The Sentinel by Publications

Sentinel

Local Matters

Sandgate

a dce2.0 company

December 2021

This magazine is compiled and edited by David Cowell who is totally responsible for content. If you do not wish to receive these magazines please email UNSUBSCRIBE to him at david@thesentinel.org.uk

Wishing you all a great festive holiday and may 2022 bring you everything you wish...and more!

The Sandgate Market provides three types of produce offerings: 1. Local produce: veg, cakes, honey etc 2. Local made: jewellery, soft toys and furnishings etc

3. Local enterprise: local residents running a a local business but selling products not necessarily produced locally but that you might just like to buy for yourself or as gifts

Local made

Local produce

Anji's Interiors

Usher's fruit Catherine and veg Jordan Cakes

Valentin Bakery

Marsh soap

Pauline's hand Gill Thompson made toys Jewellery

Arkwrights Pantry

Local enterprise ...and a chance to win £20,000

NE W

Dutch cheese

Handmade rugs, blankets, baskets and slippers

Our thanks to the Sandgate Parish Council and the Community Gardeners for allowing us to reproduce this diary page. We hope to make this a monthly feature in the magazine but you can read all the diary entries by clicking on this box. At last the cold stuff has arrived at the very end of November, and you can begin to think that the festive season really is around the corner. Plenty more leaves have fallen from the trees although some are still in place, however a good blast of wind probably due to come along any time now will do the trick, and the leaf clearing will soon be over. We have managed to fill our leaf bin full to the brim, and have squashed leaves into every available gap to make space for more. We cleared some of the herbs that had bolted, although the flower heads, such as the Dill, are full of flavour and good to mix into salad leaves. We had a few last onion sets to plant in any spaces where nocturnal animal visitors or birds had pulled them up and given them a taste! Fortunately none of the raiders seem to like onions and either spit them out half chewed or simply drop them on the path. We had a most welcome message from ‘Seed Craft’ during the week, offering us a box of garlic for which we were most grateful. Still time to plant onions and garlic if you have not done so already. More compost got bagged up to use at the alleyway and Golden Valley.as part of the great annual compost mulch for all ‘no dig’ enthusiasts. This is the time to dress as many of the beds as possible with a layer of new compost, and there certainly is plenty to do there. Paul, the Grounds Manager of Enbrook Park, took great pity on us having to barrow the newly acquired compost uphill to the garden from where it had to be delivered, and using some machinery, got it up to the garden for Sandgate Park tree planting us! Not sure quite how, but one day it 4

was down the hill outside the garden, and the next day, up the hill and in the garden…..happy days, thank you Paul! Now we can mulch away to our hearts content! Saturday was to have been the day to make a start, but we had to dodge the heavy showers mixed with hail, and just about managed to get the broad bean beds covered with fleece in preparation for promised frosts.on Sunday and Monday. The greatest news of the week is that the fruit and nut trees at Sandgate and Fremantle Parks Fremantle Park tree got planted at last after the initial hiccup in planting arranging planting days which did not then happen. There were twenty five trees in total. Apples, pears, plums, cherry and cob nut trees. There were twenty four bought and paid for, but we found a cheeky interloper hidden amongst them and thought we had better plant it anyway. We are most grateful to all those who came along to do the hard work, and there is now a small orchard in each park which we will all be watching over and helping to take care of. There are future plans to develop the areas under and around the trees, and we understand there will be official ceremonies to welcome the trees in June 2022, as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and organised by the Sandgate Parish Council. Thank you Parish Council for thinking of providing fruit and nut trees, giving flower and fruit for wildlife and local fellow humans to enjoy for many years to come. We understand that it is possible to sponsor one of the trees for £100 by contacting the Sandgate Parish Clerk Gaye Thomas at clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk or by calling 01303 248563. The trees are semi-dwarfing varieties and will therefore not grow to be enormous! What’s next? Start on that mulching at Enbrook Fill in any broad bean gaps Plant some pea shoot boxes for the cold frames Still more leaves to collect, the final push? Put fleece over the spinach and check on the brassica netting 5

https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/thesentinelbooks

Support local

Us he rs no fru w it a on nd -l i n v e eg

You can now order on-line at: https://www.usherswholesale.com/box

or by telephone on: 07515 529425

DE D

We deliver to Folkestone, Cheriton, Hawkinge, Capel, Alkham Valley, Saltwood, Sandgate, Seabrook, Hythe

