Sittingbourne CommunityAd Magazine

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Sittingbourne Magazine Issue 4

31/10/16.

31/10/16. Code SCM04.

let us clean your oven …so you don’t have to! call kevin on: 01795 883701 or 07827 320555 kevin@ovenrescue.co.uk www.ovenrescue.co.uk/medway

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Insight Specialist Behavioural Service JOB TITLE Opportunities Co-Ordinator SALARY ÂŁ14,001 per annum (inclusive of unsocial hours enhancements and sleep-in duty).

FULL TIME HOURS 37.5 per week plus a sleep in duty. Hours are worked in accordance with a 2 weekly rota.

PART TIME HOURS Negotiated at interview and dependant on vacancy factors.

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Are you looking for a fresh start and a rewarding career?

Are you already working in care and looking to join a service that is ahead of the game?

Insight provides a highly skilled service to people who have challenged services and help ensure they lead a life that is fulfilling and meaningful. We employ enthusiastic individuals who enable the people who live within the service the opportunities necessary to acquire the skills needed to live a fully participative lifestyle within the community.

Insight Specialist Behavioural Service | 01795 424823 Aspley House, 204 London Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 1QA

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Sittingbourne Magazine

Welcome ... to the fourth edition of the Sittingbourne Community Ad Magazine.

Your guide to what’s on in your local area, a history of local landmarks and a directory of useful contacts and businesses to help you support local trade.

We’re always on the look out for local interest stories, as well as information about any local clubs, groups and charities, so if you have any news that you’d like to tell us about, please email jon@community-publishing.org or call us on 01843 200016, and you could be in our next edition.

We’re also running a photography competition in the local area, so if you would like the chance to feature your work on the front cover of our next magazine with full accreditation, please email your images to the address above and your photo could feature as the front cover of the next Sittingbourne Community Ad Magazine.

Our front cover photo is by Stephen Coldwell and shows The Friends of the Wisdom Hospice’s second Colour Me Purple 5k Fun Run. Turn to page 8 for more on this event.

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PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES

A big thank you goes out to all the local businesses that have advertised and supported the Sittingbourne Community Magazine To advertise please call Kelly on 01843 296303 Published by Community Ad Web Ltd 01843 834160 email info@communityad.co.uk web www.communityad.co.uk The views expressed in any published content are solely those of the contributors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the accuracy of any information contained in the publication. The contents of this magazine including images may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, downloaded or displayed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Community Ad Web Ltd. Unless otherwise specified, the authors of the literary and artistic works in the pages in this magazine have asserted their moral right pursuant to Section 77 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of those works. The Publishers reserve the right not to publish a submission or part of a submission that they consider defamatory or otherwise inappropriate for publication. CommunityAd wishes to advise all readers that it does not endorse or recommend any products or services contained herein. CommunityAd does not, therefore, take any legal responsibility for the advice given by any of the advertisers.

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Tapes up for Speedway thrills Photos: Elizabeth Leslie

The new Speedway season at Sittingbourne’s Central Park got underway at Easter and runs every Monday until October. The Kent SLYDE Kings compete in Speedway’s National League – alongside 11 other clubs: from Manchester to the Isle of Wight, from Eastbourne to Stoke, from King’s Lynn to Birmingham.

Speedway is a unique form of motor sport – taking place in stadiums, so that fans can see all the action as it happens from a single vantage point, as four riders per race on top of hugely powerful, stripped down 500cc motorbikes throw their machines around the tight confines of an oval dirt track circuit.

What also makes Speedway unique is that it’s a team sport – two sides of seven riders each compete over 15 frenetic heats of racing, with two riders from each team out against each other per heat competing for points towards their side’s total; and with match points for progress up the 4

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league table. This makes it something which fans therefore can follow supporting their local club – and fans have done so in hundreds of thousands since the sport began in the 1920s – filling stadia across the land.

Oh, and what also makes it an absolutely unique form of motor sport is that, despite having acceleration akin to Formula 1 motor racing cars, these particular speed machines have NO BRAKES! No brakes, no gears and no fear from the men in control of these jousting machines makes this closest to a purely gladiatorial battle of any modern-day sport!

Speedway is a family sport like no other and at Central Park fans of all ages crowd in every Monday (including bumper events on Bank Holiday Monday afternoons) to follow the exploits of the side which represents the county of Kent.

Speedway has a huge pedigree in Kent – but after the massively popular track at Kingsmead in Canterbury was forced by redevelopment to close in the late 1980s, it’s taken many years for the sport to make a comeback in this part of the world. But what a comeback it has been, with the Kent SLYDE Magazine when responding to advertisements

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Kings one of the best and most passionately supported clubs in the National League, riding at the superbly well-appointed stadium at Central Park (the most modern Greyhound Racing venue in the UK); and great success has followed – including last year winning the National Pairs and the Kings’ top two riders following that up with first and second places in the National League Riders Championship.

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Derek Barclay For full details of Kent Speedway and the 2016 fixtures, visit the official club website at www.kentkings.co

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Having finished last season (the club’s third in the sport) on such a high, it’s little wonder that excitement and anticipation for the challenges ahead is at a peak going into the 2016 campaign.

And with entry for children under 13 free of charge and concessions for teenagers, there’s no better place for young and old to enjoy a Monday evening’s family entertainment and a night of thrills and spills than Central Park – the home of Kent Speedway, the Place of Pace!

