Tom McNeice's Folkestone Mayor's Journal
In May 2010, Liberal Democrat Morehall ward Councillor Tom McNeice was elected as the Mayor of Folkestone. This journal is a record of some of the event, meetings and people that he has seen as part of his time of Mayor, and the good things happening across Folkestone and Shepway.
The journal is written jointly with Folkestone Mayoress Kate McNeice, who accompanies Tom to events wherever possible.
You can also follow Tom McNeice on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cllrtom and Kate McNeice at www.twitter.com/katemcneice
Recent Journal Entries
- Feb 8, 2011:
- Forthcoming Events for the Mayor of Folkestone's Charity Fund
Please Support the Mayor of Folkestone's Charity Fund Raising Events, in aid of The Rainbow Centre and B-4-8s. The Sound of Shepway (The Mayor's Festival of Song) Tuesday 15th February at The Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, start 7pm. 2 School Choirs, 1 Youth Community Choir and The Mission Gospel Choir. Tickets £5 Charity Quiz Saturday 12th March. St George's Church (Audley Road) 7.30pm Teams of up to 8. £5 per head. Charity Art Auction Wednesday 23rd March. Quarterhouse (Tontine Street.) Viewing starts at 7pm, with live music entertainment. Auction begins at 8.15pm with celebrity auctioneer Michael Hogben. Mayor's Farewell Charity Dinner Thursday 28th April. (Night before the Royal Wedding.) 7.30pm at The Grand. Swansong Celebration Dinner with live entertainment and firework display. Tickets £25. For further details and tickets please contact Toni Brenchley at Folkestone Town Council on 01303 842327 Published and promoted by Shepway Liberal Democrats, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- Jan 31, 2011:
- Folkestone Mayor stands up for Town
Town Mayor Tom McNeice has been representing Folkestone at over 150 events since being elected Mayor in May 2010. From visiting the local Samaritans to attending civic events across the town and promoting Folkestone across Kent, Tom has also helped raise thousands of pounds for local charities including B-4-8's and the Folkestone Rainbow Centre. All Folkestone residents can help with the Mayor's fundraising for his local charities, which support local residents and services. On 15th February, Tom will be hosting "Sound of Shepway - The Mayor's Festival of Song" at the Leas Cliff Hall. Tickets cost just £5 for a great evenings entertainment, with funds raised going to charity. You can learn more about the event and book at the Leas Cliff Hall website at www.leascliffhall.co.uk. Published and promoted by Shepway Liberal Democrats, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- Jan 4, 2011:
- Sound of Shepway - The Folkestone Mayor's Festival of Song
On Tuesday, 15th February, a very special concert comprising of Gospel, Community and School choirs will be held at Folkestone's Leas Cliff Hall. The concert starts at 7pm, and is in aid of the Mayor's charities B-4-8s and Folketone Rainbow Centre. Tickets can be purchased for £5 each from the Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall Box Office. Published and promoted by Shepway Liberal Democrats, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- Nov 18, 2010:
- Town Mayor of Folkestone's Christmas Charity Auction
Join celebrity auctioneer Michael Hogben on 1st December and bid for a bargain work of art at a special charity auction to raise money for The Mayor and Mayoress's chosen charities The Folkestone Rainbow Centre and B-4-8s. Doors open at 7pm for browsing. There will be live music entertainment from 7.30pm and the auction begins at 8.15pm. Over 25 pieces of art have been donated by local artists, mainly from galleries in the Creative Quarter, and these will form the Auction Catalogue. Tickets are £5 (which includes a free Catalogue on arrival) and can only be purchased from Quarterhouse - you can buy online now at http://tinyurl.com/34owztf Published and promoted by Shepway Liberal Democrats, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- Nov 9, 2010:
- Service of Remembrance at Western Dover Docks Railway
There have been times in my youth when events related to Remembrance have felt distant and impersonal, but this year the culmination of the 70th Battle of Britain year and the meeting of individuals, whose lives have been touched by tragedy, has made services such as this personal and emotional. In Etaples in June the WW1 Memorial reminded me of my father's experiences, and then meeting Muhinda Singh in August at the 70th Anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Britain, combined to stir up deep thoughts. As we gathered today to weep and to mourn and to remember, we represent those who can no longer attend. We don't know the people on the lists on the walls of memorials, but what we do today is remember that they were all mothers, brothers, sisters and family. For years now the numbers of people who can actually remember has dwindled and remembrance has begun to be less raw and less like an open wound. In these first 10 years of the 21st Century, things have changed. As new wars have been fought, we have become involved and it has been made personal again. The stunning memorial is rarely seen by anyone other than those attending this service, which is such a shame considering it has an emotional message to share. Throughout the service I was reminded of the thousands of people passing through the Western Docks onto the continent in WW1. I also recalled the debt we owe to the millions of men who marched down Slope Road (now called Road of Remembrance) to the harbour in Folkestone. I pondered on the sacrifices made by the workers on trains and in dockyards. Seeing our young people today with medals on, can only mean that they too have made sacrifices, seen the death of their friends and experienced the horrors of war. As a post war baby I grew up in a peaceful world and the mental pictures of stories told to me in my youth, grew dim. Yesterday a Company of Gurkha Rifles returned to Shorncliffe Camp, but there were four soldiers missing, killed in action. This is no longer impersonal, and Remembrance Services will never be the same. Published and promoted by Shepway Liberal Democrats, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- Nov 6, 2010:
- End of Guiding Centenary Ceremony at the Guiding Flower Bed on The Leas
This event is a photo call to mark the end of a year of celebration for the guiding movement. I have been privileged to have attended many of the events this year and this final ceremony was tinged with sadness at the end of a very long party. The Guiders and Trefoil members however, are looking forward to a little more rest from the constant organising. Representatives from the various groups were present (Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Ranger) as well as the leaders, the Town and District Council and the garden designers and maintenance crew. George Bunting and I handed over a cheque from the collections made at the garden display throughout the year. Published and promoted by Shepway Liberal Democrats, 98a Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
