Archive for September, 2009

« Older Entries

Dashain party

Monday, September 28th, 2009
Dashain party at Morehall school

Dashain party at Morehall school

This evening, 26 September, I am at Morehall school in Folkestone to celebrate Dashain.  Dashain is the most important religious festival in Nepal and lasts for ten days.  It involves fasting as well as feasting but fortunately I have been asked by Mr Gopal Giri,the chairman of the Folkestone Nepali Community, to the feast.

At the Dashain party

At the Dashain party

Tonight my husband, John Hall is with me and we are warmly greeted and are draped in scarves.  We are then first to be served food which is both delicious and plentiful.  I then discover that what I assumed was a main meal is in fact only the starter! 

At the Dashain party

Gopal Giri, Cllr Susan Carey and Jishor Sabkota

There are speeches, singing and dancing and the town mayor of Folkestone, Janet Andrews presents certificates to young people from the Nepali community in recognition of their success in passing exams and going on to further education.  Morehall school is full to overflowing but I am told this is not the only Dashain party in Folkestone and that there are also events in Newington, at Shornecliff barracks and at many local businesses.

It is a very enjoyable evening and I couldn’t have been made to feel more welcome.

 

Dashain party at Morehall school

Dashain party at Morehall school

Also present from Shepway are district councillors Neil Matthews and Tim Prater.

You can find more information on Dashain at www.visitnepal.com/nepal_information/dashain.php

Tags: , , ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

Romney Marsh scouts

Monday, September 28th, 2009

My next event on 25 September is the Annual General Meeting of the Romney Marsh Scout groups which this year is hosted in Dymchurch Scout headquarters.

There’s a good turn out from scout leaders and supporters and the reports tell of an active year for the youngsters with camps, football, outings and much work to acquire badges. The work of Ted Carey (no relation) was specially mentioned as Ted had recently died and his funeral was that day.  I knew Ted only slightly but I knew of his work for his community and the scouts and it is clear he will be missed.

Roger Meade, Area District Commissioner, Janet Thomas, District Commissioner, Cllr Susan Carey and Alan Noake, Assitant County Commissioner

Roger Meade, Area District Commissioner, Janet Thomas, District Commissioner, Cllr Susan Carey and Alan Noake, Assitant County Commissioner

After the formal business of the meeting there’s a barbecue and a chance to chat with everyone and hear more about what’s happening.  The number of scouts is healthy and some more people had come forward to help but there’s always a need for more.

PS Alan asks if we know what ‘Dyb, dyb, dyb, dob,dob,dob’ mean and tells us that Dyb stands for ‘Do Your Best’ and Dob for ‘Do Our Best’.

Tags: , ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

Postling

Monday, September 28th, 2009
The church at Postling with a hot air balloon in the background

The church of St Mary and St Radigund at Postling (a hot air balloon in the background)

Postling village is not on the way to anywhere so unless you have reason to go there you would never see it.  And once there you might then struggle to find your way around even though it is a very small village as most of the houses have names not numbers.  But one place does stand out and that’s the church where, as well as the church services, the villagers gather once a month for fellowship and drinks.  On Friday 25 September my evening starts with a visit to Postling for this drinks party.

Cllr Susan Carey, chairman of Shepway District Council and villagers in Postling

Cllr Susan Carey, chairman of Shepway District Council and villagers in Postling

Postling is part of my own district council ward so I know nearly everyone in the village but it is the first time I have visited in my capacity as chairman of the district council.  There is much discussion about the recent Postling Ride which is a 9 mile cross country event held for horses and their riders with 26 optional fences.  It is very popular and always raises a great deal of money for charity and to pay the insurance of the church.  Another topic of conversation is next year’s open garden scheme which is held bi-annually.

Josephine and David Lewis want to know what I was doing at St Pancras station on 7 September wearing my chain of office.  They had seen me with ‘an important looking group of people’ and wondered what I’d been doing.  It was the first of the new High-Speed train services from Folkestone that day of course. I told them they should read the blog and promised to mention them on it.

It’s good to be reminded that Shepway has its rural hinterland as well as its two major towns and the Marsh.

Tags:
Posted in General | No Comments »

Lympne school rises from the ashes

Monday, September 28th, 2009
The Phoenix weathervane at Lympne school

The Phoenix weathervane at Lympne school

Today, 25 September, is the long awaited service of dedication of the new school building in Lympne replacing the one destroyed by fire on 13 September 2006.  Everyone was safely evacuated from the fire but the building itself was completely destroyed and for two years Lympne school was in exile in Folkestone.

