- 1 year ago
Catch up with all the latest news from across the county with Gabriel Morris.
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00:00Good evening, I hope you had a lovely day, whatever you've been up to.
00:26Welcome to Kentonite Live here on KMTV.
00:29I'm Gabriel Morrison here on your top stories on Tuesday the 29th of July.
00:40Roaring on London, Kent's football fans join national celebrations as the Lionesses are celebrated in the capital.
00:49It just shows you can do anything and, you know, especially now with football, girls are better than the boys, let's face it.
00:55Circa navigating the cathedral.
00:58Historic short plane highlights Rochester's aviation heritage.
01:02So we're really keen to tell people first and foremost why all these amazing things happened.
01:08And row, row, row your boat.
01:12Thousands flock to Maidstone for its annual River Festival.
01:17Well, the river it makes and it's obviously its biggest asset.
01:20And then we come down here and we make the most of it.
01:23Well, first tonight were you one of the Kent fans who joined thousands lining the streets of London to cheer on the Lionesses at their homecoming parade today.
01:43Well, if you weren't, it was an open-top bus which carried the team through the capital before they appeared on stage with some surprise guests to celebrate a landmark moment in football history.
01:54Well, the pride in the crowd showed just how deeply the Lionesses have inspired the nation.
02:00As Abbey Hook reports from the capital.
02:01A royal welcome home for the Queens of Europe.
02:12We're not creative enough, we're not positive enough.
02:14It's coming home, it's coming home.
02:18It's coming, football's coming home.
02:21We'll go on getting back, I'm getting back, I'm getting back.
02:24It's coming, football's coming home.
02:29It's coming home, it's coming home
02:33It's coming home, it's coming home
02:37It's coming home, it's coming home
02:40It's coming home, it's coming home
02:42It's coming home
02:44There's lots of ways to win a football match
02:48and we repeatedly did it the hard way
02:51But I think that you can see how much we care about playing for England
02:55and how much we love it
02:56What goes through your mind?
02:57Pressure!
02:59Pressure!
03:01It feels so good
03:03Your young player of the country
03:05Sweet Caroline, fun, fun, fun
03:12The time's never seemed so new
03:15So good, so good, so good
03:18I've been flying, fun, fun, fun
03:23To believe that we're the one for now
03:28Well they were certainly on the road to European back-to-back championships
03:35And today arrived to celebrate a moment in football history
03:41One kilometre of tears and cheers from both loyal and new fans
03:47It was a parade to the palace fit for a pride of lionesses
03:52I just think it's really inspirational for young children
03:57It's showing them that resilience is really good
04:01If you keep trying and trying, if you keep trying and trying, you will succeed
04:04Absolutely buzzing
04:07This is a moment we've been waiting for for a very long time
04:10Super excited, so proud of the lionesses
04:13I just think it's amazing
04:14It just shows you can do anything
04:16Especially now with football
04:18Girls are better than the boys
04:20Let's face it
04:21I think it just shows what amazing role models
04:25They're all brilliant, so fantastic
04:27It has been a massive thing for women
04:29I am so happy
04:30It's boosted so much
04:32Like the amount of people that have showed up today is crazy
04:35I think I've had about seven heart attacks
04:37But I think we'll be all right
04:38As a footballer myself
04:40It gives you hope that one day that you might be able to do that
04:43And seeing like the young ones coming on
04:44I think playing at a top level
04:47Being able to do that
04:48It's just like a dream
04:50It's just amazing watching football with her
04:52Makes some long memories
04:53She plays football herself, plays academy football
04:56So all the other parents who have gone out and supported their girls in the lioness
05:01Can sympathise all the journey and all the money they put in
05:04Travelling around to play football
05:05Amazing time
05:06Yeah, I came up with my daughter
05:08She's a huge, huge lioness fan
05:10Watched all the games on TV
05:11Had heart attacks in the semi-finals, the finals
05:14Yeah, nerve-wracking
05:15But great to come up here
05:16See them come past on the bus
05:17Yeah, amazing
05:18Such a great atmosphere
05:19We had to come up
05:20The atmosphere is so different to the men's game
05:22It's just such a nice family feeling
05:25Everyone's happy
05:25Everyone's here for the same reason
05:26It's good intentions, yeah
05:28It's been so good
05:29Especially with women's football as well
05:31It's like how far it's come with all these people here
05:33Much better
05:34Much better than the men
05:36I think they should do a men v women
05:38Men v women
05:39Who would win?