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Demelza and Kent FA make a winning team Demelza Hospice Care for Children is over the moon about a new fundraising partnership with Kent Football Association, supported by Kent Schools FA. The campaign is looking for schools, youth and adult football teams, and businesses throughout Kent to sign up and take part in some champion fundraising activities related to the beautiful game – with prizes for those that make it to the top of the league.

relax and recharge themselves and also gives parents respite too. It’s an invaluable service that relies on fundraising.”

One of its goals is to update the soft play room at Demelza’s hospice in Bobbing, Sittingbourne.

This is a safe and fun space where children in the charity’s care can relax, come together and play using specialist sensory equipment.

For more information about Kent FA, visit www.kentfa.com.

Check out the fundraising packs and fun resources to help get you started by visiting www.demelza.org.uk.

Kent FA CEO Paul Dolan said: “The county is extremely fortunate to have a fantastic charity like Demelza supporting families at their greatest time of need. We hope lots of schools, businesses and clubs will join the partnership, have lots of fun and fundraise.”

Football-loving Lewis, 10, is one the youngsters to benefit from all that’s on offer at the Kent hospice.

He loves playing FIFA on the Xbox and swimming in the hydrotherapy pool. For Arsenal fan Lewis, from Gillingham, time spent at Demelza is a welcome break between chemotherapy sessions for leukaemia and frequent hospital admissions.

Backing the Kent FA campaign, his mum Debbie said: “Demelza is a fantastic place for children to come to, it gives them a chance to

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T.A. THORNTON (LGCI) Electrical Installations Extra sockets & lights Q Testing Lights installed Q Faults New circuits & alterations Rewires Q Fuseboards Q Part P Over 30 years of experience

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Do you have a vehicle with starting issues?

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Friends of the Wisdom Hospice

Photo: Stephen Coldwell

On a bright sunny Sunday, more than 600 runners, joggers and walkers descended on Milton Creek Country Park for The Friends of the Wisdom Hospice’s second Colour Me Purple 5k fun run.

We had such a fantastic time on April 17th and it was great to see 630 runners come out in force to support the work of the only adult hospice in Swale.

Once again, working together, we helped to brighten up Sittingbourne with a rainbow of colours at our biggest event yet!

thanks go to our fantastic Colour Station sponsors, Knauf Sittingbourne, and to the paint throwers from Snap Fitness and Swale Borough Council.

A significant amount of sponsorship has been pledged and early indications show we have raised a huge amount for vital hospice care.

We would also like to thank Julian Austin at Sittingbourne Balloons, the SFM roadshow, Yazoo milkshakes, Patriotic Pig, Morrisons Sheppey and The Friends of Milton Creek Country Park.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped out on the day, our volunteers and marshals. Particular

We couldn’t have done it without you. We look forward to seeing you again in 2017!

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J.B.S. TREE SERVICES Certified and Insured Arborist Covering all aspects of Tree Surgery In Medway and Swale.

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Set in Stone New memorials in granite, marble and stone Renovations, cleaning and additional inscriptions Malcolm & Sue Mewes 24 High Street, London Road, Newington. Tel 01795 842368 Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 4PD Tel 01795 410800 Fax 01795 410805

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Barnett Building Services Box SaSh and BEspoKE WoodEn WindoWs Sp ecialist in

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The Court Hall Museum A museum collection is normally on display and shows to visitors what the particular museum is about.

Our collection is the Hall itself, the structure and the ambience and mystery it evokes given its age.

We have attempted to give visitors a little bit more than just the structure by displaying a few artefacts either associated with the Hall or the surrounding area of Milton Regis. It is intended that there will be new items and special exhibitions from time to time, so please do visit the Hall again.

The Court Hall Museum shop

In addition the interpretation boards show the history of Milton Regis and its importance as the oldest part of Sittingbourne.

Situated conveniently as you enter or leave the Court Hall Museum is a display of articles for sale such as books, postcards and various souvenirs.

Please visit www.friendsofmiltonregis.co.uk which we hope you like and will find useful. We are actively engaged on improving the content and welcome your suggestions and comments.

Please contact us if there is anything you would like to see on the website. You can also find us on Facebook - search Friends of Milton Regis Court Hall

Friends Membership

The Court Hall Museum Trust The Museum is managed by a committee of members elected at the AGM who are responsible for the day-to-day running of the Museum. The Management Committee is overseen by a board of Trustees. The Trustees and the Management Committee are all volunteers. Any member with a few hours to spare is welcome to come along on Saturdays to act as host to our visitors, and no prior historic knowledge is required.

The Friends rely entirely upon membership fees, donations and sponsorships to keep it running.

Therefore, any help in money or in kind is most appreciated. All visitors are invited to join the Friends. Through membership, you will receive newsletters and know that you are helping to maintain an important local asset. To join please complete a simple form in the shop. The current cost of membership is as follows: JUNIOR MEMBERS (up to the age of 18) - £2.50 SINGLE employed - £7.50 FAMILY (all living at the same address) - £10 CONCESSION (retired, student, unemployed) £5 LIFE MEMBER (one off payment) - £100 CORPORATE / GROUP MEMBERS - £150 All prices are per year - renewal may be for less or more than 12 months and payable in January

Open Season and Times The Court Hall open season is April to September Saturdays only. Opening hours are 10am to 4pm.

Please note that due to building works the Hall will not open until 7 May 2016, then every Saturday 10am-4pm until 24 September 2016.

