Gearing up for a great Christmas on the Isle of Grain!

There’s quite a bit going on around the Hoo Peninsula this Christmas. I’ve already mentioned events happening in Hoo, so now it’s the turn of the Isle of Grain.

The fun begins this Saturday (26 November), when GOFFs (the Grain Over Forty Fives group) hold an Autumn/Christmas Fayre at the Village Hall (Chapel Road). This will take place from 11am until 2pm, when there’ll be plenty of stalls offering cards, gifts, a tombola, a raffle, refreshments and lots, lots, more.

Then on Saturday 3 December the Grain Fete Committee will be having their Christmas Quiz at the Village Hall, from 7.30pm.

Make sure you’re feeling suitably creative though, as you could win a prize for having the best decorated table! Live music will be provided by councillors Chris Buckwell (Parish Council Chairman) and Chris Irvine. The Fete Committee quiz nights are usually held every second Saturday, except in July, August and December. They help raise much needed cash for Fete expenses. Tickets are £5.50 per person and a hot meal is provided at half time. Sounds good to me! Click on the image below for more information.

As mentioned on this site last month, the Showin’ Grain Theatre Group are putting on this year’s pantomime on Friday 9 December and Saturday 10 December at the Village Hall.

Sunday 11 December, sees St. James Church (High Street - towards the beach) present ‘Christingle’ from 6pm, where there will be plenty of carols to be sung! If you’re able to pop along and enjoy the festive spirit - please take a donation of new toiletries for the Salvation Army to distribute to the homeless.

And finally, on Saturday 17 December the band of the Salvation Army will be performing at St. James Church for lots of Carols and festive tunes. The start time will be confirmed shortly (I’ll provide an update accordingly). Everyone is very welcome to attend.

My apologies if I haven’t mentioned your Christmas event - just let me know all the details by getting in touch using the contact page. But it looks like there is going to be so much festive cheer in Grain this year.  Any Scrooges should be packing their bags already!

I’ll be including Christmas events taking place in other parts of the peninsula shortly, so please get in touch if you’d like your event to appear on this site.

Click on the ‘label’ below marked ‘Christmas Event 2011’ to see all the Christmas events mentioned on this site so far.
 

The Beacon, Parish Magazine of Hoo St. Werburgh (December edition) - Out Now!

The latest edition of The Beacon parish magazine is now available. Copies may be purchased from local shops in Hoo, including Choicemeats at 1 Fourwents Road and the Newsagent at 35 Knights Road.

For further information, contact the Editor (Mrs Muriel Bewsey) on 01634 252129.
 

Lots of ‘Ho Ho Ho’ in Hoo this Christmas!

There’s lots of festive fun to be had in Hoo this Christmas, with at least four Christmas events taking place in the village. Well that’s four I’ve already been told about anyway!

The fun begins this coming Saturday (26 November) when Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church hold an Autumn/Christmas Fair - with lots of entertainment for the whole family. This is taking place from 10am until 1pm. Click the image below for more information.

Then there’s a Christmas Bazaar, which is being held at Hoo Village Hall (Pottery Road), on Wednesday 30 November. This is being organised by Hoo District Girlguiding - with cakes, competition prizes and crafts on offer. Click the image below to find out more.

On Saturday 3 December it’s the turn of the Red Cross Christmas Fayre, at the Red Cross Centre just along Stoke Road (from the Village Square). The fun will include a raffle, tombola, refreshments and much more besides, so please pop along and show your support. Take a look at the image below to find out more. I bought some very tasty cakes at last year’s event, which, needless to say, didn’t quite survive until Christmas.

And on Saturday 10 December Hoo Village Square will come alive with the Hoo Village Events Committee presenting their Christmas Fayre. There’ll be lots going on, so you’d better make time to pop along and enjoy the festive atmosphere. There’ll be live music and entertainment (including local singing sensation Matthew Crane), seasonal stalls, local produce and a great deal more! Last year’s event was a stonking success, and there’s sure to be something for everyone again this time. Click the below images to find out more.

