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Catch up with all the latest news from across the county with Gabriel Morris.
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00:00Hello there and welcome to Ken Tonight, live on KMTV.
00:28I'm Gabriel Morrison, here are your top stories on Tuesday the 26th of August.
00:34Tearing our towns apart fears that local government's reorganisation could split Kent communities in two.
00:41And this isn't just for us in Tunbridge and Morling, this is right across Kent where they're seeking to break up the boundaries.
00:47Keeping her memory alive, family and hauling host bank holiday fundraiser in memory of their daughter.
00:53We're so grateful for everything that this community is doing for us. We feel so special to live here.
00:59Picking up the books, Medway Libraries host summer literature challenge to encourage reading in the school holidays.
01:06If we really promote the enjoyment of reading to our children and young people, then it promotes their growth in many different ways.
01:15And good evening.
01:26Well, there's growing anger across Kent over plans that could tear communities apart in one of the biggest shake-ups of local government in decades.
01:34The reorganisation would cut councils down to just a handful, but Medway's proposals have sparked furious backlash in Tunbridge and Dartford.
01:43Supporters argued the model would make services simpler, but opponents say it risks stripping away local identity.
01:50Our local democracy reporter, Oli Lieder, has been looking at the maps.
01:56They may just look like lines on a map, but these boundaries could determine the future of Kent services and who will represent you.
02:07Medway Council have just revealed their vision for what Kent's political landscape could look like in the future.
02:15Imagining four unitaries replacing our current local authorities, bringing services under one roof.
02:24But for many council leaders in Kent, the proposals caught them off guard.
02:29I think they're appalling and they're quite disrespectful the way that this has happened.
02:33Essentially, they have published the map without any consultation with the communities affected at all.
02:40And this isn't just for us in Tunbridge and Moreland, this is right across Kent, where they're seeking to break up the boundaries of eight of the 12 districts.
02:48With six other proposals having been examined by Kent County Council, not everyone is going to be happy with every option.
02:57But there are fears from some towns and villages like Wilmington that they could end up divided by the proposals.
03:07Any proposal should try and respect the existing community and borough boundaries where they are.
03:12They're that way for a reason.
03:14You know, cutting Wilmington, Sutton, the Hone, Hawley, Darren, Fiend, Longfield away from the rest of Dartford means that you start to break, break apart that community.
03:22You know, trying to play divider and rule with Dartford isn't right.
03:25Medway's proposals would split the village in half.
03:29If you're out on the north side of the A2, you'll receive the exact same services as Dartford proper.
03:36But on the south side, you'd become separated and part of a new West Kent unitary.
03:42For many, that's a bridge too far.
03:46I know this would be a mega problem because none of it would be coordinated, would it, between the two councils?
03:55It would be hopeless.
03:57I wouldn't like that to happen.
03:59I live over the other side of the bridge, which obviously is going to be the Dartford side.
04:04We love our village and we would like it to all be under Wilmington village and not split into two.
04:12But for the man behind the map, Medway's proposal presents a way to simplify local government.
04:19If you look at Warderslade, for example, at the moment, that's served by four different councils.
04:24Medway, KCC, Tunbridge and Morling and Maidstone, different parts of Warderslade.
04:29This would bring it under one council.
04:31So we think that there are good opportunities for this.
04:34Of course, we've used strong boundaries like motorways to say actually there are clear dividing lines between communities when we have things like motorways there.
04:44So I think our map does that in a very positive way.
04:46This map isn't the only one on the table, with many on Kent's coast favouring a three-unitary approach, while Kent County Council have suggested one county-wide authority.
05:00But as local government reorganisation draws closer, it's clear that for communities, new boundaries will be a heated and emotive issue.
05:10Olly Lieder in Medway.
05:14Now, the parents of a little girl from Horning have turned their grief into something positive, hosting a bank holiday funday in her memory.
05:23Seven-year-old Sophia passed away in March from a rare and aggressive brain cancer just months after being diagnosed.
05:31Her family have now launched the Bluebell Circle community project, raising their money for a memorial bench by the River Medway to celebrate her short but incredible life.
05:41Our community reporter, Henry Luck has the story.
05:44This might look like an event for the bank holiday, but it's helping one family in Horning who have set up the Bluebell Circle community project to raise money for the perfect memorial of their daughter.
05:59So, this is a fun day at Newtown Social Club in Horning. It's in memory of my daughter Sophia Lebrun-Healy who passed away of cancer at the end of March this year.
06:10So, the community have come together, put on a fun day to raise some funds to create a memorial down by the river for her and then hopefully do some regeneration of the area as well at the same time.
06:21Phase one of Sophia's memorial project will be building a wooden throne that looks like this and it's looking to be put up around this time next year.
06:33Fortunately for the family, they haven't had to face the grief and challenges alone.
06:39So, we've been so lucky, my husband and I, Rob and myself, we've been surrounded by a community of friends, family, even strangers to come and join this group.
