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  February / March 2007  Issue  

Allhallows and St Mary Hoo Parish Councils' Magazine

This magazine is printed and published by and under the ultimate control of the two Parish Councils and views expressed may not necessarily be those of the Parish Councils.

APRIL/MAY 2007 ISSUE - DEADLINE  10th MARCH 2007
To submit an article or advert please contact your editor:

Cleo Beckey, 5 Forge Cottages, Fenn Street, St Mary Hoo, Rochester, Kent ME3 8QT

Telephone: 01634 271221    email: cleob@madasafish.com

St Mary Hoo Parish Council

Following a request from the Parish Council, Medway Council have asked BT to remove the redundant phone box on the A228 at Fenn Corner. This may take some time as the electricity supply will also have to be removed.

The flooding in Hopper's Lane is causing concern and Medway Council are being asked to investigate and take remedial action.

Before Christmas work was done on the conservation area to tidy it up. The rainfall over the autumn and winter has helped the young trees and the area is looking good.

The planning application by Matthew Homes for the site next to the school was put before Medway Council's Development Control Committee at the beginning of January. Medway councillor Chris Buckwell supported the Parish Council's objection. The planning case officer's boss argued strongly for approval. The Committee decided to delay their decision for two meetings to allow time for the developer to speak to the Parish Council. Apart from a telephone call to the Clerk the next day, when she had not yet been given the news of what had happened, attempts to arrange a meeting have so far failed. At the time of going to print the application is on the agenda for the next Development Control Committee meeting, in spite of the members' decision. We are trying to get it deferred to the next meeting in February as promised and we now have a meeting with Matthew Homes.

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PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS

Allhallows Parish Council meets 2nd Tuesday of month except August,

Allhallows Primary School, Avery Way, 6.45pm.

Dates of St Mary Hoo Parish Council meetings at the Fenn Bell function room are posted on the Parish Council notice boards.

For local parish news visit:

www.allhallows-pc.gov.uk  &  www.stmaryhooparishcouncil.org.uk

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Councillors’ Surgeries

These are now 10.30 - 11.30

on the first Saturday of the month

bi-monthly

Venue: Allhallows Village Hall

next one 3 March 2007

ADVERTISING RATES for VILLAGERS LIFE MAGAZINE (PRINT VERSION)

1200-HOME CIRCULATION

FULL PAGE—£360
HALF PAGE—£180
QUARTER PAGE—£90
EIGHTH PAGE—£45

All prices are for one year’s insertion

Phone/fax 01634 271221

Email CLEOB@MADASAFISH.COM

Hello everyone.


I am a community Occupational Therapist, working in Medway Council, with the Adult Physical Disability Care Management Team. My role, following assessment of the clients referred to me, is to provide intervention/rehabilitation if required, to enable them to achieve their maximum level of independence.

I came into post in November 2004, and discovered there was no specialised equipment for people with all kinds of conditions, for example multiple sclerosis, brain injury, stroke, spinal injury, obesity etc, who experience physical limitations, to access in the community, particularly those with limited or no active range of movement in their lower limbs.

One new client who is 44, a teacher who fell off her bike while riding and suffered a severe spinal injury, informed me she had access to specialised rehabilitation equipment while in Kings Hospital and felt so disappointed she could not access anything like this in the community. This has been the point of view of several other clients who have had access to specialised equipment in out of area hospitals and want to be able to continue with their rehab in the community but were restricted due to lack of resources.

I felt strongly that something needed to be done to help these people and others who are very motivated and want to be as independent as possible. I found about the Independent Fitness Initiative (IFI) at Strood Gym, which is an initiative that trains gym personnel to work with physically disabled, and liased with the lady there, Anita who has done the IFI training. This is the first Council run gym that has trained someone to work with people with physical disabilities, and I have introduced several of my clients to this facility. The IFI is supported by other therapists working in the Medway towns and is a marvellous initiative to enable people with a physical disability to access their local gym, however I informed Strood gym there needs to be some specialised equipment that meets the more severe physical limitations experienced. Strood gym is also intending taking GP referrals so this equipment will be invaluable for those people referred, and the GPs should be made aware of this facility.

