A Festive and Community-Filled Few Weeks

The last few weeks have been wonderfully busy and truly festive! I was delighted to open this year’s Christmas Donation Hub at The Mall, a joint initiative between Maidstone Borough Council and The Mall, giving Maidstone Charities a welcoming space to collect donations. I was also honoured to switch on Maidstone’s Town Centre Christmas Lights, together with the cast of the Hazlitt Christmas pantomime.

The following week brought the Christmas lights switch-on at Cavell Park Care Home and The Music Man’s project Christmas concert – an inspiring event supporting people with learning difficulties, beautifully accompanied by the Maidstone Salvation Army. 

Saturday saw the Dick Whittington Panto VIP Opening Night at the Hazlitt Theatre, always a highlight of the season. On Sunday, I attended the Heart of Kent Hospice “Light up a Life” service, a moving time for reflection and remembrance for loved ones who are no longer with us but whose light still shines in our hearts.

Recent engagements have also included –

• Hi Kent AGM
• South Park Community coffee morning
• Switch Youth Services visit
• Mayor of Ashford’s charity lunch at the London Beach Hotel, featuring King of Queen tribute acts. 
• Walk in my Shoes event by Kent Arts and Wellbeing, an insightful activity raising awareness of living with dementia.

Looking ahead

This week promises to be another busy one, I will be attending:

• The induction mass and reception for Fr Oliver Antao, the new priest of the Roman Catholic Parish of Bearsted and Harrietsham.
• The Maidstone Singers Annual Christmas Concert.
• The Mayor of Swanley’s Charity Event at Eagle Heights, supporting ADSS (Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Services).
• Kent County Agricultural Society quarterly meeting.
• Lydd Town Council Christmas Concert, performed by the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas.
• A memorial Christmas concert at All Saints Church, organised by local Funeral Directors.

As we enjoy the joy and brightness of Christmas, let us also hold in our hearts those for whom this season brings sadness or struggle. My thoughts are with all who are finding things difficult at this time of year, and that includes myself.