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THE
DOVER WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT
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Latest News 2009
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Service Records
14 December 2009. Joyce Banks has very kindly been making
notes on the service records of our Great War Fallen. She works
so hard and so quickly our typing fingers can't keep up with
her! So in order to make the information available as quickly as
possible, we've opened a
new
section. There are plenty more to come.
As always, we offer to Joyce our very grateful thanks for her
dedication and untiring work in honour and memory of our Fallen. |
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 The
Great War Autograph Album - Redruth
3 December 2009. We've recently been permitted to view this
delightful little document, an album of signatures from Great
War Soldiers recuperating at Redruth. Left is the
Lady-of-the-tea, from the book.
Simon Chambers has been researching the names. Sadly, amongst them are
several who later lost their lives on the Western Front. But
there's also a VC winner who saved lives ... and whose honoured
name later suffered a touch of jiggery-pokery!
Find out more
here - and if you can tell us more, please do! |
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 Christmas Lights Switch On
24 November 2009. Get into the festive spirit all day
THIS SATURDAY, 28 NOVEMBER with Dover's glorious Switch On!
There'll be street entertainers - statues, dancers, jugglers,
stiltwalkers just as starters - mince pies and wine, and Santa
has
 even lent his very own reindeer.
Don't miss St Mary's Church Hall, right by the church, where
those wondrously good eggs, The Friends of the Dover War
Memorial Project, will be holding a Christmas Market. Between 10
am and 6 pm, the Market features stalls of myriad delights -
jewellery, cards, mini-knits, toys, photography, mosaics
....We're sure you won't need encouragement to look in - but if
you're feeling peckish, don't miss the refreshments too,
starting at 12!
pictures Michelle and Andy Cooper |
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Dedication of the New Plaque on the Memorial
 17
November 2009. Armistice Day, 2009. The dedication of the new
plaque was a beautiful and moving ceremony. There was a large
crowd of people, including many relatives and friends of our
Fallen, veterans, school children, and passers-by who stopped to
join the event. Dover
 Town
Council hosted the occasion magnificently; and many of the Staff
and Councillors joined us, including The Right Worshipful, the
Town Mayor of Dover, Cllr Sue Jones (right).
An
account of the dedication is here; if you have a Dovorian
loved one who fell during the two World Wars of the 20th
century, and would like her or his name considered for the next
plaque, scheduled for 2012, please
contact The Dover War Memorial Project |
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Engagement!
12
November 2009. Some more happy news from DWMP HQ!
 This
evening Helena, Maggie S-K's middle daughter, and Alistair
announced their engagement. The couple have been together for
over six years, having met as undergraduates at Cambridge. (In
the picture, right, we suspect Alistair may have ended up second
in the snowball fight!)
It's Alistair's birthday on 14 November, so it'll be an
extra-special celebration. Congratulations to Helena and
Alistair, and best wishes. May they have many happy years
together. |
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North Board School Memorial
 11
November 2009. On the morning of Armistice Day The Dover War
Memorial Project presented to Mundella School, in the Black Bull
Road, Folkestone, an image of the
North Board School Memorial. Mundella was formerly known as
the North Board Schools, and was the school attended by Walter
Tull and his brother Edward before they were sent to the
orphanage in London. The original memorial was destroyed, we
believe, during a bombing raid in World War II.
In the picture is Mrs Lynn Seal, headteacher of the school, Mr
Neil Hearn, Vice-Chairman of the Governors, and in the centre,
Maggie S-K. More details, including a list of the names on
the memorial, are
here |
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Remembrance Sunday
8 November 2009 
Thank you to Friends of the Dover War Memorial Project, Michelle
and Andy, who laid the wreath today at our Dover Town Memorial.
For two minutes the country was stilled, as
people gathered by Memorials everywhere to remember with honour
those who have lost their lives in armed conflicts.
 Above
is Olney in Buckinghamshire, where Maggie and Simon paid
their respects to
 all our Fallen,
at 11am this Remembrance Day.
During the afternoon, New Bradwell held their Remembrance
ceremony, at the unusual clock tower memorial. The parade was
led by the New Bradwell Silver Band.
Wherever we are, wherever they are now - "We will remember
them".
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Dedication of the New Plaque on the Town Memorial
 29 October 2009. The Remembrance Service at the Town
Memorial, with wreath-laying, will take place on 8th November
from 10.30.This year there is an additional service; the
Memorial is to be updated with a new bronze plaque containing
22 further names of our Dovorian Fallen. The service of
dedication will be conducted by Rev David Ridley, the Mayor's
chaplain, and children from St Mary's primary school and the
local Sea Cadets will be in attendance.