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w Pre-marital agreements w Declaration of trusts w Divorce and separation w Employment law w Property disputes w Change of name deeds w Immigration

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Sittingbourne FC Looking back at the successes and the failures of the last season.

It was a poor show in both of the major cup competitions especially the disappointment of going out to lower league side Hoddesdon Town in the qualifying round of the FA Cup. It wasn’t any better in the non-league equivalent of the FA Cup, the FA Trophy going out at the first hurdle at Walton Casuals, a team in our league, by a single goal.

The club finished up in 18th place in the Ryman Division 1 South (out of 24 clubs) which was not as good as hoped for but there were some excellent performances in the league including a 2-0 victory over local rivals Faversham Town when they were gunning for a play-off place, and especially in the Ryman League Cup where we reached the semi- final, only to go out with a weakened team because of cup tied players, to Faversham Town.

The league victory over Faversham Town was notable for an out of this world goal scored by Hicham Akhazzan from fully 45 yards. Akhazzan is in his 7th season with the club and in that time has made 409 appearances, including substitution appearances, and scored 98 goals. He received a special award to commemorate this amazing loyalty at the last game of the season on 23rd April.

The successes of the season were many, and none more so than the achievement of the under 21 sides who won the Kent Reliance Under 18s boys youth cup final 4-2 against Dover Athletic. Also one of their number, local lad Josh Wisson, was 12

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called up to the England Under 18s schoolboys team in the centennial shield, a competition between England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of England. Josh appeared in all of the games in a defensive role and even appeared on the England v Scotland programme cover. The team won the tournament winning 3 games and drawing 1. Josh is a pupil at the Maplesden Noakes School Maidstone.

Josh is having trials with Millwall. Another player who started the season with Sittingbourne was Harry Smith, who eventually transferred to Folkestone Invicta with a clause in the transfer that Sittingbourne will receive 15% of any sell on fee. Harry has just had a very successful trial with Aberdeen so who knows perhaps some money will make its way to Sittingbourne!

Other under 21 players have made a successful transition to the first team and this shows how young hopefuls can join their local club and put themselves in the shop window and who knows could go onto better things. The best example of this recently has been Chris Smalling who played for Maidstone Utd when they were the Sittingbourne tenants when the club played at Bourne Park. So if you are an aspiring young footballer look out on the club website www. sittingbournefc.co.uk for the trial dates.

It’s not all rest during the close season as there is plenty of ground maintenance to do and volunteers are always welcome to help out, again Magazine when responding to advertisements

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Sittingbourne Greyhounds

Kent ’s big night out Photo: Ken Medwyn

details of work days will appear online.

Looking forward to next season manager Nick Davis and his managerial team hope to keep most of the team together and will be looking to strengthen in some areas. The problem as always is money and Sittingbourne’s budget is less than many teams in the league. However if the average gate of around 113 could increase to 150 plus then the club would be in a great position to gain promotion.

Doors open at 5.30pm Saturday and 5pm Sunday First race is 6.28pm Saturday and 6.11pm Sunday Restaurant covers for up to 180 people

Go online to check out all our many, varied events

www.sittingbournegreyhounds.co.uk and BOOK ONLINE Central Park Stadium, Church Road, Eurolink, Sittingbourne, ME10 3SB

01795 475547

Our eaSon way S riday!

D e e p F S d o o nG starts o

Sponsorship is one of the lifelines of the club and we want to go on record with our thanks to all of those who have sponsored us this season whether it be via advertising boards at the ground, sponsorship of a game, being members of the club lottery, or advertising on the web site and/or in the match day programme.

There are exciting plans to relocate a little way from the current Woodstock complex with a 3G pitch, and if that happened then there would be the prospect of a greatly increased income, however there is no further news on this yet, so we are not counting our chickens.

If you are fed up with Premiership and football League prices and want a more homely, friendly approach to your football but with the occasional healthy Kentish rivalry then come along next season and sample what Woodstock has to offer! A free minibus runs to and from the town to the ground for most home games so there’s no excuse!

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Swale CVS Befriending Scheme

Royal British Legion

Swale CVS befriending scheme provides companionship to individuals over 60 years of age that are socially isolated and have little to no social contact. It is a service whereby volunteers visit individuals in their own homes for an hour or two a week to provide company and friendship. In addition, we are currently setting up a telephone befriending service that will involve a volunteer phoning an isolated, elderly individual regularly, at an arranged time, for a chat and to be a listening ear for the individual.

We meet on the third Tuesday of each month at the Ypres Tavern West Street Sittingbourne at 7pm. New members are always welcome to attend, so why not come along on a Tuesday to one of our Branch meetings; if you like us please join us and The Royal British Legion.

We also provide a monthly lunch club where our clients can come along to a lunch outing. We go to restaurants across Swale, and free transport can be provided. Our clients are required to cover the cost of their meal, but there is usually a varied priced menu available.

Referrals to our befriending scheme can be made by the individual themselves or a professional on their behalf. We are always looking for new volunteers and welcome new referrals, so if you would like more information about joining our scheme, as a client or as a volunteer, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

You can telephone Charissa Taylor on 01795 473828, email charissa. taylor@swalecvs.co.uk, or pop in to our office at Central House, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne.

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Sittingbourne & Milton Regis Branch

Social events are held throughout the year as well as the more widely known official type like poppy fortnight and the Remembrance parade.

