Surplus flags usually waved triumphantly by spectators at the popular Marines on the Green concert, have been sold off to bolster fundraising for the trust that manages Deal Memorial Bandstand.

The £220 raised will go some way to fill the gap in bucket donations usually collected when the Royal Marines Band Portsmouth returns to Deal each July.

This year's concert, planned for July 5, was cancelled in April due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

At the time of cancelling, Deal Memorial Bandstand Trust's chairman Derek Lindars said: "Our fundraising will be hit and this year we will be eating into reserves to carry our routine maintenance (the reserves are usually for major capital works)."

The bandstand, situated at Walmer Green, was built and dedicated as a living memorial to the 11 musicians who died after the bombing of the Deal Barracks on September 22, 1989.

Honorary secretary Paul Rutterford said: "With the Annual Royal Marines Memorial Concert not talking place this July, the Deal Memorial Bandstand Trust have a supply of Union Flags - which are normally purchased by the audience at this concert - with all funds going to the trust.

"With our season of concerts currently cancelled and no fundraising taking place for the Trust, Sholden resident and trust treasurer Nichola Rutterford had the idea to sell the flags, for local residents VE Day home celebrations - with all money being raised going to the trust.

"Sholden Village Stores read Nicki’s post on the Sholden Facebook page, and were also able to sell a good number too - with over £220 being raised for the trust."

To find out more about the work of the trust and the history of the bandstand click here:

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