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Alan Firmin Ltd sponsors 2024 Maidstone River Festival with £10k cheque

By: Alan Smith ajsmith@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 12:35, 21 November 2023

Updated: 07:04, 22 November 2023

A £10,000 donation has kick-started a sponsorship drive for a town’s River Festival next summer.

The gift from transport company Alan Firmin Ltd was presented by Paul Denyer to Dave Naghi, chairman of the Maidstone River Festival committee, at a combined launch night and awards evening held at the Thai Orchid restaurant in Maidstone on Monday.

Paul Denyer from Alan Firmin Ltd presents a cheque for £10,000 sponsorship to Dave Naghi, the River Festival chairman, with the mayor Cllr Gordon Newton
A scene from this summer's River Festival

The festival, which attracts thousands to the riverbank in Maidstone each year, receives no official funding and relies entirely on the goodwill of sponsors to make it happen.

Describing the festival as an opportunity “to show Maidstone at its best”, Mr Naghi invited other firms and organisations to get behind “this real community event”.

One of those already doing so is the law firm Gill Tucker Turner which sponsors the prizes for the festival’s photography competition.

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There were two winners, Terry Wong for his night photography, winning for the second year in a row, and Martyn Knight for his daytime shot.

The prize for best-dressed boat this year went to The Spirit of Mary, captained by John Helm of Little Venice.

Terry Wong with Dave Naghi, the mayor Gordon Newton and Robert Green, a partner in the law firm Gill Turner Tucker, which sponsored the prizes
Martyn Knight, who won the prize for best day-time photo, with Dave Naghi, the mayor Gordon Newton, and prize sponsor Robert Green of Gill Turner Tucker
Winners of the children's competition to find hidden doggies at the festival, Kimberly, Jenson and Miley, pictured with the mayor and the organisers of the contest Clairey Suzanne and Marcus Niblett. Two other winners, Ava and Ellie, could not be present, but Ellie's mum is also pictured

A competition for children was organised at the festival by committee members Clairey Suzanne and Marcus Niblett and their dog Peppermint, with the children invited to locate hidden Peppermint lookalikes.

There were five young winners: Kimberley, Mylie, Jenson, Ava and Ellie, three of whom were at the event to collect their prizes: a book about Peppermint’s adventures, and a cuddly toy.

Although, the festival needs sponsorship in advance to lay on the show, any money collected on the day is distributed to charities and this year the festival supported the Young Lives Foundation, Making a Difference to Maidstone and the Heart of Kent Hospice.

They received £200, £300 and £300 respectively

The Heart of Kent Hospice additionally received £849 raised specifically by the members of the Hampstead and Yalding Cruising Club.

Amanda Sidwell of the charity MADM (Making a Difference to Maidstone) receives a donation of £300 from the festival
Rachel Street, CEO of the Heart of Kent Hospice, receives a £300 donation from the River Festival, with the mayor Gordon Newton and Dave Naghi
Neil Vickery receives a £200 donation from the River Festival on behalf of the Young Lives Foundation, with Dave Naghi and the mayor Gordon Newton

The first Maidstone River Festival was held in 1979, though it has not always had a smooth ride and there have been years when it has not taken place.

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The event this July included not only scores of boats lining the riverside and the infamous raft race, but also a children’s play area, a live music forum, rides on an antique bus and a giant fireworks display.

It ran simultaneously with a Steam Punk Festival at Maidstone Museum and an open day at the Maidstone Carriage Museum.

At the end of the night, the Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Gordon Newton praised everyone who had taken part in the River Festival, from the organisers, to the boat owners, to the commercial sponsors and the public for attending.

He said he had visited the River Festival for the first time this summer and had been overwhelmed by the event.

He specifically praised Mr Naghi, whose “drive” it was “that made the festival such a success”.

Any business wishing to sponsor the 2024 festival should contact Mr Naghi by email to davidnaghi@maidstone.gov.uk

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