In memory of Ronnie Megrath
A huge crowd of Ramgate FC fans and players gathered at Ramsgate seafront last weekend to walk in memory of Ronnie Megrath.
The much-loved Rams fan passed away peacefully with his family by his side this month after a 20 month battle with Motor Neurone Disease
Ronnie was an inspiration to the club and many others on the isle. He raised funds for Motor Neurone Disease Association through a charity walk, Ronstock event and helping to design a ‘third kit’ for the Rams.
Last Saturday more than 300 people met outside Ramsgate’s Wetherspoon to walk along the harbour to the Paragon and onto Rams ground in memory of Ronnie.
Thousands have been raised for MNDA both by Ronnie and in his memory.
12th Ramsgate West Rainbows and 12th Ramsgate West Brownies
Rainbows and Brownies from 12th Ramsgate West have joined 15,000 girls and volunteers across London and the South East to help their community over the week of 4-12 October.
Rainbows planted bulbs in pots and shared them with the community on a mission to spread joy and bird feeders. Brownies worked with Ramsgate Town Shed to build hedgehog homes. Dame Janet Primary Academy kindly placed these in their forest school along with the Rainbows bird feeders. Brownies also helped The Wildwood Trust to create enrichment toys for endangered small animals such as red squirrels and bug hotels. They enjoyed finding out about the different species the trust helps.
Guiding for Good is an initiative by Girlguiding London and South East England region to inspire its members the opportunity to live out a key part of the Girlguiding promise – to serve our communities and to help other people.
Rainbow Rosie, 6, said: “It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a garden, you can still help the birds.”
Rainbow Leader, Sarah Stone said: “The Rainbows really enjoyed planting the bulbs and talking about the different people they could give them too. They made sure to put lots of food on the bird feeders so they had plenty to eat.”
Brownie Trisha, 7, said: “It’s good to help nature by helping hedgehogs at night be safe. Any foxes or big creatures could attack them in the night if they are not safe”.
Brownie Florence, 8, said: “I’m pleased to make animal balls with bananas because when the animals at Wildwood get them it’s like a challenge for them to solve a puzzle. It will give them exercise and lots of happiness because they can entertain themselves”.
Brownie Leader, Vickey Pearlman said: “Right from the start the Brownies asked to build what they called ‘proper’ hedgehog houses and we were really pleased to work with Ramsgate Town Shed to make this happen. The Brownies worked really hard and were very proud of themselves, as were we. We are also grateful to Dame Janet Primary Academy for letting us place them in their forest school. We had a visit from Juliet at The Wildwood Trust who told us about how they are helping endangered species including local wildlife. The Brownies loved making things they knew would benefit the animals at Wildwood Kent.
Neville Redvers-Mutton, one of the volunteers from Ramsgate Town Shed, added: “ We’re really pleased to help the Brownies achieve their goal and hopefully feel more confident about making simple items for themselves and the benefit of others”.
To get involved in Girlguiding in your area as a volunteer, please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved or www.girlguiding.org.uk/joinus to sign up a young member or volunteer.
Pilgrims Hospices Superdraw
Christmas is a time to be at home with loved ones – and thanks to Pilgrims Hospices’ Christmas Superdraw, you can help make those moments possible for families across east Kent.
Every ticket you buy supports Pilgrims’ Community and Hospice at Home teams, who care for more than 1,000 patients at any given time. Working from bases in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford, our nurses and specialists bring expert care right to people’s doorsteps. For many patients, being able to stay in the place they love most – their own home – makes all the difference.
Did you know? Most Pilgrims patients are cared for at home, not on the ward. Our teams provide much more than medical care – from symptom management to emotional, spiritual, and family support – helping people live well, with dignity, and surrounded by those they love.
A Hospice at Home nurse explains: “This year, we’ve cared for patients as young as their 20s right up to 102 years old. We can’t change what’s happening, but we can make sure every moment counts – that patients are comfortable, pain is controlled, and families feel supported.”
By taking part in the Superdraw, you’ll be helping to fund this vital care:
A book of 12 tickets (£12) could help buy essential nursing equipment for home visits.
Two books (£24) could help cover the cost of a community nurse visit.
Three books (£36) could help provide care in the final 72 hours of life, when families need it most.
And it’s not just about giving – it’s about winning too! This year’s top prizes are:
1st Prize – £2,025
2nd Prize – £825
3rd Prize – £525
Shiralee Riddell, Pilgrims Hospices Lottery Manager, said: “We are so pleased to showcase the important work that Pilgrims’ Community and Hospice at Home teams provide for patients across our community. Every ticket purchased helps us continue this care – thank you for your support, and good luck in the draw!”
Tickets are just £1 each and available now!
Online at raffleplayer.com/pilgrims
From Pilgrims Hospices shops and receptions in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford or by calling our ticket hotline: 01628 511 701
Closing date for entries: Thursday 4 December 2025
Superdraw takes place: Thursday 11 December 2025
Boys & Maughan
Boys & Maughan’s family law expertise has once again earned national recognition, with the firm ranked in the UK The South section of Chambers and Partners – one of the UK’s most trusted and prestigious legal guides. The listing celebrates the team’s depth of experience, client care and proven ability to handle even the most complex family matters.
In the newly published Chambers UK Legal Guide 2026, the directory highlights the firm’s “notable experience handling a broad spectrum of work, including financial remedy disputes and Children Act proceedings.” It adds, “It can advise on highly sophisticated matters concerning high-value pensions, investments and assets, as well as those with cross-border elements.”
