Town Talk


SNODLAND Town Council chair- man is organising a campaign to litter pick the town with the help of councillors and members of the public. Debbie King is pictured with


councillor Paul Hickmott and a local resident after clearing the lit- ter in Nevill Park. She said: “The town council staff


are having to spend an increasing amount of their time litter picking, which is taking them away from their other duties. “While the town council is look-


ing to increase the number of bins available to members of the pub- lic, there has been an issue with the existing bins being destroyed through fire or damage. “I believe that anything that we


can do as a community to help has to be a positive. I was grateful to


Exercise for older people


is explained SHEILA Bish told an audience about Extend body exercises for older people and those with disabilities at sheltered housing accommodation. Themoves are done tomusic


with participants mainly sitting on chairs. Sheila, who lives at Covey Hall Road, Snodland, said that between 24 and 30 members take part and the old- est is 97. “We start off with a warm-up


exercise and the idea is to im- prove muscle strength but, most of all, we do not think we are exercising, we are having fun.” Extend is open to anybody,


not just residents at Rectory Close, where it has been taking place since 2009. It has raised thousand of pounds for charity over the years, including a re- cent donation of £100 for Can- cer Research UK. Membersmust fill in a Safe to


Exercise formand have the per- mission of their doctor. Sheila formerly worked in so-


cial housing, but has hadmany illnesses, including cancer, a stroke, arthritis and hip replace- ment surgery. She also runs an exercise course at St Peter’s Court, Ditton. MOST of the 100-plus people who attended the arthritis infor- mation evening organised by the Snodland Medical Practice Patient Participation Group at Snodland Community Centre on June 13 had never heard of the Extend exercise classes held every Thursday at Rectory Close, Snodland.


the members of the community who came out to help litter pick on the day. I know there were other people who wanted to come out, but had other commitments. I hope they will join us in the future. “There has been a really positive


response from the local commu- nity to what we have achieved, and I hope that those who have visited these areas after we have been have seen a positive difference in the environment.” Debbie thanked helpers, Karen


Sowten, the council’s chief execu- tive, for organising the borrowing of litter-picking equipment from Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council. She will be going on Facebook


in the future to let people know when and where there will be sub- sequent litter picks.


Girls getmuddy for good cause


TWO ladies teams fromSnodland took part in the Maidstone Muddy Run in Mote Park on July 8. Tracey Open, the Slimming


World consultant who runs three groups in Snodland at Ham Hill Working Men’s Club got together consultants and members of groups from Aylesford and Maid- stone to forma teamof 26 to com- plete the 5k muddy run. “It was amazing to see our


members pushing themselves to achieve their own personal goals and raise money for Cancer Re- search UK,” she said. “So far money raised has


reached more than £700 and we couldn’t bemore proud of our fan- tastic members for taking part.” Bridget Cork, of St Katharine's


Lane, said: “On July 8, six gals from Snodland attempted the Pretty Muddy Run in Mote Park to raise money for cancer research. “Various obstacles were over-


Local news for Snodland and Halling Litter pickers help clean up town


come by most of us and we cer- tainly gotmuddy. To date we have raised £1,400, which is an amaz- ing amount. It was an amazing day and very well worth doing.”


The “gals” who took part were


NatalieMatthews, KathyMaynard, Stephany, Kate and Hannah Mor- gan and Bridget Cork whose ages ranged from 22 to over 70.


Champion mile ALAN Champion, the vice chair- man of Snodland Town Active Re- tirement Association (STARA), who admits to being over 70 years old, has run amile in under 10minutes. Alan, of Willowside, Snodland,


took part in the VitalityWestminster Mile (put on by the London Marathon organisers) from Green Park to Buckingham Palace. He came 761st and was fourth fastest in the 70-84 section.


Pupils race to raise £1,300


PUPILS at the Church of England Primary School, and some staff, took part in the annual Race4Life 1k charity race and raised more than £1,300.


Charity bowls AN annual bowls match between STARA and Townsend Hook BC played out a charity match and raised £300 for Cancer Research.


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