Maidstone Medway Magazine

mmm Maidstone, Medway Magazine Issue 7, August 2012 Complimentary

AIRPORT

Join the campaign to protect our landscape

SPORT

Enjoy the coast and keep fit when you take up windsurfing

BLONDE BOMBSHELL Peaches Geldof is well and truly in the spotlight Fitness Fashion Travel Entertainment And much, much more

MONSOON

Indiana print longline dress, sizes 8-18, ÂŁ160 Rangipo earring, one size, ÂŁ12

RIVER ISLAND

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mmm 7

Welcome

The sun has finally reared it’s head and made us all smile.

With all manner of wonderful things going on around the country this summer we’re all in a celebratory mood. As well as all the sporting achievements to celebrate, here at mmm we’ve got our own successes to enjoy. And our happiness is all thanks to you, dear readers.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the letters and e-mails we’ve received from you, telling us how much you enjoy our monthly offerings. It’s been a real honour to see how we’ve been embraced and welcomed into the community.

In the future we look forward to being able to share some of the warmth with you as we do so appreciate that you take the time to give us your opinions.

In the meantime, thank you for your kind words, it’s good to know you’ve appreciated our work over the past six months.

Here’s to the next six months and beyond. Have a lovely summer.

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Maidstone, Medway Magazine Issue 3, April 2012 Complimentary

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MMM Media Ltd White Cottage 13 Ashford Road Maidstone ME14 5DA Tel: 01622 299035 editorial@mmm-media.com sales@mmm-media.com Publisher Rasa Dregva Editor Tom White

Travel Editor Tricia Lester

Production Michael Pilcher Design Maggie Ashton Sarah Ellis Sales Emma Hunton Accounts Kerry Head

IT Tim Bassett

Photography Thomas Richards

Further contribution Evelina Webster

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54

11 Peaches Geldof

Daughter of celebrity, Peaches is no chrinking violet, having embraced a celebrity lifestyle and made the most of every day. We take a look at the starlet’s story so far.

17 Fashion

Whether you’re looking for last minute holiday buys or preparing for the school year ahead, we’re sure to have something to help you make your mind up.

26 Fitness

Windsurfing’s often thought of as a sport of the 80s, but it’s still very much alive and sailing. What’s more, it’s a great way to keep fit and enjoy our beautiful coastline.

29 Weddings

Just because you’re not part of the immediate wedding party doesn’t mean you don’t still have

a tough job choosing an outfit, we help guests to find their dream dress.

35 Travel

From the wonders of Istanbul to the gorgeous landscapes of Canada, there’s still time to book your summer holiday.

42 Food

Delicious dishes aren’t as difficult to create at home as you’d think, take a look

30

78 28

11

48 at our recipes and try them for yourself.

48 History

The dockyard has played a part in the lives of those living in the Medway Towns for centuries, now it’s an historic dockyard it’s still very much at the heart of our community.

53 Property

Whether looking for yur next dream home, pottering in the garden or redecorating, take a peek at our property pages for inspiration.

68 Motors

The summer is the perfect time to set yourself up with some new wheels.

74

Sunny days and open roads are just crying out for you to go exploring and make the most of that new car.

22

74 Technology

We take a look at some of the latest technological treats.

76 Airport

A cloud is hanging over our countryside, we take a look at the controversial issue of estuary airports.

78 Business

The sun’s shining, we’re all feeling more optimistic, and these businesses all have something to celebrate.

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. © MMM Media Ltd 2012

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Life is Peaches

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A

Born into a family life too extreme for a soap opera, Peaches Geldof’s name has been in the papers from the moment it was controversially bestowed upon her. Two decades later the starlet ensures it’s still there.

LITTLE under four years from when her father stood on a stage at Wembley Stadium and the watching world caught their breath at the seismic shift in our place and responsibility in a global society, a child was born.

Bob Geldof had lived a life where convention was a foreign language; an opinionated, foul-mouthed, Irish rock star, who followed his conscience into becoming one of the genuine heroes of the 20th century.

Live Aid and his early day performance before a capacity crowd will remain one of rock music's most abiding images; while his relentless fundraising for the starving in Africa changed our outlook on life.

His life was a soap opera, his relationship with TV presenter Paula Yates the stuff of tabloid legend. Their home a sprawling priory on the outskirts of Faversham.

And into this world on March 13, 1989, emerged a girl who would prove as opinionated as her father and as strong-minded as her mother.

Peaches Honeyblossom Geldof was going to fit in just fine.

Today, at just 23, she has already crammed in enough drama, enough career twists and turns and enough headlines for her private life to rival her high-profile family.

And earlier this year she became a mother – extending the Geldof a

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c Bespoke Traditional Kitchens c Business with over 40 years’ experience c Qualified craftsmen c English Pippy Oak c Variety of colours and finishes c Free site visit and quotation

We also undertake kitchen “facelifts” bespoke door and drawer front replacements

Our showroom: Parsonage Farm, Heath Road, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4JB Tel. 01622 743747 www.tudor-oak.com email: info@tudor-oak.com

a family. A beautiful blonde carrying the child of a rock star and presenting it with a name to ensure they will always be the centre of attention. Sound familiar? She even looks like her mum.

The big question on everyone's lips now is will the birth of her son – Astala Dylan Willow Geldof-Cohen (well it was never going to be John now, was it?) put the brakes on an insatiable desire to achieve in whatever field she is dabbling in?

Peaches had been a journalist, TV presenter and a model. And already has a failed marriage to her name.

Now the focus is on motherhood.

At least for the time being.

“My Dad is besotted with Astala,” she explains, “not only is he his first grandchild, but he's the first boy we've had in the family too.”

Not that Bob is too keen on the name, jokingly saying “it's

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a girl's name” when quizzed on TV. And he knows a thing of two about girls' names.

Following the tragic death of Paula Yates in 2000 from a drugs overdose – she was found, aged 41, in her London flat after a heroin overdose on daughter Pixie's tenth birthday – Geldof had brought up not only his own three daughters but, perhaps most famously, the daughter of Paula Yates and Michael Hutchence – the doomed INXS frontman who had famously died three years before Paula.

Bob and Paula had divorced in 1996 – a painful separation played out on the front pages of the tabloids, with Paula's high-profile relationship with the doomed Australian rocker blamed for the split.

Peaches, Pixie and older sister Fifi Trixibelle were raised

by Bob – along with Michael a

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a and Paula's child Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily.

They divided their time between their home in Davington in Faversham and a pad in London.