I, however, needed to raise some money so on August 5th 2006, I did the London Triathlon. Money has been given by some rural parishes namely St Mary’s Hoo, Frindsbury, and Cliffe and Cliffe Woods, and the Ward Councillors for Strood area have also given funds. Many thanks to everyone. Total monies raised so far is £1531 to put some specialised equipment, into our council run gym.

The neuro bike was lent to us from motomed for a period of two months. The cost of this bike was £3920.

I believe given the information from Jayne Key (publicity manager for Strood Gym) the bike has now been purchased, however it now needs to be publicised.

Recently I attended a Multiple Sclerosis clinic as part of the health professional team. One of the clients, a MS lady I spoke to who was complaining about the lack of neuro equipment in the community, until I informed her that Strood had one of these bikes – the neuro rehabilitation physio at Medway hospital who was present, had no idea it was in too!

My ideal would be to get two of these bikes in the gym and one in the Black Lion for those people in the Rainham/Gillingham area.


Kate MacGowan

Community Occupational Therapist

01634 331936.

CAN YOU HELP?


Do you have some spare time every other month?


We need a Villagers' Life delivery person for St Mary Hoo (Fenn Corner)

If you would like to help please ring

Maureen Stanney Tel.: 270744

 
MOTHERING SUNDAY AND SIMNEL CAKE

Mothering Sunday is celebrated on the 4th Sunday in Lent (March 18) and is the day when people make simnel cakes. A special Mothering Sunday service is held, where bunches of wild flowers such as daffodils and primroses are blessed and then given by children to their mothers.

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MORE THAN A MOTHER

When God set the world in place,
when He hung the stars up in space,
when He made the land and the sea,
then He made you and me.

He sat back and saw all that was good,
He saw things to be as they should.
Just one more blessing He had in store;
He created a mother, but whatever for?

He knew a mother would have a special place
to shine His reflection on her child's face.
A mother will walk the extra mile
just to see her children smile.
She'll work her fingers to the bone
to make a house into a home.

A mother is there to teach and guide,
a mother will stay right by your side.
She'll be there through your pain and strife,
she'll stay constant in your life.

A mother will lend a helping hand
until you have the strength to stand.
She'll pick you up when you are down,
when you need a friend she'll stick around.

A mother is one who listens well,
will keep her word; will never tell.

A mother never pokes or pries
but stands quietly by your side,
giving you the strength you need,
encouraging you to succeed.

A mother is one who can be strong
when you need someone to lean on.

You're more than a mother to me;
a reflection of Him in your face I see,
a love that knows no boundaries.

I'm glad that you chose to be
all this and more to me.
You share a love that knows no end,
you're more than my mother,
you are my friend.

S.A.C. is a small club of about 50 members, with new membership accepted only from persons resident in the area of the peninsula of Hoo. {Previously Stoke only}.

Stoke lakes are situated between farmland and the Medway marshes, consisting of three lakes, at Middle Stoke. The first Lake, referred to as the Delf , is an ''L''- shaped lake, with deeper margins and raised middle areas. This lake is the Farm's primary source of irrigation for the surrounding land, resulting in variable water levels in the warmer months, at times unfishable . {Notices will advise members of this lake's closure to fishing, if necessary}. Further on from the Delf are two ''stock ponds''; this area is designated as part of a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). Both ponds are naturally weeded, with established reed beds, populated by a wide variety of wildlife.

Working in conjunction with The Environment Agency, the club plans to reduce the crowding of reeds and control weed growth, to open up the waters and provide a more balanced habitat for the inhabitants of these ponds, and provide better area for fishing.

All the lakes have a large population of Rudd and a good head of Carp averaging from 6lbs-10lbs, appealing to the pleasure angler, with a few 20's to add to the excitement. Chub to 1½ lbs, and eels, are the only predatory fish present.

Closing Date for new membership fishing season 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008. Please note that new renewals for membership must be received by 30 June 2007, applications for membership received after this date will not be processed until 1 April 2008, there will be no exceptions for this season . No club pass or rod licence (no fishing) please don't be offended by this it's only fair on paying members. Please call 084550509698

For further details please call above number or print off an application form www.stokeanglingclub.co.uk

Persons found fishing illegally will be liable to prosecution.

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Where does it all come from ?

