October 2023

MMF hosted a reception for Maidstone Borough Councillors in the Friends’ Shop, Fremlin Walk, Maidstone. 

The annual event aims to tell our representatives about MMF, update them on the new Museum Gallery and underline the importance of Maidstone Museums to the County Town, its residents, wider community and local economy.

More than a dozen councillors attended the breakfast event on October 18, 2023. Fran Wilson, MMF vice-chair and a former council leader, welcomed guests and explained what the MMF charity seeks to achieve. 

Ivan While, shop manager and membership secretary, told them about the Heritage Design Challenge which encourages young people to come up with great ideas for interesting products that can be sold in the Museum Shop for no more than £10.  The 2023 awards, sponsored by MMF, were presented recently to young individuals and teams from three schools for their creative ideas

Alexandra Conn-While, the Museum’s operations supervisor, spoke about the exciting new Lives in our Landscape gallery which is due to open in May 2024. MMF raised £100,000 towards the project which is also generously funded by the council, the William and Edith Oldham Charitable Trust, private donors and Museums’ Friends.

After enjoying refreshments and listening intently to the talks, the councillors asked a number of questions and thanked MMF for the reception and the charity’s  work.