The Parish Magazine of St. Peter & St. Paul, Shorne

JUNE 2020 50p

www.shorneparishchurch.co.uk www.facebook.com/shorneparishchurch ST PETER & ST PAUL, SHORNE

Vicar Rev. Ted Hurst 822239 The Vicarage Butchers Hill Shorne, DA12 3EB

[email protected]

Readers Mr. D. Usher 536662

Jaqui Olid 247419

Church Wardens Vacant

Deanery Synod Mr D Usher 536662 Mr Andrew Moffat 822280 PCC Secretary Mr Andrew Moffat 822280 [email protected]

PCC Treasurer Mr L. Aspinall 825046 [email protected]

Bellringers Mr S King (Tower Captain) 823804 [email protected] Church Flowers Mrs H Moore 822699

Church Electoral Roll Mrs J. Aspinall 825046 [email protected]

Safeguarding Mrs C Burns 397887 [email protected]

Magazine Editor Mrs S Muckley 824732 [email protected] Magazine Advertising Mr L Aspinall 825046 [email protected]

Magazine Sales & Mrs M Potter 822345 Distribution

For other village organisations see the inside back page THE PARISH MAGAZINE OF ST PETER & ST PAUL, SHORNE May 2020

Dear Readers Editor: This month, as it was last month, we have a short Mrs Sue Muckley version of the magazine because of cancelled Associate Editor: events. It is still full of the village information. Mrs Celia Burns Yet again the magazine will be on the Parish Church website. However, there are copies availa- Contributions to: ble in the village shop. If anyone knows of anyone [email protected] with a problem obtaining a copy, let Ted, our Vicar, know and every effort will be made to get a copy to Subscriptions: them, despite the lockdown. £5.00 p.a for delivery I hope you are all finding this situation although in Shorne & Shorne constrained, with its consolations.Our surroundings West—contact Mary here in Shorne are very tranquil and we must count Potter 822345 ourselves very lucky. It seems easy to fill your day without any boredom whether you have taken up Published around new hobbies or rediscovered your old ones. Of the end of every course there is no reason not to have a home that is month except January spick and span or a garden that is trimmed and and August weeded. Now there has been a slight easing of the rules we can become slightly more sociable and Next issue modern technology means you can see your fami- Copy deadline lies and friends at the other end of the country. Fri 19 June However, I know some are finding this situation Collating more mentally challenging and if anyone feels they Wed 24 June need a friendly ear there is a whole network in Stapling place in Shorne for those who need it so let one of us know. Fri 26 June Published & printed Best wishes by Shorne Parochial Celia Burns Church Council

Parish church websites: www.shorneparishchurch.co.uk www.facebook.com/shorneparishchurch

1 Views from the Vicarage

Dear friends,

These past 8 weeks have been strange times; churches and other places of worship locked, shops and businesses closed; many people isolated at home and wherever you go always keeping 2 metres away from everyone else.

But we are told we are winning; the virus is beginning to be controlled; new cases are coming down; hospital admissions are down and thankfully the number of people dying is coming down. Things are starting to get back to normal; but it will be a new normal; in fact many people believe life will never be the same again. We are told that if everything continues as it is the restrictions will be gradually lifted, but we must stay vigilant, keep your distance and maintain good hygiene practices. I am now allowed back into the church; to read ‘Morning Prayer’, pray for the community. Some days you may hear a bell being rung; it’s a sign that prayers are being said, a chance for you to virtually join in.

Usually after a problem like this there would be a time of celebration, time for thanksgiving; for all the good work done, and the people who have done the work. Thanksgiving for the lives of those who have died, thanks that we have survived and got through it. But because it will be a gradual return to a new normal, always hoping and praying there will not be another peak; more deaths; sickness there is unlikely to be a point at which we can say ‘Its Over’.

We have had to find new ways of doing things, for myself not the weekly sermon but a ‘Daily Devotional’; which incidentally has been reaching an average of 100 people each day [far more than the normal Sunday sermon]; some churches have been using technology to offer virtual online video services; again reaching many more people than the average Sunday service. So even the church is going to need to look at how we do ministry; we too will have to grow into a new normal as we move forward together. But through it all, there is one thing that has remained constant, as it says in scripture ‘God is the same yesterday; today; tomorrow, and forevermore. A God who never said life would be easy, but he did say whatever you are going through, he would be there with you. A God who will be with you every step of the way, if you ask him to be with you. All we have to do is believe and have faith. None of us know what the future holds; but those with faith and trust in God; we know who holds the future.

