Carin for "R" he �amsate Societ� NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY MARCH/ APRIL “ ” 2019

SIGN OUTSIDE EFFINGHAM STREET OLD FIRE STATION, RAMSGATE - SEE P25

5 February 2019

Ramsgate new Fire Station now open

ENTRANCE OF NEW BUILDING (2019)

On the site of the old Ramsgate swimming pool, the new Fire Station and training facility was officially opened on 5 February 2019 in Newington Road, Ramsgate. A new purpose-built fire station fit for 21st century firefighting was opened by Nick Chard, Chairman of the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority. As of 7 January 2019, it had become home to whole full-time crews and 14 on-call firefighters, together providing an emergency response 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is also a base for the British Red Cross, which has a vehicle in the bays alongside the fire engines, ready to respond to incidents that require the charity’s support. The station provides further space SIDE OF BUILDING SHOWING THE STEEL STRUCTURE (2017) for the use of such agencies as police and ambulance services. The old Effingham Street fire station building, which was occupied by the fire service for more than 100 years and designed for horse-drawn fire engines, will soon be the property of Ramsgate >

ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 1 RAMSGATE SWIMMING POOL (c1990) © RAMSGATE TOWN COUNCIL

FRONT OF NEW BUILDING (2019)

SIDE OF BUILDING SHOWING THE STEEL STRUCTURE (2017)

Town Council and will be retained for community use. A little piece of the old station’s history has made its way to the Newington Road site, in the form of a mould of the original Effingham Street station plaque (see p25), which now sits in the new station’s entrance. The earliest record we have of a fire station in Ramsgate is dated 1878 in York Street, before relocating to Effingham Street in 1905, and 114 years later moving to its new home.

2 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 DREDGER APPROACIING BERTH IN RAMSGATE ROYAL HARBOUR (2019)

DREDGER IN RAMSGATE ROYAL HARBOUR (2019)

3 January 2019 Plans to turn the port of Ramsgate into a ‘second Dover’ in the event of a no-deal , saw dredging of the port begin in early January, with a Dutch company brought in to complete the work. Dredger in This followed the ’s award of a contract to Ramsgate Port Seaborne Freight to operate a ferry service between Ramsgate and the Belgian port of Ostend. Since recording the promising developments for this newsletter, sadly, local scepticism about the viability of the plans has been confirmed after it emerged that Seaborne Ferries owned no ships and had cut and pasted terms and conditions from a takeaway business. The £13.8 million contract with Arklow Shipping, Seaborne’s Irish company, was duly cancelled in February. Meanwhile Ostend’s mayor had stated that it would not be possible to have a new service in operation by the end of March, the scheduled date for Brexit, which has by now come and gone. As a further blow, in March Thanet District Council pulled £730,000 of funding to keep the port ferry-ready. Whether or not the port has a future as a ferry terminal, with or without Brexit, we wait to discover. ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 3 1 January 2019 The Ramsgate Society regular programme of talks: 2019 Programme of — Three women, one man, glamour, wealth and heartbreak Melanie Gibson-Barton talks 2019 Wednesday 17 April 2019

John Walker - Chairman — Annual General Meeting [email protected] Wednesday 15 May 2019 — Murky waters behind the Royal Harbour Mr & Mrs Terry Prue Wednesday 18 September 2019 Visitors are also very welcome to attend. Please note there will be a small fee. All start at 7.30pm and are held at St George’s Church Hall, Broad Street, Ramsgate CT11 8QY. The society is looking for someone who can manage the booking of our programme of speakers. Please contact our chairman, John Walker.

1 January 2019 Thanet Community Lotto Lottery

Created in 2017 by Thanet District Council, this weekly online lottery supports local good causes in Thanet. Tickets costs £1 per week, of which 60p goes directly to good causes (with 50p of sales going to the work of The Ramsgate Society). Each £1 ticket has a one in 50 chance to win, with a top prize of £25,000. thanetlottery.co.uk You do need to have access to a computer, as you can only play online. So have some fun knowing that you are supporting the work of The Ramsgate Society.

1 March 2019

John Walker - Chairman Are you our new secretary? [email protected] Rosemary Kirk has been our loyal secretary for more than ten years. See also: Now, sadly, we are losing her, as she is moving from Ramsgate, and ‘Our secretary is moving on’ we are on the hunt for someone who can replace her. - “R” Newsletter January/February Can you help? 2019 p8 Please contact our chairman, John Walker.

