PAGE 1 The Kent County Playing Fields Association May 2012 Newsletter It has been a busy past few months at the Kent County Playing Fields Association and progress continues to be made in all aspects of the Charity’s work. Sadly, however It was with deep regret that all members of the Association learned of the untimely death in mid-March of its Patron, Edwin Boorman OBE DL MA. Edwin graciously accepted the Association's invitation to become Patron in the summer of 2008 and during the ensuing three and a half years proved to be an ideal choice. His interest in the affairs of the Association was absolute, and he possessed the priceless art of being able to encourage without interfering. This was epitomised in the adept manner in which he closed our Council meeting last October. He will be sadly missed by us all. Edwin R.P.Boorman The year started with the decision to proceed with the Junior Golf Tournament and invitations were sent out to all of Kent’s Golf Clubs and a number of schools. Rather 1935 -2012 than the 5 club format, preferred for the Cecil Leitch Competition, the competition will be a 18 hole stableford event to be held at the Faversham Golf Club, in October later this year. Our gratitude to all at the club for their generosity, in giving us courtesy of their course and for their support in bringing more youngsters into the game. It’s now up to the clubs and schools to play their part. Two new trophies have been donated for the event. The Girls Junior Championship Cup has been kindly donated by two of our Golf Management Committee Trustees, Mrs Shirley Daniel and Mrs Ann McGuirk. The Boys ‘Claret Jug’ has been kindly donated by Mr Jon Aford of Aford Awards of Bearsted Business Centre. To commemorate the first ever Junior Championship staged by the KCPFA and the year of the Olympics, Gold Silver and Bronze medals will also be awarded on finals day. Maidstone Youth Sports Achievement Awards Once again the Secretary attended the above awards evening on the 27th January at Maidstone Leisure Centre with special guest Hugh Robertson MP and Minister for Sport and the Olympics, finding time to attend and address the audience. The Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Brian Mortimer was also present to present many of the awards. The KCPFA sponsored Club of the Year and was presented by the Secretary to the Pegasus Gymnasium (Pictured left). Rumbles Boxing Academy As the guest of James Cullen, Kent’s Boxing Development Officer and hosts Rumbles Boxing Academy, the Secretary attended the Boxing Dinner Show at the Merlin Entertainment Centre, Leysdown on Saturday 4th February. Several good bouts took place with the KCPFA sponsoring Boxer of the Night. Rumbles Academy boxer Issiah Morgan won the award for his performance. President of Rumbles Academy, Professional world class referee Richie Davis was also there to encourage and support the young boxers. Subscriptions and Funding We are pleased to report that the Kent Squash Association has subscribed 40 of its affiliated members in Kent to membership of the KCPFA. We hope we can be of service to those clubs in the coming years. We would like to welcome those new members throughout the County and thank all our existing members for their prompt subscription payments and a gentle, respectful reminder to those that may not have done so already. Chairman – Robert Horner Secretary - Paul Peacock 01622 753960 E-mail - [email protected] website – kentpfa.org.uk Cantium Lodge, Terrace Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8HU PAGE 2 PAGE 2 Remember to keep an eye on the Association website for new funding streams. The latest offer comes from the London Legacy Fund where funding may be sought for a project to support and encourage people to get involved in sport, play and recreation. Thanks to the support of the London Marathon Charitable Trust any Queen Elizabeth 11 Field in London can apply for a grant of up to £10,000. All kinds of projects are eligible for funding including playground equipment, improvements to facilities and access, outdoor fitness equipment and participation programmes.