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Issue 134 Thursday 26th November Drink Driver charged with Car Crash

Fly Guys, Sky High Donation A man has been charged with drink-driving after a serious accident on Coast Drive in to the Air Ambulance -on-Sea recently. Two women had to Two residents John cheque told The Looker; “This is the be cut from the wreckage, firefighters using Harmer and John Wimble recently made largest single donation I have received in heavy cutting equipment freed both a donation of over £10,800 to , the ten years I have been representing casualties who were taken to hospital after Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance the charity.” With over 1,000 books sold they were cut free. Police arrested and service, from the proceeds of book of in just eight weeks, demand was still charged a 52-year-old New Romney man aerial photos of the Marsh taken from a high. And thanks to a kind donation to after the crash who was driving the other radio controlled quad-copter. cover the print cost, some more copies car. He has been named as Mr Harold Hills, The book sales surprised both of them are being printed in time for Christmas. of Road, and was released on and at the official cheque ceremony, the The full story on how the book came bail to appear before fundraising volunteer who accepted the about is on page 4. Magistrates on Monday, December 7th. The women were taken by a road crew to the waiting Air Ambulance, who transferred Brownies do their bit for troops one of the casualties to Kings College Hospital in London, suffering from on the frontline suspected pelvic injuries. Kate Jarvis told 1st Lydd Brownies carried on a century old The Looker, “The scene looked pretty bad when I tried to travel along the coast road tradition of sending presents to troops serving on my way home from work, all you could away from home at Christmas time. see was flashing blue lights. I hope that the The act of sending gifts to troops overseas goes casualties are ok, but this road has always back to the Crimean War and First World War, been problematic, drivers regularly travel when people sent knitted gloves and sweets to down this road at up to 70 or 80 miles per troops. Because of the logistics of sending hour, it sometimes take an accident like this packages to the frontline, during the Second for people to realise how bad this road is, World War shoe boxes were used to ensure with its undulating dips where all the drains that they could be parceled together for ease of are.” Cont... Page 2 Thursday 26th November 2015 Because Local News Matters shipping. Donna Walker-Hudson told The Looker; “This is strong group of 22 girls, they run weekly and enjoy a range the 2nd year the 1st Lydd Brownies have taken the of crafts, games, cooking and much more. challenge to fill shoe boxes to be sent to our troops. We For more information contact: Donna Walker-Hudson on usually start them in September and a few of the ladies at 07957-749471 for more info on joining the unit. Lydd Airport also fill them with us and it is great how everyone likes to join in and if anyone else would like to fill a shoe box for our troop please get in touch”. The Brownies fill the boxes with a range of different items, everything from: toothbrushes, wash stuff, beef jerky, noodles, soups, right the way to including card games, medical bits like plasters, savalon, washing lines, sewing kits. The Brownies even had a badge made using the shoe box official. 1st Lydd Brownies have a

Page 2 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015 Once in a lifetime trip to Japan By Jake Trimmings July 2015 and after eighteen months of preparation we were finally on our way to the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan. As part of the Todai (light - house) contingent we flew via Dohar to Haneda – Tokyo International Airport and stepped into the adventure of a you’ve seen the museum and you hear souvenirs. lifetime. from the survivors and talk to the local All in all a wonderful experience. We Tokyo was amazing. I went to people about it. Then you realize they celebrated some awesome moments Joypolis, an indoor Sega themed park have lived with pain and tragedy and during the jamboree and made with many games and rides. I won a still live with this horror but they get on hundreds of new friends along the way. prize there. Next stop - Tokyo Skytree with their lives and rebuild which is A true spirit of unity. which is 634m (2,080 feet) high. We amazing. I would like to thank everyone in the visited the Earthquake Centre where A wonderful place and a great District who has they can simulate the experience of an reminder of the need for Peace in the supported me with grants, local earthquake, walked around a lot and World. sponsorship and individual donations saw many sights. I even got a ‘selfie’ We spent a fantastic few days with our to help me raise over £3,500 to get to with the lead singer from Full Moon! home stay families and I would like to Japan. We have received a huge After an awesome time in Tokyo, we say a massive thank you to them for amount of support from local people, set off for Yamaguchi, tent city where the experience and the privilege of businesses, and organisations. the Jamboree was held. There was so allowing me into their home. It’s been 18 months since we started much planned to do during the I thoroughly enjoyed it. My Japanese training and fundraising and the Jamboree, and it really was the most family consisted of 5 people: 2 boys adventure hasn’t stopped. The support amazing experience of my life. The (aged 17 and 15), the parents and a we have had from the local community Opening Ceremony was awash with grandmother. Both boys are Scouts and 1st New Romney Scout Group people and flags from every nation. and one of them attended the WSJ. Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers International Day gave us the The family live in Saga, south west has been amazing .A HUGE THANK opportunity to try all kinds of foods Japan. During our stay we went to the YOU to all of them for an unforgettable from around the world – some nice and local Scout Group’s Summer Festival Jamboree Experience” others not so good!! Culture Day was and the Pokemon Store – shopping for Jake awesome. My Patrol were chosen See Page 16 for Ellie Lilliott’s account to go to Takatomari Elementary School for a couple of hours for young students to show us what it’s like in their school. 7th August was my 18th birthday. It was an amazing celebration thanks to my Unit and random people around the Jamboree sight! I was also given a card from the UK Contingent Leader himself with a badge. We had a lot of cake but I was too busy eating it to get pictures… (It was much better than the Jamboree food). We went to Hiroshima on the 70th anniversary. Visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial gives you a new sense of perspective. You hear the stories and feel empathy for the people involved but you can’t really imagine what it must be like until Page 3 Thursday 26th November 2015 Because Local News Matters

It all started when Two Johns John Harmer brought his latest raise over ‘toy’ round to show me, a DJI ‘Inspire’ Quadcopter, £10,000 for the complete with a high-resolution Air Ambulance camera and two transmitters. The By John Wimble idea of taking some pictures of the Marsh from the air sprung to mind and we drew up a list of about fifty places that might be interesting to photograph. As we were using the airspace to take the photos, we thought that it would be a good idea John Harmer takes to the air at Lydd Club Day to raise some funds for the Kent Air Ambulance at the same with the Quadcopter time. John flew the ‘drone’ with one transmitter and I took the photos with the other one. and one day, we took photos at the RH&DR Miniature We started at the end of April and went to Hope and Old Trains Day in the morning and at Lydd Club Day in the Romney and in fact one of the shots we took of Old afternoon. Romney Church finished up as the front cover of the book. We filmed the Looker’s Hut at St. Mary’s and then went In total, we went out filming on 34 occasions and took down to Littlestone Golf Club where a couple of golfers nearly 1,000 photos. Everywhere we went we asked were sitting outside the clubhouse enjoying a ‘pint’ and we nearby residents for permission, and also the landowner if persuaded them to stand on the first tee. By this time we we knew who it was, and no-one said no. Most people were thinking about the cost of printing the book. We said, “When can we buy the book?” decided that we would have to try and obtain sponsorship We went to St. Marys-in-the-Marsh for the May Fair and for the cost of printing so that all the proceeds could go to 50K cycle ride filmed the opening of the Last Chance the charity and by asking lots of friends etc., we soon Rescue Centre at Hope with Ronnie Corbett. We tried to reached an amount that would enable us to go ahead. We take some pics of Snave Church but the surrounding area went to Wealden Press at Hawkhurst, who print ‘The was very overgrown and surrounded by trees. However, a Looker’, and they printed the book at cost because it was very kind lady next door to the church allowed John to take for charity. We also went to Marden, the HQ of the Kent Air off from her garden. We sent her a picture of her house as Ambulance the same day and they gave us a ‘Certificate of a thank-you. Trees, telephone and electric wires were the Fund-Raising’. first thing we looked for when we went to a new location. During July, we went to Dymchurch and and The rest of the month saw us going to , also covered such events as the the 10K run from New , Lydd and Brookland. We went to Newchurch to Romney and the Country Fayre. We had been given film the Church and the War Memorial and it was quite permission to film at Lydd Airport but when we went there, the drone wouldn’t start. It was programmed not to fly in a no-fly zone! We finally finished filming at the beginning of August and John worked out that the drone had been in the air for nearly 13 hours. We looked at the pictures on a large screen and selected the ones for the book. In September, we collected the books. They were sold in some shops and pubs on the Marsh and advertised in the church magazines. We had a stand at New Romney Sainsbury’s, the New Romney Church Book Sale, the RH&DR 90th Anniversary Weekend and John also took some to the Day Centre. They went very quickly and by the end of October, all the 1,000+ books had been sold. We must thank all the people who helped to sponsor the book, all the shopkeepers and publicans who sold the book and all the people who purchased a copy. Last week, the amazing sum of £10,850 was presented to the Kent Air Ambulance. We are having a limited reprint and the book can be windy and the only time that John was concerned about ordered from John Wimble 01797-362295, John Harmer flying. We were given permission to film at the Bird 07973-379674, or from Colorcraft or Rolfe’s New |Romney, Reserve and later that day, drove down to Dengemarsh but Lyons Coronation Square Lydd, Mark’s Fish Shop when we got there, the wind got up and it started to rain. Dungeness, Foords or the Beachside Stores St. Mary’s However, we managed a few pictures as we didn’t want to Bay, Smugglers Chest Dymchurch and Lathe Barn go down there on that road again! June was busy for us . They should be available from the first week in December. Page 4 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015

Page 5 Thursday 26th November 2015 Because Local News Matters

start of the meal the Chairman New Romney George Harvey welcomed the guests and thanked them and all Branch Branch of the Members for the hard work, support and advice that they had all given Royal British during the preparations associated with the raising of the outdoor Legion’s monument of remembrance “To The Fallen”. The Mayor gave a touching speech Annual that highlighted some of the many reasons for the continuance of annual Remembrance Remembrance. Also, the Mayor kindly presented Mrs Cherrie Harris Dinner (Branch Treasurer and Poppy Appeal Organiser) and her husband Mr David The New Romney Branch of the Harris (Branch Secretary) with a Royal British Legion held their annual framed certificate of appreciation in Remembrance Dinner in the recognition of the outstanding work Littlestone Golf Club Restaurant on they both undertake for the Branch. the evening of Friday 6th November Mr Edwin Seabrook – Smith, the 2015. Branch entertainment member, ably The principle guests were, The Right assisted by his wife Jean, arranged Worshipful the Mayor of New Romney the meal. The meal was quite Councillor, Mrs Patricia Rolfe and delightful and the service provided by Consort Mr Spencer Rolfe. Other the Littlestone staff was excellent. guests in attendance were the Town You do not have to have served in the Clerk, Mrs Catherine Newcombe, Forces to become a member of the Town Sergeant, Mrs Tracey Morris, Royal British Legion, everyone is Mr Tim Golding (Hythe Builder), Mr welcome. For more details ring Alistair Lyons and guest. 01797 361807 and speak to Cherrie After the Exhortation and Grace at the or David.

