News Your photos of


parkwelcomed LEYBOURNE Lakes CountryPark is running a monthly photographic competition free for anyone to enter. You don't need a fancy camera to


take par - just snap away as you walk around the park and submit your images to have a chance of win- ning. Anyone can enter. The pictures have to be taken in


the park and can be of anything from wildlife to scenic views. Each month the winning photo will be se- lected by the ranger team.The photo will be printed and put up in the park for everyone to enjoy. Full details and some examples


are on the park’s Facebook page. You have until the 24th of each


month to sendupto two of your best photos to:llcp.rangers@tmbc.gov.uk, along with your name, age and con- tact details.


Driver jailed A SNODLAND man who drove while over three times the drink driving limitwas jailed for 120 days. Lee Gary Crittenden was sen-


tenced at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court on June 5. Headmitted taking a vehicle with-


out the owner’s consent, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and drink driving. OnApril 9, the 33-year-old, of Salt-


ings Road, took a Ford Focus and drove it in Brook Lane, Snodland, while disqualified and with no in- surance. He gave a breath test of 112mgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mgs. Magistrates banned him from driving for five years and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £115 vic- tim surcharge.


Produce show LARKFIELD Produce Show takes place on Saturday, September 2. Categories will include vegetables


and fruit, flowers, cakes, jam, pho- tography and children’s classes. The show in Larkfield Methodist Church Hall is open to all. Exhibits staging takes place from 10.30am to 12.15pm and free public viewing from 2-3.15pm. The Sycamore Tree café will be


open from 11am to 3pm. Schedules are available from


shops in Martin Square, by calling 01634 245767 or visiting larkfield- show@outlook.com.


Church clean-up


VOLUNTEERSwill set to work at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church, Ayles- ford on Saturday, July 29, for the an- nual clean-up of the church and churchyard. The big tidy-up takes place from 10.30am to 1pm, before a “bring and share” lunch at the vicarage.Anyone who wishes to work in the grounds is asked to bring their gardening tools and gloves.


16 Malling July 2017


downsmail.co.uk


Pleasure boat charity marks 10th birthday


A CHARITY providing pleasure trips on the River Medway for disabled and disadvantaged people has celebrated its 10th birthday. Based at Medway Wharf Marina


in Wateringbury, the Kingfisher is a familiar sight as it cruises thewa- terway between Yalding and East Farleigh, with up to a dozen pas- sengers on board. A crew of four volunteers, in- cluding a licensed skipper, run each trip and there is enough space for three wheelchairs, which can be loaded with a hydraulic lift. The cruises provide an opportu-


nity to help operate the locks or steer the boat, or just enjoy messing about on the river. Supporters and volunteers were invited to mark the 10th birthday of the Kingfisher Medway Trust with a party on board the Maidstone- based pleasure boat Kentish Lady. Trust chairman Pete Harris out-


lined how the charity was inspired by the late John Lockhart, with his boat The Dawn Treader and his Kingfisher Project. Mr Lockhart, who had a son af-


fected by Down’s Syndrome, re- cruited helpers to skipper and crew the boat.


Fundraising for the £75,000 needed for a purpose-built new boat included village events and pub evenings to larger donations from Rotary and national agencies. Within two years, an updated ves- sel, the Kingfisher,was launched in 2007.


Pete Harris, chairman of trustees thanks supporters and volunteers at the Kingfisher Trust’s 10th birthday party on board the Kentish Lady


By October 2016, the boat had provided 1,802 trips carrying 15,999 people, including 1,550 in wheelchairs. It caters for a wide range of groups including the Alzheimers Society, Amputee Sup- port Group and Age Concern, as well as community groups, day centres and schools. Mr Harris said: “Particular thanks go to Ivan, Sally and Stephen of Medway Wharf Marina for all the support and help they have given with discounted moor- ing fees, lifting the boat at the start and end of the season and work cleaning Kingfisher.” Help also came from the


Baughan family, who provided a mooring and picnic tables at their river-fronted garden at East Far- leigh for the passengers to enjoy. The prices charged for the trips


cover the basic running costs, but the charity relies on donations for repairs and improvements such as more comfortable seating and bet- ter galley equipment. Mr Harris said: “The boat oper-


ates from May to September. It is very popular and for the last four yearswe have been fully booked by January to February.” For more details, visit www.kingfishermedwaytrust.org. uk.


Look to the skies for air show action


NEXT month sees the Combined Ops Military and Air Show on August 19 and 20, when a variety of vintage and modern aircraft will be on display on the ground and in the air at Headcorn Aerodrome. The Tigers’ parachute team


(pictured) will also be “dropping in” to the arena. Their formation displays include smoke-trailing and flag-flying. There will also be the RAF Battle


of Britain Memorial Flight and the mighty Chinook. The family event also includes


military vehicles, re-enactment groups, arena events and military stalls. In September, it will be the turn


of the Southern Model Show, which returns on 9 and 10, in association with the Maidstone Model Flying Club. On show will be model aircraft, helicopters, ships, tanks and other vehicles.


All events take place at Headcorn


Aerodrome, in Shenley Road, from 10am to 5pm each day. The season was due to kick off


with Spitfires flying over the village in early July to mark the 77th anniversary of the Battle of Britain


The air show was also to have


displays by Hurricanes, Tiger Moth, Harvard T6 and the ME 109, courtesy of the Aero Legends. Go to headcornevents.co.uk or


call 07769 683345 for details of the activities.


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