HRH The Duke of Kent visited three very different venues when in Kent on 9th November –
Folkestone’s New Museum
HRH was greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant and escorted on a tour of Folkestone’s impressive new museum at the Town Hall which The Duke of Kent officially opened on 9th November by unveiling a commemorative plaque. The town council was awarded Heritage Lottery Funding to support the ambitious scheme, which has allowed Folkestone’s history to be displayed properly for the first time in more than 50 years.
Jennifer Childs, Town Clerk, explained: “Folkestone has a huge amount of history but it was stored in various places because there wasn’t a suitable site in the town. The council was determined to bring these artefacts home and we are delighted with what has been achieved at the town hall.” Folkestone architectural consultancy Godden Allen Lawn drew up the plans for the scheme, which included extensive structural alterations, waterproofing the lower ground floor, installing a lift and creating new toilet facilities. Director Nick Lawn said: “It was a privilege to be asked to work with the talented team involved in bringing Folkestone’s heritage back to the town and giving it a new home in what is itself a fine building,”.
The Big Cat Sanctuary, Smarden
HRH feeding a lion. (c) Alma Leaper
The Big Cat Sanctuary was most honoured to welcome HRH The Duke of Kent to the official opening of their new Jaguar Lodge.
The Duke of Kent gained an insight into the work being carried out at the sanctuary – supporting their four pillars of ethos: Welfare, Breeding, Conservation and Education as well as having a guided tour to see some of the incredible cats.
HRH performing the plaque unveiling ceremony. (c) Alma Leaper
The Big Cat Sanctuary is a conservation organisation for wild cats which also offers sanctuary to retired and homeless cats and are proud to have recently launched an education programme within schools as well as being recognised as the Kent Animal Charity of the year with the Kent Charity Awards. With the knowledge and dedication of Managing Director and Big Cat Expert Giles Clark and the team, the facility thrives in its ethos to give the animals a fulfilled quality of life in captivity – stimulating them both mentally and physically.
Premier Coatings Limited, Smarden, Queen’s Award for Enterprise Ceremony
A ceremony was held at the company’s Smarden premises, where HRH was joined by the Lord-Lieutenant who read the citation for the award. HRH presented the official certificate and commemorative crystal bowl to Managing Director, Terry Capps. The award recognises the company’s achievement of a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2017 and the occasion celebrated the momentous achievement which recognises outstanding sales performance in international territories over the last three years.
A tour of offices and factory included a practical demonstration of some of Premier Coatings protective tape systems. Part of Winn & Coales International’s world wide companies and agents, Premier Coatings Limited is one of the leaders in corrosion prevention and sealing technology.
