Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
When it’s for the Queen, you have to wade in!
A toilet, a barbecue, boxing gloves and a saw were among the bits of rubbish collected by Clean for the Queen volunteers at Kingsmead.
More than 30 people braved chilly conditions on Saturday morning as part of a national clear-up organised ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’S 90th birthday.
They collected more than 50 bags of rubbish from Kingsmead Field, Kingsmead Road, St Stephen’s Road and Broad Oak Road, plus the leisure centre and youth club.
MP Julian Brazier and Sian Pettman, of the Friends of Kingsmead Field, pulled on waders and cleared the section of the River Stour which runs alongside the field.
Northgate ward councillor Alan Baldock was among the litter pickers. He said: “The Friends of Kingsmead Field do a great job in keeping the field clean, so it was a good idea to split up into teams and tackle the litter in the surrounding areas.
“We all had a lot of fun in the process and enjoyed some deli- cious cakes afterwards to reward us for our hard work.”
Lord Mayor Sally Waters and husband Robert, Michael Dixey and Terry Westgate were the other city councillors there.
Cllr Westgate said: “We found, a barbecue, boxing gloves, a saw, light-fittings, a toilet pan – in fact, everything but a kitchen sink.
“There’s still some work to do on the river bank by the leisure centre, but overall the Kingsmead area is looking much cleaner. Well done everyone.” Other litter picks took place in Tyler Hill, the Westgate Parks, Barham and Herne Bay.
At Upper Harbledown, residents clean their village every Saturday, but the past weekend saw an unprecedented turn-out for Clean for the Queen.
Parish council chairman Nick Parker said: “In the 20 years we have been doing clean-ups, this was the most successful with new faces and more than 50 bags of rubbish collected.
“Due to our closeness to the A2, the village suffers from flytipping. Our volunteers found beds, mattresses, a fridge, music centres, building material and much more.”
Meanwhile, another litter pick will take place at Kingsmead at 10.30am on Saturday, March 19, at 10.30am. It is due to last about an hour and all are welcome.
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