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This was such a joyous show. Two chaps with excellent singing voices having the time of their lives on stage performing hits from Elvis, Billy Fury and others. Almost immediately, the audience was dancing in the aisles. It’s what a good night at the theatre is all about. But let’s put this in perspective. Did British rock god Billy Fury ever actually meet Elvis? Billy Fury meeting Elvis on the set of Girls! Girls! Girls! on May 16, 1962 Well, yes, he did. Sixty-four years ago, on Wednesday, May 16, 1962, he turned up in Hollywood where The King was filming Girls! Girls! Girls! at the Paramount studios. During the meeting, Liverpudlian Billy presented Elvis with two silver discs for sales of Rock-a-Hula Baby and Wild in the Country. By all accounts the pair didn’t say much. Despite being famous singers, both were, deep down, quite shy. Besides, Elvis was busy making a movie. But what if they had struck up a friendship and, well, decided to play together? This, I suspect, could have been the result. So why wasn’t more made of this in the show at the Sheppey Little Theatre on Saturday (May 30)? Ivan Brady, left, and Alan Wilcox in Billy Fury Meets Elvis at the Sheppey Little Theatre Admittedly, there was a shaky start as the pair were delayed by last-minute gremlins with their sound system. But there was no introduction and no explanation of why they were there. Perhaps everyone else in the audience already knew? But I was initially kept in the dark until a quick, and then an exhaustive, search with Mr Google filled in the blanks. This show could have reached another level with patter explaining who did what from the annuls of rock history. In real life, the pair actually recorded each others’ songs. And, poignantly, both died at the tragically young age of 42. Elvis collapsed on the loo of his home Gracelands from exhaustion and drugs on August 16, 1977. Billy Fury Billy, born Ronald Wycherley, died from a long-standing heart defect brought on by childhood rheumatic fever, on January 28, 1983, following a recording session in London. But enough of the history lessons. Ivan Brady, left, and Alan Wilcox in Billy Fury Meets Elvis at the Sheppey Little Theatre What the audience got for their £18 tickets was a feel-good night-out packed with favourite songs from the 50s and 60s including Three Steps To Heaven by Eddie Cochran (who died aged 21 in Bath after a car crash on Billy’s 20th birthday. Sorry, no more lessons). Billy (Alan Wilcox) chats up Sheppey Little Theatre volunteer Donna King There was Marty Wilde’s Teenager In Love, Billy’s I Can Help, Jealousy and Halfway To Paradise and Elvis’s Teddy Bear, All Shook Up, Return To Sender, The Wonder of You and the brilliant American Trilogy. Ivan Brady, left, and Alan Wilcox in Billy Fury Meets Elvis at the Sheppey Little Theatre The lads obviously enjoyed themselves so much they ended up with two finales, Viva Las Vegas and Johnny B Goode. They had dressed the part, too, with Billy’s early tight, black leather trousers making way for a superbly fitted grey Italian suit and Elvis switching from a bright red shirt in first half to a sparkling gold lame jacket for the second. Then it was a long drive back home to Great Yarmouth for the implausibly tanned Ian Brady as Elvis and the lanky Alan Wilcox as the moody Billy. It was the third time they had performed at the Little Theatre and they will be back in the autumn (December 5 for the Golden Oldies Rock ‘n’ Roll Show). Before that, Billy will be making a solo return to Sheppey at Leysdown’s Paradise Club on June 27 – the night of England’s final qualifier for the World Cup. Halfway to Paradise? John Nurden Ivan Brady, left, and Alan Wilcox in Billy Fury Meets Elvis at the Sheppey Little Theatre

When the Arts Council told great grandmother Jenny Hurkett that her beloved Isle of Sheppey was a “cultural desert” she saw red. To prove them wrong, she has almost single-handedly created a month-long Festival of Sheppey for June to show off the Island’s heritage and put it in the spotlight. Jenny Hurket outside the Criterion Theatre in Blue Town on the Isle of Sheppey Jenny, 77, who is part of the Island Forum, which was created to improve and promote Sheppey, said: “I was gobsmacked when I was told the Island was a cultural desert. They obviously had no idea what we have here. Perhaps, we just don’t shout about it as loud as other areas.” But that is all about to change. After she put the word out that she wanted to create an annual festival for Sheppey, dubbed Kent’s own Treasure Island, she was inundated with offers of help and to stage events. There are now just under 100 talks, walks, shows, exhibitions, musical performances, films and workshops scheduled across the Island. Jenny said: “It’s gone bonkers!” The Festival of Sheppey runs throughout June Everything kicks off on Monday, June 1, with a civic launch at the Belle and Lion pub in Sheerness. It’s part of the JD Wetherspoon chain. Jenny, who has four children, two stepchildren, 15 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, explained: “Sheppey has always been a little bit quirky so we thought why not have the launch for the festival in ‘Spoons? Besides, the pub is packed with pictures, paintings and information about the Island’s history.” Even Southeastern is getting in on the act by running a special Sheppey Shuttle from Sittingbourne to Sheerness on the day. Sheppey's new town crier Bruce Horton rings in news of his appointment VIPs will be greeted by the Island’s new Town Crier, retired schoolteacher Bruce Horton, who will be showing off his new livery. Bruce, 61, who was picked after a shout-off for the prestigious job, said: “I feel very humbled that I have been chosen to be the first town crier for the Isle of Sheppey – an Island which doesn’t always receive the best press. But it has so many positives. “To be able to bring those into peoples’ lives, and to remind them of all the good things, both historical and current, about Sheppey is something I am looking forward to.” The festival also coincides with the Queenborough Independence Day celebrations on Saturday June 20. It was in 1667 that the dastardly Dutch captured the town on their way to attacking Chatham. Queenborough has the dubious honour of being the only place in England to have surrendered to foreign invaders since the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Dutch only remembered to give it back to the British in 1967 – 300 years later. The Big Lunch at Eastchurch The festival encompasses the Swale Vehicle Enthusiasts’ annual classic car show at Halfway on Sunday, June 7 and the Big Lunch at Eastchurch, on the same day. Watch out, too, for hundreds of cyclists taking part in the annual Chase the Sun bike ride from Sheppey to Weston-super-Mare on Saturday, June 20. The cyclists will be leaving The Leas at Minster at dawn. Some of the other highlights visitors and residents can look forward to include: Gerald Dickens presents his one-man show of Great Expectations at the Criterion Blue Town · Great Expectations. A one-man performance of Great Expectations at the Criterion Blue Town on Wednesday, June 3, by Gerald Dickens, the great, great grandson of Charles Dickens. Dickens spent his early years on Sheppey. It is believed he based the characters of Magwitch, the escaped convict in Great Expectations, and Fagin from Oliver Twist on people he encountered while on the Island. William Hogarth perigranted his way to Sheppey in 1732 · Peregrination of Hogarth. Dramatised account of William Hogarth’s five-day tour of Sheppey in 1732 with his pals. Performed by Big Fish Arts at the Criterion Blue Town on Wednesday, June 17. · Assorted workshops run by artist Laurie Harpum and the Museum of London Archaeology under the banner of Coasts in Mind. Teatro Vivo usherettes are on their way to the Isle of Sheppey · Arts company Teatro Vivo will be sending “usherettes” to events across the Island to get inspiration for a play about Sheppey. Experience a camera obscura with Ben Judd on board the Thames sailing barge Raybel at Queenborough · Experience the camera obscura aboard the renovated Thames sailing barge Raybel with artist Ben Judd at the all-tide landing stage at Queenborough on Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25. · History talks including a day-long event at the revamped Sheerness Dockyard Church at Blue Town on Saturday, June 13. Speakers will include Martin Verrier, Andrew Byrne, Martin and Rosemary Hawkins and Patrick Wright. Learn what happened with Michael Crawford filmed Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em on Sheppey · Film shows at the Criterion Blue Town featuring movies made on, or having close links to, Sheppey. They include Cockleshell Heroes (1955) and Dunkirk (1958) on Friday, June 12; the 1975 Christmas special of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em starring son-of-Sheppey Michael Craford on Friday, June 19; and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) introduced by Peter West of Eastchurch Aviation Museum on Friday, June 26. · Classical music