We are a very active branch in the Affiliation of Youth Groups to the Legion through our branch. To date we have affiliated 1st Murston and Bapchild Cub Scouts and the Sittingbourne Maritime Cadets, the 1st Sittingbourne Boys Brigade, the 2230 Sittingbourne Squadron ATC, the Sittingbourne Army Cadets and TS Wyvern. We also have two other groups due to join us shortly.

An affiliation is not merely a matter of hanging a certificate on the wall. Members of the groups help with Poppy week collections and being affiliated helps towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It needs constant work and commitment on both sides but there are so many advantages to be gained – greater poppy appeal collections, greater awareness among our young people of our veterans who can share their past experiences, and what the legion is about - this will all help to protect the future of the Legion and create greater understanding.

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Hospice supporter scoops fundraising lottery jackpot A lucky supporter of The Friends of the Wisdom Hospice will be celebrating her 50th birthday in style after a surprise win of £1,000 in the Your Hospice Lottery fundraising draw.

lottery partnership in September 2015. This is the first time one of our supporters has won the top prize, which makes this win even more exciting.

It’s an easy way to support The Friends of the Wisdom Hospice – and you could win too, as Mrs Cheesman found out!

Michaela Cheesman was delighted to receive a call to say she had won the jackpot. She said: “I was shocked, really shocked and that was it; I was in a bubble for the rest of the day! I still feel like that actually, I still feel really excited.

“We need to raise £600,000 every year to support The Wisdom Hospice in giving the best care possible for people in need of hospice care and to support their loved ones. Playing our lottery is just one way people can support us.”

“I’m going to be 50 this year so my husband and I are going to have a weekend away, I’m going to treat my two daughters and I’m going to make sure I buy something special with it as well.

For more information about Your Hospice Lottery and to join online visit www.yourhospicelottery. org.uk/FOWH or telephone 0800 285 1390.

Lottery players must be 16 or over.

“I’ve supported the Wisdom Hospice for many years at their fayres and I donated at Christmas, and last year I did their 10k evening walk – I just decided it was a good cause.”

Each week in the Your Hospice Lottery draw there are 111 prizes ranging from £10 to £1,000 guaranteed to be won. There is also a chance to win a rollover jackpot, which if not won goes up by £250 each week (up to a maximum of £10,000).

Martyn Reeves, Chief Executive of The Friends, said: “We are thrilled for Mrs Cheesman and wish her a very happy birthday!

“Already over 800 numbers are being played in support of The Friends since the charity joined the

Swale Community Centres

PHOENIX HOUSE Sitting snugly between the Library and Swallows Leisure Centre in Central Avenue, Phoenix House, with its own car park, is a comfortable, spacious and friendly community centre. It provides the perfect atmosphere for the many activities and meetings which take place there.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.

www.swalecommunitycentres.weebly.com 01795 426081 accs1@btconnect.com Please mention

CLEANER PONDS Keeping your pond crystal clear

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Swale Community Centre Swale Community Centres (SCC) will be celebrating 25 years of the opening of Phoenix House as a community centre for Sittingbourne throughout 2016.

Opened in 1991, Phoenix House provides low cost room hire to over 120 local and national charities, community and voluntary groups and societies, many providing vital services for the residents of Sittingbourne and Swale.

Open 7 days a week, services and groups based at Phoenix House include the Prince’s Trust, Diversity House, fall prevention classes, Parkinson’s UK, Dementia support, art and craft groups, astronomy, counselling services and the Phoenix Youth Social Club.

Throughout 2016 Phoenix House will be celebrating its anniversary with 25 events for 25 years, starting with a wine and wisdom night in January. Events planned include pamper evenings, fun days, craft fairs, quiz nights and U18s discos. At the end of April SCC, Phoenix House will be holding an Open Week where residents can pop in to find out more about the groups and services that use the centre, finishing with an Open Day at the beginning of May. To find out more please visit our Facebook or website www.swalecommunitycentres.org.uk and look out for our tweets and posters.

In 2012, Phoenix House was threatened with closure, but after a successful campaign by residents and service users the centre remains open and increasingly busy.

The charity is planning to build a new Phoenix House for the future, as the present building is over 100 years old and maintenance is increasing each year. Consultations with service users have gone ahead, land has been found and an initial design dawn up. The charity will soon begin the fundraising and grant sourcing to support the project.

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LIQUIDATION WAREHOUSE (AMAZON SURPLUS)

If you are an independent retail outlet, eBayer or market trader, we have stock that’s ideal for you Three trailers of mixed goods arriving each week, available by the pallet (minimum spend £100+vat) Overstocks, faulty, customer returns and courier damaged…product categories are: ✔Home stocks ✔Garden furniture and tools etc ✔Books, health foods and supplements ✔Baby toys, monitors and bedding ✔Sports equipment and household appliances

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Accounts Preparation Book-keeping & vAt Personal & Business tax returns CiS & Payroll Bureau Company Formations Business & tax Advice

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You name it, they send it into us each week!

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CARNALEA

RESIDENTIAL HOME committed to care

We have been providing high-quality care for elderly residents since 1985 and pride ourselves on having an excellent reputation within the local community.

We set a very high standard in care and attention for the elderly, with help on hand 24 hours a day, administered in a way that protects and promotes the dignity and independence of each resident. We aim to have an informal, friendly atmosphere where you feel happy, contented and secure in every way.

