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Annual General Meeting May 19th

Covid restrictions prevented us from holding our annual general meeting last year, but it will take place this year at the Royal Temple Yacht Club, 6 Westcliff Terrace Mansions, Ramsgate CT11 9HY on Thursday 19th May 2022 commencing at 6.00 pm and members are invited to attend. It will be an opportunity to hear more about the work of the Society over recent years and our future plans, and to have your say.

Papers will be available on our website or in hard copy at the meeting.

The meeting will be followed by an update by the Chairman, John Walker on proposals for the restoration and future use of the Clock House.

As the capacity of the room is limited it would be helpful if you would confirm your intention to attend by clicking the button below

Graham Woolnough
Honorary Secretary

Our Next Talk May 20th: Fight the Good Fight…

Christian Wars of Religion in 19th-century Ramsgate

Victorian Ramsgate was full of places of chiefly Christian worship, covering every conceivable confession and denomination. Did this lead to brotherly love and concord? Not at all! In this Ramsgate Society talk Stephen Davies looks at some of the most unchristian battles which raged in the town.

The talk takes place at the Royal Temple Yacht Club on Friday May 20th. Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7pm start. The talk is free for Society members while others are welcome for a voluntary donation of £3 at the event. As always places must be reserved in advance here.

Terry Prue

Ramsgate Port application by TDC provokes strong reactions

Photo by Terry Prue of one of the pontoons that could be used in Berths 4/5

In February TDC submitted an application (PA/TH/22/0132) for prior approval for the installation of a 119m long berth following the removal of the existing Berths 4 and 5 in the commercial port. This was reviewed by our affiliate group The Ramsgate Heritage & Design Forum (RHDF) in March. It responded to TDC as follows:

The Ramsgate Heritage & Design Forum objects to this development on the grounds that there is no economic or business justification for this very substantial use of public funds* into the perennially loss-making port operation. There is an unacceptable lack of transparency that cannot be excused by sheltering behind spurious claims of ‘commercial confidentiality’. The only beneficiary would be Bretts, a wholly private company yet again subsidised by public funds.

* In excess of £1million

The Forum added its voice to the objections from some local councillors, RAG (Ramsgate Action Group) and RRA (Ramsgate Regeneration Alliance). Support for the development appears to be confined to a very small group of tight-lipped senior officers at TDC.

Richard Oades

Ramsgate Matters Spring 2022 Edition

Are you able to help with local delivery?

Image courtesy of Kent Film Foundation

The Spring 2022 edition of our bi-annual magazine, edited by Brian Daubney, is currently being printed. As many members will be aware, we rely on volunteers to assist with local distribution, as this helps to keep costs down.

Each volunteer delivers a ‘round’ of about 20 magazines to addresses as close to their home address as we can manage and we do our best to spread the load. If you would be willing to help us by adding your name to our list of volunteers, we would be very grateful.

Write to me here to volunteer or to find out more.

Graham Woolnough

Tree Stories: An Event for our Tree Sponsors May 1st

As many of you might remember, last year the Ramsgate Society planted 50 trees to mark the 50th Anniversary of the designation of the Ramsgate Conservation Area. We also asked members and local people to join us in our ‘adopt a tree project’ and I’m delighted to say that all the trees were swiftly adopted!

We would like to celebrate the tree project – and to thank you for all your support over the last year – by inviting you to a talk on Sunday 1st May, at the downstairs function room in the Churchill Tavern, 19-21 Paragon, Ramsgate CT11 9JX, at 1.00pm. (Refreshments will be available from the bar)

The talk – ‘Tree Stories’ – will include a presentation which will celebrate the folklore of trees and the value they add to our life and environment. The talk will last approximately one hour and will also be a chance to meet each other to discuss trees!

If you would like to attend, please could you email ireneseijo@icloud.com so we can set up the room comfortably.

Very many thanks, Irene Seijo

Civic Champion Awards 2022

N.B. Deadline for Nominations for this award extended to May 31st 2022

Please complete the nomination form online. Consider the criteria of the six categories below and write a brief synopsis of why you think this person, team or organisation should be considered. Each Ramsgate Society member can nominate up to three candidates. Make sure the name of the nominee is clearly written and provide contact details if you have them. Please send the completed nomination form by May 31st 2022.

The Ramsgate Society Committee will consider all nominees using the criteria and members’ comments and will let all members know of the final selection in August. The Civic Awards Ceremony will be held in November. We look forward to receiving all your nominations.

There are six categories for our Civic Champion Awards:

Arts and Culture

Enhancing and increasing participation in arts, including music and creative leisure activities.

Community

Achieving outstanding results by initiating, organising and/or delivering a community programme or event which has benefitted the town or a community.

Education

Improving and enhancing development opportunities for children and young people.

Heritage and Environment

Improving or revitalising the environment, culture and heritage.

Health and Wellbeing

Providing services that enhance the health and wellbeing of people in the town. For example, developing sport and leisure opportunities or enhancing and increasing participation in physical sport, leisure activity or recreational pursuits.

NOTE: This award is intended for those involved in ‘running’ the sport/leisure activity, e.g., coaching/administration, etc as opposed to those who participate in these activities.

Community Champion Award

This special achievement award celebrates an individual or individuals for their outstanding contribution and dedication to Ramsgate over their lifetime or significant period. They will have gone above and beyond, over many years, demonstrating a long-term voluntary commitment to the town and the wider community.

In special circumstances, the Society may make a lifetime award to a person who lives outside the town’s boundaries, providing the deserving voluntary service concerned has been wholly or predominantly carried out for the benefit of Ramsgate and its people.

Sue Gyde and Graham Woolnough

Contact the Ramsgate Society

If you have any queries about or for the Society please get in touch

Members with events, workshops or news that you would like the Society to consider featuring in its newsletter please contact: news@ramsgate-society.org.uk