The Grand Folkestone
The Grand is a magnificent apartment hotel on The Leas in Folkestone
"indisputably the finest marine promenade in the world"

 

Step-Short

Road of RememberanceFolkestone was the UK’s epicentre for troop movements to and from the Great War’s Western Front in 1914-18;  it is estimated that about 10,000,000 Channel passages were made from Folkestone to Boulogne, protected by the Dover Patrol, although only about 8,000,000 returned the same way

 

Road of RememberanceMost troops assembled on The Leas, Folkestone’s seaside promenade atop the 150 ft high cliffs, and then marched down the steep ‘Slope Road’ to the harbour for embarkation.   Because of the severe gradient, the order ‘Step-Short’ was given, hence the name of the organisation now established to make preparations for marking the centenary of the outbreak of hostilities in 2014

 

ObliskAfter the Armistice an obelisk was constructed at the top of the road, its name was changed to the Road of Remembrance, and rosemary was planted along its southern length in commemoration of the millions who died.   A fine memorial to the local fallen was also erected.

 

 

 

As part of the preparations, various projects are in contemplation:

Step Short Bunker MapStep Short MapStep Short Programme Sep 2009Step Short GalleryReport on Aims & Objectives 2009Military Parade 1st August 2010Our Chairman’s speech to House of Commons 8th July 2010 re Step-Short and Centenary of WW I and Government response

Links to external websites

 

Report on Aims & Objectives 2009 Click here

Discover Folkestone – Parade 1st August 2010: Click here

Step-Short Folkestone Facebook:  Click Here

Sandgate parish website item Sep 2009: Click here

Shepway Chairman’s blog on Step-Short memorial march 9th October 2009:  Click here

Hawkinge Gazette report on memorial march 9th October 2009:  Click here

Go Folkestone – article by former Chairman Terry Begent – 2009:  Click here

Extracts from the Mole Cafe Visitors book