We provide for day care, respite care and permanent residential care.

Carnalea Residential Home · 5-9 London Road · Faversham · Kent · ME13 8TA

01795 532629 | www.carnalea.com | eldercare@carnalea.com

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PRICE L£SS FURNITURE 5 East Street, Faversham, Kent ME13 8AD

• Beds & Sofabeds • Bedroom Furniture • Dining Sets • Lounge Furniture • Upholstery and more

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“Go outside. Remain” Nick Offerman

A wise man once said go outdoors and remain there.

There might still be a chill in the air but days are getting longer and the galanthus are in bloom – it’s the perfect time to prep the garden. Here are some beginner tips to get you started at this time of year.

One: Get your tools in order

Everyone needs the tools of their trade. My big five for the garden are fork, spade, hoe, rake, and trowel.

A good pair of gloves are a must and a decent pair of secateurs will be at home in your pocket.

A wheelbarrow completes the rock star look.

Two: Compost

One of the first things you want to establish is a compost heap. This can begin as simply a sunny corner in the garden where you put your vegetable scraps but you’ll soon want a container of sorts.

There are numerous ones available on the market but it’s an easy job (and fun) to construct one from scrap timber or pallets, old tyres, bricks or wire mesh. A quick search online will yield countless tutorials; ignore them all and make up your own design. Avoid placing the heap on concrete, patio slabs or tarmac. You want a site on bare soil so worms and other creatures can colonise, they help mix the compost. When adding ingredients include a healthy mix of green (vegetable peelings, fruit waste, tea bags, plant prunings, grass cuttings etc.) and brown (cardboard egg boxes, scrunched up paper, small twigs etc.) waste. Do not add meat or cooked food waste, this attracts rats, and avoid citrus. Some egg shells provide good minerals though!

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Three: Prepare the ground

In other words: weeding. Dig out tired old shrubs and weeds, especially perennials (thistle, nettle, bindweed etc.) Try to remove all parts of the roots, but don’t be over hasty. My grandfather would tell me a garden would only ever be finished if there was nothing left to take out. Use a fork to turn the soil over, hoe and then rake.

Then bask in satisfaction. At this time of year if you’re not going to plant anything for another week or two then it helps to lay some old carpet over your freshly turned soil. This prevents new weeds from getting any sunlight and helps warm the ground.

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Man & Van Fully insured Competitive rates Kent & Home Counties Enhanced CRB checked Light/medium collection & delivery davidjpenfold@talktalk.net

call

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Four: Sow

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A simple way to start planting is sow some herb seeds in small pots with fresh compost and sit them inside by a window with plenty of light. Water regularly but don’t drown them.

Basil, parsley and thyme are all pretty easy to look after and don’t take long to grow. If you also grow tomatoes this year some basil will taste great with them.

Five: Sit

Another tip from my grandfather: when the work is complete don’t forget to sit in the garden; it’s important to enjoy the space you’ve created. If the nights are a little chilly, grab some blankets, get a fire pit on the go, cuddle up and crack open a bottle of the parsley wine you’ve had brewing in the shed since last year.

You didn’t think we were sowing herbs for a salad now did you!

By Stewart McClelland

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Carl M Sutton Ltd

Complete Building Services

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Carers First There are seven million unpaid carers in the UK and over the next 30 years this number is expected to increase by 3.4 million (almost 60%) with three in five of us becoming a carer at some point in our lives.

Carers FIRST is a charity supporting adult and young Carers across the districts of South and North West Kent and Medway. A Carer is anyone who provides unpaid support to a loved one.

Carers can be of any age and may be looking after a relative including husband or wife, friend or neighbour.

become socially isolated with their physical and emotional health, work and finances all hit hard.

The very nature of caring - of being there for a loved one facing ill health or disability - means too often people don’t at first, or sometimes ever, identify themselves as carers and, therefore, miss out on support.

Our trained staff work in the community supporting Carers, ensuring we respond to their needs locally. We provide emotional and practical support, advice, information and guidance. We offer opportunities for Carers to access training, social groups, short break respite, activities, trips and more.

Without the right help and support caring can have a devastating impact – carers can quickly

For more information or to register with Carers FIRST ring 0300 303 1555

Please call us for an informal chat.

Call us on 01795 597454

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TONY PETERS

MOTOR SERVICE Independent Garage for Servicing & Repairs

A small, friendly, garage, offering a personal service to both private and business customers. All work is fully guaranteed and carried out to the highest standard, using top quality parts with a service schedule often exceeding that of the manufacturer.

01795 470665

Large Breed Dog Rescue

Periwinkle Court Church Street, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne ME10 2JZ

www.tonypetersmotorservice.co.uk

The Large Breed Dog Rescue is a small charity that takes in and re-homes large breed dogs and large cross breeds.

We are entirely run by volunteers, and we rescue, rehabilitate and re-home the big dogs that many rescues put to sleep. We are based in Gillingham and are always looking for volunteers, adopters and fund raisers. Without the help and unwavering support of volunteers, our charity would not exist, and we would not be able to help the gorgeous dogs that come into our care; together we all make up the Large Breed Dog Rescue, and we are very much a team. We all work on a voluntary basis, and all donations are put back into the rescue so that we can continue to help dogs in need. We are currently looking for new volunteers, fund raisers and adopters, so if you can help the Large Breed Dog Rescue, please get in touch with us today through our website.

