Maidstone makes a splash with annual river festival

The celebration saw more than 85 boats of all shapes, sizes and decorations sailing in to the riverbank.  Henry Luck reports.

Transcript

00:00Sunshine, an open river, and dozens of boats. Everything Maidstone's yearly river festival

00:07offers. Kicking off with prominent members of Maidstone Borough Council arriving on the

00:13riverbank aboard the Kentish Lady. It welcomes sailors, local businesses, and the public

00:21to celebrate a day of fun on the River Medway, which flows for 70 miles across Kent.

00:28The River Medway also has great historic importance. For example, it served as a battleground for

00:35the Battle of Medway during the Roman Invasion.

00:39The biggest event in Maidstone every year is put on by local people for local people.

00:43It doesn't cost the people of Maidstone anything. The council don't actually contribute a large

00:49amount of money to it, so it's mainly run by private businesses and private individuals

00:56who think it's the best thing that ever happens in Maidstone.

00:58People can come from wherever. It's a great way for the town to celebrate the best of

01:03Maidstone, and it's good for anyone, whatever age you are. And honestly, the boats on the

01:09river look absolutely fantastic. They've got bungee on them, and everyone's having a really

01:13lovely time.

01:14For local businesses such as the Kentish Lady, the event provided a much-needed boom for

01:20their profits.

01:21It's great for us. It's great for other businesses in the area, especially with a year like this

01:26year where the weather hasn't been great, so the river hasn't been quite the draw that

01:29it normally would be. But a day like today is fantastic, and it brings a lot of well-needed

01:36activity to the river.

01:37Hundreds gathered to watch the raft race, where participants raced to see who had the

01:43best homemade boat. I was lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with the winners.

01:49It's been exceptional. Last year it didn't go very well, not according to plan. This

01:54year, new design, and we're glad to win. We're in it to win it.

01:58We nailed it.

01:59This year's celebration, however, had a moment of reflection as the town commemorated the

02:0580th anniversary of the D-Day landings, which happened earlier this year.

02:10We have come together to remember all those who have died in war, and for all who still

02:17suffer to die as a result of conflict. We remember their families, their comrades, and

02:24their friends.

02:26Money raised from the event will be going towards the Heart of Kent hospice, where they'll

02:31be looking to build a new state-of-the-art facility in the town.

02:35Henry Luck, for KMTV, in Maidstone.