Peaches was given free reign by her father. While he expected her to make her own way in life, he was liberal too, allowing her the freedom to follow her heart.

By the tender age of 15 she was already writing a column for the Daily Telegraph and various magazines.

At 17 she had become a socialite as well as taking her first step into TV, presenting Sky One's Peaches Geldof: Teen America.

Her unique sense of style – a leaf taken out of the book re-written by her mother – even saw her named among Tatler's fashion icons for 2007. Peaches was still just 18.

It would be easy to assume life was easy for Peaches – after all, her father's fortune runs into the hundreds of millions courtesy of a rock career and some shrewd investment in television companies.

Peaches, however, insists otherwise.

“My father has never supported me,” she says, “he is really tight.

He grew up in an Irish household and that attitude has stayed with him ever since.

“When I was at school all my friends were getting £200 a week and I was getting 50p.

“He'd just tell me I should go and make my own money.”

And so she did; creating a position where the jobs started to fly in. From editing a magazine to being a top model, Peaches has generated her own income streams.

Her fashion career got fully under way in 2007 when she hit the catwalk for the first time during London Fashion Week. A year later

and she signed a deal to be the public face of Dotti, an Australian fashion line.

As she fronted a new show for MTV – Peaches: Disappear Here – she signed a six-figure deal to become the face of the Miss Ultimo collection.

At the time of the deal Michelle Mone at the label described her as “the perfect choice” courtesy of being “young, edgy and having lashings of style”.

The contract fell apart, however in 2010 when allegations of drug use in the newspapers – which Peaches strongly denied – saw the label drop her.

Not that it's held her up.

ITV2 recruited her last year to present OMG! – although it was critically panned.

Headlines, however still come primarily from her private life which ensures her profile remains high.

At the age of just 19 she wed American musician Max Drummey.

They wed in August 2008. By February 2009, news broke they had separated. The divorce finally confirmed in April 2011.

Later that year she found happiness with the lead singer of the band S.C.U.M., Thomas Cohen. Just two months after they started dating she confirmed she was pregnant.

Quite what the future holds for Peaches remains to be seen. As an opinionated teenager she frequently came across as precocious – a claim which could be levelled at most teens, just that they don't live their lives in the spotlight of the media.

Born into celebrity and a cauldron of tabloid interest, it is hard to think that Peaches will spend much time outside of the headlines.

For now, though, her focus is on her son and ensuring his upbringing is not as fractured as her own. mmm

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Welcome to No64 at the Joiners, an all new luxury boutique hotel

The first floor of The Joiners Arms has been completely overhauled, the result is four fantastic luxury boutique hotel rooms. Inspired by sophisticated interior design and French elegance, the hotel will bring an offering of luxury accommodation in Kent, in the small but thriving market town of West Malling.

No64 The Joiners, 64 High Street, West Malling, Kent, ME19 6LU - 01732 871 386

www.no64thejoiners.co.uk info@no64thejoiners.co.uk

SPECIAL OFFERS Upper lips: Was £80, Now £40 l Chin: Was £80, Now £45 l Underarm: Was £90, Now £55 l Bikini: Was £140, Now £8 l Lower legs (pair) Was £240 Now £135 l Back: Was £250, Now £155

Wells Medical Centre

71 London Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1DX Tel: 01892 530265 9 New Street, Ashford, Kent TN24 8TN Tel: 01233 661662

www.wellsmedicalcentre.com l www.wellsclinic.com

mmm fashion

n Summer styling to have you looking your best wherever you go on holiday

n School wear doesn’t have to be boring with these on-trend clothes

To promote your business call 01622 299035 or e-mail sales@mmm-media.com

X mmm

Back-to-school shopping always sneaks up on us just as we're getting into the swing of summer, and whilst it’s pretty easy to prepare for primary school age children, trying to find the right clothing and accessories for more grown up children can be quite a challenge.

But don’t worry, we've scoured Fremlin Walk for some of the coolest finds to help make the start of school as painless as possible...

For the most fashionable back to college outfits, Topshop and H&M have all the trends covered, whilst Next and Topman's suits and formal range has never looked so good. From skinny fit suits in a range of classic colours and materials to simple wardrobe staples, your trendy teen will certainly look the part.

Get them to step into their studies with the coolest and hottest footwear around. At Schuh and Office you will find a great selection from ballerina pumps to kickers, they have it covered with a huge selection of funky but formal footwear. JD and JJB have an enormous range of sportswear and designer brands, along with the basic sportswear essentials too.

At House of Fraser, Paperchase offer a range of fashionable and functional stationery, and right now there’s a three for two promotion available.

Youngsters just love Superdry, and their range of retro-inspired Alumni bags are just perfect for school as not only can they hold the necessities, they are hardwearing with a strong supportive handle - so they should last a while too.

Jaine Rees

Too cool h

ue, £33, Schu

Pointed brog

Chunky brog

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Beige high to

Black Brothel

Creeper, £70,

p, £35, Office

Marigold pum

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for school

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Alumni mini ba

Panda highlighters,

£29.99, Superdry

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£3, Papercha

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Smart trouser

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Aztec kaftan, Spot sundress

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£35, Accessor

, £25, Accessor

Toca lace top, £39; Riley print skirt

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g, £29, Monso

£49; Ponto ba

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Gingham check bandeau bikini, £39, La Redoute

Yellow & whi

te printed

bikini top, £19, bikini

Beach

La Redoute

bottoms, £15,

6, Next,

Floppy hat, £1

Plain swimsuit,

Fremlin Walk

£35, Fat Face

beauty

Hibiscus Tankini, top £28, bottoms £18, Fat Face

Lautra sandals, £130, Pied

a Terre, House

of Fraser

Marla dress, £5

5, Monsoon

rn High waist tu

99, Pilot

ts in red, £19.

up colour shor

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Botanical Beauty rooms

Summer Pick & mix of treatments exclusively to Hannah and elise

choose 2 treatments for the list for £39.00 Decleor express Facial GeLeration on Hands or Feet Foot massage, with a File and Polish 1/2 Leg Wax and eyebrow or Lip Wax Neck, Back and Shoulder massage conditions apply

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One of the first Salons in maidstone to be offering this celebrity treatment Offer £25.00 25 Gabriels Hill, Maidstone

01622 661300

www.botanicalbeauty.co.uk

Surf’s up 26 mmm

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Tim Bassett is blown away by the beauty of our coastline, which is best enjoyed on a board... ou may think of windsurfing as a sport of the 80s or maybe you’d think you need to be a professional to really do well, but things really have moved on. With equipment now much lighter and easier to use, the sport’s scope in the UK is rapidly growing, with an abundance of shops and instruction centres now available.

