Business Guild Seminar

Tourism and the Economy - Kent & Medway

John Penrose MP, the Minister for Tourism & Heritage, was the keynote speaker at a seminar in which Visit Kent and Chatham Historic Dockyard participated as partners of The Rochester Cathedral Business Guild. The importance of tourism to the Kent economy was the theme of this seminar held at The Historic Dockyard, Chatham.

Christine Raynor of KRN Media reported:

"It attracted representatives from the industry in Kent as well as the Minister for Tourism & Heritage, Mr John Penrose, who gave the Governments view of this multi million pound booster for the country's economy. The Minister told a hushed audience that across the country everyone "got" what tourism was about and that it was vitally important to the national economy."

John Spence; John Penrose; Amanda Cottrell; Sir Ian Garnett; Ken Robinson

Other guest speakers for the day included Ken Robinson (Chairman of The Tourism Alliance); Joss Croft (Head of Marketing VisitBritain); Neil Davies (Chief Executive Medway Council); Lindsey Morgan (Assistant Principal Mid Kent College); Paul Hudson (Chairman SE England Lottery Fund/Infrastructure Planning Commission); Sandra Matthews-Marsh (Chief Executive Visit Kent); Dexter Moren (Director Dexter Moren Associates) and Frazer Thompson (Chief Executive English Wines Group plc).

John A Spence is Chairman of The Business Guild and was pleased to host this prestigious event.

Amanda Cottrell, Chairman of Visit Kent said prior to the event “This is a significant time for the tourism industry.  The day will be stimulating and challenging, bringing together some excellent speakers with you our businesses and local authority partners.  I urge you to take the time out to attend and we look forward to seeing you.”

There were opportunites for networking with a visit to the historic working Ropery during the lunch interval and at the close of the seminar the delegates visited the exhibition “Titanic, Honour and Glory”.

Our grateful thanks go to Mr Bill Ferris (Chief Executive of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust) for the kind use of the facilities in The Commissioner's House and to our sponsors for the day, Smiths Gore.

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Rochester Cathedral Trust Golf Day 2011 - Report back

 

development@rochestercathedral.org or telephone 01634 810074

Whistle down the Wind

On 23^rd September 2011 we were pleased to present a viewing in the Nave of Richard Attenborough’s classic film “Whistle Down the Wind” made in 1961 and starring Hayley Mills, Bernard Lee and Alan Bates.

The plot followed the lives of three children who discover a fugitive hiding in their barn. The bearded man, referred to as “Blakey” by the Police, is mistaken for Jesus by the children. The fugitive makes no attempt to correct their mistake, especially when he discovers the eldest child, Kathy, is determined to protect him from discovery by the local Police.

This film showed how the children’s innocent faith contrasts with the pragmatic and suspicious adults in the town. Lots of parallels are to be found, from the stable and the shepherds, to the disciples and “Peter’s denial”.

Acting Dean of Rochester, Canon Phil Hesketh said, “This classic British film from the 1960’s with Alan Bates in his first film is heavy in Christian symbolism. It continues to delight and challenge us in equal measure.”

We were pleased to have a film introduction by local film critic Nick Walker

www.theothercinema.info

The Levellers in Rochester Cathedral

The Levellers are a Brighton based folk-punk band and are one of the best around. They are a perfect role model for other bands trying to find their way in today’s music scene having released their own records, bought their own building/studio and started their own sell out festival in the UK, Beautiful Days, which is now approaching its 8^th year. We were very pleased to have them play to a full house in the Cathedral in June.

Enigma - A Murder Mystery presented by The Alternate Shadows

A Fund Raising Event with Rochester Cathedral.

'ENIGMA'

"There is a dead man on the Cathedral floor. Did the Captain of the Home Guard think he was a spy? Then there’s the lady from the tea shop. Did she kill him in a jealous rage because he was flirting with the local barmaid? Why was Reverend Pilbright so very distraught? And who was the stranger in the Crypt? This is a tough one for Insp Grimpole."

Be there to see him solve a very enigmatic mystery!

We had a great evening on Friday 1^st April 2011 and all net funds raised went to support the Development Fund at Rochester Cathedral.