Steph Harrison is a Sevenoaks, Kent, resident whose mission in life is to organise events that raise awareness of and funds for, Breast Cancer Care. Steph very kindly agreed to meet with me and answer a few questions relating to her up and coming event “In Conversation With” and book signing event with Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Lewis in aid of Breast Cancer Care. Susan is the writer of twenty seven novels and two volumes of the memoir: Just One More Day and One Day At A Time. Steph has also very kindly brought along a lovely goody bag for me (I LOVE presents!).

Here is a little bit of my conversation with the organiser of “In Conversation With”.

Q: I already know a little bit about your motivation in fundraising for Breast Cancer Care but I think it’s important for my readers to understand the background behind this if you wouldn’t mind?

A: No, not at all. My reason behind supporting Breast Cancer Care is that the charity were such a support to me when I was diagnosed [Steph is back fighting fit now, thankfully] and I found that there was no other organisation like them in terms of the provision of information and support after diagnosis. I truly felt that they cared for me and they were always at the other end of a phone when I needed them. My first event that I organised was my way of thanking them and giving back after their support; after that I just felt that their message was one that needed to be delivered. I’ve found that Breast Cancer Care is as focused as I am on the importance of early detection and self checking [Steph shows me that my goody bag also contains a copy of Breast Cancer Care’s Health Booklet].

Q:  May I ask what your fundraising hopes are for this event?

A: Absolutely, our fundraising objective for this event is over £3000. So far we’ve raised around £2000 with this event just with the ticket sales: there are still more tickets on offer and we’re hoping to raise the rest of the funds on the night through the auction and raffle.

Q: It sounds like you have an achievable aim, so how are Breast Cancer Care supporting you in this event?

A: As always Breast Cancer Care will be there in the background: they will send representatives to support us on the night, provide us with literature for the goody bags and they’re always on the other end of the phone if I need fundraising inspiration [something I know Steph is virtually never short of]. I may not have cancer anymore but they are still there for me. I genuinely feel that the team at Breast Cancer Care have become true friends for life!

Q: So, tell us, how exactly did you end up in collaboration with bestselling author Susan Lewis?

A: Well, following some of my previous events, Susan’s PR officer sent me a copy of Just One More Day: the perfect introduction to Susan’s writing. I was so moved by her portrayal of a family torn apart by cancer that I had to write to her and tell her how it had affected me. We then started up a correspondence and realised how fantastic it would be if we could organise and event together. This is my first event working with Susan as we organised one last year but I was taken ill so had to postpone so I am really excited about this one.

Q: It all sounds very exciting, how easy has it been to organise an event on this scale: it’s not exactly low profile?

A: [Laughs] Do you know, I’ve actually found this one pretty easy to organise. I’m lucky enough to now have a supporting team behind me: Ann, Karen, Vanessa and Erica - The Pink Power Girls have been fantastic. We’re currently one team member short as one of the ladies is undergoing chemotherapy: she’s desperate to be there on the night supporting us though. That’s what makes organising these events so amazing: these people are such an inspiration! They’ve all got their own personal battles to fight and yet they all want to do what they can towards these events. To be honest, the biggest obstacle we’ve had has been finding a suitable venue to hold the event. Thanks to the previous events I’ve organised I’ve made some pretty good relationships with some really generous businesses: the food and prizes for the night have all been donated. The only things left on my to do list are to pick up the cake and the glasses and setting up Friday evening; otherwise we’ve got everything covered!

Q: So what can attendees expect on the night?

A: Well, the guests will all receive a goody bag on arrival at the champagne and canapés reception. The evening will then kick off with the “In Conversation With” which will lead into a question and answer session, then there is due to be a performance by the fantastic Amy Coulshaw, the raffle and auction and then Susan will start the book signing. Plus they get to see me: all that for £20, what a bargain!

Q: [Laughs] well of course! So, tell me, what will you be doing once this event is over: a bit of rest and relaxation?

