Fees waived for boats heading to WW2 memorial event

Mooring fees will be waived for boats at Ramsgate Harbour that are taking part in a World War Two memorial event in France next year.

About 60 boats from across Europe, that are part of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS), are expected to rest up at the Kent harbour in the week beginning 19 May before crossing over to Dunkirk for the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.

More than 338,000 soldiers were rescued between 26 May and 4 June 1940 with almost 100,000 picked up off the beaches by the little ships and ferried to larger vessels.

A spokesperson from Thanet District Council, which waived the fees, said: "By reducing the cost of taking part, it is hoped a larger number of vessels will be encouraged to attend the event."

Fees will be waived on 17, 18, 24 and 25 May.

The journey is made by the association every five years, but in 2020 the event was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The little ships will depart for France early on 21 May, depending on the weather.

They will be joined by the Royal Navy and Ramsgate RNLI Lifeboat with the journey expected to take about seven hours.

Dunkirk will lay on a number of commemorative events as well as a war memorial on the beach.

The association will also attend the British Commonwealth War Graves Commission ceremony in the town.

Simon Palmer, secretary of the ADLS and the current owner of the ship Hilfranor, said: "It's important that we keep them going now that the veterans are no longer with us."

The ADLS fleet intends to return to Ramsgate on 26 May.

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