The Picture Files - 3

8 February 2009

This is another picture of recent time, direct from the non too distant archive of 2009, but it was taken at an event to note, an event bringing good news to Dover. It shows the Leader of Dover District Council Paul Watkins with Robin Dodridge, the Director of Operations for the Port of Dover, celebrating the launch of the new LD Lines ferry operation, currently running as we write between Dover and Boulogne but with aspirations to go further afield in the summer of 2009. Rumour even has it that they have made something of a scandalously cheeky takeover bid for Seafrance. This followed the recent announcement from recession hit Seafrance concerning 800 or more job cuts. Cllr Paul Watkins is a pleasant and highly regarded individual. He was first elected to the DDC in May 1983, and has been leader of the Conservatives locally since the mid 1980's. During that time he fought two general elections as the Conservative Candidate for Dover and Deal against Labour's Gwyn Prosser. Paul failed to win. He has been a member of Doverforum in its various evolutionary guises over the years, in fact he has been with us since the very beginning of time, our time.

This is a recent picture on the left, indeed a very recent picture, taken at the Dover Film Festival, February 2009. The lady in the shot is none other than Karol Steele. Karol was in her element at the recent filmtastic event as she is perhaps this town of Dover's leading actress, having appeared successfully in numerous films, most recently, as I understand it, alongside superstar Scarlet Johannsen. She has also worked in film with Sir Michael Caine, Natasha Richardson and Aidan Quinn. On top of all that she has appeared in many stage productions too. In fact the lists of her credits are endless and no doubt with much much more to come. Karol's son Ben has followed her into the profession and is also thriving as an actor ...so is keeping the family tradition very much alive..

Karol is also a bit of a master behind the camera. Not the movie camera as such, but as a stills photographer she is one of the best, very actively capturing many of the local events. We have used many of her pictures on Doverforum and were/are very grateful for the input. Her pictures have also appeared often in the local newspapers. The Doverforum team caught up with her in the bar at the ever improving Film Festival where we shared a nice glass of the house grape and took this shot. In all the bars in all the world....

Is this that famous Top Gun pilot known to one and all...well no, but its Dover's own version of the same. Yes its none other than Rhys Griffiths of the Dover Express, looking good in hot sunshine and in cool shades. Rhys is a top class roving reporter and is on the job night and day, bringing news stories to us the avid reader, his wide fanbase. The picture is from July 2008 and summer carnival time. Rhys was taking part in the event and stopped off at the David Hannent annual soiree in Castle Street to say hello.Rhys joined the paper in May 2007 and is now a senior reporter covering the Port of Dover among other things.

This picture is from November 2007 and it was taken at one of those interesting Neighbourhood Forum meetings at the Maison Dieu House. These two are powerhouse Labourites and have been active in community politics forever. On the left its Cllr Gordon Cowan and on the right Cllr, at the time, Keith Sansum. Keith gave up being a councillor shortly after to concentrate on a different career but is still serving the community in another capacity. Gordon took over Keith's role as representative of Dover Town at KCC.

Some very familiar faces in there. Jean Walkden, Barry Wadsworth-Smith, Roger Walkden, Nigel Collor, Colette Boland, Charlie Elphicke, Jan Tranter, Carole Webb and of course some faces not so familiar.But its a cheerful picture in anyone's book, taken on one of those lovely coffee mornings held this time by Jean and Roger W.

Back to July 2006 for this one. The day news of the High Speed Train broke. Very exciting day newswise this, after many many months, or perhaps years of delicate negotiation, it was announced that the High Speed Train would come to Dover. The line would be extended to reach us here on the Kent coast.Three of the main players in the negotiation are featured here, along with some other chaps whose names Ive lost over time. Notes get lost etc. But you will recognise the three main players Gwyn Prosser MP centre, Immediately right alongside Gwyn is Dr Stephen Ladyman MP, the then Transport Minister, and of course DDC man of transport Cllr Nigel Collor on the right.

In July 2007 former Mayor of Dover Ken Tranter, a long time member of the Labour Party, announced he was 'crossing the floor' and joining the Conservatives. Of course this news made local headlines as it was something of a shock to many local bods. The announcement co-incided with a vist to Dover by the former leader of the Conservative Party Iain Duncan Smith MP....so the publicity was maximised. That's IDS on the extreme right, on the left we have Mayor Ken and in between is local Conservative Candidate Charlie Elphicke. The lady in the picture is Sue Wilson, Manager of the Triangles Community Centre at the time, where the event took place.