This is the second Deal Motor Show, in the idyllic setting of Walmer Green, Deal, where last year we attracted over 400 exhibitors and an estimated 10,000 visitors.

This year we have extended the exhibitors area and we have space for 600 classic cars/bikes, buses and military vehicles. Public Car Park in Victoria Park, Park Ave, Deal. 


The Deal Motor Show has some outstanding entries including a 1912 Strudebaker, 1924 Citroen 5, 1928 Austin Clinton Tourer and a 1929 Triumph Super Sereo. Plus Aston Martins, E-Type Jaguars, Bentley’s, Rolls Royce’s, American Classics, Chevrolet’s, Cadillac’s and Pontiac’s from 40s & 50s. 

We have a full line up of entertainment including Ben Mills, X Factor Finalist, a Retro Market, Food, a Real Ale Bar and other interesting attractions. A film star will be appearing at the show, The Back to the Future Time Machine, the De Lorean DMC. This is a great family day out. Entry to the show is free, but a donation would be nice.

John Hookham, an Army Veteran of the Royal Artillery and a former employee of the Dover Paper Mill, is committed to his family and serving the community as a Volunteer Driver for Dover District Volunteer Centre.  After a recent battle with cancer, John returns to serving the community of Dover District as a Volunteer Driver, to the delight of many of his passengers, family and friends.

Like everyone who learns their life may change due to ill health, John faced his illness together with his wife Patricia and their family. “But there were many dark moments where personal space was needed and private time to shed a tear or two was necessary”, said John’s wife Patricia. The family and John kept a positive attitude about the future, so much so, that John’s interest in serving the community was put to the test when one day he was too weak to drive, “I remember the day well” said Patricia, “John kept repeating to the family how disappointed he felt about letting his passenger down and wondering how would she get to her hospital appointment at QEQM”. 

Luckily most of our Deal gardens are not directly exposed to sea winds. But how do we choose plants for gardens where the shingle may not be far from the surface, so the soil is very free draining,  and areas where delicate leaves may get damaged by salt in the air? 

The good news is that many of our best loved garden plants can cope.  Choose shrubs with an evergreen, shiny leaf cover which will protect the inside of the leaf from desiccating salt. Shrubs  include hollies, flowering Escallonias, Cistus (rock roses) and the blue flowering Ceanothus. Plants with tiny leaves like rosemary, lavender or cotton lavender (Santolinia) and tamarisk also manage well  and thrive in open, sunny sites.   If you have shady corners of the garden, consider planting Skimmia, fuchias and hebes.

Seek out plants with grey or felty surfaces as they manage in dry conditions and when you are unable to water.  Look for grey grasses (Festuca glauca), or Sea Holly (eryngium) and Verbena with its tall stems and violet flowers.  Some grey plants have soft, hairy surfaces which keep off salt and drying winds, like lamb’s ears (stachys) or pasque flowers (Pulsatilla) and yellow flowering Phlomis.  Other options are the numerous varieties of sedums, with their succulent leaves or plants with maritima or littoralis in their names.

Plant before the summer, and remember to water when dry to give the plants their best start for a successful coastal garden!

Perfect for a simple lunch or for an early summer picnic this savoury pie has a really rich and buttery crisp pastry and a tasty smoked bacon and onion filling. It tastes just as delicious warm or cold. Look for packs of smoked bacon pieces near the bacon rashers in the supermarket or use flavoursome Italian diced pancetta instead.

Makes 8 slices

Ready in 1½ hours, plus chilling

SEAS (South East ArtistS) is a self funding and voluntary organisation which promotes, supports and provides a network for our vibrant artistic community in Deal and surrounding areas. It was established in 2004 by a few artists and now has a membership of over 60 people, ranging from professional artists to those who are just interested in the arts.

For the past 7 years SEAS has organised a dynamic and diverse Open Studios/ Art Trail event featuring new work by professional and amateur artists during the Deal Festival of Music and Arts. This has partly been in response to the fact there is no central gallery space in Deal so artists have been creative and opened their own houses to exhibit their work and engage with the public. Sculpture, paintings, conceptual art, screen prints, jewellery, photography, ceramics, textiles, fused glass are all part of these eclectic, festive occasions. Deal is becoming a magnet for visitors seeking arts and crafts, however it also highlights the fact that we need more spaces for art exhibitions and displays.

If that is the case, White Cliffs Country U3A (the University of the Third Age) is the association for you. Disregard the rather grandiose title:  with members in Deal, Dover and Sandwich and their associated villages, we embrace a wide local community.

Until 2012, most of our activities were concentrated in the Deal area but over the last 12 months we undertook a campaign that we called “Triangulation” to increase our membership in Dover and Sandwich and start to have more activities there.  And as this was well-received, our 2013-2014 Programme will have monthly events regularly in each of the three towns on an alternating basis.

The aptly named Landmark Community Centre stands proudly in the high street as a hub of the community. The former site of the United Reform Church is a blend of old and modern design that almost never was. 

In 1978 the bulldozers were poised to demolish the church before appeals to save the building were answered by benefactor Fred Cleary. The years that followed saw a working party lead the development of the building, adding two additional halls to the original Cleary Hall. The Richardson Hall was subject to two arson attempts before its redevelopment and the Hollingsworth Hall is the realisation of plans drawn up by architectural students from the Canterbury School of Art. 

Walking with your local Ramblers Group is a great way to explore your countryside, keep fit and meet good company. Ramblers walk leaders often know the best and most interesting footpaths, so you can enjoy the benefits of walking without the worries of planning a route or getting lost.

The White Cliffs Group of the Ramblers Association walks on Sundays and Thursdays, distances varying from 5 to 15 miles, mostly with a pub stop for lunch. We walk throughout South and East Kent, from the wide skies of Romney Marsh or Faversham creek, to the hills and downlands of Wye, Folkestone and Dover; picturesque Elham and Alkham valleys, rich farmlands and orchards around Sandwich and Deal.

Why not try walking with us? You’d be very welcome to come on a couple of walks without any obligation to join the Ramblers Association. Our website is www.kentramblers.org.uk then scroll down to White Cliffs.

For more information, please contact the Membership Secretary: 
Rob Riddle randmridd@gtwiz.co.uk 
Tel: 01304 366716

This is a great way to turn simple and very economical chicken portions into a delicious Mediterranean-style supper.  If you have time, make the tabbouleh a few hours in advance to let the flavours fully develop.

Serves 4

Ready in 45 minutes