Hythe « Shepway Chairman's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Hythe’

Visit from the Nepalese Ambassador

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

Mayoress and Mayor of Folkestone, Lucy and Janet Andrews, His Excellency Dr. Suresh Chandra Chalise, Cllr Susan Carey, Chairman of Shepway District Council, Keren and Reg Belcourt, Mayor of Hythe and Escort

Our district saw a special visit today, Saturday 13 February. His Excellency Dr. Suresh Chandra Chalise is Nepal’s ambassador to the UK and he is in Hythe at the invitation of Folkestone Town Councillor, Dhan Gurung and Gopal Giri of Shepway’s Nepali community.

Dr Chalise’s deputy, Mr. Jhabindra P. Aryal, wears a very colourful tie combining the national flags of the UK and Nepal

Dhan has also invited the mayor of Hythe, Kieran Belcourt, the mayor of Folkestone, Janet Andrews and me in my role as Chairman of Shepway District Council. Dr. Chalise is struck that all three of us wearing chains of office are women. He tells us that in Nepal there is now a rule that 32% of elected representatives must be women.

The other guests include some of the Folkestone town councillors, Mario Citro, headteacher of Pent Valley Technology College, John Barber the Folkestone Town Centre and Pashupati Bhandari the owner of the Everest Inn which is hosting today’s lunch.

Dhan asks nearly everyone present to say a few words. The respect and affection felt for those members of our community who originated in Nepal is colours all the speeches.

Cllr Dhan Gurung

Dr. Chalise speaks about the long connection between Nepal and the UK and the warmth of that link. Nepal has not long since made a transition from a monarchy to a democracy and is now the world’s youngest democracy.

Dr. Chalise tells me that the Nepalese people who have settled in the UK are a resource for Nepal as they can encourage trade, tourism and friendship between the two countries. An example of this is here at the Everest Inn where a draw is held for flight tickets to Nepal from the business cards left by those who dine at the restaurant throughout the year. Dhan Gurung says that tourism to Nepal from Kent risen quite noticeably.

The Everest Inn team produce a splendid meal which is followed by a really special tea from the Himalayas.

It was a real pleasure to meet the Nepalese Ambassador who charmed us all. Pheri bhetaunla (I hope we meet again).

Tags: Hythe, Nepalese Community
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Hythe Civic Carol Service

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

St Leonard's church, Hythe

My last event before Christmas is the Hythe Civic Carol Concert at St Leonard’s church. The weather has been atrocious and the concert I was to have attended the previous evening at Sandgate was cancelled. When I arrive the row reserved for the visiting ‘chain gang’ is empty although the mayor of Swale does arrive later. (This is a great relief to me as he rang me before setting out for advice on the roads and for directions.)

I live barely five minutes walk from St Leonard’s so there is no way I would miss tonight’s event. District Council colleagues, Cllr William Richardson and Cllr Russel Tillson have also made it from the Marsh and there are many Hythe town councillors who are also District Councillors present – Cllrs Ewart-James, Owen and Lyons.

Cllr Susan Carey, chairman of Shepway Dostrict Council, Cllr Keren Belcourt, Mayor Of Hythe and Tony Windross, Vicar of Hythe

The carol service is the traditional nine lessons and carols led by Dr Berkeley Hill with the local vicar Tony Windross overseeing everything. Afterwards there is a delicious buffet prepared by the Mayor of Hythe Kerne Belcourt and her husband Reg. Keren and Reg are well known for their good food and seemingly effortless catering for large numbers but it’s clear that a great deal of work has gone into entertaining us.

It’s a lovely way to complete my civic duties for 2009 which start again in January 2010.

Tags: Hythe, St Leonard's
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“It’s getting better all the time…”

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

The Starlings with Cllr Keren Belcourt, mayor of Hythe and Cllr Susan Carey, Chairman of Shepway District Council

Friday 30 October and I am at the Mayor of Hythe’s Beatles Evening a fundraising event for Help for Heroes. Help for Heroes is a charity which supports members of the Armed Forces who have been wounded. It uses the money it raises to fund recovery centres where the seriously wounded can be helped prepare for their future and it also funds numerous charities which help servicemen such as Troop Aid and Battle Back.

