The Association Reports
Allington-AllARA:- Their outings organisers have been working hard to arrange some delights for the members which will include the following. A visit to Wisley in May, Heaven Farm and Tour in June, Little Venice with a canal trip in July, Duxford Air Museum in August and finally in December a Thames River Cruise (wrap up warm for this one!).
Ashford-AARA:- Members of this club have delights such as ‘Oklahoma’ at the Ashford School in March, Quex House with museum and gardens in May, a London River trip in June, Hastings in July. Holidays are a Bracklesham Bay Holiday in April and another Holiday in July to Torquay and their Christmas Dinner is already booked for 12th December at Bowling Green.
Ashford South-AsARA:- Outings for AsARA include a tour of Surrey with an afternoon cruise in April, Syon House and the Secret Garden at Richmond Park in May and in July another garden this time at Pashley Manor and Merriment Gardens. Wednesday 29th August its off to the Albert hall and the TV Studios then in September there will be a trip to Le Touquet, France followed in November by a booze up at the Shepherd Neame Brewery.
Bearsted-BeARA:- BeARA are again looking forward to another busy year. They have already been to a very enjoyable pantomime at Eastbourne and are looking forward to The Sound of Music. We will be enjoying holidays at Jersey, Hereford, Southern Ireland and Great Yarmouth together with outings to Lather barn and The Magic Circle. Other excursions which are currently being organised look to be very interesting and should be great fun.
Birchington-BiARA: BiARA had their AGM/Monthly meeting on the 22nd February. The Officers and Committee members were re-elected for a further year. During 2006 our activities and events have been well attended, the Keep-Fit classes that are held twice a week also the Craft & Drama are holding their own. Sadly the Art & Sequence Dance class have been closed due to lack of support. We are going to try a Board & Card Games morning in march and if this is successful we will arrange it on a regular basis. During the summer months Bat & Trap and Outdoor Bowls are being arranged. We had the pleasure of presenting our 10 Pin Bowling trophy to Mrs Glenda Goodfellow for scoring the highest points during 2006.
The Lord Mayor of Canterbury (Councillor Patrick Todd) presented our charity cheque of £2,000 to Mrs. Maureen Hudson of the RNLI that we collected for in 2006. As the Lord Mayor was our speaker at this meeting he gave an interesting talk on his life and duties during his term of office.
Dartford-DartARA:-Saturday evening events include A Cockney Night with The Bermondsey Boys and Miss Lily Brown in April, An ABBA Spectacular in July and A Nostalgia Evening in October remembering such people as the Carpenters and Cliff Richards. Days Out will take in Warwick Castle in May, River Orwell Cruise in July, Constable Country in August and a Seaside Special for September taking in Tenterden, Hastings and Rye. October will see a ‘Cotwolds Autumn Tint’ tour and finally in December a trip to the Christmas market in beautiful Bath.
Gravesend-GravARA:-20 members from GravARA spent 5 days at Corton Holiday Village, Lowestoft from the 12th—16th February. The whole theme being ‘Golden Years of variety’. We went with Airdale , who have taken over the whole village for this special 5 days, some 400 people being there. One of the best holidays we have had for a long time, also the drinks were free at all times and all the day trips were free as well. Airdale treated us very well indeed, we were also lucky to win several scrolls for: Brains of Corton Quiz, won by Mavis Manooch of the GravARA Singers, name That Tune won by Sheila & Ted Groves and Margaret & Clive Bushell, Curling and Snooker Bowls won by Clive Bushell. Clive kindly took the photograph of our happy members at Corton
Hayes-HayesARA:- The Chairman, Maurice West and the chair of the Outings committee, David Spencer were introduced to Anna Riley, PA to Ann Widdecombe, MP for Maidstone and the Weald. HayesARA naturally came up in the conversation. Asked if Ann would give a talk, the answer was ‘probably’ so phone numbers were then passed to Joyce Iles, the Programme Secretary, who took over from then on.The meeting was on February 13th at the Hayes Village hall. Ann spoke with her usual sense of fun intermingled with serious thoughts about her early electioneering days, especially in Maidstone Town centre. On one occasion, she was talking about Christian principles when she realised that her assistant had forgotten the leaflets. As he walked away she called through her loud hailer, ‘Andrew, I haven’t any Christian principle’ since then Ann has been more careful. Ann talked about her writing which she usually does on long train journeys. To date four novels with many more in the pipeline. Lengthy applause greeted the end of Ann Widdecombes hour long session which had proved both informative yet amusing to an attentive audience.