2 As The Easter Season draws to a close, and we come to Pentecost, may God continue to bless you and send you the helper and comforter; The Holy Spirit to be with you and draw you ever closer to God all the days of your life. Till next time God Bless

Ted.

Thank You

Over the last weeks there have been many people who offered help to members of the community through our church network. People have been shopping; collecting medication; posting letters and ringing up to say hi are you OK. I should like to record an BIG THANK YOU to all who volunteered to help, I know there are some I was unable to take up their offers but thank you for being on standby. We will continue to call to take up your kind offers as and when necessary. I should also like to mention the people who have been passing on ex- cess food supplies to those in need. I have had a steady supply of food stuffs which I have been able to pass on to those in need.

Thank you all for your generosity

3 Shorne Village Societies and Clubs

All activities in and around Shorne are cancelled or postponed for the foreseeable future but here are the societies and clubs with contact details. SHORNE COTTAGE GARDEN SOCIETY The Coronavirus lockdown continues with any lifting in the near future un- certain. Therefore, sadly both our Summer Show on 20th June and our Speaker Evening on 14th July have been cancelled. This is a pity but we must keep everyone safe. Looking forward we are hopeful that we can put on our Autumn Show on 5th September and have our next Speaker Evening on 13th October. Information about these will be in the next magazine. We are a friendly Society and when this difficult time has passed will again be back enjoying all our annual events. The annual subscription is £7.50 and if anyone is interested in becoming a member (or renew their subscription) please contact our Membership Secretary, Celia Burns on 01474 397887 or email [email protected]

SHORNE & THONG WI

Shorne and Thong WI meets on the first Thursday of the month at 2pm. Why not come along to a meeting? You will be given a warm welcome. More details from President Sue Muckley - 01474 824732

CHURCH COFFEE MORNINGS If you would like any information about the Coffee Morning please contact Elaine on 01474 822293. STAGES (Shorne Theatre Appreciation & Group Entertainment Society) If you would like to become a member, then renewals of membership or applications from new members (annual membership is only £12) who must live in Shorne, Higham, Chalk or Cobham and be adults of any age, are welcome at any of our Main Meetings, as advertised above. Alternatively, telephone Adrienne, our Membership Secretary, on 01474 822875, or email [email protected] . SHORNE FLOWER ARRANGERS

Our meetings at the Shorne Village Hall are on the last Thursday of each month, except December. Time 7.30pm for a 7.45 pm start. Our club presents a programme of workshops and demonstrations in a very informal and friendly atmosphere. Visitors are always made very welcome, entry £3 with tea/ coffee for free. The club provides an opportunity for people to be creative and make friends. You don’t have to have any previous knowledge of flower arranging, there is always someone who will guide you along the way. Annual subscription is just £20. Other information can be obtained from Linda Hutcheon on 01634 325540 or our secretary Mavis Jones on 01474 355386.

SHORNARA Shorne Active Retirement Association

If you would like to join ShornARA please contact our Membership Secretary: Andrea Brickell on 01474 746606

SHORNE LOCAL HISTORY GROUP

We hope to resume with our winter series of meetings in October 2020.

NORTH KENT EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD

If you are interested in joining us then please look at our website for full information or email us at: [email protected]

SHORNE BELL RINGERS

Ringing is prohibited at the moment, however, there is a WhatsApp group meeting on Wednesday evenings to keep the theory up to date. Meeting Wednesdays 7.30pm More details from Tower Captain Stuart King 01474 823804 or [email protected].

POP-UP CAFÉ AND INFORMATION HUB

Shorne village contact Ruth Hensman 07939268486

5 PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS

Theresa Martin It is with great sadness that we have to report that Theresa Martin, our former Clerk, died on 16th May at Darent Valley Hospital. Theresa Martin was the Parish Clerk for Shorne Parish Council from her appointment in 1986 until her retirement at the end of June last year. During her 33 years’ service, Theresa saw many Councillors and Chairmen come and go, but she served the parish loyally, bringing continuity and stability to the Council. She will be sadly missed.

Resumption of Meetings by Video Conference Shorne Parish Council resumed its meetings by remote video conferencing on Thurs- day 23rd April, combining the Planning & Highways Committee and the Footpaths, Properties & Greens Committee. It is envisaged that we will continue holding com- bined monthly meetings in this format until further notice.

