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00:00Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
00:25I'm Bartholomew Hall.
00:26Here are your top stories on Wednesday the 21st of May.
00:30Back to Dunkirk.
00:32Little ships sail from Kent to France, honouring a historic legacy.
00:38Council Chaos says Sevenoaks is plunged into no overall control.
00:44And Milk and Two Sugars, we get the tea on Rochester's brewing preferences.
00:50But first this evening, they answered the call 85 years ago and today they've done it again.
00:55Dozens of the original Dunkirk little ships have arrived in France this evening after recreating one of the most extraordinary rescue missions in military history.
01:06Crowds gathered to wave them off in Ramsgate and to cheer them in this evening in the French town.
01:11It's a powerful moment for families and the custodians of the little ships today in keeping this history alive.
01:17Well, our reporter Gabriel Morris was among them and even stepped aboard one of the support boats making that historic crossing.
01:23And he joins us live from Dunkirk now.
01:27Gabriel, tell us, how has your day been?
01:30Well, good evening from Dunkirk.
01:33And as you can see behind me, we've got about 60 of those original little ships in Dunkirk.
01:38They've made a historic journey today, setting sail from Ramsgate at the crack of dawn, recreating that journey from 1940.
01:47They rescued more than 300,000 troops from the beaches of Dunkirk.
01:53It was one of the biggest civilian efforts ever seen in military history.
01:58The Royal Navy had no other option as the Nazis had destroyed any landing stages any of their crafts could have landed their vessels on.
02:06The only option is small boats like the ones behind me to land on the beaches, ferry troops to the bigger ships or in some cases back to the UK.
02:18Well, today, as I was saying, around 60 of those little ships recreated that journey from Ramsgate here to Dunkirk.
02:25And the last few have been coming in in the last few minutes.
02:28But I was on a support vessel also retracing the steps from 85 years ago.
02:3485 years on, the little ships that took part in the Dunkirk evacuation are once again making that historic journey.
02:44This morning, around 1,000 people gathered to wave them off.
02:47Lead the Dunkirk fleet out to sea.
02:51Yes, they have permission to exit.
02:53A proud moment for the custodians of the vessels that once helped save more than 300,000 lives.
03:00People in this part of the country especially are more than aware of its particular part of history within the Dunkirk, within the overall Dunkirk story.
03:10And as you can see, they've turned out en masse to pick up as many of the views and sights as they can.
03:17Travelling at speeds of around four knots, the little ships take around eight hours to cross the channel.
03:22But I boarded one of the support vessels to retrace the path taken in May 1940.
03:29For us, a shorter cruise, but still steeped in history.
03:34Our crossing today is much like that in 1940.
03:37Calm conditions, and that was perfect back in 1940.
03:43It allowed all those 800 little ships to cross, save so many lives.
03:48Around 60 little ships could be seen navigating the English Channel this morning, escorted by the Royal Navy and the RNLI.
03:57So what would it be like if we were on one of those little ships today compared to this?
04:01Extremely rocky-rolly.
04:02If you've ever been on a very uncomfortable fairground ride, those little ships were designed to be used really on the Thames,
04:10where you might get a few ripples every now and then.
04:13So they are really out of their element at the moment, and I've been told that this is possibly the first time they've actually left the Thames,
04:24or the second time, since they went across to France.
04:29We're about halfway now on our crossing.
04:30We've just gone across the shipping lanes, and it's a challenge to try and avoid them,
04:35make sure we're not in their wake and going at different angles to be sure we're crossing it in the correct way.
04:39But in World War II, it would have been a completely different challenge.
04:42Those little ships would have been facing enemy fire from above and being shelled from land.
04:48So it's a bit of a reminder of what it would have been like for them back there.
04:52But today's nothing compared to what they would have faced.
04:55But on my voyage, about an hour from Dunkirk, one of the support boats ran into trouble.
05:01The engine failed, and a distress signal was sent.
05:05But that famous Dunkirk spirit came alive again.
05:10Our vessel stepped in, towing the stricken boat safely to Dunkirk.
