Maidstone

Volunteers from Maidstone's Samaritans campaigned at Maidstone East train station as part of a nationwide push to highlight how listening to another person can be the first step to saving a life.The charity's annual 24-hour event on July 24, The Big Listen, reflects the availability of Samaritans’ emotional support services 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.The Samaritans emphasised SHUSH listening tips to commuters - Show you care, Have patience, Use open questions, Say it back and Have courage.Sue Christmas, Director of the Maidstone branch said: “As many as 1 in 5 adults have thought about taking their own life at some point.When people feel like that, they need to be able to talk about it, which means they need people to listen."With The Big Listen, we’re asking people to give, share and save a life.”Mary Beaumont, a volunteer at Maidstone Samaritans said: "It's something we don't often ask people, or we ask very superficially and we're not expecting an in-depth … [Read more...] about Maidstone Samaritans tell us to listen up

Maidstone’s biggest music festival has taken over Mote Park again for the fourth year running with bands from the worlds of rock, prog and country.The Ramblin' Man Fair kicked off on Saturday with Those Damn Crows opening the Rising Stage with heavy riffs and killer vocals.Some may say they would be better placed at Download but no one was complaining!Scottish five-piece GUN certainly know what they’re doing, having been living on the music scene for decades. You might know them best for a cover of Cameo’s Word Up! but their own material really shone through with Steal Your Fire and Better Days about to be added to my own playlist.They had so much energy and really went for it with their closing number, a cover of Fight for Your Right by the Beastie Boys.Another brilliant band were Skinny Molly who deserve an honourable mention for playing the entirety of Freebird note perfect.It’s one of those songs rare for bands to attempt live because of its sheer length and … [Read more...] about Mott The Hoople and all the young dudes party at Maidstone’s Ramblin’ Man Fair

A car rally, led by two fur-covered classic bangers, set off from Maidstone to Monaco raise funds to build pre-schools for children in need of a quality education in deprived areas of East Africa.Organised by charity Parenta Trust, the fifth annual banger rally will see teams drive more than 2,000 miles in five days in banger cars costing no more than £350.The teams will travel through eight countries, experiencing the scenery of the Alps and the winding roads of the Furka Pass before reaching their final destination of Monaco on Friday.Allan Presland, founder of Parenta Trust and chief executive of Parenta Group, said: “After seeing first-hand the enormity of the poverty and lack of education for pre-school children in post-conflict East Africa, I knew I had to do something significant to help; so I set up Parenta Trust to support the building of further pre-schools in the region.“Our charity has the support, passion and driving-force of some remarkable people who are … [Read more...] about Charity’s Maidstone to Monaco rally under way

Martin Cox is the new leader of Maidstone council.The Lib Dem group leader, who represents East Ward triumphed over his Conservative rival John Perry by the smallest of margins at the council's annual meeting this morning.The vote in the Town Hall was 27 for Cllr Cox and 25 for Cllr Perry, with one abstention.Neither the Lib Dems nor the Tories have an overall majority in the 55-seat council chamber and so both needed the support of the minor parties to get their candidate elected.In the end Labour councillors Keith Adkinson and Paul Harper voted for Cllr Cox as did the independent councillors Fay Gooch, Steve Munford, Janetta Sams, Tom Sams and Richard Webb.The two Independent Maidstone Party councillors Gordon Newton and Eddie Powell voted for Cllr Perry, and Labour Cllr Malcolm McKay abstained.The Conservatives' bid for leadership was undermined by the absence of two of their own councillors: Cllr Shellina Prendergast and newly elected Cllr Alan Bartlett were both sent apologies, … [Read more...] about Martin Cox is Maidstone council’s new leader

Firefighters have been called to a roof fire in Maidstone.Crews were dispatched to a property in Sheals Crescent at around 10.55am following reports of smoke coming from the roof.Two fire engines attended and a small fire in the roof space was put out.Three police cars were also in attendance while traffic in the area was affected. Kent Police has been contacted for a statement. … [Read more...] about Crews called to roof fire in Maidstone