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A brand new Beauty Room, opening three days a week, has been launched at the Hawkinge Community Centre.

With some great deals on offer this month, why not a take a trip on P&O Ferries and save money.
 

Interested in Photography? Why not come along to the FOLKESTONE CAMERA CLUB, every Monday from September to May..... more details below

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I remember it was a cool and still evening when I first discovered the full extent of my passion for the South East coast of England. As I stood on the cliff top at Capel and gazed down at Folkestone’s harbour, with the fresh spring rain beating down upon my face, I wondered, is it possible that at some other time in this very place, another had stood on this spot and felt the same appreciation and pride in the surrounding heritage.

I thought of both world wars. The many troops marching to the harbour and sailing away to France and to their deaths in the trenches, imagined the spitfires, engines roaring above my head, in their desperate struggle to win through against such overwhelming odds just over two decades later.

Smugglers from the 1700s working their money for old rope down below me on the shore, living their cat and mouse existence with the Revenue Men.

What faces have been here, what ships have sailed here, what birds have flown here, what secrets would this rapidly approaching night share if it could talk, if it could remember? But of course it does remember, it has witnessed it all and with each new day comes new history in the making.

Even now, anyone with just a passing interest in the history of these surroundings can experience those events that have long since passed into distant memory. The Vikings, The Romans, The Great Storm of 1703, the threat of invasion both French and German. Shipwrecks, plans and thwarted construction attempts for a channel tunnel, now of course completed. Villains, Heroes, Murderers, and Saviours. Swimmers, Aviators, Miners and Engineers. Its all here, this is not just history, this is life, I thought.

And it was here, at this moment that I realised that these events need not be forgotten. I had always been a keen reader, especially local historical literature and from this point on my interest grew. I had read more books than had hot dinners, but one needs to experience it in the raw, to live it, not only to satisfy my own need for knowledge, but also in the hope of showing others and bringing all this history to life. And so the idea was born.

My tour company, Old Kent Tours is small but adequate. I personally take up to eight passengers on day trips in Kent.
The tours are all tailored to suit the group’s or the individual’s interest. Be it a day experiencing life in front line Britain at Hellfire Corner, on the trail of the Roman invasion from their first landfall just along the coast at Richborough or a day sampling the delights of Charles Dickens. There are many others because this region has so much history and so much to offer, sometimes we mix and match, it really is down to what you would like to see and how long you would like to experience it for.
Even if you only have a few hours whilst your cruise call is in Dover we can show you something of our ample history. Additionally, we also offer shopping trips, dock and airport transfers and can pick you up twenty four hours a day seven days a week. I love to be the one who makes a persons day, whether they come from near or far, my passion and my pleasure is to give them the very best of what our region has to offer, come rain or shine and in doing so we are all experiencing and adding to the history !

To start your journey through history why not visit our website today and whet your appetite ?

www.oldkenttours.co.uk. Alternatively for a free information pack telephone me, Nigel, on 01303 244830 or 07951 329655 and join us on a tour soon.