Wild about you!

Join the RSPB for a monthly wildlife adventure at Northward Hill, getting hands-on with nature whilst enjoying our fantastic local landscape.

Click the image below to find out more.

Aside from these monthly sessions, I highly recommend a visit to RSPB Northward Hill. Fresh air, great views, stunning nature and plenty of exercise (if you want it).

Take a look at the RSPB Northward Hill website by clicking here.

I’ve previously mentioned some of my visits to this beautiful part of the peninsula, take a look by clicking here.

  

Too pew to mention!

Here's St. James' Church on the Isle of Grain. The building dates back to the 12th century.

The photographs below give us a snapshot of its interior over a hundred year period. They were taken in the 1920s, 1954, 1975 and one from more recent times (they appear in this order).

The interior seems largely unchanged. There is a noticeable absence of pews, but I’m not entirely sure that any ever existed – certainly, it’s beyond the living memory of those who currently use the church. Perhaps the lack of evidence has something to do with the re-building and restoration projects of 1815 and 1904/5?

However, pews were, until a few years ago, in the chancel for the choir. They were removed though due to damage caused by woodworm.

Also, note the lack of pulpit in the 1920s photo, compared with later photos!

Take a look at a previous post I produced about the exterior of the building, by clicking here.

  

Snow bother for Hoo Clean Up!

The February Hoo Clean Up took place this morning, despite the odd heavy snow shower (as can be seen from the photo below).

18 people and 2 dogs came along to help and 12 bags of rubbish were collected - a brilliant effort!

As well as clearing litter from around Hoo Village Square - volunteers also tackled mess left in the car parks behind the Co-Op and Spar supermarkets. Attention was also given to parts of Bells Lane, Main Road, Church Street and Stoke Road.

After today's session - everyone enjoyed some tasty cake and sandwiches at Taggs Coffee Shop.

Join the fight against litter by joining the next Hoo Clean Up session on Saturday 30th March, at 9.30am - your village needs you! This session will begin at The Chequers pub in Church Street, Hoo.

For more information contact the Clean Up Co-Ordinator Michael Pearce on 07919 693 095.
 

Would you like to join the Hoo Peninsula Model Railway Club?

Members of the Hoo Peninsula Model Railway Club meet regularly in Hoo, and they’re keen to attract new members to the group.

I attended one of their activity nights late last year, and I had a good time meeting existing members. I was quite surprised though by how much knowledge I had somehow retained from my own youthful obsession with model railways.

It was good to meet up with the Model Railway Club and to see their dedication and enjoyment constructing and building layouts and scenery, as well as the more social elements of sharing information, knowledge, skills and stories - and enjoying a nice cuppa and biscuits of course!

If you’d like to find out more about the group, or to arrange a visit to one of their activity nights, get in touch with Ralph on 07527 596 630.

  

Allhallows Life - March 2013 Edition

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

This edition includes an interesting article about the ongoing Slough Fort Restoration Project, information about the next Project Morning (on Saturday 9 March) at Slough Fort, details of Easter services and events at All Saints Church, a special financial report about Allhallows Village Hall and lots of other community information, contacts, diary dates and reports.

Another packed edition this month, with lots to get involved with, so please take time to read from cover to cover.

Allhallows Life is the magazine for 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.

  

Something special for Mother’s Day

Join the ‘Craft Fair Calendar Medway & Kent’ for their special Mother’s Day Craft Fair event on Sunday 10 March, from 11am until 4pm.

The free entry event will be held at Hoo Village Institute (25 Main Road, Hoo, ME3 9AA).

Pop along and grab yourself a bargain - they'll be doing some tasty cakes too!!!

  

A high point in Hoo

It’s always nice to see where we live from a slightly different perspective. Towards the end of last year I joined local churchwarden Mick Hollands, pictured below, for a tour of the tower at Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church.  We were joined by Michael Pearce, who runs Village Voices.

The battlemented tower, including spire, is more than 120ft tall, and the views from the top are quite fascinating.

The photographs below show (in order) Branta Fields, the centre of the village, the now defunct Kingsnorth Power Station, the River Medway and Church Farm Close.

If you’d like to find out more about Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church, take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

Doing ‘The Windmill’ walk

We’re very lucky on the Hoo Peninsula to have so many good, and sometimes quite dramatic, walking routes. However, a popular walk for many people living in Hoo is what I call the ‘triangular walk’ around the village.

This includes Bells Lane, the old Ratcliffe Highway and Main Road. I’ve met a good many locals whilst out enjoying the fresh air and views.

Conveniently, The Windmill pub is on the old Ratcliffe Highway and marks the half way point of the walk.

Just along from the pub, in the direction of Chattenden, is the now rather dilapidated Mill House - believed to have been built in 1799 and, according to Philip Macdougall’s book about the Hoo Peninsula, the home for many years to the Ballard family, who were a local farming family.

I like this building a lot, and only wish that I could win the lottery to pay for its renovation, before it collapses!

Depending on how fast you walk, I’d say this walk takes about an hour to complete - that’s without stopping at The Windmill for a swift pint!

  

Keeping fit in High Halstow!

High Halstow has a new ‘outdoor gym’ installed behind the Village Hall (The Street, High Halstow), within the grounds of the recreation ground.

It’s a clever concept - giving people the chance, whatever their age, to access a range of useful fitness equipment. Best of all though - it’s completely free to use!

As you’ll see from the photographs I took last week, below, there’s lots of equipment available, including contraptions to help improve muscle stamina, endurance and heart and lung functions. There’s also a recumbent bike - to tone your upper body, legs and backside no less. And to avoid any confusion, the equipment has user instructions attached.

It all sounds rather healthy I admit, but you’d probably do well to check with your GP if you’re worried about ‘over doing it’ on the equipment. I wouldn’t want anyone doing anything too strenuous!

Bets of luck!

High Halstow Parish Council installed the new equipment. Take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

Out in rural Hoo

It was good getting out and about this week - again exploring some of the more rural parts of Hoo.

With a spell of fairly nice sunny weather, and the prospect of some much needed exercise, I headed out to help with the delivery of the latest edition of Village Voices (the community magazine for Hoo and Chattenden) with Michael Pearce, who runs the magazine, and Kevin from The Chequers pub.

We delivered the magazine to Hoo’s more rural areas, including Dux Court Road, the Ratcliffe Highway, Roper’s Lane, Jacob’s Lane and the section of Stoke Road beyond the 'village envelope' - going as far as the last house in the parish, namely Polly Adams Cottage.

It was a lovely afternoon and it was good seeing everything looking so vibrant and interesting in the sunshine, albeit it was still very chilly.

I'm looking forward to the summer months!

  

Refurbishment of The Chequers

Quite apart from being my local pub of choice, I’m very excited about the major refurbishment currently underway at The Chequers pub in Church Street, Hoo.

This wonderful old red-brick Georgian building with its mansard roof is, in my opinion, one of the best old buildings left in the village. And it is one that escaped destruction during the 1950s and 60s - a particularly dark period, architecturally speaking, when so many other classic buildings succumbed to ‘progress’.

You can view photographs of the refurbishment work by visiting the pub’s new website, just click here to take a look.

Very best wishes to Kev and Sarah on their grand re-opening, all set for Friday 1 March.
 

Vacancy at Allhallows Yacht Club

Allhallows Yacht Club (The Seafront, Allhallows on Sea, Allhallows, ME3 9SY) are looking for a Part-Time Cook / Steward.

Experience of working in a pub or restaurant is essential for this weekend role.  Pay rates are negotiable, just get in touch with the Club Secretary for more information or to apply.

Email here or here, or phone 07860 467995.

To find out more about Allhallows Yacht Club take a look at their website here.

Good luck!
 

Grain Youth Club

The Youth Club on the Isle of Grain meets at St. James’ Pavilion, Pintail Close, Isle of Grain, ME3 0DW.

Sessions are held on a Thursday from 4.30pm to 6.30pm (after-school club for 8 to 10 year olds) and, also on a Thursday, between 7pm and 9.30pm for 11 to 19 year olds.

The Youth Club is run by fully trained and CRB checked staff from Medway Council. For more information contact Karen Yusuf on 01634 338743 or 07740 590115, or send an email by clicking here.

