News


downsmail.co.uk Cricket club builds for future


THE cricket club in Leeds is looking to replace its “tired” clubhouse with a new facility which could have a wider community role.


The committee at Leeds and Broomfield Cricket Club, which has played in view of the castle since its formation in 1762, says it needs new facilities to grow and to accommodate today’s mix of players. It wants to build a changing


block for its junior players, as young as eight, on the same site as its two senior First XI and Sec- ond XI sides, the Sunday team and its female players. Committee member Glenn Aitken’s son Max is captain of the club’s First XI. He said: “The current facilities replaced a wooden hut that burned down in 1998 and are now looking a bit tired. “We want to provide separate changing rooms for our seniors and ladies teams and the young- sters we coach, who numbered 50 this summer.”


Village gets


festive spirit DETLING is once again decking itself out for Christmas. Last year, more than 200 people


viewed the village’s “Bringing Christmas to Detling” event, when windows and gardens in The Street were decorated to re- flect the Nativity story. This year, more homeowners


will be joining in and the theme will be a Christmas carol or song. The public are invited to view


the displays and guess the tunes on Saturday, December 21. Starting at 3pm at Detling Vil-


lage Hall, small groups will be led to the homes taking part to see the displays, finishing at the church for free refreshments and carols. Tickets are £2 per adult, and


free to children. If you buy your ticket in advance you can stipu- late the time you want to start. For details, call 07711 611550.


Choir tunes up


KINGSWOOD Choir is getting back in tune after a break. The choir rehearses songs, in- cluding carols, at the Kingswood School Hall, from 7pm on Mon- days during term time for about an hour. Entry is £1.50. For details, call Sue Chambers on 01622 843622.


4


we’re not using it.” The work would be carried out during the closed season, from October to March, in the hope that with all the necessary ap- provals, this could be as early as next September. The club has said a series of


events and sponsorship will be needed to fund the project. Mr Aitken said apart from the


new clubhouse, there were no plans for extra facilities, such as floodlights. He said: “We have always had


The committee has been given


the full backing of Leeds Castle, which owns the ground, and has started talks with the parish coun- cil about how the building might be put to community use out of


season. Mr Aitken said: “We can- not afford to be over-ambitious because of the cost, but we want a building that will also be suitable for minor functions and meetings, or perhaps even a nursery when


the support of the castle and the village and we are very aware of noise and traffic. We have no in- tention of souring this relation- ship. “We simply wish to provide the facilities that a successful club needs to continue growing and rearing our own talent for years to come.”


Pub landlord joins pantomime cast


A VILLAGE am dram production of Aladdin will be staged on February 7 and 8, 2020. Leeds Amateur Dramatic Soci-


ety’s production of the family favourite will have a guest,onstage role for landlord of The George Inn, Jason Tharp. This year’s production is directed


by Lesley Finlay. She said: “As ever, it will be a community production and we hope that Jason’s presence will tempt a few regulars out of the pub and up the hill to the village hall.”


Fundraising for churches by ‘reading and riding’


CONGREGATIONS at Broom- field and Leeds have been help- ing to keep their churches alive with events and fundraisers. The Great Leeds Book Sale in


the church raised £1,000, while both churches were beautifully decorated for harvest festival ser- vices. The church at Leeds was draped


in berries and autumn leaves, thanks to Simon Brice, and the service was followed by lunch,


Maidstone East December 2019


provided by Chris and Debbie Saunders, with a main course sup- plied by The George, and apple pie produced by local cooks. At Broomfield, Derek Hadlow


made a beautiful show of donated produce to decorate the church. The service was joined by Peter Roberts on guitar. Then there was the Ride and


Stride fundraiser. The Broomfield team oraised £1,220 with half re- turning to the local church.


CCTV fitted


SURVEILLANCE cameras have been fitted in a Leeds housing es- tate in response to incidents of an- tisocial behaviour. The use of cameras, owned by Maidstone Borough Council, was requested by the village PCSO Siobhan Derose. The camera has been fitted in Farmer Close. A spokesman for Kent Police


said: “This is timely and appro- priate, and follows incidents of anti-social behaviour and a car being damaged. This is a facility available to PCSOs where they feel it may prove an appropriate and effective deterrent.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48