Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
I have read some rude, insulting and stupid postings on this forum in the past but that one from Paul Isles #17 must surely be on a par with the worst of them.
With that attitude I now know why people do not volunteer to help official groups like Town Team, they can dish out criticism but can not take what I simply see as a sensible suggestion.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 904- Registered: 21 Mar 2013
- Posts: 312
Of all of you whinging at the gallery, NONE of you turned up to support or encourage the kids participating and in a nutshell, that attitude summarises this forum, keyboard warriors with nothing to add, but plenty of hot air to expel. I'm glad you found the comment rude and insulting Jan, because that is how it was intended,
I make no apologies for my remarks, indeed I have held back on some, maybe some of you should take a long hard look at yourselves and figure out what it is that you actually do to benefit Dover...
Guest 1694- Registered: 24 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,087
Jan, no current member of the Town Team has dished out any criticism on this thread.
When the TT decided to do the paintings scheme, holding a competition was discussed and the idea was broached with a number of arty type Dover organisations, but didn't get much traction, so rather than leave the hoardings as a blank canvass for street 'artists' to decorate (or deface depending on your viewpoint) it was decided that young and old could make their creations during the Dover Street Art Festival and that the creations would then be put up on the hoardings which Town Team had recently repainted.
There was a press release done when the paintings were put up, which said that many of them had been made by local youngsters and, as can be seen on the boards, quite a few of the young people initialed their work. The level of coverage that the initiative achieved in the local press was disappointing, but not surprising as the initiative was neither bad news or highly controversial.
The key aim was to actually do something and create a piece of work rather than talk about doing something and wait. The TT has a small budget, but a considerable body of work to achieve, and this was something which could be achieved with little outlay, but which would add something, discourage vandalism (which would make a difficult derelict site even worse) and involve at least some of our young people in improving the environment of an area of their town which may remain a derelict/building site for some time still to come.
It is sad that the Blue Bird Market comes in for stinging and undeserved criticism because it is a primary initiative which is still ongoing and now approaching its third winter season. It may not be a large market at the moment, but it is still going and all the Continental stalls will be back for a week in September.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Neil, the market only comes in for a stinging because the TT won't engage a market manager, paying him on a commission basis so the more stalls he gets, the more money he'll receive.
There won't be an initial outlay for the TT as he/she, would be paid on a commission basis.
There are other towns not that far away from Dover that could be approached (by a market-manager) asking the stall-holders if they would like to come to Dover on a Tuesday; there are also farmers markets and I'm told nearly every one loves a farmers-market.
When you get the 30 to 40 stalls - which is quite possible, then you can advertise in the Kent on Sunday papers, to a much wider audience, promoting Dover's market, this in turn will help the shops too.
It's not rocket science, it just needs an acceptance - and no I don't want the job.
Paul - thank you for being rude and insulting.
I am not a key-board warrier and as you will have read above, I have tried and tried very hard over the years to benefit and help move Dover forward on a number of initiatives. None of that you seem to have read.
Roger
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
There is a market manager, he was employed when I resigned in January. When I was running the market we regularly had over 20 stalls and I wasn't paid a penny.
The Street Art Project was my concept, Neil, I and others worked a whole weekend, I spent weeks and weeks organising it, again without being paid a penny.
I don't ask for payment or praise, I'd simply like to point out that being wise after the event is easy.
Roger, you list half a dozen projects you were involved with that failed, it seems a recurrent theme.
And yep, you'll come back and say I'm being personal, which I will be if in your ignorance you criticise children's artwork. DDC knew all about this event, the officers were very supportive, you couldn't be bothered to pop down and see it.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
I apologise Neil,

from Paul's comments past and present I assumed he was part of the Town Team.
Unfortunately I had not seen a press release about the pictures on any of the internet sites that I am on.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
Paul, that is sad that you are proud to be rude and insulting, some of us so called keyboard warriors are no where near as young and fit as our detractors.
Being old and disabled I had no intention of struggling down to an area of town that I never visit unless needs must simply to see a load of strangers and their children spray painting even if they were enjoying themselves.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
A pic of the Street Art project taken today that wasn't quite visible from Howard's original, crediting those involved (though I must say I keep thinking of Rolf Harris sans beard when looking at that painting!)
And a couple of pics of the
Happy Wall in the centre of Copenhagen where a major redevelopment is taking place - it would be nice to know that something similar (or even better with an archaeological viewing platform as happened in Canterbury for the Whitefriars development) was being planned for DTIZ.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
Ray now that is what I call street art.Roger bashing over for the day is it.Roger is a gentleman and a good Councillor.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Hopefully Sue, just looked up this term and it is depressingly accurate.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Keyboard+WarriorGuest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Sums up Paul's posting quite well.
David, you really are a nasty sod.
Those projects I was engaged in, failed not through my incompetance as you imply, but through things beyond my control - and I'm sure you knew that, but for political purposes (or maybe because I am right about you, above), it suits you to be this way.
It had nothing to do with not being bothered to come down and have look and give my support, I wasn't in Dover at that time.
I have spoken with your market co-ordinator some time ago and he advised he is just filling in until you find someone permanent
Roger