A: Probably collapsing! No, I’m kidding, although it does take a lot out of me; the events give me such a buzz. It usually takes a few days to recuperate afterwards. Although I’ve not allowed myself so much time to rest after this one as I’m driving up to Liverpool the next day to see the Royal Deluxe.

Q: I think I would be more inclined to rest for a few days myself. Dare I ask if you have more upcoming events in the pipeline?

A: As always! Yes we have the Breast Cancer Care Benefit Concert being held at Sevenoaks School on the 6^th July. There are currently four acts due to be performing including: The Find, Sarah Lillie, Amy Coulshaw and one act tbc. All of the acts are all fresh, new and (as yet) unsigned: very talented people looking to get a break. The concert will also be a part of the Sevenoaks festival. Around June/August time we will be holding the annual Strawberry Tea. This is a Breast Cancer Care initiative which involves getting cakes, tea and lovely ladies together to raise funds and awareness.

I am very much looking forward to attending the event next Friday 20^th April at Tonbridge School and hope to see many of you there! For those of you that really want to be there but are unable to attend this time I will be posting an update of how the night went next Sunday. For those of you interested in attending please leave a comment in the box below and I will provide more details.

If you are interested in finding out more about Susan Lewis go to: www.susanlewis.com

If you are interested in finding out more about Susan’s publishers go to: www.rbooks.co.uk

If you want more information on Breast Cancer Care go to: www.breastcancercare.org.uk or call the free Helpline on 08088006000

To support Steph in her fundraising endeavours please go to: www.justgiving.com/stephanie-harrison6

UP-DATED MONDAY FEB 13.

There has long been a suspicion the government's U-turn that led to its decision to consult on the idea of a Thames Estuary airport was, in part, driven by the Treasury and the Chancellor. It was said they had been won round by the argument that such a project would deliver investment and jobs - along with regeneration - at a critical time.

But how was the Treasury won round? A clue perhaps lies in the meetings George Osborne and his officials had with the backers of the idea that were disclosed to us under the Freedom of Information Act.

Although we aren't being told what was on the table at these meetings as it is not deemed to be in the public interest.

Treasury meetings with Thames Estuary airport backers>>>

What we do glean from the details provided is that there seemed to be a sympathetic ear at the Treasury, where officials met representatives of Foster and Partners and the consultants Halcrow no less than four times to chew over the idea.

The rather gushing email sent by an unnamed representative of Foster following one meeting talks revealingly of how stimulating and reassuring the meeting was given that both sides believed passionately in the same points.

There is, of course, nothing wrong with any proponent of any scheme seeking contacts with politicians and their officials. You wouldn't expect anything less where a project as huge as this was concerned. Access is critical to getting the message across.

But if the government wants to be seen to be playing a straight bat over what is undeniably a massively contentious issue, it will have to better than come up  with the fig leaf of an excuse that it has to withhold information about what exactly was discussed at these meetings.

It is, frankly, an insult to say on that policy discussion needs to take place behind closed doors so  opinions can be expressed candidly. In its response, the Treasury says it acknowledges that there is a public interest in what is a 'live' issue - which in its way makes the case for full transparency and openness - not the case for running away and hiding.

It is interesting to speculate on whether,  had the Treasury been approached by, say, the leader of Medway council, for such a meeting, Mr Osborne or his officials would have proved quite as accommodating.

Either way, it is vital that the government's consultation starts from a position of neutrality.

There are arguments on both sides to be had but public confidence in the integrity of that consultation won't be enhanced if there is any suspicion that one side is getting greater opportunities to promote their views above the other.

Read the Treasury's full response to our FOI request here:

Treasury Meetings FOI.pdf (2.34 mb)

The transcript of the email sent by Foster and Partners to Treasury officials:

“It was a pleasure to meet with you this morning. We appreciate you making the trip over to our office and hopefully the experience of actually seeing us all busily working was useful. We found the conversation we had both stimulating and highly reassuring as you both made so many points that we both passionately believe in.”
“The brief presentation we did of some of our thinking and the initiatives we have been taking around infrastructure seemed to resonate with your interests and I am sure we could have spent a lot more time talking. We look forward to developing these conversations.”

