Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
#1
All systems go for the Norman Arrow this Saturday, according to the estimable Mr Tutthill:
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/east_kent_mercury/news/2009/june/3/seacat_launch.aspx
Good stuff!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#2
It will be good for Dover too Andrew as I've been working closely with Nick on producing a leaflet promoting Dover to the French people in and around Boulogne.
Sadly, it won't be ready for tomorrow, but very early next week I'm sure.
With 6 crossings a day (two on the convential ferry and four on the Norman Arrow, there's potential for a lot more French people be coming over here and I want them to stay in Dover, if at all possible.
Roger
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
#3
Thanks Roger. Nick's told me that you and him have been working closely on a promotional leaflet. Look forward to seeing it. Hopefully it will have a positive impact.
Nick and I are going on Norman Arrow this weekend so I'll report back to you all!
Cheers,
Andy
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#4
Thanks Andrew
I wish LD Lines all the luck in the World, they are the most pro-active of the ferry companies and could immediately see the benefits of a small (in the scheme of things) donation to help get this leaflet off the ground.
We need to try and balance the ratio of where the crossings originate; at the moment it is a about 80% from the U.K. and 20% from France, so a few more from France will help us and of course with LD in the middle as the carriers of these people (and their cars etc.), it'll help them enormously too.
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#5
I saw the new seacat leave the harbour about half an hour ago so Im assuming all kicked off alright. I checked again...what seemed like only a few minutes later, and it was well across the channel and hardly visible, so I guess its a fast shifter.
I take my hat off to you Roger with the work you are doing trying to get visitors here..its a brave effort despite the terrible lonely planet type publicity weve had lately. Yourself and Nick make quite a team I reckon.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#6
Thanks Paul - much appreciated.
It'd be nice to get some pay for all the hard-work, but.................
Roger
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#7
So how did it go yesterday Andrew ? a good trip ? smooth journey ?
Roger
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
#8
Fabulous, Roger. The Norman Arrow is slick, quick, smooth and beautiful - and it even smells new! Boulogne is absolutely buzzing, oozing renewed civic pride. But then it's always been a class act - except now much more so.
Market day in the Place Dalton yesterday was a sight to behold as ever (with the cafes and bars and shops in the square all thriving too), the main streets and the Old Town (Haute Ville) full of civilised, happy shoppers, diners in the restaurants and people-watchers in the cafes.
After the market wound down around 12.30pm, the clean-up operation by a team of dustmen was a sight to behold: everything boxed-up, swept-down, cleared-away and hosed-down in less than an hour on the old cobbled square under the centuries-old watchful eye of the lovely St Nicolas church.
Boulogne's streets and avenues (and fishing boats and shop window displays!) are also festooned with red and black flags and bunting everywhere, celebrating Boulogne Football Club's promotion to the French top division. A huge source of local pride.
The Town Hall (Mairie) in the Old Town even has a big poster on it showing the fishing port, the new ferry port (open next month), the Norman Arrow and the football club, under the banner "FIER D'ETRE BOULONNAIS" - "PROUD TO BE A BOULONNAIS".
The sense of pride and commercial zeal is palpable. Recession? What recession?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#9
Thanks Andrew - sounds good; actually it sounds better than good, sounds excellant.
I like the bit about the thriving cafes, bars and shops and the clearing up after the market had finished.
I wonder where we can buy some of that Civic Pride for Dover ??
Hard work and many brick-walls may help I guess.
Thanks again.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#10
i must admit i was getting rather envious reading about boulogne there.
maybe a video of the place sent to our own council cabinet might provoke a response.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#11
It needs someone dedicated to the job of moving Dover forward Howard; at the moment some people are pulling in that direction (to get a proper Dover Town retail support body started), but it needs funding - adequately, but not just for a few months or couple of years, but permanently.
No airy-fairy ideas and projections etc. but real ground-floor stuff, improving the fabric and future of the Town; restoring Civic Pride and shoppers; brightening up the Town and bringing in new businesses and helping and reassuring the current ones - and much more besides - and NOW.
Roger
