downsmail.co.uk Town celebrates Mela
THE 12th Maidstone Mela burst on to the streets of Maidstone to drum up support for the Sunday festival in Mote Park. About 400 children from seven schools joined a Friday parade through the town centre, from County Hall to Brenchley Gardens. It showcased arts and music from
a range of bands, including the Four by Four Dhol Drummers and Bloco Fogo samba band. Two days later, the bands emerged again as part of a colour- ful song and dance extravaganza, which attracted record numbers to what is now the largest culturally diverse arts festival in Kent. It featured talented local singing
trio Imminent, the Kitka Bulgarian Folk Dance Group, Bollywood Blast, Gypsy Stars and the Cohe- sion Plus produced “Afro-Bhangra Fusion”. The headline actwas award-win-
ning singer Ruby Turner. In addi- tion there were more than 50 stalls selling food and products from around the world, with informa- tion stands provided by public and voluntary sector partners. The event is organised in a part- nership by KCC, Maidstone Coun- cil, Cohesion Plus and Kent
Equality Cohesion Council. Gurvinder Sandher, artistic di-
rector of the Mela, said: “I have been working on the Mela since its inception in 2003 and this yearwas our biggest attendance to date. “The Maidstone Mela has
evolved into one of the biggest cul- turally diverse celebrations in Kent and underlines how the arts can be used to bring different communi- ties together. “The Mela is now an established
date in the Maidstone diary and has grown so much since its incep- tion andwe are very grateful to the on-going support being provided by all partners, volunteers and the local community for enabling this to happen.”
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Malling October 2014 3
News
Prize catch for fish shop
PAPA’S Barn on the London Road, Ditton has landed a top award for the third year running. The business was named Inde- pendent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year in Sussex, Kent and Surrey for 2015. Run by brothers Theo and Michael Papa-Adams, the fish bar was up against Henley’s ofWiven- hoe, Essex in the London and South East regional round, with the result due to be announced in Oc- tober, The competition, organised by Seafish, culminates in the na- tional judging in January.
Garage room
LEE Brett of 14 Saxon Close, Kings Hill has submitted a plan to Ton- bridge and Malling Council to con- vert his integral garage into a downstairs room. The application says the integral
garage doorwould be replaced with a new wall and window and there would still be space for two cars.
KCC chairman Peter Homewood with his escort Sue Baldock, stiltwalkers and drummers
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