06:50and join this group called the Bluebell Circle and to create this lasting memorial for our special daughter.
06:57Those women, those men are working so incredibly hard for, you know, someone else's kid and we're so grateful for everything that this community is doing for us.
07:07We are so, we feel so special to live here and the people around here are special.
07:12Something we'll never get over.
07:14No.
07:15Never, never get over.
07:16No, she was a very special child and time goes on I think you realise how special she was because we only had her for such a short time.
07:25Yes, we did.
07:26But I think for the whole family, it has been a really tough time and I know I have days when I really struggle.
07:33Yeah, me too.
07:34With losing her.
07:36And we support each other, don't we Kat?
07:39We do, we do support each other because we both know exactly how we're feeling and we don't want to put that onto mum and dad, do we?
07:45No, so.
07:46The family will also be hosting a Remembrance Walk on Saturday the 22nd of November, the day after Sophia's birthday.
07:58Despite losing a daughter so young, her family and the community are striving to keep her memory alive.
08:07Henry Luck for KMTV in Hauling.
08:12A Dover asylum seeker charity has slammed Nigel Farage's comments on illegal migration as shocking.
08:19The Reform UK leader claimed the situation is a genuine threat to public order if action isn't taken.
08:25The party says it will detain and deport every asylum seeker who arrives in the UK by small boat if it wins the next general election.
08:33But her remarks have sparked controversy.
08:35Here's Kay Marsh from Sunfire.
08:37There's always going to be, you know, a portion of British people who do agree with what he says.
08:44And, you know, it's very shocking language, which is intentional, of course.
08:51And it does feed into the narrative that most people want to believe, which is, you know, the foreign criminal.
08:56We don't know who these people are, that kind of thing, which is not helpful to anybody.
09:00You know, over the last few months and the last few years, really, public opinion has dropped.
09:06And that has a lot to do with this rhetoric coming from people like Nigel Farage.
09:10A sense of uncertainty just grows among people here.
09:14They don't know what their place is here.
09:17Now, household staples like eggs, butter have all shot up in price, piling even more pressure on families across Kent,
09:25already struggling with the cost of living crisis.
09:27So what's behind the sudden surge and just how far does this reach?
09:31Well, our reporter Maisie Walker joins me in the studio with more.
09:35You've been out on the streets talking to people today.
09:38I'm sure we've all noticed this on our supermarket bills.
09:41But what's the latest, what we found out today?
09:43Yes.
09:44So according to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium, also called BRC,
09:52food inflation has reached 4.2 this month, its highest level since February 2024.
09:59This is significant because it is a clear jump from the 4% in July
10:04and marks the fastest pace of food price increases in the last 18 months,
10:09showing a concerning trend for both retailers and consumers across Kent.
10:14In fact, I spoke with some residents earlier today to see what they thought.
10:18You know, I do my weekly shopping and I think, erm, I need this, I need that, but if I can't afford it, I can't afford it.
10:29Yeah.
10:30And I just have to go without until next week.
10:34Then I have to change around what I need.
10:37Most people notice that the price of groceries has gone up, but what I found myself doing is I've shopped for offers only now.
10:42Whereas before I just like buy what I like, now I'm more likely to sort of like buy one get one free, buy in bulk, anything to save a few quid really.
10:52I recently moved out, paying for like groceries and stuff like that and everything's going up.
10:57But like my wage isn't changing that much.
11:00Probably about 90% of my food I actually rescue and I recycle.
11:04But we do spend some money and yes, prices are going in an upward trend.
11:09It's a bit like sort of the law of gravity, what goes up must come down.
11:13But in this case, in the law of economics, things just steadily increase.
11:17So the prices, the rising prices are said to be driven by a combination of factors, including higher production and labour costs, ongoing supply chain pressures and an increased demand for certain essential goods.
11:32Amazing.
11:33Thank you for bringing us those details.
11:34I think some of the highest rising prices are things such as beef, orange juice, coffee, chocolate.
11:39There have been some of the ones that have seen the highest prices.
11:41So I'm sure we've all noticed that one being out at the shops.
11:44Well, we're going to take a short break now, but when we come back, we'll be taking a look at the Summer Reading Challenge at Medway Council.
11:50All that and more in a few minutes.
12:14You can leave it just like the
15:13Welcome back. Now for some news in brief.
15:15A church in Herne Bay has been cordoned off after a man was seriously assaulted and airlifted to hospital.
15:23Seven ambulances and five police cars rushed to Swalecliff Avenue car park near Hampton Pier Avenue at around 7pm last night.
15:31A man in his 40s was found with head injuries and flown to a London hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
15:40Police say all parties are known to each other.
15:43An 18-year-old from Whitspool and a 48-year-old from Herne Bay have been arrested and remain in custody.
15:49You'll find more on this story on Kentonline.
