Pocahontas is to be brought to life over the coming months as Gravesham council prepares a programme of events marking 400 years since she sailed to Kent and her journey ended in the town.

The Native American ‘princess’, as the daughter of chief Powhatan, arrived in Kent in 1616 with her husband John Rolfe and spent nine months touring the country before dying of an unknown illness and being buried in the town.

Pocahontas 400 is a project to educate and entertain people with the story of the young diplomat and the council is keen to get young people involved.

At a meeting on board the MV Balmoral on Monday, plans were revealed by Cllr Jordan Meade, head of heritage and tourism as well as arts and young people.

Part of the plans include a plaque being placed on her statue in St George’s churchyard, which through scanning a QR Code will bring the princess to life. People will receive a phone call from Pocahontas explaining how she came to be buried in the town.

The council is also in the processes of launching a website on the project, and is looking into more resources for schools to teach them the reality behind the Disney movie.

A competition is also being launched for the borough’s schools to design a flag that best symbolises the achievements of Pocahontas. This competition will also take place in Chesterfield County, Virginia, where Pocahontas came from.

The two best designs from either sides of the Atlantic will form a new double-sided flag.

The council has applied for a £12,000 grant from the Arts Council and £17,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the project.

Pocahontas currently brings in about £100,000 a year to the the Gravesend economy.

Cllr Meade said: “We believe this to be our opportunity to retell the story of Pocahontas, drawing attention to the historic and cultural significance of her time.

“It is also our aim to use this unique commemoration to raise the profile of Gravesend both nationally and internationally. We have so much heritage in this town and it is my hope that on the backbone of this programme Gravesend will rise as the place to go for heritage and culture.

“Our last objective is to of course accord Pocahontas, that remarkable young woman whose dedication to peace still echoes the halls of diplomacy, the full honours and respect of our borough.”

Actor and playwright Kieran Knowles will be commissioning a new Pocahontas drama under the provisional title ‘Gravesend’, and talks are ongoing with an historic enactment company to bring live performances to Gravesend town centre.

There will also be a series of speakers, lectures and tours put on by guests from oversees in Virginia, and local experts.

All of these events will lead to a climax on March 21, 2017, 400 years on from Pocahontas’s death.

The plan is for a Civic party to leave London on-board a row barge with Pocahontas’s competition flag flying, stop at Gravesend for a service at the Church of St George and a parade up to Community Square.

The start of this programme was unofficially marked by a civic visit to Chesterfield Count, Virginia.

In the beginning of June Cllr Meade alongside officers and the Gravesham Mayor went to the former home of Pocahontas for a week of visits to discuss a joint venture on the project and arrange for support and involvement from the other side of the Atlantic.

It cost the council £6,066.43 for four council representatives, which covered flights, transport and official civic gifts.

Virginia picked up all the other costs of hospitality and accommodation. The cost of the trip came from the Town Twinning budget.

Sir Robert Worcester agreed to take up role of patron on the project and said on the day: “Pocahontas is symbolic of the special relationship that is today. She’s an icon, certainly of women, because she was very young, she was 21 when she died, but she played a significant role in being presented to King James, at court, and being fated by the establishment of the day.

“Gravesend is pretty lucky, there are many towns where they have no icon, or identity which binds them to country like the Unites States.”

The council should hear if the funding bid is successful by the end of July.

If not, they will be looking at approaching businesses for sponsorship.

The Lord Lieutenant Viscount De L’Isle and Lady D’Lisle Lady D’Lisle, deputy Lord Lieutenants, Gravesham mayor Cllr Greta Goatley, and various mayors from other Kent districts also attended.