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By Damian Collins, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Folkestone and Hythe

Folkestone and Shepway, have a long and distinguished military history, continued by local people serving today around the world, and of course the Brigade of Gurkhas, based at Shorncliffe Barracks. However, the role of Folkestone during the First World War is particularly significant.

One of the most poignant artworks commissioned for this year's Folkestone Triennial is Mark Wallinger's 'Folk Stones' sculpture, situated near the bandstand on the Leas. The sculpture consists of a square of 19,240 large pebbles, each one numbered and representing the life of a British soldier killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, on 1st July 1916. Many of these men would have marched past the site of this sculpture on their way to the harbour and the boat to France for the journey on to the trenches of the western front.

Last week I chaired a meeting of a new local campaign group called 'Step Short'. It is named after the command given to the hundreds of thousands of men who during the First World War marched down the Road of Remembrance in Folkestone. The 'Step Short' group would like to see this Road restored to its former glory, and to provide a fitting memorial for all service personnel who passed through Folkestone – many of whom never returned.

The Group, which includes former Mayor, Ann Berry, and Terry Begent of Go Folkestone, is bringing together local historians, councillors and members of the creative community, all of whom share an interest in marking this important piece of history, and telling its story to new generations of people. This project has added significance with the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War coming up in 2014.

If you are interested in finding out more about this campaign, you can e-mail me at damian@damiancollins.com .

Later that day I attended a meeting organised by the Rotary Club of the Channel at Penstock Hall Farm, Brabourne, to see a presentation by George Jessel of the Kent Cheese Company. The company started trading earlier this year with the launch of three new Kent cheeses all of which are produced using local milk at their dairy in Hastingleigh. The company is already enjoying success with their Kentish Crown cheese being shortlisted to win a medal at the British Cheese Awards later this month. You can find out more from their website www.thekentcheesecompany.co.uk .