Festival of Sheppey - final weekend

It's coming up to the final weekend of the month-long Festival of Sheppey.

Organiser Jenny Hurkett said: "We'd like to thank everyone for supporting this festival. The response has been beyond our wildest dreams. Despite a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes, it has all been worthwhile.

"Hopefully, we will get the chance to do it all over again next year. But instead of concentrating on the Island's culture and heritage, we would like to put Sheppey's science innovations in the spotlight."

There are, however, a few last minute changes to the running order (see updated What's On guide).

Thames sailing barge Raybel

An expected two-day appearance by artist Ben Judd and his Camera Obscura project aboard the rennovated 1920 Thames sailing barge Raybel had to be pulled because Mr Judd said he had been unable to secure funding.

A spokeswoman for Ideas Test insisted the event had only been "rescheduled" but was unable to give any new dates.

Chas 'n' Dave tribute duo The Spice Chavs

A planned concert at the Criterion Blue Town on Sunday afternoon by Chas 'n' Dave tribute duo The Spice Chavs to finish the festival had to be cancelled at short notice because 'Chas' went down with laryngitis. Refunds will be issued.

However, it has not been all bad news.

A 60s and 70s concert by Fiato, billed as Sheppey's self-styled "little big band" at the Criterion Theatre on Saturday has sold out.

Seaside event at the Criterion Blue Town for Sky TV

And the Criterion was packed on Thursday for a special "seaside event" created by Sky TV to augment its documentary series The Dyers' Caravan Park which is filming its second series at Priory Hill Holiday Park at Leysdown.

The audience was entertained by Sheppey singer Annie Love and a slide show of old Sheppey photographs from Martin and Rosemary Hawkins.

Annie Love at the Criterion for the seaside event for Sky TV

Many members were interviewed for the TV show.

Peter West, the curator at Eastchurch Aviation Museum, is to introduce the 1965 movie Those Magnificent Ment in Their Flying Machines at the Criterion on Friday at 1pm. Admission is £5 on the door.

Last week John Nurden gave a talk at the Criterion about Michael Crawford and his early days growing up on the Island before 1975 BBC Christmas special of the show Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, which was shot partly on Sheppey, was shown.

Ray Fatherstone was Michael Crawford's unpaid minder. Picture: John Nurden

Michael starred as the hapless Frank Spencer and performed all his own stunts.

Ray Featherstone, who acted as unpaid "minder" to Michael during the shoot on Sheerness seafront, and former MP Gordon Henderson, who lived in the bungalow Michael lived in with his Nan, also took part in the talk.