MMM Kent's lifestyle magazine May issue by Rasa Dregva

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mmm Kentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lifestyle Magazine

Issue 28, May 2014 Complimentary

TOP GEAR puts Kent on the map

s OTHER feature

Graham Chapman, the fallen Python

Kate Bush

May 2014

PLUS

ry, el, Histo t, v a r T , s men Motor ntertain E , s s e ore Busin much m , h c u m And

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Laurel Show Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014

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WELCOME to the latest issue of mmm – I can hardly believe we're in May already. There's something magical about seeing spring emerge after winter and then spring prepare itself for the explosion of colours which summer brings. Certainly, there are few places which are more beautiful to watch that transformation than right here in Kent, with our beautiful countryside and coastline. One place which runs pretty close, however, was the island of Lankawi in Malaysia. I've just got back from a holiday there and I must admit it was sensational. Now only was the weather fabulous, but the island is unspoilt, unlike so many destinations in that part of the world. And that means it was abundant in wildlife. Monkeys seemed to run everywhere; the forests were alive with creatures and some of the bird life took the breath away. Did you know, for example, that in the UK there are some 66 types of butterfly? In Lankawi there were more than 500 species. What's more, the local people were so friendly. There was none of the hard-selling that you see in places like Goa, for example. I would heartily recommend it. But I still had plenty of time to oversee another great magazine this month for you to enjoy. Inside, we have special features examining one of the county's most famous daughters – none other than Kate Bush. Later this summer she’ll be playing a string of sell-out shows in London. As will comedy team Monty Python. But did you know one of the team’s founding members lived and died in Maidstone? Inside we profile Graham Chapman. Plus we take a look at the frequent visits to the county by the boys from Top Gear. Even if you have no interest in cars, it's hard not to fall under their spell isn't it? As ever please enjoy the magazine and have a great month. See you next month! Rasa

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mmm MMM Media Ltd GHL House 1st Floor 12-14 Albion Place Maidstone Kent ME14 5DZ Tel: 01622 299035 sales@mmm-media.com www.mmm-media.com Publisher Rasa Dregva Editor Tom White Travel Editor Tricia Lester Design Matthew Jones Karen Oliver

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TOP GEAR Top Gear puts Kent on the map

FOOD Hengist offers mouth watering recipes

bEAUTY URbAN House of Fraser offers beauty tips

FRENCH INSPIRED bEDDING Holly Willoughby’s first collection

JESSICA PARKER SHOES Celebrity shoes for stylish feet

PROPERTY Rural country farmhouse, West Farleigh

KATE bUSH The return of Kate bush

MOTORS The world’s first Sports Activity Coupé

GRAHAM CHAPMAN Graham Chapman, the fallen Python

bUSINESS Kent’s latest business news

WEDDINGS All you need for your perfect day

EvENTS Whats on in and around Kent this month

TRAvEl Discover the kingdom of the polar bear, Greece – a timeless classic destination

HENGIST PARTY An exquisite opening night at the exclusive Hengist restaurant

RObIN bROOKS From the RAF to local historian and published author

Sales Dawn Long Accounts Kerry Head Further contribution Christine Furlonger Robin Brooks Emily Williams Alexandra Smith

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 2014

mmmWeddings

Issue 28, May 2014 Complimentary

• Stunning bridal gowns

TOP GEAR puts Kent on the map

• Special day scents • Picture perfect photography • Jewellery and accessories • Dream honeymoons Sponsored by Village Hotel, Maidstone

OTHER features

Graham Chapman, the fallen Python

Kate Bush

PLUS

History, Travel, ent, Motors, Entertainm Business, , much more And much

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Full Speed Ahead TOP GEAR PUTS KENT ON THE MAP

With an estimated 350 million viewers Top Gearhas become a global phenomenen

f all the BBC’s exports over the years, perhaps none has captured the imagination of a wide global audience quite as much as Top Gear. It may not be a period drama, it may not be a perfect example of the use of the English language, or be of historical significance. But it is fabulously entertaining. It may focus on cars, but the show is much more about personality. And that is something which translates across borders and time zones. Cars and men having fun, and adventure? Little wonder it’s a hit. Today the show, globally, stretches far wider than it’s rather traditional modest home on BBC2 would suggest. Recent estimates suggest there are around 350 million viewers per week across a remarkable 170 different countries. But while the trips to the likes of Africa, the

Middle East or the Far East prove big rating’s winners, the presenting trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are certainly no stranger to our county. Kent has proved the back drop for a number of features, and the stars can frequently be spotted whizzing through the county on their way to the cross-channel ports. The Lydden Hill race circuit near Dover is no stranger to welcoming the Top Gear team either it is best known as a rally circuit, it has played host to the TV cameras from the show on two occasions. Most memorbly saw Richard Hammond visit to put to the test the theory that you could go motor-racing for less than the price of playing gold. He returned two years later for a demolition derby with a difference as the show tried to determine the toughest taxi in the world. What’s more, Jeremy Clarkson has

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developed a reputation for his outspoken comments – Perhaps not completely surprisingly, two of the vessels and, several occasions, that has seen him rub the good – a Triumph Herald driven by Hammond and May’s VW – folk of Kent up the swiftly began taking on water wrong way. before they had even left the Certainly one of the most safety of the harbour wall. The BBC hit show has had memorable occasions was Only Clarkson’s Nissan proved millions of viewers every episode when the presenters filmed slightly more durable. down here was in 2007, The trio opted to abandon around the world, with a huge list of when the trio were given a the attempt before recelebrity guests like; Tom Cruise, mission – to drive across attempting it – in reinforced Simon Cowell and Lewis Hamilton. the English Channel. vehicles – the following day. Driving cars which could Remarkably, Clarkson made be converted into makeit all the way to the French shift boats, they drove down to Dover before driving into coast. The following year and Clarkson was making the sea and into the world’s busiest shipping lane. headlines in the local Kent press again. a

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This time for slating Ashford’s shared space scheme as part of the transformation of its ring road. The road features a stretch where cars and pedestrians have equal priority. Clarkson, writing in his column in the Sun newspaper, was less than convinced. He wrote: “They’ve deliberately made the ring road narrower to create this shared space. A place where cars and pedestrians all get on in perfect harmony. “Yes, in the same way that the keepers at London Zoo could put all the animals in the same cage and sit back hoping that the Baby Jesus will stop the lions from eating the goats. “Someone is going to be killed, you idiots. Either because they walked into the road, not knowing it was road, or because a motorist drove down the pavement not knowing it was pavement.”

