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Issue 232 / Wednesday 11th September 2019 Wayne and Josh raised ‘Loads of Dosh’ Two volunteer RNLI Lifeboat crew set out on an epic 24­hour adventure at the end of August, as they spent 24 hours adri in a small four­man life ra, one­and­ a­half miles off Lilestone Lifeboat Staon, not only to raise money for the Instuon, but also to raise awareness for sea safety. The couple came up with the publicity stunt to coincide with the Lilestone RNLI 999 Emergency Services Day recently. Speaking to The Looker moments before they set out to sea, Josh said: “It seemed like a good idea at the me! But I am now looking forward to geng out there and geng seled in for the next 24 hours.” The duo took plenty of supplies with them including boles of water to stop one of the main impacts for being at sea for a long me, namely the effects of moon sickness, which can lead to voming and dehydrafion. There’s more on the services day on page 5.

Kerfuffle over site of IN THIS ISSUE Lifeboats on call for Emergency Services Day permanent homes PAGE 5 New Romney scout enjoys World Jamboree jinks for travellers PAGE 6 A site in Old Romney could help The obligation is part of the ‘people leader of the council’s head of paid We loved the Hythe fulfil a legal obligation that the and places policy’ which makes services, when we were told that Food Festival in the heat District Council has to provide a up a part of the core strategy with there were three sites within New PAGE 17 planning guide lines being set permanent traveller settlement Romney’s town boundary being down by central government. Up considered and several in Lydd. Veteran sheep farmer loves in Romney Marsh with local until this site was offered by the One of the family members who his work on the Marsh residents being invited to have family to help comply with the had purchased the site in Old PAGE 18-19 their say on plans which could quota, the council looked at a Romney approached me to ask number of sites in New Romney help meet the housing needs of about applying for planning for the Dymchurch unveils its place and Lydd. the gypsy and traveller site. I realised that this could as seat of government community within the district. David Wimble, the New Romney actually help fulfil the councils PAGE 22 The site has been purchased ward councillor and cabinet obligation, so introduced the family member for economic Dame Judi Dench rebuts recently by the Penfold family to planning officers. The council is development at the Folkestone and committed to meeting the housing fake tape claim with the purpose of installing Page 25 Hythe District Council said; “The needs of our diverse community, five residential static homes for first meeting that Marsh councillors family members. had when elected was with the continued on Page 3

Be sure to visit www.thelooker.co.uk for all the latest local news Wednesday 11th September 2019 continued from Page 1 and I would encourage people to take part in this consultation that will shape the district’s future.” Social media erupted when news of the site was posted by an ex- district councillor who commented that David Wimble was bringing a traveller site to the district. Further comments suggested that there could be many gypsies on the site but it was pointed out that the family that have purchased the site have been living on the Marsh for over 50 years and run several People seem to believe that where bad things they do.” the draft Places and Policies Local reputable businesses. there are gypsies there’s trouble Other sites considered by the Plan. Following a comprehensive Jesse Penfold, part of the family and mess, but they’ve experienced District Council included Cockreed search for appropriate sites, they who own the site even went as far the bad ones who roam around Lane in New Romney near the new identified land adjacent to ‘The to go on the social media site and parking up wherever they like Pentland homes housing Retreat’, Lydd Road, Old Romney invite people over so that they giving people abuse but we’re development, Running Waters in as their preferred location for four could explain what they are trying totally different. We own our own the old council yard or probably permanent residential pitches. to establish. He told The Looker; land and we are a respectful and the most controversial, some land The Planning Inspector will “Our family have lived on Romney respected family. We have plenty near the end of Queens Road near consider the proposed site as part Marsh for over 50 years, we are of friends and get on well with the RH&DR. Other sites included of the ongoing Places and Policies honest down to earth people, we everybody but we are not land in built up areas in Lydd Local Plan examination following own our own local businesses and responsible for other travellers including Kitewell Lane and East the six-week public consultation go to work just like everybody else actions and in fact we wouldn’t Rype. which launched last week. All and we have a lot of support from socialise with those who give us a David Wimble went on to say; “As comments received will be those that know us or know of us. bad name as we disagree with the soon as you mention traveller site, considered by him. The people think of travellers leaving a consultation will run until 5 p.m. on mess and coming and going, but Monday 14th October. To have this site is owned by the family and your say, visit folkestone- I think will be a superb hythe.gov.uk/preferred-gypsy-an development for themselves and d-traveller-site-allocation the fact that they are willing to work All documents and representation with the council has to be seen as forms are also available to view in a good thing.” the Civic Centre and the district’s The Planning Inspector has told libraries during normal office Folkestone & Hythe District Council hours. Following the publication of it needs to address the expected the Planning Inspector’s report, the number of permanent gypsy and draft Places and Polices Local Plan traveller residential pitches needed will be considered for adoption by in the district until 2036/37 within cabinet and full council.

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Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 3 The Royal Victoria burns

Eight fire engines and close to 40 In the early days of WW1 Folkestone was asked soldiers and 37 refugees. All this, whilst also firefighters aended the recently to provide facilies for the wounded, and with treang the many minor out­paent cases. decommissioned part of Royal Victoria that request Shorncliffe Military Hospital There were two events in parcular which increased its provision, Morehall Schools were hospital in Radnor Park Road, Folkestone, marked the important role that the Royal also made ready for the recepon of paents late on Monday evening (12/8), when fire Victorian hospital played during this period of although they were not used as they did not meet war. The first – October 1914, when the French was reported in the unoccupied wing. War Office Requirements. The Royal Victoria steamer, the Amiral Ganteaume, was torpedoed As smoke filled the air, local people rushed Hospital responded by making available up to 100 in mid Channel by U­boats. On that night 37 outside and gathered to watch as the flames beds and extra wards, and could have placed even severe cases were treated and these paents spread to all three floors of this old Victorian more paents in spacious corridors if necessary. owed their lives to the medical staff who hospital. It took almost 4 hours to exnguish During these years, the medical staff, was a worked relessly through the night to ensure the fire, no injuries were reported. lile depleted due to one of the doctors, Dr every paent had the best chance of survival. The building is in the ownership of developers Linington, set up an operang theatre in The second event was the evening of 25th May who have planning permission to turn it into France, which was to prove invaluable. Never­ 1917, the night of the Folkestone air raid. Over new homes – and although most of the out the­less the Royal Victoria made itself ready 80 adults and children were admied to the buildings at the rear had already been for the influx of paents which included hospital that night, and by the morning 25 of demolished the fire is thought to have started French and Belgian refugees. It was not only those casuales were laid out in the mortuary, in that area – with speculaon it may have the medical staff who worked relessly to with more dying later. Due to the sudden large been set by youngsters. treat the wounded but doctors wives and number of injuries sustained that night, it had not The Royal Victoria hospital, or as some local many other Folkestone ladies volunteered been possible for the hospital to take in all of the people referred to it as the ‘grand old lady’ is their assistance, not only helping with injured and some had been taken to Shorncliffe a well loved instuon with many local paents on the wards, but by providing Military hospital where they remained for some people telling that they were born there, or bedding when it was in short supply. weeks before returning to Royal Victoria hospital they, or their mothers’, once worked there. Throughout this me the wards were kept to complete their treatment. This hospital also played an important role very busy, in all 1,760 wounded soldiers were On that night more than 100 years ago, those during Folkestones WW1 years. treated as in­paents with 276 Belgian who worked in the hospital would have witnessed the terrible scenes of men, women and children huddled together in the corridor, bloodied bodies of maimed women and children, and limbs brought in wrapped in blankets. Bringing us back up to date, local people have seen this part of the Royal Victorian hospital fall into disrepair and become dilapidated, potenally dangerous. Earlier this year permission was given for outbuildings at the back to be flaened, and that has gone ahead – with the remaining building set to be retained and converted into homes, with more housing being built on other parts of the site. Today (13/8), a spokesperson confirmed that the main building of the Royal Victoria hospital is open as usual and is unaffected by the fire which took place in the adjacent building – but warned that paents may need to allow extra me in geng to their appointments due to Radnor Park Road being parally closed whilst the cause of fire is invesgated, arson is suspected.

Page 4 Wednesday 11th September 2019 Littlestone RNLI Emergency Services Day

The sound of sirens could be heard across Lifeboat Atlantic 85 called Hello Herbie 11, Littlestone last Sunday morning (1st which was of specific interest to the Crew at September) when the Littlestone Lifeboat Littlestone, as it is the same class of lifeboat the station held their annual emergency station should be receiving from the RNLI in the services day at their base and at the next few months. adjoining Varne Boat Club. Throughout the day members of the public had With five different Lifeboats on display a running commentary by Matt Crittenden, including those from adjoining stations Dover, who used his knowledge and sense of humour Dungeness and Rye the public were treated to to not only, give out all the necessary facts and a display of a wide range of lifeboats, ranging figures, but kept the audience amused as well. from the impressive £2 million City of London 11 from Dover, which was not only the largest boat in the fleet but also carried a Y class boat, However there may have been a lot of action the smallest boat in the fleet. on the sea, but even more was going on in and Immediate neighbours Dungeness showed of around the lifeboat station, with all of the the amazing versatility of their Shannon Class emergency services being represented along boat driven by water jets and demonstrated with stalls all doing a brisk trade in the warm an ‘emergency stop’ from 27 knots (about 32 summer sunshine. mph) to standstill in its own boat length. Again The Littlestone car park had been given a this state of the art boat costs around £2.5 special dispensation for the day allowing million each and is paid for entirely by As well as Lifeboats a Dover Pilot Rib was also visitors to park free of charge for the duration volunteer contributions and donations from in attendance and the local Air Sea Rescue of the service day. individuals and companies. Agusta Westland AW139 helicopter One of the highlights was the recovery of the two The other lifeboat on display was the Rye performing a number of flyby’s. volunteer Crew Josh Speirs and Wayne Black who had spent a rather uncomfortable 24 hours at sea in a 4 man life raft, all in order to raise funds and awareness for the RNLI and sea safety. At the time of going to press we do not yet know the amount raised, but with what appeared to be record numbers, everyone had a great time for a very worthy charity. The event must take a lot of organising and has been a different take on most of the ‘normal’ lifeboat station open days and the Looker thinks that this was a great display of different emergency services that work tirelessly 24 hours per day 365 days of the year. At the time of going to print it is believed that both the open day and the two crewmen who raised money from staying in the life raft for 24 hours raised in excess of £6,750.