15:53Now a comic book shop in on Rochester High Street has been hit by suspected arson.
15:59Fire crews were called just after five this morning to get ready comics where flames tore through the high-end merchandise and collectibles.
16:06Owner Paul Blake Burroughs says he doesn't yet know the value of what's being lost but he's thankful no one was hurt, especially as there are flats above the business.
16:18Kent police have been contacted for more information.
16:20And don't forget you can keep up to date with all your latest stories across Kent by logging on to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
16:29There you'll find all our latest reports, including this one, about students across Kent collecting their GCSEs, BTECs, Tech Awards and other Level 2 results.
16:39It starts in the usual nervy way.
16:43Students line up, envelopes are handed out and then...
16:47I've got an 8-7 in science, an 8 in citizenship, a 7 in history, a 5 in maths, an 8 in RE, a 6 in PE and a 7 in language.
16:56My best was an 8 in maths and everything else was a 6 except history.
17:01On what is always a nerve-wracking day, students across Kent will be receiving their GCSE results in schools just like this one.
17:08The results will be ranked from 1, which is the lowest, to 9, the highest, with 4 being a standard pass.
17:15With these results in hand, students can then plan their next steps, whether that's A or T levels at a 6th form college or an apprenticeship.
17:23At St John's Catholic Comprehensive School, there's reason to celebrate.
17:28I was expecting another set of good results, which we've achieved.
17:34And when the results came in yesterday, we get a sneak peek.
17:39So we had a look yesterday and we're very pleased with how the school's performed.
17:43And then seeing the students come in today, it's clear how excited and how proud they are of their achievements.
17:51In the same way, we're incredibly excited for them and proud as a school for all that they have achieved.
17:57But the larger picture is more complex.
18:00National GCSE pass rates have fallen from last year, with experts warning of a recent crisis.
18:07I think it is slightly concerning that there is a drop.
18:10But I think as the next cohort start coming through, we will then start to see an improvement in that
18:17as schools are now putting in place all that extra support that they need.
18:20Part of the reason for the pass rate decline in recent years is the push to return to pre-pandemic levels.
18:27For this cohort, COVID-19 has played a large role throughout their education.
18:33It's the first cohort that were in the pandemic when they started secondary school.
18:41And so they missed a lot of education.
18:42They missed their SATs and so on.
18:45And so they've done really, really well.
18:48It's a real testament to the work of the school and the dedication of the teachers,
18:53the support they've had from their parents, and the really hard work that they've put in as well.
19:00I've got six in jockeys!
19:01Oh my God, I thought it was going to be...
19:02Though it will be a day of joy for some and disappointment for others,
19:06at St John's School, the message to students is clear.
19:10The school is here for them and continues to be here for them,
19:14and we're proud of each and every one of them.
19:15Alfie Rowe for KMTV in Gravesend.
19:19Now, a new survey by the National Literacy Trust has found only one in three children
19:26actually enjoy reading in their spare time.
19:29The libraries across Medway and Kent are teaming up with the Reading Agency
19:32for the Summer Reading Challenge,
19:35aimed at boosting not just reading, but also comprehension and writing skills,
19:40whilst also getting all the ages excited to pick up a book.
19:44Italy Reynolds has more.
19:46In the UK, less and less children are finding enjoyment in reading.
19:50According to the National Literacy Trust,
19:52just one in three children aged 8 to 18 say they enjoy reading in their free time.
19:58However, here in Medway and Kent,
20:00there is an initiative to get children reading outside of school,
20:03the Summer Reading Challenge.
20:05And this year's theme?
20:07Story Garden.
20:08And it's very easy to get involved.
20:11All you have to do is go down to your local library,
20:15grab a book,
20:16let them know you're interested in partaking in the Summer Reading Challenge,
20:20and after six books, you could get a medal and a certificate.
20:24And this year, there is not just the challenge for children,
20:28but a challenge for teens and adults as well.
20:30The Summer Reading Challenge not only gets children interested in reading,
20:34it also allows them to build on a variety of other skills.
20:38It is very important that we support this challenge,
20:41because I think from right at the early age,
20:44if we really promote the enjoyment of reading to our children and young people,
20:50then it promotes their growth in many different ways.
20:53It promotes their imagination and sparks their enjoyment as well.
20:57And I think it also enables them to grow in terms of their reading skills,
21:02their comprehension, their writing skills, etc. as well.
21:06So there is growth in all different ways.
21:09Medway itself is no stranger to famous authors.
21:12Heartstopper writer Alice Osman attended a school in Shatham,
21:16and Charles Dickens spent some time in Rochester,
21:19where the Summer Reading Challenge has seen support from parents,
21:22carers and primary school teachers.
21:24I definitely think it's needed.
21:26Over the summer, it's so hard to find activities to do with children,
21:30especially ones that are cheap and free,
21:32and obviously children want to be on screens quite a lot,
21:34so I think it's brilliant.
