Shepway Chairman's Blog

Yes – you did read that right.  It’s Merry Christmas at The Grand complete with crackers a splendid high tea, silver candelabras, an open fire and a pianist playing Christmas music.  Because, although today is 22 January, it is also the day of the Christmas party for a special group of people.

Patsy Phillips of Lyminge has invited me to join her and her group of Child Witness volunteers.  They are adults who provide support for children called as witnesses in court cases.  Patsy tells me that Kent is one of only six areas in the country that has specialist support for child witnesses.

Patsy is rightly proud of the fact that every child that Child Witness Support has worked with has turned up in court to give evidence.  She tells me that magistrates and judges in Kent are tremendously supportive of their work and will often meet with the children before the trial so that they are familiar with the faces they will see.  They will also remove wigs and gowns if that will help put a child at ease. However, Patsy says in her experience the children want to see justice done in its full state so they prefer the judge to wear the full gear when presiding and especially when pronouncing sentence – it seems to give more importance and meaning to the process.

There are 12 volunteers to cover Kent and all of them find the work tremendously satisfying.  It’s unpaid work although they do get expenses.  (Patsy says she has to chase them make their claims.)  They get together once a year and today’s event at the Grand is a small thank you to everyone for their valuable work.

Robert Richardson our host from The Grand

The manager of The Grand, Robert Richardson, has put together the splendid Christmas feast and has adopted Victim Support and the Child Witness volunteers as his charity for the year. 

The Grand lives up to its name – it’s an imposing building from the Edwardian era sited on the cliff top in Folkestone.  It was a favourite bolt hole for both Edward VII and Edward VIII and home to the Belgian Royal family during the Great War.  The views over the sea and the lovely formal gardens of the Leas are magnificent.

I’ve been invited to join the party to meet everyone and thank them on behalf of our district for their work.  And today I’m accompanied by David Owen the vice chairman.  Protocol does not allow David to wear the vice chairman’s chain when he is with the chairman. This is a shame as his chain is the one used by Elham Rural Council before it was incorporated into Shepway.  It is a lovely silver chain engraved with rural scenes such as ploughing.  He does however have a badge of office and we flank Patsy in our civic regalia for a photo.

Vice Chairman of Shepway District Council, Cllr David Owen, Patsy Phillips of Child Witness Support and Chairman of Shepway District Council, Councillor Susan Carey

Thank you everyone for a Grand Christmas!