Concert marks 40 years of choir SINGERS celebrated 40 years of their choir with a lively con- cert in All Saints Church, Maidstone. Bearsted Choral Society joined French singers, Chorale des
Deux Caps, to put on an evening of classical and traditional tunes. Songs including Amazing Grace and Psalm 23 – used as the
theme tune to The Vicar of Dibley – were sung, as well as a ver- sion of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. The local choir will be opening the Upchurch music festival and performing in the Maidstone choirs festival in July.
Warm and snug, just like a ‘roo’
ANNIE Lefebve is confident her new baby will be a really happy little chap, just like his big brother. The reason? They both started life as kangaroos! When Matthew was born two
years ago he went straight into a pouch-like wrap – for what is called “kangaroo care” – and Christopher, pictured at home with mum, has followed suit. Both were Caesarian deliveries. The cotton wrap goes around
the body and is then tied. It al- lows a baby to have that all-im- portant skin-to-skin contact with mum – or dad – who can then have their hands free to get on with other jobs. The system was trialled suc- cessfully at Pembury Hospital and has just been rolled out at Maidstone Hospital. Christopher arrived – weigh-
ing 6lb 11oz – in the week the scheme was launched. It got the thumbs-up from Annie and husband Steve, both police offi- cers, who live in Leamington Drive, near the hospital. “It is such a positive thing,”
said Annie, 33. “When I was re- covering from the Caesarians it meant I could carry Matthew, and now Christopher, and keep my hands free to do things around the house. ” Annie has also found it helped with Christopher’s
Happy
days: Baby Christopher is content in the KangaWrap close to mum.
weight. “He only lost 11 /2 ozin
the first week, which is good, and I put that down to the ‘Kan- gaWrap’.” She added: “It’s a very natural
thing to do. In other countries, you don’t go off to work in the field and leave the baby – you take the baby wbth you.” And it’s not just for mums. First-born Matthew spent a lot of time in the wrap with dad. Annie said: “The two of them have a fabulous bond and I firmly believe it was down to the wrap.” Consultant midwife Sarah Gregson paid tribute to col- leagues Jean Meadows, Marion Adams, Jane Jeal and Karen Leeson who introduced the sys- tem, adding: “Kangaroo care has really changed how we care for small and preterm babies.”
All join the jam for free music event!
MAIDSTONE’S biggest free youth music festival - Jam in the Park 2011 - is set to return to Brenchley Gardens on Saturday, August 6. The eventwill see a host of Kent youth bands and solo artists per- forming live that afternoon. Event organiser Moira Mitchell said: “Each year the festival just gets bigger and better.We’re now on the hunt for youth bands and solo artists to audition.” Email
jaminthepark@hotmail.co.uk with an example of your music. Alternatively, call 0796 1051654 for more details.
Boost for women abuse victims THE Maidstone-area Women’s Support Service has re- ceived £27,752 from the Government’s Big Society Transition Fund. WSS chair Suzanne Holloway said: “Raising funds for services for victims of domestic abuse is challenging in this difficult econ- omy.
Commercial storage TRAVIS Perkins has ap- plied for atemporary two- year change of use to allow the overnight storage of commercial vehicles at Cob- tree House, Forstal Road, Aylesford. The proposal, which will
be decided by Maidstone Council, also seeks the sta- tioning of two portable cab- ins for offices and restrooms.
“This grant will enable us to
work better in partnership to develop much needed support for victims of domestic abuse in Kent.” WSS’s helpline, 01622 761146, is available Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5pm, or email
dutydesk@wsskent.org.uk It also runs an out-of-office-
hours service from Maidstone police station on Saturdays and Sundays, bwtween 9am and 3pm, on 07961 021929.
We don’t just move houses We move homes....
Local & long distance, full & part loads Wrap & pack service available Domestic & commercial moving & storage Short & long term self storage Temperature controlled warehouse CCTV & Redcare alarm protection Staff fully trained & CRB checked
A KCC Trading Standards approved member. ‘Buy with Confidence’ traders are committed to providing a quality service to their customers.
www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk Call 01622 670562
www.brayandson.com Unit 15 Heronden Road, Parkwood, Maidstone
B.A.R Trained Staff A company you can trust Visit Downs Mail’s website —
downsmail.co.uk East 25 Established 1946 National &
International Removals & Secure Self Storage
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48