East March

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MUNSON SHOW TIME

Village panto

jobwell done Hollingbourne Pantomime 2014, Cinderella

HOLLINGBOURNE’S Cin- derella was one of the best that I've seen on this tiny stage at the village hall. Cleverly written and impres-

sively directed by Gill Phelan, it also had a very strong cast. The tiny tots who started the show smiled beautifully and sang their little hearts out. Peter Bonds’ songswere, as always, clever and tuneful. Setswere just right – the Stum-

ble Inn was excellent. Louise Cooke’s costumes were superb and must have taken hundreds of hours to make. The whole cast deserves amen-

tion. They were Betheney Clare, Natasha Gudge, Colin Leggat, Graham Wood, Andrew Brown, Lynn Bryan,EmmaPeters, Glenn Bryan, Katie Ealham, Graham Spittle, Lindsey Morrison, David Abson, Keith Harris, Arthur Clarke, JonVerrall, Joanne Head, Gary Cooke, Gaby Bradshaw, Sarah O'Connell, Sarah Trotter, Steve Page, Nick Hawley. The children were Josh Buckle, Zoe Head, Claudia Parr, Daisy Oliver, Immy Stroud, Elizabeth Oben, Sophie Buckle, Georgie Whitcombe, Alice Baxter, Amilie Baxter, William Joiner, Albert Hodgson, Erin O'Hara, Thalia Robertson, Hermione Joyner, Naomi Cardwell, Angel Card- well, Ben Cardwell, Lucy Noar, Heidi Robertson, and William Stroud.

Stage classic

THE Detling Players present Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward at Detling Village Hall at 7.30pm onApril 23, 24 and 25. Novelist Charles Condomine in-

vites the eccentric Madame Arcati to conduct a seance at his house as research for his new book, but when the unwelcome guest of his first wife, Elvira, is unwittingly summoned, confusion and pande- monium follow. Tickets are £10 adults, £8 conces-

sions and £6 children, available from www.detlingplayers.co.uk

Formore local news, community events and information, go online www.downsmail.co.uk

32 Maidstone East March 2015

downsmail.co.uk

Treatment at Kims saved my life, says councillor

MAIDSTONE borough councillor Dennis Collins believes the new Kims hospital helped save his life. Rushed into Maidstone Hospital

in September last year, unable to move and with excruciating back pain and difficulty breathing, itwas not until he was referred to an ex- pert at Kims – close to M20 Junction 7 – that Cllr Collins (56) was ulti- mately diagnosed with acute septi- caemia and blood clots on his lungs.

Doctors previously thought Cllr Collins, who lives in Chainhurst and represents Coxheath and Hunton, might have had a slipped disc. He told the Downs Mail: “Without Kims I would still be in agony and living with a serious in- fection.” After 36 hours in A&E at Maid-

stone Hospital and a further three weeks in isolation, Cllr Collinswas sent home to the care of his wife Elaine, with antibiotics and mor- phine to help numb the pain. Cllr Collins said: “Up to then, I

had never had a day off work in my life through illness; I’d never even had a headache! “This came as a huge shock –

and I’ve never known pain like it. I didn’t sleep for weeks and didn’t want to see anyone, I felt so ill. Therewere times when I thought I was going to die.” Although Cllr Collins saw some

Cakes boost

heart charity STAFF from KIMS Hospital in Maidstone held a cake sale that raised more than £300 for the British Heart Foundation. The cardiac team, led by lead

cath lab nurse Anne Hatswell, or- ganised a day when the entire hos- pital wore red and baked, bought and ate theirway through a variety of cakes as part of National Heart Month. Anne said: “Cardiovascular dis- ease causes more than a quarter of

Caravan plan GYPSY Terry Draper has retrospec- tively applied to site a mobile home in Stockbury. Mr Draper’s application for land at The Coppice in Stockbury Valley includes a doctor’s letter suggesting it would benefit this family’s health. In April 2008 a similar proposal

was refused, partly because of the harm it would cause to Squirrel Wood. Maidstone Council will de- cide the plan.

Fromleft, care supportworker Claire Topham, nurse Anne Hatswell, cardiologyward sister Shirley Wilson and cath lab nurse Karen Seabridge

all deaths in the UK each year. On behalf of the entire teamwe would like to thank everyone who gave generously to make the day such as

Bigger chapel A W COURT Funeral Directors

has been given planning per- mission to erect a rear single storey extension to increase its chapel of rest in Headcorn Road, Grafty Green. Two objections were raised, including concern about extra noise from an external air con- ditioning unit.

success.” For more information on the British Heart Foundation please visit: www.bhf.org.uk

Organist plea AN organist or pianist is desper-

ately needed to help out in the parochial parish of Otham with Langley, after the retirement of the organist and choir master. Anyone who can help out (pay- ment will be made) should contact Steven Hughes on 01622 862793, steven.hughes24@btinternet.com, or the Reverend David Bond on 01622 202239, who can be contacted at dwbond@blueyonder.co.uk.

Grateful for his care at Kims – Cllr Dennis Collins and his wife Elaine

minor improvements, by Decem- ber hewas still suffering from lack of sleep and acute discomfort. He said: “I did not seem to be im- proving to the extent Iwould have thought.” He asked his GP to refer him to

spinal pain specialist Dr Anthony Hammond at Kims. “I thought Iwould be sent home

with steroids or something. In- stead, Dr Hammond was con- cerned that the source of my infection had never been explored or discussed and sent me for ultra- sound and nuclear scans.” These revealed an infection in

the vertebrae of the spine, which could be treated with a lengthy course of antibiotics. After a

month, Cllr Collins has seen some improvement and hopes soon to be clear of infection. The scans also revealed benign “lumps and bumps”, none of which have shown up to be seri- ous. Cllr Collins said: “Without Kims and Dr Hammond, I would still be in agony and living with a serious infection in my bones which could have flared at any time. “We are more than lucky to have

this facility in Maidstone – and something which is also open to NHS patients. “It is a one-stop shop for every-

thing health-related and second to none with regard to its facilities and technology.”

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