Always Look on the Bright Side of Life…
I met a member of the Folkestone Artist’s Co-operative on the morning after the
annual Folkestone raft race as I walked down the Road of Remembrance to the
Harbour Festival. Appearing slightly overwrought and disappointed at not
winning, he described the Cooperative’s craft. In the shape of a cross or
tombstone “it was” he said“ designed by an i… “ . At this point a car with a
loud exhaust passed us and I, being slightly deaf, did not catch the rest but
assume he said that it was designed by an intelligent person. But I could be
wrong.
Even before the race started there was near disaster for the Cooperative as
their raft, left unattended, on the beach was almost washed away by the incoming
tide. Nevertheless at 1.00 pm the crew gathered. After some initial puzzlement
at the cross shaped object before them, they assumed it must be some
revolutionary design. So, Ignoring the smirks of their neighbouring competitors,
they prepared for the off. Wendy van Halderen-Moss took her place at the bow
followed by Victoria Fontaine-Wolfe and James Pyott, with Wendy’s husband Trevor
at the stern. To begin with they made some headway with Wendy, after years of
practice on dragon boats in Canada, proving the real engine. However the canvas
covering, having unfortunately dredged up some sand from beach, held them back.
This and a hitherto overlooked design fault mean that Trevor and James were
almost submerged and able to do little paddling. As the raft veered towards
Dover, the bow continuing to rise and the stern sink, it seemed at one stage
that there was danger of a combined crew crucifixion and drowning.
As this drama unfolded, those watching on the shore were appreciating the
humorous side. Phyllis McDowell, was doubled up with laughter while Mark
Sutherland was shaking so much that he was barely able to take pictures. But the
crew showed true grit as they kept going. Trevor should be especially commended
as he was by this time almost up to his nose in water.
However, sometime after being nearly run down by the raft from Capel, the crew
felt it was time to call it a day and headed back to the beach. They came second
last but without doubt provided the best entertainment of the day.
Somebody later commented that at least the architect of the Titanic had the
decency to be on board when it went down. However the designer of the raft was
nowhere to be seen. It was said that he was bitterly disappointed, considering
his creation a prototype for a new type of speed boat or fast ferry. For him it
was obviously back to the drawing board.
Congratulations to the winners from Capel and all who took part. It is events
like these, the Harbour Festival, the new markets, the Creative Quarter and all
other developments that are making Folkestone a lively and interesting place to
live.
Nick Spurrier
Article from Go Folkestone Newsletter September 2007
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