As the typical English summer is pretty unreliable and prone to the odd bit of low pressure, windsurfing is a sport that can take advantage of these conditions. With the UK being one of the windiest places in Europe, windsurfing is the ideal sport if you like the outdoors.

I have been windsurfing since the age of 11, my father (who dabbled in the sport in the 80s) pushed a reluctant me onto a board during a summer holiday on Lacanau Lake in southern France.

Initially I couldn’t turn around, “keep going, keep going” he said and I did. After a lot of shouting from the shore I eventually worked

out how to get back to the beach.

I took the sport up more seriously when I was in my late teens, and eventually bought some second hand equipment. In those early days I quickly progressed from mostly sailing on inland lakes to eventually experiencing the sea and I haven’t looked back since.

There is a growing popularity for kitesurfing these days and it will be replacing windsurfing as an Olympic sport in the Rio 2016 Games, but windsurfing is still a great sport if you live in the UK. The Kent and Sussex coastlines offer an abundance of beaches with excellent waves and wind. You will meet some very friendly people of all ages if you take up the sport or even if you just fancy going down to the beach for a day trip.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the recognised way to learn the sport. Level 1 will give you the basics to get going and Level 2 will improve stance, develop your turning ability, beach starts and introduce you to using a harness.

See www.rya.org.uk for details on

where to learn and to find out more about specific windsurfing courses.

A few of the most popular Kent beaches boast the best places to go and have a try.

Minster on the Isle of Sheppey is easy to get to from Maidstone or Medway. There is easy parking on the shingle bank with a friendly welcoming crowd on the weekends.

It’s a great place to learn and also nice and shallow at low tide. There is a windsurf academy situated there too.

Whitstable, Tankerton and Minnis Bay have similar conditions and can be sailed at several heights of the tide (check with the locals though).

Further down the coast, Hythe, Dymchurch and Littlestone are also very popular.

Although not in Kent, Camber Sands (Broomhill end) is popular when it’s windy. You’ll need to have

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some experience to windsurf here when the wind is up, but with a few lessons and at low tide it’s definitely worth a try.

The beach is even popular among the professionals - who can sometimes be seen practising freestyle moves, wave sailing and loops.

Watch out for the shipwreck nearby though, at low tide it’s exposed but if you’re not sure where it is, ask someone to point it out for you. Either way, it's pretty much the windiest beach in the south east when we get Atlantic swells or a south westerly wind.

So my advice to anyone thinking about taking up windsurfing is go for it. It’s a great way to make friends, enjoy days out with family and friends and see some of our wonderful coastline. mmm

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mmm weddings

n Look good, but don’t show up the bride, when you choose the perfect guest outfit n Flower girls can be the perfect little beauties to complete your wedding party

To promote your business call 01622 299035 or e-mail sales@mmm-media.com

Be my guest...

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hoosing an outfit for a wedding is no easy task. Admittedly if you get it wrong you won’t be nearly so disappointed as the bride, but it’s still a big job.

Sure, it’s an expensive task buying a new outfit, but think of all the positives when you get it right: you’ll feel a million dollars, you’ll be showing your friends/family just how good you can look and - for the single girls - in such a Floral print maxi diverse mix of people , dress, £39.50 when bride and Marks & Spen groom finally bring cer all of their nearest together there’s a chance you’ll meet your eventual partner, surely you want to look your best for that?

So what is our advice? Find something that makes you smile.

Lemon Lauren

If your dress can make you smile to look at, then even when you fail to catch the bouquet, you’ll still be smiling because you’re wearing something beautiful. And a woman’s smile is a highly underrated weapon.

Yes, we did also say dress. There Sugar Rose dress

pleat dress, £8

£75, Monsoon

5, Monsoon

Green cotton

are no rules for weddings, skirts and trousers are more than acceptable, but while we’d never advocate taking the easy route to style, a dress is most certainly the easier choice here.

Why? Because it’s one, rather than two items to match everything to.

Sure it’ll be more expensive than a skirt, but add on the price of the matching top - that you’ve spent four hours finding because nothing was quite the right colour - and you’re pretty much paying the same anyway.

Then you also have to match shoes, jewellery, hat, bag, shrug/jacket and you’re really beginning to run out of time and money. If you start off with a dress then choosing all those key extras is significantly quicker.

And how do you choose the dress?

An often overlooked option is to ask the bride what her colour theme is.

We’re not saying you have to wear cerise pink if that’s what she’s chosen, but it can be a helpful springboard for starting your dress hunt.

After that the world is your oyster...

Pastels or patterns; bold or frilly; casual or evening wear, anything goes when it comes to choosing that perfect dress to make you smile.

Just don’t forget your hat... mmm

lace dress £79,

La Redoute

Strapless jewel

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s,

dip hem dres £39.99, Pilot

Royal Blue chiffon

ricot

28, Ap

dress, £

Statement wide corsage

floppy, £38, Ac

cessorize

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J by Jasper Co

£110, Debenhams

Rocha.John Rocha Applique

s

5, Debenham

Shift Dress, £5

Rose Corsage bag £10 Monsoon

Triple Flower hairband £6 Monsoon

Rose Daisy Garland £6 Monsoon

Clementine Dress £55 Monsoon

Blushing bridesmaids Jazz dress £48 Monsoon

Kit out your bridesmaid from top to toe with a range of dresses and accessories available at Debenhams

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Fรกtima Arrieta weddings at

PERU MODA

www.fatimaarrieta.com

mmm travel

n Turkish delights for all in Istanbul n Cool Canada can be a dream come true

Sponsored by

To promote your business call 01622 299035 or e-mail sales@mmm-media.com

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A paradise for

Gill Bassett discovers the Kirsty Keeling-Jones, Branch Manager, Baldwins Travel Agency, Maidstone

Travel tips from your Local Award Winning Travel Agency

Travelling with children‌

n Always pre-order a child’s meal at time of booking.

n You may want to take snacks or other food for children.

n A favorite blanket or stuffed animal may help comfort those who are fearful or nervous. n Consider taking activity books, portable DVD players or video games (with headphones) to help keep children occupied for the length of the flight. n Take the hassle out of parking at the airport by booking a Meet & Greet service.

n If you are hiring a car, before you travel, buy a lightweight booster seat to pack in your suitcase.