05:40Probably the women
05:41Yay!
05:43They've changed minds and perceptions of women in sport
05:46And just what's possible when you never give up
05:50They're champions of Europe in 2025
05:53But they'll be champions of fans' hearts forever
05:57Abby Hook for KMTV
05:59Celebrations aren't going to stop are they
06:11And a massive well done to Maidstone's own Alessia Russo
06:14I'm sure she'll be back in the county not before long
06:17Well now for some news in brief
06:19And a free princess parade planned for Maidstone
06:22Has been counselled after organisers were hit
06:25With a £400 council bill
06:28Snow Princess Parties
06:30Which brings Disney-style magic to towns across the UK
06:33Says it simply can't afford for new charges
06:37To host the event at Brunchley Gardens
06:39The Maidstone parade has grown massively in popularity since 2022
06:44Drawing in hundreds of families
06:47Well Maidstone Borough Council says fees or admin charges
06:52Are applied to commercial events
06:53And the cost for this has increased to reflect inflation
06:57And private security guards are now patrolling Herm Bay
07:01During the summer holidays
07:03In a bid to tackle rising anti-social behaviour
07:06Acorn Security has an £8,500 contract
07:10To support police and council teams
07:12For six weeks after reports of under-18s
07:15Harassing foreign students, the elderly and even wildlife
07:18The guards will work five days a week as a visible presence
07:22Gathering intel and offering reassurance
07:24Though they can't make arrests
07:27The scheme is funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner's Office
07:30And follows a spike in incidents across the town
07:33Politicians continue to disagree over whether reorganising local governments in Kent
07:39Will actually save taxpayers money
07:41Current proposals would replace the county's 14 existing authorities
07:47With three larger unitary councils
07:50Reform UK, which runs KCC, says is asked the government to delay the devolution process
07:55But ministers refused
07:57The party says it wants to focus on finding efficiencies within the current system
08:02While Labour councillors argue that local government reform will deliver long-term savings
08:07But it's clear from the financial analysis undertaken
08:11That many of the options
08:13The options more likely to be supported by government
08:15Are actually going to cost the taxpayer more money
08:19Not less
08:20Especially in the short term
08:22That worries me hugely
08:24The transition costs of moving to the new council structures
08:28Run into many millions of pounds
08:29And the payback period is often measured years into the distance
08:34Or perhaps never, in some cases, leaving the Kent taxpayer worse
08:39On the timetable argument, everybody, all parties knew the timetable before we went into an election
08:44Everybody came in with their eyes open on that
08:48And just on what Mr Whittle said about long-term savings
08:52It's, that's framed as, like, long-term savings through efficiency
08:57That's framed as a bad thing
08:58Previously, we've seen short-termism in local authorities
09:02And I don't see the possibility of long-term savings
09:07I think that should be spoken in a positive
09:10And I'm not really hearing that
09:11Now, a private ambulance firm faces criticism over minimal training
09:17And lack of basic medical equipment
09:19After a teenager died following a music gig at Dreamland in Margate
09:2417-year-old Emily Stokes collapsed after taking drugs
09:28At the Worried About Henry Festival in June last year
09:32And in question to her death
09:33Heard how staff failed to recognise how unwell she was
09:37And delayed getting her to a hospital
09:39Well, our senior reporter Barthonyme Hall joins us now on the sofa with more
09:43Barthonyme
09:43Yeah, I mean, these comments today come from a newly released, newly published report
09:50From the Inquiry into Emily Stokes' death
09:52This was originally released, issued as part of the Inquiry
09:56But has just now been made publicly available
09:59And it gives us a bit of an insight into what the Inquiry has found
10:02What facilities were available on the day that Emily Stokes sadly lost her life
10:09The coroner, Katrina Hepburn, has criticised the Kent Central Ambulance Service
10:14This is a private firm separate from SECAM
10:17The NHS, South East Coast Ambulance Service, that we're used to hearing about
10:21She's gone on saying this report that it was, in essence, very little more than a means of transport
10:27From the venue to the hospital
10:28And may have given a false sense of reassurance
10:31And as you mentioned, she went on to criticise the training of staff, calling it minimal
10:35She says the evidence heard indicated that they had a qualification which was just a five-day course
