Volunteers sought for study into how a berry extract could combat diabetes

PHOTO and INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: Available today (Wednesday June 2) at the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, Bucksburn

The Kings Hill Cricket Club was established in 2006 and played its first match against Town Malling Cricket Club on 9th September that year.

Neil Miners, the then Assistant Clerk of Kings Hill Parish Council, put together this first team by building up interest through articles in the Council’s newsletter “View from the Hill” about the new cricket ground being developed in Kings Hill. Unfortunately Town Malling proved too strong for the fledgling team and Kings Hill went down to a heavy defeat.

In the early seasons Kings Hill Cricket Club could only play away fixtures as the new ground and pavilion at Kings Hill were still in the planning and building stages. However the plans were impressive and clearly had the potential to become a flagship venue for cricket in the mid-Kent area.

In the summer of 2007 the team completed its first full season and achieved its first ever win against Snodland Community Cricket Club. The local derby against Town Malling was played again in September. Kings Hill had improved, but lost a close match by a narrow margin of ten runs. In total Kings Hill played five games in 2007 and following this success a committee was established at an inaugural meeting held in October at the Kings Hill Community Hall.

2008 was another year of growth for Kings Hill, helped by the successful award of a £250 Sports Development Grant from the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. Pre-season nets were held at the Judd School, Tonbridge and eleven fixtures were scheduled. Unfortunately, four matches were cancelled due to rain- including the annual clash against Town Malling. The highlight of the season came at Wateringbury, where Kings Hill won by five wickets. In the six matches played the team began to establish a core of regular starters while attracting new players to join the growing club.

In January 2008 Club adopted the de Havilland Mosquito aircraft as its badge in memory of the role West Malling airfield played during the Second World War as a night-fighter station. To give the team a Kings Hill identity, new shirts were ordered from Grey-Nicholls specially embroidered with the Mosquito badge. These new shirts were worn for the first time against Frittenden in September.

A new season started at the delightful Hadlow Cricket ground in May 2009. This summer proved a turning point for the club, because in July work on the foundations of pavilion commenced: the dream of playing cricket at Kings Hill was beginning to come true. After four years of being a wandering team, a home was beginning to take shape. With the work on the pavilion under way the team recorded two wins in 2009 against Wrotham and Frittenden. Seven other matches were played. Despite coming close no player has yet scored a century or taken a hat-trick for Kings Hill.

In the winter or 2009/10 the Club and its committee began preparations for the inaugural home match scheduled for Saturday 17 July. In a nice touch of historical symmetry our first visitors to Kings Hill will be Town Malling Cricket Club.

Neil Miners
Secretary
Kings Hill Cricket Club
June 2010

Friday June 25, Saturday June 26  and Sunday June 27

The world famous Globe Theatre in London is bringing Shakespeare to the beautiful gardens of Groombridge Place later this month, giving local audiences the chance to enjoy The Comedy of Errors performed in the open air.

Director Rebecca Gatward brings her acclaimed production to Groombridge Place near Tunbridge Wells for three performances, from Friday June 25 to Sunday June 27, as part of a national tour. This is the second year’s tour for the production, which was applauded by critics for its fast pace, wit and irreverence.

A company of just eight actors will recreate the touring traditions of their Elizabethan forefathers, presenting Shakespeare’s most farcical comedy on a ‘booth stage’ inspired by paintings and etchings from the period.

The Comedy of Errors is a short and boisterous comedy, which takes place during one manic day of misadventures. Take one pair of estranged twins (both called Antipholus) and one pair of twin servants (both called Dromio), keep them in ignorance of each other, throw them into a city with a reputation for sorcery and you have the chief ingredients for theatrical chaos.

Jill Todd, senior manager at Groombridge Place, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Globe players to Groombridge. What could be nicer than spending a summer’s evening enjoying a picnic in a quintessentially English garden while being entertained by such an illustrious company of actors?”

Tickets are £15 and £10 for concessions. Friday and Saturday’s performances are at 7.30pm, while Sunday’s is at 2.30pm. Contact 01892 861444, or 020 7401 9919 to book. The performances take place outdoors so please bring a picnic rug or low-backed seat and suitable clothing for all weather conditions. The plays will go ahead in all but the most extreme weather conditions.