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 5 My World Scout Jamboree Experience

by Owen Benne

Flying from Gatwick, we landed at JFK Belgium, Cyprus, Croaa and South Korea. enjoyed hospitality with a local Canadian airport, New York City on Saturday Camp facilies included two persons to a scout troop. We camped for three nights 20th July en­route to the 24th World tent, patrols taking turns in cooking, with scouts from Papua New Guinea and Scotland. Whilst in Oawa I visited many Scoung Jamboree in West Virginia. washing and cleaning. Camp meals included Beef sr fry, pasta bolognaise, locaons such as The Canadian Parliament We had a whistle stop tour of Grand burgers and burritos. The jamboree itself building, The Canadian Museum of Nature Central Staon, Central Park (including was an amazing experience, not just for the and the Royal Canadian Mint. Strawberry Fields), The Statue of Liberty, acvies but for the lifelong friendship that I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ground Zero, Madison Square Garden, I have made. Learning about other people’s the local community for all their support Times Square, The Empire State Building lives, beliefs and cultures was truly with my fundraising so that this once in a and the Brooklyn Bridge. inspiraonal and has made me realise how lifeme dream was realised. Special thanks The first overnight stay was in a university lucky we are to live on the Romney Marsh. must go to The Looker, Hythe & Romney campus in New Jersey before seng off on Aer the Jamboree, we travelled to Marsh Lions, The Romney Marsh Rotary a seven hour coach journey to the Washington for a few days where Club and Sainsbury’s for their support. Now Jamboree. With spirits high, I lost count of sightseeing included The Washington the Jamboree is over I am now back into the number of mes we all sang John Monument, The White House, the Capitol pre­season training at Folkestone Rugby Denver’s ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’. Building on Capitol Hill, The Aero Space Club and just about to start my final year of Once at the Jamboree, we were greeted Museum, The Lincoln Memorial, The GCSE’s. My next challenge however is to with rain and a friendly g’day from our Vietnam Memorial and The J Edgar Hoover find a Saturday job, so if anyone is in need of a self­movated and reliable 15­year­old, camp neighbours, the Australian Scouts. I Building. All 4,000 of the UK Jamboree then please feel free to contact me. took part in many acvies comprising of Scouts aended a baseball game between fishing (I caught a catfish, bass and a blue the Balmore Orioles and the Toronto Blue The World Scoung Jamboree is an amazing gill), zip lines, clay pigeon shoong, pistol Jays which incidentally are the two teams experience for young people and the next and rifle shoong, tomahawk throwing, at the boom of the league. one is taking place in South Korea in 2023. white water raing, scuba diving, BMX We managed to gain TV coverage as the So a final thanks to everyone, whether you cycling, hiking, water obstacle course and a cameras zoomed in on the crowd when we came to my coffee morning, had fun at one 2­mile obstacle course. all cheered a player as he caught the ball. of my quiz nights, donated raffle prizes, I met scouts from Australia, Canada, USA, The TV commentators also acknowledged displayed one of my posters, had your car Portugal, Argenna, Mexico, Egypt, our enthusiasms as the TV clip was washed, sponsored me for my walk, gave a Sweden, Finland, Germany, France, Italy, repeated over and over again to the TV donaon at a Sainsbury’s bag pack, bought Holland, Brazil, Nepal, Peru, Chile, Japan, audience. raffle ckets or visited our stall at the New South Africa, New Zealand, Papua New Leaving Washington, we next headed by Romney Country Fayre. Guinea, Spain, Norway, Iceland, Poland, coach to Oawa in Canada where we Owen Benne (1st New Romney Scout Group)

Page 6 Wednesday 11th September 2019 Fire fighters bale twin haystack fires by David Wimble Fire Fighters from across the district baled to contain two major haystack fires, on the main A2070 road between Brenze Green and Snave, on 29thAugust The alarm was raised shortly before 8pm when the first fire was reported and then a second blaze less than a mile away and believed to belong to the same farmer was also alerted to Kent Fire and Rescue. but I think it must be an arson aack, it would be more than a With appliances from Lydd, Dymchurch, Aldington and Ashford and coincidence that two haystacks belonging to one farmer should self water tenders over 30 fire fighters looked set to have a long night combust at exactly the same me.” ahead of them. The resident said that they alerted the fire service around 8pm When The Looker arrived on scene both fires had really become when they noced the fire glow on their CCTV monitors. The fully established, with a fireman telling us that there was nothing resident stated: “The fire is bad enough, but with all the dry weather really they could now do other than to let them burn themselves we have had a spark could ignite the hay and corn fields. I feel so out, and make sure that the fires did not spread to adjoining fields. sorry for the farmer who stands to lose his enre winter hay supply.” One local resident told The Looker; “Obviously this is not official, l At the me of going to press we do not have any official statement about the cause of the fire, but the Snave site is an area that has been used to fly p rubbish over the past few weeks, which has fuelled belief on social media that the aacks are deliberate. There has also been reported hare coursing with land owners having run­ins with some of the people using the land for these illegal and barbaric acvies. If you have any dash­cam footage taken from the A2070 between the me of 6.30 an 8.00pm showing any people near the fire sites, please contact Kent Police on 01622690690.

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Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 7 Merchant Navy Day Since 2000, Merchant Navy Day on 3rd September has honoured the brave men and women who kept our ‘island naon’ afloat during both World Wars, and celebrated our dependence on modern day merchant seafarers who are responsible for 95% of the UK’s imports, including half the food we eat, plenty of the fuel we burn and virtually all the products and goods we take for granted! Lydd Town Council will be parcipang in Merchant Navy Day and holding a flag hoisng ceremony and flying the Red Ensign to remember the sacrifices and courage of those who served. This will take place at 12 noon am on Sunday 1st September 2019 outside the Guild Hall, 13 High Street, Lydd. The Mayor of Lydd, Councillor Graham Snell and Lydd Town Council are supporng Seafarers Uk’s Fly the Red Ensign for Merchant Navy Day campaign. Lydd Town Council is one of the many councils across the UK that will be hoisng a Red Ensign to help raise awareness of our island naon’s ongoing dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers – the target is to reach 1,000 red ensign flags being hoisted. The flag will be flown throughout the following week. The official Merchant Navy Day is on 3rd September which marks the first major Brish marime casualty, the merchant vessel SS Athenia, was torpedoed just a few hours aer hoslies were declared in 1939. 128 passengers and crew were lost and 3rd September is now enshrined as Merchant Navy Day to honour the brave men and women who served during both World Wars. To support the future of our Merchant Navy we will have a collecon n available at the Guild Hall should you wish to make a donaon.

Pilot project helps keep THE SHEPHERD & CROOK paents acve SHEAR WAY | ROMNEY MARSH | BURMARSHSH | TN29 0JJ 01303 872336 Volunteers from Age UK Hythe Two Cour & Lyminge have teamed up with Sunday Lunchse specialist therapists at the William Harvey Hospital for a £13.95 pilot project aimed at keeping BOOKING ADVISABLE paents acve. Age UK support worker Wendy McEvi is vising wards across the hospital to lead chair­based Open Mic Night exercise sessions because Wendy has run similar chair­based 1st and 3rd research shows that if paents exercise sessions at Age UK for Tuesday move more during their me in the past 12 years and is working of the month hospital, they recover faster. with specialist Occupaonal Wendy, who runs the sessions Therapist Emma Pope on the six­ with volunteer Pat Brealey and week pilot project. therapy staff, said the idea was to In the future, it could be Shaun and Gayna welcome you to the have as much fun as possible. expanded to add more exercise Shepherd & Crook, Burmarsh “One paent was surprised he groups, or to use other Age UK laughed so much, and said he services such as befriending on This charming pub has it’s own unique character thought it was meant to be hard the wards or singing groups. and is a fascinang place to visit, and visit you must as work, not fun,” Wendy told The Emma said: “Wendy really makes the Shepherd & Crook is a hidden gem Looker. exercise fun for the paents and “We really want people to enjoy it was a great session. The Shepherd and Crook pride themselves on their fine selecon themselves – we want them to “Several of them said they were of real ales and cask ciders. work and move their muscles, but already looking forward to the The delicious food is mainly pub classics, it can be fun at the same me. next one, which is fantasc. locally sourced where possible, with a great choice of “Our first session was this week “As well as enjoying the gluten free, vegetarian and vegan opons. and I was so impressed with exercises, they also enjoyed each Check out our website for events and live music everyone. It was lovely to hear other’s company and there were their feedback aerwards.” some new friendships formed.” www.theshepherdandcrookburmarsh.com

Page 8 Wednesday 11th September 2019 Old­mers seen again on the Marsh by John Wimble As in previous years, it was a sunny and warm day for this year’s RH&DR Annual Bus Rally on Sunday 1st September. It was thought that this year’s event was probably the most successful to date with around 40 buses and taxis on display and both Lilestone and Dungeness staons were very busy. There were also the usual trade stands at Lilestone to aract the enthusiasts. This popular annual event aracted both transport enthusiasts and families alike and the Lilestone staon car park played host to an impressive selecon of vintage buses, coaches and taxis. The car park was full to capacity as was Dungeness with buses arriving and deparng at frequent intervals. As well as the convenonal double­deckers and coaches, there were also open­top double­deckers, and several of the buses were giving free rides between Lilestone and Dungeness. The open­top buses were parcularly popular for the 20­minute trip. Interesngly, a couple of the open­top buses were originally double­deckers but following accidents with low bridges, they were subsequently converted to open­top buses!

The oldest vehicle dated back to 1928 and Hasngs Borough Council but the upper deck created a lot of aenon. It was originally built was badly damaged in the hurricane of 1987. as an electric trolleybus for Hasngs This led to the formaon of the Hasngs Tramways and remained in service unl the Trolleybus Restoraon Group who worked withdrawal of trolleybuses in the town in with the council to restore it. 1959. It was then fied with a diesel engine Other buses and coaches on display and and re­entered service a year later and running the shule service included examples operated up and down Hasngs seafront unl from the ‘Maidstone & District’ bus company, 1968. It was subsequently purchased by ‘Southdown Motor Services’, the ‘East Kent Road Car Company Ltd’, London Transport’, ‘Eastbourne Corporaon’, ‘Brighton, Hove & District’, ‘Western Naonal’ and ‘Midland Express’. Some of the vehicles must have brought back memories for local people as they operated on the Marsh many years ago, especially the ‘East Kent’ buses. Some of the buses and coaches would have been housed at the old East Kent garage, nearly opposite the staon car park at Lilestone. Norman and Jenny Sims from Lydd echoed the thoughts of many of the visitors when they remarked, “Fabulous seeing all the old buses and coaches on the Marsh today.” Put a note in your diary for next year’s rally which is on Sunday 6th September 2020.

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 9 Folkestone’s Water Fountain by Mark Newsomm IItt iiss pplannedlanned fforor tthehe ffountainountain ttoo be moved again The water fountainain iinn Folkeskestoneone, at ttoo tthehe bboomoom ooff tthehe LLeaseas CCliffliff Li on the the corner of WWearear BBayay Roadoad aandnd WWearear sseafronteafront aandnd tthishis wwillill ccostost aaroundrou £60,000. Bay Crescent, waswas bubuiltlt inin 18971897. It waswas TThehe g graderade IIII llistedisted sstructuretructure hhasas been in place for originally erecteded at thehe junconon ooff thehe 9977 yearsyears aandnd llocalocal rresidentsesidents aarere hhorrifiedo that it is Leas and West Terraerrace to pprorovideide wwaaterer ttoo bbee uup­rooted,p­rooted, eespeciallyspecially aass ttheyhey hhaveav had no for both the horsesrses aandnd ddririversers ooff thehe horse­horse­ cconsultaononsultaon oonn tthehe mmaer.aer. drawn cabs that usedsed to queue alonong WesWest OOnene ssuchuch ppersonerson iiss RRobertobert MMouland.ouland. RRobertobert is a leading Terrace whilst wainwaing to ppiick up shoppersshoppers ffrorom fifiguregure iinn tthehe llocalocal ccommunityommunity aandnd hhasas ddoneone mmuch to preserve Sandgate Road.. tthehe ttown’sown’s hhistory.istory. OOnene ooff hhisis pprojectsrojects wwasas rrestoringes the Leas CCliffliff LLii ccarriage.arriage. TThehe LLii wwasas bbuiltuilt iinn 11885885 aandn carried more In 1922 the fountaintain waswas movedmoved toto a nnewew llocaonocaon aatt tthehe tthanhan 5500 mmillionillion ppeopleeople ssinceince iitt oopened.pened. WWhenhen it closed in juncon of Wear BBayay CCrescentrescent aandnd WWearear BBayay RRoadoad ttoo aallowllow 22009,009, RobertRobert ssteppedtepped fforwardorward aandnd sstartedtarted a rrestoraon for the erecon off thethe town’stown’s wwarar mmemorial.emorial. TThehe ggasas llampsamps pprojectroject aandnd tthankshanks ttoo hhisis eefforts,fforts, tthehe ccarriagearriage now stands at were probably convertednverted ttoo eelectricitylectricity aatt tthishis me.me. TThehe tthehe EElhamlham VValleyalley MMuseumuseum aatt PPeene.eene. fountain was restoredored iinn 11981981 aandnd repaintedrepainted inin 20062006 andand HHee aalsolso wwasas iinvolvednvolved wwithith tthehe rrestoraonestoraon ooff a bus shelter built 2010. iinn FFolkestoneolkestone iinn 11927.927. IItt wwasas a llovelyovely llileile bbuildingu with a red­ It was erected as a mmonumentonument ttoo pprominentrominent QQuakeruaker ledled roofroof bbutut iinn 22011,011, SShepwayhepway DDistrictistrict CCounciloun planned to philanthropist Sidneyney CCooperooper WWeston.eston. WWestoneston ddiedied iinn 11893893 ttearear iitt ddownown aandnd rreplaceeplace iitt wwithith ssomethingomething mmore modern. only 50 and he wasas a vveryery ppopularopular mman,an, hhighlyighly rregardedegarded RRobertobert ssteppedtepped iinn aandnd ggotot ppermissionermission ttoo rre­painte­ it in the who cared for thee ppooroor aandnd eelderly.lderly. HHisis ppublicublic sspiritpirit aandnd ffamiliaramiliar mmaroonaroon aandnd ccreamream ooff tthehe 11920s920 buses. It can kindness was knownwn rrightight aacrosscross KKentent aandnd wwhenhen hhee nnowow bbee sseeneen iinn CCanterburyanterbury RRoad.oad. AAnothernot of Robert’s died, his funeral cortegeortege cconsistedonsisted ooff 2255 ccarriagesarriages aandnd pprojectsrojects wwasas tthehe ppreservaonreservaon ooff a 1195195 open­top bus. wreaths were sentt ffromrom tthehe EEarlarl aandnd CCountessountess ooff 113030 yearsyears aago,go, a ppark­keeper’sark­keeper’s llodgeodge was built at Radnor and the Salvaonalvaon AArmy.rmy. RRadnoradnor PParkark iinn FFolkestoneolkestone bbyy tthehe EEarlar of Radnor. Aer There are only fourur ootherther ffountainsountains tthathat wwereere bbuiltuilt rremainingemaining eemptympty fforor a nnumberumber oof years, and in a by the same manufacturer,ufacturer, AAndyndy HHandyside’sandyside’s ffairlyairly ppooroor sstate,tate, RRobertobert iiniatednia a restoraon Britannia Foundry,y, bbasedased iinn DDerby.erby. OOnene pproject.roject. HHee aarrangedrranged fforor sstudentstu from the of these is in Singaporeapore aandnd aanothernother iiss EEastast KKentent CCollegeollege ttoo rrefurbishefurb and in Rio de Janeiro. WhilstWhilst ttheyhey aarere ooff tthehe rredecorateedecorate tthehe llodgeodge aandnd cconvert it into a same paern as thehe FFolkestoneolkestone tteaea rroom.oom. fountain, there aree vvariaonsariaons ooff tthehe IInn AAprilpril ooff tthishis yyear,ear, RRobertober Mouland was design and that makesmakes thethe WWestoneston rrecognisedecognised bbyy FFolkestoneolk Town fountain one of a kindkind andand thereforetherefore CCouncilouncil aandnd wwasa presented with unique. The Handysideyside a ‘‘ForFor Merit’ award by foundry was also ttheh Mayor of famous for Folkestone, building the Councillor Ann Albert Bridge Berry. It was a across the River proud moment Thames in and very much London. ddeserved.

Page 10 Wednesday 11th September 2019 Romney Marsh Tyres Helicopter rescue for Derek Linch - Sycamore Farm, Folkestone swimmer Old Romney, Kent TN29 9SY A man was winched to safety aer geng into trouble in the sea near the harbour arm in Folkestone last week. The alarm was raised when the swimmers’ partner saw him geng Call: 01797 367717 into trouble and rang 999 to alert the emergency services. Coastguard teams and the Lilestone Lifeboat were also sent to the man in the water. The casualty was then air lied to William or: 01797 364466 Harvey Hospital as a precauon. Coast guards warned would­be swimmers of the dangers of All makes of: swimming around the Harbour Arm or out into deep water, with strong undercurrents making it very different to swimming in a NEW Tyres swimming pool.

FREE All Saints Church Lydd, Pet Service FITTING All Saints Church, Lydd, is to lay on a special pet service in celebraon of the creatures that share our world, homes and lives. FREE The Rev Jacky Darling will lead this special event in the church’s calendar. Aending children must have a parent or carer with them BALANCING and pets must be on leads or in cages for their own safety while at the service. The service will start at 3pm on 6th October. As www.romneymarshtyres.co.uk usual, the church is open to all, not just the regular congregaon. All Saints Church is very much a meeng place and welcomes Just enter your registration for our auto everyone. For more informaon about this event please contact tyre selector and get the best deal on a Jacky on 07484 224973 or for other events and regular church new tyre for your car calendar see hp://western­marsh­churches.co.uk/

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 11 Wednesday 11th September 2019 Anglo­Saxon excavaon in Lyminge

Lyminge, a village just outside Folkestone, has been idenfied as being a rare and important Anglo­ Saxon selement site. Archaeologist from University of Reading along with University students and local volunteers have been excavang the site for several years, each summer, and are now excavang the medieval Church there. 1300 years ago an Anglo­Saxon monastery was founded in Lyminge, presided over by a royal abbess. As well as Saxon and Bronze WW2 structures, and a quanty of Age features, a crouched inhumaon (a Mesolithic flints, part of the flint scaer hollowing out of the ground, or trench, for that is present across the whole site. burial, with a covering of earth or rocks) of In recent months, during the summer, a the Beaker period (c2500­1800 BC) was number of important finds have been unexpectedly discovered, along with Saxo­ excavated including, what workers have Norman and Medieval pits and ditches, called a ‘star find’, part of a column made of

limestone ­ likely Roman in origin. This column fragment could have been reused during Victorian mes in the building of the exisng church, but would have originally formed part of the triple arch leading into the Anglo­Saxon church. Another recent significant find is a surviving sliver of the western wall of the nave, preserved in situ. Not all of it is in place now, but enough of it exists to be able to work out its original dimensions and placement within the Anglo­Saxon church. More updates about this interesng project can be found at: www.lymingearchaeology.org/

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Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 13 Folkestone Wellbeing Centre by Jan Holben then going on to manage day centres and care me thinking about how we might be able to homes, I have had an intrinsic desire to help provide free or low cost wellbeing acvies I moved to Folkestone three years ago and people improve themselves and their worlds. for people like that. I talked to a few of ‘my worked in Kent County Council’s Social Care regulars’ and we decided to set up a Commissioning team at the me, managing So in April 2018 I opened the doors and community organisaon with the purpose of a pilot project about community wellbeing. haven’t looked back since. At first I was providing small wellbeing projects that Through that work I learned some amazing running personal growth workshops and enabled people to take part, who might figures about loneliness and isolaon (for decided to sell some helpful books and otherwise have not been able to. We called example GPs report that at least four products on the back of those. Soon enough I the voluntary organisaon Champions 4 appointments every day are because of not only built up a customer base but also Wellbeing and with the help of The Folkestone loneliness and isolaon rather than medical found health and wellbeing praconers Rotary Club we were able to put on a weekend issues) and also found out what real coming to me to ask if they could use the space of wellbeing treatments for unpaid Carers. wellbeing means for people ­ mainly a to run groups, workshops and courses too. Reiki, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage and balanced life consisng of community Aromatherapy sessions were provided free of connecons, purpose, good mental health, a charge and the feedback we got was fantasc. decent environment, family, friendship and a few other elements. The centre is having a summer break but will reopen on September 16th when we have Aer the job with KCC ended I decided to some new acvies on offer – Laughter Yoga, open Folkestone Wellbeing Centre where I Buddhist Meditaon and Healing Affirmaons wanted to connue working with some of groups along with a ‘Death Café’ and some of these themes and help people to have beer the old favourites. We have also teamed up lives. It is a passion of mine and from my early with Authenc Smile to deliver a one­day years of working in a psychiatric hospital workshop on November 23rd, at the Tower through to qualifying as a Social Worker and Theatre in Cheriton, where people will have the opportunity to explore the power of ‘Choice’ in their lives. It should be an amazing day So ­ am I glad that I opened the centre? Within the first year FWC ­ as we call it – was Absolutely! Have I helped people build offering a wide range of wellbeing acvies to community connecons and feel less isolated? the people of Folkestone and surrounding Definitely! Is the centre helping to improve areas. Meditaon, Mental health awareness, wellbeing? Yes! It’s been a fantasc journey Yoga, the Green Man Circle (men’s support and I hope to help many more of you to ‘have group), Building Resilience courses, Dream beer lives’ – do pop in and see us someme. sharing, Personal Development groups, Crystal Healing, Creave wring, Storytelling café, Knit and Naer, Buerflies (women’s social group), Cras, 1:1 coaching and lots more. We set up something called The Educaon of Hearts & Minds club once a month, which introduced people to new and somemes challenging ideas such as the journey of the soul, energy healing and even people who live on nothing but air! External groups also hire the centre for their meengs, giving them a nice space with a relaxing energy. For most of the acvies there is a small fee and for others they are free or by donaon. Somemes, I found that people might pop in and like the sound of something on offer but confessed they couldn’t afford it and that got

Page 14 Wednesday 11th September 2019 A trio of classic musical treats coming up

by Andrew South accompanied by John Hurd on the piano, and Sarah Boxall A series of musical events playing some unaccompanied for classical music lovers Bach on her cello.” has been arranged around Cosng just £5 at the door, Folkestone and Hythe in coffee and tea will be available the next few weeks, by the from 10.20am, with the Folkestone & Hythe concert scheduled to take Orchestral Society. place from 11am unl about Coming up this Saturday (14th), 12pm. the Preston Ensemble will But what do you do if you want present a musical treat at St. to learn more about how to Leonard’s in Hythe will begin at appreciate this beauful genre 6pm and should last about an of music? Well, you sign up for hour an autumn term of courses, Flo Peycelon, who leads the tutored by Michael Foad, Folkestone Symphony, will be entled The Joy of Music. joined by seven equally The course takes place at on talented string players will two days starng on Monday warm up with a Corelli (16th) and Thursday (19th), Concerto Grosso, before between 10.30am and performing Mendelssohn’s 12.15pm at the Folkestone amazing Octet for Strings Methodist Church in Sandgate which he wrote at the tender Road. age of 16. Sounds like a bargain “The Joy of Music is a series of for £12 for this standard of Music Appreciaon classes for musicianship when you turn up the ‘general listener,” Michael at the door, so make sure you said.” get there early. “Students should enrol for The next event is the Coffee either the Monday or Thursday Concert for Peace in classes, but are welcome to associaon with the United come to the alternave class if Naons Internaonal Day of that would be more convenient Peace, which takes place on on a parcular week so you Saturday, September 21st at don’t miss a class. But new Folkestone Methodist Church members are welcome to sit in in Sandgate Road. on a couple of classes “on spec” Organised by Michael Foad, before comming themselves Vice President of the to joining the course.” Folkestone Symphony The course is divided into two Orchestra, this annual event is parts: The first will be Music in aid of the Corrymeela Appreciaon and The Life & Community in Northern Music of Franz Schubert lasng Ireland, which has worked for five weeks while the second is peace and reconciliaon Music Appreciaon and what is throughout the ‘Troubles’ for described as a “wide­ranging 50 years, but sll needs just as musical miscellany” lasng much support now. seven weeks. “I am delighted to say that The courses finish on the 9th Debbie and Mark Fletcher will and 12 December. Sounds like make a welcome return visit to a great way to make more of Folkestone from their new your listening enjoyment. home in Cambridgeshire, to For further informaon on the present the words,” Michael courses and costs, call Michael told The Looker. Foad on 01303 242694, or e­ “They will be joined by June mail: [email protected]. Woodland, mezzo soprano,

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 15 Spanish Flu Pandemic, 1918/19 “History is wrien by the Victors” – Winston Churchill

