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Local News and Gossip Page
To encourage, hopefully, or
stimulate further interest in this site we now have a page whereby one can
express an opinion, have a gripe or simply pass on a story or anecdote that
might be of interest.
Please simply email your
contribution to
info@dungeness.org.uk and it will be printed – within reason. The
webmaster does reserve the right to edit out vulgarities etc.
Any comments expressed in this
column are those of the sender and not necessarily that of the webmaster.
28 February 2008
Some Dungeness
nostalgia from A. Young, Newchurch:
I thought you may be interested in my family's hand in the development of
Dungeness beach. My family are from Ashford and have, for generations, been
railway workers. As a young boy in the late 50's/early 60's, we would often
visit the guards van near the furthest end of carriages where my grand
father had placed it. At night, the bell on the large wooden buoy opposite
would clang away and during the day, my father would worry about my mother
swimming! It was amazing to me to see the lightening storms crossing the
channel and to watch the flickering of the gas lamp whilst my parents
quietly talked at night. I remember the power station being built, it was
like a moonscape before nuclear power! I also remember a huge noise during
construction and a large tank falling from the building killing an unlucky
construction worker. I now live on the Marsh and visit Dungeness as often as
possible. Oh...if only we still had that cottage! What changes would my
parents see now, would they believe that film and media folk hold this
railwayman's playground in high esteem!
My mother hated it, yet we all enjoyed many happy times there. My father
told me that the best fishing was after the war whilst the rolls of barbed
wire, which looked fantastic when struck by lightening, were still laying on
the beach. Would he have believed that there are, in fact, not more "fish in
the sea"! And the weird paint testing stations........what has become of
them. Many changes in a relatively short time......but a wonderful piece of
living history ......I love the place!
16 January 2008
The Smokery’ is dead – long live
‘The Richardsons’
December saw the departure of a
well known character and equally well known ‘landscape’. I refer to the
departure for sunnier climes of Jim
Moate and of course ‘The Smokery’. I know it
was Jim’s desire to have the Smokery continue in
business after he left but not to be – but you never know!!!! Jim had
worked hard for many years to provide traditional smoked, local, fish as
well as cheeses, garlics etc. He had customers
return year after year and had featured in numerous TV, film and magazine
articles. I am sure all who knew him will wish him well in his
retirement.
Over the past few months we have
seen ‘Helevetia’ undergoing a long awaited
renovation. We were surprised to see that the old and
very neglected building was not flattened but with the roof remaining
intact the supporting timbers were carefully replaced and we now await for
the final transformation with the addition of the external cladding and new
windows. Bad weather of late has unfortunately held up work on this final
leg but the end is insight. All this after at least 20
years total neglect. Congratulations to the ‘local’ family who
managed to acquire the property and was willing
to return it to its former glory.
In contrast to what is considered
‘the norm’ for Dungeness, ‘El Ray‘ is undergoing
a complete face lift/rebuild albeit with the original railway carriage
forming the centre piece. If you could view this property from the air you
would see the outline of the structure resembles that of a wine bottle. A
feature close to the owner’s heart – in a professional capacity! Not sure
if there is to be a ‘Chateau Dungeness’ but we live in hope. Only one more
‘shack’ left for re-development and full planning permission has been
granted for its transition. ‘Channel View’ has a fine example of a turn of
the century railway carriage within the structure boasting beautiful
craftsman ship in the all wood structure. This should look really amazing
when completed. We hope the new owners will permit some interior shots to
be published.
Work is progressing on conversion
of the various ‘out-buildings’ which were left over from WW2 close to the
old lighthouse. These are being transformed into very high spec
accommodation for those wishing to visit the area.
Dungeness continue to ‘pop up’ on
the T.V. in various guises, from ‘East Enders’, more cops and robbers films
and in the not do distant past featured in the short movie ‘The Other Man’,
which incidentally won the Edinburgh Film Festival Award for ‘Best Short
Film’ – starring the very fine actress Anna Maxwell Martin (BBC’s ‘Bleak
House’), repertory actor Neal Barry and six year old local girl Tilly O’Neil
who following her debut in film making subsequently ended up on location in
Budapest and Malta to appear in the feature film ‘Eichmann’ – to be
released this year in the UK..
Also, now in the dim past but
still being shown on Sky, two properties were featured in the Channel 4
production of ‘Up Your Street’, (in which two local residents visited (for
the first time) each others properties. The programme designed to highlight
the difference of interiors and what could be done to each to improve
values.
Latest land registry figures show
one ‘shack’ selling for £199,000.00 although it is understood another has
recently exchanged at £204K. what price peace of mind?
18 October 2005
Deep Sea/Wreck Fishing
Anyone interested in a day out at sea can contact either numbers 01797
321282 or 01797 363544
13 September 2005
Europe
has now got us!!!
Dungeness
has become an SAC!! Designation of Special Areas of Conservation or more
fully Special Areas of Conservation (cSAC) under the EC Directive 92/43EEC
on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (Usually
referred to as the Habitats Directive.
All this
became effective from 1st April 2005. This seems appropriate –
April Fools Day.
Do we
really need all this waste of time and money?
Talk is
of all the indigenous plant life that exists here. Do they know what
indigenous means? There was, apart from Sea Kale, no plant life here in
the late ‘40’s and what growth has taken place has been largely due to the
influx of new owners bringing with them there gardens and plants. The
nuclear power stations built form the mid sixties formed an effective
windbreak which assisted in the growth of plant life.
‘Indigenous’ adj. occurring or living naturally in an area;
not introduced; native!
Where do
they think the plant life came from in the last 50 to 60 years? It came
from families creating there little gardens, bringing soil from Ashford with
all the suburban plants. The soil then spread, Dickie birds dropped seed,
the wind blew seed but without the soil brought to the barren beach very
little plant life would have been given the chance to survive.
Also
severe fines are threatened if one dares to remove beach or indeed fill in
sunken areas. This is considered spoiling the natural lines of the beach
created over millions of years. Not strictly true as some of the erupted
areas came about when 2nd world war shelters were blown up and in
any event hundreds of thousands of tons of beach are extracted each year and
transported to an area beyond the power stations. Does not this constitute
damaging the natural evolutionary lines of Dungeness? Or doesn’t that
count. In any event we would seem to be keeping over paid bureaucrats in
gainful? employment both in the UK and Europe so it can’t be that bad. It
would better preserve and serve Dungeness if some of their hard earned
money were spent not on pontificating about the area but maintaining and
cleaning the area regularly.
And to
top it all, locals in this and surrounding areas are having planning
permission refused as the are is likely to flood in the next 250 years. If
that is so then what are we spending so much money on preserving the
wildlife or is it simply to preserve the pay packets of those on the
ecological bandwagon?
And
whilst on the soap box re buildings and planning permission. If the
likelihood of flooding is the only reason for not building then surely the
decision to build is down to the owner and his bank balance. It is his
money, why cannot he spend it and waste it if in 250 years time it will be
washed away? And would it be still standing in 250 years time?
Bureaucracy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where to Stay!
The majority of email requests we
receive are ‘we want to visit Dungeness, where can we stay?’
Out of the 80 odd abodes here
probably a third are holiday homes and a majority of owners do rent their
places out on a weekly basis. Having said that they are always booked up
well in advance – usually from year to year. Most bookings are for the
summer months leaving them, in theory, available for off season. Guide
prices – from £150.00 per week.
There are no bed and breakfast
establishments on Dungeness itself, however there are two just outside the
estate entrance:-
‘Homestead’ – which can offer one
large family room please contact Bob direct on +44 (0)1797 321765
‘Pluto’ – named after the second
world war Pluto line has a mix of accommodation – Family, Double, Twin and
single. Prices around £25.00 per person per night – including traditional
breakfast. For details contact Betty Paine on +44 (0)1797 320072.
A shortway down Coast Drive there is
‘Fairwind’, established over 20 years and still with the currnet owner.
Contact Tom Gilbert on +44(0)1797321219. Room rates there are from £22.00
per person per night for the doubles and £22.00 per night for singles
including of course a full English breakfast.