05:15And a few hours later, those historic little ships followed, just as they did 85 years ago.
05:23There might have not been an active war zone around us,
05:25but the challenges of the crossing prove the message behind today's journey is still truly alive.
05:31Gabriel Morris for KNTV in Dunkirk, France.
05:39Well, I'd say I managed to get to shore a little bit earlier than those little ships.
05:43And thankfully, I wasn't seasick.
05:45I do happen to have some sea legs, thankfully.
05:48But it was a brilliant crossing today.
05:50It was a proud moment to be part of that history, I think, for myself today.
05:55And the weather conditions were very similar to that of 1940.
05:58So it was smooth sailing for the most part, other than that hiccup you did see in my report just there.
06:05And then I was able to go and watch all those little ships come into Dunkirk.
06:09And both the French and the British were waving them and cheering them in.
06:13And I have to say, one of them went to the RNLI.
06:16Ramsgate's lifeboat was here in Dunkirk today.
06:19How often does that happen?
06:21Well, Gabriel, a real sense of community there today.
06:25But it's not over.
06:26What's next for these commemorations?
06:30Well, these boats will stay here over the weekend.
06:32There'll be celebrations and remembrance services across the town over the weekend.
06:37And on Monday, they're going to be hoping to sail back to Ramsgate.
06:41But I've been told the weather isn't looking too good.
06:45Well, Gabriel, thank you very much for bringing us those details.
06:47Now, a teenager has avoided prison after being caught on camera with a knife on Margate's
06:54seafront.
06:5518-year-old Rhys Day admitted being in possession of a bladed article when hundreds of young people
07:00descended onto the area in August of last year.
07:04This topless teenager wearing a balacalava has narrowly avoided prison after brandishing
07:10a knife on Margate's seafront.
07:1118-year-old Rhys Day was just one of hundreds of people who gathered in the seaside town where
07:17a fight erupted between a large group of people in August of 2023.
07:22It's understood he was drinking and taking drugs at the time whilst using a knife to threaten
07:27others.
07:28Following the disturbance, a 48-hour dispersal order was issued by Kent Police.
07:33Day, who lives in Poppy Close in Maidstone, was later identified and admitted being in possession
07:38of a bladed article when he appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court.
07:42Judge William Nelson told Day he had shown genuine remorse and pleaded guilty early before
07:47going on to hand an 18-month community order.
07:51The teenager must also attend rehabilitation sessions including for drug use and carry out
07:55200 hours of unpaid work.
07:58The knife will also be destroyed.
08:00So far, it's understood that Day is the only person to have been charged with an offence
08:04in relation to the seafront incident.
08:08Now, opposition councillors are warning that for Sevenoaks District Council, its days of
08:13conservative control are numbered.
08:15It follows the defection of nine councillors from the Tory ranks last week, making the embattled
08:21right-wing party a minority administration.
08:24But is the talk of a new ruling coalition in the coming weeks missing the woods for the trees,
08:30or rather the Oaks. Local democracy reporter Gabriel Olley-Lieder has been speaking to all
08:36the key players.
08:37This may look like a regular meeting at Sevenoaks District Council, yet it follows a week for
08:45the local authority that's been anything but.
08:49Last Thursday, seven conservative councillors jumped ship to form a new group after months
08:57of internal tensions, with two more joining the newly minted West Kent independents by Monday.
09:06The revolt has left the council in no overall control, with opposition councillors now outnumbering
09:15the Tory benches by four.
09:18Well, we put the minority now, conservative administration, on notice that their days are numbered.
09:23They cannot provide us with a stable, secure, decent council administration, and we clearly
09:31need to try and put something together to replace that.
09:35The conservative group are still the largest in Sevenoaks.
09:40To be put on notice, opposition parties would need to band together, leaving the new group
09:47as potential kingmakers.
09:49It does mean that we are now not that many behind the Liberal Democrats.
09:53We are a sizable force, and either the big national parties who are represented on this
09:57council should be very keen to be communicating with us, because if we were to side on one
10:02side or the other, obviously a majority would be taken.
