Business in Dover

Sharon Brady of Marks & Spencer’s

An innovative person involved in Healthy High Street, wanting to put Dover on the map, as she has done previously in Hastings. She has Dover’s prosperity at heart.

Sharon Brady of Marks & Spencer’s / Healthy High Streets, for her determination and practical approach to motivating the multiples in getting involved with the local High Street. She brings valuable experience from Hastings and a compelling presence and sense of “can-do”.

Mr John Angell of John Angell Jeweller’s

John Angell Jewellers is a family run business which was established in Dover during the 1950’s, not only are they one of the longest standing businesses in the town; they also involve themselves in the community as well. Whenever you visit their shop you are always greeted with happy staff. The shop is a credit to the town.

Also, for their helpful and excellent service and a superb Christmas display.

The shops (3 in total) have been run by the same family, backed up over 170 years of quality service to the customer, with the Dover based store being open for over 60 years.

Beautiful Dover

River Dour Clean Up Volunteers

The River Dour is central to the sense of place in Dover.

The River Dour Volunteers take time to meet up and work together to improve the River, helping it to look beautiful for all to enjoy.

The River Dour Volunteers clean up group donates their time voluntarily to help make the River Dour clean and a nice place for wildlife to thrive and residents to enjoy.

Dover Town Council

Dover Town Council for its consistent improvement of town streetscape – New Lighting, Repainting of Street Furniture every year, planting investment, New Fingerposts, Cleaning of pavements, New Lighting in the Underpass, maintaining the War Memorial and Maison Dieu House.

Dover Town Council on a constant basis is investing money in to the beautification of the town. This money goes to the Planting of Flowers, New Signage, Cleaning, and Lighting in the town and Painting of Street Furniture in the centre of town.

HERITAGE OF DOVER

Mr Paul Smye-Rumsby & Mrs Sylvie Parsons

Nomination for Mr Phillip Smye-Rumsby & Mrs Sylvie Parsons for their work at St Edmunds Chapel, by increasing accessibility and maintaining the garden, they have promoted a little known heritage gem in the town.

For all the work they do at St Edmunds Chapel, keeping it and the grounds clean & tidy. The garden always looks good, keeping the Chapel as a place of tranquillity.

Mr Jon Barker – National Trust

In 2012 the National Trust acquired the section of the White Cliffs that joined up their ownership from the visitor centre at Langdon to South Foreland. It was then that Jon revealed he knew that the deep shelter was at Fan Bay (part of the new acquisition).

Jon then set about getting them uncovered, so with about 60 volunteers, his passion drive and enthusiasm got the tunnels and sound mirrors uncovered, this was in the winter of 2014/15, which was very wet and windy. This meant removing over 600 tons of rubble and soil which had been used to cover them up in the 1970’s and removing it to landfill.

On July 15th 2015 it was opened to the public for the first time, from then until the end of September 2015 there were over 6500 visitors and is now one of the top attractions for the National Trust. This was all down to Jon’s passion and drives to get them open for the public.

Mr Phil Eyden of the Western Heights Preservation Society

Phil is a stalwart of the Western Heights Preservation Society, who never asks for recognition – he’s published books and articles, his new book is out soon. He’s modest about his achievements in keeping Dover’s history alive – he deserves to be recognised!

Phil is an active and passionate member of the Western Heights Preservation Society (WHPS). He cares deeply about Dover’s heritage and the importance of keeping history alive for generations to come. Phil’s love of Dover history even goes back to his university days where he wrote a thesis on the Roman Navy in Dover, which was kept at Dover Museum. He has recently written two books on the Western Heights, going to considerable personal lengths to source material and stores. Phil gives up a vast amount of his spare time volunteering at the Fort. Phil has made international connections with his work at the Fort, researching the lives and families of soldiers who were stationed there.

I believe people visit Dover because of his research and the way he brings the history alive. He is an excellent ambassador for Dover and believes Dover has a lot to offer. He is well respected in the community and very much deserves an award; he has without doubt, made an outstanding contribution to the Heritage of Dover.

Phil and the volunteers have worked hard over the years to keep alive an area of Historical interest as well as natural beauty. Beautiful open space to walk / walk dogs and below the Dover Harbour. Western Heights Preservation Society, for their tireless work preserving Dover’s Napoleonic Drop Redoubt and holding open days so that the public can enjoy this Treasure of Dover.

Voluntary & Community Work in Dover

Cherished Gowns UK

This amazing group has now gone nationwide in providing burial gowns for all babies born sleeping. They have fundraised and now have offices in Dover that rely on the community to help create beautiful burial packs that supply all NHS hospitals.

They have supplied several families direct in Dover, who have suffered a stillborn loss. They also have an army of sewers and knitters who enjoy making items for this wonderful group. They are also in the process of creating Dover’s only baby bereavement support group that is much needed to.