Many people have helped the school through its difficult time – parents, local businesses, Roger de Haan, the parish council and the school governors led by Glenn Clark.  The staff of the school have also been wonderful in holding the school together and headteacher Joyce Rhodes deserves special congratulations.  Joyce and her team coped magnificently with the fire and its aftermath.  They then had to set up a ‘temporary’ school from scratch (a 15 mile round trip away from Lympne) which they ran successfully for two years.  Simultaneously they planned the new school which rose from the ashes.  A last minute hurdle was the discovery that the roof of the new building had been built 800 mm higher than its planning permission allowed.  A compromise was reached on this and the children were able to start at their new school building in September 2008.

John Davies, chairman of Kent County Council, Susan Carey, chairman of Shepway District Council, Joyce Rhodes, headteacher of Lympne school, Bishop Stephen Venner

Pupils at Lympne school, John Davies, chairman of Kent County Council, Susan Carey, chairman of Shepway District Council, Joyce Rhodes, headteacher of Lympne school, Bishop Stephen Venner

The Rt Reverend Dr Stephen Venner, the Bishop of Dover, unveils a commemorative plaque helped by two of the pupils.  The children sing songs, read poems, make music and dance.  In the audience are some of the firefighters who attended the fire three years ago, John Davies, the chairman of Kent County Council, Robert Bliss the Leader of Shepway District Council, local district councillor Shirley Newlands and, from the parish council, Colin Hunter.  We all join in the final hymn and afterwards we are treated to tea and cakes and a tour of the new building.

The new building is full of light and the classrooms look very smart.  There’s still work to do in the grounds and I hope to return to see the planting that has been promised to soften the view for the immediate neighbours.

It is a very happy day and one I am delighted to share.

District Councillors Robert Bliss and Shirley Newlands

District Councillors Robert Bliss and Shirley Newlands at Lympne school

Tags:
Posted in General | No Comments »

Blessing the lifeboat

Monday, September 21st, 2009
Sarah Williams blesses the lifeboat

Sarah Williams blesses the lifeboat

My last event on Sunday 20 September is the blessing of the lifeboat at Dungeness.  The service takes place at the Dungeness lifeboat station itself and it is full to overflowing. 

District Councillor, Willie Richardson is the Sea Safety Officer for the lifeboat station and he opens proceedings by reminding everyone that this is a working station and that the boat may have to be launched if a call comes in during the service.  It’s a vivid reminder that the lifeboat is needed and ready 24 hours a day.

Lydd vicar Sarah Williams is a nautical vicar as she and her husband sail a yacht;  she says they have not yet needed a rescue.  Her address is about how Jesus calmed the waves and she illustrates it with a bowl of water, a miniature liferaft and a candle.   Then the doors are opened to reveal the boat, Pride and Spirit, on the beach and she blesses it.  There is a moment of calm.  “Can you hear the waves?” she asks.  And we can.

As so often I see several other District Councillors supporting the event.  As well as Willie Richardson there’s cabinet member Hugh Barker and local councillor Clive Goddard.  The Mayor and Mayoress of Lydd are also there.  The Canterbury City band provide a tuneful and spirited accompaniment to our singing and most of Dungeness has crowded in the station.

Coxswain Stuart Adams, Cllr Susan Carey, Lifeboat Operations Manager Chris Usbee, Cllr Willie Richardson and Sarah Williams vicar of Lydd

Coxswain Stuart Adams, Cllr Susan Carey, Lifeboat Operations Manager Chris Usbee, Cllr Willie Richardson and Sarah Williams vicar of Lydd

After the service I assist with presenting awards to those who have served as crew and in support of the crew.  As chairman of the District Council I am able to say thank you on behalf of everyone in Shepway to the RNLI and the Dungeness station for their bravery and service to those at sea. 

The evening finishes with tea and biscuits and I meet Eric and Jean Cass who funded the Pride and Spirit boat in 1992.  They tell me that one of the reasons they chose the RNLI as their charity was that they knew that every penny would be spent on saving lives and nothing on well appointed offices or entertainment.

The Dungeness station is open to the public from early March to mid December (phone 01797 329108 to check times) and is well worth a visit on any tour of the Marsh.

The departing prayer

Deep peace of the running wave to you

Deep peace of the flowing air to you

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you

Deep peace of the shining stars to you

Deep peace of the infinite peace to you

Tags: ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

Picnic at Lyminge

Monday, September 21st, 2009
Skateboarding in Lyminge

Skateboarding in Lyminge

My second event on Sunday 20 September is the picnic to celebrate Lyminge Youth Action Group’s work in creating play facilities for the village.

