Gill Gay Will Be Collecting For Swale Foodbank Again

Hi everyone,

I would like to thank you all for the wonderful support we have received on behalf of Swale Foodbank so far.

My husband Ron and I will be collecting again in the bus stop lay-by opposite the Church in Horsham Lane on Wednesday 30th September between 10:30am and 11.30am.

Please come along with your donations (in carrier bags would be helpful) and put them into our open car boot while we remain at a safe distance.

We will then deliver your donations to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are most welcome, Swale Foodbank has given me the list of items below they are asking for:

Tinned Potatoes

Instant Mash

Biscuits

Rice Pudding

Custard

Bottles of Squash

They are also low on all toiletries if anyone would like to donate some:

Hand Soaps

Shower Gel

Bubble Bath

Toothpaste

Shaving Products

Deodorants

Laundry Detergents

Please tell your friends and family.

This need won't be going away soon, unfortunately, if ever.

Thank you

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Breach Lane, Upchurch Gets a September Clean Up

The photo only shows 5 sacks as we’d already

recycled the contents of another 3 before it was taken.

Breach folk Sue, Richard, Mel and Steve have been out as part of the Great British September Clean.

We cleared 8 large sacks of litter from just the top 300 metres of Breach Lane.

We found the usual cans/bottles and takeaway cartons but also, almost unbelievably, sanitary towels, a pair of Wellington boots, several bags of dog poo and a bag of nicely seasoned wood.

Upchurch Parish Council is encouraging residents to take part in private litter picking initiatives at some point this month - because we live a long way out, we thought we’d just get on with it!

#GBSeptemberClean  #LitterHeroes  #KeepKentClean

Sue Flipping

M&S Little Shop 2 - Swop Shop

For collectors of M&S Little Shop 2, how frustrating is it not being able to swop the items in the shop this year due to COVID restrictions?

Last year, I managed to complete sets for several happy children to play with. However, this year, despite collecting over 130 of them I have only managed to complete one set of 25. All the others being duplicates but not making up a set. 

Looking on the internet, it is extraordinary that people are selling these singularly at very high prices. What fun is there in that and disappointing for the children and costly for grandparents!

I would like to set up a swop shop ‘free of charge’ the only cost being the postage.

I have a large number of duplicates and I am happy to coordinate all this if anyone is interested.

Just drop me an Email letting me know what you have and what you want to swop it for and let’s see if we can get it going.

Looking forward to hearing from other frustrated parents/grandparents.

Bye for now.

Jan Bunting
Email: janannbunting@outlook.com

Medway Council - Residents Encouraged to Book Their Free NHS Health Check

Medway Council is encouraging residents aged 40 to 74 to book their free NHS Health Check.

Residents can now book a health check at a number of GP surgeries across Medway and at the Smokefree Advice Centre in Chatham.

As people get older they have a higher risk of developing conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease or type 2 diabetes. A free NHS Health Check can spot the early signs of these conditions and trained staff can offer tailored advice and ongoing support to help residents make small changes to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Residents aged between 40 and 74, who do not have a pre-existing condition will be invited for a health check every 5 years, either at their GP surgery or the Smokefree Advice Centre. Those who receive their invitation should book their appointment as soon as possible to avoid delay. Queries about eligibility can be made with Medway Council’s Public Health team by phoning 01634 335830, Emailing: medwayhealthchecks@medway.gov.uk or texting the word ‘CHECK’ to 81066.

A number of new social distancing measures have been put in place at the Smokefree Advice Centre in Chatham to keep both visitors and staff safe. This includes Health Checks being by appointment only, a limited number of people being allowed in the centre at any one-time, staggered arrival times and enhanced cleaning. Patients will also be asked to wear a face covering whilst inside the centre.

Cllr David Brake, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder covering Public Health, said:

“I am pleased that eligible residents aged 40 to 74 can now book a free NHS Health Check at our Smokefree Advice Centre in Chatham once again. It is incredibly important that residents continue to look after their health and our specialist staff have been trained to identify early indications of conditions, like high blood pressure, which often have no symptoms. They will also provide tailored advice to help our residents live healthier lives. If you book a health check and can no longer attend the appointment, please let our staff know.”

