Hartley News 2001
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2001 was a busy year politically in Hartley. In Westminster and County Hall it was no change with Dr Howard Stoate (Labour) and Kent Tucker (Conservative) relected respecitively. Northfield, the issue that dominated the parish council, was opened to the public this year, but there were still questions over whether the council should be spending so much money on football pitches. It was claimed to be the issue in part that caused the resignations of three councillors. The bye-elections for two were held this year and Hartley welcomed new councillors Roy Glover and Lyndon Newins. Sadly 2001 saw the death of district councillor, John Sandeford - now commemorated on a plaque by the zebra crossing that he campaigned for.
Farming was in the news a lot this year because of the foot and mouth crisis. This caused great concern locally especially when a case was found in Kent, and Manor Field was closed as a precaution. On a brigher note Hartley Farmer Roy Glover won a "farming oscar" for the new butcher's shop at Hartley Bottom Farm.
Awards were also in the air for Ian Gibbons (for 20 years service to Scouting) and Vincent Hawkett (papal award).
Crime is a staple of all newspapers, and the papers reported on eight cases concerning Hartley. Pictures of local weddings and profiles on local schools and societies were commonplace too, including the 40th anniversary of the Hartley Flower Club.
| Date | Paper/(Journalist) | Page | Title/Details |
| 10.1.2001 | Gravesend Messenger | 19 | Property Advert Kinnerton, Ash Road on market for £195,000 and the former stores, Church Road for £315,000. |
| 10.1.2001 | Gravesend Messenger | Guest presents Scout awards Scout group's annual carol concert. Medal of honour presented to Ian Gibbons for 20 years' service to local scouting (pictures) | |
| 10.1.2001 | Gravesend Messenger | 26 | Village Fete Details of distribution of funds raised. |
| 17.1.2001 | Dartford & Swanley Express | 2 | Comfy beyond words Hartley Afternoon WI donate furniture to library for children (picture of president Yvonne Fry) |
| 2.2.2001 | Dartford Times | 9 | Roy's in the prime of his working life Hartley farmer Roy Glover received "farming oscar" - NFU President's Award for butcher's shop (picture of Roy and Eric Glover) |
| 8.2.2001 | Gravesend Messenger (Howard McMahon) | 19 | Parish Council Manor Field Trust dissolved following suggestions that it might not be a correctly formed legal body. Council welcomes village survey produced by Friends of Hartley Countryside. |
| 9.2.2001 | Dartford Times | 17 | Dartford Photographic Society Julian Delf wins 1st prize in Alexander competition |
| 15.2.2001 | Gravesend Messenger | 5 | Meating the standards See Dartford Times 2.2.01 (picture of shop staff Ray Branham, Colin Blair and Andy Cayford). |
| 15.2.2001 | Gravesend Messenger | 17 | Move for council Hartley Council plan to move office to Library. |
| 2.3.2001 | Dartford Times (Karen Hart) Gravesend Messenger |
1 3 |
Disease could cripple farmers (DT) This time it could be worse than 1967 (GM) Concerns about spread of foot and mouth disease in Kent. In 1960s it got to Brands Hatch but not Hartley. At present people need to walk through disinfectant to get to shop. |
| 2.3.2001 | Dartford Times (Ed Cook) | 3 | Farmer is ready to throw in the towel Brian Edwards of Thamesview Farm on the problems caused by Foot and Mouth disease, and an attack by a dog in Hartley that led to 6 sheep being put down. |
| 7.3.2001 | Dartford & Swanley Express (Simon Alford) | 1 | Staff put out fire on train Quick thinking staff put out fire on 6.10 am train at Longfield |
| 8.3.2001 9.3.2001 |
