Popular snowdog trail raises over £140,000

7th December 2018

The Ashford Snowdog trail reached its climax last week, with over £140,000 raised at auction for The Pilgrim’s Hospice.

The trail had 35 artistic dogs spread across the town for ten weeks, with the money from each design going to the charity.

It took just three hours for the dogs to find new owners at the International Hotel gala.

Organiser Chris Dixon was proud of the trail and auction’s huge success.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted, you’re never too sure what’s going to happen on the night, but £142,000 has definitely exceeded all expectations.

“The economic impact that it’s had on the town centre, the people falling in love with the dogs, and the steps in the health and wellbeing agenda that was part of the project, it went above and beyond on every level.”

He continued: “This has been in our minds for a few years, but we were trying to wait until the right time.

“The reason we picked this year was because there is so much regeneration happening with the town. There was a real opportunity to highlight some of the amazing things that are happening in 2018 for Ashford.”

The auction at the Ashford International Hotel. Photo: Lois Cordelia

Inspired by the popular film, The Snowman and the Snowdog, the trail celebrated themes including love, life and kindness, as it finished its 10-week journey in November.

Hosted by TV personalities Michael Hogben and Alison Chapman, they helped the felines sell for impressive figures, including the £15,000 that was received for Doodle Dog.

Creator of the highest selling dog of the gala, Sam Cox, believed the trail was inspiring for residents.

He said: “I am thrilled. I think that the whole life of this project has been so good from start to finish, from myself and other’s having so much fun making our dogs, to the town enjoying seeing them within different parts of Ashford.

“I do hope that more projects like this happen in the future because I think this was good for the whole community.”

Lois Cordelia was one of the stars of the event, the live painting demonstration of her two dogs proving another hit with the audience.

She said: “It’s really important to me to paint live in public, as it helps people to relate to the artwork they are bidding for and understand something of the passion that goes into it, so it meant a lot to me to be allowed to do this on behalf of Pilgrims Hospices.”

Lois Cordelia was the creator of the Lest We Forget War Dogs.

Stunning jaguar arrives at new Kent home

7th December 2018

One of the planet’s most iconic and vulnerable animals has moved to Kent, it has been announced this week.

A seventeen-month-old jaguar called Neron has relocated from Amsterdam to the Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden.

He will join over 50 exotic cats including Clouded leopards and Sumatran tigers, benefiting from the park’s tranquil surroundings.

Neron and another female jaguar will have Kent as its new home.

The pair are under a breeding programme which hopes to see baby cubs in the future.

A spokesperson for the Big Cat Sanctuary said: “Neron has transferred to us as part of the European coordinated breeding program. He will be joined by a female Jaguar arriving with us soon in the hope he will sire cubs with her.

“Co-ordinated breeding is to maintain a healthy population in captivity that could ultimately supplement the wild population should it be deemed necessary.”

She added: “The Big Cat Sanctuary is a leading conservation organisation of wild cats in the UK.

“By securing a future for both big and small cats we are conserving and restoring the balance of the ecosystem in which predators play such a vital role.”

With just 15,000 left in the world, protecting endangered and threatened animals like the jaguar, and providing them with care and stability is vital with their population decreasing rapidly.

Neron will join Sumatran tiger, Puna. Photo: Mark Jones

Hugo Rainey, a conservationist for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), says jaguars need protecting.

He said: “Jaguars play critical roles in the structure and function of ecosystems in which they live, and are a vital component of healthy, functioning animal and plant communities.

“In spite of this, jaguar populations are seriously threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, competition with human hunters for wild prey, and killing for trophies.

“These threats have exerted substantial pressure on the species and continue to decrease overall numbers throughout most of the jaguar’s range.”

By breeding the two jaguars together, The Sanctuary will continue to provide a future for these endangered species.

Photo credit: The Big Cat Sanctuary

Déjà vu for Ferrari?

As Lewis Hamilton took a fourth Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay last weekend, a feeling of deja-vu is now descending upon this year’s world championship.

