Tokon Tigers Karate Club
Members of the Tokon Tigers Karate Club, based in Ramsgate, delivered donated crafts and toys for children in the Rainbow Ward at QEQM Hospital in December.
“We wanted to bring a little festive spirit to those having to spend Christmas on the ward,” said Club Sensei Barry Tullett. “We have a lovely group of children who when asked immediately brought in gifts.”
The club runs on Tuesday evening in Centenary Hall, Hardres Street. If anyone would like to give karate a try please contact Barry on 07790325972.
The Independent Vindicatrix of East Kent Association – M.N.
We held our first quarterly meeting of 2024 at The Racing Greyhound in Ramsgate on January 11th; with a usual number attending. This month sees us enter our 30th; year of operation and the Secretary thanked all members, colleagues and supporters for making this possible.
Our Sick Bay list was read out which is getting longer each time. Thanks were given to all who sent us Christmas greetings from the UK and overseas and health reports were given on a few who notified the Secretary.
A report was given on our attendance at the Ramsgate RBL “Festival of Remembrance” held in October 2023 which was a great success. A report was also given on the “Armistice Day” service at the St. Peter’s CWGC Cemetery and the “Remembrance Day” parade at Ramsgate, again well represented.
It is hoped that we will receive details of this years “Channel Dash Commemoration” service at Ramsgate soon from the Ramsgate RNA. An update was given on the annual New Year Dinner which sadly has had to be cancelled due to ongoing work at the venue following the recent fire.
Reports were given on the ongoing maintenance of HMS Unicorn built in 1824 but never saw action and the future of the HMQS Wellington on the River Thames, and the demise of the last steam powered Sealink Ferry “Caledonian Princess” which was scrapped in Turkey in 2008.
Sad news was given on our colleague Phil Mason in Australia who suddenly “crossed the bar” recently and his Australian M.N. newsletters will be missed.
A report was given on our donation to the MacMillan Cancer Trust and of the message of thanks received from them.
Finally members were informed by the Secretary that due to the number of active local members now and the increasing number of Sick Bay members it is no longer viable to continue our association bearing in mind our ages range from 78 to 97 years of age. Reminders were given of what we have achieved over the years and of the visits, the weekend breaks we’ve had and the parades attended.
To all members, colleagues in other associations and all supporters we thank you all. We will hold a final meeting on April 11th; to formally fold the association after 30 good years.
Thanet Collaborative Network
After the success of our Thanet business teams call at the end of the year, we (Tim Johnston and Karen Brinkman Tvhs) have decided to run another teams call for local businesses on January 25th at 7pm. We will provide different times monthly to make sure no one misses out.
Our networking calls are for everyone who is in business locally, there is no restriction on type of company and as this is all about collaboration, two or more of the same industry are more than welcome.
This is a great (and free) opportunity for you to get to know other local businesses and to see how we can collaborate in 2024.
If you’re interested in attending the teams call the link for the call is below and all are welcome to join.
https://teams.live.com/meet/9462913047198?p=pblecxxUxerQgR9s
QEQM Hospital League of Friends
New window blinds we funded, a few of which are shown, have just been fitted in the Hospital’s St. Augustine’s Ward. We are delighted staff working on the Ward, who say they look “amazing”, are so pleased with them.
The Ward has patients living with dementia and confusion as well as medically ill older patients. The new blinds help to provide privacy & dignity and additionally they are colour-coded to match the bays which are coloured red, green yellow & blue, helping the patients locate the bay they are staying in.
Financing items like this is only possible thanks to our supporters’ kind donations and fundraising. Please help us if you can – information on how to do so can be found on the Donations section of our website www.qeqmfriends.com
The Pet Room Food Bank
We have been running since September and have helped over 60 families.
We help in emergency situations for short periods and cover the Thanet area. We do this to try and avoid animals being dumped or put into shelters and give people peace of mind that their animals will be helped.
We are a team of 6 volunteers and deliver the food to people. We have been relying solely on food donations and have a gofundme.
Over Christmas the demand was immense and we are running low on donations, we are desperate for more pet food. Drop off point at Briar House Veterinary Practice in Broadstairs.
We are also looking for businesses who wouldn’t mind being a drop off for us. We have one in Broadstairs but a Margate one and a Ramsgate one would be super helpful.