The service will begin at around 10.40 and end around 11.15. |
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Memorials
16 October 2009. We've been a little quiet online owing
to family matters. Even so the work of Remembrance
 continues!
We visited the National Memorial Arborteum at Alrewas,
Staffordshire, to stand for a few moments at many of the
memorials in honour of those who died in conflict, including the
great Armed Forces Memorial, for those who have died in service
since 1945. The Memorial is designed such that the wreath in the
centre (left) is illuminated by the rays of the sun at the 11th
hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
The group sculpture represent a fallen serviceman borne by his
comrades, and the figures either side are representative of the
many family members who suffer when a loved one is killed.
Several memorials have been dedicated at the Arboretum over the
past few
 weeks.
We were privileged on September 15 to attend that of the Most
Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, whose
members are familiar for offering First Aid facilities at events
across the country.
Their Grand Prior is HRH The Duke of Gloucester; pictured, above
right inspecting the many skills badges won by a Badger, the
youngest members of St John's, and left, taking the salute. The
Memorial is in the shape of the St John's badge, here, left,
viewed side on.
In the autumn afternoons leading up to Remembrance, we
visit some of the many memorials and war graves local to
us. Amongst the names on the War Memorial at Yardley Gobion is a
plaque dedicated to the Canadian crew of a Wellington that
crashed near the
 village.
Inside St Leonard's church, the lectern, left, bears the
inscription:
"AMDG. This lectern is dedicated by Parishioners and Friends to
the Memory of Eight Brave Airmen and in Thanksgiving for a Great
Deliverance - 20th March 1944"
At Cranfield an airfield was opened in the late 1930s, used
during the Second World War for training.
 Amongst
the RAF burials in the churchyard of St Peter and Paul are two
pilots killed in crashes during the months before the start of
that war. Meanwhile, at nearby Moulsoe, in the railed family
plot at the church of St Mary, is buried Albert Wynn-Carrington,
Viscount Wendover. He was just twenty when he was horribly
wounded near Ypres in May 1915, dying four days later at
Boulogne. His body was brought home to England the next day.
Close by is the grave of Joseph Nichols, whose son, also Joseph,
lost his life "on Passchendael Ridge" on 13 February 1917. |
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Walter Tull
23 September 2009. Phil Vasili, who discovered the story
of Walter Tull while researching Black footballers in Britain,
is publishing a new book about Walter. Details are
here |
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The Great Toad Race
 14
August 2009. On 6th September the Great British Duck
Race will be held on the Thames near Hampton Court. But the
ducks won’t have it all their own way – amongst the anticipated
record 175,000+ yellow toys will be a hundred plastic toads
floated by members of the
Catweazle Fan Club.
Maggie’s a member and so
the DWMP have our own entry – "Toad Kitchener". His
number is 44 (after the year Dover was liberated from shelling),
and here’s his race profile:
Toad Kitchener’s
well-known saying is “Your Duck Race Needs YOU” He’s currently
living in the Dover War Memorial Gardens under a lump of chalk
that fell off the White Cliffs. He limbers up for the Great Race
by a dip in the harbour every morning and dodging the seagulls
on the way home (those ducks’ll be a doddle now). Motto: “Eat
slugs for Victory and remember to change your socks!”
It's all tongue-in-cheek,
but there’s a serious purpose. The race raises funds for charity
– and the bonus is that if Toad Kitchener should win, the prize
will help the Dover War Memorial Project continue its work too.
So do cheer our toad on!
PS
the picture is of a real toad. This is NOT Toad Kitchener. The
toad we're racing is a plastic toy. No real animals are used in
the race. All race toys will be removed from the water at the
end. Update: Poor
old Toad Kitchener. Clearly he needed more practice, as the race
went to Lady Letitia Longshanks. With a name like that, no
wonder she'd got paddle-power in her pins! Never mind,
Toad - better luck next year. |
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The big day! Emily, Maggie S-K's eldest daughter, marries Luke. The wedding and reception, followed by a celebratory
barn dance, took place in Solihull.
