We’re excited and delighted to have unveiled The Point earlier today in the presence of His Majesty’s representative, The Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain. Also present were The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Councillor Mrs Jean Butcher; The Lady Mayoress, Mrs Di Baldock; and The Sheriff of Canterbury, Councillor Keli Moses.
After a warm welcome from President Maxine, Lady Colgrain offered her congratulations on our centenary and the achievement of completing The Point. She received a bouquet of flowers from President Elect Raj Dasan.
Lady Colgrain and The Lord Mayor jointly removed the covering (with help from Rotarian Andrew Clague) to enthusiastic applause. The Lady Mayoress and Lord Mayor then ceremonially filled the first water bottles with clear, cool water from the new installation.
The Point is a 3.5-metre-tall structure crafted from Portland stone, incorporating a built-in water bottle refilling station. A striking feature is its polished stainless-steel collar, through which visitors can look – and take photographs. Above this, the column is inscribed with a quote from Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan:
“Behold ye, how these crystal streams do glide, to comfort pilgrims by the highway-side.”
The total cost to design, build, and commission The Point was covered entirely through generous private donations made specifically for the cause, including both monetary contributions and in-kind donations of goods and professional services.
The design and functionality were developed through a collaborative process, aiming to provide a useful amenity that appeals to all ages, while complementing the cultural and architectural heritage of our city – now and for generations to come. The inspiration for The Point came from our late Past President, Roger Bickerton, who recalled a drinking fountain and horse trough in the Longmarket before World War II.
Also in attendance at the unveiling were representatives of local institutions, charities, and organisations, as well as donors and many of the professionals and craftspeople involved in bringing The Point to life.
In addition to President Maxine Blades, President-Elect Raj Dasan, and our members and their families, Rotary was represented by Assistant District Governor Kevin Fielding (Rotary District 1120 – South East), along with the President of The Rotary Club of Canterbury Sunrise. Canterbury Inner Wheel was represented by its President, Pauline Pybus.
The unveiling marks the culmination of long journey from initial thoughts to completion – a journey that involved rethinking and adapting the original concept because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this time, we have worked closely with Canterbury City Council and are grateful for their continued support.
After the unveiling in Longmarket our club hosted a private reception in St Thomas’ Hall. Past President Martin Ward acted as Master of Ceremonies and the Lord Mayor gave a speech in which she spoke of how The Point reflects Canterbury’s sense of community and pride in the environment. President Maxine and The Lord Mayor then took part in a symbolic handover to the Council after which the Lord Mayor, the Lady Mayoress and the Sheriff of Canterbury each received a floral bouquet as a token of appreciation for joining us.
Chief Designer Andrew Clague then gave a speech in which he reminded everyone that as well as being functional The Point is an interactive and contemporary artwork in which steel & stone have been brought together in a unique way. “It’s a deceptively complex design” he remarked.
Next, our Assistant District Governor gave a brief speech in which he touched on our support for District projects including Ambulance for Ukraine and the Kent Surrey Sussex Air ambulance. He also spoke of how The Point addresses one of Rotary International’s seven, and newest, areas of focus: the environment.
President Maxine then gave a few final words of thanks – to the donors, to Andrew and to all the skilled craftspeople involved (with each of the latter receiving a small gift). She also thanked Vicki Thwaites who stitched the “veil”, and Sue Thompson for overseeing the catering today – and “for providing copious amounts of tea and homemade cakes” while hosting the project group at her home over the last few years. Both Vicki and Sue were presented with a floral bouquet.
A highlight of the event was when Past President Stephen Thompson (President in our Centenary year and Rotary Project Leader for The Point) was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship with Sapphire by President Maxine. Reading out a citation written by Past President Peter Hermitage, Maxine touched on the considerable contributions Stephen has made to the club, and praised his determination and leadership while working on The Point. “He has worked in collaboration with the architect, funders, engineers, planners, legal representatives and many, many others, to bring the project to fruition,” she said.
Finally, President Maxine invited each of us to take home a commemorative, reusable water bottle before she brought the day’s celebrations to a close with a toast to “Rotary the World Over”.
We hope The Point will reduce plastic waste by providing free, clean drinking water to residents and visitors, and that it will become a valued destination and much-loved landmark in Canterbury’s city centre.
Picture: The Lord-Lieutenant of Kent and The Lord Mayor of Canterbury unveil The Point. Picture credit: Mike Blissett/Rotary Club of Canterbury. We hope to have pictures of the event on our Facebook page in the next few days.
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With heartfelt thanks
As well as thanking our visiting dignitaries, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the following individuals and groups, without whom The Point would never have come to fruition.
Local bodies:
- Canterbury City Council
- South East Water
Professionals and craftspeople:
- Andrew Clague – Designer & Architect, James Clague Architects Ltd
- Gary Newton – Stonemason, G A Newton Stone
- Adam Houghton – Construction Manager, Astral Ltd
- Duane Harrison & team – Steelwork Fabrication & Installation, Diva Metalwork Ltd
- Simon Robertson – Structural Engineer, Evans & Langford
- Susan Kitchin – Legal and Planning Documentation, Brett Group
- Simon Edridge – Graphic Design and Printed Materials, Simon Edridge Associates
Key financial and in-kind donors:
- Jennifer Samper – Patricia Goddard, Lord Mayor & Lady Mayoress of Canterbury 1999-2001
- The Brett Family
- The Barrett Family
- The Quinn Family
- Roger Bickerton and family
- The Gichigi Family
- The Red House Nursing Home
Also, thank you to the many Rotarians, friends, families, and supporters of our fundraising campaign and online crowdfunder.
Planning and other support:
Thank you to the many individuals and organisations that have supported us along the way.
Unveiling and Reception Party:
- Vicki Thwaites – cover for The Point
- Blackbird Catering, Chartham – glassware
- Stephen Thompson, Tony Loughran, Martin Ward – hall set up
- Sue Thompson, Brenda Hermitage, Jane Loughran – catering
- Nick Finch Gardening Services – man with a van
- Rosemarie Morton/Red House Nursing Home – flowers and extra expenses
And finally…
Our sincere thanks to members of the Centenary Committee, with special recognition to its Chair – Past President Stephen Thompson (2022, our Centenary Year) – for his outstanding leadership, dedication and hard work throughout this project.