4 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 1 February 2019 ‘Ramsgate Matters’ - Winter 2019

The Journal of The Ramsgate Society — Winter 2019 published in February 2019.

Available FREE from: — The Ramsgate Society website - see foot of this page — By Post - see p25

1 March 2019

Ramsgate Caught in Time

Ramsgate Caught in Time has been published to celebrate The Ramsgate Society’s 50th Anniversary in 2014. This 140-page book is crammed with photographs of Ramsgate. A great gift or keepsake. Was £10 now only £5 plus postage of £2.50. Total £7.50. Available by post. Please contact our chairman for details.

RAMSGATE CAUGHT IN TIME COVER (2017)

John Walker - Chairman [email protected] Join? ramsgate-society.org.uk

Carin for � he �amsate Societ�

THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY ADVERT (2019) Carin for 3 January 2019 The seventh edition of Ramsgate’s� he �amsate year in a booklet, Societ� Ramsgate Rocks, an overview of the Ramsgate year. This edition features one of our ‘Ramsgate Rocks’ ads. The booklet is available from Ramsgate Information Centre.

ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 5 Ramsgate's Chine to Chine Spring Clean Sunday The Clock House Help clean upRamsgate Maritime our14 April streets 2019 Museum Join10am-1pm the Great British Spring Clean Join our volunteers to clean up Ramsgate.

Litter picking equipment will be provided.

Just turn up at 10am to The Clock House.

PART OF WITH Ramsgate Town Team 22Great Ramsgate MARCH Spring Clean 2019 - Addington Street Take Pride in Thanet 23Keep Britian APRIL Tidy 'Great British 2019 Spring Clean' Community Group Thanet's Litter Picking Albion Gardens Group Community (TLC group) RegisterFACEBOOK your support keepbritaintidy.orgAugusta Road Action Group Western Undercliff facebook.com/groups/958536401011671/about/ Chatham Street Action Group Regeneraton Group #GBSpringClean Keep Britain Tidy is a registered Charity No. 1071737 East Cliff Group FURTHER INFORMATION Friends of Ramsgate Seafront SUPPORTED BY Brought to you by In partnership with Headline sponsor Meher 07792 423775 Nelson Crescent Residents Ramsgate Town Council Association Thanet District Council ORGANISED BY Newington Community Primary School Carin for Ramsgate Litter Forum � he �amsate Societ� Ramsgate Scouts & Guides ramsgate-society.org.uk

RAMSGATE'S CHINE TO CHINE SPRING CLEAN POSTER (2019)

6 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 1 March 2019 As part of Britain’s national ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ organisation, we will be involved in the Great British Spring Clean, as in previous years, PART OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY'S with our own Ramsgate initiative, ‘Ramsgate’s Chine to Chine Spring 'EXPLORING RAMSGATE'S Clean’. We will be joined by Ramsgate Litter Forum and as many CONSERVATION AREAS 2019-2021' volunteers as possible, to clean up Ramsgate (see p6). The national CAMPAIGN campaign runs from 22 March 2019 to 23 April 2019, and we will be focusing our efforts on Sunday 14 April 2019. So please join us at The Clock House at 10am. Ramsgate’s Chine to Chine Spring ‘No ifs, no butts’ Ramsgate Town Team project, - working with pubs, cafés, takeaways Clean and bookmakers in Ramsgate to tackle cigarette litter. The project’s aim is to keep the exterior of business premises clean and free from keepbritaintidy.org cigarette butts. ramsgatetown.org 109,500 fewer pieces of litter each year! ‘Ramsgate ROAD’ (Ramsgate Residents One a Day) — This Ramsgate Further information: Town Team project has attracted more than 300 members in Meher Ramsgate. All signed up to pick up at least one piece of litter a day, so 07792 423775 that’s 109,500 pieces of litter removed from Ramsgate in a year.

COVER OF ITV MAGAZINE (2019)

1 February 2019 Actress Brenda features in a double-page spread in ITV Magazine a new journal by ITV and Waitrose Partners (available in Waitrose while stock last). It mentions her return to ITV in January 2019. Brenda Blethyn Youngest of nine children, Brenda grew up in Ramsgate. Her autobiography, Mixed Fancies, (2006) records her early years in the projectmotorhouse.org.uk town. She is a Trustee of Project MotorHouse, West Cliff, Ramsgate, and granvilletheatre.com a patron of the Granville Theatre, Victoria Road, Ramsgate.