Page 6 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015

In pleasant weather and with Bloomin’ perfect planting conditions, ten keen volunteers planted 125 kilos of daffodil bulbs in Hythe just one hour and twenty minutes! Is this a record? Town gets a floral The bulbs were purchased by the Hythe in Bloom makekover partnership who invited volunteers from Hythe Civic Society and Transition Hythe to join them in putting them in the ground. The team planted half the grass verge in London Road last year and the latest work has completed the job. A kind neighbour enjoyed the daffodils so much this spring

that she was delighted to lay on refreshments for the workers. There are plans to plant more daffodil bulbs - courtesy of Shepway District Council - at the entrance to Green Lane, Hythe, in the next couple of weeks. Sally Chesters, joint organiser of Hythe in Bloom said: 'The bulbs we planted in London Road last year looked magnificent this spring, offering a wonderfully colourful welcome to Hythe. We were determined to cover all the grassed areas on both sides of the road and now we have. Next year London Road will be bursting with colour for all of us to enjoy.'

Page 7 Thursday 26th November 2015 Because Local News Matters

Coffee Morning & Bric a Brac, Heysham Hall, Lydd-on-Sea, 10 a.m. Dates For Your Diary Dymchurch Art Society, Village Hall, 1 p.m. Thursday 26th November Keep Fit/Dance Class, Chichester Memorial Hall, Lydd Meeting Point, Hardy Hall, 10 a.m. Sandgate, 2 p.m. New Romney Meeting Point, Methodist Church Hall, New Romney Craft Group, Old School, 7 p.m. 10 a.m. Keep Fit/Dance Class, St. Mary’s Bay Village Hall, Wednesday 2nd December 10.15 a.m. St. Mary’s Bay Computer Club, Village Hall, 10 a.m. Heysham Hall Computer Club, Lydd-on-Sea, 7.30 p.m. & 1.30 p.m. St Mary’s Bay Camera Club, Village Hall, 8 p.m. Purly Girlies for Knitters, Brooks Café, Hythe, 2 p.m. Country Mice Needle Craft Club, Old School, Friday 27th November New Romney, 7 p.m. Cuppa & Chat, Heysham Hall, Lydd-on-Sea, 10 a.m. Friends of Lydd, Hardy Hall, Lydd, 7.30 p.m. Whist & Scrabble, St. Peter’s Hall, Greatstone, 2 p.m. Late Night Shopping, Lydd Community Hall, ‘Call My Bluff’, Assembly Rooms, New Romney, 7 p.m. 7.30 p.m. – 10 p.m. (01797-362257 for details) Cash Bingo, New Romney Bowls Club, 7.30 p.m. Sequence Dancing, St. Mary’s Bay Village Hall, 7.30 p.m.

Saturday 28th November Dymchurch British Legion Christmas Fair, Village Hall, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Coffee Morning, Methodist Church, New Romney, 10 a.m. Lydd Church Christmas Fayre, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Christmas Coffee Morning & Fayre, Scouts Hut, New Romney, 10 a.m. – 12 noon Coffee Morning, Newchurch Church, 10.30 a.m. & District WI Soup & Pudding Day, St. Nicholas Church, New Romney, 11.30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sunday 29th November Romney Marsh Walking Society, Country Park, Fairlight, Visitor Centre, 1 p.m. (4 miles)

Monday 30th November Crafters & Knitters, Hardy Hall, Lydd, 10 a.m. Dymchurch Meeting Point, Methodist Church, 10 a.m. New Romney 65 Club, Prescott House, Rolfe Lane, 2 p.m.

Tuesday 1st December Coastal Meeting Point, St. Peter’s Hall, Greatstone, 10 a.m.

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Page 8 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015

Are you the driver of a silver Witness grey or blue Mercedes driving along Church Road, New Romney at 12.30 p.m. Appeal Saturday 25th July 2015, the day of the New Romney Country Fayre. I was driving the Hyundai Santa Fe which stopped to let you and another driver through. Whilst stationary I was rear-ended by a Ford Transit van which didn’t stop and forced you and the other driver in. You stopped and pointed out that he had hit me. I agreed and drove off after him. Catching him up at the lights, he argued, physically assaulted me then drove off. He is now denying responsibility and saying that I reversed into him! I have a witness to the assault, who has testified, but you and the other driver are the only witnesses to the actual collision. Unfortunately I didn’t take your details, I only remember your car. You are my only hope of getting justice in this case, as I am up against a blatant liar and his employers, who are backing him. I am facing financial loss through no fault of my own. Please help me by - emailing me at [email protected] or telephone on 07824 156785

Page 9 Thursday 26th November 2015 Because Local News Matters

Marsh Memories Compiled by John Wimble

Memories of Dungeness & Dengemarsh ground was taken off and replaced with shingle. The top “I remember the Nessers had goats all over the place and seven inches was mixed with cement and consolidated with that’s why they called it “Nanny Goat Island”. They were no joints making what was called a ‘flexible runway’ and it mainly in the Ballast Hole and over by the lighthouse. In was the cause of many a headache. During construction, a the late 1940s, we used to take our children to the beach at caterpillar tractor sunk in quicksand, the driver jumping off Greatstone and on the way we watched the kingfishers at just in time”. - Norris Heritage. Cockles Bridge. We picked sloes at the back of the water tower, near where the airport is now. We went in opposite “I can remember seeing the beach digging in the Beach Boulderwall Farm and the whole area was open and windy, Hole as a child. I used to walk down there to watch them. now it’s sheltered by the willow trees that have grown up. The men had to go round to the Old Lighthouse to gain Around 1938, the road was built to Dungeness and before it access, as the area they had already dug was flooded. The was built, if I had to go down there, I would walk down the Nessers had a job at times to get to school, as it was light railway line to the lighthouse. flooded there. If we went to Dungeness from Lydd we “I can remember an aircraft landing on the beach near the would walk. When we got to Boulderwall, the road ended Britannia. It was about 1940/41 and the RAF had to come and we crossed the beach with backstays. The Nessers and collect it. There was a gun emplacement for machine came up to Lydd by train. They came up at two o’clock on guns opposite the new Britannia. In 1953, construction Saturday, did the shopping, and went to Gobles café for started on Ferryfield Airport. On the Dungeness side of the their tea then went to the cinema in the High Street. After runways two pits were excavated, where the shingle was that they would have to hurry to the station for the best, for making a ‘flexible runway’. Nearly two foot of ten o’clock train back”. - Cyril Reeves.

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Page 10 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015

he was a very Long time Marsh knowledgeable engineer and he then joined the resident dies RH&DR as a fitter in A Marsh resident for most of his life, Peter Southerden died their works at at the end of October aged 84. He was born in New Littlestone. Romney and lived there for a few years with his two He was very friendly brothers, David and Michael before moving to ‘St. David’s’, with Stan Ramsden who on the Ashford Road, Hope, in 1938. His father worked for taught at Southlands Ellis Bros., a local builder, and in 1940 with other local and eventually got a job children, he was evacuated to Lindfield, near Hayward’s there as a technician in Heath. After about a year, he returned to New Romney and the woodwork and came home in Carey’s bus, a local company, and he had to metalwork departments walk home from North Street in the dark. The fields along with Stan and Paul both sides of the Ashford Road were mined, so he had to Reed. He stayed at the be careful where he walked. school until he retired and by this time he was spending a He went back to New Romney Primary School and his lot his time looking after his elderly parents. After they died, friends at school included Bob Gillham and Bill Webb. he remained in the bungalow with his brother Michael and Peter’s father owned some land off Cockreed Lane which they sold eggs from the small holding in Cockreed Lane. he farmed in his spare time and Peter helped him feed When one of his old workmates from Wingham Engineering around 100 rabbits before going to school and he also died in the 1990s, because of his knowledge of all things helped him at weekends. mechanical, he was asked to go along and see the widow He used to go fishing along Hope Lane and also used to sit about the disposal of a lathe. One thing turned to another on the bridge there and watch the Typhoons take off and and he married Jean in 1999! land at the nearby airfield. This created an interest in things Initially they lived in Greatstone, but because they wanted a mechanical and he saw the Flying Fortress that crash- quieter life, they moved to . After a few years, landed at Littlestone and also the Mitchell bomber that Jean’s health started to deteriorate and they moved just up crashed at Ivychurch. He used to cycle out with his friends the road to Snave but last year after Peter had to give up when he heard that a plane had crashed. driving they moved to Bilsington. On Friday afternoons, he was let out of school early and he Peter was a real character, always happy to stop and have used to go the local WVS Centre at the Methodist Church a few words, and many friends and relatives attended Hall in the New Romney High Street and the ladies used Bilsington Church for the funeral on a rather damp the lads as guinea pigs and practised bandaging them up. November day. Peter joined the local Gardening Club that met occasionally in the Church Hall and he was also a member of the Fur & Feather Club which had its meetings in St. Mary’s Bay. He left school in July 1945 and worked for his father for about a month. He then left and went to work for George Palmer at his farm at Brodnyx with Bob Jones, George Noakes and Sid Ovenden. After a few weeks, He was asked to help out at Palmer’s Corn Store in Rolfe Lane but soon afterwards his mother said he must leave because of the dust there. In 1946, he started work for Sid Waddell at Chapel Farm, on the Ashford Road. A few years later an opportunity arose to join Wingham Engineering who had just opened their unit in New Romney and he stayed there until the firm closed down. By this time

Page 11 Thursday 26th November 2015 Because Local News Matters

Your Letters email: [email protected]

Dear Looker, Dear Editor, Are we going to let Shepway put The Romney Marsh Philatelic and yellow lines everywhere on the Postcard Society had two visitors Romney Marsh with according to the giving displays in October. with no objections Early in the month, Colin Evans from from the non genuine Marsher’s Tunbridge Wells, gave a display and council yet again. It would be grand to talk entitled ‘America with a see that N.T.C has a backbone, no difference’. The main part of the they just want to see Romney display was about the reasons why die,(well done) you are going the right the Civil War was fought and the way about it. problems of supplies like paper and As I have said many times before, coins, for everyday use. Envelopes stand up for the Marsh people, if you were made by turning things like don't want to then stand down. paper bags inside out and coins were I am not a true Marsh man but my stamps, wrapped around a circle of wife's family have lived here for a few cardboard and backed by thin copper, hundred years and I have been here then covered by mica. for 47 years, so I class myself as an John Crowe, from , gave adopted Marshan and do not want to us a display later in October called change things that have become the ‘Cook to Quantas’ covering the nature of New Romney and the voyages of Captain James Cook and surrounding marsh. the early pioneering flights to I would personally like to stand for Australasia, ending with Imperial N.R.C but with all of the outsiders I Airways and Quantas Airlines. This would be shouted down every time I meant regular flights for mail and had an opinion. passengers. Can I suggest to the real Romney This month we visit Stamp people, stand up and be counted and Society to display our collecting oust all of the outsiders and get back interests to them, and this will be a to Romney people for Romney very pleasant evening with like- people. minded friends. Come all of you locals, kick out the If anyone is interested in any part of out the council and form your own. It’s our hobby,then they would be very up to you. welcome at any meeting, and I can be Yours, contacted on 01797-320804 for dates Tony Spiers. or a programme. A non Marsh Man but passionate Yours Sincerely, about the Romney Marsh. Albert L.C. Terry.

Page 12 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015

Dear Looker, Hammonds Corner, by passing St Mary's Bay and Would the Dog Owner who allows his/her animal to use the Dymchurch with a longer term plan to continue to J11 footpath between The Parade and Merritt Road as its own of the M20 at . What a great plan! Lorries public toilet, please clean its mess up! School children and would not need to go through the coastal towns, commuters parents use it every weekday and the last thing they need, would have an easier time, it would be safer and less is to be scrapping pooh of their shoes before going into crowded for emergency vehicles and Lydd Airport would school. gain from better onward communications not only to Tim Gibbs. London, but also Eurostar and Dover Docks. The project was dropped, but how can we get it looked at Dear Looker, again? Post Office National Consultation Team. Paul Bryant (Dymchurch). We understand that there are proposals to move our local post office (2 Park Parade, Dymchurch, TN29 0NT) in store Dear Sir, to Dymchurch Village Store TN29 0NT. There is no Your edition Issue 133, 12th November, Romney Councillor apparent announcement of a consultation from the Post Resigns from political party. Office Consultation Team. In store post offices throughout For many years have I written to people like you in local, the country may be successful and more cost effective for Kent Messenger and Kent papers, as well as national the post office but in this instance the following points would papers: Times, Mail, Independent, Telegraph, Speaker, need to be addressed: House Of Commons, B.B.C etc asking for the expenses of 1. Services: St Marys Bay post office was moved instore M.P’s, Local County Councillors, Local Councillors, Mayors with a loss of services now sought from Dymchurch post etc to be published monthly or quarterly, half yearly or even office. The current Dymchurch post office provides a yearly. BUT NO ACTION OR PUBLICITY!! comprehensive service which would be reduced. Consequently, we get these fiddles and misuse of taxes in 2. Parking: Dymchurch Village Stores has a narrow path the whole of Q. Elizabeth II ‘s Establishment. outside with street parking which is usually full (seaside No integrity there I’m sorry to say. So no-one anywhere can town). Impossible for mobility scooters and pushchairs complain when some foreigner, African, American, Russian buggies to be left outside. Postal collections would or European’s fiddle their accounts. therefore be a difficult task. Hopeful that you might publish a list of local expenses to 3. Dymchurch Village Store: Has a post office set the example. representative visited the store to see how close and Your Faithfully, crammed the aisles are? Manoeuvring around them E.Pettinger. currently is difficult, with more customers it would be impossible especially with buggies/walking frames without Dear Looker, removing many of the village store's stocked shelving. I was intrigued to find out that New Romney and Shepway 4. Post box location: Currently easily accessible outside the Councillor Peter Simmons has been found guilty of wrongly current post office location. With tight space and parking claiming expenses. I note that he promptly resigned from outside the Dymchurch Village Store, post box collections the Conservative Party, prior to his hearing to the Audit and would be difficult or if the post box remains at the current Standards Committee (in a meeting that was held behind location it means crossing the busy road. closed doors last week.) I note he also resigned from just In conclusion, we understand the post office business about every other body he represented as a councillor, needs to be cost effective but in this instance we believe including New Romney Town Council. the proposed location would be unworkable. Even though I read in your publication a few weeks ago that Dymchurch does not have a bank and therefore we rely on he protested he had done nothing wrong. If that was the this important service run by a very hard working case Mr Simmons, why then leave the party that you won community minded postmaster. We believe this proposal an election for?…. If you have done nothing wrong! would not be the best solution for our community. If you are now an Independent Councillor representing New We look forward to hearing from you with regard to Romney, then I am sorry, but that is not what we voted for! consultation on the above. Your record for representing our town is not exactly good is Paul & Sharon, it? The only time you have actually spoken up for our town Dymchurch. it was to build 300 homes on a Green Field site. Now, if you actually listened to the people of your ward, then you would Dear Looker, know that you went against their wishes, but guess you had It was interesting to read that a New Romney bypass was been whipped to tow the party line. Now you have no party, planned in the early 1990's. (Looker 12th November). I so who is going to tell you what to do? believe the need today is greater than ever, not only for If you want to represent the people of New Romney as an New Romney, but also for St Mary's Bay and Dymchurch. Independent I suggest that you stand down and we, the As the volume of traffic has increased, congestion has people of the town that you currently represent, can choose grown. We also now get many "blue light" emergency if you are the Independent that we want to elect or maybe vehicles travelling at high speed through Dymchurch every we may want to vote for someone within a party. day. It is only a matter of time before there is a serious Do the decent thing and resign. accident or a life threateng delay to an emergency vehicle. Andrew Bennett, The original plan for a bypass started at the roundabout at New Romney.

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At our recent networking evening, we offered a wrong place can cause”, says Steve. business overview as one of our raffle prizes. After a few weeks’ training, he became genuinely enthused The Winner was PestRid. by the job and went on to gain experience dealing with bed-bugs, wasps, mice and other unwanted critters for Andrew South asked owner, Steve Evans, about his business The police, ambulance and Spotlight fire services, along with the RNLI – are among those we would rather not have on cause to encounter – but it’s good to know they’re there if you need them! PestRid Such is the case with the eponymous ‘mouse-man’, By Andrew South ‘wasp-man’ or ‘rat-man’, more correctly known as the pest controller. So there may be times when we might need the service of Steve Evans, Director of PestRid in New Romney, who has more than 20 years’ experience in keeping homes and businesses free of those elements of wildlife who unwittingly find themselves coming a little too close for our comfort. “I really saw a career in music, which was my first love. I was the vocalist in bands playing a variety of our own music from rock to soul and funk - we even made a CD - but eventually my bandmates just wanted to play cover versions, which wasn’t really what I wanted to do,” says Steve. Music’s loss was the pest control industry’s gain. “I saw an ad in the paper for a trainee technician’s role at a local company and was soon going out in the van with a qualified technician and I loved it! I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the business and the problems that creatures in the PestRid Proprietor Steve Evans

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national hotel chains, as well as respected establishments such as Westminster Abbey, Eton College and the British Library. “There are two types of pest control”, he explains, “the reactive and pro-active. The reactive is fairly self-explanatory – we assess what needs to be done in a particular situation and act on it. The pro-active approach is ideal for businesses such as restaurants, hotels or pubs who want to ensure that they maintain a clean bill of health by regular checking and monitoring”. He is keen to emphasise the professional nature of his business. British Pest Control Association (BPCA) accreditation means he meets nationally agreed standards of service, and he warns against hiring ‘handymen’ to carry out pest control. “I am frustrated by advertisers who promote garden maintenance and fence repairs, and throw in pest control as an additional service, but these guys are not professional won’t take the pride in their work that I have for the last 20 years. Moving from Little Chalfont in Buckinghamshire to Romney Marsh 18 months ago, he soon identified the need for his standard of service among home-owners, catering outlets, hotels and other businesses who always give him a warm welcome. “It might sound like a cliché, but every day really is different in this job – and one of the few jobs where your customer is genuinely pleased to see you!” he says. “But I do place a great emphasis on education. I don’t charge anything for a call-out to assess a situation and there is no obligation to take my advice, but I willingly help people to think seriously about how they can deal with problems now and in the fu - ture”. There is one thing that Steve is keen to impress upon his customers: “Rather than being known as the ‘mouse-man’ or ‘wasp-man’, I’d much rather be called Steve Evans of PestRid, as that is who I am!”. So just like all the other vital emergency services who do such brilliant work, it’s good to know there is another organisation for which we should be grateful is there when we need them… Steve can be contacted for a free and no-obligation consultation on 07470-471015 or on e-mail at [email protected] The company’s website is: www.pestrid.co.uk