Gravesend Messenger Dartford Times (Ed Cook) |
2 25 |
Time is up for post thief (GM) Lazy Postman gets first class jail term for theft (DT) Longfield postman jailed for 8 months for taking post from Longfield sorting office. |
| 8.3.2001 | Sevenoaks Chronicle (Mark Jeffries) | 8 | Council faces Catch 22 situation, says leader Council tax up 4 times the rate of inflation. Band D for Hartley for 2001/2 will be £879.43 |
| 8.3.2001 | Sevenoaks Chronicle | 3 | Bag taken out of Mum's car Theft from car parked outside RC School in Church Road |
| 16.3.2001 | Dartford Times | 31 | Class of the week Profile of Fawkham Primary School (pictures) |
| 16.3.2001 | Dartford Times (Karen Hart) | 4 | Farmer vents fury at dog walkers as crisis widens As foot and mouth disease reaches Kent, farmer Roy Glover expresses concerns that dog walkers and horse riders aren't always following MAFF guidelines to prevent the spread of the disease. |
| 22.3.2001 | Gravesend Messenger (Howard McMahon) | 22 | Parish Council Council has closed Manor Field until end of Foot and Mouth outbreak, which meant they met this month at URC hall. 44 letters received requesting horse riding on Northfield. |
| 29.3.2001 | Sevenoaks Chronicle | 6 | Hartley Handover Colin Senneck to take over as village correspondent (picture of him and Howard McMahon) |
| 1.4.2001 | Family Tree Magazine (Tom Wood) | 17 | Genealogical Miscellany Barbara Roberts of Hartley has written to highlight the increasing problem of theft of church registers, by those involved in identity fraud. |
| 11.4.2001 | Gravesend Messenger | 31 | Sought after semi set in attractive gardens Picture and profile of Ashkeys, Manor Drive, on market for £275,000 |
| 17.4.2001 18.4.2001 19.4.2001 |
Evening Standard Daily Mail Daily Mail |
5 28 7 |
Policeman 'flashed at old people's home' (17.4.01) Was a 21-stone police sergeant undone by a faulty trouser zip? (18.4.01) Zip-case sergeant guilty (19.4.01) Case of indecent exposure at Hartley care home |
| 27.4.2001 | Dartford Times | 13 | Class of the week Pictures and profile of Hartley Primary School |
| 27.4.2001 | Dartford Times (Simon Alford, Roy Beevers) | 17 | Club of the week Picture and profjle of Hartley Afternoon WI |
| 3.5.2001 4.5.2001 |
Sevenoaks Chronicle (Paul Devlin) Dartford Times (Karen Hart and Simon Alford) |
3 10 |
Pensioner fools armed robbers (SC) Joe, 84, uses touch of blarney to foil robbers (DT) Worker at Bottle and Basket shop in Church Road foils attempted theft (picture of shop in both papers) |
| 3.5.2001 | Gravesend Messenger | 4 | Celebrating 105 with a sherry Picture Hartley's oldest resident Winnie Hall. |
| 3.5.2001 | Gravesend Messenger (Colin Senneck) | 21 | Marathon vicar Rector Richard Worssam has completed the London Marathon and raised over £4,000 for charity. Local runner Julie Patrick was running for the Lions Hospice and Breakthrough Breast Cancer charities. |
| 11.5.2001 | Dartford Times (Roy Atterbury) | 22 | Breaks spoil flow of words Review of "Talking Heads" by Hartley Players wins mixed review, but only praise for star Heather Powell. |
| 24.5.2001 | Gravesend Messenger (Colin Senneck) | 22 | Gilbert and Sullivan Favourable review of Princess Ida by Hartley G&S society. |
| 7.6.2001 | Sevenoaks Chronicle (Colin Senneck) | 6 | Kebab Shop Enquiry Planning inspector has refused permission for kebab shop in Cherry Trees. |
| 11.6.2001 14.6.2001 15.6.2001 |
Daily Mail (Ben Taylor, Don Hunter) Dartford Messenger (Lorraine Homer) Dartford Times (Ed Cook, Roy Beevers) |
5 1 1 |
Husband charged over the body in the garden (Mail) Husband on murder charge (DM) Charged with murder (DT) |
| 14.6.2001 15.6.2001 |
