Emmetts Garden CHRISTMAS
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Autumn 2015 FREE On the pumpkin trail at Emmetts Ashley Garden Jackson Kent’s hockey superstar A time for sharing this WIN CHRISTMAS A Christmas turkey & all the trimmings Days out • Theatre • Homes & Gardens • Walks British upholstery brand arrives at Clarkes The leading brand of quality upholstery is renowned for the unmistakable English style of YRHIVWXEXIQIRXWYFXPIX]ERH½RITVSTSVXMSRXLEXMWMRXVMRWMGMRMXWWSJEWERHGLEMVW ○ -RXIVREXMSREPP]WSYVGIHJEFVMG ○ ,ERHGYXGSZIVWI\TIVXP] ○ British made in Long Eaton, XSIRWYVI[MHIWXGLSMGISJ WI[R[MXLQIXMGYPSYWGEVIXS XLIGIRXVISJYTLSPWXIV] GSPSYVWERHWX]PIW WXMXGLMRKERHTEXXIVRQEXGLMRK QERYJEGXYVMRKI\GIPPIRGI Southsea 1IHMYQ7SJE6ERKI*EFVMGRRP £2361 NOW £2009 www.clarkesfurnishers.co.uk 01622 753073 Sandling Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2RF Contents Leisure & Tourism 18-19 Tourist Profile A family day out at Cobtree Park 24-25 Walks - Enjoy a country walk through Hollinbourne 28-29 Charity Profile - Supporting Kent based charities 31-39 With Christmas in mind - A host of ideas for the festive period Interview 7-9 Personality profile - Ashley Jackson - one of world hockey’s hot shots Lifestyle Editor's Choice 40-41 Mind, body & soul 42-45 Senior living 11-16 A selection of hand-picked events and great days out 47-54 Homes & gardens around the county through 60-61 Motoring the autumn months 62 Competitions Chairman: Claire Procter Covering the Mid Kent towns Editor: Stephen Eighteen Mid Kent Living is published every three months with a free circulation in Maidstone, Publishing Manager: Jo-Anne Brown Medway, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Malling, Ashford and Sittingbourne. It is Sales Manager: Bill Brett available at selected pick-up points throughout the area including major supermarkets. Subscription copies are posted (£8 annually). Advertising Sales: Tel 01622 630330 The team Mid Kent Living is published by Mail Publications Ltd (which also publishes the Downs Mail newspaper), Forge House, Bearsted Green Business Park, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4DT. Tel: 01622 630330 Fax 01622 631131 email [email protected] www.downsmail.co.uk Mid Kent Living 3 4 Mid Kent Living Prolong the magic of Christmas The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder, which must mean that Christmas is on its way. Though it may seem like only yesterday since the seasonal decorations were proudly worn by your Christmas tree and the final mince pie was consumed with stomach-bursting regret, shops, restaurants and other businesses all across Kent are busily preparing for a special end of the year. If you even remotely share the sentiment famously sung by Wizzard – ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’ – there is no reason why you should restrict the fun to just a few days towards the end of December. So why not get into the spirit a little earlier this year? If so, you have come to the right place because this edition of Mid Kent Living is our largest ever pre-Christmas magazine. Couples keen to mark this special time of year with a touch of romance can treat their other half to alpaca trekking, Segway riding or even lion-feeding – without leaving the Garden of England (page 33). There are pantomimes galore (page 34), a guide to coping with the cooking demands of the festive season (page 39) and a recommended walk in the Kent Downs to help you work off any festive excesses (24-25). Also busy at this time of year is Royal British Legion Industries – a charity based in Aylesford that provides training, support, care and employment to the armed forces community throughout Britain. Publicising this fantastic cause, which kicks off our new regular feature on charities in Kent (pages 28-29), will hopefully inspire people to dedicate some of their Christmas goodwill to those who have put their lives on the line for this country throughout the years. All this, and much more. Editor CRAYF D GR TRACK Gamble for fun – not to win! www.gambleaware.co.uk crayford.racingcgrayford.racin ccrayforddogsrayforddogs 0132201322 557836557836 | www.crayford.comwww.cmrayford.co | StadiumStadium Way,Way, Crayford,Crayford, KentKent DDA1A1 4HR4HR *over*over 18’s18’s oonly.nly. Mid Kent Living 5 One School, many journeys 2015: Top 10% of schools for added academic value. Open Morning Senior School (HMC 11–18 day and boarding) Saturday 7th November 2015 T: 01622 845206 | E: [email protected] www.svs.org.uk 6 Mid Kent Living Personality profile ASHLEY’S home goal Trying to snatch a few minutes with a sporting superstar is no mean feat. Especially when that star is Ashley Jackson, record goalscorer for Great Britain and one of world hockey’s current ‘hot shots!’ Jane Shotliff caught up with Ashley as he prepared to play in the 2015 EuroHockey Championships at the Lee Some children are said to be born with grandfather and uncle. Valley Hockey and Tennis a silver spoon in their mouths. When The Jackson family were well known Centre, at the Queen Ashley Jackson made his entrance into for their prowess on the ice and it was the world, in August 1987, he was most an accepted part of growing up for Elizabeth Olympic Park. probably presented with a hockey stick. Medway-born Ashley and his brother If not, it wasn’t long after as, by the age Wesley that most weekends were of two and a half, he was whizzing about spent supporting the teams for which was awarded by the prestigious private on the ice with his ice-hockey playing they played. school was the real driving force the teenager needed to set him on a path Ashley’s education which was to take up the majority of his began at Fairview waking hours then — just like now. Primary School, Amazingly, Ashley hadn’t wielded a Gillingham, but conventional hockey stick before when the family starting at Sutton Valence — ice hockey moved to Tunbridge plays off the left hand as opposed to the Wells, he switched right — but his past experience and to Rose Hill techniques clearly stood him in good Preparatory School, stead as he rapidly soared into the from where he school’s hockey record books. progressed to While at SVS, he represented Kent, Sutton Valence, near South of England and England at U16 Maidstone, at 13. and then went on to represent England The sports Hockey at U21 level, while captaining the scholarship Ashley school’s 1st XI. Mid Kent Living 7 Personality profile Ashley clearly thrives on a challenge Ashley was also a keen cricketer and accepted into the Kent Cricket Academy — some members of staff actually considered him to have more potential as a cricketer. However, in his final year at school, 2005, Ashley didn’t play much 1st XI cricket, having become too involved in hockey. The midfielder made his debut for one of the country’s leading hockey clubs, East Grinstead, in 2003 while just 15 and gained representative honours for England shortly after. He made his debut for the English senior side in the 2006/7 season at the Ashley’s first Olympic match was in Ashley had spent all his adult playing age of 19 and was awarded the FIH 2008, in Beijing, where the team career with East Grinstead. Young Player of the Year title three finished 5th. At the London 2012 games, Not only did he help East Grinstead years later — the first English player to they came 4th. scoop the league and championship receive this coveted accolade. He also played for the England squad titles, he also helped them to obtain the in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, European Indoor title for the 2009/10 coming fourth, and won bronze in the season. 2014 Commonwealths — so has high However, an approach from Holcombe hopes for next year’s big event. chairman David South proved too much Ashley, still only 28, trains daily with to resist. Ashley was awarded the FIH Young Player of the Year title – the first English player to receive this coveted accolade. England Hockey at Bisham Abbey In May, he joined several of his GB National Sports Centre, near Marlow, team-mates in the Rochester-based and has spent the past few years living club, and will make his first appearance a comfortable 15-minute commute away on the pitch for them this season. in High Wycombe, travelling to his club South is busy hoovering up some of when matches demand. hockey’s most talented players to Under his central contract to the create an A-team of GB internationals England GB team, Ashley trains from and the signings have caused quite a 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, for the stir in English hockey circles. national team, turning out possibly one Ashley, who was once dubbed the evening a week for his local club. ‘Ronaldo of hockey’, said: “It was a Until earlier this year, with the difficult decision to leave friends and exception of two years spent playing for family but it was a decision I had to take the Dutch side of HGC in the Hoofklasse, for hockey — and for business reasons.” Holcombe’s name heralds from an old boys club at Chatham Grammar School in the Sixties; the grounds they played at, near Rochester, being called Holcombe. Originally one of six clubs in the Medway towns, Holcombe merged with three others in 2000. It now has 12 mens’ and five ladies’ teams. 8 Mid Kent Living Ashley was once dubbed the ‘Ronaldo of hockey’ another can be found wielding clubs at Sweetwoods Golf Club, Edenbridge, or the London Golf Club, in West Kingsdown, where he plays off a handicap of two. Ashley clearly thrives on a challenge and finds golf both a difficult sport but also one which is addictive. He said: “It is challenging, but a sport in which you can always be better.” Opposite: In a pensive mood — and victorious.