Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Following last months visit from IDS, Mathew Hancock, Minister for Skills and Enterprise and seen by some as a potential future PM, visited us at East Kent Railway, to talk to our apprentices and to see for himself, how successful our Apprentice Scheme has become and how he can help us progress and broaden it for the future.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/minister-sees-railway-apprentices-are-19462/
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,894
Well done to all it is so nice to hear such good news for a change instead of all the doom and gloom that we seem to get so often.
Possibly even better that EKR benefit from their youth which must make life so much easier for some of your older volunteers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
As you know we are out there at this time going the old bridge up it will take 3years it is over 100years old .I am hoping that the apprentices will join up with us soon we will be showing them skills etc that they will need later on I will be out there in the morning I always need helpers so please any help you need not have a trade we will show you what and how to do the jobs or just come out for look and a cupper and food in the café.
My legs are not so good at this time so a lot of unskilled help would be great thank you.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
I see the clown mp is taking another photo opertunaty.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Again MR Dixon your post does not help in anyway this is not about the MP it about the EKR AND THE APPRENTICES AND THAT IS GOOD NEWS.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Is that the well-known local musician Jason Rose I see in the background?
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
vic the comment about mp is an observation,good luck to the apprentices.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Whose that bloke to the right of Gary, looks familiar.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
He is the boss of the young lads.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Brian.
You are entitled to your opinion but I have found that Charlie is far from being a clown and he has been very instrumental in getting us help with our apprentice scheme and with other projects.
His work with us is genuine and as long as we keep politics out of the equation, which we do, then we get on just fine.
In the end it is what you can achieve together and the outcome, that counts.
Yes, that is Jason Rose the apprentice boss.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
I'll go with all that, Gary. You are doing a super job down there, you have my full support. By the way, the Crown in Eythorne has a beer festival on the 18-19 Jul, perhaps we can send a few punters in each other's direction.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
ah yes garyc you are right,lets keep clowns out of it.good luck with your apprentice scheme,its nice to know that our mp is backing the scheme.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
What I need out there at this time is a few old boys fitter then myself to help out.
As I said we know what we are trying to do but more help is needed skilled or unskilled.+Funding is also needed and lots of it.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Peter & Brian.
Thanks
Vic,
It is people( volunteers) like yourself, that will keep EKR open in the future, for our apprentices to gain employment and our visitors to enjoy themselves.
New Volunteers are just as important as funding at this stage for the survival of our railway.
The bridge will be a great addition but as you say, you will need help.
I am working on getting you help but in the meantime, I hope you get someone from DF members, to come along and join you or just to help out in general. .

"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Thank you GARY.
I T WAS GOOD THIS MORNING I had the help needed from both the young ones and the volunteers Ron got the 101 over to do the lifting .We are moving forward .
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I would like to see more of the public coming out there and looking round not only at what we doing but the other parts to and spend a few bob in the café and they do good food at a low cost then walk round talking to the volunteers about what they are trying to do bring your dog great wood that has been made out for easy walking.This is the right time of the year to do just that.
When my last year ends as a Cllr more of my time will be given up to help the younger ones out there to map out the way for a good working life which could be ahead for them.