Treetops Care Home
The residents at Treetops Care Home in Margate have been hard at work over the past six months on their latest charity initiative.
With the support of our community knitting champions (Claire and Elaine), they have woven and donated beautiful, colourful blankets. These handmade, beautiful blankets will be donated to Thanet Food Link, a fantastic local charity that assists those in need of food and household items, particularly important during these difficult winter months.
In the past, the care home has contributed toiletries, tinned food and sanitary products, but this year, we chose to focus on The Warm Winter Project as a meaningful gift to the community.
Dr. Misha Kathirgamanathan, director of Treetops Residential Home, expressed, “I’m incredibly proud of what the team have accomplished with the help of community volunteers. It’s vital to feel connected to the community, and we believe this is our way of giving back.”
St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School choir at QEQM
Fifteen pupils from St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School in Margate have delighted patients and staff with a rousing ninety-minute-long performance at the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital today (December 12).
The children, who had been practicing regularly for over a month, sang to patients in the hospital’s restaurant, at both the Ramsgate Road and St Peter’s Road receptions, in the outpatient’s department, on the maternity ward and on the Quex, St Margaret’s, Deal and Sandwich Bay wards.
St Gregory’s music lead Mr Gilbert lead the children in renditions of Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger and We Wish you a Merry Christmas, among other carols and Christmas songs.
East Kent Hospital’s Corporate Events and Engagement Manager Mandy Carliell, who arranged the visit, said: ‘We have had children from St Gregory’s performing at the hospital every year for over five years now. It’s always such a wonderful occasion. You can see patients and staff smiling, clapping and waving as we walk around the wards and the children’s beautiful performance brings real Christmas cheer to those who need it most. Being in hospital at this time of year can be understandably difficult, but days like today mean so much.
‘We also had the opportunity to tour the maternity ward and brought smiles to the faces of some very new parents and those waiting for their babies to be born. It was a huge success and we look forward to welcoming the children again very soon.’
The Ursuline College choir will be singing at the site on December 16, followed by a Christmas service that is open to the public at the hospital’s chapel on December 23 at 11.30am.
Margate Railway Station
Report and photos by John Horton
“Tis the season to be jolly” and Rachelle Brown, at Margate railway station ticket office, along with other members of staff, has contributed to bring a little bit of sparkle for everyone to enjoy. Rachelle has created a little bit of winter wonderland in the booking hall, with nodding reindeer and a selection of decorated trees and lights to brighten the mood for travellers. Her son helped erect the lights on a wall, whilst Rachelle has turned the ticket office itself into a wonderful Christmas scene.
Rachelle found a Teddy in the old station offices and this takes pride of place in the scene with the trees. Other members of staff have donated various items and they are still on the lookout for more.
Rachelle especially wants a toboggan to put at the front. She said: “Staff have put their hands in their pockets, at their own expense to provide some of the items on display, and I’d dearly love to have a toboggan at the front, but couldn’t find one anywhere.
“If anyone has anything they’d like to donate to the scene, we’d be most grateful, even AA batteries as 99% of this is battery powered and they drain pretty quickly.
“We’d like to think we’ve brought a little bit of cheer to the station for everyone to enjoy.”
Margate’s Great Wall of China
A tiled mural ‘Margate’s Great Wall of China’ has been unveiled by the Mayor of Margate in the Old Town.
The mural was designed by the renowned designer, Oscar winning documentary film director and author, Arnold Schwartzman OBE RDI.
An initiative funded by The Margate School, the mural relates the story of Margate’s historic sites through a collection of Margate Chinaware souvenirs selected from the artist’s personal collection, including the Jubilee Clock Tower, the Jetty, the Lighthouse, the Lifeboat Memorials etc.
The examples are supported by didactic notes provided by local historians.
It is the designer’s second mural for the town, his first being the T.S. Eliot mural at Margate Railway Station which was unveiled in 2019 by then-Mayor Cllr Mick Tomlinson.
The London born artist from the age of nine grew up in Margate where he attended the Holy Trinity Primary School, King Ethelbert SM School and later the Thanet School of Art & Crafts. In September 2023, he was admitted as an Honorary Freeman of Margate.
A retrospective exhibition of Arnold’s “Seven Ages” career is planned for next Spring at The Margate School’s new “Schwartzman Gallery,” plus several other adjunct locations throughout Margate & Cliftonville.
At the unveiling on December 6 by mayor Cllr Jack Packman, Pamela People, of Margate’s Civic Society, said: “This is a special event that involves the second mural entitled “Margate’s Great Wall of China.” that renowned designer, Oscar winning documentary film director and author Arnold Schwartzman OBE RDI has designed for Margate, which as you know, is remarkably close to his heart.
“This initiative was funded by The Margate School and depicts an amazing collection of many fascinating China images of Margate’s historic past and is quite spectacular.
“Arnold has also worked in collaboration with two Margate Civic Society Members, who are collectors in their own right: namely James Brazier and Richard Clements. Arnold is an honorary member of our Society and Patron of The Margate Clock Tower, so I am delighted that Arnold asked me to work in partnership with The Margate School on this occasion.
“My thanks to Richard Ash for giving permission for the use of his wall for the installation of this project and to Uwe Derksen and The Margate School for hosting the event.”
Brighter Days Market
An evening of festivities at Radford House – mulled wine and mince pies, alongside Brighter Days Market with local makers for your last minute Christmas gifts.
The old fire station will be decked out with decorations handmade by the Chat Time group. Come and mingle, shop and admire the handiwork.
Brighter Days Market Living Advent Calendar at Radford House
Thursday 19 December, 5pm to 8.30pm
Radford House, 18-20 Effingham Street, Ramsgate CT11 9AT