10:41And they had little experience or training in relation to the management of patients having taken drugs
10:47And she says that given the circumstances, a drummer-based music concert
10:51Where concert goers were expected to be drinking large amounts of music
10:55That the risk of drug-taking was deemed to be high
10:59That more training should have been provided to assist the staff in how to safely manage those who are under the influence of illicit substances
11:08She also noted that there was a lack of pre-alert to the QEQM hospital to warn staff that sick patients were on their way
11:15And she said that staff only had the facilities on board these ambulances for immediate life support
11:23And that there was no drugs on board that would have assisted Emily's condition
11:28Well, Barfanaby, thank you for bringing us those details
11:31And I'm sure viewers will be aware that a similar incident happened again this year
11:35You can read more about that on Kenton 9
11:37Barfanaby, thank you once more
11:38Well, we're going to take a quick break now
11:41But coming up, we find out more about a new exhibition at Rochester Cathedral
11:45Featuring Plane Parts
12:08Thank you
12:11Thank you
20:09in conditions and pay. But just over a year after Labour's election win, doctors are back
20:15on strike, although nowhere to be seen here. It's the first industrial action of its kind
20:22during Starmer's administration. Now, we don't quite know how many resident doctors have
20:28walked out today. Usually, we would get an idea as a picket line forms outside Medway
20:35Maritimes Hospital. But it's just gone, 7.30 in the morning, and there's no sign of any
20:43doctors or any picket line here. We've asked the British Medical Association several times
20:48for an interview to explain why they're calling for a near 30% pay rise. They haven't responded
20:55to our requests. Health Secretary West Streeting says striking doctors have already received
21:01a 29% pay rise over the past three years, with a further 5.5% offer on the table. In
21:09Medway, public opinion remains divided on industrial action.
21:13It's actually quite disgusting they're putting a doctor strike on because people with arthritis,
21:18if they've got an arthritis appointment in the hospital or anything, that physiotherapy
21:22side of things, and they're cancelling it, it's not going to do anyone good. I think the
21:27medical profession deserve a good wage. They do a fantastic job. People haven't got the
21:32resources for, you know, like they're piling all these people in and stuff like that, you
21:37know what I mean? So I think it's a bad idea. I think health should come first. The pay rises
21:42I used to get when I was in work was something of 3 or 4%, not 20-odd percent.
21:48KMTV's health expert told us this week that maintaining public support during extended strikes is proving
21:55difficult. Because I think going for that incredibly high amount is losing the public and the last set
22:02of strikes we had last year, actually the public were quite supportive. It is a very difficult
22:09decision whether you're going to take industrial action and certainly in the GP land, but at
22:13the same time, if we don't actually maintain some of the pay parity that we had before, we're
22:19not going to be able to recruit people into being junior doctors. The message from hospital
22:22bosses is business as usual for those coming to A&E, but during previous strikes, hospitals
22:27counseled more non-urgent appointments. This time, that's not the case and last-minute
22:33cancellations aren't being ruled out. If your routine appointment is in general practice,
22:38you can assume it's definitely going ahead. And if it's in hospital, unless you've heard
22:42otherwise, you can also assume it's going ahead. But I do have to say we will not know until
22:48the day quite how many doctors will choose not to work. So I can't promise there won't
22:53be adjustments on the day.
22:55The strike action continues until Wednesday, with the government holding firm. Kent could
23:01be in for another wave of walkouts.
23:07Well, we are having some technical difficulties there. Let's move it just onto this camera.
23:11There we go. There we go. We're back with us. Now, thousands of people across Maidstone headed
23:15down to the river to Felibote River Festival, which happened there. Well, crowds line the streets
23:21there to take part in an iconic raft race as boats of all shapes and sizes took to the water.
23:27The event raised money for charities including the Heart of Kent Hospice, which supports patients
23:32and families living with terminal illnesses. Our community reporter, Henry Luck, headed out
23:38onto the river to find out more.
