Herne Bay triumphs in Britain in Bloom coastal town category

Gardeners were growing for gold in a national competition to find the best blooming places around the country. Herne Bay was the overall winner of the coastal town category in the Britain in Bloom awards, and also harvested a silver gilt medal in the competition.

It follows their success in the South and South East in Bloom awards, and they triumphed over a host of towns, including Bangor, Great Yarmouth and Sidmouth.

Herne Bay in Bloom chairman Margaret Burns attended a ceremony in Guernsey with secretary Colleen Ashwin-Kean and received the award from Countryfile and The One Show presenter Matt Baker.

She said:

"We are over the moon. It is a great tribute to the fantastic support that we have received from our sponsors, local businesses, voluntary and community groups and schools in Herne Bay, and also a wonderful reward for all the hard work of the Herne Bay in Bloom team.

I am extremely proud of everyone who has taken part and am sure that because of our combined efforts even more visitors and residents will come to enjoy the colourful seafront gardens, urban meadow- planted verges, parks and open spaces and everything that our lovely town has to offer."

Herne Bay Times

the BLOOMING BEST: Herne Bay in Bloom secretary Colleen Ashwin-Kean and chairman Margaret Burns receive their award from television presenter Matt Baker.

Singing the praises of our unsung heroes

Unsung heroes from the district have been presented with a Lord Mayor's Award in recognition of their efforts to help other people.

The annual Lord Mayor's Award scheme is now in its 14th year and honours people who go the extra mile to help others. They are nominated by members of the public, and the final judging is made by a cross-party panel of councillors. This year’s awards also feature a special Diamond Jubilee Award in the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The winners and extracts from their citations are: 

• Peter Woolgar, of Northwood Road, Whitstable, wins the Diamond Jubilee Award. Peter is nominated for his lifetime of work in the Scout movement over more than 40 years. His nominator says: “Being a member of the Scouts under Peter’s leadership is one of my most treasured memories and I learned so much from him, lessons I took with me into adulthood. Peter has given of himself selflessly, devotedly and totally to the safe passage of children into adult life.”
• Eleanor (Elle) Caldon, of Field Avenue, Canterbury. Elle is the founder and director of the Mustard Seed Singers, which was formed in 2007 and consists of people experiencing mental illness, their carers and supporters. Her nominator says: “Elle’s strong commitment and inspiring leadership has lifted the confidence of the group and she has played a pivotal role in promoting mental wellbeing through singing.”
• Colleen Ashwin-Kean of Central Parade, Herne Bay. Colleen has been part of the Herne Bay in Bloom Committee for seven years, taking on the role of secretary since her retirement. Last year, the town won a Gold Award. Her nominator says: “Everything Colleen does is in her own time and without payment. Her reward is seeing the district she lives in being the best it can be.”
• Patricia (Pat) Cook, of Windsor Road, Canterbury. Pat is a dedicated youth worker in the Thanington area, organising community events and visiting older or sick people to help with shopping or taking them to medical appointments. She also buys prizes for activities out of her own money. Her nominator says: “Pat is the kindest person I know. She would (and does) do anything for anyone.”

All four winners received their awards from the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Robert Waters, at a meeting of the full council at the Guildhall in Canterbury last night (Thursday 27 September).

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Portrait Bench at Reculver

In spring 2013, a Portrait Bench will be installed along the clifftop between Reculver and Bishopstone - and Canterbury City Council need your help to decide who it will feature!

A Portrait Bench is a collection of three distinctive, lifesize local figures cut from sheet steel and installed alongside a simple bench, inviting people to join the group and become part of the 'portrait'. Here's an example of one from elsewhere in the country:

The figures are inspired and chosen for their individual contribution to the life of the community and reflect the local heritage, culture and aspirations of the area. Their features are simplified but retain their essential characteristics.

Funding for the Portrait Bench is coming from the national sustainable charity Sustrans. The city council is organising the project locally and paying for it to be installed.

The Reculver Portrait Bench

The bench at Reculver is being provided as part of the Oyster Bay Trail cycle route. The section of the route between Reculver and Swalecliffe opened last year and the council is in the process of finalising plans to extend it between Swalecliffe and Whitstable.

So, which characters do you think best reflect the local area? A pilot perhaps? An oyster fisherman? Maybe a hockey player?

The city council has come up with a shortlist of seven figures who could take pride of place on the clifftop bench. Now it's down to local people to decide on their top three, and those with the most votes will be created.

The seven characters are:

• A Dambuster pilot. The bouncing bomb was tested at Reculver and local pilot Bill Ottley flew one of the Lancaster Bombers and died on the Dambusters Raid.  
• A fossil collector. Many important specimens have been collected from Bishopstone Glen.  
• A Roman. A fort and settlement was built at Reculver around 43BC, probably to defend the Roman fleet anchored in the channel. It was rebuilt in the third century to protect the coast from Saxon longship raids.
• A Saxon. In the fourth century, long after the fort was abandoned, King Egbert granted land to the priest Bassa to build Reculver church. Many Anglo-Saxon items have been found near the site.
• A roller hockey player, representing the long tradition of roller hockey in Herne Bay. It began in 1901 and still has strong links in the town with the Bay Sports Arena being the proud home of roller hockey. 
• An oyster fisherman. Oysters have been found in Whitstable for centuries, where fishermen would dredge the seabed to harvest the town’s famous, native oysters.
• A diver. The Deane brothers of Whitstable invented and trialled the first underwater breathing apparatus (air-pumped diving helmet) in the town. Divers from the town salvaged sunken ships around the world, including Henry VIII's flagship, The Mary Rose.

Vote now!

Voting on which characters you would like to see make up Reculver's Portrait Bench is now open and runs until Wednesday 31 October.

Cast your vote now!

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