Shepway Liberal Democrats

Folkestone Civic Events

During the course of the year, there are a wide range of Civic Events which happen within Folkestone, commemorating key events in Folkestone's history.

We detail some of them below: if you have more information on any event or there are any missing, please send details to mail@shepwaylibdems.org.uk and we'd be pleased to update this listing.

William Harvey Day

Early June (2nd Sunday on the month?) June sees Folkestone mark one of its most famous citizens with the annual William Harvey Commemoration.

William Harvey was born in Folkestone on 1 April 1578, one of seven sons. He went to school in Canterbury and studied in Cambridge and Italy before becoming a doctor and a lecturer in London. His area of research was the circulation of the blood and the way the heart works. His book, 'Concerning the motion of the heart and blood in animals' was published in 1628.

In Folkestone there is a statue of William Harvey on the Leas. When Harvey died (on 3 June 1657) he left money in his will for the founding of a boys' school in Folkestone which opened in 1674: the Harvey Grammar School has had a continuous history to the present day.

William Harvey Day is marked by a procession including the Folkestone Mayor, Town Councillors and others process from the Burlington Hotel on Earls Avenue to the William Harvey statue on the Leas arriving at 3pm, where a short service of thanksgiving is held.

Town Sunday

Town Sunday is held in late June at SS Mary & Eanswythe's Church, where the new Mayor confirmed as Town Mayor for the coming year at the Town Cross in the churchyard, as has been the tradition since 1313.

Blessing of the Fisheries

The annual Blessing of the Fisheries takes place in late June, beginning at St Peter's on the East Cliff, and processing down to The Stade of Folkestone's Harbour where a service is held, prior to the procession returning up The Stade and The Durlocks to St Peters Church.

Canada Day

Traditionally held on 1 July or the first working day afterwards, Canada Day is a Bank Holiday in Canada, and is marked in Folkestone by a service at the Shornecliffe Military Cemetery.

During the First World War a number of Canadian military establishments were centred on Shorncliffe. There were camps and a Machine Gun School which were served by the Shorncliffe Military Hospital (later No. 9 Canadian General), the Moore Barracks Military Hospital (later No. 11 Canadian General), and other Canadian hospitals. The Canadian Army Medical Corps Training Depot was at or near Shorncliffe during almost the whole of the war. On three occasions Canadian soldiers were killed during air raids on Shorncliffe. Shorncliffe Military Cemetery contains 471 First World War burials. [Source: http://ww1cemeteries.com]

The Remembrance Service is in commemoration of the 296 Canadian soldiers who died in combat during the First World War and who are buried in the Shorncliffe Military Cemetery, and is marked not just by a service, but also the practice of local primary school children attending and taking part, laying their own floral tributes on the graves of the soldiers.

In 2007, Canada recognised Folkestone with an award to mark the almost 90 years of uninterrupted Canada Day Remembrances held at Shorncliffe, presenting 2007 Mayor Peter Gane with a framed citation and medal.

VJ Day

Celebrated in Folkestone at the Burma Star memorial in the Garden of Remembrance on Sandgate Road, with a morning service on VJ Day itself.

Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) is the celebration of the Surrender of Japan, which was initially announced on August 15, 1945, ending combat in the Second World War.

Trafalgar Day

The annual Trafalgar Day service is run by the Royal Navy Association and takes the form of a service (in 2007 at St Peters Church, Folkestone) on a Sunday in Mid-October.

Trafalgar Day is the celebration of the victory won by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's British fleet over the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805.

Dedication of the Garden of Remembrance

The week before Remembrance Sunday, the Dedication of the Garden of Remembrance takes place in the Christchurch Gardens, Sandgate Road, Folkestone.

The Town Mayor, the Royal British Legion and others take part in the short service, where small wooden crosses of remembrance are placed in memory of Folkestone's fallen heroes.

Remembrance Sunday

Remembrance Sunday is the Sunday nearest to 11 November - Remembrance Day, which is the anniversary of when hostilities in the First World War ended at 11 a.m in 1918. Remembrance Sunday is marked by ceremonies at local war memorials in most towns and villages, attended by civic dignitaries, ex-servicemen and women (principally the Royal British Legion), youth organisations (e.g. Scouts and Guides), and military cadet forces. Wreaths of poppies are laid on the memorials and two-minutes' silence is held at 11am.

Folkestone salutes its debt to those who fought for their country at the Town's service and parade at the Folkestone War Memorial at the top of Folkestone's Road of Remembrance.

All Folkestone residents are invited to pay their respects at the ceremony starting at 10.40am, which includes the traditional Silence and Wreath Laying at the War Memorial, followed by a short Service.

The civic party of the mayor and ex-Mayors, current Councillors, and invited others assemble at the Leas Cliff Hall to proceed to the War Memorial at 10.40am. En route, the civic party will pause at the RAF Memorial on The Leas, where the Town Mayor will lay a wreath.

At the conclusion of the ceremony at the War Memorial, the civic party will then process back to the saluting base on The Leas. There, the Town Mayor will then take the Salute from serving and retired servicemen on The Leas.