downsmail.co.uk
Dry cleaners selling up for a new start in Spain
THE owners of a business in Vin- ters Park are folding their dry cleaning business and pressing ahead with plans for a new start in Spain. Glenn Bushen (44), and his wife
Louise (pictured) have run the Beau- care dry cleaning business for 14 years – first inMaidstone and for the last four in Snowdon Parade. But now they say they are looking to start a new chapter. Glenn told Downs Mail: “I’m just fed up of washing other people’s clothes.We took a holiday toTenerife last Christ- mas – our first two-week break since our honeymoon in 2002 – and that got us talking about the possibili- ties.” The couple hope to take on a café,
with a “chill-out” bar, on the Span- ish island and will travel out in De- cember to look at properties. Meanwhile, their business inVinters Park went on the market last week for £139,995, with a four-year lease, and the couple’s homefor the last 11 years in Boxley Road, Maidstone, will also fund the big move. Their 13-year-old twins and their family remain divided over the idea,
but Glenn and Louise say there is no good time for such a flight of fancy. However, they want to make the move before their son and daughter sit their exams. Glenn thanked his customers over the years for their support, adding: “I’m Maidstone born and bred andwewant to make the move. “I am anxious, nervous and ex-
cited, but ifwe don’t make themove nowwe never will.We are both de- termined to give it a go; there’s more to life than laundry.We’re just four hours away and can always come
home if it doesn’t work out.” He said he will be sad to leave Maidstone, but described it as “a shadow of its former self”, responsi- ble for pushing the business briefly into debt because of the high town centre rent and rates, prior to mov- ing to Vinters Park. Glenn said: “Vinters Park has been a good loca- tion with parking, and I’m glad we made the move out of the town cen- tre.Whenwe sell up,we will be able to start out with money in our back pocket in an entirelynewenterprise, which will be fun.”
News
£500 grant to exercise class
A HEALTH and well-being exer- cise class for the elderly has been given a cash injection. The weekly Exercise and So-
cialise sessions at Madingford Hall, Bearsted, helped win a £500 “com- munity grant” for Age UK Maid- stone.
Recent research found that better
access to exercise for the elderly could help free up hospital beds. The classes are led by 63-year-old
fitness instructor Cynthia Crane, who said: “Regular exercise not only makes daily tasks like reach- ing for things so much easier, but increases their confidence and im- proves mentalwellbeing.” Patricia Grimes (79), has been at- tending the AgeUKMaidstone Ex- ercise and Socialise sessions for nearly five years. She said: “I absolutely love the exercise. When I first started I had polymyalgia – I could hardly move. Now I’ve improved so much.” Bluebird Care Maidstone
awarded the £500 Community Grant to the group. Age UK Maidstone manager
Karen Kennedy, added: “Exercise builds confidence and mobility – without these things it can be hard to go out, and people can become isolated.”
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