When we were in Junior School, history the trenches, where it was called “la grippe” had also been at war for 4 years, and many was very simple. You just learn a lot of At first it was not serious, and most people of the populaon were weary and dates and facts, and who were the recovered, and it was also known as “three malnourished. day fever” goodies (usually us, the Brits) and the Globally, 10­20% of those affected died. In baddies, (other people) When you get to Why “Spanish Flu?” The reports of illness Britain a quarter of the populaon were GCSE and A level, suddenly it is a lot were kept carefully under censorship, and infected. A third serious wave came in the more complicated, with a thousand not broadcast, so as not to affect morale. winter of 1918/19. Not respecter of class, shades of grey between the real But Spain was neutral in WW1, so they had at the Versailles peace conference in April baddies, and us and the others. Sadly, no parcular reason for not reporng their 1919, USA President Woodrow Wilson we learnt that we Brits were not always cases. So it became “Spanish Flu” although collapsed with the flu, but survived. The it didn’t start there. There were several on the side of the angels! Those bits got Spring of 1919 saw a drop in cases, to waves of the pandemic, and it was greatly wrien out of the history books (wrong­ endemic (normal) levels. The worst was spread by soldiers returning aer WW1. It over. they were never in them) Like Pointless, spread from the railway staons, in large if you asked a hundred people, how cies and towns, and eventually all over the But why was it wrien out of historic many have ever heard of Isandlwana, country. The soldiers returning to the consciousness? Maybe the world was how we came to win the 2nd Boer war, Empire countries, took the disease to the 4 weary of death and suffering. Perhaps the Irish civil war of 1921/22, etc, no corners of the globe. there is more heroism in dying in a trench hell hole, than dying of flu in a hospital bed? one would know! (see boom of page As it spread it became more serious. The for explanaons) most frightening aspect was it rapidity, and Not in Ladybird histories. The Spanish Flu Pandemic falls into the there was no treatment, apart from good Isandlwana. In 1879, in the Zulu wars, there same category. It was the most serious nursing care. This was before anbiocs was a massive defeat of the Brish army, medical emergency the world has ever and vaccines. A young man could be well at with the loss of 1.367 lives due to seen. 50 million people died, (compared breakfast, take ill with fever and fague an incompetence by commander, Lord with 37 million in WW1) Yet how many hour later, develop pneumonia and start Chelmsford. A favourite of Queen Victoria, people know much about it? No one could turning blue, struggling for air, and be dead she ordered the news supressed. Less than have missed the huge outpouring of grief by sunset. Hospitals and clinics soon 24 hours later, a heroic defence at Rorke’s and commemoraon last year, but there became overwhelmed, and student nurses Dri (see film Zulu) was to be given great hasn’t been a whisper about those who and doctors, volunteers, and anyone with prominence. died in the Flu pandemic: 228,000 people medical knowledge, was draed in to help. died in Britain, compared with 700,000 in Mortuaries were overwhelmed, and cold Second Boer war. We invented WW1, ie about a third of the number. storage facilies were taken over to hold concentraon camps. The Brish the bodies. Special measures, like liming demoralised the Boers by rounding up all It started in the early months of 1918, in public gatherings were undertaken. their women and children, then resented the USA. The USA had entered the war in the money spent on feeding them, so Another frightening aspect, not understood April, 1917. There was a massive increase thousands died of starvaon and neglect. in military recruitment, and a dra (call up) then, was that strong young people were was introduced. All these military had to be especially vulnerable. We now know that is Irish Civil War.1921/22 Aer the long trained, and were herded together in what is called, I think, “a cytokline reacon” struggle for independence, there was great massive camps. In March 1918, the first Put simply, old people’s immune systems bierness between those thought that cases of a Flu like illness was reported in a have been around a long me, and met paron was the best they could get, and Kansas camp, with deaths. With the most things, and just “ck along” Young those who wanted independence for whole concentraon of people, there were people’s immune systems are sll in “gung of Ireland, so a civil war started. Brought to sporadic outbreaks throughout the USA. At ho” mode, and do a massive over reacon, an abrupt end when Michael Collins, was a similar me, cases were reported from which causes mulple organ failure. Europe assassinated.

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Page 16 Wednesday 11th September 2019 Hythe Food Festival? We love it! by Andrew South For the fourth year running the publishers of Hythe Life Magazine did the town proud over the hottest August Bank Holiday on record by sharing their love of food and beverage with thousands of locals, visitors and holiday makers. The Looker checked in to the ‘We Love Hythe Life Food Festival to see first-hand what was tantalising taste buds, quenching thirsts and helping hips sway in front of the two entertainment stages. The first morning dawned as warm and blue as the sea lapping the shore half-a- mile down the road, and the crowds were soon making their way to Hythe Green – a new and more spacious venue for the event this year. For those who had no other plans for the Bank Holiday weekend, it would have been easy to organise the whole three days around breakfast, brunch, lunch, high tea and dinner with entertainment laid on at the Festival “It’s a world tour of cuisine in one place!” Event Organiser, Shirley Elizabeth Rodgers told me as the gates opened. And indeed it was… A breakfast of French crepes, a lunch at the Caribbean Hut and a trip to India for dinner could have been punctuated with Moroccan tapas, a little Taste of Madagascar, and topped off with English Strawberries & Cream. As for drinks to wash the whole lot down, you would have been spoiled for choice – the Festival Bar was well-stocked with local, national and international beers and wines, while there were also on-trend speciality gins and some cheeky cocktails for the more adventurous. There was something for every palate, whether vegan or vegetarian, allergic or agnostic. And if you were looking for something to tackle the symptoms of pain, nausea, inflammation or anxiety, then you needed to look no further than the Buds R Us stall for its hemp-based cures. Half-way through the Sunday, the Hythe Green arena was heaving in the heat, with the communal seating areas in the shade becoming prime sites for recuperation and refreshment – a world away from the wicked storm which befell the event on the same day last year. On the Main Stage, performers from FHODS were wowing the crowd with a taste of their forthcoming performance of ‘Hi-di- Hi!’ at the Tower Theatre from September 26th to October 5th. But there was a truly eclectic mix of musical entertainment on both the Main and Acoustic Stages – including a demonstration of belly-dancing(!), making the Festival a satisfying experience for musical and nutritional needs. On the third and final day – on the type of day when some of the males of the species decide that it is acceptable to go into a supermarket, sit on a bus or walk down a high street without a shirt – there was no let up in the Festival atmosphere. Three whole days of wholesome (and naughty) food and drink from around the world on our doorstep The ‘We Love Hythe Life Food Festival’ has an interesting provenance. Run as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, it is manned entirely by volunteers in the event days team and the management team alike. It works closely with local charities and organisations, making regular contributions to them. In just its fourth year, the CIC was a finalist in the Kent Press & Broadcasting Awards in respect of its contribution to the community, and even found itself on a list of the nation’s Top Ten Food Festivals. The Festival will return next year – same place, same August Bank Holiday.

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 17 Les’s lifelong love of sheep farming on Romney Marsh

Story and photographs by Kim Gandy “I’m an old-fashioned farmer. I have been around sheep all my life,” Les enthused; Romney Marsh has been a constantly “I did National Service and then worked for changing landscape, moulded by the Merricks (a respected local sheep farm). movement of sea, shingle and storms and by I underwent tuition for shearing and the 14th century wool was a prized commodity ultimately trained through Massey College, and Romney Marsh became a focal point for to teach shearing. I conducted shearing trading and subsequently smuggling. schools for the Wool Board.” By 1800 Romney sheep were recognised as a “long wool breed” and flocks have been exported as far and wide as New Zealand and the United States, as well as within Great Britain itself. Les Ramsden of Appledore has sheep farming in his blood and began working with the animals at the age of five on his grandparents’ farm. He has run sheep shearing gangs in Britain, has sheared sheep as far away as New Zealand and knows the business inside-out. Recently I spent an interesting couple of hours being shown around Les’s 300 acres of sheep fields and farm buildings and discovered there Les, 83, whose fitness level would put men half was a lot more to sheep farming than meets his age to shame, showed me around the shearing sheds and pointed out how the the eye. their teeth, not that he would need to because sheep were herded in and held in cubicle-like The first thing that struck me was Les’s love of Les seemed to know all his sheep individually. stalls during the process. He told me: “It’s his animals, including his energetic sheepdog, He also explained that grazing is an “art”: “I set Fly, as he proudly showed me some of his 300 difficult to teach and learn shearing as it must be done with the minimum distress to the stock at four to the acre plus lambs,” he hundred strong flock of Romneys, way off the explained. Les also pointed out willow trees he beaten track, alongside a little- known stretch sheep. For example, the sheep must be held slightly to one side, so it doesn’t hurt the tail.” is growing by the network of marsh ditches, by of the historic Royal Military Canal. which the sheep graze; “they are to provide Les once ran three sheep shearing gangs, shelter for the sheep on hot days.” which sheared 100,000 sheep in the 1960s and remembered as far back as WWII when the Whilst we were out, a badger flashed across sheep were loaded onto a train at Appledore the field in front of the farm vehicle. station to become “evacuees” in Wales and I expressed obvious pleasure at the sight of Yorkshire. He also told me that there were the animal in such a natural environment, many different styles of shearing. however, Les informed me that badgers were not much appreciated on sheep farms as they Of the Romney Breed itself he told me: “They often savage sheep and particularly lambs, are placid; don’t get out and are obviously good for wool.” As we stood in the middle of a field, he gave me a demonstration of herding as Fly, his faithful sheepdog swung into action, rapidly bringing a small group of Romneys together. He pointed out their markings and explained to me the various coloured dots on the backs of the sheep. He explained that one-year-old sheep were called “tegs” or “hoggetts” and the ewes go to lambing on 5th November, to start lambing on April 1st. Les can also tell the age of sheep by

Page 18 Wednesday 11th September 2019 who are inclined to shelter down tunnels in badger setts, which are numerous on Les’s land, often with tragic results. Back at Les’s comfortable home, which includes an outbuilding housing a large snooker table and Les’s many awards, he grinned: “That’s where I go to relax after a hard day.” Later, enjoying a cup of tea with Les and his wife Rona, it was revealed that the couple, interestingly, met when Scots-born Rona worked as a Dr Barnardo’s nanny on a local sheep and fruit farm. She explained: “I took two boys to watch some sheep shearing and Les chatted me up. I didn’t see him after that and was on holiday. Then I got a call from him out of the blue whilst back in Scotland for a visit and our first date was at Beginners’ guide to sheep markings: a Dickie Henderson show! • Female lambs born April dotted left “It would be strange to have him around the shoulder; male left side rump house during the day because he is always out • Tegs for breeding first time right with the sheep but I am used to that now.” shoulder for ewe; rump for castrated Les smiled: “Rona does all my paperwork so male that’s one less task… and there’s the family • One lamb ewe dotted left shoulder and grandchildren so we’re always busy. • Two lamb ewes left middle of the back “I have no intentions of giving it up any time soon,” backbone Les emphasised. Having seen Les in HIS natural • Three lamb ewes middle back on habitat, I can imagine he will be sheep-farming right hand side well beyond his telegram from the Monarch!

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 19 **Masa, circa 1969 – 2019** Howletts Wild Animal Park is saddened to announce the death of Masa, one of our female African elephants and matriarch of the Howletts herd.

Masa was discovered by her keepers Mchumba, and grandmother to Impi, struggling to get to her feet in the Etana and little Nusu. She was always early morning on 4th September 2019. first on the scene at elephant births, showing less experienced mothers what to do and even suckling her grandchildren for the first few days. Although slowing down in her old age, Masa was still able to charge at speed if any of her family called her, or if she saw some tasty branches at the other end of the enclosure. After a thorough assessment of her Feisty and playful till the end, keepers condition, the expert vet team and have some lovely videos of Masa Masa’s dedicated keepers took the which they will be sharing over the difficult decision to euthanise her. next few weeks Masa came to us from Africa in 1972 We are sure our visitors and and records from her birthplace were supporters will be as saddened by this www. .com vague, so it’s impossible to know her news as we all are. exact age. However, we estimate that NATIONAL AWARD WINNER FOR 3 YEARS she was at least 50 years old. Please do share your images of Masa with us on our social media pages. As matriarch, Masa was a huge personality in the herd. Affectionately known as “the queen mother” by her keepers, Masa was a wise leader, respected and looked up to by all at Howletts – from her family to her keepers and many of our regular visitors. Masa very much ran the show, and often made decisions as to how to lead the herd, whether this suited the keepers’ schedules or not. Goodbye Masa, you will be sadly Masa was mother to Jama and missed.

