Wards Hotel – Wednesday 9 November 2022
Present
Committee: Richard Wallace (Chair), Peter Grant, Howard Holt, David Noble, Una O’Connell, Tony Quarrington, Nicky Tolson
Registered: Lesley Abbott, Paul Abbott, Mr Ames, Mrs Ames, Claire Au, George Au, Peter Barney, Jenny Barraclough, Roger Bassant, Linda Bauer, Andrew Beeching, Ann Berry, Gudrun Bill, Peter Bill, Ingrid Blades, Phil Blades, Mike Blakemore, Julie Blewitt, Tony Blewitt, Frank Bond, Margaret Care, Bridget Chapman, Anne Charlier, Jan Clarke, Angela Conyers, Kevin Curtis, Deryn Cutting, Louise Gotch (Rainbow),Elizabeth Halstead, Jeanette Harris, Sheelagh Herrin, Marie Claude Hill, Tony Hill, Charlotte Holt, Mrs Holt, Vaughn Horsman, Christopher Houghton Budd, Mark Hourahane, Yvonne Hutchcraft, Albert Ingleston, Sheila Ingleston, Colin Jinks, Debby Jones, Matthew Jones, Neil Jones, Roger Joyce, Nicola Keen, D. Kenny, Eddie Lee, Rita Lee, Mary Lehner, David McCart, Ros McCarthy, C. McConville, Charlotte McHarry, Daisy McHarry, Jacquie Meade, Trevor Moss, Kate Noble, Patty Key, Alan Petrie, Terry Petrie, Bryan Rylands, Daniel Sanguiseppe, Helen Sharp, Penny Shepherd, Jonathan Simpson, Alan Solodchenko, Hilary Tolputt, Roland Tolputt, John Verkaik, Sandra Virgo, Madeleine Vivers, B. Ward, J. Ward, Christian Warrell, Mick Williamson, Rob Wilson, Anthony Youngs, Jacqui Youngs – some attendees missed registration
Apologies
David Crocker, Dorothy Douse, Dan Keeling, Pam Keeling
The meeting opened at 6.30pm. Richard Wallace welcomed everyone and asked that, if they were able, they might contribute to the collection for the Rainbow Centre. Louise Gotch, Homeless Service Manager at the centre outlined its role and reiterated the request for both funding and volunteers.
Declarations of Interest
None.
Minutes of the 2021 AGM
Proposed by Tony Quarrington and seconded by Tony Hill. They were agreed.
Abstained A. Berry, N Jones plus two others.
Matters Arising
None.
Housekeeping and Calendar Sales
David Noble advised that, now in its eighth year, the print run on the Aspects of Folkestone calendar was 450. The price had also had to be increased, though it still compared favourably with other local calendars circulating around the town. Sales were, nevertheless, already going well.
Some example photographs from the 2023 calendar
Chairman’s Report
Richard Wallace reported that it been a successful year for Go Folkestone, and highlighted its most significant achievements over the past twelve months, most notable of which were:
- Giving material, notably from Richard Wallace, David Crocker, David Noble and Jeanette Harris, all named on the board, for the installation of a new Folkestone Town Council heritage board on Radnor Park.
- the planting of seventy trees at the Three Hills Sports Park, and some subsequent watering which led to most being saved in the drought. Also eight large flowering cherry blossom saplings at Folkestone Cemetery, both planting and financially assisting members of the Cheriton and Morehall Branch of the Royal British Legion with over £1000.
- the erection of the Samuel Plimsoll mural (painted by Shane Record) alongside the Folkestone Heritage and Fishing Museum; in association with The Plimsoll Group, contributing the main work on the site selection, and over £1400.
- Also a prominent role in responding to a range of planning applications, including those on No.1 Cherry Garden Avenue and the Princess Royal public house; and proposals for a cycleway in Cheriton and ninety parking spaces on Wear Bay Road.
Treasurer’s Report
Peter Grant referred the meeting to the annual report and accounts for the year ending 31st March 2022. His assessment was that Go Folkestone’s financial position overall was positive, and had, indeed, strengthened over this period.
He cautioned, however, that the coming year would reflect rising costs and undertook to provide a summary and forecast at the December meeting. He suggested that the accounts period and the AGM date could be closer together.
Adoption of the accounts was proposed by Richard Wallace and seconded by Tony Hill. They were agreed.
Nicky Tolson expressed her thanks to the membership, adding that numbers now comfortably exceeded two hundred. The new website in particular had proved extremely successful in recruiting members.
Election of Officers
Richard advised that, having performed the role for ten years, equivalent to the tenure of the first Chair, Philip Carter, he was standing for the last time at this meeting. His election was proposed by Elizabeth Halstead and seconded by Roland Tolputt.
Ann Berry requested that it be noted in the minutes that she had also been Chair between Philip and Richard’s periods of office. Richard apologised and said he had been thinking of when Philip stepped down from the committee in 2012.
In the light of his gradually diminishing role, Richard proposed that three additional vice-chairpersons be appointed – Howard Holt – Vice Chair Without Portfolio, Neil Jones – Vice Chair Volunteers and Environment and Tony Quarrington – Vice Chair Tourism, Website & Hospitality. This was proposed by Tony Hill and seconded by Bryan Rylands.
In addition to the above named, the following committee members were proposed by Bryan Rylands and seconded by Hilary Tolputt:
David Noble (Vice-Chair and Co-Editor)
Peter Grant (Treasurer)
Nicky Tolson (Membership Secretary)
David Crocker (Honorary)
Dan Keeling (Planning & Transport)
Pam Keeling (Social Media/Communications)
Una O’Connell (Editorial)
Tony Hill (Carpentry/Practical)
Any Other Business
None.
The AGM was closed at 7.10 pm.
Following the meeting, Sir Roger De Haan gave a presentation on the seafront development to an audience of 105, which included some non-members, such as the noted local architect of F51, Guy Holloway, in which Sir Roger also reflected on his early life in Folkestone and outlined his role in the in the areas of education, sport and physical regeneration of the old town and harbour.
He also responded honestly and fully to a range of questions and gave the committee and others plenty of food for thought for subsequent meetings on the way forward, before the meeting was formally concluded at 9pm with a vote of thanks from David Noble seconded by Richard Wallace.
The retiring collection for The Rainbow Centre, in a very ornate Royal Doulton bucket provided by Richard Wallace, raised a very creditable £230 which may still be augmented.