Antwerp has been moved to New Bridge loading point on the North Yourkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) whilst documentation is signed off later this week and before transport is being arranged.

This historical locomotive has been standing at the NYMR (the line featured in the ‘Heartbeat’ TV series), out of use for about 25 years and requires major boiler and mechanical work before returning to service.

The Kent Coast Locomotive Group (KCLG) has already dealt with one locomotive of this type. All the members of this group belong to the Remembrance Line Association and have earmarked this locomotive for exclusive use on ‘The Remembrance Line’. In full working order these powerful locomotives are ideal for tackling the steep 1 in 30 incline on the Folkestone Harbour Branch.

http://www.theremembranceline.org.uk/

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PETER SISSONS, famous BBC and ITN newsman, and local novelist Sandra Howard, are among those taking part in the 2010 Folkestone & Sandgate H G Wells Festival centred on The Grand on The Leas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 17-19 September. It will build on last year’s very successful opening Festival.

A programme of events and discussions in which everyone is invited to take part is shown in the box on the back of the leaflet. It’s mainly aimed at enjoying and preserving our literary heritage while encouraging and nurturing new talent, taking its place alongside our well-established art and pop festivals, but is well supported by talks, readings, a theatrical event and possibly a classic film show. It helps to replace our long lost and lamented seaside pier, in bringing residents and visitors together in shared and satisfying activities.

Last year’s Festival dwelt on The Sea Lady, HG’s delightful novel providing Sandgate with an Aphrodite rising out of the sea. This year it has been decided to concentrate on two more books written while he lived here 100 years ago – Kipps and The History of Mr Polly.

These two stories give us a vivid picture of what life was like a century ago for ambitious but ill-educated,
underfed and underpaid young people trying to achieve a fulfilling and enjoyable existence.

Professor Dominic Wells, HG’s grandson, is returns for this second Festival,this time with his son Alex. HG started his scientific career at Imperial College, London when the College was just beginning to make an impact on the world and Dominic has until lately continued there in the family’s scientific tradition. Dominic will once again present the winner & runner-up of the Short Story Competition with the cheque for £1000 &
£250, supported by Sandra Howard, as the culminating event on Sunday, 19 September.

The HG Wells brochure can be downloaded here.

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Since its launch in December 2009, the Sandgate Farmers’ Market has gone from strength to strength and has now grown two new businesses of its own! The market was set up in order to increase trade in local shops and to raise funds for the restoration and upkeep of the Chichester Memorial Hall – Sandgate’s community centre. Traders have reported an increase in footfall and more than £1,000 has been raised so far.

When the market launched in December 2009, the seasonal foodstuffs on offer were accompanied by beautiful art and crafts. Slowly the number of local food producers has increased and we now offer a great selection of bread, meat, fish, fruit & vegetables, cakes, quiches and pies, cheese and charcuterie, eggs, olives, preserves & chutney, Indian delicacies, together with herbal teas & cures. The market is open from 10.00am until midday on the first and third Saturday of each month.

The continuing demand from artists and craftspeople to exhibit in Sandgate has prompted Miranda Best to launch the Art & Craft Fair, on the second Saturday of each month at the Chichester Hall. This exciting new venture complements the work on show at Cristus and Pecheart galleries in Sandgate and provides a showcase for emerging talent.

The second development was the opening last month of The Sandgate Trading Company. Designer-maker Nikki Wilson sampled her seaside crafts at the Farmers’ Market before opening her shop and galleries, which reflect her love of Sandgate and all things nautical.

Sandgate is on the up and we look forward to seeing you at our next food market and at our new arts outlets!

Website: www.sandgate-kent.org.uk/chichesterhall

Enquiries: mirandabest@talktalk.net

Chichester Memorial Hall

70 Sandgate High Street

Sandgate

Folkestone

CT20 3AR

I thought I would revisit my youth today and went down the cliff path from Capel to the sea at the Warren, spent a lot of time here in my late teens and early twenties, like everything else its changed quite a bit and not for the better.

The cliff path is basically the same, but the beach is now a small strip of sand at low tide as large boulders have been dumped against the sea wall to prevent erosion. There were some butterflies around, Speckled Woods in the sunlit glades, Common Blues on the grassy banks, Holly Blues, Dingy Skippers, Wall and a single Green Hairstreak.

A Cardinal beetle was seen in the Undercliff area which is now largely overgrown with weed, trees Ash and Sycamore and the undergrowth is mainly Ferns and Nettles, it has a primeval feel about it.

Birds were thin on the ground with just the odd Blackcap and Whitethroat among the Wrens Robin and Blackbirds. Out of the woods you could hear the gutteral chuntering of Fulmar Petrels tumbling down from their high nest ledges, but that was about it apart from the hourly high speed train shooting through.

Down on to the sea wall and a pair of Rock Pipits were seen, gathering food for a hungry brood no doubt. The Nags Head is an old feature of a long ago landslide called saucering where the land slips down at the back forcing the front up and leaving this pieco of chalk cliff high and dry.

Written by Phil Smith - more reflections on nature around the South East coast from Kearnsey Birder blog

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My hair looked like I had been dragged through the proverbial hedge backwards. For some strange reason I had decided not to have it it cut for more than six months to see what it would look like longer - added to that I had also decided on a whim to ask my partner to cut it in a straight line whilst it was wet (I was in the shower) just to take off the endy bits. The end result was not a good look!

Looking in the mirror one morning (I try not to do this too much) I had a revalation - looking back at me was some strange woman who had clearly lost her reason as well as her sense of style - and I decided immediately that a trip to the hairdresser was overdue and I quickly made an appointment.

During my non hair cut months I had noted a new hairdresser in the Golden Valley (Sandgate) - it was still being fitted out then but was up and running now so I made my appointment. Going into Suzanne Charles hairdressing salon was reassuring - lots of space, very comfortable leather seating, big mirrors on the wall (lovely mirrors, but dont you just hate them) - very comfortable, light and contemporary. I was offered a cup of tea or coffee whilst I waited - and I flicked through the mags.

Suzanne Charles (owner) asked me about my hair; was I good with hair, did I just give it a burst with the hairdryer in the morning, how much did I want off? It took her seconds to realise that I hadn’t a clue and she suggested I have a style similar to her own because her hair was also wavey/curly like mine and it would be easy to look after. I had noted Suzanne’s hair style and approved lots - so was happy to go with this suggestion.

There followed a washing hair session (I always like this bit) and then the cutting began - apart from the sitting in front of a mirror bit I liked seeing long bits of my hair fall to the floor.

The final result - is so different from the unkempt windswept mess that had previously graced my head (what was I thinking of?) - I like it lots.

My conclusion - I like this hairdresser - charming local and knowledgeable owner, smart and attentive staff, very nice environment (quite plush but not ott) and not exhorbitant charges. I wish this new business well - and at the time of my going there Suzanne was feeling quietly confident that business was building nicely. I will visit Suzanne Charles hairdressing again in 8 weeks - or sooner if I should need my fringe cutting before that (Suzanne does free fringe cuts whenever needed for her customers).

Suzanne Charles Hairdressing

91/95 Enbrook Valley

Folkestone Kent

CT20 3NE

tel: 01303 850661

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