🎂 Celebrating one year of the Dispatch
Plus: Deal struck for purchase of former library building, and sex offender jailed after police raid at his home
Well, we made it. One year of the Dispatch and still going strong. As I have said before, when I launched this newsletter back in the spring of 2025 there was no certainty that it would endure for six months, let alone twelve. But, thanks to a loyal and ever-growing readership, we have made it to this milestone together.
The Dispatch emerged from a time of upheaval in my life. I departed from a staff job writing for KentOnline and had to decide what I would do next. The jobs market is tough, especially so in the media, so it made sense to try to do something independently and see if I could make it work. And so far it is working.
I started this newsletter with a clear mission: to produce quality independent journalism for our town and, in time, build a sustainable audience for this community-focused reporting. The Dispatch is now read via email each week by a mailing list of more than 1,000 subscribers, with many more reading online and engaging with my reporting on social media. And I am delighted to say that a good number of those subscribers have backed this work by paying to support it.
The Dispatch aims to produce the stories that really matter to people in Folkestone, without having to resort to excessive sensationalism or the need to beat other media outlets to breaking news. While a scoop is always nice, I know that consistently covering the issues that matter to our town is what counts. I read the council papers and attend the meetings. I speak to prominent figures, but I also endeavour to amplify the voices of sections of the community traditionally underrepresented in the media. If the story matters to me, I think it will matter to you.
So what does our second year look like? The Wednesday newsletter, which will always remain free for everyone, will continue in the form you have come to expect. But I will be looking to expand our coverage with the launch of dedicated emails for what’s on and sports, which readers will receive in the same way they currently get the Dispatch. More details to come on these in the coming weeks.
Some of this new content will only be available to paid subscribers. Those who are willing to contribute a small amount each month, or annually, make this work possible, and I want to increase the value they receive for their contribution.
If you would like to support my work and ensure you can access all content in the future, here’s an offer for you: for one week we are reducing both annual and monthly subscriptions by 20%. This is the first time monthly payments have been reduced, so if you have been uncertain about becoming a paid supporter now is the time to take the plunge and secure this saving for the next twelve months.
On signing up as a paid subscriber, one reader said: “I think good local journalism like yours is really important for strong communities.” I couldn’t agree more. This work is not easy, and it will never produce huge financial returns, but towns like Folkestone deserve in-depth coverage produced by journalists intimately connected to the community. That’s what the Dispatch aims to deliver, today and in the future.
News in brief
📚 Folkestone Town Council has reached an agreement, subject to contract, with Kent County Council to acquire the former home of the town’s library in Grace Hill. As the Dispatch reported back in January, town councillors voted unanimously to attempt to purchase the freehold of the Grade II-listed building amid fears the site would be put up for auction. The purchase of the building, for a nominal fee, has now been agreed and it was confirmed by town councillors at a special meeting held last week. It has previously been stated that bringing the property back into use could cost upwards of £2.9 million, and the town council admits the fundraising required to carry out the repairs could take years.
“This is no free ride,” Cllr Tim Prater said following the agreement being struck. “Getting Grace Hill refurbished and reopened will be a long, expensive process. But that process will now be managed, led and owned by the people of Folkestone, as it should be. We’re grateful to Kent County Council for the positive and collaborative approach officers took to our offer, the negotiations and their final agreement to sell. The building had a much larger value to the community than any purchase price, and the acceptance of our offer to purchase before auction has ensured the building did not end up owned by the wrong people.”
🚨 A sex offender who built a 6ft fence around his home in an attempt to evade police checks has been jailed. Following a previous conviction for possession of indecent images of children in 2016, Lee McLoughlin was given a sexual harm prevention order which limited his use of the internet and internet enabled devices, and gave police extra powers to monitor his online behaviour and devices. In an attempt to disrupt these checks, the 49-year-old erected the fence around the property in Wood Avenue, installed multiple cameras and fitted an alarm to his front door handle.
Police were concerned McLoughlin would destroy evidence, so officers secured a warrant and arrested him in April last year. A search of his home uncovered seven undeclared devices used to access the internet. He was charged with a total of 12 breaches of his sexual harm prevention order, and was also charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a previous search warrant in 2023. McLoughlin pleaded not guilty to all charges put against him, but after a two-week trial a jury found him guilty on all counts. He attended Woolwich Crown Court on April 8 and was handed a sentence of two years and eight months imprisonment. He was also placed on a renewed sexual harm prevention order for a period of 10 years.
Commenting following his sentencing, DC Louise Batten said: “McLoughlin knew he was breaking the conditions placed on him and went to considerable lengths, including modifying his home, to hide from us. I am pleased the court has imposed a custodial sentence that reflects the seriousness of his behaviour. Court orders such as a sexual harm prevention orders are there to protect the public, we will relentlessly investigate and detect breaches to bring offenders who disregard their conditions back before a court.”