Annual General Meeting This year’s Annual General Meeting was held on Thursday 21st May by video conference. At the meeting, Bob Lane was re-elected Chairman of the Parish Council, and Robin Theobald was re-elected Vice Chairman. Susan Lindley was elected as Chair of the Planning & Highways Committee, and Pauline Clifton was elected as Chair of the Footpaths, Properties & Greens Committee. The following actions were agreed at the meeting: To remove dead branches overhanging Woodlands Lane at Shorne Common Rough. To renew the gate to Shorne Recreation Ground in The Ridgeway. To upgrade and automate the mechanism for the clock outside the Village Hall. To obtain estimates for repainting the railings in The Street. To consider options for upgrading or replacing the bus shelters. To make a donation to the Rural Kent Pop Up café. Agendas and minutes of meetings can be found on our website at: www.shornepc.kentparishes. gov.uk/agenda-and-minutes/

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Precautions Residents are strongly advised to follow the latest precautions published at https:// www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ and the latest government advice published at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus. If you are able to, please support those more vulnerable residents who may be house- bound or unable to collect their prescriptions or get to the shops. If you require help, please contact https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/home/environmental-health/coronavirus -guidance/help-and-support/overview. For urgent needs, Kent County Council's help- line is available 24 hours a day for vulnerable people, telephone 03000 41 92 92.

Bob Lane Shorne Parish Council 6

Parish Calendar - Suspended due to Coronavirus restrictions

Most readers of this magazine say that the double-page centre-spread calendar of events in the middle of each Shorne Parish Magazine is helpful to them. However, it is only as good as the information it contains. Although in the past parish organisations have been good in providing their programmes well in advance of the magazine publication dates, many organisations do not now do so.

This will resume as soon as we are able to meet socially.

For entries on the Calendar, please send details of your event(s) by email, using the heading ‘Parish Calendar’, to [email protected]. These should be sent up to a year ahead. The Calendar can only contain basic details of date, time, venue and event title. If you want to publicise additional information about your event(s) you will need to send these addi- tionally directly to the Magazine Editors or [email protected]

To colour

8 Church Cleaning Rota

June June

6 Sue 4 Sue

13 Dennis, Isabel 11 Dennis, Isabel

20 Claire, Julie 18 Claire, Julie

27 Angela, Valerie, Jackie 25 Angela, Valerie, Jackie

Brass Cleaning: Brass Cleaning:

Dennis & Isabel Sandy & Valerie

Subject to Coronavirus regulations

Shorne Church has a Newly Licenced Lay Minister (LLM)

Well known Shorne resident, Jaqui Olid was formally licensed in an online service officiated at by The Right Reverend James Langstaff, Bishop of Rochester, on Saturday 16 May 2020. The service was scheduled to take place at the Cathedral but the Covid 19 constraints meant it had to be a virtual ‘ZOOM’ gathering. Plans are to have another confirming Cathedral service at a later date. According to her License, Jaqui is now authorised to read Morning and Evening Prayer, to take part in the service of Holy Communion and to assist at the administration, to take the Sacrament to the sick in accordance with Diocese Regulations, to publish banns of marriage according to the law, to preach the Word of God and to teach the people of God, including children, to conduct Services of the Word, to visit the sick and pray with them and to undertake such assistance in the benefice as the Vicar may lawfully direct. Jaqui asks for your support and prayers as she begins her new role in Shorne as Lay Reader at Church of St Peter and St Paul. We wish her well in her new role. 9

Because of the Coronavirus, we have been advised not to gather socially for the time being. Events in and around the village have been cancelled in light of this advice. Thus the diary dates are not being published this month. Look out for July’s magazine and hope that events go ahead then.

Weekly throughout the year

Mondays 10.00am (Racefield Close Community Room). Exercises to CDs followed by refreshments. 2.00pm (Racefield Close Community Room). Whist. 7.00pm (Racefield Close Community Room). Pool.

Wednesdays 7.00pm (Village Hall). Shorne Short Mat Bowls Club 7.30pm (Shorne Parish Church) Bell Ringers

Thursdays 7.00pm (Racefield Close Community Room). Pool

Fridays 2.00pm (Racefield Close Community Room). Board Games.

Saturdays 10.00am (Shorne Parish Church). Open to visitors to 4.00pm except when being used for weddings etc. 11.00 (St Katherine’s RC Chapel) First Saturday of every month. Mass.

Sundays 8.00am (Shorne Parish Church). Services 10.00am (Shorne Parish Church). Services

For entries on the Calendar, send details of your event(s) by email, using the heading ‘Parish Calendar’, to [email protected]. These should Be sent up to a year ahead. The Calendar will only contain basic details of date, time, venue and event title. If you want to publicise additional information about your event(s) you will need to send articles in addition directly to the Magazine Editor.

