Dominic Gregory: Courage, Crisis & the Kent Coast

When the call comes in, would you run towards the storm? In this gripping conversation, Dominic Gregory discusses Lifeboat at the End of the World, his extraordinary account of serving as a volunteer RNLI crew member in nearby Dungeness, where the English Channel becomes a place of danger, rescue and profound human drama. From violent seas to small boats carrying desperate passengers, Gregory offers a rare frontline perspective on courage, teamwork and moral clarity under pressure. For Folkestone audiences, with our own intimate relationship to this coastline, this promises to be a powerful conversation about compassion, risk and the lives that unfold just beyond the horizon. This event will be chaired by Kirsty Hogben, a Folkestone-based open water swimming coach who knows our stretch of coastline better than most. Having grown up in Sandgate, Kirsty has spent a lifetime in and around the sea, turning her love of the water into a thriving coaching business in 2021. Since then, she has taught more than 600 lessons, helping swimmers of all abilities discover the joys of sea swimming while developing the skills and confidence to stay safe. With an infectious enthusiasm for the sea, a deep respect for its power and unpredictability, and a genuine gift for making people feel brave enough to take the plunge, Kirsty brings warmth, wisdom and a wonderfully local perspective to this conversation about the extraordinary work of the RNLI. Folkestone Book Festival is our annual celebration of stories, ideas and conversation by the sea. Curated by novelist Sophie Haydock (The Flames, Madame Matisse), this year’s festival brings together more than 60 events across two weeks, welcoming world-class writers, thinkers and storytellers to Folkestone. The Festival is part of Folkestone is a Library, our ambitious town-wide celebration of reading, writing and storytelling, helping make Folkestone one of the UK’s most exciting literary destinations. We believe great conversations should be for everyone, which is why every event includes a £5 Cost of Living Ticket, available with no questions asked. Please help us spread the word. Together, we’re building a thriving community of readers, writers and curious minds. Folkestone Book Festival is proudly supported by Eurotunnel, Canterbury Christ Church University, Holiday Extras, and the Friends of Folkestone Book Festival. Creative Folkestone is supported by Arts Council England, Folkestone & Hythe District Council and Saga. Founding Funder The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.