Autumn 2004 - Canterbury City Council

Transcription

District Life 16.qxd
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District Life
The magazine from Canterbury City Council for residents of Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable and district
Issue 16 | Autumn 2004
Wonders of walking – page 8
More rubbish facts – pages 12-13
Eurofair – page 31
The peasants are revolting!
TV’s Tony Robinson investigates a cunning plan – see page 11
17/08/2004
10:39
Page 3
District Life 16
Featured articles
Heritage Open Days
Page 9
Who needs Restoration? Use these special days to
see some beautifully preserved examples of
ancient architecture that haven’t fallen into ruin!
New laws for licensing
Pages 14 and 19
New licensing laws could affect everyone in the
district. District Life speaks to Roger Vick, the
council’s Commercial Health Manager about the
changes.
Primary Care Trust
Pages 15 to 18
A guide to the services provided by Canterbury
and Coastal Primary Care Trust, and useful
information for you to pull out and keep.
Regulars
Win tickets to see Sleeping
Beauty this Christmas at
The Marlowe Theatre
The lovely Toyah Willcox returns to The Marlowe Theatre
stage in December to play the Wicked Fairy in Sleeping
Beauty.
She will be joined in this year’s panto by EastEnders star
Jack Ryder who will become Prince Charming.
The Marlowe panto has become a regional favourite,
and tickets sell fast. You could win a family ticket though
by entering our competition. Just answer the following
questions. The answers can all be found in this issue of
District Life:
1. When does Canterbury’s exciting Eurofair take
place?
2. Which poet was commissioned to write Seaside
Sonnets?
3. What was soap star Daniel McPherson
celebrating with council leader Alex Perkins?
Send your answers by Monday 4 October 2004 to:
News round up
Starts on page 4
Volunteer!
Page 10
Residents Card offers
Pages 20 and 21
My Life
Page 27
Cover story
Tony Robinson and the pilgrims
leave the cathedral via the Christ
Church gate on their way to
London for revolution! See
page 11 for more on the story.
Picture by Mark Roberts.
Editor – Glynis Alexander
Phone: 01227 862 051, fax: 01227 764 922, e-mail: glynis.alexander@canterbury.gov.uk
News and features – Rob Davies
Phone: 01227 862 050, fax: 01227 764 922, e-mail: robert.davies@canterbury.gov.uk
Advertising and additional features – Steve James
Phone: 01227 862 060, fax: 01227 764 922, e-mail: steve.james@canterbury.gov.uk
Design, art direction and additional photography – Mark Roberts
Phone: 01227 862 282, fax: 01227 764 922, e-mail: mark.roberts@canterbury.gov.uk
The quarterly news magazine for residents and businesses in the Canterbury district. Published by Canterbury
City Council with the support of paid advertising. Print by Polestar Colchester. District Life and Canterbury City
Council accept no responsibility for loss or damage, however caused, to any material submitted for publication.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the publishers.
Rated excellent by the Audit Commission 2004
Panto Competition
District Life
Canterbury City Council
Military Road
Canterbury CT1 1YW
The panto runs from 9 December 2004 to 30 January 2005.
Call The Marlowe Box Office for tickets on 01227 787 787.
Last issue’s winners
Pairs of National Express coach tickets were won by
Ms R Collins-Lister of Herne Bay, Mr A Palmer and
Mrs V Palmer of Herne Bay, and R M Hassam of Chestfield.
You can also get this publication in other
formats, including Braille or large print.
Please phone Glynis Alexander on
01227 862 051 or e-mail
glynis.alexander@canterbury.gov.uk
Published in September 2004. Printed on environmentally
friendly paper. Please recycle once you have finished
with this publication.
DLF-GA-MAGA4-944/District Life 16
17/08/2004
09:27
Page 4
News round up
Older people are
getting the benefit
Pensioners from the Canterbury district are
already benefiting financially from a
campaign aimed at encouraging them to
take advantage of Council Tax benefits they
are entitled to.
Since the Kent Benefits Partnership was
launched just six months ago, there have
been a number of payments to pensioners
of between £1,000 and £1,600, with more
applications ready to be processed.
The campaign was set up by the city
council in partnership with Kent County
Council and the Department of Work and
research revealed that
between 2,500 and 3,000
pensioners were missing
out on benefits
Pensions. It was put together in response
to research that revealed that between
2,500 and 3,000 pensioners were missing
out on benefits totalling around £500,000.
Leader of Canterbury City Council, Cllr Alex
Perkins, said: “I am delighted local people are
starting to benefit from this campaign. It was
set up to help pensioners get everything
they are entitled to and improve their lives,
and it is good to see this is happening
already. The challenge now is to keep the
success story going by encouraging more
residents to get in touch and claim as much
of the £500,000 as possible.”
To enquire about eligibility for council tax
benefit, or for more information on the
campaign, contact the Kent Benefits
Partnership by ringing 0845 345 0310 or
writing to:
Kent Benefits Partnership
Contact Centre
Invicta House
Maidstone
ME14 1XX
Page 4 District Life 16 Autumn 2004
Go ahead, draw!
It’s time to get creative at a free
‘Big Draw’ event during the
Canterbury Festival in October.
Part of the National Campaign
for Drawing initiative to beat the
‘I can’t do it’ barrier, these are
free drop-in events for all ages.
Everyone is welcome, there is no
need to book, and all materials
provided. Children must be
accompanied by an adult.
There are three events taking
place in the district:
The Beaney Big Draw!
Take a closer look at Canterbury’s landmark building and join architects
Ash Sakula in exploring possibilities for its development, extension and
transformation. Saturday 16 October, 11am to 5pm at Canterbury Royal
Museum and Art Gallery, 18 High Street. Phone 01227 452 747 or see
the website at www.canterbury-museums.co.uk for more information.
The Imaginary City
Join artists Lisa Oulton and Nicola Mauger to create an incredible
imaginary cityscape, plus a chance to see architectural wire drawings
created by students from Canterbury High School. Sunday 17 October,
11am to 3pm at the Dominican Priory, Canterbury. Phone 01227 378 188
or click on www.canterbury-museums.co.uk for more information.
Underwater
Worlds
Explore and draw underwater
creatures and plants,
including local specimens, in
this special event linked to the
museum’s exhibition of
underwater photographs, A Bit of a
Dive. Saturday 23 October, 11am to
4pm at Herne Bay Museum and Gallery,
12 William Street, Herne Bay. Phone
01227 367 368 or log on to
www.hernebay-museum.co.uk for more
information.
17/08/2004
12:50
Page 5
News round up
Don't lose
your right
to vote –
register
today!
,
Shop til you drop
at Whitefriars
The new Whitefriars Square looking along Whitefriars Street to the existing Fenwick store
The first phase of the £140 million
Whitefriars development in Canterbury is
complete – a full year ahead of schedule.
This summer saw the opening of a new Tesco
Metro supermarket, Boots, Ann Summers,
Clinton Cards, Sunglass Hut, Goldsmiths and
H Samuel. They will shortly be joined by
Beaverbrooks, Ottakars and Carphone
Warehouse and, in February, by a spectacular
Next store, the largest in Kent after Bluewater.
The new multi-storey car park, which in
contrast to its predecessor has been built in
sympathy with the new buildings, offers
space for 530 cars and incorporates a
Shopmobility centre for hiring motorised
wheelchairs and scooters. It also houses
Marks & Spencer's Collect by Car service,
with direct access to the recently extended
store via a new footbridge.
The completion of the first phase of the
development was marked by an August
bank holiday weekend of free
entertainment on the four city centre
squares – Whitefriars, Rose, Longmarket and
Clocktower – sponsored by the Whitefriars
developer Land Securities.
The weekend also marked the launch of
the new city centre apartments, which are
an integral part of the Whitefriars scheme.
The 35 luxury apartments are above the
shops in the new Gravel Walk and
Whitefriars Street and next to the multistorey car park in Watling Street.
The final phase of the Whitefriars
development is on target for completion in
the summer of 2005 – nearly six years after
work first began. A further 14 retail units will
house the likes of Zara, H&M and River Island
and negotiations are well advanced with a
number of other leading fashion names,
many of whom are new to Canterbury.
For further information on the development,
check out the Whitefriars website at
www.whitefriars-shopping.co.uk
The date of the next
election hasn’t been
confirmed yet, but you have
still got time to be included
on the new electoral
register to vote.
We are now preparing a new
Register of Electors which
will be used for the Kent
County Council elections in
May 2005 and possibly the
next general election.
Please make sure that you
or someone in your
household completes and
returns the annual
registration form that is
being delivered to all
households this month.
If you also receive a
reminder next month then
please make sure that you
return that as unfortunately
some forms do go astray in
the post.
The revised register will be
published on 1 December
2004 and you are advised to
check that your name is on it
by asking at the council
offices in Military Road,
Canterbury or by calling
01227 862 007 or by e-mail
to electoral.services@
canterbury.gov.uk
Autumn 2004 District Life 16 Page 5
17/08/2004
09:28
Page 6
News round up
One vision
A questionnaire was recently sent out to a
sample of residents in the Heron (Herne
Bay), Harbour (Whitstable) and Northgate
(Canterbury) wards of the district.
Nearly 600 residents completed and
returned the questionnaire, which asked
local people what they liked about the area
they live in and what their concerns were.
Some of the issues identified by the
communities were:

traffic;

lack of parking;

litter and dog mess; and

lack of youth activities.
This was part of the Community Visioning
process being carried out by the Herne Bay
and Whitstable Coastal Regeneration
Partnership and the Northgate Community
Regeneration Partnership. The main issues
highlighted from the results will now be
fed into an action plan for each area.
Martin Goard and Sari Sirkia Weaver, who
chair the partnerships, said: "We would like
to thank everyone who took the time to
complete and return the questionnaire or
who took part in a focus group – the
response was fantastic".
If you would like any more information on
the Community Visioning process, please
call Marie Royle on 01227 862 517 or
Amy Zawislak on 01227 862 515.
Reculver by night
Reculver Towers, one of the district's
most famous landmarks, is now
bathed in light during the evenings.
Canterbury City Council has spent
£17,000 on the permanent lighting,
which aims to attract more visitors
to the area. Sensors trigger the
lights at dusk and a timer turns
them off automatically at midnight.
The switch-on is the culmination of
a two-year project. Special
permissions were required from
English Heritage and the
Environment Agency given the
environmental sensitivity of the
area and the Roman, Saxon and
Medieval remains meant scheduled
monument consent was needed
from the Department of Culture,
Media and Sport.
The scheme has been designed by
Brendan Pollard Associates, a
specialist lighting company based in
London. A Herne Bay businessman,
Peter Robson, has built the special
enclosure to house the lights.
It’s our duty to regulate that beauty
The city council is to enforce new powers
requiring anybody who carries out any form
of cosmetic piercing, semi-permanent
tattooing or semi-permanent skin colouring
to register with the council before practising.
In the past few years, the range of beauty
treatments has grown and the risk has
increased, so new laws aimed at protecting
the health of people using such cosmetic
treatments have been brought in.
Any individual or business practising these
treatments, and who is not already fully
registered, should contact Dick Langridge
in the city council's Commercial Health
department on 01227 862 215 or e-mail
dick.langridge@canterbury.gov.uk
17/08/2004
09:29
Page 7
News round up
Holding out Rock me, Amadeus
for a hero
Canterbury is to take part in a year-long, Europe-wide celebration of the
life and works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 2006, the 250th anniversary
of the composer’s birth.
Nominations are invited for the 2004 Kent
Volunteer Awards which recognises the
contribution made by so many individuals
throughout the county.
The awards, run by Kent County Council, are
now in their fifth successful year.
There are a number of different categories:
The Marlowe Theatre Awards for the arts; The
Environment Agency Award for protection
and enjoyment of the wild; Barclays Award for
carers, welfare and disability; Pfizer Awards for
community support and development; KCC
Awards for voluntary work in schools and
education; Saga Awards for voluntary
committee support and for counselling and
advice; Kent Sports Development Awards for
sport and the support of sport; and The
Children’s Mutual Awards for mentoring.
From stewards and envelope stuffers, patrons
and governors, committee members and
club helpers – anyone who provides a
valuable service for free is a volunteer.
Individuals or groups can be nominated for
giving time, commitment and enthusiasm.
The closing date for entries is 24 September.
For a nomination form or further details
contact Nicki Setterfield on 01227 472 500
or email nicki@setterfield4.co.uk
The city council was invited to take part in the ‘European Mozart Ways’
initiative because of the time Mozart spent in Canterbury in 1765, aged
nine. He and his family were guests of Sir Horace Mann at Bourne Park in
Bishopsbourne, visiting the city and going to horseracing events nearby
on their way to London.
Canterbury has now become one of the key players in the partnership,
which will create a European network based on some of the historic travel
routes Mozart took.
Work is already underway on Canterbury’s contribution to the year. It will give
people of all ages and abilities the chance to create and perform work
written or inspired by the genius of Mozart. Music will be at the heart of the
programme but it will also include drama, poetry, visual arts and much more.
Pomp and circumstance as plaque is put back
A full rededication ceremony accompanied the replacing of the war memorial
plaque at the Cherry Orchard playing field pavilion in Herne recently.
Canterbury City Council arranged for the new plaque after the original
one was vandalised earlier this year. It officially recognised that exservicemen of the Second World War had donated the pavilion at the
playing fields to the people of Herne.
The ceremony started with a march by the Royal British Legion and
tributes from the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Martin Vye, and the Royal
British Legion. The Lord Mayor then unveiled the new plaque. The event
ended with the singing of the hymn Lead Kindly Light, The Last Post, a
one-minute silence, a bugle tribute and the laying of a wreath by the
Royal British Legion.
Safe food means better business
Food businesses in the Canterbury
district are already used to spotting and
controlling potential food hazards in
their day-to-day work. Most are also
familiar with the Food Standards Agency
(FSA) message linked to this, which
highlights the ‘four Cs’– cooking, chilling,
cleaning and cross-contamination.
From January 2006 caterers and food
businesses will all have to write down
what they do to ensure that they serve
safe food.
Canterbury’s commercial health team is
keen to give local businesses a chance
to get involved in finding a way to meet
this future legal requirement.
Officers are working with a small
number of local businesses to trial a
new pack produced by the FSA with
caterers in mind, called Safe Food,
Better Business. This is being looked at
as a model for caterers to meet the
future legal requirement and findings
will be reported back to the
government in the autumn.
If you are interested in receiving more
information about the trial please
contact Sarah Maloney or Sandra Jones
01227 862 216 and 862 218.
17/08/2004
09:29
Page 8
Walking for health
With so much in the news today about obesity in the population, many are looking
for a way to get a bit of exercise without paying a gym subscription or upsetting
their daily schedule. The Walking for Health project may hold the answer for some
with lunchtime ‘led walks’. Steve James steps out for District Life...
Ruth Brown, the Walking for Health
project Co-ordinator for East Kent is
trying to change the way we think
about using our legs.
The Walking for Health initiative aims to
encourage people to walk in their own
neighbourhoods with minimum fuss,
and Ruth has been instrumental in
establishing 'led walks'.
Locally, the project is sponsored by
the East Kent Health Promotion Service
(Ruth’s employers), with local partners
including Canterbury City Council
funding project costs within each of
their areas.
Several successful walks have already
been established in east Kent, and Ruth
is now trying to take the philosophy into
the workplace.
The city council is keen to promote the
health and wellbeing of its staff.
Following a successful event last year
when staff learned about the health
benefits of small increases in walking,
Ruth recently returned to the council
offices to undertake volunteer walk
leader training to encourage staff to
walk more during their lunch breaks.
It wasn't long before Ruth began to
impart her knowledge, and we soon
found ourselves on a voyage of walking
discovery. I was amazed to hear that
despite the popular image of too many
hamburgers, obesity has increased in
the UK over the 50 years primarily
because of reduced physical exercise.
It soon became apparent that walking is
one of the most underestimated forms
of physical activity. As Ruth pointed out,
walking regularly not only tackles
weight, it can also halve the risk of heart
disease and reduce the chances of
developing diabetes. The emotional
benefits of walking are also enormous –
such activity is a great weapon against
stress and even mild depression.
Ruth cited the example of a working
mum who parked her car at the
furthest point from the entrance to
her local supermarket. This simple
change led to the woman walking an
extra 85 kilometres a year.
After the workshop was over, my city
council colleagues and I were imbued
with enthusiasm about becoming
walk leaders for our colleagues. Walk
leaders require a basic adherence to
health and safety and a good
knowledge of the immediate area – in
my case, central Canterbury.
Do you want to become a walk leader?
Call the East Kent Health Promotion
Service on 01304 828 731 or 828 721.
The council’s new walk leaders, pictured with Ruth Brown (centre), hope to get their colleagues out into the fresh air
17/08/2004
10:25
Page 9
Heritage Open Days
Join the time travellers...
Heritage Open Days from 10
to 13 September will give
everyone the opportunity
to step into the past and
discover historic buildings,
many of which are rarely
open to the public.
There will be free entry to
all, and those that do open
regularly will waive their
normal admission charges
during the four-day event.
The Civic Trust's nationwide
initiative features 19 special
'happenings' in the
Canterbury district including
talks, guided walks and a
Norman living history
display in the grounds of
Canterbury Castle.
Our past and future heritage
are brought together at the
new Horsebridge Arts and
Community Centre in
Whitstable, where local
historian Robin Masters will
give a talk on the history of
smuggling in the area.
Noted architect Anthony
Swaine will focus on the
post war reconstruction of
Canterbury. His first hand
account brings to life this
unsettled time that
changed the face of the city.
Littlebourne Barn
Canterbury Guild of Guides
is giving a special tour of
the city walls and the city
council's countryside officer,
Brian Watmough, will lead
the more intrepid across
grazing marshes at Seasalter
to reveal one of six
medieval salterns.
Also on Sunday, afternoon
Herne Mill
chance to see the Mayor's
teas will be on sale at Tower
House, Canterbury, in aid of
the Lady Mayoress'
Charities. This is a rare
civic regalia including the
St Martin’s Priory
Burghmote Horn that dates
back to 1155.
Other properties promoted
by the city council this year
include: Herne Windmill;
The Littlebourne Barn with
A 'behind the scenes' tour
of the Whitstable Playhouse
will be staged on Saturday
and a talk on the Crab and
Winkle Line railway steams
ahead at the Goods Shed
Farmers Market in
Canterbury on Sunday – an
organic experience!
its annual Open Art
Exhibition; All Saints Church,
Canterbury Youth Hostel
Petham; Eastbridge Hospital,
Canterbury; Reculver Towers
(where you can climb the
towers); The Westgate
Towers and Guildhall; The
Belvedere Chapel, Hales
Place, Canterbury (the
smallest chapel in the world
Fordwich Town Hall
according to the Guinness
Book of Records) and
Fordwich Town Hall (the
oldest town hall in Britain).
Two other properties,
Canterbury's Youth Hostel
and St Martin's Priory are
Canterbury Castle
Full details of all events can
be found on the city
council's website at
www.canterbury.gov.uk
or to obtain a leaflet call
01227 862 186 or 01227
378 100.
also taking part this year.
17/08/2004
09:29
Page 10
Volunteer!
Students’ good work from
college to community
Students from the University of Kent have raised more than £25,000 for charities and good causes
Hundreds of University of Kent
students from all over the world have
given their time to volunteering over
the past 10 years.
They have been supporting local
voluntary organisation in projects as
diverse as the homeless shelter and
Pilgrims Hospice. Most students sign
up for volunteering at the beginning
of their academic life, often as a way of
making friends or get to know the city
a little better.
For some it’s a chance to give back to
the community that they have joined,
for others it’s an opportunity to gain
vital life/work skills and for a few it’s the
chance to find a career.
Whatever their reasons are, both the
placements and the student gain from
the experience. The placement gets an
enthusiastic pair of hands with a
willingness to learn and for the student
it can be summed up by the following
quote from one volunteer: “I gained life
experience of being exposed to an
aspect of life and society which is
it’s an opportunity to
gain vital life/work
skills – some students
even find a career
usually kept from the public. I have met
many friendly people and have learned
a lot from the patients and staff that I
have spent time with. I hope to make a
career in the field of mental health.”
Each placement will set a minimum
period of time the volunteers can work
and some students will only volunteer
for a term some for a year. But for a
select few it sets them on a path that
they will follow throughout their
working lives.
In addition to the practical work they
undertake in the community, students
also raise money for charity. Students
from the university alone raised more
than £25,000 in the last academic year
for local and national charities and good
causes. Other local colleges also work
hard to raise cash in this way.
17/08/2004
09:30
Page 11
News round up
Sea defences at
Tankerton set a
‘bench’ mark for
coastal protection
The results of a £6.4 million coastal
protection project for Tankerton were
unveiled recently.
A new shingle beach and new timber
groynes will protect 1.4 miles of coastline
between Whitstable and Swalecliffe from
the sea for approximately the next 50 years.
The project was one of the largest
engineering schemes the city council has
carried out in-house.
It was mainly funded by the Department
for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(DEFRA) and was completed early and
under budget. Subject to approval from
DEFRA, the council hopes to start
improvements at Whitstable and Seasalter
in the next year or so.
The council's Executive member for
highways and engineering, Cllr Nick Eden-
Cllr Nick Eden-Green officially unveils the new bench, with the sea defences team looking on
Green, unveiled the project when he cut a
ribbon on a seafront bench made out of
the old groynes.
He said: "Many of us can remember the
devastating floods of 1953 and the sight of
homes being lost through coastal
landslides. The sea is an ever-present threat
to those people living close to it. This
project was designed to ensure the
continued safety of the people of Tankerton
and its successful completion means they
can sleep safely in their beds at night.”
Lights, cameras, and plenty of action!
Television production companies have been queuing up to film in the district recently –
resulting in plenty of free publicity for the area.
The Discovery Channel show, Mummy Autopsy, filmed a mystery burial at the Museum of
Canterbury. International forensic scientists examined the bodies of two adults, two
children and a dog, together with personal possessions including beads, bracelets, keys
and knives, that were discovered near Stour Street in Canterbury in 1980.
This was followed by the popular Channel 4 programme, Location, Location, Location,
which was filmed in the city centre, Westgate Gardens, Dane John Gardens and the nearby
village of Bridge.
A documentary about the Peasants’ Revolt, presented by Tony Robinson for Channel 4,
saw horses and riders making their way through the city centre. He was in Canterbury to
trace the events of 1381 in which local peasants descended on London to protest against
the poll tax.
Other programmes filmed recently include A Place by the Sea in Herne Bay and
Whitstable, a sketch show with Tim Healy and documentary series, Horizon.
Pothole
problems
cracked
Canterbury Highway Unit
has recently completed a
£420,000 programme of
resurfacing of roads in the
district. Some had potholes
and cracks, while a number
had become too slippery.
Roads which have been
resurfaced are Shalloak Road,
Broad Oak; A290 Whitstable
Road, Canterbury; St Alphege
Lane and King Street,
Canterbury; Upper Chantry
Lane, Canterbury; Reculver
Road, Herne Bay; Grange
Road, Herne Bay; B2068
Stone Street, Petham;
Hackington Road, Clowes
Wood; Downs Road and
Tenterden Drive, Canterbury.
Canterbury Highway Unit is
part of the Kent Highways
Partnership with Kent County
Council, Ringway Highway
Services and Babtie.
17/08/2004
09:31
Page 12
New waste collection arrangements
In the last edition of District Life, we
explained the changes the city council will
be making to the way it collects residents’
waste next year.
Real solution to
nappy problems
From February to December 2005, the
council will be introducing a system known
as alternate weekly collections, where
recyclable waste in clear sacks and garden
waste in green-lidded wheelie bins or
reusable sacks will be collected one week,
followed by landfill waste in grey-lidded
wheelie bins the next week.
The new arrangements also include
supplying residents with more clear
recycling sacks and reducing the time
between collections at Christmas.
As part of the article in the last edition, we
asked you to send in your questions and
concerns. Around 20 readers did so, with
most asking questions about the scheme
and only a few expressing dissatisfaction
with the changes.
In this edition, we answer some more most
frequently asked questions, profile the
recycling centre at Hersden where everyone’s
clear sacks are taken, and feature a mother
who champions the use of real nappies.
As District Life went to
press, distribution of an
information leaflet
explaining the new
system was underway.
Every household in the
district will get a copy
of it – if you haven't
got yours yet, it should
arrive in the next few
weeks, so keep an
eye out for it coming
through your door.
Gayle Chattenton, pictured here with six-month-old daughter, Sky, says real nappies are best
For Dave and Gayle Chattenton,
who live in Canterbury, using real
nappies on their six-month old
daughter, Sky, instead of
disposables was an easy choice.
Gayle says: “In the longer term, real
nappies are cheaper. To buy our
whole set cost £200, whereas
Import
ant info
rmatio
n – plea
se read
!
Canterb
disposables can cost up to £10 a
u
Council ry City
is chan
week.
They are just as easy to use
the wa
ging
y
your ho it collects
usehold
and you don’t have the problem
waste
of disposing of them when used.
“Cleaning real nappies is easy. We
soak them first and then just wash
them in the machine. They also take
up less space than disposables and
can be left on a baby for up to 12
hours. Disposables are likely to leak
within that time.”
Kent County Council launched its
real nappy scheme in 2001 to
encourage more families to use
them. The city council supports the
scheme and works with the county
council to promote it at events and
on information leaflets.
It is estimated one baby’s disposable
nappy waste in one year will fill 40
black plastic sacks, or just over 12
wheelie bins. Approximately eight
million disposables are used in
Britain every day, of which around
7.5 million end up in landfill sites.
Kent County Council is currently
offering financial rewards for families
who use real nappies. For more
information, ring the war on waste
hotline on 0845 345 0210 or visit
the website at www.kent.gov.uk/sp
/waronwaste
17/08/2004
09:31
Page 13
New waste collection arrangements
What a load of rubbish!
Questionsandanswers
The recycling centre at Hersden is a busy place. Every clear sack full of
recyclable material ends up here, to be sorted, packaged up and then
sent to various places in Britain for recycling.
Q. Will households with small bins be
given larger ones to hold the increased
amount of waste generated in two weeks?
The centre, known as a Materials Recycling Facility, or MRF, is run by a private
company called Brett Waste Management. In 2003/4, a total of 9,233 tonnes of
recyclable waste was taken to the centre in residents’ clear sacks – the
equivalent of roughly 920 dustcarts a year.
A. Yes. All those households with a small
140-litre bin, who wish to have a larger bin,
will be given a 240-litre bin free of charge.
So, where does everything go, and what happens to it?