As the teams, fans and drivers alike prepared for the weekend, many anticipated it to be a Ferrari slam-dunk win guaranteed, avenging last year’s catastrophe for the team.

Instead, just like 12 months ago, the team in red leave the race knowing that their hope of a drivers’ championship this decade will most likely remain vacant.

Even after Hamilton’s storming pole position on Saturday, many still expected Sebastian Vettel to finish ahead of the British driver, whether it be at the start, via strategy, or simply having the faster car to overtake in.

Yet with six races to go, Hamilton’s win in Singapore leaves him with one hand on the title, perhaps with him even taking it before the season finale in Abu Dhabi again.

Hamilton won in Singapore in 2017 and 2018. Credit: Ong Chi Hang

With neither Red Bull and Ferrari’s drivers taking the fight to Hamilton during qualifying, when the lights went out on Sunday evening, the start was the closest the two title protagonists came to each other all race.

As Hamilton led the field away from pole, Max Verstappen had to relinquish second place to Vettel into turn seven, the extra Ferrari horsepower proving too much for the under-powered Red Bull.

Vettel then had his main target directly in front of him, and appeared to have a much faster car. He stayed within 1.5 seconds of him for the first 11-12 laps, as Hamilton intentionally nursed the hypersoft tyres until he could push at the end of the stint.

And after an apparent radio miscommunication from Ferrari, they pitted the German onto ultra soft tyres on lap 14, feeding him out just behind Sergio Perez in the Force India.

Whilst the traffic didn’t affect the track position of Hamilton, who came in one lap later, it meant Vettel emerged behind Verstappen, surrendering second place as well.

Although Verstappen kept Hamilton in range throughout the remainder of the race, and even nearly passing him when they encountered backmarkers, the Brit ended up finishing nearly nine seconds ahead of the Dutchman.

Vettel remained in third, and in doing so lost a further 10 points in the title race on a track where he was expected to dominate. He is now 40 points behind Hamilton with just six races remaining.

Valtteri Bottas finished a distant fourth, followed by Kimi Raikkonen and Daniel Ricciardo, meaning Mercedes increased their lead in the constructors’ championship to 37 points.

A race that has often proved decisive in title battles in the past, this one has a big resemblance to last year’s.

Vettel and Ferrari leave the circuit knowing this weekend could prove the stimulus for a Mercedes double at the end of the season once more.

Big Bang Theory S11 Finale: Shamy Married

So Sheldon Cooper has got married. Rewind 10 years to the awkward, robotic-like figure in Series One, and you will find a character that is an emotional-shadow of his former-self.

After getting to know his future-bride-to-be Amy, he has slowly changed into a more-rounded, thoughtful person, culminating in his most emotionally expressive episode to date.

Thankfully, Series 11 ended with this story complete and not on a cliffhanger, something I was slightly worried about after watching the end of Series 10 recently.

But it didn’t. Instead, we witnessed an episode containing laughter, thought and adoration, as well as one particular recognisable face.

Mark Hamill officiated Sheldon and Amy’s Wedding. Credit: Gage Skidmore 

We finally saw Amy’s mother not on a computer screen, with her parents being one of the biggest successes of the finale. She was everything that she was built up to be by Amy, and performed the over-bearing protecting mother that requires a lot of skill to play.

It only makes me wish, like Sheldon’s newly shown brother, she was used more often and less sparingly than what she has been. Her defensive and unrealistic parenting skills gave us all something new to laugh at, the show giving us yet another witty dimension.

The writers were also incredibly clever to use Sheldon’s pursuit of string theory to unite himself and Amy in a way I can’t remember seeing from the two of them before.
The chemistry between them just before they went to the alter would have connected viewers, and it built a stronger attachment to them with their wedding just moments later.

Sheldon’s speech was unique, almost sacred considering that it is him speaking. The words he said to Amy and vice versa, were both their most powerful yet, and it highlighted his evolution from robot to husband.

Penny and Leonard were also fantastic in their more backseat roles. They were clearly both proud of Sheldon and Amy, and embraced the wedding as if it were their brother or sister.