23:40Hundreds of boats took to the River Medway to celebrate the Maidstone River Festival. This
23:47time of the year gives boat lovers a chance to sink their jaws into racing and showing off
23:54their amazing vessels. Well, the river in Maidstone, it's obviously its biggest asset. And then
23:59we come down here and we make the most of it because we're from the high level bridge to
24:03Lock Meadow. So we cover the main sound centre bit of the river. The Firmin family is one
24:08of our biggest sponsors. Maidstone Boa Council have got involved this year, which has been
24:13utterly excellent. And of course, behind me is Maidstone's River Medway. And as its name suggests,
24:20it stretches all the way here, right to Medway. And it's served many purposes throughout history,
24:28from trade to being the stage of naval battles. But the event also served the purpose of raising
24:35money for charities across the county. I think it's amazing and it's so, everybody's
24:42joining in, everybody's happy and so, so good. So good. The festival has supported the Heart
24:50to Kent Hospice for many years and we're extremely lucky that everyone in the community is willing
24:55to support us because the work everyone does at the hospice is so vital to the local community
25:01here. The Mayor of Medway was also there to deliver flags and find the best decorated boats,
25:08from pirates to even a snowman. Great fun. I've been doing it for years and I love it.
25:14It's the highlight of my year. When I came to the River Festival many years ago,
25:21we won Best Dress Boat and I didn't even know there was a Best Dress Boat. I had a really
25:26great time. It was always a good day down at the festival. One group managed to win the
25:31raft race for two years in a row and shared the secret of their scallywagging success.
25:38We all worked together to make the raft to the design that we'd written up and we had
25:43six good people on the raft to make the raft go along as fast as it did. So it all worked
25:48out well. We did. We did well. We did really well. We worked as a team, won as a team and
25:57we're going to celebrate as a team later. The celebration's finished with a firework display
26:04at Fremlin Walk, making a merrily merrily time for those involved. Henry Luck for KMTV in Maidstone.
26:16Now time for a quick look at the weather. Going into tonight it's rather mild with clouds coating
26:22the skies. Temperatures rising up to highs of 17, up to 18 tomorrow morning right across the county,
26:29but cloudy skies for us all. And into the afternoon rising again up to 22 lows of 20 down in Dover.
26:38Some light wind speeds there. And here's your outlook for the next few days on the screen now.
26:51Time now for a quick break but we'll be back in a few minutes for more news.
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30:25national celebrations as the lionesses are celebrated in the capital.
30:33On course for the cathedral, historic short plain highlights Rochester's aviation heritage.
30:40And row row row your boat, thousands flock to Maidstone to celebrate annual River Festival.
30:48Now look back at our main story tonight.
30:50But were you one of the Kent fans who joined thousands lining the streets of London to
30:55cheer on the lionesses at their homecoming parade?
30:59Well, if you weren't, it was an open-top bus which carried the teams through the capital
31:03before they appeared on stage with some surprise guests to celebrate a landmark moment in football
31:09history.
31:10While the pride in the crowd showed just how deeply the lionesses have inspired the nation
31:15as Abbey Hook reports from London.
31:17A royal welcome home for the Queens of Europe.
31:24We're not creative enough, we're not positive enough.
31:29It's coming home, it's coming, it's coming, football's coming, it's coming, it's coming,
31:36we'll go on getting back, I'm getting back, I'm getting back, I'm getting back.
31:40It's coming home, it's coming, football's coming home.
31:47It's coming home, it's coming, football's coming home.
31:54It's coming home, it's coming, football's coming home.
32:00There's lots of ways to win a football match and we repeatedly did it the hard way.
32:07I think that you can see how much we care about playing for England, how much we love it.
32:11What goes through your mind?
32:12Pressure.
32:13Pressure.
32:14I feel so good.
32:18You're a young player.
32:19Oh!
32:20Oh!
32:21Sweet Caroline, fuck, fuck, fuck.
32:25The time's never seemed so new.
32:30So good, so good, so good.
32:33Well, they were certainly on the road to European back-to-back championships and today arrived
32:52to celebrate a moment in football history.
32:56One kilometre of tears and cheers from both loyal and new fans.
33:02It was a parade to the palace fit for a pride of lionesses.
33:09I just think it's really inspirational for young children.
33:12It's showing them that resilience is really good.
33:16If you keep trying and trying, you will succeed.
33:21Absolutely buzzing.
33:22This is a moment we've been waiting for for a very long time.