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Page 20 Wednesday 11th September 2019 1st New Romney Scout Group: congratulaons to The Looker. Celebrang 10 years – Thank you for supporng Scoung

Bear Grylls celebrates 10 years as Chief Scout Scouts will go to the end of the earth to make Thank you, Team Looker, for your huge and The Looker celebrates the 10th Year of things. There have been several success contribuon to Scoung success on Romney publicaon – a happy coincidence for former stories this year:­ our first Youth Marsh. Cub Scout and Looker editor Dave Wimble. Commissioner appointed; Duke of Edinburgh The Looker – working to keep Scoung on Join Scoung and learn Skills for Life. It’s Awards earned; four Explorer Scouts the map on Romney Marsh. Thank you! excing being involved, all our youngsters and aended the World Scout Jamboree in USA adult volunteers regularly experience new promong peace, diversity and understanding challenges that enrich their lives and allow them – Unlock a New World. All of the Scout to make lifelong friends. We value the support Groups have supported local charies – of The Looker who have promoted Scoung on Porchlight; Rotary; Romney Marsh Romney Marsh, supporng us, sharing our Counselling Services and more. successes and engaging the local community. There’s sll more adventure to come – Team Scoung is about fun and adventure. This Eurojam 2020 – seven Romney Marsh year Beavers took part in Sleepovers, Scouts/Explorers selected to represent experiencing their first night away from Romney Marsh in Gdansk, Poland. Eurojam home; Cubs aended the annual Summer will see 11 days of acvies designed to themed Camp – geng a good night’s sleep strengthen the internaonal community, was their big adventure – or was that the providing youngsters with the opportunity to Duke of Edinburgh Award success Leaders!! Scouts and Explorers experienced meet and learn from each other in Poland’s monsoon like condions but carried on with beauful countryside. They are busy fund the barbeque, at least skin is waterproof! raising – a sponsored walk is planned for 21st September followed by book and cake sales; Race Night and a Christmas concert. Watch this space for more details. Much to celebrate, more to do. Do more, learn more, be more – check out your local Scout Group and start your adventure now. We are launching our new District Scoung website later in the month Eurojam fund raising Ready for the World Scout Jamboree so it will be easier to find us.

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 21 Rare opportunity to touch Dymchurch history by Andrew South There was a chance to experience the fascinang history of Dymchurch, when one of the Marsh’s most important historical buildings open its doors to the public last weekend. The event, organised by the Dymchurch & District Heritage Group welcomed visitors to the New Hall in the village, which was the centre of self­government for the whole of Romney Marsh for centuries – and some will no doubt wish that it sll was, given the state of Brish polics!

Marsh, 23 Jurats and a Bailiff who used it as showed the members of the Dymchurch a ‘commonality meeng room’. Goal Running Club in 1931, a complex game The Old Hall built of wood, was destroyed which was popular in East Kent from around by fire in 1573, and was replaced logically by 1700, unl it died out in the 1950s. ‘New’ Hall a year later. It is an impressive From here it was back downstairs and The Heritage Group has worked hard since building lying in the shadow of St. Peter & St. outside to meet Margaret Walker, D&DG its incepon in 2010 to research and record Paul Church across the road, which itself had Secretary, who guided visitors into the the extraordinary history of the area, ­ a past stood virtually unchanged since being built double­doored gaol. There was much of the which includes tales of smugglers, the Sco by the Normans in the 11th century unl the original feature here and difficult to imagine taxes, storms, summary hangings and, of 18th, when it was improved and extended. how prisoners kept their sanity in the dark, course the sea wall. damp and squalid condions – I’m sure that The coast was baered by a series of many were relavely pleased to meet the damaging storms during the 13th century – hang­man. The walls and doors are etched the best known and most destrucve was with the names of some of the prisoners the Great Storm of 1287, which destroyed who carved notches into the mber to trace Winchelsea and changed the course of the the progress of their plight. River Rother. They would have had a small exercise yard, but there is now just a low wall – even in bright September sunlight, the place sll managed to evoke something of the misery The Court Room is found up the stairs of the that must have been experienced here. It wooden­clad entrance hall. It is today a was in use unl 1866, when the Canterbury museum of artefacts and wrien records Constabulary took over. capturing the life and mes of those who came through its doors – and may have le with a death sentence, for somemes quite trivial misdemeanours. Difficult to comprehend how such a perfectly­ presented room could have been the scene of such decisions of finality. A display case contains some well­known deathly accoutrements of their day, including pepper­pot and flintlock pistols, a blunderbuss, a rapier sword and a hey There is much to see and absorb in this looking truncheon among many others. building, not least the fact that it was the seat A ‘wanted’ poster appeals for informaon on of power, law and order on the Marsh. A visit Nathaniel Polhill, a burglar sentenced to is highly recommended, but only by But in 1252, a charter recognised the hang, but who had managed to escape in appointment with Clerk of the Corporaon, importance of the area, and Henry III 1802 ‘looking pale, ill and much dejected’, Yvonne Wanstall on 07795 448035, or email proclaimed that a robust sea­wall was which is not surprising. He was never found, at: [email protected]. The History “paramount for the preservaon of the so if you do come across him, there’s a 20­ Group has produced a Heritage Trail leaflet, famous and frui ul Romney Marsh”. guinea reward in it for you. widely available in libraries, shops and pubs The charter made the Marsh a ‘Liberty’ ­ the There is a side room where great tomes are in the area. For more informaon, keep up to right to self­government, and the Court available to pore over, and huge maps and date with the Dymchurch & District Heritage Room was used by the 23 Lords of the pictures line the walls. One of the pictures Group on their Facebook page.

Page 22 Wednesday 11th September 2019 • Young Carers, Families and Rotarians outside Warren Golf Club Shepway Rotary Clubs organise hog roast and fun aernoon for young carers 50 Shepway Young Carers and their progressed along the track according to the lovely messages of thanks from the young families thoroughly enjoyed the annual roll of some dice with the winner taking their carers including “The whole day was Hog Roast and Games Day organised for pick from a large box of sweets. Once the wonderful. Thank you so much for such a young carers had worked up an appete and lovely aernoon.” them by the Rotary clubs of Romney the adults were in need of a rest, everyone Marsh, Folkestone, Folkestone Channel enjoyed the delicious hog roast as they and Hythe at Warren Golf Course, chaed in the sunshine. Lilestone. The feedback from the young carers, their The weather was ideal and there were families and the management of Imago (the 20 Rotarians on hand to oversee the acvies organisaon responsible for Young Carers in including pung, tennis, croquet and hobby Kent) was excellent and the Rotarians are horse racing. The Young Carers entered into already planning their next acvies for the all the acvies with great gusto with two of youngsters. boys winning prizes for ‘holes in one’ in the Joe Taylor, Children & Young People’s Locality pung and one of the girls winning the prize Manager from Imago summed it all up for the lowest score. Everyone thought the beaufully: annual event, the second to be held courtesy “This was a fantasc day for the young carers of the Romney Marsh Rotary Club, had been and their family members. As last year, it was a huge success. a unique opportunity for families which have Many of the young carers headed straight for members with an illness and/or disability to the pung green, as word circulated that come together in a supporve environment. I there were prizes for the lowest score and know how much it means to all the families to holes in one. The hobby horse racing game see Rotary members providing such a • Channel Rotarian David Jarvis with the winners was also very popular, with each parcipant wonderful day out and showing such interest of the pung prizes mounted on a numbered wooden horse and in their circumstances. I have since received

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 23 Leadership Awards and Desnaon Jordan An outstanding result for our soldiers from the Royal Gurkha Rifles who have recently completed the Secon Commanders’ Bale Course. LCpl Sushil Rai (2RGR) was awarded Top Student while LCpl Anuch Gurung (1RGR) and LCpl Suresh Limbu (2RGR) both received Disncons. LCpl Suresh, along with four other RGR LCpls also received an Instructor Recommendaon. Successful compleon of SCBC is requisite Operang in Jordan has given the Platoon for promoon to Corporal in a Rifle the next month (Sept). During this me the opportunity to fire challenging ranges Company. The course tests leadership, they will be working together with the in a desert environment. fitness, military knowledge and Jordanian Armed Force’s Quick Reacon The Shorncliffe based RGR baalion play instruconal ability. Force and the United Air Force on a range an important role in 16 Air Assault Brigate of blank and live firing serials, as well as More recently the Royal Gurkha Rifles C and are held in high readiness to deploy conducng aviaon and air landing training. Company have been deployed in Jordan for worldwide for a full spectrum of missions, from non­combatant evacuaon ops to war fighng. The Machine Gun Platoon specialise in the use of the General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) in the Sustained Fire (SF) role and provide baalion­level fire support to ranges of 1800m. Major exercises in Jordan are a regular occurrence and hundreds of members of the Jordanian Armed Forces aend courses in the UK. G. NEWING Electrical Contractors Ltd. 58 Queens Road • Littlestone New Romney • Kent • TN28 8LY

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Page 24 Wednesday 11th September 2019 There ain’t nothing like a dame – Marsh Choirs denounce fake dame tape! by Andrew South However, it seems that there were some who found the event so unbelievable that they We at Looker Towers work hard to ensure that we are not simply could not conceive that a naonal the purveyors of ‘fake news’, so it was with some surprise treasure would have bought into the that we received news of an alleged hoax incursion in the extraordinary iniave that Ms. Bryant launched. name of one of the naon’s grandes dames at the Marsh’s And this has led the Dame herself to issue a statement of fact that musical event of the year. she was indeed the voice of encouragement as the flock delivered For those who may have been sleeping ‘Rumpelsltskin’­like these faultlessly and momentously on that hot, steamy night. To mark the summer months, here is a recap of the story. In July the Marsh occasion, Dame Judi has been honoured with a cerficate from Choirs held their inaugural concert at All Saints Church in Lydd, and Carly to recognise her parcipaon in the Choir’s growth. for those who missed that joyous event, you can capture the She told the musical flockers: “I cannot tell you how delighted I am highlights on You Tube. to be an Honorary Member of the Marsh Choir. For all you doubters “What an amazing first concert for the Marsh Choir, I couldn’t be out there, it really WAS my voice ­ Dame Judi Dench.” happier with what my flock achieved. It was funny to learn that This has encouraged Carly to create a Marsh Choirs’ Hall of Fame some people have quesoned whether it was really and truly Judi in a mission to seek out other public figures to join the Marsh’s very Dench’s voice opening the event, I promise it was!” an agitated boss own oratorial band wagon. of the choiristal flock, Carly Bryant, exclusively told The Looker. “It is absolutely fine to describe that wonderful evening as A date in your diary for the Christmas concert on December 14th ‘unbelievable’, which it was, but I can assure your readers and at All Saints’ Church in Lydd – no Christmas carols though, just some everyone who was there that night that the voice they heard was recollecons of Christmas Number One hits of the past as well as that of Dame Judi.” some more rock pop and soul classics. And I can aest to this as a month before the historic event, Carly Carly has set the bar high – and open on the night – so which played me what she had had the cheek to iniate. “Don’t’ you dare naonal figure do you think she should persuade to give their tell anyone about this,” she implored at the me. “I want this to message of seasonal goodwill? Answers please to: come as a complete surprise to the flock.” And true to our word, [email protected] or [email protected]. the secret was kept and the look on the faces of the flock was a Oh, and hot news from the gossip mill, you can catch a performance picture in itself. (And you can enjoy the moment at: of a smaller presence of the Marsh Choirs at the Turn The Tide Fesval www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxCwPanIfS4) in Dymchurch on Sunday, 20th October – grab your seat early.