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Japan... Experience Land of the Rising Sun My World Scout Jamboree: of a It would be an understatement to say that Lifetime attending the 23rd World Scout Jamboree was the By Ellie Lilliott best experience of my life. 1st New Romney Scout Group Perhaps the word is overused today but it was amazing. And extraordinary. And fantastic. This is my attempt at sharing with you the incredible journey I took part in with 34,000 other young people from around the world. We left from late on the 25th July for a 06:00 flight from Heathrow – needless to say nobody slept that much. The wait went by quickly and we were soon on a nicely. Any language barriers were soon overcome with plane to our stop off in Vienna, where we waited four hours mutual friendliness. I and six other scouts travelled to the before getting on the plane to Tokyo. 11 hours or so later head quarters of the 25th Gifu Scout group and we were we were there. I remember stepping out of the safety of air met with a party. The whole scout group had turned out to conditioning and buildings to the oven-like conditions of put on performances and food for us. After a wonderful outside. We were faced with an eight hour bus journey and evening, we went to our designated homes in our groups. all we could do was ask very nicely for a bus that had air The next day was full of activities – we visited the local conditioning. We were answered in the best of ways. The castle, tried on Kimonos, took part in a tea ceremony and first thing that surprised me was how green everything was. went cormorant fishing. It was very insightful to how We went past paddy fields that looked unreal because of Japanese people live their lives behind a tourist orientated how vibrant the colours were and mountains with sheer front. We left all too soon for our next destination: slopes vanishing into the sky. Yamaguchi. Our destination was Gifu and the incredibly hospitable local We travelled by bullet train and we spent about three hours people that were to be hosting us for two nights. We were travelling – which I mainly spent doing the conga with greeted by cheers and banners and we soon settled in

Page 16 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015 people from Finland, South Africa, Brazil and That was the message conveyed to Scotland. After a long walk we arrived at the Network over 40 people who attended The campsite, and eventually our pitch, a square of Looker Newspaper’s first ever land with stunted plants and not much else on Networking Event, held at Sotirio’s 103 it. I admit the first impressions of our new And Restaurant in Greatsone. home were not what you would call fantastic The whole Looker team was on hand to but we soon made up for the fact. Everywhere meet and greet guests as they arrived you looked there were flags and people from Get-work and ensured that everyone had a drink literally all over the world. Our programme and enjoyed the buffet, provided included trips to the local area to see theatre, The Looker holds courtesy of Sotirio’s. nature parks and schools, interspersed with Group Editor, David Wimble said; “I’ve advertisers’ birthday attended lots of these networking educational activities and socialising around bash campfires beneath the stars. We visited events in the past and after a while they Hiroshima for a very poignant trip, exactly one were all a bit samey, however, as we celebrated our fifth year at the week before the 70th anniversary of the paper this year, we thought we would combine the two: have a party and atomic bomb. We visited the museum and it at the same time invite some potential new customers along so that they was humbling to see the relics left from the could talk with our current customers to see how the paper has helped exact moment the bomb detonated. We saw a them in promoting their businesses.” pocket watch The night proved a huge success, with a number of new advertisers stopped at the signing up on the night. exact second and Editor Annabel Clare said; “More than anything it was a thank you to the people who have supported us over the last five years and watched us a tricycle that had grow into the popular publication that we are today. It’s extremely been buried with satisfying when your customers sing your praises and promote our its’ owner and they are the two things that I remember the most about the day. We also went to some of the memorials, including the Children’s peace memorial where we left 1000 paper peace cranes. We had three ceremonies where we were entertained by celebrities and inspirational speakers. I have never heard of another place where so many people from so many different places could lay down whatever else was going on in the world to just be together under one name. After a very short 10 days we went back to business to potential new customers” Tokyo. There we went up the Sky Tree and During the evening, guests placed business cards in a hat in the hope of into Japan’s largest indoor theme park. We winning the raffle prize of a free two page editorial about their business. went on the Tokyo metro to get around and we “It was just meant to be a little thank you,” said Gill Hinds (Looker Sales ate from the local supermarkets. We also went Manager) “but then other advertisers started donating prizes too.” to the Electric City and went on the monorail. Generous donations included,bottles of beer from Romney Marsh We experienced one of the earthquake Brewery, a free car service from Colin Wood Engineering, a treatment simulators which was frightening because voucher from Linsey of That Beauty Shop in New Romney and even a people use that to save lives. We finished off private Ballroom and Latin Dance lesson with Therese from Foxes the whole experience with Tokyo Live, a Dance. “ I hope lucky winner, Ben Peach, from Marsh Alloys enjoys his performance that included a whole tuna being dance lesson with his wife!” she added. carved and samurai and ninja demonstrations. One of the new things that was launched on the night was The Looker I would like to take this opportunity to thank websites’ new business directory, IT Manager Danny Wild explained; “We everybody in the local Romney Marsh never imagined that the new website would get as many ‘hits’ as it does, community for all of their support, it may be a when we started looking at all the statistics, we were amazed that the site cliché, but I would have been unable to attend had over 300,000 hits a month and the downloads of the digital edition had it not of been for everything you did. It is reached over 1,000 last week for the first time. So we thought as an greatly appreciated and I am honoured to have added bonus, we would list all our advertisers under categories with the represented New Romney, ability to put your actual newspaper advert online with a link to your own Kent and the UK on this trip. website” The Looker would like to thank Costas and his fabulous team for help Ellie making the night such a great success. Page 17 Thursday 26th November 2015 Because Local News Matters

Residents in Shepway will have an opportunity to get their Operation Castle: property security-marked for free. In the run-up to the festive season, the mobile police station will be visiting Folkestone to offer advice to shoppers on Property marking how to keep your Christmas presents and other belongings safe from burglars. The events are part of a current campaign by to and safety advice target burglars and encourage residents to take simple steps to protect their homes from burglary. Officers will also be offering the chance to get your property sessions security-marked. Having your belongings security-marked not only deters thieves but also greatly increases the chances of having stolen or lost property returned to you. The Marking Roadshow will be taking place at: Sandgate Road, Folkestone on Wednesday 25th November, between 11am and 2pm . Search for #MobilePoliceStation on Twitter for daily updates on the locations of the mobile police station. Residents can register their items on the world's largest property database so that if they are stolen, they can be reunited with the owners - and so the offenders can be prosecuted. You can register your property in just a few minutes by visiting www.immobilise.com Visit this website for more information tips on how to protect your home To keep up with news and advice on social media during the campaign search on the hashtag #Kentagainstburglary

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Folkestone’s Coastal unique position on Folkestone Folkestone’s Park has been voted Beach and has something for one of the nation’s everyone from formal gardens favourite parks. The park to cycle paths to family play Coastal Park beat more than 1,500 areas. It also has something other green spaces to most parks don’t, the seaside! is the make it to the top 20 of Cllr Jenny Hollingsbee, the Keep Britain Tidy Shepway District Council, People’s Choice award. Cabinet Member for people’s The People’s Choice Communities said: “We’re so competition is organised proud of this wonderful park favourite by the Green Flag Award and the staff who look after it. Councillor Hollingsbee scheme which The number of public votes we ‘Pleased with the award’ recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the UK. received is an acknowledge - The public were asked to vote for their favourite of the ment of our continuing work to make Folkestone an 1,581 parks in the scheme, making the Coastal Park one of attractive and vibrant place to live and visit. Thank you to the best of the best. everyone who voted for us.” One of Kent’s top visitor attractions, the park occupies a

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At the November workshop 'The opening of hART's Romney members produced a very hART second Christmas colourful selection of exhibition will coincide Marsh ‘Christmas Cakes’ all made with Late Night Shopping from plant material. They looked Exhibition in Hythe from 3 p.m. on almost good enough to eat but Friday December 4th. Flower were definitely not fattening! 12 hARTists will be The next meeting of Romney for exhibiting drawings, Marsh Flower Arrangers is on paintings, illustrations, Arrangers Monday 14th December at prints, photographs and 7.30pm in St Mary’s Bay Village Christmas ceramics until Sunday Hall. It will start with our AGM followed by a seasonal December 12th in the Tin Tabernacle, Portland Road, demonstration entitled ‘A Christmas Duet’. CT21 6FL. Warm punch and mince pies will be available from 6 p.m. on December 4th.

Visitors will be most welcome. Tickets £5 available on the door. For more information about the club please phone Cecilia All welcome. For more information visit: on 01303 249582 www.hARTists.co.uk Spotted In... New Romney. The District keeps its celebrity status intact. Seen patiently waiting at the T-Junction at Hammonds Corner, local comedian Jim Moir AKA ... Vic Reeves star of Shooting Stars and Vic Reeves Big Night Out

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Recently the People’s Health Trust Looking granted the local charity, Caring All together on Romney Marsh (CARM) some funds to support and increase out for social activities for older people within the community of Lydd. CARM currently provides a Lydd befriending at home service and a Meeting Point in Lydd and we are We need local, Lydd, volunteers who are able to Great news for very pleased to have some funds to give up an hour or so a week to visit a client in the residents of Lydd expand these services. their homes. We also need another volunteer to Our befriending service is a volunteer help at the Meeting Point on Thursday mornings. visiting service for older people of Lydd who are unable to get out All volunteers receive training and support from and in need of company. The volunteer and client are suitably CARM. We also hold social events to thank our matched, so, they have plenty to talk about or maybe, play a game volunteers which are enjoyed by all. of cards. Does becoming a volunteer for CARM interest Meeting Point is held at the Hardy Hall, Skinner Road on Thursday you? Do you want to become involved in your mornings from 10 a.m. till Midday, it’s a good place to meet new local community? people and old friends for a chat and a cuppa. It’s run by fantastic To find out more pop along to…… local volunteers. All are welcome to pop along and give it a try, you The Hardy Hall, Skinner Road may learn something new as there are regular speakers and Paul On Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Croft, the community warden usually calls by. Where you will be able to meet some staff and If you or someone you know someone would benefit from our volunteers from CARM and find out more. services, please give us a call on Tea and cake will be provided. 01233-758122 . This is a project for the community of Lydd, with local people at the heart of it, so help us make ‘Looking out for Lydd’ a success and benefit to Lydd people.

