Dartford news

The wartime fire engine known as "Borough of Dartford" has come home after being rescued from an uncertain future by Dartford Borough Council in late 2011.

The official handover of the engine to the Council took place on Thursday 26 January 2012 at Dartford Fire Station in Watling Street. The ceremony was attended by Jeremy Kite, Leader of the Council, Councillor Ann Allen, Lead Member for Communities, Mr Bryan Cope, Chairman of Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority, and Steve Griffiths, Kent Fire and Rescue Service's Director of Service Delivery.

Councillor Kite, said, "When we saw it, we knew we had to have it! The fire engine is fantastic and it was great that we could buy it and give it a good home back here in Dartford."

Purchased by public subscription in 1939, ownership of the Leyland Fire Engine passed to Kent Fire Brigade following the nationalisation of the fire service in 1941. The engine was withdrawn from service in 1955, was fully restored in 1971 and has been kept in Kent Fire and Rescue Service's museum ever since.

The fire engine will now be cared for by the Council and is available to hire for special events such as weddings and fetes. Please email heritage@dartford.gov.uk or call 01322 343244 for more information.

After making its first official appearance at the Carol Concert in Central Park back in December, the engine's next outing will be to Dartford High Street on Friday 17 February as part of the British Heart Foundation's 'Red for Heart' event.

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." Read more

Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Eddy Lampkin, joined Darth Vader, Daleks and Stormtroopers in Dartford town centre last Saturday to raise money for local charity Cherished Memories.

The Mayor helped to collect £465 in donations from members of the public who had their photographs taken with the Star Wars and Dr Who characters in the Orchards Shopping Centre.

Councillor Lampkin said, "It was great to see these hugely popular characters drawing in people of all ages to have their pictures taken and donate money to Cherished Memories – a very worthwhile cause."

Cherished Memories works to organise special family days out for children from hospices. The families are also provided with a DVD to help them remember their special day.

Along with Arrow Riding School, DGSM YourChoice and ChYps, Cherished Memories is one of the charities that Councillor Lampkin has chosen to support during his term of office.

For more information about the Mayor of Dartford's charities and upcoming fundraising events, including a race night on Saturday 21 January, please visit www.dartford.gov.uk/mayor