21:35A lot of children in the early years are coming in
21:37with more speech and language needs,
21:39so the more that they read and the more that they're read to,
21:41there's research to back up that it's really important for them to do.
21:45I think it's a good idea because all children need to read.
21:48It's an enjoyable thing.
21:50I think it's fantastic.
21:51I think anything that's going to get young children engaged,
21:56especially in something like reading,
21:58which we kind of take for granted as we get older,
22:01but it's incredibly important,
22:03especially for younger people,
22:05to be reading as soon as they can.
22:07An initiative to not only get children reading,
22:10but also spark imagination and creativity,
22:13shaping the next Charles Dickens and Alice Osmonds.
22:16Etterley Reynolds for KMTV in Medway.
22:21And now let's have a look at the weather for the coming days.
22:29Tonight brings scattered clouds in the west
22:31with clear night skies over most of the county.
22:34Temperatures around the mid-teens.
22:36Into tomorrow morning, more scattered clouds
22:38with some light rain down in Tunbridge, Wales.
22:40Temperatures of around 18 to 19 degrees you can expect.
22:43And into the afternoon, temperatures in the low 20s
22:46with wind speeds starting to pick up,
22:48but there is some cloud across the board.
22:50And here's your outlook for the coming days.
22:51It looks like it's going to be a wet and windy time
22:53from Thursday through to Saturday.
22:55Highs of 22 on Thursday, dropping to 21 by Saturday.
23:06Firmish and festivals and even a jousting couple.
23:09That's all of some of the stories making the waves
23:11on our partner site, Kent Online.
23:13And here to take a bit of a deeper dive
23:15into what's going on in Kent
23:18is our reporter, Kai Wei.
23:20Well, let's start off with an upcoming hop festival
23:22which is taking place in Favisham this weekend.
23:25What more can you tell us about it?
23:27Yeah, so as you said, this weekend,
23:29Favisham is putting on its 36th annual hop festival.
23:33It's going to be a two-day event
23:34with thousands of people expected to attend it.
23:37And there's going to be five stages hosting
23:40a variety of performers, up to 70 performers.
23:43And this will be joined by buskers around the town
23:45or fringe venues just dotted around
23:49to add to the festivities on the day.
23:51I have to ask, why Hobbs?
23:52What makes it important to Favisham?
23:54Yeah, of course.
23:55Well, Hobbs are actually really crucial
23:57to that town since 900 AD, apparently.
24:02Favisham is also the home of the Kentish hop industry
24:06and it houses Shepherd Neame,
24:10which is obviously one of the largest breweries in the UK.
24:15And Shepherd Neame, along with Swale Borough Council,
24:18are both two of the main contributors
24:20to this festival coming this weekend.
24:23And what can you tell us about some of the logistics
24:25of this festival?
24:27What sort of things will people see there?
24:28Yeah, so it is a hop festival,
24:30so there will be beer samples.
24:32But it is actually a family-friendly event,
24:34so there'll be a lot of activities
24:35for people of all ages.
24:37So there's going to be Morris dancing
24:38that people can watch,
24:40things like a fairground, magic shows,
24:42just a lot of activities designed
24:44for people of all ages.
24:46OK, let's move on to our next story,
24:48a little bit about jousting.
24:51Yes, so there's actually...
24:54Kent Online interviewed a couple
24:56who perform medieval jousting.
24:58It's very interesting.
25:00So their names are Sam and Vanessa Richardson,
25:02and this love for jousting came from Sam's father,
25:06who's actually been jousting for 50 years.
25:09Sam himself has jousted all his life,
25:12and then when he met Vanessa, his now partner,
25:16Vanessa was a bit sceptical at first,
25:18thinking it was a bit strange,
25:19but now they've both fallen in love,
25:21and they're both part of a reenactment group
25:23based in Kent called the Knights of Royal England.
25:26And tell us about so many events
25:27that this couple attends.
25:29Yeah, of course.
25:29So this couple, every season,
25:32they go to about 25 events,
25:35and they're all across the UK,
25:38so they're hosted at various castles.
25:41And the way that jousting actually works
25:42is there are 18 people in a team.
25:45There's four riders,
25:47two on each side on the horses,
25:49and the rest are ground team
25:51to make sure people are safe,
25:54medical teams, anything like that.
25:56And it takes a lot of skill to joust,
25:57because you need to balance sword fighting
25:59and horse riding, obviously.
26:01It all sounds rather dangerous, though.
26:02Two people charging at each other on a horse.
26:05How do they make it safe in 2025?
26:07Yeah, Sam's actually commented on the danger of it,
26:10saying that the horses can reach speeds
26:11of up to 20, 25 miles per hour,
26:14which is quite fast on a horse.
26:16And he's saying that you need to have
26:18a lot of control and composure
26:20when you're jousting.
26:22And he said he's sustained injuries
26:23like dislocating his shoulder,
26:25fracturing his fingers,
26:26things like that,
26:27and it's not the worst he's seen.