SU SP EN

To advertise in three The Sentinels with circa 2300 targetted readers and growing please email me at:

The editor of The Sentinel is also responsible for sending Hythe, Newington and Sandgate related event information to the Folkestone Herald. If you have an event you wish to publicise it is needed by Tuesday at 17:00. The information should appear in the edition two weeks later although it is not gauranteed.

david@thesentinel.org.uk

for a rate card. Thank you. 16

All now available in paperback and on Kindle Set in Folkestone in the heady days of the late 60s. They say if you can remember it, you weren't there!

Two plays. One an imaginary meeting between Dylan Thomas and Brendan Behan in a Fitzrovia pub. The other is Caitlin Thomas reminiscing after the untimely death of her husband.

This is the tale of Hana, a young girl who moves from where she was born in London, to the Kent coast. They discover a wonderful area called Prince's Parade which is full of amazing animals, has a beautiful canal and is right next to the sea too! By buying this book you will be helping to protect it. All profits from it will be donated to the Save Prince's Parade campaign which aims to halt plans to develop the area into a housing estate. Very funny, and surreal story about a man and a woman on their first date: Bolton Brady and Veda, set in London, November 2001. Bolton is forty, not into assets, has never lived with a woman and looked into the future and seen loneliness. So he decides to do something about it. He advertises in a lonely-hearts column, and receives six replies, but after experiencing one disaster after another only Veda remains between him and his sanity. As the day unfolds the line between reality and fantasy becomes blurred, building to a surreal, yet poignant, conclusion. 18

This walk through the history of Sandgate to the present day was first performed at the Chichester Hall a decade ago on Wednesday, 9th June. It is now available on Kindle or in paperback.

Now available on Amazon. Great evocative yarns of worldly travels.

A Loose Cannon tales of a lapsed activist

Ted Parker

The title of the book hints at how, as a ‘loose cannon’, Folkestone born Ted’s risk-taking got him into trouble on a number of occasions whilst being a considerable advantage in his working life.

As a young journalist, Reg Turnill met most of the prewar political personalities and later became the BBC's space correspondent being the only one in the press room when the historic Houston we have a problem message came from Apollo 11. 19

F O L C A Folca is the old name for Folkestone We celebrate all activities in the Folkestone and Hythe district also known as Shepway See our comprehensive Directory and Blog pages

folca.co.uk

Great gift only £11.00 including P&P (UK mainland) www.the-find-online.com

Please support your local Farmers' Markets in 2021/22

ll wi as t g ke n t ar s lo an w M e for a ho h t at ide rs w e. h d t s e d out rad l tra e op ing ith t stil h n w n is It run le, d ca ep sib an ke pos

https://www.the-find-online.com

Support local

People talk

an occasional feature

Ros was fearful that she would not have much to say. She need not have worried. I hope you enjoy this wonderful celebration of a life so far.

Ros McCarthy, was born in Kent and educated locally in Folkestone, before embarking on a teaching career spanning over 30 years and taking her as far afield as Zambia. On returning to Kent, she taught mainly in state schools until joining the independent sector as Head of the Religious Studies department at Ashford School in 1983. She founded a new House for day girls before being appointed Head of Cobham Hall in 1989, where she remained until retirement in 2003. During her time at Cobham she served on the Girls’ Schools Association Council, and became National Chairman of the Boarding Schools’ Association. She was appointed as a founder member of the previous Government’s Advisory Group on partnerships between state and independent schools. During retirement she has continued with her educational interests and became Chairman of Commissioners at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School during the period it successfully sought Academy status. She is currently a Trustee of the Friends of the Folkestone Academy. She was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent in 2009. Ros has two adult children and is the proud grandmother of three girls – one of whom is half French and lives in Paris.