We work on self referral and people just need to message the page https://www.facebook.com/thepetroomfoodbank
Jo Byrne started the group and is joined by Penny Wilson, Laura Sullivan, Natasha Bizarra, Nikki Bott and Nicky Mann We all use our own cars and fuel. Each of us lives in different areas of Thanet So we can get supplies to the most in need
We have a wish list at https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2B4562IOQMQM7?
And our gofundme at https://www.gofundme.com/f/making-sure-no-pets-go-hungry?
Relative search
I am looking to find a long lost relative. My cousin is called Brian Mantle, it could also be Brian George Mantle. I am his cousin Gillian, daughter of Aunt Nora and Uncle Reg, who lived in the coastal Thanet area. The last I heard of him he was living in Ramsgate but sadly I had no address. If anybody can give me a clue of his whereabouts 01480 432653/ 07950 002777 it would be appreciated.
I have been trying to locate Brian without success for at least a decade and would be delighted to hear from him.
Gillian De Winter-Shepphard
Margate Rotary Club
Margate Rotary Club members and friends would like to thank the Margate communities that supported our Christmas Santa sleigh rounds and collections between the 4th and 14th December. The generosity of people on the Palm Bay, Milmead and Poets Corner estates helped us raise £1831.04.
In addition, on the 16th December the Santa sleigh visited Morrisons supermarket, where £635.36 was donated. Our thanks to customers of the square and the staff at Morrisons for their support.
On Christmas Day we provided 50 Christmas meals with some treats to the elderly and vulnerable in the community. The meals were prepared by the Pavilion at Broadstairs and we thank the manager Dan and his staff for their support in this venture. Financial assistance was also provided by Social Enterprise Kent.
Residue from our collections will now support the youth of the community through our youth art competition in May, grants to those in need and reading initiatives in schools. We also support the food banks and the Mamma-to-mamma charity helping those facing tough times with new babies as well as other groups and local causes.
Margate Rotary put back everything we raise into good causes both locally and internationally.
We wish everyone a very Happy New Year.
Margate Inner Wheel
The Inner Wheel Club of Margate started their 90th year with birthday celebrations in the beautiful garden of Past President Joy. A splendid lunch prepared by members with a glass or two to wish all well for the year ahead and marking 90 wonderful years was enjoyed by all including various members from local clubs and District Chairman Chris Head-Rapson who presented the club with their certificate.
The afternoon finished with tea and scrumptious birthday cake.
Plants and goods on sale in these delightful surroundings helped swell the coffers raising funds for charities PDSA and RNLI. A delightful time in lovely surroundings with lovely friends; a wonderful way to celebrate 90 years.
In October we were visited by John Ray from the charity RNLI who talked to us of the history of the RNLI, their boats and the need for funds. A visit will be made to the local RNLI station in the Spring.
To help raise funds a Silent Auction evening was held at the Indoor Bowls Centre with 67 guests and over 130 items ready for bids. Fun was had by all and a fantastic amount raised.
A fun afternoon of Bingo was enjoyed, raising funds for local women’s refuge Oasis.
In November our club joined other clubs from the district to raise funds for the international charity “Book Bus”. Our club’s theme was Peter Rabbit and members wore bunny ears with Peter Rabbit bunnies everywhere. Succulents were for sale and nearly all were sold except for three raising a lovely amount for the Book Bus.
We regularly collect items for the charity Operation Sunshine which helps hospitals, schools and nurseries in Zambia.
Association of Inner Wheel celebrates 100 years in 2024. On January 10th all Thanet Clubs, Broadstairs, Margate and Westgate & Birchington met for a tea and cakes hosted by the Inner Wheel Club of Westgate & Birchington this year to celebrate 100 years of the Inner Wheel Association since its formation in Manchester. Contributions were collected from all clubs for the local food bank and over 400 items were collected.
Trips to the cinema are to be arranged and our annual crazy golf event are just a couple of events to look forward to.
Our club meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 2-4pm at St Trinity Church, Cliftonville. If you would like to meet us, please email [email protected]
Westgate & Birchington Inner Wheel
January 10th 2024 was the 100th anniversary of Inner Wheel.
To celebrate this momentous anniversary, Westgate & Birchington Inner Wheel, decided to organise a ‘Coffee and Cake’ afternoon, on January 10th, in Kearns Hall, Minnis Bay. The other 2 Thanet clubs, Broadstairs and Margate, were invited to join us for this celebration!
The clubs were invited to bring friends, and instead of a donation towards the tea/coffee/cakes etc, were asked to bring gifts for ‘Storehouse’ the food bank in Birchington.
