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Concert a first for church


A CLASSICAL concert by local mezzo soprano Rachael Lloyd helped herald a new era for St Mary’s Church, Thurnham. Rachael, accompanied by pianist


John Hayden, delighted a capacity audience at the church in a concert organised to demonstrate how the building could be used for wider community use in the future. Rachael and John are pictured. A trust has now been set up to manage the building and encourage its use for a wide range of activities in addition to worship. The trustees will deal with the set-


ting up of the trust, but will need help from more members of the public with the day-to-day running of the building. The Archdeacon of Maidstone, Rt


Rev’d Stephen Taylor, explained that while the trustees would not or- ganise many events themselves, they would welcome individuals and groups wanting to use St Mary’s Church for their events. He said that the initiative would


give St Mary’s an opportunity to stay open and be available for future generations. Rachael grew up in Bearsted and


was a member of the church choir before studying music at the Guild- hall School of Music and Drama in London. She now performs with prominent opera companies includ- ing the Royal Opera House. John was organist and choirmas-


ter at Thurnham church from 1998 to 2009. He studied piano at the Royal College of Music and has been the accompanist for master classes by James Galway and Wolfgang Holzmeier. Last year he appeared in the BBC


Songs of Praise school choir compe- tition, accompanying Rochester Grammar School. Both Rachael and John volun-


teered their services for the concert at which they performed a selection of American and English songs to an appreciative audience. They were thanked by the trustees. Anyone who would like to use St Mary’s for an event orwhocan help out with the running of the building should contact Samantha on 01622 631747 or Richard on 01622 738562.


Arrests after gas thefts


TWO men have been arrested in connection with the theft of gas bottles from village properties in the Maidstone area. Their vehicle – a white van –


was stopped by police in Thur- rock, Essex. A 19-year-old, from Sevenoaks, and a 24-year-old, from Hertford-


Charity quiz


MAIDSTONE Macmillan fund- raising group is hosting a quiz night at the Grove Green Commu- nity Hall on Saturday, June 6. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start and entry is £5 per person with a maximum of eight per team – bring your own drinks and nib- bles.


There will be a raffle and an auction. To book a table call He- lene Poursain on 07764 503483 or hpoursain@macmillan.org.uk


shire, were arrested on suspicion of theft and bailed until June 29. The vehicle has been linked to a number of alleged thefts of gas bottles and reports of suspicious activity during April at locations including Horsmonden, Hawken- bury, Otham, Marden, Yalding and Collier Street.


Care home plan A PROPOSAL to place a log cabin in a rear garden in Bearsted was refused.


Bearsted Parish Council felt the two-bedroom proposal for 8 The Sprig, off The Landway, was “detrimental to adjoining resi- dents”. Maidstone Council agreed, turning it down for having an ad- verse impact on the local area. The applicant said the log cabin was necessary to provide accommoda- tion for their growing family.


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