For more information about NHS Health Checks, visit: medway.gov.uk/healthchecks

Medway Council

Medway Council - Cold War Steve Launches National Exhibition in Medway

Medway will host one of the country’s first new artwork exhibitions this week.

Cold War Steve Meets The Outside World will be on display at Riverside Country Park from Friday, 18th September.

The exhibition supports Medway’s aspirations to become UK City of Culture 2025 which would create a legacy of opportunities for local people and bring significant economic benefits to the area.

Back at the start of 2020 Birmingham artist Christopher Spencer, otherwise known as artist Cold War Steve, was about to set out on a nationwide tour of pubs, hairdressers, village halls, libraries, shops and front rooms as part of his unique You, Me and Cold War Steve do-it-yourself downloadable exhibition.

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit and during lockdown plans started to emerge for a new idea to leave the house and meet the outside world again.

This September and October Cold War Steve will unveil four ambitious new outdoor artworks starting in Medway.

Cold War Steve Meets The Outside World will feature 11 free to view outdoor artworks on the shoreline of Riverside Country Park in Rainham. The exhibition launches on Friday, 18th September at 2:00pm (high tide) and will be on display until Sunday, 27th September.

Anyone planning on visiting the exhibition is reminded to continue to follow social distancing guidelines.

Cold War Steve specialises in surreal, satirical collages originally made on his phone and iPad. Since 2016 Cold War Steve’s Twitter account, with almost daily posts, has seen his following increasing by the day. Three solo exhibitions, two books with Thames & Hudson, commissions for the National Galleries of Scotland, Whitworth in Manchester, Birmingham Museum and Gallery, a giant billboard installation at Glastonbury Festival and an international TIME magazine cover have all followed.

Cold War Steve aka Christopher Spencer, said:

“I’m well excited to start the 'Cold War Steve Meets The Outside World’ exhibition here in Medway. The Riverside Country Park is the perfect spot for this nature trail installation; the mix of beautiful shoreline, wildlife, industrial and post industrial landscape is wonderful. The 11 pieces on display are a kind of 'CWS 2020 best of’, some of my biggest pieces from this crazy year that have never been displayed anywhere before, plus a brand piece made especially for Medway. The event has been designed to be viewed from a distance with social distancing in mind. An art trail throughout the park and on the shoreline. Bring your binoculars!”

Paul Cowell, Head of Culture and Libraries at Medway Council, said:

“It is fantastic that Medway will host the first part of Cold War Steve’s national exhibition. Riverside Country Park is an ideal location for an unusual exhibition, such as this, with Cold War Steve’s satirical artwork being displayed on the picturesque shoreline. We understand how important creativity is to both our own personal wellbeing but how it can also help boost community spirits, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. It is incredibly exciting that Medway is attracting national artists to exhibit their new work here. This exhibition supports Medway’s aspirations to become UK City of Culture 2025 which is a huge opportunity to put Medway on the map and show the rest of the country what we have to offer.”

Imogen Robertson, Bid Director at Medway 2025, said:

“Our Medway 2025 City of Culture bid is all about turning Medway’s green spaces, shopping centres, stadiums and public areas into venues that showcase world-class creativity for everyone. We’re proud to welcome people from across Medway and the rest of the country to Rainham to see Cold War Steve’s artworks at Riverside Country Park as we bid to be UK City of Culture in 2025.”

Riverside Country Park in Rainham is a great location for the exhibition with free on-site parking, walking trails and picnic areas for people wishing to visit the exhibition and spend the day in Medway. It is also a short drive or bus journey away Gillingham town centre and the railway station and has good motorway links with the M25 and M2 for visitors from further afield.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to continue to follow social distancing guidelines when visiting the exhibition.

Medway Council

Urgent Road Closure - The Street, Upchurch

It will be necessary to close The Street, Upchurch from Monday 21st September 2020 for up to 1 day.

The road will be closed at the junctions of Wetham Green and The Poles.

The alternative route is via Wetham Green, Susans Lane, Twinney Lane, Halstow Lane, and Forge Lane.

This is to enable drainage repairs to be carried out by Kent County Council.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Kent County Council on:

03000 418181 (9:00am - 5:00pm)

03000 419191 (5:00pm - 9:00am)

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste