Sam Northeast sets coordinates for promotion on return to Kent Sam Northeast, the former Kent batter, expressed confidence that his home county can achieve "something special" during his return to the club after a nine-year absence. The Ashford-born player, who previously spent a decade with Kent before moving to Hampshire and Glamorgan, is back on home soil this season. Kent finished at the bottom of County Championship Division Two last year following relegation, but Northeast, 36, is optimistic about a resurgence. "there's an inner belief that we could do something special this year but we have to go out and prove it," Northeast said in an interview with BBC Radio Kent. "we're quietly confident of a good season. the aim for the club has got to be to get promotion over the next few years, and to play a part in that would be special. to get a bit of silverware would be equally special." Northeast, who holds the record for the highest first-class score at Lord's—335 not out against Middlesex in 2024—also reflected on his recent stint with Glamorgan. He captained the Welsh side in the red-ball game for two seasons and previously led Kent during his initial spell with the club. "leaving glamorgan on a high—getting promotion for the first time in 20-odd years—was nice," he added. "the goal for me is to make sure kent is one of the top clubs in the country again." The club’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, aims to leverage Northeast’s experience to mentor the team’s younger batting talent. "when i sat down with cooky, he wanted to make sure the young guys coming through were mentored in the right way," Northeast explained. "it's not a definitive role within the club, but it's something i would naturally do anyway.#kent #sam_northeast #bbc_radio_kent #simon_cook #durham
Meningococcal Disease Outbreak in Kent: Cases and Vaccination Efforts The UK Health Security Agency is actively investigating an ongoing outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease in Kent, with updates provided on a daily basis. As of 12:30pm on 22 March 2026, 20 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported, with 9 notifications still under investigation, bringing the total to 29. No new cases were confirmed since the previous update, though some previously classified cases were reclassified following further laboratory analysis. Two individuals have been confirmed to have died as a result of the outbreak, with no additional deaths reported since the last update. The outbreak has prompted a coordinated response, including the distribution of vaccines and antibiotics to at-risk populations. Eligible University of Kent students who have returned home can now access the MenB vaccination and preventative antibiotic treatment through their local GP practices. Over 4,500 vaccinations have been administered, and more than 10,500 doses of antibiotics have been distributed as of 5pm on 20 March. The MenB vaccine, which is part of the current vaccination offer, is designed to protect against the specific strain of meningococcal bacteria identified in the outbreak. Meningococcal disease, which includes meningitis and sepsis, is a rare but severe bacterial infection that can progress rapidly. Early symptoms may include a rash that does not fade when pressed, sudden high fever, severe headache, vomiting, diarrhea, joint and muscle pain, sensitivity to light, cold extremities, confusion, and extreme sleepiness. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are critical to improving outcomes. Young people attending university or college are particularly vulnerable due to close contact in shared living environments.#university_of_kent #uk_health_security_agency #kent #menb_vaccine #menacwy_vaccine
Is Leeds Castle's Knights' Retreat the perfect family break? We went there to find out Parents with young children will be aware of the school-holiday conundrum: it is both a boon and a burden to spend more time with your kids. You know the time is precious yet its preciousness is what puts so much pressure on you not to let it fritter away in front of the TV or with prosaic trips to local parks. I was thus over the moon to hear about a new initiative from the innovative folk at Kent’s Leeds Castle: its Knights’ Retreat family accommodation, comprising eight luxury lodges in the heart of the castle’s 500-acre grounds. The inspiration for the accommodation dates all the way back to the thirteenth century, when the castle’s hedonistic owner, Queen Eleanor of Castile, coined her home the ‘Castle of Delights’. Clearly what constituted ‘delight’ in the Middle Ages diverges somewhat from modern-day mores so, suitably intrigued, we packed our bags and embarked on the perilous Dartford Crossing from Essex to Kent. Would we have a ‘knight’ to to remember or a ‘knightmare’? Read on to find out… Its aesthetic appeal is largely down to two factors. The first is the green fields and moat which encircle the castle in a manner befitting a Disney fairytale (just how I like my castles). The second is the fact that over the years, the 12th century Norman castle has only been besieged twice and also undergone several significant renovations, the most recent under the auspices of the castle’s last private owner, the Anglo-American heiress Olive, Lady Baillie in the early 20th century. While previous renovations focused more on the castle’s facade, Lady Baillie revamped its interiors with the aim of turning it into something of a pleasure palace.#leeds_castle #olive_lady_baillie #kent #daphne_du_maurier #errol_flynn
