News
It’s time forme to go, says charity chairman
THE popular chairman of Maid- stone Homeless Care is to retire. Mike FitzGerald, a former coun-
cillor and Mayor of Maidstone, has been the charity’s frontman for more than 13 years, being instru- mental in its move to Knightrider Street, its merger with Goodsell House and its rebranding from Maidstone Christian Care. Hewas in at the start of the com- munity food share scheme Food for Thought, which delivers food to the needy and has seen the Christmas food appeal reach a record level. At the age of 74, Mr FitzGerald –
whose other claims to fame include starting the World Custard Pie Throwing Championship in 1967, founding MAPS which brings to- gether the community in Park Wood and helping set up the Chart Sutton village shop – has decided it’s time to take his foot off the gas. He said: “Life is full of tough de- cisions and they come no tougher than when one is committed and passionate about the work of a charity that you have supported for many years, and have been
“I have made a huge commit-
ment of my time supporting the workwe do and attracting support for the workwe do.” Changes in service delivery mean
the charity now needs a new drive and commitment over a period of up to five years, he said. A spokesman for Homeless Care
Mike FitzGerald
striving to make a difference.” But he said: “I have much to sort
out in my life while I am still fit enough and I have come to the de- cision that the time is right.” In the three years since stepping
down from Maidstone Council, Mr FitzGerald has helped to strengthen the several charities he is involved in. He said: “I believe Homeless
Care is in a really strong position. It has had a fulfilling and inspiring year.”
said:“Wewant to say a huge thank you to Mike for everything he has done. Also to his wife Maureen who has worked quietly and tire- lessly in the background to make it all happen.” A soup run in 1986 organised by teachers and pupils from Maid- stone Girls Grammar School was the beginning of what has now be- come Homeless Care, the town’s leading charity for homeless and vulnerable men and women. Maidstone Christian Care, as it
was, merged with Goodsell House Trust in 2013 to become Homeless Care, the umbrella organisation for the Maidstone Day Centre, Food for Thought, the 10-bed hostel at Goodsell House and Maidstone Christian Care, and its link with the churches who continue to help the
downsmail.co.uk Homes scheme
APLAN has been submitted for 62 homes on land west of Mill Bank, Maidstone Road, Headcorn. A supporting statement said the
development would create “an at- tractive new community set within a landscape of open space, street trees and structural planting”. Residential development would measure 2.07ha, containing one- to five-bedroom properties. The open space, measuring 1.59ha, would oc- cupy the west of the site with hedgerows, trees and a pond.
Church concert
MUMMA Mia, the Sutton Valence School mums’ choir, is performing at a fund-raising event for the vil- lage church. The concert at St Mary’s Church,
with acclaimed guitarist Andrew Keeping, will take place from 7.30pm on Friday, October 16. Tickets are £7.50, including a
glass of wine and nibbles. Call 01622 844089. Proceeds will go to- wards the cost of providing toilets at the church.
Shed blaze
FIREFIGHTERS were called to a fire in a metal shed in Vicarage Lane, East Farleigh. The shed and its contents were destroyed in the blaze, but there were no reported injuries. The causewas not known.
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8 Maidstone South October 2015
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