Paper and magazines – Aylesford Newsprint in Maidstone, for newsprint
paper

Card and cardboard packaging – St Regis Mill in Sittingbourne, for
cardboard

Plastic bottles – Delleve Plastics in Stratford Upon Avon, to become
water pipes

Plastics such as yoghurt pots/margarine tubs – Fibrefuel in Slough,
mixed with paper to make fuel pellets for power stations

Steel cans – Wales steel mills, to be turned into steel ingots

Aluminium – Merseyside, for aluminium ingots
The clear sacks are taken directly from the streets to the MRF. Each dustcart is
weighed on arrival so that records on how much waste is being recycled
can be kept. The sacks are then placed on a conveyer belt and staff at the
centre begin sorting them by hand. An overhead magnet takes out the steel
cans; everything else is separated out into individual piles, crushed and put
into bales to await collection.
Q. How will the council be encouraging
students to recycle?
A. We are well aware of the challenge
facing us in persuading students to do their
bit. The council is already working closely
with the universities and plans high profile
attendance at events such as freshers’ week
and in student publications. In addition we
will be making it clear to landlords that
they must take more responsibility for the
waste produced by their tenants, and will
make visits to student homes to explain the
scheme face-to-face.
Q. Will you reduce Council Tax to reflect
this change in service?
A. This is unlikely. The introduction of the
clear sack and garden waste collection
schemes was already a major increase in
services. Any future savings from the new
scheme will be used to offset those costs
and on other council services.
Q. Can people drop off clear sacks at
the household recycling centre sites?
A. We aim to have a system in place to
allow this to happen by the time the
scheme starts in February 2005.
Q. Can I have a home visit from a
recycling officer to give me advice on
the new scheme?
A. Yes. All households will be written to and
offered a home visit before the scheme
starts in their area. They can also be
arranged by calling the council’s recycling
team on 01227 862 247 or e-mailing
ian.mackenzie@canterbury.gov.uk
Cyril Harris and Paul Williams on the sorting belt at Hersden Materials Recycling Facility
17/08/2004
09:32
Page 14
Licensing
Getting in on the Act
In February 2005, a new Licensing Act bringing in major
reforms to the laws on liquor licensing, entertainment licensing
and control of late night refreshment will come into force.
The biggest change in the system sees
local authorities taking responsibility
for issuing licences to pubs, clubs and
restaurants. This was previously carried
out by magistrates courts.
There are a number of other
important changes:

Removal of fixed opening hours,
which have long been blamed for the
disturbance on our streets at night.
Instead, premises are being given
flexibility on their operating hours,
subject to agreement by the council.
Children aged under 16 are allowed
on liquor-licensed premises provided
an adult accompanies them.
Young people (aged 16-18) are
allowed to enter licensed premises
unaccompanied.
All vendors of alcohol, hot food
takeaways, and those involved in
providing regulated entertainment
(music, dance, cinema, theatre) will
need a licence.
Clubs, church halls and other
premises rented out for private events
on a regular basis will need a licence.
Two types of licence will be
available:

Personal: this covers permission to
sell alcohol. Holders of a personal
licence will be allowed to move
more freely between premises
where a premises licence is in force.
Premises: this allows premises to be
used to supply alcohol, provide
regulated premises and provide
refreshment late at night. This will
bring together the six existing
licensing regimes (alcohol, public
entertainment, cinemas, theatres,
late night refreshment houses and
night cafés).
Four key objectives
The government's objectives in
introducing the act are to:
1. Reduce crime and disorder
2. Protect public safety
providing a major boost to the local
economy. However, the council's draft
policy equally recognises the right
residents have to peace and quiet and
a night's sleep free from disturbance.
Finding the right balance between the
needs of the economy and local
people is one of the council's biggest
challenges to ensuring the Act is
successfully introduced in the
Canterbury district.
In summary, the council's draft
licensing policy aims to:
3. Prevent public nuisance

4. Protect children from harm
As part of the implementation of the
Act, the government requires all local
authorities to produce, consult on
and publish a licensing policy
showing how they will carry out their
duties. This involves extensive
consultation with local residents, the
police and fire brigade, businesses
and the licensed trade.
Canterbury City Council has now drafted
its policy based around the
government's four objectives and a 12week period of formal consultation is
underway. Everybody with an interest in
licensing is being urged to send in their
views so they can be taken into account
before the final policy is agreed.
With the introduction of the Act, the
council hopes Canterbury, Herne Bay
and Whitstable will become vibrant
centres for leisure and culture,
Help build and maintain a fair and
prosperous society that properly
balances the rights of individuals
and their communities.