10 Church Services in Shorne

St Peter and St Paul, Shorne - Church Services Suspended as Covid-19 regulations

Sunday Services 1st Sunday 8:00 BCP Holy Communion. 10:00 All Age Worship. 2nd Sunday 8:00 BCP Holy Communion. 10:00 Parish Communion [common worship]. 3rd Sunday 8:00 BCP Holy Communion. 10:00 Family Communion. 4th Sunday 8:00 BCP Holy Communion. 10:00 Parish Communion [common worship]. 5th Sunday 8:00 BCP Holy Communion. 10:00 Songs of Praise.

Weekday services. Tuesday 8:30 Morning Prayer Thursday 8:30 Holy Communion

Please see weekly notice sheet or website for variations and other events an activities.

St. Katherine’s

Roman Catholic Chapel – Shorne Mass is now being said in the chapel on the first Saturday of every month at 11:00am Everyone Welcome

11 Uralite - Part 1

For nearly a century the British Uralite factory on the Shorne/Higham parish boundary, provided many local people with work, but due mainly to the health problems associated with asbestos, the factory no longer exists. During the first part of the 20th century, up to the mid-1980s it was the biggest single employer of residents of Shorne.

Although most people think to the contrary, the Uralite factory was situated mainly within the Shorne parish boundary, but because of its close proximity to the village of Higham it has throughout its lifetime been thought of as being in Higham. For the remainder of this article I will therefore refer to its site as Shorne/Higham.

Uralite was the first commercially produced mouldable asbestos cement. Asbestos is a fibrous, naturally occurring silicate mineral found in many parts of the world. The word ‘asbestos’ comes from the ancient Greek word meaning ‘inextinguishable’ or ‘undefiled’, with refer- ence to it not being marked when placed in a fire, and for that reason it has been used for lamp wicks for hundreds of years. Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Emperor from 800 AD to 814 AD is said to have had a ‘miraculous’ tablecloth made of asbestos, which was cleaned by being placed in fire. As well as being highly resistant to fire, asbestos is also resistant to corrosion. There is evidence that for as long as 4500 years it has been added to clay to strengthen ceramic pots. Throughout history the mineral has therefore been highly valued for its unusual properties.

The large-scale commercial manufacture of asbestos products began in the mid-19th century in Italy, where it was used in the manufacture of fire-proof cloth, but the processes used were not totally successful. In the 1860s processes were adapted, and improved cloth was produced in Germany and in 1871 the Patent Asbestos Manufacturing Company was set up in Glasgow, using raw asbestos mainly from Canada, and for the next two decades Glasgow became the world centre of the asbestos cloth manufacturing industry. In Russia, commercial asbestos mining began in the Ural Mountains in the 1880s, and it was a Russian, Alexander Imschenetzky, who invent- ed a process for making mouldable asbestos cement, using locally sourced white asbestos. He patented his product as ‘Uralite’ and founded the Russian Uralite Company to exploit it. 12 Charles Knott Graham (1862-1928) was an Englishman of many tal- ents and interests. He was born and initially educated in Blackheath, and later in France and Germany. Between 1878 and 1883 he served an apprenticeship in a Russian engineering works, later owning a factory in Southern Russia which manufactured agricultural machinery, carried out general engineering work and ship repairs. For a while he also owned and worked in a Russian coal mine. He then invested in, and became a director of the Russian Uralite Company, which was th founded by Imschenetzky, returning to England at the end of the 19 century to exploit the British patent owned by the firm. This patent (dated 24 November 1899) records:

‘To continue and confirm the following Letters Patent, that th is to say, Letters Patent bearing the date of the 12 day of March 1895, and numbered 5254, and granted to Alexander Imschenetzky, therein described as of New Arsenal, 3 Sim- birskaya Street, St Petersburg, in the Russian Empire, Cap-

tain of Artillery, for the term of 14 years for an invention for the manufacture of fireproofing and insulating com- pounds known as Uralite”

The Times on 20 December 1899 records that ‘the British Uralite Company has obtained the rights to the material exhibited at the 1896 Russian Exhibition.’

It was Graham who established the new British Uralite Company as a subsidiary of the Russian Uralite Company and he became its consult- ing engineer.

