Louis Edward Nolan - 15th Light Dragoons

It's always fascinating to come across something in your own town that is new and that you never knew about.

We took at different route into town today owing to calling in at an outdoors shop to look at birthday presents for Susan so ended up coming past the old Opthalmic Hospital in Maidstone. Even the building is interesting, now converted into apartments (I was going to say flats). This was the place for Diseases of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat and was founded in 1846. It's built from Kentish Ragstone, a very pleasant building stone of a similar hue to the warm, Cotswold stone and looks very nice when cleaned up. I remember it when it was a hospital when I went there for some allergy tests in the 1980s. Just along the way from the Opthalmic was Maidstone's General Hospital. That building has entirely disappeared and the space take up with retirement apartments.

What was very interesting though was the staute of Nolan who was not a Maidstone son, but was stationed here on a couple of occasions with his company - the 15th Light Dragoons. What I didn't know was his association with the Charge of the Light Brigade (25th October 1854) He was one of the first officers killed in the Charge and according to accounts was either directly responsible or partly to blame for the Charge taking place.

Isn't it amazing what you find. I'm not sure how long his statue has been around, I've never noticed it here before but the plinth is new having been completed in 2013. The whole thing looks very fine in its setting next to the old hospital. There are inscriptions around the plinth, one from the time of his death provided by his friends and fellow officers and the others describing his life as a cavalry officer and his part in the Light Brigade legend.

I think we were successful in finding a birthday present for Susan and apart from walking into town, doing a bit more shopping, having a coffee at Pop's then walking home that was pretty much the day. Oh, yes spent a hour shifting more soil from where the pond will be, barrowing it up the road to Doreen's house and I also had a very pleasant chat to Chris over in San Diego. Nice weather they're having there.