Countryfile

• Guest 651

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 5,673
  2 January 2011     20:5287372
  #1      
  The White Cliffs were on Countryfile this evening - available on iplayer shortly:
  
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xb94b/Countryfile_02_01_2011/
  Been nice knowing you :)
• Guest 698

  • Registered: 28 May 2010
  • Posts: 8,664
  2 January 2011     22:4187393
  #2      
  Spot the cock-up: channel swimmers do not generally depart from St Margaret's Bay!
  I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
• Guest 660

  • Registered: 14 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3,205
  2 January 2011     22:4587394
  #3      
  Yes I heard that Peter well at least they got the right Country!
  If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
• Guest 699

  • Registered: 3 Jun 2010
  • Posts: 292
  2 January 2011     22:5387395
  #4      
  saw they done article on st margarets and the chalk platform in the sea , is this the area of yesterday,s fall ?
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  3 January 2011     08:3087403
  #5      
  I saw that program too and although it was based at Dover, there wasn't anything about the history of the Town or the Port (other than the South Foreland Lighthouse) that they have for other coastal Towns.
  
  I did notice that they said about St. Margarets for the start of the Channel swimming.
  I wonder who they talk to here about the Town and what there is here, or maybe they rely on not very good researchers.
  
  Good to see Dover on the TV though.
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• Guest 651

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 5,673
  3 January 2011     11:5787457
  #6      
  http://www.dover.gov.uk/museum/information_resources/channel_swimmers/1950s_heyday.aspx
  
  St Margarets Bay used to be a common leaving point for cross channel swimming (and I always though that was where they left form)
  Been nice knowing you :)
• Jan Higgins

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 5 Jul 2010
  • Posts: 13,931
  3 January 2011     12:5787469
  #7      
  I also thought that the swims started from St Margarets Bay because my late father-in-law had something to do with the timings during the the Billy Butlin era (1953-1959).
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  3 January 2011     13:1187477
  #8      
  i always thought it was from the shakespeare beach.
• Guest 649

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 14,118
  3 January 2011     13:1887482
  #9      
  It is best to start from dover beach,that way you would have done over 1/2mile before you hit open sea.Years ago I would go across with the swimmers some went from Shakespeare beach, but most went from France to Dover.
• Brian Dixon

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 23 Sep 2008
  • Posts: 23,940
  3 January 2011     15:5087541
  #10      
  howard,they usealy do start from shakespeare beach.i have seen up to 3 serarate swimmers stating there.
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  3 January 2011     18:2687573
  #11      
  Shakespeare and Folkestone are the two favourites.
  
  You can't swim from France unless it's a two-way.
  
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• Guest 649

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 14,118
  3 January 2011     19:1087605
  #12      
  That is not true Roger,unless that has change from when I went across with them ,i have been from France to Dover with a swimmer but he did not make it.That was in the 1970s The Swimmer was from the U.S.A. his Name was Harry Hecton he tryed it 2 times but never made it he was a very big man but he had at one time Polio,and he could only use his arms when swimming. we had to take him out of the water after 19hours.
• Guest 660

  • Registered: 14 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3,205
  3 January 2011     19:5987614
  #13      
  The French banned it a few years ago Vic,it was on the news recently as they want to ban it full stop. Something for UKIP to fight on and you missed it,Vic you need to get out in the real world.
  If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  3 January 2011     20:0387615
  #14      
  my understanding is that no swim can begin officially in france and the french coastguard are actively campaigning to stop it altogether.
  
  this is despite the fact there have been no problems and the accompanying vessel having state of the art equipment.
• Guest 649

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 14,118
  3 January 2011     21:0987628
  #15      
  Yes you are right,I had forgot all about that.One up for you,
• Keith Sansum1

  • Location: london
  • Registered: 25 Aug 2010
  • Posts: 23,948
  4 January 2011     15:2687691
  #16      
  iu think its great any positive publicity the Dover area can get and asdvertise dovers a great place to visit
  ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS