Ramsgate remembers the lost Little Ships of Dunkirk
A boot holding poppies has been added to the Dunkirk display at the Ramsgate Harbour Slipways, near the Obelisk. It holds 25 poppies. One for every 10 Little Ships lost in action through Dunkirk in 1940.
Project leader Dominic Murphy explained: “Our words ’Walking in the steps of heroes’ are inspired by the 40,000 soldiers who walked to freedom in Ramsgate 85 years ago. The boot reflects that theme. It has been painted by our local community artists in the colours of the Dunkirk medal; colours also adopted by The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, a key sponsor.
“This small addition takes the overall Slipways display a lot further. So far we have told the story of Dunkirk and then celebrated the Little Ships that came to Ramsgate to honour the 85th anniversary. Now we commemorate the 250 Little Ships lost in action in 1940.
“It would need another 18 poppies to commemorate every 10 planes lost by the RAF through Dunkirk, 24 poppies for every 10 larger ships lost by the Navy, and another 6,000 for every 10 soldiers killed or captured.
“As we come to the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, we must never forget that terrible cost.”
RSPB Thanet
RSPB Thanet Group celebrates 50 years this year and to mark the occasion we are having a visit from the CEO, Beccy Speight. She will be in the Queen’s Road Baptist Hall, Broadstairs, on November 12th. We already have nearly 200 people down to attend but there are still seats available.
The event starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are free for RSPB members and £5 for non-members at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rspb-thanet-local-group-guest-speaker-beccy-speight-rspb-ceo-tickets-1624708229049?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&keep_tld=1
Broadstairs Town Shed
Christmas Sale open day on Tuesday 18th November from 10:30am – 1pm at The Shed
Please come and join us for mince pies, mulled wine, mulled apple juice, tea & coffee and to have a look around.
Christmas hamper raffle
Beautiful hand-crafted gifts for sale all hand-made at The Shed.
3 Oakwood Industrial Estate, Dane Valley Road, Broadstairs, CT10 3JL
Surfers Against Sewage
Following the damning Environmental Agency’s report into our water companies, Surfers Against Sewage held a litter pick to see what detritus washes up on Viking and Stone Bay beaches. Thirteen people gathered on the morning of Sunday 26 October to help gather data in the Million Mile Clean initiative. Twelve of those 13 were members of Thanet Green Party.
Broadstairs Sailing Club thanked them for cleaning the oft neglected area around the dinghy park. Fishing nets and disposable vapes were new items found on this clean.
Sing From the Heart
A Sing from the Heart music performance will take place on Tuesday 19th November at Queens Road Baptist Church, Broadstairs, 1.30pm-3pm.
Following the success of last year’s project, we’re inviting everyone together again for an intergenerational, mixed-ability participatory performance of this year’s original song, Let There Be Music.
The piece was co-written with Music 4 Wellbeing’s therapeutic singing groups, the GAP Project in Broadstairs and Year 6 pupils from Ramsgate Arts Primary School.
All their voices are featured on the recorded track, alongside some of Thanet’s finest local musicians. The event will reunite everyone involved for a live performance and filming of the Let There Be Music video.
Hear the track and read the lyrics here.
We’ll also be hosting a community singalong featuring favourites like All You Need Is Love, Que Sera Sera, and last year’s original song Sing from the Heart.
The project is headed by Charlie Hannah, a therapeutic arts practitioner from Cliftonville with more than seven years of experience at M4W.
In early 2024, Charlie set out to create an original musical piece that would spotlight the mental, physical, and social benefits of group singing, particularly for those who may not consider themselves trained singers.
Charlie introduced the song to six of M4W’s singing groups, including the Seaside Singers Dementia Singing Group from Margate and the WEB Young Adults with additional needs singing group from the Gap Project at Queens Road Baptist Church in Broadstairs, inviting participants to contribute their thoughts and ideas, which were thoughtfully woven into the song’s final lyrics.
An exciting partnership emerged with Year 6 students from Ramsgate Arts Primary School, who not only learned and recorded the song, but also engaged in a musical collaboration with M4W’s Seaside Singers—a dementia-focused singing group based in Margate.
The project’s success has led to the new song and performance.
Broadstairs Comrades Club
Comrade Club member Robert won the weekly tote of £500 and has donated it to the Demelza children’s charity. A representative visited the club to receive the cheque from Robert (middle) and chairman Michael Cox.
Make A Wish Foundation
Music for Wishes charity day will be held at The Hussar pub in Garlinge on November 15th from 1pm-11pm
Live singers will be donating their time to sing back to back all day with local DJ Jammi to finish the evening with a party
Margate firefighters will be in attendance from 2pm-5pm ( subject to emergencies) and will bring their engine for the children. Magician Robert Smith is also donating his time with some magic for everyone.
Food and drink will be available
There will also be an enormous raffle, but any donations would be gratefully received. Contact organiser Emma Sorrell directly on 07488295923 or [email protected]
Other fun will include
Face painting
Hair braiding
Hook the duck
Shoot the duck
Tombola
Any support from families, businesses, any recipients of the Make-a-Wish foundation are encouraged to come along and share your stories – this day is about raising as much money as possible for critically and terminally ill children.
Boys & Maughan
Boys & Maughan is delighted to confirm that Zoe Hudd has been appointed as a trainee solicitor following an internal application process. Zoe will begin her training contract, which the Solicitors Regulation Authority refers to as Qualifying Work Experience, in January 2026.
Zoe joined Boys & Maughan in 2024 after achieving her law degree at the University of Reading. She is currently a legal secretary in the firm’s Margate conveyancing team and is progressing towards qualification through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination route. Having passed the first stage, she plans to take the second, skills-based assessment next year.
“I am really excited to start in January,” said Zoe. “The firm has been clear that it will be flexible about the departments I can explore, and I am keen to gain experience in family law and litigation because I have not yet had much hands-on involvement in those areas.”
Andrew Baker, Senior Partner at Boys & Maughan, said: “Zoe has shown real promise, professionalism and enthusiasm since joining us. Her commitment to learning and the way she supports clients and colleagues have stood out. On behalf of the partners, I congratulate Zoe on securing her training contract and wish her every success as she begins this next chapter in her career.”
Andrew added: “Supporting the development of our future lawyers is central to our culture. We are proud to offer talented people at Boys & Maughan the opportunity to progress towards qualification and build rewarding, long term careers with the firm.”
Zoe’s appointment reflects the firm’s continued commitment to nurturing potential and recognising talent at every level. Her journey from support role to trainee embodies the enduring value Boys & Maughan places on developing people from within.
