We will remember


Edward “Chip” Melly EDWARD “Chip” Melly (89) taught history and served as a year master at Maidstone Gram- mar School from 1960 to 1985. Chip had


also coached cricket and rugby


at


Maidstone Grammar School. He lived lo-


cally, first in Willington Street and from 1966 in Tower Lane, Bearsted. He was born in Canada, but moved to the UK after his father died while he was still a boy. After war service in the Royal


Navy, servingmainly on Russian convoys, he took a history degree at Oxford and travelled in Canada. He qualified as a teacher in Canada before returning to the UK, living in Dorset before set- tling locally. With his wife of over 55 years,


Ruth, Chip raised sons Paul and Mark. He leaves his wife, sons, and grandsons Matthew,Guyand Charlie.


Peter Graham PETER Graham (85), a former chief superintendent with Kent Police, has died peacefully after a short illness. He was in


turn divi- sional com- mander of both Maid- stone and Medway. A native of


Fife, Scot- land, Peter began his po- lice career in Fife County Con- stabulary in 1943 and transferred to Kent in 1952. He then became the youngest holder of every rank in the force, from sergeant to chief superin- tendent, until retiring at age 50. He went on to become safety


officer of Mid Kent Water and FolkestoneWater Companies for 10 years. Peter, who lived in Bearsted,


was a keen sportsman andplayed soccer as a young man. He played golf at various Kent


clubs until he joined Bearsted in 1976, where he was club captain in 1987 and chairman of the club committee for five years. Both he and wife Amy were members of Mote Park Indoor Bowling Club. Peter was a dedicated member


of Maidstone Rotary Club from 1969 and, for many years, organ- ised a children’s day out every June, when more than 50 chil- dren with special needs and their carers were taken to Chessington adventure park. Peter leaves his wife Amy, son


John, daughter Susan and grand- children Rachel, Alex and Philippa.


Ray Woodward RAYMOND “Ray” Woodward (70) lived in Birling for 33 years, and was known locally as chair- man of his own successful office equipment business. Born in London, Ray worked


for the Jane Shilton handbag company before setting up his own business in the early 1970s. Now known as BCM, the com- pany is run by his son David. His wife of 50 years, Sheila,


said: “Ray was six feet seven inches tall and lots of people knew him as Lofty. Not onlywas he a big man in stature, he also had a very big personality and a very big heart. “He adored his family.” Ray’s interests included golf,


which he played regularly, and boxing. He owned a small library of boxing books and had seen many fights, including Henry Cooper’s famousWembley clash with the then Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) and some of Lennox Lewis’ world title fights in the USA. Ray leaves his wife, children


David and Joanne, and grand- children Jenna, Joseph, Samuel and Katie.


College plans new free school


HADLOW College has put for- ward plans for a new commu- nity school for secondary age pupils, offering students a rural- focused curriculum. If the proposal gets the go-


ahead from the Government, it will open in September 2013. The Hadlow Rural Commu-


nity School would be located on the college site and develop an outdoor classroom concept, with a more practical approach to learning. The free school would be state-funded but free from local authority control and in charge of its finances and curriculum. Consultations have taken


place in Kings Hill, Tonbridge and Maidstone, where the pro- posals werewarmly received by


prospective parents. Only 30 students would be enrolled in the first year and pupils would be taught the key GCSE subjects, such as English, Maths and science, but there would be more emphasis on the environment and practical classes to help children develop a range of other skills, vice prin- cipal Lynda Brown told parents. Students would gain voca-


tional qualifications as well as academic qualifications, giving them access to a wide range of further education and career opportunities. Hadlow College has submit-


ted its bid to the Department of Education and expects to be no- tified by July if it has received Government approval.


Ditton Bowls Club members (from left) Trevor


Coleman, Dizzie Ranger, Chris


Coleman, and John Ranger with the award


National award for Bowls club


DITTON Bowls Clubwas honoured as club of the year at the Bowls Eng- land annual awards dinner. Members received the Tony Alcock Trophy from president Joan Bald-


ing, as well as a flag, pennant and badges for all members, during the presentation evening at Leicester Football Club. The Ditton clubwas also presented with six sets of bowls fromDrakes Pride, sponsors of the competition.


Road works likely to


cause congestion DRIVERS are warned to look out for delays on the A20 Lon- don Road at its junction with Queens Road,Maidstone. Work was due to start on traf-


Serving the local community since 1985


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18 Malling


fic light maintenance on Mon- day, March 5, and continue for up to four weeks. Although work will be re- stricted to off-peak times, there are expected to be delays to traffic, due to the temporary traffic lights. Drivers are advised to avoid the junction if possible.


DITTON Youth Clubwas due to hold an open day to show off the results of two years of reno- vation and refurbishment. Young people, families and members of the community were invited to the club at the Cedar Rooms in Ditton Commu- nity Centre on March 17. The renovation was com- pleted with the support of the parish council and local busi- nesses as well as fund-raising


Olympic eggcitement THERE will be an Olympic flavour to Easter celebrations at Mereworth Primary School. Pupils will decorate eggs on


the theme of London 2012, and will roll hard-boiled eggs down the “tube of fame” in the Mere- worth Egg Roll.


Village art project BIRLING Parish Council has backed plans for a community art project, to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The aim is for residents to produce a large piece of art as a legacy for the village.


Open day at refurbished club


events. Chairman Floyd Risby ran fourmarathons, and 70 club members joined in a fun run. Grants were received from Ton- bridge andMalling Council and KCC councillor Peter Home- wood. The centre has a new kitchen,


an activity space with pool ta- bles and game consoles, a seat- ing area and an IT suite. It will be open from 7-9pm on Thurs- days for children aged 11 to 19.


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