Beatles evening in Hythe

The event takes place at the Royal British Legion in Hythe and it is well supported with a mixture of Hythe people and visiting mayors from across Kent. The Beatles music is played by The Starlings who do a great rendition of Beatles music and it’s not long before people are dancing.

Keren Belcourt, the mayor of Hythe, has a close connection with the Armed Services as one of her sons is just returning from a third tour of duty in Iraq and she has a close conection with the Starlings as her twin sons make up half of this evening’s Fab Four.

The evening is expected to raise about £800 for Help for Heroes. And in the words of the Beatles’ song playing as I leave “It’s getting better all the time…”

Tags: Hythe
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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'

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

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

Tags: Folkestone, Hythe
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Hythe Venetian fete

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

My last post mentioned the work Shepway District Council in maintaining the Royal Military Canal for everyone’s enjoyment. And one of the enjoyable events on and around the canal is the bi-annual Hythe Venetian Fete held on the third Wednesday in August.

HMS Pickle

Thunderbirds are go

The first Hythe Venetian Fete took place in 1869 as part of the Cricket Week when canoes, punts and gondolas were decorated with lights and music played. Over the years the Venetian Fete evolved to its present format of floating tableaux, music and fireworks. It is organised by a group of unpaid volunteers and Shepway District Council is one of the sponsors.

An illuminated float as darkness falls

The floats pass by in daylight, then again in the dark with the fireworks in between.

Hythe Town Council take the lead for this event and invite all the other mayors of the Cinque Port Towns who looked resplendent in their gowns and chains.

My guest for tonight, 19th August, is my friend and fellow Hythe resident, Cecily Partridge. Also supporting the event tonight is Shepway District Council Leader, Robert Bliss. And much to my delight I meet Alan who tells me he reads this blog. Do leave a comment Alan.

Alan at the Venetian fete

Tags: Hythe, Hythe Venetian Fete
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The Royal Military Canal, 200 years old and looking good

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Royal Military Canal, Hythe

The Royal Military Canal is a wonderful but little known treasure of the Shepway District. It is 28 miles long and runs from Seabrook to the east of Hythe to Cliff End near Hastings in East Sussex. Shepway District Counci cares for the six miles of canal that runs through Hythe and the Environment Agency looks after the rest.

We have Napoleon Bonaparte to thank for the Royal Military Canal as it was built as the third line of defence against his planned invasion. (The British Navy was the first line of defence and the Martello Towers the second.) The canal provided a further barrier allowing for raking lines of fire against an invading army. Fortunately the first line of defence held and the Royal Military Canal has only ever been used for peaceful purposes.

The first sod was cut in 1804 and it took four and a half years to build and today, 18 August 2009, we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Royal Military Canal.

The Royal Military Canal is the third longest defensive monument in Britain after Hadrian’s Wall and Offa’s Dyke. Unlike these historic monuments it still serves an essential function as it is part of the drainage and irrigation of Romney Marsh. It is also a well used an well loved part of our district by anglers, walkers and riders and provides a home for all sorts of wildlife.

It must be royal icing for the Royal Military Canal cake!

To celebrate the 200th anniversary, Shepway is staging an event with the Environment Agency to show how the canal is maintained and there is a magnificent cake depicting the canal complete with icing sugar trees, boats and anglers (the bridge and railings were the only non edible pieces). My role is to make a (short) speech and cut the cake and I’m accompanied by my friend and fellow Hythe resident, Richard Samuelson.

The cake is for the chop

Richard and I tour the stands showing the history of the canal, the work of the Environment Agency and some of the equipment that Shepway uses keep the canal free of weeds and the banks full of wildflowers and insects.

Caught today in the Royal Miltary Canal

There are plenty of people taking advantage of free angling lessons from the Environment Agency and a tank full of fish caught that morning on display before being returned to the canal. A grant from the Environment Agency has also paid for a section of the bank, next to Scanlons Bridge, to be made accessible for wheelchair users to fish.

