News


Cash boost for charity


MAIDSTONE mental health charityMind has received £250 towards frontline services. Visitors to Taylor Wimpey’s new development


in West


Malling nominated Maidstone and Mid-Kent Mind to receive themoney. Tom Fishenden, from MMK


Mind – a charity that promotes social inclusion for people with mental health problems – wel- comed the vote fromvisitors to the Leybourne Chase develop- ment. In addition to helping with frontline services, he says themoneywill offer a chance to provide more for the growing number of younger sufferers in the area. Susan Joseph, from Taylor


Wimpey, said: “We’re commit- ted to supporting the communi- ties in which we build our new homes and this fantastic charity carries out invaluable work helping people with mental health issues.”


Kent Show’s trade chance


NEW businesses will have a chance to showcase their wares for the first time at the Kent Showin Detling. Ten start-up firms from the


county are invited to apply for free exhibition space in a new enterprise zone at the show in July. Applicants have until April 9 to apply for space at the three-day show, which attracts 80,000 visitors. Find the application form at


www.kentshowground.co.uk, under exhibit. Trade stand co-ordinator


Rosie Gouldsworthy is avail- able to give advice to any start- ups that wish to apply on rosie@kentshowground.co.uk The show will be on July 6, 7


and 8 in 2018. .


Girl band at


showground GIRL band Little Mix will be visiting Maidstone as part of their Summer Hits Tour. Shout Out to My Ex band


members Perrie, Jesy, Jade and Leigh-Anne will be bringing their high-energy show to the Kent Events Centre at the Detling showground on Sun- day, July 22. The band are visiting 15


towns and cities across the country as part of their tour, fol- lowing the success of their new albumGlory Days.


14 Maidstone East January 2018


CarolMcGiffin with Volunteer of the year Daphne Springett and Trust chairman, David Highton


downsmail.co.uk


Riverside castle gem is set towowvisitors


THE chance to visit a hidden gem in Maidstone from next year has been widely welcomed. Allington Castle, owned by Sir


Robert Worcester, is to open its doors once a week in the summer season to passengers on the Ken- tish Lady river cruise. The castle, which was once vis-


ited by Ann Boleyn, boasts fantas- tic gardens and a notable history. Sir Robert has owned Allington


Castle for almost 22 years, and ad- mits it was a “love affair” for him when he first sawit. “It’s everyAmerican schoolboy’s


dream,” said the founder of polling company Ipsos Mori. “I’m a histo- rian by nature; one ofmy academic appointments is at the Institute of Contemporary BritishHistory and, to me, this is contemporary British history. “I’d been in Tenterden for 25


yearswhen, one Saturdaymorning in July, I opened the Financial Times and sawthis listed. I thought it was wonderful, so my late wife and I came to see it. “It was a love affair, as far as I


was concerned. I made an offer, it was accepted, and herewe are.” Built in the 12th century and set


in 42 acres of land next to the River Medway, Sir Robert has spared no expense inmaintaining the original


FORMER ‘LooseWomen’ host Carol McGiffin handed achievement awards to staff and volunteers from Maidstone Hospital. The annual Staff Stars Awards


features of the castle. EstatemanagerCraig Bruun said:


“We’re really excited about this venture. Not many people get to see these gardens. Come spring it’s full of colour. “People that live on Castle Road


don’t know there’s a castle at the end of the road! It is a hidden gem and to open it up tomore people is very exciting.” Tours, which are scheduled to


take place on Tuesday afternoons, can be tailored to the interests of the group, and Nick Kennedy, owner and captain of the Kentish Lady, is thrilled to add Allington Castle to his schedule. “Sir Robert has put a lot of trust


in us.Whenwe firstmet itwas ten- tative but nowthere seems to be the right amount of trust there. “The river really is the gem of


Maidstone and not enough is done to shout about it. Hopefully, this will help to raise the profile.” The tourwas previewed to digni-


taries in early November, and among those (pictured on board) was Deputy Mayor David Naghi, who could barely contain his ex- citement at the newventure. “Sir Robert and Lady Worcester


tying up with the Kentish Lady is probably themost exciting thing in my lifetime that’s happened along the river,” he said. “It’s an historic day forMaidstone.”


Staff and volunteers are stars of hospital


recognise those who ‘go above and beyond’ in their roles at the hospi- talsmanaged by theMaidstone and TunbridgeWells NHS Trust. Carol joined Trust chief executive


JimLusby and chairmanDavidHigh- ton, at Oakwood House in Maid- stone to present the awards. Taking the awards forMaidstone in


categories including excellence, inno- vation and respect were: Stephanie McKinley, clinical research team;Amy Duncan, reception, Maidstone; com- munity midwifery support workers; Pye Oliver Ward; Maidstone or- thopaedic unit; Debbie Cay, theatre practitioner, Maidstone; Chaucer Ward; the Trust’s finance team; Julia Martin (Reed), pharmacist, Maid- stone;DrConn Sugihara, cardiologist, Maidstone; John Day Ward, Maid- stone; ITU Maidstone; Jackie Tyler, paediatricmatron; LeighannMitchell, sister,Maidstone stroke unit;Danielle Tolley, therapeutic radiotherapy sup- port worker; Daphne Springett, neu- rology,Maidstone; Valerie Blackman, chaplaincy;Maidstone short stay sur- gical unit and the League of Friends, Maidstone; Kate Holmes, A&E and SakheleniMakena, actingwardman- ager, stroke. A charity raffle on the night raised


more than £1,000 for blood cancer charity Bloodwise, which was nomi- nated by Carol.


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