Camber Village Voice

It will be delivered monthly and is free to all of us who live in Camber. It is certainly full of interesting items and lists village activities taking place in the Memorial Hall.

There are hopes of expanding the newsletter and it will be possible to advertise at a competitive price. To find out more email, [email protected].

n I’ve received some very heartening stories this week about villagers going the extra mile to support the community. I’m sure that you have noticed the problem we had with icy footpaths. The roads are fine, but you risked life and limb when you walked on many of the footpaths.

Both Terry Hovenden who looks after the Memorial Hall and Chris Avery the village caretaker have been making valiant efforts to clear away ice so that the risk of slipping is significantly reduced. We owe them both a big thank you.

It may be that you are hesitant to clear footpaths or public areas because of the worry of being sued if somebody slips on the area you have cleared. Let me reassure you. The Government website, direct.gov.uk has an information sheet called ‘Clearing snow and ice from pavements yourself,’ which gives tips on clearing snow, I quote,’ Don’t be put off clearing because you are afraid someone will get injured. Remember, people walking on snow and ice have a responsibility to be careful themselves.’

Please look at the article I am referring to either by getting onto the web, or looking on the notice board outside the Memorial Hall where a copy is displayed. The advice is really clear and you could be contributing to the well being of the community.

Here I put my Parish Nurse hat on.

There were older folk in the village who had been indoors for more than a week because they are too nervous on the footpaths.

Their isolation is heightened because the various clubs that serve a real social role had to be cancelled too.

This clearly shows the knock on effect on peoples well being because of the snow. We have another person who must be congratulated for their commitment to the village.

I was contacted by an older villager who was singing the praises of Dan our Police Community Support Officer.

She asked him about a door chain for her front door. The door didn’t lend itself to the ordinary kind of chain normally used. She was amazed when Dan went in to assess the problem, then found the appropriate security device having discussed the problem with a locksmith, located a device that would work without breaking the bank!

She found him so willing and helpful, not bothered that he was trudging around in the cold and the snow, and clearly not having a problem helping her with what was an unusually difficult security problem.

She felt comfortable with him and couldn’t speak highly enough of the support he offered.

Because this is about her security and safety I have with held her name.

It is so good to hear these stories about individuals who care about each other and put that caring into action.

n Trish Lock, chair of the Camber Residents Association has asked me to include the following information.

They are organising a summer fete in the village on 9 June noon - 4pm and need help. Have you any unwanted Christmas gifts please donate them as they make great raffle prizes, they also need books and the loan of gazebo’s for the day.

Most of all though, they need people to go along on the day and and help put up the gazebo’s and take them down at the end of the fete, they also need people to run the stalls. The entertainment includes a donkey who will give rides and a group of belly dancers, there will also be a tug o war between the village pubs. This is just for a start. Offers of help, however small are most welcome. Please ring either Ann , 01797 222 474 or Trish, 01797 224 403 to let them know what you can do.

n Camber Country is happening again this Saturday between 8 - 11pm.

Entertainment is provided by Alison and Michelle, there are the highly recommended rolls, BYO and of course a raffle. It costs £7 for members and £8 for everyone else. If you want any information, ring Pete, 01797 225 250, or Terry 01797 226 887.

n The Camber Parish Council meets on Tuesday 21 February at 7.30pm. Go along and see how our village is managed, get involved. There is to be an election on 22 March to fill the vacancy made by the resignation of the previous Chair, Dave Greenwood. It will be on 22 March.

n It is a family service in the Parish Church on Sunday, there will be no communion, the service being taken by Mike Botten, James Laidler the church wardens, with Bill Perfitt giving the talk.

Go along and support them all, there is no vicar as Lucy has now left. She won’t leave the village until 26 February though, so don’t wonder what’s going on if you see her around, she’s just in the midst of packing.

n Dan’s Diary is quite brief this week. There was a theft of about 1,000 litres of heating oil stolen from storage tanks at a property where the tanks are a long way from the road. Police are looking into it.

There have been other fuel thefts recently, in Peasmarsh and Beckley so this could be part of a series.

Remember Dan’s contact details, 07796195639, leave a message if he doesn’t answer, he’ll get back to you. His email is [email protected]

n Please keep me informed about any snippets of news. You can put a note through my letterbox or email me, [email protected]

Larri Hayhurst

18b Denham Way