To hire car seats abroad can be very expensive as they charge you per day.

I

stanbul, Turkey's largest city, is a Mecca for carpets, fine jewellery, goat-hair blankets and hand-blown glass.

Sitting proudly on the path of the ancient silk route, Istanbul is a spirited city that blends Eastern and Western cultures seamlessly where glistening golden mosques jostle for space with skyscrapers.

It's a glamorous destination with a dynamic buzz that is reflected in the hotels, nightlife, restaurants and shops.

It can be a bewildering destination for shoppers, but there are gems worth discovering. For example, in the affluent Nisantasi district, Ela Cindoruk and Nazan Pak operate

from a small atelier, selling contemporary fine jewellery, designed in-house and hand-crafted from precious metals and gemstones.

ACCLAIMED CHIFFON Nearby, Turkish-born designer Arzu Kaprol has opened her first boutique selling elegant chiffons embroidered with Ottoman calligraphy and tactile silk-lined leathers, to much acclaim from fashion critics around the world.

Turkey is renowned as a carpetlovers' Mecca and it's best to do your homework and head to reputable dealers such as Sengor and Hali. However, perusing the Grand Bazaar can unearth some great buys if you're prepared to

bargain hunters

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many secrets of Istanbul NURUOSMANIYE KAPISI SOK AND BEYAZIT SQUARE The Grand Bazaar is one of the world's largest covered markets and has stood on its current site since the 15th century.

The bazaar offers everything from hand-made tiles and glassware to copper, brassware and clothing, all of which should only be bought after extensive bartering.

If you can find them in the maze of alleyways, track down Sivasli Yazmaci, a miniscule boutique in the Yaglikcilar Caddesi alley selling hand-painted textiles, and the wonderful bath emporium Hamam, which stocks handmade herbal soaps and cosy goat-hair Sivas blankets. You could plan ahead and ask your hotel concierge to book a guide.

negotiate. Look out for a special type of kilim, known as tulus (meaning 'hair'), from the Konya region, perfect for contemporary interiors.

TIME TO BARTER NAZAN PAK-ELA CINDORUK PASABAHCE GLASSWORKS 20/1 Abdi Ipekçi Caddesi, Istiklal Cad 314 Nisantasi: 212 232 2664 Beyoglu; 212 244 0544 ARZU KAPROL HALI Abdi Ipekçi Caddesi, 36/37 Deniz Apartmani GRAND BAZAAR SENGOR (KAPALI ÇARSI) 1 Feyzi Feyzioslu Sokak, Nisantasi; enter at portals on 212 234 3330.

HOOKAH PIPES For exquisite, hand-blown glass at very reasonable prices, make a beeline for the Pasabahce glassworks, founded by order of Sultan Abdülmecid in 1848. Here, you can buy decanters, pitchers and even hookah pipes in clear or white glass with fine coloured stripes. mmm

So much to see in Canada

W

e have picked out our top 10 unforgettable sights in Canada and asked our Canada Personal Travel Experts where is best for first timers and free spirits.

1 - Niagara Falls, Ontario Sail up to these tumbling cascades on board the Maid of the Mist – don’t forget a raincoat!

The Niagara Falls in Ontario are unforgettable.

2 - Bear Viewing, British Columbia Get up close to Canada’s elusive brown bear at Knight Inlet Lodge in British Columbia.

4 - Butchart Gardens, Victoria The renowned Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada, are home to year-round blooms, waterfalls and eco boat tours.

3 - Icefields Parkway, Lake Louise Drive along Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to Jasper – one of the most amazing drives in Canada.

5 - CN Tower, Toronto Soak in incredible views of Toronto from the second highest freestanding structure in the world – the CN Tower. a

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6 - Rocky Mountaineer, Rockies The Rocky Mountaineer is one of the world’s most famous train journeys, taking you through Canada’s mesmerising Rockies.

7 - Whale-Watching from Vancouver Spot orcas cresting the water’s surface during an unforgettable whale watching tour, departing from Vancouver.

Our Personal Travel Experts suggest: First time to Canada?

If it’s your first Canada holiday, you could visit Toronto and take a trip to Niagara Falls, or visit a charming city such as Montréal.

Choosing a simple hotel and flight combination in Canada is a clear plan and you can easily add on experiences to make your Canada holiday more personal.

9 - Notre-Dame Cathedral, Montréal Admire the stunning architecture and intricate interior of Montréal’s vast NotreDame Cathedral, built in 1829.

Do you want to explore Canada?

Escorted tours are perfect if you really want to get to the heart of Canada, but don’t have the time to plan and research routes, hotels and experiences. You can choose a Canada group tour with a guide or an independent journey, such as our Trans Canadian Rail adventure from east to west coast Canada.

You can also add on extensions and experiences to make your holiday in Canada unforgettable.

10 - Athabasca Glacier, Jasper National Park Ride the Ice Explorer out onto the colossal Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park, which is over 300 metres thick.

Are you a free spirit?

Where do you want to go and what do you want to do?

Our Baldwins Personal Travel Experts are ready to tailor make a holiday in Canada from scratch.

8 - Québec City Québec City is a romantic, charming city in Canada with cobbled streets and beautiful historic buildings.

We’ll help you mix and match destinations, flights, hotels and experiences. Your perfect Canada holiday will spring to life. You can add flexible adventures to your Canada holiday, such as staying in a rustic lodge where you can spot elusive brown bears or hire a motorhome and head off the beaten track.

The path less travelled in Canada So, you’ve been to Canada before and now you want to try something different; to find all those cultural and scenic gems just waiting to be discovered. If this sounds like you, take a look at our inspirational tours of Canada, such as sailing along the famous Inside Passage through the waters of British Columbia, or driving through the dense terrain of Saint Alexis Des Monts during our Ontario and Quebec Highlights self-drive. Then there are our tailor made Canada holidays. Just tell us your ideas, your travel dreams, and together we’ll create your perfect holiday. mmm

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FOOD Recipes from the Swan in West Malling The Kings Hill Cooler

25 ml elderflower liqueur 25ml vodka 50ml Pinot Grigio (or any other dry white wine) 1 inch of cucumber, diced Half a lime, squeezed 1 tspn caster sugar 10 mint leaves 3 thin slices of cucumber for garnish Take a cocktail shaker, add the diced cucumber and muddle or crush it using the end of a rolling pin, then top the shaker up with ice.

Add all the other ingredients except for the mint and shake vigorously, at least 30 seconds.

Take a tall chilled glass and pour in the contents of the shaker. Add more ice if you need to.