See also ‘West Cliff Hall sold’ - “R” Newsletter January/February 2019 p7

ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 7 1 February 2019

Meet characters from Ramsgate’s past

Further information: Ramsgate Costumed Walks, - the group who bring Ramsgate to life Janet Reid for visitors through their personal interaction with Ramsgate’s 01843 852780 historic characters, announce their programme for 2019. Further information, including where to meet on the day, is available from organiser Janet Reid. Groups of more than ten people, please also inform Janet.

July walks 2019 - 7pm — 2 July 2019 — Ramsgate town centre — 9 July 2019 — West Cliff — 16 July 2019 — Ramsgate Royal Harbour — 23 July 2019 — East Cliff — 30 July 2019 — Ramsgate Royal Harbour

August walks 2019 - 2.30pm — 2 August — West Cliff — 13 August — Ramsgate town centre — 20 August — East Cliff — 27 August — Ramsgate Royal Harbour

1 February 2019

Further information: Could you be the next Pugin, Janet Reid 01843 852780 Coleridge or Billy Biscuit?

In order to carry out our programme of walks this year (see article above), we need some volunteers. Our team have vacancies for: — Augustus WN Pugin — Samuel Taylor Coleridge — Sir William Curtis (Billy Biscuit) — Napoleonic soldier — Guides (to support our costumed characters) Scripts and costumes are provided for characters, and notes for guides. See also ‘Meet characters from Ramsgate’s past’ above. Interested? Please contact organiser Janet Reid.

8 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 STODIG (2018)

LOGO - A NORWEIGIAN ADJECTIVE MEANING SOUND AND STEADFAST (2018)

3 January 2019 Two architects are re-purposing a 100-person marine survival lifeboat Stødig, as a self-sufficient expedition home to travel 3,500km from the UK to the Norwegian Arctic this year. Stødig Artic Guylee Simmonds and David Schnabel bought the lifeboat in lifeboat February 2018 and are currently working on its conversion. Along with Shackleton the dog, they are preparing to sail from the UK to artic-lifeboat.com Tromsø, in the Norwegian Fjords. Situated at 70° north, Tromsø is the largest city in the Arctic Circle, and the plane is for the lifeboat to spend the winter there, making smaller coastal excursions. The aim of this expedition is to explore this wild and isolated landscape, to demonstrate the ability of design innovation to facilitate self- sufficiency in such extreme environments, and to document and share the adventure through photography and film. The voyage will set off from Newhaven on the south coast, and pass Ramsgate - albeit hugging the French coast. The route will then skirt along the Dutch coast, passing the Kiel canal into the Baltic, then up the Danish coast past Copenhagen and Gothenburg, before crossing the Skagerrak south of the lower tip of Norway, up to Bergen. The lifeboat will then follow the route of the famous Hurtigruten ferry, passing up the fjords for more than 1,500 kilometres to Tromsø. A careful look around Ramsgate Royal Harbour will reveal a few marine survival lifeboats that have been converted or are in the process of being converted.

1 March 2019 1 April 2019 is time to renew membership of The Ramsgate Society. New forms and standing order mandate are available on our website. New member? Existing member? ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 9 RAMSGATE ROYAL HARBOUR CABIN CROSSWALL WEST (2019)

RAMSGATE ROYAL HARBOUR CABIN CROSSWALL EAST (2019)

1 January 2019 Visitors to Ramsgate Royal Harbour will have noticed two new buildings being erected over the past few months. The ‘cabins’ Two new building contain workings related to the operation of the newly refurbished lock gate and bridge. in Ramsgate Royal Harbour

10 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 KENT, SURREY AND SUSSEX AIR AMBULANCE (2018)

