A lighthouse, which used to warn ships away from a treacherous stretch of the Kent coast, is being lit for the first time in more than 20 years to celebrate the Queen's 60-year reign.
The South Foreland Lighthouse is representing St Margarets-at-Cliffe in the chain of more than 4,000 Diamond Jubilee Beacons which are being lit on Monday.
The National Trust, which owns the lighthouse, said it would be the largest and the brightest of the beacons, with its beam able to reach almost 40 miles.
John Barker, who helps manage the lighthouse and suggested it be turned back on for the Jubilee, said: "It's remembered quite fondly by mariners. It's not that big but it's on 300ft (91.4m) cliffs so it was the highest light in England and Wales.
Historical importance"It has an important history, it was the first electric lighthouse, Faraday came here and Marconi came here."
The National Trust said records showed a light was first installed at South Foreland in 1367.
It warned ships of the Goodwin Sands, notorious large sandbanks off the east Kent coast known as the "great ship swallower".
Mr Barker said: "It was a really treacherous stretch of water, there are about 1,500 wrecks on the Goodwin Sands."
He said during low tide ships could run aground on the sandbanks which would then turn to quicksand in the rising tide, sucking in the stricken vessels.
The current building was erected by Trinity House in 1843 and was originally one of a pair at the location, both showing a static light.
Victorian mechanismThe lower light was decommissioned 61 years later and the upper light was converted to a rotating optic or flashing light.
The original Victorian clockwork mechanism remains at the lighthouse and will be wound by hand every hour during the night of the Diamond Jubilee Beacons.
Mr Barker said when GPS became a legal requirement for ships the lighthouse became defunct.
It will be active for the first time since 1988 from 10:01 BST on Monday until 07:00 the following day.
Local residents have been issued tickets to visit the lighthouse while it is part of the Jubilee Beacons event.
A warning message is being sent out by the coastguard to all shipping in the area to ignore the South Foreland Lighthouse while it is alight for the Diamond Jubilee.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Jools the jubilee veteran swaps the pub for the Palace - Daily Telegraph
His wife, Christabel McEwen, is a member of a landed Scottish family who was previously married to Edward Lambton, the 7th Earl of Durham. Would Jools say he was part of the Establishment? “Well first, I’d have to work out what the Establishment means, Bryony.” (He accessorises the end of every sentence with your name, leading you to believe that you are best friends, which might explain why he has been called both the nicest man in London and the best connected.) “But if it means that you love the Queen… well yes, I’m Establishment.”
Holland and his wife are good friends with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. They attended their wedding in 2005. “It was marvellous,” he says. “Absolutely lovely. When you walked into the chapel (at Windsor Guildhall), it was like stepping into a medieval world, with all the beautiful language that was used in the service.”
Did Jools take to the piano afterwards? “Well, no. I mean, it wasn’t that sort of knees-up.” But he has heard that the Queen is a fair hand at the keyboard. Would he like to see Her Majesty tinkling the ivories at the Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace tonight? “I don’t think that would be quite appropriate, do you, Bryony?” he says, feigning crossness.
Holland is tight-lipped about what he has in store for this evening. “I’m going to be performing with the soul singer Ruby Turner, but I don’t know if I’m allowed to say any more than that.” He is incredibly excited about taking to the stage in front of the monarch. “She has been the Queen all my life and I think she has been the best Queen that Britain has ever had,’’ he says.
''I just want to congratulate her. The great thing about her is that she always sort of gets it right. And I don’t think anybody from the world of politics or showbiz or whatever has consistently got it right. So it doesn’t matter what part of the political spectrum you are from – I think this is a moment for all of us to celebrate, to feel pride in. I really like the idea that there might be people watching this weekend in, say, Seattle, who will be slightly better informed afterwards about the way we do things in the UK.”
Holland knows better than anybody else how we do things here. In 2006, he was given the title of Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, the county in which he lives. What on earth does this medieval-sounding role involve, I ask.