In 1899 the British Uralite Company built its first factory at Shorne/ Higham on a 14-acre site purchased from the South Eastern and Chat- ham Railway Company. The site was convenient as it had both canal and railway links close to it. A canal wharf and private rail sidings (Uralite Halt – the only train station ever to have been situated within the Parish boundaries) were soon built for the transport of materials and to transport workers from the Hoo peninsula, the Medway towns and Gravesend, as there were not enough workers living within the immediate vicinity. We know that Shorne residents were amongst its early employees. 13 The Thames and Medway Canal ran from Gravesend to Strood, and flowed through Lower Shorne and past the factory. It had been pro- posed in 1799 at the time of war with France to enable the quick movement of materials between the rivers Thames and Medway, and particu- larly to link the naval dockyards at Deptford and Woolwich with the naval dockyards and moorings at Chatham and Sheerness. It was built quickly in 1801 between Gravesend and Higham, a distance of four miles, and caused great consternation in Shorne at the time as it cut across the marshes and disrupted ancient common grazing rights on them. The cost of the canal had originally been estimated at £24,576 but by 1801 costs had reached £57,433. There was a major debate about how to finish the most expensive part of the project between Higham and Strood - either by the provision of a ‘cutting’ through the chalk hills, or by making a tunnel. Indecision and the prospect of peace led the final phase of the canal was put on hold, and nothing further hap- pened for almost twenty years.

By 1819, the War and the naval threat now over, and the link between the naval dockyards having lost its immediate importance, work resumed on the canal as a commercial highway and a tunnel, which was to be the second longest canal tunnel in Britain, was completed in 1824.

Barge on the Thames and Medway Canal near the Uralite works, around 1900.

The canal only operated commercially for about 20 years and in 1842 the shareholders decided to run a railway line along its whole length. In 1844 a single-track railway was constructed alongside the canal tow- path, and through the tunnel on trestles,14 thus restricting its navigability. In 1846 the new South Eastern Railway bought the line, the tunnel was closed to boat traffic, the canal through it filled in, and a double-line track was laid along its whole length. The canal between Gravesend and Higham remained open until the 1930s, mainly used for transporting horse manure to farms around Shorne and Higham and taking produce back, and after 1900 being used for transport by Uralite. The section of the canal through the parish of Shorne was finally abandoned in 1937 and filled in, mainly with asbestos waste. Uralite Halt, as it was called from the beginning, came into being on 1 July 1906, and was designed solely to serve the new Uralite complex. The Halt had a single-track Gravesend-facing connection with the Hoo/Grain branch line. A spur line from the branch line opened to All- hallows in 1932, at which point Uralite Halt’s original timber platform was replaced with one made of concrete, complete for the first time, with a concrete waiting shelter with glazing. The platform was just long enough to take two carriages. Although the Hoo/Grain branch line was initially built to provide a passenger service to the Hoo peninsular, from 1953 when the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company established its oil refinery at Grain, it served more and more ‘goods’ traffic.

Almost all of the South-Eastern train services were electrified in the 1920s and 1930s, but the Hoo/Grain/Allhallows branch line continued to be served by steam-engines. The passenger train (a 1913-built ‘H’ Class Tank Engine) which pulled two carriages, was affectionately known as either the Allhallows Flyer or the Gravesend Flyer, depend- ing on which end of the line you lived! It was not much of a ‘flyer’, its speed was a maximum of 30mph. It provided a ‘shuttle’ service between Gravesend and Allhallows/Grain until finally closing on 3 De- cember 1961. There are many good pictures of the ‘Allhallows Flyer’, and a detailed Hansard report of the line’s closure debate in the House of Commons in 1960 to be found on the internet. The Uralite connection, and thus the Halt, also closed at this time, and the transport of the factory’s materials by road took over.

In 1900, the company’s first General Manager was Henry Brome Tarry (1846-1912), who was an engineer by training. He had left the factory by 1911 (probably in 1907) when he is recorded as living in Bushey, 15

Hertfordshire, where he died the following year. The company’s first Chief Chemist was Percy Williams (1874-1942) who established the basic processes for Uralite production on the site. He left the Shorne/ Higham works in 1906 to join the Borneo Rubber and Trading Compa- ny in Soekadana, Borneo.

The basic wet asbestos cement product originally manufactured at the factory from 1900 was named, quite simply, Uralite from which the factory moulded its first product, drainage pipes. A number of similar- ly moulded products, for example flue pipes, where heat resistance was important, followed in quick succession. Uralite’s popularity was helped by a number of independent tests which were reported in the press, for example on 24 March 1903 The Shields Daily Gazette, reported:

‘A New Fire Resisting Material – An important test took place yesterday at Stephenson’s old works, Newcastle in the presence of a large number of visitors - Uralite is the invention of a Rus- sian Colonel of artillery...composed of asbestos fibre cemented with glue, and is, it is claimed, the best fire-resisting agent known to science. The test conducted yesterday proved to the satisfaction of all who witnessed it, that Uralite is all that is claimed to be’

However, for reasons that are not clear at this distance in time, on 12 February 1907 The Times reported that the Russian owned British Uralite Company had ceased trading and its assets had been liquidated. The history of the Uralite factory will be continued next month.

