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).

CCC website

See you soon...

Here's an excellent little video, produced on a shoestring by the resourceful and talented Gerald McCarthy, who says:

Often referred to as the 'Riviera of Kent' Herne Bay, a thriving seaside town in the 'Garden of England' enjoys one of the warmest climates in the UK. Offering a huge range of watersport opportunities,such as sailing, wind surfing and an extra wide launching ramp for jet-skis and pleasure-craft of all types, as well as miles of beautifully kept coastline for that gentle walk or bike ride.

Sample some of the best fresh fish and chips for miles, or, for the discerning visitor why not try one of our Michelin Star or other excellent restaurants or bars.

Come and visit us soon... see for yourself!

Often referred to as the 'Riviera of Kent' Herne Bay, a thriving seaside town in the 'Garden of England' enjoys one of the warmest climates in the UK. Offering a huge range of watersport opportunities,such as sailing, windsurfing and an extra wide launching ramp for Jet Skis and pleasurecaft of all types, as well as miles of beautifully kept coastline for that gentle walk or bike ride.

Herne Bay Farmers' Market

Now this is a fantastic idea, and I wish Vanessa every success. This would be a great opportunity for local producers to sell locally, and as Vanessa points out, an opportunity to get a foot on the retail ladder without the costs of opening a shop.

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A cook who believes the Bay is ripe for a farmers' market is hoping to harvest enough stalls to start her own venture.

Vanessa Hill has secured a venue and a date for the first market – Saturday, March 3, at Herne Bay United Church Hall in the High Street – and now needs sellers to sign up.

The mum-of-two, who works as a chef in a care home, said:

"I had the idea just before Christmas. I'd been to Whitstable farmers' market and found it really crammed. I'd like to go back to the basics, with local produce from small suppliers, from vegetables to breads, or cider and home-made jams.

I'd also like to get youngsters involved. There are so many talented young people out there with great ideas. But they wouldn't have a hope in hell of being able to open a shop, with all the expenses involved."

Are you interested in having a stall? Call Vanessa on 07740 586010.

Find a planet, be a star

Now here's an opportunity that won't come your way every day. The astro-boffins have collected a cyber-mountain of data from their telescopes and need to analyse it to spot where the planets are. Because you are a human being - and therefore much better suited to this task than a computer - you could be the one to spot a planet. And you get to take the credit!

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Volunteers wanted for planet hunt

Members of the public are being asked to join the hunt for nearby planets that could support life. Volunteers can go to the Planethunters website to see time-lapsed images of 150,000 stars, taken by the Kepler space telescope. They will be advised on the signs that indicate the presence of a planet and how to alert experts if they spot them. Chris Lintott from Oxford University said:

"We know that people will find planets that are missed by the computer. When humans have looked at data, we know they find planets that computers can't."

The human brain would be particularly good at finding any weird or unusual systems says Lintott, involving variable or double stars or multiple interacting planets. Already several planets have been discovered by the public since the site was put live last year by an international team including scientists from Yale and Oxford universities.

But sadly, volunteers cannot get a planet named after them, as planet names are derived from the stars they orbit.

The Kepler space telescope, launched in 2009, has been searching a part of space thought to have many stars similar to our own Sun. Its most exciting moment to date has been the discovery of Kepler 22b , a planet close in size and temperature to Earth, lying about 600 light-years away.

Another nine months of data from the Kepler space telescope is being put online at the Planethunters website to coincide with three consecutive nights of BBC Two's Stargazing Live beginning on Monday 16 January. Dr Lintott said:

"By Wednesday we hope to have some exciting discoveries. We are very confident there are more planets lurking in there to be found."

The Planethunters website will have time-lapsed sequences of images of about 150,000 stars which have so far only been available to professional astronomers and their computers. Anyone spotting a potential planet can flag up the telltale data and, if a significant planet is found, they would be credited with the discovery and their name would appear in any subsequent scientific paper about the discovery.

Time-lapsed images of a single star show dips in brightness as a planet passes

Stargazing Live returns to BBC Two at 20:30 GMT on Monday and 20:00 GMT on Tuesday and Wednesday, 16-18 January 2012. Preliminary results of the planet hunt by Stargazing viewers will feature in the final programme.

Bob Holness

Bob Holness, who died today aged 83, was part of the furniture in many homes in the 1980s thanks to his legendary Blockbusters show.

But there was a lot more to the broadcaster than people realise. Born in Natal, South Africa, Holness grew up in Kent after his family moved back to England. He later returned to South Africa as a younger man where he started a career in the media and acting and even played the role of James Bond in a radio play.

In 1961 he returned to the UK and gradually became a recognised face on TV as chairman on BBC1's Call My Bluff, long before Blockbusters became a huge hit. The quiz, which ended in 1993, featured student contestants answering a series of trivia questions based on the letters of the alphabet.

A regular feature of the show saw Holness trying to keep a straight face despite facing sniggering students asking him: "Can I have a P please Bob?" - a question he claimed never to be fed up with hearing. He said:

"People say 'Don't you ever get fed up with it?' but I didn't. I loved everything to do with the show so it always got a very positive reception from me, however many times I heard it."

The arrival of dance drug Ecstasy on the rave scene also saw Holness regularly asked for an E by his student contestants.

One mark of his popularity was the widespread urban myth, believed by many, that Holness played the trademark saxophone solo on the Gerry Rafferty hit Baker Street. It is believed to have been started as a spoof by music paper NME in 1990.

Couple's day at palace

Holiday park boss Malcolm Kent enjoyed a right royal knees-up last Tuesday. The former national chairman of the British Holiday and Home Parks Association was in London to attend a special Buckingham Palace garden party. Mr Kent, from Herne Bay, said:

"I was delighted to receive the invitation and it was a fantastic day out. They give you parking in The Mall, which isn't somewhere you usually choose to park in London! At 4pm the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived, looking stunning for their age. I'm not sure how they do it!"

After tea, the couple were able to explore the gardens and meet the other guests. Mr Kent, who chaired the National Caravan Council from 1997 to 1999, said:

"We had some interesting company, as Alan Titchmarsh was there, along with Andrew Marr and lots of foreign royalty in their very colourful regalia. All in all it was a very memorable day."

Mr Kent's business, Keat Farm, has nine parks across the county for both holiday and residential use.

HB Times 22nd Jul 2011

Kavanagh Classic Film Club

Well done Robert Johnson! Have a look at www.KavanaghCinema.co.uk for the latest details.

HB Gazette 16th September 2010

Kevin Griffin

HB Gazette 9th September 2010