“Well Bryony, I am the servant of the Lord Lieutenant, who is, in turn, the representative of the Queen – I am the helper of a helper of a helper. The idea is to promote the identity of the county. Centuries ago, our job was to offer protection to the county. If you needed a safe passage through Kent, apparently the person you would talk to would have been me. I would have lit beacons to warn of foreign invaders or something. But nowadays I think we will be all right on that front, and it’s more about celebrating the different people in the county.”
Holland is fascinated by the past – he lives in a house that looks very medieval “with little turrets, and we hold jousting tournaments watched by ladies in wimples”. On most of those counts, I think he is joking. Anyway, next weekend the BBC will broadcast a documentary he has made about the history of music in London. On Later with Jools Holland, he may champion new, edgy indie bands, but he believes that the most interesting things in music “happened before recording came into play. For instance, did you know that the chimes of Big Ben were written by Handel?”
We talk a bit about his favourite guests on Later, one of whom happens to have been a certain Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who appeared on the programme while her husband was in office. Was she a diva? “Not at all. She did a cheeky impression of a person we both knew,” he says, though he won’t reveal who. “She had French secret service men with her, who stood outside her dressing room. They were all wearing polo-necks and medallions and had very slick hair. It was really quite amusing.”
Tonight, Jools Holland OBE will perform at the palace on the same bill as Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John and Sir Cliff Richard. Given that he is such a man of the people, such a national treasure, I can’t help thinking that he deserves a knighthood. Sir Jools Holland has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
“If you say so,” he laughs. “I’m happy with what I’ve got, Bryony, but I won’t complain if someone wants to add to that…”
'Jools Holland: London Calling’ is on BBC Two on Saturday at 9pm
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Sussex Cricket League round-up: Roffey go second - wscountytimes.co.uk
Current Sussex League Champions Hastings Priory lead the table again this season having won three games in succession.
Roffey are now in second place following an impressive win at home to Horsham with Preston Nomads close behind, they won by seven wickets at home to lowly Bexhill on Saturday.
The bottom two clubs are Worthing and Eastbourne, neither has won so far this season.
Brighton and Hove won the toss and batted first at Hastings to set a moderate 225 for 9 declared of which Patrick Spencer hit 67 and Michael Rippon 40.
For the home side Josh Poysden took 3 for 66 and Mick Glazier 3 for 47.
Sussex player Kirk Wernars then cracked 92 not out, David Draper made 56 and George Campbell 35 to take Hastings to victory at 227 for 4 from just 39.3 overs.
Horsham posted 249 for 6 declared at Roffey with 67 from Tom Johnson and 32 from John Burroughs as Matt Davies took 3 for 46.
But then Josh Fleming made 98 and Chris Plaister 60 to take Roffey to a three wicket win at 252 for 7 despite leg-spinner Michael Munday grabbing 5 for 73.
It was easy for Preston Nomads at home to Bexhill who they dismissed for just 106 in 41.5 overs as Carl Simon took 4 for 30 amd Matt Hobden 3 for 34.
Nomads cruised to 109 for 3 in 29.2 overs with Stuart Faith 34 not out.
Darryl Rebetts has taken over the Worthing captaincy from Michael Gould and made his first ever League century, 101 not out, in his first game in charge but he still finished on the losing side.
Worthing made 247 for 5 declared with Stuart Carter (47 not out) sharing an unfinished sixth wicket stand of 106 with Rebbetts while Michael Gould made 31, Craig Fowle with 3 for 78 in 22 overs was the pick of the visitors’ bowling.
East Grinstead won the game by three wickets with two balls to spare as they posted 251 for 7.
Aussie Danny Irvine, in his first game in England, made 70 and teenager Nathan Bailey his his first ever League fifty as he was out for 90! For Worthing, still without a win since tgheir promotion last year, Benn Challen took 4 for 64 in 18.4 overs.