My apologies if I haven’t mentioned your Christmas event - just let me know all the details by getting in touch using the contact page.

I’m hoping to include Christmas events taking place in other parts of the peninsula shortly, so please get in touch if you’d like your event to appear on this site.

I hope to see you soon . . .
 

Don’t miss out on Police Male Voice Choir concert tickets!

Tickets are going fast for the Kent Police Male Voice Choir concert at Hoo Parish Church in a couple of weeks. But there’s still plenty of time to book your place, although I wouldn’t leave it too late!

The popular Choir will perform at the Church on Sunday 4 December at 6.30pm.

Book your ticket(s) soon to avoid disappointment and to help raise much needed cash for the Church restoration fund.

For tickets (a donation of £7) contact Stuart on 01634 251705.
 

New players wanted at the Isle of Grain Youth Soccer School . . .

Following on from an article that I wrote on this site in September, the Chairman of the Isle of Grain Youth Soccer School, Paul Peachey, has been in touch this week to appeal for more new players.

Paul is keen to encourage more youngsters to join the many league football teams set up by the Isle of Grain Youth Soccer School. Members of all ages are welcome, but Paul is especially keen to strengthen the following teams: U10s (year 5 at school), U12s (year 7 at school), U8s (year 2 at school). Paul also told me that he’d like to get kids involved in two new teams - for the U7s and U6s (year 1 and reception at school).

As well as the league teams, the Youth Soccer School is looking to attract new recruits - for all those aged between 3 and 16. They meet at Seaview Meadow (Lang’s Field) at the Isle of Grain every Saturday from 10.30am till 12.30pm.

If you’d like to get involved, or know someone that would, contact Paul Peachey on 07818 558036.
 

High Halstow Photographic Competition - Winners Announced

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I’d been invited to join the judging panel for High Halstow’s annual photographic competition.

The winning entries were announced at a Parish Council meeting last week, attended by lots of local residents.

Congratulations to Ella Kitney, who was the overall winner with her photo of a wintry wooded walk, which also came top in the ‘Under 18s’ category. Ella's winning photo is on January’s page in the 2012 High Halstow calendar. Other entries and category winners are featured from February to December.



Parish Council Chairman George Crozer and Vice-Chairman Gary Thomas are pictured below holding copies of the calendar. To find out how to buy a copy click here.

I think the calendar makes for a really good Christmas gift. Especially so, given that all profits will be donated to the HUGH fund (fundraising for the Village Hall).

For the full list of category winners and to see their photos click here. And to see the winners collecting their prizes click here.
 

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Yesterday I wrote about my visit to northern France to visit the graves of my ancestors William Watson and Harry Stratford. I first learnt about their involvement in the Great War, and their deaths, when I visited the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Upper Stoke last year, as part of a local history walk led by Alan Marshall.

Both their names were listed, along with sixteen others, on a plaque (pictured below) commemorating those from the Parish who had given their lives in the service of King and country.

Wondering how I might go about locating their graves, I thought how impossible that was likely to be given the hundreds of thousands who died in northern France and Belgium between 1914-1918. But after a bit of digging on various genealogy websites, I managed to track down war records for both William and Harry, detailing personal information and their service history, including the date of their deaths.

I was then able to use the website of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to track down the location of William’s grave and the place where Harry’s name is listed amongst tens of thousands who have no known grave.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission was established by Royal Charter in 1917.  It pays tribute to the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars by maintaining graves and memorials across the world, the bulk of which are in northern France and Belgium.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website doesn’t just give the detail of servicemen’s graves, but also provides quite a lot of very specific information about the individual battles in which these young men died.

Take a look at the website of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission by clicking here. Be sure to navigate to the ‘debt of honour’ page where you can search for specific ancestors. You can also visit the very useful website of the War Graves Photographic Project by clicking here - another excellent resource!
 

Remembrance, 11-11-11

I’ve mentioned my family history research a few times on this site, and this time last year I wrote about two recently identified relatives who both lived on the Hoo Peninsula and died in the Great War.