The inclusion of Mark Hamill too was also inspired, his cameo portraying him as your typical down-to-earth guy with an affection for small dogs. Officiating the wedding, it felt like the legend himself was giving this same status now to Jim Parsons himself. Another appearance from such a worldwide figure continues to emphasise how big the show is.

The Big Bang Theory – Sheldon changed when he met Amy. Credit: flickr.com/photos/nasablueshift

His prestige rubbed off on characters like Will and Raj, and Stuart and his new *friend, all of whom showed us even more of their awkward, geeky personalities that we have come to love.

Seeing Stuart connect with a woman was another story that I hope the producers will take further, it’s about time both he and Raj find a woman so we can look forward to episodes dedicated to their own weddings.

Overall, the series 11 finale contained a number of great moments, and whilst the current season hasn’t probably exceeded ones previously, the episodes are still of such a high standard that people have perhaps taken for them granted.

Should Formula One have more Tyre Manufacturers?

The tyres are too cold, the tyres aren’t at the optimum temperature, the tyres are overheating. Graining, degradation, blistering.

Formula One has heard all of these words and phrases at some point in 2018 describing the tyres, raising the question of whether they are too influential in racing right now?

Of course, they are always going to create an element of surprise during Formula One races with the speeds and loads they face. But this should be from time to time. The amount of discussion on tyres of late is more than I can ever remember.

They appear to be a huge factor in determining how a weekend evolves and unravels for most teams, both in qualifying and the race, and for me Formula One should be talking about other things instead.

The Circuit in Barcelona proved tricky to master for some teams. Credit: Frommbold

In China and Azerbaijan, Mercedes were said to have front tyres that were too cold, while in Bahrain the rear tyres got too hot. Two-thirds of a second clear in Melbourne, two races later they were virtually the same amount behind, with tyre temperatures the most common explanation.

But in Spain, what happened in qualifying was nothing short of confusing. Of course, as a Lewis fan, I was beyond happy to see him take pole, but I didn’t really know whether he won it or others lost it.

To see Ferrari and Red Bull choose the harder, soft tyre instead of the supersoft for their final laps in Q3, only highlighted their growing impact this year.

When Pirelli were brought back to the sport in 2011 with the aim of creating high levels of degradation, I was skeptical, but I could see why it was done. Circuits like Valencia and Monaco changed from pole-to-flag monotonies, into tactical strategic classics that added a different dimension to race day.

Gone went the days of sprint racing on low fuel, to instead cars driving at half the speed at the weight of a tank, on tyres sometimes struggling to complete a ten lap stint. Suddenly there were more overtakes and racing battles than ever before.

For the teams, the huge levels of degradation could be understood. What has transpired so far in 2018 looks anything but, however. Legends like Hamilton have been made to look at times average, with Mercedes seemingly unable to find out how to make a tyre perform at its ‘optimum level.’

I remember Ted Kravitz on Sky Sports in pre-season suggesting that these cars could be the fastest ever, with myself hoping they would generate levels of grip that made blown diffusers look tame. Instead, discussion seems to be all about the rubber.

Would other tyre companies return to F1? Credit: flickr.com/photos/fusionstream

So what is the solution? How about brining back an era where teams can have a choice of tyre supplier, so that they can’t be so pivotal to a race weekend?

Bringing back Bridgestone, Michelin and Goodyear for example, to add to Pirelli, would be great for the sport. With more choice you would most likely see each team work their chosen tyre to their liking.

Of course, in the short-term this is unlikely to happen, with Pirelli having a contact until the end of 2019. Yet Motorsport Network’s poll in 2017 which saw 69.4% of fans preferring different tyre companies, proved that fans would like to see Pirelli joined by other manufacturers.

Whilst many say that Formula One is currently an engine-dominated sport when it should be a driver one, for me we are actually witnessing a tyre formula so far in 2018.

Students or Studebts?

The number of students able to receive a bursary in the UK has plummeted by nearly 50% in the last five years, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

This massive decrease means that fewer students from low-income households are attending higher education.

Over 370,000 people were eligible for a bursary in 2011, yet this dramatically decreased to less than 190,000 at the start of the academic year 2016/17.

