Allhallows Life - May Edition

The May edition of Allhallows Life is now available. Click the image below to see the full copy.

This month’s edition includes information about events taking place to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, including a Picnic in the Park on Sunday 3 June and a special Gardening Competition - with a chance of winning prizes of £50, £30 and £20. There’s also details of the next meeting of the Allhallows History Club on Sunday 6 May, a list of services at All Saints Church plus reports from the Parish Council and other local groups.

And there’s another really informative report about Project Day activities - where volunteers come together every month to help clean up the village. The next Project Day morning is on Saturday 12 May at 8.30am - meeting at the Village Hall.

Allhallows Monthly Indoor Market gets a mention, along with photos of a recent event. This event is held at The British Pilot, and is worth taking the time to go along to. The next one will be on a Saturday in May (watch for signs around the village for the date).

Another really packed edition of Allhallows Life to enjoy this month, with lots to get involved with - so please take time to read from cover to cover!

Allhallows Life is the magazine of Allhallows Parish Council. Take a look at their website by clicking here. The magazine also features items from St. Mary Hoo Parish Council. Take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

Licensing and Installation Service at Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church

This Thursday (26 April), at a Licensing and Installation Service, Hoo will formally welcome the Rev’d John Smith as the new Priest-in-Charge of Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church. Also to be Licensed, and taking on the role of Self Supporting Minister (Honorary Curate), is John’s wife, the Rev’d Sue Smith.

The ceremony will be conducted by the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt. Rev’d James Langstaff, and commences at 7.30pm. 

Take a look at the website of Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church by clicking here. 

Welcome and best of wishes to John and Sue.

  

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

We are just 6 weeks away from celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, on Tuesday 5 June.

Lots of events are taking place across Medway and around the Hoo Peninsula. There’ll be beacons lit, street parties held and plenty of other celebrations taking place. I will try and feature a village by village event listing in the coming weeks, looking at all those activities taking place during the special Bank Holiday weekend (from Saturday 2 June to Tuesday 5 June).

One event that I have already been told about is a Jubilee Afternoon Tea at the Memorial Hall in High Halstow. It will be held on Sunday 3 June. Click the image below to find out more. No ticket necessary - just turn up!

If you are organising an event on the Hoo Peninsula and would like it mentioned on this website, send me a copy of your event poster using the contact page.

Stop the Thames Estuary Airport!

The campaign to prevent our area being destroyed by a Thames Estuary Airport has really taken off!

Medway Council, the RSPB and Friends of the North Kent Marshes continue to work hard, and in partnership with local residents, to prevent this catastrophe from happening.

My Photo Wall - a work in progress!

Although the media hype has calmed down in recent weeks, local residents are being encouraged to ‘keep up the pressure’ and maintain the campaign momentum.

That's why it is great to see more and more residents and businesses across the Hoo Peninsula displaying posters, leaflets and car stickers.

The dedicated Stop Estuary Airport campaign website, run by Medway Council, provides detailed information about where you can pick up leaflets, posters and car stickers. It also explains how you can get involved in the campaign.

As well as the Medway Council site, it’s also worth taking a look at the website run by the Friends of the North Kent Marshes by clicking here. The RSPB website also has an interesting section about the Estuary Airport proposals, with lots of useful and detailed analysis and information.

Step up, get up and together let’s Stop the Thames Estuary Airport from becoming a reality.
  

News of Thames Estuary Airport proposals reach Switzerland

An unexpected package landed on my doormat yesterday, post marked Zurich. As I don’t know anyone in Switzerland, I wondered what on earth it could be!

It was from an organisation called SVS / BirdLife Switzerland and contained the latest edition of their magazine ‘Ornis’ - which reminded me of a request a couple of months ago from them to use one of the pictures from this website.

I don’t claim to be anything other than a keen amateur when it comes to photography, but it was nice to see one of my snaps actually published in a magazine. The image they selected shows a view of Hoo Flats, as seen from the Saxon Shore Way along the River Medway. The photo appears as part of an article about the Thames Estuary Airport proposals. Not speaking very good German, I’m afraid I can’t tell you ‘exactly’ what the article says.

Lots of interest in our little corner of the world. But not really a great surprise given that parts of our local area are internationally important to wildlife.

If you want to know more about why our local landscape is so important, visit the dedicated pages on the RSPB website here.

  

Volunteering at Grain Coastal Park (Sunday 15 April 2012)

The next volunteering activity day at Grain Coastal Park is this Sunday (15 April), from 10am.

Click the poster below to find out more.

Those who come along to lend a hand will spend time clearing and cutting back a wooded walk - adding to the growing number of walks now available within the park.

To find out more about the Friends of Grain Coastal Park, or to get involved with volunteering, come along on Sunday - you’ll be made very welcome.

Let's hope it doesn't rain!
  

High Halstow Walkers - April Walk (Sunday 15 April 2012)

The next walk organised by the High Halstow Walkers is taking place this Sunday (15 April).

Starting out at 10am, the walk will begin at the Kings Arms at the top of the High Street in Upper Upnor. Parking is available at the car park on Upnor Road.

The walk is being led by Alan Wilson and will go from Upper Upnor to Lower Upnor, Cockham Fort, Hoo Marina and then back. The walk, which I’ve done a few times myself, covers about 6 miles and follows the route of the old Saxon Shore Way. You can expect good views of Chatham Dockyard, St. Mary’s Island, the shore way, the river Medway and lots of fascinating local history.

So, if you fancy some fresh air, exercise and good conversation, this walk is for you. 

Other walks taking place this year are listed below. The start time for each walk is usually 10am, but confirmation of this, and meeting points, will be posted on this website every month.

13 May - Cranbrook and Sissinghurst. 10 June - To be announced. 8 July - High Halstow to Egypt Bay.

If you’d like to find out more about the High Halstow Walkers, get in touch with Mitchell by phoning 01634 254428 or send him an email here.

  

Anim-Mates Coffee Morning (High Halstow), Saturday 14 April 2012

Fancy a nice cuppa and a piece of cake - eaten in aid of a good cause?

Well, you’ll be pleased to know there will be a Coffee Morning this Saturday (14 April) at the Memorial Hall in High Halstow. It is being held in aid of local animal rescue sanctuary Anim-Mates.

Opening at 10.30am, there’s a promise of homemade cakes and a ‘chocolate explosion’ too - which certainly sounds worthy of further investigation!

Click the poster below for further details.

To find out more about Anim-Mates, who are based at St. Mary Hoo, take a look at their website by clicking here.