Shepway Chairman's Blog

Some of the 'chain gang' at the Lydd Party

Wednesday 09 December is the Mayor of Lydd, David Kersey’s Christmas Party which I am attending with my friend Sue Dixon.  Sue came with me to Lydd day in the summer so recognises many of the people present at the party.

As well as local people, there are mayors from other cinque ports and the chairman of Kent County Council, John Davies.  And District Councillor William Richardson is also here.

John Davies, chairman of Kent County Council, Susan Carey, the worshipful mayor of Lydd, David Kersey

The Marsh has been much in the news lately with Lydd Airport’s plans due to come before Shepway District Council onWednesday 03 March and the fate of Marcus the lamb at Lydd Primary school making the national media.  The Government’s decision not to shortlist Dungeness for a new nuclear power station also affects Lydd and is one of the issues that people here are talking about.  The deputy mayor asks us all to think of those who can’t be home for Christmas thinking of our troops in Afghanistan. 

A former mayor of Lydd

Lydd has some very fine portraits of past mayors and it’s good to see the town’s history honoured. 

It’s a most enjoyable evening and on the way back we stop off at Dymchurch to look at the shop windows.  Why?  See the post for 15 December.

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

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.

The Worshipful Mayor of Lydd, David Kersey

Saturday’s event (20 June) is Lydd Club Day which started as a livestock market supported by local shopkeeprs who paid into a ‘club’ to attract people to come into Lydd to spend their money.  Today it is a good excuse for fun with stalls, a funfair, floats, fancy dress and a lunch. 

The people of Lydd are known as ‘Lyddites’ and at lunch I sit next to the mayor of Lydd who tells me about his magnificent chain which has the names of Lydd’s previous mayors engraved on the reverse.  Also at our table is the new vicar of Lydd, Sarah Williams resplendent in pink including her hair.  She has been in Belgium for the last 25 years and leans across to Michael Howard to ask him who he is.  He replies, deadpan, that he is Michael Howard and the MP of the area for the last 26 years.

The event is well supported by other district councillors.  Willie Richardson the councillor for Lydd is here as well as Robert Bliss the council leader and Russel Tillson.  And among the stands I find Shepway’s Community Safety Unit staffed by Michelle who is advising people on how to make their homes safer.  I also find Terry Preston (a former chairman of Shepway) on the Defend Our Coast stand .  www.defendourcoast.org.uk

Cllr Susan Carey with Sue Dixon at Lydd Club Day