Ian Craig

I would like to express my thanks to Nick Lance and Roy Davis, both ex-senior employees of British Uralite, for information used in this article, much of which came from interviews with them in Autumn 2019, before Nick’s untimely death.

16 Theresa Martin

On Saturday, 16th May 2020 we lost Theresa Martin who was Clerk to Shorne Parish Council for 33 years. She was much more than that. She did not live in the parish but she took an active interest in what went on in it.

Prior to her appointment in 1986, there had been quite a rapid turnover of Clerks. When Theresa joined the Council, she quickly found her feet and things began to improve. She worked for Gravesend Church- es Housing Association. As part-time Clerk, she was efficient, dili- gent and conscientious. Before long, she was keeping the members in order. You would be reminded, 'Have you written the letter you said you would?' 'Don’t forget you are meeting so and so on Friday' I had assisted the two previous Clerks with their minutes. Once shown what to do, you could rely on what Theresa recorded. Over the years, she became a friend to many of us. She lived in Northfleet but that did not stop her taking an active interest in what went on in Shorne. She was, in effect, a single mum and brought up two daughters of whom she could be justly proud. In her 33 years as Clerk, she served under at least seven different Council Chairmen. When Tony Austin, a long term member of the Council, was on his own and became ill, it was Theresa who tried to help him.

I learnt recently that a number of members and former councillors had kept in touch with Theresa. It was a shock to everyone to learn that she been taken into Darent Valley Hospital and that after a short ill- ness, she had died.

We have lost a treasure; someone who genuinely cared about the parish and the people in it and served them well, right up until her retirement last year.

Robin Theobald

17 From Our MP Adam Holloway About Support

I am aware that some people who need home deliveries of food are still experiencing difficulty. So here is some of the non-Government or non- Council help available from volunteers. 1. Food Boxes (Not to be confused with the Government's free Emergency Food Packag- es) Gravesham Community Support volunteers Melanie, Martine and Claudia are putting together & delivering weekly high quality food boxes for those unable to leave home. These are available at not for profit price of £25.00 with contactless delivery. (Thanks to Gibson and Bruce, Boyson’s Sausages, TH Brown & Son, PLT Cleaning, Elite Moving Specialists). No vegetarian option yet. Or if abso- lutely necessary call the extraordinary Melanie on 07768 712 973

2. Sikhs of Gravesham In a hugely generous and major logistical operation the Sikh Temple has funded and cooked (as of today) over 15,866 vegetarian meals – and are delivering at the rate of 850 a day, mostly to non-Sikhs! 3. Some Smaller Retailers will deliver Please see the box beside of some of these companies.

Overall PLEASE DO NOT USE ANY VOLUNTEER PROVIDED HELP IF YOU DO NOT GENUINELY NEED IT: there are people in real need here, please don’t make things harder for them. Instead, point these out to them.

Please remember the earlier advice of Professor Tedder and Dr Minhas that the virus can live for up to 3 days on plastics – so wash down shopping before storing it way.

Finally, thanks to the vast and overwhelming majority of people here who are looking out for their neighbours – and who are staying home in order to protect NHS capacity so that they can save lives. Truly, we have seen an outbreak of super-neighbourliness.

Best wishes, Adam www.graveshamcommunitysupport.org 18

19 NORTHFLEET& DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB (Kent's longest Established Probus Club)

It is slightly ironic that had it not been necessary to suspend our meetings until it is deemed safe to resume, this month's contribution would have included a report of a talk entitled "The Plague". On a coronavirus radio phone-in, a woman was heard to ask if the term 'plague' might be applied to the current situation. The doctor concerned opined that while it may have been appropriate for 'The Black Death' of the 1340's and the Bubonic Plague of the 1660's, subsequent pandemics have been viral related and it ought now to be consigned to history. Although it's worth pointing out that during the latter, 'pneumonic' infection was found to have been more deadly than 'bubonic'.

While flu pandemics which occurred in 1889, 1957 and 1968 may not have made such a lasting impression, the 'Spanish Flu' pandemic of 1918 has commonly been compared to the current outbreak. 'Spanish' actually being something of a misnomer; it having first appeared in US army base in Kansas and then brought to Europe by American forces sent to bolster the Allies in the First World War. By causing an over -reaction of the body's immune system, it could kill within three days. Therefore, healthy young adults were more vulnerable than children or older people, whose weaker immune reactions resulted in fewer deaths. Both sides in the conflict became badly affected but censored this information in order to conceal a weakness from the enemy and maintain morale. Spain, however, as a neutral country was free to report it's own figures and thus appeared to be the most severely hit.