33:25Super excited, so proud of the lionesses.
33:28I just think it's amazing.
33:29It just shows you can do anything and, you know, especially now with football, girls
33:33are better than the boys, let's face it.
33:35So, I think it just shows what amazing role models, they're all brilliant, so fantastic.
33:41It has been a massive thing for women.
33:44I am so happy.
33:45It's boosted so much.
33:47Like, the amount of people that have showed up today is crazy.
33:49I think I've had about seven heart attacks, but I think we'll be all right.
33:53As a footballer myself, it gives you hope that one day that you might be able to do that
33:57and seeing, like, the young ones coming on.
33:59I think playing at a top level, being able to do that, it's just like a dream.
34:04It's just amazing watching football with her, makes long memories.
34:08She plays football herself, plays academy football.
34:11So, all the other parents who have gone out and supported their girls in the Lioness
34:15can sympathise all the journey and all the money they put in travelling around to play football.
34:20Amazing time.
34:21Yeah, I came up with my daughter.
34:22She's a huge, huge Lioness fan.
34:24I watched all the games on TV, had heart attacks in the semi-finals, the finals.
34:28Yeah, nerve-racking, but great to come up here, see them come past on the bus.
34:32Yeah, amazing.
34:33Such a great atmosphere.
34:34We had to come up.
34:35Amazing.
34:36The atmosphere is so different to the men's game.
34:37It's just such a nice family feeling.
34:39Everyone's happy.
34:40Everyone's here for the same reason.
34:41It's good intentions, yeah.
34:43It's been so good, especially with women's football as well.
34:46It's like how far it's come with all these people here.
34:48Much better.
34:49Much better than the men.
34:51I think they should do a men v women.
34:53Men v women.
34:54Who would win?
34:55Probably the women.
34:56Yay!
34:58They've changed minds and perceptions of women in sport.
35:02And just what's possible when you never give up.
35:05They're champions of Europe in 2025, but they'll be champions of fans' hearts forever.
35:12Abby Hook for KMTV.
35:14Well, we're going to be celebrating that one for a long time, aren't we?
35:26Well, now the future of the last remaining St John's Ambulance Marching Band is in doubt as their venue on the Isle of Sheppey is set to be sold.
35:34They've been told they have five weeks left in their home and say they're quickly running out of options and asking for your help.
35:42But with their 80th anniversary next year, will they be able to find a new home in time?
35:48Well, Sonia Laznig joins me on the line now.
35:51She's part of the marching band.
35:53Sonia, thank you so much for joining us this evening.
35:55Now, a proposal that was offered is moving location.
36:01But would you want to move away from the Isle of Sheppey? Is that something you'd look into?
36:05No, we've started on the Isle of Sheppey. We've been there nearly, the band's been there for nearly 80 years.
36:13So we've enjoyed so much community support and loyalty that we would really, really like to stay on the Isle of Sheppey.
36:19And this is really important for the local community.
36:23And we were talking earlier before we came on air.
36:26I mean, you're not from the Isle of Sheppey.
36:27This does bring quite a few people in from outside of the Isle of Sheppey, doesn't it?
36:30It's very important as well to the local community.
36:33Absolutely, Gabriel.
36:35So there's quite a few band members that are connected to Sheppey, either through growing up or through, you know, family relationships.
36:43But they've moved away.
36:44But we're still so committed to the band that we've got people that travel from,
36:48Gravesend.
36:49We've got our eldest band member who travels all the way from Wingham and he's 90 years old.
36:55And we've got a member that travels from Romford in Essex.
36:58And then we've got members that travel from near Tentadon.
37:01So they travel all over just to continue with the band.
37:04And we're just reading there.
37:06The Last Surviving, St John's Ambulance Marching Band.
37:10How do you think you guys have been so successful throughout the years to keep going on?
37:15I think it's just that family friendly community that we're all part of.
37:20And we've now got the children of band members that were much younger when I joined 40 odd years ago.
37:27They're now in the band.
37:28And it's that sort of enjoyment of just simply playing an instrument and pleasing the public and playing at different venues.
37:36We've travelled quite a lot of places at all different events.
37:39And that's what just keeps us all together, I think.
37:42And now here's the important one.
37:44If somebody's watching this right now, they might have a suitable venue for you.
