Attended by around 300 people, the occasion started in virtual darkness with a reading of The Night Before Christmas 1914, an adaptation of the original poem by Richard J Davis, followed by readings of letters from the trenches describing the memorable events of Christmas Day 1914. These were interspersed with carols, being performed in both English and German, that are known to have been sung during the 1914 Christmas Day truce.

Then, after a minute’s silence, the sculpture, a full size white spitfire made from a special type of paper developed at the former Buckland Paper Mill in Dover, was revealed as red light filled the building, smoke swirled around the Dove, the Pharos Chamber Choir sang a special rendition of In Flanders Fields and white searchlights shot huge white rays through the former Dover Marine Railway Station building to land on Anthony Heywood’s stirring sculpture.

Reflecting on the occasion, Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said:

“This wonderful event is a seminal moment for the Port, its commitment to its community and for the future use of such an historic building. This is the culmination of much work with a great many partners and is the launch pad for a new era for this place. Seeing so many members of our community come and be part of our shared story is simply wonderful.”

The installation of the Dove of Peace is part of the Port of Dover’s commitment to commemorating both World War I and II.  The Cruise Terminal 1 building, which hosted the event, played a significant role as a staging post during both world wars for troops leaving to fight and returning home, and actually saw troops and supplies heading to the Western Front as its first passengers.

Seeing his sculpture revealed, Anthony Heywood said:

“The Dove of Peace symbolises heroism, individualism and belief, it symbolises self-preservation, fear and the shattering of young lives. I am extremely grateful to the Port of Dover for bringing such an iconic symbol home, and to such an incredible and resonant building.”

The event was very much a collaboration between many parties and the Port would like to thank the following people and organisations who helped to bring it to fruition:

University for the Creative Arts for funding and resources

ICR (Interregional Culture-led Regeneration) project selected under Interreg IV A France (Channel) England Programme co-financed by European Regional Development Fund for funding and support

FM Conway for providing plant and resources for the installation

Free4M for modelling and designing the suspension cables and plates

Stevens and Carlotti for manufacturing the hanging mechanisms

British Steel for funding the sculpting

Rainham Steel for funding the sculpting

Parkers Steel for funding the sculpting

Arjo Wiggins Teape for developing a unique paper for the exterior

Buckland Paper Mill for manufacturing the paper material

Canterbury City Council for resources during the sculpting

Artful Logistics for transportation and rigging

Dover Arts Development

E K Burts Paper

Pharos Chamber Choir

EastKoast Production Company

Karole Steel from Dover Operatic and Dramatic Society

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A cheque for £250,000 was presented by George Jenkins OBE, Chairman of Dover Harbour Board and Tim Waggott, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover, to the Right Reverend Trevor Willmott, Bishop of Dover, who is leading the independent community fund panel and The Lady Colgrain, the Chairman of Trustees of the Kent Community Foundation, which is providing administrative support.

The official handover took place in Dover town centre’s Market Square by the Christmas tree that the Port had erected for the town’s recent Christmas Lights Switch On event.

Tim Waggott said:

“I am absolutely delighted to present the cheque for £250,000 as a real and visible sign of our commitment to our community. This kick starts the Port of Dover Community Fund which will see an ongoing tangible and significant contribution to supporting learning, education and skills as well as enriching the social, cultural and environmental life of local communities. Today sees the result of much hard work with the local community in establishing the priorities for the fund and enables us to achieve even more together in the years ahead.”

On receiving the cheque, the Right Reverend Trevor Willmott said:

“It is not just money. It is a pledge to help bring hope to young people and to the community of Dover. A great day!”

The ceremony was attended by a number of local dignitaries and community representatives including Charlie Elphicke MP, Deputy Town Mayor Councillor Sue Jones and Chairman of the Dover Society and Port and Community Forum Derek Leach.

To celebrate the happy occasion, the Port handed out festive drinks and mince pies to members of the public whilst Christmas carols filled the air.

The first round of funding is planned to open from the middle of January 2015 and close on 31st March 2015 with the first awards being finalised in early June.

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Notes to Editors

The purpose of the Port of Dover Community Fund will be to benefit the Dover community, focussing on charitable activities within the following two main areas:

Skills & Jobs: To enable the Port to support projects that will provide opportunities through learning, education and skills. To assist job creation and to help improve people who are changing employment. Most notably to be supportive of efforts that focus on young people.

