insideKENT Magazine Issue 63 - June 2017 | Page 170

NEWS
GRAVESEND CARE HOME CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF CARING FOR KENT
From humble beginnings in Kingswood Road , Gillingham , The Abbeyfield Kent Society has grown to become the biggest independent Abbeyfield in the world . In May , it celebrated its 50th anniversary .
Edward Moore House Residential Care Home kick started a month of celebrations with a party at the Trinity Road care home , including live entertainment from singer , Steve Erickson , on Friday 12th May .
Chris Hutchinson , home manager of Edward Moore House commented : “ We were very proud to celebrate 50 years of The Abbeyfield Kent Society , it ’ s a huge achievement that the Society is thriving and looking to the future when many other care providers are closing homes in such difficult circumstances .
“ The residents had a lovely afternoon at the party , they were singing and dancing , some even had a tear in their eye as it brought such joy . It really was wonderful to see .”
KDS ASSOCIATE SHORTLISTED FOR WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION AWARD
Kent-based architectural technologist , Stacey Taylor , has been shortlisted in this year ' s European Women in Construction & Engineering Awards ( WICE ) as ' Best Woman Architectural Technologist '. The awards , which are now in their 3rd year , have been designed to find the most exemplary women within construction and engineering across Europe .
Stacey is an associate at Kent Design Studio and was nominated for the awards by the company ' s directors , before being shortlisted as a finalist and invited to attend an intense judging day in front of a specially chosen panel of judges .
Kent Design Studio offers high-quality architectural services across a broad range of projects , including extensions and conversions , new builds , change of use such as Class Q agricultural to residential and everything in between .
www . kentdesignstudio . co . uk
KENT ’ S ANDY REID RETURNS TO THE OCEANS IN NEW ROUND-THE-WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT
Kent ’ s Andy Reid ( 47 ) is returning to the oceans by joining the crew of Team Britannia , a new round-the-world record attempt .
The self-confessed adrenaline junkie will join the round-the-world powerboat , which hopes to slash up to seven days off the current record of 60 days 23 hours 49 minutes , held by New Zealander Pete Bethune .
Team Britannia , led by British ocean racing legend Alan Priddy , will use a revolutionary semi-wave slicing boat that will plane through the waves , rather than surfing them . The super-efficient design , the work of top designer professor Bob Cripps has been designed to be both light and incredibly strong . A variant of the “ fast displacement hull ” Bob and his designed team believe that the revolutionary shape of the hull will reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent and make the 23,000 nautical mile trip smoother and faster .
The boat will be crewed by a team of 12 , including up to five wounded , injured and sick servicemen and women ( WIS ) on each of the seven legs of the voyage who are being supported by the limbless veterans ’ charity Blesma .
Mr Priddy commented : “ I am delighted to be reunited with Andy Reid on the Team Britannia project . He was a crucial member of the team during 2002 ’ s ‘ Spirit of Cardiff ’ record attempt . Andy has proven skills and brings a huge amount to this already excellent team .”
Andy added : “ I am really excited to be returning to the ocean to finish the job we started in 2002 . I feel really optimistic about this amazing challenge and I already love working with Team Britannia ’ s dynamic and enthusiastic team . I am looking forward to bringing this prestigious record back to Great Britain .”
Andy , who comes from Sevenoaks in Kent , will join Team Britannia as a Bosun . A keen supporter of Alan Priddy ’ s roundthe-world expedition in the ‘ Spirit of Cardiff ’, Andy co-skippered a number of legs ( including the Panama and Suez canals ) in the Raymarine Lively Lady Project .
172