1. Ros, tell us a little about your childhood. I was born in a nursing home in Beachborough Road Folkestone in wartime (April 1943). My mother had refused to be evacuated from what became known as the ‘Hell-fire corner’ of Kent, in order to stay with my father, who was a member of ‘Dad’s Army’, patrolling the Channel coastline. As soldiers marched past the nursing home on their way to what is now Folkestone West station, they would sing ‘You are my sunshine’, while I was lustily, but less tunefully, testing my lungs! 23

continued on next page

During my childhood, my siblings and I enjoyed the freedom to roam, which health and safety rules would never allow today, and our main treat during holidays was to take a packed lunch down to what is now known as the ‘Sunny Sands’ beach and play in the sea all day. One year the whole family took a tent to the ‘Warren’ beach, and lived right next to the waves for some days - how my parents got all the equipment and provisions down to the bottom of the cliff I can’t remember, but we didn’t have a car and we certainly weren’t on an official camp-site. Money was always lacking, as my father, after a lengthy bout of TB in his youth, could only work part-time at first, but my mother grew all our vegetables, and made all our clothes. Our social life revolved almost exclusively around the Methodist Church, the Sunday School, the Youth Club and ‘The Girls’ Guildry’, sister organisation to ‘The Boys’ Brigade’. I became a Sunday School teacher, pianist and organist, accompanying various services, trained to become a ‘Local Preacher’ and earned enough badges in the Girls’ Guildry to be presented with its highest award - equivalent to that of a Queen’s Guide. At my primary school (St. Mary’s, Dover Road) I was one of the few pupils to pass the grammar school test, and at the Folkestone County School for Girls, because of my upbringing, I excelled at what was then known as ‘Scripture’ lessons, so was encouraged to go on to University to study Theology. There was little careers advice at that time, but I think the school thought its reputation would be enhanced by this choice. I was the first from my family to go to University and my friends and siblings no doubt found me quite insufferable!

2. Who or what were the main influences on your life? My parents and the Church-based life they chose, were obviously the main influences on me at first; my mother’s family was not financially able to send her to the grammar school, so she greatly encouraged any talent she saw in me, and my father was eventually able to fulfil a life-long dream of becoming a Methodist minister. When I left school to go to University, they embarked on a remarkable double act of religious ministry which lasted for the rest of their lives. One teacher from the grammar school had an impact on my life, lasting right up to the present day. Miss Rowland was the charismatic music teacher and choir mistress whom I was lucky enough to have as both a Piano and A Level exam Music teacher. My life-long choral society memberships and support of the Stour Festival and the Primavera Chamber Orchestra are inspired by the way she transferred her love of music to me. 24

continued on next page

At Leeds University, studying Theology, I became very influenced by the writing of John Robinson, then the controversial Bishop of Woolwich. His book ‘Honest to God’ challenged some of the rather naive religious ideas I had previously held, and enabled me to question the established beliefs of the day. By a strange coincidence I later met his son, Stephen Robinson, while teaching in Zambia, and even more strangely, was taught T’ai Chi by his daughter Catherine Robinson in recent years, at her classes in the Chichester Hall in Sandgate. Another inspiring person I met later in my career, during my time as a Headmistress, had been a Headmistress herself. Anne Mustoe deliberately retired in her mid-fifties, non-sporty and unfit by her own admission, to cycle solo around the world - I met her when she had just returned, and she supported and mentored me as part of her role as a Governor of Cobham Hall. She wrote a book about her adventure with the understated title ‘A Bike Ride’, and then went on to cycle the world again, this time the other way round, before further travels, cycling alone through many remote areas. I have all her books, personally signed and divided by the exotic postcards she sent me. I even received an honourable mention in one book when she stayed with me at Cobham Hall, cycling en route from Cleopatra’s needle in London to Cleopatra’s needle in Egypt. She was a feisty lady, great fun to be with over supper, which always included lots of red wine - a real role model! In addition to these people, the periods of time spent at University, in Zambia and at Cobham Hall have been hugely influential and formative.