His comments won as many critics as it did admirers. But ultimately he was proved to be mistaken – as the road scheme proved a success with a reduction – rather than increase – in the number of accidents. In 2011, to celebrate the 50th birthday of the classic Jaguar E-type, Clarkson visited Chilham – driving along between Chartham and Chilham filming for the show before the picturesque square in the village proved the perfect back drop for a host of E-types through the years. The square was officially closed off to allow the episode to be filmed, while in the show’s normal understated way, the celebrations including live music, classic fighter pilots and a group of Royal Marines. A year later and the team were back – this time on Sheppey where they witnessed the filming of the updated big screen version of 1970s hit The Sweeney. a

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Meeting the stars of the movie – Ray Winstone and Plan B – the Top Gear presenters try their hand at directing some of the action scenes, with predictable consequences. A few months later and Clarkson was pouring scorn on those who live in the county town. Writing in his column in the Top Gear magazine, he wrote about a journey returning through Kent after a jaunt across the channel. He wrote: “And what of the locals? Well, they tend to be the sort of people who arrived in England in the back of a

refrigerated truck or clinging to the underside of a Eurostar train. “Mboto has somehow evaded the gunmen and the army recruiters in his remote Nigerian village. “He walked north, avoiding death and disease, and then somehow made it right across the Sahara desert to Algeria. “Here, he managed to overwhelm the security men with their AK-47s and get on a boat to Italy, where he sneaked past the guards.” The article goes on: “He made it all the way across Europe to Sangatte, from which he escaped one night a

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and swam to Kent. “But that stumped him. Getting out of there was impossible, so he decided to make a new life in Maidstone.” Once again, his taunts generated headlines and even got local MP Helen Grant speaking out on the subject. She said: “Mr Clarkson is in the business of making headlines, so his trite and sardonic comments come as no surprise. I suspect he is focused on using offensive codswallop to make a few last bucks before his brand expires. “The Top Gear article about access to Kent is as poor in content as it is unfunny journalistically. ”Don’t think

Kent is alone is occasionally triggering his comments. It is fair to say few other areas of the UK – or indeed nations around the world – have escaped this sometimes scathing tongue. Not that it seems to do him or Top Gear any harm. While the rumours continue to suggest that changes lie just around the corner to refresh a format which even the most fanatical viewer will admit has grown a triﬂe stale, Top Gear is still now one of TV’s ‘must-see’ programmes. In truth, Kent should probably be grateful for exposure on such a global phenomenon. mmm

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The bright colours are back and winter’s long gone, find out what trends May has to offer

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understandably so, after her acclaimed character on Sex and the City, to ‘Maud’, named after legendary designer Maud Frizon. Colors, as Sarah Jessica has often said are “the new neutral” and can be seen in the collection ranging from her spring favourites such as coral, mint, teal and pink, to classic colors including purple, red and navy. With a wide variety of heel heights, the collection of twenty-five shoes reinvigorates the classic single sole with a range of silhouettes that fit the styles and personalities of women of all ages. The SJP Collection is a personal endeavor for Sarah Jessica Parker as a realisation of her enduring affection for fashion, as she teams up with business partner George Malkemus to launch her namesake collection exclusively at Nordstrom. “I thought about launching my own line for a long time,” Sarah Jessica says. “It just feels like an enormous privilege to be doing it now with George and with Nordstrom.” The SJP Collection is available at www.nordstrom.com

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From Wuthering Heights to HammersmitH apollo The long awaited return of the ‘Home-Grown’ talent that is Kate Bush. here are few moments in the over commercialised world of modern music, which can genuinely stop in your tracks and go ‘wow’. Kate Bush, the reclusive darling of critics, announcing she would be performing for the first time in 35 years for a string of UK shows earlier this year, was very much one. Like the announcement by David Bowie last year, that he was set to unleash a new album after years of hiding from the limelight, the Kate Bush announcement came completely out of the blue. But for loyal fan base, it was the news they had been praying for. An initial 15 nights – upped to 22, a few days before they went on sale – amid the rather modest surroundings of the Hammersmith Apollo (the Odeon).

At 9.30am on 28th March they went on sale. By 9.45am – just 15 minutes later – every single one had been snapped up. She may not have performed a fully-fledged live show since 1979 – she’s made the occasional live performance over the years but nothing more substantial – and she’s hardly a machine when it comes to churning out albums, (just ten since 1978, and one of those was extensively a reworking of previous songs). But she is undeniably an artist in the true sense of the word. Born in Welling – when it was still officially a part of Kent – she was raised in Bexleyheath and, as such, is one of the county’s most celebrated daughters.

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Name: Catherine Bush Age: 55 (July 30, 1958) Born: Welling, england Occupation: musician/songwriter

Fact file

Latest Singles: Deeper Understanding (2011) Wild man (2011) running Up that Hill (2012)

Studio Albums: the Kick inside (1978) lionheart (1978) Never for ever (1980) the Dreaming (1982) Hounds of love (1985) the sensual World (1989) the red shoes (1993) aerial (2005) Director’s Cut (2011) 50 Words for snow (2011)

Recognised as something of a perfectionist, one of the many theories as to her absence from the stage for so long – she’s now 55, she was merely out of her teens last time she performed – it is this unpredictability of the live environment and a lack of complete control over the finished product which has proved a stumbling block. Certainly, she has been a fine role-model for women since she first appeared as a remarkable talent in 1978 with the release of her debut album The Kick Inside. Over-riding her record company’s advice, she insisted the first single be Wuthering Heights – inspired by the Emily Bronte novel. It would prove to be an inspired choice. It soared to the top of the UK charts and around the world, elevating the young singer-songwriter to household name status. Remarkably, she holds the honour of being the first UK female to take a self-penned song to the top of the charts. Swiftly followed by another classic, The Man With The Child In His Eyes, and Kate Bush managed to be both teen sensation and mature performer; an intoxicating mix.

Lion Heart would follow later that same year – an album she admitted a frustration at being released so swiftly – but it did deliver Wow; a song which remains one of her best known. The album may not have been such a critical success, but Kate Bush was now established and for the next few years, successive albums built on her reputation for experimentation and a diverse range of styles. It was 1985 where she made perhaps the biggest break through. Fittingly, it originated close to the family home. Born in July 1958, she was the youngest child of Robert Bush, a country doctor, and Hannah, a nurse. She was raised on the family’s farm in East Wickham, near Bexleyheath – her family were music lovers and active in the local music scene. By the age of 11, she was playing the piano, while songss on her debut album are said to originate from tunes she started to work on when she was just 13. a

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While she studied at a Catholic school in Sidcup, her family compiled a demo tape and starting sending it around to music industry insiders. One of those to receive the tape was David Gilmour, guitarist with Pink Floyd. He worked with the young Kate and they developed a more polished showcase of the young talent. It was on the strength of the tape that EMI snapped her up. Fast forward to 1983 and Kate splashed out to build a full studio in the grounds of the East Wickham home she had grown up in. It was there, over the space of the next 24 months, that she developed the Hounds of Love. Her seminal album and the one which finally saw her break into the US mainstream market. It became her biggest selling album and spawned the memorable hit, Running Up That Hill. A duet with Peter Gabriel – Don’t Give Up – later the same year only cemented her success.

She was now a superstar. Further success came with Sensual World and Red Shoes, before she took a conscious effort to step back from the limelight. She had a son, Albert, by her guitarist and subsequently husband, Danny McIntosh. They moved from their home in Eltham, to a £2.5m home in Devon and enjoyed the quiet life. Kate made only the rarest of public appearances and it was not for another 12 years before she would release her next album – Aerial – in 2005. Since then, her releases have met with critical acclaim, but not the mainstream success she enjoyed during the 1980s and early 90s. However, she has a loyal fan base who have stuck with her during the years. It will be them making the loudest of noise when their heroine steps out on stage for the first time since those shows in 1979. mmm

Kate became the ﬁrst female singer in 1978 to have a number one on the UK singles charts with Wuthering Heights

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One down Five to go MOnthy pythOn live ‘Mainly’ Graham Chapman is not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy.

n July 1st the remaining members of the Monty Python team will step out on stage together for the first performance of their classic material for more than 30 years. It will be an emotional moment for perhaps the most celebrated comedy group Britain has ever produced. But there will be a tear in many an eye too for one notable absentee. Graham Chapman was a founding member of the group and one of its most memorable. It was he, so legend has it, who suggested the group’s most famous of all their comedy sketches be about a dead parrot (it was originally to be about a broken toaster). And he was lead character in what many consider to be one of the funniest comedy films ever made – Life of Brian. Yet despite his success he was flawed too. He suffered from alcoholism which dogged him throughout his life. His drinking problems had dogged him since he was young. He suffered as he studied medicine at Cambridge and later at St Bartholomew’s Medical School and it would ultimately lead to him becoming nigh-on impossible to work with during much of the Python’s success. He was good friends with the notorious hell-raiser from The Who, Keith Moon – who died of a drugs overdose in