Community: To support activities that will provide opportunities to enrich the social, cultural and environmental life of local communities. To assist in creating an attractive and welcoming destination for both visitors coming to the region through the UK’s premier port and for potential inward investors promoting economic growth in Dover.

Subject to the purposes as described above, detailed guidelines and grant-making priorities will be developed.

Administrative support for the fund will be provided by the Kent Community Foundation who will agree detailed guidelines, grant-making priorities and the schedule of funding rounds in consultation with the Port of Dover Community Fund Panel led by the Right Reverend Trevor Willmott Bishop of Dover. The Foundation will promote the Fund and open it to applications from the local community under their normal grant-making application processes.

More details on the make-up of the panel, and the process for applications will be announced early in the New Year.

In 2007, Dover recorded record freight traffic volumes with 2,363,583 vehicles using Europe’s busiest 24/7 roll-on-roll-off ferry port. This year has already seen more freight than 2007, is predicted to see at least 2% more traffic than the previous record and on any one day the Port of Dover now handles up to 160km of freight.

With major construction works completed in the Eastern Docks and the Dover Western Docks Revival project commencing in 2015, this new volume of freight shows how important the Port is to the local, regional and national economy.

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said: “This record number of freight vehicles using the Port of Dover in 2014 proves that it is a port with a recognised operational expertise, reliable schedules and an infrastructure to support high volumes of freight traffic. There is no gateway closer to Europe and no port in the UK that can offer a faster ro-ro service to the European mainland.

With our major project to regenerate the Western Docks due to start next year, we have no doubt that the Port of Dover will continue to be the mainstay of European freight traffic crossing the Channel. This is a tremendous endorsement of our operational expertise and staff putting the Port at the top of the Freight Chart this year, proving that most customers still prefer the ferry experience!”

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Christmas should be a time of hope, a time of joy and a time of bringing family and friends together. That has been our focus with our community throughout the year and it will be the focus with our customers as we prepare for what is set to be one of our busiest Christmas seasons yet. With around half a million customers expected to travel through Dover between 19th December and 5th January, we will be working hard to bring many people together over the festive period.

2014 has been a hugely positive year for the Port of Dover and for the community and my team and I would like to thank you all for your support. Before we move quickly ahead into the New Year, let’s reflect on what we have achieved together already.

TOGETHER WE HAVE ACHIEVED SO MUCH

We have formed brilliant partnerships and gained strong community participation with regular public workshops helping to establish our future plans, bringing the Port and community together under a shared vision. I have been greatly encouraged to see such positive and passionate engagement. We also celebrated new powers to deliver for Dover, allowing us to play a bigger part than ever in the town’s regeneration.

We have strengthened community support and activities and I was delighted to announce that Dover Harbour Board had committed £¼ million to the launch the Port of Dover Community Fund. We must now ensure that Dover receives the best opportunity from this significant new fund. The Port of Dover Community Regatta returned bigger and better as thousands of people enjoyed a vibrant waterfront and we all shared in Dover’s wonderful maritime heritage.

We continued investing in local people as the YES (Youth Engagement Scheme) initiative expanded with new apprenticeship opportunities and a bursary scheme. I remain absolutely committed to providing a host of opportunities to local young people and I was overjoyed that we recently secured an exciting new partnership with East Kent College to match local skills training with future Port opportunities. As we invest in our future and that of Dover, there will be a greater demand for appropriately skilled people and we need to ensure that we can continue to recruit them locally.

We are committed to continuing our major investment in world class infrastructure. The Traffic Management Improvement project continues to be delivered in the ferry terminal, improving capacity and helping reduce congestion through the town. Our flagship Dover Western Docks Revival project was launched, developing a shared vision of the future with 600 new jobs and major waterfront regeneration being made possible. The £120 million that we have already committed to the first phase represents our biggest ever single investment in Dover.

Together we will continue delivering a growing and successful business. The Port of Dover handles £89 billion of trade and with over 20% more freight traffic handled in the past two years, Dover will continue to play a vital part in support of a growing economy.