3. What made you decide to pursue a career in teaching? Well…..what else can you do with a Theology degree? I had no desire to be a Nun and women vicars were not an option at that time! In any case, any religious vocation I may have had, had disappeared by the time I left University in favour of a purely academic interest in the religious dimension. I have mentioned that the careers advice given to girls when I was at school was not at all ambitious. In the days of my youth it was still the norm for women to give up work entirely when they married, but at least the grammar school encouraged us to be educated or trained for as long as possible, and to continue in education as a teacher was thought to be a suitable option. After graduating, I went straight into a school near Brixton in London, to take charge of a Religious Education department, but with no obligation to take even the Diploma in Education available to graduates then. So, throughout my career thereafter, I was technically an ‘unqualified’ teacher! 25

continued on next page

4. Can you tell us a little about your time in Zambia? Having married and taught in London for some months, an opportunity arose through the Ministry of Overseas Development for my husband to apply for a teaching position in Zambia. The financial advantages were clear as the salaries were good, and a lump sum paid out at the end of the 3 year contract would be substantial enough to get us on the housing ladder once back. There would also certainly be a teaching opportunity for me once we had arrived in Africa. We were offered a posting at a mixed ability boys’ boarding school at Mungwi, a small village in Zambia’s northern province, which meant we flew by jet to what is known as ‘The Copper Belt’ before transferring to an ancient Dakota which took us deep into the African Bush. It was a daunting journey; I had never flown before, there was no TV or phone available to us on the Mungwi campus and we were living in a tin-roofed shack, miles from civilisation and at least twenty miles from Kasama, the nearest small town, reached only by red laterite dust roads which corrugated in the dry season and flooded during the rains. For nearly three years my only contact with home was through an erratic postal service, and I found myself teaching whatever subjects were necessary, including English, Art, Maths and Music. Our colleagues came from many countries which had offered to help Zambians receive the education necessary for them to run an emerging, independent nation. Although teaching was conducted in English, one Russian only spoke his own language, but thought that if he shouted loudly enough, his Maths lessons would be understood. However, his popularity was ensured by the amount of vodka he seemed able to obtain freely from the Russian embassy! We quickly learned that teaching to the curriculum in order to pass exams was the only form of education acceptable - anything of interest which diverged from this drew immediate complaints from the students. We also felt some undeniable racial prejudice living as minority ‘whites’ in a newly independent black nation. The young President Kaunda was then in charge of what had been Northern Rhodesia and was promoting a strong form of African socialism. By contrast, Southern Rhodesia, which we also visited, was still in Colonial hands, and we enjoyed our obligatory tourist trip to the famous Zimbabwe ruins of an impressive ancient civilisation. When the independent nation of Zimbabwe eventually emerged, there were great hopes that its future would be just as illustrious as the old city ruins suggested had been the case centuries before, but sadly President Mugabe proved disastrous. On the border between Zambia and its southern neighbour we were fortunate enough to view the Victoria Falls - you could see what was known as ‘the 26

continued on next page

smoke that thunders’ from miles away. We were accompanied on this adventure by our three month old baby son, who of course, more than half a century later, has no recollection of this exciting journey, but he still has the Zambian birth certificate to prove where he was born!

5. State schools/Independent schools - can they co-exist? Although there has often been an uneasy relationship between the two sectors of education in this country, an Advisory Group to facilitate partnerships between them was set up by the Blair government, and I was invited to join this group. I understood that this appointment was made because of my experience of teaching across both sectors. The Labour Party has long expressed its opposition to private education, so it was surprising that efforts were made to allow both sides to contribute to genuine partnerships, many of which proved remarkably successful, at least in the short term. Because they are not funded by the State, independent schools have had an enviable degree of autonomy, and the freedom for schools to make their own decisions in the best interests of their own students is mainly why parents have been prepared to pay extra for their children’s education on top of the taxes they already contribute towards education. The reason for the government’s decision to allow new, autonomous state Academies to be set up, mirrored this freedom of choice, which it was hoped would help to raise standards. At one point it seemed that the two sectors might not simply co-exist, but might become closer partners. However, funding issues have in recent times undermined the ability for schools to remain autonomous and make their own decisions in both sectors. Financially hard-pressed small private schools have banded together in groups, with centralised bursarial and administrative support, while Academies are now more often than not part of large multi-academy trusts, administered centrally by a CEO. Even while I was at Cobham Hall I often seemed to be making more business decisions than educational ones in order to keep the school afloat!