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 25 refreshments were provided. The event only lasted two hours but children and parents le with lile mementos of the occasion and lots of infor­ maon about keeping safe. Contact the children’s centres for details of their all­year­ round acvies, health advice and courses. Lydd’le Stars 03000 411 054 New Romney Children’s Centre 03000 42 00 00 Dymchurch Children’s Centre Lydd Safety Day 03000 411 055 Or find them on Facebook

by Kim Gandy talk to local children about being safe. On 13th August the Rype, Lydd, became the focus of However, the event promoted the safety message with lots a children’s event staged by of free fun acvies and the Lydd’le Stars, New games and children were Romney and Dymchurch allowed to sit inside the fire children’s centres. This was engine and there were shrieks aimed at the 0­8 age group. of laughter as the fire hose The Fire Service, the Police, pumped out water which ambulance and other local cooled the kids from the heat businesses and community of the day. groups such as Dungeness Babies and toddlers had giant Power Staon, the RSPB and Lego sets and so shapes to Dogs’ Trust were on hand to keep them amused and

Page 26 Wednesday 11th September 2019 Workmen move into Dymchurch’s ancient monument The scaffolding went up and the workmen moved in to Martello 24 in Dymchurch last week, to carry out long-awaited and much needed conservation repairs, and is now currently closed. The Tower has suffered from water ingress for a number of years now and English Heritage, which owns the Tower, undertook surveys to determine the source of the water ingress. This has resulted in a whole raft of essential conservation repair work to the Tower, including de-vegetation, dealing with defective pointing, deep tamping of open joints focusing on known areas of water ingress, removal of mould, stalactites, wood replacement and treatment and lime-washing to the interior, which is currently in a poor condition. There will also be repair works to the existing drainage system identified from recent investigations to be leaking which will include widening of the openings to the modern and historic gulley stones to enable access for future maintenance and survey and resealing to the existing damp proof membrane. It is hoped that the work will reduce the amount of water ingress the building has Telephone: been experiencing resulting in deterioration of its historic fabric bringing it into a 0800 032 2699 more sustainable condition for staff, volunteer Stewards and the public to use and enjoy. T: 01797 342196 The work starts on 2 M: 07928 534555 September and is scheduled to take about e:[email protected] 12 weeks, but the w: www.parterandsonbuilders.co.uk weather is a key factor The Annexe, Sunnyside, in this. Lots of rain will Old House Lane, Brookland, mean the repairs take New Romney TN29 9RN longer. You can find out more about the tower and the repairs at the Friends of Martello24 website at www.martello24.net.

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 27 Vancouver, British Columbia to Banff, Alberta

TRAIN TALES – by John Wimble

We start a new series within The Looker houseboat capital of Canada, as over 300 houseboats are moored in of train trips around the world the area. We passed large sawmills and then entered the densely forested It was May a few years ago and population of around 500 which was Columbia Mountain region. At after spending a few days in a gold rush town in the late 1850s. Craigellachie, we saw the monument Vancouver, Western Canada, During our journey, we crossed the marking the spot where the ‘Last we made our way to the Pacific Fraser River twice and the Thompson Spike’ was driven on the CPR in River several times. At Lytton, the 1885, completing Canada’s first Central Station to start our two- Fraser and Thompson rivers met and day journey on the ‘Rocky transcontinental rail line. A little further we could see the difference between on and we came to the Columbia Mountaineer’. Our fifteen coach the muddy, silty Fraser and the clear River. It is over 1,000 miles long, train left dead on time and the green waters of the Thompson. We serves the logging industry and also station staff lined the platform went through several tunnels that generates electricity for the entire •Picture courtesy of Steve Payne protected the tracks from snow slides and shouted “All Aboard” and province. We put our watches on an hour to waved goodbye as we pulled and rock falls. Soon the scenery changed Mountain Time and passed the slowly out of the station. The countryside then started to widen dramatically as we travelled through quaint preserved log station of Lake Leaving the suburbs of Vancouver, to a desert like appearance and we the Selkirk Mountains and ahead lay Louise. We couldn’t see the beautiful our two attendants brought breakfast passed Ashcroft, one of the driest the Rogers Pass, a beautiful and emerald green lake (still frozen that places in Canada with less than 10in to our table, a choice of cereals, fruit, interesting part of our journey. We time of the year) but we could see the of annual rainfall. At Savona, the surrounding Mount Victoria Glacier muffins, juices and coffee and we went through the five-mile long Thompson River widened into the at 11,365ft. Through this part of the were also given a newspaper, The Connaught Tunnel through Mount beautiful 25 mile long Kamloops journey we spotted a lot of wildlife Rocky Mountaineer, which described Macdonald and then entered the Lake. These large interior lakes were including elk and moose and finally and mapped the entire route. Most of Glacier National Park. We reached widely used by sternwheelers at the arrived at Banff at 8p.m., about an the coaches we were travelling in Golden and shortly afterwards, we beginning of the 20th century. At the hour late. Originally called by the joined the Kicking Horse River and were built in the 1950s and end of the lake we reached Canadian Pacific Railway, ‘Siding crossed the river several times on our upgraded in the 1980s. There were Kamloops at 5p.m., exactly on time. 29’, its name was changed in 1880 way through the canyon. Our next two attendants in each carriage who by Lord Strathcona to Banff, after his Kamloops was our overnight stop stop was Field where we picked up a gave a commentary on some of the home town in Scotland. interesting places we would see. and very hot when we got off the new train crew. About 20 minutes train and waiting at the station was a after leaving Field, we entered the We spent a few days in Banff before We travelled alongside the Fraser fleet of very old buses to take us to famous Spiral Tunnels. Built in 1909, moving on to Calgary. River and soon started climbing up our hotel. Kamloops with a they were a solution to the dangerous the Fraser Valley. We went from the population of 65,000 is the oldest 4½% grade called the ‘Big Hill’ beauty of the Coastal Mountains, city in British Columbia and was between Field and Hector. The two through the fertile farming lands of the originally a trading post during the tunnels are over 6,000ft long and Fraser River Valley and the historic gold rush of the 1860s. Nowadays, very soon afterwards, we reached gold rush route of the Fraser Canyon. its main industries are forestry, Stephen at over 5,300ft above sea The Fraser River is home to British ranching, mining and tourism. level, the highest point on our journey. Columbia’s largest salmon runs. Every We left the hotel early next morning Known as the Continental Divide, it few miles or so there was a passing to rejoin our train and travelled marked the boundary between British loop in the track which enabled us to alongside Shuswap Lake which is a Columbia and Alberta and also pass long freight trains. favourite holiday spot during the separated the Pacific and Atlantic We reached Boston Bar with a summer months and is known as the watersheds. •Picture courtesy of Steve Payne

Page 28 Wednesday 11th September 2019 Chocolate Deli Indulge yourself … Many Gifts Aavailable 01303 267236 07435262799 90 High Street, Hythe, Kent CT21 5AJ [email protected] Find us on Facebook

Merchant Navy Day Since 2000, Merchant Navy Day on 3rd those who served. This took place at 12 noon The official Merchant Navy Day is on 3rd September has honoured the brave men am on Sunday 1st September 2019 outside September which marks the first major Brish and women who kept our 'island naon' the Guild Hall, 13 High Street, Lydd. marime casualty, the merchant vessel SS Athenia, was torpedoed just a few hours aer afloat during both World Wars, and The Mayor of Lydd, Councillor Graham Snell and Lydd Town Council are supporng hoslies were declared in 1939. celebrated our dependence on modern 128 passengers and crew were lost and day merchant seafarers who are Seafarers Uk’s Fly the Red Ensign for Merchant Navy Day campaign. 3rd September is now enshrined as Merchant responsible for 95% of the UK's imports, Navy Day to honour the brave men and including half the food we eat, plenty of Lydd Town Council is one of the many women who served during both World Wars. councils across the UK that will be hoisng a the fuel we burn and virtually all the Red Ensign to help raise awareness of our To support the future of our Merchant Navy products and goods we take for granted! island naon’s ongoing dependence on we will have a collecon n available at the Lydd Town Council will be parcipang in Merchant Navy seafarers – the target is to Guild Hall should you wish to make a Merchant Navy Day and holding a flag reach 1,000 red ensign flags being hoisted. donaon. hoisng ceremony and flying the Red Ensign The flag will be flown throughout the to remember the sacrifices and courage of following week.

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 29 Our Man in Hospitals Trust issues appeal for volunteer Westminster gardeners to grow

East Kent Hospitals Trust has The oldest volunteer is 92, and DAMIAN sent out an appeal for some have been volunteering for COLLINS green-fingered gardeners to more than 30 years. spare a few hours helping Mandy said: Our volunteers are plants grow and friendships brilliant – there are a million different things they could do in blossom at their five sites. the community but they choose to Staff at the Hospitals Trust are come and help us. branching out to create This week is tradionally seen as the start of the new “We give them all the support we gardening groups and hope can and we organise a parliamentary year, as the House of Commons additional volunteers will put strawberry tea and a Christmas down roots and join them. returns from its summer recess. dinner at each of the main sites However, the first items of business focus our aenon on the Teams have cleared 12 gardens to say thank you. But they always problems that were not solved in the previous session, rather across the Trust’s five hospitals, say they enjoy their time with us, and started creating welcoming than on new challenges. In parcular the overwhelming need whether because of the outdoor spaces for patients to friendships they make or just for us to bring the Brexit negoaons to a successful close. enjoy, but have plans for even knowing they are making a One of the main reasons that I backed Boris Johnson in the more. difference.” Conservave Party leadership elecon was his commitment Mandy Carliell, the Trust’s Public As well as more gardeners, the to take our country out of the European Union by the current and Patient Involvement Manager, Trust is looking for people to help deadline of 31st October. I want the UK to leave with a good said new volunteers could be visitors use the check-in machines deal in place that helps us establish a free trade agreement assured of a warm welcome. at the entrance to the hospitals, with the rest of the EU, but also crucially leaves us outside of “Our gardening teams have which helps to reduce queues in its polical instuons. worked out brilliantly and there are outpatients. some lovely friendship groups Helpers are always needed on The ‘backstop’ provisions in the current version of the developing,” she told The Looker. the wards, to run errands and to withdrawal agreement are unacceptable because they would “It seems to be particularly keep patients’ company and help bind us, perhaps indefinitely, into the EU Customs Union, popular for widowers, and it is out at meal times. restricng our ability to strike new trade deals with other wonderful to see them growing in And next year, a new scheme is countries, and requiring the UK to abide by most of the rules confidence and meeting others in being rolled out for people to of the EU Single Market, even though we would have no say the same situation. meet and greet patients and in seng them. “But everyone is welcome and visitors and direct them to where The government has been very clear with the EU about the they make a real difference for they need to go. changes we want to see to the withdrawal agreement in order our patients by creating Volunteers are asked to complete to make it acceptable. It is also apparent that unless the UK is somewhere they can sit outside an application form and provide with a bit of privacy and enjoy the details of two referees, and must prepared to leave the EU without a deal on 31st October, fresh air and the calm also undergo an enhanced there is no prospect that other European leaders will be environment.” security check. They will be given prepared to make these amendments. That’s why I will not be Volunteers are hard at work a uniform, training and a review supporng the legislaon this week to try to make it legally inside the hospitals too, helping a month after starting to check impossible for the UK to leave the EU without a deal. on the wards, in the Friends’ they are happy. We have to stop this Brexit doom­loop in which we have shops, behind the scenes with People are asked to commit to at become trapped. This has seen parliament state repeatedly admin teams or in reception least six months, and can give that it will support Brexit with a deal, but every me a areas, helping to direct people to anything from four hours a week. wards and clinics. parcular type of agreement is proposed it votes it down, For more information see: requiring a further extension in the negoaon process. The About 700 people help across www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients- the five sites, and if they were EU knows that in this situaon it can hold out in the hope of and-visitors/about-us/ lined up on top of each other support-east-kent-hospitals/ geng the withdrawal agreement it wants, or just keep they would reach almost four volunteering-at-east-kent- extending the UK’s membership. We have to bring this to an times the height of The Shard – hospitals/ end and the only way we can do this is by being clear that we the tallest building in London. or call 07917 790322. are leaving on 31st October, deal or no deal. It is possible however, that there will be enough votes in the House of Commons to pass legislaon which would stop the UK leaving the EU without a deal and bind us into a further three months of membership, at the minimum. In this scenario, the Prime Minister is right to say that he would be prepared to seek a general elecon in order to break the deadlock, and campaign for public support for his strategy to take us out of the EU by the end of October. In this he will have my wholehearted support.

