News


Little Free Library box looking for new home


THE opportunity to run the third free library inMaidstone is up for grabs after the stewards of Penenden Heath’s facility expanded.


John and Liz Viner (pictured)


would like the new library to serve an area of Maidstone or its outlying villages after upgrading their own service,which started in 2016. The Penenden Heath Little Free


Library’s original box was hand- made for its opening, but has now been replaced by a bigger one which holdsmore books. The couple are hoping to help


someone else have the same re- wards they have got out of running the facility. “Our objective always has been


to promote reading in the area,” Mr Viner said. “And so far, we’ve never had to purchase a book. “We’ve had a total of 525 books


through the system, so far. “I’ve got no idea who all of the


borrowers are, but itworks and it’s very rewarding.” The worldwide Little Free Li-


brary movement, which aims to promote reading and build com- munity, began in 2006 when Todd Bol built the first one in Hudson, Wisconsin, as a tribute to his teacher mother. Today, there are more than 50,000 worldwide, but still just two in Maidstone – the other on Lenfield Road.


Anyone can take a book, keep it,


pass it on, return it or replace it, or they can simply leave a book. There are books for adults, teens and children and the stock is con- stantly changing. Little Free Li- braries promote reading and build community. Mr Viner added: “We have just


grown and grown our library and it’s been great.


“As well as providing the box it-


self, we’re happy to provide the starting stock for someone else to run a project like this.” Anyonewishing to start a library


will have to sign up as a steward with Little Free Libraries. For more details and informa-


tion, contact the couple via their Facebook page


Taste of Oxbridge for school’s ‘brilliant’ students


Brilliant Club members from TheMaplesden Noakes School celebrate their success at Trin- ity Hall, Cam- bridge


‘BRILLIANT students’ from a sec- ondary school in Maidstone are ac- quiring a taste for life – and studies – at Oxbridge. Students aged 14 and 15, from


TheMaplesdenNoakes School, trav- elled to Trinity Hall at Cambridge University to celebrate their gradua- tion from the Brilliant Club’s schol- ars’ programme. Lexi Bennett, Billy Dawkins, Harris


Ahmed, Matt Elliot, Shristi Limbu, SydneyMutter,MiaDavies, Jasmine Osbourne and ZoeHunter (pictured) have all beenworkingwith PhDtutor


4 Maidstone March 2018


DieterDeclerq, fromKentUniversity, since November. Their project,What CanWe Learn


From Cartoons, was submitted in January. The Brilliant Club was launched in


2011 by two teachers looking to widen access to the country’s top universities for outstanding pupils in non-selective (non-grammar) state schools. Richard Owen, head at the Buck-


land Road school, said: “We are re- ally proud of our students and their involvement in learning above their


current keystage through the Bril- liant Club. We have been so im- pressed with their resilience and determination and with the stan- dard of work they have produced. “Every student that submitted as-


signments for the programme passed, with a number earning 2.1 grades, meaning that at just 14 or 15 they have produced work of a good A-level standard. ”SydneyMutter achieved a first on


her assignment.” More education news, pages 18&19


at www. facebook.com/PenendenHeathLFL.


downsmail.co.uk


Mall makes the shortlist


STAFF at The Mall in Maidstone are celebrating being shortlisted for two national awards. Describing the news as “a great


start to 2018”, the shopping centre has been shortlisted in both the community and individual ACE star categories in the Revo ACE Awards. The Mall, one of three shopping


centres shortlisted for customer ex- perience in the community award category out of 114 entries,was vis- ited by mystery shoppers and judged on areas including its con- venience, lowcustomer spend and retail mix. Its new Baby Fresh changing and feeding facilities earned particular praise. “I found The Mall very bright


and attractive, and a pleasant place to shop and spend time,” reported themystery shopper. Aswell as the community award


nomination, receptionist Hollie Jenner could be in line for an ACE Star award,which recognises those in customer-facing jobs within shopping centres. Thewinnerswill be named at the


Shopping Centre Management Conference in Brighton, inMarch.


Tribute to Vera AN AWARD-winning Dame Vera Lynn tribute act is coming to the Maidstone’sHazlitt Theatre. Lorrie Brown, originally from


Rainham, will be part of ‘A Salute to the 1940s’ at the venue on Wednesday,March 7 at 2.30pm. The show will also feature trib-


utes to George Formby, the An- drews Sisters andMaxMiller.


Barn dance ABARNdance at Fant community hall, organised by the Maidstone branch of the RNLI, on Friday, March 2will featuremusic by John Sweeney. The £10 admission includes a


ploughman’s suppe but take your own nibbles and drinks. Tickets from from John Ashbolt on 01622 725435 or Alan Cocks on 01622 761004.


Sea fort facts THE Maidstone Historical Society will be learning all about the Maunsell Sea Forts at theirmeeting onWednesday, February 21. Frank Turnerwill be speaking at


the Methodist Church Community Centre in Brewer Street at 7.30pm. OnMarch 21, Rosemary Piddock


will discussAgatha Christie -A Life ofCrime.Visitors arewelcome at the sessions,paying£3ameeting.Forde- tails of


the society visit http://bit.ly/DMhistorical


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