As well as Kate Hayes, Shepway’s Environment Officer, Chris McCreedy, Grounds Manager and their team the event is also supported by two of the Hythe District Councillors, David Owen and Neil Matthews. There is a good turnout from the public and the cake attracts plenty of children eager for a slice of birthday cake at this 200th anniversary.

Kate Hayes, Environment Officer, gets close to Nature

The Royal Military Canal looks good for its age and this is largely down to the efforts of Shepway District Council. In 2003 Shepway won a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £3.35million for works to the canal, the banks and surrounding area. And the regular maintenance by the Shepway groundworks team keeps the Royal Military Canal looking its best. Local people also contribute by buying benches in memory of loved ones and there can be no doubt that everyone’s efforts are much appreciated by both residents and visitors to Hythe.

Chairman of Shepway District Councul, Susan Carey and Samuel Richardson

Chairman of Shepway District Council, Susan Carey and Richard Samuelson

Tags: Hythe, Royal Military Canal, Shepway
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Royal Military Canal 200th birthday event

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

Tuesday 18th August at 11 30 in the Triangle opposite the Light Railway Station in Hythe. A celebration to mark the 200th anniversary of the canal. Machinery demonstrations, free fishing lessons, live exhibits and more.

Tags: Hythe, Royal Military Canal
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Hythe Venetian Fete

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

Wednesday 19th August in Hythe.

This biennial event takes place along the Royal Military Canal. It opens at 4pm, the programme starts at 5pm with floating tableaux at 7pm and fireworks at dusk.

Tickets from the Advanced Booking Office, Hythe Venetian Fete, Blue Shield House, Prospect Road, Hyhte, Kent, CT21 5NS from £5 for children and £9 for adults.

Tags: Hythe
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Hythe Civic Service

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Rosemary Gould with Cllr Susan Carey

The Mayor of Hythe, Keren Belcourt, has asked that all the women wear a hat or fascinator for the Civic Service. My escort today is Rosemary Gould a Saltwood Parish Councillor and we comply with Keren’s request.

We process from the town hall to St Leonard’s church for the service which includes a song performed by the children of Hythe Bay Community school. We return to the High Street for the march pass of the Salvation army bands one local and one from the Netherlands. There’s a rousing three cheers for the mayor and we head for Hythe Bowls Club for lunch.

Those present include John Holman, one of the Deputy Lieutenants who lives in Hythe, our MP Michael Howard, the Hythe town councillors,past mayors, mayors from other towns, Robert Bliss, the leader of Shepway District Council and district councillors David Monk and Russell Tillson.

The Right Worshipful Town Mayor of Hythe, Keren Belcourt and guests outside Hythe Town Hall

I notice that the mayor of Sandwich is wearing black ribbons and he tells me that Sandwich is still in mourning for the death in battle of the mayor and 5 councillors in 1457!

Tags: Hythe
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Making a Mayor

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

The new Mayor with the Chairman of Shepway

My first official engagement as chairman is the mayor making at Hythe. Martin arrives with the chain and, unlike the quick handover at the Annual Meeting, we have time to get the chain just right. There’s a selection of ribbons to choose from and I ask Martin if the colours have any significance. ‘Not really’ he says, ‘Except you’re not supposed to wear your party colours during an election campaign’. Whoops. I unwittingly broke that protocol the first time I wore the chain. Today I’m wearing blue and I choose the red ribbons.

Chain of Office

We also have time to take a photo of the chain for the blog.

The mayor making in Hythe is in the town hall with the list of the former mayors stretching back to the Middle Ages. It’s done with great ceremony and all the councillors wear gowns. I enjoy being in the audience this time and watch Keren Belcourt elected mayor with David Owen (yes, my new vice chairman who is also a Hythe town councillor) elected deputy mayor.

The mayor of Folkestone is wearing pink ribbons with her chain. She leans across to me and says, ‘I’m not being nasty but your ribbons aren’t very nice.’ She advises me to buy some new ones and that 1 ¼ metres of ribbon is the right length for two bows.

At the reception after the mayor making I notice several people have badges to mark that they have served in various roles with Hythe and the Cinque ports and I resolve to try to record these on the blog sometime.