News


downsmail.co.uk Alemakers on target for success


THE Musket Brewery could be forgiven for sending a volley of celebration shots into the air over Linton after winning a grant from the Eu- ropean Union to expand its business. The family-run micro-brewery,


which celebrated its fourth birth- day onOctober 21, haswon a rural development grant from Leader to buy a new state-of-the-art brewing kit for its base at Loddington Farm. It means instead of struggling to


keep up with runaway orders – supplying more than 300 outlets across Kent – it will be able to produce


same amount of beer in one day, rather than four. The Musket


Brewery was the idea of Tony Williams


(64),


who turned his home-brewing hobby into a business


being made re- dundant


after from


the What’s inthename


ofMusketBrewery? MUSKET Brewery is based at Loddington Farm, the parish next to Coxheath. It was at Cox- heath that troops trained for the ‘inevitable invasion’ by France that never materialised in the 1700s. Even today, musket balls are still found in local gardens. The brewery is a short distance


his job in pub- lishing. He re- flects on the move at a time when the brewing industry was facing one of its toughest trading periods, adding: “I felt, if we can live through this,we can succeedwhat- ever.” A dedicated CAMRA member, from Maidstone, he said: “The


Festive crafts and food fair


THEChristmasMarket atUlcombe Church takes place on Saturday, December 2 from2.30pmto 7pm. Craft stalls have been booked


and Christmasmarket food and re- freshmentswill also be available. There will be activities for the


children, quizzes and treasure hunts. The popular Faversham Waites are visiting and the evening will end with a light-hearted con- cert by the Boughton Malherbe Community Choir.


Duo bailed


TWO people have been arrested by police officers investigating a burglary in East Fareigh. A man (22) and a woman (20),


from Maidstone were arrested on suspicion of burglary near Lower Stone Street on Wednesday, Octo- ber 11. It follows a burglary in the vil-


lage onMonday, October 9. The pair have been bailed until


November 8, pending further in- vestigation.


4 Maidstone Weald November 2017


Headcorn Library’s KimPhipps presents teachers and pupils fromHead- corn Primary School with the district trophy


business has earned itself a reputa- tion for good old-fashioned cus- tomer service and a great product. It’s been physically demanding, but it’s keptme out of the gymlift- ing 25 kilo sacks of malt and run- ning the whole operation with my wife Linda and son Ryhs. “This money will ensure the business is here to stay and can continue


to


grow.” His support-


ers, which in- clude


and family, have pledged


friends the


from Heath Road, a road fash- ioned in a straight course by the military engineers.


money to buy the new brewing kit, with 40% of the cost being re- turned to in- vestors using the EU grant, which is administered by KCC.


Mr Williams said: “We are ex-


tremely excited, relieved and grate- ful to havewon this grant. Thiswill mean that the brewery can take on more clients in the new year, look at bottling, and take on one or two more people to help us. This will take the operation from struggling


TheWilliams family who run the successfulMusket Brewery Picture: DavidMBaker Photography


to meet orders, with my son and I working 27 days back to back this summer to satisfy our clients, to an expanding operation able to look to the future.” The beers, made using mostly


Kent hops from a supplier at Ben- over, near Yalding, and Boughton under Blean for its green hop ale


Six of the best for youngsters


PUPILS at Headcorn Primary School are the proud winners of a Kent-wide reading competi- tion. The Kent Libraries contest chal-


lenged youngsters to read six an- imal agent books over the six-week summer break. At Headcorn, 30% of year 6


pupils took part. Pupils at St Peter and St Paul Primary School in


Yalding also earned special praise – and a certificate – for having the most children taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge. Fiona Batchelor, from Kent Li-


braries, said: “The children were really eager to tell staff which school they went to and kept an eye on howtheir schoolwas doing in theweekly league tables on dis- play in their local library.”


‘Flash in the Pan’, all have names associated with muskets, with its flagship brew called ‘Fife and Drum’. MrWilliams concluded: “We are


delighted to have won this grant, which one can only imagine will nowbe coming to an end in light of Brexit.”


Churchyardis upfor award


THE new layout at St Mary’s Church in Sutton Valence could be in line for an award. The congregation was waiting to


learn if the re-organisation of its loo and kitchen will win the industry award, due to be announced by the Duke of Gloucester on October 26 aswewent to press. The President’s Award is put up


by the EcclesiasticalArchitects and Surveyors’Association. The project at SuttonValencewas


one of three projects shortlisted for the award, offering a £500 cash prize.


Headcorn is a place for gifts


THERE’s a chance to start topping up Christmas stockings with gifts at an arts and crafts fair in Head- corn on Saturday, November 4. A range of stalls will be trading


at the village hall from 10am to 1.30pm. Light refreshmentswill be available.


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