Headcorn-HeadARA:-We are a new club in Area 4 and meet on the 4th Tuesday monthly at the New Village Hall (Andred Hall). Our first meeting was just before Christmas when 101 members and visitors enrolled—(we now have 184). We were entertained by a wonderful Jazz band The Roger Ely Jazz Quartet followed by mince pies and a super Christmas Raffle. Our Walkers (see photo) have been to Stalifield Green, Chilham and Newnham, lunches at wonderful pubs, We have started Line Dancing every Monday afternoon and Tai Chi on Thursday Mornings. We travelled by coach to the White Rock Theatre in Hastings and rocked in the aisles with Elvis Presley Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison. We are shortly travelling to Monet’s garden and a trip is being arranged on the London Eye followed by a Carvery Lunch and cruise to Greenwich. Coffee mornings and afternoon Cream teas start this month, it gets better and better—we all wonder what we did with ourselves before the club started.
Maidstone-MaidARA:- Once again our calendar is getting full with future events. Holidays include Keukenhof in Holland in April, Scarborough in August and Cricket St. Thomas in November. Outings include Billy Elliot, Bank of England and the Cabinet Rooms, the New Forest and River trip and the Tutankhamen Exhibition. Our ‘January’ Christmas Dinner was very enjoyable as was our trip to the ‘Magic Circle’ in February. Other club activities have included rambles, 10 pin-bowling, lunches, gardening and engagements for our Concert Party.
Margate-MARA:- Theatre Trips include the Winter Gardens for a ‘Gordon Clarkson’ production ‘There Will Always be an England’ Holidays include a Rhine Cruise and the German Christmas Markets in December. Lancashire, staying at the Mawdesley Hotel in Mawdsley, a little village between Wigan and Preston, this holiday is in April. They also have an outing in April, to Chartwell the home of Winston Churchill.
Ramsgate-RamARA:- Following the enormous success of our holiday in the Isle of Wight earlier in the year, when we joined by members from MARA, a reservation has already been made for February 2008! Also, in response to requests from members, plans are already in hand to repeat our New year’s Eve party. Our committee must be getting things right! In the meantime, we shall be celebrating Easter with our usual Easter Bonnet competition, followed in May by a Pub Lunch at the new Kent International Hotel and in June we are holding a Barn dance. Our Tinsel & Turkey holiday in Ilfracombe in November is now fully booked and we look forward to this break.
Rainham-RainARA:- The year started with two coach-loads of our members going to Warners’ Nidd Hall. Despite some inclement weather—the Yorkshire National Park is not at its best in the rain and cold—the week was much enjoyed by all. On the 28th February RainARA commemorated 10 years of existence by having a celebration lunch at the King Charles Hotel, Gillingham. Her Worship the Mayor of Medway, Angela Prodger and her husband attended together with Gerald Benham, the KentARA chairman and his wife. Paul Jones entertained us and his anecdotes and comedy sketches nicely rounded off the day.
Romney Marsh-MarshARA:-Our first speakers of the year were from the Chernobyl Children Life Line charity. This proved to be a very informative and moving talk about the problems still endured after the nuclear disaster 20 years ago. MarshARA’s planned outings for 2007 are as follows; March-A 5 day break to Littlecote, Berkshire; April-Kew Gardens; May-A Thames River cruise/London Eye; July-Hampton Court Flower Show, The Kent County Show and a 4 day break in Germany; September-Sheffield Park/Bluebell Railway and a 4 day break in the Peak District. With all the above and more activities planned the club is definitely thriving. Doreen Farrrell.
2nd Hartley & District-ShadARA:- On a lovely Spring afternoon 119 members deserted their gardening or household chores to attend our March monthly meeting. The talk on ‘Murder and Fingerprints’ was not for the squeamish but the halt-time cup of tea brought back the colour to our cheeks. We welcomed back 20 members from an exciting cruise up the Nile. Our two newest groups, Genealogy and tai Chi are flourishing. We had two teams in the Area 5 quiz and they performed very well when presented with a fish and chip supper. Following a talk by Bob Ogley on ‘Doodlebugs and V2s’ members were invited to submit a piece on a wartime experience for inclusion in our April newsletter. It promises to be a bumper edition.