Rub the mint leaves gently in your hand (this helps to extract the flavour), add to your drink and stir.

Garnish with the thin slices of cucumber.

Raspberry Cosmopolitan 50ml Vodka (lemon vodka if you can find it) 25ml Cointreau 15ml fresh lime juice (or half a lime squeeze) 50ml Ocean Spray cranberry juice 5 fresh raspberries (save one for garnish) Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.

Add all the ingredients, including 4 of your raspberries.

Shake vigorously, at least 30 seconds.

Strain into a chilled Martini glass, garnish with a single raspberry.

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Summer Crab & Prawn Cocktail Serves 4 200gm picked white crab meat, check carefully for pieces of shell 12 cooked large prawns, peeled, deveined, cut into 5 pieces 2 tbsp good quality mayonnaise 1 tbsp crème fraiche 1/2 tbsp horseradish sauce Dash of tabasco sauce Dash of brandy 1 tspn lemon juice Chives, chopped 2 baby gem lettuce, shredded 1 Avocado, diced 1/3 cucumber, peeled, diced 4 tomatoes, skinned, seeds removed, cut into petals 3 spring onions, sliced 6 breakfast radishes, sliced Coriander cress 1 lemon, into wedges Lemon juice Extra virgin olive oil

For the crab mix Place the mayonnaise into a round bottomed bowl, add crème fraiche, horseradish, tabasco, brandy & lemon juice and whisk until smooth.

Add the crab, chopped prawns and chives, mix together.

Add a little lemon juice, freshly ground pepper and a pinch of salt.

To serve Dress the shredded lettuce, avocado, cucumber, spring onions, radish & tomatoes with a little lemon juice and olive oil. Season lightly.

Place into a cocktail glass (or small bowl) Using two dessert spoons quenelle (or neatly place) a quarter of the crab mixture on top of your dressed salad.

Finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

Garnish with coriander cress and a lemon wedge.

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All roads lead to

W

hen it comes to tracking the history of Chatham and its surrounding villages, all roads, almost inevitably, lead back to the dockyard.

Its location defines the area – from its industry to the people who have

lived there for centuries.

And despite its closure nearly 30 years ago, its tentacles continue to reach out far and wide, its influence still likely to be felt for many decades to come.

For the residents of Brompton, it has carved it a place like few others in the entire county – a village which

would bloom into being as a result of its location, divided by fortifications and now an essential link between Chatham and Gillingham.

Even the military presence came as a direct result of the shipyard.

And amid all the hullabaloo surrounding 2012, this year marks the 200th anniversary of the Royal

the Dockyard

Engineers in the town.

Or, to be precise, at its barracks in Brompton.

Not that it was the first military presence in what was, at the time, a tiny village.

Dating back to the late 17th century, Brompton itself was defined by the creation of the

Chatham Lines, the 2km long fortifications – effectively a ditch – designed to protect the hugely significant dockyard amid its growing significance for Britain's dominance of the seas.

Back then rather than the sprawling residential and modernday look of today, it was a mostly

rural area, fields and orchards boasting sheep and woodland.

As a result of the need to have soldiers guarding the site, so there was a need for barracks, and Brompton was the perfect position to house them. It found itself ringed with military establishments. Many of which remain today. a

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a When war with France resumed in 1778, the military might in the area was reinforced, and the barracks became firmly established on the map.

The original Brompton's expansion was to be restricted by the Chatham Lines – leading to a territory to the east to grow up and to be coined New Brompton.

Brompton itself would eventually be eclipsed by its new namesake by the dawn of the 20th century.

Today, the Brompton 200: Civilian Life in a Military Village, marks its remarkable rise in prominence.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery, it is a community project designed to showcase the significance of Brompton.

And for a remarkable walk back through time the Royal Engineers' Museum, Library & Archive – which is co-ordinating the project - boasts more than one million objects covering the history of the corps

which have been involved in every conflict of the British Army across every Continent.

For those expecting nothing other than military paraphernalia, what lurks within may surprise.

There are, for example, an entire set of Charles Dickens' first editions – delivered by the author himself, from his time spent living in Higham.

There are more than 340,000 photographs taken

by Sappers as they found themselves posted around the world to defend King and country. Heavily involved in early photography, the collection ranges from official images taken in the field to personal images taken by those serving.

In addition, there are diaries written by those fighting in World War One, diaries from India and more modern accounts from conflicts in the Falklands and Bosnia.

In short, it is a fascinating archive of the British Army to be found in one place.

Yet it is the site's history which is perhaps most intriguing; how its growth shaped the area, influenced the very people who live there to this day.

Explains a spokesman for the Brompton 200 project: “In 1756 construction on the Lines began.

The construction of Lines brought soldiers to man it, and these needed barracks. These were all built in or close to Brompton – Chatham Barracks in 1758, the Marine Barracks in 1779, the Gunners Barracks in 1782 and finally Brompton Barracks in 1804.

“This influx of soldiers boosted the population, and many businesses sprang up to cater for them.

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By 1798, barely 100 years after the first building was erected, Brompton had grown to a town of 400 properties.

“With a wide variety of traders, Brompton was well provided with a wide variety of commercial premises, making it a more important commercial centre than Gillingham at this time.”

It was against this backdrop that the School of Military Engineering – the Royal Engineers - arrived in 1812.

The spokesman continued: “At the beginning of the 19th century the Royal Engineers in the towns consisted of the Chief Royal Engineer and his staff who were involved in building various defences.

“There was also a company of the Royal Sappers and Miners who did not amalgamate with the Royal Engineers until 1856.

As a result of the underperformance of Wellington’s engineers in Spain a Royal Warrant was issued for the creation of a Royal Engineers Establishment for the training of engineers. This establishment was chosen to be housed at Brompton Barracks as the Chatham Lines were an ideal training site and the River Medway provided a suitable area to practice pontooning.

“Captain Pasley was selected to run the Engineers establishment as he had written much about the need for such a place and had been testing his theories on education of engineers with his own company at Plymouth.

“The Royal Engineers establishment later became the School of Military Engineering in 1868 and in 1962, the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME).”

Today the RSME is the British Army’s centre of excellence for military engineering and explosive ordnance disposal training. The school is spread across several sites in the south of England but the headquarters remain at Brompton Barracks. Nearly all members of the Corps of Royal Engineers pass through Brompton Barracks at some point in their career.

