Author: Matt Tobin

Local school pupils take part in Olympic-themed sports day

Coombs were one of the principal supporters of this year’s Canterbury Minilympics.

Over 140 school children from nine local schools took part in the Canterbury Minilympics sports day, to encourage active and healthy lifestyles. Pupils, aged eight and nine, and their teachers got involved in a day of team athletics and sports science tests at the Birley’s Field on Monday, 11 June, which was organised by Canterbury Christ Church University in partnership with The King’s School.

Triple Olympian Hockey Player Jen Wilson, gave the pupils motivational talks about the benefits of excelling in sport and activities included cricket skills run by Kent Women’s Cricket Hannah Jelfs and International cricketer Susie Rowe.

Pupils participated in field testing and athletics which included throwing, jumping and running relays, which was organised by King’s School staff, Spires Academy students and Christ Church Sport.

Women’s Kent Cricketer Hannah Jelfs commented on the day: “It’s fantastic to see so many young people getting involved with cricket,” she said. “There was an element of both enjoyment and competition which is really good. It’s so lovely to see everyone smiling and laughing.”

The teams enjoyed a barbecue lunch and were also given a nutritional talk by Sports Nutritionist Christian Smith. At the end of the day, pupils were awarded medals, goody bags and trophies.

Dave Newhouse, PE Teacher at Hoath Primary School and Chislet Church of England Primary School spoke about the event. He said: “It’s organised, relaxed but a really fun event for the children. It’s a fast-paced day and really interesting for the kids.”

Ryley Collins, who is in Year 4 at Chislet Church of England Primary School, said: “I loved the field testing, especially the sprint speed and agility – it was ten out of ten. “I loved the talks from the Hockey Olympian and about not having so much sugar because I love football.”

Hoath Primary School pupil, nine-year-old Lexie Williams, also said she enjoyed the day. “I like that not everything has been the same. The field testing was good and I’ve had such a good day.”

A collaboration of local organisations

Cristina Astin, Head of Partnerships at The King’s School said: “King’s is delighted to be collaborating for the fourth year running with Canterbury Christ Church University. It’s great to see our students developing their sports leadership skills, together with students from Spires Academy, as they lead some of the sessions with the King’s School. It’s always good to see the sun shining and the facilities being used for the good of the community.”

Coombs are currently on site delivering Canterbury Christ Church University’s new Arts Building. Other sponsors of the event include Bidfood, NCS Technology, Woodley Coles, Betteridge & Milsom and Sturts.

Margate Town Pride Awards recognise The Sunshine Cafe

Our refurbishment of the Former Dreamland Cinema Frontage, part of our Sunshine Café project, was recognised at this year’s Margate Town Pride Awards.

The project at Dreamland was WINNER of a ‘Highly Commended’ Town Pride Award Certificate. This is the second Coombs project to be recognised by the Margate Civic Society, the first being the development known as Roller Coaster House at All Saints Avenue.

The awards are organised by the Margate Civic Society, whose purpose and aims are to encourage high standards of architecture and town planning and to encourage the preservation, development and improvement of features of general amenity and historical interest in Margate and its environs. Each year, Margate Civic Society holds the Town Pride Awards to promote this high standard.

This recognition of Dreamland comes amongst a host of other awards for the heritage theme park having won three awards in two days.

The results of this year’s Town Pride Awards were announced at the meeting of the Margate Civic Society held at the prestigious Walpole Bay Hotel, Fifth Avenue, Cliftonville, Margate on Thursday, 10 May.

A grand total of fifteen properties were judged for the 2018 Town Pride Awards as having enhanced the built environment. The calibre of nominations received indicates a growing awareness amongst the Society’s members of the major contribution that both renovation of often run-down properties and the erection of well-designed new properties make to the overall attractiveness of the town.

Dreamland Cinema

The results of the Town Pride Awards were announced by the Society’s Chairman, Pamela Pople and the presentations made by the President, Mr Ralph Handscomb, in the presence of Sir Roger Gale (MP for North Thanet) and the Mayor of Margate’s Consort, Mr Geoffrey Dixon.

Pamela Pople, who organised the event, said “I should like to thank former KCC Cllrs Mo Elenor and Will Scobie for their support in providing 5 years’ funding towards this project (this being the final year), which enabled us to commission Croft Cast Signs to create the bespoke new durable blue plaques depicting the Margate Clock Tower, which has become a symbol of our Society. 2018 is very significant for our Society, as we will be celebrating our 50th anniversary at the end of this year.

I am delighted once again that we received nominations of such a high calibre, resulting in 2 Town Pride winners this year and 5 ‘Highly Commended’, each of which was diverse, reflecting the exceptional high standard of new projects that have been undertaken in the local area, which will contribute greatly in raising its ethos and a sense of pride in our community.”

Ashford School appoint Coombs for new nursery and sports pavilion

Ashford School have appointed Coombs to deliver a vibrant new nursery and sports pavilion.

The project will create a new nursery at the Prep School to alleviate their oversubscribed nursery at the Senior School. As well as allowing for more children to enrol, the nursery will act as a feeder for the Prep School.

The aim of CLArchitect’s design is to create a vibrant building reflecting the school’s ethos for adventurous learning. Dual aspect, light and spacious group rooms with access to external play spaces help achieve this aim. The group rooms are located around a dining area at the core of the building that brings all the children and staff together.

The project will improve Ashford School’s visual impact by removing mismatched buildings, while retaining and enhancing existing features such as historic stone walls.

A new sports pavilion will also be delivered as part of our works at Ashford School which also includes enabling works for new changing rooms. The much-needed facilities will support Ashford School’s “competitive sport for all” ethos and busy fixture list.

The new pavilion will provide a mix of changing rooms and a club room offering views across the sports pitches.  The prominent new building will in time become a symbol of Ashford School.

Further information about the new nursery and sports pavilion at Ashford School can be found here. Images courtesy of CLArchitects.

Thrilling game at Canterbury Rugby Football Club

Our long-standing support of Canterbury RFC continued with our sponsorship of an exciting home win.

Coombs support of Canterbury RFC stretches back over 30 years and this year included the donation of a new porch for the club house. Our matchday sponsorship of Canterbury v Henley, at The Marine Travel Ground saw a stirring second half revival.

Canterbury came from behind to overturn a fourteen-point lead and secure the win against Henley. The exciting game was up for grabs until the last minute when Henley’s George Jackson lined up for a decisive conversion attempt.

Thankfully the woodwork came to the rescue as the kick bounced off a post, sealing the home win. Man of the Match was given to Tom Rogers, seen below being presented his award by Coombs’ Chairman, Stephen Ball.

Dreamland Runner-up to Universal Studios Florida at Awards

Dreamland came runner up in the “Best Family Theme Park” category at the annual Family Traveller Awards.

The awards honour the best in the family travel industry and this year attracted over 40,000 votes. With Dreamland coming runner-up only to Universal Studios Florida. In total over 2,000 companies were nominated.

We are proud to have contributed to such an amazing achievement. Our work at Dreamland with Thanet District Council has spanned multiple phases since we started urgent repair works in 2011 to our most recent project at The Sunshine Café.

Congratulations to everybody involved!