- come broadening of choice in the Changeling offer and proved very popular at the magnificent Boughton Monchelsea Place set- ting.


MP Tom Tughendhat. The parish council has also installed a lifesav- ing defibrillator donated by the British Heart Foundation. Both parish councils paid just £1


under BT’s Adopt a Telephone Box scheme run by BT and reopened


Forknall set out to make it a fun show and his talented cast per- formed the classical play with un- expected modern musical introductions with great gusto. It is written for stunning per- formances by the leading ladies and Madeleine Knight (Kate), Annabelle Terry (Constance) and Sarah Finigan (Mrs Hardcastle) are confident and charming. The male leads – Lukas Lee (Marlow), Gary Davis (Hardcastle) and Robin Willingham (Hastings) – are not overawed. Changeling Theatre’s reputation


Experienced local director Rob is further advanced. MBE for teacher Ann’s career


THE Malling School has congratulated a former teacher who was appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s birthday honours. Ann Noble, whowas rewarded for her services to ed- ucation, retired as head of the East Malling school’s Ty- deman Centre last summer. The award recognised the lives she changed during her 22 years at the school. Head teacher Carl Roberts said: “We are proud to


have one of our teachers recognised in this way. Mrs Noble was quick to point out that providing an out- standing education in the Tydeman Centrewas a team effort”.


Dance organisers (fromleft) Maria Hargrave, Chris Bosman, Margaret Beaney, Helen Orme, Pete Beaney and Gina Turner


Birthday bash


SNODLAND Town Active Retire- ment Association (STARA) cele- brated the Queen’s 90th birthday with a dance at the community cen- tre.


Chairman Bridget Cook said the organisers did a magnificent job of decorating the hall. She added: “The tables were beautifully pre- sented andwewere entertained by Band on the Run, who played music from the 60s and 70s. “The ladies looked glamorous


and the gentlemen, some of whom wore their medals, were very smart.” A cold buffet was provided by


Dilys Crook and her team. There was a raffle and organising com- mittee members were presented with gifts as thanks for their hard work.


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