News


downsmail.co.uk Apology for castle fee increase


LEEDS Castle chief executive Sir David Steele has apologised for a small increase in the annual ticket price for the tourist attraction.


He said the modest rise was


caused by external factors such as the price of the living wage and “soaring” utility costs. The controver-


Sir David Steele Leeds


sial introduction of photographic ID for tickets to prevent a grow- ing “loan cul- ture” had been successful, he added. Writing in the and


Broomfield parish newsletter, Sir David said: “The impact of infla- tion, increases in the living wage


Treasure trail


forwallwalk RESIDENTS Sara Henderson and Jo Tribley are taking part in a five- day trek of the GreatWall of China in September to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust and Cancer Research UK. After a successful fundraising


event in March, Sara, who is a florist and owner of Hunkerdown Daisy inAllington, and Jo, an after- school French club teacher at Tiny Tots nursery school and Thurnham Infant school, are also organising a May Day treasure trail in Bearsted. Participantswill followa London


Underground-stylemap to find out where letters are posted on a 2km trail around the village, with the winner receiving a day in London. The eventwill take place between


10amand noon onMonday,May 7. Maps are £5 each with all of the proceeds going to the two charities. They can be picked up from King George VMemorial Hall inManor Rise, Bearsted.


It’s a rumdo!


A FESTIVAL showcasing more than 100 rums from around the world is coming to Maidstone this autumn. The Rum Festival will be at the


Kent EventCentre on Saturday,Oc- tober 6, and will feature live enter- tainment and street food.Acocktail teamwillmix any rum-based cock- tails on request and there will be taster sessions and free samples, alongside drink tokens for rum with amixer of your choice. Tickets start at £7.50, visit www.therumfestival.co.uk more details.


for 22 Maidstone May 2018


Couple’s royal name awinner Brian and Grace Love, pictured in their new home at King’s Lodge


AMAIDSTONE couple have created their own piece of history by naming their new home. Grace and Brian Love were the first tomove into new apartments built


on the old bowling alley inMaidstone. They leapt at the chance to name the newdevelopment, and set about researching the history of the street in which it is found. Their research revealed that King Street takes its name from King


George III riding down the street back in the 1700s,whichwas inspiration for their suggestion of the name King’s Lodge. Shortly after moving in, they received a call to say they had won the


naming competition. Grace and Brian, who lived just outside Maidstone, wanted to move


closer to town due to physical problems and because they felt isolated liv- ing so far away fromthe town centre. Grace said: “We called the development King’s Lodge because of the


site’s historical connections, but now we’ve moved in, there’s no doubt that King’s Lodge certainly is fit for a king.”


and the soaring cost of utilities has meant that the charity is unable to consume the full effect of exter- nally-imposed costs. “I have been determined to keep


the price increases as low as possi- ble with the annual ticket increas- ing fromApril 1 by 60p. “Evenwith the newlevel,we are


much cheaper than Blenheim, Chatsworth and even the other cas- tlewest of us. It presents such huge value for money when one recog- nises that it allows entry tomost of our major events, as well as the range of daily activities available. “This is only the second increase in four years andwewill do every-


thing possible to ensure that this is not a recurring theme.” He said he “regretted” having to


bring in the photo IDtickets to pre- vent “swapping” online to avoid paying the full cost of the entry. Themove prompted local criticism. Sir David wrote: “While annual


visitor numbers are down on last year, the sale of newannual tickets has been very good and we have maintained our overall income. “I originally regretted having to


introduce photographic IDfor tick- ets, but our visitors havewelcomed its introduction and the ticket ‘loan culture’ is nowunder control. ”An annual adult ticket costs


£24.90, while students and pen- sioners get a discounted rate of £21.90. There are concessions for children and for people with dis- abilities.” Sir David revealed that during


the heavy snow and icy tempera- tures of late February, dubbed the “beast from the east”, he rolled up his sleeves and served breakfast to paying guests staying at the castle. He writes: “We were delighted


that 20 guests had been staying with us overnight and they were very patient as the chief executive, hospitality manager and one in- trepid professional chef organised and served breakfast!”


Search leads to


drugs arrests FOUR men were arrested after heroin worth tens of thousands of pounds was seized following the search of a car inMaidstone. The vehicle was approached by


plain clothes officers who saw a known drug user go to the car in Sandling Road. The officers seized a mobile


phone from the car and when a connected address was searched, they found a large quantity of cash andmore than one and a half kilos ofwhat is believed to be heroin. A stun-gun, a knife and a bottle


containing a noxious substance were also seized. The four were arrested in con-


nection with the find. Two have been released under investigation and the others remain in police cus- tody.


Charity con A WOMAN pretending to be col- lecting for a children’s charity stole jewellery after tricking herway into a pensioner’sMaidstone home. Manuella Paun (19) and an 18-


year-old woman called at an ad- dress in Sussex Road. Theywere later chargedwith the


burglary on Friday, January 26, andwere remanded in custody. Paun, ofGillingham, appeared at


Maidstone Crown Court on Mon- day, February 26, where she ad- mitted the charge. The 18-year-old denied the charge. The casewas adjourned to a date


to be confirmed during the week commencing July 16. Both remain in custody.


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