We hope that will assist the casual
visitor and any feedback would be more than welcome.
27th November 2004
An email from Hank Tweedy of Edmonton, Canada: .
I am wondering if anybody knows something or has the
possibility to look up some information about a family member of mine.Today,
November 27 2004, is the day a ship had a collision 120 years ago of
Dungeness.
William George Tweedy was the 2nd engineer on the ship and he drowned
that day. I have approached several people with a data base on shipwrecks
but no luck.The ship was the "DURANGO" and the collision occurred on
November 27,1884 of Dungeness.
If anybody could help me with information about the accident, was it the
weather, storm or what happened to the bodies of the people that drowned I
would really appreciate it.
Are there perhaps any archives or libraries that hold old newspaper
information for the are of Dungeness where I can write to, that would be
great too.Thanks all of you who read this and especially those who react to
the message, negative or positive it's all okay, Thanks Hank Tweedy
Can anyone help? If so Hank can be contacted by email at htweedy@telusplanet.net
5th November 2004
An interesting enquiry received from Allan Staines in
Australia. Can anyone help?
If anyone is able to find any maps, information etc that
they can send - please contact the webmaster
As mentioned, I am an author preparing a new adventure book.
In it, I have three boys in January 1953, escaping from Dutch/Soviet
sympathisers and they steal a 16-18ft inboard sail, clinker hull boat from a
beach or creek either before Calais or just past. Could you advise me on the
most suitable creek or beach where this could be possible?
Also do you know who could advise on boating in the channel between
Calais and Dungeness? or do you know an old seaperson who would have
knowledge of french small boats and inboard engines common for the era
1945--1953?
Many thanks
18th October 2004
Following an email from DM of Greatstone:
i am getting very concerned about the impact the proposals for the
expansion of Lydd Airport will have on the environment.
and from PF of Greatstone
I am writing to tell you about the Lydd Airport Action Group (LAAG) and to ask for your support.
LAAG represents people who are opposed to the expansion of Lydd Airport.
Plans recently unveiled by the airport's new management, show that they
want to expand facilities to cater for 2 million passengers by 2011 and 6
million by 2021, and a formal planning application is expected soon.
LAAG is opposed to any plans that involve the expansion of the runway as
this brings large aircraft into the area and creates unacceptably high
levels of noise and air pollution, degrading the living conditions of local
residents and harming the surrounding, fragile, nationally and
internationally important ecological habitats of Romney Marsh.
We would ask the help of the Dungeness website Club by:
a) asking your vistors to visit our website at
www.lyddairportaction.co.uk and
registering their support using our online form, and/or
b) including a paragraph on your website about LAAG, together with a link
to our site, and/or
c) mentioning LAAG in your publications eg leaflets, newsletters etc.
and/or
d) displaying posters
I do hope you will help us by undertaking all of these.
Having a large airport on our doorstep will cause us harm in so many ways
and we need to all work together to ensure it does not happen.Dungeness may never be the same again!
we comment
Thanks for mail re concerns about the local airport. There is an action
group in the area who are opposed to the 'proposed expansion' and I will be
putting their bumph on the web as soon as I get some feedback from the
airport itself.
The main concern would seem to be over the hype of increasing the
passenger turnover to 2 million in the next few years. According to Shepway Council the operators at Lydd already have a certificate to handle this volume of traffic without further reference to anyone. The only time the council will get involved is if planning permission is sought for the extension
of the runway and or terminal buildings. Then the matter will be open to public debate but it would seem that the council is supportive of any
expansion that will bring greater prosperity to the area.
With regards to the impact on the area you only have to look at Stansted,
where in the sixties there was uproar over the expansion but after
everything settled down the area has prospered beyond all expectations.
House prices will soar and hundreds of jobs will be created which could
help offset the effects of Dungeness A closing.
There will inevitably be additional noise but unlike inland airports 90%
of this noise will be out to sea and only those directly under the
flight-path being affected.
Overall any increase in traffic will bring prosperity to the area but I
get the impression those who complain loudest are those comfortably off.
