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Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP. 

30 October 2008

Last Friday morning I was on hand to welcome a delegation of visiting Parliamentarians from Mauritius. They were met at Hythe Bay Church of England Primary School by Headteacher Carolyn Chivers and we visited a number of classes.

I was particularly interested to discover that a number of classes were studying “The Boy in Striped Pyjamas”, a novel featuring the small son of the Commandant of Auschwitz which I had read, and found very moving, in the summer.

Later the visitors went to the offices of the Folkestone Creative Quarter where they received a presentation about the ambitious plans for the future regeneration of our town.

I had to leave them at that point to set off for Tamworth where I addressed the local Conservative Association at their annual dinner.

But I was back for my advice centres in Hythe and Folkestone on Saturday morning and went on to fulfil a number of other engagements.

Saturday was Make a Difference Day, the annual celebration of the tremendous contribution which volunteers make to our society.

I went to two events. First I went to Harcourt Primary School where a great deal was being done to develop Harcourt’s School Garden. Families, friends and volunteers, including a very energetic contingent of Gurkhas, were hard at work on building a shed, repairing fencing and planting the garden.

Later I did a stint at the Barnardos Charity Shop in Sandgate Road where I was inculcated into the mysteries of operating the till.

Between the two I was able to attend the opening of the Urban Skate Park at Folkestone Youth Project’s Centre at the Harbour. This was the end of a long road for Go Folkestone and the Project which I originally chaired when we started work almost seven years ago.

Particular thanks go to Philip Carter, the Chairman of Folkestone Youth Project Charitable Trust, John Burge, one of the original movers and shakers and Roger de Haan who has made the land available. But the young people themselves raised a large amount of money. And on Saturday’s evidence they can be very proud of the results.