Let us pray that all the precautions which are being taken will result in the swift elim- ination of this latest infection.

The Probus movement was founded by Rotary International over 50 years ago and has similar ethical standards. Northfleet and District is Kent's oldest established club for retired and semi-retired PROfessional and BUSiness men. Please note that despite it's origins, it welcomes members from a far more widespread area. It has inter- esting speakers at it's meetings, organises excursions and formal lunches for members and their close associates and offers moral support to those facing health problems. Under normal circumstances, meetings take place fortnightly, on Tuesday mornings between 10 and 12, at Shorne Village Hall. Anyone interested in joining this friendly group may do so by prior arrangement with our Secretary, Robin Friday, on 01474 363135. Notice will be given here of when meetings are about to recom- mence. i

As the Cottage Garden Society Summer Show is cancelled, here is the provided recipe for one of the sections in their cooking compe- tition for you to try at home:

CHERRY CAKE: Ingredients: 200g./7ozs. Glace Cherries 275g./10ozs. Self-Raising Flour 75g./3ozs. Ground Almonds 2 Teaspoonfuls of Baking Powder 225g./8ozs. Soft Margarine 225g./8ozs. Caster Sugar 4 Eggs

To Make: Pre-heat oven to 160C./325F./Gas 3 Lightly grease and base line an 8” 20cms. deep round cake tin with greased greaseproof paper Quarter cherries, wash in a sieve under running water. Drain well then dry thoroughly on kitchen paper Measure all the remaining ingredients into a large bowl and beat well for one minute mixing thoroughly. Lightly fold in cherries Turn mixture into prepared tin and level the surface Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 1 ½ – 1 ¾ hours or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes then turn out and leave to cool on a wire rack.

NOTE: Some ovens may require slight variation in time, tempera- ture and shelf positions

21 Activities at Racefield Close Community Room Subject to Covid-19 restrictions

The members of Racefield Close Community extend a warm welcome to their regular activities when they resume.

Weekly.

Monday 10:00 – 11:00 Exercises to C/D (can be done sitting or standing) followed by refreshments.

Monday 2.00 Whist. All welcome

Friday. 2:00- 4:00 Board Games

Fortnightly.

Wednesday 10:00 – 11:30 Flower Arranging

Monthly.

Tuesday 2:00 – 4:00 Craft.

Saturday 6:00 Usually the first Saturday of the month: Bingo & Take away meal.

Other Activities.

Pool Team Monday and Thursday Evenings at 7:00.

They are joined by members from Chichester Rise Sheltered Housing. New players always welcome.

From the Parish Registers

There are no entries from the Parish registers to report. All our weddings for this year have been postponed – please pray for the couples and their families.

Hopefully Baptisms and Weddings will be able to start again soon.

YOUR ADVERT HERE

To advertise your local service or business here please contact

Lawrence Aspinall on 01474 825046

[email protected]

20% off with this voucher for any new client

Professional Beauty Salon offering  Late night opening Tues- a range of treatments: day & Thursday - 8pm  Intimate/Standard Waxing  Free Parking  Facials  Qualified & Experienced  Microdermabrasion Therapists  Body Massage  Find us on Facebook &  Manicures/Pedicures/Gel Instagram  Many other treatments available

11a The Street Shorne Da12 3ea 01474 822244

Computerised Business Solutions ∙ Home & Small Business Support. ∙ Specialist in tutoring ’Silver Surfers’ ∙ Virus protection and Computer Security Advice. ∙ Setting up mobile devices, tablets, smartphones ∙ Advice and guidance. Remote help via Internet. ∙ Established and well known in Shorne since 2000. Call: Ali Meherali, Racefield Cottage, Woodlands Lane, Shorne, Kent DA12 3HH. Tel: 01474 824138. Mob: 07941 540534.

Painter & Decorator 01634 711161 07900 473043 Fiona Spirals

I only do business with nice people

YOUR ADVERT HERE

To advertise your local service or business here please contact

Lawrence Aspinall on 01474 825046

[email protected]

Support your community by holding an event here SHORNE VILLAGE HALL

Its a great place for all types of occasions -

weddings, anniversaries, children’s parties and other family celebrations.

There are special rates for Shorne parish residents.

Speak to Andrea Tel. 01634 254755, she’ll be able to help.

26 WISLEIGH LADIES PAINTERS & DECORATORS

Very clean, Very friendly and Very reliable. City and Guilds Qualified and Fully Insured. For a FREE Quote, PLEASE CALL Leigh or Wendy on 01474 249654 or 0780 181 4830

Essential Papers are an established and leading office paper supplier. No order is too small or too large; we provide quality paper products and services at very competitive prices along with a delivery service that is 'second to none'.