concert on Sunday, June 21, at the Criterion Blue Town with pianist Carole Anne Wells and flautist Mark Underwood plus the Preston Ensemble string quintet led by violinist Antony Dennant and featuring fellow violinist Jo Saul, Sara Thorpe on viola and Rachel Waltham and Sophie Shackletonon cellos. Chas 'n' Dave tribute duo The Spice Chavs close the festival in style · Cockney knees-up with Chas ‘n’ Dave tribute duo the Spice Chavs will close the festival at the Criterion Blue Town on Sunday, June 28. For the latest information, visit the Festival of Sheppey Facebook page, sheppeyscene.co.uk or Sheppey Explorer. Island Forum The Island Forum was relaunched in October 2024 to promote Sheppey, improve facilities and to encourage investment in the Island. It is a non-political body comprising individuals, councillors, organisations, schools and firms who all share one goal: a passion for Sheppey. Its aim is to raise the profile of the Island, boost pride in the area, attract investment and boost the community. The group was originally formed in 2018 by the Rev Steve Chalke as the Sheppey Community Development Forum. Mr Chalk was founder of the Oasis Academy which was, at the time, the only secondary school on Sheppey. It pushed for a tourist information centre in Sheerness, campaigned for brown tourist signs for the Isle of Sheppey to be installed on the M2 motorway (it’s still waiting), introduced park runs and launched the Sheppey Support Bus. Mr Chalk said: “A rising tide floats all boats. All projects like these, help make the Island more attractive to professionals to work here such as teachers, nurses and doctors. “Sheppey is a lovely Island but it still struggles with an undeserved image.” It is now co-chaired by teacher Paul Murray for EKC Sheppey Secondary School and retired journalist John Nurden who runs the local Sheppey Scene Facebook page and website. Mr Murray said: “The Island needs an independent, non-political body to take a strategic overview on what is needed – and then be committed to make I happen. This is a great opportunity for those who are passionate about Sheppey to help decide what is needed and then work together to make it happen.” The Festival of Sheppey has been driven by the Forum’s tourism group led by Jenny Hurkett. Jenny Hurkett at the Criterion Jenny Hurkett Jenny Hurkett is no stranger to challenges. She was born in Calcutta to Anglo-Indian parents and moved to England as a young girl, originally settling in Gillingham. She recalled: "There were no other children of colour in our road so I became used to be being different. "Life was complicated, to say the least. But I was always a stroppy little madam!" She later moved to Scotland with her first husband and organised community street parties, becoming known as "Jenny from the Block". On returning to England, she helped form one of the first Home Start centres in Medway and then spent a stint back in India battling to get justice for women. She ended up on Sheppey, which is where her marriage broke down and she was left to bring up four teenage boys on her own. At her lowest ebb, she launched a singles group and met her new husband, Ian. The couple ran a kitchen business and showroom where the Criterion now stands. "We had no idea it used to be music hall," she recalled. Fifteen years ago, she set about bringing it back to life. It now boasts a vibrant music hall theatre with a very rare grand piano, a cinema, tearoom and a museum over three storeys packed with memorabilia and artefacts from Sheppey's history, including a reconstruction of Nelson's cabin aboard HMS Victory and a replica Cooperative shop. Kingsferry Bridge and the Sheppey Crossing Isle of Sheppey Sheppey was first dubbed the Isle of Sheep by the Romans. It is also the birthplace of British aviation. Those magnificent men in their flying machines first learned to take off at Shellness and then the pioneering Short Brothers, with help from Charles Rolls of the Rolls Royce car company, built the first aircraft factory at Eastchurch. In 1667, Queenborough became the only place in England to surrender to a foreign power since 1066 when the dastardly Dutch captured it on their way to attack Chatham. It was only in June 1967 – 300 years later – that the Dutch remembered to hand it back to the British. Lord Nelson’s body was famously brought back to Sheerness in a barrel of brandy following the Battle of Trafalgar. King Henry VIII holidayed at Shurland Hall, Eastchurch, with his wife-to-be Anne Boleyn. Author Charles Dickens and diarist Samuel Pepys both spent time on Sheppey. Sheppey is home to the American “bomb ship” SS Richard Montgomery which sank in a storm off Sheerness in August 1944 packed with 1,400 tonnes of explosives destined for Europe. It is still there – although there are plans to remove its distinctive masks which can still be seen from the shore. Showbiz legends Michael Crawford and Rod Hull (plus Emu) were brought up on Sheppey. Crawford, star of Phantom of the Opera and Barnum, even filmed the 1975 Christmas special of his sitcom Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em on the Island. Take That’s Robbie Williams has filmed a music video on the Island and lately former EastEnders’ actor Danny Dyer and his daughter Dani have taken over Priory Hill holiday park at Leysdown for their Sky TV show The Dyers’ Caravan Park. Danny Dyre and his daughter Dani are working on the Isle of Sheppey. Picture: Sky TV

Look around any supermarket’s alcohol shelves or visit a local micropub and you will be amazed at the number of excellent beers on offer. But this didn’t used to be the case. Back in the mists of time, chaps, and it was usually only chaps, had a grand choice of three. You could down a Watneys Red Barrel, drink a Double Diamond or sink a pint of Worthington E from the Bass Charrington brewery. And none of them tasted particularly good. Then something strange happened. A small but vociferous group of drinkers decided they wanted beer with bite. So, they launched the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra). To some, it was a bit of a joke. The main activists often appeared to have beards and shared a love of sea shanties and folk clubs where singers performed with their finger in their ear. But slowly the movement gained traction. One of the first branches was set up in Swale. Members of Swale Campaign for Real Ale celebrate their 50th anniversary at the Park Tavern, Sittingbourne. Picture: Shepherd Neame Recently, 30 drinkers gathered at the Park Tavern, Sittingbourne, to celebrate 50 years of championing proper beer. It was in that very pub that on February 17, 1976, that members held their first meeting. The group enjoyed plenty of pints of Master Brew cask ale and Spitfire Amber Ale laid on by the pub’s owners Shepherd Neame, and viewed a display of historic memorabilia. Exhibits included local press cuttings from the 1970s, Shepherd Neame artefacts, and minutes from early meetings held in another pub, The Fountain, leading up to the group’s formation which came five years after Camra was founded nationally. Those present included Paul Durkin who was present at the founding meeting 50 years before. Park Tavern landlord Giovanni Demichele with his Camra certificate. Picture: Shepherd Neame To mark the milestone, current branch chairman Steve Bury presented a Special Award Certificate to Park Tavern landlord Giovanni Demichele, acknowledging its place in the branch’s history. The certificate now has pride of place on a wall. Swale Camra’s 50th anniversary co-ordinator John Kent said: “It was a brilliant event. We were very pleased with the turnout. We actually have more members today than we did in 1976. “We were formed to revive cask ale and get people drinking beer in pubs and we still have the same aim today!” The Park Tavern - the beginning for Swale's Campaign for Real Ale The branch meets monthly, choosing a different pub each time, and organises outings through the year. Landlord Giovanni said: “I was delighted to welcome them to the pub for this special celebration. It was great to know they consider my cask ale to be so good!” Also present was Paul Durkin, one of the branch’s early chairs. Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Kevin McKenna, who was there, said afterwards: “I really enjoyed hearing members old and new share memories of early campaigning days, favourite pints and the many pubs the branch has supported over the years. The atmosphere was lively and proud, a real celebration of both heritage and ongoing commitment.” Also celebrating was former chairman John Sissons, an erstwhile Sheppey mobile DJ and estate agent who is now working at Priory Hill Holiday Park, Leysdown. He recalled: “When I became involved around 1977 the chairman was Malcolm Burton who lived in Balmoral Road, Gillingham. I seem to recall he was also involved with the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway. “Roy Denison was the secretary and Peter West was the treasurer. “On Sheppey, we had Dave Burnett who lived in Alma Road, Sheerness. His parents ran a shop on one of the camps in Eastchurch. The last I heard of him he was running the Ship and Lobster pub in Denton, Gravesend. “Paul Durkin was a founder member as were Bob Ferrant and Bob Gates.” The first time Swale Camra members visited Sheppey was on a cold, Tuesday evening in February. Their first port of call was to the True Briton in Victory Street, Sheerness, which is now a Domino’s pizza parlour. At the time it was the watering hole favoured by police, who were based in the station opposite, and journalists whose office was round the corner. The visit gave reporters much to write about, mainly because they didn’t want to miss out on any pints which might be going begging. One scribe on the Sheerness Times Guardian decided to review a copy of the Swale Camra Good Beer Guide in September 1976. He/she wrote: “Veteran real beer enthusiasts know where to find their favourite beverage in Sheerness. Most boast they can smell it a mile away. “But for those with less discerning nostrils, who are growing bored with drinking more bubbles than beer, the recently issued Real Ale Guide from the Swale branch of Camra will be a useful addition to our beer hunting equipment. “The guide lists all the houses in Swale which serve ‘genuine living beer’ without the modern gremlin of CO2.” Sheerness pubs to make the book included The Admiral’s Walk in Blue Town; the Blacksmiths Arms in Clyde Street; the Hero of Crimea in Alma Street; The Jolly Sailor in West Street, Blue Town; the True Brit; the Nore in St George’s Avenue, Sheerness, and the British Queen in Minster. All were Shepherd Neame pubs. There were two exceptions: the Ship-on-Shore in Marine Parade and the Flying Dutchman in Queenborough were Whitbread watering holes. The first annual meeting of the Swale branch was in the Sun Inn in West Street, Faversham. It reported that in the first year seven pubs had begun serving real ale in the borough. The good beer guide in those days cost 10p but often drew praise and complaints in equal number as drinkers quibbled over the criteria for including a pub. In 1987, branch chairman Peter Moyniham, who lived in Marine Parade, Sheerness, was forced to defend the journal. He wrote: “Might I be permitted to reply to your reviewer’s comments? “The task of selecting 14 pubs in Swale is complicated by several factors; the need to provide a good geographical spread; the need to avoid picking pubs which all sell the same beer; and to provide a variety of pubs from ‘spit & sawdust’ locals to plush lounge bars. “It would be easy to select our favourites year after year but to maintain a saleable product, the guide is, after all, the Campaign’s main fundraiser, we have to ring the changes.” He went on: “Your reviewer disputes the fact that the Royal Fountain Hotel is the top real ale pub in Sheerness. Such judgements are purely subjective. The GBG does not claim to list the ‘best’ pubs. That is for the drinker to decide. “The Royal Fountain was selected for inclusion partly because it sells Scottish & Newcastle’s cask ales which, being malty and smooth in palate, are at odds with the hoppy local beers such as Shep’s and Fremlin’s bitters and therefore deserve to be encouraged. “To imply, as your reviewer does in his last paragraph, that his knowledge of local pubs is better than ours is a hollow boast. “The members of Swale Branch of Camra have been keeping detailed survey records of the 180 or so pubs in our area since our formation almost 11 years ago.” Ouch! Camra celebrates its 21st anniversary at the Fountain. Cutting: East Kent Gazette For its 21st anniversary bash, the group celebrated at the Fountain near Sittingbourne railway station. Head Brewer at Shepherd Neame Julian Herrington unveiled a plaque outside the pub to commemorate the anniversary while Fountain landlord Ian Parker marked the occasion by adding pump-clips first used by the brewery 21 years before. Nowadays, drinkers have a huge range of cask-conditioned ales and ciders to draw on including the likes of Timothy Taylor's Landlord (4.3% ABV); Sharp's Doom Bar (4.3% ABV) from Cornwall; Fuller's London Pride (4.7% ABV) and Shep’s various offerings including Spitfire and Bishop’s Finger. Although many of Sheppey’s much-loved pubs have since bitten the dust, popular micropubs have shot up including The Pilot’s Rest in Sheerness, the Admiral’s Arm in Queenborough and the Island’s first, The Heritage, in a former Post Office at Halfway. Best to keep drinking. Here’s to another 50 years…

Moneyman Mark Orchard is to become the seventh boss of the troubled Medway Maritime Hospital at Gillingham in 10 years. The deputy Chief Executive Officer for Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust and the Isle of Wight Trust will be moving from Hampshire to Kent in the autumn. He has held several finance director posts, including as a finance director lead for NHS Providers, and has served as president of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. Mark Orchard is to be Medway Martime Hospital's new boss He said this week he wanted to create an “environment where staff feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive.” He said: “During my first few months in post, I will spend time meeting as many patients, members of staff, governors, volunteers and community partners as possible, listening carefully to what matters most to people and building on the progress already under way.” Patients and staff are all hoping he can turn the hospital around. Since 2015 there has been a revolving door as CEOs have come and gone. Some have been better than others. Professor Lesley Dwyer - former CEO of Medway NHS Foundation Trust Lesley Dwyer (2015 – 2018) was the first great hope. She was brought over from Australia where she ran 18,000 staff for the Central Adelaide Local Health Network and managed to lead the trust out of special measures in 2017. It was widely thought she wanted to return to Oz but she is now group chief executive of the newly-formed Norfolk and Waveney University Hospital Group. James Devine when in control at Medway Maritime Hospital James Devine (2018 – 2021) stepped in as acting chief executive in November 2018 and was appointed permanently in April 2019. The former boss of human relations navigated the trust through the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic but left in May 2021 after a damning CQC report into the hospital's accident and emergency department. He is now a senior partner with Korn Ferry Healthcare. Dr George Findlay Dr George Findlay (2021 – 2022) led further improvements at Medway Maritime Hospital before leaving to join University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. He quit in 2025. Jayen Black, former Meday CEO Jayne Black (2022 – 2025) was promoted from chief operating officer to chief executive in August 2022 and led the trust for more than two years before leaving in April 2025 to head East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which was nearer her home. Jonathan Wade - outgoing CEO Jonathan Wade (2025 – 2026) took over as interim chief executive on April 1, 2025, while also acting as the chief executive officer for neighbouring Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, which runs the Darent Valley Hospital. He stepped down from both trusts earlier this year when a plan to permanently share a single chief executive across them was dropped. The announcement of his departure came just before an online staff forum for Darent Valley staff to discuss redundancies caused by a £40 million financial black hole. Siobhan Callanan - interim CEO at Medway until Mr Orchard arrives Siobhan Callanan (April 2026 – present) was Medway’s former deputy chief executive. She stepped up to become interim chief executive and will continue until Mr Orchard joins. Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham Sheppey Community Hospital Medway is the main acute hospital and A&E centre for Isle of Sheppey patients. It has also installed a community diagnositic centre at Sheppey Community Hospital, including an MRI scanner, and runs the blood-testing centre at the hospital in Plover Road, Minster. It is, however, one of 14 trusts rated “red” for capability by NHS England. It has failed to meet its financial targets and has been battling with staffing and "cultural issues" for several years. John Goulston chairs the Medway trust John Goulston, who chairs the trust’s board, will be hoping Mr Orchard’s appointment will bear fruit. He said: “Mark brings extensive NHS experience, a proven ability to lead complex organisations and a strong track record of delivering transformation at scale. “His people-first leadership style and a clear commitment to supporting staff and improving care will be invaluable as we work to treat patients sooner, improve outcomes, and strengthen our culture and finances.” Adam Doyle, chierf executive of NHS Kent and Medway Adam Doyle, the chief executive of NHS Kent and Medway, said: “I am really pleased by Mark’s appointment and his proven track record of delivery. I look forward to working with Mark and the team at Medway NHS Foundation Trust as we transform health services in the county.’’

