Action September Group 2010

www.gofolkestone.org.uk 1 Welcome to Wards Whether it‟s “a la carte” or the Sunday Carvery in our res- taurant; snacks and drinks in the bar; or a full blown family event in our function suite; Wards Hotel offers the flexible venue that caters for all your needs.

Our function suite is also ideal for corporate customers looking for a medium sized venue for marketing exhibitions, confer- ences, training events or team building events with accommodation on-site if needed.

Contact our reception team on 01303 245166 or res- [email protected] for further information or to dis- cuss the hospitality package we can put together for you.

Wards Hotel, 39 Earls Avenue, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2HB

GO FOLKESTONE

Requires help in the following positions: Magazine designer / editor Treasurer (volunteer) These tasks are not too demanding, but are necessary for the continuance and smooth running of the Go Folkestone group.

If you can help please contact Ann on 01303 278644 Or e-mail: [email protected]

2 Contents Editorial

2 Folkestone’s Vineyard and Winery

4 Step Short and Canada Day

5 Conversion of pubs to houses 6 A new glory for Folkestone

7 Just another statistic? Welcome to the September edition of Go Folkestone’s quarterly magazine. Lots of 8 Sidney Cooper Weston Fountain good news in this issue - the re-opening of

10 The Grumbler the Leas lift, the progress being made with

11 Chimaera Gallery the Step Short project, an update on the

12 Digging starts at Roman Villa Seafront consultation - and the restoration of one of Folkestone’s 13 Step Short 2nd March landmarks - the Bathurst Pillar, shown 14 Step Short on the front cover. Please keep your stories 16 An exchange of views and articles coming in - send to the 19 Model Railway Diamond Jubilee address below. In the June issue the article headed All 20 Something new in the Old High Street Rivers Flow ...to Lake Maiuko which was

21 A Folkestone Romance a review by Adelina Pereira, previously

22 Youth Festival of appeared in the Folkestone Creative Remembrance magazine. 24 Seafront Consultation Ann Berry 26 Leas Lift re-opens Chair, Go Folkestone 35 Birkdale Drive Folkestone Editorial Committee Editorial Committee: Philip Carter, Ann Kent CT19 5LP Berry, Nick Spurrier, Richard Wallace, Email: [email protected] and Allison Esson 3

Folkestone‟s Vineyard and Winery

How many people know Folkestone has a Vineyard and Winery within its borders? Penny and Steve Riley planted Terlingham Vineyard in 2006. The vineyard nestles in the beautiful North Downs above the Channel Tunnel; the south facing slopes look out over Folkestone and the English Channel with views of the Cinque Ports and France.

The site is ideal for the three classic champagne grape varieties, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. These, together with Seyval Blanc, are used to make the sparkling wines. Bacchus, Schonberger and Madeleine Angevine are used for the white wines and Rondo, Regent and Dornfelder for the rose and red wines.

Terlingham Vineyard is the smallest vineyard in the UK with its own winery.

The chalky soil, the warm south facing slopes and the gentle sea breezes are all part of the terroir. All aspects of the wine-making process are carried out at Terlingham in a traditional way, including hand riddling the sparkling wines in pupitres and disgorged by hand. The winery cellar is underground enabling a stable temperature to be maintained throughout the year.

THE WINES - Terlingham produces several sparkling wines by the traditional method. All are aged sur lie for a minimum of nine months, but most are aged for two – three years.

The still white and rose wines are available by Easter after each harvest which takes place in October.

The red wines are aged in the bottle for a minimum of twelve months. 4 Local place names have been chosen for the names of the wines; White Cliffs; Saxon Shore; Samphire Hoe; Caesar's Camp; Pilgrim‟s Way; Battle of Britain (yet to be launched).

THE WHITE HORSE - The emblem of Kent is a white horse. Charles Newington created the white horse above the Channel Tunnel terminal near Folkestone to mark the new millennium. He has kindly allowed the design to be used as the Terlingham Vineyard logo. Terlingham Vineyard is now also known as the White Horse Vineyard as it is situated just above the White Horse.

HISTORY OF TERLINGHAM - The Manor of Terlingham, in medieval days referred to as a limb of Folkestone, stands sentinel-like on its superior site. Ownership of Terlingham Manor can be traced back to the 13th century, to Matilda de Averenches and later to Richard de Rokesle. Mentioned in the Domesday Survey Terlingham Manor was chosen by the Romans and later by the Saxons and may even predate both of these. It is claimed that the Romans introduced the vineyard to Kent.

TOURS – and wine tasting can be arranged during the Summer months between 2 – 4 pm, a reasonable number of people need to go on a specific day and a charge of £5 per head is charged, this will be refunded if wine is purchased. Penny and Steve Riley are very busy people so they can not cater for numbers of two or three people alone.

Bob and I attended the Vineyard and Winery during English Wine Week 29 May – 6 June 2010, this being an annual promotional week opened to the public every afternoon. It was an intriguing place and a beautiful setting. Penny explained about the winery while Steve took us around the vineyard explaining the names of the grape varieties in each of the rows, and what wines they were used for and why the chalky soil and position above Folkestone is an ideal place for growing grapes for wines.

DIRECTIONS - From FOLKESTONE – Follow A260 Canterbury Road from Blackbull Road towards Hawkinge. Turn left into Crete Road West, first right into Gibraltar Lane, first right again into Terlingham Lane. From HAWKINGE – At the end of Aerodrome Road just after the road takes a 90 degree swing to the right in the direction of Paddlesworth, turn left into Elvington Lane, first left into Gibraltar Lane and first left into Terlingham Lane. From M20 – Take the A260 Canterbury exit but turn towards Folkestone when you come off. Turn right at the brow of the hill into Crete Road West, first right into Gibraltar Lane, first right again into Terlingham Lane.

CONTACTS - Steve & Penny Riley, Terlingham Manor Farm, Terlingham Lane, Gibraltar Lane, Hawkinge, Folkestone, Kent. CT18 7AE. www.terlinghamvineyard.co.uk Mobile:0777 160 1736

The above is written with kind permission of Penny & Steve Riley Vera Neaves 5

Step Short and Canada Day

During the Great War, soldiers from every corner of the globe came to Folkestone, before their journeys to trenches of the Western Front. There were Belgians, Australians, Americans, as well as British. But it was the Canadi- ans who came in the greatest numbers and who earned a special place in the affection of the townsfolk. Over 50,000 Canadian soldiers would have called Folkestone „home‟ at some time during the war.

Some of those Canadians died from injuries or illness. Those who did were buried with full military honours in Shorncliffe Military Cemetery. In 1917 Canadian Flower Day was established, and local school children were invited to lay flowers on the graves of the soldiers. By the end of the war over 300 Canadian soldiers had been buried at Shorncliffe. Apart from 1939 -1945, this ceremony has taken place every year since and is now held on Canada Day. Chil- dren from Shepway schools attend, with one child chosen for each grave. After a service of remembrance attended by local religious, civic and military leaders, as well as representatives from the Canadian armed forces and Veterans, each child lays a posy of flowers at the base of the headstone.