TOGETHER WE WILL ACHIEVE SO MUCH MORE

It is important that we start 2015 with the same momentum with which we finished this year and work together to turn an exciting vision into reality.

So from myself, my family and all of us here at the best port in the world, may your Christmas and New Year be filled with joy, celebration and rest. I expect 2015 to be busy and prosperous, yet happy and filled with the commitment of us all to really deliver for Dover.

TIM WAGGOTT

CHIEF EXECUTIVE, PORT OF DOVER

The Port of Dover Race Festival weekend is only three months away but there is still time for entrants to train in time for the big day. The event will kick off with the Kids Mile on Friday at 4.00pm followed by a 9.00am start on Saturday for the first Marathon and a 2.30pm start for the Half Marathon. Sunday will bring a close to the weekend’s activities, with the second Marathon starting at 9.00am followed by the 10k Race at 2.30pm.

Set against the iconic back-drop of the country’s famous White Cliffs and magnificent Dover Castle, the event will comprise multi-looped courses from the eastern end of the seafront along to the west and to the end of the Prince of Wales Pier. Offering runners views of a busy harbour and beach, the 2015 course will also be the last time that runners will be able to race along the Pier in its current form ahead of changes planned under Dover Western Docks Revival.

“We’d love to have entries from people at all levels of experience or who are members of their local running club,” says event organiser and Port of Dover staff member, Karen Webber. “We have fantastic bespoke medals for all participants that were designed by our team to reflect Dover’s maritime connection and its link to the Port.”

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive for the Port of Dover said: “We are delighted to host this second Port of Dover Race Festival. The participation in the first event in 2014 exceeded our expectations and provided great fun for the community. Such events give us an opportunity to attract people from all over UK and showcase Dover and its hospitality. It is also a fantastic way or fundraising for a very worthy cause – improving the life chances of children and young people. I would like to encourage people to either enter the races or come and support the runners on the day.”

All of the races are inclusive, whether entrants are experienced, multi-racers or novice runners. The multi-lap nature of the course makes for a friendly atmosphere for both the runners and the supporters. The promenade and beach will remain open to the public who wish to watch the races or go for a weekend stroll.  So come along and cheer them on!

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Notes to Editor:

• Visit  Port of Dover Race Festival 2015 for a programme, features, FAQs and information on how to book your place.
• Follow #DoverRaceFestival2015 on Twitter for the latest news and highlights

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The Port of Dover recognises that its staff are a key resource in promoting a positive environmental culture. As such, the Port’s annual Green Week commenced this week (8th – 14th December), focusing on reducing and managing waste, and how it affects all Port staff as well as the environment they work in.

This year’s theme for Green Week is ‘Waste and Recycling,’ which raises staff eco-awareness and encourages a more eco-friendly approach to the workplace. The guiding principles are to understand why we need to reduce our waste, the benefits of collective action, and together identifying ways to reduce waste and improve recycling..

Vicki Jago, Environmental Manager at the Port of Dover said: “Managing Europe’s busiest ferry port whilst protecting such a special environment is a challenge, but we are determined to do just that. That is why we are committed to ensuring that the Port of Dover remains at the forefront of best environmental practice within the industry, promoting a positive environmental culture and seeking continuous improvement in environmental performance for the benefit of our customers and community.”

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The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Tim Waggott, Chief Executive at the Port of Dover and Graham Razey, Principal of East Kent College, focuses on how to develop the skills of local people to support the ongoing development and future success of the Port.

The Port of Dover, as the major local employer, and East Kent College will now work closely to identify the skills needed by Europe’s busiest ferry port and its customers. Once the skills issues have been identified, the two organisations will develop joint training programmes.

The agreement also focuses on the future skills required as part of Dover Western Docks Revival, a key transformational project bringing 600 new jobs, so the training can be put in place for local people to benefit from this significant opportunity.

Graham Razey, Principal of East Kent College, said: “Since taking on the Dover campus from the former K College, and establishing a base at Discovery Park, we have worked hard to get to know the local business community and better understand their needs in terms of skills and training.

“It is clear from our conversations with Tim and his colleagues that we have a shared vision for a stronger, more dynamic Dover economy with a greater emphasis on matching the skills needs of business with the vocational skills we are helping to deliver, particularly those of the Port.