All three of Sheppey’s beaches at Sheerness, Minster and Leysdown are now flying Seaside Awards flags. Sheerness has also been allowed to fly the prestigious Blue Flag for its water quality. Minster missed out on the Blue Flag because the RNLI was unable to find enough lifeguards to patrol its beach along The Leas. Leysdown failed the Blue Flag criteria because of sewage overflow spills last summer. Mayor Cllr Derek Carnell with his wife Pat and seafront manager Ian Arnell prepare to raise the Seaside flag The borough’s new mayor Cllr Derek Carnell (Swale Independents Alliance, Kemsley) and his wife Pat helped the council’s seafront manager Ian Arnell raise the flags at short but windy ceremonies at each beach on Wednesday (May 27). Cllr Carnell said afterwards: “I didn’t realise how hard it was to put a flag up.” He praised staff keeping the beaches clean and tidy but added: “Unfortunately, there are some reasons why aren’t always clean and tidy.” It was a reference to a number of laboratory phials which have been found along the beaches of Minster, Eastchurch, Warden and Leysdown lately. Working out how to raise a flag Mr Arnell said: “The awards help put Sheppey on the map. They represent a daily cleaning regime, facilities and services, environmental awareness and excellent water quality. “The work which goes on along our seafronts is often overlooked. These awards show how important our daily work is.” He added: “Our volunteers are an integral part of our beaches.” Mr Arnell also paid a special mention to his own team of beach cleaners. Tim Arnell, right, and his team of beach cleaners at The Leas, Minster He said: “Having been a beach cleaner myself, I am fully aware of the hard work done by a small, dedicated team out daily in all weathers. On the surface, it looks like an ideal job. And in many ways, it is, being out in the open with the sun shining and seeing the efforts of your job. “But what many people don’t realise is that they are out in all weathers, constantly having to pick up dog mess and having to return to areas they have just cleaned only to find them spoilt again. That can be demoralising. “Having said that, most beach cleaners stay in the job for years and years. I know they are the lowest grade workers in the council but in my mind they are the most loyal and hard-working. The beach just draws you back.” One of his team also recently helped save a life. Beach cleaner Peter Jones helped save a man's life. Picture: Swale Borough Council Peter Jones stopped to help a man who had collapsed after clutching his chest on the seafront beachfront. He used his first aid training, and 30 years of experience to perform CPR for 10 minutes until paramedics arrived. He said: "I cleared his airway and found no breathing or pulse. I made sure somebody was ready to direct the ambulance and then started CPR.” Paramedics used a defibrillator and brought the man back to consciousness with the third shock. Peter added: “Naturally, I was a bit shaken but, in the moment, I remembered my training and acted swiftly. I was over the moon to hear later that he was not only in a stable condition but was talking and spending time with his family.” Ready to raise the flag at Minster. Cllr Dolley Wooster is on the left Cllr Dolley Wooster (Lab, Sheerness), who chairs Swale council’s environment and climate change committee, said: “We are proud these beaches have once again received these prestigious awards, which is a testament to the hard work of our officers and dedicated volunteers. “The awards confirm what we already knew; that we have some of the best beaches in the UK right here on the Isle of Sheppey.” She added: “We work closely with the RNLI to make sure lifeguards are on duty at the busy beaches of Sheerness and Leysdown to make sure people can enjoy their visits safely. “But we also need your help to make sure our beaches stay as beautiful and amazing as they are. Please take home any litter with you and treat our public beaches with care and respect.” Seaside flag flying over the Sweet Hut on The Leas at Minster Blue Flag beaches have water which meets the highest classification set by the EU Bathing Water Directive. Seaside Awards beaches must be clean, safe, provide information boards displaying details of local eco systems and celebrate the quality and diversity of the coast. The water must also be of “sufficient” standard.

Business guru Paul Andrews is stepping down from running IslandWorks at Sheppey’s rebuilt Royal Naval Dockyard Church. The serial entrepreneur, who has been with the former church since it reopened three years ago as a community and networking hub after an £8 million revamp, has decided it is time to retire and is handing over the reins to the Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust. Paul Andrews: retiring from running IslandWorks at the Sheerness Dockyard Church. Picture: John Nurden In an exclusive interview with Sheppey Scene, Paul, 70, said he first thought about quitting last year. But recent changes introduced by the government, such as increased National Insurance contributions for employers, had convinced him it was now time to go. He said: “The lease comes up for renewal in June but I was aware I had to give six months’ notice if I wanted to step away. At the time, the government’s budget changes were starting to kick in and our costs were beginning to go through the roof. “This building takes a huge amount of money to keep warm. So, with that, and the fact that I’m not getting any younger, I decided I wouldn’t renew the lease. He admitted: “I never thought I would get to the point when I didn’t want to run a business of some kind but the political situation in this country is now such that it is fruitless trying to run a small business. It’s totally pointless. Aerial view of Sheerness dockyard church. Picture: Dirk Lindner “Politicians don’t understand the effect their ‘small changes’ have on a business. They are huge. The problem with politicians is that they make short-term decisions because they are only in power for a few years and they play to their audiences without looking at the consequences of the domino effects. It’s bonkers. Half the time they’d be better off just leaving things alone.” Friends are not convinced he will manage to keep to his promise of “doing absolutely nothing” once he steps down but he has already confirmed he will continue to host his weekly Business Bunker internet radio show on Tuesdays. “But that’s just a hobby,” he said. Although he added: “The amount of people who have gone bust or closed their businesses in the past year is really sad. “If I was in government, I would completely undo the stupid NI thing. And I’d also look at the decision to hike the minimum wage above inflation. Inside Sheerness Dockyard Church “I am a great believer in paying people well for what they do but this April the minimum wage for an adult went up to £12.71 an hour. The actual cost to me was £16. That means your cup of coffee is going to cost £5. And that’s not sustainable. And, course, when you put up the minimum wage, all the differentials have to go up, too. That’s a killer. “On top of that, energy costs are eye-watering. The biggest thing the government could do to help would be to take off the 20% VAT on commercial energy. Yes, companies can claim it back but in a building like this, last November its energy bill was £15,000 for the month for gas and electricity. Coffee and snacks at the Sheerness dockyard church “We did a lot of work to minimise that, like turning the heating off at weekends. But then it took a long time to warm up on the Monday mornings. During the winter it’s a nightmare.” He said IslandWorks had three elements: the coffee shop and food bar; the hire of the events and meeting spaces and running the upstairs co-working hub. As it turned out, the events and meeting room hire became the most popular. The coffee shop remained the main breadwinner. But the co-working space proved to be his greatest disappointment. He said: “We kept reducing the prices until it now costs less than £5 a day to work here. But it costs more than that to heat the place. “The original budget needed 40 members to break even. We reached 26 at one point but now we are down to five. The co-working market in general has changed. The government retrospectively changed business rates and backdated it to 2022. “But the biggest issue has been the cost-of-living crisis. People are struggling so they decide to save the 10 quid and work from home. Co-working took off because people didn’t want to work from home but they didn’t want to commute to the office. Now it’s gone the other way.” He said the sector had also suffered from being too popular. “Many councils decided to jump on the bandwagon. And anyone with spare office space did the same. So the market became saturated.” Upstairs at the Sheerness dockyard church. Picture: Dirk Lindner He said most hubs aimed at the self-employed. But on Sheppey there were not enough entrepreneurs to go round. One of the few successes has been Lee Jarmain’s Pyramid Project which seeks to get youngsters not in education, employment or training (NEETS) into work. So, how did Paul become a businessman? “Oh, that’s a long story!” he said. “I left Vinters Boys School a month short of my 15th birthday