Donation gives young carers respite
A homecare provider has given a Maidstone charity building blocks to broaden its program with a £500 grant.
Crossroads Care will use the money from Bluebird Care Maidstone to fund more activities for young carers, and will also give them the chance to take a break away by getting involved in respite trips. Wednesday September 20 the speaker is Rod le Gear and his topic History from the Air. The meeting is at Wateringbury Village Hall 7.40 pm for tea or coffee and 8 pm for the talk, Visitors welcome £3 per person. BluePlaques unveiled: On Saturday 9 September Wateringbury unveiled Blue Plaques to celebrate 7 people with village connections whose lives have helped shape our world. Approximately 80 people, including the Mayor of T & M Councillor Roger Dalton, Mrs CrawfordUsher head teacher of our school, Rev Nick Williams, and a couple of dogs, gathered at the South Entrance to Wateringbury Place where Lucy Williamson unveiled the plaque to her great x 4 grandfather Matthias Prime Lucas, owner of Wateringbury Place Estate and Lord Mayor of London in 1827. Walkers then progressed along the Tonbridge Road to Cross House, next to the Post Office, which was the birthplace in 1807 of John Beal Jude, founder of The Kent Brewery. His 3 x great grandson Thomas, who was brought up in the village, spoke of his life. The next stop was at the oldest house in the village, The Wardens, just off Bow Road, where in 1833 Ralph Fremlin, founder of Fremlin’s Brewery, Maidstone was born. The mayor unveiled this plaque telling of Ralph’s life and his own boyhood memories of the area. At The Beck, Mill Lane, about 20 more joined the walkers. Frances English, representing the Royal British Legion, spoke of the career of Admiral Sir Henry Ruthven Moore, and her mother-in-law Elizabeth recounted the part the Admiral had played in introducing her to her husband Mark. Opposite, at The Thatched House, Richard Tripp, chairman of our Parish Council before unveiling the plaque told of the Koh i Noor diamond and the part played in its story by Lady Lena Login. The last stop of the morning was to The Red House for the plaque commemorating Dame Ellen Terry who celebrated her 80th Birthday there. Rick Schembri, representing Wateringbury Players, read the tribute written to Dame Ellen by
The charity provides a support group working with 200 young people, who come from a range of backgrounds and support loved ones, some of whom are unable to take care of themselves due to disability or illness.
Jan Hall, project manager at the Tonbridge Road charity, said: “This generous grant will enable Oscar Wilde and Olivia Curtis of the Kent Acting Studio, recited a Shakespeare Sonnet on Love. In 1928, 2 girls from the school took a basket of primroses to the house as a birthday gift for Dame Ellen. On Saturday Martha Bowie and Catherine Stockham, pupils at the school, presented a basket of flowers to the present owner’s mother. The walk ended at the church where many enjoyed refreshments and browsed the history displays. The unveilings concluded at 3pm when Professor John Zarnecki, President of the Royal Astronomical Society, and nearly 40 visitors walked down Mill Lane to Brooms Down where the Professor outlined the many achievements of William Rutter Dawes who while living in the village independently discovered the interior dark inner ring of Saturn in 1850. Each of the blue plaques (which were supplied and fitted by Maidstone Signs) displays a QR code so, with a mobile phone, information on each of the plaque people can be accessed. The History Society hope the circular walk of about 1 mile will be enjoyed by many present-day residents and visitors to our special village. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 If you have an item concerning West Farleigh, please contact the correspondent above. Correspondent: Jenny Scott Mob: 07785 974951 Garden Society Show: Yalding Garden Society’s Autumn Show takes place on Saturday September 16 from 2.30pm at the village hall. All are welcome to go along to view the exhibits, and enjoy refreshments. Farmers’ market: The September Farmers’ Market takes place on Saturday September 16 from 10am-1pm in the High Street. There will be a great variety of local produce on offer and delicious hot refreshments from the charity us to continue to provide social opportunities and activities, and will help young carers to increase their self-esteem.”
Nathan Brown, community liaison manager at Bluebird Care Maidstone, said: “Caring for a loved-one can limit the opportunities for young people and we are delighted to support this project.”
refreshments stall. Charity race night: A charity race night in aid of Dreams Come True will be held at Little Venice club house on Saturday September16 from 7.30pm. All are welcome to go along and have some fun whilst raising money for this worthwhile cause. Classic car event: Kenward House