37:48What sort of hall are you looking for?
37:51What's the requirements?
37:52Somebody might be able to help tonight.
37:54Yeah, absolutely.
37:55So I think that our needs really are we need somewhere where the acoustics are just about right.
38:03And also not going to disturb any neighbours when we're playing our instruments every week.
38:08Some parking and some storage for our instruments and our uniforms.
38:13And also, ideally, if it's accessible all on one level, so not too many steps.
38:18But since we've gone to the media last week, we've had several offers which we're exploring.
38:24So we're really grateful for that.
38:26Well, Sonia, thank you so much for your time.
38:28And of course, if you do think you can help, do get in touch with us and we'll pass your contact details over.
38:34And now don't forget, you can keep up to date with all your latest stories across Kent by logging on to our website.
38:40It's kmtv.co.uk.
38:41There you'll find all our latest reports, including this one about a care home resident in Maidstone
38:47who's just celebrated their 100th birthday.
38:50Reaching the age of 100 isn't easy, but one woman in Maidstone has managed to do it.
38:57Hilda Howells was surrounded by her friends and family to celebrate this incredible occasion
39:03with even the king sending his regards with a customary birthday card.
39:08Adding to her collection of over 100.
39:12It's my daughter and my son both here and lots of arms and all their children.
39:24It's been a wonderful day.
39:26It's quite an amazing feat.
39:28She's the fourth one of six in her family to reach 100.
39:34Her sister died recently and she was 103.
39:39So they're a really quite incredible family, long livers.
39:43And it was no surprise to me that she made 100.
39:47I'm sure she's going to make 101 and possibly 102.
39:50Speaking to the birthday woman herself, she talked about some of her fondest memories through
39:57her incredibly long life.
39:58We used to have some lovely holidays.
40:01We had a caravan and went all over the coast and walked through the countryside in Spain and
40:14across there and what else.
40:19Happy cruises?
40:20Cruises, yes.
40:21We had some cruises as well.
40:26When it got too young to go by car, we had some good holidays, very good holidays.
40:39But the party was just getting started as Lifestyles Maplewood Court hosted a second one so other residents
40:47could celebrate Hilda's milestone.
40:50Hilda even had a surprise visit from TV star Dr. Carl Kennedy, known for performing in the
40:57hit show Neighbours, which proved to be the icing on the cake for this amazing celebration.
41:04So happy birthday to Hilda.
41:07One of her top tips for reaching 100 is to make sure that you and your family are happy.
41:16Henry Luck for Cain TV in Maidstone.
41:21I can't believe it.
41:23She doesn't look 100, does she?
41:25I want to know what her secret is.
41:27I think we can learn something from her.
41:29Henry Luck reporting there.
41:31Well, we're going to take a quick break now.
41:33But coming up in the final part of Kent tonight this evening, we find out more about a new exhibit
41:38at Rochester Cathedral, which opens up later this week.
41:41And we head to the River Medway in Maidstone for the annual River Festival.
41:47All that and more and a check of the weather in a few minutes time.
41:50See you then.
42:03I just won.
42:06All right.
42:07I'll walk by.
42:08That is in very much 30 seconds.
42:10See you then.
42:11I might hear her before next thing.
42:13You should do nothing.
42:14Pass too much, you stay yougered on.
42:15Jam $1.
42:16from aOs Asim 시 of the 1964 History Museum and the World Councillor
42:17Shelter Priestities and the World hustle.
42:18That is to be the only 45 of the continent.
42:19See you that atinylmaha.
42:20Yes, you can't see A Music as they come from.
42:22You guys, guys, you can see really one day.
42:24See you then.
42:26I obviously look forward players, you can see most of my observations,
42:28and they see socha.
45:38The historic halls of Rochester Cathedral might have been greeted with a different period
45:42of history today.
45:43A short plane, dating back to the days of Medway's aviation boom when the Short Brothers
45:48innovated the British passenger aircraft and now it's being used to shine a light on the
45:53area's local history.
45:55The Rochester Bridge Trust gave a grant to the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society to
45:59restore the plane to its former glory.
46:02We have used some original Short's images, we didn't have any drawings and we've scaled
46:09those up from the measurements that we've taken from the fuselage and basically that's
46:16where we've gone from.
