News
WW1 Soldier Statue Unveiled by High Sheriff of Kent
A WW1 tribute piece of an East Kent Regiment foot soldier was unveiled last Saturday, 10 May by Hugo Fenwick, The High Sheriff of Kent at the War and Peace Revival Open Day at Folkestone Racecourse.
Rex Cadman, the Organiser of The War and Peace Revival held at Folkestone Racecourse, commissioned this stunning 9 foot high statue as a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1. The statue of a WW1 foot soldier advancing through the trenches is bearing the insignia of East Kent’s own The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Rex Cadman said; “With such an important anniversary this year, we at War and Peace wanted to mark it in a significant way. Both Westenhanger and the Racecourse were used by WW1 soldiers from 1915 onwards, so we thought it was fitting for there to be recognition of this connection with WW1 with a memorial here at the Racecourse, which will remain here for the foreseeable future.
The statue is stunning. For the next five years the World War 1 centenary is going to be an important part of our lives - we wanted to have something we could be proud of.”
He also paid tribute to the support of Shepway District Council and Visit Kent, without which, he said, “events like this could not take place.”
Councillor, David Monk, the Leader of Shepway District Council, welcomed guests saying; “I welcome the economic benefit that accrues from the Revival, now in its second year at Folkestone.” He continued “this year’s spectacular event would be ‘absolutely mammoth’” and announced the Revival would be held for a further three years at the racecourse.
Hugo Fenwick, The High Sheriff of Kent, who unveiled the statue following the fanfare sounded by the Duke of York’s Royal Military School from Dover commented; "It was a pleasure and privilege to attend the War and Peace Revival launch event to unveil the statue of an advancing foot soldier. I hope that it will provide an enduring and vivid image of British and Commonwealth soldiers who served in The Great War to schoolchildren of all ages attending this year's event, as we commemorate 100 years since the outbreak of World War One."
Amanda Cottrell, Chairman of Visit Kent, said “It’s extremely appropriate to have this event here in Folkestone in Hellfire Corner,” adding that as part of its Frontline Kent campaign the tourism promoter was collecting stories from people countywide about their war experiences.
The statue was designed and cast by Michael Whiteley and his team at Michael Whiteley London Ltd, who have worked previously with Rex Cadman, building his full-sized replica Spitfire, Hurricane and Me109.
A competition was also launched on Saturday for Kent schools to name the soldier statue. The name will be announced at The War and Peace Revival Schools Day on Wednesday 16th July, the first day of the show. Suggestions are invited by email to [email protected] or Twitter @warpeacerevival.
until the next show
Future Show Dates
22 to 26 July 2015
20 to 24 July 2016
19 to 23 July 2017
18 to 22 July 2018
