January

The world lost inspirational mum and fundraiser Hayley Martin who died at the Heart of Kent Hospice after a battle with bowel cancer.

The 31-year-old from Loose Road, Maidstone, helped raise tens of thousands of pounds for the Charles Dickens ward at Maidstone Hospital where she was treated and set up Freddie’s Friends, named after her toddler son, to support young adults diagnosed with the disease.

Friend John Counsell said: “She was the absolute epitome of everything that is good in people.”

Christmas lasted longer than usual for Paddock Wood when a pair of collared – not turtle – doves set up home in the town’s festive tree.

Officials found an egg in the nest so could not legally take the tree down until the chick was fully fledged. Sadly, mum abandoned the nest in early February and the egg never hatched.

Dandelion Time, based in a West Farleigh farm house, was chosen as the Kent Messenger’s charity of the year for 2016.

It offers natural, therapeutic activities to children who have suffered trauma, abuse or neglect and their families and has its own farm and gardens.

February

Spring sprung early following the warmest and wettest December since records began in 1910. Snowdrops and daffodils were spotted in parks and gardens and cygnets and ducklings hatched several months earlier than usual at Leeds Castle.

Toads were also tricked by the balmy temperatures and came out of hibernation early to mate at the pond in Putlands Leisure Centre, Paddock Wood.

MP for Aylesford Tracey Crouch welcomed son Freddie to the world on February 18.

The 40-year-old became the first Tory minister to take maternity leave from the Commons but continued doing some constituency work from home.

Sticking with the theme of new beginnings, couples preparing to marry at Bearsted’s Holy Cross Church got a nice surprise when the Archbishop of Canterbury turned up.

Justin Welby led a celebration of marriage service, for engaged couples and people celebration special anniversaries.

March

A terminally ill mum fulfilled her dying wish when she married her long-term partner at the Heart of Kent Hospice in Aylesford.

Tracey Deacon and Paul Eccleston, with help from family, friends and hospice staff and volunteers, arranged the wedding in little over a week when the 49-year-old Staplehurst mum’s health deteriorated.

The new Mrs Eccleston said: “It is the happiest time of our lives but also the worst.”

A community was left in shock when pensioner Roy Blackman was bludgeoned to death during a burglary at his country home in Biddenden.

Staplehurst man Mark Love was later found guilty of his murder while fellow suspect William Smith was killed by police in a shoot-out in Goudhurst.

His family described the widower as “a kind, wise and private man who loved the countryside”.

The man responsible for the “fridgehenge” sculpture, a tribute to Stonehenge made out of fridges, was at it again this month. Kevin Wildeman, who buys and sells second-hand appliances in Loose Road, built a pyramid from about 20 fridges outside a neighbouring business amid a tenancy dispute.

April

An IT consultant was jailed for life for murdering his primary school teacher wife at their bungalow in The Street, Benenden.

Stuart Andrews, 54, strangled Caroline, 52, in the early hours of February 4 before writing a note to his children and fleeing to London, where he tried to kill himself.

The dad of four and Oxford graduate also admitted stealing £267,096 from his 95-year-old dementia-suffering father-in-law.

In sport, Ditton player Barry Hawkins enjoyed a shock final-frame victory over snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan at the World Championships in April.

Hawkins hadn’t beaten O’Sullivan since their first meeting in 2002 and it was the Rocket who ended his dreams of a first world title in the 2013 final. He finally got the better of him at the Crucible, winning 13-12, before losing to Marco Fu in the quarter-finals.

Storm Katie left a trail of destruction as 70mph winds felled trees and battered homes and businesses.

An Audi A4 was crushed by a tree in Tunbridge Wells, three people were rescued when their boat broke free from its moorings on the River Medway at Tonbridge and a huge tree fell and blocked a bus route in Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells.

May

Take That singer Gary Barlow made a secret visit to Maidstone to surprise one of his followers at her 40th birthday party. The star serenaded startled superfan Jo Chapman with Greatest Day at the social club do. He repeated such a stunt six months later when he sang at Atty Hussein’s 40th at Oakwood House Hotel.

There’s no doubt about the sporting highlight of the year – Maidstone United’s extraordinary promotion to the National League.

Big underdogs going into the National South play-off final against Ebbsfleet in May, Jay Saunders’ side equalised in the dying seconds of extra time, then stunned the hosts by winning 4-3 on penalties.

It was the club’s third promotion in four seasons and triggered wild scenes at Stonebridge Road as United celebrated victory over their big Kent rivals.

Maidstone council’s elections saw 26 wards go to the polls. Some 95 candidates contested the 19 seats available with the Conservatives remaining the largest party, with just one seat more than the Lib Dems. The breakdown post-election was; Conservatives 23, Liberal Democrats 22, Independents 5, Ukip 3 and Labour 2. Matthew Scott also became Kent’s new police and crime commissioner, replacing Ann Barnes, when the election process for the post was held at the same time.

June

Six months of work began on one of the county’s biggest road schemes of the year – the project to turn Maidstone’s gyratory into a two-way stretch of road, costing £5.7 million. The new layout allows Chatham-bound traffic to avoid crossing the bridges.

