Home » Blog » diary » SAMUEL PLIMSOLL EXHIBITION, FOLKESTONE TOWN HALL 19 September-25 October 2013

SAMUEL PLIMSOLL EXHIBITION, FOLKESTONE TOWN HALL 19 September-25 October 2013

You are cordially invited to the OFFICIAL OPENING on 6-8pm Wednesday 18th September, 2013.

Samuel Plimsoll (1824-1898), the “Sailor’s Friend” gave his name to the load line on the side of merchant ships.

Emigration__Plymouth_Cattewater_and_depot_IMG_0644_wp.JPG The Aberdeen clipper shown in the painting here loading at Plymouth for Australia was launched by and named in honour of “Samuel Plimsoll”.

This fine original painting  “Emigration, Plymouth Cattewater” is available; as are a signed limited edition prints price £147.00 via PayPal – from the print gallery on Gordon Frickers web site.

Feel free to spread the word to others who might be interested, and to bring guests.

To be held in the foyer of Folkestone Town Hall 1-2 Guildhall Street, open on weekdays from Thursday 19th September to Friday 25th October.

All are welcome, up to the capacity of the venue.

Please RSVP to nicolette.jones@nullbtinternet.com if you wish to attend. 

Samuel Plimsoll’s epic social, legal and political battle for justice for sailors made him a national hero and nearly brought down Disraeli’s government.

The exhibition will feature rarely seen historical material to illuminate Samuel Plimsoll’s contribution to our national maritime heritage, to Folkestone, and to the global safety of sailors for ever after.

The exhibition will also reveal Samuel Plimsoll’s connection with ‘The Beatles’ … or is it vice versa; and other surprises?

Organised under the auspices of the Folkestone Plimsoll Memorial Campaign, Rebecca Stockley at Folkestone Town Council has kindly agreed to this exhibition about Folkestone’s local hero Samuel Plimsoll.

The exhibition will also be open on one Saturday (date to be confirmed).

This will be to celebrate the life and achievements of Folkestone’s local hero Samuel Plimsoll (1824-1898), the “Sailor’s Friend”.

In his last years Samuel Plimsoll lived in Folkestone, where he laid one of the foundation stones of the Folkestone United Reformed Church, and is buried in St Martin’s Church, Cheriton.

Samuel Plimsoll was famous, his name lives on, he was active in many lastingly significant social causes to the last, and is still an inspiring example of how the altruism and courage of determined individuals can make the world a better place.

Copies of The Plimsoll Sensation, a delightfully surprising read, signed by the author and using a stamp with a facsimile of his signature ‘Samuel Plimsoll’, will be for sale on the night, including a contribution to the RNLI.

This exhibition will feature rarely seen historical material including a maritime print “by distinguished maritime artist Gordon Frickers”, the only marine artist to have been invited to exhibit at the European Parliament (May 2011) with a proportion of sales to go towards a Plimsoll commemoration”.

You are cordially invited to the OFFICIAL OPENING on Wednesday 18th September, 6-8pm.

All are welcome, up to the capacity of the venue.

Please RSVP to nicolette.jones@nullbtinternet.com if you wish to attend. 

Important P.S. – (If you can help with funding for expenses, or with mounting the exhibition on 16/17/18 September, or serving refreshments on the night, please also contact nicolette.jones@nullbtinternet.com.)

Helping is a great way to meet people, develop interests and forge new friendships.

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PLIMSOLLS ON FOR PLIMSOLL DAY 10 February 2014

There are plans for a fund-raising day for the RNLI at businesses and schools throughout Shepway on 10 February 2014, thanks to Joanne Godden, fundraising manager of the RNLI, who plans to promote the venture.

The marketing will introduce a new generation to the story of Samuel Plimsoll and remind them of the importance of the merchant navy – and make the connection between the man and the shoes (which were indeed named after him).

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PLIMSOLL CELEBRATIONS IN FOLKESTONE, 9 FEBRUARY 2014

The First Annual Plimsoll Lecture will be held on 8 February 2014 at 3pm in St Martin’s Church, Cheriton. Nicolette Jones will speak about “The Continuing Relevance of Samuel Plimsoll”, by invitation of the Rev David De Verney.

The Second Music Hall Evening in Honour of Samuel Plimsoll will be held at 7.30pm in Folkestone United Reformed Church with a nautical theme and talented local performers, organised by Michael Foad and hosted by Roger Joyce.

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SAMUEL PLIMSOLL’S DESCENDANTS

We are very sad to report that Sally Shaw, nee Plimsoll, Samuel Plimsoll’s remarkable granddaughter, who was a Manchester City Councillor with an interest in social justice of which her grandfather would have approved, died in March 2013. See her obituary here: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/apr/02/sally-shaw-obituary

From another branch of the family, Daphne Rose, Samuel Plimsoll’s great granddaughter, has been in contact,

Daphne Rose is enthusiastic about Folkestone’s commemorations of her grandfather. She reveals the existence of 33 living direct descendants, apart from Sally’s daughters and grandchildren.

All will be invited to the Folkestone celebrations, we hope for a significant turn-out of his family.

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SAMUEL PLIMSOLL AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR

In the light of the upcoming commemorations of the centenary of the First World War, we would like to remind you that while he was a resident of Folkestone, Samuel Plimsoll took it upon himself to travel to America and persuade the US education authorities that anti-British references should be removed from (then very anglophobic) school textbooks.

By the outbreak of the First World War, a generation of Americans had grown up without being indoctrinated with hostility to the British – without which the US would not have entered the First World War.

The contribution of your local hero as the father of the Special Relationship should not be forgotten.

Other developments we believe are still being pursued by local people and councillors are a SAMUEL PLIMSOLL PLAQUE ON THE FOLKESTONE BANDSTAND, the NAMING OF A QUAY IN THE NEW HARBOURFRONT DEVELOPMENT “SAMUEL PLIMSOLL QUAY”.

We have the possibility of a PERMANENT MEMORIAL TO/STATUE OF SAMUEL PLIMSOLL, if funding can be found, and a SAMUEL PLIMSOLL-RELATED EVENT IN THE FOLKESTONE TRIENNIAL.

Fundraising ideas include a generous offer of a maritime print by distinguished maritime artist Gordon Frickers with a proportion of sales to go towards a Plimsoll commemoration. (Contact nicolette.jones@nullbtinternet.com or contact Gordon Frickers for more details.)

Kindly put the dates in your diary for the events above and do please keep nicolette.jones@nullbtinternet.com and Gordon Frickers updated about anything you can do or have done.

Thank you, enjoy.