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downsmail.co.uk Castle’s disappointing summer


MANAGEMENT at Leeds Castle have launched an investigation into why the number of day visitors to the attraction have slumped over recentmonths.


Sir David Steel believes the drop


might be linked to theweather and the controversial introduction of photo ID last year. He disclosed the disappointing


results in his monthly column in the Leeds & Broomfield parish newsletter. Sir David wrote: “Sadly, it has


not been the summer we would have hoped for, but only in one major respect. “The number of day visitors has


beendown significantly onwhatwe were anticipating, andwe are trying to analysewhy. “I think there are a number of rea-


sons: poor weather at Easter, fol- lowed by a glorious summer when so many families decided to go to the beach. “Addinto this equationthe variety


of other things that individuals and families can do locally, the ‘offers’ available at other venues and attrac- tions, the fact that we introduced photographic ID last year, and one can start to seewhy our visitor num- bers are somewhat down.”


Man charged with classA


drug offences A LONDONER has been ar- rested in connection with the supply of heroin and cocaine inMaidstone. At about 12.40pm on Mon-


day, October 8, 2018, plain- clothed officers


spotted


suspicious activity near the town centre. They stopped Lamarr Whyte in York Road and arrested himon suspicion of supplying controlled drugs. The officers confiscated a


quantity of cash and mobile phones. They later seized 57 wraps of suspected cocaine and heroin. Mr Whyte, of Thornton


Heath in Surrey, was charged with supplying class A drugs, possession of cocaine and heroin with intent to supply, offering to supply cocaine and acquiring criminal property, namely a quantity of cash. Hewas remanded in custody


and was due appear by video link before Medway Magis- trates’ Court at a later date.


8 Maidstone East November 2018 SirDavid conceded hemust now


examine why the slump occurred, since the “principal purpose” of the castle is to welcome visitors to the estate, in accordance with former owner Lady Olive Baillie’s wishes in establishing her independent charitable foundation. The castle’s hospitality business is booming,with hundreds staying


at Leeds Castle’s burgeoning ac- commodation offer. Sir David writes: “I am pleased


to say that our hospitality business has flourished. Between April and October,wewill have been pleased to oversee the arrangements for 72 weddings,whether in theMaiden’s Tower or the castle itself. “In addition, we have hosted


Danny’smarathon bid


AMAN fromMaidstone is attempting to run in the LondonMarathon to raisemoney for a therapy centre. Danny Bastone, fromGroveGreen,Weavering,will be running in his first


ever London Marathon in April 2019, working his way through the gru- elling 26-mile route to raise money for the Kent MS Therapy Centre in Canterbury. Mr Bastone has set up


a donations page on Justgiving.com, and is hoping to raise £2,500 in sponsorship to support the worthy cause. The Kent MS Therapy


Centre, which is a self- funded charity, provides much-needed therapies and support clinics to people suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is most commonly


diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40 and is a complex, debilitating and incurable disease with symptoms including difficulties inwalking, vision problems, severe fa- tigue, spasticity and speech difficulties. The therapies available at the centre help to alleviate these symptoms,


giving sufferers the best possible quality of life. If you would like to support Danny Bastone, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dannybastone.


many conferences and events. Many hundreds have stayed in our overnight accommodation, includ- ing our tents and cottages. “Battel Hall (pictured), as some


of you will have seen for your- selves, is a spectacular place and is becoming much in demand for special occasions.” County councillor Gary Cooke


said Leeds Castle is an “important local employer” and a dip in its for- tunes is “concerning and disap- pointing”. He questioned whether intro-


ducing the photo ID scheme – de- signed to stop local people swapping tickets on socialmedia to savemoney –was necessary. Cllr Cooke added: “It’s not for


me to tell them their business but you don’t need photo ID for Thorpe Park or Chessington, do you? Just sell tickets on the door. “More important is to keep local


roads running smoothly andwith- out congestion, because that’s just as likely to deter people fromcom- ing back.”


Vicar ismoved


by French trip BEARSTEDvicar, JohnCorbyn has told howa visit to northern France last summer led him to reflect on WorldWar One. The trip was to commemorate


the fallen soldiers of thewar a cen- tury ago, such as the late Geoffrey Fletcher of Thurnham Friars, Thurnham. Geoffrey, his father and the late


MauriceMalling, of The Landway, Bearsted, were all in the same reg- iment.Mr Corbyn related howGe- offrey andMaurice were struck by an unarmed torpedo and lived to tell the tale. On his journey across France,Mr


Corbyn was touched that the ages of the soldiers were similar to his own two sons. Writing in the parish magazine,


MrCorbyn said: “My trip to France mademe think of the greater num- ber of those who lived, whether physically injured or not, and of the memories with which they all lived for the rest of their lives. “Aswemark the centenary of the


victory and peace of 1918, may we remember not just how the fallen died, but the physical and mental wounds with which the veterans then lived.”


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