📚 Sandgate Primary School has been found to be of a ‘strong standard’ in all areas following an inspection by Ofsted in February. In a report published this week, the schools watchdog described the Coolinge Lane school as “a welcoming environment” where pupils “build knowledge securely”. The report goes on to say: “Pupils enjoy learning and speak about lessons with enthusiasm. The school environment is a celebration of their work. Pupils attend well, and benefit daily from a broad and enriching curriculum that equips them with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive.” You can read the latest report in full here.
🏃🏼 Folkestone Running & Athletics Club had 20 runners among a field of almost 60,000 for Sunday’s TCS London Marathon. Five club members managed to complete the course in under three hours: Daniel Radcliffe, Rob Collier, Paul Bartlett, Phil Hayes and Nick Steele. Also among the representatives of the Folkestone club was 62-year-old Ray Johnson, who was running his 26th consecutive London Marathon. He has now raised more than £158,000 for the Kent Association for the Blind.
A spokesman for FRAC said: “Our members proudly represent the town at London every single year, with this event being no different. Twenty red, white and blue-vested runners entered their names into this prestigious major marathon and returned back to the coast with some extraordinary tales of fitness and determination to tell.”
🧑🏻🏫 Turner Free School has announced the appointment of a new head of school. Harvey Ovenden, who is currently deputy headteacher at Spires Academy in Canterbury, will take up the position in September. Turner Schools Trust says Mr Ovenden “brings experience of working in schools serving communities similar to Turner Free School, along with a clear focus on high standards and day-to-day teaching”. Commenting on his appointment, Mr Ovenden said: “I am delighted to be taking up the post of head of school at Turner Free School next term. My goal is to offer a broad and balanced education where we think creatively, look for solutions and have the courage to do things differently. I look forward to working with pupils, staff and the community to deliver a rich educational experience, high expectations, where there are no barriers to learning.”
🌊 More than £5,500 was raised for South Kent Mind—the Dispatch charity of the year for 2026—after more than 50 brave souls headed into the chilly Channel waters for a sponsored sea dip at Sunny Sands. The dippers were encouraged by friends, family and supporters who cheered on from the beach, coming together in aid of this important local cause.
Joe Tolhurst, head of income generation at the charity, said: “We’ve been completely blown away by the support our local community has shown for Dip for Mind. Seeing over 50 people join us for the dip and raise more than £5,500 for mental health in our community is just incredible. Every single person who took part, supported or donated has made a real difference, and we’re so grateful.”
What’s on this week
🗣️ Club VD returns to the Beer Shop tomorrow evening, April 30. Join host Jimi Odell for an evening of verbal discharge and be inspired as local writers read from their work in progress. Prose, poetry, spoken word, you can expect all sorts. This month’s writers are Alan Maddrel, Andy Marchant, Bill Browne, Claude and Michael Youmans. The two-hour event starts at 7.30pm.
🎵 This year’s Music In May festival kicks off with a launch event at the Harbour Arm on Friday, May 1. The five-hour opening party kicks off at 4pm and will feature live performances and music video screenings. Entry is free and you can find out more about the event here.
🎻 The Story of The Dubliners will be bringing the music of this much-loved Irish folk band to the Leas Cliff Hall on Saturday evening, May 2. The show is packed with classic tunes, including Whiskey in the Jar, The Irish Rover and Rocky Road to Dublin. It starts at 7.30pm and you can get tickets here.
🎸 As part of this year’s Music In May festival, singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner will be playing the Quarterhouse on Saturday, May 2. He will be supported by Harry Pane, Kieren Mensah and Orlagh Fitzgerald. The show starts at 7pm and you can grab your tickets here.
🤝 Sunday Assembly—a non-religious community open to all—returns at St Eanswythe’s Primary School this weekend. The event starts at 11am and will feature a talk by guest speaker Niki Cooper-Robbins on the wonder of languages. You don’t need a ticket and entry is free, although donations are welcome. You can find out more on the Sunday Assembly Folkestone account on Instagram.
Do you have an event in Folkestone you would like to promote in a forthcoming edition of the Dispatch? Send details to us and we’ll help spread the word!
That’s all from me this week. There will not be a newsletter next week as I am enjoying a welcome break and some time travelling. It is giving me some time to reflect on what has been achieved in the past year, and think about how the Dispatch can continue to improve in the year to come. Serving the people of Folkestone in this way is an honour and a privilege, so I would like to thank every one of you for reading and supporting this newsletter. Here’s to the next twelve months!
All the best, Rhys
Did you appreciate this edition of the Folkestone Dispatch? Please forward it to a friend, share it on social media, get in touch with me via email, or leave a comment. The Wednesday newsletter is free to everyone, and will always remain so, but please do help it to have a sustainable future if £5 a month is affordable to you and you find this newsletter interesting, engaging, useful, or all three.