Pageant plus the Town Hall Big Band occasion.
19 June 2008
Picture by Karol Steele We were not able to give the Pageant any coverage of note this year due to a whole multitude of reasons, although some of our Fab Forumites put up links to pictures they took at the event which was great, these can still be seen in the Letters Club thread, but this shot above sums up the event very well. It shows the contingent from the Town Council in full regalia arriving at the start of proceedings.The march is being led by Town Sergeant Bryan Walker with the Deputy Mayor Sue Jones next along.
1940's dance at the Town Hall
We are not attempting full coverage of this event as we were 'jitterbugging' like everyone else. So what we have here is just a few 'snaps' from the occasion.
The picture on the left shows Cllr Diane Smallwood, Mayor of Dover, with Martin DeSutton. It is understood that Martin is the holder of the George Medal. Martin, who is clearly therefore a bigtime military hero, was enjoying the occasion greatly. He told us he enjoyed the entire Hellfire Corner weekend and found it very interesting indeed.Although no longer in the forces Martin still has a huge interest in all things military and now sells militaria for a living.The picture on the right shows a whole brace of councillors. Sue Jones who is the current Deputy Mayor, Jan Tranter, of course, a former Mayor, and on the right Ronnie Philpott who may yet be a Mayor herself.
On the left we have Cllr David Hannent in the persona of an officer from Czechoslovakia with lovely wife Linda. These two really enjoyed the performance of the Jeff Short Swing Band. They skipped across the floor with a dazzling display of dizzy footwork that yours truly can only dream about and even then in his wildest dreams. They sashayed here..they shimmied there..
Yes a great time is always had by David and Linda.They keep the floor at the town hall polished to perfection!
These two pictures show both sides of the celebratory coin. On the left you have the formal shot and on the right you see what happens as soon as the formal picture is over!Oooh steady!
The people in the picture are of course Jan Tranter, yours truly PaulB, and on the right ColetteB.
1940's dance at the Town Hall
The picture on the left shows Cllr Diane Smallwood, Mayor of Dover, with Martin DeSutton. It is understood that Martin is the holder of the George Medal. Martin, who is clearly therefore a bigtime military hero, was enjoying the occasion greatly. He told us he enjoyed the entire Hellfire Corner weekend and found it very interesting indeed.Although no longer in the forces Martin still has a huge interest in all things military and now sells militaria for a living.The picture on the right shows a whole brace of councillors. Sue Jones who is the current Deputy Mayor, Jan Tranter, of course, a former Mayor, and on the right Ronnie Philpott who may yet be a Mayor herself.
On the left we have Cllr David Hannent in the persona of an officer from Czechoslovakia with lovely wife Linda. These two really enjoyed the performance of the Jeff Short Swing Band. They skipped across the floor with a dazzling display of dizzy footwork that yours truly can only dream about and even then in his wildest dreams. They sashayed here..they shimmied there..
Yes a great time is always had by David and Linda.They keep the floor at the town hall polished to perfection!
These two pictures show both sides of the celebratory coin. On the left you have the formal shot and on the right you see what happens as soon as the formal picture is over!Oooh steady!
The people in the picture are of course Jan Tranter, yours truly PaulB, and on the right ColetteB.
- Thanks for that BarryW..I'm in the process of doing it just now so you are right on the pace. I appear to be making heavy weather of it as Im suffering the riquors of a nasty virus right now....nasty
- With all the thanks and congratulations going on for the weekend two very important groups have been missed out....
The Air Cadets - their band had its first public performances over the weekend in Pencester and excellent they were.....
Then there were the Kent Royal Marine Cadets who had a large contingent and, like the Air Cadets, could not do enough to help out.
These youngesters were a credit to their organisations and to todays youth.... - What a super photo taken by Karol Steele at this years Pageant.Our Deputy Major Sue Jones looks splendid in her regalia and I just love the fun photos of the Hellfire evening dance celebrations.
- Great photos, doesn't everyone look glam. I won't ask what Jan is up to in that last pic - lol!!
- Paul, you were having a bad day whilst writing this weren't you? It is Martin De Sutton...I won't be forgetting his name in a hurry I can tell you. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
- Thanks Alison - have corrected the name. Yes I'm having a bad day.
- Really nice picture from karol of the pageant always a colourfull do and sue looks good leading the procession along with bryan the town sergeant,
Oh we had fun at the dance. - Really enjoyed the weekend - well done to Barry and his team. Let's hope that the Jeff Short Band will return next year.
- It may be worth checking the information that people feed you before you publish it and make a grave error or people get all hot under the collar over a fake.
For instance checking this Martin De Sutton's military background and honors.
I have personally checked lists available for both awards GC & GM and can not find this man on either.
If this man is a fraud then he should be exposed publicly as one. I believe it does hideous dishonor to those who have performed deeds of great gallantry most having earnt them posthumously. Least we remember that the last man to earn a George Cross jumped on a grenade to save the lives of his comrades and the last four winners of the George Medal all died performing the actions that led to the honor being given.
If I am wrong then I remove my statement and apoligise to this man who is a national hero! But please check this information. - Many thanks for that comment for Shropshire which has brought this feature back to life again. I take on board the comments made and have every sympathy for them. As you are an anonymous poster I am not sure just how genuine it all is.
When we go to events we have to take people on face value. If someone says they are a colonel of this regiment, or a mayor of somewhere, or a channel swimmer...I mean you just accept it as one wouldnt have time to check on everyone. The chap you refer to was introduced to all as a war hero and like everyone else I accepted it on the night.
I did not check it out in the interests of speed but if you note the wording...I said.."It is understood..." which means I understand it to be the case but its not confirmed.
We didnt do a major feature heralding a war hero or anything of that nature. - the poster claims to have a george medal.
how are we to know this, he/she gives no details of his or herself.? - i seem to recall the chap at the 1940s weekend running a stall of millatry objects,i had quiet a long chat with the gentleman in quistion he seemed genuine enough to me.
Great pics though. Martin certainly had the ladies fluttering around him!!!! Whether its the uniform or the medal is anyone's guess. It was his first visit to our event and he tells me he will be back next year so never fear ladies.