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Page 24 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015

Bellowhead, who are on their Farewell tour. Although it was my first time seing the band live, it really was a great night. Looker Social Last weekend was another busy time for us, on Saturday night Team Looker took part in a quiz held at the Levin Club at St.Mary’s Bay, in aid of the Village Hall fund for St.Mary’s Diary in the Marsh. We had to leave early though so that we could We’ve both been battling colds and ‘flu these past few attend the Aspinall weeks and by the sounds of it so has most of Romney Foundation Ball at Port Marsh! But nothing could dampen our spirits at our first Wild Animal networking evening we held recently at Sotirio’s 103 in Park. Greatstone. The Looker has always tried to support local The Looker has always backed this fantastic park, who not business so it was lovely to see so many giving their only help preserve some of the world most endangered support to us. Our raffle on the night was great success and species, but also helps re introduce the animals into their well done to all the winners and businesses who kindly natural habitat. donated the prizes, especially Steve Evans of Pestrid who The night certainly was an impressive one, with a list that won the star prize of an article featuring his life and work in read like a who’s who. With some of the notable attendees the pest control industry: see pages 14 and 15. Written by being Roger DeHaan along with his son Josh and their the incredibly talented Andrew South, who I hope will be family. writing a lot more for The Looker in the future. The evening got underway when Radio One’s Greg James Always looking for a new restaurant, we thought we’d give acted as Master of Ceremonies. The Looker would like to The Gallivant in Camber a try. thank Nigel Hawkins and Coastal chic- a relaxing hideaway Dan Wild for assisting priding itself on delivering the with the disco in the most delicious local and seasonal mansion house. food - sourced within a 15 mile With Christmas now only adius- and some fine English a matter of weeks away, wines. I can’t wait to go back for we have a busy more. schedule ahead, but hope Last Tuesday David and I went you enjoy this bumper along to The to see edition of the paper. one of David’s favourite bands,

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Dungeness B is Dungeness B working with a local educational charity to inform young people works with about job opportunities at the power station. local charity The Romney Resource Centre (RRC) works with people of all ages to promote to help them gain recognised job qualifications that will lead to employment. The centre also opportunities partners with organisations and Victoria Brown, Dungeness B’s apprentice coordinator agencies to provide careers advice and place people in “People who leave school with no qualifications shouldn’t jobs. be denied job opportunities if they are willing to work hard Employing 550 permanent staff Dungeness B is the biggest to gain them at a later stage. There are great career business in the area, and with over 200 contracting jobs opportunities here including apprenticeships which can there are plenty of opportunities from engineers to cleaners. teach young people valuable, sought-after engineering Nine RRC students (aged 15 – 17) who are working skills.” towards Maths, English and employability qualifications as Lucinda Thorne, Youth Placement Co-ordinator at RRC part of a study programme, visited the power station to said: “Romney Resource Centre helps to give people that discover the range of jobs at the EDF Energy owned site. first step into employment and partnering with big John, 16, from New Romney, said: “I had no idea that there businesses like EDF Energy helps immensely with that. would be jobs suitable for me here. I thought you had to be Many of the people that use RRC will know people in the a nuclear engineer to work in the power station but now I local area working at the power station so it’s been really think if I can get my GCSEs I will definitely apply for valuable for this group to come and hear first-hand about something, maybe even the apprentice scheme.” the range of jobs available.” Victoria Brown, Dungeness B’s apprentice coordinator said:

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A bank robber who stole behind the counter. Hythe more than £6,000 by He left with £1,055 in a jiffy bag but was then chased back to terrifying staff with his car by a customer and another member of public, who threats of a gun has noted his registration number before informing police. Bank Robber been jailed for three The vehicle was traced back to Weldrick, who was arrested years and nine months. at his home address the same day. His fingerprints were Jailed for Martyn Weldrick, 45, taken, which linked him to forensic evidence left at the scene held up two premises in of the Hythe robbery. Hythe and Maidstone in Acting Detective Sergeant Steve Smith of Kent Police said: Three Years late 2014 and made off ‘Martyn Weldrick’s behaviour was wholly unacceptable and with bundles of cash for his own selfish financial gain. He put innocent people in Nine Months after passing threatening fear of being killed notes over the counter. while they worked He was arrested after for honest money. being chased by customers who noted the registration on his ‘Hopefully this getaway car, which was traced to his home address in sentence will give Ormonde Road, Hythe. him a chance to Weldrick pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and was reflect on that fact, sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 20 th and act as a November. deterrent to anyone The court heard how Weldrick first targeted the NatWest who thinks robbing bank in High Street, Hythe, at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday from a bank is a 1st October 2014. victimless crime. Disguised by a baseball cap, sunglasses and a hooded top, The staff and he approached the counter and handed over a piece of customers of both paper that instructed the member of staff to fill an envelope banks acted with with money, adding that he had a gun and would kill people if courage and good she refused. He then fled with £5,295 in cash. instinct to provide Just over a month later, on Monday 3rd November 2014, quality evidence Weldrick entered the NatWest bank in Heath Road Coxheath which has secured near Maidstone, and passed a similar note to the woman this conviction.’

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It had long been known that operating in East Kent, whilst on business, Colin Whittle, The Saga the World War Two air raid assuming that it was to warn of shooting at Hythe MOD siren post had remained in ranges, called into the site security gate and asked whether its original position, behind they operated the siren. Security denied that they had a of the the Unicorn pub, in what was siren on site but introduced him to the range manager who for many years, Tomkinson's admitted that there was a siren but that it had not been fired Marden Air transport yard. However, for 5-6 years. He was shown the siren, installed some when the site was being 20-30 feet up, on top of a remote outbuilding and, as it was developed, David McFarland no longer of use to the MOD, Colin asked if it may be Raid Siren took the opportunity to ask donated to the History Group. Two weeks later he received the site foreman whether the a call to say that the siren had been taken down and was History Group could take it, in the hope that, at some time, waiting on a pallet for his collection. It transpired that the it could be re-erected in the village. siren heard each Friday was at Shornecliffe Barracks, After the end of WWII, in common with many other during its regular noon test firing. locations, the Marden siren remained on its post and was In 2010, the siren was taken to electric motor specialists, used until the early 1970's to summon our retained firemen, Electrogen, in Bethersden, who discovered that the motor when they were required to man the fire engine. First was completely burned out but was suitable for a complete pagers and then mobile phones made the sounding of the re-build. This was completed and, once it was known that siren redundant and so the Fire Brigade scrapped all of the we had a working siren, plans were prepared in order to sirens under their control. apply for planning permission to re-erect the post fitted with its now operational siren. It is suspected that, since they were unable find a precedent for a WWII siren planning application, Maidstone Borough Council naturally instigated many enquiries, throughout the two years that As the History Group had hoped to bring about a re-union elapsed before between the original post and a suitable siren, this made approval (with restrictions) was granted. the task of locating a siren extremely difficult – impossible, Sound volume tests were conducted at the identical siren at according to some siren enthusiasts. Colin Whittle visited Shorncliffe and limits were also imposed on the number and the Kent Fire Brigade's headquarters at Tovil and discussed duration of any firings at the proposed High Street car park the problem with the museum curator. There was even the location. Then assurances needed to obtained from all pub - body of an old siren displayed at the museum door, but lic utilities that no cables or pipework would be damaged by without its rotor blades – probably removed and sold on for the post's erection. This took Maidstone BC a further nine their higher alloy metal value. The curator even suggested months to get the required responses from all utilities. that they may donate the siren but investigation determined Kent Libraries agreed to the installation of a powerful that the blades were originally cast in quantity and then electrical supply within the library building, which can be machined to the exact dimensions of the particular siren so, temporarily connected, when it is intended to operate to obtaining replacement blades would be impossible to siren on selected special occasions. The siren, complete source. So the search went on. with its necessary extended cabling was finally tested on Then, in early 2009, having repeated heard a siren site during August 2014.

Page 28 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015 Hythe Christmas

Shopping therapy. Be amazed by stiltwalking elves Hythe Business and Tourism Association performing magic tricks. Relive and and Hythe Town Team are delighted to relove the past with Elvis impersonators, announce that this year’s late night a genuine lindy hopper dance troupe and shopping in Hythe will take place on salsa dancers. Chime in the Christmas Friday 4th December from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. spirit with the bellringers. Expect warm Hythe hospitality and festive It’s all in Hythe this Christmas and we fun and frolics for all the family. Come look forward to welcoming you there and meet Father Christmas and his real whether to eat in our restaurants, drink in reindeer, listen to the Military Wives’ our alehouses or simply to soak up the Choir, join in carols and music, indulge in festive atmosphere in our quaint High mulled wine, mince pies and retail Street.

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Page 30 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015

and had to repeatedly be reminded about how to address a meeting. To be honest, I had a little dog nap after about five NEWS HOUND minutes of her monologue, when I woke up sometime later, By Ted she was still going on about the lane. After the meeting, I asked someone where SmallPox Lane was and they explained how it was a well known dogging site??? Although I have never been for walkies there myself, perhaps Ms Lawes can take me up there sometime. The other highlight of the meeting was again, when one of the other Kippers woke up to ask why SDC would not spend millions to refurbish Royal Victoria Hospital in Folkestone. Again, she should really have written this down, as she had no clue as to how to ask a simple question and had to be prompted by Leader, Mary Lawes. One person in the Having witnessed the farce that was Lydd Town Council gallery pointed out it should be ‘turned into a sight clinic, as meeting earlier in the month, I was a bit surprised to hear it seemed to be the blind leading the blind’. that following the departure of Fred Wood-Brignall and the The highlight though was in response, when Hythe’s very scathing remarks about the conduct of councils members, own Michael ‘Doctor Kildare’ Lyons, seemed to have that there must be an abundance of people waiting to developed his own brand of anaesthetic, as he waxed perform at the circus, (sorry, I meant council.) A full lyrical about the state of funding for the NHS. bi-election has been called to fill the seat. Now normally News Hound noticed that fellow Hythe Council - when something like this occurs, a simple co-option is what lor, Alan Ewart-James, seemed to be induced takes place (on most councils), the candidates write in and into a coma and nearly fell off his chair in deep if there is more than one, a simple interview with the sleep! members takes place followed by a vote. However,for Lydd Until next time... this is simply not good enough. A full blown election has Woof Woof been called. One councillor told The Looker; “We all know who is behind this farce. The councillor has rounded up some of his drinking mates from the pub and got 10 signatories for this bi-election…. My worry is that the people of Lydd will end up paying for this. It is going to cost about £9,000 to hold this election - the people who foot the bill are the council tax payers- it is so unnecessary and not exactly doing our best for Lydd.” News hound thinks that this is only the beginning, until the full council is actually elected by the people of Lydd, it will always be a club of people trying their best for the townsfolk of Lydd and a small group of troublemakers, who have continuously tried to cause trouble just for the sake of it. It was with some trepidation that I went for my evening walkies up to the Civic Centre for the monthly full council meeting. As usual, one of the first things on the agenda was questions to the council, a chance for the ‘Kippers to Shine’. Unfortunately, like our last British summer, it promised a lot, but ended up a bit of a damp squib. With questions from Folkestone East Kipper, Frank Mckenna, not to be confused with his namesake, hypnotist Paul McKenna. Although in this instance, ‘he was the one who seemed to be in a trance’ as he asked a question about the state of repair to Keepers Lodge, as it was in dire need of restoration. He was completely unaware of a refurbishment plan for the Radnor Park structure that had already been underway for some weeks. Perhaps next time he is out in his ward he could actually have a look and not make himself look so silly. Next up was Ukip Leader Mary Lawes, could she possibly make more of a fool of herself following her last performance?.. The answer was yes, she could. She went into a long ramble about litter picking in ‘SmallPox Lane’

