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A NEWdistillery is launching this summer in the heart ofMaidstone to “reclaim the legacy” of local gin and spirits.


set to include a visitor centre, tour opportunities, a shop of spirits and merchandise and, in time, a bar where customers can make their own spirits. It will be run by dad-of three


Darren Graves, along with his wife, Sam and master distiller, Gerard Evans. Mr Graves (42,) of Roseacre


Lane in Bearsted, grew up in the county town before leaving to join the army. The former Maidstone Gram-


mar School student, who is pic- tured here, said: “I grew up in Maidstone and left for the army in my late teens. I returned back in my late twenties and began to run a family construction busi- ness. I have done that for the last 10 years. “I have never lived more than


five miles from the Maidstone area inmy life.” Sam (34), originally from Aus-


tralia, has also spent most of her life in Kent. Since studying art at university,


she will be designing the bottle labels and developing the brand- ing of the company. Mr Graves, who was an in-


fantry officer, added: “Me and Samalways found ourselves day- dreaming about having our own distillery and recently began to take it a lotmore seriously. “I knew that I loved the idea of working closely with local peo-


Reclaiming the spirit of legacy Six arrests in


TheMaidstoneDistillery Ltd is


new 999 law A TOTAL of six people have been charged over separate assaults against police officers across west Kent. The suspects were each ar-


rested in areas including Maid- stone, West Malling and Sevenoaks. At around 5.55am on Sunday,


January 13 officers were called to a fight inMaidstone town cen- tre. When they attempted to in- tervene one of them was reported to have been struck in the face. Thomas Parnell, aged 21, of


ple, and I enjoyed the business side of itmore than anything.” The new distillery will serve


bottles of locally produced gin, rum, vodka and whiskey using a 400 litre spirit still. Mr Graves said: “Maidstone


had a very popular distillery for over 150 years, and we really want to help give Maidstone its identity back. “The more we researched the


more fired up and motivated we felt to reclaim this legacy for Maidstone, and add a newdistill- ery rooted right in the heart of the community.” Mr Graves remains realistic


and insists to keep the staff num- bers low to begin with, but has ambitions to install a bar and build a bigger team. He has yet to announce where


the business is to be sited until the paperwork has been finalised. Mr Graves had hired a local


artist who specialises in engrav- ing on copper. She will create a piece monu-


mental arts featurring the names of local people who have sup- ported the distillery since its opening.This will be known as The FoundingMembers Club To sign up to the project, go to www.themaidstonedistillery.com


Union’stribute ThreeMPs back PM


to JessicaGood MOTHERS’ Union members and parishioners in Allington have been remembering colleague Jes- sicaGoodwho died inDecember. Mary Gentry,


leader for the worldwide Chris- tian movement, said: “She was a faithful, dedicatedmember of the Mothers’Union for over 66 years. Shewas always the first to volun- teer for any job and many of us were proud to be her friend and will remember her with love and affection.” Jessica’s funeral was held on January 3 at St


Thursday,


Nicholas’s Church in Poplar Grove. Rev Chris Lavender de- scribed it as a “sad occasion”.


14 Maidstone February 2019 local branch


LOCALMPs were divided as Par- liament inflicted one of the biggest defeats on government in British political history. Ina crucialBrexitvoteonJanaury


15, MPs rejected the prime minis- ter’snegotiateddealwiththeEUby 432 votes to 202. Chatham and Aylesford MP


Tracey Crouchwas at the forefront of an army of Tory rebels who re- fused to back TheresaMay. She condemnedthePM’sdeal for


not securing “aBrexit outcome that people locally voted for”. Mid Kent MP Helen Whately


backed the PM, as didMaidstone & the Weald member and Ton- bridge&Malling’sTomTugendhat. She said: “The (referendum) vote


was to leave andwemust leave the EU.” She added that Mrs May’s deal “does so in away that is good for the economy”, describing it as a “managed departure”. She said that, as a KentMP, she


wasmindful of the “importance of the connection between the Port of Dover andCalais” andthat anyout- come must “make sure we don’t have queues.” She added: “This dealputsourminds at restonthat.” Mr Tugendhat said: “The prime


minister’s deal isn’t great – it’s a compromise that leaves no one happy and disappoints many. It buys time but does littlemore.” He was worried about the M20


andM26 becoming a “lorry park if we don’t have a deal.”


Grove Lane,Huntonwas arrested and charged with assaulting an emergency worker. He was bailed to appear before Maid- stoneMagistrates’ Court on Feb- ruary 15. On the same day, three offi-


cers reported being spat atwhilst dealing with a prisoner who was in custody at Maidstone police station. Matthew Gilbert, aged 22 and


of Pine Tree Avenue, Canterbury was chargedwith three counts of assault of an emergency worker. He was remanded in custory. The charges come after the


Assaults on Emergency Workers Act 2018 became law.


Strap on bells indancelesson


FARM park visitors will be given the rare opportunity to strap on some bells and strut their stuff with traditional Eng- lishMorris Dancers. Kent Life Heritage Farm Park


in Sandling has lined up the ex- perience as part of a suite of cel- ebrations tomarkMay Day. The popular attraction is also


planning a parade and crowning ceremony for its 2019 Royal Court – the new May King, Queen, Prince and Princesses. Organisers are promising a tug


of war and a host of fairground rides. For more information, visit www.kentlife.org.uk


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