Eastbourne finished 17 runs short of the total posted by visitors Chichester with four wickets standing and, like Worthing, are still seeking their first win of the season.
Simon Hasted made 51, Mark Bamford 48 and Chris Kirkham 38 in a Chichester score of 259 for 7 declared.
Sussex protégé, 17 year-old Calum Jackson hit 109 and Matt Green lent support with 35 in an Eastbourne total of 242 for 6, for the visitors Aussie Adam Zampa took 3 for 85.
Three Bridges have made a strong start in their quest to regain their Premier League place having won three successive games to lead the table ahead of Cuckfield and Pulborough.
Batting first at Ifield, Bridges were dismissed for 167 with 41 from James Chadburn and 38 from Joe Cooke as Russell Jacob took 6 for 34.
In reply Ifield tumbled to 107 all out, teenage pace bowler Tim Moses took 3 for 23.
Cuckfield made short work of beating Findon and it was their long serving pace bowler Nick Patterson, grandson of former West Indies skipper Denis Atkinson, who took the bowling honours with figures of 9 for 58 in 22.5 overs as Findon were dismissed for just 114, Glen Bridon with 23 was top scorer.
Cuckfield reached 118 for 3 from 23 overs, Marc Gardner hitting 52 and Sarel Erwee 43 not out.
Pulborough won a relatively low scoring game at Glynde by two wickets after dismissing the home side for 138 of which Dominic Shepheard made 37 as Kuldeep Rawat took 7 for 57.
Ed Barber with 37 not out guided Pulborough home at 141 for 8, there were two wickets each for Dale Tranter and McCaulay England on his debut.
St.James’s enjoyed their first win of the season by a 38 run margin at Haywards Heath.
In a total of 165 all out for the visitors Henry Sims made 70 as Charlie Dowdall took 4 for 25 and Declan Hoare 3 for 33.
Hoare was top scorer for the home side, he made 39 and Ollie Graham 32, as they were dismissed for 127, Mike Edmonds taking 3 for 18.
The game at Goring was abandoned in its closing stages due to bad light with Sidley facing a Goring total of 276 for 4 declared.
In that total Sam Thorns dominated proceedings, he hit 141.
Peter King made 67 and Sam Steel 50 as Sidley came off at 189 for 5, Matt Keen taking 3 for 43.
Crowhurst Park and Crawley are now the joint leaders of Division 3 East. The two clubs experienced contrasting fortunes after close finishes.
Crowhurst Park were beaten by just five runs at Hellingly mainly thanks to a fine all round game from the home side’s Tim van Noort. He scored 71 as Hellingly left Park 197 to chase. Richard Coleman’s 5-58 gave the visitors every chance of winning their fourth game of the season but then van Noort struck again with 5-12 as Crowhurst Park fell short on 191 despite 50 from the in-form Martin Barry.
Crawley won their third game of the season (all away victories) at Burgess Hill by just 2 wickets. Tim Trowbridge (38), Luke Vick (36) and Paul Elphick (30) contributed towards the Hill score of 192-8. Hussain and Genge took 3 wickets each for Crawley before Atif Elahi’s knock of 83 saw the visitors continue their great start to the season winning in the game’s final over despite 4-40 from Joe Maskell.
Ansty are third after being forced to settle for a draw with visitors Henfield 9 wickets down at stumps.
Jon Young struck 106 not out in Ansty’s 229-7. Rob Slaughter countering with 4-88. Henfield finished 204-9 led by Chris Compton’s 59 but they are now the only side in the division without a win and 19 points adrift at the bottom of the table.
Lewes Priory were also frustrated after making most of the running against Keymer & Hassocks.
Imran Khan made 68 and Adam Scott 49 of Priory’s 235-8. Michael Poole (4-83) and Andy Westgate (3-81) both returning creditable figures from long spells.
Michael Johnson made 47 not out, Joe Barnes-Gratton 38 in Keymer’s reply as they closed on 145-7. Tom Sharp took 3-48 for Priory.
