Thanet Disabled Riding Centre
Thank you to all who came and supported us at our Carol Service on December 17th. The total raised was £702.59 and it was our best turn out ever.
Thanks again to the Thanet Concert Band for the music and to Elmwood Farm for bringing their lovely donkeys and sheep.
Ramsgate RNLI
On a cold but dry evening hundreds of visitors flocked to Ramsgate Royal Harbour to see Santa be taken around the inner harbour on the front of the outgoing lifeboat Esme Anderson.
This was a suggestion by the volunteer crew to support the Ramsgate Illuminations Event when the boat owners who moor in the harbour, voluntarily light up their boats, and barges for Christmas. They start lighting up as weather permits from early December and remain lit until early January.
The Illuminations started nine years ago when just four boats lit up and has grown to sixty boats a year lighting up, attracting visitors from all over Kent. It’s all done in aid of the Ramsgate Lifeboat station, arranged and supported by the local Royal Temple Yacht Club, Ramsgate Town Council and Town team. The local businesses around the harbour, who benefit from the crowds of visitors, donate a fixed amount for each lit up boat to Ramsgate RNLI.
The Esme Anderson, Trent class, has been at Ramsgate for twenty nine years and has recently been taken off service as the Tamar class Diamond Jubilee takes over. Whilst she has been off service and before she goes to her new home at Eastbourne, it was a perfect opportunity to move her into the inner harbour, adorn her with lights and make her part of the Illuminations.
As well as the lit up Trent, the Tamar and the inshore lifeboat Claire and David Delves also toured the harbour making a spectacle for the crowds of young and old. Santa sat at the front ofEsme Anderson ringing his golden bell and shouting out Ho Ho Ho whilst Christmas carols rang out. The crew were dancing on the boat and there was a lovely atmosphere with young children screaming with excitement and waving frantically.
Coxswain Ian Cannon said: “My volunteer crew wanted to say thank you to the people of Ramsgate for all of their support over the years, and also provide a festive memory for the children, including their own children who are in the crowds. It’s also a fabulous last memory with our beloved lifeboat Esme Anderson which has kept us safe and served us well for nearly thirty years.”
Thanks
Ramsgate Lifeboat would like to express their sincere thanks to the ladies section of North Foreland Golf Club for their donation of £1550.00.
The Club’s 2023 Ladies Captain Kathy Bracey chose Ramsgate RNLI as one her charities for the year due to her father’s association with the harbour as a member of the “small boat owners”.
Ramsgate RNLI archivist, John Ray, was invited to attend a concert of Christmas Carols at the golf club on the evening of Friday 15th. December where he received the cheque along with representatives of other chosen local charities.
Ramsgate illumination prizes
Thank you to everyone that came to the Illumination Prize Giving.
Hosted by the RTYC the evening started with a welcome by the Acting Commodore Karen Cox followed by a thank you by Eric Burton on behalf of the Ramsgate RNLI for whom the local businesses raise money.
Then Madam Mayor Pat Moore presented the awards to the following boats before a buffet which was served by Illumination Co-ordinator Andrew Ketteringham.
BARGES
2nd place Scone – sadly not present.
1st place Corry
YACHTS
2nd place Saje
1st place Diva
ARCHES
2nd place Something Fishy – sadly not present
1st place Coco Latino – sadly not present
MOTORBOAT
2nd place – High Hopes
1st place Full Pint – sadly not present
BEST OVERALL
2nd place Diva
1st place RNLB Esme Anderson
BEST EFFORT – a new prize for this year
Mariners Bar
Thank you to everyone who took part in a year where the atrocious weather conditions have delayed the decoration of boats.
Thank you to the Mayor of Ramsgate, Ramsgate Town Council, Ramsgate Town Team and the Royal Temple Yacht Club.
QEQM Hospital League of Friends
More than 3,000 babies born each year at the QEQM Hospital have their hearing tested soon after birth and the Newborn Hearing Screening Team are delighted with 2 new caretray trolleys we funded, one of which is shown with Team members Donna (left) & Hayley.
They replaced old heavy ones that were no longer fit for purpose and so benefit staff and the Hospital’s youngest patients. Newborn Hearing Screening Co-ordinator Helen Baldock said: “The trolleys are wonderful and we’re really feeling the benefit. We’re so grateful to have received them, especially as we rely on them 7 days a week.”
Funding items like these is only possible thanks to our supporters’ donations, fundraising & legacies. Please support us if you can – information on how you can do so is at www.qeqmfriends.com
Margate RNLI
Margate RNLI has received a generous donation of £8,000 from a local construction company after the lifeboat station was made its charity of the year.