in July 1970 - when the headmaster asked me to. But that same day I got a job at Turkey Mill in Maidstone. “The interview was incredibly intensive. I had to stand against a wall and they measured how tall I was. At the time I was 4ft 11in. The job was as a grease-monkey. They needed someone tiny to crawl into the machinery while it was still running to oil the bearings.” When Turkey Mill closed during the 1972 miners’ strike, because it was coal-fired, Paul and the rest of the staff were made redundant. Paul ended up at Crows in Maidstone where he made number plates and hydraulic pipes for vehicles in a shed at the back of the shop. After deciding the shed was too cold to work in the winter, he went to the Youth Employment Office seeking a new job somewhere warmer. They gave him a psychometric test and decided he might be good with figures. So he was sent for an interview at Kent County Council’s supplies department at Springfield. Paul recalled: “I got the job and started the following Monday.” After two years working in Maidstone and living in Bearsted with his parents, he decided to seek fame and fortune in the bright lights of London. He and a friend rented a bedsit and Paul found a job with the Abbey Life insurance company manning the phones. After the windows of their bedsit were blown out by an IRA bomb, Paul decided to return home and on the train back bumped into a former school friend who was working for KCC and desperate to recruit a goalkeeper for the works team. Paul said: “I went for an interview with their computer department but all I was asked was who I had played for and how many goals had I conceded. Incredibly, they hired me as a trainee computer operator and put me down to play my first game on the Saturday!” Much to Paul’s surprise, he liked working with computers and helped set up the council’s new data centre at Kings Hill, Malling. But after getting itchy feet, he moved back to London for Moss Bros as their computer operations manager. He then joined an American oil company, a nuclear engineering company and then Citibank for 10 years, ending up as a vice-president, at the still young age of 24, in charge of electronic banking trials. Following the city’s Big Bang, Paul was headhunted by investment firm Goldman Sachs and helped build their first electronic trading desks before quitting to become a consultant. He went on to invest in company which staged events with keynote speakers. At one show the speaker failed to appear, so Paul was roped in to give the lecture. He said: “It was the first time I had ever done anything like that. But I managed to bluff my way through. At the end of the talk a chap came up and asked if I’d do the same for his company. It turned out to be the computer firm IBM UK. And he offered me £1,000 an hour. I accepted!” Paul carried on working on the international talk circuit for 15 years, only giving it up when he became a dad. To bring in an income, he founded Jobs In Kent, the county’s first online employment portal in 1998 – much to the horror of local newspapers. As part of his slowing down, Paul, from Tenterden, has sold most of his business interests including Jobs In Kent (to his staff) and his stake in Channel Radio. He is now left with just Fruitbowl Media, the parent company of IslandWorks, and his old age pension! “I live on that now,” quipped the grandad and father of two, as he slipped on his headphones for another Business Bunker show co-hosed with his pal Jules Serkin from Whitstable. Business still seems very much in his blood, despite whatever else he may say. ** The Dockyard Church at Sheerness. Picture: John Nurden What happens to the Dockyard Church now? Members of the Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust have revealed their plans for the future of the former Royal Naval Dockyard Trust at Blue Town after Paul Andrews announced his retirement. Paul, 70, and his company IslandWorks have run the grade II listed building since it was reopened to the public three years ago. Kevin Moore, Emma Harkup and Andrew Byrne of the Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust Speaking at the May meeting of the Island Forum at Sheppey United’s football ground at Halfway, secretary Emma Harkup confirmed: “The trust is assuming control in five weeks. “We are a group of people with a diverse range of professional skills with a local-focussed, hands-on approach so we hope we are going to be able to do it justice. “It is one of Sheppey’s most important heritage locations which we hope to breathe new life into. It is a symbol of resilience and a place where heritage can work for the future of the Island. “We have the opportunity to transform it into a vibrant community hub. Our vision is to preserve and celebrate that heritage and to create a financial, sustainable community space we can all enjoy. “We want to support local businesses, people and young entrepreneurs and bring education, enterprise and wellbeing together under one roof. “The community is at the heart of this opportunity. We would like to engage with local schools, colleges, community groups, wellness sessions, creative workshops and weddings and everything in between. Inside Sheerness dockyard church. Picture: Dirk Lindner “We are in the process of championing some local artisan suppliers we can all join together and market across the network of Sheppey to build an exposure of our building and their supplies. “We will be encouraging partnerships with local trades and support for young entrepreneurs looking to go out into the big wide world of business. “We are holding business breakfasts and would like to stage market days to showcase jobs and new talent. We want to create a destination hopefully the community will want to visit again and again. “For us, the future of our building starts now. We are very excited to be assuming control and engaging more with the community and hope the building will be used more. Together, we can build something sustainable and inspiring.” She also published an email address and a QR code for people to get in touch. Emma, who works from the building three days a week, said: “At the moment, we are handing the transition from one supplier to another which can create hiccups in communication. We are registering people’s details so we can keep them up to date with news and events.” Sheerness dockyard church in its heyday. Picture: Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust For almost 200 years the Grade 2* listed church, designed by George Leadwell Taylor, stood as a marker of civic and naval pride in the Royal Naval Dockyard at Sheerness. But it had been left to decay after a fire swept through it in 2001, completely destroying the roof. Historic England declared it one of the most significant buildings on their at risk register, and the Heritage Lottery Fund offered match funding for its restoration which was led by Will Palin. The building was rescued from dereliction and repurposed as a community café, event space and youth employment hub by Hugh Broughton Architects working with conservation specialists Martin Ashley Architects. Want to know more about the history of Sheerness and Sheppey? There is a day of top-quality talks and presentations on Saturday, June 13, at the Dockyard Church, organised by the Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust, as part of the Festival of Sheppey. The line-up features Martin Verrier on The Dockyard and Ship Repair at Sheerness; Andrew Byrne on John Rennie and the Rebuilding of Sheerness Dockyard; Patrick Wright on Sheppey, Sheerness and the Dockyard; 200 Years of Sheppey Tourism by Martin and Rosemary Hawkins and exhibits from the Kent Archaeology Society. Admission free but donations appreciated. Call 01795 342355. To register your details to be sent regular updates, email events@dockyardchurch.co.uk QR code and email address to register details with the Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust

A businessman from Sheppey says he was discharged from Medway Maritime Hospital despite being in “no fit state” to leave. Vape shop owner Terry Utting, 46, from Minster was sent home from the Gillingham hospital on the evening of Thursday (March 5) after having an emergency operation on an infected abscess. He says staff threatened to call security when he insisted he was still in severe pain, unable to walk properly and constipated. Terry Utting at one of his shops. Stock photo: John Nurden He said: “I was told that if I refused to leave, security would remove me from the ward. As a result, I had no choice but to leave, despite believing I was medically unfit for discharge.” Less than 24 hours later he was back at the hospital with blood and pus leaking from his dressing after both his GP surgery and staff at Sheppey Community Hospital had refused to look at the wound. Mr Utting, a dad of three who runs a string of 12 vape shops across Kent including Sittingbourne, Sheppey and the Medway Towns, has now submitted a formal complaint to the Medway hospital claiming his discharge was unsafe and poorly managed. He wants the hospital to investigate a string of missed opportunities and to ensure it doesn’t happen to other patients in the future. His ordeal began at 2pm on Monday, March 2, when he was admitted to the hospital for surgery on the infected abscess. Terry Utting's wound He said: “Later that evening, I underwent an operation to remove the infection and abscess. “Following the operation, I was kept in the recovery area for approximately 30 hours waiting for a ward bed. I was then transferred to McCulloch Ward, where I stayed for two nights. “During my stay, I informed staff that I had been constipated since Thursday, February 26 and was in severe abdominal pain. “By the time of my discharge discussions, I had been constipated for eight days. “I was also experiencing significant weakness, cold sweats, difficulty walking and my blood pressure was recorded at the lowest level since my admission. “Despite explaining that I was not well enough to leave the hospital and was still in severe pain, I was told on the evening of Thursday, March 5, that I was being discharged and should gather my belongings. Entrance to Medway Maritime Hospital. Picture: John Nurden “I explained that I was in no fit state to leave due to severe pain, inability to walk properly, ongoing constipation and low blood pressure. “I was then told that if I refused to leave, security would remove me from the ward, As a result, I felt I had no choice but to leave the hospital despite believing I was medically unfit for discharge. “I had previously been informed that I would receive five days of strong pain relief followed by two weeks of alternative pain medication. However, upon discharge, I was only provided with three days of pain relief. “I was also told that a nurse would contact me to arrange dressing changes for my surgical wound. Less than 24 hours after returning home, the wound dressing began leaking significant amounts of pus and blood with a strong smell indicating infection. “No nurse had contacted me as I had been told would happen. Sheppey Community Hospital. Picture: Sheppey Scene “I attended the walk-in centre at Sheppey Hospital seeking help but was informed they could not change the dressing as they did not stock the required dressings and that I should contact my GP. “I then contacted my GP surgery, Greenport Medical Centre, but they informed me they had received no discharge notes or medical records from the hospital and therefore did not know what treatment or dressings I required. “I contacted McCulloch Ward at Medway Maritime Hospital and was told by a nurse over the phone to return to the ward where they would change the dressing. “However, when I arrived at the ward, I was told they could not change the dressing and that there were no beds available and a different procedure had to be followed. “At this point, I was extremely distressed, in severe pain, unable to walk properly, and my wound was leaking through the dressing. “Due to my distress and frustration, I raised my voice, after which security was called. I was then escorted to A&E and told they would deal with it there. “After booking into A&E, I was informed that they were also unable to change the dressing and was directed to the Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU). “Upon attending SAU, I was initially told to return to McCulloch Ward as they did not have a bed available. SAU then contacted McCulloch Ward directly, during which there appeared to be a disagreement, after which SAU eventually agreed to change the dressing. “I believe my discharge was unsafe and poorly managed. “I was discharged without appropriate wound dressings, a clear aftercare plan, communication with my GP, accurate medication as previously promised and proper arrangements for wound care. “I was also given incorrect information regarding follow-up care as I was told a nurse would contact me to arrange dressing changes, which did not happen. “As a result, I was left at home in severe pain, unable to walk properly with an open surgical wound leaking pus and blood, low blood pressure and an active infection with no medical support or clear instructions for care. “This experience caused me significant distress and unnecessary suffering at a time when I was already vulnerable following surgery.” He says he wants the incident to be formally investigated. “In particular, I would like the hospital to review the decision to discharge me despite my medical condition; the threat to remove me with security when I expressed I was medically unfit to leave; the failure to arrange appropriate wound care or communicate with my GP; the incorrect information provided regarding follow-up nursing care; the lack of adequate pain relief medication upon discharge and the confusion and lack of coordination between departments when I returned for help.” He added: “I would appreciate a full explanation of what happened and what steps will be taken to ensure this does not happen to other patients.” Medway NHS Foundation Trust which runs Medway Maritime Hospital was asked for a comment. Chief nursing officer Evonne Hunt said: “We are extremely sorry about Mr Utting’s experience and take his concerns very seriously. We are investigating them carefully so that we can respond to him in full. “We are committed to listening to our patients and learning from their experience to make improvements.”

A play about aviation pioneer Amy Johnson, who disappeared after crashing her plane into the Thames Estuary 85 years ago, has been grounded. Last Flight Out, written and performed by Jenny Lockyer, was due to land at the Sheppey Little Theatre in Meyrick Road, Sheerness, on Saturday, March 7. But none of the £10 tickets were sold. Cancelled: Jenny Lockyer in her one-woman play Last Flight Out A disappointed theatre spokeswoman admitted last night: “The play is cancelled. We sold no tickets. Jenny said she didn't want to come all the way from Wales.” However, a talk about the daredevil ‘queen of the skies’ delivered by Jane Delamaine, the founder and director of the Amy Johnson Project, is still clear for take-off the night before on Friday, March 6. Tickets are £5 on the door. Jane Delamaine's talk on Amy Johnson to go ahead at the Sheppey Little Theatre The illustrated Life and Death of Amy Johnson presentation will focus on Amy’s incredible life and tragic death, using Amy’s own words where possible to tell her epic story. Jane, a mother-of-three who now goes wreck-hunting, said: “I have dedicated the past 13 years to bringing Amy’s story back to life for a whole new generation, so her memory doesn’t slip out of history.” The tribute is predicted to evoke laughter, tears and awe for the lone-girl flyer of the 1930 who went on to marry Scottish pilot Jim Mollinson. Jane Delamaine's talk on Amy Johnson to go ahead at the Sheppey Little Theatre Amy was born in Hull in 1903, the same year as the Wright Brothers made their first flight in America. Soon after, other “magnificent men in their flying machines” were attempting to get off the ground, too. In Britain, the race was led by the Short Brothers on the Isle of Sheppey. Fuelled by tales of derring do, Amy, a typist, went on to became only the second woman in the world to qualify as an aircraft ground engineer. Amy Johnson and her plane And then, in 1930 aged 26 and with just with 99 hours in her logbook, she took off from Croydon to become the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia. It was an amazing achievement. She flew 11,000 miles, on her own, in a second-hand de Havilland Gipsy Moth bi-plane she called Jason. It took her over shark-infested seas and through all weathers, including fog, sandstorms and monsoon rain, as she huddled in an open cockpit. The feat turned her into an international celebrity. She told the world: “Believe nothing to be impossible.” Jane Delamaine with a statue of Amy Johnson at Herne Bay But on January 5, 1941, at just 37, she went missing, presumed dead, while serving her country flying an Air Transport Auxiliary aircraft during the Second World War. Her Airspeed Oxford plane mysteriously ditched into the sea off Herne Bay, where a life-size bronze statue of her now stands on the seafront. She had been heading to Oxford. Amy’s body and the wreckage of her plane were never found, despite a desperate rescue attempt. Five hours after her departure, a convoy of wartime vessels in the Thames Estuary spotted a parachute coming down and saw a person alive in the water calling for help. Conditions were poor with a heavy sea and a strong tide. Snow was falling and it was intensely cold. Amy Johnson information board at Herne Bay Lt Cmdr Walter Fletcher, the captain of HMS Haslemere, steered his ship to the site of the crash where his crew threw ropes overboard. Fletcher himself dived in to try to save a person wearing a flying helmet. But when a lifeboat reached him, he was unconscious. He died in hospital three days later from hypothermia. Amy’s body is believed to have disappeared beneath the ship. Her flying bag, logbook and cheque book were recovered later near the crash site. Two films have been made about the aviator’s life. Anna Neagle starred in They Flew Alone in 1942 and in 1984 Harriet Walter starred in The Amy Johnson Story. ·       The Life and Death of Amy Johnson illustrated talk is at the Sheppey Little Theatre, Sheerness, ME12 2NX, on Friday, March 6, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 on the door (subject to availability) or can be booked at Sheppy Glass, 24 Broadway, Sheerness, on 01795 580006.