Cllr Susan Carey and Eileen Hall

Cllr Susan Carey and Eileen Hall

The scheme started five years ago when 91 year old Eileen Hall noticed some youngsters hanging about outside her home.  She invited them in and found that they felt they had nowhere of their own to go.  Eileen and the youngsters started to fundraise and parish councillor Glenn Floyd set up a charity, Lyminge Youth Action Group, and helped the group with more fundraising and grant applications.  Jane Seymour, Pam Wooding, Helen Calderbank, KCC Community Warden Gary Harrison, Jenny, Jeff and others all helped.  A whole generation of teenagers grew up but at last the dream has been realised.  Lyminge now boasts a skateboard park, a play area for the small children, a teen shelter and a  BMX track.

The entertainment is from the villagers – dancing, music and juggling. Eileen and I both receive bouquets to thank us for our help with the project and we all have great time.

Dancing girls at Lyminge

Dancing girls at Lyminge

Having a ball in Lyminge

Having a ball in Lyminge

Tags:
Posted in General | No Comments »

Battle of Britain

Monday, September 21st, 2009
District Councillors Susan Carey,Clive Goddard and Carole Waters

District Councillors Susan Carey, Clive Goddard and Carole Waters

Today, Sunday 20 September, is the Battle of Britain service at All Saints’ church in Lydd.  I am escorted by District Councillor Carole Waters.  I also see District Councillors Clive Goddard and William Richardson.

The service is an annual event in Lydd and commemorates the victory of the Royal Air Force in the battle for control of the skies with the Luftwaffe in the summer of 1940.  The RAF lost 481 pilots and a further 422 were seriously wounded or injured.  The Battle of Britain saved this country from invasion and the Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill said of these brave men, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

Air cadets outside All Saints Church, Lydd

Air cadets outside All Saints Church, Lydd

I can’t tell you much about the service as I am seated with the pulpit in front of me and a pillar behind and afterwards there is heavy rain so the flypast of the Spitfire at 11 40am is a washout.  But the weather does not deter the air cadets who stand in the pouring rain and play for us as we leave the church.

The service is followed by a reception at the town hall where I join the veterans for a commemorative photograph.

Tags:
Posted in General | No Comments »

Beating the Bounds

Monday, September 21st, 2009
Folkestone town mayor Janet Andrews, Shepway District Council Chairman Susan Carey with Lyminge guides and their mascot 'Gladys'

Folkestone town mayor Janet Andrews, Shepway District Council Chairman Susan Carey with Lyminge guides and their mascot 'Gladys'

 Saturday 19 September is an important day for the girlguides.  Across Kent they have been ‘beating the bounds’ of their areas and I have been asked to join them on the East Cliff at Folkestone to hear them renew their promises as rainbows, brownies and guides.

It is a lovely day with hazy sunshine and the cliffs look ethereal and mysterious in the mist.  It doesn’t matter how often I see this view, I always find it stunning and think how lucky we are to have such natural beauty on our doorstep. 

The Folkestone girls have walked here fron Samphire Hoe and the Hythe girls from Scanlons Bridge in Hythe.  They renew their promises as Rainbows, Brownies and Guides and sing songs (one of which involves us joining little fingers).  I am joined by the mayor of Folkestone. Janet Andrews and the girls ask us to pose for photographs with them and their mascot, Gladys the Swiss cow.

The Beating the bounds badge

The Beating the bounds badge

Everyone who takes part in this event (including me) receives a special badge and Ros Battrick, The Folkestone Division Commissioner tells the girls that they will remember today and will tell their grandchildren that they were here.  Ros asks me if I was ever a guide and I have to confess that I wasn’t.  However, this is my second event with the girls and they make me feel as though I’ve always been one of them.

A memorable day for us all.

Cllr Susan Carey, Diane Thompson and girls on the East Cliffs at Folkestone

Cllr Susan Carey, Diane Thompson and girls on the East Cliffs at Folkestone

Tags: ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

Having fun in Hawkinge

Monday, September 14th, 2009
David Godfrey, Tina Wiles, David Callaghan, Susan Carey and Stuart Peall with the giant Hawkinge Harry

David Godfrey, Tina Wiles, David Callaghan, Susan Carey and Stuart Peall with the giant Hawkinge Harry

Saturday 12 September is the sixth Fun Day in Hawkinge and this year’s theme is Hawkinge’s history.  The Fun Day itself is becoming a tradition and part of that tradition is that it is opened by the chairman of Shepway District Council.  First I am greeted at the Community Centre by the chairman of Hawkinge Parish Council, David Callaghan and the parish clerk, Tina Wiles and Shepway District Councllors Stuart Peall and David Godfrey.  I am also pleased to see Hawkinge Harry the giant, who is much in demand for parades and events in Kent and Northern France.  It is good to see him on home territory.