Referees praised both the quality of advice and the client experience. One said, “The team’s advice is absolutely spot-on; it is realistic and pragmatic, ensuring excellent results for the clients in a cost-effective way.” Another commented, “Boys & Maughan has a deservedly strong reputation for private child work in Kent. The client care and attention to detail makes them perfectly able to take cases of complexity.” Further feedback noted, “The team is made up of friendly and sensible lawyers with a proactive approach to family law,” and, “Boys & Maughan is a team of skilled lawyers with the expertise required to assist clients in reaching sensible settlements.”
Partner and head of the family department, Jonathan da Costa, has risen to Band 2 in the individual rankings. The guide describes him as “a collaborative lawyer who has experience in a range of family law matters” and notes that he “is often instructed on complex financial remedy and TOLATA proceedings.” Referees were emphatic in their praise: “The advice Jonathan provides is always absolutely on the nose, even when cases are complex. He is a pleasure to work with.” Another added, “Jonathan da Costa is an exceptional lawyer.” A third summed up, “His collaborative approach comes across in every way he works. He’s very good at taking the heat and emotions out of wider issues and is an incredibly empathetic and compassionate lawyer.”
This is the 10th successive year that Jonathan has been recognised by Chambers, and the second time the entire family team has been ranked. Chambers is renowned for its rigorous research process, evaluating law firms and individual lawyers through client feedback, peer reviews and industry reputation.
Jonathan said he was especially pleased with the recognition the department has received, noting that it highlights the joint commitment of everyone involved. “This achievement is not just about individual performance, but about how we work together as a team,” he explained. “Supporting families through difficult situations is at the heart of what we do, and it is encouraging to see that reflected in our ranking. We take pride in combining empathy with a deep knowledge of family law, always tailoring our advice to each client’s particular needs. It is this thoughtful, client-focused approach that continues to earn us trust, recommendations and long-standing relationships.”
This latest ranking follows strong endorsements in The Legal 500, confirming Boys & Maughan’s position among the region’s leading family law specialists.
Kent Reliance Community Foundation
The Kent Reliance Community Foundation (KRCF) is proud to announce a significant grant to The Young Lives Foundation (YLF). This funding represents a vital step in KRCF’s commitment to advancing the education and social mobility of young people across Kent.
The grant is specifically targeted at strengthening and expanding YLF’s acclaimed mentoring programme, which currently has a waiting list of over 100 young people needing support. The funding will enable YLF to hire a new programme coordinator dedicated to recruiting, training, and supporting a robust team of volunteer mentors.
These mentors provide essential one-to-one and small group support through consistent, trusting relationships. This support empowers disadvantaged young people to build improved confidence, resilience, and aspirations, helping them to succeed in their education, make positive life choices, and build strong community connections. Mentoring sessions take place in schools, local communities, and through engaging outdoor activities.
Jonathan Couch, Head of Grants at the Kent Reliance Community Foundation, said: “We recognise the profound, transformative power of one-to-one mentoring in fostering social mobility. By funding this coordinator role, we are directly investing in YLF’s capacity to reach nthose 100+ young people currently waiting for help. We firmly believe that investing in mentoring is investing directly in brighter futures and stronger communities for everyone in Kent.”
Kristy Tidey, Director of Youth Programmes at The Young Lives Foundation, highlighted the impact of the partnership: “This funding allows us to respond to the growing need for mentoring in our Kent communities.
“This grant gives us the opportunity to extend that support to many more young people who are waiting for help and to build a larger network of dedicated volunteer mentors. “We would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Kent Reliance Community Foundation for their generous support, which is helping us to transform the lives of young people.”
Kent Fire and Rescue Service
Four technical rescue firefighters from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) have been awarded the Humanitarian Medal in recognition of their lifesaving efforts in a disaster zone.
The medal, which was introduced in January this year, is granted by His Majesty the King to people who have assisted in the government’s response to a national or international crisis.
Jim Chaston, Dom Moore, Brad Rebbeck and Jamie Muddle were part of the wider UK International Search and Rescue (UKISAR) team deployed to Morocco following a devastating earthquake in September 2023.
The crew spent nine days in villages and areas severely impacted by the disaster, providing specialist skills and support to help save lives and assist the local emergency services.
They were presented with their medals by KFRS Director for Response, Matt Deadman.
Brad Rebbeck, Jim Chaston, Dom Moore and Jamie Medal with presented with the Humanitarian Medal by KFRS Director for Response, Matt Deadman.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Jim, Station Manager at KFRS’ Technical Rescue Unit, said: “We are all extremely honoured to receive these medals. And I know Dom, Brad and Jamie would agree, that when we’re deployed to incidents and emergencies, it’s always a team effort. We all have the same purpose – to save lives and do what we can to help during a really devastating time.
“But that team effort goes beyond the front line, and it includes our families, friends and colleagues at home, who are always there to support us, so this a proud achievement for everyone.”
Matt added: “We’re fortunate to have this team of highly skilled firefighters here in Kent, and we’re all inspired by the incredible life-saving work they provide nationally and internationally.
“These medals are well-deserved and on behalf of us all at KFRS, we congratulate Jim, Dom, Brad and Jamie on this fantastic recognition.”
Technical rescue units are made-up of experienced firefighters who’ve had additional training to respond to complex emergencies such as collapsed buildings, rescues from height, or incidents involving heavy transport.
Some of the team respond as part of UKISAR but each crew member is trained in National Resilience Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), which is part of a government-funded programme to provide mutual aid and support in the event of major incidents across the country.
