FOSKD Newsletter May 2014

With the welcome prospect of some late summer sunshine we are looking forward to a weekend of classic boats and nautical tales as St Katharine Docks hosts the annual Classic Boat Festival – a great opportunity to invite visitors to come and join in the fun!

We hope as many members as possible will be able to join us for our Annual General Meeting on 23rd September, with refreshments generously provided by the Dickens Inn. There a few places available for a visit to a RN Frigate on a visit to London this month – you will need to be quick to secure a place.

After the sell-out success of last year, we have booked another evening at the Tower of London for the Ceremony of the Keys – made all the more special this year by the spreading sea of poppies in the moat planted by volunteers in commemoration of WW1 – a must see event. We have some new additions to our concessions scheme, listed below, which includes Tom’s Kitchen and Deli – we obviously made a good impression during their soft opening with all the support we gave them!

We look forward to welcoming you at one or more of the forthcoming events.

Sue Hughes, Chairman, FOSKD

Events

Return of the Classic Boat Festival to St Katharine Docks

September 13th & 14th sees the return of the Classic Boat Festival to St Katharine Docks. This year there will be more quayside activities with a marquee on Marble Quay where there will be live music on both days with a bar where FOSKD members will receive a 10% discount on production of a current membership card. William Bowman will lead tours of the Marina at 11am and 2pm each day, including a visit to view the lock controls. There will be the opportunity to board the Queen’s Barge Gloriana and other classic vessels. Marina tours and visits on board certain vessels can be booked on the day at the Marina office. The Classic Boat Rally forms part of "Totally Thames" which takes place over the whole month of September, a new season of arts, cultural and river events presented by Thames Festival Trust throughout the 42-mile stretch of the Thames in London. View the full programme at www.totallythames.org

Annual General Meeting Monday 23rd September

Members will have received the formal notice of the AGM to be held at 7pm in the Dickens Suite upstairs in the Dickens Inn. Once the formal proceedings are over there will be the opportunity to catch up with friends over refreshments kindly provided by the management of the Dickens Inn.

Visit to a Royal Navy Frigate on Friday 26th September

We have received an invitation for 12 members of FOSKD to go on board a Royal Navy Frigate for a tour during a short visit by the ship to London. The tour will start at 1.00pm and the ship will be moored in West India Dock. Members interested in joining this tour should apply for a place by email to Colin Mitchell at membership@foskd.org

Ceremony of the Keys, Tower of London Monday 27th October

Once the general public have left for the day we will have a private guided tour by Yeoman Warder Crawford Butler who had the honour of planting the first poppy as part of the WW1 commemorations at the Tower. Following the tour we are fortunate to be invited into the Yeoman Warders private club for a two course buffet supper which is included in the cost of £24.00 for the evening (there will be a cash bar). A raffle will be held in support of Charities which the Yeoman Warders support.

After supper we will have the opportunity to witness the Ceremony of the Keys, the traditional locking up of the Tower which has taken place every night without fail for at least 700 years. Following the ceremony those who would like to enjoy a nightcap may then return to the Club and we will depart about 11pm.

There are 60 places available to current members on this special tour and it is essential to reserve a place by clicking here.

If you wish to renew your membership to enable you to come to this event please send an email to membership@foskd.org

Full details of all arrangements and timings for this event will be emailed to those members who secure a confirmed place.

Festive Dinner Monday 1st December at the Guoman Tower Hotel

Arrangements are well underway for our very popular annual Dinner which will be held in the Gallery Restaurant. Booking details will be included in the October Newsletter, so for now please make sure that you save the date!

Useful information

Should you wish to contact the Councillors for St Katharine’s and Wapping Ward their details are:

Cllr Julia Dockerill (Cons)
Phone: 0207 364 3237
Email: Cllr.Julia.Dockerill@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Post: Cllr Julia Dockerill, Tower Hamlets Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent London E14 2BG
www.wappingconservatives.com

Cllr Denise Jones (Lab)
Phone: 07956 103483
Email: Cllr.Denise.Jones@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Post: Cllr Denise Jones, Tower Hamlets Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent London E14 2BG
www.towerhamletslabour.org.uk/st_katharine_s_and_wapping

FOSKD Concessions Scheme

FOSKD Concessions Scheme We have added three concessions to our scheme recently, Tom’s Kitchen and Deli, Jules Lauer who offers plumbing services and the Cape Bar in Thomas More Square, which is now under new management. Please see www.foskd.org for further details of the discounts offered.

Contact us

Should you require any further information, please feel free to contact us at contactus@foskd.org