“This agreement is the first of what we hope will be a series of strategic alliances with the major businesses that are driving the economy of Dover, Shepway and Thanet forward.”

Given the Port’s current and future importance to the country’s freight and logistics industry, the agreement has identified the need to consider developing Dover into a nationally recognised centre of excellence for logistics training as one of its priorities.

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover, added: “Our plans for the revival of the Western Docks have been warmly welcomed by local residents and businesses. This agreement will help ensure that local people will be able to gain the necessary skills and be well placed to benefit from the future growth of the port.

“As we invest in our future and that of Dover, there will be a greater demand for appropriately skilled people and we need to ensure that we can continue to and increasingly recruit them locally to support our growth. This agreement is therefore extremely important in ensuring our collective ability to help strengthen the economy of Dover, and East Kent more widely.”

As part of the collaboration, the Port and East Kent College will explore opportunities to develop high quality facilities for the delivery of the programmes, either at East Kent College’s Dover campus or at the Port. There will also be collaboration on funding bids and projects to increase the investment in skills that supports the efficient running of the Port’s operations.

Through the programme, East Kent College students will have the opportunity to undertake a range of work placement and experience opportunities at the Port, with the aim of ensuring there are increased employment opportunities for local students.

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The Forum has been set up to provide a platform whereby initiatives, best practice, underlying trends and process safety strategy can be distilled and shared across all the contractors working at Europe’s busiest port, with the aim of enhancing safety.

Following a welcome to the Port by Tim Godden, General Manager Strategy and Risk Management, the Port of Dover’s safety team explained the Port’s incident reporting system and looked at underlying trends. Other topics included Asbestos Awareness, the Contractors Code of Conduct, working at height and contractor engagement.

Tim Godden, General Manager Strategy and Risk Management, Port of Dover, said:

“As Europe’s busiest ferry port, we are committed to making the Port the safest place to work, and the Contractors Safety Forum is a reflection of the strong safety culture we hold throughout the organisation. We hope the forum will be beneficial to our contractors. Everyone working in or at the Port, in whatever capacity, is part of the Port of Dover team and this is another demonstration of how we are working together to be the best port in the world.”

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Notes to Editor

• The forum included eighteen contractors: AD Construction, AMS Engineering, Bam Nuttall, B Young Grounds Maintenance, Charlier Construction, DDS Demolition, E J Dittons, FM Conway Hi-Ways, Hollandia, New Concept Asbestos, NT Rix, OCS, Quaterhall, R B Air, Southern Total Maintenance, Total Support Services and Wardle Painters

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The restored crane was officially and jointly unveiled by local historian Lorraine Sencicle and Derek Leach, Chairman of the Dover Society and the Port and Community Forum.

Lorraine Sencicle explained the background to the crane:

“The Crane was purchased by Dover Harbour Board for their use to lift heavy shipping gear into and out of the ships. The crane was designed and made by William Fairbairn, who was born in Kelso, Scotland on 19 February 1789 and the son of a farmer.”

Derek Leach said:

“One of the first, if not the first action of The Port and Community Forum that I chair was to form a  group to produce  a Bluebird Heritage Trail to publicise the many heritage assets of the town and port and to encourage visitors to come and see them as a step toward regeneration. Some 30 sites will be included on the proposed trail, but some of them were in need of refurbishment, including this historic Fairbairn Crane. As Chairman of the Blue Bird Heritage Trail Group I am very pleased that the Harbour Board has been able to restore the crane and to mark it with a suitable plaque. Hopefully, by this time next year, the Bluebird Heritage Trail and its associated website, app and leaflet guide will be a reality thanks to the efforts of many of those attending the unveiling.”

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said:

“We are proud of our Port heritage and its place as part of Dover’s incredible history.  I am delighted that we have restored the Fairbairn Crane and that it is accessible to the public.  Alongside other major work we are continuing on the restoration of our historic Cruise Terminal 1 building, this is a clear sign of our intent to bring the Port and the community closer together through celebrating a shared heritage as part of our work to create a wonderful shared future.”

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Notes to Editors

• Image One: Lorraine Sencicle (left centre) and Derek Leach (right centre) joined by members of the community and the Port of Dover at the unveiling of the Fairbairn Crane plaque.
• Image Two: Fairburn Crane Plaque

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