Page 30 Wednesday 11th September 2019 LOOKER LETTERS

chicken farm is responsible for all very start and have enjoyed edion back online again, only to Dear Looker, the polluon. As a rered medical watching the edions grow in find that you have been doing this Residents of Greatstone, praconer I wonder what health stature ever since. for some me! Maybe you could Lilestone and New Romney will problems this might cause, in We know it cannot be easy reintroduce the Hot Dog or News need no reminder of this parcular for those with exisng pung these edions together Dog, gently lambasng local appalling, recurrent polluon. lung condions. Can The Looker, every two weeks, but would like policians (probably no more or Annually in peak summer holiday or any of its readers suggest a to tell you that we get two less than they deserve). season (August/ September) an all soluon to this problem? edions per month posted to us Other than that please do not pervasive, foul, faecal type smell Residents of Greatstone by Samantha and Julian Davey. change your format too much as it invades this whole area. This makes And its like a lile bit of Shepway is already the most relevant local life for residents and holidaymakers or Folkestone and Hythe as I news publicaon in Kent. miserable, even staying inside with Dear Looker, believe it is now called in our Finally I would like to thank all windows shut is no protecon. territory of North Western everyone from Dungeness A I would like to take this We can only presume it damages Australia. As you head towards power staon for the cards and opportunity to inform you that business and the holiday trade your winter, please think of poor messages sent to John on his your publicaon is being greatly alike. This year it is worse than old us heading towards another 65th birthday last month. received in Mildura, Australia. winter on 40 degree plus weather. ever and is lasng, at the moment, Keep up the good work. a fortnight. Despite sympathec Having moved down under seven You asked in a recent edion for Pat and John Hopkin councillors nothing seems to be years ago, we witnessed the first ideas, one that I was going to able to be done. We believe one black and white edions at the suggest was that you put each

More Together Separately, the latest art show from Family Goddard and Ian Beacham, is up and running in the main building at Romney Marsh Visitor Centre. This September why not drop by and enjoy a coffee and cake whilst browsing the art on display. New and previously unshown work include Jessica's amazing knitted garden birds and Emily's adventures with pyrography. As an extra incentive, on Thursday 19th September there will be an all-day book-signing by local author of the DI Sony Russell crime stories, Chris O'Donoghue, accompanied by Aggie, his dog.

EDITOR’S WORD Welcome to Issue 232, Nine years ago this week, I sent my first issue of The Looker off to When I started the paper I was soon to be on the District Council, print. It took three weeks to put it together and we had 1,000 then four wilderness years and then back on again. We have a great copies printed in black and white. team who help put each edion together and without their help The paper had 24 pages as I seem to remember and really was a along with that of our adversers the paper would not sll be here. bapsm of fire. Nine years on and the paper has changed We have vowed to try and maintain the paper being free and as we somewhat. As you can see from this edion, we have gone back to go into Folkestone as well, we encourage anyone to write in and a newspaper format instead of a magazine. The other change is that put your point of view. we now are distribung the paper into Folkestone as well. If you are new to The Looker, welcome to the district’s favourite Over the years we have had a few changes and a number of people free newspaper. In coming issues you will see us hold councillors help us produce the paper. The only person who has been with me from all pares to account, promote events and spot­light clubs and since the start is my father John, who puts the Marsh Memories associaons. together along with other bits and pieces as well. In the past as editor, I have come under fire for my somewhat The paper has improved its look over the last nine years but the flippant opinions and sense of humour and I did consider changing one thing that remains constant is our desire to not only bring you the feel of the paper, but thought that it was one of the things that all the news that you have come to expect over the years, but also makes The Looker different from all the other ‘local’ papers. So our some quirky stories about some of the characters from around the aim is to connue being the lead news source and the locals’ district. The news sll seems to be covering the same subjects such favourite publicaon in the district. as contenous planning applicaons, closing of high street shops and businesses and of course rants about the council. Happy reading from David and the team

Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 31 LOOKER SPORT

LOCAL FOOTBALL New Romney Reserves 0­3 Cinque Ports New Romney Reserves started their season with a home defeat in Division 3 of the County League. Lydd Town 2­1 Meridian VP Lydd came from behind at home to Meridian VP Sellindge 2­0 Lydd Grasshoppers to win their first points of the season and move off the boom of Sellindge Sports & Social Club completed a decent weekend for the the table of the Southern Counes League. Aer falling behind to three promoted sides in the Sunday League as they recorded a a Tim Moffa strike, the hosts were more impressive in the second victory in their 2­0 home win against Lydd Grasshoppers. Former half, neng through Tom Barton and Pat Kingwell to get the much Shepway Spartans striker John Smith opened his goal account for needed win. the season whilst new signing Pete Sikora added a second for the Swans as they ensured that Grasshoppers le Swan Lane pointless. New Romney 3­0 Hawkinge Town New Romney started their campaign with a good win over their County League rivals. They went into the break with a Ashis Rai LOCAL CRICKET goal in the 34th minute but had to wait unl late on to grab the other two goals. Substute Troy Howard scored in the 83rd minute New Romney 171­7 v and Roy Godden added a third four minutes later. Sturry 101 all out New Romney won by 70 runs Snodland 0­2 Lydd Town New Romney comfortably Goals from Bradley Baker and Daniel Keyte helped secured the won this friendly game. points for the Lydders in this Southern Counes League game. Bang first, they finished New Romney 1­2 Peckham Town on 171­7 aer 40 overs. Elliot Symonds made 38 and Spencer Lawrence 34. Troy Howard scored New Romney’s goal in this home league The visitors were all out in 28th over for 101. defeat. Brookland 84 all out v Harbledown 86­1 Lydd Town 5­5 Raynes Park Vale (aer extra me) Harbledown won by nine wickets This high­scoring FA Vase Cup game will have to be replayed aer Brookland were well beaten by the Division Three champions a 10­goal thriller. Lydd scored three in the first half thanks to goals Harbledown in this league match. They baed first and were all out from Bradley Baker, Tom Barton and Tony Alodipiupo but the for only 84 aer 26 overs. Sco Balcomb top scored with 26. visitors also got a couple leaving the home side with a slender 3­2 The visitors easily knocked off the runs required in the 14th over half­me lead. and only lost one wicket. The Marsh side drop to fourth in the Kent Bradley Baker scored again aer 70 minutes but Raynes Park Village League. scored a couple late on to take the match into extra me. Despite Lydd 299­1 v Beckley Park 195­7 Bradley Baker compleng his hat­trick in the 100th minute, a late Lydd won by 104 runs goal from the visitors forced the game into a replay. A first wicket stand of 222 by Lewis Unwin and Adam Lindsey set K Sports 2­2 New Romney up the home side for their biggest win of the season. Lewis Unwin A share of the points for the Marsh side in this County League made 130 and Adam Lindsey finished unbeaten on 104. Dan game. Roy Godden and Eban Gurung scored for New Romney. Anderson was also 30 not out at the close of the innings. The visitors never really threatened to get anywhere near the New Romney 5­0 Crockenhill Lydders score and finished up 104 runs short. Steve Smith took 2­ Two goals from Eban Gurung and one each from Roy Godden, Tyler 11, A. Everi 2­18 and Marn Ham 2­28 for Lydd. Sterling and substute Luca Corbo helped New Romney to a comfortable league victory.

Eddie Ramsden Annual Memorial Fishing Compeon The Eddie Ramsden Annual Memorial Fishing Compeon was held in Lydd recently. Eddie was one of the first Members of the Lydd Ex Servicemen’s Club and the first beneficiary of the club. Aer his death, friends approached the club and asked if they would sponsor an event in his name. He was a keen angler and so the annual compeon was started. His widow Shirley Wenham presents the trophies every year.

(l­r) Josh Lakin, winner of the Juniors, Dave Hazelwood, Hazelwood (runner­up), and winner, Mathew Sellen Shirley Wenham and Mathew Sellen Competors Sprig Lakin and his grandson River

Page 32 Wednesday 11th September 2019 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Thursday 12th September Harvest Supper, All Saints’, Lydd, 7pm Open Mic Evening, Shepherd & Crook, Burmarsh, 7.30pm Lydd Meeng Point, Hardy Hall, 10am Quiz Evening, Church Hall, St. Mary’s Bay, 7.30pm Keep Fit/Dance Class, St. Mary’s Bay Village Wednesday 18th September Hall, 10.15am Sunday 15th September St. Mary’s Bay Computer Club, Village Hall, Pebbles Demena Café, St. Peter’s Hall, Marsh Exhibion, Old School, New Romney, 9.30am­1pm Greatstone, 10.30am­12 noon 2pm­4.30pm CARM Coffee Morning, Shepherd & Crook, Heysham Hall Computer Club, Heysham Romney Marsh Community Church Walk, Burmarsh, 11am Hall, Lydd­on­Sea, 7.30pm Ivychurch Village Hall, 2.30pm Purly Girlies for Kniers, Brooks Café, Friday 13th September RNLI Lifeboat Blessing, Dungeness, 6pm Hythe, 2pm Woman’s Wednesday Club, Heysham Hall, Tai Chi, beginners/intermediate, St Mary’s Monday 16th September Lydd­on­Sea, 2pm­4pm Bay Village Hall, 11am Craers & Kniers, Hardy Hall, Lydd, 10am Country Mice Needle Cra Club, Old St. Mary’s Bay Art Group, Village Hall, 1pm­ School, New Romney, 7pm 4pm Dymchurch Meeng Point, Methodist Church, 10am Friends of Lydd, Hardy Hall, 7.30pm Whist & Scrabble, St. Peter’s Church Hall, Greatstone, 2pm­4pm Scrabble & Rummikubs, St. Mary’s Bay Village Hall, 10.30am Saturday 21st September Friday Children’s Club, Romney Marsh Autumn Market, St. Peter’s Church Hall, Community Centre, New Romney, 6pm (7­ Greatstone Singers’ Rehearsals, St. Mary’s Greatstone, 10am­12 noon 10 years) Bay Village Hall, 1.15pm­3.45pm Lydd Foodbank, Hardy Hall, 6.30pm­7.30pm New Romney 65 Club, Presco House, NEW ROMNEY DAY CENTRE, Rolfe Lane, 2pm Pulse Youth, Romney Marsh Community ROLFE LANE Centre, New Romney, 7.30pm (11­15 years) Bingo, St. Mary’s Bay Church Hall, 2.30pm Thursdays: Footcare 9am­4pm; Tai Chi Sequence Dancing, St. Mary’s Bay Village Tuesday 17th September 9.30am; Seated Tai Chi 11am­12 noon Hall, 7.30pm Fridays: Hearing Aid baery service 9am­ Coffee Morning & Bric a Brac, Heysham Woodchurch Morris Dancing, Shepherd & 11am; Footcare 9am­4pm; Tone Up & Hall, Lydd­on­Sea, 10am Crook, Burmarsh, 7.30pm Tighten Up 2.30pm­3.30pm Greatstone Meeng Point, St. Peter’s Mondays: Footcare 9am­4pm; Romney Saturday 14th September Church Hall, 10am Marsh Friends Group 10.30am; One You Ride & Stride Across The Marsh (see local Lydd Demena Café, Methodist Church Weight Management 1.30pm; First church), 10am­6pm Hall, 10am­12 noon Monday of Month: Hearing Aid Clinic Coffee Morning, Methodist Church Hall, Dymchurch Art Society, Village Hall, 1pm 9am­11am New Romney, 10am Romney Foodbank, Romney Marsh Tuesdays: Hearing Aid baery service 9am­ Community Market, Hardy Hall, Lydd, Community Church, New Romney, 5.30pm­ 11am; NHS Health Walk 10am; Stop 10am­12 noon 7pm Smoking Clinic 12.30pm­4.30pm; Third Tuesday of Month: Hearing Aid Clinic Coffee Morning & Book Sale, St. Mary­in­ Drop­in Centre, Romney Marsh Community 9am­11am the­Marsh Church, 10am­12 noon Church, New Romney, 6.30pm (16 years plus) Wednesdays: Tone Up & Tighten Up Coffee Morning, Newchurch Village Hall, 9.30am­11.30am; Art Group 11am­12 10.30am­12.30pm New Romney Cra Group, Old School, 7pm noon; Pilates 4.15pm­5.15pm

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Wednesday 11th September 2019 Page 33 MARSH MEMORIES

