29 April 2020: Covid-19 fatality statistics for Dover, UK

Spending more time at home, along with cycling (my Coronavirus lockdown exercise) being a solitary activity, means that I occasionally find I'm living life in a bubble.

I record and watch BBC news broadcasts about the pandemic several times a day but I am oblivious of the increasing numbers of tragedies that are happening right here in my hometown of Dover, England:

The above table is a stark reminder of why social distancing is such an important weapon in the war against this invisible enemy, no matter how familiar the faces and the places that I see every day are.

It is taken from a news article by Kent Online that was published yesterday and updated today (29th of April).

The article begins:

Coronavirus Kent: Death figures across Kent rise significantly with more accurate reporting of non-hospital deaths

New figures reveal a substantial leap in the number of known Covid-19 deaths in Kent - as reporting accuracy increases to include non-hospital settings.

The latest statistics show there were 542 deaths attributed to the virus across the county up to April 17, a number 37% higher than the NHS figure for the same period, which counted only deaths which happened in hospitals.

And then goes on to say:

The ONS (Office for National Statistics) provides data based on all registered deaths where people had Covid-19 mentioned on their death certificate as a listed cause of death.

This information is published later than the NHS England figures for deaths in hospital because it takes longer for the ONS to certify doctors reports, produce death certificates and to publish its figures.

Speaking during the daily government press conference this evening, health secretary Matt Hancock announced that from tomorrow figures for the number of coronavirus deaths in care homes and in the community will also be published daily along with hospital deaths.

As an aside, I conduct private research into obscure areas of Evolution and Psychology and have an  interest in what could be termed a "psychological virus".

It comes into being when an individual hardens the surface fear of their psychological history, and in so doing, create a capacity for psychological violence, of which physical violence is only one component.

It is, in effect, an  unnatural "psychological weapon" that is used to damage and distress others, not least such an individual's own children (until, at the very minimum, permanent psychological control has been established).

Recently, I have noticed an increased incidence of carriers of this "virus" causing unnecessary and potentially violent confrontations in the shops that I visit.

On one occasion, a shop assistant remarked that there had been "a few such incidents in the last week or so".

Today, while shopping at the Dover branch of Morrisons, I heard a voice on the supermarket's "radio" state that abuse of staff would not be tolerated. I have never heard such an announcement before.

This is how the "breakdown of Society" could begin unless the problem is suitably addressed - remember, behaviour born of an inner darkness doesn't like the light of day and the last thing carriers of psychological viruses want is publicity.

Enough of my pet subject. To return to the natural pandemic:

From an earlier blog post (Interactive Map of Kent NHS Trust Coronavirus Deaths, UK):

This photo of Buckland Hospital, a Dover "Front Line", was taken on Sunday, 29th of March, 2020 during a permitted coronavirus lockdown bike ride and also appears on Facebook and Twitter:

The location this photo was taken from is marked "P" on the cycling route map for that day:

Original map and biometrics at this Polar Flow web page.

Abbreviated versions of this post are on Facebook and Twitter.

1968 Video: Repairing the White Cliffs of Dover, Kent, UK

A one minute film clip from a British Pathé newsreel showing three workmen suspended in a cradle as they repair unstable areas of the cliff face below Dover Castle and above East Cliff. Three photographs follow the video:

The event was reported elsewhere in the press. I was a boy soldier in the Army Apprentices College at Harrogate at the time and I recall my astonishment at turning a page of the Daily Telegraph and seeing a photograph of Graham Barker, my brother-in-law (see below) working on the cliff face!

This is another still photograph of Graham at Alamy that is available for personal or commercial use only (you can see it at Strengthening the white cliffs). It has the following caption:

9th September, 1968 - Strengthening the white cliffs.: With a fine view of Dover Harbor in the background, Mr. Dennis Smith, 29, of Dover and Mr. Graham Barker (right), 32, of Sheffield, prying loose chalk and flints from the face of the ''White Cliffs'' (nb it might have been clearer if the text said Graham is above Dennis!)

They are undertaking the first stage in an operation to lessen the constant danger of falls caused by erosion and water see page.

Marples Ridgway and Sir William Halcrow and Partners, consultant engineers, under contract to the Ministry of Public Building and Works, are working on about half a mile of the worst affected section, part of the boundary of Dover Castle.

Sixty-four bolts up to 25ft. long have been set in concrete in the cliff face to secure the surface sections to firm bedrock. Each bolt has been checked at the outward end with a Horstman tension meter, a small cylinder of glass which discloses changes in stress when viewed by polarised light.

No changes have been recorded since the bolts were installed a month ago. (Credit Image: Keystone Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS) 

The first photo is a panorama of the white cliffs below Dover Castle. The workmen were working on the left-hand half of the cliffs above the unseen street of East Cliff:

East Cliff and History

The above photo also appears in a separate post along with close-ups of three points of historical interest. Click on the thumbnail or link to the left.

This next photo shows the street of East Cliff that is obscured in the panorama photo by the Georgian houses of East Cliff (Marine Parade), or more commonly these days, just "Marine Parade":

These are the houses whose back gardens are shown in the British Pathé (alt. British Pathe) film clip.

