AshfordExtraAE

Police win charity game

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE police are officially better at football than Ashford's firefighters after the two emergency services took on each other at a charity match at Homelands at the weekend.
Leading the teams out was fire service mascot Blaze the Bear and Sophie Ashdown of Godinton Road, who suffers from severe obliterative bronchiolitis.
n See Thursday's Kentish Express for the full story and more pictures.

Card shop workers' jobs at risk

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Thom Morris tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk CLINTONS Cards could fold after going into administration last week.

The decision was on the cards following poor sales during the first part of this year and losses of more than £130m since 2004.

Staff at stores in Ashford, Folkestone and Tenterden now face an uncertain future.

Administrators Zolfo Cooper LLP have said some store closures are "inevita

A song to spur England to glory

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A MUSICIAN is hoping to inspire the England football team to glory in this summer's European Championship.
Trevor Osborne released a song to mark England's participation in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
He was chosen by kmfm listeners as the winner of the Song for England contest with his entry Go Win for England.
Now he is re-releasing the song to coincide with the European Champio

`It's a real honour to be mayor in Jubilee year'

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Thom Morris tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk IT WAS a case of second time around for Cllr Bob Davidson when he is sworn in as Ashford's 39th mayor.

Cllr Davidson took over the top civic role from Cllr Matthew French yesterday (Thursday).

The 67-year-old from Kirkconnel in Scotland is taking on the mantle for the second time, having served as mayor between 2003 and 2004.

Now living in Sandlands

Girl thanks school for helping her after mum collapsed in car

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

SEVEN-year-old Ruby-Grace Hancock had a good excuse for sleeping in on Sunday morning.
For on Saturday, she cycled six miles from Folkestone to Hythe to raise money for her school, Seabrook primary.
She wanted to thank staff and pupils for helping her recover after her mother, Ria Hancock, collapsed at the wheel of their car and "died" for five minutes in November, 2010.
Ruby-Grace, who w

Smoke alarms

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

MORE than half of the fires in Ashford over the last 16 months have been in properties without a working smoke alarm.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that 57% of fires since January 2011 have been in homes and businesses where a smoke alarm does not work or is not installed.
From the 114 recorded checks, three people were injured by the blaze.

Jubilee market

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A JUBILEE market will take place on Monday, June 4, in Ashford High Street, with stall pitches available for £10. As well as the market there will be music from Ashford-based bands and also 21 cars on show to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Invicta Roadsters Car Club.
n To find out more visit http://www.
ashford.towntalk.co.uk or call Viv Kenny on 01233 664410

Drop-in sessions

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

ASHFORD Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) will be offering drop-in sessions at various venues across the borough over coming weeks. Advice will be on offer from CAB to ensure people are getting the most out of their money, with specialist help with budgeting, benefits, debt, housing and employment.
Drop-in sessions take place on Thursday, May 24, at East Stour Primary School, Earlsworth Road, Ashfor

Councillor and former teacher dies suddenly

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Tricia Jamieson tjamieson@thekmgroup.co.uk TRIBUTES have been paid to an Ashford borough councillor and former teacher at Tenterden's Homewood School following his sudden death.

Cllr Peter Goddard, who had represented Tenterden South for the Conservatives since 2003, collapsed and died while visiting his daughters on Sunday, May 6.

His widow Carole, who was with him at the time, said: "It

Join group to get fit for summer

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

ASHFORD Leisure Trust is expanding its walking and jogging groups in a bid to get more people in the area fit and active.
A new weekly session will be starting at the town's Stour Centre next Tuesday from 12.30pm to 1.15pm.
Participants should meet in the Stour Centre main reception with the session taking place on the paths and parks around the centre.
The sessions, which are being led b

Painter's iconic Lancaster to go under hammer

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

ICONIC images of Battle of Britain aircraft by Romney Marsh painter Barrie Clark are being offered for sale by Folkestone's Grand Auctions.
There are paintings of the Spitfire 14, Tiger Moths, the Harvard and the Sutherland flying boat by the artist, who is renowned for his draughtsmanship and composition.
His painting of a Spitfire was sold in a London auction room for £5,000.
Jonathan R

Hope that rare white lionesses will breed at park

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Tricia Jamieson tjamieson@thekmgroup.co.uk TWO white lionesses are settling into new surroundings in Smarden after a 20-hour trip from South Africa.