Recent visits to the wilds of Dartford Heath and the marshes of Higham and Cliffe prove without a shadow of a doubt that there is enough cover in the county of Kent to hide a handful of elusive animals. When one considers the amount of forest still left, especially in places such as Ashford, Canterbury, and neighbouring Sussex, I'm rather surprised how many people seem to think that there's nowhere in county for a large cat to conceal itself. Paw prints and scat (faeces) are relatively easy to find on remote pathways. Paw prints can of course be distorted in snow and ruined on bridle paths by dogs, horses, people, bikes, but they can be found. In most cases the paw print of a leopard or puma will be bereft of claw marks - cats retract their claws but dogs do not - dog prints are symmetrical in shape and the claws will be blunt. When a cat does throw its claws out, usually to grip, they'll often show as tiny pin pricks around the toes. The main pad is often 'away' from the toes whereas you'll find a dog pad seems to be pushed up behind the toes. The images show a sketch of a print and also an actual 'big cat' print found near Tonbridge, and cast.

Left - sketch of cougar print. Note three lobes on base of pad. Also, prints can be distorted as the rear paw of the cat comes forward to step in the front impression.

 Left, leopard prints cast in Penshurst.

With regards to other prints it's always worth getting used to the marks made by native species - badger, fox, deer. It's amazing how many photographs I get sent when we've had a heavy snow fall. As snow thaws prints distort as they melt and one animal that often leaves a fist-sized impression in the snow is a rabbit! Although the print would be bereft of a main pad, when a rabbit sits on its haunches it leaves seemingly four toe marks, this is caused by the front two feet and the hind feet. If you are unfamilar with animal tracks and signs it's worth looking on the internet or buying a book to guide you and then you'll know what to eliminate when looking for a cat. Other evidence left by large cats would be scratch marks on trees. Badgers marks trees up to a couple of feet, and deer often mark bark with their antlers, but a cat such as a leopard will often reach several feet up a bark not only to sharpen its claws but a male leopard sweats from his feet, excreting a scent from a gland as a marker. Bark will often be peeled back or there will be deep score marks. In some cases it will be worth looking around the base of the tree in case the cat had shed a claw.

Hair samples are also worth taking - a couple of years ago hair found in woods in Devon were analysed and proven to belong to a melanistic leopard. Hair can often be found on game trails in England where deer, foxes etc, travel through wiry bushes or under barbed wire fences etc. Hair can also be found on the carcass of prey.

Finally, we have scat. Leopard, puma, lynx, like any animal drop scat. Their scat reflects what they've eaten - when dry ,the scat of a leopard, which can reach lengths of 8 or so inches, will appear in chain formation and be greysih in complexion and it'll be full of hair and bone. Usually deer and rabbit fur is evident. The image below was photographed by a James Mitson who has proven to be a vital contact in the heavily wooded areas of Tunbridge Wells. James has photographed deer, fox and rabbit kills and numerous scat. It's always worth looking on countryside pathways, especially near to where dogs have desposited. cats mark their territory. On one occasion a huge piece of scat found has actually be trodden on by a dog walker!

Left, leopard scat - photo by James Mitson - sample is full of deer fur. Three separate zoologists agreed this scat was from a large cat species.

There are usually a few polite words said when a chief executive leaves office, a handful of gifts are handed over, drinks are supped and everyone gets on with the rest of their lives.

When Glyn Thomson decided to return to Liverpool to pursue a new career as a churchman in the city's second most deprived parish, it was as if half of Gravesham turned out - come to that, half of North Kent.

The quiet spoken, gentle former chief environmental officer of Gravesham needed a theatre for his departure from the council - and Gravesend's massive Sikh gurdwara for his farewell from the coimmunity.

People from all walks of life turned out. They ranged from the Sikh, Muslim, and Buddhist commuities to council staff past and present, politicians, Christian church leaders (Glyn had rescued one church when its priest left by taking on the role of lay reader).

He is taking on a major task at St Luke's in Liverpool.

He know what he is letting himself in for: throughout the years he has been in Gravesend he has commuted back and forth each weekend to be with his wife and family on Merseyside.

