The Friends of Dover Castle

is a Registered Charity. We are a not-for-profit membership association and currently have 168 paid-up members. We are managed and run by a Board of Trustees headed by a Chairman.
We also have a non-executive President – Brigadier Guy Boxall MBE and two honorary vice Presidents, Mike McFarnell – who was instrumental in setting up The Friends following a call and a meeting with the Late Lord Montagu of Beaulieu who was the first Chairman of English Heritage who wanted to set up Friends associations attached to prime English Heritage properties. Our other Honorary Vice President is Wendi Atherton who lived in Constables Tower when her husband, Brigadier Maurice Atherton was Deputy Constable of Dover Castle between 1976 and 1981. The Atherton family lived in Constables during the exciting time when Her Majesty the Queen Mother was installed as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle in 1979 and whilst the Lord Warden generally resides at Walmer Castle, she often stayed at Dover Castle and was entertained by Wendi and her family.

AFFILIATION with English Heritage

We have recently been meeting with managers from English Heritage as we have been offered AFFILIATE Group Status which means we will be working more collaboratively with English Heritage and our work will be far more recognised and have special status with them. Members of The Friends will be able to volunteer as Community Fundraising Volunteers and their time spent as such volunteers will count towards becoming an English Heritage Volunteer which provides great benefits and rewards. The fine details of our Affiliation are still being drawn up but it means this is a very exciting time for us at the moment.

Latest Newsletters
We have changed our newsletter title to Dover Castle Chronicles.
If you would like a copy of this latest publication please download it from the tabs at the top of this webpage. Alternatively, email me graham@dover-castle-friends.org.uk

Dover Castle Chronicles Newsletter October 2022