1978 – and the Beatles’ Ringo Starr. And he would be one of the first famous faces to ‘come out’ and declare openly his sexuality in an era when being gay was still very much frowned upon. Nor would he get to fully appreciate the legacy the Python team left. His death in 1989, not only ended the mounting speculation the team would reunite, but also saw Maidstone weaved into the Python history books. He had moved to the town in the early 1980s – settling into a substantial property in Hermitage Lane. There he lived with his long-time partner David Sherlock and his adopted son, John Tomiczek. John had been adopted after meeting Chapman as a runaway teenager. The boy’s father gave the adoption arrangement his blessing and John lived at the Maidstone home. It was in November 1988, however, that Chapman’s career and personal life would be shaken to its very foundation. After a routine visit to the dentist, a small but malignant tumour was spotted on one of his tonsils. A long time pipe smoker, his tonsils were both removed following surgery just a few weeks later. But by the July of the following year the cancer had spread. It was found on his spinal cord and another tumour had to be removed. a

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It would herald the start of intensive treatment in a bid to slow its progress; chemotherapy and further surgery. At one stage Chapman was left confined to a wheelchair. It was a traumatic and exhausting period. In the September, doctors informed him they had done all they could. The cancer was terminal. It was now just a matter of time. As October dawned he took a turn for the worse. He was taken to a Maidstone Hospital where he was visited by the likes of his partner, brother, sister-in-law and former Python colleagues John Cleese, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, as well as comedy legend and friend Peter Cook. He died on October 4th. He was just 48. Explained his partner David Sherlock: “He was astounded by all the people who came to see him. He said the experience had restored his faith in human nature. “Everyone said their goodbyes the evening before and Graham fought throughout the night. I talked to him constantly, told him how much we loved him and how much he was loved. His last words to me were when I told him I loved him. He said he knew I did. The end was peaceful and happy. “Then I went back to the house, and I began to miss him. The dogs were restless,

especially his dog, and I couldn’t relax. So I started to cook, and it turned out to be Graham’s all-time favourite, leek-and-potato soup. Then I made a leg of lamb and roast potatoes and all the trimmings. And we lit a fire, and the dogs lay down, and we began to celebrate Graham’s life.” Nine days later, at Vinters Park Crematorium his funeral takes place. Keen to avoid it becoming a media circus, the surviving Pythons do not attend. They do, however, send flowers. Send in the shape of the trademark Monty Python foot, the message reads simply “From the other five Pythons with all our love. PS. Stop us if we’re getting too silly”. Other floral tributes included a bouquet from the Rolling Stones with the line “thanks for all the laughs”. It would be on December 3rd, 1989, that the Pythons would publicly unite to remember their fallen colleague. At a special private memorial service staged at St Bartholomew’s in London the tears and laughter mingled among the congregation of friends, family and admirers. Delivering his eulogy, John Cleese said of his friend: “Graham Chapman, co-author of the ‘Parrot Sketch,’ is no more. “He has ceased to be, bereft of life, he rests in peace, he has kicked the bucket, hopped the twig, bit the

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dust, snuffed it, breathed his last, and gone to meet the great head of light entertainment in the sky, and I guess that we’re all thinking how sad it is that a man of such talent, such capability and kindness, of such intelligence should now be so suddenly spirited away at the age of only 48, before he’d achieved many of the things of which he was capable, and before he’d had enough fun.” There were also choruses from the Pythons’ classic ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’. His death came on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Pythons’ TV series. Although it has always been hoped the original team would reunite, Chapman’s death appeared to forever lie that to rest. Not that it stopped the remaining members occasionally appearing together – once memorably with an urn

apparently containing Chapman’s ashes, which were then accidentally knocked over and hoovered up. But on July this year the remaining members – John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones – will perform some of the classic sketches again at London’s O2 Arena. Not that they’ve forgotten their fallen friend. The string of shows is billed as Monty Python Live (Mostly) – One Down, Five to Go. The smart money will also be on Chapman appearing in some manner or other during the show. On July 20th it will be all over. The team have said that final show will be it – the final Python performance. Graham Chapman who has no doubt loved the final fling. mmm

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SPITSBERGEN The Kingdom of the Polar Bear Remote, mysterious and extreme, we see what Norway has to offer. Spitsbergen – the Kingdom of the Polar Bear Remote, mysterious, extreme – the island of Spitsbergen is the crown of Arctic Norway. Located right on the southern fringe of the ever frozen Arctic Ocean, this land is forged by ice, wind and sea. As well as an untouched arctic wilderness it’s also the epitome of biodiversity where the frozen Arctic tundra and towering glaciers herald a staggeringly rich array of natural and cultural treasures. Our expedition style landings will take you close to the Arctic

wildlife, the ghost towns of the early whaling stations and mining communities, research laboratories, spectacular fjords and icebergs. As well as offering voyages focusing solely on the coast of Spitsbergen other islands in the Svalbard archipelago, we also offer the chance to twin this incredible destination with Iceland & Jan Mayen, or the Norwegian coast! There’s also the chance to travel to Spitsbergen in winter, when 24 hours of darkness gives optimum viewing chances for the incredible Northern Lights.

Voyages in 2014 In The Realm Of The Polar Bear – July and August departures from £4293pp polar bears, islets and fjords – September departure from £3676pp Spitsbergen land packages – 3-5 days throughout the year from £484pp. Voyages in 2015 In The Realm Of The Polar Bear – July and August departures from £3317pp polar bears, islets and fjords – September departure from £2893pp Spitsbergen land packages – 3-5 days throughout the year from £442pp.



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Prices do not include ﬂights or transfers. Of all the reasons to visit Spitsbergen, there’s one which is more common than others among our guests – to catch a glimpse of a polar bear. Up here in Svalbard, polar bears outnumber the human population by about 5:1. Also with a human population of about 5,000 permanent residents, that’s a lot of bears. Whilst we don’t guarantee sightings on our voyages, we’re unaware of a sailing that’s failed to make our passengers dream come true. The Svalbard Archipelago is also known for it’s seal, walrus and Arctic fox population among others. It’s always incredible to ﬁnd

such abundant life in such a seemingly inhospitable place. The itineraries of our voyages are wholly dependent on weather and sea conditions. During our voyages, some of the locations we hope to visit include:

Loncyearbyen The largest settlement on Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen is named after James Munro Longyear, an American who founded a mining company here and built the ﬁrst house on the site in 1906. With a population of just 2,100 the community was founded on coal mining, as were many of the other settlements in Spitsbergen, but today its major focus is upon polar research. Longyearbyen is also the location of Svalbard’s airport, so it’s the place you’re most likely to embark and disembark MS Fram. Ny-Ålesund Once the base for polar expeditions and now a centre for scientiﬁc research,