Faversham Optical

Prescription spectacles from £9 Free home visits and fitting

www.favershamoptical.com 01795 228724

sales@favershamoptical.com

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What’s on Woodpeckers Short Mat Bowls Club

Avenue Theatre

MURDER MYSTERY

The Roy Orbison & Del Shannon Story

‘LIGHTS, CAMERA, MURDER...’

It’s the 1980s and filming of the latest Loretta Lawson movie isn’t going very well. The famous movie star is being difficult, and not just about the three death threats she’s received…Marcia Manner is the younger, ambitious starlet on set who’s turning all the males heads, the stunt man has the bruises to prove it. Its Aubrey’s finest hour but, the director has plenty to worry about…is someone trying to sabotage his film? A Scenic dock fire; burst pipes flooding the film store; what else can possibly go wrong? Lights, Camera…Murder!

To be performed by Alternate Shadows on Saturday 14 May 2016, 7 for 7.30 pm start at Bobbing Village Hall ME9 8PL. Tickets £6 pp purchased in advance. BYO drinks, nibbles and glasses. Contact: Mike on 01634 360906 or email mikew16@blueyonder.co.uk Woodpeckers Short Mat Bowls Club QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 4 June 2016, 7 for 7.30pm prompt start at Bobbing Village Hall, Sheppey Way, Bobbing, Sittingbourn,e opposite Bobbing Village School and Church. £5 per person. Tables of 6, bring your own drinks, nibbles and glass/cups. To book your table or more information call Mike on 01634 360906 or email mikew16@blueyonder.co.uk

To advertise, please call Kelly on 01843 296303

Saturday 18th June at 7.30pm Avenue Theatre, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne ME10 4DN Tickets: £10 (£9.00 concs) Box Office 01795 471140 or online at www.avenuetheatre.co.uk Tickets are on sale now.

Roy Orbison and Del Shannon had much in common; distinctive sound, exceptional vocal styles, dramatic song structures – plus their intrinsic links to The Travelling Wilburys.

This unique, one-man, multi-media show includes 30+ songs – and spans 5 decades of some of the most dynamic songs of joy and pain ever expressed in popular music – with Mike VanDetta singing all the hits and more – complemented by a biographical narrative – giving a rare insight into Roy and Del’s truth-isstranger-than-fiction personal lives.

So, if you’re a fan of these pop icons from the golden age of the 60s – treat yourself to a double helping of their never-to-be-forgotten music including: Only The Lonely, In Dreams, It’s Over, Runaway, Little Town Flirt, Hats Off to Larry plus many more!

S White

Painting & Decorating interior & exterior Painting & Wallpapering 07510 337203

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What’s on Avenue Theatre My Dalek Has Another Puncture!

Friday 24th June at 7.30pm, Avenue Theatre, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne ME10 4DN Tickets: £12.50 (£10 concs) Box Office: 01795 471140 or online at www.avenuetheatre.co.uk Tickets are on sale now.

Serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and tea all day every day Traditional Sunday Roast Separate meeting room available Advanced bookings taken for Afternoon Tea Discover why locals and visitors alike return to us time after time to enjoy our home cooked food and great hospitality Contact us: 01795 537927 Go to: www.saddlersfaversham.co.uk Email: info@saddlersfaversham.co.uk 1 Market Place, Faversham, Kent ME13 7AG Mon-Weds 9am-5pm; Thurs-Sat 9am-10pm; Sun 10am-4pm

Simon Fisher-Becker returns to The Avenue Theatre. Famous for playing Dorium Maldovar in Doctor Who, The Fat Friar in Harry Potter, Tony Fazackerley in Puppy Love.

Halfway Halfway Hottubs Hottubs

Second in a trilogy of hysterical self deprecating anecdotes from the crazy life of this amazing actor including what happened when he first met William Shatner, Steven Moffat and Matt Smith.

MOTORCYCLES WANTED I will pay CASH for your non-runner, rusty wreck, MOT failure…or anything else!

I will pay and collect promptly Call John on 07901 767 925 Please mention

Units 14/15 Grace road Sheerness ME12 1HA

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Cats Protection We are the local Swale Branch of Cats Protection, are small branch of unpaid volunteers that operate from Sheppey and Sittingbourne.

We have space for eight cats in fosterers cabins and one family of kittens in a specially prepared spare room. We are generally full as we get more calls for people wanting to re-home their cats than people wanting to adopt from us. We generally re-home between 60 and 80 cats and kittens most years and spend around £6,000 a year on assisting people on benefits or low income to get their cats neutered which we strongly encourage. We are always on the lookout for volunteers with transport, especially at the moment as three of our volunteers are either about to, or have become Mums for the first time: as you can imagine in such a small branch this will cause us major problems helping cats in our area.

We fundraise with sales, raffles, tombola stalls etc during the Spring and Summer months to raise cash to fund the branch, as the National Cat Centre (the CP HO) only provide limited

Patch

We have a good selection of cats at present in need of their forever homes which you can see on our website www.cats.org.uk/swale where all our contact details are available.

For those without internet access you can contact us on 0345 3712755.

Two cats that have been with us some while that would really like homes are:

Lucy

Patch is a very friendly eight year old girl that just couldn’t put up with the other cats that lived with her. She was found wandering but chipped.

The owner has said she doesn’t get on with the housemates and often goes wandering so has signed her over to us. She has had her initial trip to the vets and annual jabs so she is now available to go to a cat free new home. She really is a lovely girl!