It was my privilege, together with Ann and Pam to go to a number of local schools this year to tell children about the Great War and the Canadians. The children were invited to think about why so many men volunteered for service, when they would face such danger. We then asked for a volunteer from amongst the children and several hands shot up. They were told that they would be asked to do something dirty and dangerous, to go away from home and that their mothers would be angry and upset if they did so. Some hands went down at this point, but many more were raised! The chosen volunteer came forward and was put in uniform, a real leather Sam Browne belt from the Great War.

We then asked the girls to imagine that the boys were their husbands or boyfriends and how they would feel if they went away to war. The boys were asked if they would still volunteer if the girls did not want them to do so. This was a revealing exercise! We asked them what sort of things they might give to each other as mementoes when they parted and showed the children real keepsakes from the war. They were shown a film about a lad who lied about his age to join the army and was killed in action, aged just 16. Finally, each child was then given a sprig of Rosemary, and told of the plans to replant it down the Road of Remembrance.

We enjoyed meeting many of the children again at the cemetery on Canada Day and answering questions about „their‟ soldier. Damian Collins MP, our chairman, also attended and laid a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice on behalf of Step Short.

Michael George

6 The Conversion of Pubs into Houses

This is, in some respects, a misleading title for what will be a series of articles as I explore the reasons for declining numbers of pubs, as well as looking at, and explaining, some of the procedures for converting a pub into some other use, not just into a house.

Like many people I am generally saddened to see a pub closing permanently; often a piece of social history is lost and part of the community dies with it. You only have to read „More Tales from the Tap Room‟ by Eamonn Rooney to see how many pubs we have lost in Folkestone alone. Against this, however, we have the Samuel Peto in Rendezvous Street, a Baptist church converted by Wetherspoons some 10 years ago. If they had not saved this historic building, it could well have decayed to the extent that it would have had to be demolished by now. This leads to my first point about how changing drinking habits have affected the licensed trade.

When I grew up, reaching the legal age of buying a drink in a pub in the late 1960‟s, the only places to buy alcohol were pubs, restaurants, or off-licences – and the latter only opened at the same times as pubs. The choice of beer was limited and there were no cut-price deals - how things have changed. There is now virtually 24 hour drinking, supermarkets sell beer cheaper that pub licensees can buy it from their suppliers and supermarkets also do meal deals for £10 for two people including a bottle of wine. Is it any wonder that sales of alcohol in pubs are declining and that many pubs are closing?

To some extent, the brewers are to blame; they improved the taste of their canned beers and devised „widgets‟ that made the beer seem more like a freshly pulled pint in the pub. This meant that by increasing sales of such beers, they still made their profits but there was less incentive for customers to go to pubs. In some instances brewers also increased their profits by skimping on maintenance of their properties. All well and good, but long term, neglecting routine maintenance ends up with major expenditure – and who wants to go to a scruffy pub?

Some progress and change was made following the Monopolies Commission Report in the late 1980‟s but nothing really improved until the likes of Wetherspoons came along and shook up the cosy arrangements enjoyed by the brewers; some would use the word cartel. Numerous properties were too small to take more customers, meaning that the licensees could not make a reasonable living. Many licensees failed to move with the times; often failing to go down the catering route although sometimes properties were unsuitable for updating. Being a licensee is one of the hardest jobs going - the hours are long – with much of the work going on behind the scenes – and it is seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. They often put in 90-100 hours a week and not many of us are prepared to do that.

No-one likes to see a pub close (unless it is badly run and a source of constant trouble), especially where it is a community asset but equally we all tend to buy our alcohol in supermarkets and drink more at home. I have come across many petitions against a pub being sold off for housing where the licensee said to me „If only everyone who signed the petition used my pub once a week, I wouldn‟t be forced to close.‟ To some extent, therefore, we are all to blame. The expression „Use it or lose it‟ was never more apt.

I realise that I have only scratched the surface when it comes to looking at why on-licensed (pub) trade is declining. The reasons are myriad but for the purposes of this article, and for the size of this magazine, I can only give a superficial explanation. In my next article, I shall explain the planning laws relating to the conversion of pubs to other uses.

David Germany David is a former Chartered Surveyor with 30 years’ experience of valuing pubs. He has also attended several Planning Inquiries as an Expert Witness. 7 A New Glory for Folkestone

In July Go Folkestone finally renovated a very early and ornate electricity supply pillar in Bathurst Road in Folkestone, outside numbers 12-14. GF had previously got it listed by English Heritage in 2007 as an interesting example of elaborate early industrial design which was in real and imminent danger of being cleared away by Kent Highways. It is the smallest listed edifice in Kent.

At that time EDF, the official owners, gave Go Folkestone written permission to repaint and repair the pillar in due course. It had been stripped of all equipment and replaced circa 2004, not very long ago considering it dated back to 1904 and the first electricity line dug away from The Leas! It was a long business getting the near £1000 necessary to repair, repaint and ultimately gild the pillar despite EDF‟s financial help. £350 was collected from GF members and neighbours of the pillar, £200 from boot fairs, with thanks to Mary Bridger for her saleswomanship, and the New Folkestone Society made a fraternal contribution.

A magnificent job to what is now a new land- mark has been done by Ashley Engineering of Folkestone. John Dunning, the proprietor, said „It was a good piece of craftsmanship to do. The detail on the Pillar came up beauti- fully when stripped and it was almost a shame to paint it, but it would have rusted‟. A contributor and neighbour Mrs Helen Booth said „The renovations have made a great difference to the monument and my neighbours and I are very pleased with your efforts.‟

A second, unlisted and last early electricity service pillar has been found in Earls Avenue, clearly originally serving the old Manor House, and may well form another project. EDF have been contacted, and everything should be easier because of the success of Bathurst Road, but more financial contributions are always needed if all the detail is to be gilded etc. Is anyone out there interested in sponsoring the rest of the renovation? This may be a little cheaper. After all the door had actually been blown off the original rusty Bathurst Pillar by faulty electrics and put in a Shepway store!

R.Wallace .

Just another statistic? As the rest of the country emerges from the recession, the recovery comes too late to save HarbourMart, the Community Interest Company created to run the farmers market in the harbour, but it wasn‟t the recession that dealt the fatal blow.