Lindfield chalked up their first victory of the campaign at Seaford by 7 wickets. They passed Seaford’s total of 176 with overs to spare. Matthew Wilson-Yelvedon took 4-35 whle Seaford’s Oliver Smith hit 60.
Bognor are still out in front in Division 3 West but were held to a draw by Stirlands.
Things looked good for Bognor when they posted 241-7. Rob Willway made 102 while Struan Cameron fought back with 4-39. Stirlands closed on 199-6 after Sean Heather’s unbeaten 109 thwarted any hopes of a Bognor win.
Middleton are second after a very similar game with Pagham to the already mentioned Bognor match.
They set a challenging 249-6 declared as Ben Hansford struck 133. Wayne Green took 4-64 for Pagham and 51 not out from Graham saw them finish 200-7 but remain bottom of the pile.
Arundel remained third but their visitors Slinfold enjoyed a 5 wicket victory restricting the home side to just 163.Harrison Temple made 54 of these but Hadyn McIntyre 5-47 and Richard Harris 5-49 set up a first victory of 2012 for Slinfold for whom Jonathan Hughes made 55.
Steyning are now fourth after thrashing Littlehampton on their own turf by 9 wickets. Littlehampton won the toss but then saw their afternoon go downhill making just 138. Jordan Farrell top scored with 29 while Tim Humphries bagged 3-37.
84not out from Lee Mottishead and 43 from Hywel Jones completed the rout as Littlehampton still search for their first win.
Billingshurst posted a huge total of 311-3 off just 45 overs as Dhanuska Malpoorachchi (153 not out) and Carleon Brome (103) shared a partnership of 223. Wisborough Green were all out for 194 in response.
Email to a friend
Print this pageSource: www.wscountytimes.co.uk
Jubilee beacons to light up Kent tonight - Kent Online
Comments |
Read all comments on this story.
Battle of Britain pilot Bob Foster will light the jubilee beacon at Capel-le-Ferne
Kent will be a shining example this evening when hundreds of beacons are lit for the Queen’s diamond jubilee.
Pageantmaster Bruno Peek, who has helped co-ordinate beacon lightings for royal events for more than 30 years, confirmed Kent has the second highest number of flames in the UK - with 196.
The county was leading the way during the applications process, but was pipped to the post by Devon with 203 beacons.
Mr Peek said: “I take my hat off to the county and to the Lord Lieutenant of Kent for encouraging the people of Kent to take part."
Scores of venues will light their fires from 10.10pm, with the Queen lighting the national beacon at Hyde Park at 10.30pm.
One of the few surviving Battle of Britain pilots, Wing Commander Bob Foster, will light the beacon at the Capel-le-Ferne site.
Mr Foster, who is now chairman of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association, flew Hurricanes in the summer of 1940 and Spitfires.
Beacons like this will be lit across Britain tonight
He said: “I remember the Queen's coronation it was a
wet and miserable day – watching it on black and white television
and seeing her being crowned. Sixty years on it is remarkable to
see what she’s done with the country.
“It is a great event to be apart of and I’m very proud to light the
flame.”
Another beacon lighting takes place at Tonbridge Castle after a music event on the castle lawn.
Cllr Maria Heslop said: "This is one of the oldest castles in the country, it's one of William Duke of Normandy’s castles, so it's obviously a very important part of our heritage.
"It will burn for about half-an-hour and you'll be able to see it from all over Tonbridge.
“Coming off the back off the royal wedding last year, it shows how people do really treasure their monarchy.”
As part of celebrations for the Queen's 60-year reign, a chain of more than 4,000 beacons will be lit across Britain.
It is double the original target of 2,012 beacons to mark the year and a record figure - there were only 1,800 beacons for Her Majesty's golden jubilee.
Thursday, May 31 2012
Print Article
Buy a KM Picture
The KM Group does not moderate comments.
Please click here for our house rules.
Source: www.kentonline.co.uk