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Ny-Ålesund is a tiny coastal community, with the proud boast that it is the most northerly permanently inhabited settlement on Earth. Learning a little more about the pioneering settlers of these northern reaches, it is possible to appreciate a little of the courage and perseverance of the earlier explorers in this outpost of scientiﬁc research. Magdalenefjord Magdalenefjord, located in Spitsbergen’s remote north-western corner is without doubt one of its most beautiful fjords. This is a region of towering rugged peaks and spectacular glaciers and we hope to make full use of our tender boats to enjoy a remote landing amidst this magical landscape. During this part of the cruise we will hopefully explore some of the remnants of Svalbard’s whaling history, before continuing to the magniﬁcent vistas of breathtaking fjords and majestic glaciers,

gliding through the icy waters and hopefully catching a glimpse of one of these giants calving great chunks of ice into the pristine waters below. MS Fram The original Fram was the most famous vessel of its time, and the achievements of her expeditions are unparalleled. With Fridtjof Nansen she was the ﬁrst ship to drift across the Arctic Ocean. Then Otto Sverdrup used her to survey a larger area than any previous expedition – the Canadian territory of Nunavut. And most famous of all, she took Roald Amundsen to his starting point in Antarctica, as he raced to reach the South Pole. Today, 120 years later, Hurtigruten’s explorer vessel MS Fram takes guests to Spitsbergen, Greenland, Iceland, Antarctica and Europe. MS Fram is designed for sailing in polar waters, holds the highest safety standards and

is the perfect size for optimum nautical manoeuvrability and guests’ comfort. With an average of just 250 passengers, you are sure to get to know many of your fellow travellers. You will share stunning sights and memories that will last long after returning home. Our Expedition Team To further enhance your experience, the expedition team on MS Fram will give presentations and lectures on the history, biology and geology of wherever we sail. The expedition team consists of experts from numerous ﬁelds and backgrounds including ornithologists, mammalogists, historians and geologists, and they are always happy to answer your questions. Together with the crew, they will make your time on board and the landings we make, extra-special. For full details, please contact Baldwins Travel on 01622 762141.

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GREECE A Timeless Classic.... With tranquil beaches, stunning scenery and great night life, all wrapped up in history, we look at what the Greek Islands have to offer. here are so many stunningly beautiful Greek islands to escape to perhaps the hardest decision you will have to make is which one. If your idea of a holiday is a Greek island where time really does seem to stand still, then look no further than the Ionian Islands for your 2014 holiday. So, let’s start with the island of Meganisi, with it’s tranquil beaches, steep cliffs honeycombed with caves and a population of less than 2,000. Meganisi is one of the most picturesque and peaceful islands in the Ionian. Seven nights on Meganisi start from £479pp at the Hotel Meganisi. If you prefer something a touch livelier then perhaps Paxos is for you. This

glorious lush island looks and feels like one big lush olive grove. It’s a Greek island in miniature, with exquisite coves, cute villages and some fabulous walking routes. There is plenty of accommodation to choose from on Paxos and with holidays starting from £502pp at the Elaia Apartments including car hire and breakfast. If the scenery in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin caught your eye then Kefalonia is for you, a land of rocky mountains, picturesque quaysides, lemon and olive groves, deserted crescent beaches and long lunches sampling the local wine by the kilo. Opinions may differ but Fiskardo has been described by some as prettiest village in all of Greece and who are we

to take that accolade away – come see for yourself. With its tiny Venetian style houses painted in shades of orange and blue which look out onto the blue Ionian Sea with its yachts bobbing up and down in the harbour, while in the cosy waterfront tavernas, the menu depends on what has been caught that day. Seven nights on Kefalonia start from £415pp, staying just outside Fiskardo at the Alexanna Apartments with shared pool and seven days car hire based on two sharing a studio. Corfu has been a haven for British visitors for more than 200 years and we can see why! The island is steeped in history and culture, blessed with crystal clear waters and glorious sandy beaches, 30 of them being Blue Flag

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beaches, we understand why people return year after year. Ionian’s properties are scattered in hamlets along the islands beautiful North East coast and range from one bedroom apartments on the waterfront in Agios Stefanos, to three bedroom villas with their own pools and the all important ingredient for a Greek island holiday, that amazing sea view. A picture perfect location, Corfu has exceptional sandy beaches, spectacular bays and mystical coves all waiting to be discovered. Seven nights stay in a one bedroom apartment in the

beautiful ﬁshing village of Agios Stefanos starts from £479pp. These off the beaten track locations are just a handful of the many destinations offered by Ionian & Aegean Island Holidays. Other destinations featured include Ithaka, Lefkada, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, as well as and Mainland Greece Parga and the lesser known Pelion Peninsula, where it is said in Greek Mythology, the half man half horse centaurs once roamed. All Ionian’s properties, from villas with pools and waterside apartments, to

family run pensions and boutique hotels are handpicked and situated in the less commercialised areas and with over 200 holidays from which to choose, there’s something to suit all budgets and tastes. So whether you’re looking for a romantic honeymoon retreat, a family villa, a multicentre holiday or a laid-back getaway, your Ionian Island holiday will surely be a memorable one for all the right reasons. For more information, please contact your local award winning travel agent, Baldwins Travel on: 01622 762141.

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Into World War I HOW FRINSTED PLUNGED Memories of the time the war came to Frinsted will not be forgotten. he Whit-Sunday weekend of May 19/20, 1918 was to put the little village of Frinsted onto the First World War map. Lying between Maidstone and Faversham, it was to suddenly be plunged into the war that was seemingly coming to its conclusion. Robin J Brooks looks back as events unfolded. By May 1917, the German Army had progressed from the large Zeppelin airship, to the very large twin-engined Gotha bomber. Battle Squadron No. 3 of the Army High Command was led by the charismatic Hauptmann Ernst Brandenburg and it was upon his instructions that a force of Gotha’s set out from Ghent to attack London during the late evening of May 19. Gotha GV/979/16 crewed by Vizefeldwebel Abrecht Sachtler (pilot), Leutnant Joachim Flathun (captain and observer) and Unterofﬁzier Herman Tache (gunner) successfully left the French coast at Dunkirk and having crossed the English Channel, made landfall at the mouth of the River Thames. With a clear night the winding

passage of the river was plainly visible, haze and smoke prevented the crew seeing from any distinguishing landmarks. With instructions from the commander of the 3rd Battle Group, Brandenburg, to ‘bomb the city’, a glimpse of dim lights persuaded the gunner to release the two 100kg and four 50kg bombs from a height of just under 10,000ft. With its bombs released the Gotha quickly turned for home with the crew congratulating themselves on a job well done. In Kent, the Royal Flying Corps aerodromes at Biggin Hill and Detling were on full alert. A waxing moon shone in a cloudless sky indicating to the pilots that the enemy would be coming overnight. They were not wrong, as holidaymakers along the Kent coast enjoying a late night walk in high temperatures, heard and saw the black images of several Gothas ﬂy overhead. The ominous drone of the engines continued inland over Canterbury and onto London, where again many people looked up and saw the distinct outline of a Gotha.

Winston Churchill with the Mayor of London

Photo by English Heritage

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Winston Churchill and Bertram Ramsey in Dover

As news of the aircraft reached the operations room at Biggin Hill, No. 141 Squadron flying the Bristol Fighter were scrambled as a defensive measure. Lieutenants E Turner and H Barwise were the first airborne and climbing to 9,000ft over Cudham, saw a Gotha reflected in the moonlight. Giving chase, Lt Barwise sent a stream of bullets into the belly of the enemy aircraft. Seeing no flames appear Lt Turner manoeuvred for a second chance but the Gotha rapidly lost height and was lost to the fighter. However, unbeknown to them, the bullets had ruptured the fuel tank causing the Gotha to lose both fuel and height. Roughly around the same time as Turner and Barwise had left Biggin, similar was happening at the grass airfield at Detling. This was the base for No. 143 Squadron with its commanding officer, Major F Sowrey.

