In late May at the San Clu Hotel, there was an interesting and informative Ramsgate Society talk about the new Ramsgate Pride in Place initiative – a scheme which aims to distribute close to 20 million pounds of government funding over the next ten years.  Following the talk around 30 Ramsgate Society members assembled for the Annual General Meeting of the Society.

After apologies for absence were received, and the minutes of the last AGM had been approved, the audience was treated to a report from the Chairman, John Walker. John outlined the breadth of the involvement of the Society in all things Ramsgate from the Port and Harbour; to the Clock House; to helping with Litter Picking and organising the 2025 Community Champions awards; to arranging the very popular monthly talks and distributing the monthly newsletter as well as publishing the Ramsgate Society website.

In July 2024 Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour was awarded Heritage Harbour status. The Ramsgate Society was asked to set up a steering committee, the Heritage Harbour Group, and Denise Blunn was invited to be the project lead. Under her highly effective stewardship the disparate group meets regularly with representatives from Thanet District Council, Ramsgate Town Council, Ramsgate Tunnels, and the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships to discuss improvements to one of the town’s greatest assets.

In June 2025, The Royal Harbour played host to a very successful series of events commemorating the wartime evacuation of troops from Dunkirk beaches and it is hoped that the Little Ships commemorations will continue in the future.

John also referred to the work of the Society in helping to repair and repaint the 13 seafront shelters. This work has been ongoing since 2012 and the chairman was keen to praise especially the work of Davena Green, a Ramsgate Society vice president, Maxine Morgan from Ramsgate Town Council and all at Ramsgate Glass who have worked tirelessly to help maintain these beautiful and useful clifftop structures.

The annual accounts, which had been circulated prior to the AGM were approved and praise and thanks were given to David Lister, the treasurer, for his diligent work.

The meeting continued with the re-election of the current committee and gratitude for those who have recently stepped down, including Brian Daubney, Phil Shotton, and Suzanne Ford. Michael Ashley who also stepped down from the committee was appointed Vice President.

The meeting was then opened to the floor and a lively discussion followed about the recent alterations to the Granville Theatre as two members expressed their dissatisfaction with what they felt was a lack of engagement from The Ramsgate Heritage and Design Forum – a volunteer group which reviews planning applications and makes comments to the council. The Hon Secretary agreed to discuss the Granville planning application with the RHDF at their next meeting.

There is always room for new members on the Ramsgate Society Executive Committee and anyone interested in getting involved should get in touch, through the ‘Contact’ section of this website, by email or by coming to speak to one of us at one of our talks.

Paul Shearer

Hon. Secretary