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The National Audit Two Bee(s) Office estimated that the value of the bees' services were or not estimated at £200m a year. The retail value of what they pollinate was to be? valued closer to £1bn. This was only the Ted Last asks the question monetary value, it did not include the aesthetic value of flowers, wild fruits trees and other plants that rely on bees, let alone Pooh bear! Photo David Wimble But seriously. We on the Romney Marsh share our area not The ‘Humble Bumble’ only with the honey bee, but also with bumble bees. Both demonstrated significant effect they have on the survival are in decline, but there is no certainty regarding al the and reproductive capacity of honeybee queens that have causes: certainly changing habitat due to agricultural been exposed to neonicotinoids. practices, including the use of pesticides is probably a Despite all the evidence such chemical powerhouses as major factor, but there seems also to be a rise in the effect Syngenta, Bayer, Monsanto, Dow, Du Pont and BASF of disease. This latter possibly being exacerbated by the continue to push their products and overturn bans in the former in the toxicity of pesticides, particularly a group EU. When giving evidence to Parliament Bayer’s was seen known as neonicotinoids. to be only partial as MP’s found significant data gaps! Me a cynic? While researching this I found that Syngenta Bioline was investing heavily into bee-breeding. It would seem that Syngenta Bioline “…are dedicated to the production of premium quality bumblebees…” . So first wipe out the competition then sell your product!

Photo David Wimble A Romney Marsh Honey Bee

What are Nicotinoids? These are substances that are related to nicotine that have limited toxicity in birds and mammals, but are very toxic in the case of many invertebrates, especially insects. Various studies published by the European Academics Science Advisory Council (EASAC) and Nature have provided strong evidence of the deleterious effect neonicotinoids have on bees. In particular, reduced wild bee density, solitary bee nesting and bumble bee colony growth. As late as October this year an EASAC report

Page 32 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015 Superfast Broadband is now on the Romney Marsh Call Flow Solutions, a superfast fibre rural broadband the counties hardest to reach villages. Call Flow’s first provider is setting out to be the go to provider in rural customers in the New Romney area went live with their villages in New Romney and the surrounding areas. broadband service in October 2014 with many satisfied Call Flow was established by Andy Conibere in 2002 and customers. This means that residents can now receive has built an experienced team now leading the UK market superfast fibre broadband over their telephone line, similar for high speed rural broadband solutions endorsed by Kent to the rest of the UK. County Council. In 2013, Call Flow set out to expand its network in the New Romney area as it was identified as How does it work? suffering poor quality internet services for its residents. By installing fibre direct to the local street cabinet your “We at Call Flow are more than delighted to be serving phone line goes through, the broadband signal has far less superfast fibre broadband for the areas and residents of distance to travel over your copper telephone lines and with New Romney, Greatstone, Dungeness and Lydd-on-sea. the latest technology deployed in those cabinets customers The project is now fully rolled out and we are able to can get significantly faster internet speeds. provide residents with our superfast offering and excited for With Christmas around the corner upgrading your them to join the Call Flow community.” broadband to superfast speeds may be one thing you could This scheme was supported with funding from Kent County do this time of year to ensure all technology devices work to Council, to help bring superfast fibre broadband to some of full potential for everyone in the house.

Page 33 Thursday 26th November 2015 Because Local News Matters

In a not so quiet When Larissa died she left an inheritance that amounted to Do we have corner of Lydd a year's pay for the majority of Britain's population. cemetery there is an Larissa's husband was so devastated by her death he had unobtrusive grave to be held up by other men at her graveside. a ‘Russian with a steel spiked Before and after her death it was rumoured that in truth surround and a Larissa was the Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Gravestone with the Russia, the second daughter of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia Grand words To My Very and of Tsarina Alexandra. Beloved Larissa Following her death some women living in Lydd became Feodorovna Who fascinated by the rumours and wanted to know more of Duchess’ Died July 18th, 1926 Larisa's story so they contacted author Michael Occleshaw Aged 28 Years. The about her. Occleshaw saw irregularities in the available Wife Of Owen Tudor, information about Larisa, such as the different ages given buried in 3rd The Hussars. on her marriage certificate, tombstone, and her death certificate, the differences in the names given for her, the It is mentioned by conflicting stories about her background, and Tudors Lydd? many people that inexplicable gained income and return to the Hussars and Tudor was made to promotion in rank following Larisa's death. By Graham Collard leave the Hussars, it Occleshaw speculates in his 1993 book (The Romanov is said that the Conspiracies) that Tatiana was flown out of Siberia by Colonel of the Hussars sent some brother officers to him British agents in mid-July 1918, with assistance from the either to teach him some Russian before his marriage or Japanese, transferred into the hands of Prince Arthur of try to persuade Tudor not to marry Larissa. Tudor, who it is Connaught, who was travelling from Japan to Canada said was deeply in love with Larisa, went ahead with the aboard the Japanese battle cruiser Kirishima in July 1918. marriage and was forced to leave the regiment The rescued Grand Duchess allegedly travelled across Canada before she sailed to the on the Canadian Pacific Ocean Service Ltd vessel Corsican which arrived in the UK in August 1918. However looking at the passenger list for this ship throughout July and August 1918 there was never a passenger on board with the name of Larissa Haouk. Occleshaw speculates that a rescue mission by air might have been considered by the British at the behest of King George V. An entry in the journal of Col. Richard Meinertzhagen asserts that the rescue took place on July 1st, 1918. Meinertzhagen wrote that the rescue mission One of the last pictures of the Duchess in Russia was not a complete success because not all the family was Larissa married Owen Tudor an Officer of the 3rd Hussars, rescued. “One child was literally thrown into the plane at in 1923 at the Register Office of St George's, Hanover Ekaterinburg, much bruised and brought to where Square, in London. Her marriage certificate listed her she still is, writes Meinertzhagen. Meinertzhagen's wife, address as the York Hotel, Mayfair, and her father as Amorel, travelled from Canada to the UK on the Canadian Adolph Haouk. Her age in 1923 was given as 27 on her Pacific Ltd. Vessel Corsican, which arrived in the UK in marriage certificate, though her death certificate in 1926 August 1918. while the war was still taking place. gave her age at death as 28. After getting married Owen Interestingly though in the adjoining cabin to Amorel was a Tudor transferred to the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Tank Corps 22 year old masseuse named Marguerite Lindsay, for whom which was based at Lydd. Occleshaw could find no birth or permanent address It was thought by the wives of Tudor's brother officers that records. Could this be the possible cover name for the Larisa was the daughter of a pork butcher who Tudor met rescued Grand Duchess. and fell in love with when he was posted to Constantinople. Owen Tudor's uncle was Sir Frederick Tudor, a British Larisa was also said to be a belly dancer at a night club in admiral who was in command of the China station in 1918. Constantinople using the name Larissa Haouk. Frederick Tudor was responsible for arranging the escape Because Tudor was forced to leave the Hussars and take a of refugees from Siberia to Japan and then onto Canada. junior officer appointment with the Tank Corps, we know he It was assumed that Owen Tudor might have met Larissa would have been reduced in income considerably, and with on one of these missions whilst on a visit to his uncle. no personal fortune, Tudor was still able to afford to have a Sir Charles Eliot, The British High Commander for Siberia, full time nurse for Larisa until she died, he also owned a later reported that while being interrogated by white horse which was stabled at a nearby farm. Russian Army investigators in January 1919, a red Guard They lived Privately in Lydd and were said to be very happy named George Nikolaevich gave some startling information as they were heard laughing in there garden on many to Biron, who was the chief Military Communications Officer occasions by neighbours, until Larisa became ill and died of the Bolshevik Third Army at Perm. Nikolaevich claimed due to Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Spinal Caries on July that Tatiana had run away or disappeared with a Red Army 18th 1926. officer, who was the commander of the her guard, and that

