This is my latest Newsletter - sent round yesterday and this morning.
I am unable to include photos/images on here, only text, hope it makes sense.
In today's newsletter, we have information on:
Harriet Quimby's plane at Dover Transport Museum - this week-end only.
Guided Tours of Fort Burgoyne
Dover Tattoo
Skool Disco Nite
Dover Greeters
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Harriet Quimby's plane at Dover Transport Museum - this week-end only.
For one weekend only, a replica Beriot XI monoplane will be on display at Dover Transport Museum, tomorrow (Saturday 14th April) and Sunday (15th April), specially brought to Dover from Den Haag in the Netherlands as part of the Harriet Quimby Centenary weekend.
The picture courtesy of Paul Watkins.
We are incredibly fortunate to have this exceedingly rare aircraft on display in Dover, there is only one other in the country (at The Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire) so please do come along and get up close and personal with the aircraft in which Louis Bleriot himself crossed the Channel in 1909 and that Harriet Quimby borrowed from Bleriot when she became the first woman to cross the Channel solo on 16th April 1912.
The Harriet Quimby Centenary Project would like to express their deep gratitude to P&O Ferries for their generous support of the Project in shipping the aircraft from France (and back again) free of charge, and we hope that Dovorians and many others from East Kent will avail themselves of the opportunity to visit Dover Transport Museum in Old Park Barracks, Whitfield, to see the plane and the other wonderful exhibits on display at the museum.
This weekend marks the beginning of the year-long project aimed at promoting Harriet Quimby's name so that the generations to follow will know her name and achievements much more readily than the current generation do. In the coming year we also hope to raise sufficient funds so that a permanent memorial to Harriet Quimby can be erected on the White Cliffs of Dover. Further details will be announced in the press, on local radio and TV, and on the local Dover online forums.
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Guided Tours of Fort Burgoyne: The Dover Western Heights Preservation Society are pleased to announce a rare opportunity to have a guided tour of the historic garrison of Fort Burgoyne on Saturday 2nd June during the Dover Tattoo 2012. The tours are free but are on a first come first served basis. Please note you will still need to pay for entry to the Dover Tattoo fun day.
Fort Burgoyne was designed (as one of the famous 'Palmerston Forts') to protect the North Spur area of Dover Castle which was perceived as a weak spot in the defences and the most likely approach for an invading army. Work started on the construction of the fort in 1861, and it was completed by 1868 for a total cost of £88,000.
The polygonal fort is surrounded by a 35 foot wide dry ditch with a double caponier giving flanking fire along the ditch from the northern point. In the centre of the fort is the parade ground surrounded on three sides by bomb proof barracks. Originally armed with 29 guns on the ramparts (6 of them in Haxo casemates), by the early 1900's these guns had disappeared to be replaced by 3 machine guns. The two World Wars saw further changes, with concrete and brick structures being added.
You can reserve your places at our stand, which will be at the main gate to the fort. When you have booked in you will be allocated a place on a tour and given a ticket which is only valid for that tour time. Please note that if you miss that tour you will have to re-book another place.
The first tour will set off at 11.30am and the last one will begin at 4pm. They will run every fifteen minutes between those times, and we anticipate each tour to last around 45 minutes.
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2012 DOVER TATTOO KICKS OFF THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS IN DOVER - Extra Seats Released in Premier Stand!
Connaught Barracks, and the adjacent parade ground next to the impressive historic garrison of Fort Burgoyne, has been chosen as the venue for the 2012 Dover Tattoo, Military Spectacular, on Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd June 2012, to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Featuring massed bands, exciting displays and a spectacular grand finale with fireworks to music and of course, the traditional lone piper.
A world class programme of performers includes •The renowned Royal Signals White Helmet Motorcycle Display Team • The impressive Band of the Gurkhas and their thrilling Kukri Knife displays • The Band of the Army Air Corps• The Band of the Adjutant General's Corps featuring Gary Chilton, lead singer in "The Soldiers" performing a Michael Buble tribute • The 'Tigers' Freefall Parachute Display team and much more. There will also be a reenactment of a full scale assault, which will provide a thrilling and explosive insight into how the Army would attack an enemy base.
On Saturday there will be an fantastic Family Fun Day, looking behind the scenes of the event, discovering what life is like in the military today and travelling back in time to Mediaeval, Napoleonic, WWI & WW11 historical eras with exciting re-enactments and themed events, interactive and static displays. Memorabilia and refreshment stalls will also ensure that this day offers something for everyone.
For further details about the event and to buy tickets, visit:
www.dovertattoo.org.uk Telephone 01304 229111 or vist the Tattoo office at 23 Worthington Street, Dover, CT17 9AG
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Skool Disco Nite
Friday 27 April
Relive your school days with this fantastic disco night playing the hits of the 70's and 80's - requests are a definite on the night
The price includes a 2 course school dinner buffet
Come in school uniform if you wish
£15 per person
Doors open 7PM
BOOKINGS: Tel 01304 872 843 or 01304 821230
E
events@ramadadover.co.uk
Ramada Hotel Dover
Singledge Lane
Whitfield, Dover
Kent CT16 3EL
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Dover Greeters: Could you be a Dover Greeter? Dover Town Council is looking for dedicated volunteers to patrol the town in pairs, offering assistance and
information to both residents and visitors. The project is due to run from June this year, so if you have a passion for Dover and a few hours spare, call into the Town Council offices and pick up an application form. Full training and support will be given. Telephone 01304 242625.
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Have a good week-end - and don't forget the Transport Museum.
Roger