In 2006, in response to a request from Roger De Haan, a small group of people from Go Folkestone and the Creative Foundation, lead by Go Folkestone founder and president Phil Carter gathered in the Harbourmaster‟s Office to flesh-out plans to increase the footfall in the Old Town by the creation of a Farmers, Fishermans and Artists market. The market, it was hoped, would bring some life back into the area to support the local businesses that were in sharp decline at the time. Within months traders were queuing up to get in. Strict control of what could or could not be sold ensured that the market maintained the high standard that attracted both day trippers and locals alike, gradually building both the market‟s reputation and a band of regular customers.

As a CIC, HarbourMart had to demonstrate that it was putting its profits back into the Community; it did this, amongst others, (please see list at end of this article) by funding the reopening of the tourist information office in Tram Road and running a service manned by volunteers. No sooner had it done this than the district council removed the “small business” status of the market and demanded that it paid the full rates on the Ark Site. It did the same for the “Hub”, the new name for the old tourist information office.

The company appealed against this decision in November 2007 but, in spite of a number of reminders, the District Council failed to give any reply for nearly 18 months. When they finally did so, it was to tell the company that, not only were they not going to give any small business relief to the farmers market, but they were also going to impose a full levy on the Hub itself. That notification was shortly followed by a demand for almost 3 years rates for both sites all at once, a total of over £9,000 in all. In spite of keeping the company on tenterhooks for such a long time, the council expected the company to pay this bill straight away, although they did eventually agree a payment plan.

In the meantime, the success of the market faltered, partially due to the growing recession but also due to the ongoing struggle to survive in an increasingly hostile environment as we reported in a previous edition. It was probably inevitable and possibly understandable that as the recession began to bite some traders located in the area of the market, including the Creative Quarter, felt that it presented competition that they could well do without. This was a shame and rather short sighted because it is well known that markets often bring in outsiders who might well visit other shops and become regular customers, something that the traders eventually accepted. However it was too late to save the market as stall holders, sensing that they were not as welcome as they had been, started to drop away. And those running the company began to lose heart.

In an accelerating, spiralling decline that became a vicious circle, the inevitable declining standards, led to further declines in footfall which led to a further decline in standards and so on, with the eventual result being some local businesses relying on footfall actually ceased trading. Effectively they failed; it could be said, through their own short sightedness!

The District Council finally admitted that the information centre (HUB) was not a business and gave it full relief from rates. Those of a certain age will remember that, in the old days, children were given medicine or tablets hidden under a spoonful of sugar or honey (remember the song from Mary Poppins?). continued... 9 Well the bitter pill that Shepway slipped to the company under this particular spoonful of sugar was that even though they were going to give rate relief in the future; even though they admitted that they shouldn‟t have imposed the rate bill in 2007; and even though they, themselves, precipi- tated the crisis by taking 18 months to make up their minds, they would not cancel the bill retro- spectively or offer help and the company, under threat of court action, still had to find the full amount of the bill.

Fat-cat businessmen living a life of luxury paid for by the market? No just a group of local citizens, working for nothing to bring the Old Town area of the town back to life for the benefit of everyone else. The CIC withdrew their personal savings and paid the bill from their own pockets to avoid a criminal conviction. Not surprisingly, the company has now completely ceased trading and been dissolved. Just another statistic or should something change? Decide for yourself…. A dismayed and saddened volunteer. Philip Carter

Company Achievements The creation of the largest farmers market in the county which traded successfully until its closure • The company gave hundreds of stall holders to opportunity to make a living in the town for four years • Provided paid employment to more than a dozen local young people • £200 grant to St Peters School • Facilitated and provided refreshments to meetings designed to help resurrect the Old Town Traders Association • Provided a free stall to support the work of the Leas Cliff carriage restoration project equating to a donation in kind of just over a £1000 • Supported the local multicultural festival in cash and kind • Donated promotional items and prizes for the Folkestone Harbour Festival to the amount of £160.90 • Raised funding of £2,603.00 to provide stalls for the local artists co-operative so that local artists could sell their work in

Harbour Ward Residents Association

The wonderful Victorian Sidney Cooper Weston Fountain was erected by public subscription in 1897. Sidney Cooper Weston, a gentleman of Folkestone, was a Christian philanthropist and a gospel temperance advocate.

The fountain which originally stood at Albion Villas was used as a public drinking fountain from its erection until it was moved to its present home at Wear Bay Road. The fountain was moved circa 1920 when the War Memorial to the dead of the First World War was erected at the top of the Road of Remembrance.

10 Many residents and visitors to Folkestone have been unaware that the fountain existed as it was almost hidden by a six foot hedge running around the gardens in which it stands. The elaborate edifice was restored by Folkestone History Society in 1981 but following that renovation, had gradually deteriorated over a period of 25 years.

Harbour Ward Residents Association which was founded in 1994 by the late Jim Bridges M.B.E who was also the original chairman of the association, a role passed on to Paul Emden in 2002/3 when Jim‟s health deteriorated. Each year the association sets out to undertake projects that will make improvements to Harbour ward and over the past few years has raised enough funding to install 14 new benches around the area as well as improvements to The Durlocks Bank and numerous other projects and clean up days. You will always find your local councillors and police represented at the meetings which act as an important forum for local issues many of which have been successfully resolved by H.W.R.A.

In 2005 after many comments by local residents and visitors on the poor state and condition of the Weston fountain and gardens we decided to undertake a restoration programme and raised around £4000 to enable the work to proceed. Many of the members willingly lent a helping hand particularly in re-digging and planting out the flower beds with shrubs. The fountain was scaffolded and repainted in 2006 and an official opening ceremony was con- ducted by Mayor Janet Andrews. Unfortunately many of the shrubs which had been planted out by the association were stolen and the fountain was totally vandalised in 2009 including the filters which in turn damaged the pump.

Earlier this year thanks to a grant from Cllr Roland Tolputt the association were able to engage Andy Gilette plumbers who renewed the pump, filters, pipe work and tanks and we are pleased to say that the fountain now works as well as the day it first ran. Some of the members of H.W.R.A have once again rolled up their sleeves and have repainted the fountain saving thousands of pounds in labour.

At the July meeting it was decided by the members to look to improve The Stade area with some hanging baskets and floral displays in 2011 which is triennial year and should attract many visitors to the area.

H.W.R.A are also looking at local issues such as local traffic, parking, cleanliness, unsocial behaviour, rats on the railway at Tram Rd and giving our full support to Go Folkestone in keeping The Hub information centre at Tram Rd open which is one of the only community

Meeting points in the ward as well as an important information point for tourists who always seem to naturally end up around our harbour and are looking for information. We are also kept well informed of future seafront developments as our chairman attends the quarterly Harbour Users meeting. These meetings are invaluable as they give a voice of the views of many local residents of harbour ward.

The association and its members want our residents to feel proud of the area that they live in and we hope to see them at our meetings which are held every quarter with the next meeting being held at The Hub, Tram Road Car Park, on Tuesday 5th October 2010.

All enquires please call Paul Emden: 07928 928 300 Peter Bill : 07742 713 258 Paul Emden

THE HUB (Folkestone Visitor‟s Centre) or “The Grumbler”

Over the past three to four months Go Folke- stone have taken on the organisation of the old visitor‟s centre in the car park by Folkestone Harbour in Harbour Street.

The centre has been manned by volunteers for a few hours on a regular daily basis, and to date there have only been an odd day here and there that nobody was available. The Hub, as it is known, usually opens at 10 am and closes between 12 noon and 2pm, depending on the amount of visitors.

We would like to thank everybody who has given there time to play grace as a volunteer or to use the new name a greeter.

Most volunteers say it has been an interesting pursuit, and have enjoyed talking to the visitors and holiday makers; it has also given them an insight into how much more must be done in Folkestone to encourage more people to come to the town. Most visitors are very friendly and polite, but every so often we get the grumbler; at this time the volunteers take their stand very politely, by just listening and if possible directing them to the right place to complain. The following is a prime example:

Visitor: - I‟ve got a complaint about the little railway.

Volunteer: - Oh! What‟s that then?

Visitor: - There‟s no decent scenery on the train journey.

Volunteer: - What do you mean?

Visitor: - It‟s only fields.

Volunteer: - Is that so?

Visitor: - Yes!! And some peoples back gardens are a disgrace.

Volunteer: - Why?

Visitor: - Because they don‟t look after them and leave loads of rubbish around.

Volunteer: - So what do you want me to do about it?

Visitor: - I think you should tell the people in charge.

Volunteer: - Sorry to say I‟m only a volunteer, so cannot contact the company. Maybe you would wish to contact the Romney Marsh, Dymchurch and Hythe Railway Company yourself.

Vera Neaves

New Beginnings for Chimaera Gallery

Chimaera Gallery, a contemporary art gallery located in the heart of Folkestone‟s Creative Quarter has two reasons to celebrate this September – the third anniversary of the gallery and a new partner!

Philip Lee has recently relocated to the Shepway area, having lived in many different locations. Born in Woolwich, London Philip Lee has lived and worked in England, Wales, Italy and Germany, in a wide range of professions, as well as having periods of working as a Professional Artist. He has also had stints working as a Designer in Plastics, Garden Designer, 15th Century Painting Restorer, Assistant Manager of a Shipping Office, Container Controller for Europe, Teacher of Art, Horticulture Maths and English in State and Special Needs schools. He is currently working as a Professional Artist.

The gallery also celebrates its third birthday in the middle of September. Representing a number of local artists, Chimaera aims to promote affordable art and exhibitions include a range of ceramics, textiles and handmade jewellery – all of which are for sale.

Despite the recession, business is going well and the gallery has many repeat visitors and a number of art collectors. There will be a third birthday party mid September to celebrate the continuing success of the gallery and to thank everyone who has supported it. Company Director Maiuko said: “We are delighted to welcome Philip Lee on board – we have a strong team at the gallery which includes our Resident Artist, Phil G, and a number of dedicated helpers. We represent some extremely talented local artists and are looking forward to the coming year during which we will be part of the second Folkestone Triennial.”

For more details including opening times, please see www.chimaeragallery.co.uk where you can join the mailing list to be kept up to date with future events. You can also follow Chimaera Gallery on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ ChimaeraGallery.

Allison Esson

13 Digging starts at Roman Villa

After several years of hard work to find funding, the dig at the Roman Villa on East Cliff finally got underway on August 2nd under the direction of the Canterbury Archeological Trust. The project, organised by the Folkestone People‟s History Centre and Canterbury Christchurch University and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Roger de Haan Charitable Trust, Folkestone Town council and Kent Archaeological Trust, will also include investigations at the Bayle and Castle Hill.

Among many associated events there will be a series of walks and talks, (listed below) and taster sessions which will give the public a chance to see objects uncovered at the villa site. In addition, at the beginning of the new school year, local schools will be visiting the Roman villa site and a special project starting in September will include an on-site activity day, classroom video conferencing with an expert and creative classroom work. Finally, from September 24th – 26th, there will be a conference, organised by Canterbury Christchurch University and the Council for British Archaeology, concentrating on public and community archaeology and featuring, in addition to a number of lectures, workshops, stalls and guided visits to the villa site. Though digging will finish this year at the end of September, it will resume in July 2011 for a further three months. Volunteers are being involved at all levels and help is needed in all areas whether digging on the villa site, showing visitors round, washing finds, or working on a computer to record the investigations. If you would like to take part please get in touch.

E-Mail: [email protected]. Tel: 01303-850614

For details of the conference please contact above or [email protected]

Walks and Talks

September 2, 7pm , University Centre Folkestone. Talk – Castle Hill: An Historical Per- spective, by Ian Coulson, KCC History Advisor and local historian

September 4, 11am – 12.30pm & September 7, 6.30 – 8.00 pm. Walks - Holywell Coombe to Castle Hill, with Andy Linklater. Meet at Crete Road, above Holywell coombe. This route is NOT suitable for wheelchairs or buggies

September 16, 7 pm, University Centre Folkestone. Talk – Folkestone Roman villa and East Wear Bay, by Keith Parfitt, Field Officer, Canterbury Archaeological Trust and Director of the Roman villa excavations will review the results of the 2010 season excavation and outline proposals for the 2011 season

September 18, 11 am – 12 noon & September 21, 6.30pm – 7.30pm. Walks – Folly Road to East Wear Bay (Roman villa site), with Andrew Richardson. Meet at the top of the Tram Road, near the level crossing. This route is wheelchair and buggy friendly

Nick Spurrier

Step Short 2nd Commemorative march

The 1st of August saw the second commemorative parade down the Road of Remembrance to the harbour, following in the footsteps of around ten million troops who had marched on their way to the western front during the First World War, answering Lord Kitchener‟s call “Your Country Needs You”. The event, attended this year by an estimated 1000 people, was one of a series that will lead up to the100th anniversary of the start of the First World War in 2014. Many local groups were invited to attend along with our Veterans, including Cinque Ports Mayors, Councillors and representatives from Folkestone‟s twin town of Etaples.

On arrival at the top of the road of remembrance, the command “Step Short” was given and Folkestone pipes and drums and the Army cadets drum corps continued to play as we marched on to the harbour area. Once everyone was gathered, our Chairman, Damian Collins MP, thanked those who had supported us and taken part. After speaking about the cost of war in terms of human suffering, he gave an insight into the very exciting Step Short project, which is planning an enhancement of the Road of Remembrance in time for the 100th Anniver- sary of the start of the war, four very short years away. We had a moment of silence as a hundred red, white and, blue balloons were released and slowly disappeared from our view while a lone piper played Dark Island. Damian Collins then laid a wreath from the rescue boat, courtesy of Captain John Reynolds. The march represented the land, the wreath the sea and the balloons the air, together they embraced all those who had fought in the war. As all this was happening, the Cantium Brass Band played appropriate music of the time.

For those who would otherwise have found it difficult to walk back up the road a mini bus was laid in by St. Augustine‟s. Complimentary tea and coffee was laid on for all those taking part in the march at the Grand Burstin, followed by a marvellous lunch in the Channel suite

If you would like to take part in next year‟s Commemora- tive march, please contact: Ann by email [email protected] for more information visit www.gofolkestone.org.uk

See also next page

Step Short

In 2008 a group was set up to look at a number of issues related to the history of Folkestone and the relationship to the Great War in particular. The group is called „Step Short‟, after the order given to troops when marching down a steep hill which in Folkestone‟s case is the Road of Remembrance (formerly „ The Slope), running from the Lees down to the harbour.

Step Short originated from „Go Folkestone‟ and has a number of working groups and commit- tees working towards the 2014 anniversary. Last October Step Short organised the first memorial march down the Road of Remembrance and has done this again on the 1st August this year, each event building on the success of the one before.

The Step Short Group is working with Kent County Council, Shepway Council and the Roger De Hann Charitable Trust to focus on a number of real and potential projects. These projects are:

The Road of Remembrance and War Memorial The WW2 Bunker The Visitor Centre and Trenches Lower slope restoration The Mole Café and Visitor Books The Heritage Trails Events Management Schools and Community Programmes Historical Research. The aim is to have a number of these projects completed before or for the August 2014 100th Anniversary.

To expand on this list in detail would take up too much space so here is a short summary of the main projects.

The Harbour Canteen and Visitor‟s Books

The Folkestone Harbour Railway station still has the original canteen (Mole Café) in place that was used by thousands of troops before they embarked for France. It is hoped to restore the canteen as a part of the development plans recently submitted by Sir Terry Farrell as a part of the harbour development.

It was here in WW1 that as many as 42,000 troops signed the visitor‟s books, now held by the Kent County Archive. Test scanning of the WW1 visitor‟s books has taken place and it is hoped that in the near future all 3,500 pages can be scanned and the details transcribed to allow on line access. We believe that the visitor books will be very popular with family historians and military researchers. As well as many soldier‟s signatures it is known that the visitor‟s books also contain entries for historic figures such as Field Marshals Haig and Foch, and the Prince of Wales.

16 Visitor Centre and Trenches Space has been identified and the lower end of the Road of Remembrance for the building of a WW1 related visitor centre and it has been proposed that WW1 style trenches be established to give visitors a feel for „life in the trenches‟.

Planning discussions relating to use of the land are under way. It is hoped that the visitor centre could be created in a way that would be versatile and may allow expansion into other periods of history at a later date.

Road of Remembrance.

Originally called „The Slope‟, it became the Road of Remembrance because of the thousands of troops who marched down it to the harbour in WW1. At the top is the town war memorial. The plan is to restore and update the panels on the memorial as there are many names missing. The memorial could also be moved a few yards to put it in a pedestrian setting rather than being a traffic island. Cleaning of the memorial has recently taken place.

A Time Line would be added to the Road of Remembrance making it a „living museum‟, marking the major events in the war. One possibility is to have a number of platforms built out on the seaward side of the road, allowing visitors to look back across the road at any monument installed on the town side of the road. The Time Line would be a major project of historic and artistic merit. A number of ideas are being considered at present.

The Bunker.

Halfway down the Road of Remembrance is a WW2 bunker. This is a 5 roomed underground complex and it is hoped that this can be used as a museum site. Currently ownership is being investigated, However a number of issues have already been identified regarding access and safety, so this project may attain a lower priority, or such a project may not be possible if these issues cannot be resolved in a cost effective manner.

The other items are linked to the build up to 2014 and involvement with schools and the local community, building on the work done every year before Canada Day. One part of the project involves replanting the hillside with Rosemary, as it used to be many years ago and it is hoped that Step Short can involve schools and groups in growing the plants to be used in the planting.

There are good links with Etaples in France and the Mayor of that town is aware of the plans and a partnership with Etaples regarding 2014 projects is being discussed. Links to Belgium and Canada are also possible and are being explored.

Step Short wants to have a number of stakeholders who can support the projects with whatever resources they have available, be it financial, expertise, exhibit loans, historic input or simply whatever is possible.

By working on these projects, Step Short wants to help make Folkestone a major stopping point for visitors heading to or coming from the French and Belgian battlefields. Folkestone has a rich heritage regarding the Great War and it is clear that many people in the town would like to see this developed for the benefit of all living here.

John Bailey

An Alternative View:

The Creation Quarter‟s modern art vision is seen by many as being too narrow. Thus excluding the interests and desires of many of the local population and visiting public. The Remembrance Line are largely unconcerned about the building of high-rise flats on the Rotunda site and indeed believe that this may, when completed, tidy up this abandoned area. Unfortunately it is felt this proposed construction would contribute very little to the whole town‟s economy, as the old funfair once did.

If we really want visitors to come here we badly need family attractions, Brighton, Eastbourne and even Hastings heavily exploit their existing facilities to encourage tourism. We have a unique and picturesque harbour that could be made into a living attraction. The Remembrance Line Association do wish to revive the railway as the arrival of rail passengers into the heart of the old town would create a variety of business opportunities and increase property in the area. Visiting main line Pullman excursion trains in the past have brought in hundreds of sightseers. They would also like to have a military and heritage living museum, possibly employing artists and instructions to portray the educational element of this project. I would ask the Folkestone Harbour Company to immediately stop refusing berthing facilities for visiting passenger ships as this is removing travel opportunities for local people and not helping the local economy.

The ultimate intention is to bring back a holiday atmosphere to Folkestone, it used to be fun and people simply want their seaside back. They want it now rather than wait until property prices eventually recover, which is likely to take many years. The railway alternative, with comparatively minimal investment, would be the first real step towards increasing footfall directly into Folkestone‟s old town. At present the Creative Quarter seem to be fishing, but with no bait on their hook.

Andy Cadier

“Time to Move on”

Having gained a following approaching 600, you cannot fault the Remembrance Line Associa- tion (RLA) for enthusiasm and energy. Andy Cadier‟s article, in this issue, probably does not do justice to all they have planned. They envisage retention of the harbour railway line, the station and a number of buildings, with the possible relocation of some of these to form a “living museum”. On the railway line they plan to have visits of charter trains and hope that open access boat trains will be “ordered by the ferry company” to meet a reintroduced passenger and car service to Boulogne. A park and ride tram will run from the East Station site down to the end of the harbour entrance then along a new line to Leas Lift. Finally they hope that Network Rail will build an interchange and station on the former East Station site, possibly eventually even “moving” Central Station there, which they consider, on the advice of others, a better location. Mainline trains will then be easily accessible to all in the east of Folkestone as well as those in the new housing developments on the harbour and seafront sites.

At first sight their plans appear almost irresistible - an unsurpassable vision for Folkestone that would bring shoppers from Boulogne; see battlefield tourists arriving by train or car and visiting a World War I museum at the harbour site before catching a ferry to the battlefields in

France; and the arrival in Folkestone of old steam engines hauling carriages full of visitors who will spend money in the shops. Unfortunately, on closer inspection their ideas for keeping this line and station open may not be as practical or commercially viable as they are suggesting. And certainly many of those contributing on the forums of the website railways.national- preservation.com (RNP.com) have raised objections.

One website contributor writes “The development plans [of Terry Farrell] look to make sense. The locals don‟t need a mothballed railway. In terms of local public transport they need good buses…. I can see no business case for its retention” and “There‟s no way Network Rail and South Eastern are going to build any kind of interchange just to serve your line”. And finally “it‟s yet another case of the combined „save everything look‟ and „Look, here‟s our opportunity to have our own 12-inches-to-the-foot-scale train set mentality‟”.

Of the uses proposed for the railway line, a tram running from a park and ride at East Station down to the harbour and then along Marine Parade to the Leas Lift seems to be the most practical. This is something that has been previously been put forward by others, including Go Folkestone, but it can be done without the retention of the harbour station and of course it could be just as easily and probably more flexibly be done with the use of buses. The last Charter train pulled into the Harbour Station last year. It attracted great attention but possibly many were there for the same reason as another contributor to RNP.com website - “I wasn‟t [there] for the scenery of the town but because it was being touted as the last opportunity to see trains up the branch”. He goes on to say “realistically that charter trains attract only rail enthusiasts and few others and “its hard to see how there‟d be many more trains up the branch than there were before the closure plans”. Finally it seems improbable that a ferry could support a regular train service.

And what of finance? According to Network Rail, the track is in “poor condition” and “in need of a major upgrade to bring it up to modern standards.” This and the station restoration would almost certainly cost more than the £200,000 suggested by Martin Butler on RNP.com. No source for these meagre funds is suggested other than “by asking members to dig deep”. Two surveys, both reluctantly accepted as the last word by the Folkestone Harbour Company and the Mayor of Boulogne, have indicated that a passenger ferry would not be viable - technically or commercially. It seems highly unlikely that anyone would want to invest money in such a speculative venture as there is already ample capacity via the Channel Tunnel and Dover. The suggestion that the ferry could be a sort of standby if there was breakdown in the Channel Tunnel and at Dover seems a little astonishing!

A key element in the plans of the Remembrance Line Association for use of the ferry has been battlefield tourists. They have estimated that 250,000 people visit the World War battlefields in France each year. But the many museums, memorials, cemeteries and especially battlefields of France are far more affecting than anything in Folkestone, which is therefore unlikely to become a stopping off point. But of course we should have a memorial to those who left Folkestone for the battlefields of Europe. Folkestone Harbour Company has agreed that the canteen used by those waiting for the boats will be restored, it being dramatically set on the Harbour arm in an area set aside as public space. Possibly run by volunteers as a café and small museum, it would on its own be a sufficient and poignant memorial to those for whom Folkestone Harbour really was “The Last of England” and it would complement the plans of “Step Short” who intend an enhancement of the Road of Remembrance.

continued ….

… continued

Although the Remembrance Line Association claims that their proposals would only slightly modify the Terry Farrell Plan, the retention of the Harbour station, the railway line and the ferry facilities would effectively cut the site in half and stop the building of a large proportion of the intended housing, needed to finance public facilities or, if the station was relocated further down the pier, encroach on an area that has been set aside as public space. The opportunity will also be lost to provide a green link to the harbour for pedestrians and cyclists down the railway line, an idea supported by two contributors to RNP.com, one of whom wrote “when it comes to preserving and commemorating the history of the line a well designed linear park, with at least some of the track retained and suitable interpretation boards erected, would be the most realistic option. As far as I can see, a working railway like that proposed just isn‟t practical, sustainable or representative of the line‟s history”.

Perhaps the last word should come from Network Rail who wrote in a press release in 2009, “The closure of Folkestone Harbour station and the branch line would also bring benefits for the community. A number of proposals exist to redevelop the area around Folkestone Harbour station. However, many of these could only realise their full potential once the land currently occupied by the railway is made available.” Are not The Remembrance Line Association‟s plans just an impractical attempt by some people to keep a redundant railway line open for their own interests. Surely as Network Rail implied in 2009 it is time to move on?

This is an edited version of a longer article which can be obtained from [email protected] or seen on the Go Folkestone Website

Notes & Sources:

This article has been put together with information from the Remembrance Line Asso- ciation Web Site http://www.theremembranceline.org.uk and from e-mails sent by Bob Parsons and David Darlow.

The following websites have also been consulted: http://railways.national-preservation.com (in text as RNP.com) http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk http://www.networkrail.co.uk

Nick Spurrier

Snippets

Folkestone Model Railway Club is celebrating its diamond jubilee ( see opposite page) with a Model Railway Exhibition at the Leas Cliff Hall on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd October. Entry is £5 for adults, £3:50 for seniors and £2 for children. A family ticket is £12.

Folkestone Hythe & District Model Railway Diamond Jubilee Year 2010.

Sixty years ago, G P Keen (who joined the Model Railway Club of Great Britain in 1919, becoming its President, Chairman and Exhibition Manager for many years) presided over a meeting in a basement room beneath the old Odeon cinema in Folkestone. At the meeting were a number of wealthy model railway enthusiasts including Col. Tyrrell, Capt. W P F Kelly, H G Kerr and W H Eaton. They were supported by Capt. Howey (of the RH&DR) who due to other commitments was unable to attend. So was founded the club which still thrives today.

The founders were soon joined by other influential local people, and although modelling was mostly of what we now call the cheque book variety, there were visits to each others layouts and to railway sites such as signal boxes, sheds and works. In effect, the atmosphere was more akin to that of a gentleman‟s club, and the monthly meetings had moved to the Public Library.

In 1953 the local paper, the Folkestone Herald, carried an extensive article on the Club and it‟s members, and 1956 saw the first exhibition of locos and rolling stock as a static display in what until recently was Woolworths shop.

1957 saw the launch of the Club magazine The Chronicle, now Fishplate, which still thrives detailing Club news and activities. Following a decline in interest, the Club was relaunched in 1972 in its present form, with weekly meetings then held in a little dance studio at the bottom of the Old High Street.

In October of that year, the Public Library saw the first of the now annual exhibitions when over 400 people attended.

Many changes of meeting venues followed (one being definitely haunted!) until the Club arrived at its present home, Broomfield Hall in Broomfield Road, Cheriton in 1977.

Although the Club shares the hall with the Cheriton Over Sixties Club, it is fortunate in also having its own purpose built premises at the rear, which allows for the storage of layouts and equipment and also has an area where sections of layouts can be left erected while paint or glue dries.

Over the years the Club and its members have acquired a reputation for excellence in modelling; Club and Member‟s layouts appearing at exhibitions both in the UK and abroad, with regular features in the model railway press.

Layouts representing all the usual scales and gauges, from N to 0, featuring eras from steam through to modern times have been and are still being produced, and the annual exhibition held early each October at the Leas Cliff Hall is now nationally regarded, attracting visitors, layouts and traders from across the UK and abroad.

If you are in the area and are interested in model railways, why not pay a visit to the Club‟s web site at www.folkestone-mrc.com or pop in for a chat on a Wednesday evening?

Andrew Green

„Something new in the Old High Street‟

In the middle of May I opened a new shop in the Old High Street called „Still In The Trenches‟. It is the largest, full time and only exclusively military history shop in Kent. I hope it brings something different to the Old High Street. Certainly people are coming from a dis- tance to visit it. I have had customers come from as far as Eastbourne, Hastings and Brigh- ton and now regularly get people travelling from, West Kent, Thanet, Medway and the Dart- ford area to buy from me. I also sell things to people all over the world via my website. The shop has attracted a lot of interest and I‟m happy if people just drop in a view it like a museum, but where you can buy things if you want to. Veterans are more than welcome to come and have a look and a chat.

My interest in military things goes back to the age of seven when I acquired a brass Spitfire made by a friend‟s father when he was in the RAF. That set me off collecting all sorts of military items over a lifetime. In late 2009 I decided to turn the hobby into a business. The first few weeks have gone by quickly and I‟d like to thank the people of Folkestone who have been so welcoming to me and the idea of the shop. I feel as though I‟ve been gaining good friends, not just customers.

The shop stocks mainly items from the Great War and WW2, but also has more modern items on display. As well as selling militaria I‟m happy to buy unwanted military items from people in the local area and will try to pay them a fair price for them. I buy things that are interesting and hopefully more unique than other shops. I don‟t deal in surplus uniforms, camp- ing gear and the like, just items with some real history to them.

In the shop I have medals, badges, paperwork, gasmasks, uniforms, headgear, steel hel- mets, grenades, shells, books, magazine, newspapers, trench art, bayonets and de-activated weapons, such as a Bren Gun, Lee Enfield Rifle and AK-47. Everything in the shop is legal to own with all munitions being inert and all weapons are legally de-activated, and having the appropriate de-activation certificate.

I also offer a restoration service and do research for customers trying to find out more about „grandad‟s medals‟. Currently I‟m restoring a brass shell case from the Boer War for a customer. I‟m happy to try to identify anything that has been found and recently identified the gyroscope that came from a German WW2 torpedo that had been caught in the nets of a Folkestone fishing boat off the Warren. Long term I hope to host themed exhibitions, and I am trying to plan for that soon.

Working with the Creative Foundation to set up the shop could not have been easier. The Foundation‟s team were very helpful and supportive throughout the process. Local firm Fos- ter-Gearing designed my logo and that has attracted a lot of attention too. Working on a budget I fitted out the shop myself and that way was also able to design it as I wanted it without excessive cost. I got lots of advice from other Old High Street traders and that also made me feel at home and their advice was very welcome. So if you want to set up a small business in Folkestone I can recommend the Creative Foundation route.

John Bailey

22 A Folkestone Romance

It was just about two and a half years ago that my now fiancée, Georgina, and I came down to Folkestone on a wet weekend in spring. Just like my family had some 20 odd years before, we stayed at the cheap and cheerful Burstin by the harbour. Quite why we came down is difficult to say - we'd just seen the episode of Location Location Location set here, were looking for somewhere to live, felt we'd had enough of London by then, and just fancied a weekend by the sea.

The hotel hasn't changed a bit (I'll reserve comment on whether that's a good or a bad thing), and we just loved walking around the harbour, the town centre, the beach...and having stumbled across the Grand Hotel had the most amazing afternoon tea ever. I think that it's safe to say that we fell in love with the place (despite the rather unpleasant welcome that a local seagull gave Georgina as we walked along the Parade).

Just a few months later we moved down here - renting a flat overlooking the Sunny Sands, and with breathtaking views over to France. London was but a dim, distant and smoky memory (until I got the train up there for work each morning of course). I think it's safe to say that we've never looked back. We're getting married in September at the spectacular Lympne Castle, and now have a beautiful little flat at the other end of town on Westbourne Gardens.

Now I come to my point. Westbourne Gardens, and the other garden areas that are so prevalent in the West End of town are such an amazing resource, and contribute so much to what is an absolutely beautiful area of not just Folkestone, but Kent and indeed the whole of England. The Victorian/Edwardian architecture, the Leas, the Metropole, the Grand and the latest addition of the coastal park all make this a wonderful area to live in. I genuinely believe that there are few places like it.

Losing natural beauty spots such as Augusta Gardens, Grimston Gardens and the like would be an absolute tragedy, and would so detrimentally impact the feel of the area, that I really don't think any amount of money going 'back into the local community' could be worth it. My little Westbourne Gardens are probably most at risk as they are privately owned, and currently not maintained. The case for building on them would be far easier to make if the legislation does change; although the case for converting it back into the beauty spot it was always intended to be seems even stronger to me. Yes, I'm biased. However, I'm also realistic. I work in the city, and so know how money makes the world go round...but sometimes money alone isn't enough of a justification to make a decision. For the greater good of Folkestone, and how we will see it in 20 years from now, I so desperately hope that these areas are preserved, and that building remains prohibited. As stated elsewhere in this month's edition: "when they're gone, they're gone"...let's just hope it doesn't come to that. Let's all do whatever we can to keep our beautiful town looking as wonderful as it does.

Andy Flawn

Youth Festival Of Remembrance 2010 Leas Cliff Hall, Saturday 13th November 2010

The Youth Festival of Remembrance will be held at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, on 13th November, in aid of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. The festival will be similar to the Royal Albert Hall‟s Festival of Remembrance, but the unique thing about this festival is that it gives the youth of Folkestone and Shepway the opportunity to take centre stage and dedicate a night to show their respect and to remember all those who gave their lives in times of conflict both past and present, and also to support our armed services personnel currently serving in Afghanistan. The festival also gives the youth of Folkestone and Shepway the chance to show people that there is something for young people to do with their lives, and that they do care about what happens in the world. It will demonstrate that most young people are not anti social yobs! It also aims to raise as much money for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal as possible.

Youth Groups and schools taking part include: Folkestone and Hythe Sea Cadets Folkestone Air Cadets Folkestone Army Cadets Folkestone Scouts Folkestone Guides Folkestone St Johns Ambulance New Romney Air Cadets Highworth Jazz Orchestra Brockhill Performing Arts College Harvey Grammar School Folkestone Academy Folkestone School for Girls

At the end of the evening there will be a muster of Standards for all youth participants where we will hold a short dedication service and a two minute silence with petal drop to remember those who lost their lives in past and present conflicts.

The Festival will run from 6pm till 9:30pm (TBC). Tickets are £7.50 - available from the Leas Cliff Hall box office from September.

The Festival will include: Military Musical Arrangements Massed Bands of the Sea Cadet Corps Jazz Orchestra Dance Displays 1940s Singalong Choirs Military Displays War Poetry and Readings

The Festival is being run and organised by local Volunteers within Folkestone. The festival is being sponsored by the Folkestone Town Council and The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust who have kindly donated between them £4000 and Shepway District Council, who kindly donated the free use of the Leas Cliff Hall for the Day.

Oliver Simpson Chairman - Youth Festival of Remembrance 01303242219 [email protected]

24 25

Seafront Consultation

Many of Go Folkestone‟s members took part in the major consultation that took place earlier this summer to gauge public response to the new approach for the development of Folkestone seafront. During the course of the consultation, which began in mid May and continued until early July, over 3000 people attended an exhibition in Tontine Street or one of six presentations at Quarterhouse. In addition 2250 individual visitors accessed the proposals via the website www.folkestoneseafront.com, which will remain open as a point where people can access information about the seafront development.

The consultation process was initiated by Trevor Minter of The Folkestone Harbour Company as a first stage in presenting to the public the new approach, which has been proposed by one of Britain‟s leading architects, Sir Terry Farrell. Trevor Minter said: “We are very pleased to have engaged Terry Farrell and Partners to take this process forward. Successful development of the seafront site is of critical importance to Folkestone‟s future, and by taking this step by step approach, with proper community consultation at each stage of the process, we are confident that we will establish a good framework to build a first-class seafront environment that will serve the town well for generations to come.”

He continued: “There will be considerable challenges ahead; quite apart from the planning process, which needs to be thorough and is likely to be complicated, we need to attract a wide range of high calibre investors and developers in order to achieve the quality desired. Part of the proceeds from building and selling a range of well-designed residential accommodation will be put towards the provision of public realm projects, including recreational activities on the 26

newly extended and refurbished beach. We also intend to open up the harbour arm for public use, and a number of very good ideas have been put forward that will celebrate Folkestone‟s port heritage.”

A major element of the consultation saw the collation of comments from people who took part in the presentations or visited the exhibition, and some 700 people have completed detailed questionnaires either by hard copy or on line. In addition, over 2000 students in secondary and primary schools in Folkestone took an active part in the consultation.

Response from the public to Sir Terry‟s proposals was very positive, with a substantial majority welcoming the approach being taken. Specific concerns were raised about issues such as transport and parking, and many people put forward their suggestions and ideas for sports and recreation, heritage activities, shops and cafes.

Collation of analysis of the responses is being carried out independently by a research team at Canterbury Christ Church University. Once this is complete it will help inform the preparation of a more detailed Masterplan. Following this, there will be further consultation opportunities before planning applications are submitted.

The Folkestone Harbour Company would like to thank all those who took part so enthusiasti- cally in this part of the process, and looks forward to sharing the full plans with members and readers in due course.

Peter Bettley

An Apology and a Clarification

In the last issue, in an article on Rendezvous Street and Church Street, I included something about Home Time – a shop selling antique and modern furniture and paintings by Kent Fine Art. I wrote that I was astonished to be shown an artwork by Thomas Gainsborough. In error I de- scribed this as a print when if fact it is an original grey wash watercolour, painted in 1783 during a journey in the Lake District, and signed by the artist. I apologise for any confusion I may have caused. While this watercolour is no longer on display in the shop since an institution has ex- pressed an interest in buying it, there are many other fine paintings to be seen.

Nick Spurrier

Andrew Dean of Kent Fine Art writes: "Hometime, in Church Street, together with Kent Fine Art, are dealers in antique and modern furniture, fine art and decorative objects. They have a large collection of quality items for the experienced collector, the bargain hunter, interior decorator or general browser. When you come in, if they haven't got what you are looking for, they will look out for it for you, free of charge! They also have a delivery, collections and removals service."

Telephone: 07762-883250.

The Leas Lift re-opens

I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to receive an invitation from Eamonn Rooney and Pam Hogg of Folkestone Leas lift CIC inviting me to attend the handing over of the keys ceremony from Charles Evans of the Radnor Estate office, which had been set for Monday 26th July. I was naturally pleased to ac- cept their very kind invitation.

Among invited guests were, the Deputy Town Mayor Cllr Sue Wallace who cut the ribbon, accompanied by Ben Millbery on the pipes from the Folkestone Pipes and drums. Trevor Minter of the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust and KCC Cllr Roland Tolputt, both of whom had

made contributions along with Folkestone Town Council to help make this day possible. As ever John Barber Town Centre Manager was in buoyant mood.

A veritable feast was put on for those attending on the day. Newspaper and Television report- ers were there to record the event. All the guests were invited to have a ride up in the lift along with the report- ers. The only contra-indication was that the public thought

that the lift was now open to them.

Unfortunately it was only the ceremony of the keys that day, and the official day for public use was to be Saturday 31st July.

The Folkestone Estate landlords have negotiated a settlement with the long time tenant, Shepway District Council. Both put the largest sums into repairing this revival which is being masterminded by the Folkestone Leas Lift CIC.

Roger de Haan who has the land at the bottom has also helped. Terry Begent is the company secretary, whilst Eamonn Rooney is the former main operator for Shepway and has called up two more experienced ex-operators. So the Listed Lift is in good hands, even though no other serious offers were received when it was on the market to let. There is a lease in place, and if it is only for a year that is common sense, as no-one knows how much it will turn over, and therefore what rent should be charged.

Early indications of a very busy few days are that the Lift will become again the first place to take visitors for the afternoon, particularly with the great playground and improved Mermaid Beach at the bottom. Adult one way charges are 90p and children and OAPs 50p. Opening hours are 10.00am to 5.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday .

“Well done” to all those who got the old girl going through hard work and determination, long may she reign over the Leas and lower Sandgate Road, she needs our support to do this. Are you willing? Volunteers are staffing the ticket kiosks for a few hours each a day. MORE ARE NEEDED .

On Saturday September 18th and Sunday 19th the Leas lift will celebrate its 125th anniversary. Watch out for more information on this event.

Ann Berry.

Eamonn Rooney receives the keys Cllr Tolputt signing the Visitors Book

29 [email protected]

35 Birkdale Drive Folkestone Kent CT19 5LP

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