The operations room had also been alerted to the presence of the Gotha and having got airborne in record time, Major Sowrey had found and attacked it in his SE5A fighter. It was at 00.25hrs that he had attacked, several minutes earlier than the Bristol Fighter. Using up all his ammunition, he removed the old bullet drum and was attempting to replace it with a new one when, like Turner, he lost sight of the Gotha. It was after this, that the Biggin Hill aircraft attacked, neither parties knowing that the other had done so. With his aircraft mortally wounded, Abrecht Sachtler struggled to keep the Gotha in the air but soon released that he would never get back home to Belgium. Looking down he saw what he believed to be lights which actually was the illuminated emergency landing ground at Frinsted. At 00.45hrs on the 20th, the villagers heard the crash of an aircraft and rushed from their houses in the hope of being able to offer assistance. Sadly Sachtler and Flathow were killed in the impact, the only survivor being the gunner, Hermann Tache, though with a broken arm. For several hours the Gotha burned until later it was

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possible to post armed guards around the wreckage. The next morning the two bodies were recovered from the crash and after a military funeral sometime later were interred in St Dunstans Churchyard in Frinsted. Hermann Tache was taken prisoner and taken to the Dartford War Hospital where his broken arm was fixed before being interrogated by army officers. In the interrogation, Tache stated that this was his first operation and that to be chosen as a crew member of a Gotha was a great honour. He was later sent to a POW camp in the Lake District where he sat out the rest of the war. The morning after the crash saw every villager in Frinsted and the surrounding villages come to look at the wreckage. Meanwhile, for the Royal Flying Corps, it was judgement time as the question was raised as to just who did shoot down the Gotha? It was known that both aircraft had fired at the aircraft and that both hit it. Only during the interrogation of the German gunner did the true facts emerge. Whilst he agreed that the first bullets had come from the SE5A of 143 Squadron, it was the fire from the second fighter, the Bristol that had hit one of the engines and proved fatal for the Gotha. Thus No. 141 Squadron claimed the victory although in an afterthought, it was felt that a shared victory would have been more sporting. The village has changed very little since that night, but the memories of the time the war came to Frinsted 100 years ago still remain. By ROBIN J BROOKS

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Fine Dining at Home PEA SOUP WITH DUCK EGG, HAM AND APPLE MINT SNOW Ingredients Soup 1 kg frozen peas 100g butter Double vegetable stock (veg stock made once, strained, then used as base for second stock): 4 x onions 1kg carrots 1 head of celery 2 leeks 2 x bouquet garni 12 x peppercorns 2 x duck eggs 50 ml olive oil Apple snow Apple mint x 1 bunch 250ml rapeseed oil 120g maltodextrin 50g smoked thinly sliced pancetta (or parma ham) 30g garlic croutons Brioche Garlic paste Salt & pepper to taste Method Blend stock with peas. Strain. Emulsify with butter over a low heat. Season to taste. Fry an egg, use a 5cm cutter to cut a disc of yolk and white. To prepare the snow, bring the oil to 90째C, drop in the mint leaves. Leave overnight to infuse and extract the chlorophyll. Take 75ml of oil. Add 20g maltodextrin, blend until a powder forms. Bake the pancetta in the oven, pressed between two sheets of parchment, for 15 mins 180째C. Crush to a size resembling croutons Prepare garlic croutons. Crush to a powder and mix with the pancetta. To serve, place the duck egg in the centre of the plate, with crumbs at one side, and the snow at the other. Serve the pea soup in a jug, to be poured into the plate at the table.

All Recipes from The Hengist Restaurant, Aylesford

ROASTED MASHY LAMB Roasted Mashy Lamb Ingredients 1kg lamb breast 2 lamb sweetbreads 200g lamb loin trimmed 300g banana shallot peeled and sliced

100g carrot peeled and rough chopped 30g thyme 150ml tomato juice 100ml milk 20ml olive oil 2 stalks celery rough chopped 1 leek rough chopped 1l lamb stock 300l red wine 150ml masala wine 1 King oyster mushroom For The Aurbergine Ketchup 50g banana shallots diced 10g ginger peeled and fine diced 2 cloves garlic finely diced 5g garam masala 5g curry powder 1kg diced aurbergine 250ml sherry vinegar

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COCKTAIL RECIPE BY KIERON KHORY-DAVINSON

ROASTED TAMARA DUCK BREAST Ingredients 1 tamara duck breast 20ml olive oil Salt and pepper 1 onion squash 100g butter 300ml brown chicken stock 1 red chicory 15g miso paste 30ml banyul vinegar Method In a hot pan roast the duck, skin side down, to render the fat for three minutes, turn the breast and cook for further three minutes season and rest. Meanwhile peel the squash and cut into cubes, put it into a roasting pan add butter, salt and pepper. When cooked, blend in food processor until smooth, then add miso paste and the remaining butter. Braise the chicory in a hot pan with chicken stock, Salt and Pepper. For the Sauce Reduce the chicken stock by half and finish it off with vinegar. 80g palm sugar 40ml olive oil. Method In a hot pan seal the lamb breast both sides until golden brown and set aside. In the same pan add all the vegetables except mushroom. Roast them until golden brown. Transfer the breast into a gastro tray, add vevetables, stock and the wines and braise for four hours until tender. When cooked remove from the tray and let it cool down a bit, so that it is easy to handle. Meanwhile strain the juice and rejuce on the stove for the sauce, when this has cooled down a bit, carefully remove the bones and sinews. On a flat surface rool out clingfilm three times and lay the breast

and roll it with the clingfilm until it resembles a log, tighten the ends and refrigerate overnight, until the fat sets and cut it into portions. For the ketchup In a hot pan sweat onion, garlic, ginger and spices, when cooked add the aurbergine, cook for 12 minutes until tender, add the vinegar, palm sugar and salt and pepper, and cook for a further 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Lamb Loin In a hot pan roast the lloin for at least two minutes each side and finish it off in the oven for three minutes and season, then rest. Cook the mushroom in the hot pan and add the butter to brown it and season to taste.

My Signature recipe would have to be the passion fruit and vanilla Martini. For this cocktail you need a blender, a martini glass, passion fruit puree, vanilla vodka, vanilla syrup, sugar syrup, ice and a passion fruit. Step one put one scoop of ice in the blender, put 50ml of vanilla vodka, 40ml of passion fruit puree, 25ml vanilla syrup, blend until frozen, add to glass and garnish with fresh passion fruit seeds on top, followed by a passion fruit wedge garnish.

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Pad Thai

RESTAURANT

Kent’s Lifestyle Magazine

A Unique Experience at West Malling

Do you have any recipes to share with our readers? Write to us at MMM Media Ltd, GHL House, First Floor, 12-14 Albion Place, Kent, Maidstone, ME14 5DZ e-mail studio@mmm-media.com or call us on 01622 299035

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Open Bank Holiday Sundays on May 4th & May 25th Lunch: 12:00pm - 2:30pm Dinner: 5:30pm - 10:00pm

T: 01732 870 000 www.pad-thai.co.uk manta@pad-thai.co.uk 15 HIGH STREET, WEST MALLING, KENT ME19 6QH

The Vineyard restaurant offers an extensive selection of exquisite seafood, French and Italian A la cuisine the ideal venue for family gatherings, special celebrations or casual dining

Catering for Special Occasions and Weddings • Air-conditioning • Ample parking

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Traditional Sunday Lunch until 6pm 3 courses £19.95 adults £12.95 Children under 12 A la carte menu always available

The Vineyard Restaurant A20 London Road Wrotham Heath TN15 7RU

T: 01732 882330 E: dine@thevineyardrestaurant.co.uk thevineyardrestaurant.co.uk

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For the Home Holly WillougHby The new ‘For the Home’ collection launched by Holly Willoughby making her exciting first foray. olly Willoughby ‘For the Home’ collection launches with BHS. Holly Willoughby makes her exciting first foray into the interiors market with a stylish French inspired bedding collection at BHS.