In an era of military cut-backs, it continues to survive to this day, to build on its remarkable history. mmm

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Beautiful setting with magnificent views

58 mmm

A

magnificent Grade II Listed Georgian house with adjacent cottage and detached pal barn set in glorious gardems and grounds extending to about 30 acres with approximately a third of a mile of river frontage.

Oaklands is situated in a beautiful setting on the outskirts of the village of East Farleigh with magnificent views over the countryside.

The property lies within an area of outstanding natural beauty and within a conservation area.

Oaklands comprises a magnificent Grade II listed Georgian house built in about 1820. The property having mellowed brick elevations under a slated roof. The cellarage suggests that a house has occupied the site from a much earlier date with the adjacent Grade II listed cottage itself dating from 1757. The beautifully presented accommodation benefits from gas fired central heating and there is a sophisticated security system covering the house and grounds.

Adjacent to the main house is a most attractive period cottage offering excellent ancillary accommodation. Set within the grounds are a number of beautifully maintained outbuildings including a clock house and period barn providing further ancillary accommodation.

The gardens are a quite outstanding feature of Oaklands.

The formal gardens being beautifully presented and providing a variety of stunning settings, together with a

mature mixed woodland and Kent Cob Platt. The grounds on the northern boundary are bordered by the River Medway with fishing, mooring and riparian rights.

The formal gardens to Oaklands are a quite outstanding feature. To the east of the house is a parkland garden filled with a variety of ornamental and specimen trees.

There is an area of vegetable garden with fruit cage, two garden stores and two greenhouses, the principal greenhouse with power,

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light and heating. Bordering this area is an attractive water feature.

To the south of the house there are a number of walled gardens. An attractive south facing terrace borders the drawing room where there is a yorkstone terrace, neat boxed hedging and rose and herbaceous beds. A flight of steps leads to the croquet lawn with a parterre garden, a further variety of trees and extensive mellowed brick walling and access to a post and rail fenced paddock.

Viewing is strictly by appointment only, to book a time and for more information contact Page & Wells on 01622 756703, alternatively email sales@page-wells.co.uk or pop into the branch at 52-54 King Street, Maidstone ME14 1DB.

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62 mmm

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64 mmm

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Boughton Monchelsea £535,000

Detached Ragstone Victorian family home located within the heart of this popular village

Accommodation provides three reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, sun room and a cellar. The first floor provides a master bedroom with shower and w.c. facilities, a double bedroom with Victorian fireplace, two double bedrooms and a bathroom. A further staircase leads to an attic bedroom. There is a pretty garden to rear with pond and paved terracing. The front of house provides a wide entrance leading to a double garage and ample parking.

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Sutton Valence £895,000

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68 mmm

MOTORS

Honda

Jazz gets a fresh look HONDA'S supermini the Jazz has got a new limited edition version in a bid to inject a new fresh look to the popular model.

The Jazz Si features revised

Citroen

Executive styling CITROEN has given its family saloon and tourer the C5 a modern twist in a bid to boost sales, as it trumpets a summer styling and technologies overhaul.

Since it launched in 2008, the C5 has shifted some 400,000 units worldwide – a figure the French firm is keen to build on as it looks to grab more market share.

From a cosmetic point of the view, the C5 takes on the firm's new chevrons, while also gaining the option of 17-inch 'Egee' alloy wheels on Exclusive models and a new pearlescent body colour entitled Guaranja Brown.

Top of the range models also now

suspension, new sporty looks and once again puts a focus on economic running costs.

Built in Honda’s manufacturing facility in Swindon alongside the rest of the Jazz range, the Si is based on the 1.4 ES manual variant, but with additional sportsinspired features.

The exterior has been given front and rear sport bumpers and side skirts, as well as 16-inch alloys. The Si also has the addition of privacy glass, front fog lights and

Si branding on the boot, to highlight the car’s sportier specification.

New dampers are combined with a larger front anti-roll bar to improve straight-line stability and body control. The electric power-steering system has also been modified for improved feel and response.

The interior has been given the Si treatment too, with a leathertrimmed steering wheel, black and silver supportive seats and the benefit of cruise control. The Jazz Si is available in four colours; Milano Red, Crystal Black, White Orchid and Azure Blue.

The on the road price for the Jazz Si is £14,550.

A Si-T version is also available for £15,545 on the road, and benefits from the addition of SD navigation and integrated Bluetooth.

come with a part-leather upholstery and new interior design components.

A new techo pack option features satellite navigation, USB port and Bluetooth. On the C5 Tourer, the sat nav screen can be hooked up to a reversing camera to make parking that little bit more precise.

The new techno pack is available now across the entire C5 range and adds an extra £700 to the cost.

The new Citroën C5 range made its way to dealers early last month.

Prices start from £19,895 for the entry-level C5 saloon

Hdi and £20,995 for the equivalent tourer model.

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Suzuki

Inexpensive new car IN this current era of austerity, a car which markets itself as the most inexpensive new car on the market stops being something easy to dismiss and mock and instead evolves into a vehicle worthy of serious consideration.

After all, with second-hand prices rising, the option of going new provides the benefits of the warranties in pursuit of those initial years of trouble-free motoring.

And so it is that the Suzuki Alto SZ City car emerged last month on to forecourts boasting a ÂŁ5,995 on the road price tag.

The car comes VAT-free until the end of September.

To further boost its potential, most models come in the 4E

insurance category to keep costs down, with CO2 emissions sufficiently low to ensure no tax disc costs as well as escaping the London congestion charge.

Saving money, it would seem, are this decade's go-faster stripes.

Suzuki will be marketing the vehicle heavily as it looks to boost its third quarter sales – already up 18 per cent year-on-year, a sign of a growing demand for small, economic, cars.

The latest model includes dual variable valve training to provide greater engine response and reduce emissions while boosting economy.

It also incorporates a new design interior colour and fabric trim, new full wheel covers for SZ and SZ3 models and dipping rear view mirror. Glistening Grey metallic has also been added to the range as an optional colour.

Its engine delivered combined fuel consumption of 65.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 99g/km. These figures make Alto one of the cleanest petrol-powered City cars on sale in the UK. It's a package worthy of examining.

The Suzuki warranty may not be quite as long as some of their rivals, but a three-year, 60,000mile warranty complete with roadside assistance means you can drive easy during those first years of ownership.

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72 mmm

Jazz singer and pianist Chiara Civello is the new ambassador of the Range Rover Evoque

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74 mmm

GADGETS Nexus

Challenging times

Just a few short months ago, the smart money was on Amazon's Kindle Fire emerging as a genuine contender to Apple's iPad. But although released in the US, the Fire remains steadfastly missing from the shelves of UK retailers; a release promised but still unclear as to when.

