Folkestone and Hythe have a huge wealth of talent in many of our schools and colleges, and today I was fortunate enough to be invited to watch a programme of entertainment by the students at Brockhill Performing Arts College.
Please see below an update for the month of June, showing what we have been up to.
Saying that the Canada Day ceremony at the Shorncliffe Cemetery was moving is an understatement: it was a privilege to acknowledge the bravery of the Canadian soldiers buried there.
Sometimes when we get depressed about the future of disaffected youngsters, our spirits are lifted by the successful schemes that are in place around the district. I was delighted to be asked to go to Little Switzerland in East Folkestone to present prizes to a group of young people who had spent several months learning how to improve the countryside in the local area.
Excellent company and food at The Gurkha Palace created a very enjoyable evening. For this particular event, the business world met with some students from the Folkestone School for Girls, so that the girls could call on the skills of the Rotary members in order to maximise charity fund raising attempts.
I was delighted to be asked to accompany Alan Risley-Settle to the meal where the handing over of the Presidency is announced. The speeches affirmed my opinion of the good work that the Rotary Club undertakes.
Town Sunday is a tradition where the Mayor formally accepts the office of Mayor and promises to work for the people of Folkestone. Gathering around the cross in the grounds of St Mary and St Eanswythe's Church is the beginning of the formalities. In times past, this was the moment that the new Mayor was chosen and if he refused to accept the honour, his house would be burned down. I willingly agreed to be Mayor!
Dressing into full robes is exhausting enough but standing in 30 degrees for an hour is sweltering! The procession to The Stade on Folkestone Harbour was led by the Folkestone Pipes and Drums and included Folkestone Town and Shepway District Councillors as well as clergy from various denominations, all fully robed and finding the heat overwhelming.
I wouldn't have missed the British Armed Forces Day celebration on the Leas in Folkestone for all the world: I am so proud of our service men and women and those who have served us in the past, and judging by the many hundreds of people on the Leas, I'm not alone.
For too long, tech giants have treated children as data to be mined, using addictive algorithms and harmful content to keep them scrolling. While some are calling for blanket bans, we know these are impractical and risk isolating vulnerable groups.
If the answer to “Is our nuclear deterrent working?” depends on what Donald Trump had for breakfast, then the answer is no, it’s not. And our deterrent is not truly independent.
The UK is facing a mental health emergency. Liberal Democrats have a proud record of pushing Britain’s mental health services forward. Now we are offering the bold solutions we need to fight the crisis unfolding in our communities.
Ed Davey is a husband, a father and a carer. He is the Leader of the Liberal Democrats.
It is Ed’s experience of caring that drives much of his politics, and motivates his tireless campaigning for a fair deal.
Meet our representatives and candidates.