46:18Everything is as authentic as we can make it but yes there will be minor differences but
46:25then I believe every plane was made slightly differently anyhow.
46:2888 years ago this plane would have had its maiden test flight on the waters of the river
46:33Medway.
46:34Since then it's been on missions in World War II, used as a photo mapping plane in the 50s
46:38and even laid derelict for more than 30 years in Southend's airport.
46:42And now after nearly 10 years of reconstruction it's returned here to Rochester but instead
46:48of a warehouse in Southend it's now in a slightly grander location.
46:52Over a year ago we've started working on bringing the restored Short Sion aircraft available for
46:59the public.
47:00So we're very proud to be able to present Floatplane, a free event for the month of August
47:04here at Rochester Cathedral.
47:06Alongside being able to see the fantastic restored aircraft we will have a series of education
47:11activities for all the family.
47:13Alongside the Short Plane in the Cathedral's crypt, work had also started to build a gallery
47:18of the Short Brothers' legacy with a collection of artefacts from their work.
47:21There's several aspects here, I think a lot of people have never heard of Short's, they
47:26don't know it existed.
47:27One of the key things is that there's very little tangible evidence left of Short's in
47:31Rochester.
47:32So whereas with Chatham Dockyard you've got all the buildings and things, there's nothing
47:37left of Short's really other than the two ramps on the Esplanade and a hanger up at the
47:41airport.
47:42So for most, to a large extent there's no trace of the place and so even people that live
47:47on Short's Way don't know why it's called Short's Way.
47:50So we're really keen to tell people first and foremost why all these amazing things happened.
47:57The Preservation Society, the Bridge Trust and the Cathedral want to make sure their collaboration
48:01can have a smooth take off for the opening on the 1st of August without any turbulence.
48:06Finn McDermott for KMTV in Rochester.
48:12There we go.
48:13Well, we're joined now on the line by Nicola Parks who you saw in Finn's report there from
48:20the rich Rochester Bridge Trust who gave a grant to fund the restoration of the plane.
48:27Well thank you so much for joining us this evening.
48:29Tell us a little bit about why this was always a plan to have the plane in the Cathedral.
48:35Yes, thank you so much for inviting me on the programme this evening.
48:40Rochester Bridge Trust is so excited to be able to present the float plane, this free event
48:46that's going to be available throughout August.
48:49This project started back in 2013 when we gave a grant of £40,000 to MAPS for them to undertake
48:57this fantastic restoration project and now as part of it we wanted to ensure that members
49:02of the public were able to see this fantastic work that's been done.
49:06So this project in terms of getting the event underway has been going and discussions have
49:12been happening for over a year so we're just so pleased that we're finally ready to launch
49:17to the public this Friday.
49:19And as you're saying it's a free event there, was that always going to be the plan?
49:23Yes, absolutely. Everything that the Trust provides we do free of charge to the public.
49:29We are responsible for the bridges here in Rochester. Equally they are all free to the
49:34public for them to be able to use and so our community activities around education we do
49:39try to provide free of charge.
49:41And of course this is all going to help learn a little bit about the local history.
49:47We saw in Finn's report there that visitors will be able to learn more about the Short Brothers,
49:52how important is that promotion of local history to the Trust?
49:58We think it's so important to highlight the importance of heritage and restoration projects.
50:03Short Brothers have such a fantastic history here in Medway and so the Trust is so pleased
50:09to be a part of it. Our event is also going to be celebrating engineering more broadly.
50:15We are so passionate about our bridges, but also trying to encourage others to learn about
50:20how fantastic a career in engineering can be. So we're hoping that people of all ages will
50:26be able to come and enjoy the activities we have and learn a little bit, not just about the Short Brothers,
50:31about maps and the fantastic restoration, but also about engineering and find out a little bit more
50:37about how they could get involved.
50:39Well let's pick up on that engineering side of things and where there will be some activities
50:44that younger audiences will be able to get involved with and they're related to the industry rights?
50:50Absolutely. It's going to be a full day for anyone able to come down to see us in the cathedral.
50:58We will have three education stations which are looking at different engineering principles.
