Maidstone East Edition South Edition October 2017 April 2018 Panto ahoy!
‘Acruel illness’ takes club’sbrightest light
A STALWART ofMaidstone gymnastics formore than three decades has died after a short fightwith a “cruel illness”. Peter Griffin, chairman and
THE cast of Cinderella, which is to be staged at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maid- stone, took to the River Medway to launch this year's panto. On board The Kentish Lady were national treasure Rustie Lee (Fairy Godmother), former EastEnder Ste- fan Booth (Prince Charming), Eliza- beth Bright (Cinderella), Craig Anderson (Buttons) and, pictured, Stephen Richards and Adam Bor- zone (Ugly Sisters) . They were greeted by pupils from
South Borough Primary School and members of the media. The panto runs from December 1-31. For tick- ets go to
www.hazlitttheatre.co.uk.
CCTV call in a bid to stop fly-tipping
founder of Pegasus Gymnastics Club, based in Farleigh Hill, Tovil, passed away earlier thismonth. Tributes - particularly on social
media -were left to amanwhowas regarded as an “inspiration” and a “gentleman” who tried to make time for everyone. A statement from the Pegasus
CALLS for the installation of CCTV cameras to prevent fly-tipping on a country road have been made by the local borough councillor.
Burberry Lane, near Leeds and Broomfield, has been targeted by waste dumpers for years, but in re- cent months, the problem has be- come more acute. Constructionwaste, rubble, hard
board and teams said: “It is with deepest sadness that we announce that Peter Griffin, chairman and di- rector of PegasusGymnastics Club, passed away on Friday (March 2) after a short battle with a cruel ill- ness. “Peter has been the rock behind
core, windows and household fur- niture is left illegally – often strewn in the middle of the road. Cllr Gill Fort said: “Every month
the foundations and growth of Pe- gasus. Together with his wife, Fef Griffin, they started the Pegasus ‘dream’ and they are the reasonwe are all part of such a successful club. “He has also been involved in
we are having toilets, sinks and construction waste dumped in the village, specifically in Burberry Lane, where we are now thinking of installing cameras on private land, to oversee the problem area.” A recent event in Burberry Lane
saw a caravan burned out while a torched car remains on a footpath
governance at club, county, and re- gional level. For over 30 years, he gavemuch of his free time and con- siderable expertise to the develop- ment of Pegasus and event scoring programmes. “Peter was a kind, generous and
inspirational man to all the people that knew him and will be sadly missed by members, parents and staff at the club.” The club was closed to all users
nearby, more than a year after it was dumped and set on fire. The church car park has also seen
many instances of illegal dumping. But it is a problem in many rural
areas including Langley, Otham and Kingswood. Water Lane in Bearsted and Pilgrims Way have also been targeted recently. Last year, Maidstone Borough Council cleared 911 cases of fly-tip- ping and this year more than 163 have been recorded since April. The approaching darker evenings will prompt a rise in illegal tipping. Cllr Fort welcomed a joint initia-
on Friday, March 16, as a mark of respect. Jonathan Green wrote on Face-
tive by the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Stan- dards Agency to clamp down on
book: “I am very sad to learn the news about Peter.He and Fefwere among the very first people I met when I started volunteering for Kent GymnasticsAssociation back in 2005 and I feel honoured to have known himand worked alongside
Peter Griffin, founder of Tovil’s Pegasus Gymnastics Club, who has died after a short but “cruel” illness
unlicensed waste carriers, but be- lieves the cost to small firms of dis- posing of construction waste at a transfer station is proving a deter- rent that is costing councils more. Cllr Fort made her remarks as
him on the Kent committee since then. “He was a gentleman, and an in-
one of the borough’s closest trans- fer stations at North Farm, Tun- bridge Wells, announced it will be closed for 10weeks. She added: “If you go along the
spiration tome andmany other vol- unteers within the sport, setting a great example andencouraging oth- ers. He made an enormous contri- bution to the development of gymnastics in the county, not only at the fantastic PegasusGC, but also at county and regional level over many years of dedicated, hard work. Peter will be greatly missed by allwho knewhim. “ Lisa Locket said: “So sorry to hear
01622 690290 YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT
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this.Hewas such a lovelyman and so friendly - had many chats with himover the years.” Top British gymnasts Courtney
Tulloch and James Hall, both Pega- susmembers, narrowlymissed out on the RioOlympics in 2016.
line of increasing fines, they have to be enforced. A reduction in the charge or offering it free may have the desired similar effect.” Athree-monthly litter pick on the mile-long stretch of road through Leeds village produces an average 32 black sacks of rubbish.
Cllr Fort, who also serves as a
parish councillor, says teaching children about social responsibility and the issue of litter in schools will help take the issue off the streets. She believes with every household receiving a weekly refuse collection service, there is no excuse for litter being thrown from vehicles or dumped in the road.
Home Alarms supplied and fitted visit
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Kate, 107, dies News
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Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper
Council’s parking hike THEREhas been furious reaction to massive increases to off-street car parking charges in Madistone.
KATE Hart, a resident at an old people’s home in Bearsted, has died aged 107, her son David has disclosed.
HELEN Whately asked the government to halt the borough’s housing scheme.
MP’s Local Plan bid
4-5 4
Farewell to Shirley Plans for Dr Nigel
POPULAR ex-bank employee and Rotarian, Shirley Lowry, has been laid to rest.
WE celebrate the Women’s Insti- tute’s centenary inside.
THE former Neighbours star brings his show to the Hazlitt Theatre next May.
U-turn over bus cuts
THE county council has performed a U-turn on plans to scrap bus routes.
20 Mela funds needed
A MULTI-cultural festival may not be staged this year without funding.
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Obituaries Obituaries
36 32
Parish Councils 37 Parish Councils 34-35
STREET lamps in Tovil were said to be in need of repair; an oak tree in Barming needed to have branches removed and quotations were re- quested; noise coming from a local brewery in Loose was discussed; funding for a playground at the parish field was considered at Barm- ing; a planning application for a tractor shed at a nature reserve in Tovilwas approved.
ASH dieback has been discovered in Monks Meadow in Detling; Hollingbourne village fete stall- holder co-ordinator Jean Duffy has resigned; yellow lines are needed for Buffkyn Way, Otham, to allow buses through Imperial Park; rub- bish bins in the sports field in Kingswoodare to be moved over to the picnic area and rear exit.
Crime Reports 35 Crime Reports 37
A DUCK and chicken were stolen from a poultry shed in South Park Road; a residential driveway in Pe- nenden Heath was left covered in roofing nails; a mountain bike was stolen from outside the church in Week Street; two pots were stolen from a Tonbridge Rd garden.
VEHICLES have been driven over farmland in Lenham, causing damge to crops; an attempted break-in was reported in Detling; a vehicle was vandalised in Bearsted Rd, Weavering; pumpkins were stolen from an allotment in Lenham.
Comment 46-47 Comment 46-47
THE widow of GP Dr Nigel Minnet will walk the Grand Canyon for charity. 12
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100 years of the WI Jason Donovan date
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