News


downsmail.co.uk Goldsmith rings up 30 years


FORevery gemof an idea, there is an element of sacrifice – but forMartinWilde, fromMaidstone, the reward has been golden.


After being told by his careers’


teacher at Oldborough Manor School he’d never make the grade for college, the school-leaver set about applying himself, andwith a foundation course in his pocket from Medway College of Design he became a goldsmith. This summer, Martin celebrates


being in business as a top-notch jeweller and designer for 30 years. The 61-year-old remembers in-


sisting on a career in art, and his early struggles. Moving to Southend two weeks


before gettingmarried, his first em- ployer went bust, leaving himun- paid, away fromhome andlooking forwork. Fromhere, he got a job in London running a losswax casting factory; learning his skill in Ger- many’s ‘gold town’ of Phorzhiem. Three years on, hemissedhis craft, ditched hismanagement post and travelled back toMaidstone, to his mum’s, where he set up a work- shop in the conservatory, before


Archers back


at the castle ALLINGTON Castle Archers are marking their 50th anniversary by staging a national competition in the stately home that gave them their name. Owner Sir Robert Worcester


has invited theMaidstonemarks- men and women have been in- vited to host the White Friars Tournament on the grade I-listed building’sArchery Field. Allington is one of the longest-


established clubs in the South East. Its current home isWestbor- ough Primary School in Green- way, but it got its name because members originally trained at the castle. The stately home,which sits on


a site by the Medway that was first fortified in the 12th century, fell into disrepair after the Crown seized it in 1554, following a failed rebellion against Queen Mary. Today it is owned by Sir Robert,


the founder of polling company MORI,who bought it as a private residence in 1999. The White Friars Tournament


comes to Allington on Sunday, August 18, with equipment checks from9am. For details go to www.castlearchers.org.uk.


10 Maidstone August 2019 SATs success for school


STUDENTS from Shernold School inMaidstone have proved they are in a class of their own. Everymember of year 6 learned


on July 9 they had passed their Standard Attainment Tests (SATS). Head Sandra Dinsmore said:


“We are extremely pleased to an- nounce that 100%of our children have achieved the expected stan- dard in reading, writing, grammar and maths, which is considerably higher than the national com- bined average of 65%.” She added: “This has been an amazing year for our year 6 chil-


dren,with 16 out of 17 achieving a grammar school place earlier in the year, concluding with yet an- other fantastic set of results.” Commenting on the achieve-


ment of the independently-funded school in Queen’s Avenue, Mrs Dinsmore added: “We are de- lighted. It is a testimony to the hard work put in by the children and teachers.We have always had a strong academic record, but it is equally important to us that our pupils are happy, and that we de- velop their social, as well as aca- demic skills.”


But by the close of business on


his first day he had secured enough work for a fortnight and with careful juggling bought the specialist tools he needed. The business now involves his


wife Marlene - they met at school at 14, married at 20, and have worked alongside each other since their honeymoon inMargate – and also their daughter Lian. Martin said: “They were tough


times. I made both our wedding rings, but one night Iwasworking on a piece and ran out of gold, so I meltedminedown to finish the job andI’ve never hadamoment to re- place it since.” He added: “I’mgladI stuckwith


opening his own business inWest Malling. He told DownsMail: “I worked the first seven years, seven days a


week, 14 hours a day just to get the business going.” He remembers: “When I opened I had no tools, no money and no customers.”


it andshowedmy teacherwhat I’m made of. I’mstill in the workshop six days a week and when I go home I design. It’s a lovely busi- ness to be in, with generations coming in to buy gifts, wedding rings and keepsakes for thewhole family. It’s a happyplace towork.”


Bard’s night READERSwho do notmind feel- ing “ruff” this summer should head to Maidstone Museum’s Tudor Great Hall to immerse themselves in theworks of Shake- speare. Organisers are arranging an


evening that looks at the Bard’s life and dispels commonmyths. There will be actors’ tales and


the chance to don a ruff and quaff Tudor drink and nibbles. The evening, on Thursday, July


25,will be hosted by Shakespeare expert and artistic director Rob Forknall. Details at www.mu- seum.maidstone.gov.uk.


Pegasus star MAIDSTONE’S Pegasus Gym- nastics Club has bagged a third Olympic-grade sportsman. Frank Baines was the All-


around Junior European Cham- pion in 2012, has represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, and has competed as part of the Great Britain Team. He joinsMaidstone stars James


Hall and Courtney Tulloch, and will work with coach Ionut Trandaburu to secure a place at the Tokyo Olympics. Frank comes to the county town fromSouthportGymnasticsClub.


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