Encourage young people and
culture.

Reduce crime and disorder.

Encourage tourism.

Encourage an early evening and
night time economy which is viable
and sustainable.

Reduce alcohol misuse.

Encourage employment.

Encourage the self sufficiency of
local communities.

Reduce the burden of unnecessary
regulation on business.
Continued on page 19...
17/08/2004
09:39
Page 19
Licensing
Culture in the news
Continued from page 14...
Some of the issues the
council is particularly
keen to hear views on are:

Opening hours of
licensed premises (for
sale of alcohol or
otherwise).

Location of new licensed
premises, especially those
open late night/early
morning.

Provision of public
transport late night/early
morning (and who
should pay).

Provision of additional
public toilets associated
with licensed premises.
Provision of events on
public land.

Closing times of late
night takeaways.

Location of late night
mobile food units such as
We’re in the money!
burger and kebab vans.

Problems relating to
noise, litter and anti-social
behaviour.
Canterbury City Council's
Commerical Health Manager,
Roger Vick, has been closely
involved in putting the new
legislation together. He was
chosen for his expertise and
experience to join the
national group that
considered the implications
of the new legislation.
Roger said: "This is one of
the issues where it really is
essential we hear the views
of local people. So much of
the legislation affects our
day-to-day lives. The more
comments we receive, the
better, because we will end
up with a policy that
reflects the district's needs."
The deadline for comments is Friday 5 November 2004.
They should be sent to:
Roger Vick
Commercial Health Manager
Canterbury City Council
Military Road
Canterbury CT1 1YW
Or by e-mail to licensing@canterbury.gov.uk
A special website allowing people to give their views has
been set up at www.canterbury.gov.uk/licensing.
A full copy of the council's draft licensing policy is
available to view at that address in PDF format.
The council is also reminding licensed premises and
event organisers that a new licensing regime for door
supervisors will be operating alongside the new
legislation. For more information, contact the Securities
Industries Authority at www.the-sia.org.uk or by
ringing 08702 430 100.
Cllr Alex Perkins, pictured here with Daniel McPherson, Aussie star of The
Marlowe’s Mystery Plays, and Janice McGuiness, the council’s Head of
Culture and Communications celebrate the cultural windfall
The city council has been awarded £750,000 for an exciting
and ambitious programme of cultural activities over the
next 18 months.
The grant is from the Urban Cultural Programme, a one-off
lottery initiative combining money from the Millennium
Commission and Arts Council England. It followed a bid by
the council earlier this year, which outlined the projects
that could be staged.
The line-up of events features a culturally diverse music
programme, a story telling project to address issues
surrounding asylum, a literature and dance event to raise
awareness of Black History Month and a community opera
telling the story of the Kent Coalfields.
Canterbury’s £750,000 has been topped up by pledges of
£50,000 from Arts Council England South East and £25,000
from the South East England Development Agency,
making a grand total of £825,000.
Council leader Cllr Alex Perkins said: “This is excellent news
and we’re looking forward to developing and celebrating
these events in the coming months. I believe our success
in being awarded this money is directly linked to our bid to
be Capital of Culture in 2008. We may not have won, but it
changed everything for us – it raised our profile, our
aspirations and how other people view Canterbury.
“The benefits of our bid are now being seen. We’ve set out
to regenerate the area through culture and it is very
pleasing that organisations such as the Arts Council and
Millennium Commission can see what we are trying to do
and are supporting us with funding.”
17/08/2004
09:39
Page 20
Residents Card offers – September to December 2004
Residents Card offers
To make sure more people
get access to the
Residents Card scheme,
the quarterly list of offers
will now be published in
District Life rather than
mailed on to each
cardholder.
Offers are subject to
availability, some have
date constraints and will
not be offered for the
entire period. Please check
offers with attractions
before travelling.
Canterbury Information Centre, The
Buttermarket, Canterbury
Downland Cycles, London Bound Platform,
Canterbury West Railway Station
Free Canterbury visitor guide (normally sold for
Offer 1: 10% discount on repairs, servicing and
accessories on joining Spokes at Downland
Cycles.
Offer 2: Free Spokes High Viz waistcoat with
every bicycle including Brompton bicycle (while
stocks last). Phone: 01227 479 643
email: bryan@downlandcycles.co.uk
50p). Phone: 01227 378 100.
Canterbury Roman Museum, Butchery
Lane, Canterbury
Free admission for cardholders and their children.
Phone: 01227 785 575.
Canterbury Tales Visitor Attraction, St
Margaret’s Street, Canterbury
20% discount on admission prices.
Phone: 01227 479 227.
Canterbury Tales Visitor Attraction Gift Shop,
St Margaret’s Street, Canterbury
10% discount off all items purchased in the gift
shop. Phone: 01227 454 888.
Canterbury West Gate Towers Museum
Allied Carpets, Cow Lane, Wincheap
Industrial Estate, Canterbury
Free admission for cardholders and their children.
Phone: 01227 789 576.
10% discount on purchases of carpets, vinyls,
woods, laminates and rugs at the Canterbury
store only. Excludes fitting, underlay and
ancillaries, and is not valid with any other
concession. Phone: 01227 761 071.
Castle Arts, 76 Castle Street Canterbury
Brewery Tours at Shepherd Neame, Court
Street, Faversham
10% off tour tickets. Advanced booking is
essential, phone: 01795 542 016 or book online
at: www.shepherd-neame.co.uk
Canterbury Christ Church University College,
Canterbury
30% discount on family and friends
accommodation until 14 September 2004.
Phone: 01227 782 225
Canterbury Guild of Guides
Offer 1: Buy one adult guided tour ticket and get
one free. Sold at the Information Centre where
tours leave at 2pm Monday to Saturday until 23
October.
Offer 2: 25% discount on guided walks for
groups of up to 12 residents. A 90 minute guided
walk through the city centre (including the
Cathedral precincts) for £30 per group of 12
(normally £40). Phone: 01227 459 779 or
e-mail: guides@concorde-int.com
10% discount on all art sales when paying by
cash/cheque/debit card. Phone: 01227 766 616.
E-mail: mail@castlearts.co.uk
Chives Café at The Horsebridge Arts and
Community Centre, Whitstable
10% off the bill. Phone: 01227 281 255.
Conference Iffin, Iffin Lane, Canterbury
One free delegate place when booking an initial
meeting. Phone: 08703 210 565 or e-mail:
enquiries@iffin.co.uk
Conquest House Antiques, Palace Street,
Canterbury
Druidstone Wildlife Park, Honey Hill,
Blean between Canterbury and
Whitstable on A290
£1 off of the cardholders admission fee, or one
child free with each adult paying full admission
fee. Offer valid until 30 November 2004. Phone
01227 765 168.
English Heritage
Two for one on admission. Offers are not valid on
special days or evening events. Collect a voucher
from Whitstable, Herne Bay or Canterbury
Information Centres.
Offer 1: 1 -30 September 2004 only: Deal Castle,
Walmer Castle and Richborough Roman Fort
Offer 2: 1 September to 31 December 2004: St
Augustine’s Abbey, Dover Castle and
Lullingstone Roman Villa.
To check winter opening times, phone: 0870 333
1181 or visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk
The Evenhill, High Street, Littlebourne
20% discount on an overnight stay.
Phone: 01227 721 084 or email:
evenhill@shepherdneame.co.uk
Ferns Canterbury Café, above Canterbury
Information Centre, in The Buttermarket,
Canterbury
5% discount off your bill. Phone 01227 781 885.
10% off purchases. Phone 01227 464 587.
Fresh Aspects, Canterbury
Council Pay and Display car parks
Offer 1: Free business potential meeting
(normally £275).
Offer 2: Two free Business Builder Breakfast
Forums. Please book early, phone: 01227 762 694.
10% off parking when purchased via the smart
card system (Offer not exclusive to Residents
Card). Phone: 01227 862 429. E-mail:
parking.services@canterbury.gov.uk
County Hotel, Canterbury
£50 per person per night’s B&B for friends and
