Kent's most uplifting stories of 2024

There have been plenty of uplifting stories in Kent in 2024

The year of 2024 has seen some wonderful stories across Kent.

From a mistaken Waitrose in Tunbridge Wells to a farm overloaded with goats, we've had a lot to keep us entertained.

We take a look at five of the most uplifting stories from the last 12 months.

Queen Camilla hosted a boy who missed her garden party

Tony Hudgell has attended a private gathering with Queen Camilla and Lyla O'Donovan, a brain tumour patient

A nine-year-old double amputee who missed the King's garden party due to a traffic jam attended a private gathering with Queen Camilla.

Tony Hudgell, from West Malling, Kent, was on his way to Buckingham Palace in May when he and his family got stuck in traffic on the M20.

He was subsequently invited to have tea with the Queen at her London residence.

At the party, Tony also received the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the prevention of child abuse.

An animal shelter was 'overwhelmed' by goats

The shelter was "bursting at the seams", said one employee

A shelter in Kent told the BBC it was overwhelmed by unwanted goats.

Buttercups Sanctuary near Maidstone said it received nearly 30 goats during the last two weeks of November, which pushed the site to maximum capacity a herd of about 130.

"It's an emergency," said Buttercups communications administrator Matt Huggins. "We are bursting at the seams."

The shelter, which also serves Sussex, is under "big pressure" to rehome the goats so it can free up space in case they need to take in other rescues, he says.

A local singer was awarded a golden buzzer

The winner of Britain's Got Talent received a £250,000 cash prize and a spot on the bill of the Royal Variety Performance

A Kent singer earned a coveted "golden buzzer" on Britain's Got Talent.

Sydnie Christmas faced an uphill battle after judge Simon Cowell revealed he was not a fan of her song choice - Tomorrow from the musical Annie.

But the 28-year-old received a standing ovation from all four judges during the first episode of the ITV's show 17th series.

Fellow judge Amanda Holden said it was the "best version" of the song she had ever heard, before awarding a golden buzzer.

Tunbridge Wells residents got cross with Richard Osman

Author Richard Osman explains how he left residents of Tunbridge Wells "furious"

Author and presenter Richard Osman explained why he mistakenly placed a Waitrose in Tunbridge Wells in one of his Kent-based books, leaving residents "furious".

The Sussex-raised author caused uproar in his 2020 novel The Thursday Murder Club when he wrote that a character parked outside the Waitrose café .

Mr Osman said neither he nor his publishers fact-checked the assertion because they assumed the affluent town would have a branch of the supermarket.

Speaking to BBC South East Today, he said: "It's so obvious to everyone that there must be a Waitrose in Tunbridge Wells."

A lioness from Ukraine found a new home in Kent

The sanctuary said Yuna's "playful" behaviours demonstrated her increasing confidence

A lioness rescued from war-torn Ukraine took her first steps outside at a sanctuary in Kent.

Three-year-old Yuna, who had shell shock, arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden on 17 August and stayed inside her enclosure for a week.

But the sanctuary, which said she had previously been confined to a small space on a concrete floor, said she had "begun to reveal a playful and curious nature".

This involved venturing to the outside of her enclosure, feeling grass beneath her paws for the first time and scratching trees and logs.