Dartford Borough Council News

Dartford’s younger residents are invited to come along to a special free family event in Central Park to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Children and their families are invited to attend the fun-filled Great Big Jubilee Kids’ Day Out on Sunday 27 May from 1pm to 4pm.

Amongst the activities and attractions on offer will be a range of sports and games to try, crafts with a Jubilee theme, a Punch & Judy show, face-painting, the vintage fire engine and lots more.

Registered five to eleven year-olds will receive a special t-shirt and goodie bag so call 01322 343244 now to register your child for the Great Big Jubilee Kids’ Day Out.

Councillor Jeremy Kite, Leader of the Council, said, “We hope you can join us for this brilliant day out in Central Park. There’ll be lots going on for the whole family to enjoy.”

ENDS

With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee just around the corner, plans are in place to help Dartford’s residents celebrate in style.

From organise-your-own street parties to a fantastic family fun-filled event in Central Park, we’ve got it covered.

If you’re planning a street party for the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, check out www.dartford.gov.uk/jubilee or the new ‘Street Parties’ leaflet for advice, ideas and the chance to win a £50 supermarket voucher to help with the catering. If you are planning a party but haven’t yet registered it with Kent County Council, make sure you do so before Friday 18 May.

Now is also the time to book your child a place at the Great Big Jubilee Kids’ Day Out. Taking place in Central Park on Sunday 27 May from 1pm til 4pm, this promises to be a fun-filled, family day out. There’ll be lots of activities going on around the park aimed at five to eleven year-olds. Registered children (aged 5-11) will receive a free t-shirt and goodie bag (while stocks last). Call 01322 343244 to book your child’s place.

Sunday 27 May will also see the start of the third summer season of free concerts at the Sir Henry Wellcome Bandstand in Central Park. The concerts take place every Sunday throughout the summer (except 15 July) up to Sunday 26 August, from 2pm to 4pm. This first concert will be performed by Dartford Concert Band. For full details of the bandstand programme, visit www.dartford.gov.uk/centralpark/bandstandprogramme.

Presented by Hazlitt Arts Centre and the Changeling Theatre, watch Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’ performed in the open air in Central Park on Friday 29 June at 7.30pm. Tickets are free to Dartford residents but must be booked in advance by calling 01322 343244.

Councillor Jeremy Kite, Leader of the Council, said, “With lots of great Jubilee events taking place in Dartford this summer, there really is something for everyone. We hope you can join us to celebrate this momentous occasion.”

For further details of these and other Jubilee events going on around the Borough, visit www.dartford.gov.uk/jubilee.

ENDS

Over 1,250 young people from 27 schools in Gravesham and Dartford will be taking part in community celebrations through Gravesend and Dartford town centres on April 23 to celebrate Saint George’s Day. The festivities have been organised by Kent Equality Cohesion Council in partnership with Cohesion Plus supported by Gravesham Borough Council and Dartford Borough Council in what will be some of the biggest celebrations taking place in England.

Work has been taking place in local schools over the last eight weeks to prepare special visual arts and craft displays which will be used during the parade which will be led by the Premier Brass Band, Big Fish Marching Band and the Cultural Beats Project and which will also involve other local music and dance projects. The focal point of the two parades will be a model of Saint George which has been made by local children.

The aim of the events is to celebrate the patron Saint of England and bring together the diverse communities in Gravesham and Dartford to celebrate this important day.

The celebrations in Gravesham will take place between 10am and 11.30am and in Dartford between 1pm and 2.30pm.

Gurvinder Sandher, the Director of Kent Equality Cohesion Council (KECC) who has been working on the celebrations for the past few months commented, “I am really pleased that we have had such a positive response from local schools and community partners. I believe that Saint George’s Day is an excellent way of bringing communities together and celebrating what it means to be English today in a culturally diverse society. I hope that the local communities in Gravesham and Dartford will come out and support the celebrations and wave the flag of Saint George.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
For further information see www.kentecc.org.uk/index-3.html or call Gurvinder Sandher on 01474 369329

Dartford’s Get Active initiative is back for the third year, encouraging residents to become more active, happier and healthier.

With something for everyone, whatever your age or ability, the programme of activities on offer this year ranges from aerobics and Zumba® to stroller roller classes and falls prevention programmes.

The activities are all low-cost or free and take place in local community venues, meaning you won’t have to spend lots of money or travel far to take part.

Among the activities that are new for 2012 is a circular Health Walk which starts and finishes from Darent Valley Hospital’s main reception area on alternate Tuesdays. The short walk takes in the delights of Darenth Country Park and is led by friendly and supportive qualified walk leaders. Walkers can walk at their own pace, meaning the Health Walks are great for people who have been getting little or no exercise due to choice, illness or lack of confidence.

For more information about Get Active, look out for the leaflet in your local library, doctor’s surgery or community centre, or visit www.dartford.gov.uk/getactive

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
Get Active is a joint venture between Dartford Borough Council and West Kent NHS.

The Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Eddy Lampkin, has sent a letter to Her Majesty the Queen on behalf of the people of the Borough of Dartford.

The letter extends a message of greetings and good wishes to the Queen in the week that marks the 60th anniversary of her Accession.

Princess Elizabeth’s Accession to the throne was announced on 6th February 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is being celebrated across the UK and Commonwealth during 2012. For details of events in Dartford, visit www.dartford.gov.uk/events/jubilee.

ENDS

Dartford Borough Museum is starting Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year by launching its latest exhibition, ‘Long to Reign Over Us’, in time for the anniversary of the Accession on 6 February.

The exhibition, which runs from Saturday 4 February to Saturday 23 June 2012, looks at local events at the time of the Accession and Coronation, together with more recent royal visits to the Borough, including the opening of Dartford Judo Centre by HRH the Princess Royal.

Entry to the Museum and exhibition is free.

For more information about the Museum and its exhibitions, visit www.dartford.gov.uk/museum or call 01322 224739.

ENDS

Tri-athletes from across the country will gather at Dartford on 18 August 2012 to take part in the UK’s first overnight long distance triathlon. Known as the Midnight Wo/Man, the race will be held at The Bridge, the new development next to Junction 1a of the M25 that is rapidly becoming a leading triathlon venue.

The Midnight Wo/Man race will include a 3.86km (2.4 mile) swim in The Bridge’s South Lake; a 180.25km (112 mile) cycle and a 42km (26.219 mile) marathon run, all of which are to be completed in less than 17 hours.

“There is a great deal of interest in this new race because we can offer almost perfect triathlon conditions,” explained John Setford, Race Director. “The swim is in clear freshwater, while both the cycling and the running courses are flat and very fast. Because the race is taking place at night, there will be very little chance of competitors overheating!

“Another benefit is that the race will not take up too much of the weekend. Competitors will arrive on Saturday afternoon, start racing at 6.00pm and potentially, they could be home in time for Sunday lunch with the family.”

Earlier this year, The Bridge was the venue for a standard distance triathlon that was a qualifying event for the ITU World Championships in Beijing. This was followed by a multi-distance triathlon and an aquathon race series, all of which attracted keen competition.

“Triathlon is one of the country’s fastest growing sports and we are delighted that Dartford is becoming such an attractive triathlon venue,” said Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council. “The new Midnight Wo/Man race is an innovative idea and I am sure it will be a great success.”

The Bridge is a 264 acre mixed use scheme that is being developed as a joint venture by Dartford Borough Council and Prologis.

Further information on all triathlon events at The Bridge can be found at www.bridgetriathlon.co.uk

ENDS

For further information please contact Caroline Melvin on 0117 946 6654 or 07739 456336