It was a superb day, and a brilliant start to Luke and Emily's
new married life together. Congratulations to the happy couple,
and we wish them many joyful years together.
illustrations: Luke and Emily outside the
register office; detail of the wedding ribbons from
The Fabric Fairy;
Emily with her sisters, Susannah and Helena; and Maggie with
Emily and Luke after signing the register. Photos by Simon John
Chambers |
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Walter Tull Exhibition
3 August 2009. Michael Stanier, of The Grand, on the Leas at
Folkestone, tells us that the hosting of the exhibition at
Folkestone was a great success, with several thousand visiting
it. He adds that the intended last day, 31 July, "was manic"! So
successful has been the exhibition that it ran beyond its
scheduled finishing date, until the main panels had to be returned to London this
morning.
However, some components will remain for another couple of
weeks. They include displays from Mundella School (Walter's old
school), and from Step-Short and the Folkestone People's History
Centre. Also remaining are the "Tull Trail" panels, from the
Dover War Memorial Project, which detail many of the places in
Folkestone and Dover associated with Walter Tull and his family.
We thank Michael very much indeed for hosting the exhibition,
and Folkestone Town Council and Lawrence Avory, the Town Clerk
of Folkestone, for making the arrangements. If you missed the
main display, do still pop in to the Grand, as there is much
still to see. |
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Harry Patch
25 July 2009.
Harry Patch
1898 - 2009
Rest in Peace
He was the last Great War veteran in Britain. They are now
indeed our Lost Generation.
"War is not worth one life," said Harry Patch. In memory of all
those whose lives were taken, let us live the gift of our
lives to the full, in thanksgiving. |
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Henry Allingham
18 July 2009.
Henry Allingham
1896 - 2009
Rest in Peace
When asked about the accolades he was receiving, as one of the
last survivors of the Great War, he said, "I feel that I don't
deserve it. It's trading on other men who did so much for me and
everyone else here."
As are all our lives. We are forever grateful. |
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Maggie's brother.
 17
July 2009. As quite a few of you know, Maggie S-K's brother has
been in hospital. We're delighted to say that he's now home.
Thank you so very much, to all of you, who have been enquiring
about his health and progress, and for all the good wishes you
have sent for his recovery.. |
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New
Plaque for the Memorial in Dover
10 July 2009. The plaque
of names to be added to the War Memorial has now arrived! There
is it is, left, in the workshop of Cleverley and Spencer,
Monumental Masons, Dover.
They will be adding it to the memorial, on a date to be decided
by the Town Council. We'll keep you posted!. |
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Walter Tull Exhibition Opens in Folkestone
 10
July 2009. From now until the end of July, the Walter Tull
Exhibition is on display at The Grand, on the Leas. There's a
host of other displays too in the alcove to the right of the
main entrance, including the "Walter Tull Trail" by the Dover
War Memorial Project and The Friends of the Dover War Memorial
Project, showing just some of the local places in Dover and
Folkestone connected with Walter and his family.
Mundella School, Walter's old school, have also displayed some
of the work they've been doing on him and his career, and
there's a super little animation, created by children under the
direction of a professional animator. Above are some of the
children from the school, who sang at the opening of the
exhibition "Please don't leave us", the haunting little song
from the musical performance of Walter's life, describing the
moment when Clara, their stepmother, had to take Walter and his
brother Edward to the orphanage in London. With speeches from
Maggie S-K and Michael Stanier, of The Grand, the exhibition was
opened by Cllr Janet Andrews, the Mayor of Folkestone. There she
is, above, with the children.
Above ....just some of the people who attended
the opening - from right to left they are Mr and Mrs Paul
Everitt, related to the family of William Tull, Michael Stanier
of The Grand, Stephen Coombe, cousin of Walter Tull, and Janet
Andrews, Mayor of Folkestone. In front of her is Rita Humphrey,
great niece of Walter Tull, and next to her is Sandra, her
daughter. Sandra's dad, Charles, is to the far left. Behind Rita
is Andy Cooper, Secretary of The Friends of the Dover War
Memorial Project, next to him is Maggie S-K, and Lynn Seal, head
of Mundella.
With grateful thanks to The Friends of the Dover War Memorial
Project for their support and for the Tull Trail display. |
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"Land
of Hope and Glory!"
 6 July 2009.
Dover en fête! From the carnival that sang, played and danced
its way through the town, to a fun music day by Priory Forum in our
beautiful Pencester Gardens by the River Dour, what a glorious
weekend it was in our frontline town, as it celebrated the best of local
community.
It all kicked off with the Proms in the town hall, a building with roots in
the 13th century.