BHS Betsy White Quilt Cover from £40-£70, Pillowcase pair £20

When creating the collection, Holly was inspired by rustic French interiors, reflected in all the designs and a soft, muted colour palette of blush pink, lavender blue, crisp white and neutral tones. Wistful floral imagery, elegant lace print effects, embroidery anglaise techniques with detailed trims and

fastenings encapsulate this romantic collection. Choose from five beautiful designs, the Lace, Tattershall, Elizabeth, Dotty and Betsy in two different colourways. Each one includes a sumptuous quilt cover available in single, double, king and super king sizes, together with a

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‘A family run business now in our 42nd year of supplying quality bathrooms, showers and fireplaces to the trade and public. We have completed the refurbishment of our extensive showrooms at Third Avenue, Chatham, with the addition of a new department dedicated to special needs in the bathroom. We have 100’s of new products arriving every week.’ Easy access for special needs

Ample Parking

4 Third Avenue, Chatham Kent, ME5 0AD Tel: 01634 813813

www.morrisandturner.co.uk info@morrisandturner.co.uk

Maritime Way, Chatham Maritime Kent, ME4 3ED Tel: 01634 891524

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housewife and square pillowcases. Holly has also designed a selection of stylish cushions and throws to complete the look. “It’s a project that I feel extremely

excited about and proud of - and something that I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl decorating my doll’s house.” Holly Willoughby Prices start from £15 for a pair of

pillowcases and from £35 - £50 for a double quilt cover. Available in 60 stores nationwide and online at www.bhs.co.uk

BHS Dotty White Quilt Cover from £40-£70, Pillowcase pair £20 BHS Elizabeth Shell Quilt Cover from £25-55, Pillowcase pair £15

BHS Lace Dove Grey Quilt Cover from £25-£55, Pillowcase pair £15

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THE FIREPLACE

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A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS

* Wood & Multi Fuel Stoves * Fireplaces & Surrounds * Gas & Electric Fires * Chimney Lining * Full Installation Service * Marble, Wood & Stone Fire Surrounds * Gas Fire & Boiler Servicing

Visit Our Showroom 2 Castle Court, Castle Road, Eurolink Industrial Estate, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 3TD Tel/Fax: 01795 599234 - www.the-fireplace.net Opening Times: Monday - Friday 9.30 - 4, Saturday 10 - 4

Imagine a conservatory you can use comfortably all year round

IS YOUR CONSERVATORY . . . v Too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter? v Roof leaking or noisy when it rains? v Being used as a storage area, not a living area? DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN ‘REFURBISH YOUR CONSERVATORY’ TO HELP CREATE AN ENERGY EFFICIENT LIVING SPACE? Fairdeal Windows Ltd are Kent’s only approved installer of ‘Refurbish My Conservatory’ specialist and exclusive products This is one of the most cost effective ways to revive your tired old conservatory We can offer the following three options Replace the roof only Replace the roof, windows and doors Replace the entire conservatory

KENT’S ONLY INSTALLER OF

Unit K Orchard Business Centre 20/20 Industrial Estate Aylesford Kent ME16 0JZ www.fairdealwindows.co.uk 01622 683332

The cost-effective way to revive your tired conservatory

Customer Testimonial ‘We were delighted with the service and work carried out on our property recently. We would recommend your company to anyone wanting any of the services that go with double glazing and if in the future we require any further work we will of course contact your company. The fitters who replaced our conservatory roof were efficient, clean, tidy and very polite. We cannot praise them or the service your company provided too highly. Our conservatory has been transformed into a second sitting room, complete with comfortable furniture, it’s lovely to just sit and read, no longer a junk room. Thank you once again.’ Mr & Mrs Henley, Snodland, Kent

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Wynngarth Farmhouse rUrAL detAched coUntry fArmhoUse LocAted In West fArLeIGh Property - Wynngarth Farmhouse Address - Lower Road, West Farleigh, Kent Bedrooms - Five Bathrooms - Three: Two en-suite Price - ÂŁ850,000 Situation A unique opportunity to purchase an impressive five bedroom detached country farmhouse set in the small rural village of West Farleigh an abundance of character and charm, believed to date from the early 20th Century. Nestled within a working fruit farm and yet secluded in its own plot and screened by mature trees and surrounded by orchards. Period features abound from room to room, from lever latch doors, large picture windows, exposed beams and floorboards with herringbone parquet flooring and a fantastic inglenook fireplace in the sitting room. There is a choice of many window seats with various aspects through the house to relax and unwind with a book. Viewing is highly recommended to appreciate exactly what is on offer. Summary - Wynngarth Farmhouse On the ground floor is a front porch with entrance hall leading into the drawing room and also into the central hallway. The drawing room has a double aspect to the front and side with a window seat opposite an attractive open fireplace with stone

surround. There are steps up to a pretty iled arched doorway through to the sitting room. The sitting room has a south facing aspect with two fireplaces, one of which is a large inglenook and window seats overlooking the garden. Doors lead back to the hallway. The kitchen has a double aspect with an attached entrance porch to the front and double doors opening onto the patio at the rear. There is a central exposed brick chimney stack to one end with an Aga inset. From the hallway is access to a utility room with W.C. off and stairs to a small cellar and a turned staircase to the first floor. The turned staircase leads past a large picture window to the first floor landing, which has a set of floor to ceiling cupboards and doors to five double bedrooms, two of which have en suites and a family bathroom. The property is approached from Lower Road by a private shared driveway into a gravelled driveway with ample parking. The gardens surround the house and are mainly laid to lawn with a scattering of mixed planting of trees and shrubs, and further screened by mature trees on the boundary offering complete privacy. From the kitchen and sitting room are doors leading onto the south facing patio with steps onto the lawn. For more details: www.lambertandfoster.co.uk or call 01892 832325.

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Good living for later life Ease into the retirement lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of

Mandeville Court, Maidstone ME14 1JR

1 bedroom retirement apartments from £68,500* Come and enjoy your own place at your own pace at Mandeville Court in historic Maidstone, Kent. This private development of self-contained one-bedroom apartments enjoys a tranquil garden setting ten minutes’ walk from town-centre shops and close to a theatre, cinema and supermarket. Resales available from as little as £68,500.

To view and find out more call us on

01622 765 311 Or visit us online at www.homegroup.org.uk/retirement Terms and conditions apply and a Monthly Service Charge is payable. *based on a full market value of £68,500 for a 1 bedroom first floor apartment at Mandeville Court - As of 14/02/2014. General Disclaimer: Misrepresentation Act1967 and the Properties Misdescription Act 1991. Home Group for themselves and for the vendor of this property whose agents they have given notice that (i) this advert is set out as a general outline for the guidance of intending purchasers and do not constitute, nor constitute part of, an offer or contract; (ii) a description, dimensions, references to conditions and necessary permissions for use and occupation and other details given in good faith and are believed to be correct but any intending purchase should not rely upon them as a statement or representations of fact, but should satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of each of them. Images are for illustrative purposes only.

20078 JO Retirement Living 297x210 Mandeville Court.indd 1

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Tel - 01634 720411

- Looks great all season - No more muddy feet or paws - No Watering or feeding - High UV resistance - No more mowing - Children friendly - Pet friendly

Unit 8 Ballard Business Park Cuxton Road, Strood Kent, ME2 2NY www.artificiallawncentre.co.uk

Open: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm

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Ke Vis n it 24 t G us th ard at - e th 26 n e th Sh M ow ay

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INTRIGUING

UNIQUE

DURABLE Wooden outdoor retreats to suit all occasions

• S moking shelters, BBQ, patio, jacuzzi and poolside areas • Solid oak tables, benches and chairs • Built from timber sourced only from sustainable FSC approved forests • Planning permission not required • Minimum disruption and built in a day!

