Westgate Hall Canterbury - Ex Army Drill Hall - NEEDS YOUR VOTE!!!!

Dear blogging friends....yes first blog entry this year but thats due to Health, loosing job, geting a new job and.....the purpose of this post ....saving the ex Buffs/East kent Mounted Rifles/TA Artillery drill hall!!! It has been a community centre run by the council since the 1970's and 18 months ago the council voted to demolish it !!! as seen abpve even the Luftwaffe failed in that endeavour!!! 

Being a community Development professional I suggested madly on facebook we could save it by setting up a charitable trust to take over the hall as an asset transfer from the council. Well after immense hard work committeees, negotiations, business plans, events etc etc etc we were granted the hall by Canterbury City Council's cabinet in July. We have also attracted a commercial partner Curzon cinemas to sub lease a part of the hall while we run the remainder as the 'village hall' for Canterbury.

above is an impression of what it will look like once we have taken over and refurbished and re developed the hall

Above us our logo!! what we need is some additional funding for our project to cover the immense leagal fees/planning permissions/architects fees etc etc and we are in the Community First competition to win £6,000 for community projects. We need to be in the top three we are now 4th!! aaaagh so close so if anyone has got a moment help us save the hall by going to http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/5891  

A Huge thank you from a hardworking and dedicated team!!! also see our website at http://www.westgatecommunityhall.org.uk/ and below us me the 'ginger haired fellow' with Trust members and some Malaysian Students who helped us recently tidy up the garden at the hall

Below is a photo of one of our well attended events!!

I know its not plastic Kits or Wargame figures BUT it is a part of our military history we are saving and I intend there to be a display within the hall of the halls military past, probably involving the local Western Front Association Group remember vote now Thank you ever so much.... Fraxinus... http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/5891

We would like your vote to help us secure the Westgate Hall, Canterbury, for the community. Destined for the bulldozer a year ago; we’ve kept it open and are ready to transform it into a modern community space. But we can’t do it without your help.

What does your charity/project do?

Our mission is to preserve, refurbish, and manage the Hall as a community centre for all, we will make sure that activities that were under threat, such as ceroc, salsa, blood donations and antiques & collectables, continue and thrive. Then we will create a space where people of all ages can pursue their interests, learn, play, dance, celebrate and meet. A community cafe will be open to all in the daytime, offering another informal space for meeting. We will build community in Canterbury.

How does your charity/project support the local community?

It is the only large community space remaining within Canterbury’s City Walls. In the words of one of our supporters “All of us, Canterbury old timers and newcomers, are passionate that the Westgate Hall should continue to play its role as a gathering place, an island of stability, where district and city residents and users of all ages can meet, work and play … [it] will make a fundamental contribution to the quality of life in Canterbury … both now and in the years to come.”

What do you plan to use the CommunityForce award for?

The council’s decision to agree in principle to give us a 99 year lease is only the end of the beginning. Whilst we have enthused community and have an incredible amount of pro bono support there is still a lot of work to be done before we can take the keys. We have an urgent need to pay legal fees, draw up and submit renovation plans for a new roof. The hall has been under funded for many years and it needs your support to get it watertight and back on track.

Wargames Show in Ramsgate

Ok so the picture doesn't correspond with the title of this post!! but as I havn't got any pictures of a wargames show at Ramsgate etc thought I would scan the cover of 1 of 6 issues of the 'With the Flag to Pretoria' I picked up today at the Antiques fair in Westgate Hall , Canterbury where the Trust I belong to is hoping to take over the centre and has a stand once a month. 'sadly'!! there are some interesting stalls including a very good and reasonable book stall, a militaria specialist and vintage diecast stand and I do succumb!!

I do love these period jingoistic magazines mostly for the artwork which is superb, This cover is by Caton Woodville  the famous military illustrator & painter.

Anyway stop woffling, the show is a small show run by Michael of Red Knight games (previously the Snipers Nest in Ramsgate) couple of weeks ago I went to the shop and it had been replaced by a sweet shop!!!so no Great War figs or Perry French Dragoons in there then, the new shop owner said that the wargames shop had moved to the New Marlow Innovation centre at the Marlow Academy on the outskirts of Ramsgate.

I ventured up there recently and the best thing is you get a cup of coffee now hurrah, michael's is a great chap always helpful with ordering figures in and supporting the local clubs, mostly concentrating on attending shows and trading from the enterprise centre for the local wargamers than paying silly high street rents.

Anyway tomorrow is the 3rd wargames show proceeds of which go to the Britsish legion, it's a small local show, but it is getting gradually bigger, This year there will be about half a dozen demo or participation games, a few trade stands, a raffle, refreshments and piles of free parking immediately outside the venue. All this for a mere £2 entrance which goes to the British Legion.

