venvaraw.s Tl Lldl SUds © ¢ f the best fish “~ ie a ae ROLEX ‘7-H E DAG Eat) Sale The ultimate Rolex classic, the Datejust was the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch to display the date in a window, and continues to be the quintessential watch, reflecting the essence of timeless style. #Perpetual — CELEBRATING OVER 100 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP WITH ROLEX © Ma ppin & Webb GOLDSMITFEIS eee GRAVEL WALK, HIGH STREET, CANTERBURY TUNBRIDGE WELLS LABILITY OYSTER PERPETUAL DATEJUST 31 Flights covering the UK and Europe - Reactive & short-notice flights - Advanced bookings Rolls Royce & Lamborghini chauffeur services - All weathers (except fog) - Direct routes @ascot ASPinaut Arrange your bespoke transport service today! 01303 233500 www.alcaline-aviation.com SUMMER SALE NOW ON LENLEYS HOME MAIDSTONE / 01622 753 073 / Sandling Road, ME14 2RF CANTERBURY / 01227 766 655 / Roper Road, Canterbury, CT2 7EL Editor's letter ow were your Jubilee celebrations? I was going to ask, “have you recovered yet?” but which of us wants to recover from the sense of joy and connection we felt with our neighbours as we marked the Queen’s momentous 70 years? Let’s hope we can take that sense of togetherness forward into the days, weeks and months to come, with the knowledge that it’s shared experiences that help to foster it. Perhaps that’s why any sort of festival or show (and it doesn’t get better than Kent’s County Show, which we profile on page 14 of this issue) bring a unique sort of pleasure. It’s the chance to get together witha whole group of people —- many of whom will be strangers — and unite in celebrating a shared interest, whether it’s for music, horticulture, our rural life or steam engines. We're delighted this issue to bring you details of the vast range of festivals to be enjoyed throughout the county during the summer, so if you haven’t been to one before, do consider making this the year you join the festival throng. Kent’s events tend to be smaller, making them ideal for ‘festival newbies’, and there’s a friendly vibe that always makes a great day out. I can remember taking my daughters to the children’s festival bOing! in Canterbury when they were small, and having a great time not only because of the fantastic u = 2 5] fa) S a ° 2 3 iS ~ A lovely way to spend an afternoon: The Summer Show at Great Comp standard of the shows on offer but because of the chance to connect with other families — just sitting in the sunshine chatting to parents we'd not met before as our children played was a joy in itself. This year I’m looking forward to visiting the JAM on the Marsh Festival for the first time, lured not just by the story behind it (which you can read on page 36) and its intriguing programme, but because, just like its founders, Ed and Sarah Armitage, I too have been bitten by the Romney Marsh bug. In fact, his issue turns out to be something of a Romney and Dungeness Special! Not only do we have Caroline Read’s expert guide to the area on page 96, you can also read about Kathryn Morris’s love of the area — one that she inherited from her father, who bought Dungeness Roundhouse and a couple of cottages back in the 1990s and never looked back (page 102). Now Kathryn’s built on his legacy, creating gorgeous holiday homes and ensuring that her father’s pride and joy — his garden — continues to thrive. It’s a read that I hope, as with every issue of Kent Life, will inspire you to get out there and explore all that the county has to offer. And there’s no better time to do so than now! Anna Lambert Editor, Kent Life 3 THINGS ANNA’S LEARNED FROM THIS ISSUE ..that there’s treasure to be found here in Kent - from semi-precious stones to amber and Victorian ‘diamonds’ - even pearls... Page 138 ..that it’s high time a leading woman in literature got a celebratory statue in her Canterbury home town. Page 20 ..that if you want a team-building day for a team of top chefs, there’s no better place to take them thana Kent dairy farm. Page 56 © e Sa ac S 2 op e Se Og on 4 O o at £ re] £ a > o a 2 o a Fs 6 pal a Kent Life: July 2022 ¢ 7 KENT LIFE Kent Life, Loudwater Mill Station Road, Loudwater, High Wycombe HP10 9TY Enquiries to relevant team member below EDITOR Anna Lambert 07809 551221 / [email protected] WAAL PRINT EDITOR Sarah Rodi 07834 104843 / [email protected] GROUP EDITOR, EAST MAGAZINES Dominic Castle 07725 201153 / [email protected] DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Michael Langton and the Archant editorial designers IF you're thinking about moving to a new home... 07785 629 289 / we Ca Nn e p [email protected] NATIONAL SALES The Mediaforce Group 020 8477 3706 / [email protected] HEAD OF CONTENT, COUNTY MAGAZINES Liz Nice 07785 616263 / [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS CUSTOMER SERVICE Ex pe rt le g a l d d vi Ce Fro M OUL 0208 959 1173 / [email protected] / Re S Fr d en ti 3 [ p rO D er ty te am greatbritishlife.co.uk/subscribe/kent RETAIL SALES AND DISTRIBUTION 01603 772841 / [email protected] FOLLOW KENT LIFE Keep up with what’s happening at facebook.com/kentlife Join the conversation about life in Kent @kentlife Please contact Darren Philpot 01227 763939 [email protected] Furleypage.co.uk Kent Life magazine is published by Archant Community Media Limited (company number 19300) and printed by William Gibbons & Sons. Archant Community Media Limited is a leading community media company based at Prospect House, Rouen Road Norwich NR1 IRE. The company is active in the fields of newspaper and magazine publishing, contracting printing, marketing and internet communications. Reproduction of any material, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without the prior written . consent of the publisher. All material is sent at the owner's risk and, while every care is taken, Knowledge. Experien ce. Resu Its. Archant Community Media Limited will not accept liability for loss or damage. Kent Life magazine and its journalists are committed to abiding by the Society of Editors’ Code of Practice. If you have a complaint that cannot be resolved by the editor, please contact the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Gate House, 1 Farringdon St, London EC4M 7LG, or via [email protected]. More information about IPSO and its regulations can be found at www.ipso.co.uk, 8 ¢ Kent Life: July 2022 ' i iui on : rT) ‘ Lu @ O : ba : o 2 sf © on Q. S 3: "| Oo $a a) ai 2 &2 OWE Lad = 8 Ht 5 Vi — 2 86 § : x] ° al. rs = 88 @ 5 = BAP: 5: u 2S8E = re rite E =) -of 5 2 O ae Z | 2 30g 8 5 . e E988 Lu — E oy =O a4 “sg / a 5: < . BE wi \ . sie a 7 - onl fr <f = ay tf 28 Wonderful Whitstable By Caroline Read This gorgeous little seaside town comes into its own at this time of year, with pubs to relax in, cycling trails, a rich history of fishing and, of course, the delicious seafood that goes alongside. What are you waiting for? INSIDE July 2022 Festival fever By Naomi Porter With every sort of festival to enjoy this summer in Kent — from foodie fairs to steam rallies and tractor fests — don’t miss our guide to the ones to book now for fun-packed days out in August. 1O2 To the lighhouse By Anna Lambert When Kathryn Morris’s family moved to a collection of run-down buildings in Dungeness, it was the start of a love-affair with the area that’s still going strong 30 years later — and with the cottages now restored. Secret diary of a Lady By Samantha Stones The discovery of a pocket book once belonging to an aristocratic lady who lived at Bayham Abbey reveals much about her life and times, as an expert from English Heritage, which now manages the site, explains. 10 ¢ Kent Life: July 2022 yoYd490}S!/sabew| A}@9 :0}04d