Dartford Messenger (Lorraine Homer) Dartford Times (Ed Cook) |
5 5 |
Here's to 'four good years' (DM) My toughest battle yet says MP Stoate (DT) Howard Stoate wins Dartford again for Labour, with a reduced majority of 3,306 and a swing of 0.47% to Conservative. |
| 14.6.2001
|
Dartford Messenger | 3 | Dartford's new political map Kent Tucker wins Sevenoaks North East county council seat for the Conservatives with a 1,656 majority, but locally the conservatives lose one seat to Labour at Swanscombe. |
| 15.6.2001 | Dartford Times | 20 | Hartley Flower Club Picture in All Saints' Hall in their 40th year |
| 15.6.2001 | Dartford Times | 27 | Our lady of Hartley RC School Picture of reception class |
| 13.7.2001 | Dartford Times | 9 | More hugs and tears expected as former pupils plan second reunion Reunion of those who attended Longfield CofE school between 1936 and 1946 (picture from 1937) |
| 19.7.2001 | Sevenoaks Chronicle | 3 | Court hears of DNA tests being conducted on skeleton found in garden Trial at Maidstone Crown court of Fawkham man. |
| 19.7.2001 | Dartford Messenger (Colin Senneck) | 22 | Papal Honour Vincent Hawkett of Hartley RC church wins Bene Merenti award. |
| 26.7.2001 | Sevenoaks Chronicle | 14 | Thief's key opportunity Car stolen from outside paper shop in Ash Road. |
| 27.7.2001 | Gravesend Reporter | 57 | Tenders for Woodland Hartley and Ash Parish Councils advertise for tenders to plant 4.5 hectares of woodland at Northfield. |
| 10.8.2001 | Dartford Times (Ed Cook) | 1 | Pony Distress Six horses in Fawkham Road had to be put down after eating poisonous plant ragwort. |
| 16.8.2001 | Sevenoaks Chronicle | 7 | French Fun Picture of West Kent WI playing petanque at Hartley Country Club. |
| 23.8.2001 | Dartford Messenger | 9 | Harvester sets fire to cornfields 20 hectares lost at Speedgate Farm, Fawkham. |
| 30.8.2001 | Dartford Messenger | 23 | Sumptuous property in secluded location Feature on 5 bed house in Simmonds Drive, on market for £635,000. |
| 31.8.2001 | Dartford Times | 8 | Time to Act Letter from M Franks of Hartley in support of traffic calming at Bean |
| 31.8.2001 | Gravesend Extra (Michael Barnard) | 1 | Three miles to class 7 year old child from Church Road refused place at Hartley Primary School and told by KCC she will have to go to Meopham School and walk there when she is one year older (picture). |
| 13.9.2001 | Dartford Messenger (Colin Senneck) | 24 | Councillor quits suddenly Hartley councillor Yvonne Fry resigns. |
| 13.9.2001 | Dartford Messenger (Colin Senneck) | 24 | Grunt entertains Christian entertainment by Australian Wal Spencer at Church Hall. |
| 14.9.2001 | Gravesend Reporter | 9 | Make Hay! whether or not the sun shines! North West Kent Countryside Project calls for help at Rectory Meadow |
| 20.9.2001 | Dartford Messenger | 3 | Young showjump star heartbroken over theft Theft of 13 year old's horse from Manor Drive. |
| 20.9.2001 | Dartford Messenger (Colin Senneck) | 27 | Flower Show Prize winners at Horticultural Society autumn show included Keith Scott, Bernard Richards, Margaret Gilbert, R and E Trace and Mrs M Carr. |
| 21.9.2001 | Dartford Times | 10 | Lappin-Haughian Marriage of Gerard Lappin and Jennifer Haughian at St Francis de Sales RC Church (picture) |
| 11.10.2001 | Dartford Messenger (Colin Senneck) | 29 | Councillor resigns Emmeline Miller resigns from Hartley council |
| 11.10.2001 | Dartford Messenger | 22 | Sullivan-Harvey Marriage of Ashley Sullivan of Hartley and Louise Harvey at All Saints' Church (picture) |
| 25.10.2001 | Dartford Messenger | 29 | Schools Pictures of reception classes at Hartley Primary and Hartley RC schools. |
| 25.10.2001 | Dartford Messenger Sevenoaks Chronicle |