 Here,
between the wars, Dovorians used to gather for Remembrance concerts - and we
sang our hearts out to all the old favourites they too used to sing;
"Jerusalem", "Land of Hope and Glory", and, of course "Rule Britannia". She
even graced us with her presence, just spottable in the picture above is
Britannia herself, complete with trident and shield.
The horticultural show at Pencester finished the weekend with a fun dog
show, a pet show (Maggie's niece Nikki won second prize with her pet
rats!), a superb display in the horticultural tent, including a fearsome
fire monster made from chillis and peppers, and of course the ever-popular
paper boat race down the River Dour. There's the launch on
 the
left above - though we have to say that not every boat successfully managed
to "Rule the Waves"!
It was a special day of note for the Friends of the Dover War Memorial
Project as they held their first-ever stand. (Plenty more are
planned!). There it is,
above, with three of the Friends - Brian, Andy and Michelle. The display
moves on now to the Walter Tull Exhibition in Folkestone between 8 and 31
July, with new panels about Walter Tull's local connections.
It'll be back in Dover for the Regatta on 8 and 9 August, in honour and
memory of all those who gave their lives so we could enjoy ours .... and who
kept our homeland "Mother of the Free". |
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The Walter Tull Exhibition
26 June 2009.
The Walter Tull Exhibition has
now ended at Dover Discovery Centre, and is moving on. Despite the problems
of vandalism and the theft of the collection boz, it's been a great success.
Marie Bchara at the Centre estimates a daily average of some 898 visitors to
the building, all of whom had the opportunity to learn more about our local
hero and pioneer.
It was much appreciated it too.
"A wonderful
exhibition – a real eye-opener about someone rising above adversity though
through use of his gifts. Well done Walter Tull and also done for bringing
this for us to see," said one Dovorian. Some of Walter's English relatives
still live in Dover, "He is remembered as a genuinely nice man, who didn’t
let the prejudice of his day stop him. It proves what can be achieved
despite a difficult start in life."
Meanwhile a whole family of Tulls wrote, "A
unique individual, arguably ahead of his time. We are proud to bear the same
name". All eight Tulls signed individually. Another family travelled
especially from London to see the display; another Londoner wrote, "So
glad he is not forgotten ...he deserves his Military Cross. Amazing
exhibition, a great man!" But .... perhaps the prize for the furthest
distance travelled goes to the couple who wrote, "A remarkable story and a
pleasure to see him receive long overdue recognition." They were from
Honolulu!
It won't be necessary to travel too far from Dover for another chance to see
the exhibition. From 8 July it will be just along the coast at
The Grand Hotel, on the The Leas in Folkestone, Kent, complete with
newly-created panels detailing Walter's Folkestone links. Do visit if you
can! |
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Armed
Forces Day.
 22
June 2009 - Here's Dover, getting ready to raise the flag for
the first Armed Forces Day.
Cadets from across the district, with the Chairman of Dover
District Council and the Town Mayor, attended the ceremony this
morning, by our War Memorial.
Armed Forces day is 27 June this year, and it's intended to
demonstrate support for everyone linked with the armed services,
from those currently on active service through to veterans,
recruits, and their families.
In the picture with our cadets are Rev Andy Bawtree, from River,
and Brigadier Iain James OBE, Deputy Constable of Dover Castle.
photo © Locations Photography. Tel: 07976 914374
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Theft and Vandalism - and Wonderfully Good Hearts!
 20 June 2009.
What can we say? After the dreadful blow of finding our display
vandalised and the collection stolen, we can truly say there are
far more good hearts than bad in the world - and that Dovorians
are amongst the best-hearted!
So many people joined in condemning the disrespect to our Fallen
Dovorians, and helping to cover the costs of the repairs and
theft. On the left are Jeannette Harper, Chairwoman of the
London Road Community Forum and Chris Precious, Chairman of the
George Cross for Dover Campaign, making donations to Andy
Cooper, Secretary of The Friends of the Dover War Memorial
Project. The photo was taken by our very own Joyce Banks,
volunteer extraordinaire, who discovered the vandalism, and
whose good husband Brian helped patch up the damage as best as
possible so the exhibition could continue. Thank you very much,
all of you.
Thank you too to Rhys Griffiths, of the Dover Express, for
support and advice, and to the many other kind people who helped
and who made generous donations for repair and replacement,
including the Urban Surgeons, Phil and Mandy, and our stalwart
transcriber, Jean Marsh.
