General Meeting - Live - Evening with Speaker

There will be an evening meeting on November 10th when local historian and archaeologist, Mark Harrison, will give an

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Minutes of the Meeting

Held on Thursday, November 10th  2022

                                               At The Plough, Swalecliffe                      

Apologies:

            Andrew B.,      Dave C. ,    Gerry,      Hilary,     Marian,      Paul,      Pippa and Spyros

Guests:

            Kevin Fielding,   Neil Robertson,     Gill Sissons,        Robert Macfarlane

Grace:

            Jean

Speaker, Mark Harrison, Timescapes, Kent:

Mark is a historian and archaeologist who specialises in the history and archaeology of Whitstable and the surrounding villages.    He gave a fascinating talk on the role of Admiral Nelson in the defence of the East Swale, Whitstable and Herne Bay during the Napoleonic Wars.      In 1801, Napoleon had built up a fleet of boats at Boulogne and gathered an army in the surrounding area and, in England, the resulting fear of a French invasion was at its height.      A number of places were identified as possible landing sites with the Whitstable coast seen as one of the most likely and, potentially, the most vulnerable as a successful landing there would threaten Chatham and Sheerness dockyards, the gunpowder works at Faversham and, of course, the approach to London itself.      Such was the importance of this stretch of coast that Viscount Lord Nelson was given unlimited powers to set up a flotilla of gunboats and other vessels specifically to protect it most of which were stationed off The Street at Tankerton and along the coast to Herne Bay.     The gunboats were manned and the coast patrolled by ‘fencibles’ recruited from local fishermen/smugglers.        Mark’s research has identified the ships and gun boats involved and a number of their personnel.

Information Panel on Tankerton Slopes

Timescapes Kent are a community volunteer group that is committed to historical and archaeological research that will extend and enhance understanding of the development of Whitstable and the organisation has a project to erect an information panel on the Slopes describing the Tankerton Boat and Mark asked if the Club would be willing to give some support.   Pat asked Mark to let her have details that she would put to the Board at the next meeting on Tuesday, November 15^th.

Jesse, Whitstable Junior School

Godfrey read out the following message received from Brian Hitcham who organises the parking at Whitstable Junior School:

I heard a story today about a little girl called Jessie who is a pupil at Whitstable Junior School. This is Jessie’s story. At the age of 5 Jessie was diagnosed with medulloblastoma group 4 in the brain. Jessie went through multiple surgeries, 6 weeks of radiotherapy and 6 months of chemotherapy. A year later Jessie was given the all clear. 18 months later it came back, worse than before and spread to different areas. The consultant gave less than 1% chance of cure and the word Terminal was used. The chemotherapy this time round was supposed to suppress the tumours in the hope that a cure would be found. The chemotherapy has not worked and some of the tumours have grown. This kind, caring, thoughtful little girl is running out of options. We pray for a miracle.   Friends of the family are trying to raise money to help the family create memories for Jessie.

Brian asked if any of the groups that fundraise at the car park might consider donating some or all of the money they raise running the car park for a day to support this very brave little girl?   

The meeting agreed to a donation of £250.00.

Dates for the Diary

     Sunday, November 13^th, Remembrance Service

Nick will lay a wreath on behalf of the Club at the Remembrance Service in Whitstable.

     Tuesday, November 15^th, Board Meeting

The next Board Meeting will be Tuesday at 7.00 pm at Nick’s, Elmhurst, Sweech Bridge Road, Hillborough, CT6 6TE

     Thursday, November 17^th, Rising Sun AGM

Members are invited to the Rising Sun AGM to be held at the Prince of Wales Youth Club, 23 Military Road, Canterbury, CT1 1YX at 1.00 to 4.00 pm.

     Thursday, November 24^th,  Speaker on Cybercrime

Emma Swietochowski-Hay, of Kent Police who is the Fraud Prevention Co-ordinator with the Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate.     Emma will present an awareness session on the different types of fraud currently afflicting Kent.  She will also be offering some protect and protection advice and an opportunity to sign up the Kent Fraud Alert System that sends out email fraud awareness messages on a regular basis.

     Saturday, November 26^th, Car Parking

     Saturday, November 26^th, Young Chef Competition

     Thursday, December 8^th, Club Christmas Dinner

The Club Christmas Dinner will be at the Crescent Turner Hotel,  Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3BY.   Godfrey has circulated details and the menu but has still to hear from a number of members.     As he will soon need to provide the Crescent Turner with numbers and menu selections he asked that everyone who is going to the Christmas Dinner who has not already been in touch to contact him as soon as possible. 

Visitors and Greetings:

Kevin brought greetings from Whitstable Rotary Club and Gill brought greetings from Canterbury Sunrise.