Press release 14/07/2025 by Maidstone BC

 

🐘 We’re celebrating 70 years since the formation of Cobtree Charity Trust Limited and Cobtree Manor Estate Trust, founded by Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, with a stunning new sculpture!

🌳 Crafted from sustainable materials by talented artists Rob Smith and Kurtis Young, this delightful elephant artwork was officially unveiled by the Mayor of hashtag#Maidstone Borough Council, Councillor Martin Round today.

Come see it for yourself and be part of the celebration.

📸 1/3 The Trustees of the Cobtree Charity Trust, 2/3 Artist Rob Smith with Councillor Martin Round 3/3 The sculpture

Another busy week!

In the last week, I’ve had some amazing opportunities as part as my civic Mayoral role to engage with the Kentish community and foster local spirit.

On Tuesday, it was my pleasure to attend the Summer Reception organised by the Army Benevolent trust in Rolvenden. There were some brilliant showcases of military prowess and excellence, in particular the Beating the Retreat Ceremony performed by the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas. This event united our local community deeply in the name of military service and provided ample togetherness, much needed in the times of turbulent change of which we are currently facing.

Perhaps the highlight of the week was on Wednesday, my Mayoral Garden party. It was a splendid event at a new location: Allington Castle, which was absolutely stunning and provided the perfect backdrop for such a special event. Delicious Food and even better people made for a truly amazing event with laughs and meaningful conversation galore and reminded me of why I wanted to become Mayor in the first place: To bring together the community. Thank you to all those that attended this spectacular event, including various Mayors and Councillors, your presence was beyond invaluable!

Wednesday was certainly a busy day for me and after returning from the Garden Party I attended the Headcorn Parish Full Council meeting. Various matters were discussed and community issues were raised and as always, the Council did an excellent job at addressing these concerns and questions and they truly make me proud to live and serve for Headcorn.

Lastly, this week I have also had the pleasure of hosting a work experience pupil, interested in going into Politics, to shadow me and discuss local, national and international matters with. It has been an eye-opening opportunity to see the political sphere from a young person’s perspective and reminds me of the importance of young people's participation in politics and how this must never be taken for granted.

An excellent week of championing community values and exploring valuable relationships, both old and new!

A busy week of Mayoral Duties!

Last week was a whirlwind of events and engagements – a true reminder of how vibrant and rewarding life as a Mayor can be!

I returned from Beauvais on Monday and went straight into the week’s activities by attending the Bishop of Dover’s Summer Drinks Reception within the beautiful Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral. It was a lovely setting and a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow guests.

Tuesday brought a special moment: I had the honour of opening the new sensory room at Roseacre Junior School. This fantastic and well-deserved project was funded by the Friends of Roseacre and the rugby charity, Wooden Spoon. It was inspiring to see the joy and excitement from the children and staff alike.

On Wednesday I attended the Bishop of Rochester’s Garden Party. It was a real pleasure to spend time with fellow Mayors and share stories about our unique communities and experiences in civic life.

Despite meeting Presidents and Princesses in recent times, one of the highlights of my week was something truly homegrown: the Kent County Show! There’s nothing quote like eating freshly picked Kentish strawberries surrounded by the very people who grow and nurture our local produce. It reminded me how special our county is and how important it is to celebrate it.

To round off the week, I enjoyed a wonderful evening at the theatre on Friday. A local production of “Twelfth Night” in Sutton Valence delivered a superb performance, complete with not one but two choirs. It was community spirit at its finest, and right on my doorstep! 

What a week – full of people, passion, and pride in our local communities.

Battle of Britain Airshow – Schools and Carers Day at Headcorn Aerodrome

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of hosting the Schools and Carers Day at the Battle of Britain Airshow held at Headcorn Aerodrome. This special day was designed to give local schoolchildren and carers a memorable, educational experience in a safe and inspiring setting. It was also a pleasure to welcome Mayors and Deputy Mayors to my hometown in Headcorn. While there was no flying on Friday, the event was still packed with meaningful moments and community engagement.

We began with a moving Remembrance Service to honour the heroes of the Battle of Britain. I was joined by Rev. Robert Foster, Cllr James Thomas, Standard Bearer Tim Thomas, Bugler Lyn Sandys, local cadets, Air Commodores and soldiers. It was a moving tribute and a moment of reflection for all present.

 

Following the service, I was delighted to officially open the newly constructed remote control car track, created by the brilliant team at Kent RC Rock Crawlers. This club offers great fun for all ages and provides a valuable outlet for mental wellbeing – a wonderful addition to the aerodrome’s offerings. ­­­

  

Guests and visitors then had the chance to explore the aerodrome grounds and take in the educational displays and exhibits at the museum. It was a brilliant opportunity for young people to learn about our aviation history in an interactive and engaging environment.

 

The afternoon concluded with the Mayor’s Lunch, where I welcomed a number of VIP guests. We were wonderfully entertained by The Polka Dots, who brought the spirit of the 1940s and 50s alive with their singing.

 

As the day came to an end, I travelled on to Beauvais to participate in their Amis Des Fetes Jeanne-Hachette celebrations – a joyful and historic event that reflects the strong bonds between our communities.