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downsmail.co.uk Curate’s faith in furry friends


WHEN services are under way at Holy Cross Church, Bearsted, there is one member of the congregation who often goes to sleep. Zoe the black Labrador guide dog


is the constant companion of the cu- rate, the Rev Melissa Carter and, during worship, is a familiar sight as she lies on the floor beside her chair. Melissa, 36, who is looking for-


ward to being ordained a priest in July, was left almost totally un- sighted by a congenital eye problem when she was eight. Despite that, she is drawing closer to achieving her ambition of becoming a fully- fledged priest and one day running her own parish. After the all-important ceremony


at Canterbury Cathedral, Melissa, who was made a deacon last year, hopes to spend another three years at Holy Cross, under the mentorship of the Rev John Corbyn. “Hopefully, by then, John will


have trained me up and I will take on a parish of my own”, she said. Zoe has been Melissa’s guide dog


for two years, taking over when golden Labrador, Olivia, now aged 10, retired. The dogs share ahomein Peverel Drive with Melissa and hus-


GP practice’s


good rating BOWER Mount Medical Prac- tice, Maidstone, has been rated good overall by independent health watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Following a routine an- nounced visit, the GP surgery in Bower Mount Road was found to be achieving a good standard in four out of five categories by providing effec- tive, caring services which were well-led and responsive to people’s needs. The CQC said that patients


found it easy to make an ap- pointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appoint- ments available the same day. The practice had good facili-


ties and was well-equipped to treat patients and meet their needs. Patients said they were treated with compassion, dig- nity and respect and were in- volved in their care and decisions about their treat- ment. However, the report said


that the safety of services should be improved, includ- ing revising arrangements for storing medicines and having regular fire drills.


8 Maidstone East March 2017


sacraments and marriages. But I can do baptisms and funerals and Sun- day services and I enjoy working with schools and children’s groups. “John has been really good, help-


CurateMelissa Carter with her guide dog Zoe (left) and retired Olivia


band, Antony, an IT consultant. Melissa, whose family live in Deal,


first felt called to the ministry when shewas 17, butwas advised by a se- lection board to wait until she had gained some life experience. She earned a theology degree at Christ Church University in Canter-


bury, and after working as a legal conveyancer in a solicitor’s office, was appointed as a curate at Bearsted. “I am loving it, the best part is


being able to work alongside peo- ple,” she said. “I am only a deacon, but I can do most things except the


ingmeto prepare for everything. For baptisms,we practised with a doll in the church and worked out it would be best for the parents to hold the baby, then it wouldn’t be dropped in thewater.” Melissa’s sight is restricted to just colours and shapes at about arm’s length, and she uses an iPad and Bluetooth headphones to provide an audible autocue during services. After memorising the layout of the building, she moves around the church when she officiates at serv- ices, leaving Zoe by her chair. With the help of staff at Vinters Crematorium, she has also learned the layout there. She says she is never short of offers of lifts or other help from parishioners, adding: “Everyone has been really helpful. Bearsted’s a lovely place. It’s full of lovely people.”


Join cricket club for training sessions


THE season resumes in April with Bearsted Cricket Club offering an open invitation to pick up the bat at training sessions in their indoor nets. First team players from what is thought to be the oldest cricket club in the country will provide coaching to anyone aged from six to 70, from 2pm to 3.30pm on Saturdays until April 8. The training sessions are being held


in the sports hall at Maplesden Noakes School in Buckland Road, Maidstone. Sessions cost £2 for those under 18 and £3 for adults. Bearsted Cricket Club runs a range


of teams; its first XI in the Kent County Village Saturday League finished in the premier league after earning promotion in 2015.


Club secretary Steve Pearce said:


“We are a progressive club, looking to encourage players into or back into the sport and to improve our ground,


coaching and our pavilion on the green.” Turn up to practice sessions or email bearsted1749@btinternet.com.


Man, 75, dies in accident Shelter festival


AN elderly man died when his car hit a lamp post inWillington Street, Maidstone, Kent Police confirmed. The 75-year-old, who lived lo-


cally, died at the scene. Unconfirmed reports suggest he


may have suffered a "medical episode" at the wheel. Kent Police, Kent Fire and Res- cueService and South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the in- cident at about 4.30pm on February 15.


The air ambulance landed in Mote Park butwas not needed. Po-


lice closed the road at the junction with Sutton Road and motorists were told to avoid the area. Willington Street was re-opened


by 7.45pm. Kent Police said: "Kent Police


were called at 4.27pm on Wednes- day, 15 February, to a report that a car had been in collision with a lamp post in Willington Street, Maidstone. The road was closed while officers and the South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene. The driver passed away at the scene."


TWOMaidstone charities are hold- ing a family fair and music festival, followed by a sponsored sleepout at the Gallagher Stadium to raise money for a permanent shelter for the homeless in the town. The event on Saturday, April 15


is organised by Making a Differ- ence to Maidstone (MADM) in partnership with Maidstone Resi- dents Against Homelessness. Doors open at 1pm. Call Amanda on 01622 687414,


email madmstone@gmail.com or go to MADM shop at 49 Church Street (opposite M&S car park).


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