And now a rival seems almost certain to steal a lead on it when it comes to offering an alternative tablet to Apple – but without the need to shell out the same amount of money you would on a halfreasonable laptop.

Because while the iPad will

You View

still set you back the sharp end of £400, the Google Nexus – due to be launched at the end of July – will set you back a slightly more modest £159 for an 8Gb version and £199 for a 16Gb device.

Granted, the tablet is not on the same size of indeed computing power scale as the iPad, but as a device capable of crashing down the doors of the tablet market for the masses, and propelled on the back of Google's remarkable brand clout, it should not be underestimated.

With a seven-inch screen and very much being marketed as a music and film handheld device, the proof of the pudding, as ever, will be in the eating for a device which will be introducing users to plenty of Google-branded services.

The question is, at £159 will anyone with a penchant for handhelds be able to resist?

It was a long time coming, One to watch but last month another major player on the digital TV emerged and seems certain to play a significant role in the way we watch television and interact with it.

And YouView TV is unlikely to be a flash in the pan.

A partnership between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, as well as communication giants BT, TalkTalk and Arqiva, it will have considerable clout.

With set-top boxes already cluttering up frontrooms, this brings another, along with all the capabilities to pause live TV and record onto an in-built hard drive.

But where it differs from your average Freeview box is that by linking to the internet you access a host of internet-streamed on-demand services. In short it means box-sets of shows and the chance to catch up on the key broadcaster's programming over the last seven days; similar to those services already provided by BT and Virgin.

It will also pick up HD signals, allow HD recording

and the ability to access HD on-demand shows. Better still, the only cost is the price of the box.

However, at launch at the end of July that was set for £299 – although those behind the project expect that price to tumble once take up reaches a breakthrough point.

The only issue it has to hurdle now is credibility.

Up against the likes of Sky and Virgin, which are quick to pioneer and get a lead on their competitors, YouView is already four years in the making and no longer presents the breakthrough offering it once promised. Technology has caught up with it.

Yet you can expect to hear an awful lot more about YouView – especially when over the coming months broadband providers start offering you access to the service as part of a package.

It may not rival Sky, but expect it – reliability permitting – to over take Freeview as the set-top box of choice.

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Firefox

Challenging

Once upon a time there were only two operating systems (OS) in town; Microsoft's Windows and that provided by Apple.

But then that was in a world where the desktop machine was king and the only thing likely to ever rival it was, perhaps, a futuristic young thing called a laptop.

Today, though, it's all about establishing a slice of the market to your OS on any platform possible.

And, to the surprise of precisely no-one, the mobile opportunities are making everyone step their efforts up.

While Windows will be praying its latest incarnation – Windows 8 – provides a genuine cross-platform world beater, there are plenty of rivals looking to snap at its heels.

Take, for example, Mozilla. The foundation which emerged from the ashes of the once much-loved Netscape Navigator, a browser blown clear of the water by the pre-packaged Internet Explorer.

It has long since had its revenge, pioneering the open-source

Firefox which quickly became a hit and chewed great chunks out of IE. And now it is looking to build a reputation for its mobile OS. So much so, in fact, that it will no longer be creating new versions of its popular and free Thunderbird mail client – the Outlook rival. Although it will continue to give the product support – there are 20 million people who use it worldwide – it is aiming to focus much attention and investment in the Mozilla Firefox mobile OS. There's still a little while to wait though before you get to put it through its paces.

The first handsets running Firefox OS are not expected until early 2013 and a UK release not until later that year.

Living under the

O

76 mmm

f all the things which may define 2012 it may yet come to pass that the year will be remembered not for gold medals and royal pomp and ceremony, but for when a decision was taken to forever change Kent.

When Boris Johnson first touted an idea to build an airport in the Thames Estuary the proposal was widely derided as little more than a publicity seeking distraction for a man getting to grips with holding high office.

Yet at the tail end of 2011, things stepped up a gear when renowned architect Lord Foster unveiled his own proposals to help ease the nation's aviation capacity issues by building a site on Grain.

For an additional proposal to find itself on the table, and from a reputable source, injected a new credibility, and elevated the level of the debate.

It would set the scene for 2012.

The question is, will it determine the long-term future for the Garden of England?

The proposals on the table alter primarily in their positions.

Boris Johnson's Boris Island proposal would see land reclaimed from the estuary between Kent and Essex and a four-runway airport built upon it.

Lord Foster's, on the other hand, would see construction trucks move on to Hoo and into Grain, building on the edge of the peninsula and on reclaimed land.

Both would require infrastructure on a scale the county has never witnessed before.

Rail routes – mostly underground – would be required to link to the major London terminals. Roads would need to be upgraded, and the industry and accommodation around the site required to support and house all the thousands to be employed by it, extraordinary.

Homes on the island would have

Lord Foster’s plans involve building on the Isle of Grain and include an underground train station. Opposite, Boris Johnson would rather build an island in the estuary. to be bought up – by compulsory purchase – and life as we know it on Hoo and Grain would change forever.

As significantly, the north Kent marshes would be devastated – land currently used by migrating birds and the home to thousands of species, destroyed.

Little wonder, then, that the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) have been vocally opposed.

A spokesman explained: “The Thames Estuary is a large coastal wetland that is a vital migration hub for hundreds of thousands of wildfowl and wading birds.

Some spend the winter in the

Thames, feeding on its mud flats and saltings, others are in transit between their Arctic breeding grounds and winter homes further south.

The global significance of the Thames is recognised by its status as a Special Protection Area (SPA), a series of SPAs cover the entire estuary.

“Proposals to build airports in the Thames Estuary are nothing new – dating back to shortly after the Second World War – their regular rejection on business, aviation, safety and environmental grounds is a signal from history that this is a bad location for aviation.

airport’s shadow

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“Time has moved on and we can add our knowledge of the risk of climate change to the dangers presented by airport expansion in the estuary or indeed anywhere else.

“We are in no doubt that the proponents of the latest airport proposal are serious, but to some extent that jumps the gun. The airport proposal has been catapulted to prominence deliberately ahead of a crucial aviation review and the consultation on that will enable us to state our case.”

That consultation had been due to start in March – but was then put back to the summer. In July it was further delayed to the autumn – extending the pain of the likes of the RSPB and the uncertainty for those who live in or around the area.

Indeed the backlash against the proposals has been widespread.