10:05We're not in it for that at all, but we realise that to achieve their aspirations, then perhaps
10:12they need to come speak to us.
10:13But despite talk of further defections, the current council leader remains defiant.
10:21Within the West Kent group, such as it is at the moment, that's Maidstone, Tunbridge-Wells
10:26and Tunbridge-Morling, the other conservative controlled council was actually a minority controlled
10:32conservative council, Tunbridge-Morling, and that has worked very well.
10:36And they now, through the recent elections, have actually resolved that, so they're now
10:40a majority, and I would expect that to be the case.
10:43It certainly will be my case to bring back a majority to the conservative group before
10:49the end of this term.
10:50The counter-chamber is now empty after an extraordinary week of politics here in Sevenoaks.
10:58But with rumours of partnership agreements circulating, that turbulence is showing no signs of letting
11:08up just yet.
11:10Olly Lieder in Sevenoaks.
11:13Well, plenty more on that story can be read over at Kent Online this evening.
11:17Time for a break from us right now.
11:19When we come back, we'll be hearing about a fire in Gravesend that's displaced up to 12
11:23families, plus a day centre in Folkestone that's received a prestigious King's Award, and we'll
11:30be revisiting the debate we had this morning about what makes the perfect cup of tea.
11:36All that and plenty more to come on Kent Tonight after this break.
15:01Hello and welcome back to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
15:13Now, residents of a block of flats in Gravesend have been left homeless after a fire tore through their building.
15:20It's understood 12 families in total have been affected after the fire in Nursery Grove on Tuesday afternoon.
15:26Seven fire engines were called to the scene where pictures show some properties have been burnt through.
15:32There were no reported injuries and a fundraising page has been set up for the families affected.
15:39Kent Police is investigating after two teenage boys were attacked by a gang of strangers in Maidstone's Moat Park.
15:47In two separate occasions, one boy was reportedly left with a cut lip whilst the other was slapped and punched.
15:53Officers say the daytime incidents don't appear to be linked.
15:56The headteacher at Maidstone Grammar has warned parents and students who use the park to exercise extra caution.
16:02Meanwhile, Kent Police is appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
16:08Now, a day centre in Folkestone has been buzzing with excitement after winning a King's Award for its outstanding voluntary service to people across Kent who are searching for community.
16:18Sheppey Spectrum Arts' Just Be Centre recently opened its hive to celebration as the King's Lord Lieutenant for Kent had a visit to present the prestigious award,
16:31the highest honour given to volunteer groups across the UK, which is considered equivalent to an MBE.
16:36Well, Kristen Hawthorne went along to the event to find out what makes the day centre so special.
16:41It's funny how life changes and how this place can change your life because it has changed mine quite considerably, really.
16:50For some, it's a radio station or a church.
16:53For others, it's a lifeline.
16:55Sheppey Spectrum Arts has won a King's Award for their volunteering service to those in Kent by encouraging people to just be.
17:01For the founders, however, this award is just the beginning.
17:05For an internet radio station, which is just us guys, it averages around about 1,000 listeners per day,
17:11which is really good for a small station that's more than some big stations in some ways.
17:16So, really good.
17:17And they all listen. They sit down and they're doing their artwork and things.
17:20And they go, oh, it's me.
17:22It's me.
17:22They haven't tired of it yet.
17:24No.
17:25So, really good.
17:27So, there's potential there as well, you know.
17:29But what does this award mean?
17:31The King's Award for Voluntary Service, it was started originally,
17:34it was originally known as the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service,
17:37and it's the equivalent to an MBE for volunteering.
17:43And it's given to outstanding organizations that are,
17:51both have a lot of volunteers working for it, but also, but is run by volunteers as well.
17:56The Just Be Centre helps those in Folkestone find a sense of community,
18:00whether they're able-bodied or have a learning disability.
18:03Today, after the awards, they're decorating soap and...
18:07Oh, weepi Lisa!
18:08She's getting help from Crystal to do just that.