Over the last year I’ve been researching their lives and thinking about the sacrifice they made on behalf of their country, and how interesting it would be to visit their final resting places in France. So, earlier this week, I went off to Arras in northern France for a couple of days.

I headed for Queen’s Cemetery, just outside the small village of Bucquoy, south west of Arras. This is where William Watson, who was my great grandfather’s nephew, is buried. William was born in Lower Stoke and was just 21 when he was killed on 17 February 1917, serving with the Royal Marine Light Infantry. This was during the ‘Battle of Miraumont’, one of the many long forgotten battles fought over a few hundred yards of muddy farmland, in a war which led to the deaths of such unimaginable numbers of young men.



William’s grave is marked by one of the tens of thousands of smart headstones caringly maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. His cousin Harry Stratford’s name doesn’t appear on its own headstone anywhere. He was 24 when he was killed, and his name is listed on the Arras Memorial, together with those of 35,941 other servicemen of the British Empire who have no known grave. The names are listed by regiment, in Harry’s case the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), rather than rank. In the sacrifice of death, all ranks are equal.

A plaque outside the Arras Memorial informs visitors rather coldly about 159,000 commonwealth soldiers dying there in just 39 days during the spring of 1917. But when seeing so many names, carved neatly in stone, it really makes you appreciate the huge loss of life that took place during the 1914-18 war. As do the 54,896 names listed on the Menin Gate in Ypres and the 73,367 listed on the huge memorial at Thiepval, a few miles south of Bucquoy.

Menin Gate Memorial

 Menin Gate Memorial

Thiepval Memorial

These memorials, and the hundreds of lovingly maintained graveyards dotted around northern France and Flanders, mean that the sacrifice of so many will never be forgotten.

 

‘Hoo for Heroes’ walk returns for third year

Students and staff from the Hundred of Hoo School will once again be showing their support for the armed services by undertaking the third annual sponsored walk to the Cenotaph.

Over the weekend of 12 and 13 November, a group of 30 will walk from Gravesend to Whitehall, raising money along the way for the Help for Heroes Campaign. Students will seek donations and sell key-rings made by them in a school Technology project. The walk is being supported by Blackheath Rugby Club: the pupils will appear at the club’s home match on Saturday afternoon to raise money, and will sleep in the clubhouse on Saturday night before setting off early on Sunday morning to arrive at the Cenotaph at 1100.

One of those taking part is Year 7 student Paul Cook who is proudly walking in memory of his great, great, great, great grandfather, Albert Hall, a captain in the Royal Flying Corps who was awarded a Victoria Cross for valour during the First World War.

Mr Gary Squires, Assistant Head Teacher, who is leading the walk, said: ‘The whole community has really got behind this event. The school historically has close ties with the armed forces, and the walk is a way in which we can both honour those who have given their lives for their country, and provide financial support for wounded soldiers and their families in current conflicts’.

The school has raised in excess of £5000 in the previous two years, and the aim this year is to raise a further £5000 for this very worthy cause.

Students on a previous year's Hoo for Heroes walk

Dr Holden, Executive Principal, said: ‘Events such as these really demonstrate the spirit and enthusiasm of our students and staff. We want all of our pupils to excel in their time at Hoo, and part of this achievement is to go out into the world as active, engaged citizens. We are exceptionally proud of all of them’.

To make a donation, or for further information, contact the school’s Community Manager, John Keeley, by emailing here or phoning 01634 257510.

  

High Halstow Times - November Edition

The November edition of the High Halstow Times is now available. Just click on the image below to see the full copy.

This month’s edition includes information about the Mini Christmas Fayre at Memorial Hall (on Sunday 4 December), news from High Halstow PTA (The Blossom Tree), details of Remembrance commemorations at St. Margaret’s Church, the St. Margaret’s and All Saints Christmas Market being held at Allhallows Village Hall (on Saturday 12 November), an update on the refurbishment of High Halstow Village Hall and lots lots more!

