Samuel Plimsoll
A talk by Nicolette Jones.
ABOUT THE TALK
In the second half of the nineteenth century, a remarkable campaign stirred a nation to save the lives of the hundreds of British sailors a year who drowned for preventable reasons. Overloaded and poorly maintained ships set sail, their doomed crews sacrificed while greedy shipowners profited from insurance. Samuel Plimsoll exposed these scandals, became a national hero, and led a dramatic social and political movement for maritime reform which still resonates today.
Nicolette Jones’s illustrated talk chronicles the campaign of the man who spent his later years in Folkestone and was laid to rest at St Martin’s Church, Cheriton.
Copies of Nicolette’s award-winning book The Plimsoll Sensation, which was a Radio 4 Book of the Week, will be available at a special discount (cash only).
Doors open at 2pm for a 2.30pm start. Refreshments will be served.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Nicolette Jones is a writer, journalist and broadcaster who has worked for all the national broadsheets and the book-trade press. Her book about the Victorian philanthropist Samuel Plimsoll and his campaign on behalf of sailors, The Plimsoll Sensation (Little, Brown/Abacus), was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, received widespread critical acclaim, and won maritime literature prizes in the UK and USA.
She collaborated with the author and illustrator Raymond Briggs on an overview of his work Blooming Books (Cape), and has co-edited an award-winning guide to English usage. Specialising in literary and arts journalism, she is the children’s books editor of the Sunday Times, and has been a reviewer, feature-writer, diarist, sub-editor and book-prize judge — from the Orange (now Baileys) prize for fiction to children’s book awards. She regularly chairs events at literary festivals, and has directed the children’s programme at the Oxford Literary Festival. In 2012 she was shortlisted for the Eleanor Farjeon award for her ‘outstanding contribution to the world of children’s books’. She is a trustee of the National Academy of Writing, which runs creative writing courses for aspiring authors.
Originally from Leeds, she was a scholar at St Hilda’s College, Oxford. She spent a year as Henry Fellow in the graduate school of English at Yale University, where she was a teaching assistant on the celebrated Daily Themes writing course. She has two children and lives in London; her husband is also an award-winning writer and journalist.
ABOUT THE VENUE
The Back Hall is located within the Cornerstone Centre, formerly the United Reformed Church, next to Folkestone Central station. It is located on Castle Hill Avenue, near the junction with Cheriton Road. From the main entrance to the church, walk towards Kingsnorth Gardens and take the path behind the church, just before Bus Stop C.
The hall is on the ground floor with no stairs and has a disabled toilet. There is a slight step into the entrance and a couple of 90 degree turns to enter. If you have any accessibility needs, please Contact Us so we can make arrangements for you, including on-site parking.
TRAVEL TO THE VENUE
By Bus:
The venue is close to the Folkestone Central stops.
Stop A serves buses heading towards Folkestone town centre from Canterbury (16/17), Cheriton (71/71A), Creteway Down / Dover Road (76) and Hawkinge (73).
Stop B serves buses departing from Folkestone Bus Station towards Broadmead (74), Canterbury (16/17), Cheriton (71/71A), Creteway Down / Dover Road (76), Dover via Temple Ewell (91A) and Hawkinge (73).
For timetables, to book tickets and to check for any journey delays or cancellations, visit the Stagecoach website or download the app.
By Car:
There is a controlled parking zone around the Cornerstone Centre. Parking can be found on Shorncliffe Road or the dual carriageway part of Castle Hill Avenue. Alternatively, you can pre-book a space at Folkestone Central station via the APCOA website or app.
By Train:
Take the train to Folkestone Central station (one stop on from Folkestone West coming from London/Ashford). When exiting the station, turn right, follow the road to the end, then walk under the bridge on your right. The Cornerstone Centre is the church in front of you.
For timetables, to book tickets and to check for any journey delays or cancellations, visit the Southeastern website.
BOOKING TICKETS
Tickets will be available on the door subject to availability – cash or card accepted.
To guarantee your place, book on Ticketsource without fees by clicking the ticket below.