relatives (subject to a minimum two night stay at
weekends and based on double occupancy).
Phone: 01227 766 266.
Global Travel at Pilgrim’s Coffee Shop, St
Peter’s Street, Canterbury
Offer 1: 5% discount on all holidays.
Offer 2: 1/2 price insurance with every holiday
booked.
Offer 3: 10% off the bill in the coffee shop.
Phone: 01227 464 531.
17/08/2004
09:39
Page 21
Residents Card offers – September to December 2004
Iffin Farmhouse, Iffin Lane, Canterbury
National Legal Services
United Print Group, Canterbury
£10 discount when booking for two nights or
more. Phone: 08703 210 565 or
e-mail: enquiries@iffin.co.uk
10% off all services, including wills, inheritance tax
saving wills, protective property trusts and
enduring powers of attorney.
Phone: 0800 328 2364 quoting Ref. 8587.
10% discount for recycled inkjet and toner
cartridges on orders over £25, plus free collection
of all empties. Payment: by cash or cheque with
orders. Orders will be delivered in 72 hours.
Phone: 01227 719 032 or email:
upg@freeuk.com
Jacob’s Bar and Brasserie at the County
Hotel, Canterbury
10% discount off food. Phone: 01227 766 266.
Kent Ballooning
10% off balloon flights. Freefone: 0800 032 50 60.
E-mail: sales@kentballooning.com
Neville Pundole, The Gallery, The Friars,
Canterbury
Wildwood, Herne Common, between Herne
Bay and Canterbury on A291
10% discount on contemporary pottery and
glass. Phone 01227 453 471,
e-mail: neville@pundole.co.uk
Odeon Cinema, St George’s Place Canterbury
Kim Wood Jewellers, 68 King’s Street,
Sandwich
25% discount off Tuesday standard ticket price
(£4.50 normally £6). Phone: 08712 244 007.
10% off purchases, restoration, and repair
services. Phone: 01304 617 700 or
e-mail: info@mrkimwoodjeweller.co.uk
23 Queens Street, Deal
King’s Hall Tea Rooms, Herne Bay
2 for 1 on teas and coffees, during October.
Phone 01227 373 322.
Lyre Studio (Arts & Gifts), 7a High Street,
Whitstable
10% off rocks, fossils and minerals on cash or
debit card purchases. Phone: 01227 280 998.
Marlowe Theatre, The Friars, Canterbury
2 September, Dream Street - All tickets £5
8 September, Beyond Broadway - £2 off
14 September, Flamenco Express - All tickets £5
21 to 25 September, Dial M for Murder - 20%
off
5 to 8 October, Lord of the Flies – 20% off
27 and 29 October, ETO, The Cunning Little
Vixen – 20% off
22 to 27 November, The Shell Seekers – 20% off
1 December, The Commitments - £2 off top price
Phone: 01227 787 787, or visit the Box Office at
the Marlowe or information centres.
10% discount on orders from our showroom:
Fitted kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and
showers, UPVC windows, doors and
conservatories. Not valid with other promotions.
Phone: 01304 381 014.
Park and Ride
30% off parking when purchased via the smart
card system (Offer not exclusive to Residents
Card). Phone: 01227 862 429.
E-mail: parking.services@canterbury.gov.uk
Pilgrims Hotel, 18 The Friars, Canterbury
Offer 1: 15% off accommodation.
Offer 2: 10% off the bill in the coffee shop.
Phone: 01227 464 531.
Rail Canterbury, Palace Street, Canterbury
5% booking fee (normally 10%) when purchasing,
rail, sea and Eurostar tickets, hotels and car hire.
Phone: 01227 450 088 or email: rail@railcanterbury.co.uk
Have you got yours yet?
If you are over 18 years of age and you are
also a local resident you are eligible to apply
for a Residents Card. Apply for your card
today. It costs you nothing but can give you
many savings on local attractions, products
and services.
Application forms from libraries and
information centres, or by phone:
01227 862 062 and also online at
www.canterbury.gov.uk/residentscard
Businesses and attractions
If you would like to know more about
making an offer (which can be tailored to
suit your business needs) please visit the
website
www.canterbury.gov.uk/residentscard
or call the Tourism Unit on 01227 862 064
e-mail: amanda.monkpeak@
canterbury.gov.uk
RCL Supplies, Canterbury
Offer 1: 20% off ink print cartridges, laser
toners, fax film rolls. Plus free delivery on
orders over £30 (ex vat).
Free admission for cardholder and their children.
Phone: 01227 475 202.
Offer 2: Epson C20/C40UX/C40SX/C20SX
black at £3.99 + VAT, Canon
S200/S300/S330/i320 black, £2.99 +VAT
and discounts on other printers. Phone
01227 768 812 or email:
rcl@ontel.net
Mount Ephraim Gardens, Herne Hill,
Faversham
Sully’s Restaurant at the County
Hotel, High Street, Canterbury
Offer valid until 30 September. £1 off admission
on up to 2 admissions per card.
Phone: 01227 751 496.
10% discount off the seasonal a la
carte menu. Phone: 01227 766 266.
Museum of Canterbury with Rupert Bear
Museum, Stour Street, Canterbury
Kids go free with every full paying adult, until end
of September 2004. Phone 01227 712 111.
The information published is given in good faith on the basis of information submitted to Canterbury City Council. Canterbury City Council cannot guarantee the
accuracy of the information and accepts no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused
by the reliance on the information contained in this publication, or in the event of the bankruptcy or liquidation of any company, individual or firm mentioned, or in
the event of any company, individual or firm ceasing to trade, is hereby excluded.
17/08/2004
09:40
Page 22
Whitstable Town Centre Management update
Tripping the It's official – shopping is
light fantastic so safe in Whitstable!
Christmas is set to come early to Whitstable
this year on 29 November! The town will
experience a day of festivities followed by a
visit from the KMfm roadshow, an
appearance from Father Christmas to
switch on the Christmas lights, and a
fantastic fireworks display to finish the
evening in style.
For details on all of Whitstable's events,
please call the Information Centre on
01227 275 482.
Whitstable has been recognised for
its work to ensure the safety and
security of residents,
business and visitors. The
Lord Mayor, Cllr Martin
Vye, accepted the Safer
Shopping Award
certificate on behalf of
the town, presented
by Michael Schuck from
the British Retail Consortium
on 29 July 2004.
The town received this prestigious
award through the hard work and
dedication shown by its police,
businesses and other association
bodies. To recognise their efforts,
Superintendent Joanna Young
presented some of the businesses
involved with individual framed
copies of the certificate.
This award-winning scheme
combines a shop watch,
pub watch scheme, and
24-hour CCTV surveillance
system, guided by an
active steering
committee and dedicated
project coordinator.
To commemorate this award, a
brass plaque has been attached to
the Information Centre's wall in
Oxford Street.
For more information, please call
Linda Mason on 01227 274 512.
HADLOW COLLEGE IS BACK AT CANTERBURY!
Hadlow College will be returning to its Canterbury site at Spring Lane in September
2004. The College will be offering a wide range of part time courses including RHS and
City & Guilds. With bespoke glasshouse facilities, indoor and outdoor work areas and
modern, well-equipped classrooms, Hadlow College Canterbury really is the
place to study!
BUY 1 get 1 FREE on selected courses
Course Information Days
2nd & 15th September 3pm - 7pm
Part Time Courses In:
Floristry
Horticulture
Garden Design
Gardening
For further information Freephone 0500 551434
www.hadlow.ac.uk email enquiries@hadlow.ac.uk
Please quote AD0095
Spring Lane, Canterbury, Kent. CT1 1TB
Only 10 mins walk from Canterbury East Train Station!
Hadlow College...it's different...it's better !
17/08/2004
09:41
Page 23
News round up
Sonnets in the sun
Herne Bay offered its sun,
sea and sundaes to a
professional poet this
summer as part of a city
council initiative to inspire
literary creations in the
district.
Poet Ros Barber
Let junkmail
build its
castles in the
hush of other
people’s halls.
— excerpt from
How to Leave the
World that
Worships should
The city council
commissioned Ros Barber to
write eight new poems –
entitled Seaside Sonnets –
about life and the characters
along Herne Bay seafront. All
the poems will be published
on a series of seaside
postcards and will be on sale
later in the year.
Seaside Sonnets was set up
to launch the city council’s
three-year ‘A Way With
Words’ literature strategy.
The initiative aims to
support and inspire literary
residencies and events
across the district.
From nought to ninety-two,