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

Murder, Sex and Mayhem in English Churches (Cooling)

That’s the subject of a talk that will be given by John Vigar on Monday 14 November at Cooling Village Hall, at 7pm.

The event will follow a short AGM held by the Friends of St. James’ Church and refreshments will be available. Entrance is free, although I’m sure donations will be very welcome!

The Friends of St. James’ Church are always very busy organising events to raise money for the upkeep of the Church and to keep this lovely old building open to the public.

For more information, take a look at their website by clicking here.

 

Something special and local for Christmas?

If you fancy localising the Christmas cards you send this year, with festive images of Rochester, then look no further! Local artist Chris Norman has a variety of cards available on his website and he recently added to his already very impressive range.

Take a look at the Rochester Cards website by clicking here.
 

Fresh air soon in Hoo . . . Pong Update!

Following a post on this site in September, about the unpleasant smell coming from Chatham Docks and sweeping across Hoo, Peel Ports have now released an update on the situation.

Click the images below to enlarge:

I can't wait for some fresh air!
 

Panto Season on the Isle of Grain

With all the talk of an airport on the Isle of Grain this week, and the possible ramifications for those of us living on the Peninsula, it is nice to be able to think about something more mundane. Like Christmas!

And as it happens, a group of local residents have this week sent me some information about their upcoming pantomime.

The Showin’ Grain Theatre Group are very busy at the moment rehearsing their panto ‘Hamelin’, which will be showing at Grain Village Hall on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 December.

Click the image below to find out more.

If you’d like any further information about the production, contact its writer, director and producer Moira Pearn on 01634 270127. For tickets phone Veronica Cordier on 01634 271807, or pop along to The Old Chapel / Library (Chapel Road).

Too early to be thinking about Christmas? Oh NO it isn’t!!!
 

Would you like a stall at the Hoo Village Christmas Fayre?

The Hoo Village Christmas Fayre will be taking place on Saturday 10 December in Hoo Village Square. And there’s still time to become a stallholder at this popular event - find out how by clicking the image below.



More details about this event will appear on this site soon.
 

Allhallows Life - November Edition

The November edition of Allhallows Life is now available. Just click on the image below to see the full copy.

This month’s edition includes information about Christmas events, news from Allhallows Primary School, a list of services at All Saints Church, details of Remembrance commemorations, a Fireworks Extravaganza at Allhallows Leisure Park (on Saturday 5 November) and the first meeting of the new local history group (on Sunday 6 November). And lots lots more!

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.
 

High Halstow Photographic Competition

I was really pleased to be invited along to join the judging panel for the High Halstow Annual Photographic Competition the other evening.

All the photographs entered into the competition were impressive and really showed off the unmistakable beauty of our local area. Many of the photographs entered will appear in the special 2012 High Halstow Calendar, with the winners in each category announced at November’s Parish Council meeting at 8pm on Wednesday 9 November (at Memorial Hall, The Street, High Halstow).

Above: an entry from last year!

The 2012 Calendar will also be unveiled at the meeting, with copies on sale. They’ll be priced at £6 (large) and £5.50 (small) and will also be available at the Village Shop on Christmas Lane and at the Church Market, taking place in Allhallows (more details on that event to follow shortly).

I was chuffed to help judge the competition and I’m looking forward to seeing all those who took part and congratulating them on a job well done!

…and judging these photos has prompted me to get out and about with my own camera again soon!
  

The Battle of Grain

Many thanks to Michael Dale, a Parish Councillor at St. James Isle of Grain, who recently sent me a copy of an old newspaper article (pictured below), with the headline ‘The Battle of Grain’.

The article appeared in the Chatham Standard on 28 May 1980 and showed events that the newspaper described as 'Medway's most dramatic industrial clash'.

Michael was a Rural Police Officer here on the Hoo Peninsula, from 1966 to 1992, and has many stories to tell about his time on the beat, some of which I will try and share on this site very soon. If he’ll let me!
 

High Halstow Hikers – upcoming walks . . .

A couple of walking dates for your diary . . .