As Andy said in the Dover Express, "The response has made me
proud to be a Dovorian .. .when you get a response from people
who are so generous and kind-hearted, it affects you. I was in
tears when people started coming forward. It is terrific". Our
Andy is a big gruff scary fellow, says Maggie S-K, so his tears
thoroughly underline how wonderful you all are. |
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 Heaven Sent!
20 June 2009. Today is a day of thanks!
The Friends of the Dover
War Memorial Project have received items from ... the stars!
Many of those who took part in the enthralling BBC series "Who
do you think you are" have donated items to The Dover War
Memorial Project to help with fund-raising.
The series explores the stories behind the names - who are they,
and who were their family? That's exactly the same approach
taken by the Dover War Memorial Project in remembering our
casualties - not as statistics or campaigns or names engraved in
stone or metal, but as real individual people, with families who
truly soldiered on, no matter what the cost. Indeed, part of our
Walter Tull exhibition, currently in Dover Library is
called "Who Did He Think He Was?"
As above, we've seen gruff strong men reduced to tears - and
quite a few of the ladies
 too! - when they learnt what had
happened to their ancestral families. The past isn't always
golden and rosy, as we might be tempted to see it today. But we
hope thanking them for their generosity and support will bring a
smile - their kindness will help ensure that others who suffered
in the most appalling of ways in the most dreadful of times, our
Fallen and their families, will never be forgotten.
Thank you so very much to Sheila Hancock, Ian Hislop, Rolf
Harris, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, to Boris Johnson, Bill
Oddie, David Tennant, Lesley Garrett, Ainsley Harriott,
Catherine Tate, and to Jeremy Paxman, David Suchet, Barbar
Windsor, Michael Palin, Carol Vorderman, and to Colin Jackson.
Thank you also to Manchester City Football Club, Blackburn
Rovers Football Club, and Arsenal Football Club.
True stars - and may you continue to shine brightly!
To help with the fund-raising and to see the treasures we were
given, do have a look
here
illustrations -Rolf Harris tee shirt and book, and Ian Hislop's
tie, worn on "Have I got news for you!" |
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"The Friends" on E-bay
11 June 2009. The
Friends of the Dover
War Memorial Project have created a new E-bay account
(FODWMP)selling items for fund-raising. Amongst those who have
so kindly donated are Lesley Garrett and Jeremy Paxman.
The Secretary of The Friends is an established E-bay seller -
see here for more
information, and bid and buy with confidence! |
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Theft and Vandalism
3 June 2009. Very sadly we have to say that someone has
irreparably damaged two of the panels of the Dover War Memorial
Project exhibition, part of the Walter Tull exhibition in Dover
library. It seems that this person was behaving inappropriately,
and took his revenge when asked to leave by the library staff.
Also, the collecting tin at the exhibition has been stolen, the
links of the chain that secured it sheared through.
This is a very great disappointment, and a heavy blow
financially. The Dover War Memorial Project is run entirely by
volunteers and is heavily subsidised by Maggie S-K. We can only
keep it going at all thanks to the kindness and generosity of
others, and it's hard indeed to think that they have been
betrayed by a couple of dishonest and self-interested people.
Even worse, though, is the total lack of respect shown to our
Fallen, and to their families, who mourn their losses to this
day.
This, we believe, underlines the need in our modern age for a
Project such as ours. We can only hope that those who have
perpetrated these unpleasant deeds will one day come to
understand how great was the sacrifice made for them by others,
so that they could have the lives of freedom they enjoy today. |
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 Walter
Tull's Dover
15 May 2009.
Mr Peter Lake, Chairman of
 Kent County Council, cuts the ribbon
to open the Walter Tull Exhibition at the library.
Who did he think he was? Does your family
live in a house that once belonged to the Tulls in Dover? Or
maybe you're even related to Walter!
Discover Walter Tull's Dover - and meet more
Dovorians who Fell - at
the library now!. |
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 Today
is ME/CFS Awareness Day
12
May 2009. ME/CFS is a life-stealing neurological condition.
Sufferers have a range of symptoms; they can include agonisingly
painful cramps and headaches, through tiredness to the point of
collapse even when trying to achieve simple day-today tasks
(described as having "an elephant always on your back"), and
"brain fog", where one is unable to think or concentrate
clearly. Others include memory loss, nausea, and extreme and
painful sensitivity to light or sound or smell or touch. Drugs,
even commonplace ones such as a tiny measure of alcohol, can
have a devastating effect, as though the sufferer has imbibed a
severe overdose. 25% of the estimated 250,000 sufferers in the
UK are so badly affected they are bedbound and may even be
intubated as they cannot swallow.
There is no cure. Anyone might acquire this
life-long disability - it can be triggered by stress, a trauma,
including an operation, or by infections, such as the 'flu. As many
of you know, Maggie S-K has two daughters affected by ME/CFS.
One of the debilitating factors in ME/CFS is that sufferers are
so often disbelieved; they're treated in a way that can and does
increase the harm, and they're often told that it's a
psychological illness, with the implication that they'd get
better if only they'd get a grip . If only .... if only that
were true.
Everyone can help sufferers from ME/CFS by
learning a little more about this horrible illness, and then
following one simple guideline : -
Don't "diss" ME/CFS - because DIS-belief
increases DIS-ability. |
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The Friends of the Dover War Memorial Project
14 May 2009. Just begun - our new
pages for The
Friends, including Fund-Raising Items for Sale.
and signing up for the quarterly e-newsletter.
Do look! |
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The 11th hour of the 11th Day
 1
May 2009. Isn't he sweet! This is Mungo, just for the moment
putting aside such essential canine matters as who will throw
his ball, or when is dinner-time. The reason? Well, as honorary
mascot of The Friends of the Dover War Memorial Project, Mungo's
listening intently to plans for the opening of the
Walter Tull Exhibition at the Discovery Centre in Dover.
The Friends are delighted that Marie Kelly
Thomas has agreed to sing a song composed by schoolchildren
about Walter Tull, from the original launch of the exhibition in
London. The Chairman of the Kent County Council, Mr Peter Lake,
is honouring us by cutting the ribbon, after speeches from The
Friends, given by Mr Gordon Cowan, Town, District, and County
Councillor, from Camilla Bergman, of The City of Westminster
Archives which led the year-long commemorations, and ... um ...
well, a few words from Maggie S-K too.
The Friends of the Dover War Memorial Project
already have a full calendar of events, and, we hear, have some
other exciting news too. It'll all be published on our new
"Friends" page. But in the meantime - the date to remember is
the 11th Hour of the 11th Day ... of the 5th Month! |
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Civic Awards 2009
28 April 2009. The Mayor's Civic Awards for Voluntary
Service began in 2008, and are intended to r ecognise
people of Dover who give of their time freely for the benefit of
others.
Guess who was awarded one this year! With her
family, standing on the left of the Mayor is our very own Joyce
Banks, stalwart researcher for the Dover War Memorial Project,
and definitely with bloodhound in her ancestry - she never gives
up on a trail for information!
Here's the citation that gained her the award, "Joyce is a
very quiet lady who does so much to help people all over the
world to seek out relatives for their family history. She
trawls the internet, spends hours at the library and also
researches the local cemeteries. She also travels miles to meet
the families, putting them in touch with those who are far flung
across the world.
She seeks no
reward and in her words “she just loves it unravelling the
past”. She has set up a website which has so much history of
the names of roads in Dover, why and when named, also a potted
history of the events and people that shaped the town.
She also
helps with the War Memorial Project when asked."
Just so. There's only one correction we'd
make - that Joyce never needs to be asked to help with the Dover
War Memorial Project. Instead, she finds information and helps
wherever she can. Though we do ask too! We don't live in Dover
at the moment (sadly), and Joyce is our lady-on-the-spot; always
willing to find that vital fact that solves the mystery.
Well done, our Joyce. An award that's richly
deserved.
left to right in the photo -
Trevor, of TKWebservices, who designed and hosts Joyce's sites;
Lesley, of Urban Surgeons, who so kindly helps care for graves;
our Mayor, Diane Smallwood; Joyce; and her husband Brian,
proudly holding the award. |
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 Updated
Names on the Memorial
15 April 2009. Cleverley and Spencer, Monumental Masons of
Dover, have undertaken the work, and Dover Town Council have
kindly sent us this template for how the new panel for the War
Memorial will look.
Very handsome, we feel.
There are a couple of slight alterations to
be done, and after that - it's off to the foundry!
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The Walter Tull Exhibition
11 April 2009. The
Walter Tull Exhibition will be in Dover in one month's time!
It's open at Dover Library, The Discovery Centre, Market Square,
between 11 May and 29 June.
The Friends of the Dover War Memorial Project
have organised an opening ceremony for this nationally important
event. We are absolutely delighted that Mr Peter Lake, Chairman
of Kent County Council, has agreed to open the exhibition. The
ceremony will begin at 10.45 for 11 am on 11 May.