26:30So just having a very solid ground team
26:32being there for you
26:33and making sure you know what you're doing.
26:36And despite all the injuries,
26:37Sam and Vanessa both say
26:38that they're still in love with the sport,
26:40with Vanessa actually commenting
26:41that seeing the joy on kids' faces
26:45when they're watching them
26:46is just, makes it all worth it.
26:48Kyle, thank you for bringing those details.
26:50Taking a quick break now,
26:51we'll be back in a few minutes.
26:52See you then.
31:59misunderstood.
32:00and this isn't just for us in Tunbridge and Malling, this is right across Kent
32:04where they're seeking to break up the boundaries of eight of the twelve
32:08districts. With six other proposals having been examined by Kent County
32:13Council, not everyone is going to be happy with every option. But there are
32:19fears from some towns and villages like Wilmington that they could end up
32:25divided by the proposals. Any proposal should try and respect the existing
32:31community and borough boundaries where they are. They're that way for a reason.
32:35You know, cutting Wilmington, Sutton, Hone, Hawley, Darren, Fiend, Longfield away from
32:40the rest of Dartford. It means that you start to break, break apart that
32:42community. You know, trying to play divider and rule with Dartford isn't right.
32:46Medway's proposals would split the village in half. If you're out on the north side
32:52of the A2, you'll receive the exact same services as Dartford proper. On the south
32:58side, you'd become separated and part of a new West Kent unitary. For many, that's a
33:05bridge too far. I know this would be a mega problem because none of it would be
33:12coordinated, would it, between the two councils? It would be hopeless. I wouldn't
33:18like that to happen. I live over the other side of the bridge, which obviously
33:22is going to be the Dartford side. We love our village and we would like it to
33:28all be under Wilmington Village and not split into two. But for the man behind the
33:34map, Medway's proposal presents a way to simplify local government. If you look at
33:41Wardersade, for example, at the moment, that's served by four different councils.
33:45Medway, KCC, Tunbridge and Mauling and Maidstone, different parts of Walterslade, this would bring
33:50it under one council. So we think that there are good opportunities for this. Of course,
33:56we've used strong boundaries like motorways to say actually there are clear dividing lines
34:01between communities when we have things like motorways there. So I think our map does
34:06that in a very positive way. This map isn't the only one on the table, with many on Kent's
34:12Coast favouring a three-unitary approach, while Kent County Council have suggested one county-wide
34:20authority. But as local government reorganisation draws closer, it's clear that for communities,
34:27new boundaries will be a heated and emotive issue.
34:31Olly Leader in Medway.
34:34Olly Leader reporting there. Well, a former care home in Deal is set to house unaccompanied
34:40child asylum seekers. A spin lodge on London Road will provide temporary accommodation
34:46for up to 18 children under 16, most arriving alone by small boat. Obviously, some archive
34:52photos there. They'll stay there for around 10 days before being moved to other local authorities
34:57under the National Transfer Scheme. Kent County Council says it has a legal duty to care for
35:02the youngsters and has reassured residents that the site will have staff and security on
35:07hand 24-7. Aspen Lodge has been used as a care home until earlier this year.
35:12A Herne Bay sandwich shop that locals have called a healing place has closed after just three years.
35:20Kirstie's Crusts became a real community hub with one local describing it as a safe place to meet
35:26friends and have a laugh. Owner Kirstie McGrath says the decision was out of her hands but adds
35:32I loved every minute of the past three years and my heart is broken that I have to leave my little shop.
35:39Now back to one of our other main stories tonight. The parents of a little girl from
35:46Hauling have turned their grief into something positive, hosting a bank holiday fun day in her
35:51memory. Seven-year-old Sophia passed away in March from a rare and aggressive brain cancer
35:57just months after being diagnosed. Her family have now launched a Blue Bell Circle community project
36:03raising money for a memorial bench by the River Medway to celebrate her short but incredible life.
36:10Our community reporter Henry Luck has more.
36:13This might look like an event for the bank holiday but it's helping one family in Hauling
36:19who have set up the Blue Bell Circle community project to raise money for the perfect memorial of their daughter.
36:28So this is a fun day at Newtown Social Club in Hauling. It's in memory of my daughter Sophia Lebron-Healey
36:35who passed away of cancer at the end of March this year. So the community have come together, put on a fun day
36:41to raise some funds to create a memorial down by the river for her and then hopefully do some regeneration of the area as well at the same time.
36:50Phase one of Sophia's memorial project will be building a wooden throne that looks like this.
36:57And it's looking to be put up around this time next year.
37:02Fortunately for the family, they haven't had to face the grief and challenges alone.
37:08So we've been so lucky, my husband and I, Rob and myself, we've been surrounded by a community of friends, family, even strangers
37:18to come and join this group called the Blue Bell Circle and to create this lasting memorial for our special daughter.
