downsmail.co.uk


News


New castle boss ‘is a good hire’


THE former chief executive of Leeds Castle has welcomed the appointment of Helen Bonser- Wilton into that role. Victoria Wallace (pictured), who


left the castle in 2014 after a decade in the role, described Sir David Steel’s successor as a “good hire”. Mrs Bonser-Wilton, who helped to shape the Mary Rose Trust and its museum in Portsmouth, is due to take up her new role this month. Mrs Wallace, who lives in Maid-


stone, said: “She’s a good hire for the castle because she does know her stuff about heritage and has done a brilliant job with the Mary Rose Trust. What she has done with the museum has just been ex- traordinary. “She is very strong on fundrais-


ing and she will understand visi- tors better because that has been her bread and butter in Portsmouth. It is the first time that someone from the heritage sector has taken the job.” Mrs Wallace had been a Foreign Office diplomat and ran the court service in the south east before she landed the chief executive's job and her successor Sir David Steel had a distinguished Royal Naval career.


He is now Governor of Gibraltar. She joked: “I was a diplomat and


a lawyer. I didn’t know anything about castles! So Helen will be a good hire for the castle and after the pandemic, this is going to be a tough time.” Mrs Bonser-Wilton has been to the estate in recent weeks for her induction. A spokesman said she has been learning the “unique way in which Leeds Castle functions as a multi-faceted business, the de- mands and challenges of current times and the way in which our staff have performed so admirably over the past year”.


Appeal after stabbing case


A MAN had to be airlifted to hospital after being stabbed in the arm in Headcorn.


The incident happened at a site in Martins Gardens, Lenham Road, Headcorn, at around 11.30pm on Saturday, March 6. The victim was said to be in his 40s. Another man received treat- ment for minor injuries after he was knocked over by a car


that was reported to have been driven at him deliberately. If anyone has any informa-


tion that could help police with this investigation, they should call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting reference 46/37033/21. Alternatively, call the


independent charity


Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or complete the online form on their website.


KCC £500k grant pledge


KENT County Council (KCC) has proposed to allocate £486,000 to- wards COVID-19 projects de- signed to help struggling community groups from April. County Hall’s Conservative chiefs have pledged to offer grants of between £300 and £2,000 to small organisations which are finding it difficult to generate enough income during the pan- demic.


Initiatives may include food-


banks, homeless charities, socially distanced befriending schemes to tackle loneliness, activity packs for pre-school children and col- lecting and delivering supplies for shielding residents.


KCC’s deputy leader and fi- nance cabinet member, Cllr Peter Oakford (Con), described the work of the voluntary sector as “critical”.


p5


Will, Deputyship, or Power of


Attorney dispute? Do you have a dispute regarding how a Will, Deputyship, Estate or Power of Attorney has been handled?


Whitehead Monckton has considerable experience in helping clients to resolve these difficult disagreements and in many


cases achieving excellent financial results. Call us today on


Canterbury 01227 643250 Maidstone Tenterden London


www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk


DM 11/19 5


Whitehead Monckton Limited (no. 08366029), registered in England & Wales. Registered office 5 Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3EN. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 608279.


01622 698000 01580 765722 020 7531 2990


for an initial no obligation consultation by phone. E-mail enquiries@whitehead-monckton.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56