Town Talk


Calendar news THE Memories of Snodland cal- endar was so successful a com- petition has been held , organised by the Friends of All Saints, for next year's calendar and attracted more than 80 entries. "Our thanks to everyone who


sent in photographs," said Hugh Broadbent, Rector of Snodland. The 2018 calendar will be on


sale at the carnival for £2, and then at Christ Church and Home & Hobby in Malling Road. All profits will go towards All Saints’ restoration project.


Musithon total SNODLAND'S Got Stamina 24- hour Musithon featured in the last issue of Town Talk raised £4,618.81 to raise funds towards the re- placement Community Hall at Christ Church, Malling Road. Groups and individuals played,


sang and danced to audiences throughout 24 hours.


Beer and cricket SNODLAND'S annual Beer Festival and "all stars" Twenty 20 cricket match will take place in the cricket meadow on Saturday, June 24. Torrential rain stopped play last


year, without a ball being bowled. There will be a range of beers


as well as Pimms, and Shades of Gray will provide the music from 6-9pm.


Grant will help to repair church


THE Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is to give a grant of up to £222,600 towards repairs at All Saints’ Church. The church in Snodland urgently


needs repairs to the tower, chan- cel arch and the floor of the ring- ing chamber and was closed to members of the public late last year. The church, an important histor-


ical building and a “local treasure”, is strategically located at the point at which the Pilgrims’Way crosses the River Medway. A church has stood on the site for over 1,000 years and is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1066). It was placed on the English Heritage “at risk” register in 2014. The Rector of Snodland, the Rev


Hugh Broadbent, said: "We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this grant and look forward to seeing the repairs completed and the church open. "People have really missed


using it. It is not only a beautiful building but a large one, too." When it is re-opened, All Saints will be open to the wider commu-


nity. There will be “hard hat” tours while work is being carried out, guide books will be printed, and the building will be used for talks, concerts and small exhibitions. Guides and welcomers will be trained for when the church is open in the summer and a Jour- ney of Life educational pro- gramme will be developed for schools, making use of the Snod- land Stones prayer walk and the church's key position on the Pil- grimsWay. With the support of the Kent


Wildlife Trust (KWT) measures will also be taken to promote wildlife in the churchyard. The KWT is as- sisting with the production of walk leaflets in the area. The HLF praised the support of Snodland residents and well-wish- ers, as well as several grant-mak- ing bodies, which has enabled the necessary match funding of over £35,000 to be raised. Tracey Crouch,MP for Chatham


and Aylesford, said: "I am de- lighted that All Saints’ has been awarded lottery funding. It is such a historic landmark in Snodland."


MORE than 40 people took part in a Diabetes Awareness Evening at the Devonshire Rooms, Waghorn Road, Snodland, hosted by the patient participation group of Snodland Medical Practice. John Stockham, chairman of


the group, welcomed everyone to the first of a series of information evenings on health subjects, which will probably be held on a six-monthly basis. Presenters included Dr Re-


becca Prince and Dr Sanjay Singh, from the practice; Dr Jesse Kumar, consultant diabetologist from Maidstone Hospital; Gary


Dr Rebecca Price and Dr Sanjay Singh


Fagg MBE, chairman of the Paula Carr Trust which specialises in di- abetes; Pam Hebditch, retinal screening manager and Sarah Wright, health improvement co-or- dinator from Tonbridge & Malling


Local news for Snodland and Halling Talk focuses on diabetes


Borough Council. Mr Stockham said: "A great deal


of information was shared on the causes of diabetes, how to recog- nise the symptoms, how to help prevent the condition and what treatments are available and Dr Kumar gave interesting and some humorous examples of how to fight the condition. "Everyone had a look at the ex- amples of the sugar content of soft drinks, milk shakes and the like, brought by Sarah, which led to many people vowing to ur- gently amend their dietary and lifestyle habits."


Family marks four generations of Scouts


AFTER 33 years of Beaver Scouting in Snodland, Christie Beavers has celebrated four generations of Scouting in one family. Chris Byrne started Beaver Scouts in Snodland in 1984 and his wife, Muriel, was Akela of Kipling Cub Pack more than 30 years ago. Their son Pete is the Snodland Group Scout Leader, his son Tomhas been involved in Scout- ing for many years and now his daughter Izabella has joined. The family are pictured.


Stained glass recovered


A BROWN paper package addressed to the Rector of Snodland, the Rev Hugh Broadbent, has been left in the porch of the Rectory in St Katherine's Lane. The rector caught a glimpse of the lady, but does not know who


it was. He said: "The package contained two fragments of stained glass: a small cross and the words “16 OCTOBER 1555”. An unsigned


note with them said: “A land- mine landed near the gas works


in


Churchfields, Snodland dur- ing WWII. These fragments were amongst other stained glass blown out from All Saints’ Church. From the Downs Mail it has been seen that All Saints’ Church is being renovated, so this stained glass is returned to you.” Dr Andrew Ashbee, curator of Snodland Museum and a trustee of


the Friends of All Saints, believes the glass came from a window depicting four Protestant martyrs. Rev Broadbent, who is pictured with the glass, is very grateful for


the return of the sections and would be delighted to meet the lady who brought them back. He added: "It is doubtful whether the fragments will ever be able


to go back into any of the windows of the church, but there is cer- tainly the hope that they can properly be displayed and the story told of their return."


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