As usual I had left the MOT for my Freelander till the last minute, not deliberately you understand, but I just plain forgot again! I rang around several garages but nobody could fit my car in. Eventually I rang Geraldine Motors, referred to me by my neighbour when I told him that I hadn’t found a garage who could do this work at short notice.

Geraldine Motors Ltd. 1-2 Park Road, Cheriton, Folkestone, CT19 4DG. Tel 01303 275114

I rang Geraldine Motors and was told to bring my motor in straight away and they would fit it in - this was music to my ears.

Park Road is mostly residential road and parking is tight, but after efficiently checking my motor in they took my car onto their premises.

After a couple of hours I was called to collect my car which had passed the MOT.

When I collected my car the mechanic explained that my headlights had been out of alignment sufficient to fail the MOT, but they had adjusted them to save me having to get a re test.

All in all I was extremely pleased with the service I received. Geraldine Motors were polite, helpful and efficient and I would definitely go back there again. They know what they are doing and you get a feeling that you are dealing with good guys who can be trusted and do not BS you. And even better -  next year they will send me an MOT reminder too.

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After all the hard work which goes in to organising events, we all know how important it is to promote them effectively and to as wide an audience as possible. As with many other aspects of event organisation, publicity needs to be planned and budgeted for, and the quality of your advertising says much about your event and influences those who decide to come along.

Shepway District Council wants to encourage and facilitate well organised events both on its land and elsewhere in the district. To help you promote your future events we would like to suggest various forms of advertising and to introduce you to the Discover Folkestone Website which is maintained by Chris Kirkham of Discover Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh (www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk )

Chris works in conjunction with Folkestone Town Centre Management (FTCM), Folkestone Town Council (FTC) and Shepway District Council (SDC). This website is most informative in promoting many aspects of the Shepway district and advertising on this site is far reaching as it has links to Visit Kent, Enjoy England and Visit Britain websites.

Other promotion we would suggest is detailed below and will suit a variety of budgets:

1. Rent the side of vehicles e.g. Taxi.

2. Walking sandwich boards

3. Use of shop windows (with the owners permission).

4. Local newspapers – consider writing and submitting a press release about your event. Include a picture if possible and don’t forget to include a contact name and telephone number. However, bear in mind that your press release has to take its chance alongside many other “contenders” for news space. Paid-for advertising is the only space that is guaranteed.

5. Local radio – it is amazing how many people this reaches.

6. Club/school/sports notice boards (with the owner/managers permission).

7. Parish notice boards (with the Parish Council’s permission).

8. Parish magazines – particularly if your event is for charity.

9. Various websites – think about your organisations and who/what you might have links with.

10. FTCM and SDC have recently been granted planning permission for a number vertical banners to be displayed in the pedestrian area of Sandgate Road, Folkestone. It is early days but it is proposed that event organisers will be able to use an element of the banners for the promotion of their events. This will be administrated and managed by staff of FTCM.

Fly posting is illegal, the council has been experiencing increasing incidents, and will be taking more rigorous and consistent action against this form of promotion in the future.

We hope you find this information helpful, but if you require any further help or advice please contact me and I will be pleased to direct your enquiry to the relevant officer.

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Although I haven’t popped into The Frenchman recently, I wanted to write this little review of my last visit.

The Frenchman. Christchurch Road, Folkestone. CT20 2SX (tel: 01303 259815)

It is not in Folkestones main shopping precinct, so you probably may not just happen across it - but if you are walking down Christchurch Road, as I was, then do pop in to The Frenchman because it is lively, friendly and welcoming.

First to the surroundings - the L shaped bar area was freshly decorated in contemporary colours and was clean and well lit with nice wooden floors - furnishings were adequate, not lavish, but perfectly suited to the environment - outside looked freshly decorated too. There is a dart board, pool table and TV monitors around the place.

