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News Jason’s midlife crisis on stage


APPROACHINGhis 50th birthday next summer, one-time soap opera heartthrob and teen pop star, Jason Donovan, comes to Maidstone on his “midlife crisis tour”. The Australian-born entertainer


lands at the Hazlitt Theatre on May 2, 2018. He will embark on the first leg of


an epic 35-date regional tour in Oc- tober, before coming to the county town for an evening ahead of a sum- mer festival tour with his band. Thir- teen of these shows are already sold out.


His Hazlitt gig will see Jason in


conversation, sharing moments from a show business career which has spanned four decades. There will also be music, too, from


a chart career which saw him achieve four number one hits and a host of top 10 singles in the UK charts. The biggest, “Especially For You”, was a duet with Kylie


Teens arrested


TWO teenagers – one from Maid- stone – have been arrested on suspi- cion of theft and drug offences after they fell from a moped. Police asked the vehicle to stop


after suspicious activity was re- ported in Eynsford Road, Farning- ham, on September 7, 2017. The moped is reported to have


been driven onto an embankment, causing the driver and passenger to fall from the bike. No injuries were reported. A 16-year-old boy from Dartford


and a 17-year-old boy from Maid- stone were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, as well as possessing cannabis with intent to supply.


Trailer theft


KENT Police investigating the re- ported theft of a horse trailer from Marden have arrested a man from Maidstone on suspicion of theft. The 23-year-old was arrested in Coxheath on Thursday, September 7, where two horse trailers were seized by officers from Kent Police’s rural task force.Hewas bailed pend- ing further investigation.


Church quiz


ALL Saints’ Church in Maidstone is holding a quiz on October 7 at 7pm. Entrants are encouraged to bring


their own drinks and nibbles. Tick- ets are £5 and proceeds will go to the fund for a Children’s Trail. Call Mary Shaw on 01622 631368.


Puppies seized A LITTER of puppies have been seized amidwelfare concerns. Police andRSPCAofficerswent to


Well Street in Maidstone at about 9.30am on September 7.


SHOW DETAILS


WHAT: Jason Donovan & His Amazing Midlife Crisis Tour, WHERE: Hazlitt Theatre, Earl St, Maidstone WHEN:Wednesday,May 2, 7.30pm TICKETS: £27.50 on sale from September 1 at 10am


Minogue. A spokesman for the Hazlitt said:


“This is a bit of a coup for us.We ex- pect it will be a very popular ticket. “Jasonwas a huge part of the lives


of Neighbours’ fans in the 1980s, even before he had a pop career, so we’re lucky to have got him.”


After his pop career, he took to the


stage in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and other productions. He later admitted that he had suffered a serious drug prob- lem, but gave up and stayed clean after his first childwas born in 2000. Jason also confessed that his jun-


gle appearance in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here helped to revi- talise his career, finishing third to eventual winner MattWillis. The Hazlitt sees the commercial


sense of the popular one-man show, as they are relatively easy to stage and provide an intimate setting. Radio star Danny Baker sold out


one night at the Hazlitt earlier this year and then anotherwhenhe came back by popular demand.


Jason Donovan Pic: RHIAN AP GRUFFYDD Fire-hit company opens new offices


AMAIDSTONE business has opened new premises just a year after fire swept through the company’s premises. The blaze, which spread from an adjoining building, would have caused a lot of small businesses to go under, but Neil Sampson, chairman of Green Gate, refused to allow the catastrophe to turn into a total disaster. Instead, he acquired new premises at Boughton Monchelsea and, on September 4, the company, which makes security access systems, was joined by the Mayor ofMaidstone to declare its new premises open. Unveiling a commemorative plaque, Cllr Malcolm Greer spoke of his pleasure at visiting such a forward-thinking company, focused on employing and training local people to the highest standard. Mr Sampson paid tribute to his staff, saying: “The team has worked


enormously hard and, as a result, we haven’t merely recovered, we have taken several steps forward.” Green Gate designs and


manufactures a range of security systems, including the country’s only solar-powered security gate,


which is now used at work sites, highways work zones, schools and businesses around the world. The mayor is pictured with


clients, suppliers, staff, and friends of the business at the official opening celebration.


Courier scams costing us all dear


FRAUD investigators are remind- ing people how to spot the signs of courier scams that are costing Kent residents thousands of pounds. Detectives from the Kent and


Essex Serious Crime Directorate are reviewing a number of cases reported across the county in re- cent months, where mostly elderly victims have handed over cash after being tricked into thinking they have been helping police in- vestigations. Courier frauds usually start with


a criminal calling your home pre- tending to be a police officer, claiming money from your ac-


count is being used to pay for goods you did not order. They normally tell you that your bank is in on the scam and is harbour- ing counterfeit money, and that they need your help to investigate. The potential victim will then


be asked to withdraw the cash from their account so it can be used as evidence, with arrange- ments made for a courier to come and collect it from you. Variations on the scam involve people claiming to be from Trad- ing Standards, your local bank or other organisations in a position of trust.


Detective Sergeant Marc Cana-


nur said: “Police officers will never request your bank details or ask you to withdraw money for any reason. “We will also never ask you to transfer money, purchase goods on our behalf or send someone to your home to collect your cash, PIN, payment card or cheque book. “If you are given any of these in- structions, it is a fraudulent ap- proach. “Hang up, wait five minutes to


clear the line and then call your bank or card issuer on their adver- tised numbers to report the fraud.”


Maidstone Weald October 2017 31


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