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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-


Men, 30s,held overparkdrugs


TWO men have been arrested in connection with the supply of Class A drugs after a suspicious car was searched by officers on patrol inMaidstone. At aroundmidnight onDecem-


ber 17 police searched a Mazda which was parked close to an en- trance toMote Park where suspi- cious bags, believed to contain cocaine, as well as quantities of cash and mobile phones were seized. The driver and a passenger,


aged 30 and 33, from Maidstone, were arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs. They have both subsequently been released pend- ing further investigation.


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Reclaiming the spirit of legacy Online appeal


TheMaidstoneDistillery Ltd is


for fire family ANONLINE fundraising target of £10,000 has been set to help the family of awomanwho died in a house fire. Judith Tucker (69) was killed


when a blaze broke out in her maisonette in Quarry Square, Maidstone, in December 2018. Despite efforts by neighbours


to rescue disabled Mrs Tucker, who was widowed, they were beaten back by flames and smoke. Now her sons,Matt and Lewis,


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 intends to keep the staff numbers 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 had been fi- nalised. Mr Graves had hired a local artist who specialises in en- graving on copper. She will create a piece monu-


mental arts featuring 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


ThreeMPs back PM


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 & theWealdmember Helen Grant and Tonbridge & Malling’s Tom Tugendhat. She said: “The (referen-


Maidstone East February 2019


dum) vote was to leave and we must leave theEU.” She addedthat Mrs May’s deal “does so in a way that is good for the economy”, de- scribingitasa“manageddeparture”. She said that, as a Kent MP, she


was mindful of the “importance of the connection between the Port of Dover andCalais” andthat any out- come must “make sure we don’t havequeues.”Sheadded:“Thisdeal puts ourminds at rest onthat.” Mr Tugendhat said: “The prime


minister’sdeal isn’tgreat–it’sacom- promise that leaves no one happy and disappointsmany. It buys time butdoes littlemore.” He was worried about the M20


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


who are believed to be in their 40s, are said to be “devastated” by theirmother’s death. They have lost many of their


treasured keepsakes which were destroyed in the fire. Friends of the sons have


launched a gofundme page to cover funeral and other ex- penses. Police are not treating the inci-


dent a week before Christmas as suspicious. An inquest into Mrs Tucker’s


death has yet to be held. We understand that more


than £2,000 has been raised by the campaignwithmore than 70 people having contributed. Visit gofundme.com/alison-


couchman.


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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