We were provided with an excellent Carol Concert which filled the Church of St Mary-in-the-Castle and which was led by the Choir of Eastry Junior School with music by Sandwich Music Group and organised as usual by Ray Harlow.
A very successful Quiz Night was held which packed the NAFFI block, kindly lent to us by English Heritage and Morton’s Fork provided tea and coffee. There were 70+ people, even 2 tables of EH staff, who alas did not win ! Ray Harlow’s Team won the quiz and the Chairman’s wife’s team was awarded some large melons as a booby prize for coming last. Although the Chairman & VC are standing down, Paul and I would be very happy to present another such quiz night should the Committee require.
Unfortunately I have not had as much time as I would have liked to spend on the Friends owing to pressure of work, but the Committee continued seamlessly and ran a successful publicity event at the Hospital Fete in July.
We were also able to present a new electric buggy for use on the site, bringing the total number of buggies donated by the Friends to five and a donation was made in support of the new stained glass window in the Church Hall.
The Committee are very grateful and appreciative of the help, advice, interest and support of the General Manager of Dover Castle and of her team, and also for the great help given by the Verger of St Mary-in-the-Castle.
Congratulations are due I believe to Jeanette for securing her position as General Manager of the Castle.
My thanks to the committee for all their hard work throughout the year and especially to Paul doubling up as VC and membership Secretary at the same time and to Ray for his continued support in producing a first-class concert every year without fail.
I am pleased to report that we are increasingly making use of e-mail to speed communications and are in the process of making the website even better than before, and Paul has kindly agreed to continue as web-master for the foreseeable future.