Do please come along if you can, and discover
more about our nationally and internationally famed local hero. |
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 Updated
Names on the War Memorial
30th March 2009. Following communications from the Dover War
Memorial Project with Dover Town Council, the Events Committee
of the Council on 5th March resolved to recommend that a
quotation for further names to be added to the War Memorial
should be accepted. This was agreed by the Full Town Council on
25th March.
The War Memorial will therefore in due course
therefore be updated with the names
on this list.
We of the Dover War Memorial Project know how
much this means to the relatives of those who died. Thank
you, Events Committee and Dover Town Council. You do not forget. |
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Update
on the Proposal for the Erection of a Sign in the War Memorial
Gardens
28th March 2009. Owing to the many protests
received, this proposal was returned to the Events Committee by
the full Town Council meeting on 25th March.
We were informed yesterday by personal
message from a Councillor involved with this proposal that it
will be withdrawn and the sign will not be erected.
Thank you, everyone, for so quickly letting
the Town Council know your views. Thank you, Town Council, for
responding so quickly to those views. |
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War Memorial Gardens - Erection of Sign?
Responses must be received by
Dover Town Council by 3rd April 2009
 23rd March 2009. The Events Committee of the
Town Council are considering having a tilted sign erected on the
lawns of the Memorial Garden, in front of the War Memorial. This
sign would be some two metres square (around 6 and a half feet),
and the tilt would mean that the front of the sign would be
around 30 centimetres (one foot) high, the back some 60
centimetres (two feet) high. There is no visual representation
available from the Council of how this sign might appear.
The Committee are suggesting that logos could
be displayed, either made from plants or sign-written. Amongst
the suggestions for the logos they have offered are "Dover Town
Council", "Fairtrade", maybe a poppy wreath for Remembrance Day,
or logos of organisations or associations.
You may wish
to read
the views of The
Dover War Memorial Project on this proposal.
All of you who visit this website are
concerned with Remembrance of those who Fell in the Two World
Wars. You may also wish to express your views to the Town
Council on the
proposal for this sign . They've requested the views to be in
writing, and here are the contact details:
Mrs Tracey Hubbard,
Technical Support Officer,
Dover Town Council,
Maison Dieu House,
Biggin Street,
DOVER, Kent,
CT16 1DW. |
Tracey may also be emailed on
tracey.hubbard@dovertown.co.uk |
REMEMBER **THE CLOSING DATE
FOR YOUR RESPONSES TO THE COUNCIL IS
3rd APRIL 2009
*****
The picture above is a slightly
tongue-in-cheek mock-up by Phil Eyden of how the proposed
sign might appear. We are assured by a Councillor that this
appearance would not be the exact case. While the Town
Council are proud of Dover's award in February of Fair Trade
Status, Phil's image nevertheless underlines a most serious
point that the sign, whatever the logos included upon it,
would not accord with the War Memorial or its intentions.
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Here and There
10th March 2009. I suspect everyone is feeling the effects of
the current economic situation! The Dover War Memorial Project
is feeling rather a large
 pinch too, and that does mean that we
may not for a while be able to carry out some of the events we
undertake in Remembrance of our Dovorian casualties and their
families. However, we remain dedicated to their memory, and will
continue to discover more and update this Virtual Memorial in
honour of all Dovorians lost in the two World Wars. We'll also
continue helping relatives and friends of casualties and their
families discover more about those we lost - if you think we can
help you, please do contact us.
At the same time, if you can help the
Project, please do! If you know anything about a Dovorian
casualty, or perhaps have a photograph, please
let us know. Also, although we
fund much of the work ourselves, if we've helped you, or you
think our work is worthwhile, and would like to help with
essential and unavoidable costs, please consider
making a donation.
The Friends of the Dover War Memorial
Project are beginning sterling work in support of
Remembrance of our casualties. We've had the pleasure of several
meetings with them, and they are considering a number of
different initiatives. We'll be hearing more from them in due
course; in the meantime, this very day the Secretary of the
Friends has been into Dover Library to discuss the arrival and
display of the panels from the
Walter Tull Exhibition, currently
touring England and Scotland. The panels will be on
view from 11th May to 29th June in the Library.
 Walter Tull remains in the news. We
hear a new play about him has been commissioned; we hear also
that under discussions are new memorial plaques, to be erected
in Folkestone. Also currently under consideration and
consultation is the renaming of Mundella school in the Black
Bull Road (the school Walter and his brother attended before
they went to London), to the Walter Tull School. If it's agreed,
this too would be a fine memorial, and a superb means of helping
our younger citizens learn more about their forebears in a
personally meaningful way.