6. What do you consider to be your main achievements at Cobham Hall? Early in my teaching career I certainly did not aim to be the Headmistress of an independent girls’ boarding school, but it became a possibility as my 27

continued on next page

children left home for University, and I gained the relevant experience regarding both boarding and the independent sector of education from my work at Ashford School. I can still claim to be the longest serving Head of Cobham Hall as I was in post there from 1989 until retirement in 2003 and my portrait now hangs in the Hall. While there I became the national Chairman of the Boarding Schools’ Association (both State and Independent), which enabled me to raise the profile of small boarding schools such as Cobham Hall, many of whom were under severe financial threat at the time. With the introduction of ‘The Children Act’ and a better understanding of the nature of modern boarding conditions, I was able to coin the phrase ‘sleepover schools’; many busy local parents of day pupils took advantage of the supervised breakfast and homework sessions and often booked their children into the boarding houses for short-term B&B breaks or for the many weekend activities. Cobham Hall during my time there did not fit the commonly imagined stereotype of an academically selective school, only for the privileged elite, but was in actual fact a comprehensive, all-ability school, multicultural in nature from its inception. There were at least 38 nationalities represented, and we were the first girls’ school to be part of the international group of ‘Round Square’ Schools, oddly named after the central square at Gordonstoun school. Cobham Hall was influenced by the educational philosophy of Kurt Hahn, the original headmaster at Gordonstoun, who also inspired the Duke of Edinburgh to set up an award scheme, and who urged his pupils to believe that ‘there is more in you than you think’. The aim of educating the ‘whole person’ appears as an aspiration in many school brochures today, but most schools can only pay lip-service to this ideal, with a strong emphasis on academic examination statistics still providing the main indicator of success. At Cobham Hall there was a genuine desire to bring out the best in each individual whether dyslexic, multi-lingual, physically handicapped, talented in music, art or sports or even, like Mishal Husain, one of my best known students, highly academically gifted. I could also list among my ‘achievements’ while at Cobham, the ability to evacuate the whole school when the police warned me that a ‘Rave’ attracting thousands of festival goers was being widely advertised as happening in our grounds over one Saturday night! Needless to say the Cobham girls were furious that they were not allowed to stay to join in the fun! I also managed to survive being taken to the High Court in London when the parents of a girl who had been awarded an Assisted Place sued me for removing it - she had done no work and had incessantly bullied her peers. The judge eventually agreed she should be removed after reading a touching letter written to him by the girl’s victims, so I take no credit for the verdict. However, I earned my 15 minutes of fame one evening when I was 28

continued on next page

whisked off to London in a BBC car to be interviewed by Peter Snow on ‘Newsnight’ about a scheme I had introduced to wean any smokers in school off the evil weed - I had not been told that I would be pitched against the author of a new book called ‘Smoking is Sublime’! I am very relieved that I left Cobham before the advent of Social Media, but tried to keep in touch with what was really going on in the school by regularly going ‘back to the floor’ and actually becoming a pupil for a day. Every three years I would shadow one of the Year 9 girls who would act as my ‘big sister’. I remember that Clemmie Hambro (once Princess Diana’s smallest bridesmaid) looked after me very well the first time I did it, although we spent far too long standing in the tuck shop queue! However, I can honestly say that my greatest achievement at Cobham Hall can be summarised by these words, written in their report by the last inspectors to visit the school during my time there………’This is a school at one with itself’.

