Volunteer Mike’s dedication rewarded


FORMER borough councillor Mike FitzGer- ald has won the lifetime achievement award as part of Celebrate Maidstone 2014. The awards, now in their third year, are or- ganised by Jubilee Church and honour the area’s unsung heroes with an emphasis on volunteers in 2014. Mike was parish councillor for Coxheath in


1967 when he devised theWorld Custard Pie Throwing Championships. He has been at the forefront of voluntary work in Maidstone for many years. After moving to Chart Sutton,Mike became


a parish councillor for Chart Sutton and Boughton Monchelsea and then borough councillor for over 10 years.Hewas Mayor of Maidstone in 2007/8. It was while Mike’s children were at the


Holy Family School in Park Wood that he started to support charities in this area and assist the local community.Mike helped cre- ate ParkWood MAPS, linking all of the char-


Letter from Santa THE Heart of Kent Hospice is arranging for children to re- ceive a letter from Santa, while raising money for the charity. The letters are £4.50 each,


and must be ordered by De- cember 6, at www.hokh.org, or at the hospice shops.


Christmas concert THE Detling Singers’ Grand Christmas Concert is at Detling Village Hall at 7.30pm on De- cember 21. Tickets are £7 for adults and free for children. Call Edward on 01622 880404.


Mike FitzGerald receives his trophy from last year’s winner, Trevor Phipps


ities and organisations working in Park Wood. In addition to MAPS, Mike is the chairman of the trustees of Fusion Healthy Living Centre in ParkWood and chairman of MaidstoneChristian Care, a charity dedicated to helping the homeless and hungry in Maid- stone. Mike is well known to Voluntary Ac- tion Maidstone (VAM), assisting with


Woman hit by car at Green


AWOMAN (29)was hit by a car shortly after getting off a bus at The Green, Bearsted. After leaving the No 19 bus from Maidstone, she crossed the


road behind it andwas hit by a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. The road was closed for an hour on the Thursday lunchtime


while police questioned the driver. Medics from two ambulances tended to thewoman,whowas taken to TunbridgeWells Hospi- tal as a precaution. It is thought she was distracted by her mobile phone as she


madeherway over the road, leaving the driver,whose visionwas obscured by the bus, unable to prevent the collision. Police con- firmed there had been no arrests and therewould not be a crim- inal investigation.


Police and an ambulance at the scene of the accident at Bearsted Green


numerous charities and his initiative, theVol- unteer Centre, is still going strong in Maid- stone Town Hall. Chief executive of VAM, Charlotte Osborn- Forde, said: “Mike is one of the most dedi- cated and determined people I have met; he is genuinely passionate about making a dif- ference for people in Maidstone and works tirelessly to do this. Iamdelighted he is being recognised with this award. “The number of people and organisations


that have to thank Mike FitzGerald are too numerous to mention. He has a knack of per- suading people to give their time to help any- one who is in need.” Last year’s winner, head teacher of Bower


Grove School Trevor Phipps, and Charlotte Osborn-Forde brought the exciting news to Mike. Please visit www.celebratemaid- stone.org.uk or call 01622 804356 to nomi- nate the unpaid volunteer who has made a difference in your life.


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