Charities join to help homeless


TWOMaidstone charitieswhichsupport the homeless and vulnerable have merged. Maidstone Christian Care,whichoperates the Maid-


stone Day Centre and Food for Thought, has linked with Goodsell House, a hostel for homeless men, to form a newcharity – Homeless Care. TheMayor of Maidstone, Cllr Clive English, and Cllr


Peter Homewood, vice chair of KCC, were at a cele- bration evening to mark the merger, held at the Maid- stone Day Centre, in Knightrider Street. Chairman of trustees Mike FitzGerald presented a


cheque for£15,000 to Homeless Care on behalf of En- terprise Training Maidstone – a company of which he is a director and which used to provide YTS training to young people in the town. Themoney will be used to provide additional “move


on” accommodation tomeetthe growing needs of the homeless in Maidstone. Mr FitzGerald thanked the people, the businesses,


the shops andretailers, churchesandschoolsofMaid- stone, who had supported the charity over the years and said: “Without their support,wewouldnot be able to serve those vulnerable in our society.”


Pensioner’s annex plan A KINGSWOOD pensioner wants to live in a granny annex at her home to prevent her from hav- ing to move to a care home. Jeanne Day (68) suffers from osteoarthritis in her


knees, feet and left shoulder. She lives with her son and daughter-in-law in Heatherwood Close but plans to sell the property to them if she can move into an annex in her garden. “This means that Mrs Day would be unlikely to require care home facili- ties in the future as her needs can be met for many years in the planned residential apartment,” wrote Dr Jackie Dennison from Langley’s Orchard Surgery. Maidstone Council will determine the planning application.


Cllr Mike FitzGerald presents a cheque for £15,000 to Rev David Bond of Homeless Care


He said the merger would enable Maidstone to re-


spond to the needs of the homeless and vulnerable, and said: “Thismerger is just one step on the ladder of change. If we can continue to lead the way in Maid- stone, perhaps it will persuade our nation to rise up anddeliver for thepoorandleastwell-off in our society. “There is no reason for anyone togo hungry inMaid-


stone because of the generosity of its people and I thank God for that – and the people here today.” Cllr English said: “It is inspiring to see some of the


work that has takenplace in Maidstone in thepast few years – but a lot of challenges remain.”


Top brass in tribute night AMUSICAL feast to mark the 110th anniversary of the birth of Eric Ball OBE takes place at Maid- stone’s Salvation Army Hall in Union Street, with a guest contribution from Mr Ball himself! The former Salvation Army officer and world famous brass band composer died in 1989 – but he will introduce items in the concert via mate- rial recorded while he was alive. Eric Ball was born in Bristol in 1903. He was awarded the OBE in 1959. The concert, at 7pm on Saturday, October 19, features The Medway Band (Championship Section) and the South London Fellowship Band.Admission is free, but there will be a retiring collection.


James is the toast of Mote


AN outstanding all-round performance by James Hodgson was marked when The Mote Cricket Club celebrated amuch-improved season at the annual dinner.


James,ofKings Hill,won themainbatting and bowlingawardsafter he scored 820 runs during the Kent League season and also took 27 wickets with his spin bowling.


The club led Division One for most


of the season but finally missed pro- motion to thePremier Divisionby only three points – a major improvement on 2012 when they had to battle to avoid relegation.


Other award winners were: 2nd XI


– batting Richard Bradford (382 runs), bowling Richard Gentry (28 wickets); 3rd XI batting Raj Raveen- dran (307 runs), bowling Josh Sheris- ton (19 wickets). Young Player of the Year was 1st team opening bowler Tom Henson and the most improved young players Fraser Inglis.


Kings Hill Mote cricketer James Hodgson (left) and club captain Alex Fordham


A special presentation was made to Malcolm Bassett to mark 25 years as club secretary.


Get fit – courtesy of the village pub


VILLAGERS are being encour- aged to get on their bikes – or to run and swim – as keep-fit fa- natics in Laddingford race headlong into autumn. Following the success of the


ORC triathlon in June, which raised funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Chequers Inn’sOtters, Racers and Chasers have been getting on with their training. Agroup ofOtters (the outdoor swimmers) went swimming in


24 South


Slovenia, where they covered around 11km in 2½days while the Chasers have resumed run- ning on Tuesday evenings (shorter runs) and Sunday mornings (longer runs). If you would like to find out more or join in, contact Ella Charlton on ella_charlton@hotmail.co.uk.


Home cinema plan MR P Tourett has applied to convert a detached garage into a home cinema at Cherry Tree Farm, Cross Drive, Kingswood.


AVILLAGE petrol station could be set to star on the small screen after a camera crew rolled into rural Marden. Stanleys Petrol Station in Al-


bion Road was selected by TV company Hat Trick Productions whowere filming a ‘taster’ com- edy programme starring Ben Miller. Ben, most famous


as half of the duo Armstrong and Miller, was only recording a five- minute slot – but filming took more than three hours! Garage owner Liz Stanley said: “I took the crew around the village and showed them the pubs, the shops and the local businesses. “Hat Trick hope to sell the


idea to Sky, so if there is to be a full series made, it could be a great spin-off for the village.” Liz’s son works for Vantage Productions and has connec- tions with Hat Trick. When he heard they were looking for a village which still had a filling station he had no hesitation in nominating his mum!


Tree to be removed VIVIENNE Davis has been granted conservation area per- mission to remove a leylandii tree at Whispering Waters, High Banks, Loose.


Fresh plan for


‘flood risk’ area A PLANNING consultant says he needs to build a home to pro- tect his prospective live/work unit in Hunton from flooding. Alan Bishop, of Bishop Con- sultancy, was given permission on appeal in April last year to convert an agricultural unit in Beast House,West Street, into a property for business and ac- commodation. Maidstone Coun- cil had twice turned down the scheme. Mr Bishop said he could not


get insurance for the unit as there was a flood risk issue and submitted an application for a new home on land 16m to the south and more than 1m higher than Beast House. Maidstone Council will de- termine the application.


Market donation ADONATION of £60 was given to the Yalding-based Kenward Trust after the September Farm- ers’ Market at East Farleigh. Although the Sunday morn-


ingmarket was quieter than ex- pected, with several regular stallholders absent due to staffing issues or illness, it still raised a sufficient surplus to make the charity donation. The trust supports men, women and young people deal- ing with drug and alcohol is- sues.


Marden readied for TV show She said: “I’m hoping we


might be able to do for Marden what the Darling Buds of May did for Pluckley!” The taster – formerly known


as a pilot - is a silent comedy and the scene was about a farmer trying to rent a DVD from a late-night fill- ing station. When he ar-


rived, the shop was closed so he mimed what he wanted through the window. Liz said: “This


wasonlyaone- off, butwith Ben Miller starring, I am sure it will


be a great success.” Liz, who is vice-chairman of Marden Business Forum, said: “The crew thought it was a great location so hopefully they will be back.” Ben gave Liz a signed DVD set


of his hit TV series ‘The worst week of my life’ and a scented candle. She said: “I didn’t want any payment – so now I have the sweetest smelling fuel station in the South East!”


Office conversion PETER Court has received planning consent to convert an office into a one-bed home in Highlands Lodge, Chartway Street, Sutton Valence.


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