7. Retirement obviously doesn’t mean slippers and day time television to you. How did Chairman of Commissioners at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School come about? After living, as well as working at Cobham Hall for over 14 years, I was ready for the next stage of my life to be more relaxed, but, although retirement allowed for more choice and flexibility, it evolved into yet another ‘career’, albeit voluntary and unpaid! Anyone with extensive educational experience can find that their ‘free’ time is much sought-after, particularly with regard to school governorships, and I took on several of these in State and Independent Schools before realising quite how timeconsuming they can be in today’s world. However, when I was approached by a former colleague to take on the Chairmanship of the Commissioners’ Education and Pastoral Committee at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School in Dover, I was, perhaps fortunately at that stage, unaware of the steep learning curve I would face, and of the almost fulltime nature of the role I would eventually take on. The members of the Governing Board of DYRMS were commissioned by the Queen (hence their title) and representatives of all three military services were represented on the Board by high ranking officers, overseen at that time by the Adjutant General. DYRMS operated as a fully boarding establishment and was state funded, not by the government’s Education Department, but by the Ministry of Defence. Unfortunately the Defence Ministry decided that, with the exception of some purely military expenses, it could no longer afford to underwrite the School educationally, and, with the advent of 29

continued on next page

autonomous State Academies, DYRMS was ordered to become an Academy in order to receive its funding from the Ministry for Education. It would seem that no-one had really thought this suggestion through, as DYRMS did not fit the Academy criteria of the time, being a full boarding school and also not being ‘challenged’ academically as other applicants for Academy status needed to be. It was at this time that I was asked to become the Chairman of Commissioners - the first woman and the first non-military Commissioner to take on the role. I think it helped that, firstly, because I was not trained to observe the ‘pecking order’ I could largely ignore the impressive military titles, and secondly, because I was not male and military the officers felt obliged to treat me with the utmost gallantry! Nevertheless, during the many meetings leading up to achieving Academy status, which took place either at DYRMS, Aldershot, or the Ministry of Defence, the minutes were almost indecipherable, being replete with either military or educational jargon and acronyms! However, since 2010, DYRMS has successfully functioned as an Academy, funded by the government’s Education Department and, despite the fears of a Commissioners’ ‘junta’ set up to safe-guard its admission policies and ethos, the School continues to thrive, with its military inheritance intact, and the uniformed parade on its annual ‘Grand Day’ as impressive as ever.

8. You now live in Sandgate. When did you first move there, and what do you like most or least about the sea-side village? I moved to Sandgate in 1989, the same year that I took up my appointment as Head of Cobham Hall School. It was fortuitous that the Old School building in Sandgate had just been converted into individual freehold ‘cottages’ and I became the first owner of Ullyett Cottage, named after Arnold Ullyett, who had been one of the old school’s most illustrious Headmasters and was a hugely respected leader in the Sandgate community of his time - the Sandgate Society archive has information which documents some of his many achievements. Having bought the cottage (complete with its tower) I lived in two places for the 14 years I was also at Cobham Hall, and soon discovered that the Darnley family, who had originally owned Cobham Hall, was also strongly linked to Sandgate, as the 4th Earl built his holiday home here - quite a coincidence! The Hon. John Bligh, his son, and the Countess of Chichester, his granddaughter, were much involved with the village school and the Sandgate community. I became good friends with Adam Darnley, the 11th Earl, as he was ViceChairman of Governors during my time at Cobham Hall. 30