If the management at Criterion Blue Town thought adding a comedy night to their offering would attract a younger audience to the revamped music hall on the Isle of Sheppey, then this experiment failed. If they wanted a night of laughter, then it was a success. Three comedians, corralled by veteran comic Kevin McCarthy, kept the small but perfectly-formed audience entertained on Thursday night (February 26). Comedian Kevin McCarthy at the Criterion Blue Town. Picture: John Nurden It wasn’t long before the comedians became aware of the, let us say, mature nature of those who had splashed out £17.50 on tickets for a comfy seat out of the cold night air. McCarthy, who is no spring chicken himself and resembled something of an off-duty Santa Claus in his jeans and bushy beard, was the first to jump on the bandwagon identifying a chap called Brian, who gave his age as 86, as a likely target. “I’d better hurry up then!” he quipped. Then he spotted a woman in the front row with her arms folded defiantly. “You’re either fed up already or planning to join me on stage for the River Dance,” he said. On seeing the theatre’s grand piano in the corner of the stage, decorated with silver candelabra, he mused: “Either Liberace is coming or someone is about to sacrifice a goat.” And that was typical of the gentle banter which followed. Comedian John Newton at the Criterion Blue Town. Picture: John Nurden Also on the bill was amiable John Newton from the Medway Towns. Looking around the sparse auditorium he announced: “I always get nervous at these big gigs.” Taking potshots at his hometown he remarked: “I saw a group of lads hanging around Chatham’s Pentagon shopping centre sniffing Tipp-Ex. I thought ‘big mistake’.” It took a while for the line make its mark with the audience but it was a welcome change to the usual torrent of anti-Sheppey jokes. Sean Hutchinson at the Criterion Blue Town on Sheppey. Picture: John Nurden Alas, Island comic Sean Hutchinson, wearing a moustache, glasses and a black pullover, set the campaign to celebrate culture on Sheppey back decades with a relentless stream of complaints about living in James Street. The night was saved by Irish comic Paddy Lennox who seemed genuinely delighted to be making his debut on a Sheppey stage. Comedian Paddy Lennox at the Criterion Blue Town. Picture: John Nurden Looking around the theatre he remarked: “It’s like being in a time warp. I may be the most excited person here.” It is a not unsurprising fact that when it comes to more elderly audiences there is usually a surfeit of women. And this was no exception. At least two men had arrived with two women each and one lucky chap had four. “This is definitely the place to retire to,” mused Lennox. “These must be the Epsteins of Sheppey - three fellas with eight women. I’m just jealous. The rest of Kent must be spitting with envy.” The next comedy night at the Criterion is on October 8 with comics Andy Stedman, Noel James and Gerry K. There’s no preferred age range but a boost in numbers would be a good punchline.

You can’t miss the ‘road closed’ signs springing up across Sheppey as gas distributor SGN upgrades its ageing network with new plastic pipes. But less than three miles away an even bigger operation has been going on, hidden from most people’s eyes. The same company has been tunnelling under the Swale as part of an £8.2 million operation to lay a new 12-inch (400mm) high pressure main to feed the Island. The green line shows the route of the new gas main under the Swale Contractors Phoenix Civils moved onto the site near Ridham Dock last August to prepare for one of SGN’s most challenging projects. A specialist team from LMR Drilling UK arrived on January 6 and after two weeks of setting up machinery completed the drilling in two-and-a-half weeks – 10 days ahead of schedule. Workers are now busy dismantling the rig and preparing to connect the new pipe to the network. The drilling rig used to tunnel a new gas main under the Swale to the Isle of Sheppey. Picture: SGN Once the pipe has been tested and connected, drivers and train passengers will begin to see scaffolding going up around the Kingsferry Bridge as work switches to removing the existing 60-year-old steel pipe from inside the towers. Although relatively quick, drilling the borehole was not without its challenges. SGN engineers Nathan Clarke, left, and Simon Thurlow on the bank of the Swale. PIcture: John Nurden SGN’s project manager Simon Thurlow, 50, explained: “Not only are the Sheppey marshes a site of special scientific interest and are covered by the Ramsar International Convention on wetlands but we also had to negotiate with eight or nine different landowners plus working in line with our consents set out by Natural England.” He added: “This has been a very complex project. It has been planned since 2017 and I became involved in 2019. “It took a long time to get everything in place. But once we were ready, the actual drilling was completed ahead of schedule.” Tricone bit breaks through after tunnelling under the Swale. Picture: SGN At the heart, or probably the head, of the horizontal directional drill (HDD) was a state-of-the-art device clamped to the front which used gyroscopes, and similar technology to that in top secret Cruise missiles, to guide it under the Swale. After drilling down 23.5 metres and then along 573 metres it emerged on the Sheppey side bang on target. “It was incredible to see,” said Simon. “We had red guideposts in place and it popped up right next to them.” New gas pipe being pulled back to the mainland under the Swale from Sheppey. Picture: SGN At the same time, a dedicated mud engineer had been shipped over from Poland to take soil samples, sometimes as many as 15 a day, to ensure the lubricant mix of slurry fed back into the drill hole remained at exactly the right consistency to allow the manoeuvre to be completed in one continual process. The samples were all tested onsite. The polyethylene pipe normally comes in 12-metre lengths but for the Sheppey project they were specially shipped as 18-metre lengths by pipe manufacturer Aliaxis to reduce the number of joints. The new gas pipe stretched out along the Sheppey marshes ready to be pulled under the Swale. Picture: SGN The pipes were laid out in a single line on the Island side before being fused together in one long strip by heat welding. The whole pipe was then gently pulled back under the Swale to the mainland. The project has been so high profile that a stream of “top brass” from SGN regularly visited the site to watch the operation at first-hand. At one stage, a temporary viewing platform was installed so visitors could see the drill in action. Removing the drilling equipment from site The Ridham Dock site is now being stripped of equipment. And waste mud stored in a giant manmade lagoon is being taken away in a fleet of tankers to be environmentally disposed of. The drilling site will then be returned to its original condition as 4,000 tonnes of aggregate used to support the rig are removed and the topsoil replaced. The new pipe will be connected to the rest of the Sheppey main and to the gas feed on the mainland side near a buttress leading to the Kingsferry Bridge. New pipe will be connected to the gas feed here. Picture: John Nurden The team is waiting for permission to close the Ridham Dock Road to complete the task. Then it will be out with the old pipes. Site project manager Nathan Clarke, 53, from Rochester, will be in charge of that. He joined British Gas as an 18-year-old school-leaver. Old gas pipe, left, under the Kingsferry Bridge to be removed. Picture: SGN He explained: “The old pipe runs underneath the carriageway, down one tower, along the inspection tunnel under the Swale, up the other tower and under the roadway to the Island. “We will be hanging scaffolding from the road to access the pipe but because the Swale is tidal we will also need rescue boats on the water while we are working. Because the access doors to the Kingsferry Bridge are this small the old gas pipe must be cut into one-metre lengths. Picture: John Nurden Because the access doors to the bridge’s inner workings are so small, the pipe will have to be painstakingly removed in short lengths. Nathan said: “There will be scaffolding inside the bridge to take the weight of the pipe as we cut it into one-metre-long sections. These will be rolled to the towers where electric hoists will lift them up.” Kingsferry Bridge linking the Isle of Sheppey to the mainland. Picture: John Nurden Remote “cold cutters” will slice into the steel. Each cut is likely to take 45 minutes. Nathan added: “Because it is in a confined space, we can’t use oxyacetylene torches. And every time the bridge lifts for a boat we will have to stop work. Few people realise just how much work goes into project like this behind the scenes.” It might almost make the gas bill for Sheppey’s 15,000 customers seem worth it!   Note: Southern Water began its £7.5 million project to install two new water supply pipes to Sheppey in October 2022, three months after its old main across the Kingsferry Bridge burst and left 40,000 Islanders without water for three days during one of the hottest summers on record. The work was finally completed almost a year later in September 2023. Project team leader Peter Simmons blamed the delays on “major challenges”. He said: “There were all sorts of changes in the soil, clay and shells which made life pretty tough. But we had a brilliant team and overcame every hurdle.”

