What a flantastic day
Schools, businesses and people across the area did their bit to support this year’s Children In Need Appeal.
Friday brought everything from “flanning” the head teacher to a shopping mall flash mob – and it all helped boost the total collected in the South East to £1,643,430 so far.
At St Simon Stock School in Oakwood Park, Maidstone, Pudsey Bear cakes were the favourite snack of the day.
But more popular was the chance to pelt head teacher Brendan Wall in the face with a foam flan.
There was also live music and competitions such as guess the number of sweets in the jar.
Barming Primary School in Belmont Close held a 14-hour drumathon, with the youngsters taking it in shifts to bang away on bongos, tambourines and drum sets. Most pupils dressed as superheroes.
Superheroes were also the theme of the day at Madginford Primary School in Egremont Road, Bearsted.
The climbing frames in the school gym were festooned with SpiderMen, while cats slunk across the judo mats, with a posse of Wonder Women keeping an eye on events.
At Roseacre Junior School in Bearsted, sales of Pudsey wristbands generated £1,062.
Meanwhile, shoppers at Fremlin Walk in Maidstone were surprised when a number of youngsters suddenly broke into a dance routine.
The flash mob was organised by performing arts students from the Dance Dash group at Maplesden Noakes School in Buckland Road, Maidstone.
The team at No 659 The Salon, in Loose Road, Maidstone, raised £185. The staff painted their faces and wore Pudsey ears, as well as selling a selection of handmade cakes.
The cast of Boughton Monchelsea’s village pantomime raised almost £3,000 for Children in Need, with donations expected to rise from their four performances of Oliver!
Maidstone council raised £400 from a dress down day, with some staff dressing as super heroes, and a cake sale.
Across the country, the BBC’s Children In Need Appeal is said to have raised £32m with more still coming in.