continued on next page

One of the best things about Sandgate is of course its proximity to the sea, and in 2018 I was able to move to Coast Cottage with its uninterrupted view of the Channel. This small, cosy, former coastguard cottage had been the home of Linda Rene-Martin and her family since the 1930s and needed much renovation work, but, before her death in 2017, Linda had told me that she thought I should eventually buy it - and, by another strange coincidence, I sold Ullyett Cottage at the same time as Linda’s American family came to England and wanted to sell Coast Cottage. I was able to complete the purchase and so..……every year on Linda’s birthday, I toast her memory in champagne! There must be something in the Sandgate air that encourages interesting (and often eccentric) characters to live here - it’s another thing which is fascinating about the village. From Wilberforce to H G Wells, from Linda Rene-Martin to Reg Turnill the people here are never dull! Now that I am resident full-time in Sandgate, I appreciate even more its individually owned shops and coffee houses, the community spirit of the Sandgate Society, the Farmers’ Market and the welcoming village store! The only down-sides seem to be the dreaded A259 splitting it down the middle and the continuing parking problems. However, the much missed former Chairman of the Parish Council, Robert Bliss, was right to dub Sandgate a ‘Principality’ - there is no-where else quite like it!

9. Deputy Lieutenant of Kent is an impressive appointment. What does it entail? I was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent in 2009 which was a huge and unexpected honour. The DLs represent the Lord-Lieutenant, who in turn is the Queen’s representative in Kent, and, although most are male, there are now many more women in this role, and Kent now has its first female Lord-Lieutenant - Bella, the Lady Colgrain. I was pleased to discover she is also a former student of Cobham Hall! On taking up the position I received my commission from the Queen, which states (as is the tradition) that Her Majesty ‘does not disapprove’ of my appointment! In the past the Lieutenancy was formed to raise military armies for the monarch, which explains why the men still usually wear a military uniform, but this has evolved into raising armies of charitable volunteers and to encouraging those who serve the community. DLs participate in Citizenship ceremonies and advise on who should receive honours, awards and invitations to the Queen’s garden parties. They can also be called 31

continued on next page

upon to greet royalty visiting their county - I have only done this once, when the Duke of Kent attended ‘Grand Day’ at DYRMS. They are also often asked to make presentations on behalf of the Lieutenancy, and I enjoyed revisiting my old primary school (St. Mary’s in Folkestone) to address an assembly about the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, recounting how I was a pupil there when the Queen acceded to the throne. The DLs receive no expenses and must purchase their own uniform or (in the case of the ladies) their badge. For a while I was the ‘Link DL’ to Shepway District Council and, although, like the Queen, we are obliged to be non political, I held regular meetings with Council officials on matters of mutual concern and interest. All DLs (and even Lord-Lieutenants) must retire at 75, when we move to the supplementary list, but DLs retain their post-nominal title for life - and my grandchildren are impressed by the large gold badge!

10. Do you have sights on those slippers and day time television or are there other things you want to achieve? I have now largely withdrawn from professional responsibilities and have been one of the fortunate minority who really enjoyed the peace and quiet of the Covid lockdown, in contrast to what has been a busy, rewarding, but sometimes stressful life. However, I continue to be a Trustee of the Friends of the Folkestone Academy which distributes its charitable funds to support the school. Also, as a DL on the supplementary list, I can still sometimes be called upon for official duties such as the wreath-laying in Sandgate on Remembrance Sunday. However, my main aim now is to support my family, friends and the local community, enjoy the same cultural interests I have always done, and to retain my independence for as long as possible I hope to keep my marbles, mobility and memory for as long as possible! Editor: If you know someone local whose life experiences you feel should be shared do get in touch at david@thesentinel.org.uk

KSS

AIR AMBULANCE CHARITY KENT SURREY SUSSEX

Book a KSS talk

Do you belong to a group or club? • Learn about the amazing life-saving work being done by your local air ambulance 24/7 • Hear real life stories about the people we have helped • Find out how you could help support our work • Talks can be given by video call or in person, adhering to the latest government guidance

Book your free talk today Email: talks@aakss.org.uk

Call: 01634 471 900

Charity no. 1021367

If you would like to submit an article or letter please email it to me. I will print almost anything as long as it’s not libellous, racist or unkind. Name must be supplied but can be withheld if requested. Please put your articles etc in plain text or Word and images should be in .jpg, .tiff or .png. My contact details are: Address: Clyme House, Hillside Street, Hythe, Kent CT21 5DJ

Now order on-line at

www.eco-rock.co.uk

Mobile: 07771 796 446; email: david@thesentinel.org.uk