This year it’s being held at the Marlowe Academy, on Marlowe Way, Ramsgate CT12 6FA on Sunday 14th November from 10.00am-4.00pm. Should you need more info then get in touch with those nice folk at Red Knight, namely Michael or Sheree, on either 01843 598640, or their mobile 07745 284925, or drop them an email via redknightwargames@yahoo.co.uk or even wander along to their premises at the Marlowe Innovation Centre in the bright orange building opposite the Academy. This last bit of info is 'nicked' from 6 Mil Phils blog, the first Wargames/modelling blogger I have ever met (must attend more shows I suppose!!) a

Now there is a link between a Ramsgate school and the 110 year old magazine this advert !

Jolly glad to see they had an isolation infirmary....important consideration for all parents that!!

Busy Summer/Autumn 2010 & Hectic Winter Ahead!!!

As usual 'life' has taken over the 'hobby' and Blogging so next few weeks will be some 'catchup articles' on visiting historic sites during 2010 especially those with a military nature,stuff to come includes; Forts on the Isle of Wight, Dover Castle, Biggin Hill Air Show, Igtham Mote, Sissinghurst Castle, etc etc etc!

What bit of 'life' has taken all my modelling time  ....well usual family stuff and  a knackered back& neck (on my third form of physio!!) BUT due to the economic climate and being a Funding & Community Development specilaist I have been 'snowed' under with work (The rumours are true I have been locked up in Maidstone Museum .....match funding gap in excess of £1 million......anyone feeling generous?) AND in volunteering in my local community.....Big Society is not new Mr Cameroon!!!! I have been a trustee of 2 charities, forming a new one last year (Switch Youth cafe with a £338,000 lottery grant), chairman of a small allotment association (must catch up with those responsibilities!!) BUT chiefly helping establish and acting as a special advisor to the new Westgate Community Trust (Canterbury) there will be a story on this as its main remit is to save the large community centre in the centre of Canterbury, Kent from demolition by the local council (cost saving apparently). Now the Hall was constructed as a Drill Hall in around 1905 for the Territorial battalions of the 'Buffs' and East Kent Mounted Rifles.....so lots of interesting history and a great community campaign story to relate.

I have started some figure painting again & model building and will add updates when there is something worth seeing!! Read loads of historical fiction.....Low's Viking books are awesome!! and tomorrow I will give an update on 'Mutleys Models' a new shop in Canterbury (yes thats its name!!) Westgate Games and a model show in Ramsgate next weekend!!

There would be some more pictures but 'Browse' does not seem to be cooperating in the 'insert image' feature of this new posting, one pic and it's gone 'kaput' !!!

English Civil War Troopers Armour in Maidstone Museum, Kent

Troopers armour of the English Civil War, on display in Maidstone Museum in Kent. The armour bears the commonwealth mark of the Tower of London. This armour would of course been worn over a tough buff coat that would have also provided some protection against sword blows.

The English Civil War section in the museum, sadly is limited to one cabinet and a brief description of the battle of Maidstone which I will relate soon accompanied with photo's of the town. The painting in the background is of Lady Ann Brockman 1600-1660 wife of Sir William Brockman staunch royalist and Sherriff of Kent in 1643. The painting dates from around 1642. The displays in this section of the room are dated & contained in cabinets which annoyingly effect the quality of the photographs with 'reflection issues'

Nimrod into Bruntingthorpe 27.04.10

Matt Varnish

One of the useful reasons to belong to the Britmodeller forum, logo link at top of this page or go to this page in the tips & tools section although you might have to join (a painless & free exercise), is too pick up handy modelling/painting etc etc ideas plus you can ask for help if you need an answer to a 'neerdy' question which you may have on what colour is the underwing surfaces of a 1940 Avro Widget III. This forum seems particularly helpful & if you are not a modelller but mostly class yourdelf as a wargamer...who paints figures & creates armies to fight table top games with.... well the skills are the same when it comes to painting & constructing wargaming models or scenary. I'm both although I am having a bit of a 'model building moment' thanks to the forums starter kit group build which finishes on May 2nd...I've built 2 models in 3 weeks & thats doubled last years output already!!...now some Warlord ECW beckon!!!

The picture of Galeria Matt varnish is in response to Grimsby Wargamings plea for recommendations for a Matt varnish...actually Humbrol is one of the better varnishes but for consistency of quality go with a specialist arts product  it can be sprayed on or brushed on with equaly good effect.

Brigade Models Belgian WW1 Dog carts released at Salute

wow look at these lovely's been waiting for ages for these to materialise from the Kentish firm of Brigade models.....and as usual they are going to be released at salute.....yes that massive model show which always takes place at that time of the year when MOT, car tax & summer holiday costs all conspire to impose immediate poverty on my bank balance!!! I just know that attending Salute would be 'fatal' !! Anyway aiming to visit wargame shows in the Autumn this year