18:11The group gathered to celebrate the award with a show of music and dancing.
18:14But for those who use and volunteer for the service,
18:17this award is less important than what it has done for them.
18:21I kind of thought, well, I'm not doing anything,
18:23so this is something that I could be helpful to needy people and disabled people.
18:28And so, Gina gave me a shot, and I suppose I showed good will in and that,
18:37because I'm still here today, and I'm still, you know, feeling really good about what we do.
18:41And I'm really glad I found the place and, you know, made the move.
18:45The music behind this story was made by Steve and another volunteer called Ben.
18:50By doing these activities, they can not only develop their skills,
18:53but encourage others to do the same.
18:55And with the group selling their volunteers art and CDs,
18:59they live up to their name of being busy bees.
19:02Kristen Hawthorne for KMTV in Folkestone.
19:10Now, lovely work going on there.
19:12Now, let's take a look at the weather.
19:19Tonight, it's looking relatively mild.
19:21Clouds scattered across the coast,
19:23temperatures ranging from 7 to 10 degrees.
19:26Tomorrow morning, clouds continuing on,
19:28covering the skies, chance of light rain around the coast.
19:32Those winds increasing too.
19:33As we go towards the afternoon,
19:35cloud continuing with a chance of some sun in the north of the county,
19:38highs of 14 degrees.
19:40And as we go towards the rest of the week and the weekend,
19:44cloud continuing, highs of 19, climbing to 20.
19:53Finally, from us this evening, how do you take your tea?
19:59It's a question we've been asking shoppers in Rochester,
20:02because today marks National Tea Day.
20:05This year, the Tea Advisory Panel's annual census has found 85% of Brits
20:11said that they would be willing to make a cup of tea for their family,
20:15but just half would make one for their neighbour.
20:17Well, here's what those shoppers in Rochester had to say about their habits.
20:23Oh, no, the milk has to go in after, otherwise it makes the water cold.
20:27It's got to be before.
20:28Yeah, definitely before.
20:29You can't judge your tea otherwise.
20:31I do after, but he does before.
20:33Well, my daughters say to me that I make,
20:38I'm annoyingly good at making the perfect cup of tea.
20:42And for me, what's really important is to use tea leaves, not tea bags.
20:47Two nice heaps of sugar.
20:51Let it brew, let it brew before the milk.
20:53Has to be decaf.
20:55But yes, that goes in first the tea bag, then the hot water.
20:59Let it brew for quite a while, don't do it too quickly,
21:01it always becomes too weak.
21:02Well, normally I make it in the mornings, and it has to be in a pot.
21:06So I make sure the pot is preheated with boiling water,
21:09swill it out, empty the pot,
21:12and then basically two tea bags in the pot, fill right to the top,
21:17and then give it at least, I think about seven, eight minutes.
21:21Out of ten, my tea making skills, I would rate at least nine.
21:25There's always room for improvement.
21:28Mine are very good, and if you don't like my tea, you have to go elsewhere.
21:31No, I try and make it to the person's specifications, so you ask them how they like it.
21:36Well, I think I married him for his tea making skills.
21:40I'd say ten.
21:40I'd probably say most of the time, eight or nine, and you'll say ten.
21:43But it depends on how you like your tea.
21:45I've always been told I make a good cup of tea.
21:47I don't know what it is, but maybe I'll let the tea bag stew a little bit longer, maybe.
21:51I don't know what it is, but yeah.
21:52And that's why I don't make the tea.
21:53Yeah, that's how he gets out of it, yeah.
21:57Well, some real confidence there.
21:59I do love a good cup of tea myself.
22:01Always, always tea bag first.
22:03Well, earlier on the Kent Morning Show, we were joined by tea expert Dr Tim Bond from the Tea Advisory Panel
22:09and started by asking him about some of the unknown benefits from the UK's favourite cuppa.
22:15Tea itself actually is found, you know, one to two cups of tea a day can actually help, you know, reduce your stress,
22:21help you sleep better, and if you get up to four to five cups of tea a day,
22:25that actually helps us reduce blood pressure, reduce inflammation,
22:28and actually have a very positive impact on overall health, brain health, heart health, relaxation.