Spring Lane is the place to be
Spring Lane Neighbourhood
Centre in Canterbury is proud
of its claim that it offers
something for all ages.
The centre’s youngest addition,
little Thomas Thornton,
(pictured) at just nine weeks
old, regularly attends the
Jelly Tots parent and toddler
group held every Wednesday
morning.
The oldest visitor to the centre
is Mrs Dorothy Galvin, aged
92, (pictured) who drops in
every Wednesday afternoon
for the Good Companions
Club. Quite an age range!
There are many other
activities held at Spring Lane,
from coffee mornings to youth groups, and much more.
For more information about groups and activities please
call Canterbury City Council’s Neighbourhood Centres
Team on 01227 477 960.
Tackling problems before they start
Children’s services have an exciting
new focus in the Canterbury district,
with the launch of a new ‘preventative
strategy’ for children and young
people to prevent problems before
they develop.
The work aims to improve the
opportunities for children and young
people to live safe, happy, successful
lives. It will tackle lots of different issues
including drug and alcohol abuse, the
number of children admitted to hospital,
teenage pregnancy, domestic violence,
leisure activities, crime, homelessness,
school achievement, and family support.
Canterbury City Council, education,
Social Services, health, Kent County
Council Youth and Community and
not-for-profit organisations are
working together on the ‘District
Children and Young Person’s Planning
Group’. The aim is to develop services
designed to stop these issues
becoming a problem for local
children. One example is reducing the
number of young people who are
involved in anti-social behaviour, by
increasing the number attending
organised leisure activities.
budget, and leaving little to spend on
This common sense approach can be
a real challenge though: working with
children and young people when
problems have already arisen tends to
be expensive – often using up the
suzanne.mullin@canterbury.gov.uk
services to prevent problems
happening in the first place.
More than 100 professionals who
attended the launch in May were
asked for their ideas on what could be
done. The Planning Group now wants
to involve local children, young people
and parents in developing services.
Anyone interested should contact Sue
Mullin on 01227 862 517 or e-mail
Copies of the strategy are available
from Sandra Stuart on 01227 825 350
or e-mail sandra.stuart@kent.gov.uk
17/08/2004
09:41
Page 24
17/08/2004
09:42
Page 25
News round up
Peter Cushing:
the man behind
the screen
Photo by Anita Clarke
Whitstable’s most
famous resident
is being
celebrated 10
years after his
death in a new
exhibition at the
town’s museum,
organised by the
city council’s
Museums and
Galleries Service.
Herne Bay pictured in the First World War
Remembering
a town at war
The displays give
a taste of the
many films and
plays in which
Peter Cushing
Peter Cushing at a Pirie & Cavender book signing
took part. They
gentleman. A number of his
include letters from stars of
stunning watercolours and
stage and screen who
hand-painted scarves are on
numbered Cushing among
display.
their friends. But above all,
the show focuses on the
To coincide with the
man behind the screen:
exhibition, the Friends of
artist, cartoonist, designer,
Whitstable Museum have
model-maker and courteous published a special new
Photo by Colin Bourner
town trail that visits Peter
Cushing’s favourite walks,
shops and cafes. This is on
sale at the museum and
bookshops.
Peter Cushing with bike and
Helen’s rose
The exhibition continues
until 6 November. Whitstable
Museum and Gallery is in
Oxford Street, next to the
Visitor Information Centre,
and is open Mondays to
Saturdays 10am to 4pm.
Admission is free.
Ninety years after Herne Bay men joined the military callup in 1914, and in remembrance of the many who died
during the First World War, a special exhibition will explore
the impact that the Great War had on the lives of Herne
Bay people.
Through documents, photographs, newspaper cuttings and
memorabilia, the displays will reflect the initial optimism
and bravado, the increasing casualties on the Front, and the
conditions at home with rationing and air raids.
Exhibits on show will include photographs of Belgian
soldiers nursed by women of the Voluntary Aid
Detachment in Herne Bay (from an album recently
donated to the museum), and ration cards, air-raid notices
and other documents loaned by the Herne Bay Historical
Records Society.
Especially moving are the extracts from school yearbooks
and newspapers, with names of Herne Bay soldiers and
their fates as the war progressed. It also comes as a shock
to see barbed wire along the coast by Herne Bay’s
Clocktower, in case of invasion.
The exhibition takes place at Herne Bay Museum and
Gallery and from 6 November 2004 to 22 January 2005.
If you have family stories, letters or photographs to
contribute, please contact the city council’s Museums and
Galleries Service by leaving your details with Herne Bay
Museum and Gallery on 01227 367 368 (or e-mail
martin.crowther@canterbury.gov.uk).
17/08/2004
09:42
Page 26
News round up
Getting to the root of family trees
Visitors to Herne Bay Museum and Gallery
enjoyed a day of delving into the past. Experts
and enthusiasts gathered to share information
about researching family and house history –
a fast-growing interest in Britain.
Visitors were offered the chance to learn
about family trees, research techniques and
the internet, and were able to look at old
photos and maps of the town.
All children attending that day were given
a free family history quiz sheet.
Herne Bay Museum is open Mondays to
Saturdays, 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.
Museum staff (Martin Crowther and Manda Gifford)
with visitors and exhibitors from the Kent Family
History Society (Derek Drury) and the Cathedral and
City Archivist (Cressida Annesley). The young visitors
enjoyed the free quiz sheets!
Tom and Andrew are hitting the right note
Two people with local links have been selected to as
Fellows of the prestigious Clore Leadership – an exciting
new initiative from the Clore Duffield Foundation,
established to strengthen leadership across the UK’s
cultural sector.
the leadership skills and experience of each individual.
Andrew said: "To be awarded a Clore Fellowship is a real
honour. I'm looking forward to using the new skills
acquired on its programme when working in the
Canterbury area in the future."
Tom Andrews and Andrew Missingham are two people of
an elite 27 who have been chosen.
Fellows have the option of remaining with their present
employers, or receiving a full-time scholarship with
financial support. Tom Andrews was awarded one of three
places for the youth music programme, resulting from his
outstanding work with music educators from Africa, the
Caribbean and Asia, providing interactive workshops and
performances, community projects and information.
Tom (34) lives in Canterbury, and was formerly the Chief
Executive and founder of Music for Change, a Kent-based
community music project that raises awareness and
understanding of other cultures through music.
Andrew (37) is the city council’s cultural industries
consultant from The Hub. The Hub offers creative
production and fundraising, mainly in music and
contemporary dance.
Along with the other Clore Leadership Fellows, Tom and
Andrew were chosen for their in-depth experience and
expertise in their particular areas.
Fellows are selected annually, from the cultural sector or
beyond, to undertake a year-long programme of work,
research, training and secondment, designed to develop
District Life offers competitive advertising
rates for companies providing services
that serve the community.
To advertise in District Life, contact
Steve James on 01227 862 060 or e-mail
steve.james@canterbury.gov.uk Rate cards
and further information can be found online
at www.districtlife.co.uk
17/08/2004
09:43
Page 27
My life
A passion for the history of our city
After more than 45 years of guiding, lecturing and teaching in and around
Canterbury, Marjorie Lyle has unquestionably made a mighty contribution to local
history and archaeology. Matt Hoople finds out more...
From crystal balls in Saxon graves to
lectures on the Dissolution of the
Monasteries, Marjorie Lyle's expertise
has brought history to life for
thousands in the classroom, in print,