Is money putting students off uni? Credit: www.aboblist.com. 

Government plans in 2010 of aiming to: “Get more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into higher education,” seem not to have succeeded.

Sharrae Newell-Barnett, a journalism student at Canterbury Christ Church University, said: “Receiving a bursary has helped me a lot as my family haven’t always been in a financial position to support me. Therefore having that extra help has really taken a weight off of my shoulders.

“The Bursary is very important in financially assisting students who are not in the best financial position.”

The information came from the Student Loans Company (SLC), the organisation which administers grants to students in Higher Education at universities and colleges, where bursaries are available if the household income of a student is less than £25,000.

Newell-Barnett continued: “Bursaries are a little bit of extra money to spend on things like books and equipment, so it should be handed out to as many people who are financially struggling as possible.”

Finances worry many. Credit: Creative Commons Images

The Institute for Fiscal Studies, said in 2017: “University bursaries have become less generous.

“Students from the poorest families could graduate with student debts in excess of £57,000 from a three-year degree.”

The University of Sunderland is rated the most inclusive in the UK, and their spokesperson said: “Our scholarships package has continued to be improved and enhanced each year since 2013, for example 750 places are available in 2017/18 for the University of Sunderland scholarship compared to 150 in 2013/14.

“Our commitment to provide equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups to access, succeed in, and progress from higher education is explicit.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Way Problem

Canterbury’s housing crisis has been caused by all three political parties, meaning the disaster isn’t just the fault of the current Conservative leadership.

The city is represented by 39 councillors involving all three major parties, as well as the Independent Party too.

Ashley Clark is a councillor for the Conservative Party in Canterbury, and believes the problem is an issue that has been out of councillors’ control altogether.

“Failings of central government by all three main parties over many years have been instrumental in creating a significant part of the housing problem.

“There has been no regional policy, simply a case of everything to the South East.”

Housing in Canterbury. Credit: David Anstiss

With more than 50 people estimated to be living on the streets each night, and 2,700 people on the council house waiting list, home ownership is at its lowest point since 2001.

People aged 25-40 are finding it harder than ever to buy a house because they can’t afford the deposit to get on the housing ladder.

Labour councillor Simon Warley agrees that all parties are to blame for the crisis: “Central government since the 1980s have restricted the amount of council houses that councils can build.”

MP for Canterbury – Labour’s Rosie Duffield.      Credit: UK Parliament 

Yet he also thinks the current government aren’t fixing the most important problems, with housing being one of five areas that needs addressing within the country.

“There are virtually no council houses being built in the Canterbury district. The Conservative-controlled council is not doing enough to address the housing crisis in Canterbury – they have the wrong priorities.

“They have announced they are going to spend £9.1 million on building a new car park and borrowing £75 million to acquire half of the Whitefriars shopping centre, but there are no plans to build significant housing.”

Michael Dixey is a Liberal Democrat for the Westgate Ward, and he also sees the housing issue as having shared blame: “The only solution is for councils to be allowed to build social housing again.

“Previous Labour and Tory governments have failed to address this issue, as has the current government.”

Kent and Conservation

A critically endangered species gave birth in Kent it was announced yesterday, adding to the county’s growing list of rare, exotic animals.

A Bactrian camel was born at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, and was revealed online by Assistant Communications Manager Amanda McCabe on the park’s blog.

A Bactrian Camel. Credit: Richard Hoare

She said in her press release: “Howletts and Port Lympne are some of the most successful breeders of captive endangered animals in the world.

“The cute calf is yet to be named but is already exploring her new world with her mother and the rest of the herd.”

The Bactrian camel is classified as critically endangered by the National Geographic, and is just one of many animals now living successfully in Kent because their species is threatened in their natural habitat.

With five conservation parks in the county, Kent is pivotal to the survival of many endangered species that range from tigers and lions, to red squirrels and harvest mice.

A Giraffe at Howletts. Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/karen_roe/7315846830

Dan Farrow works at The Wildwood Trust, a discovery park in North-East Kent that is reintroducing species like lynx, animals previously extinct in England: “Wildwood is one of a number of organisations in Kent at the forefront of animal conservation.