Page 34 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015 this occurred before the murder of the Tsar. Romanov Princesses. Occleshaw also noted that the patronymic (ancestral name) There as been at least on Larissa's gravestone was Feodorovna, which was also 200 people claiming to the patronymic adopted by Tatiana's mother, Tsarina be a member of the Alexandra, and that the surname Haouk bears close murdered Romanov resemblance to the surname of Countess Julia Von Hauke, family since that fate - an ancestor of the Mountbatten family and closely ful day so why not end associated with Tatiana's Hessian relatives. the speculation by A photograph that appeared on September 4th 1918 in the finding all the remains Harrogate Herald depicts a group of exiled royalty and of the complete family. aristocrats including Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna, In 2002 whilst working who was living at Harrogate. Occleshaw speculates that a at a very large Tudor house at Bapchild, Kent I met the very young woman in the photo whose face is half hidden old lady who owned the property and discovered she was a behind Lady Radcliffe, the wife of Sir Joseph Radcliffe, Romanov who had escaped from Russia as a child with Baronet, might be the escaped Grand Duchess. In his and most of her family. Unfortunately although I spoke to her others opinion the woman in question bears an uncanny on a few occasions I did not at the time get the chance to resemblance to Tatiana. The woman was the only person in discuss anything concerning her escape or the Romanov the group who was not identified in the newspaper photo murders, not that I would have expected her to tell me caption. anything of value, either confirming or not what might have Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna founded four Hospitals happened to her relations. It was just nice to know that I in the area. A sanatorium for treatment of tuberculosis was had met a Romanov although probably only a very distant located near Harrogate at Knaresborough. Since Larissa relation to the Tsar himself. had mentioned to neighbours in Lydd that her happiest time As I walk my dog through the graveyard and pass the grave in England had been spent in Yorkshire, It is speculated of Larissa I notice that after 87 years there is someone who that the escaped Grand Duchess might have spent time in still puts flowers on her grave sometimes real and other a medical facility near Harrogate under the patronage of times plastic. So like the flowers you will have to decide Grand Duchess Maria Geogievna. whether you believe the story be real or turned into Occleshaw showed portraits of the Grand Duchess and something by people finding coincidence's and personal also portraits of unrelated women from the same period to speculation, in fact man made. people who had known Larissa. More than 60 years after Apart from my own humble research I used a lot of Larissa's death her former neighbours identified portraits of Occleshaw's accounts and speculations for this I thank him the Grand Duchess. and would recommend his most interesting book. Many witnesses living in Lydd at the time stated that Owen Graham Collard, November 2015. Tudor took flowers or arranged for someone to take flowers to the grave on the 10th June every year up until a few years before his own death. Why, it was not the date she died, it was not her stated birthday, it was not the anniversary date of there marriage or any date that was assumed to be significant to the couple whilst they were living in Lydd. What about this for a coincidence The Grand Duchess Titiana's birthday just happens to be on the 10th June. In 2007 it was announced by the Russians that an amateur archaeologist had found human bone fragments whilst digging in a wooded area near to the original burial place of the Tsar and his family. These fragments which were burnt and badly degraded were then sent off for DNA tests by local officials. The results were released in 2009 and found to be the bones of a young boy and a teenage girl, the DNA confirmed that they were indeed the missing children from the Romanov dynasty. Some people have mentioned that to end all the speculation of surviving members of the family and a continuation of the blood line that the Russians would be keen to finally put an end to it, by announcing these findings to the world media whether they were true or not. Why did it take over two years to check and confirm the DNA when we know that they have the DNA of the Tsar and his family stored within the labs and these have been confirmed by our very own Prince Philip giving his DNA at the time of the finding of the first Romanov grave. Was it because at around that time there was people around the world stating that they were Anastasia or one of the other

Page 35 Thursday 26th November 2015 Because Local News Matters

Lets face it, for The Free those who live or near Dungeness and Romney Republic of Marsh it is a very special place with Wlotzkasbaken a lot of unique attributes. But it is By David J Wilson truly unique?. Well there is a name - sake “Punta Dúngeness” in Chile, a Dungeness Island, east somewhat eerie; as though almost everyone has left “Marie of Yam Island in the Torres straight between Australia and Celeste” style leaving scores of well tended, and highly Papua New Guinea, and a Dungeness National Wildlife decorated, but utterly empty houses. But in season it is a Refuge, in Sequin, California, but whilst they share the different story as vacationing fisherman open up their name, they lack the intrinsically querky and eccentric nature holiday homes to family and guests. of “our” Dungeness. Mind you Dungeness Island The popular summer months of December and January are historically was known for its head hunters! devoted to “Marterpfahl” or literally German for “torture So it was a surprise to come across a community that has a stake” an angling festival that attracts several thousand strange but strikingly similar appeal twenty plus miles north people to the 100 or so homes that form the community. of Swapkupmond on the famed rugged and windswept The Dusky Kob, a large slender fish distantly related to our “Skeleton Coast” of Namibia in southern Africa. Indeed the Sea Bass but that can grow to over six feet in length, is the community of Wlotzkasbaken, with its eclectic mix of some main attraction for both recreational and commercial 110 sprawling holiday homes looks more like a prototype for fishermen but is severely threatened by overfishing. a colony on the moon. The name Wlotzkasbaken means Wlotza’s Beacon and dates back to the early 1930s when a survey of the Skeleton Coast placed a trigonometrical survey beacon at this spot. Paul Wlotzka, one of the survey team, saw potential in the spot as a stop over point in his travels north by horse cart up the coast to the outpost of Henties Bay some 50 miles to the north. It was soon evident that the cold waters of the Benguela Current offered excellent fishing opportunities and he was soon selling his catch in Swakupmund to the south. His enthusiasm for the fishing was equally catching and by Undoubtedly the Skeleton Coast is the loneliest stretch of 1936 he was joined by other anglers who pitched temporary coastline in Africa. With gale force winds, the heavy wells of structures on the flat saltpans behind the coastal strip. the ice-cold Benguela current, and with shifting sandbanks Lacking electrical power other than the odd solar panel, and deadly cross currents, dense fogs and treacherous today virtually nobody lives permanently in the brightly reefs it has accounted for thousands of shipwrecks over the coloured elongated structures most overshadowed by a centuries. water tower on legs that characterize the settlement’s Travelling through Wlotzkasbaken out of season is skyline whereas others get their water supply from a series of barrels at the north end of the townsite (water is trucked

Page 36 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015 in from Swakopmund or from the newly opened de-salination plant nearby). No boundary fences or walls adorn this community, any ownership being indicated purely by the distance between the homes and sporadic bands of rocks. But in reality the residents own little, as all structures have been erected on at best leased land, and for others with no legal rights whatsoever. Although surrounded on all sides by the Dorob National Park, the land within the community is wholly owned by the Erongo Regional Council and has been the cause of many But for now the inherent character of the community still disputes with the occupiers. exists but ‘in jest’ under the banner of the “Free Republic of Virtually all development in Wlotzkasbaken stopped in the Wlotzkasbaken”! Maybe Dungeness residents could do the 1970s, the original 87 erven (a plot of land marked off for same and declare the “Free Republic of Dungeness”. building purposes) having increased to 106 at that time. If you have been on your travels, why not write about it and send into The Looker. Email: [email protected] or send to The Looker, 10 Mulberry Court, Grand Parade, New Romney, Kent. TN28 8LZ

Given village status in 1992, this was almost immediately revoked and the community remains a settlement area denied any right of self-governance. But in 2000 an agreement was reached to expand the number of erven to 248 and giving the existing occupiers a right to acquire ownership of the land they lease. A challenge to this agreement launched by the Regional Council subsequently failed. But the community is under threat, partly because it predates the independence of Namibia from South Africa and therefore has an overwhelming white population. Also there have been plans by the Government to open up the coastal strip between this fishing community and the sea for the development of luxury housing likely to be acquired by senior government officials, changing forever the unforgettable character of the community.

Page 37 Thursday 26th November 2015 Because Local News Matters

spotted, and people wanted to know what on earth we were Spaceman doing. It's not every day you see an astronaut wandering about!" "We used a replica NASA spacesuit, which are quite hard to seen on get hold of – there's actually only a couple here in the UK. The Marsh

It was one small step for man... when an astronaut was seen wandering around Romney Marsh! Locals seemed very curious as to what this intergalactic visitor was doing in the town, although a little investigation reveals it was all part of a project by local film maker Ben Barton. The as yet untitled short film was shot on 'super 8' cine film, which unlike video, has to be sent to a photo lab to be Just the week before, this very suit was being used on a processed. This means the results won't be seen for at music video shoot with a big music star. But I'm sworn to least a month. secrecy who it was, but let's just say he is well know for his Ben has made many short films in space adventures!" laughs Ben. and around Shepway, which were "The breakwater and rocks at Mermaid Beach were a great screened at the Folkestone Triennial backdrop and I got just what I wanted, right here in my along with dozens of other festivals home town." Other locations used in the film included the around the world. sound mirrors at Denge Marsh, near Dungeness. He said "We filmed along the "We have lots of great locations in this area, and quite a big beaches and other areas of the town. community of directors and artists. There are always film Our 'spaceman' was meant to be events going on at the Silver Screen Cinema and Film maker Ben exploring a desolate planet, so we Quarterhouse, along with many pop up events throughout tried to shoot as early as possible in the mornings – it would the Creative Quarter. It's actually a really great place to be be harder with a big crowd watching. But we still got a film maker."

Page 38 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015

Shedworks is an New innovative project for the Marsh based on the Men’s shed concept Project for which supports men to come together to make, create and socialise. the Marsh The “Shed” is the larger version of the traditional man’s shed in the garden but offers this to a group of men sharing tools, resources and knowledge. Men Sheds is a growing movement nationally, originating from 1996 onwards in Australia. Since then sheds have been established throughout Europe, South Asia, New Zealand and Ireland. Kent Sheds was established in 2014 with currently over 20 established Sheds in Kent offering opportunities for woodworking, gardening, stencils, gold leaf and decoupage. conservation, creative work and Their scheme also offers the experience to develop a boat restoration. business together with the associated learning through Men who join a shed sometimes like product development, furniture renovation, retail skills, use to call themselves “Shedders” of information technology and marketing. representing the sense of Shedworks is seeking interested volunteers who are aged belonging. Shed’s aim to foster fifty plus to get in touch if they have a few hours or more to community support networks and spare. The project is also offering opportunities for some promote psychological health and students from to join them in the spirit well-being. Shed’s offer a sense of achievement, social in - of skills sharing and informal mentoring. teraction and a means of remaining active. Their Shed has some grant funding through KCC and the Shedworks is focusing on re-cycling local donated furniture. Marsh Millions and is actively supported through This involves making repairs to the furniture and partnership working with the Romney Marsh Day Centre in preparation for painting. The furniture is then distressed Rolfe Lane and the through the use of vintage style chalk paints and waxes. Marsh Academy Volunteers are encouraged to craft each piece individually Community Hub. and supported to practice with the different finishes, glazes, If you would like to find out more about Shedworks or would like to donate some furniture or are interested in joining us please contact

Juliet Perschky Shedworks Coordinator on 07922 096995 or by e-mail: [email protected]