Park Wood business Ecoegg was destroyed by a fire, believed to be arson. Company director Rob Knight was away in America but watched the horror unfold via remote cameras. The fire forced the firm to quit Maidstone and move to Medway.

Dustcarts took pride of place in the funeral procession for dustman Harry John Makepeace, known as Obie, who collected Maidstone’s rubbish for 42 years. The hardworking refuse collector and charity fundraiser, who died of suspected heart failure aged just 58, had been employed since he was 16.

July

Two pensioners had lucky escapes in July. Alan Kemp was sitting in his living room doing a sudoku when a car ploughed into his house, but managed to escape with minor scratches, and Robin Verkely was lucky not to be home when an arsonist torched his house.

A ram raid at the NatWest branch in Staplehurst caused major damage when thieves used a tractor to smash their way through bricks and mortar to reach the cash machine. It was the second such raid on the branch, and led to bank bosses announcing its permanent closure later in the year.

Schoolboy Charlie Girling died suddenly while on a Scout Jamboree in Finland. Despite desperate efforts by on-site medical teams, the 12-year-old could not be saved after collapsing at the convention. Just three months later, another Maplesden Noakes School pupil, Lee Green, also 12, died after collapsing from an asthma attack at Albion Medical Practice in Maidstone.

August

Former postman Stephen Tough made the delivery of his life this month – his premature daughter.

Mr Tough had to step in when wife Cassie went into labour early – and quickly, with the birth taking just 10 minutes at their Shepway home. The early arrival of the 5lb 13oz baby – also named Cassie – was even more remarkable given the couple were told they would never have children.

East Farleigh Parish Council got into trouble with its over-zealous removal of ‘pick your own’ road-side signs belonging to fruit-farmer Bill Arnold. Mr Arnold promptly reported the matter to police as theft, though the case was regarded as a civil matter.

The end of the month saw KCC launch its new policy to counter congestion – called Growth Without Gridlock. The proposals included the perennial reference to a Leeds-Langley Relief Road and plans to increase the capacity of the A229 and A274. Many readers felt this would have been better released at the start of April.

September

Eighteen-year-old Sam Bartholomew, from West Malling, who collapsed with multiple organ failure just 200 metres from the finishing line of a 10k race was released from hospital the day friends held a fundraising run for the medics who helped save him.

The mystery of why key fobs were failing en masse at a retail park in Aylesford perplexed many. An Ofcom engineer was sent to the site to determine the cause, though none was ever found. The interference was good for some – Timpson reported a surge in trade as customers replaced key fob batteries.

Bathtime got serious at the Who’d A Thought It hotel in Grafty Green after the manager installed a crystal-studded bath. The toll-top tub was encrusted with 60,000 Swarovski stones worth £60k in the Ace of Spades suite which costs £375 a night.

October

Creepy barber Orhan Idriz was found guilty by Maidstone magistrates of subjecting two women to a remorseless campaign of harassment. The 38-year-old smirked in the dock as the verdict was delivered following a two-day trial.

London borough councils Newham and Waltham Forest jointly took on a lease to house some of their homeless population in 40 flats at Star House in Maidstone town centre. Maidstone council originally bid for the site, but withdrew after considering it not cost-effective.

A brute who viciously raped a woman at his home in Milton Street, Maidstone was jailed for 11 years. Rafel Kafel terrorised his victim so badly that she eventually jumped out of a window to escape, breaking her leg.

Kafel was arrested after a six-hour stand-off with police. He later barricaded himself in his cell at magistrates’ court.

November

The government made a shock announcement that Maidstone’s Invicta Park Barracks was to close, bringing to an end 229 years of history.

The home of the 36 Engineer Regiment was declared surplus to requirements by the Ministry of Defence and will shut in 2027.

CT scanning revealed the secrets of the Egyptian mummies at Maidstone Museum. Among the discoveries was the sarcophagus of a 20-week-old baby, previously thought to have been the remains of a hawk. The mummy is thought to be the youngest in the world.

The month ended in tragedy when 20-year-old student Luke Mumford died in a crash in Pilgrims Way, Aylesford. He had passed his driving test a month before. A family tribute described him as “the most incredible, kindest, sincere person who enriched everyone’s lives”.

December

Matt Terry triumphed in the X Factor and nobody was prouder than his close-knit Maidstone family. Team Terry, who live in Sutton Road, were looking forward to Christmas at home with all the trimmings.

Former Snodland school pupil Ben Savage went missing after a night out in Chatham. His devastated family said they accepted the likelihood that the 18-year-old had fallen into the river Medway. It echoed the tragic story of Pat Lamb whose body was recovered in January last year after falling into the river at Maidstone a month earlier.

West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group announced plans to axe non-urgent surgical procedures in a bid to save £3.6 million. Maidstone Hospital may not be able to provide procedures such as cataract operations or knee surgery to patients for four months. Other controversial plans, which will go to consultation, include limiting couples to one round of IVF treatment.