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Despite a damp night, around 200 people joined Folkestone’s Town Mayor, Councillors, representatives of the Nepalese and Filipino Community and many other communities for an evening procession from outside The Grand on The Leas down to the Harbour Arm.

The new “Son et Lumiere” event was organised by the New Folkestone Society (NFS) who wish to thank everyone who contributed to making it a success including the Officers and staff of Folkestone Town Council along with Folkestone and Hythe District Council who helped promote the evening and provided advice on the planning and logistical aspects.

The NFS would also like to thank the community groups and individuals who came together to read poetry and stories, including Matthew Hahn, and past and present members of FHODS (Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society), FPAC (Folkestone Performing Arts Company), Sunflower House and Write by the Sea.

Music was an important part of the event, with an amazing drummer and piper, David Simpson and Chris Bone, and Tom Klidzia playing a wonderful violin piece, specially composed for the event. Alex McNeice and members of the Showtime Choir lifted the spirits of the crowd, and everyone was supported by the expertise of Sophia and Tim at Seaview Studio and Folkestone Music Town.

Thanks also to David Harvey of Frizbee who arranged for first aid support from Folkestone Rescue, to Touchbase Care on Tontine Street for providing the minibus, to our First Aider, Rocky Ramharak, former serviceman and member of Folkestone Masons, and to the Folkestone Harbour Arm Team for their support in reserve. And last, but not least, NFS would like to thank Folkestone Taxis who provided transport for those who needed it for the procession.

The New Folkestone Society was delighted to work alongside Shorncliffe Trust who provided the lanterns and we acknowledge the continual work they undertake in promoting the historic relevance of Shorncliffe and Folkestone Harbour. The Folkestone Harbour & Seafront Development Company also provided huge support, and we value the access we have to such a historic and beautifully restored harbour arm and station platform which played a central role in the history of Folkestone in WWI.

We all carried the spirits of the men and women (the lanterns) from The Leas to The Harbour Arm at our first Folkestone Son et Lumière in 2024. The New Folkestone Society is planning to repeat the event again in 2025, working again with the Harbour Arm team, to include a return of the popular Walking with Ghosts experience.  If you are interested in getting involved in organising this event, would like to provide feedback or are interested in becoming a member of NFS, then please get in touch through our website: www.newfolkestonesociety.org.uk

To meet members of the Committee, discuss any matters you would like to raise, get an update on our Folca survey and have a short discussion on why heritage matters, come to the Sunflower House Coffee Morning on Friday 21 October.

More information can be found on the event page.

We conducted a survey at the Folkestone Air Display. The survey is now available online here.

Following the survey being featured as the headline article in the 21 September issue of Folkestone & Hythe Express, we will keep it open until 30 September 2022 to enable readers to participate.

New Folkestone Society is hosting Civic Day, an initiative set up by Civic Voice in 2011 to encourage people to engage in conversation about the future of their high streets and communities, with the vision of a society where everyone can say “I am proud of where I live!”

Whilst the Society’s remit is Folkestone, Cheriton and Morehall, it is aware that the future of each town has an impact on the entire district, so discussion must include people from across the district. Consequently, New Folkestone Society invited other civic and historical societies, museums, groups representing the arts and other community-minded associations to collaborate under one roof with stands to show what they are about, sell their products and hopefully get more people to participate in their activities.

The event is on Saturday 18th June from 11am-4pm in the Quarterhouse, Tontine Street, Folkestone. Admission is free. Come along to show your pride in your town or village, meet the people who run 23 organisations and find out what they do, learn more about the district’s history, see old photographs, discover new talks and events, find group activities to participate in and make your voice count on local matters. We will be serving reasonably-priced refreshments throughout the day.

Chairman Matthew Jones said: “Civic Day will have a marketplace-feel with a lively room full of discussions, including short talks in Speakers’ Corner from several key speakers. The Society really wants to hear the opinions of people from across the district on its future. We hope people will come along to celebrate their towns and villages, discover the district’s rich history and visitor attractions, and engage with us!”

The event has been made possible by the kind support of Folkestone & Hythe District Council, who provided a Free Use Day of the Quarterhouse, and the Creative Folkestone team.