( Inquiries for this fund can be made to Alison McCann, London Grants Officer on email [email protected] or telephone 020 7427 2110.)This particularly applies to those clubs within membership with London postcodes). SMS Donations You can donate to The Kent County Playing Fields by SMS: Text KPFA22 to 70070 from your mobile. To donate up to £10 to the Association and help us protect your local outdoor recreational spaces! And encourage youngsters into sport Or you can also donate via: We get every penny there are no running costs ! The Ivy Hawkes Memorial Fund Several awards were made in the February .The first being Hannah Frost (Ten Pin Bowling), a previous recipient, who was awarded £100.Other awards were made to Christine Bordean (Karate),Enrico Atkinson (Judo)and Aaron Turner (Judo),each receiving £200. Awards made in May include Charlotte Pape(Cricket) Elle Osborne (Karate),Jack Cutler(Karate),Samantha Riddell (Karate), and Adam Axford (Karate) who each received £100. Simon Dacey(Fencing) and Kerrie Johnson(Pentathlon) received £200 each. The Ernest Virgo Award Our first award of the year has been made to a player from Chislehurst Cricket Club. George Miles a talented all rounder was recommended to the Association by Secretary of the club Eddie Battarbee not solely for his ability, but also due to his assistance with training juniors at the club. Another award was made at the discretion of the Secretary who attended the ECB Kent Cricket Road Show at the County Ground at St. Lawrence, Canterbury on the 14th March. Following a presentation from a variety of guest speakers £150 was awarded to Littlebourne Cricket Club to assist with a level 1 coaching qualification .Do you have a player that could benefit from up to £300 a year? Grants A grant of £500 has been awarded to Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club towards the cost of providing a portable electronic score board at the Nevill Ground. A further £500 has been awarded to Sherwood Cricket Club of Rochester to install a Passive Monitoring System at the club to measure energy consumption. This is one aspect of the club’s energy and sustainability programme. A grant also assisted Marden Bowls Club with renovations to the Ladies changing rooms and kitchen areas. The Secretary and Trustee Anthony Levick visited the club for the official opening on Saturday 28th April to present the Associations cheque for £500. Pictured left, left to right. Ken Collins, President Marden Bowls Club, Anthony Levick, Mike Collins, President of the Kent County Bowling Association and David Head, Vice Chairman at Marden Bowls Club can be seen cutting the ribbon to mark the occasion. Chairman – Robert Horner Secretary - Paul Peacock 01622 753960 E-mail - [email protected] website – kentpfa.org.uk Cantium Lodge, Terrace Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8HU PAGE 3 It was also a pleasure to hand over the Association’s cheque of £1,000 to Fred Wlson, Secretary at Deal Victoria & Barns Close Cricket Club and Chairman Steve Thompson. Secretary Paul Peacock (pictured centre) visited the club at the end of March with Mr Wilson on the left. The money will be used to lay a new artificial wicket on their ground. The visit coincided with the Nat West Cricket Force Day where several Nat West Volunteers connected to the club offered their services free. Mr Thompson (right) can be seen donning his “workforce “t –shirt. Apart from the formality of the day it was a privilege to meet up with Fred, who has doubled up as Grounds man for the club since 1982 and has been part of the set up at Barns Close C.C. for some sixty two years, having founded the club in 1950. Superlatives are often banded about in today’s world but I have no doubt that Fred, apart from being an extremely nice man, is a true stalwart of the game and as close to being a Legend, as it gets! AGM Tonbridge Castle 25th April The Annual AGM was well attended, despite the poor weather, with several guests as well as Stanley Blow & Ole Kverndal Award winners, filling the chamber. After formalities eleven awards were made to the following clubs/organisations: Kent County Bowling Association £300; Kimura Shukokai Karate Club £300; Swale Borough Council £600; Saltwood Cricket Club £238; Deal Town Rangers FC £300; Wells Squash Club £296; Maidstone Squash Club £296; Bexley Park Squash Club £296; Canterbury Squash Club £296 and Sheerness Town (St Georges) Bowling Club £300. A predominance of squash clubs among this year’ winners is testament to the Association’s support for the Kent Squash Association’s development plan to encourage more people to participate. (Left)James & Olly Thatcher of Swale Borough Council receiving cheques of £300 each towards the Even Keel Disability Sailing week scheduled for Queenborough in June. KCPFA President Geoff Cooke on the right. Below left Andrew Mears of Maidstone Squash Club. Deal Town Rangers FC representative Doug Hoyler (Below) receiving cheque for £300 towards the cost of coaching and equipment. Deal Town Rangers is a Community Football Club and has FA Charter Standard with teams ranging from ages 6 to18. They currently have 18 boys/mixed teams and 3 girl teams as well as a senior team in the Kent County League. Association Tie The office has commissioned a new tie which is available to members at a price of £15 inclusive of postage. It is hoped members will be proud to wear it.