Herne Bay Beach Hut Day

Herne Bay famous faces John Altman and Nicki Chapman had a stiff challenge on their hands as guest judges at the annual beach hut competition. A fiercely contested event saw owners get right into the festival spirit with an array of colourful designs and themes for their huts.

Former EastEnders star John and TV personality Nicki were joined by Jenny and David Cross from the Friends of the Herne Bay Museum in the judging as the number of entries exceeded expectations. Organiser Andrew Cook was overwhelmed with the response:

“The sun came out to shine and many hut owners frantically dressed theirs in time for judging. Competition was fierce and the quality was higher than ever before, some owners came from as far away as Yorkshire to enter. We had to give out some additional prizes to make the judges’ lives a bit easier. Jill Bell eventually took the honours for best dressed hut with her Mrs Sweeney Todd theme. It was great to have both Nicki and John there as they are firm believers of what Herne Bay has to offer and the town’s future potential.”

Kentish Gazette 16th Aug 2011

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Click here for the Beach Hut Day photo gallery

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Amateur Oscars awards

This Saturday is the amateur dramatics' equivalent of the Oscars. Actors and directors from all over the county will gather at Whitstable's Playhouse Theatre at 7pm to see if they have won in the Kent Drama Association full-length play festival. Adjudicators have spent the past few months visiting theatres and seeing what is on offer.

The Lindley Players, who own the Playhouse, have done particularly well with nine nominations. These include: Dave Rogers for best actor in a cameo role; Jessica Storer for best debut in a full-length play and best young player; Peter Bressington for best supporting actor best stage design for Female Transport; Mandy Hunt for best new festival director and Clare Snashall for best actress. The Lindleys are also up for best wardrobe and best stage presentation.

Herne Bay's Heidi Griggs of Theatrecraft has been nominated for best supporting actress. Theatrecraft has also been nominated for best initiative in stage presentation and ensemble acting. Herne Bay Operatic Society is changing its name to Herne Bay Music Society. Spokeswoman Mary Hixson said:

"We feel it better reflects the type of show we do nowadays."

The name change coincides with the group's 60th anniversary bash at the Kings Hall, Herne Bay, on Saturday, June 25. President and former Pop Idol judge Nicki Chapman will be among the guests. Entertainment will be from Goosebumps swing and jive band. Doors open at 7pm.

Red Sands Radio wants to hear from local bands to broadcast when the station returns to the airwaves on July 2. Bosses have introduced a new slot on its Live Lunch programme and a new show called Red Sands Rocks on Sunday nights. Spokesman Roy Gooderson said:

"We are supporting this year's Bands at the Belmont open-air concert and want to hear from local composers, bands and solo artists who want to hear their songs on the radio."

Already lined up are the Flame Pilots, Dave Emm, The Trouser Trumpets, Masque, The Scimitars, The Keytones, Hullabaloo, Jazz Police, Rubber Biscuit, Wasabi, Malcolm Holland, and Mel Harris. Red Sands Radio will also be playing songs from established local Bands like Caravan, Maroon Dogs and Fantasia. Send an mp3 file to studio@redsandsradio.co.uk or post a CD to Red Sands Radio, Whitstable, CT5 2PF with a brief biography. Red Sands launches on 87.7FM and www.redsandsradio.co.uk

Canterbury Times 17th Jun 2011

Celebrities to launch Herne Bay culture trail

Celebrities and sports stars with Herne Bay connections will be in town this Saturday, November 15 for the unveiling of a special mural. Stars including TV presenter Nicki Chapman, Herne funnyman Dave Lee and EastEnders actor John "Nasty Nick Cotton" Altman have been invited to the unveiling of the Famous Faces Mural on Cains amusement arcade in Central Parade at 11.15am on Saturday.

The painting is by mural artist Penny Bearman, from Deal, who has been commissioned to produce three large artworks as part of the Herne Bay Cultural Trail. Other local legends in the mural include former Great Britain hockey player Sean Kerly and roller hockey veteran Phil McVey. English-born American comedian and actor Bob Hope is also featured in the mural because he fell from the pier when he visited Herne Bay as a child.

Herne Bay Town Partners also plan historically-themed murals for the side wall of Spearings Stationers in Mortimer Street and on rear wall of the Herne Bay district council office in William Street.

On the same day, a statue of Sir Barnes Wallis, the man who invented the bouncing bomb, will also be unveiled in Herne Bay. The bronze statue was commissioned by Herne Bay Town Partners after they were awarded £78,000 of lottery funding last year. It will go on show to the public at the Downs, Beacon Hill close to the Kings Hall at 12pm on Saturday (November 15).

Although a number of residents, including Sean Kerly, objected to the positioning of the statue, planning permission was granted in October. Engineer Sir Barnes Wallis tested the bouncing bomb, which helped the Allies to win the Second World War, off the coast between Herne Bay and Reculver in 1946. It will become the centrepiece of 18 historical and interesting locations around the town which will form the Herne Bay Cultural Trail. The statue's sculptor Tom White is also due to fly over from Bethel in Maine, USA to attend the unveiling.

A website for the trail has been launched at www.hernebayculturaltrail.co.uk

This is Kent 12th Nov 2008