Sisters Sophia and Joy are getting to know their new home at the Wildlife Heritage Foundation where it is hoped they will catch the eye of male Themba, leading to the patter of tiny paws.

Simon Jones, PR and marketing officer for the foundati

Factfile

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

White lions are not albinos Their colour is from a genetic rarity and ranges from blonde through to near white They are native to the Timbavati region of South Africa The earliest recorded sighting was in 1938 but oral records of African elders indicate that they had been around for many centuries The last white lion was seen in the wild in 1994, after which they were technically extinct in the wi

Man used machete and axe in robbery

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

`It makes no sense to commit a robbery when I am trying to get my life back' A MAN has been found guilty of his part in a raid in which a householder was terrorised with a machete and axe.

Christopher Holloway had been attacked by two masked men who handcuffed him at his home, in Burrow Road, Folkestone, threatened to "slice" him and demanded money.

A jury at Canterbury Crown Court on Tues

Report says grammars should face tougher exam targets

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Paul Francis Political editor GRAMMAR schools should be given tougher exam targets to hit, according to a report that found wide variations in their performance.

A study says pupils should be measured on how many achieve five or more A and A* passes in their GCSEs, rather than at grades A* to C which is the benchmark for all schools.

The call comes in a report by the Schools Network, whic

New junction plan put on hold

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Paul Francis Political editor PLANS to build a new junction of the M20 have suffered another setback.

The scheme near Ashford, first mooted in 2003, has not been included on a list of six regional road projects the government has agreed to public inquiries into.

The six include the widening of the A21 in west Kent.

However, transport minister Mike Penning effectively sidelined plans fo

Southeastern plan new timetable for high speed service

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by Thom Morris tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk A CONSULTATION on high speed train times has been launched by operator Southeastern as the company looks to change the timing of services.

Among the changes proposed from December is that the 6am, 6.30am and 7am services leaving Ashford will no longer stop at Ebbsfleet.

The 6.48am from Margate will no longer have extra carriages attached at Ashford and

Mayor's cash boost for good causes

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A YEAR of fundraising came to fruition when Folkestone Town Mayor, Cllr Sue Wallace, handed over cheques to her nominated charities.
St Saviour's and St Augustine's Community Centres in Folkestone benefited to the tune of £1,300, raised through various events, including a quiz night, race night and jazz orchestra performance.
The centre at St Saviour's has been operating for many years, prov

A helping hand

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

CHARITIES in Hythe have the chance to receive a years worth of fundraising thanks to the towns Sainsburys.
The Military Road stores Local Charity Partner Scheme is now in its fourth year and staff are looking for a cause they can support from June 20, for a year.
From now until May 23 customers can vote for their favourite charity by filling out a form and putting it in the stores voting box

Do you have the ingredients to be successful?

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

YOUNG people are being invited to cook up a storm in a competition to test their culinary skills.

KM Kent Cooks 2012 is now open for entries for five to 18-year-olds and this year features a family category.

The event is organised by the KM Charity Team, which promotes and supports a range of healthy lifestyle services in schools.

Simon Dolby from the team said: "Encouraging young people

Council chief is re-elected at annual meeting

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

JENNY Hollingsbee has been re-elected chairman of Shepway District Council.
Cllr Pamela Carr was also re-elected vicechairman in the council's annual meeting on Wednesday last week.
Cllr Hollingsbee has been a district councillor for 18 years and chairman of the development control committee for four years.
The North Downs West ward councillor has been secretary of the Sellindge Steam Spe

Coastline cycleway bid wins backing from MP

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

MP DaMian Collins has become the first to sign a petition asking for a 20-mile dedicated coastline cycleway.
The Folkestone and Hythe MP was handed the petition by the campaign group Cycle Shepway at Sandgate seafront on Friday.
it calls for a route from Folkestone Harbour to Dungeness.
Cycle Shepway chairman David Taylor said: "Such a path could become a major tourist feature and boost t

Paths opened up for walkers

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

TWEnTY-TWO miles along Shepway are among five coastal paths being opened up in the country for walkers.

natural England has included a stretch from Folkestone to Camber as part of its new national Trail.

