by Emma Grove

Four years of hard work finally paid off as thousands of people descended on Eastchurch for Sky Sheppey 2009.
The event, to celebrate 100 years of aviation, took place over the weekend at Eastchurch Primary School and the adjoining cricket club ground.
Organisers estimate each day saw more than 2,000 visitors.
It opened with a Sky Sheppey flag being raised by Cllr Kathleen Carter, chairman of Eastchurch Parish Council, and Jim Stringer, chairman of the council’s aviation centenary committee.
There were vintage car shows, performances from members of Big Fish Arts, the Royal Naval Cadets Gun Run and static displays of replica planes, including a Nieuport French Biplane.
Local historian Bill Croydon and Cllr Ken Ingleton gave history talks on the early days of flight.
On Sunday, members of the Royal Naval Association held a memorial service outside All Saints’ Church in the village, before marching to the showground.
A highlight of the weekend was a fly-past of a Lancaster bomber from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which passed over the cricket field three times.
Mr Stringer said: “Sky Sheppey has been a resounding success.
“It was absolutely brilliant and everyone worked their socks off to make it a success.
“The fly-past was very nostalgic – it brought a lump to the throat.
“It was a most successful tribute to those early aviation pioneers.”
The driving force behind much of the event was the original chairman of the committee, Capt John Carter, who died in December.
There is still Sky Sheppey memorabilia for sale, including souvenir programmes and teddy bears. They are still available to buy on 01795 880790.
The committee is still counting money raised at the event, but is hoped it will be a significant total which will be distributed across the community.

For more Sky Sheppey pictures, see this week's Sheerness Times Guardian