News


downsmail.co.uk Town’s secret celebrities


THEY’RE perhaps not household names but they are, in their ownway, historically remarkable and noteworthy.


Aslave-trading horticulturalist,


a rebellious alchemist, the inven- tor of cricket’s over-arm bowling and the first woman to fly an air- craft in Ireland all hail fromthese parishes. So, one might be forgiven for


not having heard of John Brad- dick, Robert Fludd, JohnWilles or Lilian Bland. But their marks, among many


others, on history have been recorded in a new book, Secret Maidstone, inwhich author Dean Hollands attempts to unearth the hidden,


or unappreciated,


nuggets of the county town’s past. The author said: “The book has


been written for the residents of Maidstone and for those intend- ing to visit this most curious and interesting of places.” Braddick’s less than illustrious


claim to fame, according to the book,


is that the Boughton


Monchelsea man made his for- tune in the slave trade before be- coming a fruit farmer in 1824. In Kent, he carried on his in-


volvement by fattening up his cap- tives in the cellar of his mansion before selling themon in London. Fludd (1574-1637) attended


Unlocking memories


MUSIC andmemorabilia are among the keys being used to unlock memory loss in Mar- den. Living Memories turns


back time to help those living with memory loss, using a theme to expand on using memories, photos, memora- bilia andmusic. The initiative is being sup-


ported by Marden Church andMardenMedical Practice and is held in theVestryHall from10.30amto 12.30pm. The next


two subjects


under the spotlight are “Mother’s Kitchen” on Tues- day, March 5, and “Growing ourOwn” on Tuesday,March 19. The talk is open to all and free of charge. Contact Rachel on 01622


831941 or email livingmemo- ries@mardenchurch.org.uk.


8


Author Dean Hollands and his dog Raff and right, pioneering aviator Lilian Bland


then Oxford University. But he drewattention to himself as a doc- tor ofmedicine by expressing con- tempt


practice of the four humours – black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm – upon which all diag- noses were made. He is buried in the graveyard of Holy Cross church in Bearsted. Willeswas born inHeadcorn in


1777 and is regarded as one of cricket’s great


innovators –


switching the bowling action from underarmto over. He had noticed that when his


Maidstone Grammar School and wife played the game, her wide,


hooped skirt got in theway. In the book, the author tells how


for the contemporary


his attempt to introduce the new form during a match between Men ofKent andMen of England, proved unpopular with some of the players and the supporters, with reports of a pitch invasion as a protest. When, in 1822, Willes tried to


bowl overarm at Lord’s he was twice called for a “no ball” – a de- cisionwhich sawhimstormoff on his horse in disgust. He died in 1852 and is buried in Sutton Va- lence. Willington Street resident Bland


(1878-1971) chose an unconven- tional lifestyle for her time. She smoked, wore trousers, sold cars, practisedmartial arts, built planes and flewthem. In 1910, she became the first


woman in Ireland to fly an aircraft – a powered bi-plane called The Mayfly – at Randalstown,County Antrim. Horrified, her father bought her a carwhich prompted her to open one of the first motor dealerships in Belfast. She moved back to Kent in the


1950s.  SecretMaidstone is published byAmberley, priced £14.99.


Residents’ pub nights Stove blaze


CREATIVE care staff have come upwith an imaginative alternative to “a night in” for residents at a care home inMaidstone by open- ing their own local. Such has been the support for


the novel idea that Maid- stone Mayor David Naghi was first over the threshold to declare the snug at the newly-named pub,


The


Pembury Arms, open for busi- ness. Amy Roberts (24), activities co-


ordinator atMaidstone Care Cen- tre residential and nursing home in Boxley Road, came up with the idea. Her parents Sue and Russell Roberts ran The Bull at East Far- leigh and TheWhite Hart at Col- lier Street, near Marden. Her dad died in 2009, butAmywas expect-


Maidstone Weald March 2019


ing hermumto be greeting guests at the opening. Amy said: “Everyone has been


so supportive and helpful, but I guess itwill be down tome to take on the role of landlady.” What the residents-only bar


lacks in a licence, it makes up for in memorabilia, with floral wall- paper straight out of the 1940s; op- tics loaded with squash; board games; and even a piano. Amy thanked the centre’s maintenance technician Brian Thornton for turning her and colleague Becky Hicks’ ideas into a reality for the home’s 15 residents and 46 receiv- ing nursing care. Amy said: “Residents have their


own rooms and shared lounges, but this will provide them with somewhere else to socialise andre- flect upon the past.” The pub name – which was un-


veiled by the mayor – is taken fromthe fact itwas createdwithin the care centre’s Pembury Suite.


THE flue of awood-burning stove is believed to have started a fire that destroyed a house in Sutton Valence. Four fire engines attended the


converted barn in Boyton Court RoadonMonday, February 4, and crews battledthe blaze through the night. A bulk carrier was used to get


water to the two-storey building and foamwas used to prevent the fire spreading to other properties. Therewere no casualties.


Advice visit


VILLAGERS can speak to staff fromCitizens’Advice at its session inMarden onMarch 19. Maidstone Citizens’ Advice vis-


its from 2-4pm on the third Tues- day of eachmonth,withsessions in the Old School Room at Marden MemorialHall inGoudhurstRoad. No appointment is necessary. Alternatively, call themon 01622 752420/01622 757882.


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