it is part of another 190 miles of the English coast, with the others being in Cumbria, Dorset, norfolk, and Hartlepool and is meant to be part of a continuing coastal path.

nicky Philpot

Born addicted to drugs

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

MORE than 50 babies have been born at William Harvey Hospital addicted to drugs in the 15 months.
After delivery, the 51 newborns had to be treated by doctors to wean them off their addiction caused by their mothers' dependency on drugs.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show in 2011, 35 children were born to drug-dependent mothers.
Up until March 31 this year there we

Woods walk

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

WALKERS can slip their boots on for a trek around the woods at Singleton Environment Centre on Tuesday, May 22.
It takes place at the Wesley School Road, Ashford conservation centre between 10am and noon with wildlife photographer Terry Button.
Meet at the reception at the centre.

Children's weapons

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

CHILDREN as young as 12 have been caught on the streets of Ashford with knives, Kent Police has revealed.
A Freedom of Information request shows that between January 2011 and April 2012, six children were found with offensive weapons.
Three girls aged 12, 14 and 15 were found with a knife or sharp pointed implement while three boys aged 12, 13 and 14 were found with similar items one of wh

Marathon effort raises £890 in Olympic event

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

SUPERMARKET staff went the extra mile to stage an Olympic themed fundraiser for a cancer charity.

Workers of Tesco Extra at Park Farm, Ashford, raised £890 for Cancer Research UK with a charity cycle marathon held inside the store.

Organised by staff members Simon Davey and Brian Overington, the event saw participants challenged to join an effort to ride, on two exercise bikes provided by Fi

Sterling work at animal park

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

BANK workers swapped their business suits for overalls and wellies for a day of community action.
Barclays employees from Ashford and Folkestone spent the day at Howletts Wild Animal Park near Canterbury creating a new garden.
The 20 bank workers spent Sunday, April 29, redesigning a garden to promote UK wildlife for visitors to the animal park at Bekesbourne.
The bank provided a grant fo

Club managers caught dealing cocaine are jailed for three years

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE former managers of a popular Folkestone town centre bar have been jailed for dealing in cocaine.

Managers Robert Clements, 29, and pal Trevor Ball, 37, had run the Stones bar in Rendezvous Street, Folkestone.

But in July last year police officers went to investigate a punch-up there, and saw cocaine in bags at the premises.

Clements, of Victoria Grove, and Ball, of Westbourne Gardens,

Video guide to 95% NewBuy mortgage scheme

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Developer Taylor Wimpey has launched a new video guide explaining the recently launched 95% mortgage scheme NewBuy.
The government and housebuilder-backed initiative, launched last month, has been hailed as a great boost for the housing industry and is being offered by a number of the major mortgage lenders.
NewBuy is available on new properties up to the value of £500,000 and means that cre

Site first to get national funding

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Crest Nicholson's Cheeseman's Green site in Ashford has become the first site in the UK to receive cash under the government's new Get Britain Building Fund.
The Cheeseman's Green site on the south east outskirts of Ashford has been granted £2.3 million of funding for the release of 100 new three- and four-bedroom family homes.
This will form the first phase of the scheme, which

Rakish and effective

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Subaru XV's combination of looks and ability along with the promise of enhanced aftersales support are compelling factors in what is a fiercely competitive soft-roader market.
Iain Dooley reports When you've built your brand on the toughness element of your vehicles, adapting to market trends and offering a soft-roader option is always going to be a challenge.
The upside is the chance

Pair's golden touch for hand-decorated gypsy caravan

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

by James Scott jscott@thekmgroup.co.uk A TRADITIONAL gypsy caravan has been ornately handpainted and decorated with gold leaf by an Ashford signwriting business.

Alan Coney and his son Alistair of A.C. Signs have spent two and a half months giving the bow top caravan a new lick of paint.

It was handed over to owner George Harber from West Kingsdown at the firm's workshop in Wootton Road last

DJ helps store hand out prizes

authour@pressmart.com (authour) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

kmfm presenter Johnny Lewis and the radio station's Street Team visited B&Q in Ashford to offer people the chance to win a number of prizes.
A wheelbarrow filled with a selection of tools was on display at the hardware superstore, and visitors were asked to guess the total value of the items.
Johnny and the Street Team awarded £100 in B&Q vouchers to spend in-store to the people with the nea