Dear Go Folkestone Member
TWO VERY EXCITING ITEMS! ORDER YOUR 2025 calendars NOW – we sold out early last year!!!! or contact info@gofolkestone.org.uk.
And ……..
Go Folkestone has been a key contributor to Walking With Ghosts in recent years. Sadly, they are not appearing in 2024. Ghosts can be a little elusive. After last time, a number of people came together to discuss the importance of Folkestone in both wars, and it was felt an event was essential. Another local organisation, New Folkestone Society has picked up the baton and with the help of the Folkestone Harbour Team and other community groups, a new event is happening this year.
We hope that the Folkestone Poppy will be on the Station Platform. This will be an impressive focal point for the occasion, and it will form part of a number of special events that will occur on the platform!
It has not been possible to include the Mole Café but hopefully this will return in 2025.
May we ask for your help in two directions:
Calling ‘Go Folkestone Creatives!’
Working with Folkestone Performing Arts Company, Write by the Sea and others, we are looking for people who would like to read poems, letters and stories at the event. If you would like to contribute, we are meeting at 18:30 at Sunflower House, Foord Road, Folkestone on Friday (25th October)
Calling Marshals and General Help
Please consider coming to help our team of marshals. You can never have too many! We are meeting at Keppels Bar in the basement of The Grand Hotel for a ‘pre-event chat and walking of the route’ on Wednesday 6th November at 18:30
Overview of the event
The procession runs along The Leas from The Grand to the Step Short Memorial Arch, down the Old High Street to the Harbour station. The event will involve music, poetry and letter readings and lanterns will provide an atmosphere and be placed as a tribute on the station platform.
The first 150 attendees will be able to borrow lanterns with battery-operated tealights. We encourage people to bring their own battery-operated tealights / lanterns / lights in case there is a big crowd! No naked flames.
There will be an electric minibus (the Folkestone Town Council minibus) to take those unable to walk down the Old High Street to and from the Harbour station. Anyone wishing to use the service should wait at the Step Short arch when the procession departs for the Old High Street and a marshal will assist them.
Sadly, the popular Walking With Ghosts event cannot be held this year, although it is hoped that it will return next year and that the parade will happen again so that it can take people down to see the return of Walking With Ghosts.
We would love to see everyone from Go Folkestone on the 9th November. Bring friend and family and make a lantern for the event, with an electric LED lights!
For more information please contact Matthew Jones – New Folkestone Society Chairman 0758 465 5828