From left, award winners Bethany Simpson, Phoebe Percy, Savanna Green, KirstenWarren, Katie Bishop and Edward Carter Youngsters’ commitment is rewarded


TALENTED and community- minded young people from across theMaidstone area have been recognised at the annual TryAngle awards, organised by Kent County Council. The Try Angle Awards were introduced in 1994 to raise the profile of young people in the community. Eight awards, from hundreds


of nominations, went to young- sters from Maidstone deemed to have given outstanding serv- ice to their peers and the com- munity. The awards were presented during a celebration evening at the Hazlitt Theatre by borough and county councillors from Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling, as well as officials from the police, Kent Fire and Rescue and youth workers. The Arts award went this


year to a whole group of inspi- rational young people – the Info-Zone Youth Centre’s Flash Media Group. Rosie, Charlotte, Patrick,


Will, Chanisira and Ben pro- duced a short documentary to raise awareness of self-harm – ‘Silent Scream: Why do young people self harm?’ The DVD has received great reviews from young people and has been well received and en-


dorsed by other agencies as an excellent project, highlighting this sensitive issue. The Music award went to Amelia Henderson and Phoebe Percy, pupils at Maplesden Noakes School. Both are active members of Info-zone and have been the backbone of a three piece band called A Little Bit Awkward, playing guitars and singing their own songs and covers. The band has performed at


the last three Don’t Abuse The Booze Gigs in Maidstone, and are an inspiration to other young people as well as great role models for young women. Savanna Green, from Ton- bridge Road, who became a peer mentor, while trying to complete her GCSEs as well as caring for family members and dealingwith issues of her own, received the Good Friends and Young Carers award. Savanna is now mentoring another through the same scheme and has recently started an apprenticeship at Kent County Council. Kirsten Warren, from Fant, received a Bravery award, for coping in the face of adversity. Kirsten has been quite ill dur-


ing the past academic year, with regular hospital appoint-


Police medals stolen


PART of a haul of police medals stolen dur- ing a Maidstone burglary was found three weeks later in Leybourne. Thieves took the awards, including a po-


lice long service medal, two police Jubilee medals and a policeOlympic medal, from a house in Giddyhorn Lane. Kent Police appealed for information about


a man in his mid-20s, wearing an orange T- shirt and light trousers, who was seen in the area and in nearby Kingsgate Close on the day of the raid. The house is owned by an of- ficer from a neighbouring force. One of the medals was found at Ley- bourne Lakes so police would also like to speak to anyone who might have seen any suspicious activity in this area. PC Tim Murrell, from Kent Police, said:


“I’m hopeful that if anyone is offered items like this for sale, or finds them dumped, they willcontact us. If anyone saw thisman, or knows who he is, I would ask them to get in touch.” Contact PC Murrell at Maidstone police station by calling 01622 604464 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting YY/12040/13.


12 Town


ments, and has been very brave during an incredibly difficult time for her and her family, De- spite all the difficulties, she is still a bubbly, friendly and po- lite young woman. Matthew Burton, who lives


in the London Road area, re- ceived the Citizenship and En- vironment award. Matt was elected as a Kent


Youth County Council member in November 2012. He became chair and has since worked hard to drive the KYCC cam- paign forward. He has been selected to sit on


theNational Youth Select Com- mittee - one of only 11 young people across the UK to do so – which is looking at the curricu- lum in schools. Matt is currently working


and lobbying schools to sign up to deliver a curriculum for life, which will include political education, sex and relation- ships, cultural awareness and finance skills. Katie Bishop, from Coxheath,


won the Volunteering and Service to the Community award and Bethany Simpson, from Loose, received the Per- sonal Development award. Martial arts black belt Ed-


ward Carter, from Eccles, won the Sport or Outdoor Activity


Award. Maria Kelly, business man-


ager for KCC's Integrated Youth Services, said the theme for this year’s awards was keeping children and young people safe.


“Safeguarding children is everyone’s business,” she said. “Every child has the right to a safe, happy childhood, and yet we know there are many in- stances where children and young people are put at risk, ei- ther by their own actions or by the actions of others. “This can be from a number


of issues, including bullying, e- safety, and problems at home and in school. We also know that there are many instances where vulnerable children have been supported and helped by their peers, or stood up for themselves. “We want to celebrate this


and acknowledge the actions taken which have made a dif- ference to young people’s lives.” All nominees received a Try


Angle certificate and the eight winners will go forward to the Spirit of Try Angle Awards, a county celebration eventwhich will highlight the best of the nominations received from across Kent &Medway.


Judge steps down from the bench


ONE of Maidstone’s most prominent district judges, Edwina Millward, has retired from the bench. Judge Millward (69) made na-


tional headlines when she was elected thefirstwomanpresident of the Association of District Judges in 2008, although she al- most never made it into court! Born in an era when few


women had high-flying careers, Edwina didn’t study Latin at school – a pre-requisite for law backin the 60s. Instead, shewent into teaching domestic science. Still yearning to better herself, she signed up


for a part-time law degree course with London University in the evenings, which took her five years to complete. She joined the Maidstone


Kickboxing gym planned A NEW kickboxing enterprise could open above The Bath Store at 8 Tonbridge Road. Denise Elliott has submitted a planning application to convert half of the first floor into the gymnasium. Maidstone Council will make the decision.


firm of Gill, Turner Tucker to do her articles in 1967 and was admitted as a solicitor in 1972. She became a senior partner in 1990. She was the national president of the Feder-


ation of BusinessandProfessionalWomenfrom 1985-87and president of theKent LawSociety in 1994-95 – the same year she became a full- time district judge, having been appointed by the Lord Chancellor to sit as a deputy district judge intheMaidstonedistrictcounty courts six years previously. This placed her as one of just 94 women among the association’s 455 members. Having hung up her judicial wig for the final


time, Edwina is looking forward to spending more time with her husbandDavid in their rural Weald home, as well as picking up her former hobbies – needlework and swimming.


Mental health service consent AN NHS Trust has been allowed to create a base for children’s mental health services at Knightrider House in Knightrider Street, Maidstone. Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust says the scheme will create 65 jobs.


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