I remember many years ago going on a training course when I worked for Toyota in South Africa. We were trying to learn Zulu ! Not the easiest language to learn and for Europeans it is particularly hard as it has sounds that we simply don't use. I remember very little of the Zulu I learnt and none of it is overly useful in High Halstow. One thing I do remember however was being told not to assume things. To assume we were told is to make an ASS out of U and ME. It has always stuck with me and I am reminded of it when I am tempted to assume things. We all assume things all the time though and in a small village like ours it is very easy to assume things will carry on the same as they always have. That is particularly true of the church. There has been a church building on the present site for the best part of 1000 years. Imagine the things that have happened since it was built - William the Conqueror, Crecy & Agincourt, Henry the VIII , the Gunpowder Plot, the fire of London, Waterloo, Trafalgar, universal franchise, women's suffrage, the Battle of Britain, man landing on the moon, the Space Shuttle and many more ! It has stood the test of time; it is a link with the past and a hope for the future. Since arriving in High Halstow almost four years ago I have heard many myths and assumptions about the Church and in particular about the funding of the Church. One person complained to me because his council tax has risen and he felt it was the Church's fault as the upkeep of the Church came from the council tax. Some have said that the church owns the Red Dog and so has plenty of money, other feel that money comes from some central fund in some mysterious place unknown to me. A number of people say the Church is the richest landowner in the country and so doesn't need any money. Lots of people assume lots of things and I thought it would be good to explain where the church's money goes and where it comes from. But first let me explode one common myth. That is that the Church is the biggest landowner in the country. In a sense that is very true, the Church of England has over 14,000 parishes many with more than one church building in. But that implies that owning land means wealth. In this parish the church has assets worth a couple of million pounds at present market value. The only problem is that we would have to sell the church buildings and land in High Halstow and Alhallows as well as the rectory and the churchyards before we got hold of any of that money. It is a bit like being a home owner. You may well own a home worth £300,000 but it is only any good to you if you wanted to sell and not buy another house. But for the church it is worse than that because our present buildings are in some parts at least over 700 years old and so the cost of maintenance is very high. In fact we spend about £6000 a year on maintenance of the buildings alone.

In addition to that the church has to pay electric bills, phone bills, council tax, upkeep of the churchyard, insurance, the rectors stipend, ministry costs, printing and photocopying, postage, stationery and on top of that we have to send approximately £8,000 to the diocese of Rochester each year to help pay for the upkeep of the diocese. All of that comes to about £60,000 a year that we spend or need to spend.

Where does that money come from ? Is there a central fund that pays for things ? If there is, no one has told me where it is. About 5% of our income comes from fees for weddings and funerals, we get about another 5% from individual donations. This leaves about £55,000 a year or £4800 a month left to find. That comes from dedicated church members, who regularly each week make real sacrifices so that the church may continue. It is sometimes said that most people are only one or two pay cheques away from being homeless. The church is no different. If our committed members didn't give very generously each and every month, the church would close within three or four months. The church is there for the whole village and most people in the village consider it to be their church but the reality is that less than 100 people pay for the upkeep of the church for everyone. So next time you visit the church or the churchyard or just walk past, don't assume it will be there for ever without your support.

Why do we celebrate Pancake day or Shrove Tuesday?

Tuesday 20th Febuary

The traditions of Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent go back a long way. The period of Lent corresponds to the 40 days and 40 nights Jesus spent in the wilderness. Years ago, strict Christians were forbidden to eat any dairy products in this period. Therefore, on Shrove Tuesday also known as Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday people made pancakes to use up their supplies of eggs, milk, butter and other fats.

These cakes were made in flat pans (hence pancakes) and was seen as a sign of self-indulgence before the fast.

Church bells were rang early on Shrove Tuesday morning summoning everyone to Confession. On the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, many Christians attend a special service at which their foreheads are marked with a sign of the cross made from paste derived from the ashes of palm crosses kept from the previous year's Palm Sunday.

Pancakes are fried in butter or fat and served flat or rolled and sprinkled with brown or white sugar, topped with preserves or doused with alcohol. They can be made savoury or sweet but the real fun is tossing them from the frying pan and back again - trying to avoid the ceiling and the floor in the process!

SOME TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS FOR SHROVETIDE AND LENT

This is the time of year for pancake races, old fashioned football matches, marbles, giant skipping ropes, Mothering Sunday and simnel cake.