16 January 2019 Our first Society talk in 2019 was ‘Air Ambulance Update’ on 16 January in St George’s Hall, Ramsgate. This was about the vital work of the Air Ambulance covering Kent, Surrey and Sussex. TALK There was no actual Air Ambulance inside St George’s Hall. The Augusta Wessex jet helicopter, with its 80-ton downward thrust, might demolish the entire building, but there was a fascinating Air Ambulance evening in the hands of raconteur and expert David, who was Kent, Surrey, & updating The Ramsgate Society on new developments in the Air Ambulance world and Kent in particular. Sussex update Who would guess that bubble wrap has replaced blankets in the air? It is being used because it is warm, waterproof, disposable, Review: strong, economic and extremely light when every ounce counts, but Brian Daubney - it also has a curious therapeutic value. Even almost comatose, badly The Ramsgate Society member injured patients have been known to gently start to pop the bubbles as they speed at about 200 miles an hour to a hospital bed. aakss.org.uk This was a return visit from the Service to the Society, by popular request. The number of developments is extensive and is not limited to the ultra-hi-tech world of medicine and aviation. The ability of airborne medics to observe their patients even before they take- off may not seem too surprising, but an ability to consult in-flight with leading specialists, who may be anywhere in the world, is new and being developed with Apple the mobile phone and computer specialist. The Air Ambulance today is rather like the lifeboat service was about two centuries ago. Brilliant invention by volunteers and non- specialists is adapting existing technology to new life-saving uses. Then, it was a school friend of Nelson’s who developed a maroon or mortar to fire lines to inshore wrecks, while gun carriages were being adapted to speed lifeboats along the coast to be launched and then rowed out from the nearest landfall. Today a modern electric hair curler is said to have influenced the creation of a device that can raise the temperature of refrigerated blood from freezing to body temperature for airborne transfusion, in a matter of seconds. Have you noticed motorbike couriers carrying blood supplies for the Air Ambulance? John Surtees CBE was the only double world champion ever, on two and on four wheels, in motorcycle and Formula One racing. After he had tragically lost his son Henry in a Formula Two accident, he visited Brands Hatch to thank the air ambulance team personally for their efforts in flying Henry > ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 11 to the Royal Hospital, Whitechapel. Surtees then met the Air Ambulance motorcycle support volunteers, a group of more than 30 bikers who might be seen on Margate front each year, with bikes of every age and appearance. After these volunteers had met their hero and described what they used and what they could use, Honda provided the gleaming machines you now see on the road transferring stocks of blood and medication to major incidents and emergencies that have occurred among more than 12,000 missions flown by the Service since its inception. The problems that had to be overcome to provide a day and now an all-night service, bringing all of Kent within a 15-minute flight time, are astonishing. To be precise those flight times, do occasionally come closer to 20 minutes for Thanet. Medical jackets that accommodate heart massage are especially useful when more than a third of all missions are for cardiac arrest victims. It is another unique development that may seem commonplace but is in fact extraordinary. Confidential, yet also fascinating are the origins of the skills and experience of Air Ambulance pilots. In late January they were operating at the base of St Margaret’s Bay cliffs, in foul conditions, where Channel and Atlantic winds and waves meet. Exceptional qualities are required to fly among coastal and urban hazards at dusk, night or dawn, through mist, darkness and most weather. Where do they come from and how do they train? Some pilots volunteer from war zones on the other side of the world, indirectly following the example of future kings: helicopter pilots Prince Charles and Prince William. The stories at St George’s were often very amusing and some cannot be repeated. Even truth can become subject to the law. If you want to learn more about how Kent expanded into and along with Surrey and Sussex, as well as all the latest news, the website is well worth a look. And if you ever have felt a lump in your throat, as an air ambulance landed by a motorway accident queue, donations are well worth it too, as they support and help to develop our Air Ambulance Service.

Join? Carin for � he �amsate Societ�

12 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 3 March 2019

Our Archive

Many thanks to ex Mayor of Ramsgate David Green for supplying a number of publication for our archive. This included volumes of Pugin’s True Principles, photographic books on the history of Ramsgate and back copies of The Ramsgate Society’s regular printed communications, Ramsgate Remembered and About Ramsgate now renamed Ramsgate Matters. We have a few gap in our archive of some of the early newsletter/ magazine especially Ramsgate Remembered, so if you have any filed away we would be grateful for them to ensure a continuous record of Ramsgate. We would also be interested in any memorabilia to contribute to the Ramsgate story that you may have.

'RAMSGATE REMEMBERED' (1998) Please contact our chairman, John Walker.

John Walker - Chairman [email protected]

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW (c2018) © ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

25 January 2019 Wednesday 8 May 2019

The excursion includes the Kew Explorer land train, which will give Trip to Kew us a guided tour around the Gardens to hear about Kew’s flora and Gardens fauna, historic buildings and vital conservation works. You can then hop on and off the land train to visit the various glasshouses and Further information: gardens. Miss Barbara Byne - The collection of living plants is the largest and most diverse in Organiser the world. There are several cafés and restaurants, but if you prefer 01843 580300 to take a picnic you may eat this in the gardens. Also included in 07867 974275 the price is entry to 17th century Kew Palace, George III’s summer residence, built in the Dutch style with gables. Cost £38 per person. To book your coach seat, complete a booking form downloadable from our website (see foot of this page).

ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 13 BATEMAN'S (c2018) © NATIONAL TRUST

25 January 2019 Wednesday 11 September 2019

Bateman’s is a Jacobean house in the stunning landscape of the Excursion to Sussex Weald. In 1902 it became the much-loved family home of Bateman’s home Rudyard Kipling, his wife Carrie and their two surviving children. The study, where he wrote some of his most famous works, is just of Rudyard as he left it. In the Kipling collection are some intriguing objects, Kipling including the Nobel Prize in Literature and the original illustrations for The Jungle Book. There are also works by eminent artists — and, Further information: in the garage, the family’s Rolls Royce Phantom. Miss Barbara Byne - Facilities include the Mulberry Tearoom, which is open for Organiser morning coffee, lunch and cream tea and has a lunch-time licence. 01843 580300 You can sit inside or out, overlooking the Mulberry Garden, or picnic 07867 974275 anywhere in the grounds. Adjoining the house is the Oast House gift shop, while the Scullery Bookshop has one of the largest collection of second-hand Kipling books, many long out of print. Cost £35 per person. Cost £25 per person for National Trust members. A tour of the garden is also available at £5 per person. To book your coach seat, complete a booking form downloadable from our website (see foot of this page).

14 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 WEST CLIFF CONVENT PUPILS AND STAFF (c1950) WEST CLIFF CONVENT PUPILS (c1950)

SOME WEST CLIFF CONVENT 'GIRLS' TODAY (2018) WEST CLIFF CONVENT PUPILS (c1950)

1 March 2019 My name is Penny Spencer, née Martin and I have very happy memories of growing up in Ramsgate in the Fifties when it was a wonderful, bustling, vibrant town with four cinemas and West Cliff illuminations that I shall remember for ever. Convent I attended West Cliff Convent from 1952 to 1958 and I have often wondered what became of all the pupils that I knew back then. In remembered 2016 I managed to locate eight former pupils, who were: • Sarah Ash, née Steed Further information: • Shelia Rogers, née Dines Penny Spencer nee Martin • Ann Harris, née Dines The Ramsgate Society member • Edwina Steed, née Sampson [email protected] • Mary Abra • Margaret Stanley, née Abra • Shirley Ticehurst • Jackie Lock, née Conway ... but there are so many more past pupils that I would like to get in touch with, especially Margaret Spencer and Joanna Moody. Sadly the West Cliff Convent has long gone. Please get in touch if you are in any of these photos, with a possible reunion to follow. > ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 15 PENNY SPNECER NÉE MARTIN, AGED 8 (1955)

WEST CLIFF CONVENT PUPILS (c1950)

INSIDE OF CONVENT CHAPEL (c1950)

West Cliff Convent closed in the early 1970s, probably 1972. The convent was sold for £20,000 and turned into a nursing home, called Patricia Homes. The nursing home closed in the 1990s and the building lay derelict. It was demolished around 1990s/2000, and about 14 years ago, a block of flats called The Grange was built on the site.

16 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 'HARBOURING HOPES FOR RAMSGATE' EXHIBITION INSIDE SILVERLAND STUDIO (2018) PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER SUPPORTING STUDENTS ON EAST PIER RAMSGATE ROYAL HARBOUR (2018)