37:25Those women, those men, are working so incredibly hard for someone else's kid and we're so grateful for everything that this community is doing for us.
37:36We feel so special to live here and the people around here are special.
37:41Something we'll never get over. Never, never get over.
37:44No, she was a very special child and time goes on I think you realise how special she was because we only had her for such a short time.
37:54Yes, we did. Yeah.
37:55But I think for the whole family, it has been a really tough time and I know I have days when I really struggle.
38:02Yeah, me too.
38:03With losing her.
38:05And we support each other, don't we?
38:08We do, we do support each other because we both know exactly how we're feeling and we don't want to put that onto mum and dad, do we?
38:14No, no, no.
38:16The family will also be hosting a remembrance walk on Saturday, the 22nd of November, the day after Sophia's birthday.
38:26Despite losing a daughter so young, her family and the community are striving to keep her memory alive.
38:35Henry Luck for KMTV in Hauling.
38:40Anticipation is growing as the new Netflix adaptation of Richard Osman's best-selling novel Thursday Murder Club is just around the corner.
38:50Let's take a quick look at the trailer and then we'll find out more about this film.
38:55Our latest cold case is from May the 11th, 1973.
39:01Isn't this room usually for jigsaws?
39:04Not on a Thursday, no.
39:10Welcome to Cooper's Chase.
39:12We investigate cold cases.
39:14Everybody gather round!
39:17We're a team.
39:18All systems go.
39:19Roger that.
39:22Now we've got a real case to solve, isn't it wonderful?
39:25Obviously, RIP and all that.
39:28Who are you?
39:32I'm sorry, how rude of me.
39:35We're the Thursday Murder Club.
39:42There we go, doesn't it look good?
39:43Coming out on Netflix this Thursday.
39:45Well, let's get some more on the movie.
39:47Joining me in the studio now is our reporter Holly Spires.
39:50So what can viewers expect from this?
39:52So director Chris Columbus has set to be largely faithful to the original novel by mixing in humour and a little bit of mystery together.
40:00Without giving away any spoilers, the Thursday Murder Club was set up by two friends who enjoyed looking into murder mystery cases.
40:07It's set in a fictional retirement village in Kent called Cooper's Chase.
40:11However, the hobby becomes more real when a local developer is murdered.
40:15But I'm not going to give any more away so the viewers can enjoy the film.
40:19Yeah, we're going to be watching it on Thursday.
40:21And I wonder how faithful they will be to the original novel.
40:25Because I understand, believe it or not, KMTV gets a mention in the first book.
40:30It does. So on page 39, Kent tonight does get a mention, which is amazing.
40:35And the viewers can go and look at that now in the first book.
40:37Fingers crossed it gets translated into the movie.
40:40Yes.
40:41We'll have to find out on Thursday, won't we?
40:43But we've got to wait a few more days to watch it.
40:46But critics have been taking a look at it already.
40:49What are the reviews like?
40:51To be honest, they're not great so far.
40:53The Guardian have scored the movie a three star.
40:56The Independent have scored it a two star.
40:59However, the Indian Express have branded the adaptation bland.
41:03But the film does aim to provide an insight on what it's like to age, essentially.
41:09And that age does not make you stupid, in fact.
41:12Well, I guess we'll have to make our own mark on it when we watch it on Thursday.
41:17Yes.
41:18I'm certainly going to be watching it.
41:20Will you be giving it a tune in?
41:21You know what, this is right up my street.
41:23I really enjoyed the book, so I think this is right up my street.
41:26I do like a mystery, but I also like a little bit of humour in there as well.
41:29And I think this is a really cosy film that you can watch all week.
41:33Well, Holly, thank you for bringing us those details.
41:36I'm sure we'll be talking about it with our film expert, Chris Deasy, again on Thursday.
41:39You'll have to let us know what you thought about it as well.
41:42I think we'll be talking about it for a few days, won't we?
41:45Yes.
41:46And time for a quick break now, but coming up we'll be finding out about the next episode
41:51of Generation Food with its producer Izzy Miller.
41:54See you then.
41:55See you then.
41:56See you then.
42:25Bye.
42:26Bye.
42:55Bye.
42:56Bye.
43:25Bye.
43:26Bye.
43:55Bye.
43:56Bye.
44:25Bye.
44:26Bye.
44:55Bye.
44:56Bye.
45:01Bye.
45:12Bye.
45:13Welcome back to Kent tonight.
45:15A new survey by the National Literacy Trust has found only one in three children actually
45:20enjoy reading in their spare time.
45:22But libraries across Medway and Kent are teaming up with the Reading Agency for the Summer Challenge,
45:28aimed at boosting not just reading but also comprehension and writing skills,
45:33while getting all ages excited to pick up a book.
45:36Italy Reynolds has more.
45:38In the UK, less and less children are finding enjoyment in reading.
