Thanet District Council this week officially confirmed funding for the restoration of the Margate Museum and Old Town Hall. Mayor of Margate Katie Pope said, “As a cabinet member for tourism and culture, I’m incredibly pleased that this fund will be used to bring Margate museum back to life. This fund will allow us to share the town’s heritage [and] tell the story of our country’s first seaside destination once again.”
Five new silhouette artworks have been installed on Ramsgate Harbour, marking the town’s role in Operation Dynamo during World War two in May 1940. They join the existing ‘Tommy’ figure, which was placed on the harbour last year as part of celebrations of the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. They will be given permanent positions following the completion of renovations to Pier Yard next year.
More on Operation Dynamo - RTC and the Operation Dynamo community group have put out a call for volunteers to take part in a ‘silent parade’ held in tribute to the WWII troops who arrived in Ramsgate as part of Operation Dynamo. The parade will be held on the evenings of Saturday and Sunday, May 23-24, as part of this year’s Operation Dynamo remembrance celebrations, marking 86 years since around 850 civilian boats played a huge role in rescuing 338,000 troops from Dunkirk. For the parade, no performance experience is required, and the more volunteers, the better. Register your interest.
Public art project B’inspired has launched, with recycling bins across Thanet given unique makeovers by 25 artists. So far, six bins have been unveiled along Margate’s seafront, with more in Westbrook Bay, St Mildred’s Bay, West Bay and Minnis Bay next on the list to be jazzed up. “Bins can be more than functional,” says Steve Albon, Cabinet Member for Cleansing and Coastal Services at Thanet District Council. “By involving world-class artists, we’re making our recycling facilities impossible to miss, and I hope, encouraging people to use them to get rid of their rubbish responsibly.”
Thanet-based James Fisher and Zach Wells have been nominated in the Children and Young People category at this year’s Library Connected Awards. They are being recognised for their work partnering with youth football teams to bring reading and libraries into sporting environments. They facilitated sponsorship of the Thanet District Representative Boys U12 and U13 football teams kits by Know Your Neighbourhood Kent Libraries and arranged various events engaging the players with local libraries. The overall winners will be announced on June 9.
Ramsgate-based historian Robert John Pritchard is to receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays from the Japanese government. It comes in recognition of his work to promote greater understanding of Japan in the UK in the 1990s. He will officially receive the prize in a ceremony at the Japanese embassy in London this June.
Ramsgate’s Alley Bar has reflected on its first half year in operation, thanking audiences for consistently turning up to see the experimental shows it has put on. “That plucky spirit of yours is the entire reason spaces like ours keep going and carrying on,” say its owners. “In a culture increasingly shaped by algorithms, certainty and commercial pressure, there is something genuinely radical about audiences gathering together to witness something unpolished, unusual, vulnerable or unexpected.” See what’s on at the venue.
Zita Whalley
After nearly six years at the helm, the Bus Cafe team have announced that they are handing over running of Cliftonville cafe Cliffs to new operators. Taking over are Lorenzo Della Rovere - who already runs the venue as evening restaurant La Trattoria - and Loren Licata - who owns Bar Nicoletta downstairs. Record shop Ghost Papa and hair salon Stirling will continue to operate out of the cafe. The main change you will notice is a new Modern European daytime menu.
Having recently announced its move from Margate’s Old Town up to Cliftonville, ice cream shop Ramsay & Williams has now confirmed that its new home will be 161 Northdown Road - the space formerly occupied by art gallery The Shop Front. “It may take some time to install a kitchen and set up the shop,” says owner Rachel Williams. “I’m planning to be open year round, so I will open whenever it's ready!”
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