The 1st Foot Guard

The 1st Foot Guard

I am escorted from the Community Centre to the stage by the 1st Foot Guards a ‘living history and reenactment unit’ kitted out in uniforms like those worn in 1815 at the time of the Napoleonic wars.  We march across the village green to the stage where I officially open the Fun Day and we then march back.  And I wonder if I look like a prisoner under escort!

I am then free to wander around the stands.  These include the local schools, several charities including the Air Ambulance who are already (!) selling Christmas cards.  Churchill school are running a traditional coconut shy and my husband manages to hit a coconut but fails to dislodge it. 

John Hall intent on winning a coconut

John Hall intent on winning a coconut

The Hawkinge Allotment Society has a stand full of plants for sale which is remarkable as they are still not officially on their new site.  They tell me they’ve been asking for a site for thrity years and I was first involved about four years ago.  But it won’t be long now as the land has been agreed, the society members have cleared it and water, fencing and other facilities including a composting toilet are under construction.

The children love the inflatables at the Fun Day and there’s a full size version of subbuteo.  The 1st Foot Guards demonstrate their weapons and marching.  The dancing also deserves a special mention as there are many groups and styles.  And the main theme of the event – Hawkinge’s history is taken up in a history trail round the village and an exhibition in the Community Centre.

Premier Performing Arts

Premier Performing Arts

The Fun Day is run by the Hawkinge Events Group and they would welcome more people to join the fun.  If that appeal to anyone reading this then I will happily put you in touch.

The Fun Day is supported by local businesses, the Hawkinge Partnership (now Shepway Regeneration) and Hawkinge Parish Council.

1st Foot Guard shows what warfare used to be

1st Foot Guard shows what warfare used to be

Tags:
Posted in General | No Comments »

Welcome to the Future

Monday, September 7th, 2009
Cllrs Carole Waters, Susan Carey & Janet Andrews at Folkestone Central for the 06 54 departure

Cllrs Carole Waters, Susan Carey & Janet Andrews at Folkestone Central for the 06 54 departure

This morning, Monday 7 September, I travelled on the 06 54 train from Folkestone Central and arrived at London St Pancras at 07 50.  This was the first of the preview services that Southeastern Trains are running before the start of the full High Speed service on Sunday 13 December.

Councillor Bernard Butcher and Tim Ingleton of Dover District Council

Councillor Bernard Butcher and Tim Ingleton of Dover District Council

I’m more of an owl than a lark but I was happy to be up early to greet the new service together with Councillor Carole Waters who is one of the cabinet members at Shepway, Owain East from the Shepway Press Office and Janet Andrews, the town mayor of Folkestone.  The train started in Dover and I soon spotted the Dover civic contingent and found them just opening a bottle of champagne.  I don’t normally drink alcohol at this time of day but on such a special occasion it seemed fitting. 

I was pleased to see how many people joined the train at Folkestone Central and Folkestone West.  I spoke with several people who said that the new High Speed services would save them between 1 hour 40 minutes and two hours a day.  One Hawkinge resident told me that each hour he saved cost him £3.50 which he thought was good deal.  There’s no premium to use the new trains between Folkestone to Ashford which is a bonus.  The fares between Ashford and London St Pancras do cost more.  At peak times it is £52.50 return.  One commuter said she was paying an extra £18-50 a week for her season ticket.

The preview services are just two peak time trains in the morning and back in the evening.  Southeastern tell me that soon they will introduce some off peak trains.  These will be priced for the leisure market and the normal railcard discounts will apply.  The full service will be in place by 13 December this year. 

Councillor Susan Carey, Chairman of Shepway District Council with Vince Lucas of Southeastern Trains at London St Pancras station

Councillor Susan Carey, Chairman of Shepway District Council with Vince Lucas of Southeastern Trains at London St Pancras station

Many people have said that no-one would want to use London St Pancras and certainly not if they had to pay extra but this morning proves otherwise.  The train was well loaded before it reached Ashford and from there the full tally was 305 people on a train which has 340 seats.  (The first train from Ramsgate via Canterbury also ran this morning and it carried 270 people.)

This is a really promising start to the new services and, as a founder member of the Rail for Folkestone campaign back in 2000, I was thrilled to see our dream finally become reality.  It meant a great deal to me to be able to represent Shepway on this important occasion and I remain confident that the High Speed rail services will play a major part in the regeneration and future prosperity of our district.

P.S .

When I arrived at St Pancras and was on an escalator I heard someone call out ‘Hallo Susan’ and I saw David and Josephine Lewis of Postling village in Shepway.  There was no chance of stopping for a chat so I waved and returned the greeting but I now know (see the post for 25 September) that I greatly puzzled them by being at St Pancras at that hour of the morning wearing the chain of office.  Now they know why!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

« Older Entries