45:42According to the National Literacy Trust,
45:44just one in three children aged 8 to 18 say they enjoy reading in their free time.
45:50However, here in Medway and Kent there is an initiative to get children reading outside of school,
45:56the Summer Reading Challenge.
45:57And this year's theme, Story Garden.
46:00And it's very easy to get involved.
46:03All you have to do is go down to your local library,
46:07grab a book, let them know you're interested in partaking in the Summer Reading Challenge,
46:12and after six books you could get a medal and a certificate.
46:16And this year, there is not just the challenge for children, but a challenge for teens and adults as well.
46:22The Summer Reading Challenge not only gets children interested in reading,
46:26it also allows them to build on a variety of other skills.
46:30It is very important that we support this challenge because I think from right at the early age,
46:36if we really promote the enjoyment of reading to our children and young people,
46:42then it promotes their growth in many different ways.
46:45It promotes their imagination and sparks their enjoyment as well.
46:49And I think it also enables them to grow in terms of their reading skills,
46:54their comprehension, their writing skills, etc. as well.
46:58So there is growth in all different ways.
47:01Medway itself is no stranger to famous authors.
47:04Heartstopper writer Alice Osman attended a school in Shatham,
47:08and Charles Dickens spent some time in Rochester,
47:10where the Summer Reading Challenge has seen support from parents, carers and primary school teachers.
47:16I definitely think it's needed.
47:19Over the summer, it's so hard to find activities to do with children,
47:22especially ones that are cheap and free.
47:24And obviously, children want to be on screens quite a lot, so I think it's brilliant.
47:27A lot of children in the early years are coming in with more speech and language needs,
47:31so the more that they read and the more that they're read to,
47:33there's research to back up that it's really important for them to do.
47:37I think it's a good idea because all children need to read.
47:40It's an enjoyable thing.
47:42I think it's fantastic.
47:44I think anything that's going to get young children engaged,
47:48especially in something like reading, which we kind of take for granted as we get older,
47:53but it's incredibly important, especially for younger people to be reading as soon as they can.
47:59An initiative to not only get children reading, but also spark imagination and creativity,
48:05shaping the next Charles Dickens and Alice Osmonds.
48:08Etterley Reynolds for KMTV in Medway.
48:13Well, if you're a budding reader, do get in touch with us.
48:17I mean, I can read, but I obviously can't talk today, can I?
48:20Well, don't forget you can keep up to date with all your latest stories across Kent
48:23by logging on to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
48:27You'll find all our latest reports, including this one about the Medway Academy of Performing Arts,
48:33which launched a summer intensive where students aged 10 to 18
48:37rehearsed and performed a rendition of Les Miserables.
48:41Medway Academy of Performing Arts have launched its first intensive summer youth musical programme,
48:56which gives its students the chance to perform one of Broadway's most iconic shows.
49:02It's taken two weeks for this group of 38 performers to put together Les Miserables.
49:08We've given this opportunity to students in Medway and Kent and surrounding areas,
49:13as we think it's a wonderful opportunity for them to improve their confidence,
49:18hone their drama skills, their singing skills, their acting skills, their dance skills,
49:22and ultimately make new friends and work together along the way
49:25to produce something that is going to be exceptional.
49:28Did you know that Les Miserables has a connection to Kent because the Chatham Historic Dockyard
49:36was used as a set to film certain scenes for the 2012 film adaptation?
49:43Medway Academy of Performing Arts adapted this classic play into a school edition,
49:50which is designed to equip performers with vital performing skills for the world of the big stage.
49:57I'd say a lot of stamina. Stamina, yeah, because it's a long show. It's a long show,
50:02very taxing show, like I mentioned, very challenging. So learning to do that show and
50:06learning all the lines and all the songs itself are intricate. So the stamina to actually do the show
50:12and keep performing to that level that needs to do the show justice, that's probably what I'd say.
50:18It's just amazing how we can just be socialised with other people, older and younger. Like,
50:26Evelyn here is absolutely amazing. And all the other cast members, like Jean Valjean,
50:35he's incredible. Same as like the co-set and Eponine. Yeah. Like all their voices are just so powerful
50:44and it just brings me tears sometimes. Yeah. And their acting is astonishing and we've also made so
50:50many new friends here. Yeah. So it's been a really good journey. Performances will be held at the Glass
50:55Box Theatre at Mid-Kent College from the 8th until the 10th of August. So it looks like this class
51:04is being brave and standing together. Henry Luck for KMTV in Chatham.
51:11Lovely. Well, now let's have a look at the weather for the coming days.
51:28Tonight, brewing scattered clouds in the west with clear night skies over most of the county.
51:32Temperatures around the mid-teens. Tomorrow morning, starting with scattered clouds,
51:36sunlight, rain down in Turnbridge Wells. Temperatures in the 18 and 19 Celsius region.
