News

2 April 2009

Last week was British Tourism week. Tourism is Britain’s fifth biggest industry, our third largest export earner, employs 2.2 million people and is worth £85 billion a year to the British economy.

Its contribution to our local economy in Shepway is obviously very significant. In the current economic climate, given the fall in the value of the pound, it is one industry which might be expected to flourish.

So last Friday I went along to New Romney Caravan Park at Greatstone to meet Sian Hunter and her mother who own and operate the park. 50% of the population visit a holiday park during their lifetime and the industry is keen to make the most of the opportunities which are now opening up for it. I very much hope that the many holiday parks in Shepway get their fair share.

From Greatstone I went to Tontine Street in Folkestone where the Chimaera Gallery was hosting the launch of ‘Life on Marsh’ a new book of stories and illustrations of the Marsh by Andy Holyer and Niko Miaoulis.

It is a delightful book. My favourite of the many stories it contains concerns a group of four German spies who landed between Hythe and Dungeness in the early years of the war. They were spotted and arrested pretty quickly, partly because only one of them spoke English and partly because they tried to get a drink at ‘The Rising Sun’ at 9.30am, showing complete ignorance of the licensing laws then in place!

On Sunday afternoon I went to Rileys Snooker Club to meet some of the competitors in a snooker tournament for people with learning and physical disabilities.

These are very regular events run by the Folkestone and District Snooker League which also runs a tournament to raise money for the Pilgrims Hospice. The event has raised hundred of pounds for the hospice and is an excellent example of how almost any kind of activity can be put to good use for charitable causes.

All credit to Brian Morrish and his colleagues at the league for their efforts. Long may they continue.