News Police arrested
absent driver A LARKFIELD driver has been charged following an initiative by Kent Police targeting dangerous motorists. On August 18, officers arrested
a 20-year-old man in Woodpecker Road, Larkfield. He had failed to appear in court on July 22 in con- nection with a number of driving offences and a warrant had been issued for his arrest. Taron Greeves, of Nightingale Close, Larkfield, appeared before Medway Magistrates Court on August 19, charged with driving under the influence of drugs, without insurance and without a licence. The case was adjourned until September 1. Chief Inspector Rhiannan Pep- per said: “We are committed to taking action against those who pose a danger on the road. “When someone drives without a licence or whilst disqualified, they are not insured and put other law-abiding road users at risk.
“We ask that anyone with any information about those driving without a licence, whilst disqual- ified or under the influence re- ports it to us.”
Race for Life
THIS year’s Race for Life is set to be a little different thanks to Covid-19.
Organisers of the charity run
were forced to cancel the Maid- stone race, but have now an- nounced a “Very 2020 Race for Life” which will see runners tak- ing part in individual 5k runs on September 26. The idea is that participants will complete their run in their nearest green space in socially-distanced groups, but all on the same day. A live broadcast on the charity's
Race for Life Facebook page will start at 9.30am on the day, and will include advice from a fitness expert as well as inspirational messages of support from people who have been through cancer.
Obituaries DOWNS Mail obituaries are free and it is our aim to cele- brate the lives of anyone with a link to our area. You can contact our obitu-
aries editor, Neil Nixon, di- rectly, to start the process. Call 01622 630422 or email
neilnixon22@gmail.com.
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downsmail.co.uk
New church ‘to meet needs of community’
A NEW church is to be built to meet the needs of Maidstone’s changing population, writes Dennis Fowle.
St Faith’s Church, Maidstone, has been given planning permis- sion for a place of worship and community centre in the heart of Ringlestone, and plans to sell the existing town centre church build- ing near Maidstone Museum. The
Church Commissioners
have published a public notice to declare St Faith’s closed for regular public use and appropriated by the Lighthouse Church, Maidstone. The 1871 church will be used by St Faith’s until the centre is built. St Faith’s also holds all-age ser- vices in the fading Ringlestone Hall, built in 1935, which will be demolished and the land will form part of the site for the new two- storey building.
The priest, the Rev Canon Arthur Houston, who is pictured with an artist’s impression of the new building, said he anticipated building work would start in 2021, and take about a year. Rev Houston (60) said: “The church hall has been a much-used community facility since 1935, but sadly it is showing its age and is no longer fit for purpose.
“It is rare for a church to get planning permission, but it will also serve as a multi-functional community centre. There will be a nursery, lunches and events held
there seven days a week. People will be able to come and go all day long.” Fundraising had started, and the
sale of St Faith’s Church would be a significant help.
One reason for the new church is the diminishing population in Maidstone town centre and the in- creasing population of its Spring- field and Ringlestone parish areas, largely related to new homes. The new St Faith’s Centre will have a meeting room with a gener-
ous kitchen on the ground floor which could accommodate a nurs- ery school or day-care facility. Upstairs, five multi-purpose
rooms are planned, with lift access. The back garden is seen as a “tran- quil space for meeting and shar- ing”. Car parking is included. The Lighthouse – “a church of all nations” – has a well-established Christian centre in Maidstone. One of its aims is to be “a light in our community, working closely with local government and other organ- isations in a practical way to posi- tively impact the lives of members of our communities”. At the head are husband and
wife team Julius Eniolu (apostolic leader) and Mary (pastor). They have been married for 19 years, and have three sons.
Sparkling award for vineyard
KENT vineyard Mereworth Wines has been awarded a silver medal in the recent Wine of Great Britain GB Awards for its very first English sparkling vintage. White From Black 2018, re-
leased just in April of this year, is white wine made from black grapes. Will Boscawen planted his vine-
yard in Wateringbury in 2016, on the south-facing slopes of the North Downs. A year later, he turned an old
oast house at Brewer’s Hall, Mere- worth, into a winery. Mr Boscawen said: “We’re in- stilled with a passion for our vine-
yards, our grapes and for fine wine- making – pouring our love, and a lot of hard work, into the land around us to create some truly beautiful wine.”
Head
winemaker Scott Gebbie and owner Will Boscawen celebrate Mereworth Wines’ first award
The next addition to the Mere-
worth Wines family will be the “White From White”, set to be re- leased in September, made from the vineyard’s Chardonnay grapes.
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