The
Simply Whitstable
Web Site

Week Commencing 31/12/07

Happy New Year!

This is just a short Chat Column to wish everyone around the globe....

... and provide a few snippets of information.

New Articles....

I thought the holiday period would be a time to catch up with new articles but I found it quite difficult to fit things in with family commitments! However, as you may know, we do have an addition to the Home from Home section. This has been provided by Bob and Pam Court and it gives us a fascinating look at their home town of Mooloolaba on the West Coast of Queensland, Australia. Click here to view.

We are also still open for business on the subject of the very different types of Christmas experienced by ex-pat Natives around the globe. We have had a few responses to our appeal.... but not many. You can view the item by clicking here.  

The Bear & Key....

There have been a couple of recent Visitors book messages that have mentioned the Bear and Key hotel. As we all know, the old coach station buildings fell into disrepair after the hotel/pub business closed a few years ago. In fact, when we showed the scene in a Chat Column during April 2004, it looked like this.....

Sad Sight - The B&K in April 2004

At that time, there were real fears that it might have to be demolished. Well, now it's had a massive facelift and this is the result....

It's lovely to see it back in its black and white livery and, when those hoardings eventually come down, it will have regained most of its old appearance. Of course, the ground floor is now an Italian restaurant (Prezzos). 

The lovely old court yard at the rear is also being restored.....

... but, as modern apartments.

Most of the comments we have received in the Visitors Book recall memories of the place as a pub, hotel... and the home of Whitstable jazz enthusiasts. That is a throw back to the 1950s when the premises provided a venue for great names such as the Tishomingo Stompers.

Obviously. it's sad that it couldn't serve its old functions. Time moves on and it really was a case of adapt or lose one of the town's most familiar landmarks. At least, we still have the view.... 

... and that ground floor is at least a public amenity. 

Before we leave the subject, can we have a campaign.... to find and restore something important....

The pub sign on New Years Eve in the the year 2000

Yes... it's the old B&K sign pictured in the year 2000. Where is it?.... and... Can we have it back please?

In fact, I seem to recall that there was an even older sign affixed to a wall just inside the building. Can we have that back too?

Reaction on Bear & Key....

The missing Bear and key sign has pormpted this message from Jan Smith....

Thanks, Jan. I have added your message to the Visitors Book.... in the hope that someone can throw some light on the missing sign.

Dover... 1  Whitstable... 1 -  in Text & Video!

After a  disappointing start to the Christmas schedule, Whitstable Town FC finished on a high note with a battling 1-1 draw away to table-topping Dover Athletic. The match took place on Saturday and attracted a sizeable crowd of 1,116 to the Crabble ground.

Of course, in terms of non-league football, Dover is a big and well supported club.... and it doesn't just show up on the pitch. It has a super web site...  and, for the benefit of Native football enthusiasts, it might be worth me outlining a couple of its offerings.

I couldn't get to the match on Saturday afternoon but I kept an eye on the site because it gave regular updates as the match progressed. I must say that it was nervous stuff. In fact, it was like having my very own teleprinter and David Coleman!

As the messages started to arrive, it became clear that Dover were having the better of the first half. However, Whitstable were remaining well organised and limiting their lofty opponents to a relatively small number of opportunities. Eventually, half time arrived with the score at a satisfactory 0-0. 

Even better news popped up on my screen after the interval..... with the message - Goal!. Whitstable had taken the lead just four minutes into the second half when a low Danny Tipple cross had been turned into his own net by Dover's Matt Bourne. I went to make a cup of coffee and tell the rellies.

When I returned, disaster had struck. My personal teleprinter now had two more 'Goal!' messages - both for Dover. At first sight, it seemed that the lads in white had turned it all around in just 30 seconds with updates timed at '63 mins' and '63 mins & 30 secs'. I went off to make a coffee and kick the rellies.

When I returned, it all looked a bit odd. The overall score at the top of the screen was still showing 1-1. There were also extra messages.... advising that Dover's arch rivals (Tooting & Mitcham) were comfortably ahead against Kingstonian..... and that Dover desperately needed to score.

Hmmm... something was wrong 'ere. So, I did something I could never do with the BBC teleprinter of the 1950s or David Coleman... ie  rewind 'em! Blow me, Dover hadn't scored twice. The '63rd minute' entry had heralded the goal and the second message had merely given the name of the scorer (Andy Hessenthaler).

We were still breathing but more messages arrived to test the heart conditions of Natives everywhere. Dover were running riot, Whitstable were hanging on desperately and my cat had disappeared to the safety of the neighbour's garden. I made another coffee and buried my head beneath a pillow.

Then, came a message of hope - 90 minutes up and heading into stoppage time. After what seemed like an eternity, David Coleman announced.... '90 minutes plus four minutes'.... and still going! I was now under the mattress and my concerned  rellies were surrounding the teleprinter as if it was my personal heart monitor.

After an eternity, the last rites arrived - 'Final Whistle...- 1-1'.

On Sunday, I revisited the site to mull over the debris. Lo and behold.... Dover Athletic had produced a video of the match highlights. This showed just how desperate the last half hour had been. The Whitstable end of the ground was littered with pillows, mattresses and coffee cups. The video is still available. So, if you have broadband and want to take a look, it's at....

  http://www.doverathletic.com/index.php

Choose the 'DAFCtv' option and select the Whitstable match. What a super club!

At the end of the day, it was only one point gained and it still leaves Whitstable floundering in the relegation zone at fifth from bottom. However, it is a massive confidence boost for the next game.... on Saturday, 5 January. That is a 'must win' fixture at the Belmont against fellow strugglers Walton Casuals...  kick off 3pm.... bring your own mattress.

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