22 January 2019 Project MotorHouse was awarded a National Lottery grant of £49,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to partner with The Ramsgate Society ‘Harbouring and create a youth project called ‘Harbouring Hopes for Ramsgate’, centred on the town’s Royal Harbour. The project started in February Hopes for 2018 and culminated in November in an exhibition for the public at Ramsgate’ — Silverland Studios on Ramsgate harbour. The project involved 14 year-eight students from the Royal reflection Harbour Academy and 14 year-eight students from Chatham and Clarendon Grammar. They worked together photographing much- projectmotorhouse.org.uk needed repairs to the harbour, interviewing craftspeople who specialise in heritage and exploring pathways into heritage jobs. The Further information: exhibition was opened by Project MotorHouse trustee and renowned Jo Mapp actress and Ramsgate local Brenda Blethyn (see p7). [email protected] The students produced the material for the exhibition by working 07724804905 with top local creative professionals such as photographer Mark McEvoy, Dan Whitehead of Roar Video, journalist and broadcaster See also: Gemma Dempsey, and Ben Morton, who has produced exhibitions ‘Harbouring Hopes for Ramsgate’ for the likes of Puma and Maserati, and local companies 3Dsign and - “R” Newsletter November/ Realise Productions. December 2018 p4 John Walker, chairman of The Ramsgate Society, led some ‘Successful exhibition’ workshops with the students, explaining to them the importance of - “R” Newsletter January/February our unique Royal Harbour. “We are confident that the project will 2019 p2 enable a wider range of people to engage with Ramsgate’s heritage and the work of the Ramsgate Society,” he said. > ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 17 Ramsgate Heritage Action Zone, Historic and Pie Factory Music were also part of this wonderful community project. The project explored the skills needed to repair Ramsgate’s harbour, the training available and the job opportunities offered by the heritage sector in Kent and beyond. “We think it is a great way for young people to learn about their heritage as well as widening their career choices. There’s plenty of wonderful, historic sites in Kent and they all need maintenance and/or restoration,” says Janet Fielding from Project MotorHouse. The young people realised that they don’t have to leave Thanet to earn a decent living; there are good, well-paid jobs to be had in the heritage industry. “We are hugely excited to learn that East Kent College is starting courses in heritage skills for the built environment and we saw this as a fantastic opportunity to market those courses to the wider community,” says Project MotorHouse’s Jo Mapp. The project is part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Young Roots’ programme and made possible by those who play the National Lottery.

GRILL AND BADGE ADVERTISING THE 2015 BUCKET AND SPADE RUN (c2015)

3 March 2019

Government Acre, The Great Bucket and Spade Run Royal Esplanade, Ramsgate CT11 0HE Sunday 2 June 2019

Annual historic classic car run to Government Acre on Ramsgate seafront, now in its 38th year. Presented by Ramsgate Old Motor and Motor Cycle Club. A display of vehicles dating from 1920 to modern day, varying in makes and models. It’s a fun day for all the family to enjoy, with stalls selling various goods, sideshows and children’s rides. It’s also a chance to meet members of The Ramsgate Society at our stand on Government Acre and to learn about our work.

18 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 MONOLITH SIGN HARBOUR STREET (2019)

MONOLITH SIGN MARINA ROAD (2019) MONOLITH SIGN ROYAL ESPLANADE (2019) ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 19 MONOLITH SIGN MAIN SANDS (2019) FINGERPOST SIGN (2019)

FINGERPOST SIGN TOP OF JACOBS LADDER STEPS (2019)

MONOLITH SIGN HARBOUR PARADE (2019)

20 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 SIGNAGE LOCATIONAL MAP (2019)

DETAIL OF 'LONDON UNDERGROUND' FONT USED ON ALL THE SIGNS (2019)

FINGERPOST SIGN (2019)

ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 21 FINGERPOST SIGN (2019)

3 January 2019 Kent-based (Rochester) Fitzpatrick Woolmer has completed the design and erection of a ‘Wayfinding’ scheme in Ramsgate. ‘Monoliths’ and ‘fingerpost’ signs have been used in a number of ‘Wayfinding’ in locations following an audit of Ramsgate’s requirements. The signs Ramsgate are located at key points from the railway station to Ramsgate Royal Harbour and west and east along Ramsgate’s coastline. fwdp.co.uk All signs are made from robust stainless steel and aluminium to withstand the harsh coastal environment. Printed panels were finished in a DuoGuard™ anti-graffiti coating, offering protection against antisocial behaviour and giving ten years’ fade proofing.

COVER OF 'RAMSGATE RECORDER' SPRING EDITION (2019)

25 February 2019 Modern-day Seadside Stories - Edition 2 - Spring edition now published and available at locations around Ramsgate - features Ramsgate three interesting Ramsgate based articles: Recorder Safe Harbour A historic house with increadible sea views has been lovelingly ramsgaterecorder.com restored and enhanced by the sensitive hands of Ramsgate architects del Renzio & del Renzio. Archaelogy & Ghosts: Ramsgate’s Hinterland People have lived and worked on this island since Britian’s earliest inhabitants arrived. Secrets of Ramsgate Stone A £50,000 grant to conserve Ramsgate’s unique Pulhamite stone cliffs.

22 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 SUNSET AT THE SEASIDE SHELTER WEST CLIFF (2018)

1 April 2019

The Ramsgate Society Civic Champion Awards 2019

There are a great many people in Ramsgate who donate their time, effort and enthusiasm as volunteers to make Ramsgate a better place to live and work. Whether it’s by picking up litter, caring for our parks, gardens and open spaces, organising community events, organising Heritage Open Days, the Ramsgate Arts Festival or The Film Festival these people contribute enormously to our quality of life in the town. They often do this without any sort of praise or recognition for what they do and most of them wouldn’t want it any other way. They do their work because they want to give something back to the community in which they live. Every alternate year The Ramsgate Society try to show their appreciation for what these very special people do by awarding a number of Civic Champion Awards in recognition of their dedication. This year the committee have chosen six people we would like to honour with a Civic Champion Award. Naturally the identity of the winners is top secret until the actual awards ceremony so we can’t tell you here who the winners are but the awards ceremony will take place on Civic Day, Saturday 22 June 2019, so watch this space!

ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 23 10 April 2019 The Ramsgate Society would like to invite you to a Husting in respect of the Local Elections in May 2019. The Ramsgate A Husting is a meeting at which candidates in an election address potential voters who are then able to ask questions about the policies Society Hustings the candidates would pursue if elected. The local elections on 2 May 18 April 2019 2019 come at a time when there are a lot of issues facing Thanet generally and Ramsgate in particular. 7.30pm The future of both Manston Airport and the Port of Ramsgate are Royal Temple in the melting pot at the moment with strong views on both issues. Meanwhile local authority finances are in a critical condition with Yacht Club the complete removal of all Central Government Grant to Local Authorities in 2020. The effect of these austerities is already beginning to show but is likely to get much more serious over the next few years. Meanwhile there seems to be no end to the problem of litter in the town and homelessness and the shortage of affordable housing has become a serious problem. There is a lack of investment in our infrastructure and public realm and many people consider these problems as symptomatic of poor governance and management at Thanet District Council. This Husting is your chance to meet the candidates face to face. To ask questions about the things that concern you and to hear from them what they intend to do to make Ramsgate a better place to live and work Although the local elections on 2 May 2019 cover the whole of Thanet it is intended that this husting will focus on the Ramsgate Wards as this is The Ramsgate Society’s area of benefit. Each political party that is fielding candidates in at least two electoral wards within Ramsgate has been asked to send a representative to the Hustings. Each of these ‘party candidates’ will have the right to present their case for three minutes and to answer questions from the floor. Independent candidates will then be invited to make their personal statements, again lasting no longer than three minutes. After this the meeting will be open to a question and answer session during which members of the audience will have the chance to raise their concerns with the candidates. The Ramsgate Society is strictly non party political in its activities and these husting will be conducted as a “non-selective husting” as recommended by the Electoral Commission. A non-selective husting is one that would not reasonably be regarded as intending to influence voters to vote for or against any particular party or candidate. If the future of Ramsgate is something you care about come and meet the candidates in the May elections and discus your concerns and ask them what they propose to do for the town if they are elected. The meeting will close at approximately 9pm with time afterwards for informal discussion and networking over tea and coffee.

24 ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 1 March 2019

Welcome to new members

Steve Coombes - Ramsgate Sue Austin - Ramsgate Jeremy Green - Ramsgate Michael Betts & Jana Valencic

EFFINGHAM STREET OLD FIRE STATION (2019)

1 March 2019

See also: Newsletter “R” ‘Suggestions for Ramsgate’s ‘old’ Fire Station’ - “R” Newsletter The detail of the letter “R” on p1 is taken from the Effingham Street January/February 2019 p13 old fire station plaque. A mould of this plaque sits in the entrance to the new fire station Newington Road, Ramsgate.

JOIN IN?... THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY RAMSGATE MATTERS STUFF... Interested in being part of the SHOP The Journal of The Ramsgate Society. Photographs: society? Currently Closed. Opening details will be available Available FREE from: © The Ramsgate Society - on our website. — The Ramsgate Society web site The Ramsgate Promoting and Protecting the — By Post - please contact our Chairman Society unless Heritage of Ramsgate. for details [email protected] stated Information available from: — The Ramsgate Society web site ramsgate-society.org.uk "R" NEWSLETTER OF THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY, RAMSGATE, KENT, UK MARCH/APRIL 2019 25