Social Walks

Social walks

Steve Kemp C1075, our Social Walk Secretary, organises a couple of shorter walks each year.

These walks are a great opportunity to catch up with the news, and everybody – friends and family – are welcome to join us.  If you have any ideas for future walks or are interested in leading a social walk please contact Steve.

The next Social walk

The Autumn social walk will be held Saturday 27th November.  Starting 10:00am from Folkestone the route will take walkers along the White Cliffs and include  visiting the National Memorial to the Few which is open throughout the year and is accessible on foot at any time. The site itself includes the Memorial, Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall and replica Spitfire and Hurricane, and is free to visit.

On 12 August 1940, Pilot Officer Page was shot down and baled out into the sea with terrible burns. He was awarded the DFC and bar and received the DSO in 1944. Years later, Geoffrey realised to his astonishment that there was no memorial to his comrades who had flown with him in Fighter Command in 1940.

His determination that The Few should be remembered found a focus at “Hellfire Corner”, the area of Dover and Folkestone over which so much of the fighting had taken place in 1940. The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust was established and fund raising began.  On July 9 1993, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother opened the National Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne.

The walk will continue towards Dover with magnificent views over the Channel to France, and a stop at the Cliff Top Café for refreshment.  The return will take in Folkestone Harbour where so many infantry personnel left for the 1^st World War front line, and also the memorial on The Leas to the thousands who never returned.

Itinery

Meet at 10 am at the RAF Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne, Folkestone (B2011)

Those who are driving should go directly to the Memorial, and those travelling by train to  Folkestone Central where Chris Flint can meet them and convey to the Memorial. Those going to Folkestone Central should contact Chris on 07923 174883 with arrival times.

Preliminary tour of the Memorial and coffee/tea in café (0.5 hours). One of the pictures below shows a downed Junkers near the Memorial.

Leave Memorial following the South East Coast path eastwards along the cliff top and then descend pathway to sea shore (steep and good boots required). Follow seashore westwards as shown in the photo below towards distant Martello Tower, and then up steady gradient towards the Memorial. Distance: 8 km. Time: 2.5 hours

Return to RAF Memorial. Entry is free and there is much historical information to absorb including the Spitfire Experience (there is a charge for this and reduced if the party is 10+) (I.5 hours)

Light meal in the Memorial café (0.5 hours)

Depart around 3 pm.

Please note, the gradients are steep, and it can be very cold if a strong wind is blowing so come suitably dressed and booted. The views across the Channel are superb and we hope this attracts Centurions and their guests to come.