This street contains the "First and Last" pub: the first public house to be found after landing in England, and the last public house before sailing from it at the nearby Eastern Docks and cross-channel ferry terminal

Excerpt from the Alamy caption:

"...Mr. Graham Barker (right), 32, of Sheffield..."

Graham did indeed originate from Sheffield, Yorkshire, but at the time the film was made he was living with his wife, Rosalie and two children, Jeanette and Graham (Junior) at 81 Clarendon Place, Dover:

Number 81 is the magnolia coloured house on the left with the antique-looking outside light fixture (photo taken 6th of June, 2009)..

Graham was stationed at Dover Castle in the mid-1950s as a National Service soldier in the York and Lancaster regiment ("York and Lancs").

He met and married my eldest step-sister, Rosalie Higgins and moved into the above house around 1963 or 1964.

Rosalie and Graham now live near Maison Dieu Road in the center of Dover.

Graham's best friend in 1968 was a chap called "Buller" who also appears in the video.

The panorama photo and view of the houses of East Cliff were both taken on the 20th of April, 2020 during a permitted Coronavirus (Covid-19) Lockdown bike ride.

A cycling route map and biometrics can be seen on this Polar Flow web page.

Abridged versions of this post are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Real-time Map of Ships and Other Vessels, Port of Dover, UK

This is an interactive AIS (Automatic Identification System) map for Dover harbour with a live update feature that auto-refreshes every 600 seconds (10 minutes).

However, the map can be manually refreshed as often as required by clicking on the circular icon at bottom left:



The types of vessel that the map displays are: Cargo Vessels, Tankers, Passenger Vessels, High Speed Craft, Tugs and Special Craft, Fishing, Pleasure Craft, Navigation Aids, and Unspecified Ships.

A further two icons show if a vessel is Underway or Anchored.

Dover is noted for cross-channel ferries and cruise ships but there are no separate categories for these specific type of ships.

Disappointingly, there isn't a Nuclear-Powered Submarine category either.

Clicking on the "coffee filter" icon below the Search symbol at top left on the map shows which colour-coded symbol goes with which type, or category of vessel.

Screenshot:

Selecting, or deselecting the check-boxes of the "Vessel Filters" feature enables any combination of vessel categories to be displayed (the above screenshot has all categories selected).

AIS is intended, primarily, to allow ships to view marine traffic in their area and to be seen by that traffic.

This requires a dedicated VHF AIS transceiver that allows local traffic to be viewed on an AIS enabled chart plotter or computer monitor while transmitting information about the ship itself to other AIS receivers.

Port authorities or other shore-based facilities may be equipped with receivers only, so that they can view the local traffic without the need to transmit their own location.

All AIS transceivers equipped traffic can be viewed this way very reliably but is limited to the VHF range, about 10 to 20 nautical miles.

Panorama of Dover Harbour from the Western Heights on the 15th of April, 2020:

The White Cliffs of Dover are beyond the Eastern Docks and Eastern Arm pier on the left.

The English Channel is beyond the Southern Breakwater in the center, and the Dover Western Docks Revival project is right of center.

Wellington Dock and Granville Dock of Dover Marina are behind the seafront and DWDR area.

About the Port of Dover

The Port of Dover is Europe’s busiest ferry port, a vital international gateway for the movement of people and trade.

It is also an award-winning cruise port, the second busiest in the UK and hosts some of the world’s most prestigious cruise lines.

Other successful businesses include a cargo terminal, a top award-winning marina and several niche activities. The business mix is diverse.

Also see Port of Dover  on Wikipedia and Dover Harbour at Dover Museum.

The main photo was taken during a permitted Coronavirus (alt. Covid-19) Lockdown bike ride.

A cycling route map and biometrics can be seen on this Polar Flow web page.

Abridged versions of this post are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Morrisons Supermarket, Dover: No Queue, No Covid-19, But...

...I did encounter a psychological virus: the "virus" a human being develops when they harden the surface fear of their psychological history, and in so doing, create a psychological weapon with which to damage or distress others.

The background to this aspect of today's visit to my local branch of Morrisons will be described on a sister blog (Dover: The Psychology of a Small Town) and a link provided here once it has been written.

The supermarket is located on Bridge Street, Dover CT16 1RA, and looks across a car park. Along an adjacent side are branches of Asda, Jollyes, Farm Foods, and Poundstretcher, all part of Castleton Retail Park, Charlton Green.

Consequently, this is an important and popular shopping area and queues have been quite lengthy since the Coronavirus Social Distancing rules and reduced opening times came into effect.

However, as you can see from today's photograph (taken at 10 am) all this has changed - at least as far as Morrisons is concerned, anyway!:

Compare the above view to the 11-second video of a Morrisons queue that I posted on this blog on Thursday, 9th of April:

See Covid19 Queuing at Morrisons (also on Facebook and Twitter)

The reason the queue has disappeared is because of a change in opening hours that was announced in an email sent on Saturday, the 18th of April:

From Monday 20th April our store opening hours are:

Monday to Saturday - 7am - 10pm

Sunday - No change

Supporting our NHS

Thank you to our very hard working NHS workers.