51:42Sunlight wind speeds into the afternoon, picking up to the low 20s. You can find highs at 22 in the
51:47northwest of the county. Some cloud and this is your outlook for the coming weeks. Looking quite
51:51rainy ahead with some sun and showers on Thursday and Saturday, but Friday looking very overcast.
51:58And coming up after Kent tonight, it's the third and final episode of KMTV's latest series,
52:11Generation Food. We're exploring how farming technology and some of your favorite high street
52:17treats impact what ends up on your plate. In this episode, we dive into the future of food from tech
52:22and farming to mushrooms and chocolate. Here's a sneak peek. We'll be exploring all of this in
52:30Generation Food. Hello, Fernando. How are your crops doing?
52:35It has been more challenging because the weather is more unpredictable than ever.
52:39We've got to make sure that people can afford to eat the food and that we treat the environment
52:44as best we can using technology to do that. But throughout the world, natural disasters like
52:50cyclones and extreme weather conditions like drought and flooding have seriously affected
52:55farms, water sources. So why are mushrooms so cool?
52:58Fungi are so important to everything with life on earth. It reminds me of like chicken.
53:06The way the world is feeding itself is like killing the planet. Here in the UK,
53:11we're a bit immune to it, but actually lots of the world's food is grown by people in the global south.
53:16How does it all come together to create this cocoa-free chocolate?
53:22It genuinely tastes like it has cocoa in it. Genuinely. That's the power of science.
53:26Is this new genetically modified food good for you?
53:29I didn't really know that food and climate change could have such an impact on each other.
53:33Yeah, yeah. Once in a while, you could do that like one veggie meal, probably.
53:38If we work together as a society, we'll be able to tackle food poverty as well within that
53:43and become more sustainable as a society together.
53:48Izzy Miller joins me in the studio. If you're wondering who she is, she's the show's producer.
53:54Izzy, what can viewers expect in just a couple of minutes' time?
53:57Okay, so this episode is about the future of food. So we've had the journey of food and the culture of
54:02food. That was episode one and two. Now episode three is the future of food. You said it already.
54:07So we're going to look at farming, climate change. We're going to look at like ethical food, so like alternatives.
54:14I mean, you can see here we went to a raspberry and like a berry farm and it was like huge.
54:18And they're kind of like using robots and they're working with farms all across the world.
54:23That was in Portugal, for example, just to kind of make food sustainable. But, you know,
54:30we can't avoid importing in the winter months, right?
54:32But it's a robot there isn't it?
54:33I mean, look at all those robots. Yeah, they do fascinating things.
54:35Wow. And they like identify problems with the plants.
54:38Maybe they have a disease and then stop it using that ultraviolet light.
54:42And then these wonderful graphics by the wonderful Rodri.
54:45And so we're looking at kind of how the world impacts our food and what's that future going to be,
54:53especially with like, you know, war can have such a huge impact as we've said there.
54:57How to ask you, what's going on here?
54:59Mushrooms. These are mushrooms. They're lion's mane mushrooms.
55:01And they've got to be kind of like in the same environment as like a forest,
55:05which is why it's like dark and wet. Apparently they save quite a lot on lighting there.
55:11But you can see that it turned into this like caramelised version of it.
55:14Apparently it turns into powder and it's very healthy.
55:16This is the chocolate part. So this chocolate has no...
55:19The best part. Yeah, the best part. I think so.
55:21It had no cocoa in it. So the point was ethical food.
55:24Again, that's what we're discussing. We discussed it a bit in the panels, as you can see.
55:28We spoke to students actually at a school in Kent, which is great.
55:32And yeah, I mean, a lot of the series was filmed in Kent and put Kent quite central in the story.
55:37So it was wonderful.
55:41What is the future of food looking like?
55:43Obviously in the Garden of England, is that still going to be rosy?
55:47Well, I'm not sure about that with climate change.
55:50But I think the point as well is not to like scaremonger about climate change or anything,
55:54especially because our audience is that secondary school age.
55:57But it's actually like, what are researchers doing to innovate the future?
56:01And how are we actually going to save our planet and save our food systems?
56:05It's going to change, you know, with these, you know, more rain-like weather systems and
56:11like droughts and all of those kind of things.
56:13It's all like adapting, like robots and, you know, maybe being ethical, like I've mentioned too.
56:20Izzy, thank you for bringing us those details.
56:23It's on straight after this programme.
56:24Absolutely.
56:25So viewers should stay tuned to watch that.
56:27You won't want to miss it.
56:29Well, anyway, that's all we've got time for this evening on Kent Tonight.
56:33Generation Food is up next, but we've got plenty more news for around the evening.
56:37Evening Bulletin at 8pm within McDermid.
56:40And don't forget, you can always keep up to date with your latest news across the county
56:42by finding our website, it's kntv.co.uk.
56:45But far and the rest of the Kent Tonight team, goodnight.
56:49We'll see you next time.
56:53Join the next episode of Katata Kautam.
56:56See you next time.
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