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Mynn awards given to community heroes


Consultation


on village plan UP to 40 people attended the pres- entation of Bearsted’s Neighbour- hood Plan and offered a wide range of views. The event was co-ordinated by


Cllr Paul Young, who said he had fielded questions from the floor and that “quite a few” people came up afterwards to offer help taking the plan forward. Cllr Young plans to follow up the


November 30 presentation with an- other meeting. He hopes to invite a representa-


tive of another local parish council – such as Staplehurst – which has already adopted its plan. The Bearsted proposals, once re-


fined and agreed, would be put to the public in referendum, possibly by the end of 2017.


New member BEARSTED Parish Council has co- opted Terry O’Sullivan onto the au- thority. Mr O’Sullivan, a married health


and safety compliance officer, was proposed by Cllr Graham Farrow and seconded by Cllr Tony Ryan. The council now has 14 of the 15


it requires and applications are welcome for co-option.


Scamwarning COMMUNITY warden Sally Williams reported that fliers tout- ing for gold and medals had been posted around the village. She suspects an individual who


has targeted the area with other scams in recent months might be responsible. The warden also said there had


been two attempted break-ins at garages in Merton Road.


Poppy total APOPPYAppeal collection carried out at the recent Victorian Music Hall afternoon at the WI Hall in Bearsted raised £123, Cllr Tony Ryan reported.


FOUR unsung heroes of Bearsted had their hard work and community spirit rewarded at the annual MynnAwards. Theywere given their trophies at


an awards ceremony at Madgin- ford Hall on December 13 in front of an invited audience. The vetting panel comprised Bar-


bara Dunford, Brian Clifford and Bearsted parish councillor Pat Mar- shall.


Since the award’s creation 12


years ago, there have been 55 re- cipients. It is named after the for- mer cricketer Alfred Mynn, who lived in the Bearsted area and whose image appears on the vil- lage’s sign. Mynnwas a first class sportsman


who played the English summer game for Kent, Sussex and Hamp- shire, so it was fitting that two of the recipients were involved in local sport. Jim Sheehy has coached young athletes for many years, and is now part of theMedway and Maidstone Athletics Club. He coaches disabled athletes


each Saturday as well as coaching in a variety of Paralympic disci- plines.


Nominating Jim, Bearsted parish councillor Paul Young said: “Jim’s theory is that if he can encourage young people to take up sport and gain confidence in doing well in sport, not only does their fitness improve but their confidence in all areas of their life will, including their academic work.” Bearsted and Thurnham Tennis


Club stalwart Alan Wilkins was nominated by Derce Mercer for his 30 years of “unstinting service”. Derce said: “His knowledge and


From left, Tony Kettle, Peter Hart, Alan Wilkins and Jim Sheehy


calm demeanour have always been acknowledged as a guiding light, especially in promoting the interest of junior tennis players.” Les Etheridge paid tribute to nominee Tony Kettle, a local com- munity first aid responder who has saved the lives of many Bearsted residents. Les said: “Tony mainly deals


with calls under the general head- ing of breathing difficulties and chest pain. Living locally, he can re- spond to such incidents often be- fore the ambulance service arrives. “Many of the incidents he has at- tended have been witnessed car- diac arrests, a good proportion of which have been successfully re- suscitated.” Tony, an unpaid volunteer, at-


tends up to 50 such calls each month.


Nominee Peter Hart has been a “lynchpin in the life of Holy Cross Church” for 40 years as the organ- ist and assistant director of music. Helen Judges said Peter makes a


huge contribution to the choir, plays at festivals and funerals and offers his service to the wider com- munity. Helen added: “So often unseen,


and even overlooked in compari- son to the choir that is up at the front, Peter is someone who has contributed so much. It is this ded- icated and unassuming service to the church, and through it to the wider community, that makes Peter so deserving of a Mynn award.”


5,000 flock to festive fair on Green


THE Christmas Fair on Bearsted Green became the victim of its own success – with a huge turnout causing unexpected problems. An estimated 5,000 people at- tended the event, organised by Bearsted Parish Council and a small army of volunteers. Parish council chair Fiona Red-


man said the festive fair was “hugely successful” but that les- sons had to be learned if there is to be another similar event in the


This page is sponsored and edited by:


Bearsted Parish Council www.bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk


32 Maidstone East January 2017


village in 2017. The volume of cars with such a


large turnout meant that parking became an issue, and 200 vehicles had to be parked on Bearsted Green to avoid a potentially dan- gerous situation developing. A parish council spokesman


said the decision to park on the Green was for safety reasons and “was not taken lightly”. In future, stalls would have to be spread more evenly across the


available area to avoid crowding. Visitors also experienced long queues for food. Cllr Paul Young said the event


overallwas “absolutely excellent”. Cllr Redman told a meeting of


the parish council: “If we live to fight another day it will be done differently.” Staging the event made a small


loss of about £175, whichwas seen as a price worth paying to stage a successful community event.


Council Office: Madginford Hall, Bearsted Telephone: E-Mail: Chair:


01622 630165


clerk@bearstedparishcouncil.gov.uk Fiona Redman


MEETINGS HELD SECOND TUESDAYOFMONTH (7.30PM) AND THE PUBLIC IS VERY WELCOME


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