downsmail.co.uk
Real ale award for town pub
A POPULAR Maidstone local has been voted pub of the year by members of the Maidstone and Mid-Kent Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). Matt Bannerman and Gina Keo-
hane took over the Rifle Volunteers in Wyatt Street in March 2015. They have vowed to maintain the single- bar, stone-built, street-corner pub’s charms, recently identified by CAMRA as having a regionally im- portant historic pub interior. Gina said: “We’ve always been
great fans of the pub andwanted to keep all the things that have made it special over the years. Our regulars enjoy a good selection of locally- brewed ales without the distraction of music or TV.” Only those pubs judged to serve
the highest quality real ales qualify for inclusion in the voting process andCAMRAmembers and a voting panel base their selection on style, decor, furnishing and cleanliness; service,welcome and offering; com- munity focus and atmosphere; and alignment withCAMRAprinciples. Matt and Gina won the title in
2008 when they managed The Pilot in Lower Stone Street. Ian Clennett, chairman of the Maidstone and Mid-Kent Branch of CAMRA, said: “In less than a year, Matt and Gina havemadeit a ‘must- visit’ for real ale fans locally and fur- ther afield. It’s great that they’ve resisted the temptation to revamp the pub and have been rewarded with a growing clientele.” The Rifle Volunteers – one of two Goacher’s tied houses in the county town – now competes against other branch winners in the Kent (West) section of CAMRA, with potential onward progression to regional and national voting stages.
News Cricket club aims for top
A STRUCTURE aimed to make The Mote the best cricket club in Kentwas presented to the annual meeting. The club now have seven man- agement groups: cricket (led by club captain Alex Fordham); ground (HowardWaters working with new groundsman Chris Dale); finance and strategy (new treasurer Paul Heynes); develop- ment (Dennis Fowle); community engagement and membership (Laurence Waters); house (John Fuggle); and social and fund rais- ing (Nick Aldridge). The aim is to offer “enjoyable
cricket for all, providing a thriv- ing membership with the best playing and pavilion facilities
while running a 1st XI able to challenge regularly for the Kent League premier title”. The Mote, with four Saturday
teams aswell as Sunday and mid- week sides plus an expanding colts section, are looking for pro- motion from division one to the premier division of the Kent League after missing out at the final game last season. Chairman GlenAukett said the
£4m development plan, to in- clude a large new pavilion, was on hold while the club negotiated with Maidstone Rugby Club over playing space. Rugby’s current lease expires on May 31. Anyone interested in playing for the club can call 07725 418305.
Cash for maternity services
MAIDSTONE and Tunbridge WellsNHSTrust (MTW) has been awarded £16,000 as part of a drive to make the NHS one of the safest places in the world to have a baby. The money will be spent on sim- ulation equipment used to train midwives, doctors and ambulance staff in a range of labour and birth scenarios, to ensure they are confi- dent and skilled in dealing with all situations they might en- counter.
It will also allow healthcare staff
to have confidence to support women in their choice of where to give birth to their baby – whether at home, in hospital, or in a birthing centre. Applications for funding, from a
pot of more than £2 million, were considered by the Department of Health and representatives from the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetri- cians and Gynaecologists.
Homewood Orchard Garden Centre
“with our help... you can create the perfect garden”
Garden Furniture • Tubs and Containers
• Shrubs/Trees (Over 30 varieties of fruit trees) • Pots • Compost/Growbags
• Bird Tables/Bird Feed• Bark & Aggregate • Turf • Fresh Grown Fruit & Vegetable Plants to buy
Garden Ornaments
Beautiful hanging baskets ready made or made to order. Refill service available.
01622 727103 10
Hurry now and start creating the best garden ever!! Homewood Orchard Garden Centre
Farleigh Lane, Maidstone ME16 9LX Maidstone Town April 2016
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56