354 ATC Squadron Staff & Cadets

The cadets have a positive impact on the local community, raising funds for not only the squadron, but also the RAF charities and the Poppy Appeal. They also play a big part in military parades and ceremonies. 354 ATC were chosen to be Honour Guard to Her Majesty, the Queen, when she opened the Wing at Capel. They have a very positive impact on the young people that enrol, with many going on to enlist in the armed forces.

They do a lot of events in Dover, either with the band or just helping out at functions around Dover.

Matt Dando is the Commanding Officer of 354 (Dover) Squadron Air Cadets. He puts in a lot of time and effort not just on cadet nights but at home and on weekends to keep the squadron running and to ensure the cadets (aged 12-20) are given the best opportunities in life.

The cadets provide an amazing opportunity to local children aged 12-20, giving them valuable training in future life, with training in aviation and the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. The cadets have really changed so many children’s lives for the better, giving them the confidence to succeed, friends to believe in and the ability to feel United no matter their background or disabilities.

Pegasus Playscheme

This nomination is for Sue Clark and all the others at Pegasus Play scheme who make such a valuable contribution to the town of Dover by providing children and young people with disabilities with a range of activities throughout the summer. This gives those young people the confidence they need. It also helps create bonds between disabled young people and other young people, by encouraging teens to volunteer, which creates a greater level of community acceptance.

HELPING YOUR NEIGHBOUR

Dover Street Pastors

The volunteers are invaluable to the safety and welfare of, in particular, the younger people in Dover at a time when these individuals are highly vulnerable.

They deal with many difficult situations and always have a smile and positive attitude.

Without these dedicated volunteers the “night-time economy period”, in Dover could be a place to avoid.

Ms Karen Griffiths of Dover Partnership Against Crime

Dover Partnership Against Crime – is one of the most successful groups of its kind in the country and involves traders, business people, police and local authority in tackling crime in Dover. It’s not just thieves whom members look out for. DPAC has helped cut down on anti-social behaviour in the towns, as well as helping to find lost children, and reunite owners with lost property. Both residents and visitors value a safe environment and with the reduction in police numbers, DPAC provides an important contribution.

Karen Griffiths of DPAC always prepares and goes the extra mile in keeping businesses and residents safe. They promote the scheme and are always happy to coach participants. DPAC apply for funding and they hold a DVD with regards the scheme, along with recently changing the radios to digital ones.

For all the time & effort put into making the people and businesses of Dover safer. Ms Griffiths is often seen promoting DPAC and helping new businesses to take part as well as applying for funding for the scheme.

HEALTH, SPORT & WELLBEING IN DOVER

Mr Mark Finnis

Mr Mark Finnis dedicates all his spare time to providing rugby to the children of Dover and the surrounding areas voluntarily. He is currently the “Mini’s” Chairperson – responsible for ensuring that Mini’s rugby is available to children from 3 to 13 years of age, as well as coaching one of the year groups. Mark manages all the volunteer mini coaches and co-ordinates games and tournaments for the Rugby Club. He is also responsible for the Dover Primary School Tag Rugby Tournaments, the All Schools Partnership run with RFU, support to re-introduce rugby to Christchurch, Astor and St Edmunds Secondary Schools, including the after school club on Tuesday afternoons.

He represents the Club at the Kent RFU Mini’s Co-ordinating Committee. Mark ensures the club is represented at Dover events like The Port of Dover Regatta, where he runs skills sessions on the grass at Granville Gardens voluntarily encouraging children and their parents to take up rugby. Mark is currently working with Dover Town Council, Dover District Council and the Port of Dover, to invest through grants and fundraising to improve the club facilities. It’s a family affair as Mark’s wife dedicates her spare time to the club through volunteering in the kitchen and the club shop. Mark was until recently also the seniors 1st Team volunteer manager, standing down to dedicate more time to Mini and Youth rugby in the club.

Mr Tony Henderson

I have nominated Tony because since he started working for himself as a Sports Massage Therapist he has contributed a new service to the local area. This has been something that lots of local people have and will continue to benefit from. He has helped improve sports performance, manage injury and relieve tension / stress of many local people.

He has enabled people to complete sporting events from, 5km to marathons, swimming the channel and generally achieve their own personal goals. He has attended many running events on his weekends off and massaged for free (or collected money for local charities). He has a passion for his work and is an asset to the health and wellbeing of the local people of Dover and surrounding areas.

Ms Dawn Maddison – Dover Smart Project

Ms Maddison runs Dover Smart Project and her main aim is to use art to create a sense of community and fun in Dover. She runs clubs and projects to encourage people to be kind to each other and make our town a better place.

Dawn has developed the Dover Smart Project brand dramatically over the course of two and a half years. Not only has she developed the Clock Tower Gallery into a community space but she has also reached out to many walks of life and made them feel welcome. Dawn will always continue to put others first and think of new and creative ways to get people thinking positively about the town they live in. She always works for the happiness of others and it is about time her efforts are recognised.

Dawn’s vision and dynamism makes a difference in so many young people’s lives through the Smart Project, the young carers in particular.