News


A VILLAGE football team is celebrating a “re- markable achievement” after winning the re- gional heats of the FA People’s Cup. Coxheath&FarleighU14s (pictured) overcame


sides fromacross Kent and East Sussex towin the area title in Gillinghamlastmonth. After a narrow 4-3 defeat in their first game,


the young guns – who are also doing well in their regular league and cup fixtures – won the rest of their seven games, culminating in an 8-4win over Wigmore in the final of the five-a-side competi- tion. Club chairmanNeil Hadley said: “It’s a remark-


Animals saved THE RSPCA says it received a flood of calls during recent heavy snowfalls. The animal charitywas involved


incidents such as horses collapsed in the snow, a cygnet trapped in the ice and a cat stranded on a snow-covered roof. The charity says the coldweather


put pressure on its care centres where plans to release animals back into the wild following treat- ment were having to be delayed until conditions improved.


Man flees fire AMANwas unhurt after escaping from a first-floor flat fire in Brish- ing Lane,Maidstone. Crews, wearing breathing appa-


ratus, extinguished the fire using a hose reel jet. They then used a fan to clear the


flat of smoke. The cause of the blaze, on Febru- ary 26, is as yet unknown.


Rak-Su onway X-FACTORwinners Rak-Suwill be taking to the stage in Maidstone this summer after being an- nounced as the support for Little Mix. The Watford quartet, who have


just finished the X-Factor tour fol- lowing theirwin in the ITVsinging contest last year. Little Mix themselves are also


alumni of the Simon Cowell show, havingwon the contest in 2011 and gone on toworldwide success. The bandwill join the girl group


on their 15-date UK tour. It stops at the Maidstone Kent


Event Centre on Sunday July 22, and tickets, are still available for the showfromvarious online ticket sites.


Store sold on A NEWSAGENT and general store inMangravet has been sold. Southerns News and General


Store has been bought by an inde- pendent multiple retailer, accord- ing to the agents, for £425,000.


34 Maidstone April 2018


downsmail.co.uk Village lads triumph in first round of cup heats


able achievement for a village football club. “I am so proud of the boys, every one of the


seven in the squad performed admirably. “We probably went there just hoping to enjoy


the experience, but they all rose to the occasion.” The youngsters now go on to a wider regional


competition on theweekend ofMarch 23-25. The venue was yet to be confirmed at the time of going to press. The winners of those events will then go on to


play at St George’s Park, which is where Eng- land’s 28 national teams train ahead of their fix- tures.


‘Earn as you learn’ is a welcome path to work


REPRESENTATIVES from busi- nesses, including Amazon, Bar- clays and Rolls-Royce, gave students a flavour of the huge range of career paths available to thematMaidstone’s firstAppren- ticeship Fair. Firms and organisations fromthe


local area, including Gallaghers and Kent County Council, backed the initiative with stands at the leisure centre inMaidstone, which attracted the interest of more than 600 students. The fair was co-hosted by MPs


Helen Grant and Tracey Crouch, bringing together 50 apprentice employers fromsectors such as en- gineering, accountancy, hospitality and the armed forces. Anne Milton, Minister of State


forApprenticeships and Skills,was also there and spokewith students and businesses about the benefits of apprenticeships. Speaking after the event, Helen


Grant said she was delighted that the overwhelming support from business and schools hadmade the ambitions of the event a reality. Tracey Crouch added: “Wewere


MPs Helen Grant (left) and Tracey Crouch (right) with theMinis- ter of State for Apprentice- ships and Skills, Anne Milton


a discussion with sixth-formers frustrated at the lack of informa- tion available to young people who did not wish to go to univer- sity. “The benefits of apprenticeships


are enormous, not only offering a chance for our young people to earn whilst they learn, but allow- ing employers to provide bespoke training for their workforce.” Schools taking part included


inspired to host this fair following Oakwood Park, Maidstone, and


PUPILS are takingmatters in their own hands by issuing parking re- minders to parents who park in- considerately near to their school. Loose Primary School is also


‘naming and shaming’ parents via the school’s regular newsletters as it looks to fix the problem, which blights the area at drop-off and pick-up times. One of the school’s three en-


trances sits on the A229, and par- ents dropping off their children is an increasing concern. But the school is working closely with the parish council,


local PCSOs and South Maid- stoneAction forRoads and Trans- port (SMART) to find a solution. “A lot of schools have problems


with parking issues in the morn- ings,” joint head of school Gia- como Mazza said. “We have parents parking poorly and incon- siderately and we want it to stop. “We take pictures and put them


in the newsletter, while our eco- councillors within the school are putting notes on cars, to try and make themaware of the issues. “We’ve set up a working party and are working hard to educate


Invicta grammar schools, Future Schools Trust, St Simon Stock and Valley Park School. Aspokesman forOakwood Park-


said: “Some of my students will achieve high A level grades but want to begin work while study- ing. “The degree apprenticeships of-


fered by organisations like Rolls- Royce, BAE and the civil service give students the ability to get a de- greewhile studying.”


School ‘names and shames’ thoughtless drivers


parents to help solve the issues.” The other joint head, Anita


Makey, added: “Our priority is the safety of our children and the need to be considerate to our neighbours.” The school has held meetings


with the other parties involved, and their reaction to the issue has been praised. “The school is doing a lot of


hard work to fix the problems,” Kim Owen, the clerk of Loose Parish Council said. “Everyone is involved in it. We’re all working to find a solution.”


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