News Articles

MMF News articles are listed in chronological order with the latest first - click the titles to read the full article.

Future Queen and Petula Clark add post-war lustre to Maidstone Zoo

June 2025

With the ending of World War II, Maidstone Zoo, although open during most of the conflict, resumed its mission to show off its animals and attract thousands of visitors. Since opening in 1934, some 1.5 million visitors had passed through the gates at Cobtree Manor. As Ivan White explained in his second fascinating talk about Maidstone Zoo

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How Queen Victoria got around – find out in Maidstone’s “internationally significant” Carriages Museum

June 2025

Sir Hugh Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, 12 times Mayor of Maidstone, has secured his place in local history with two major achievements. He founded a zoo that attracted thousands, including the young Princess Elizabeth – later Her Majesty the Queen – for nearly 20 years. The zoo closed in 1959. But his second huge achievement is still giving pleasure to visitors, an outstanding legacy to the County Town.

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Titanic Honour & Glory Exhibition

May 2025

Maidstone Museum is delighted to invite members to an exclusive preview of the Titanic Honour & Glory Exhibition on Friday 11th July 2025 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Maidstone Museum.
Members of Maidstone Museum Friends’ will have the unique opportunity

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Unsung heroes making a big difference to Maidstone

March 2025

Maidstone is proving a role model for its management of the Business Improvement District (BID), so much so that representatives from other UK towns are beating a path to their door to find out how One Maidstone does it.
Michelle Woodland, Chief Executive Officer One Maidstone BID, and Steven Pankhurst, BID’s Business Crime Manager, told an audience

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Maunsell Forts – From Wartime Defence to Pirate Radio

February 2025

Those strange structures off the Kent coast have played a key role in maritime and radio history. Frank Turner, from Gravesend, is passionate about the Maunsell forts, so much so that he is spearheading a campaign of restoration. He told their fascinating story to a 40-strong audience at the first MMF talk of the year held on February 13 in Maidstone Museum

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Calendar Girls, Enjoy a night at the theatre and help MMF support a vital museum access project

February 2025

MMF has once again been chosen by the highly regarded Willington Players to benefit from every ticket sold by the charity for their next production Calendar Girls.

This heartwarming and hilarious play is based on a true story and the hit 2003 film. When Annie’s husband dies of leukaemia, she and her best friend Chris decide to raise funds for the local hospital. They create a calendar featuring friends from the Women’s Institute…

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