Contact: Steve Fish Mobile: 07850 447158 WE CAN SUPPLY VARIOUS TYPES OF PAPER FOR ALL PRINTERS & COPIERS INC Unit 3, Milton Business Park COMPANY LOGO, TINTED & WATER- MARKED PAPER. 128 Milton Road, Gravesend, Kent DA12 2PG Telephone: 01474 566809 Fax: 01474 WE ALSO SUPPLY A FULL RANGE OF INK & 332849 Email: [email protected] TONER CARTRIDGES FOR PCs & PRINTERS

IMPERIAL WINDOWS DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIR SPECIALISTS

We repair UPVC & Aluminium Windows & Doors Misted Units / Broken Glass / Emergency Boarding Adjustments / Draughts / Leaks Locks / Hinges / Handles / Restrictors Patio Door Handles / Wheels

Reliable – Local Company – Established 1986

FREE QUOTATIONS 01474 824400 / 07770 761355

Checkatrade.com

27 Barnside Luxury Boarding Cattery We offer all year boarding facilities in luxury accommodation individually heated, with all specialist needs catered for. Licensed and approved by Local authorities. Vaccination certificate required. Home of Tannu Burmese. Proprietor Mrs L Bull Telephone 01474 812907 Barnside, Wrotham Road, Reception and Collection Meopham, Kent DA13 0AU Mon – Fri 9–11am /4- 6pm

AJ DOE TREE SURGERY Fully qualified and insured

For all tree work From pruning to felling Stump grinding FREE ADVICE AND ESTIMATES TEL: 01622 728574

Derek Dingwall DJS Plumbing and Heating Painter & Decorator Solutions For all your plumbing needs Call David Sargent for a 35years experience friendly and efficient service Tel: 01634 220271 Mob: 07771 620833 Free estimates E-mail: [email protected] 01634 407616

07973677529

Plumbing Technique

 Boiler Replacements  Full Central Heating  Radiators  System Upgrades  Power Flushing  Power Showers  Unvented Cylinders

Phone Mark 01474 822348 or mobile 07899912100

Your local Water and Gas Engineer

No : 130055

353277 01474 Enquiries 5420579 0800 Sales:

Want to eat well and still lose weight?

Come and join your local Slimming World Group

Higham Village Club, Hermitage Road ME3 7DD Every Thursday 5.30pm & 7.30pm

Warm welcome, friendly group and support guaranteed.

Just come along or contact Sue for more information 01474 567320 or 07947831181

32 VILLAGE ORGANISATIONS

School Shorne C of E Primary 822312 Head of School Miss T Hewett

Friends of Shorne School Chair: Mrs Turner 07894423854 Secretary: Mrs Taylor 07814032587 Shorne Pre-School Mrs J Bennett (Joint Supervisor) 357872

Parish Council Mr Bob Lane (Chairman) 822680 Mr Robin N. Theobald (Vice Chairman) 823674

Parish Clerk Sarah Poole 01634 243157 [email protected]

Village Hall–Bookings/Enquiries Andrea Butcher 01634 254755 [email protected] Local History Group Mike Jenkins 822787 [email protected] Parish Archivist Ian Craig 824186 [email protected] Shorne & Thong WI Sue Muckley (President) 824732 Secretary: Sarah Poole 01634 243157. Group Scout Leader Mr Chris Zgoda 07921106122 [email protected] Scouts (Fri 7-9pm) Mr Chris Zgoda 07921106122

Cubs (Wed 6.30-8pm) Mr Chris Zgoda 07921106122 Beavers (Mon 6-7pm) Mr Chris Zgoda 07921106122

Early Retirement Club Mr Bill Woolley 822622 Racefield Close Carolyn Martin-Barnes 822802 Scheme Manager Garden Society Mr Alan Jarmyn 822991

Shorne Flower Mrs Linda Clatworthy (Chair) 01322 220282 Arrangers Mrs Mavis Jones (Secretary) 355386 Short Mat Bowls Nick Trice (Chairman) 01474 566918 Penny Edwards (Secretary) 822076 Dickens Country Protection Society Mrs P Lippiatt (Hon.Secretary) 01322 275389 Downs Way Medical Practice Shorne Surgery 247003 ShornARA Maureen Horsham (Chairman) 363285 Andrea Brickell (Membership secretary) 746606

Stages Richard Moore (Chairman) 823384

Surveyors Estate Agents Valuers Established 1851

Gravesend Tel: 01474 332981 Email: [email protected]

Meopham Tel: 01474 814902 Email: [email protected]