Dover Harbour Board are responsible for the continued good upkeep of the beach and the harbour:

Being recognised in the Good Beach Guide is very important to the Harbour Board as it demonstrates a commitment to providing a safe, clean environment with high standards of water quality for beach users to enjoy.

Environmental monitoring is a priority for the Environment team  with high environmental standards achieved year on year.  In addition, the Environment Agency carry out weekly water quality monitoring during the bathing water season with the results published on seafront notice boards. In addition Dover Harbour Board have a long standing environmental monitoring programme which surveys on a quarterly basis the health of the whole port environment, including, marine, coastal and terrestrial ecology.

More information is available on the Good Beach Guide website.

Samphire Hoe is an area of land at the foot of Dover’s white cliff’s which was created about ten years ago from the spoil from digging-out the channel tunnel.

If, like us, you haven’t visited for some time, then you are in for a real treat!

It has developed into a beautifully managed green oasis.

We visited last week on one of the hottest days of the year so far and were greeted by a lovely cooling onshore breeze.

Standing in the sun, in a large green open space, with the sea sparkling behind you and the white cliffs towering over you it has to be a serious contender for World Heritage status!

Enough words, take a look at the photos of Samphire Hoe – and be sure to pay a visit soon, you’ll be pleased that you did.

There’s a website dedicated to Samphire Hoe.

The only charge is for Parking; from 50p for 30 minutes to £2 for all day.

There’s a snack bar and coffe shop, toilets, and information centre with lots of leaflets to provide you with further information.

It’s open every day from 10am to 6pm between May and September.

Free changing rooms and toilets.

Kiosk serving ice creams and hot & cold snacks, as well as a range of inflatables and other toys for use in the pool.

Deckchairs are available for hire too.

The pool is for under tens only.

There are many other facilities located nearby:

• Crazy Golf
• Putting
• Bouncy Castle
• About 400m to Deal Castle
• About 200m to the Deal Memorial Bandstand

Find out more at the Vista Leisure web page for Walmer Paddling Pool.

See more photos of Deal Seafront.

Every Sunday throughout the Summer a free concert is given by a Kent, military or big band.

It is the perfect way to spend a Summer’s afternoon; bring a blanket, chairs and a picnic and ENJOY!!!

The scheduled bands for the remaininder of Summer 2009 (each Sunday at 2pm unless stated) are:

• July 5th – Cantium Brass
• Wednesday July 8th at 7:30pm – The Railway Swing Band
• July 12th at 2pm – Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth (Royal Band)
• July 19th – Band of The Old Comrades (ex Royal Marines)
• August 2nd – Birchington Silver Band
• August 9th – Invicta Concert Band
• August 16th – Gravesend Borough Band
• August 23rd – City of Canterbury Band
• August 30th – 1st Whitstable Scout Group Band
• September 6th – Railway Swing Band
• September 13th – Battle Town Band
• September 20th – BAE Systems Brass Band
• September 27th – Betteshangar Welfare Brass Band

NB in case of bad weather and the possibility of cancellation, please call 07779 752 474 for a short recorded message update.

Only disabled drivers may park on Walmer Green.

More details at the website of Deal Memorial Bandstand.

Click here for more photos of the bandstand.

The walls of the original nave and chancel are about 2 feet thick and built of flint. It is likely that the original Saxon stone church construction dates back to the second half of the tenth century.

Through medieval times the church underwent many modifications, and then, after the reformation, in 1557 it was reported to be in a state of some disrepair:

The chauncell utterlie fallen down and the church in almost lik case

Under Queen Elizabeth’s reign (1558-1603), and with the settlement of the Church of England as we know it, the church was once again repaired.

In the 17th Century the church underwent significant building works, only to once again fall into disrepair and decay in the 18th century.

In 1808 the church was once again renovated, and in 1855 substantial work was carried out to modify the layout of the church. Finally, in 1894, further works were completed to create the church we see now.

In 1972 the internal layout of the church was completely rearranged to position the altar against the North wall of the nave, where all of the congregation would be able to see it.

The church bell is thought to be the oldest in Kent, from the early thirteenth century.

Close by the church porch is a remarkable headstone recording the grave of the Cross family who between 1821 and 1835 buried eleven children.

The lych gate was erected in 1906 in memory of EW Mowll, a local solicitor. In the North West corner of the churchyard is a railed enclosure containing the Mowll family tombs.

Mowll & Mowll is still a prominent firm of solicitors in the town to this day.

This information was taken from ‘A Short History of The Church of St Peter, Whitfield’ written by Joyce Molyneux MA in 1992 and available from the church.

Click here for many more photos …

In the photos, the crucifix in the window behind the altar was fashioned from last year’s Christmas tree.

There has to be a story behind the church’s unusual weather vane, if anybody knows what it is and why, then please use the comments below …

There was a cruise ship (Fred Olsen’s Balmoral) in Dover’s cruise terminal and I bet the passengers were all looking forward to sailing to the sun.

Here in the South East of England we’re on a promise for three weeks of good weather coming soon – unbelievable!

It must be that new roof they fitted at Wimbledon!!!

Midsummer hereabouts sees the sun rise at about 4:38am and the sunset at about 9:13pm.

It is, of course, the longest day – 16.5 hours of daylight …

What did you do with it?

Feel free to leave comments below …

Maybe he’s feeling Lucky to live on the lake at Kearsney Abbey.

Maybe we should all feel lucky to have such a splendid local amenity as Kearsney Abbey …