News New service


for volunteers A SERVICE has been set up to link people in Maidstone with one-off volunteering opportunities for events such as concerts, festivals or soup kitchens at Christmas. The service, named MOVERS, has been set up by the Volunteer Centre Maidstone & Malling to ex- pand on the volunteering opportu- nities available to those living in the area, which had previously focused on long term roles. Stephen Tucker, admin assistant for MOVERS, said: “Many people already give their time as volun- teers but for some it may not be possible to donate regular time each week, due to work and family commitments, so the opportunity to volunteer on the odd occasion is more suitable for them. “After the success of Kent Event


Team with event volunteering, es- pecially during the Olympics, we feel the same participation of vol- unteers in other local events could greatly benefit the area.” If you would like to find out more or register with MOVERS, email stephen.tucker@vam-on- line.org.uk or visit Maidstone’s Vol- unteer Centre in the town hall in Jubilee Square.


Rugby club share vision


MAIDSTONE Rugby held a BBQ for their sponsors and advertisers to keep them involved with what is happening at the club during the closed season. The event also saw a shirt presen-


tation to the club of 1st XV player Josh Jensen’s Denmark interna- tional shirt. Josh has spent most of the summer away at various tourna- ments with the national 7s squad and is also capped at international level in the full 15 a-side version of the sport.


Maidstone Rugby’s head of play- ing, Sean Charlton, outlined the ob- jectives and ambitions for the club’s


downsmail.co.uk


Trading improving in town, figures reveal


MAIDSTONE is continuing to attract businesses to the borough – a sign the county town is clawing its way out of the recession, say analysts.


Almost 300 new companies were registered in Maidstone in the first quarter of 2014 (January to March) – an increase of 4.2% versus the same period last year.


While the figure compares badly to the UK as a whole, the town is doing well when it comes to the number of companies closing – 146 in the same quarterly period, which is a decrease of 34.5% on the same quarter last year. Peter Valaitis, managing director of Duport.co.uk, which produced the report, said: “The falling num- ber of closures in Maidstone sug- gests that trading conditions are improving, which is an excellent sign for businesses.”


In the UK as a whole, new busi- ness registration was up by 11.8% – although the number of closures saw an increase of 5.7%, an indica- tion that businesses in Maidstone


Economy based on leisure and retail


MAIDSTONE's economy is largely based on leisure and retail and the town is ranked as having one of the top five shopping centres in the South East. Restaurants and bars are key to the area's success, with the night-time economy being worth more than £75m annually.


have greater staying power than in most parts of Britain. Cllr Malcolm Greer, cabinet member for economic and com- mercial development, said: “All of our hard work, since 2008, is now showing rewards. The drive to in- crease the status of our public realm, with the completion of both stages of the High Street regenera- tion and other ongoing improve- ments to other areas in the town has made Maidstone attractive for business opportunities. “The jewel in our crown is the new KIMS hospital that recently opened; this being an investment


of £80m, generating 800 jobs when fully commissioned. “Future works which have plan- ning permission include the Maid- stone Medical Campus [near M20 J7], an investment of over £200m and the creation of 3,700 jobs. “The completion of the new East


Wing of the museum and the re- furbishment of the Hazlitt Theatre have all sent out the right message, that we are open for business and the opening of the new Next Home flagship store [near M20 J7] in October shows that Maidstone is the place where business wants to be.”


School tots up


senior and youth sections for the coming season. Despite the disappointment of


narrowly missing out on a second successive promotion last season, the club remain buoyant and the


emphasis is on the league cam- paign, with the key objective being promotion to London 1. The club have also been successful in attract- ing new players and strengthening their youth element.


Tragic love story excellently portrayed JOHN


ROMEO and JULIET – Changeling Theatre Changeling Theatre’s choice of actors for the lead roles in this story about young people was expertly made.


Ben Wiggins as Romeo was just the sort of handsome young man who can't help annoying an old codger like me, and a petite but ac- tive and lovely Jessica Boyd, who really looked 14, beautifully com- pleted the tragic recipe as Juliet. Katherine Heath was a manic,


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MUNSON SHOW TIME


man-eating Nurse and Bryan Tor- feh brought a wonderfully played gravitas to Capulet. Boris Mitkov doubled as Mercutio and Lady Ca- pulet – Juliet certainly didn't take after her mother. There was plenty of violent


Maidstone Town September 2014


charity money PUPILS and staff at Invicta Gram- mar School raised a total of £30,161 for charity during the school year. In the final assembly of the year, cheques were presented to the cho- sen charities for 2013-14 including British Heart Foundation, The Blackthorn Trust, The Royal Mars- den Hospital, Guide Dogs Associa- tion and Demelza House. A number of additional cheques were also presented, including dona- tions to the Trinity Foyer and Maid- stone Mencap.


Invicta students were pleased to


welcome Mr and Mrs Georgiou to the assembly, as a cheque was pre- sented to the MS Society for £1798 in memory of Zoe Georgiou, who died earlier this year.


sword fighting on offer – I think Mercutio and Tybalt deserved to die. A first-night audience member called the first half “pantomimic”. There were lots of laughs, but di- rector Rob Forknall knows the sub- tlety of contrast. We certainly got the awful tragedy in the second half. Everything backstage went smoothly. I loved the god-like Duke's voice from on high. The show toured all over Kent until August 3.


The students also raised more than £4,500 to sponsor a puppy through the Guide Dogs Associa- tion. There was not a dry eye in the assembly hall when Kate Hunter and Paul came to the stage with his guide dog Pedro to collect the cheque.


Assistant head Mrs Rivers said:


“We will endeavour to continue this work with our local, national and international communities for many years to come.”


For more local news www.downsmail.co.uk


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