We continue to open our stores exclusively for you to shop between 6am - 7am daily (Sunday 9am - 9.30am*).

These opening times are valid in the majority of stores but some may vary, including Scotland - please click here to find your local stores opening times.  

 Of course, queues are still likely to form at traditionally busy times (Saturday morning, for example) but the shopping experience at Morrisons has definitely improved!

The main photo were taken during a permitted Coronavirus Lockdown bike ride.

A cycling route map and biometrics can be seen on this Polar Flow web page.

Abridged versions of this post are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Dover Grammar School for Boys, Astor Ave, Dover CT17 0DQ

Founded in 1904 as the County School for Boys and Girls, the school was originally mixed-sex but moved into the present building in 1934 from Frith Road, now home of the Dover Grammar School for Girls [1].

Former students of the school are known as Old Pharosians. Current students of "DGSB" are, of course, having their education affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. And the building itself is at risk of redevelopment in the near future (see below).

The school is an iconic local landmark adjacent to the Whinless Down Nature Reserve. This zoomed photo of 1300 yards was taken from the North Military Road (Western Heights):

I was a pupil at the Dover Grammar School for Boys from September 1962 until June 1967.

I belonged to Frith House and was in Forms 1B to 5B. Dickie Bird and Dizzy Denham were my two form masters; Michael Hinton was headmaster.

This is a section from the 1963 school photo. I am at bottom right above the yellow marker:

In a Letter to Parents - School Closure dated the 19th of March, 2020, DGSB said:

Re: Coronavirus update –school closureto most pupils

Following on from my last update, I am now writing to let you know that we have now been instructed to close the school to almost all children until further notice.

Extract fron Proposed DGSB Redevelopment

The Department for Education are working with Kier Construction and Dover Grammar School for Boys to deliver much needed modern teaching facilities fit for the 21st century, to provide a high quality teaching and learning environment for the school and secure it’s long term future at the site.

The project team is currently working on the wider strategy for development to identify the key issues and a preferred broad location for new teaching accommodation at the site.

Extract from Sadness as Dover Grammar School for Boys set for demolition:

There is concern and sadness in Dover as one of the town's iconic schools is set to be knocked down.

Kent County Council’s (KCC) planning committee met yesterday (December 4) and recommended the 1930s Dover Grammar School for Boys building should be demolished.

This decision is subject to Historic England determining the existing school buildings are eligible to be listed.

The location the main photo was taken from is marked as "P2" on the cycling route map and the school as "DGSB":

Original map and biometrics on this Polar Flow web page.

Abbreviated versions of this post are also on Facebook and Twitter

Permitted cycle ride under the UK Coronavirus lockdown rules.

[1] Dover Grammar School for Boys

Matt Hancock Warns Outdoor Exercise Could Be Banned

Sunday, 4th of April, 2020:

BBC News: "Exercise outside the home could be banned if people ignore coronavirus social distancing rules, the health secretary has warned.

Matt Hancock told the BBC's Andrew Marr that the government would "take action" if needed to control the virus.

It comes after reports of groups of people gathering in parks during sunny weather this weekend."

The video will start at the 1.09 minute mark. Should you wish to play the BBC section again you'll have to use the slider to reach this point (in the first section Matt Hancock is being interviewed by Sky News):


Like many other people, I support the NHS and the Government in their struggle to first combat, and then eventually overcome the threat posed by the Coronavirus.

I am concerned, however, that on the question of outdoor exercise, the majority of people who follow the Government's instructions and guidelines without hesitation are at risk of being unnecessarily penalized because of the actions of a minority.

For this reason, I decided to send the following tweet (see it on Twitter) to both Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock:

@BorisJohnson @MattHancock Please, no outright outdoor exercise ban! If it becomes necessary consider other options: No exercise between, say, 9.00 am and 6.00 pm; no exercise at weekends; or a combination of the 2. More at https://bit.ly/covid19dover6 #coronavirusuk #lockdownuk

I don't expect them to reply, or even take any notice, but I felt the need to say something!

The privilege of outdoor exercise is personally important because of a cycle accident I had at the age of 66 in January 2017 in which I fractured the outside of my pelvis and also sent the thigh bone through the inside:

In the above x-ray you can see two metal chains. The smaller one at top left has four pins in it, two of which are foreshortened.

The longer chain stretching across the pelvic region has three pins at bottom right and three pins, somewhat difficult to see in the glare, just above it's center.

Taken from a different angle, this second x-ray shows a third chain with two foreshortened pins that are, in fact, two of those visible in the first x-ray.

Additionally, two long pins have now been revealed at the top of the long chain.

There is only a natural degree of recovery possible from such an injury. By assiduously doing physiotherapy, along with other techniques, I feel I have made as good a recovery as I could.

Consequently, I have no complaints or regrets - but it does make outdoor exercise an important part of my life!

An abbreviated version of this post is also on Facebook.