It was the music that pulled me into The Frenchman as I was walking back to my car - but the first thing I noticed as I walked through the door were the customers who were obviously appreciating the music - a real mix of ages and types - but all friendly. I went to the bar and the gentleman serving the drinks was also very friendly and welcoming - as if I was one of the regulars.

A bit more about the music on this particular evening which was a mix of traditional celtic and modern covers delivered by a three piece band tunefully, loudly and boisterously, and which was the reason I had ventured into The Frenchman because I couldn’t resist that loud happy lively sound. As I sat listening to the music and enjoying my glass of wine one of the customers walked past me on the way to the Ladies, and she stopped to exchange a few words of welcome too.

So was the experience good enough to make me go there again? Yes absolutely!! I do not visit pubs on my own often so do not have what I would call a ‘local’ - but if I lived closer I would definitely call The Frenchman my local.

p.s. I am told The Frenchman also have wifi.

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Recently the Sellindge based Kent Coast Locomotive Group (KCLG) has struck a deal with the National Coal Mining Museum at Wakefield for the long term loan of ‘Antwerp’, an 0-6-0 saddletank 18″ Austerity type locomotive built by the Hunslet Engine Co of Leeds and completed in August 1944 as part of the war effort. This loco has been standing at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (the line featured in the ‘Heartbeat’ TV series), out of use for about 25 years and requires major boiler and mechanical work before returning to service. The KCLG has already dealt with one locomotive of this type. All the members of this group belong to the Remembrance Line Association and have earmarked this locomotive for exclusive use on the ‘Remembrance Line’. In full working order these powerful locomotives are ideal for tackling the steep 1 in 30 incline on the Folkestone Harbour Branch.

Works no.3180 ‘Antwerp’ was so named after being stationed in Belgium at Antwerp Dam from 1945 during WW2. With other class members vital recovery work was carried out, as during the war Belgian Railways were virtually rendered inoperative by enemy action. ‘Antwerp’ returned to Britain in 1947 and in 1948 was sold to the then recently formed National Coal Board and put to work in the Yorkshire coal fields. During the 1970’s it was put aside as a spare loco at Wheldale Coliery before entering preservation, placed on loan to the developing North Yorkshire Moors Railway in May 1980. After 5 years of hard work ‘Antwerp’ was laid up pending a major overall, which because of changing operating requirements on the NYMR has never happened.

Happily KCLG will be taking delivery of this historically appropriate locomotive at Sellindge, near Folkestone during February 2010. After an exhaustive survey an estimated date of return to traffic will be published.

R.Moffatt Dec 2009

Extract taken from: http://www.theremembranceline.org.uk/

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Sandgate High Street used to be a thriving high street with businesses of all types: butchers, greengrocers, banks, newsagents, etc. but over the years most of the ‘village’ stores have left the high street. A new Farmers Market has started in Chichester Memorial Hall - 1st and 3rd Saturdays in the month from 10am to 12pm.

I recently had a car breakdown and had my vehicle towed back to Dover at 1 am. I used to take my car to C&F Motors who specialise in VW Audi repairs but the partnership desolved.

John Fuller (ex C&F) has started his own garage workshop namely called JF Motors in Coombe Valley, Dover. So thats where I asked the recovery to deliver the car at 1am.

John is a fully experienced VW Audi car engineer since the 70`s and started his first garage in 1978. He does repair all makes and models and has vast automotive knowledge.
I highly recommend him.

Well, I shoved my car keys through his letterbox and left a brief note. The following morning John rang to explain the damage and repair cost.

John is the sort of guy who will do the job to a budget if safe to do so, unlike many garages intent on extracting as much as they can from parts and labour.

To cut a long story short the car was fixed the very same day and actually repaired some parts rather than fit new - at my bequest.

So if you need repairs to any make or model, especially VW Audi do not hesitate to give John a ring.
Dover may well be out of the way for some Folkestone residents but you will get value for money and vast automotive experience. Someone you can trust!

Unit 2
Poulton Cl, Dover, CT17 0HL
01304 216363

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