After a request from the Dover War Memorial
Project in 2006 regarding updates to the Dover Town Memorial,
the Town Council passed a resolution that updates should be
considered every three years - and this year is it! In
November 2008 the Dover War Memorial Project communicated with
Dover Town Council again, and we now hear that
updates to our Memorial are under consideration . Well done and thank you very much indeed to the Town
Council and the Events Committee, who are also discussing the
re-design of the War Memorial garden.
Back in Project Towers (or "Calamity Towers"
as one of the Friends has been known to call it, owing to our
catastrophe-prone nature) the artist Bruce, who has already
created several brilliant artworks for the Dover War Memorial
Project, has been kindly working for the past few weeks on a
new addition to the Virtual Memorial. A map to locate the places
where civilians lost their lives in our town (small picture
above, left), the first draft is
now online. Meanwhile, Simon has been refining and
reconciling our casualty information for World War II; a large
and complex, but much-needed and greatly-appreciated task.
 Other
people have been busy too; Alan and Brian and their (and our)
good friends continue to visit graves for the Project and for
relatives, and have a long list of casualties for whom they will
be laying crosses in Germany and Holland; while Andy, Michelle,
and Brian made a trip to Egypt, visiting Dovorian and other
casualties there. Joyce continues her wonderful work in
discovering more about our casualties - to her we're very
grateful. Dean has supplied more very welcome photos and a great
deal of information about our aviation casualties, and of course
we continue to hear from our other volunteers, and other people
in Dover, across the British Isles, and around the globe, with
queries and with information - which communications it's our
great pleasure to receive.
Thank you everyone. As we all remember those we lost, so many
are brought together in friendship and kindness. What a
wonderful legacy, and what a wonderful way to honour the memory
of those who lost their lives in strife.
Maggie
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Dear All,
Happy New Year!
As usual, this last year has been a busy one
on the Dover War Memorial Project. The 90th anniversary of the
Armistice marked a number of special events; one, a year-long i nitiative,
was, of course, the commemoration of the life of Walter Tull.
More about these can be found in the many articles on the
information index We
were delighted to see Donald Hunter achieve his aim of a
memorial to Merchant Seafarers on our seafront; this is
something especially close to my heart as my own father was a
merchant seaman, serving on the Atlantic convoys. Coinciding
with the 90th anniversary was also the creation of a number of
books and theses; it has been our absolute pleasure to help with
research for these, as well as to supply information to the
media - local, national, and even international. .
As always, though, our focus is the
Remembrance of those from our town who lost their lives during
the two world wars of the 20th century. The pages on this
Virtual Memorial have been constantly updated; there is much
more information still to go online. At the same time, we've
been delighted to help relatives and friends across the globe
discover more about their own lost loved ones, and to have
learnt so much more from them about our frontline town and her
children who fell. It's been a real pleasure to chat with you
all, by 'phone, letter, and email - and in person too! - and we
certainly look forward very much to learning more over this
coming year.
While on the subject of friends, we're very
pleased to announce that a new group has been formed. These are
the Friends of the Dover War Memorial Project. An object
of their constitution is "to stimulate public interest in The
Dover War Memorial project, and to support the Project in any
lawful manner". (Though ... we've noticed the lengths people
will go for fund-raising; we're hoping that dressing as
flamingos and dancing a cancan in the High Street is out - at
least for this year anyway!)
Seriously now,
in respectful honour and memory of those who Fell, the Friends
are brimful of good ideas and enthusiasm. Here are the
Secretary's views on their inaugural meeting on 7th January. "I
have to say that the consensus was that of a very positive
meeting, with much optimism from all ... I feel genuinely
excited at the launch of this new project; there is much that
can be achieved." Some initiatives are already successfully
underway, and there will be more news about the Friends soon. In
the meantime, details of how to contact them are on our
contact page.
Those of you who follow the news will know
that currently much in the world is grim. For most of us
the future is uncertain. Yet even in this we are blessed, for
there were many who had no future at all. Perhaps more than ever
now the knowledge that there are those who did and do lay down
their lives for others shines as a beacon of hope for the human
spirit.
"At the going down of the sun, and in the
morning, we will remember them"
With best wishes,.
Maggie
(Marilyn Stephenson-Knight)
January 2009
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