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In a damp woodland glade very close to the village centre where primroses had only recently bloomed and the wild garlic was spreading afoot an orange tip fluttered in a late afternoon sun. The Orange Tip, Anthocharis cardamines, is, like the cuckoo and the primrose, a true herald of the spring. Recently we have seen many more of these bright dancing male butterflies around the meadows and woods of Wye but the female is strangely different.The bright orange spots on the tips of the male’s wings are thought to deter predators by advertising toxicity. However the female is camouflaged and the green pattern, actually made up of black and yellow scales, are intended to ensure that she remains at peace while laying her eggs.

Female Orange Tip Wye May 2012

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The British have good reason for fond memories of railways. From historical facts like the invention of the steam engine and Stephenson’s “Rocket” to Thomas The Tank Engine our childhood has endeared us to trains and tracks. For Wye residents “The Station” is as important as other features such as “The College” and “The Church”. It has served the town well through social change, two world wars and now as an attraction for the recent influx of commuting families. There is, of course a lively debate about the level crossing, seen by some as an essential obstacle to prevent town development that would irrevocably alter the fabric for the worse. Some residents would charge into future growth and development, particularly with the departure of the college and the possibility of the free school. It is worthwhile, therefore reminding ourselves with some images provided by Sheila Rigby and others of the railway heritage.

The railway was opened in 1846 as part of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway as an extension from Ashford to Canterbury.

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I wonder if, like me, as soon as you step into Church Street your eye seeks out the clock? In Godmersham the enthusiastic community decided that now was the right time to build a new village hall, after all Petham had a new village hall and if they could have one  ….? They started collecting funds and the enthusiasm reached fever pitch “only another quarter of a million”, “only another hundred thousand”, “Lets do some preparatory work and knock down the old one, that will save some time and money.” Oh dear, have a look next time you drive to Canterbury.

Let’s hope that will not happen to Wye and the Church Clock. If it does I may even need to buy a wristwatch, a much too frequent reminder of mortality than the old, long-standing Church Clock. (For those of us who like to record these sort of things it is Death Awareness Week.)

Wye and the Digital Switchover

Television History

Television has come a long way since its inception and the first broadcast from the BBC back in 1936. After three short years there was a cessation of broadcast during the war to stop German bombers using the transmitter at Alexandra Palace as a guiding beacon; however transmission resumed in 1946 and by the following year there were 54000 licensed television receivers. By 2010 there were nearly 25,000,000 television licenses held in this country! In 1967 people started watching in colour – the last time a television innovation required mass upgrading of equipment until the present advance into digital and High Definition television. Continue Reading »

Wyeweb has been contacted by Chris Boxall who is a Registered Digital Installer and as such a recommended agent for the switchover – in fact his number is given out if you ring the national switchover helpline, or visit their website. This is a government scheme to prove qualification, insurance, guarantees and background security checks.

Mr. Boxall suggests that we might remind readers of how the digital switchover will affect us in Wye. Wye is currently served by it’s own transmitter that does not transmit Freeview- the terrestrial digital carrier. This means (with one or two exceptions) that currently no one in Wye has Freeview. With the advent of the switchover, the Wye transmitter will begin a limited broadcast of digital – what they are calling the Public Service channels (about 16 or so), and this will therefore deliver digital TV through an aerial for the first time. It also means that anyone in the village without a digital source for all of their TVs will lose channels.

The Wye transmitter in the Meridian TV region is your most likely transmitter. It’s a relay transmitter and it’s part of the Heathfield transmitter group. Your local BBC news service is South East Today and Meridian Tonight for ITV.

Using the Wye transmitter, switching over in two stages on 30 May 2012 and 13 Jun 2012.

Switchover will take place in two stages:-

Stage 1- 30th May 2012 we shall lose BBC2 analogue and you will need to tune into a digital service.

Stage 2 – 13th June 2012 we shall lose all other analogue channels.

Mr Boxall is willing to supply details for the Wyeweb site explaining all of this to anyone who might wish to contact him and to explain what people can do and any alternatives they may have.

This could be a valuable resource for the residents of Wye, many of who currently have no experience of Freeview.

If this is of interest to you, please call Chris Boxall on 07817845388 or email him at chris@thedigitalbox.co.uk for more information.

An online guide to re-tuning appears at http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/how_do_i_switch/connections__and__retuning/retuning_instructions