More than 200 people, young and old, gathered in bright spring sunshine on Good Friday to take part in the traditional Easter service on top of Sheppey’s own ‘green hill’ at Bunny Bank, Minster.

It was the first time the service had gone ahead for two years because of Covid-19 restrictions.

Lynne Clifton, Major at the Sheerness unit of the Salvation Army, took over the organisation of the event when Father Frank Moran, of the Sheerness Roman Catholic church, had to cancel due to ill health.

The service began after the last of three wooden crosses was carried into position and sunk into a waiting hole. It was drummed in by musician Dave Lambert, 73, who is a member of The Strawbs folk-rock group.

Among those taking part were prison chaplain and former vicar of Eastchurch the Rev Tim Foreman, Anne Taylor from Minster Abbey, Liz Johnstone, Baptist deacon Maggie Mancktelow and Pastor Joe Gregory from the Sheppey Evangelical Church, who is about to retire.

Mrs Clifton, speaking for Churches Together in Sheppey, said: “It was good to be able to meet again like past generations on Sheppey have done.”

Hymns included When I Survey The Wondrous Cross, The Servant King, The Old Rugged Cross and, of course, There Is A Green Hill accompanied by a 17-piece brass band comprising members of the Minster Girls Brigade and the BAE Systems Band from Medway.

On Sunday, nearly 40 members of the Associated Sheppey Bikers, many wearing costumes, formed a cavalcade to deliver Easter eggs to care and nursing homes around the Island.

They called at the Heritage micropub at Halfway, which raises money for the run, Neptune House in Marine Parade, Sheerness, the Little Oyster care home on The Leas at Minster, The Island Care Home at Leysdown and Barton’s Court in Minster.

Organiser Ty Bland said: “We had 37 bikes and two trikes. It was the best attended Easter ride for many years.”

He added: “We’d like to thank all the car drivers for their patience and understanding at junctions so we could keep the cavalcade together.”

The bikers met at Sheerness East Working Men’s Club car park, Halfway, as their usual venue, Layzells in The Broadway, Minster, is being turned into a dentist’s surgery.

Ty said: “We decided to move before we were made homeless. Paula Smith at Sheerness East offered us the car park and laid on a buffet after the ride. She has been really accommodating.”

Bikers also handed out diabetic-friendly gifts for those who could not eat chocolate and collected more than £150 to fund the exercise.