The Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum
The Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum hosted a combined group from BLESMA – The Limbless Veterans (London & South East Region) & The Forces Fundraisers based in Minster.
The visit was hosted by two of the Museum’s RAF veterans Steve & Dennis who conducted a tour of the Museum and also gave a number of the group an opportunity to try their hand at the Manston Spitfire Experience Spitfire Simulator. Flying from Biggin Hill over London and landing at either London Heathrow or London City Airport. The group also had lunch in the new Spitfire Cafe.
The museum would welcome enquiries from other groups for visits on Mondays and if you would like to arrange such a visit please contact [email protected].
Oasis Domestic Abuse Service
Oasis Domestic Abuse Service has been named community charity of 2022 in the Kent Charity Awards.
The service helps adult and child victims of domestic abuse across Kent and Medway
A spokesperson for Oasis said: “We were delighted to receive Community Charity of the Year 2022 at the Kent Charity Awards and to have the Judges recognise our work in the Kent Community. This is a tribute to the passion, compassion, dedication, expertise and sheer hard work of everyone in our organisation.
“Awards like this help us to highlight the cause and they tell those experiencing domestic abuse that there are organisations out there that will help them.”
The Independent Vindicatrix of East Kent Association – Merchant Navy.
We held our quarterly meeting at The Racing Greyhound on October 6th; when we had a lot to discuss. Our sick bay list continues to grow and we wished all on it a swift recover to good health. A report was given on our “late” member Leon Martin who “crossed the bar” recently and we attended with our Standard Bearer leading him in and his family thanked us for doing that. A report was given on our failure to attend the re-arranged HMS “Truculent” Commemoration service this year due to train strikes.
We have accepted an invitation to attend the Dedication of the Ramsgate RNA Standard on October 16th; at St; George’s Church in Ramsgate. A full report was given on the local M.N. Day events with sincere thanks given to the Mayors of Ramsgate, Margate, Birchington and Broadstairs for flying our Red Ensign on the day. It raised many questions from the public. Our thanks also went to the Margate Sea Cadet / Royal Marine Unit for the M.N. Day event they put on at the unit. Our Secretary gave an interview on BBC Radio Kent to talk about M.N. Day which he hoped enlightened the public’s mind. We travelled by coach again to our M.N. Memorial at Tower Hill the following day where our major parade takes place each year and the day went well.
We will be attending the Ramsgate Remembrance Day parade in November again. Reports were given on the closure of the Australian Vindicatrix Associations due to the problem of lack of members due to age / sickness, a problem we may have in the future. Our future was discussed with a majority voting to continue our association. We have also planned for our 2023 annual dinner with details to be given when available.
Our next meeting will be at The Racing Greyhound on January 12th; 2023 and we welcome any ex-merchant seafarers to join us.
Westgate & Birchington Inner Wheel
Westgate & Birchington Inner Wheel is inviting all to take part in a wine and wisdom quiz in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care.
The quiz takes place on November4 at Kearns Hall, Grenham Bay Avenue, Minnis Bay, from 6.30pm for a 7pm start.
Tickets are £7.50 and include supper. Bring your own drinks. Tables of 8 or just come along and join with others.
To book contact Hazel on 01843 833565 or 07889655497 or email [email protected]
The Friends of St Nicholas at Wade Church
The Friends are holding a Christmas craft and charity fair on Saturday, November 19, 10am-2pm at the church.
Craft, charity and cake stalls will be on offer. Tea and coffee can be purchased and a ploughman’s lunch will be available between noon and 1.30pm. Free entry.
Save Our NHS in Kent (SONIK)
If you like classical music and want to support Kent’s health campaigners, come to the Red Hall in Broadstairs on Saturday 15 October at 7pm.
The much praised, Kent-based Lunaire String Quartet will be performing an evening of music including Purcell, Elgar and an exciting contemporary piece by Sally Beamish.
The concert is a fundraiser for campaign group Save Our NHS in Kent (SONIK).
Christine Tongue of SONIK said: “We’re really pleased to have these highly talented professional local musicians performing in Broadstairs. As well as a great and entertaining evening, I hope this is going to make a valuable contribution to the campaign to save our NHS from the extremely difficult challenges it faces.”
Christine added: “If you like high quality classical music and want to support a really important cause please come and join us.”
