As far as I know, Shepway has never held an Advent Civic Service. It has held Civic Services, it’s held an Annual Civic Reception and it always holds a Christmas party. The Civic Advent Service rolls all three of these together into one event held today, Sunday 06 December, at the Folkestone Academy.
The service has been put together by the Reverend Canon Roger Martin who is my chaplain. It’s a mixture of carols and readings appropriate for Advent and for St Nicholas’ Day and includes both the familiar and new. Amelia Edge, who is ten years old, reads a poem by a child not much older than herself (to a warm round of applause), her father, David, reads the Advent Poem by Betjeman. Niki Hunnisett of Lyminge Parish Council has a modern take on 1 Corinthians 13 whilst Terry Preston, a former chairman of Shepway and one of our honorary aldermen gives a powerful reading from Isaiah. Vice chairman David Owen and Folkestone Academy Principal Sean Heslop also give traditional bible readings. The other special contribution is from the Churchill School, Hawkinge where I am a school governor; they have sent a dvd of the pupils performing a new Christmas carol.
The other guests at this reception include Deputy Lieutenant, David McDine, our MP, Michael Howard, Folkestone town mayor, Cllr Janet Andrews, District Council Leader Robert Bliss and district, parish and town councillors from across Shepway. It’s an opportunity for everyone to meet one another, admire the Folkestone Academy and celebrate the coming of Christmas.
The reception at the Folkestone Academy
The Folkestone Academy is a vast building but it’s also a friendly one. Around the main hall are four towers, one for each school house. There’s a fine view over Folkestone with the railway viaduct on the horizon and the sun shows Folkestone at its best. The Academy staff could not be more helpful. The technical presentation works smoothly, the piano and oboe provide a lovely accompaniment to the carols and the catering is excellent. As well as soft drinks we also have white wine from the Terlingham vineyard in Hawkinge which I first encountered at the party held to celebrate the anniversary of the Folkestone White Horse. Charles Newington, the White Horse artist has designed a label for the wine.
Tamzin and Claire of Shepway District Council
Finally a word of thanks to Tamzin Dunstone from Shepway District Council who has organised everything today. Tamzin took over from Lilie Broad, the previous Civic Secretary, as well as dealing with electoral arrangements for Shepway. Tamzin has calmly coordinated all the aspects of the Advent Civic Service and it simply wouldn’t have happened without her.