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financial help to run the branch. We recently relocated a fosterers double cabin on the island which in total cost us £2,000 so you will see that running a branch does require fundraising and donations from members of that public that care about cats. Until recently we have taking care of the feral cat colony at the Isle of Sheppey prisons which involved someone visiting to feed every day, however due to changes in security, the feeding is now done by a prison inmate. We do however still provide the food and pay for the vet bills when a prison cat gets injured or sick.

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Lucy (LuLu for short) is 3 years old and likes a quiet life. She’s never been close to children but does like snuggling under the bed covers and her fleecy blanket, which must also be adopted too. She would be ideal in an adult only home with lots of love, cuddles and attention. Many more available on the website.

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THE FIREPLACE A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS

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Helping you keep your premises under control

Wood and Multi Fuel Stoves Stove Package Deals Available Marble, Wood and Stone Fire Surrounds Bespoke Service Available Gas and Electric Fires Chimney Lining Full Installation Service

We design, install, repair and maintain bespoke integrated access control, intruder detection, video and audio door entry systems, fire safety, CCTV systems and data networks, with over 40 years in the security and safety sectors.

Security is not a product, but a process.

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Visit Our Showroom

2 Castle Court, Castle Road, Eurolink Industrial Estate, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3TD

Tel: 01795 599234 | www.the-fireplace.net Opening Times: Monday-Friday 9.30- 4; Saturday 10- 4

The adventure starts at three • Idyllic surroundings • Small class sizes • Oustanding results • Come and see for yourself

Find out more at KENTCOLLEGE.COM

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Could your community group use £250 in 2016?

If so the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta might be able to help…

Sittingbourne Invicta is a group of professional men and women, with very different backgrounds, who are friends and share an aim of working together to help their community. We meet weekly and organise an active programme of social and fundraising events as well as working to assist others. The money we raise supports charities, community organisations and projects that are mainly local, but also national and international.

Each year Invicta awards grants to assist local community groups. Last year a total of nearly £5,500 went to 22 groups who each received about £250 and we anticipate doing the same in 2016. If you are part of a local group you feel could benefit from a grant please contact us. You can register your interest by sending an email to sittingbourneinvictarotary@live.co.uk and we will send you an application form in good time Vintage Modern Living for you to make an application when the scheme www.thepaintedpearl.co.uk opens in April.

Workshops

The application form asks you to describe your project, the money you want and on what the money will be spent. Tell us what difference a grant will make as this is the basis on which we make the final selection. For instance, in recent years, Bapchild Cricket Club used the money to support a coaching course for adults enabling them, in turn, to coach 5-15 year olds, Companionship at Christmas provided lunch and entertainment for 80 people on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day, Newington History Group were able to investigate, record and promote the history of Newington and create a remembrance book of local servicemen.

To qualify you must be a not-for-profit organisation based in the Sittingbourne area, but if you are in doubt do ask us.

To learn more about our club please visit our website: www.invictarotary.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

Furniture Painting Beginners Workshop includes: - Preperation techniques - Furniture painting principles - Painting with Autentico chalk paint - Two colour techniques - Distressing and ageing - Waxing with dark, black and white waxes

To advertise, please call Kelly on 01843 296303

Advanced Workshop includes: - Crackle glazing - Craquelure glazing - Stencilling - 3D stencilling with embossing paste - Decoupage - Image transfer

01227 007 01227 497 479007

All equipment and refreshments provided including a FREE vintage farm crate to practice on and take home - £55

Uniques Furniture Shop has now relocated to 18.4 Wealden Forest Park, Herne Common, Herne Bay CT67LQ

Furniture Painting - Beginners Mon 27th April 10.00 - 1.00 Suppliers of Solid Fuel Stoves, Fires & Accessories Wed 6th May 10.00 - 1.00 Free inStAllAtion, liner And Stove Survey Furniture Painting - Beginners

Solid- 1.00 fuel Mon 25th May 10.00

liners and stoves supplied FullySessions installed and tested, HETAS registered BYO Furniture DatesNo - TBC chimney - no problem | CCTV chimney surveys Lampshade Making Pre-packed fuel at cash & carry prices | Fireside accessories Mon 11th May 10.00 - 12.00

01634 855098 or 07956 835822 07879 060 616 www.medwaystovesandfires.com

TheSkinner Painted Pearl, 115Gillingham Tankerton Road, CT5 2AN 43 Street, ME7Whitstable, 1LG (nextKent, to Kwik Fit) Spring 2015 Conservation News 33

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(NEAR WILDWOOD) Established for over 20 years, Uniques Furniture Shop in Kent specialists in quality wooden furniture at affordable prices.

Come and browse our new showroom where you can see first hand the styles and finishes on offer.

Canterbury’s only Oak and Pine Specialists

Bespoke items can be created to fit the exact specifications and style your interiors. A beloved piece of furniture can also be given a new lease of life with our restoration and revamping service.

enquires@uniquesfurnitureshop.co.uk Autumn 2015 Conservation News

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Rebel Runners Rebel Runners ~ Medway first came into being in January 2014 when 3 friends – Jenny Baldock, Johanna Bridge and Darren Bridge – set up a Facebook page and encouraged more of their running buddies to join up and arrange group runs whenever they felt like it.