November Walk

On Sunday 13 November the High Halstow Hikers will be walking along the Medway, taking in Teston, West Farleigh and Wateringbury - a varied walk with lovely views across the river. Just over 2 hours to complete, the distance will be about 5 or 6 miles. It might be muddy, depending on what the weather has been like, so wearing appropriate footwear is encouraged. Dogs will need to be on leads for much of this route. And for anyone interested - there’s excellent ale and food served in the Tickled Trout afterwards - so don’t forget to bring some money if you’ll be staying for food!

Setting out at 10am, the meeting point will be the public car park at the bridge by Teston lock - a short distance from the A26 on the B2163.

December Walk

On 18 December the group will be taking a local route right here on the Hoo Peninsula. It’s one of my personal favourites, taking in Northward Hill Woods and the farm tracks leading towards Cooling and the RSPB reserve at Bromhey Farm. This walk will take around 2.5 hours and cover 6 miles or so.

Meeting at 10am at the High Halstow Village Hall Car Park (The Street, High Halstow).

For further details contact Mitchell by emailing here, or phoning 01634 254428 - or if you want to join the group for one of these walks, just turn up!
 

Christmas Events on the Hoo Peninsula

I know it’s only October, but I thought I’d mention that details of Christmas events taking place here on the Hoo Peninsula will be added to this site soon. I wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on opportunities to stock up on mince pies and other tasty festive treats!

Please let me know about any event you are planning by using the contact page.

 

Latest from Lodge Hill - Public Exhibition on 21 & 22 October 2011

Land Securities have arranged a final exhibition before submitting an outline planning application to Medway Council. The exhibition will be staffed by members of their development team and will take place later this week, on:

Friday (21 October)
3pm to 7pm - The Lodge, Lodge Hill Lane, Chattenden, Rochester, Kent, ME3 8NE

Saturday (22 October)
11am to 3pm - The Lodge, Lodge Hill Lane, Chattenden, Rochester, Kent, ME3 8NE

As part of the exhibition, Land Securities are offering a guided tour of the former Chattenden Barracks (now demolished) and part of the Lodge Hill Training Area. This will be by vehicle. Places should be booked in advance and will be provided on a first come first serve basis. The tours will run approximately every half an hour during the public exhibition sessions. Call 0845 683 2544 to book a place on the tour.

Visit the Land Securities (Lodge Hill) website by clicking here.
 

Diary Date: Hoo Christmas Fayre

Advanced notice about Hoo’s Christmas Fayre - this year taking place on Saturday 10 December in the Village Square. I’ve no doubt this will be another great success!

More details to follow soon . . .
 

Still time to vote for the UJ Community Partnership!

There’s still time to cast your vote for the UJ Community Partnership, from the Isle of Grain, in the Natwest Bank CommunityForce award scheme.

As I mentioned on this site a couple of weeks ago, your vote could help this group, which promotes social-inclusion by providing a range of learning opportunities and the chance for people to meet and share experiences.

A win would mean a £6,000 award. Every vote counts and those with the most votes (in each category) get the money - it’s as simple as that!

Please cast your vote before the closing date, which is next Monday (24 October) at midday. Just click here.
 

RSPB October newsletter (On the Marshes) out now!!

The October edition of the RSPB’s newsletter for the North Kent area, ‘On the Marshes’, is out now - just click the image below to download a copy!

Visit the websites of the local RSPB groups: Gravesend and Medway.
 

Allhallows - an award winning village!

The 2011 Kent Village of the Year awards were presented at a ceremony in Dunkirk last week - the Dunkirk near Canterbury that is!

It is great news that Allhallows scooped two of the awards up for grabs, picking up the top award in the Social Action category, and also being named Best Newcomer. (It was Allhallows’ first entry!)

Noleen Skudder, who is the Treasurer of Allhallows Youth Club and a Parish Councillor, submitted the bids and said: “our success is testament to the commitment, hard work and dedication of a number of volunteers within our community, whom all deserve recognition and praise. None of this work would have been possible without the generous funding and support we've received from a number of organisations and individuals and we thank them all.”

