Photo: Folkestone Town Council
Solemn quiet fell over the clifftops of Folkestone on Tuesday as residents, veterans, civic leaders, and youth cadets gathered at the RAF War Memorial on The Leas for a moving Battle of Britain Day service.
Under autumn skies, the coastal community stood shoulder to shoulder on 15 September 2026 to mark 86 years since the pivotal 1940 aerial clash that saw Royal Air Force pilots fiercely repel a massive German Luftwaffe onslaught, safeguarding the nation from invasion. Led by the Town Mayor’s Chaplain, Kate McNeice, the remembrance ceremony brought together Town Mayor Councillor Jackie Meade, Brigadier (Retd.) Nick Baveystock OBE DL, ex-service associations, and proud young Standard Bearers representing youth and cadet organisations.
As wreaths were laid at the foot of the memorial, those assembled observed a solemn period of reflection to honour the ultimate sacrifice made by the legendary aircrews and ground personnel who shaped the country’s destiny. Speaking to the gathered crowd, Councillor Meade delivered a stirring address on the timeless debt owed to the wartime generation, emphasizing how crucial it is to pass these memories to future generations. The humbling service served as a powerful reminder of bravery under fire.