This summer would seem to have been good to local tourism and
businesses, helped in part by both the Folkestone Triennial and the
Open Championship at Sandwich. Visit Kent’s current marketing campaign
has been one of its most successful ever, and their website proudly
features as its main image, kite surfing on the beach at Greatstone.
With the Olympics to come next year tourism could continue to provide
a welcome boost to our local economy.
The end of August has also been a busy time for community events and
fundraising. On Bank Holiday Monday, along with the family, we joined
the crowds to enjoy the thrills and spills of the soapbox derby at
Aldington. The races and the village fair held on the same day raised
money this year for the Pilgrims Hospice at Ashford and Kaleidoscope
Childcare, in Aldington. The racers can reach up to 40mph and the
entries were ranged from the sleek and fast to the creative and
adventurous. The children particularly enjoyed the Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang car entered for the race and congratulations should go to all
involved for another successful event.
On Sunday, along with the Leader of Shepway Council, Robert Bliss, I
opened the Sandgate Sea Festival. This annual festival raises money to
support the RNLI lifeboats and Chichester Hall in Sandgate. As well as
a number of fundraising stalls and local businesses there was a
display from the crew and lifeboat from Dungeness. The RNLI at
Dungeness has recently benefited from a large donation made to the
Kent lifeboats which will mean they will soon be taking receipt of a
new lifeboat with all of the latest equipment to help them track
people in difficulties at sea.
Last Friday, I was invited by Kent County Cricket to watch their one
day game against India at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury.
Unfortunately the rain threatened to wash out the days play, but
thanks to the new floodlights installed as part of the ground’s
refurbishment, we enjoyed an exciting but late finish. Kent ran India
very close in a twenty twenty match that went down to the last few
balls of the game, and included a thrilling century from Joe Denly.
I have always been a great fan of cricket and it is a sport that is
played with enthusiasm right across the county. With the redevelopment
of Folkestone’s Cheriton Road ground, we will soon have better local
facilities. I hope that when these are in place there may be the
opportunity once again to restore the Folkestone cricket week, as part
of Kent’s summer fixture list. Folkestone Cricket Club has provided
Kent players like the current England spin bowler James Tredwell, and
I’m sure it will help to nurture stars of the future. It is excellent
to note how many young players in the Kent side that played India are
home grown, including Sam Northeast and the 18 year old Daniel
Bell-Drummond who has only recently finished his school studies. I
wish them and all of the Kent players the best for the future.