Canada Day
Saying that the Canada Day ceremony at the Shorncliffe Cemetery was moving is an understatement: it was a privilege to acknowledge the bravery of the Canadian soldiers buried there.
FMTMN
1 Jul 2010
Folkestone and Hythe News
Connexions Prizegiving
Sometimes when we get depressed about the future of disaffected youngsters, our spirits are lifted by the successful schemes that are in place around the district. I was delighted to be asked to go to Little Switzerland in East Folkestone to present prizes to a group of young people who had spent several months learning how to improve the countryside in the local area.
FMTMN
30 Jun 2010
Interact Celebration and Handover with Folkestone Rotary Club
Excellent company and food at The Gurkha Palace created a very enjoyable evening. For this particular event, the business world met with some students from the Folkestone School for Girls, so that the girls could call on the skills of the Rotary members in order to maximise charity fund raising attempts.
FMTMN
29 Jun 2010
Folkestone Rotary Club Dinner
I was delighted to be asked to accompany Alan Risley-Settle to the meal where the handing over of the Presidency is announced. The speeches affirmed my opinion of the good work that the Rotary Club undertakes.
FMTMN
28 Jun 2010
Town Sunday Civic Service
Town Sunday is a tradition where the Mayor formally accepts the office of Mayor and promises to work for the people of Folkestone. Gathering around the cross in the grounds of St Mary and St Eanswythe's Church is the beginning of the formalities. In times past, this was the moment that the new Mayor was chosen and if he refused to accept the honour, his house would be burned down. I willingly agreed to be Mayor!
FMTMN
27 Jun 2010
Blessing of the Fisheries
Dressing into full robes is exhausting enough but standing in 30 degrees for an hour is sweltering! The procession to The Stade on Folkestone Harbour was led by the Folkestone Pipes and Drums and included Folkestone Town and Shepway District Councillors as well as clergy from various denominations, all fully robed and finding the heat overwhelming.
FMTMN
27 Jun 2010
British Armed Forces Day
I wouldn't have missed the British Armed Forces Day celebration on the Leas in Folkestone for all the world: I am so proud of our service men and women and those who have served us in the past, and judging by the many hundreds of people on the Leas, I'm not alone.
FMTMN
26 Jun 2010
Lydd Airport Public Enquiry Decision Delight
On Thursday 24th June, the Government Office of the South East "called in" the planning decision to expand the runway at Lydd Airport, also known as London Ashford Airport, stating that there will now be a public enquiry.
25 Jun 2010
Sure-start Centre Opening
The new Sure-Start Centre Nursery called Caterpillars in Chart Road (behind Morehall School) invited me to make the opening speech on the official opening day. It is even more of a delight to be invited to do such a thing when it is for the people in Ward where I serve as Councillor!
FMTMN
25 Jun 2010
Budget will protect the needy and the vulnerable - Hughes
Commenting on the budget, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes said:
23 Jun 2010
County Hall Officer Pay-off Slammed
Commented on national news reports that of Kent County Council's explanation of why it paid £365,000 to a director who left after a year in his job, Lib Dem Kent County Council Finance Spokesman Tim Prater said:
23 Jun 2010
The Budget: Cleaning Up Labour's Financial Mess
I've been clear in the past why we have to take difficult decisions to tackle the deficit and lay the foundations of a fairer society. These are not decisions that any government wants to take but we have no choice except to clear up the financial mess that Labour left us. Today's Budget takes these difficult decisions in an honest and fair way and with the clear stamp of Liberal Democrat values running through it.
NCDPM
22 Jun 2010