Sometimes when we get depressed about the future of disaffected youngsters, our spirits are lifted by the successful schemes that are in place around the district. I was delighted to be asked to go to Little Switzerland in East Folkestone to present prizes to a group of young people who had spent several months learning how to improve the countryside in the local area.
Excellent company and food at The Gurkha Palace created a very enjoyable evening. For this particular event, the business world met with some students from the Folkestone School for Girls, so that the girls could call on the skills of the Rotary members in order to maximise charity fund raising attempts.
I was delighted to be asked to accompany Alan Risley-Settle to the meal where the handing over of the Presidency is announced. The speeches affirmed my opinion of the good work that the Rotary Club undertakes.
Town Sunday is a tradition where the Mayor formally accepts the office of Mayor and promises to work for the people of Folkestone. Gathering around the cross in the grounds of St Mary and St Eanswythe's Church is the beginning of the formalities. In times past, this was the moment that the new Mayor was chosen and if he refused to accept the honour, his house would be burned down. I willingly agreed to be Mayor!
Dressing into full robes is exhausting enough but standing in 30 degrees for an hour is sweltering! The procession to The Stade on Folkestone Harbour was led by the Folkestone Pipes and Drums and included Folkestone Town and Shepway District Councillors as well as clergy from various denominations, all fully robed and finding the heat overwhelming.
I wouldn't have missed the British Armed Forces Day celebration on the Leas in Folkestone for all the world: I am so proud of our service men and women and those who have served us in the past, and judging by the many hundreds of people on the Leas, I'm not alone.
On Thursday 24th June, the Government Office of the South East "called in" the planning decision to expand the runway at Lydd Airport, also known as London Ashford Airport, stating that there will now be a public enquiry.
The new Sure-Start Centre Nursery called Caterpillars in Chart Road (behind Morehall School) invited me to make the opening speech on the official opening day. It is even more of a delight to be invited to do such a thing when it is for the people in Ward where I serve as Councillor!
Commenting on the budget, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes said:
The international stage has been shaken by a series of reckless and illegal actions from Donald Trump’s White House. Liberal Democrat members have passed a new motion to bolster our national defence and strengthen our alliances with reliable partners.
For too long, tech giants have treated children as data to be mined, using addictive algorithms and harmful content to keep them scrolling. While some are calling for blanket bans, we know these are impractical and risk isolating vulnerable groups.
If the answer to “Is our nuclear deterrent working?” depends on what Donald Trump had for breakfast, then the answer is no, it’s not. And our deterrent is not truly independent.
Ed Davey is a husband, a father and a carer. He is the Leader of the Liberal Democrats.
It is Ed’s experience of caring that drives much of his politics, and motivates his tireless campaigning for a fair deal.
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