Rob provided the afternoon’s entertainment with an illustrated talk entitled “Railways and Packet Boats in Folkestone 1840s – 1920s”. We also had a ‘Bring-and-Buy’ session which was just as well as David Ho (and the milk for the teas and coffees!) was heavily delayed by a big snarl up on the M2. As we waited for David the various items on offer were poured over and brisk business was done. Eventually David (and the milk!) arrived and once we all had our drinks Rob was able to proceed.
Rob explained that the basis for the talk had been provided by the work done by the Friends of Folkestone Old Cemetery and the railway related stories that they had come across in their work at the cemetery. The South Eastern Railway arrived in Folkestone in 1843 from London, and pretty soon the harbour was developed, and the swing bridge and harbour station appeared, facilitating travel and mails to the continent.
Over the years several railway employees ended up in Folkestone Cemetery following accidents on the railway or rock falls at Folkestone Warren. Amongst numerous fatalities over the years a watchman was killed by a train as he walked through Martello Tunnel.
There were no refuges in the tunnel and the practice was to lie down in the six foot way if you heard a train coming and wait for it to pass. Sadly, for whatever reason that didn’t happen in his case.
The first Great Train Robbery took place in 1855 when a consignment of gold bullion bound for Paris was found on arrival to have gone astray. Typically, the French blamed the English, and the English blamed the French, so plus ca change etc. Many years later one of the perpetrators confessed and yes it was the English wot dun it.
A curious fact discovered by the Cemetery team was that William Dean, formerly Chief Locomotive Engineer of the GWR, is buried there, having apparently retired to Folkestone at the end of his career.
During the First World War there were over 15,000 trains and over 18,000 ship movements at Folkestone. In 1914 the King of the Belgians and many Belgian refugees came across to Folkestone fleeing the hostilities although Rob was unable to confirm if M. Hercule Poirot was among them. Rob told us of these and many other stories that had come to light through the work of the Cemetery group, and on finishing he was roundly thanked by all for a most interesting and informative talk. Chris