Sheppey is about to get the spotlight shone at it as part of a new six-part Sky TV series. All last summer a film crew took over Priory Hill and Nutts Farm holiday parks at Leysdown to follow EastEnders star Danny Dyer and his daughter Dani. Dad Danny, 48, who played Mick Carter in the BBC soap, had decided to do his bit to revive the great British seaside caravan holiday and roped in his 29-year-old daughter to help. Danny Dyer and his daughter Dani putting their feet up at Priory Hill Holiday Park. Picture: Sky TV The pair set up base in a mobile home as staff from the family-owned business tried to show them the ropes. Danny, who also stars in the new series of the bawdy romp Rivals, admitted it had been a “baptism of fire.” He explained: “This is all I ever knew as a child; that was our holiday every year. “It’s a very working-class holiday. I would hang out with my nan, grandad, my aunts and uncles and cousins, it’s such a beautiful thing for me. “They were very simple days that I really do miss. So, I thought, with the might of Sky behind me, let’s see if we can make caravans interesting again to some people, with my firstborn child, of course.” Danny Dyer and his daughter Dani get down to business at Priory Hill. Picture: Sky TV Daughter Dani said: “We have worked together quite a few times. We’ve travelled around Italy - that was one of the first main things we did together. We’ve also done Gogglebox, too. “We get on so well. The filming days were really long sometimes but we just make each other laugh and we get each other through it. I think we both bring something different to the show. “He’s very cheeky but the residents love him. “I think it was lovely for them to be around him, and us, and bring something different to the caravan park. It’s just easy. It doesn’t feel like work when we’re together.” Dad and daughter Danny and Dani Dyer from their podcasdst Live and Let Dyer Dad Danny added: “We were just two Danny Dyers trying to make the whole thing work. I needed her to calm me down a little bit because I struggle to run a business, trying to juggle a lot of jobs at once.” But he admitted: “It was a baptism of fire because we didn’t have a clue what we were doing – and I think that comes across. But I think we got a few things right as well. It’s a comforting show to watch.” He went on: “If you want to get involved, get involved. I’m very frivolous. That’s why I needed Dani by my side to rein me in slightly. Danny Dyer checking taps as part of his advert for Priory Hill Holiday Park. Picture: Sky TV “I didn’t know how much these things cost but we do talk about it in the show, how expensive everything is now. Look at how much butter is… Lurpak is seven quid! “ I don’t think enough working-class voices are on television. “This is a very, very British show. People are also struggling with what being British is at the moment. But these are real characters and without them, this show doesn’t work. So, you’ve got Dani and me trying to do the right thing.” Danny had to master the art of buggy driving - and grass mowing. Picture: Sky kTV He added: “The caravan owners take their caravans very, very seriously, as they should. They spend a lot of money on them. “It’s £4,500 a year for ground rent. But they want one of the best holidays they possibly can. So, they got over having two famous people minting about pretty quickly.” Dani admitted she had gone on caravan holidays as a girl, too. She said: “Yeah, I went with my friends. That was my first teenage holiday and my first bit of freedom being able to just go up to the clubhouse and be with my best friend. I felt like an adult at 12.” Park manager Darren Lawrence gets a helping hand from Dani Dyer at the park's open day. Picture: Darren Lawrence Club manager Darren Lawrence, who is expected to become an unlikely star of the show, has been asked to comment. All staff were originally made to sign non-disclosure agreements by the TV production company Expectation – the same one behind Clarkson’s Farm – at the start of shooting this time last year. Cheers! 'Captain' Danny Dyer and his 'mermaid' daughter Dani at Leysdown carnival. They won first prize. Picture: John Nurden The only time the public caught an official glimpse of the Dyers was during the town’s summer carnival in July when they climbed aboard a Priory Hill trailer dressed as a cruise ship captain and a mermaid - and ended up with first prize! Another highlight of the series is expected to be an impromptu game of football when soccer royalty Harry Redknapp, the former manager of West Ham, Spurs, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Southampton, returned to the pitch. Priory Hill's raggle-taggle football team. Picture: Paul Shaw At the age of 78, he was hauled out of retirement to coach a rag-tag team representing Priory Hill. To be fair, visiting Leysdown was nothing new for the veteran footballer. He was a regular at the resort as a lad because his mum and dad had a holiday caravan on the neighbouring Nutts Farm site overlooking the sea. A source at the park revealed: “Whenever Harry was down, he’d soon be in a makeshift team playing on the field using jumpers for goalposts. Sometimes Harry's son Jamie would be in the team, too. It was a great family affair.” Harry Redknapp, right, takes on the might of Danny Dyer's Priory Hill All-Stars. Picture: Callum Osmond This time, Redknapp had been summoned by actor-turned-holiday park boss Danny. Television cameras were there to cover Redknapp’s return to the pitch as he stepped out in shorts. But instead of having to use jumpers as makeshift goalposts, the holiday park team had marked out a proper pitch. Its players turned up in a smart blue kit with the former EastEnders actor drafted in to make up numbers. Behind the scenes: Sky's film crew. Picture: John Nurden What happened on the pitch and in the changing room afterwards is remaining under wraps until transmission. But we can also reveal that a different kind of sport also sparked the imagination of Dyer and his daughter. They were spotted watching one of the weekly wrestling matches in the clubhouse run by Steve Manelli. At the last minute, club manager Darren Lawrence was roped in to act as referee. Will it be only a matter of time before “Dangerous” Danny Dyer gets the call to join the tag team? One of the other tasks Dyer Senior had to get to grips with was the tricky art of mowing the grass. But it wasn’t all work. Birthday drink from Danny Dyer and Sheppey comic Miki Travis. Picture: Miki Travis During the series Danny managed to celebrate his birthday in the clubhouse with his mates including fellow EastEnders actor-turned-karaoke star and Sheppey resident Shaun Williamson, Island comic Miki Travis and former Spandau Ballet singer Martin Kemp. Shaun Willliamson and Miki Travis having a birthday singalong for Danny Dyer. Picture: Miki Travis In the meantime, Danny’s daughter Dani was also busy behind the scenes preparing to compete in Strictly Come Dancing and filming the series SAS Celebrity Who Dares Wins. Just before the start of filming at the 75-year-old holiday park in Wing Road she had also married West Ham football club captain Jarrod Bowen Danny and Dani Dyer celebrate the end of the first day of shooting on Instagram In his first public appearance at the gates of Priory Hill to launch an open day, Danny told the waiting crowd: “I am proud to be part of this gaff, as is my little Dani, who has just got back from her honeymoon. “I’m very jealous. I wanted to go on that honeymoon,” the West Ham fan added. Danny, who also stars in the Nick Love film Marching Powder, went on: “If you want a cuddle or a photo or whatever, I am here for you. Enjoy your day out.” Sky’s executive director Phil Edgar-Jones said: “The Great British Holiday is about to get a turbo-charged makeover like never before as the Dyers’ Caravan Park prepares to open its gates. “If anyone can make caravanning cool again, it’s Danny and Dani, and we cannot wait to see them bring the fun.” The Dyers’ Caravan Park begins on Sky One and NOW on Tuesday, February 24.

According to some, who should know better, the Isle of Sheppey is a "cultural desert". Well, we have news for them! Despite being a tiny Island on the north Kent coast, Sheppey somehow manages to maintain not one but TWO community theatres. The Sheppey Little Theatre in Meyrick Road, Sheerness There is the aptly-named Sheppey Little Theatre nestled in the backstreets of Sheerness. In 2025 it celebrated its 50th anniversary. Then there is the Criterion Theatre, a stunningly revamped music hall in Blue Town which presents variety shows and shares its premises with a three-storey museum. Criterion Blue Town - theatre, cinema, music hall and museum In fact, that's something else Sheppey isn't short of. The Island boats FIVE museums all slightly quirky and all covering a different aspect of the Island's rich heritage ranging from Britain's first flying pioneers in Eastchurch to dastardly Dutch invaders in Queenborough, visits of Charles Dickens to Minster and not forgetting the nautical heroes of Sheerness Dockyard including Lord Nelson. And, of course, there are its awaard-winning beaches and the nationally acclaimed Elmley Nature Reserve with its shepherds' huts and luxury manor house where guests can stay or even hire for weddings. Not for nothing is Sheppey called Kent's hidden gem. This treasure trove of cultural highlights is just waiting to be discovered. Whether you're a resident looking to delve deeper into the island's offerings or a visitor eager to explore its charm, there's something for everyone to enjoy.