Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,304
Yes folks, it's that time of year again when eight bells are sounded on the Zeebrugge Bell on the balcony of Dover Town Hall. Getting her hands on the clapper this year is of course the current mayor, the effervescent Cllr Sue Jones. Among the other dignatories who attended were the Mayor and Mayoress of Deal and representatives of the British and Belgian armed forces.
A bunfight was then held in the council chambers, I went for lunch in Blakes instead!
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Unregistered User
Were the Royal Marines represented?
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
I know that our English Flag is there flying High!
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
I think you will find that the Chairman of DDC was there and he and Sue walked together to pay tribute .THe Mayor of Folkestone and several Town Councillors .Plus me of course .Not as a Councillor wearing another hat .It was lovely and sunny so we did not get cold .I think it was coffee and biscuits Terry .I did not join in other things to do .
Could someone please explain to our Mayor how to wear her tricorn hat properly? She looks like she's going to a fancy dress party!
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,304
I did say "Among the other dignatories" Sue. I was working at the time and had no chance to write down the names of all those who attended. By the time we had cleared up, the tea and bickies would have been long gone hence the visit to Peter and Kathryn's emporium.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Any excuse eh Terry?
Perhaps Our Sue could give Mayor Sue some hat-wearing tips?
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,304
That's my story and I'm sticking to it Sid. It does get a bit crushed on the balcony and sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees.
Love the comment Bern!
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,304
No MRP, (who are you by the way?) the British rep was regular army.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Unregistered User
Cheers Terry, who am I? MRP are my initials, Martin Pearce is my name, Deal born and bred I have worked in Dover for thirty years and have a real interest in the Town my father being a Dovorian. I use the MRP log in on the Dover Athletic forum and have done for many years.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
I assume Sue wears the hat that way to show of her lovely smile .Bern I did not wear a hat today ,save it for other days .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
thanks for info martin, welcome to the forum, susan you have over a thousand hats - no excuse tsk tsk.
It was the Brigadier from the castle amongst many ex servicemen and the sea cadets and Astor CCF who we entertained to tea and biscuits after completing the St James service at the cemetry first. I spoke to the Belgium ambassador who came from London especially and a long talk with the St georges society form Dover,Hythe and belgium. The latter were very pleased to see all our flags and our support.
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,304
Thanks Martin and welcome.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Unregistered User
Thanks for the welcome Terry and Howard
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,304
Before the bell ringing there was of course the serious business at the cemetary.
http://www.youtube.com/user/DoverPageant
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
I am so ignorant! So that's why the Weatherspoons pub is called the Eight Bells.
Seriously I never knew. Thanks for info. Saves me embarrassing myself.
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,304
Got this from a navy website Bob:-
"Aboard Navy ships, bells are struck to designate the hours of being on watch. Each watch is four hours in length. One bell is struck after the first half-hour has passed, two bells after one hour has passed, three bells after an hour and a half, four bells after two hours, and so forth up to eight bells are struck at the completion of the four hours. Completing a watch with no incidents to report was "Eight bells and all is well."
The practice of using bells stems from the days of the sailing ships. Sailors couldn't afford to have their own time pieces and relied on the ship's bells to tell time. The ship's boy kept time by using a half-hour glass. Each time the sand ran out, he would turn the glass over and ring the appropriate number of bells."
"Noon to 4:00 p.m. Afternoon watch
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. First dogwatch
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Second dogwatch
8:00 p.m. to midnight 1st night watch
Midnight to 4:00 a.m. Middle watch or mid watch
4:00 to 8:00 a.m. Morning watch
8:00 a.m. to noon Forenoon watch"
Hope that clarifies.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Terry, Thanks, did know about the watch system but did not know about 'eight bells' being struck on the Zeebrugge Bell.