  

Hoo Clean Up (Saturday 23 February)

Join the fight against litter in Hoo, by coming along and joining other residents at the next Hoo Clean Up on Saturday 23 February, at 9.30am.

This month, volunteers will meet at the raised platform area in Hoo Village Square, as The Chequers pub is currently closed for a major refurbishment. Volunteers will target ‘enemy’ litter in and around the village centre. There’ll also be free refreshments after the session.

If you’d like to find out more about the Hoo Clean Ups, or to sign up for this excellent community activity, contact Michael Pearce (Clean Up Co-Ordinator) on 07919 693 095, or send an email by clicking here.

  

Join the new Saxon Shore Way Clean Up team!

Don’t panic, volunteers aren't being asked to ‘clean up’ the full length of the Saxon Shore Way, stretching as it does from Gravesend to Hastings - a mere 160 miles from start to finish!

However, following a number of local groups expressing an interest in setting up a new ‘shore-side’ Clean Up team, other residents are now being invited to come forward and get involved in these new regular litter picks along the stretch that runs between Upnor and Hoo.

If you’re keen to get involved, please get in touch by emailing me here, or contact the Village Voices team on 07919 693 095, or email here.

  

Let’s face it - they’re our Public Rights of Way!

Medway Council recently launched a useful Facebook page called ‘Medway Public Rights of Way’, to help promote local walking routes, and to highlight the excellent work done by many local people, and the local Council, to maintain our paths, bridleways and byways.

The site is very good and, being on the Hoo Peninsula, you’ll find many items of interest - with many parts of our rural area being highlighted in detail.

Well done to Medway Council and everyone responsible - a good job!

Take a look at the Facebook page by clicking here.

  

Quiz Night at Grain

The Grain Fete Committee will be holding a quiz night on Saturday 16 February, at Grain Village Hall, Chapel Road, Isle of Grain, ME3 0BY.

Doors will open at 7pm. Take along your own nibbles and drinks, but there will be tea, coffee and hot chocolate available. Children and families welcome.
  

45 big voices are coming to Hoo from the Rhondda Valleys!

Exciting news reached me over the weekend. Fellow Hoo resident Stuart Coombes confirmed that the ‘Morlais Male Choir’ (or ‘Cor-Meibion-Morlais’ if you prefer) are coming to Hoo for a special concert at Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church.

The concert will take place on Saturday 25 May, starting at 7pm, and tickets are by a minimum donation of £8 per person.

I’ll be booking my ticket without delay, and you can do the same by phoning Stuart Coombes on 01634 251705.

See you there!
  

Helping local people in Grain and beyond!

The UJ Community Partnership, based at The Chapel, Chapel Road, Isle of Grain, supports local people by providing different activities that promote social-inclusion, through organising events and learning opportunities.

The Partnership helps people learn, or improve, IT skills. They also run a variety of other useful courses, including first aid workshops and help with personal financial management.

The group was set up in 2003 and is run by a team of hardworking local volunteers. Veronica Cordier (pictured below), who manages the group, is always keen to attract new people, and funding!

The UJ Community Partnership runs courses in basic computing, through to an accredited course, along with a manual book keeping course. The group also hopes to continue their lunch and craft club for the over 50s - usually held on the second and fourth Monday’s of the month. However, Veronica is keen to find new funding to cover the running costs of these activities. The group is not government funded and they have to apply for funding to cover their activities and courses.

If you’d like to find out more about getting involved in the UJ Community Partnership, regardless of where you live on the Hoo Peninsula, or if you'd like to help fund this important group, please get in touch with Veronica Cordier on 01634 271807.
  

Kent's new Police and Crime Commissioner comes to Hoo!

It was really good to be invited along to meet Kent’s new Police and Crime Commissioner, Ann Barnes, yesterday afternoon, at Taggs Coffee Shop in Hoo. The purpose of the meeting, organised by Hoo Parish Council Chairman Lionel Pearce, was to discuss policing and crime.

Much of the meeting was spent discussing general concerns about policing and crime, but we also discussed specific issues, such as the the recent and terrible assault in Knights Road - an incident that is worrying many villagers at the moment.

