A new illustrated history book about the Isle of Sheppey is being distributed across the Island for free, thanks to Sheerness Town Council and the Queenborough Fishery Trust.

They clubbed together to meet the £2,200 cost of printing 2,000 copies of the 50-page glossy A History of Sheppey In Pictures put together by Sheerness councillor Chris Reed.

Mrs Reed, from Marine Parade, Sheerness, said: "I used the coronavirus lockdown to put it together. I started because many visitors to the Cottage of Curiosities museum in Rose Street, Sheerness, were asking for information about Dead Man's Island. It holds a gruesome fascination for many because of the skulls buried there but it is now off limits to the public.

"As I had been there a couple of times, legitimately, and had taken photographs I began putting it down on paper. But it grew like Topsy. I kept adding bits like Minster Abbey, the Vikings, Queenborough Castle, Shurland Hall, Samuel Pepys, Lord Nelson, the Dutch invasion and the Nore Mutiny."

Mrs Reed, who is also a founder member of Big Fish Arts, added: "Big Fish Arts has created little dramas around many of these topics but because of the pandemic we weren't able to make any public appearances. So this is a covid-friendly version."

She is giving every one on the Island's schools enough copies so their Year 5 pupils can read it. Copies have also been distributed with Oasis Academy food parcels and all the Island's museums and care homes will receive a copy. Sheppey Promenade and the Cottage of Curiosities helped towards the costs.

* If your school or organisation would like free copies, call Mrs Reed on 07775 712306 or email chrisonsheppey@aol.com

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