insideKENT Magazine Issue 53 - August 2016 | Page 14

NEWS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT SISSINGHURST CASTLE From November, Sissinghurst Castle Garden will be opening their South Cottage fully for the first time and they need volunteers to help them bring it to life. The house is pivotal in the story of the families who have lived there and the creators of the garden, Vita Sackville West and Harold Nicolson. NEW MRI SCANNER ARRIVES IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS TO IMPROVE DIAGNOSTICS AND OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS It's within the walls of South Cottage that Vita would care for her sick plants and Harold would write his many books, and is also the house where they both slept. This winter they will tell the story across the whole site of a life at Sissinghurst and how Vita and Harold were inspired to create a world famous garden. Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital has taken delivery of the magnet for its new £2mil head-to-toe MRI scanner. The state-of-the-art, childfriendly machine will improve patient experience and deliver more detailed diagnostic imaging to provide better-informed diagnosis and treatment for people in West Kent and East Sussex. It will also increase diagnostic capability. The role will involve looking after the following areas: the garden gate, south cottage (garden room, sitting room and upstairs), the tower and could involve covering breaks in all those areas. Sissinghurst Castle is still working on the rota but it's likely you will be in more than one place during your day . This role will suit you if you enjoy talking to groups of visitors of all ages, answering questions and adapting your knowledge to their interests. You'll put the visitor at the heart of everything you do and enjoy learning just as much as sharing your knowledge and working with others. Volunteers would need to be available at least once a fortnight over the winter months for a five-hour shift (with breaks). The role will be based inside, but flexibility may be required to assist with delivering a really good visitor experience. The Phillips Ingenia 1 5T MRI Scanner has the highest definition MR Imaging available in the region, to provide the most accurate diagnosis to help decide the most suitable treatment plans for patients. It also offers quicker scanning times, and special lighting, entertainment and breathing/sequence visual countdowns to enable patients to understand the process and reduce the feelings of claustrophobia. The new fixed scanner will increase imaging capability at Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital from three days a week to five days a week, meaning that the number of patients who can be booked to use it could increase from 120 to 160 a week. This increased capacity will complement the facilities available to all patients in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas, with consultants being able to refer NHS patients. It will be available for diagnostic imaging from the beginning of August. For more information and to see behind the scenes, meet the team at Sissinghurst Castle Garden on the 31st August between 9:30 and 11am for an open morning. To book call 01580 710700 or email [email protected] and for more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle. FOOTBALLER JIMMY BULLARD OPENS WORLD’S FIRST INDOOR FOOTBALL THEME PARK AT BLUEWATER This July, footballer and TV sensation Jimmy Bullard, along with Chelsea and England winger, Gemma Davison, opened the world’s first indoor football theme park Football FEST at Bluewater. The opening saw performances from Britain’s Got Talent finalists Boogie Storm, the dancing Storm Troopers. Eager guests were welcomed into Glow at Bluewater to enjoy the world exclusive Foot Darts game, famed for its online video, which has now been viewed over 100 million times worldwide. Visitors competed to strike a football and hit the giant bulls eye, for the chance to win a host of Football FEST prizes. Other attractions include Football Pool, Foot Golf Driving Range, Panna Cages and much more. Football FEST is open from 15th July – 22nd August and there’s a chance for guests to win a host of prizes while taking part in the 15 attractions, including Adidas football boot vouchers and even a high-score prize of £1,000. Five activity tokens cost £15 or ten for £25, book online in advance at www.footsportsuk.co.uk to receive a 25% discount using the code FSUK16BW. 14