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Dickens Festival

Thanks to one of our European Volunteers Lydie we had over 80 fantastic photos to choose from.

Here is the final selection.

Two of our grove history project participants wrote reviews of the day.
The first is by Lauren Fitz-Douglas 17years

On Friday 1st we went to Rochester for the Dickens Festival. Everyone in the hostel (including 3 members of staff) dressed up. This was really funny, especially as we had to walk from the hostel through Gravesend and down to the station to get the train into Rochester town. Everyone was staring at us.

When we got to Rochester we did not get so many funny looks as there, lots of people dressed up in costumes., which was good.

We walked up to the Castle where everything seemed to be happening. As well as stalls there was a little fair, we did not have much money but we did go on the big wheel and merry-go-round, which was fun. Then we went for something to eat

After that we sat on the grass and watched all the people go by in their different costumes, and there was a fancy dress competition, this was lovely as it was a really nice day. and all the dressed up children looked so cute.

Later we went and watched a show at East gate House called the 'Shoe shine boy', this taught us about the life and times in the Victorian era and how hard it was for the poor people. We also learnt about the Victorian Market (not quite like our local market)

For me the best part of the day was the show and dressing up. The show, because it was entertaining and educational and the dressing up because we do not normally get the opportunity to do this sort of thing. It was great and good fun.



The second review is by Ashley Brown 17years

It was a good start to the day on 1st June 2007. The weather was hot and everyone turned up to the hostel to get ready to go to the Dickens festival which was being held at Rochester.

Gill and Kim played the part of doing the girls hair, whilst the boys steadily got themselves ready. I was in the office getting my dress lifted as it was too long for me. There was a good atmosphere in the house and everyone was eager to get going.

It was quite embarrassing walking through town on the way to the train station as we all got a few stares and funny looks. On the train to Rochester we had quite an enthusiastic family who seemed very interested in the characters we were dressed as, and proudly took some pictures. David and Mutley wasn't too impressed though!

Finally we arrived at Rochester though I was quite worried as I couldn't see anybody else dressed up. Did we get the days wrong? as we all walked further up the high street, my worries slowly slipped away, as more people in costume appeared.

We all felt the part as we got to the castle grounds, with more and more people walking about in their beautiful dresses and suits. By this time the weather had got hotter, my dress started to itch, but, we decided to ge and get a drink and a bite to eat. Whilst munching away on my chips, I had an old man ask if he could take a picture of me. Though I thought it was rather strange that someone wanted a picture of someone eating I thought 'why not? Go for it' Standing there posing the man took his picture gladly, thanked me and moved on.
Lots of people had stopped to ask for photos with everyone within the group. we had agreed happily to each one.

Then we slowly moved over to the big wheel. Jeanette sat in a carriage by herself, Lauren and Ashlea shared one, David and Anne latched together and I held tight to Mutley as Im not too good with heights. By this time two of my friends had joined us for the day out.

Lauren, Ashlea, David and Anne all decided to go on the carosel. Soon after, when the ride finished we all joined together to go and watch the best costume contest. After we went to see a sort of play. A man acted as a Victorian shoe shine boy and then a shop manager and then a chimmney sweeper. He gave us all a piece of ols soap called Cold Tar Soap. It was really smelly.

I was very tired when I got home, but, I really enjoyed the day. I would like to do it again next year.