Talking Tots’ Welcome Mark Reckless MP

The Talking Tots’ group in Strood welcomed MP Mark Reckless to one of its classes on Monday 14th Feb, to raise money for ICAN, a charity that helps children who struggle to communicate.

He took part in their usual programme of activities, as well as participating in various extra songs for the ChatterBox Challenge event, including ‘Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes’ and the ‘Hokey Cokey’.

More than 2,000 Talking Tots pre-schoolers in 150 centres in the UK took part in an extra 10 minutes of action songs and rhymes for I CAN’s 10th Chatterbox Challenge.

Talking Tots, the programme designed to develop children’s speech and language skills is fully supporting the Communication Trusts’ ‘Hello’ campaign with various activities, as they share the vision of giving every child the opportunity to be confident communications.

The Chatterbox Challenge, Talking Tots’ first activity for the year was an ideal charity choice. “Good communication skills are vital for children to enjoy their childhood. They need to be able to communicate confidently in order to socialise and make friends, learn and participate in class when they start school and this vital skill will stay with them for life,” said Lisa Houghton, co-founder of talking Tots. “Raising money for a charity that is dedicated to giving every child the opportunity to be confident communicators is a great fit for us at Talking Tots,” continued Lisa.

Children were sponsored to participate in action songs and rhymes including I CAN’s featured song, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. Children from Talking Tots classes in Gravesend and Strood joined in the charity fundraiser with excitement.

Claire Hitchcock, Talking Tots leader for the North Kent area said, “Our children were fantastic and we were pleased to see our local MP joining in with our songs. They and their parents enjoyed doing their bit for I CAN.”

Talking Tots classes will be raising further funds for ICAN when they attempt to break the world record for performing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. The event will take place in St George’s Church Hall in Gravesend on Tuesday 1st March. You can find out more about Talking Tots by visiting http://www.talkingtots.info/.

For more information please call Claire Hitchcock on 07754 866592

Talking Tots’ Welcome Mark Reckless MP

Rochester and Strood Conservatives Welcome Georgian Ambassador

Rochester and Strood Conservatives were delighted to welcome the Georgian Ambassador, His Excellency Giorgi Badridze (second from left in photo), on Saturday.

The open air dinner, kindly hosted (under a range of gazebos and umbrellas!) by Jim and Merita Jones at their home in High Halstow, marked the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Georgia last year.

At the time Gordon Brown did nothing while David Milliband merely expressed concern and called on both sides to withdraw forces, a rather puzzling response to Russia having invaded Georgia.

In contrast, David Cameron immediately flew to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi to offer support to the beleaguered democratically elected government. The ambassador identified this as the key moment which pushed the British and European governments to give diplomatic support to Georgia and negotiate a Russian ceasefire short of Tbilisi.

I was honoured to introduce the ambassador and assure him that a democratic Georgia would always have a staunch friend in Britain under a Conservative government.

Rochester and Strood Conservatives Welcome Georgian Ambassador

Forthcoming Events

Just a quick note to tell you about a couple of events we have coming up in the near future that are open to all, members and non-members alike.

For more info and details on all the forthcoming events we are running here in Rochester and Strood along with a general guide to the multitude of local concerts and festivals taking place in Medway, make sure you visit my events page - Click Here

On Thursday 16th July we are hosting the latest in our series of Political Discussion Groups at Strood Conservative Club, and we will be welcoming Roger Gale MP, former pirate radio DJ and now Conservative member of Parliament for North Thanet, as our guest speaker. These events always sell out and as I write there are only a handful of tickets left. Priced at a recession-busting £5 per person which includes a light buffet, you'll need to get in quick if you would like to join us for what is sure to be a very lively evening of political debate.

And on Saturday 18th July, we take to the high seas for our midsummer cruise along the Medway on the Kingswear Castle paddle steamer. Young and old are welcome to join us as we take an evening cruise along the river towards Wouldham, starting from Thunderbolt Pier in the historic Chatham dockyard. Light refreshments and freshly made sandwiches will be available, but for the more seasoned sailors amongst you there is a fully licensed bar on board. Tickets are priced at a very reasonable £13 per person, and children under 16 are half price (pirate clothing optional!)

