New company has big plans for Hazlitt


A NEW company could soon be treading the boards atMaidstone’s Hazlitt Theatre. The council has accepted a tender – one


of only two received – from Worcester- based Parkwood Leisure to run the 350-seat theatre, the Exchange Studio and other fa- cilities at the Earl Street venue. Parkwood Leisure, which operates 84 fa- cilities on behalf of 25 local authority clients, employing 4,500 people, could take over at the theatre complex by the end of the year, saving the council an estimated £3.2m over the course of the 15-year con- tract, according to the cabinet member for commercial development, Malcolm Greer. The contract needs to be finalised. How-


ever, Cllr Greer said: “I am confident that Parkwood will deliver a noticeable im- provement to service levels and reduce the bottom line cost.”


Orchestra plea for 200 singers


to join choir KENT Music is appealing for 200 experienced singers to per- form Beethoven’s Choral Sym- phony in a concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kent County Youth Orchestra. The choir will perform with


the orchestra at Mote Hall, Maidstone, on Saturday, Sep- tember 7. The concert, conducted by


Alan Vincent, will also feature Handel’s Zadok the Priest, Four Sea Interludes by Britten and a specially-commissioned piece by former Kent County Youth Orchestra member Ben Oliver. In Beethoven’s Symphony


No 9, the orchestra and singers will be joined by soprano Julia Sporsen, mezzo Tania Holland, tenor Robin Green and bass Simon Thorpe. Rehearsals will be held at


Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone, on Saturday, June 8; Saturday, June 15; Sunday, June 23; Sunday, June 30 and Saturday, August 31. There is a participation fee


of £20 for adults and £10 for full-time students. Call Kent County Music Groups on 01622 358402 or go to www.kent-music.com. KCYO will be giving a con-


cert at Mote Hall, Maidstone on Saturday, April 6, featuring Overture “Oberon” by Weber, A Somerset Rhapsody by Holst, Trumpet Concerto in E flat by Haydn and Symphony No. 2 in C minor by Tchaikovsky.


Summer concert DETLING Singers will be joined by Harmony singers for their summer concert at Detling Village Hall on June 1. The programme will feature popular songs from the musi- cals. Tickets are £7 for adults and


free for children – call Edward on 01622 880404.


28 East Parkwood Leisure has pledged to main-


tain a focus on community use of the the- atre and will continue to offer outreach community activities, such as the Maid- stoneMela and Proms in the Park. Existing staffwould be offered the chance


to transfer to Parkwood Leisure, under the same terms and conditions they have now. Concerns that prices could rise, not only


to customers but to outside organisations who hire the theatre for amateur produc- tions, after Parkwood said it would honour existing prices “for an initial period” were dismissed by the company's sales and mar- keting director Joanne Martin, who said: "It is always our policy to operate an estab- lishment for a year prior to any changes.We will consider feedback from customers, at- tendance at shows and market conditions before determining if prices should be ad-


ANEWchapter in the long history of The Mote cricket groundwas written when the current Lord Bearsted– the fifth–openedtherestored Tabernacle as theMote Youth Sports Centre. The Tabernaclewas built over 100 years ago by his


great grandfather, the first Lord Bearsted, when he lived on the Mote Park family estate. He played cricket and built the unique Tabernacle


as his ownsporting, business and social base, aswell as a newpavilion still used by the club. Lord Bearsted built up his fortune as founder and


first chairman of Shell Oil, named after his family in- ternational trading business, which included a suc- cessful line in ornamental sea shells. Afterhis death, thefamily soldMotePark in1929to


Maidstone Corporation for £50,000, and the cricket groundwas left in trust to The Mote CC. Upkeep of the Tabernaclewas expensive, and three


years ago it became derelict. The club campaigned for help, and four grants


raised almost £55,000. The Tabernacle is now reno- vated, with all main features retained. Lord and Lady Bearsted, accompanied by their son Harry, unveiled a large photograph of the 1st Lord


justed either up or down. Sometimes, there is no need to make changes." The company has said it would continue


to offer concessions on tickets for people on low incomes and would also introduce a loyalty card, offering discounts on tickets and drinks, as well as behind the scenes tours and other inducements. Joanne said: “Through the card, we be-


lievewe can encourage loyalty from patrons while introducing arts and culture to a wider and more diverse audience.” The venue would also cater for arts and


craft exhibitions, workshops and activities. There are plans to introduce daytime stu-


dio classes for mothers and babies and the over-50s, as well as developing the café. If a deal is agreed, Parkwood plans to in-


vest more than £45,000 in the first year for new IT equipment and booking system.


Lord Bearsted opens The Mote’s Tabernacle


Lord and Lady Bearsted open the Tabernacle


Bearsted in front ofMaidstone mayor, Cllr Rodd Nel- son-Gracie, local MPs, Maidstone councillors, the site trustees and many past and present members of cricket and rugby clubs. All enjoyed lunch in the pavil- ion before a social cricket match. The Tabernacle will be runby the newly-formedMoteSportsFederation to develop youth sport, as a meetings room and for use by match-day officials.


Cash for community schemes


MAIDSTONE Council has opened the second round of bids for cash from its Pride in Maidstone Fund. The one-off £70,000 fund was launched in 2012 to support community projects throughout the borough to build strong communities, tackle disadvan- tage and increase employment. Applications are welcome


from community groups, volun- tary organisations, charities, so- cial enterprises and not-for-profit organisations who wish to run projects to improve the wellbe- ing of communities or improve the local economy.


In the first round of applica-


tions, £30,660 was awarded to six projects. Maidstone Christian Care was awarded £10,000 to expand their Food for Thought project, which distributes food to those in need across the borough, whilst £9,280 was awarded to Communitech, a social enter- prise being developed by young people who were out of work. The Maidstone Association of


Youth received £1,500 for its Headcorn youth project and NeighbourhoodWatch received £1,000 towards its “socket and see” safety campaign.


Young musicians shine on stage THESE talented youngsters – one only 13 – have won top places in theMaidstone andMid Kent Young Musician of the Year awards. First prize went to 17-year-old pianist Laurence Long, a pupil at


King’s,Rochester,whohaswon awards to play solo recitals at Clare College, Cambridge, and Coventry Cathedral. Runner-up at the event at the Hazlitt Theatrewas 13-year-old vio-


linist Anya Livtchak, ofWallis Avenue, Maidstone, who goes to Sut- ton Valence school. She has played since shewas six. The competition isorganisedby theRotary clubsofMaidstone and


Dawn Patrol to encourage young musicians and raise funds to sup- port them.


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Sutton Valence Youth Forum received £3,880 towards a new youth club development –U3E – and Voluntary Action Maid- stone received £5,000 to man- age its Gateway Volunteers and pay for uniforms. The closing date for the next


round of applications is Friday June 14. for details go to www.open4community.info/ma idstone/default.aspx, call Julia Fraser, community develop- ment officer, on 01622 602513 or email juliafraser@maid- stone.gov.uk. There is no upper – or lower – limit on grant requests.


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