Sittingbourne-SiARA:- Outings & Holidays for members include such days as Treasure Houses-Chelsea Hospital, A Mystery Tour and a visit to Squerryes Court, Westerham, a 5 day break at Sinah Warren, Hayling Island in April and a week at Killarney in Southern Ireland in September.
Sittingbourne & Milton-SaMARA:- members of this club have a very varied programme of events to take part in that includes: Old Tyme Musical in April, Amsterdam and the Bulbfields Cruise also in April, Kew Palace and gardens in may, the George Puddefoot Fuschias Gardens in June, Scarborough (5 days) in July and Illfracombe (5 days) in November.
Southfleet-SouthARA:- We had a busy end of programme with two visits for members and friends to the Thursford Spectacular in Norfolk. Visits to ‘Friday Night is a Music Night’ at the Mermaid Theatre and a Christmas Concert at Westminster Central Hall. In the village hall we had a quiz, a Christmas Dinner and entertainment and our regular monthly meeting with mulled wine and mince pies being served. Our latest outing was a visit by coach to The Chocolate lady at Steeple Bumstead with lunch in Saffron Waldon and a final tour home through the pretty villages and countryside of Essex. At the time of writing 53 members looked forward to a 2007 cruise around the Canary Islands with a visit to Agadir, Morrocco. Colin Dartnell.
Sheppey-ShepARA:- Day and breaks trips this last quarter has included a visit to the ‘Holiday on Ice at Brighton, a short break at Bracklesham Bay and planning ahead are a visit to West Malling & Tonbridge and to the Denbries Wine Estate plus a holiday in the New Forest area in July. The picture shows some members enjoying the show and the company of Sony Day at the Winter Gardens, Margate.
Swanley-SwanARA:-The first quarter of the year has seen us going to see Mama Mia in January and to a Music hall at a local hall. Among our guest speakers we have had an ‘illustrated talk on Garden Birds by John Beckham, a talk on Policing in Swanley by Chief Inspector Gill Ellis of the Kent Police and a talk with slides ‘From Medway to the Mediterranean’ by Michael Bunn. Our visits have included London’s Guildhall and a trip on the DUCKS (formerly Frogs) and the Mansion House in the City of London and also the London Fire Brigade Museum.
Walderslade-WaldARA:- February got off to a good start when the committee prepared in the ‘Soup Kitchen’ an enjoyable lunch for the members and with full ‘tums’ they settled down to listen to a very interesting talk—”The memories of an evacuee in Austria”. Many of us listening were able to relate to our own experiences as evacuees. With March bursting upon us with exceptionally warm weather, we had a speaker, “The Fun of Gardening” was the title. Sadly I was unable to attend this meeting because as well as being a very informative gardener this speaker could well have been called a comedian having, I understand, the club in gales of laughter.
West Malling-WestMARA:- You may be interested to know that in February we had a 3.25 mile circular walk from the Snodland Community Centre. Followed by lunch at the ‘Freemasons Arms’ Ham Hill, Snodland (2 for the price of 1) and the landlord said he would welcome such walking groups and would offer the use of the car park. It is ideal foe walking the Leybourne Lakes or around Birling and Ryarsh or combining both into a longer figure of eight walk. The photo is of us having a ‘nibble’ break just off the ‘{Pilgrim’s Way’ (MR48) and on the bridleway (MR63) above Snodland.
Whitstable-WARA:-A third of our members attended the Brighton Ice Show this year, superb, how they manage to improve on the previous year is a marvel. In February we invited a speaker from the Young Carers Project, our chosen Charity for 2007. A very worthwhile cause. Our theatre group laid on two very good shows at the Marlowe, Canterbury, Les Miserables and Kiss Me Kate. Our coach arranger organised a trip to London, some enjoyed a tour of the Royal Albert hall and some the TV Studios to see Loose Women. We are now looking forward to our Spring holidays. One group going to Weymouth in May and the other on the Dutch Bulbfields Cruise in April.
Wilmington-WilmARA:-This is our first ‘entry’ into the Kent Active, another sign that we have arrived as a thriving ARA. We have a very happy crowd, meetings well attended and the many and varied outings and holidays are well subscribed too. A Special New Year Sunday Lunch attended by 74 members was a huge success as was a visit to the war Cabinet Rooms followed by a tour of the National Army Museum. Line dancing classes and a regular monthly walk was January’s agenda. So here’s to the rest of 2007 as well as all the ‘goodies’ therein.