Here's hoping his knowledge of the inner workings of government and local government, grants and people will now help to transform life for people up there.

His successopr, David Hughes, chief executive of Tonbridge and Malling, takes over at Gravesham tomorrow: he is being shared with that council in a rare job split. he comes from one of the most successful councils in the country. He should find it an interesting time.

Gravesham has adopted the executive leader format following Labour's win at the local elections. The boss man is Cllr John Burden who is sure to be closely watched by Ed Miliband over the next few years after the Leader of the Opposition turned up in Gravesend three days out of four to ensure at least one Labour victory in Kent. he got his wish - one Labour victory.

The intriguing question is where were the Conservatives as their four year hold on Gravesham was wiped out. Not one notable turned up.

So was lost the chance of a clean sweep. Ooops.

(Alan Watkins apologises but he is on holiday for the next fortnight).

It's always the same - you take a few days R&R and things happen while your back is turned.

Usually Medway is bypassed by the gong givers.

Not this time - it's been a veritable flood with only the odd knighthood missing from the Birthday Honours list.

I could go on about the CBE for Elaine Thomas who helped to create the University of the Creative Arts, but I won't.

Instead I want to concentrate on the two new recipients of the OBE, Rodney Chambers and Bill Ferris.

The awards are richly deserved for their respective services to local government and heritage.

Yet they are closely linked together.

Both men have an inate love for the dockyard and the rich heritage of Medway. Both have worked tirelessly to see them raised in world awareness, and both have had enormous vision for the way dockyard could be made to work.

Cllr Chambers, through thick and thin, has fought to ensure the historic parts of the dockyard (and Fort Amherst) go from strength to strength. It is not a political gesture: it is something deeply rooted in him, a passion that got him closely infvolved in the earliest days of their restorations.

Bill Ferris has quietly and effectively turned the area from one run by a lot of enthusiastic individuals with a common goal into a co-ordinated business. He has allowed - nay, encouraged - developments, professionals and amateurs, businesses and entrepreneurs to work alongside each other and (in most cases) generate cash to maintain the vast number of costly building treasures which are at the heart of The Historic Dockyard Chatham.

Both have done a lot more beside conserve and develop Medway's historic treasures: they have put Medway on the map (well, at least Google's).

Where it leads, perhaps the Ordnance Survey will follow.

***

I've been away for a few days - looking at how destructive Medway's Chavs can be.

Don't worry, they were doing it with the full authority of the government (we were at war at the time) but what they did survives (in parts) to the present day.

I was at Bomarsund in the Aland archipelago of Finland.

It is where the Royal Engineers and the Royal Navy joined with the French to attack (and destroy) an enormous Russian fortress at the start of the Crimean War.

The Russians were trying to control access to the Baltic, the Allies to maintain trade.

The fort was too big to defend successfully and was quickly overwhelmed b y cannons from land and sea.

Once they capitulated, the Sappers went in and blew up the buildings and outlying defences.

It is fascinating to learn that Brigadier-General Harry Smith got a knightood at the end of the seige. The sapper was very concerned to lose a saw during the battle - oh, and one of his soldiers. Meanwhile the Lords of the Admiralty insisted that the fleet admiral, Sir Charles Napier, could cause longrange damage - but he had to avoid damaging any of his ships. On that, he failed.

A few bits of the walls survive - including part of a forward post. One small section - about 30 square yards in area - has 19 distinct hits on the granite walls around one gun position.

Clearly, our lads certainly always knew how to have a good time when they are away from home.

***

The collapse of the Icelandic banks in 2008 continues to reverberate, particularly in Kent.

Tonbridge and Malling council invested £1 million on a three month, fixed term deposit with Landsbanki.

Three weeks before it was to mature the bank collapsed.

The council is one of a number fighting to recover community cash, and expect to get it back - with the interest.

Meanwhile, despite low interest rates at the present time, the council expects its various investments to bring in close to £337,000 in the current financial year.

Medway was fortunate. It didn't have any money in the Icelandic banks at the time.