News
Family fun at festive concert
JOIN MaidstoneWind Symphony for a magical musical journey for all the family this Christmas. The National Wind Band Cham-
pions will perform The Snowman with soloist Rupert Walker, princi- pal chorister from Rochester Cathe- dral, at All Saints’ Church, Mill Street, Maidstone at 3pm on Sun- day, December 20. There will be free pre-concert activities for chil- dren from 2.15pm including a chance to try conducting. There will be an interval for re- freshments when families with younger children are welcome to leave if they wish. The second half will feature a car-
ols and Christmas pieces, aswell as seasonal favourites including A Christmas Festival. Admission is free for under 12s
and £5 for accompanying parents who wish to leave at the interval. Tickets for all other audience mem- bers are £8 or £10. For details and to book go to
www.maid-
stonewindsymphony.org.
Carols on green THERE will be carols on the Green at SuttonValence at 6pm on Friday, December 11. The evening is open to all and carols will be accompa- nied by Barming Brass Band.
downsmail.co.uk
Air ambulance hoping to secure central base
KENTAir Ambulance is on the move – and looking to take roost at a new base between Yalding and Paddock Wood.
The air ambulance service began
in 1989 and has been based in Pat- tenden Lane, Marden since 2000. A second depot opened on the Surrey/Sussex border seven years later, switching to Redhill in 2013 to enable a night-flying service. Today the charity, which covers
the three counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex, hopes to consolidate its operation in a £7.5m move to Old HayAirfield, offWillow Lane, near Laddingford. The charity expects to submit a planning application to Tunbridge Wells Council within the next few weeks in the hope of having the new base up and running by 2017. The new location would mean
the air ambulance could reach any destination within 25 minutes. The air ambulance has almost doubled its work in the past five years and running two bases is proving not to be cost-effective. Chief executive Adrian Bell said: “We have reached a landmark mo-
Adrian Bell and pilot Leigh Curtis
ment in our history. Old Hay Air- field represents a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity for the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance to establish a resilient, sustainable base from which we can serve our community. “To maintain and improve our pioneering service to the commu- nity we have to invest in new, larger aircraft that will be able to give us the capability that a 21st century operation demands. And in order to operate these aircraft ef- fectively, deploy our crews effi-
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ciently and build the resilience and sustainability we need for the longer term, we must move to one central operating base.” Old Hay Airfield has the space needed for a helipad, hangar, con- trol room, related workspace and facilities for crew changeovers. Mr Bell said: “Our current heli- copters are sufficient by day but not best suited to support night op- erations.” If the move goes ahead, one of
the older helicopters is being re- placed with one that boasts a larger cabin giving the medical teams 360- 0 degree access to every patient, plus, it will fly much further with- out the need for refuelling and is faster, so will be able to get casual- ties to hospital more quickly. The 57-acre Old Hay airfieldwas
built privately in 1989 and is jointly owned by four flying enthusiasts. It is home to several vintage aircraft and the Kent Scouts Air Activities Group.
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