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This is part of a Press Release, to advise on the Bleriot week-end's activities>
Throughout the weekend of 25-26 July, Dover will host a prestigious international festival in celebration of Louis Blériot's achievement in becoming the first person to fly across the English Channel and to commemorate the pioneering age of aviation.
The weekend, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the first hovercraft crossing of the English Channel between Calais and Dover by Sir Christopher Cockerell, aims to be an event for all the family to enjoy.
Dover2009 will be an occasion for local people and visitors far and wide, to experience the rich culture and heritage of Dover, the warmth of its hospitality, its proud history with France and the strength of cross-Channel connections, its long association with the Armed Forces and its role as one of Europe's busiest gateways.
Background. Dover 2009 (www.dover2009.com) will be a truly historic and memorable event.
With the full support and engagement of the Royal Air Force, the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Aero Club (which is planning an Air Race and a procession of 200 microlights across the English Channel), the French Air Force and the Aero Club de France, and many others from across the international aviation community, the centrepiece of Dover 2009 will comprise a unique and historic Air Pageant with a series of flypasts over Dover Castle, a re-creation of the Blériot flight and displays of historic and vintage aircraft at the nearby Duke of York's Royal Military School to commemorate the pioneering days of aviation, including the early operations of the Royal Naval Air Service in support of the Dover Patrol.
The day's events will include a ceremony to mark the restoration of the Blériot Memorial adjacent to Dover Castle and conclude with a Gala Dinner in the grounds of Dover Castle courtesy of English Heritage followed by a Fireworks Spectacular over the Port of Dover.
Among the many attractions will be the transformation of Dover's historic Seafront, which will become home to a number of Anglo-French and also Anglo-Italian themed activities, the latter in recognition of the role played by the legendary Italian engineer Alessandro Anzani who designed and built the 25HP engine that powered the Blériot XI aeroplane.
The transformation of the 800m length Seafront is designed to provide a truly international series of events of exceptional quality for the enjoyment of the thousands of visitors who are expected to be in Dover over the weekend.
The Seafront will host 3 large tented Villages each of which will be dedicated to showcasing, respectively, the finest traditions of France, Italy and England in terms of history, heritage and culture, including importantly, the very best of each country's fare.
The carnival atmosphere will be continually refreshed by a succession of entertainments and artistes from each country reflecting in particular, the period of La Belle Epoch and Edwardian England through to those cultural activities which today play an important part in the life of each country and form an essential element of its tourism offer.
Not long to go now.
Roger