and on television and radio. At 78, her
enthusiasm for telling the stories of
the past remains infectious.
Eye problems brought early retirement
from her post as Head of Humanities
at Geoffrey Chaucer School in 1979.
Marjorie had previously taught history
at Barton Court School and Dover Girls
Grammar schools and lectured at the
University of Kent's School of
Continuing Education.
"After many years in teaching I needed
a new cause," she said.
That new cause came in the form of
fund-raising for the re-established
Canterbury Archaeological Trust, an
interest close to her heart. Along with
her husband, Lawrence, Marjorie was
instrumental in setting up a shop selling
used clothing to fund the activities of
the trust.
The Archaeological Areas Act of 1979
had highlighted the urgent need for a
professional conservation body at a
time of expansion and change in the
city centre.
Marjorie said: "I had to borrow a large
amount from the bank and the city
council to buy the shop as a fundraising outlet for the trust. Rents were
very high and I was fortunate to be
able to buy the property outright."
When the shop finished trading in
1992, Marjorie had more than paid off
the loans with a combination of rent
from student flats on the first floor and
impressive clothing sales. A letter of
thanks she received on the eventual
sale of the property estimated that the
shop had contributed more than a
quarter of a million pounds to the
trust's purse.
Marjorie's family history is as colourful as
the front cover of one of the children's
novels she has written. She has variously
uncovered evidence of slave-trading
and anti-slavery campaigning in her
family in the 18th and 19th Centuries.
Majorie and Lawrence’s professional
partnership has weaved
entrepreneurial spirit, fervent historical
interest and editorial exchanges. Their
publishing partnership, under the
Chough Press label, has enjoyed
success with healthy sales of Marjorie's
four books.
Woolworth's and announced to one of
the assistants that she was standing on
the site of an illegal Mint. She told him
that mints were in the next aisle!"
According to Marjorie, the motivation
for her own broad and inspirational
career is simple.
"I believe that people should be in
tune with where they have come
from, and this is the key to knowing
yourself. Whether it be selling politics
to sleeping voters or education to
reluctant children, the key is
communication."
Her 12 grandchildren would agree
that she has communicated better
than most. The thousands who have
at some stage heard Marjorie in a
classroom, lecture hall or in one of
Canterbury's streets, would certainly
fall into line behind them.
A celebrated archaeological history of
Canterbury for English Heritage was
the first major project published in
1992. Latest on the shelves is a reworking of the murder of Archbishop
Thomas Becket in 1170, as seen
through the eyes of a servant boy.
Majorie said: "After the English
Heritage book my husband suggested
that I turn to spinning history into
stories for children. Originally the
stories were only intended for my
grandchildren. The book is my heart
child."
"A real inspiration to me was the
one-time Canterbury archivist,
William Urry. I first met him in the
high street carrying a sign
salvaged from the Fleur de Lis inn.
He told me he once went into
17/08/2004
10:49
Page 29
News round up
Richard marks
20 years of song
Dr Richard Cooke
When Dr Richard Cooke was interviewed for the post of
Conductor of Canterbury Choral Society 20 years ago he said
he wanted the job so he could "conduct the great choral
works in that magnificent building". The building was
Canterbury Cathedral, and Richard has been conducting there
ever since.
At the age of eight he became a chorister of St Paul's
Cathedral and was later a choral scholar at Cambridge
University where he was invited at the age of 20 to become
the assistant conductor of the University Orchestra under the
direction of David Willcocks.
His conducting skills were further recognised when at an
early stage he conducted the prestigious University
Chamber Orchestra.
As well as his role with Canterbury Choral Society he is
Music Director of the Royal Choral Society and has held
similar posts with the London Symphony Orchestra and
the London Philharmonic Choir.
Richard's work in Canterbury has given him much pleasure,
with the 200-strong choir responding well to his leadership
and going from strength to strength. The Choral Society has
strong links with The Canterbury Festival and one of the
highlights of this year's festival will be Bernstein's Chichester
Psalms and Bartok's Cantata Profana. The society's next
concert season will include a performance of Elgar's The
Apostles which will be recorded in the cathedral on 22
January 2005.
When asked to name the highlights of his 20 years he
quotes Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Bach B minor Mass,
Mahler 8, Britten's War Requiem, Brahms and Verdi but says
each new work to be performed by this wonderful choir is a
challenge he relishes.
Get on your bike
and beat the jam
Four guided cycle rides are being organised around
Canterbury this month designed with novice cyclists in
mind, and aimed at highlighting how to get around the
city quickly and safely while avoiding motor traffic.
The rides are circular, starting and finishing at the city council
offices in Military Road. The rides take place at 10am and
1pm on Saturday 18
September and Sunday 19
September.
For more information
contact Andy McNally on
01227 713 285 or Beatrice
Shire on 01227 766 782, of
Spokes, the East Kent Cycle
Campaign.
Holding back the floods
Canterbury City Council's Sea Defences Team
will be holding a public exhibition at
Whitstable's Horsebridge Arts and
Community Centre from
30 September to 5 October.
Displays will show flood
prevention measures which
have been implemented between
Whitstable Harbour and Faversham Creek over the
past few years, and reveal future plans. Engineers
will be on hand to answer any questions.
17/08/2004
09:45
Page 30
Getting older doesn’t mean he’ll
definitely need more help, but
with Lifeline, Edward knows it’s
there if he needs it.
For more information, call 01227 862 540, log on to
our website at www.canterbury.gov.uk/lifeline, or
e-mail lifeline@canterbury.gov.uk
17/08/2004
09:46
Page 31
A Feast of Festivals
Something for everyone!
Canterbury is to play host to a ‘Feast
of Festivals’ this autumn, with three
major events offering
everything from food
and drink to arts, crafts
and culture.
a mix of jazz, folk, blues and
world music. The festival ends
with a spectacular lantern
procession that winds its way
through the city centre streets.
Rounding off the ‘Feast of
Festivals’ is the Eurofair, from 26
The season started with
to 28 November. Stallholders
the British Food
from across Europe will
Festival, which took
bring speciality food and
place in the Dane John
drink and arts and crafts
Garden at the beginning
to Canterbury, providing
of September.
the ideal opportunity
Hot on the heels of
to buy some
the best in food
Christmas presents
and drink comes the
Rebecca Carrington who is
with a difference.
Canterbury Festival,
appearing in the festival club
Laden tables and packed
providing arts and
stalls offer the chance to sample a
culture at locations across the district.
With more than 200 events between 9 huge variety of meats, wines,
cheeses, bread and patisserie
and 24 October, the whole family will
spead out in the Dane John Garden,
find something that appeals.
echoing the role played when hosting
The programme includes dance,
fairs during the reign of Charles II.
theatre, opera, comedy, exhibitions,
The ‘Feast of Festivals’ package has been
walks, talks and children’s events at
put together by Canterbury City Council,
locations around the city, classical
Canterbury City Management Limited
concerts at Canterbury Cathedral and
the ever-popular festival club featuring and the Canterbury Festival team.
Enjoy great British and European produce at Canterbury’s Eurofair
For more information, ring the
Canterbury Information Centre on
01227 378 100, or visit
www.canterburyfestival.co.uk
(Canterbury Festival) or
www.canterbury.co.uk/ccm (British
Food Festival and Eurofair).
Bufaplanetes (Pep Bou) will be a highlight of the
Canterbury Festival
17/08/2004
09:46
Page 32
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