Thanet-based WW Martin has spent 2023 raising funds for the life-saving team at Margate as part of its annual programme of fund-raising events for charities involving its clients and suppliers throughout the year.
Recently, Ian Posnett and Mike Darling, directors of WW Martin, handed over a cheque for £8,000 to volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Derek Amas at the lifeboat station, covering the events throughout the year including a pro/am golf day at Canterbury Golf Club, a go-karting day at Buckmore Park and a five-a-side football match at Ramsgate Football Club.
There is a special local connection between WW Martin and the lifeboat station with Derek Amas being a senior site manager with the construction company as well as the lifeboat station’s operations manager.
Derek Amas said: “Such support from the local business community is fantastic for us and provides vital contributions towards our work. We thank WW Martin for choosing RNLI Margate as their charity of the year and the generosity of those who contributed to the cause, the fruit of their efforts will go directly to our task of saving lives at sea.”
Mike Darling said: “Knowing first-hand the fantastic work that the RNLI undertakes through our connection with Derek, we are only too pleased to support Margate Lifeboat Station this year.”
Millmead Children’s Centre
Cost of living support sessions are offered at the centre in Dane Valley Road, Margate, on the first Tuesday of the month from 9.30am to midday.
Advice for benefits, housing and childcare included,
Book an appointment by emailing [email protected] or [email protected]
Also One You Kent offers fantastic and free support to those in Kent.
Lifestyle Advisors, Health Checks and Health MOTs, Weight Loss, Stop Smoking and Workplace Health. Contact them on 0300 123 1220 or visit www.oneyoukent.org.uk
New Tremeloes book
Famously signed to Decca instead of The Beatles, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes spent four years topping the charts, touring the world, and appearing in movies. Incredibly, when they split from their former lead singer, The Tremeloes went on to even greater success, with the four members – Alan, Dave, Rick & Chip – becoming one of those few bands (The Beatles & The Monkees among them) to be known just by their first names.
With exclusive interviews with band members and dozens of previously unseen photos, acclaimed music historian Peter Checksfield tells The Tremeloes’ story – via their many record releases – in his latest book.
Available now from Amazon, in hardback & e-book, & paperback
Peter said: “My thanks and gratitude go to Rick Westwood, Brian Poole, Aaron Woolley, John Berry, Philip Wright, Jeff Christie (Christie), William ‘Junior’ Campbell (Marmalade), Alan Lovell (The Swinging Blue Jeans) and Tony Hazzard (songwriter). Thanks also to Carol Hawkes – with the help of Len Hawkes – for answering questions on here, and to Joe Gillingham for the CDs!
“As well as the above sources, I’d like to thank the following people, for the photos, memorabilia and information: Dick Stoll, Bert Van Breda, Bren Goodwin, Jack Marsh, Rebecca Xibalba, Dawn Thompson, Noreen Rolph, Paul Trondl, Linda Knight, John Truman, Frank Connor, Scott Awcock, Tony Rees, Chris Bergner, Alan Dunbar, Hans Dieter, Haydn Jones, Geoff Coles, Chris Cornwell, Adam Smith, Valerie Slater, Ashley Wood, William McGregor, Michael Vogel, Grant Purcell, Kev Hunter, Hans Dieter Fickeisen, Jim McAlwane, Chris Cornwell, Trevor Cajiao and John Beecher (apologies if I’ve forgotten anyone!).”
Orbit
‘Secret Santa’ books are being donated to local families in Margate to help spread some festive cheer and promote reading and literacy.
The books which are being handed out by local housing provider Orbit at community events, are wrapped with brown paper to keep the contents a surprise and labelled with a clue about the story that hides inside. Orbit has donated more than 50 books suitable for readers of all ages.
Rosalie Cort, Community Connector for Orbit explains: “We’re attending community events as part of our drive to ensure that customers get any extra support that they need at this time of year with issues such as finances, energy bills and wellbeing.
“The idea behind the books is that families in need receive a Christmas gift that will hopefully ignite the joy of getting lost in a good story which supports literacy and reading too. It’s been lovely to see recipients being excited to receive a mystery book and looking forward to reading it at home!”
As part of its Better Days programme, Orbit offers free support to customers on a range of issues including financial inclusion, mental health, employment, skills and digital training. Customers struggling with their winter energy bills can also access Orbit’s energy advice service which provides specialist assistance from fuel poverty charity National Energy Action via telephone, face to face community events, home visits and energy saving packs.
For more information visit: www.orbitcustomerhub.org.uk/help-support