01622 756822 / 07946 135441 mail@therusticcompany.com www.therusticcompany.com

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Motors

The NEW

MINI PACEMAN Fresh design, optimised aerodynamics and revised engines for first Sports Activity Coupé in premium compact segment • New version of the MINI Paceman debuts at Auto China Beijing 2014 • All engines now EU6 compliant, CO2 reductions in all models • Fresh design details, sportier cabin with anthracite-coloured dials • MINI Cooper S Paceman is more powerful yet more efficient than ever • Enhanced driving performance, optimised aerodynamics • New paint finishes and light alloy wheels available. As the world’s first ever Sports Activity Coupé in the premium compact segment, the MINI Paceman has always offered athletic design and a sporty driving experience. Now with the unveiling of the new version at the Auto China Beijing show, there is even more on offer to appeal to design-conscious customers.

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The new MINI Paceman boasts fresh design details and a sportier interior finish, while at the same time offering an optimised balance between driving performance and fuel consumption. The new MINI Cooper S Paceman is also more powerful yet more efficient than ever, with its engine developing an additional 190hp. MINIMALISM technology contributes to reduced fuel consumption and emission figures in all other model variants, as well as enabling increased figures for acceleration, in-gear acceleration and top speed. All variants of the new MINI Paceman meet the EU6 exhaust emission standard. The MINI also joins the refreshed line up with an output of 218hp and fitted with MINI’s ALL4 all-wheel-drive system as standard. Expressive design with fresh details. The innovative MINI Paceman includes a distinctive and highly expressive body design which embodies the properties of hallmark MINI design. The upright front section, with its large headlamps and hexagonal radiator grille contour, afford the Paceman a purposeful look, while the elongated silhouette reinforces its sportiness. Its distinctive character is also underscored by the rear lights which are horizontally arranged for the first time on a MINI. In addition to the coupé style doors, other striking features include the aggressively sloped roof which is available in a contrasting colour. The ﬂowing roof line, falling off to the rear, and the tapering side window graphic create a stretched, wedge-like silhouette. The MINI Paceman is designed as a 2+2, with two sports seats for driver and front passenger and two individual seats at the rear offering excellent shoulder and head room, lateral support and comfort. The exclusive

‘lounge’ ambience of the second row is likewise enhanced by the armrests in the side rear trim panels. The new MINI Paceman benefits from acoustic optimisation which has reduced road noise against the outgoing model. Numerous optimisations under the skin of the MINI Paceman, contribute to a combination of increased driving fun with improvements in fuel economy and reductions in exhaust emissions. All petrol and diesel engines now meet EU6 exhaust emission standards. In addition, the high degree of efficiency of the modern four-cylinder power units and MINIMALISM technology ensure that the balance between driving performance and fuel consumption has been fine tuned in all engine variants. Measures applied to boost efficiency include optimised air ducting in the area of the underbody, wheel bearings with a lower friction coefficient and tyres with reduced rolling resistance. An extensive range of optional equipment is available on new MINI Paceman. There are numerous upholstery types, interior colours, interior trims and Colour Lines to choose from. Bi-Xenon headlamps with adaptive turning, automatic air conditioning, comfort access, the electrically operated glass sunroof, a removable tow bar on some models with a trailer load of up to 1,200 kilograms, the MINI Navigation System, multifunction steering wheel with cruise control, Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system and model-specific John Cooper Works accessories are all also available from the options list. Standard features include air conditioning, MINI centre rail between the front seats and a high-end radio system comprising CD player with MP3 capability, AUX-in socket, DAB radio, bluetooth, five speakers and rear park distance control.

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Robin Brooks

LocaL aviation histoRian and wRiteR he author of a dozen aviation books and a contributor to the aviation and local history journals, Robin is confident his first introduction to aviation was when he joined No. 2158 (Sevenoaks) Squadron of the Air Training Corps. Flying and annual camp at an operational RAF station encouraged his interest whilst frequent visits to RAF West Malling and RAF Biggin Hill for the annual ‘RAF At Home’ flying days became the highlight of many years. Born in Sevenoaks at the outbreak of WW2, upon leaving school at the age of 16 he took up an apprenticeship as an electrician and after five years which gained him a City and Guilds Diploma, the next two years saw National Service in the RAF where he trained as a writer compiling aircraft servicing schedules. His service was spent in Shropshire, Isle of Man and finally Norfolk where he was de-mobbed and returned to civilian life though not as an electrician. London beckoned and he joined a clothing company in their advertising department where his link with writing continued. He found his true niche in writing about the history of wartime airfields and squadrons and being a Man of Kent, his first book ‘Kent’s Own-The History of No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force’ was published in 1980 by Meresborough Books. A second followed shortly after called ‘Moths to Merlins-The History of West Malling Airfield’ both of which are currently undergoing a reprint with a new publisher. Since this time the airfields of six counties in England have been written and published by Robin with the current book being ‘Aerodromes of Fighter Command-Then and Now’ just published by ‘After the Battle’. Married to Barbara and now living in Maidstone, Robin writes regularly for local newspapers and magazines

(including our own MMM) on local history as well as local aviation. His son Justin is following in his father’s footsteps having founded a company in Thailand (where he is currently based) called ‘ProofitAsia’, a company specialising in proof-reading and document layout to the business community. Robin is a founder member of the Kent Aviation Historical and Research Society of which he is currently treasurer, he also sits on the board of the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society (MAPS) Ltd as publicity director as well as representing the said society on the board of the Medway branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society. An accomplished musician (having been a member of several Kent bands playing piano), Robin continues to enjoy the music of the big bands such as Count Basie, Stan Kenton etc together with the UK based bands of Syd Lawrence and the BBC Big Band. For Robin, life is never dull.

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Business LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS LocaL businesses affected by new year fLoods patient in decision from government Businesses hit by the new year floods will learn this month if they have been successful in their bid for cash from the government. Maidstone Borough Council was given some £290,000 from central government funds to support small and medium-sized businesses in the borough that were affected, directly or indirectly, by the flooding since Christmas. Grant funding can be used to claim for non-recoverable insurance excesses, for the repair or replacement of equipment, stock or building structures. Temporary business accommodation, structural

surveys and loss of trade are also eligible for support. Insured losses and items that insurance should normally cover, and recoverable VAT, are not included in the scheme. The deadline for bids was in April, with successful applicants learning of funding awards from May 9. Maidstone was one of the worst hit by the floods which swept into the county just before Christmas. Not only was the town centre subject to flooding, but rural areas – particularly around Yalding – were left submerged for several weeks, with roads closed and many businesses suffering intense strain.

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LocaL Business news

HigH speed railway (Hs2) to come at a HigH price tHat could affect kent Creation of the High Speed 2 rail line linking London to the Midlands and the North could come at a hefty cost, according to a campaign group. It claims the county’s economy could be stung to the tune of £159 million a year if the HS2 route gets the go-ahead. Like the HS1 route which links London with the Continent – via Ebbsfleet and Ashford – the HS2 plans would see journey times between London and the North dramatically reduced. But campaign group HS2 Alliance Action, which opposes the route, says companies could look to choose destinations north of London rather than in Kent. And that, it claims, could hit the county hard. It says the decision recently by the government to scrap plans to link St Pancras with the HS2 terminal at Euston, means no direct link between Kent and the North via the route.