26 6 |
Tale of two villages ends in double victory (DM) Field of dreams (SC) Northfield opened to the public (pictures of Mike Brown, Eileen Tucker, Julie Hoad, Jane Redman and others) |
| 26.10.2001 | Dartford Times | 10 | Company directors banned Two directors of Downtown Marine Ltd, one of whom lives in Gorsewood Road, disqualified for 2½ years from being a director by High Court. |
| 26.10.2001 | Gravesend Extra | 11 | Quarry returned to agricultural use Dormant Websters Quarry in Hartley Bottom Road to be restored by removing 25,000 cubic metres of recycled waste. |
| 26.10.2001 | Dartford Times (James Lanaster) | 15 | Fund raisers make head's final big wish come true Parent teacher association at Hartley Primary Shcool raised £70,000 for new hall. Linda Gogarty said "everyone has pulled together really well and it just shows what can be done". |
| 1.11.2001 | Dartford Messenger | 35 | Spacious detached house has plenty to offer inside and out Wickets End in Quaker's Close for sale at £350,000. Description of house. |
| 2.11.2001 | Dartford Times | 3 | John dies of cancer at 72 Obituary of Hartley Sevenoaks Councillor, John Sandeford. |
| 9.11.2001 | Dartford Times | 9 | All ears Sevenoaks Councillors to visit Hartley. |
| 15.11.2001 | Dartford Messenger (Ed Cook) | 6 | Video trap indecency man loses his appeal Man convicted in April of indecent exposure loses his appeal |
| 16.11.2001 | Dartford Times | 13 | Class of the week Our Lady of Hartley RC School (pictures) |
| 22.11.2001 | Dartford Messenger (Colin Senneck) | 22 | Parish Council Councillor Clive Gronow resigns from Hartley council. Council agrees to support idea of community centre on Pitfield old garage site. |
| 23.11.2001 | Dartford Times | 3 | RIP John Service of thanksgiving held for John Sandeford |
| 23.11.2001 | Dartford Times | 22 | Cannings-Sands John Cannings of Hartley marries Claire Sands at All Saints' Hartley (picture) |
| 29.11.2001 | Dartford Messenger (Alan Watkins) | 7 | Seats ditched over bitter field rows Three councillors from Hartley have now resigned, partly over issue of Northfield. Picture of Mesdames Fry and Millar |
| 30.11.2001 | Dartford Times (Sara Case) | 5 | Tea cups catch out thief Caxton Close man jailed for 25 burglaries and 18 counts of deception. |
| 30.11.2001 | Dartford Times | 17 | Class of the week Pictures of Hartley Primary School |
| 6.12.2001 | Dartford Messenger (Alan Watkins) | 25 | Flints and stones won't stop progress Feature on Northfield and the question of flints and football. |
| 6.12.2001 | Dartford Messenger | 25 | Candidates prepare to fight for seats on parish council Bye election candidates are Roy Glover, Lyndon Newins, James Gaywood, Anne Oxtoby. |
| 13.12.2001 | Sevenoaks Chronicle | 7 | Long service Presentation by parish council to former councillors Fry and Millar (pictured with chairman Mrs Tucker) |
| 13.12.2001 | Sevenoaks Chronicle (Eve Pertile) | 4 | Primary Children excel in science Local schools outperform the national average score for 11 year olds of 27.3:- New Ash Green (27.9), Hartley Primary (29.5), Our Lady of Hartley RC (30.0), Fawkham C of E (30.5) |
| 20.12.2001 21.12.2001 |
Dartford Messenger Dartford Times (James Lancaster) |
4 6 |
Farmer cultivates vote win (DM) Farmer Roy's on a roll! (DT) Roy Glover (482) and Lyndon Newins (371) elected to Hartley Council (other candidates were James Gaywood (329), Anne Oxtoby (319)) |
| 20.12.2001 20.12.2001 |
Dartford Messenger Gravesend Messenger |
8 8 |
Politicians ignore people's wishes Field all set for political football Letter by Peter Mayer saying that there is no need for football pitches, and when asked 80% of local people voted against them. |