The national slogan this year is ‘At the heart of the community for 100 years’. Blue hearts with the 100 years logo on were placed on each table as placemats. Cakes were made with the 100 slogan on and everyone enjoyed a delicious selection. All clubs in GB and Ireland were set the task of doing ‘100 for 100’ activities. We hoped to be able to collect 300 items, which would have been 100 for each IW club. A raffle was also held which raised £180 for local charities. The initiative was so successful that we managed to amass over 500 items. These were divided up and on Thursday morning, 2 cars fully laden with items assembled, delivered them to ‘Storehouse’.
The international slogan for this year is ‘Shine a Light’. We want to shine a light on people and places which don’t get enough attention, and also by doing that increase our ‘recognised presence’ in our own area. Yellow stars were also placed on the tables with the ‘Shine a light’ logo on.
What is Inner Wheel?
Inner Wheel was started by a group of Rotary wives led by Margarette Golding in Manchester on January 10th 1924. They wanted to be able to help local people and charities in the same way as their Rotary husbands. The Rotary club didn’t want them to use the same logo so they invented the ‘Wheel within the Rotary Wheel’ hence Inner Wheel.
The objects of Inner Wheel are:
To promote true friendship Clubs meet regularly and have a full and varied programme through which friendships form and flourish. Visiting other clubs and joining in their activities broadens the opportunity to make new friends.
To encourage the ideals of personal service Inner Wheel clubs have an outstanding record of service to the community. In the year, 2022 to 2023 £522,013.36 was raised by IW for charitable causes within GB & I. All this is carried out in the spirit of friendship.
To foster international understanding
International Inner Wheel was formed in 1967 and the clubs have since spread to 104 countries with over 108,000 members worldwide. In the year 2022 to 2023, £251,431. was raised for international charitable causes.
Westgate & Birchington Inner Wheel club was formed in 1983, and in October we celebrated our 40th Anniversary, with 3 of our original members, who cut a celebration cake.
In May members from all over the world will be attending the Manchester Convention. It is fitting that in our 100th anniversary year, our Convention should be held where it all began.
If you want to know more please contact Hazel on 01843 833565 or 07889655497
Past and Present church sale
Saturday 24th February 2024
10am – 1pm at St Nicholas at Wade Church
Stalls including: bric-a-brac, glassware, toys, clothing, jewellery and books.
Tea, coffee and cake will be available.
Kent Fire & Rescue
Volunteers at Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) are dedicated, motivated and compassionate individuals, who make a big difference to the people they help and support.
And to start the new year, KFRS is looking for new recruits to join its growing team of volunteers to help saves lives and make Kent and Medway a safe place to live and work.
Vicky Trinkwon joined as a seasonal events volunteer last year after her two children became teenagers and she found herself with extra time during school holidays.
Vicky said: “I love being a volunteer. It’s fun, engaging and everyone around you just wants to help.
“Interacting with the people you meet at events gives you such a good feeling that you’ve given back to the community in some way. It could be the simplest task of teaching a child how to call 999 in an emergency that can help to make a big difference one day.
“If you’ve got the time and you want to give something back, then be a volunteer. It’s the best thing you’ll do.”
The roles available include events volunteers, which will include playing a pivotal part at a range of occasions, from fire station open days and award ceremonies, to hosting pop-up stalls at shopping centre stalls and school fetes.
There’s also the option of being a seasonal events volunteer, like Vicky, to assist during busier months, such as school holidays.
The event volunteers provide valuable support by interacting with the public and delivering life-saving information to people of all ages.
The other roles available are within the volunteer response team (VRT).
Dedicated VRT members offer support 24/7, 365 days a year, at a range of emergencies, where they provide welfare to crews and invaluable support to people who have been impacted, such as someone who has had a house fire.
The team provide reassurance and advice to people who have been affected by an incident, as well as working in partnership with agencies such as utility companies, charities and local authorities, to ensure the necessary assistance is available.
KFRS Volunteering Manager Jess Antoniou said: “The range of volunteering opportunities we have is so varied, giving people the opportunity to use their skills, meet new people, gain invaluable experience, and help us to save lives through prevention and education in the wider community.
“It takes an inspirational person to be a volunteer and we’re fortunate to have a great team here at KFRS, which we’re excited to be expanding with these new vacancies. Our ethos is to love what you do, and that’s exactly what we do as volunteers.”
Applications can be submitted until Tuesday, 6 February 2024.