22:35What are some of those different teas that give us different benefits?
22:39So what we find is everyone that's basically drinking tea,
22:43if it's sort of their normal sort of black tea that we're seeing on the screen,
22:45black tea with milk, black tea without milk, green tea, oolong tea,
22:50and these are all teas from what we term the camellia bush,
22:53so we would sort of phrase these, I suppose, as real teas.
22:56They all come from one plant, it's just a different way they're processed.
22:59They have a similar make-up, but different.
23:02And then we have the herbal teas, so viewers will be familiar with chamomile, rooibos.
23:08So basically the colour, the taste, the flavour,
23:10all of these are a reflection of the diverse sort of bioactives,
23:15the natural phytochemicals that are present in tea and infusions.
23:19And what makes tea such a staple of British culture,
23:23considering that a lot of those tea plants aren't actually grown in the UK?
23:30Absolutely.
23:31And it's something which I think is steeped, if you forgive the pun,
23:35in our history.
23:36Obviously a lot of tea originally came from China, Burma.
23:42It was then sort of transplanted, grown in India, actually sort of by the British.
23:46It was then transformed to sort of East Africa, even in Argentina.
23:50So I think it very much has travelled along with us.
23:54And it's a beverage that is, you know, easy to consume on every meal occasion.
23:58It gives us hydration in warm temperatures.
24:01It's actually sort of the best source of a group of bioactives called flavanthriols.
24:07They're linked with sort of reduced blood pressure, better cardiovascular health.
24:12So I think it's a great tasting beverage.
24:13There's many forms.
24:15It's easy to consume.
24:16You can drink it with or without meals.
24:18And there are a few statistics that have come out as part of the census.
24:22So 1,000 Brits took part and 71% of Brits prefer traditional black tea,
24:30which is to be expected.
24:32And 93% prefer using a bag.
24:34So I don't know if there's much more benefit to actually loose leaf.
24:38And also green tea, is it becoming more popular?
24:40Because it looks like women and young people are leaning more so towards green tea.
24:44What do you make of all of those things?
24:46Absolutely.
24:48I mean, what we do know is that people are seeking comfort.
24:51People are seeking the familiar, which is why black tea, black tea with milk.
24:54People are seeking, obviously, convenience.
24:58Tea bags and the loose leaf tea have very similar health properties.
25:02It takes a bit longer to brew a cup of orthodox tea.
25:06So maybe brew that a little bit longer, five or six minutes maybe.
25:10But sort of, you know, sort of three or four minutes for a cup of tea bag tea
25:14actually gives you a nice, strong infusion.
25:16The more colour and flavour you have, the more of the health properties come with it.
25:20But actually, we are finding that about a third of people are actually sort of moving
25:25and looking to move from black tea to sort of green and herbals.
25:28And an equal amount, about 20%, are swapping back again.
25:31So people are moving according to their tastes, according to the seasons.
25:36Well, some interesting tips there for sure.
25:38Well, before we go this evening, take a look at this.
25:40His heads have been turning at a service station in Maidstone
25:43where trees have been spotted entirely covered in these webs.
25:47Well, one expert say they aren't caused by spiders, as you might have expected,
25:52and are instead spun by ermine moth caterpillars.
25:56They spin silk webbing for protection
25:58and will eat the leaves while staying in the safety of their webs.
26:02Well, for anyone concerned for their trees, don't worry.
26:04They will grow their leaves back.
26:06And the caterpillar is entirely native to the area,
26:09with conservationists saying they usually last from May to June.
26:15Interesting stuff there.
26:16Well, that is it from us this evening on Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
26:19There's plenty more news made just for Kent throughout the evening.
26:21Don't forget, you can always keep up to date with the latest news across your county
26:25by logging on to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
26:28You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on TikTok too
26:32for all the latest on your social timelines.
26:35And we'll be back with the Kent Morning Show tomorrow from 7.
26:38We'll see you then. Bye-bye.
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