Birchington Man Shed
For the past 9 months, we have been at one of the local halls in Birchington. That served us well until we became too big for it and from that small beginning we have grown and have become an established part of the Birchington Community.
We recently collected the keys and moved into our new permanent home at the Craft Village on Quex. It is going to be hard work, as we now have to fit it out with benches, cupboards and machinery. If you would like to join us and become part of the team that builds the new Man Shed’s home you are more than welcome. We are getting close to operating as a fully functional workshop. Some of our members are that dedicated we even had eight of us working on the hottest day so far this year. We are sorting out the storage area and then we can bring the rest of our machines and materials up to the Man Shed.
We have been given several grants, and each of them has helped in advancing our cause. The National Lottery Community Fund has been very generous as has the Kent Community Fund, Social Enterprise Kent and South East Steel. Along with the support from all of the local businesses and people who have been so kind in donating gifts and tools etc. The Man Shed is now in a strong position to grow its membership and look forward to a rosy future.
We all feel the move to Quex Craft Village is a good move and we can only grow. There are plans to open longer hours and for more days in the week as we evolve. Some days will be noisy with all of the lathes, saws and woodworking going on so we are going to have quieter days too. Model railway and model making will be available on this day along with the computer centre.
We will be having a guest dropping in to help us old codgers understand the devices we use now. From mobiles to smart phones, tablets to laptops. If you want to improve your IT knowledge, join us at the Man Shed at Quex.
We are aiming for Monday 25th July when we can open and start taking new members and at the end of August we will be holding our official ‘Opening Day’. Tell you more about that soon.
Broadstairs Probus Club
Broadstairs Probus Club is a friendly group for retired and semi -retired men over 55 who have been involved in a Professional or Business working life and who currently live in the Broadstairs area.
Our recent monthly meeting was held to celebrate The Queen`s Platinum Jubilee . Members and their Guests, Wives and Partners comprising 31 people gathered at The Yarrow Hotel where the Chef put together a special menu for the occasion. As usual, The President Dr. Ian Brooman was in charge of proceedings and provided the main Jubilee Raffle prize of a Bottle of Champagne which was won by one of our oldest members , 92 year old John Herbert . The entertainment was provided by The President and the Vice-President , Michael Bon, who gave a humourous dialogue about what it was like growing up in the 40`s, 50s and 60s and how things have changed , particularly for young people . Everyone present was thoroughly amused with this entertaining interlude .
The President announced that it was suggested that wine should be put on the table at the Club`s expense but, instead, The Club had decided to make a donation of £100 to The Broadstairs Food Bank . However, Union flags were on the table and the lunch ended with everybody singing a resounding God Save The Queen and Three Cheers for the Queen.
The Club meets for a Coffee Morning on the second Tuesday of every month and for a formal Lunch on the fourth Tuesday of every month at The Yarrow Hotel. If you are interested in finding out more about the Club, or perhaps trying out a free Coffee Morning, please contact Rogan Montgomery-Smith on 01843 603939 or email him on [email protected] for further details.
Ramsgate Week
The Mayor of Ramsgate Raushan Ara visited our race hut team at the end of the East Pier this morning to officially start Euromarine Insurance Ramsgate Week 2022.
With the rest of the country sweltering in the heat, the end of the pier provided a cooling breeze for her to watch the yachts as they started the racing.
Then it was up to the race hut to meet the team under the guidance of Race Officer Peter Holland from Broadstairs Sailing Club, who control the largest fleet of inshore cruiser yachts.
Meanwhile the offshore IRC fleet were being started from a committee boat out to sea under Principle Race Officer Dr Brearley and his team.
Thirty seven yachts in total were out on the water, with European yachts joining us for the first time since covid.
Dreamland Heritage Trust
The Trust has opened its first post-lockdown exhibition.
Dreamsenses launches tomorrow (July 22) at Dreamland Margate and is a sensory exploration of 100 years of Dreamland and the Scenic Railway. The exhibition is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
It features artwork from the creative industries students from the Canterbury School of Visual Arts at Canterbury College and EKC Broadstairs, who have been working in collaboration with the Dreamland Heritage Trust to create designs based on the history and heritage of the park.
The DreamSenses summer exhibition is in the main entrance concourse at Dreamland and will be open until Sunday 4 September and is open during the parks opening hours.
Entry to the exhibition is free.