The annual competition is run by ‘Action with Communities in Rural Kent’.

Take a look at the website of Allhallows Parish Council by clicking here, where you’ll find more information about these awards and details of events taking place in Allhallows.
 

Neighbourhood Watch on the Hoo Peninsula - would you like to get involved?

Medway Neighbourhood Watch is keen to hear from anyone interested in helping to set up new schemes here on the Hoo Peninsula. If you'd like to get involved and want to find out more, contact John Haddaway (Watch Liaison Officer) on 01634 792131 for a chat. Alternatively, send John an email by clicking here.

Visit the Medway Neighbourhood Watch website here.
 

Cast your vote for the UJ Community Partnership!

Voting has now opened in NatWest’s 2011 CommunityForce awards programme. The scheme gives hundreds of community projects and charities the chance of winning a valuable £6,000 award. And there’s a fantastic group here on the Hoo Peninsula seeking your support and, more importantly, your vote!

The UJ Community Partnership (pictured below on a carnival float) is based on the Isle of Grain, but supports everyone living on the Hoo Peninsula. The group provides many different activities that promote social-inclusion, through organising events and learning opportunities.

The Partnership helps people learn, or improve, IT skills and runs first aid courses for young mums looking to work with children. A course is being planned that will help people with personal financial management and a new activity-filled Lunch Club is also set to launch.

Set-up in 2003, the UJ Community Partnership is run by a team of hard working local volunteers. They're always very busy raising money, which allows them to continue providing vital services to local people.

Veronica Cordier, who manages the group, told me this week: ‘We need everyone to go online and vote for us. If our bid is successful, we will use the NatWest award to install good economical gas heating at our Grain facilities, which will improve the atmosphere of our building and make us more financially efficient - meaning our cash donations can be much better spent’.

To show your support, and to find out more about this impressive community project, click here and look for the ‘Vote for Us’ button.

Please cast your vote for the UJ Community Partnership before the closing date on Monday 24 October 2011 (at midday).
 

Another fantastic fund-raising total from Macmillan High Halstow

Last Friday morning I joined a good many other local residents at the Memorial Hall in High Halstow, for the Macmillan Cancer Support 'World’s Biggest Coffee Morning'.

With it being another incredibly hot day, I opted for a cold orange juice rather than coffee, which went down nicely with some rather tasty homemade carrot cake - I only had the one slice I promise!

It was good catching up with Rena Digby, Ann Smith and Angela Forward (all pictured below), of the High Halstow branch of Macmillan, who worked incredibly hard to make the event such a great success.

Whilst I kept to one piece of cake, I do have to admit to buying some homemade strawberry and blackberry jams and a pot of marmalade - all looking very tasty and made of mostly locally picked produce. I can’t wait to tuck in. All in the name of charity of course!

It was good seeing a few familiar faces at the coffee morning. And it was good to bump into new High Halstow Parish Councillor Christine Watson (pictured below).

I don’t think we’re related, but it was really good hearing about the many exciting local projects that the Parish Council have in the pipeline.

I’m pleased to report that Macmillan High Halstow’s coffee morning exceeded last year's total (when they raised over £600), this time raising £750. The total might increase as more and more donations are received - I'll keep you posted. A really tremendous effort!
 

Wow, now that’s hot!

The record has been broken for the highest temperature recorded in October, at 29.9c (85.8f) in Gravesend at 2.42pm this afternoon.

This beats the previous 26-year record of 29.4c (84.9f) recorded on 1 October 1985, which was recorded in the market town of March in Cambridgeshire.

Of course, there isn’t a weather station here on the Hoo Peninsula, but we are usually slightly warmer than Gravesend - it certainly feels like it today.

Bring on the water bottles please!
 

High Halstow Times - October Edition

The latest edition of the High Halstow Times is now available. Just click the image below to see the full copy.

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

Allhallows Life - October Edition

The October edition of Allhallows Life is now available. Just click the image below to see the full copy.

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