downsmail.co.uk News X Factor date


X FACTOR star Louisa Johnson has been lined-up to headline the Big Day Out to be held in Maid- stone in July. The singer, best known for the hit


Best Behaviour, will take the stage at Mote Park on July 1. She announced the gig on Twit-


ter, saying: “Big news! I’ll be head- lining the @BigDayOutUK Festival in Maidstone this July! Can’t wait to see you all there.” Also on the bill are Diversity,


who won Britain’s Got Talent, and girl band Atomic Kitten, who have Kerry Katona in their line-up. Louisa (19) won the X Factor in


2015, after singing with mentor Rita Ora in the final.


Assault case A MAIDSTONE woman has been charged with wounding after an al- leged stabbing in Shepway. Nicola Goslitski (40), of Sutton


Vicar is heading home for taste of Island life


THE vicar ofAylesford and Eccles is “returning home” to the Isle of Wight after an active two years serving the villages. Rev JonathanHall,who leaves the


parish at the end of July, told Downs Mail: “It has been a joy to share in the life of this community, and a privilege to journeywith peo- ple in so many different aspects of their lives. “Although I will be sad to leave


everyone here after such a short time, my move to the Isle ofWight means that Iwill be able to support family theremore effectively. “Having had an association with


Road,was arrested after policewere called to a report of an assault in Westmorland Road on Sunday, April 30. Officerswere told that two women had made theirway to hos- pital with arm injuries. They are be- lieved to have known the suspect. Goslitski has been charged with


the Isle of Wight for the past 26 years, including being Rector of East Cowes and Whippingham from 2003 to 2010, I am familiar with Island life, so it will in many ways feel like coming home.” He will be taking up the role as


two counts of wounding with in- tent and one of possessing a knife in a public place.


TeamVicar (Designate) of St John’s Church in Sandown and St Blasius Church in Shanklin, after serving as Vicar of St Peter and St Paul’s Church,Aylesford,with six years as


THE PRINCESS Royal received a warm welcome from charity vol- unteers when she visited the Save The Children shop in Maidstone. Acrowd of onlookerswaited out-


side the store in Union Street to see Princess Anne. She was greeted by dignitaries including the Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Derek Butler, the charity’s retail manager Cheryl Adams and voluntary shop leader, Karen Elphick, before going inside to meet shop workers. The Princess, who has been presi-


dent of the charity since the 1970s, spoke of her appreciation of the con- tribution the shop makes to the work of the charity at home and abroad. She also presented certificates to Dennis Foad, Brenda Harris and Sylvia Thomas in honour of their long service to the charity. Seven-year-old Daisy, the daugh-


ter of shop volunteer LoraMaxwell, presented the Princess Anne with a posy and a card she had made. The card had a picture of a horse be- cause Daisy had researched on the internet and found that the Princess


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Connecting with local people


SeniorChaplain at BurrswoodHos- pital, near TonbridgeWells. RevHall has played an active role


during his time in Kent, engaging with the area’s four schools, resi-


News Fair at priory downsmail.co.uk


Princess Royal meets charity shop workers


dents at the Royal British Legion Village, supporting the chaplaincy teams at the Heart of Kent Hospice and Kent Police at Coldharbour. As vice chair of Churches To-


gether inMalling, he has been keen to encourage opportunities for Christians, including The Friars in Aylesford, toworship andwork to- gether andwas instrumental in set- ting up the successful monthly Messy Church. He also launched the annual


The Princess Royal is greeted by Cheryl Adams, the mayor and Karen Elphick


“Aylesford Talent Show” and “Fes- tival of Angels” at St Peter and St Paul’s Church lastDecember. The appointment of a new vicar


loved animals. Among the dozens of onlookers


who watched the Princess depart was 88-year-old BettyWarren who hadwaited for nearly an hour to see her andwas given a chair and a cup of tea outside the shop. The charity shop opened in Union


Street in 1980 when the building was bought for £12,000. Thirty- seven years later, its success contin- ues, with the volunteers having


for St Peter and St Paul’s now be- gins, as the process of finding a re- placement may be advertised only when the position becomes vacant. Rev Hall said: “My hope is that


the person chosen will bring the skills and experience needed to en- able the Church to grow and con- tribute evermore fully to the overall life of the community at this excit- ing time of growth and develop- ment.”


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THE annual Friars Summer Fair is being held at Aylesford Priory on Sunday, June 24. The event runs from 11am to


4.30pm, and under 12s get in free, with adult tickets priced at £4.50. Among the attractions will be a


petting zoo, livemusic,magic from Mr Alexander’s Travelling Show and stunt display Vander Super HeroesWheel of Death. There will also be a barbecue,


drinks, gift and craft stalls and sideshows.