Early Days in New Romney (Part 1) – by Brig Kitchener

I was born in December 1937 at 5 High Street Steel Planking) for the runway, put up some 1944 was very significant in my memory as it (far end house on the le in the picture), an end wooden sheds for accommodaon and install a was the year of the ‘Doodlebug’. By now my of terrace two up two down with ac, walk­in barrage balloon unit. It was great excitement in mother was working on Gordon Finn­Kelcey’s pantry and outside toilet at the boom of the later years for us children to get on our bikes and farm at Old Romney. Also working there was garden (opposite ‘Cheapjacks’ where the car visit aircra crash sites if they were close John Owen and his son, who looked aer the park is today). There were two gas lamps enough. There were always souvenirs to be had horses that provided pulling power. We were downstairs, a coal fired stove which provided even if it was only a piece of perspex and there under the flight path of the ‘Doodlebugs’ that heat and cooking facilies, and a cold water tap might also be a pocket full of American were aimed at London. They started to appear in over the sink. Bathing was a Friday night ritual chocolate and chewing gum given by soldiers the summer and made an indelible impression carried out in a large oval galvanised bath in guarding a crashed B17. We soon had a steel on all who witnessed them. Standing in a field of front of the stove. My father was a serving Anderson shelter in the back garden which was turnip seed with no protecon within running soldier and my mother a farmer’s daughter. allegedly to protect us from bombs dropped by distance, it was always a great relief when they In 1939, turmoil on a grand scale was to the Luwaffe. I seem to remember that this was connued on their way. However, occasionally descend on our quiet town. It was the start of largely ignored and that the shelter was in fact some ran out of fuel and crashed on the Marsh. the Second World War but it wasn’t unl 1941 used for anything but safety! Thick curtains had On one such occasion this happened overhead that it had a personal effect that I remember. to be added to the windows in the house and and John Owen’s son grabbed me and threw me That was the year that I started school at the had to be closed during Air Raids at night. into a nearby ditch. Fortunately there was very lile water in it but the snging neles had a Primary School in Church Lane. Raon cards During all these shenanigans, we were essenally lasng effect on me for several days. appeared followed by identy registraon cards, a one parent family with my father serving his and gas masks in a cardboard box. The school country in France, North Africa, Burma and Italy During the war some men were given Reserved had a large concrete shelter built in the before returning home in 1946. I was nearly nine Occupaon status which meant that they were playground where everyone would be housed years old before I knew what he was like. My doing important work to help the war effort. Mr during ancipated raids. mother was, like many others in her situaon, Owen and his son were ROs and Mr. Hartop and As me went by, the war became more and hard working and to this day I have no idea how his son Godfrey were also ROs. The Hartops, more evident to us young children. Searchlight she managed everyday life. My sister who is eight who lived opposite us in the High Street, had a baeries and an­aircra guns were posioned years older than me was at Secondary School in shop selling electrical goods, bicycles and toys strategically outside the Assembly Rooms and an Ashford and travelled by train daily. This meant etc. which Mrs Hartop ran. They also had a forge Air Raid Wardens post was set up on the top of an early morning walk to the staon with my where all manner of magic was performed with the Church Tower. Mr Humphries, who was one mother pushing me in a pram. She did various fire, hammers and later welding machines. of the wardens, told my mum that it would be jobs in addion to tending an allotment which Horses, mainly heavy farm breeds, were shod in the climb to the top of the tower that would kill she dug inially from a green field. We were more the yard, iron tyres were fied to wooden cart him and not those “Bloody Germans”! Soldiers fortunate than some as my grandmother had a wheels, farm implements repaired and and their equipment started to appear and also small farm in Brookland. On Sundays, we would sharpened and bicyles repaired. Some days airfields. Romney Marsh was eminently suitable cycle with me in a basket seat on the back of my these men were absent from the forge and I was as it was very flat and of course close to Europe. mother’s bike, to have lunch with the ladies of the later to learn that their unique welding skills Airfields were quite simple to construct, fill in a Blue House Farm. They were known locally as the were needed to help build the nearby PLUTO few ditches, uproot a few hedges, move the Brignall girls and there we would enjoy fresh milk, (Pipe Line Under The Ocean). sheep to another field, lay some PSP (Pressed buer and cheese. To be connued …

Page 34 Wednesday 11th September 2019 CHURCHES CORNER ROUND­UP

RIDE AND STRIDE. This annual event, which invites Greatstone, St Peter’s Chrisan Faith. The success of this group means that more people to ride a cycle or walk around our old churches for helpers are always needed. Ring Penny on 01797 362560 Drop­in on Wednesday mornings. This runs from 9­11am sponsorship, takes place on September 14th. Most if you are interested. and is for anyone who would like company. There are churches are taking part, and will be open all day, and forms facilies for pre­school children, with age appropriate toys, can be found in all the churches. Siers are in the churches Romney Marsh Community Church and a regular group of parents, but everyone is welcome. to sign forms, and many churches provide refreshments, or There are craing materials available for the children. There The church meets for worship every Sunday morning at have mini fairs, with stalls. Siers can also be sponsored. is no formal charge, but people usually give a small 10.30am. The worship is a mixture of modern and You can take your canine friend along, but they must be donaon towards expenses. tradional, and part of the service, youngsters can leave kept on a lead. Although mechanised transport is for specific age related groups. All helpers are police Pebbles Demena Café. St Peter’s Hall. On 2nd Thursday forbidden, it is OK to use a mobility scooter. The proceeds checked, and well equipped to serve the needs of the age of each month a demena café will take place from are divided between your home church, and the Friends of group concerned. The church is grateful for recent 10.30am­noon, so the next one will be on September 12th, Kent Churches. Sponsor forms can be picked up in any increases in numbers adding to the vibrancy of the church. church taking part. from 10.30­midday. Anyone interested may come along, There will be a harvest lunch and service on Tuesday, Food Banks. The banks on the Marsh are held in New carers and those with demena and memory problems, or anyone with queries on the subject. . September 24th at 12.30pm. Tickets from church office on Romney, in the Community church, on Tuesdays from 5.30­ 01797 366855. All invited, even if you don’t usually come. 7pm, and in Lydd Hardy Hall on Fridays, from 6.30­7.30pm. If you have problems feeding your family, you can obtain Ivychurch, St George Alpha Course. Ever had quesons about Chrisanity, but vouchers from the Community church on 01797 366855 Concert, on Saturday, September 28th, at 7.30pm, by the been too shy to ask? This course could be for you. These or Rev Chris in Lydd, 01797 320345. Tenterden singers. Tickets, £10, from the Bell, Margaret are on Wednesday evenings, from 7pm, and Thursday aernoon, from 1.45pm and start on 18th and 19th They have a list of immediate necessies including LL milk, Waite on 01797 344283 or email [email protected]. September. Every session is stand alone, so you can pick up nned cold meat, nned tomatoes, shampoo, LL orange Wide variety of music and songs. the course, even if you haven’t been to them all. They juice, toilet rolls and deodorant. Many church have Harvest Supper will be on Saturday, October 5th at 7 for always start with something nice to eat, involve a video, and collecons points, and all nned and packet food, well in 7.30pm in the church. Tickets from the Bell, or from a free and easy discussion, where quesons and doubts are date, is welcome, but at the moment, they DO NOT need Margaret Waite, see above info. This is usually a large welcomed. Ring 01797 366855 for more details. nned beans or soup, teabags, pasta or dried rice. happy evening, so do get your cket and come along. Produce in the Porch. Some parishioners have been leaving Brenze, St Eanswith Snargate, St Dunstans spare produce and preserves in the porch, for visitors to The funeral took place on Tuesday, September 3rd of David September 15th. 6pm, Patronal service. This church is not buy with a donaon. If you would like to help in this way, Body, a much loved and respected member of the local usually open, so all are invited to come along and see inside do leave some produce. farming community and long ­me warden of Snargate this lovely old church. Lydd, All Saints Church. He lived a very full and rich life, gave generously Brookland, St Augusne of his me and effort to his family and the local community, Food bank­ the Lydd food bank operates on Fridays, from and an overflowing church, with maybe 200 people, paid Pop up pub. The last pop up pub of the year will be on 6.30­7.30pm in the Hardy Hall. For more details, and items their respects at his memorial service, aer a quieter Saturday, September 14th 7pm onwards, in the church they especially need in collecons, see top of column. service at Charing Crematorium. Aer both services, guests tower. For those who don’t know Brookland, the tower is Harvest Supper takes place on Saturday, September 14, at were treated to very generous buffet meals, typical of on the ground! All welcome to this convivial evening. 7pm in the church. For ckets see Nigel on 01797 321684 David and his family. Forward Noce. Harvest Supper will be on Friday, Ocotber or Les on 01797 320108. The next service at Snargate will be on September 22nd, 18th in the village hall at 7pm. Tickets £10. Add your name Christmas Shoeboxes(Samaritans Purse). The church is but on September 15th All parishioners are invited to the to list in church or call Chrisne 07920 484637, or organising another collected of Shoeboxes full of presents patronal service at Brenze church, on Sunday September Maureen on 01797 344628. for children in poorer countries. You can choose the age 15th at 6pm. Burmarsh, All Saints and sex of the child you want to donate to, and a leaflet with guidance, and a list of suitable things, can be found in St Mary’s Bay, All Saints The Harvest Fesval service will be on Sunday, September the churches. You can also give donaons of any of these 15 at 5pm. Everyone is invited to enjoy a drink with home­ Quiz Evening. Saturday, September 14th at 7.30pm in the gis, even if you don’t feel you can do a whole box. Boxes made bread and cheese aer the service. church hall. Tickets £3. Bring you own deinks and nibbles. can be provided if necessary. These have to be in by first All welcome for some fellowship and keeping the grey cells The summer BBQ was, as usual a very happy and week of November to arrive in me for Christmas. in shape! successful occasion, and raised £500 for church funds. The Tea and Bingo. Monday, September 23rdth 2.30pm in the fund raising event at the Country Fair wasn’t so successful, Lydd Methodist Church with wind and rain, aer such a wonderful spell of weather. church hall. All welcome. Demena Café. The church hall hosts this event, on the £150 was raised, and the people who manned the tent Concert on Saturday, September 28, at 7.30pm by the first and third Tuesdays of each month, so the next one will were wishing they had an extra pair of socks! Thanks were Canterbury City Brass Band. This successful local band be on September 17th from 10am­noon. Refreshments, given to those who have been keeping the surroundings makes a regular visit to All Saints, and they make a lovely and informaon and help available to all involved, both dy and neat, and to those who are involved in doing their evening of light entertainment. Tickets are £5 and can be paents and carers. All warmly welcome, even if you just part in surveying the gravestones in the churchyard. bought on the door. Refreshments and raffle. want to find out more. Aer much discussion and heart searching, it has been St Mary in the Marsh decided to amalgamate with Newchurch and Dymchurch Newchurch, St Peter and Paul to form a new Parish, which will be known as “The Parish The Harvest supper will be on Saturday October 12 in all The next coffee morning will be on Saturday, October 5th, of Dymchurch, with Newchurch and Burmarsh” Saints Church Hall, at 7 for 7.30pm. Tickets are £12.50 from 10.30am­ 12.30pm. each for a 4 course supper and may be obtained from Dymchurch, St Peter and Paul New Romney, St Nicholas Jackie Alston on 01797 362273. The harvest service is on Thanks are given to those who have helped to raise money the following day, at 6.30pm. Thanks are given to all who made and served all the for the new heang system in recent months. refreshments for the country fair, and made it such a Dymchurch Methodist Church success. £896 was raised for the church. Just for once the Church Chuckle miserable weather was posive, people were glad to get in The Dymchurch CARM meeng point meets at the Signing the register at a wedding, the best man had from the wind and the rain for a while! Methodist church on Monday mornings on the corner of trouble making the biro work. The vicar whispered, “put the High Street and Chapel Street, from 10am. All welcome The next monthly coffee morning is on Saturday, your weight on it” Aerwards when the vicar checked to come along, who may need some company or advice. September 21st, from 10am­noon. All welcome, live music the records it said “John Smith, 10st 4lbs” No “joining” it is not a club, and you are free to come and will be available. Lots of stalls, books, CDs Dvds. These go, and aend when you feel like it! have been successful and more helpers would always be welcome. Wit and Wisdom St Monica’s RC Church Messy church. Next get together, Friday, September 27th, Every day we make deposits in the memory banks of our Saturday, Vigil Mass at 5pm. Vigil, the evening before Holy 3.15­4.30pm This acvity for all primary aged children is children. Robert Swindall Days of Obligaon, at 7.30pm. full of fun, stories, music, worship, and learning about the

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