51:02So there will be an opportunity to explore strong shapes, so building structures, wings and bridges
51:09out of connects kit and other building structures. We'll have opportunity to create floating rafts
51:16and pontoon bridges, exploring why materials float or sink, as well as testing that in a little
51:23bit of water we'll have available. And then for our younger children coming along we'll have some
51:28windsocks as well, so the opportunity to explore arts and crafts as well as learning what the purpose
51:34of a windsock is for aviation but also for bridges. Yeah really important then. Well remind us,
51:42when does this open and how long have we got to go and see it at the cathedral?
51:47So we launched this Friday, so Friday the 1st of August and it will be available to the public
51:52all throughout August, closing on the 31st. Amazing. I do have to ask, how did they get the plane in
51:58there in the first place? I've been to Rochester Cathedral a few times and there's definitely
52:02not any doors big enough. There were a lot of grey hairs here at the Trust, I must say,
52:08as we were planning and we all sighed a heavy relief when on Saturday evening it finally went
52:13through the door but it arrived in three pieces and then this Monday and Tuesday is when the plane
52:19itself was put together and we were very fortunate to have our maps volunteers, support from Rochester
52:26Cathedral staff, as well as using specialist logistics teams to help us be able to do this
52:32fantastic move. Well it's all about engineering isn't it and even there trying to get it into the
52:38cathedral in the first place. Nicola thank you so much for your time this evening. Thank you.
52:44And before we go, thousands of people from across the UK and abroad gathered in Maidstone to celebrate
52:50its annual River Festival once more. Crowds lined the River Medway to watch the iconic raft race as
52:56boats of all shapes and sizes took to the water. The event raised money for charities including the
53:01Heart of Kent Hospice which supports patients and families living with terminal illnesses. While our
53:07community reporter Henry Luck headed out onto the river himself to find out more. Hundreds of boats took to
53:14the River Medway to celebrate the Maidstone River Festival. This time of the year gives boat lovers a
53:22chance to sink their jaws into racing and showing off their amazing vessels. Well the river in Maidstone
53:29is obviously its biggest asset and then we come down here and we make the most of it because we're from
53:34the high level bridge to Lock Meadow so we cover the main sound centre bit of the river. The Firmin family is
53:40one of our biggest sponsors. Maidstone Boa Council have got involved this year which has been utterly
53:46excellent. And of course behind me is Maidstone's River Medway and as its name suggests it stretches all
53:54the way here right to Medway and it served many purposes throughout history from trade to being the stage
54:02of naval battles. But the event also served the purpose of raising money for charities across the
54:10county. I think it's amazing and it's so everybody's joining in everybody's happy and so so good so good.
54:19The festival has supported the Heart of Kent Hospice for many years and we're extremely lucky
54:25that everyone in the community is willing to support us because the work everyone does at the hospice
54:31is so vital to the local community here. The Mayor of Medway was also there
54:36to deliver flags and find the best decorated boats from pirates to even a snowman. Great fun I've been
54:44doing it for years and I love it. It's the highlight of my year. When I came to the river festival many
54:51years ago we won best dressed boat and I didn't even know there was a best dressed boat. I had a really
54:58great time. Always a good day down here at the festival. One group managed to win the raft race
55:04for two years in a row and shared the secret of their scallywagging success. We all worked together
55:11to make the raft to the design that we'd written up and we had six good people on the raft to make the
55:17raft go along as fast as it did so it all worked out well. We did. We did well. We did really well.
55:25We worked as a team, won as a team and we're going to celebrate as a team later. The celebration's
55:33finished with a firework display at Fremlin Walk making a merrily merrily time for those involved.
55:41Henry Luck for KMTV in Maidstone. Well time for a quick look at the weather for the coming days
55:51are being set to hot up let's take a look. Tonight is looking rather mild with clouds coating the skies
56:04temperatures 16 to 17 tomorrow morning rising up two highs of 18 degrees that's raised across the area
56:11on Monday going into the afternoon getting a little hotter up to 22 degrees but that cloud is sticking
56:16around I'm afraid. Let's have a look about the outlook for the next few days gonna have some rain
56:22a little bit warmer though on Thursday dropping down to 22 and some clouds on Sunday. Saturday I should say
56:30there we go. That's all we've got time for this evening on Kent tonight live on KMTV. There's more
56:41news throughout the evening with Filmer Dermott with you at 8pm with The Late News. See you then. Bye bye.
56:55you
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