Home   Kent   News   Article

2005: review of the year

KentOnline reporter
multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk
10:56, 23 December 2005
A draw on the last day of the season at Nottingham Forest condemned Gillingham to relegation from the Championship and soon afterwards manager Stan Ternent left. His replacement, Neale Cooper, had a torrid time - culminating in a humiliating FA Cup defeat at Unibond League Burscough (pictured) - and he also left in November. Ronnie Jepson has his work cut out.EUJet, the low-cost airline based at Kent International Airport in Manston, went into liquidation in October. The airline was grounded in July by cashflow problems and failed to find a financial saviour. The collapse cost 200 jobs and stranded thousands of passengers across Europe.Geraint Jones was Kent's representative as England's cricketers did the nation proud with a stunning Ashes victory over the Australians, a series which knocked football off the back pages and galvanised public interest in the game.It was chaos in the first week of March as snow and ice caused mayhem on the roads, closed schools and businesses and created havoc for the emergency services.KM photographer Matthew Walker captured this image of the scene of a plane crash at Horsmonden, near Paddock Wood in February. The pilot of the Piper Cherokee was killed when his aircraft crashed head on into the ground in thick fog. No-one on the ground was injured.The Wye Concordat, including dramatic £1billion plans to create 12,500 jobs and transform the village of Wye over the next 25 years, was signed by representatives from Imperial College, Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council in December.The year started with strong gales destroying the famous lime tree at Kent's St Lawrence cricket ground. Many believed it was a blessing in disguise as the tree was nearing the end of its life anyway. A new lime tree was planted in March.There was a larger than normal number of fatal accidents on Kent's roads in 2005. This one, which involved a French-registered lorry and a van, near junction 1 of the M20 in December caused morning rush hour misery with traffic on the London-bound carriageway tailing back as far as junction 7. The van driver was killed.This dramatic picture captured the aftermath of a hot air balloon accident in June at Dunkirk, near Faversham. It was later revealed that the crash, which injured 12 people, was caused by high winds rather than mechanical or equipment faults.This was the scene in East Malling Village Hall car park in September after Peter Todd, the 53-year-old son of The Dam Busters star Richard Todd, is thought to have committed suicide. A shotgun was found by his side.Thousands of commuters from Kent were caught up in the horror of the bomb blasts that rocked London in July, killing 52 people and injuring hundreds more.
The famous lime tree at Kent's St Lawrence ground was destroyed by January gales. Picture: CHRIS DAVEY
The famous lime tree at Kent's St Lawrence ground was destroyed by January gales. Picture: CHRIS DAVEY

THERE was plenty happening across the county over the last 12 months.

The above series of pictures illustrate some of the big stories of the year.

The whole team at Kent Online wish everyone a Happy New Year and all the best for 2006.

People & Employment KentOnline reporter

Most popular

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More