Pancake races take place in various places around Britain. The most famous is the Olney Pancake Race in Buckinghamshire. The church bell is rung twice - once to warn the women who will take part in the race to cook their pancake and again for the start of the race. The race is between the Market Square and the church. The women have to wear aprons and bonnets and toss the pancakes three times.



Traditional football matches are played at a number of towns in Britain on Shrove Tuesday. These are not the usual football matches with well-laid out pitches and standard rules. At Ashbourne in Derbyshire the game is between the Up'ards and the Down'ards and the goals are three miles apart , and a stream crosses the pitch. The game can last all afternoon and start again on the next day if no goal is scored.

At Scarborough in Yorkshire thousands of people can be found skipping on the South Foreshore. At Ludlow in Shropshire there is a tug-of-war.



Traditional football matches are played at a number of towns in Britain on Shrove Tuesday. These are not the usual football matches with well-laid out pitches and standard rules. At Ashbourne in Derbyshire the game is between the Up'ards and the Down'ards and the goals are three miles apart , and a stream crosses the pitch. The game can last all afternoon and start again on the next day if no goal is scored.

At Scarborough in Yorkshire thousands of people can be found skipping on the South Foreshore. At Ludlow in Shropshire there is a tug-of-war.

Hosepipe Ban

Customers can again use hosepipes and sprinklers in Southern Water’s region after the company today (January 18) lifted a ban affecting its supply areas in Kent, Sussex and the Isle of Wight.

The move, triggered by the recent wet weather, follows a series of drought-busting measures by the company together with a fantastic response from customers in reducing their water use.

Although the restriction has now been lifted, Andy Watson, Southern Water’s Director of Operations, appealed to customers to continue to be aware of how much water a hosepipe and sprinkler can use.

He said: “A family of four uses in a day the same amount of water as a hosepipe in an hour, and although our resources are better this winter compared with last year, they are still at a low level.

“As a result, we would ask customers for their continued support in being water efficient and avoiding waste following their fantastic response during the drought.”

The hosepipe and sprinkler restriction was introduced in Sussex and Kent in June 2005 and the Isle of Wight in April 2006, after the driest period since the 1930s and the worst drought since 1976, which left the region’s reservoirs and underground water resources at record low levels. No restrictions were introduced in Hampshire.

Southern Water’s reservoirs and underground sources have not yet fully recovered, with much of the autumn rain taken up by vegetation, such as tree roots, and evaporation.

However, sufficient rain from November to April can recharge reservoirs and underground sources and, to further help the situation, Southern Water has invested over £20 million to fast-track more than 50 schemes to produce additional water and enable supplies to be moved around the region.

The company, which has the lowest level of leakage per property of any of the ten water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, has also taken action to further drive down leakage levels by doubling the size of its leak-busting teams.

This work has been backed by customers who are now saving 43 million litres of water a day compared with two years ago - more than enough water to meet the needs of a city the size of Brighton and Hove.

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Allhallows 400-club Winners

December 2006

Drawn by Kerry Welsh

£50 - 222 - Mrs M Stanney, c/o Bingo

£20 - 257 - Mrs P Burrows, 15 St Davids Road

£15 - 269 - Paul Pemberton, 95 Kingsmead Park

£10 - 272 - Mary Clear, 18 Kingsmead Park

£5 - 19 - Mrs S Beaumont, 13 Binney Rd


January 2007 - PLEASE NOTE INCREASED PRIZE AMOUNTS AS PROMISED


Drawn by Stewart Cox


£70 - 390 - Mr & Mrs Lambourne, 42 St Davids Rd

£35 - 213 - Ms C Overy, 28 St Matthews Way

£20 - 114 - Mrs S Rayner, 6 Mallard Way, Lower Stoke

£15 - 355 - Mr Nicol-Dundas, 2 Stoke Rd

£10 - 274 - Mr Mark Bromley, 11 Queensway

If you would like to support the upkeep of the Village Hall and become a member of our 400-Club with a chance of winning one of 5 prizes every month (cost £1 per number) then call Fiona on 270865.

Allhallows Village Hall Committee would like to wish all our members

a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR for 2007 and to thank you all for your continued support.


Next Month - It Could Be You !!

Contact us:- clerk@allhallows-pc.gov.uk

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