The gardens at Groombridge Place have inspired artists, writers and film-makers. The Drunken Garden, with its crazy topiary, was a favourite with Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle who used it as the setting for his Sherlock Holmes mystery The Valley of Fear; the house and garden was the setting for Peter Greenaway’s cult film The Draughtsman’s Contract and it featured as the Bennets’ house in the Pride and Prejudice film with Keira Knightley.

The gardens and forest are open daily until November 6 between 10am and 5.30pm. For more information visit www.groombridge.co.uk or call 01892 861444.

The Summer Active Scheme (SAS) is a brilliant way of keeping your children fit and active during the summer holiday and rewarding them at the same time with free activities! 

Saturday June 12  and Sunday June 13

Fairies and pirates are invited to put on their favourite dressing up clothes, pack a picnic and head off to the Enchanted Forest at Groombridge Place for a new event at the popular tourist attraction just outside Tunbridge Wells.

During the weekend of Saturday June 12 and Sunday June 13, a Fairy Fables and Crusoe Tales event is being staged, complete with characters from the world of fairies, desert islands and the high seas.

Visiting fairies to make their own fairy crowns and wands, have their faces painted and take part in a fairy ballet workshop run by Tunbridge Wells based Catherine Bellinger School of Dance, with the chance to meet some real fairies who will be flitting through the gardens.

Adventurers can venture into the Enchanted Forest, where they will find the latest attraction, Crusoe’s World, an exact recreation of the desert island from the recent TV series Crusoe using props and artefacts from the film shipped from South Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Using the original set design from the film two tree houses have been built in the trees linked together with rope bridges and a viewing tower. Children can scramble over several levels of decking and platforms and the tree houses are sheltered under sail roofs. Topping it all is a look-out post providing fabulous views over the canal, open countryside and the steam trains of the Spa Valley Railway.

Throughout the weekend there will be story-telling sessions at Crusoe’s World, fuelling young imaginations with tales of shipwrecks and survival. The pirate Scruffy Jack will also be sharing stories of his adventures sailing under the skull and crossbones flag, and may even have some real pirate treasure to show visitors.

There is plenty for mum and dad to enjoy too in the beautifully laid-out gardens and Enchanted Forest set in the valley on the borders of Kent and Sussex.

Groombridge Place combines the peace and quiet of a quintessential English garden, laid out in a series of outdoor rooms, with the chance for the younger generation to spend many happy hours being entertained and exploring the Enchanted Forest.

Jill Todd, senior manager at Groombridge Place, said: “The fairy events we hold at Groombridge are always popular and our special fairy visitors this year will bring a touch of magic to the gardens. With entertainment for boys and girls, parents and grandparents too, it’s no wonder that so many of our visitors choose to spend the whole day here.”

The Enchanted Forest, which can be reached by canal boat ride or a leisurely stroll, is a green playground, with its aerial walkway and obstacle course; Romany Camp; hilltop fort; giant swings; adventure play areas; ‘rain forest’ gorge with tree ferns, palms and banana plants and quirky woodland gardens.

During the school holidays the forest comes alive with activities for all the family, including face painting and dream catcher workshops in the gypsy caravan, drumming workshops in the tepee, a wandering musician playing the harp or guitar and storytelling.

Birds of prey flying displays take place each day except Mondays (excluding bank holiday Mondays), when there will be a static display of the birds. There is also a well stocked gift shop and freshly prepared meals and snacks are available in the restaurant throughout the day.

The gardens have inspired artists, writers and film-makers. The Drunken Garden, with its crazy topiary, was a favourite with Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle who used it as the setting for his Sherlock Holmes mystery The Valley of Fear; the house and garden was the setting for Peter Greenaway’s cult film The Draughtsman’s Contract and it featured as the Bennets’ house in the Pride and Prejudice film with Keira Knightley.

The gardens and forest are open daily until November 6 between 10am and 5.30pm. For more information visit www.groombridge.co.uk or call 01892 861444.