Dover Mercury Thursday June 16, 2005
Pageant relives pages of town's colourful history
by Graham Tutthlll
WORK needs to start now if there is to be a Dover Pageant in 2008 - the centenary of the first such event in the town.
That's the view of pageant master Mike McFarnell after Sunday's successful event, which was three years in the planning.
About 400 people took part and about the same number made up the audience for the pageant which, for the first time, was attended by a Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Admiral the Lord Boyce.
"I always had the support of the Queen Mother as Lord Warden when organising previous pageants;' said Mr McFarnell. "She always wrote nice letters giving her support, and she enjoyed watching scenes from the pageants captured by film maker the late Ray Warner.
"But it was very good to have the Lord Warden with us for this event."
A series of scenes told of Dover's history, from the Bronze Age through to the arrival of the Romans and the Anglo Saxons, a visit by King Henry VIII, the setting up of Dover Harbour Board, the first Channel swim by Captain Matthew Webb and the dark days of two world wars, in a script written by Noreen Thomas .
The audience was entertained by the cancan, performed by members of CJ's Dance and Fitness Centre, a mass balloon release and a parade of vintage vehicles from Dover Transport Museum.
Vera Lynn (alias Tonia Watts), Daisy Boynton (Emma Lyons), Guy Fawkes (Martin Ladbrook), and Elvis Presley (Scott McFarnell) were among the characters from history who put in an appearance.
Veteran journalist Terry Sutton was on hand, as always, to interview the celebrities about their achievements.
Mike McFarnell says the centenary pageant should be organised by a group, possibly Dover Town Council, which organised the first pageant in 1908.
Bronze Age Boat
Henry VIII and Court
Waterloo
Guy Fawkes (Martin Ladbrook)
Coronation of King George V
The Cancan, performed by members of CJ's Dance and Fitness Centre
The flags with the Daughters of Dover carried in the Grand Parade Finale
Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Admiral the Lord Boyce.
The winner of the balloons and lucky ticket competitions were Ruth Butcher, of Westcourt Lane, Shepherdswell, who won a television set, and Doris Friend, of Millais Road, Dover, who won champagne.
Part 1 2005 Dover Pageant
Part 2 2005 Dover Pageant