“Kent is significant for animal conservation for the simple reason that so many animal welfare groups are based in the county.”

In July last year, Wingham Wildlife Park in Canterbury revealed the birth of both a cheetah and a jaguar, both females who were moved to the Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden.

Listed as vulnerable and near threatened, the cheetah, named Willow, and Maya, a black jaguar, will also benefit from Kent’s growing influence in conserving wild animals.

With parks like Howletts providing a natural home to 13 African Elephants, the largest herd of the species in Great Britain, Kent continues to be a leading figure in UK animal conservation.

 

Foreign Student Numbers Plunging at Canterbury Christ Church

The number of foreign students attending Canterbury Christ Church University has decreased by nearly 50% since 2010, it has been revealed in a Freedom of Information Request.

Over 1,500 non-UK students were present at the university eight years ago, however this number decreased to 886 during the academic year 2017/18.

Canterbury Christ Church University. Credit: David Anstiss

Emma Grafton-Williams, the media relations officer at the university, said: “In recent years universities across the UK have seen a decrease in students applying to study from EU and non-EU countries.

“Changes to the British Visa rules including the removal of the Post Study work visa, as well as the uncertainty surrounding Brexit played a part in affecting students applying to study in the UK.”

Figures fell every year from 2010/11 until 2016/17, decreasing from 1557 students to 731 in this period.

The outcome of the 2016 referendum has appeared to contribute to the fall in these numbers, as has the possibility of acquiring more student debt.

Josephine Joly is from France, and is currently studying at the university: “Brexit made me feel like I would be unwelcome if I came to England and tuition fees made me think about going to university in another country.”

Students in a lecture. Credit: Tulane Public Relations

The decision to increase university tuition fees from £6,000 to £9,000 was announced in November 2010, and up to this point Christ Church was seeing a continual increase in non-UK students arriving to study.

The academic year 2008/09 had 1,294 foreign students and 1,321 the following year, before a peak of 1,557 during 2010/11. Yet it was during this peak that the government announced plans to increase the fees.

A gradual decrease then occurred in 2011, before the biggest drop happened in 2012/13, the time at which students would now be charged extra in fees.

This meant that the university lost 33% of its foreign students in just two years – figures they haven’t reached again since.

Destination Kent

The annual Kent Big Weekend will take place next month, with the county’s hidden gems offering experiences ranging from adventurous canoe trips to relaxing cabin stays.

Announced yesterday, the free experience will take place from the 24-25 March, and people are able to apply for an infinite amount of tickets for the 128 attractions.

Organised by Visit Kent, their head of communications and content Sinead Hanna believes that the Big Weekend’s continual success has contributed to the growth of Kent.

“We are about promoting and boosting the visitor economy of this county. “The reason we started this was to promote Kent and all of the attractions and businesses involved.

“We want Kent residents to find out more about their county – hidden gems. We want people to experience these things, and see the value that attractions and tourism adds.”

The two-day event will see over 40,000 tickets donated, with an expected 200,000 applications allowing Kent to promote its most popular attractions.

With history, sports and vineyards on offer, there will be plenty of diversity especially with a now-record amount of events promoting their destinations, including Dover Castle and Howletts Wild Animal Park.

Leeds Castle. Credit: Oast House Archive

By providing locals with the opportunity to browse new and unique locations, Kent’s Big Weekend will be the only major event that focuses entirely on Kent.

Lisa Carlson of Canterbury Business Improvement District (BID) said: “We are focused on making sure locals get to know their surroundings and it’s fantastic when they get here.

“We encourage businesses to take part because it gives the businesses and the attractions more exposure.”

Taking place during English Tourism Week and entering its 12th year of running, attendance figures are expected to reach a new high and advertise Kent as an ever-growing tourist destination.

The weekend will make locals aware of Kent’s hidden gems, and allow some of the 72,000 people connected in Kent tourism to engage and demonstrate its £3.6 billion worth to the economy.