The group points to an official report by management consultants KPMG on the economic impact of HS2, which shows that Kent will be one of 50 areas of the UK to lose out if the line is built. The findings come after the group filed a Freedom of Information request following the report, which also revealed the nation would capitalise to the tune of some £15bn a year. Peter Chegwyn, local campaigns director for the pressure group said: “The KPMG report shows that Britain will have a two-tier economy if HS2 is built with areas close to the line gaining and many other areas losing out. “HS2 is very bad news for Kent as jobs could be lost if the firms choose to relocate nearer to the new HS2 rail line. “Just as Kent gained from business investment when the HS1 rail line was built, so too the KPMG research shows that Kent will suffer if HS2 is built.”

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Family guide to whats on & when May half term, Maidstone, 24 May – 1 June elebrate Kentish life and traditions this May half term at Kent Life. The award-winning rural attraction, near Maidstone, will have plenty for the whole family to enjoy. Visitors can join in with the daily animal feeds, visit the farmhouses in Vintage Village, take a tractor trailer ride around the site, and learn about the history of Kent Life with a guided tour. There will also be ferret racing, water zorbing and family games and races, as well as junior quad bikes.

Visit the farmyard and say hello to all the residents, and come and meet the new arrivals, including Shetland ponies, Lily and Truffles. Kent Life ticket prices: Adults £9.25; Children £7.25 (aged 3-15); Concessions £8.25. Members and under-threes FREE. There will be a small additional charge for some activities. Opening times: Daily from 10am. Closing times vary. For details visit www.kentlife.org.uk or call 01622 763936.

Blancpain GT Series at Brands Hatch 17 - 18 May he Blancpain GT Series comes to Brands Hatch for the first time ever in the 2014 season. There is guaranteed to be plenty of excitement in store as an incredible range of exotic machines such as Ferraris, Porsches, Aston Martins, and so forth compete on the track. With support races from the CT Cup Championship, Radical

Dover Castle WWII Weekend, Dover 24 - 26 May over Castle’s popular WWII Weekend is back with a bang! Witness an explosive battle and soak up the atmosphere as the castle returns to the 1940’s. Walk through military encampments and get up close to a full size replica Spitfire, step inside Mr Smith’s bombed out shop and discover the austerity of the war years from the Ministry of Food. Experience the German field hospital, get tips on the latest period fashion, and witness the firepower display. With live music from the 40’s and plenty of hands-on activities for children, it’s a day to remember for all ages. English Heritage member: £1 adult, 90p concession, 60p child, £2.60 family. Non member: £18.50 adults, £16.70 concession, £11.10 child, £48.10 family. Opening time: 10am - 5pm. Visit www.english-heritage.org.uk for further details.

European Masters, and the young chargers of the BRDC Formula 4 Championship, there is sure to be never a dull moment, as plenty of action takes place on the track right in front of you. Opening time: 9am to 6.30pm. Tickets are available to be purchased online at www.brandshatch.co.uk or at the gate on the days of the event, with grandstand seating available. Children under 13 go free.

Kent Garden Show, Detling, 24th - 26th May his show will feature over 300 exhibitors with a wide variety of goods on display and for sale. The features of the show include the floral marquees with their stunning floral displays including medal winners from Chelsea. The garden exhibitors have all manner of gardening goods for sale and include over sixty nurseries. There will also be exhibitors selling garden furniture, water features, garden sheds and buildings, tools, sculptures, and much more. Prices are £7 for adults and £6 for seniors. There is no charge for children (up to age 16). Opening time: 9.30am - 5pm. For more information visit kentgardenshow.com

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Sittingbourne Steam Railway, events throughout the year ittingbourne’s Steam Jack the Station Cat and Edward Railway has enjoyed a Bear Weekend, will be held on the first strong start to the 2014 bank holiday weekend in May (4/5th) season, the second full with trains running hourly 11am-4pm. season since it was forced Sittingbourne Viaduct station will be to close, by its landlords, in 2008. The renamed ‘Tails End’ and Kemsley Down fight is almost over and the railway is becomes ‘Much Purring’ during this here to stay, so why not come along event, in recognition of the stories in and support the last reminder of the children’s books documenting the Sittingbourne’s paper making past. adventures of Jack the Station Cat. Jack Trains will be running every Sunday will be joining the railway’s own ‘Edward Bear’ for some fun. There’s a prize for children who complete the mouse hunt too! The railway’s first community weekend will be held on the second bank holiday weekend in May (25/26th) with trains departing Sittingbourne Viaduct hourly between 11am and 4pm - this will (and Wednesdays in August), until be your opportunity to see some of the the end of September, departing voluntary groups and charities from the Sittingbourne Viaduct station hourly local area as they explain their causes 1-4pm. There are a number of special and how you may be able to help. events this season. This year’s fares are £6 for adults,

£3 for children (aged 3-13), £4 for concessions and £17 for families (up to two adults and four children). You may wish to walk back along Saxon Shore Way from Kemsley Down or you may wish to ride on the trains all day, single and rover fares are available. This Season, trains will be hauled by steam locomotives ‘Leader’ (an 0-4-2 saddle tank engine, built in 1905 by Kerr Stuart), ‘Melior’ (an improved 0-4-2 saddle tank, built in 1924 by Kerr Stuart) and ‘Superb’ (an 0-6-2 tank engine, built by WG Bagnall in 1940). Many passengers know them as ‘the red one’, ‘the little green one’ and ‘the big green one’ respectively! So, where is Sittingbourne’s Steam Railway? Sittingbourne Viaduct station is about five minutes walk from the National Rail station and easy to get to by road as it is within Sittingbourne retail park, the railway’s free car park is behind KFC from the road alongside McDonalds. If you use a Sat-nav. the address is The Wall, ME10 2XD. To find out more and for a descriptive tour, visit the railway’s new website at www.sklr.net or call the talking timetable on 01795 424899 for train information.

Go dotty for Demelza this June chools, companies and individuals are being invited to Go Dotty for Demelza from 13th to 20th June and raise vital funds for Demelza Hospice Care for Children during Children’s Hospice Week. Organisations including Natwest, Nando’s and Charlton FC have already pledged to sport some spots with a dotty fundraiser and 40 stores of Greggs will be selling a special Demelza dotty biscuit during the week. Demelza’s Dotty mascot will also be out and about spotting those taking part. Get in touch if you’d like a visit from Dotty – 01795 845288 or email godotty@demelza.org.uk For more information about Go Dotty login to the website www.demelza.org.uk to download your fundraising pack and see some of the pictures from last year. And don’t forget to share your photos on the facebook page: www.facebook.com/demelzahospice

Family guide to whats on & when

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Above: Richard Thicke (left), Alan Swift, Steve Swift, David House & Tracey Crouch

Hengist Exquisite night at exclusive venue At the very exciting opening party of the Hengist restaurant, the proud owners Steve Swift, Alan Swift and David House showed the 300 invited guests their ambition for the business with the most lavish reception serving champagne on arrival together with exquisite canapes based on the Ă la cart menu. Guests also had the pleasure of the company Richard Thicke, deputy Mayor of Maidstone and the MP Tracey Crouch. The evening exceeded every expectation, with a cosmopolitan feel to the event in a truly exclusive venue, with the car park brimming with luxury cars and the glamour of the guests, it culminated in an extremely joyful and exciting atmosphere. The opening event can be regarded as a huge success - well done.

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mmm Kentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lifestyle Magazine

Issue 28, May 2014 Complimentary

TOP GEAR puts Kent on the map

s OTHER feature

Graham Chapman, the fallen Python

Kate Bush

May 2014

PLUS

ry, el, Histo t, v a r T , s men Motor ntertain E , s s e ore Busin much m , h c u m And