Remember, by attending events like these you are not only helping the efforts of your local Conservative party, you are also helping to bring about the change this country really needs. Fighting an election against this incompetent Labour government doesn't come cheap so any help you can give us is very much appreciated.

Booking Info and More Events - Click Here

Get Change For A Fiver - Donate Now

Forthcoming Events

Get Change For A Fiver

Today we are officially launching Mark's 'Change for a Fiver' initiative where we are asking you, the members of the public, to help bring Change to Medway and Britain by making a small donation to our campaign fund.

At a time when the Labour government is more interested in fighting amongst themselves for their own survival rather than doing what is right for the majority of the people in this country, it is now more important than ever that we have a General Election and we are asking for your help in fighting the Labour spin machine.

Because we understand how tough it is for everyone in the current economic climate all we are asking is that you make a small £5 donation that will help us to make sure the people of Rochester and Strood deliver a clear message to Labour that it is time for Change at the next General Election, which could come sooner rather than later.

If elected Mark Reckless is determined to find savings and give taxpayers better value for money, which will ultimately mean lower taxes, smaller government, more efficient public services and less state intrusion into your personal lives. As a long-time resident of Rochester and Strood Mark understands only too well how badly the people of Medway have been let down by this current government and is determined to fight hard for a better deal for Medway residents.

Fighting an election campaign doesn't come cheaply. Unlike the current Labour MPs we have here in Medway who managed to spend over £30,000 of taxpayers' money on propaganda in the 2007/08 period alone, Mark Reckless doesn't have a publicly funded communications allowance to tell you what a wonderful job he's doing. All of our leaflets, our posters, our postage costs (and even this website) are met from our own campaign funds - and quite rightly too, the public should not have to pay for political propaganda through their taxes.

So this is why we are asking you to make a donation to help Mark Reckless win a better, and fairer, deal for Medway. Just a small donation of £5 today will help make sure your local Conservative candidate can fight the publicly funded Labour spin machine. Or better still why not get involved in bringing Change to Medway and to Great Britain by joining Mark Reckless and the Conservative Party.

It's your choice, but ask yourself this: Can You Afford Another Five Years Of Labour?

To make a donation - Click Here

To join the Conservatives - Click Here

Get Change For A Fiver

Forthcoming Events

Just a quick note to tell you about some exciting events we have coming up in the next couple of months that are open to all, members and non-members alike. For more info and booking details on all the forthcoming fundraising events we are running here in Medway along with a general guide to the multitude of local festivals taking place in Rochester and Strood over the summer, make sure you visit my Events page - Click Here

On April 30th we are hosting the first in a new series of political discussion groups with the first theme being 'The EU: A Conservative Perspective'. Our guest speaker for the evening will be former Gravesham MP Jacques Arnold and tickets are priced at a very reasonable £5 per person which includes a light buffet. The venue is Strood Conservative Club, 40 Cuxton Road. Given the forthcoming European elections we are expecting interest to be high for this one, so don't delay in booking as spaces are limited.

And on 11th May I am hosting a special evening at the Shozna Indian restaurant in Maidstone Road, Rochester. This restaurant is a real favourite of mine and has been serving up award-winning food for many years. Tickets for this event are priced at a very reasonable £20 per person and reservations must be made by 7 May due to expected high demand. You can find out more about the Shozna restaurants by visiting their websites - Click Here

And finally, on 21st May we will be holding the second in our new series of political discussion groups, again being hosted at the Strood Conservative Club. Our guest leader for this evening's debate will be Adam Holloway, the current MP for Gravesham. Tickets are again priced at a recession-busting £5 and all are welcome, but make sure you book early to avoid disappointment.

Remember, by attending events like these you are not only helping the efforts of your local Conservative party, you are also helping to bring about the change this country really needs. Fighting an election against this incompetent Labour government doesn't come cheap so any help you can give us is very much appreciated.

Booking Info and More Events - Click Here

Forthcoming Events