From this small beginning, numbers soon snowballed and within 4 months, Rebel Runners ~ Medway were registered as an official ‘Run England’ group and had their first qualified Leader in Running Fitness (LIRF). These steps meant that we were fully insured to operate as an official running group.

With numbers steadily growing throughout 2014, the next logical step was to apply to become a UK Athletics affiliated running club which was eventually approved on October 13th that year.

However, being affiliated has not meant that the original premise behind the club has been lost as we are very much still about welcoming runners of all abilities, ages, shapes and sizes, and our current membership, totalling over 300 runners including 12 LIRFs, is a testament to that.

For beginners, we offer two Couch to 5K courses every year – each being a structured course which takes novice runners from not running at all through to completing a 5K parkrun within 8 weeks. Our most recent course, saw over 50 new runners sign up to participate.

For improvers and intermediates, we have two regular team runs each week: Monday 19:00 from

Each Saturday, we encourage members to attend their local parkrun, with Great Lines parkrun being our unofficial “home”. Most weekends will also see our members attending events across the county and beyond. Our upcoming major events, where Rebel Runners will be out in force, include both the London and Brighton marathons (April), the Whitstable 10K (May) and the Medway 10K (June) where last year over 80 runners represented the club and the ladies won the team prize claiming the 1st, 2nd and 4th place female finishers.

As well as attending local, and indeed national, events, last year was the year when Rebel Runners ~ Medway truly went global, with runners taking part in races in Paris, Amsterdam, Reykjavik, Las Vegas and even Tromso (Norway) for the Arctic Marathon, to name but a few.

For more information regarding the club, and our local runs please visit our website at www.rebelrunnersmedway.co.uk

The quality care you deserve …delivered in the home that you love

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Whitehead Catering

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Lovely food from Lovely people

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Medway Park and Wednesday 19:30 from various locations across the Medway Towns – the venue changes on a monthly basis. Once a month we also offer a track session at Medway Park with a qualified run coach.

Bluebird Care For specialist home care or employment opportunities with us call 01795 664121 or email ashfordandswale@bluebirdcare.co.uk

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Spicy Prawns with Apple & Mint Yogurt Chutney

COOKING Ingredients 450g (16 oz) large raw prawns, peeled 100g (4 oz) Natural Yogurt 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp garam masala 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp ground coriander 1 tbsp fresh coriander leaves, chopped 300g (10oz) Natural Yogurt 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp root ginger, finely chopped 2 tbsp mint, finely chopped 1 apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped 1 tsp mustard seeds A little lemon juice to taste

Method Soak 10 wooden skewers in cold water for 30 minutes to prevent them from burning during cooking.

Mix together the prawns with the rest of the ingredients except the fresh coriander leaves.

Cover and pop in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours or overnight.

Thread the marinated prawns on to skewers and place under the grill. Grill until golden brown (about 5 minutes) turning during cooking to make sure they’re brown all over. Sprinkle over the fresh coriander leaves and serve with the apple and mint chutney.

For the apple and mint Yogurt chutney: Whisk together all the ingredients except the mustard seeds.

Place the mustard seeds in a non-stick frying pan and sautĂŠ until they start to sizzle and pop.

Prep time: 55-60 minutes

Add to the Yogurt mixture and combine.

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Cover and chill until required. This will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Serves: 6

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5 lessons to learn from The Archers about domestic abuse What can make an extra 100,000 people tune in to a Radio 4 drama? The answer of course is an escalating story line of domestic abuse.

The Archers have recently caught the attention of the nation and the media when it’s story line of Helen being the victim of abuse by husband Rob came to a head. On the 3rd April, after years of emotional and physical abuse Helen stabbed Rob to death (or so she thought).

So, what has this Archers storyline taught us so far?

1 To put the victim at the Centre

SATEDA

This story line has put the victim at the centre, which so many services, processes and the criminal justice system fail to do.

• One Stop Shop every Tuesday at Phoenix House, Sittingbourne, 09.30 - 11.00

2 No help and support = crisis This storyline escalated until someone, in this case the victim, took murderous action. On the other side of the coin, two women a week are murdered by their partners or ex partners. That’s why support services like SATEDA are so vital, to provide help and support to victims before they escalate further.

3 Domestic abuse can happen to anyone The fact that this program is aired on Radio 4 gives an indication of the type of characters that feature in this radio drama: not the stereotypical image of domestic abuse. But domestic abuse can happen regardless of class, age, career type, educational level, race, sexuality, upbringing, wealth and political views.

4 Exposure helps more people access help Sean O’Connor said that “the story is having a profound effect on abused women choosing to pick up the phone and talk about their situation. That has gone up 20% since January 2016.” Talking about this issue, bringing it out from behind closed doors is key to educating more people to recognize the situation they are in and empower them to get help.

• Drop In Service every Tuesday at West Faversham Community Centre, Faversham, 15.30 - 17.00 • Drop In Service every Wednesday at The Gateway, Sheerness, 13.00 - 15.00 • Drop In Sevice every Wednesday at Beaches Childrens Centre, 09:30 - 11:00

Helen is, of course, a fictional character. However her story line is reflective and representative of thousands upon thousands of women who are real life victims of domestic abuse right now. SATEDA works tirelessly to support current victims in Swale to become free and prevent future victims ever becoming one. To find out more and to access the support that SATEDA gives victims of domestic abuse, or to find out how to support us, please visit www.sateda.org where you can also read this article in full.

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