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The first hug came as we entered Harbour Street. The young man outside The Harbour Bar, oblivious to the cold in his sleeveless t-shirt, spotted us in our bright red coats, dashed over to shake hands and give us all a hug, while we handed out lollipops. And so began a fairly normal Saturday night out with the Community Pastors.
The evening had begun 20 minutes earlier when we met at St George's church hall, where I was briefed on what to expect, and how to respond. Tonight there were four of us, two women and two men: always at least one of each.
After a short chat and prayer, I was given a warm waterproof coat and guest ID. We loaded our pockets with lollipops, checked the backpack (including the free flip flops, safer than barefoot when shoes become too uncomfortable) before setting off down Ramsgate High Street. After our initial stop for hugs, we carried on down Harbour Street stopping to chat with door security staff and customers outside the Goose - and give out more lollipops. We ambled on down Harbour Parade, round the Turning Circle and back again. A police car stopped to check if everything was OK (it was) before they headed out again, while we carried on into York Street, back past Charlotte Court and the Horse and Groom, so completing the first circuit of the venues in town, balancing stopping to chat with keeping moving so as to not be in the way.
One young woman mentioned she had been bed bound for two days after her drink had been spiked at a pub in town last week. She was offered and gratefully received an anti-spiking bottle stopper, which a dig deep into the rucksack produced.
The Community Pastors were clearly familiar to many of the door staff, and they chatted easily together. As we walked, I learned that beneath those superficial chats, lies some significant friendships, of care, understanding, and problems shared, with a group of people prepared to just listen, and check up on them every Saturday night.
Saturday night regulars thanked the Community Pastors for what they offer the community. Chats with friends old and new covered everything from the very personal (knowing their words would remain confidential) to spontaneous questions about the meaning of life.
A moment of concern when two ambulances turned up, and the paramedics scanned the harbour waters with their torches. One of the team let them know we carried a throw line if needed and we hung around just in case, but they left after 10 minutes and we carried on walking.
Around 12:30am the rain descended in torrents and most guests were staying inside venues or getting taxis home. With no prospect of relief from the rain we took a rather brisker walk back to St George's for a relatively early night.
Community Pastors was founded in 2010, with its inaugural patrol on November 5, 2010, not as part of Global Generation 20 years ago. S J Andrews, initiated and led the program for about four years, developing the handbook and securing a grant from the Thanet Community Safety Partnership. They now come under St George's Ramsgate Development Trust CIC. All are volunteers from local churches. In the event of trouble, they keep out of the way while the professionals, police and venue security, handle the situation, while their ability to provide an independent liaison role is valued and respected.