From this…. To this…. Eyesore gone…. Chestfield Parish Magazine Edition 116, September 2019 Chestfield Parish Council Office 4, Jagow House, Joseph Wilson Ind. Estate, Millstrood Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 3PS. Tel: 01227 773121 / [email protected]. Website: www.chestfieldpc.kentparishes.gov.uk Page | 1 A local Company that cares for local people! 121 Care is a long-established local Home Care and Community Support Company providing personal social care, healthcare and well-being services for older people and young adults. Our fully-trained care staff can offer a wide range of services that are tailored to suit your personal health needs, which allows you to live independently in the comfort of your own home! Personal Care Domestic Care Shopping Companionship Short-term Care Live-in Care Palliative Care Respite Care www.121carekent.co.uk 88 Herne Bay Road 98-100 FDS House Swalecliffe John Wilson Business Park Whitstable CT5 2LX Reeves Way Call Lisa for a chat on Whitstable CT5 3QZ 01227 792229 Tel. 01227 792249 Page | 2 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE As you are all so sadly aware the village sadly lost one of our great friends and supporters in Cllr.Jenny Samper recently. Jenny represented Chestfield for many years, and over the time I knew her we became good friends, and without doubt her words of advice and indeed encouragement in my position as your Chairman have been well heeded. Her fellow City Councillor Pat Todd paid tribute to Jenny at our last meeting, and has given us permission to reproduce his tribute further within this magazine. During our last ‘chat’ (for that is what they were) Jenny thanked us for arranging for the mural on the underpass, and remarked how much “it cheered up the area”. We have received a lot of positive feedback regarding the painting of the mural, and we are hoping to arrange for the opposing side to be painted also. Since my last message we have formally received notice of the Grasmere Pastures applicants’ appeal. This will be heard by the Government Inspectorate in September, and will follow the same process as that employed for Bodkin Farm. Here’s hoping for an equally same result !! Many of you will by now have seen the appearance of two large planters at the front of the WI Hall. These are the result of a suggestion for a community herb garden, where anyone will be able to pick the amount of herbs that they need at the time. Whilst we have now planted these up, please note that the plants are still very young and therefore need to be allowed to grow, so we would ask that these are left alone for the time being - this project has been a very enjoyable one to be involved in, and is one that will literally be a living legacy for the village to enjoy. This is covered further within this magazine also, and we would love to receive your thoughts and comments. Our thanks to all involved ! The creation of the herb garden is yet another example of our efforts to enhance our community spirit and togetherness, and in this regard we have received very positive comments from not just those of you that have visited, but also from some other local parish councils. It is also an example of how much we value your opinions and ideas for the village, so would encourage you to keep them coming! Page | 3 The last magazine included a brief synopsis of what your Parish Council worked on (and in many cases achieved) over the past year, and many of you have commented the how fortunate the village is to have such an active Parish Council. We are here to serve you all, but when you think about it - we couldn’t do it without you could we? Regards Steve Cllr Steve Bailey, Chairman, Chestfield Parish Council Canterbury City Councillor Jenny Samper It is with sadness that we record the sad death of city councillor Cllr Jenny Samper who died on 8 June 2019. She was a great friend to the village and her passing is very sad for both the village and the city council. A minute’s silence was held in her honour at the 08 July 2019 parish council meeting, and Canterbury City Councillor Pat Todd subsequently read the following to that meeting: “Chairman, councillors, It is with regret and much sadness that I ask that you formally record in your minutes, the sad demise on the 8th June of my fellow ward councillor on Canterbury City Council, Councillor Jenny Samper. As I sat and struggled for words I heard a phrase in my head which she used many, many times when making a decision or embarking on a course of action that was required. Well, It is what it is and we’ll just have to get on with it. Page | 4 Jenny reached her 80th birthday in January of this year and her bearing, enthusiasm and vitality never took into account these years. She was inexhaustible especially on the four city campaign trails I travelled with her not to mention general and county elections beside. She was born and, for the majority of her life, lived in the ward of Chestfield and this gave her a unique insight into what and who made up her ward. Her historical knowledge of the area and its inhabitants was unsurpassed and often was significant in any decision making that had to be made and also the basis of many a challenge to planning applications. Jenny did not set out to be a politician but a teacher and a jolly good one she was too, finishing her career as deputy headteacher of Kings Road School in Herne Bay. There are many tributes on social media and in other places to her expertise as a teacher and are testament to her as a human being. She is very fondly remembered. She was the longest serving councillor on the council having been elected in 1976 and apart from an enforced 4 year break in the 1990’s served continuously until June this year. Not content with just sitting back, Jenny was active in many parts of the council and various outside bodies where she will be sadly missed. As a chair of many committees over the years she was found to be fair and firm and if anyone did try to overstep the mark they would be fixed with her, what I call her headteacher look, and usually accompanied with a few appropriately delivered words. That did the trick! Nothing was too much bother for her and she would frequently ring or contact people who were not well or had other problems just to say, ‘How are you doing’. Another of her phrases, ‘Pop in for coffee and cake’. She revelled in and thoroughly deserved her two consecutive years as The Lord Mayor of Canterbury at the turn of this century. A fitting tribute to a fine lady. When I was awoken at 6 30am on the Sunday morning to be told the terrible news I confess to going into total shock for more than a few minutes. Jenny was distinguished, dependant, seemingly indestructible and above all a very good friend. She did die of natural causes and I am able to say that her family’s wishes are for a private funeral at the end of July followed by a memorial service in September with the likely venue being the Cathedral.” Canterbury City Councillor, Cllr Pat Todd Page | 5 Community Herb Boxes With the kind permission of the Women’s Institute your parish council has provided a community herb garden in front of the WI Hall. We all often buy herbs from supermarkets whose quanities are not always needed and therefore wasted. We encourage residents when the herbs are established to help themselves to just what is required for your dishes and hope you will try something new! Each container has been planted with a selection of herbs, each selected for their taste and culinary uses. You will see each herb has a label identifying it. In our next magazine we will give you information on uses and flavours and pairings on each individual spice. We will also put information on the noticeboards when the herbs are mature. Your comments and feedback would be welcomed. Any recipes incorporating herbs are invited for a future magazine. NB. We do not recommend the use of herbs for medicinal purposes unless on professional advice. Household Emergency Plan – our centrefold in this edition of the magazine may be of interest to you! Based on a leaflet developed by the Kent Resilience Forum advising on household emergency plans we hope it may make you think and consider doing something for your household. A new Parish Council notice board By the time you are reading this magazine there should be a new parish/community noticeboard in the parish. The Green/Fairways Management Committee approached the parish council with a request for one for their area. The noticeboard has been ordered and delivered. The Green/Fairways Management Committee have made a £200 donation to the purchase and will also arrange installation themselves. It is to be installed near the entrance to Birkdale Close. Page | 6 Christmas Art outreach session for families In conjunction with Espression Arts CIC we are pleased to offer a free session for families to make and paint their own ceramic Christmas decorations etc. Every family member may get involved! The session will run on Saturday 23 November 2019 from 12.30 to 2.30pm at the WI Hall in Chestfield Road.