As well as the new Police and Crime Commissioner, we were joined by our new area sergeant, a PCSO, Medway Council’s community officer Johnny Robinson and the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety - Cllr Mike O’Brien. It was a positive and productive meeting and I very much hope that only good will come from it.

In the meantime, please report all crimes you see to the Police. Call 101 (non emergencies) or if a life is in danger or a crime is in progress, dial 999. You can also phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
  

Craft and Table Top Fair at Hoo Village Hall (Sunday 3 March)

Hoo Village Hall will host a new monthly Craft and Table Top Fair on the first Sunday of every month.

The first event will be on Sunday 3 March, from 10am until 2pm, so please try to pop along and enjoy homemade crafts, cakes and lots of other goodies.

If you’d like a table at the event, they are only £5 per table (table provided). Bookings and payment can be made by phoning Hayley on 07810 542 330. Tables will be available from 9am on the day for sellers.

  

Fundraising for our local animal rescue sanctuary!

Our very own local animal rescue sanctuary, Anim-Mates, based at St. Mary Hoo, are busy organising a fundraising Coffee Morning, on Saturday 23 February.

Taking place at the High Halstow Memorial Hall (The Street, High Halstow, ME3 8SF), I'm pleased to report that you can expect plenty of homemade cakes, tea and coffee - served from 10.30am to 1.30pm. Entrance is only £2.50 and stalls will include clothes, cards, jewellery and gifts.

Visit the Anim-Mates website by here.

  

Village Voices (February 2013 Edition)

The February edition of Village Voices (the community magazine for Hoo St. Werburgh and Chattenden), is now available to read online. Just click the image below to read the full copy.

This edition includes an interesting ‘questions and answers’ piece with Inspector David Matson from Kent Police, details of the next Hoo Clean Up (the next one being on Saturday 23 February), a fascinating article by Rolf Williams from the RSPB, a report from Hoo resident Holly Matthews about her trip to Zimbabwe and many other interesting items and local advertising.

Take a look at the Village Voices website by clicking here.
  

Allhallows Life - February 2013 Edition

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

This edition includes an interesting article about a recent Project Morning that involved the clearing of Slough Fort, details of services and events at All Saints Church, a ‘dance through the ages’ event promotion (taking place on Saturday 16 February) and lots of other community information, contacts, diary dates and reports.

Another packed edition this month, with lots to get involved with, so please take time to read from cover to cover.

Allhallows Life is the magazine for 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.

  

High Halstow Times - February 2013 Edition

Here’s the latest edition of the High Halstow Times. Once again the magazine is packed full of stories, reports and things to do in the village. Click on the image below to read the full copy.

This edition includes information about an exciting Photographic Competition taking place, details of the village hall refurbishment, opportunities to meet Parish Councillors (on Tuesday 12 February at the Kings Kitchen, Memorial Hall), a report from the Friends of St. Margaret’s Church, updates from the High Halstow Cricket Club and a special report from the Parish of St. Mary Hoo.

The High Halstow Times is the magazine of High Halstow Parish Council. Take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

Pride in Medway, and pride in the Hoo Peninsula!

It’s really great to see two local groups nominated for Pride in Medway awards this year. And, both have been nominated within the ‘Green Champion’ category.

Well done to the Hoo Clean Up volunteers, who litter pick in Hoo every month, and to the Friends of Grain Coastal Park, who have carried out many environmental improvements at Grain Coastal Park.

I know both groups very well, and they deserve recognition for the excellent work they undertake on behalf of their communities.

The next Hoo Clean Up will take place on Saturday 23 February. If you’d like to get involved - they will meet at 9.30am in Hoo Village Square (the raised platform area). The Hoo Clean Ups are usually held on the last Saturday of each month. More information can be obtained by phoning the Clean Up Co-Ordinator Michael Pearce on 07919 693 095.

The Friends of Grain Coastal Park usually meet on the third Sunday of the month, at 10am, and they set out from St. James Pavilion, Pintail Close, Isle of Grain, ME3 0DW. To find out more about what they’re up to, get in touch by sending an email here.

  

Good luck to the Hoo Clean Up volunteers and the Friends of Grain Coastal Park - hopefully you'll get through to the final stage of the Pride in Medway awards!