Medway Council and Swale Borough Council – the two authorities set to be most affected by the plans – have

been outspoken in their opposition, while Kent County Council has also made its discomfort apparent. The majority of Kent MPs have also spoken out.

Yet despite the naysayers, there are those who believe dismissing the plans before the proposals are properly outlined is a risky game.

With unemployment high in both Medway and Swale, the prospect of thousands of new positions and a bumper impact on the supporting industries and services is appealing and hard to dismiss out of hand.

Demand Regeneration In North Kent (DRINK) is a group made up of local business movers and shakers. It has discouraged any knee-jerk reaction against the plans.

The spokesman for the group explained: “For some reason beyond our imagination, the politicians are saying ‘no’ without discussion.

“DRINK says bring on the facts, hide nothing and let’s see what the options are.

“It's much more than just an airport. It is road, rail, sea, air, sea defence, energy and water – at last some joined up thinking that needs to be looked at and challenged.”

Ultimately, however, the cost of at least £50 billion and the fact it is ten to 15 years in the future, even at the point of being given the go-ahead, may prove to be the stumbling block.

The debate will continue. Should Heathrow or Gatwick expand?

Should the nation look to greatly enhance its aviation reach to the global markets by building a new international hub on our doorstep?

The autumn consultation should finally put some flesh on the bones of all the key issues and allow everyone to draw their own conclusions – and, perhaps most significantly, speak out in favour of or against the proposals. mmm

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BUSINESS

Running for charity

Gourmet food

The streets turned purple as the Reynolds Fitness Spa team ran to support Demelza children’s hospice on July 27.

The Reynolds Renegades ran from their club in Bexley all the way to Sittingbourne town centre, making several stops on the way. First to their Rainham club (to pick up more of the team), then running onwards to Demelza House and finally running to their Sittingbourne club and the town centre in a journey that covered nearly 30 miles.

Manager Amy said: "As a local business it's important for us to support an amazing charity like Demelza house and the work they do.”

You can sponsor the brave runners at www.justgiving.com/reynoldsfundraising or see www.reynoldsgroup.co.uk/fitness-spa to find out more about the spa.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Ashford enjoyed a sumptuous evening of gourmet dining at boutique hotel Elvey Farm in Pluckley on July 18.

They were joined by media and business professionals to celebrate the refurbishment of the restaurant and were treated to a five-course taster menu.

The restaurant’s new head chef, Phillip Pearmain, prepared the menu to celebrate the Best of British cuisine.

The restaurant has been redesigned to complement the British theme and is housed in a stunning 16th century barn amidst 75 acres of countryside.

Reynolds

Growing success The Reef

Clare Cockell, managing director of boutique spa group The Reef, has certainly not been resting on her laurels this past year.

The company, which began in Maidstone, was chosen last year by Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis as a winner of his Twitter competition Small Business Sunday. In December 2011 they expanded to open a second site, The Reef Hideaway, in Sevenoaks.

Then to top it off they have just received news that they were voted number seven in the industry’s leading publication, Professional Beauty, for the Most Inspiring Salons in the UK and Ireland 2012. Just three places ahead, at number four, is the Urban Retreat at Harrods.

Clare and her team are understandably thrilled at this incredible news.

Elvey Farm

Professional Beauty states: “Clare has inspired other salon owners by building the brand and developing her team.”

Then on June 29, Theo Paphitis tweeted Clare regarding her success: “And a very BIG well done from me too!”

Clare said: “We are over the moon. We have had a busy year with the expansion and this makes all the hard work worthwhile. Our customers have

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Officially open Mote House

The event was also the launch for a £15 three-course lunch menu for selected days, and new this summer are traditional English afternoon teas, to be enjoyed on the lawn or inside the restaurant.

On the day, proprietors Jeff Moody and Simon Peek held

tours of the Stable Block and Oast House, for overnight accommodation. Conference and wedding facilities are also available.

Pictured above are the Mayor and Mayoress of Ashford with Jeff Moody (second from left) and Simon Peek (right).

been hugely supportive, which is so lovely, and the team are fantastic; we couldn’t have achieved the things we have without their hard work and dedication.

“We were chuffed to bits to hear where we were placed and to then receive a tweet of encouragement and support again from Theo was just amazing – he, with his Twitter #SBS (Small Business Sunday) has helped make such things possible.”

Visit www.thereefspa.com or call the salons at Maidstone 01622 753183 or Sevenoaks 01732 450200 for more information.

The official opening of Audley Mote House took place recently, introducing a new form of independent retirement living to the area.

Mote House, a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion, contains 14 unique apartments, all with original features. The properties are available to purchase for those over 55 who wish to live an independent and healthy later life in beautiful surroundings.

The Audley Club will be open and the restaurant will soon be taking bookings too.

Nick Sanderson, CEO of Audley Retirement, said: “We’re pleased to be opening up one of Kent’s most beautiful Georgian mansions for the first time in generations. Residents will benefit from the restoration of a wonderful property, as well as the availability of a country club, complete with terrace, restaurant, and a pool.”

Mote House is situated in the heart of Mote Park, which comprises 450 acres of grounds and is home to an abundance of wildlife.

Audley is the leading provider of high quality accommodation for older people in the UK. Residents buy their home on a 125-year lease. See www.audleyretirement.co.uk for further information.

Nick Sanderson is pictured at the opening with Maidstone Mayor Rodd Gracie-Nelson.

Pictures: Thomas Richards

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Bridges re-opening in Maidstone

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More than 300 people attended the glittering re-opening of the stunning venue that is Bridges.

Presented with champagne on arrival, guests were treated to a fabulous evening of excellent food and good company which launched the restaurant to the public in style.

Sampling the high quality food on offer, visitors tasted a variety of canapes that included samples from the menu, with the oysters proving particularly popular.

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Call now for your free no obligation home consultation 08080043434

Showrooms open: Mon-Sat 9.00am-5.30pm Sun 10.30am-4.30pm Newnham Court Shopping Village, Bearsted Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5LH

www.granitetransformations.co.uk/maidstone

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WHITE COTTAGE, 13 ASHFORD ROAD, MAIDSTONE, KENT ME14 5DA Telephone: 01622 690575 ● FAX: 01622 691354 Email: nigeledwards@edwardslaw.co.uk

An exclusive venue set within 5 acres of beautiful private grounds.

Call Kim Manchett on 01622 727779 with any questions and enquiries.

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The Old Rectory, Farleigh Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9LX www.rectorywedding.com