They aren't particularly interested in those who are out of work or the fact
that the area needs an injection of wealth. I suspect also that those who do shout loudest take their overseas holidays by flying from airports
somewhere else that affect others - but as long ass its not in their back
yard that's ok.
If you think back to the outcry when the nuclear power stations were to
be constructed (if you are indeed a local going back to the sixties). As
time went by everything settled down - safeguards are put in place and apart
from the odd so called friends of the earth we all seem to accept things for
what they are. In any event if we are to have airports, nuclear power
stations, deep sea ports is it not far better to have them away from built
up areas - even though it will affect a few?
1st June 2004
Following on from a
Channel 4 programme on a couple of shacks at Dungeness, Radio 4 brought
their Excess Baggage Saturday morning programme live from the Pilot Public
House.
The Channel 4 afternoon
show ‘Up Your Street’ looked inside a couple of the properties and the
owners visited each other’s houses and had their comments recorded. All
very low key and just another example of inexpensive reality TV filling a
slot during the day when no one watches. Not a bad programme really and
hosted by Simon O’Brien, late of Brookside.
There was some activity
recently which involved several AA vehicles (the Automobile Association for
our overseas readers who may mistake it for Alclolonics Anymouse). The
latest tv ads for the AA would seem to have a few nano seconds of what
appears to be Dungeness but all too quick to really identify
We also learn of two
groups recording songs inspired by Dungeness. The first features on a cd
from Athlete and the other Three Litre. Keep an eye out for them.
Anon Dungeness 18th January 2004
Band A Tax - but for how long. Following the governments direction that
there ought to be more council tax bands Shepway District Council have
confirmed that they will be looking at all properties in the area and
re-assessing the Bands! What was the matter with the Tory ill fated
suggestion that taxes ought to be based on the number of (tax paying)
individuals residing a specific property? It would seem the fairest of all
solutions but unlikely to ever come to pass
16th January 2004 Webmaster
A couple of shacks on the beach will be featured in a forthcoming Channel
Four programme. Watch this space for further details.
6th January 2004
From P.L. Lydd
'Although Shepway District Council denied any knowledge of Lydd airport
having any association with the golf club last weeks Herald (w/c 12th
January 04) reported that the airport had indeed purchased the golf club -
but of course not for any expansion of said airport - We'll see!!!'
5th January 2004
Response to local new re directory enquiries - the numbers you quoted may
be the cheapest in theory but if you accept the operators invitation to 'put
you through' you will be charged over 50 pence a minute - so beware and
accept the number only. A.P. Littlestone
January 2004-01-20
Welcome to the beach Snoo and Ann Wilson who have recently purchased 'Wi
Wurri' from Nick and Kirsty Elliot who have moved to larger premises in New
Romney.
Four enquires in past month re bed
and breakfast.
Is any one out there providing this
service – preferably on the beach. We have passed on details of the B&B’s
on coast drive but if anyone has the desire or inclination to provide the
odd visitor with a bed and a meal please let us know and we will advertise
the fact.
Did you know the airport has a very
good lounge bar and dance floor. Ideal for parties, functions etc. Have
visited a couple of times and it is sad to see the place so under utilised.
Did you know that the cheapest
Directory Enquiries is 118 800 (Directory Enquires UK) at 19p per minute and
no connection charge and 118 888 (Conduit) at 20 pence per minute and no
connection charge. 118118 is 49p connection and 9p per minute – the most
expensive and the most popular. Why are you using them? The power of
advertising or simply a fetish for men with droopy moustaches??
Did you know Enroute the travel
people can get you to Paris on the tube (Eurostar for £79.00) day trip or
£129.00 for a nights stay including hotel and further nights at £25.00 per
night. You don’t have to live local to take advantage of those prices!
You never know who calls! A ‘customer’ visiting Jim Moate’s ‘Smokery’ asked if he could write an article about him. The result and completely unexpected, was a 3 page effort complete with half a dozen photographs in the NFU Countryside Magazine (0870 840 2030 – www.nfucountryside.org.uk).
The magazine is of very high quality and full of interesting articles. It is available by subscription for just £39.50 per annum)
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The article on Jim and the Smokery is reproduced here in its entirety:- |
