Ford Madox Ford, author of the popular TV series, Parade’s End went to school in Folkestone. He attended Praetorius House in Coolinge Lane and met there, among others, his future wife, Elsie Martindale. In his book, Between St Dennis and St George, Ford recalled his days at the school and walking along The Leas.

The building still exists, and is still a School, occupied by The Folkestone School for Girls. It is likely that, some years later, when Ford became a soldier in the First World War, he would have returned to Folkestone for the sea crossing to France and the Western Front.