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Trophy designed for town heroes


ACONTEMPORARY award has been designed for a new cele- bration ceremony in Maidstone. Celebrate Maidstone, organised by Jubilee Church and Training Cen- tre, will recognise the area’s unsung heroes and celebrate the county town. With 12 categories,


from star volunteer to arts contribution, winners chosen by a panel of judges will receive a tro- phy at an awards cere- mony at the Mercure Hotel in Hollingbourne on Friday,May 11. Designer Pilar Gomez,


22, was commissioned to create the award by Celebrate Maid- stone. She is in her final year, studying product design at the University of the Creative Arts,


in Rochester. She said: “The inspiration for the trophy came from a relay baton. I was inspired by the idea of handing something over through the generations; the begin- ning of a tradition or an idea being passed down the generations. “A relay is all about


team work and helping one another to obtain a goal, which is to win. In this case, it is the repre- sentation of Maidstone’s community working to- gether to make Maidstone the place it is.” To nominate someone you think is making a dif-


ference to Maidstone or for more information about the awards, visit the Celebrate Maidstone website atwww.cele- bratemaidstone.org.uk


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VIPs and civic dignitaries were due to rock around the clock at theMaidstone Mayoral Ball. But this year, instead of black


ties and ball gowns, the dress was set to be a more casual af- fair, with guests dancing the night away to the mayor’s own rock’n’roll band. As we went to press, mayor


Brian Mortimer was due to per- form at the event with the band 2BC – named after its two Bri- ans and two Colins. Cllr Mortimer roped in his


own band tomaximise the cash raised for charity. The mayor, who plays guitar


and sings backing vocals, was to be joined on stage by two gui- tarists, a drummer and his nephew – the youngest of the


TEENAGE cancer campaigner Amanda Slann (17) has lost her battle with the disease. She was known throughout


the area as a brave spokesman for the Teenage Cancer Trust, raising awareness of people in her position. Diagnosed with leukaemia at


the end of 2010, her work saw her meet the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge. She died at the Royal Marsden Hospital after a battle with her illness that had been complicated by her catch-


news of awards DOZENS of helpers sat- urated Maidstone to promote the awards. Armed with nomina-


tion forms and business cards, the team spread the word of the project.


Mayor rocks the house at ball


bunch at 30 – Terry Spencer- Hopkins on keyboards. The ball is always a highlight


of the civic calendar, but this year it wasmarketed as a “char- ity spring dance”. More than 100 guests, includ-


ing mayors from around the South East, the chairman of KCC Paul Carter, as well as councillors, parish councillors, past mayors, friends and family attended the event, at the Vil- lage Hotel, to raise funds for the mayor’s chosen charities. The money will be divided at


the end of the mayoral year be- tween Help for Heroes, Age UK, West Farleigh-based Dandelion Time and STARS, a charity that helps people who suffer from seizures.


Amanda, 17, loses cancer battle


ing an infection late last year. The Invicta Grammar School student, a resident of Courte- nay Road, was known for her bright personality and positive attitude. When in remission but unable to attend school be- cause of the risk of infection, she passed GCSEs in hospital. Amanda’s parents, Graham


and Amanda, have praised her courage and spoken movingly of their loss. Amanda also leaves sisters Holly (14) and Lacie (13).


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