Sir Roger Gale
Member of Parliament for North Thanet (Margate, Herne Bay & The Villages)
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Sir Roger Gale Plants Parliament Oak
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June 20th 2013
Today Sir Roger Gale MP, accompanied by his wife Suzy, visited the Canterbury and Dover Animal Centre, which lies just inside his Thanet North parliamentary constituency. It was their first visit and they were given a tour of the building and four-acre site by RSPCA Canterbury, Dover and District chairman Michael Staff, together with other trustees, staff and volunteers.
As part of the ongoing development of the Animal Centre a wildlife habitat, pond and nature trail for schools are also being created in the grounds, where Sir Roger planted ‘The Parliament Oak’, which it is hoped will grow to dominate the site for hundreds of years to come.
The Canterbury and Dover Animal Centre is a community endeavor largely run by volunteers and is a work in progress. It now holds up to 80 cats in 40 specially designed units, while a dog section is in mid-construction and a unit for smaller animals has recently received planning permission. Sir Roger and Lady Gale were interested in every aspect of the project and spent two hours discussing its progress.
Sir Roger also presented certificates to Jade Powell and Ryan Asher, two veterinary nurses from Herne Bay, who recently completed a sponsored skydive, parachuting from 12,000 feet to raise more than £500 for the work of the Animal Centre.
Jade and Ryan have both worked for over two years with the Broadway Veterinary Group, which has surgeries in Herne Bay, Sturry and Tankerton and provides care to thousands of pets every year. Jade could not be present, but on their behalf Ryan said, “Nursing animals is our dream career and we support the Canterbury and Dover Animal Centre because they are brilliant at what they do and have a great team.”
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