HUNDREDS of pounds was raised for various charities at the Dover Pageant at Connaught Park. Stalls and sideshows did a good trade throughout the day and there was plenty going on in the main arena too, from chariot races to dancing, military bands to a dog race with a difference.
The RAF Sea King helicopter from Manston flew overhead at the start of the event, carrying out a display of manouevres. Corporal Crab - a remote-controlled guide to the White Cliffs Experience officially opened the pageant and the band of the 4th Battalion County Fermanagh Ulster Defence Regiment led the pageant parade. which traced history from the days of the Roman, invasion to the "faded flappers" of the 1920s.Wendy Williams, of the Roman Painted House, was joined by her daughter Xanthe, Annelies Sencicle, Joanna Peters and Elizabeth Willson in their Roman outfits at the head of the parade.
Among the others taking part were members of the Eythorne and Elvington WI, celebrating 75 years of of the organisation, students from Dover College and some Victorian bathing belles. Prize winners were Lorraine Sencicle as Queen Elizabeth I, Michael Van Der Hoeven who accompanied her as Sir Walter Raleigh, Katie McFarnell, of Eaton Road, Dover and Andrew Goodacre, of Priory Hill, both three-years-old. They all won travel vouchers from Sealink. The Dover Air Training Corps cadets staged Scramble! RAF Hawkstone, which depicted one of the sorties during the Battleof Britain to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft invading the country. Pupils of St Mary's Primary School performed Maypole dancing and youngsters of all ages from the Lindsay Squires School of Dancing put on a colourful display to a musical medley. Local pop group Maroon Dogs provided music from the 60s and at the end of the event, Shelley, a cross Labrador showed everyone just what to do with their litter by picking up discarded cans from around the arena and popping them into 8 rubbish bin. Shelley was in competition with Dover Rover alial Dover's dog warden Phil Lawrence - mascot for the campaign to promote responsible dog ownership.
The pageant was sponsored by Outpost, the outdoor advertising company
The Beer Barbarians remerged as overall winners of the chariot racing at the Dover Pageant. They won the final in 9.19 seconds, which was enough to net them the first prize and a special trophy for good sportsmanship. The trophy was presented by the Pearly Queen of Dover; Janet Bliss, in memory of her father, Bill. Bodylines Duncan Turner, Mark Starling,Tim Malpass, Perry Matcham and Jane Hilton -.:- came second. A team representing pageant sponsors Outpost won the ladies race. Team members were Heather Goodacre, Jackie McFarne1l, Anne McFarnell; Louise Wiltshire and Ben Hammett. Second place went to a team from McDonald's Joanne Drewitt, Sarah Higgins, Sam Capper, Nicola Jennings and Wayne Anderton. The 69 Club team, which came third and the McDonald's team donated their prize. money to the Victim Support Scheme, while Outpost gave their winnings to Dover Handicapped Club. McDonald's also donated the £48 proceeds of its orange bowl st3ll to the Victim Support Scheme. A chariot race team was also made up from spectators on the day, including local lads Mick Jones, Lee Smith. Kevin Su1t()n and Mark Tutton, with Helen Boardman, a visitor from Liverpool, riding in the clIariot. But they came to grief fairly early on when Mike slipped and was almost run over by the chariot!
Lian Harvey, eight, of Buckland Avenue, was one of the luckiest Johns and David Awbridge. Malcolm Belcher, of Middle Deal Road, Deal, received a Marks and Spencer voucher after winning the senior section of a paper plane makjng competition. Chris Stephens, of Beacon Way, won the junior section. His prize was a model helicopter and a day out at RAF Manston.