Hospice help


ALMOST £200 was raised for the Heart of Kent Hospice at a charity lunch inMereworth. Guests enjoyed a presentation


from the hospice, and a total of £190was raised. The next meeting, on Tuesday


raised £40,000 for the charity last year.


June 19,will be in aid ofMaidstone Stroke supporters.


are alwayswelcome at the tiny shop which is packed with goods ranging from clothing, children’s items, kitchen ware and a collector’s cor- ner. There is also a “wanted board” for people who are looking for something in particular and the vol- unteers will keep an eye out for them.


Growyour own More donations and customers


WOULD-BE allotment holders in KingsHill are asked to get in touch with the parish council. To join thewaiting list for a plot,


call 01732 870382 or email of- fice@kingshillparish.gov.uk.


Petition calls for crossing as traffic continues to rise


PARENTS and councillors have come together to present a road safety petition for a crossing on a busy road in Snodland. Kent County Councillor Sarah


Hohler was present along with members of Snodland TownCoun- cil to stress the need for a crossing of the A228 close to the Holbor- ough Lakes development. Cllr Hohler said: “As part of the


2004 agreement with Berkeley Homes and Trenport,


it was


agreed that pedestrian and cycle links from Holborough Lakes and Snodland Town centre to Snod- land Station should be carried out. “A footpath (MR32) and cycle


way with access from Vantage Point, under the railway line, through the perimeter of Holbor-


Carnival plan


SIX floats and five walking groups have signed up to take part in the parade from The Holmesdale School to Potyns Sports Ground to launch Snodland Carnival on July 7. There are enough marshals to


cover the road junctions. The army cadets will take part in


a drill display and there will be judo and animal displays, Ray's Relics Band and dancers. Anyone who would like to book


a stall should call the town council on 01634 240228. The charity this year is YouCan,


a Youth Cancer Support which provides services to young peo- ple affected by cancer.


oughMarshes toChurch Field and the station has been completed. “However there is still no safe


crossing of the A228 from Holbor- ough Lakes to the new path and upgraded station.” The lack of a crossing not only


impacts pedestrians heading to the station, but also parents and pupils heading to schools and nurseries in Snodland, Holbor- ough, Halling andWouldham. Schools confirm that they are


concerned by the lack of crossing facilities, as pupils already make the journey between Snodland, Halling and Wouldham in both di- rections and these community links are likely to increase. Withmore than 1,000 houses al- ready at Holborough, develop-


ments at Wouldham, the opening of Peter’s Village Bridge in 2016, the use of the A228 as a diversion when the M20 is closed, traffic on the A228 has increased to such a level that it is now difficult to cross. Instead of walking or cycling, peo- ple are using their cars and the sta- tion car park was congested. A Snodland Town Council


spokesman added: “The late Anne Moloney, chairman of the town council, campaigned vigorously for a crossing and this has been pursued by town councillors and KCC member Sarah Hohler, who put in a bid last year to the Kent Sustainable Interventions Pro- gramme. “Earlier this year Sarah heard that the funding bid had been suc-


cessful. However there were some problems and it was not until Thursday, May 24, having spoken with Mike Whiting, KCC's cabinet member for highways, that Sarah received an email reporting that the proposals for a crossing were being progressed. “This is excellent news. It is nec-


essary to obtain up-to-date speed data, and other technical and safety matters need resolving as the design phase of the project starts, but an initial report is ex- pected in July.” Feedback fromresidents regard-


ing the crossing would be wel- comed by Snodland Town Council, Waghorn Road, Snod- land, ME6 5BQ or email en- quiries@snodlandcouncil.co.uk.


Pets blessed at church


SNODLAND’S annual AnimalBlessing Service has been held in All Saints’ Church, led by the Rector, the Rev Hugh Broadbent and the RevMandy Young. Rev Broadbent said the service was enjoyed by a


menagerie of animals and owners, including a tortoise and some well-behaved cats and dogs. A number of people who did not have animals of their


own orwhowere unable to bring themto the service, in- stead brought photos or pictures of animals aboutwhich they were concerned. All of them were invited up for a blessing. Rev Broadbent explained: “Seven coloured candle


holders, made by Gordon Oliver, were placed on the altar, each one representing a colour of the rainbow which was given to Noah as a sign of God’s love and commitment to the welfare of all his creatures, both an- imals and humans.”


Town Talk


Local news for Snodland and Halling


A Downs Mail supplement produced in conjunction with the Snodland Chamber of Commerce.


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