Guest 676- Registered: 1 Jul 2008
- Posts: 521
Richard Mahony who owns and runs the White Cliffs Boat Tours and White Cliffs Bus Tours has been given the go-ahead to open up the Grand-Shaft for tourism purposes. He is also looking at historical walks around the area. And there will also be an information point on the promenade. Lets hope he is supported with these ventures.
Million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
Good luck to him, and let's hope we have some decent summer weather this year to help.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
best news on the tourist front for some time, all the very best to richard.
Unregistered User
Another example of individual enterprise filling the void. Well done, Richard. Good luck.
Watty
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
That's good news, Well Done Richard, Mahony that is, not Digance
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
well spotted barry, we cannot have john stealing the thunder.
not while he is electioneering anyway.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Congratulations indeed to Richard; he has worked hard on many tourism initiatives but like me, has been knocked back many times, by those who are supposed to be encouraging tourism.
Stewart Dimmock, Horace Holyer, Chris Precious, Georgette Rapley and I got together 2 or 3 years ago now to see if we could organise some walks around Dover to do with our history.
After some discussion I went away, did some research and came up with "Historic Walks of Dover" - 3 themes; Front-Line Dover; Dover's Napoleonic History and the Walls and Gates of Dover. We discussed some more about what should be included etc. and what we have now is a good write-up and subject matter.
All three are major parts of our history.
I sent the write-up to Derek Leach the Chairman of the Dover Society, who was very pleased this project had been started; then to Jon Iveson at the Museum as Jon knows (almost) all there is to know about Dover's history; Jon suggested a few changes and then passed it as being as near as it could be to being historically correct.
I couldn't get public liability insurance, although I did put in for a grant and Dover Town Council very kindly offered to pay half. We then had a problem with the guides not being able to commit fully, to it so it lay dormant until now, until Richard advised me he had got permission to use the Grand Shaft and of course with his boat and bus tour business, already had public liability insurance.
He is busy with the LSBCs workplacement people, clearing, cleaning and tidying up the approach grounds to the grandshaft, also up the triple spiral staircase.
These walks, if marketed and supported properly (put on various websites etc.), could seriously increase Dover's tourism.
Well done Richard and well done the guys - and guides, above.
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Our good friend and stalwart forumite Paul Scotchie Wells did historic walks around town for a good while and well attended they were too. I used to see him ambling with group in tow along the seafront and on to further historic sites.
What a fantastic schemes. All the very best to Richard, I really hope this takes off. I have often thought a walk "through the ages" would be a good idea - this is not an itinerary, but just some ideas: Iron Age: castle fortifications; roman: painted house, which also has saxon pits dug through it and the Pharos; early middle ages: St Edmunds Chapel, the Castle; middle ages: Maison Dieu, Priory buildings; Elizabethan: the Pent; Georgian: the old Library; Napoleonic: grand shaft and buildings on cliffs west side of harbour; WW2: "pill boxes", air raid shelters behind Victoria Crescent area, etc.
Guest 679- Registered: 7 Sep 2008
- Posts: 162
I just gave Richard a call for some leaflets to put in The White Horse. He tells me that the combined boat, bus & Grand Shaft tours will now be approximately two hours long. Good news for us & the tourists if it keeps them in Dover
I know a million ways to always pick the wrong thing to say
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
good luck with this new venture
paulb;
now i see how you spy lol
will be wearing me dark glasses next time on the sea front lol
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Yes I have been down there today with Richard and agood turnout to help him move the imformation office but inthe end we also had help with a folklift, I left them after we got it to the carpark and they were waiting for a lorry to turn up.I will be helping to man it when it is ready to open to the public.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Im watching you Keefy!!
Glad you had help from the folklift to move you Vic, how did you manage the information office?
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
This is an excellent idea and of course with the Dover Greeters and very soon tours around the Town Hall organised by Derek Leach something for nothing and the Tourists benefit.I along side The Mayor and Cllr Rapley and some of the greeters are taking the Instructions this week
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Jeanette can you please ask him to drop some off at our place too?
Again Dover people are demonstrating what the Big Society can do, and what it is.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Western Heights Preservation Society could do with some info too as this is the first most of us of heard about it !!
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Left hand - main droite.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 679- Registered: 7 Sep 2008
- Posts: 162
No problem Peter, he said he'd be round today at some point so I'll send him in your direction when I've seen him
I know a million ways to always pick the wrong thing to say
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
good point there from paul, especially as western heights preservation society do so much work in that area.