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Advert Editorial Woodworx-South East Our team can design and install bespoke first and second fix carpentry on new sites. Woodworx-South East is a family run furniture using all timber products. For both new estate builds of for the business based in Kent. Relocating from We will be advised on materials appropriate individual client. central London they bring new design, for use and work within your budget. We can provide a complete service or materials and techniques of multi million The interior will be tailor-made to your individualised service. pound property designs to the South Coast. individual style. Our professionals design RESTORATION We offer a complete building service from according to your requirements and the Our tradesmen are passionate about start to finish and can help you with your space and shape of your room. From restoration and preservation of older building project from planning and costing Shelving, Storage and desks, Wardrobes buildings. through to finished construction. From large and cupboards to Bookcases and more. From re-installation of period features, to builds to individual clients. TIMBER FLOORING modernisation in-keeping with period Our team is fully insured and qualified to a Timber flooring is an elegant and architecture. very high standard, ensuring they are able hardwearing choice for today’s homes. We work with both client and English to undertake any job however big or small. We do install laminate flooring however the Heritage to ensure preservation and Some of the things we cover include… quality and finish will not be insured as the adherence to regulations. KITCHENS quality and depth of timber used in its In addition, we can provide a fully qualified We understand that the kitchen has evolved manufacture can not be guaranteed. and experienced stonemason to match to become the centre- piece of the home. We can discuss your needs and recommend existing stonework or for a one off piece of With more and more designs leaning timber products for the area to be covered. art. towards open plan kitchens flowing into JOINERY/ ROOFING/ STAIRCASES TIMBER WINDOWS AND REPAIRS dining/living areas this is the part of the We undertake all joinery projects from roof Despite timber windows being replaced by home where families are spending most of timber repairs to new installation. Loft ambitious past generations to keep with their time. Increasingly, the kitchen is being conversions and timber extensions to changing trends. combined with an entertainment area. With staircases. Timber windows and doors have been this in mind, when planned correctly, the We believe that a bespoke staircase can re-designed to meet the needs of aesthetics, style and design of the kitchen can reflect transform and complement its environment. design, heritage and conservation needs. the multi-purpose needs of the home. With extensive knowledge and experience There has been no better time to return We are able to design, deliver and install of combining the logistics and aesthetics of period and modern timber products to your kitchen. a staircase; we can provide a range of styles homes. We also offer an installation only service to suit your requirements. We are more than happy to help in your where we can install kitchens at a set price NEW BUILDS installation and design so if you would like to and offer the facility of using our own We can undertake project management and find out what we can do for you, give us a contractors for plumbing and electrical work. complete new build projects from start to call for a no obligation quote. BUILT IN WARDROBES / FURNITURE finish. In addition we also undertake joinery, Telephone:0779 60 20 60

Page 40 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015 Deal Community Sports 1 New Romney 3 Looker Goals from Roy Godden, Warren Smith and Billy Weir Somerville gave the visitors three points and kept them top Sport of the league. Burton Grove 2 Grasshoppers 3 Grasshoppers are back up to fourth in the standings as FOOTBALL they returned from their trip to Burton Grove 3-2 winners. Michael White scored to give Grasshoppers a 1-0 half-time Holland & Blair Res 3 Lydd Town Res 1 lead, but Rob Missen levelled for the hosts in the 55th Lydd Reserves went out of the Kent Intermediate Cup minute. The ‘Hoppers restored their advantage mid-way losing 3-1 away at Hollands & Blair. Frankie Steer scored through the second period through a Dan Frost strike, the goal for the Marsh side. before Chris Button made it 3-1 to wrap up the points, although Burton grabbed a late consolation from Richard New Romney 6 Town 0 Long’s 90th minute spot kick. A massive win for New Romney as they outplayed Hawkinge to go top of County Division One East League. New Romney Res 2 5 The goals came from a Tomas Nagy hat-trick, and one For the second successive week, New Romney had five each from Warren Smith, Billy Weir-Somerville and scored against them and they drop to eighth in the league. substitute Harry Hope. Troggs 0 Oceans Eleven 4 Deal Town Res 5 New Romney Res 0 Oceans Eleven maintained their unbeaten start to the Deal Reserves rapped in three late goals to run out campaign with a decent 4-0 victory away at Troggs convincing winners in this Kent County League fixture at a Reserves to stay second in Division Three. Former Levin wet and windy Charles Ground. Although Deal were in Athletic forward Dan Dolan netted twice for the seasiders, control for most of the game they only led 1-0 until midway with Ben Earle and Jake Andrew also getting on the score through the second half. When they scored a second, it sheet for the Dymchurch side. became purely a question of ‘how many?’ They scored three more times in the last ten minutes to wrap a victory which leaves them in third place in Division Two East.

Spartans 6 New Romney Sunday 1 Former Newchurch forward Sam Allaway scored for New Romney to equalise in their Kent Sunday Junior Cup match at last year’s champions Spartans, but that didn’t prove enough for the Marshmen as they ended up going out 6-1 losers to the Folkestone side.

Oceans Eleven 3 Ashford Spartans 0 Scott Farrell continued his red hot streak in front of goal for Oceans Eleven, as they beat Ashford Spartans 3-0 in Dymchurch. Oceans are yet to lose this season, and stay in a promising position in the table behind leaders Reserves, as Farrell scored his eighth and ninth goals of the campaign. Farrell's second strike will certainly be a contender for goal of the season, as he smashed the ball home from some 25-yards into the top corner, just before Ashley Nelson added a third for Ocean.

Every effort is made by The LOOKER newspaper to ensure that the information is correct. The LOOKER newspaper reserves the right not to publish unsolicited material being sent through to the publication. Personal views expressed in this publication are solely those of the respective contributors and do not reflect those of the publishers or its agents. The Looker is not responsible for services provided by the advertisers. All material supplied to this publication is at the owner’s risk. Reproduction in whole or in part of this publication is strictly prohibited without prior consent. Photographic rights remain the property of The LOOKER newspaper and Marsh Media Limited. Contact: THE LOOKER: 01797-364837 Mobile: 07900-080656 Advertising: Gill Hinds 07867-575200 .E-mail: i [email protected]

Page 41 Thursday 26th November 2015 Because Local News Matters

Lydd Golf Club in Kent on the 18-hole championship course. is to hand out 100 free John says he can also help youngsters out with borrowed Golf Club junior memberships in clubs, while pointing out that Lydd’s well-stocked shop has a bid to encourage a selection of great value-for-money junior club sets and local children to take other equipment. offers free up sport and keep fit The 100 free junior memberships are available on a and healthy. first-come, first-served basis and anyone interested should Junior The annual junior contact John Denham on 01797 320808 (select option 2) or memberships, email [email protected]. available to children John already runs a successful junior clinic on Saturday memberships up to the age of 16, mornings from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. He invites all new are worth £75 each. potential junior members to come along to see what he’s The club’s head professional, John Denham, says: “We are already doing. Children are welcome to join in, which will giving away these junior memberships to play golf at Lydd only cost £5 and includes instruction, unlimited balls and for two reasons. First we are trying to attract more young - equipment if required. sters to take up the sport. To some people golf may seem Lydd Golf Club, which is located alongside London Ashford like an old man’s game but that is very wide of the mark. Airport, is home to the PGA in Kent Closed Championship, “If kids are given the chance to play golf they will usually an event tailored for Kent’s elite amateurs and PGA enjoy it and will even discover that it’s a ‘cool’ sport. professionals and organised by The PGA in Kent and Kent Golf Union (KGU). Lydd is an 18-hole 6,629-yard championship standard course, with water hazards on 11 holes, making it a classic ‘risk and reward’ course. A tactical blend of bunkering, strategically-placed lakes, wispy rough and wind makes this course a challenge. Alongside the championship course, Lydd offers an 18-bay covered and floodlit driving range, a 6-hole par 3 course, two chipping greens and a putting green. For more details of Lydd Golf Club visit www.lyddgolfclub.co.uk

John Denham, looking forward to coaching new youth golfers

“Our other motive is to help youngsters to stay fit and active. A lot has been written about childhood obesity and if we can do our bit to get kids to put down their computer games and get out in the fresh air to hit a ball around a golf course then we’re happy with that. “Golf is not only great exercise but it develops your concentration and self-discipline, helps you to make new friends and improves your life and social skills, after all if you are walking around a golf course with a group of people for a couple of hours you are bound to strike up some good relationships,” says John. So what can youngsters taking advantage of the free memberships expect at Lydd? John is planning to lay on clinics to teach basic skills to new members, who can make use of the club’s floodlit driving range and par 3 pitch and putt course, building up to playing

Page 42 www.thelooker.co.uk Thursday 26th November 2015

Lydd Water sports club is The club has great Lydd long established as a facilities with a family club and they are recently refurbished attracting new members. club house, giving a Watersports Whilst primarily the club focal point for started as a water ski members to meet steps up a club, they now have have a coffee during many activities being the day and talk undertaken most about the water gear weekends. These range conditions. In the evenings its a great place to talk about from Barefoot, Slalom, your day on the water the fun you've had and pick up some Wake Boarding, Knee Boarding and the towing of tips from other members about those problems with that recreational toys. The club also have keen jet ski members turn or trick that you just can't master. Many of the and a small Laser Sailing Fleet all out on the water most members have Static Caravans on site looking out over the weekends. As a family club they are doing their bit to lake and use the site as a base for weekends or summer encourage younger members to try new activities and get holidays. The club also have space on site for touring on the water. caravans so everybody can enjoy the fun sociable environment which the club provides. The ski club have spent a lot of time and effort this year in revamping the clubhouse, site, web and social media, and have successful brought in new and fresh members to the club, and have several families on a waiting list. The clubhouse has been re-cladded on the outside and newly redecorated on the inside including new bathroom facilities, and was finished in time to hold the European Barefoot competition earlier in the year with the GB team coming 2nd overall. In light of new members and their enthusiasm for not just skiing but other water sports including trick ski, wake boarding, kneeboarding, sailing and jet skiing, it was decided that the club should be named Lydd Watersports. The new website features forth coming events, a gallery of information and the relevant contact details www.lyddwatersports.com

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