Tonbridge Teachers Strike out!...

It's an absolute disgrace that these poor teachers are forced to go on strike and close down Tonbridge schools against their will just to keep their pension rights. They worked damned hard all their lives for these rights and are suddenly being told that they are going to have to work even longer and even harder and pay even more. It's not as if they get enough holiday and they have to work for most of it anyway. They are paid inadequately, considering their intellect and skills, in the first place and what's more....

It's an absolute disgrace that these teachers who are getting massively more pensions than the rest of us are have stooped so low as to cause all this disruption and close down schools in Tonbridge. It's not like most of them work that hard anyway and now the government wants them to pull their weight and work as long as people in proper jobs they are getting all shirty. They get about twenty weeks holiday a year and only work till about ten past 3 most days and are paid quite enough as it is for a load of stroppy layabouts and what's more.... (Careful I might know some teachers better tone that down a bit! I'll edit it later.)

Lightning strike in the dentist's chair....

Throughout pretty much the whole of yesterday's tropical style storm I was laid back in my dentist's chair with needles, drills, scrapers and all manner of other implements being rammed into my poor old mouth. At least the noise of the cracking thunder kept my mind off it a little and, luckily the dentists managed to avoid being struck by lightning. I hear that a house in the Slade area of Tonbridge was not so lucky and actually was struck by lightning. Apparently there were fire engines racing to the scene yesterday afternoon so I'm not sure how much damage was done to the house; perhaps someone has some further news on this?...

Three cheers for Mr. Mayor....

Tonbridge is certainly getting its money's worth out of our new Mayor Brian "Whiskers" Luker. I've spotted him three weekends in a row now doing speeches, shaking hands and mingling at, firstly, the Tonbidge Carnival and Fete, then at last weekend's fabulous Freedom Parade and then a couple of hours ago at the Slade School fete. He certainly likes to put himself about a bit does our Brian! I might even get to have a chat with him on one of these occasions....

These rustic bowls are my very own creation....

No really they are! Remember a little while ago I mentioned that I'd been to have a go on Mike The Potter's potters wheel well here are the fruits of my labours which I'm very proud of. Okay maybe you wouldn't even buy them from a bric a brac stall for 50p but that doesn't matter when they have emotional value. They are my work, my creation (with a bit, okay then, alot of help from Mike but nevertheless my work!) I will enjoy eating peanuts out of them as long as the bowls and/or my teeth hold out! The two bowls even stack very neatly inside one another almost as if I'd intended for that to happen! Thanks once again Mike for letting me have the opportunity to have a go.....

Slade Summer Fete: a lovely traditional event....

Don't mess with these kids!

Medieval style drumming

Mind your fingers young squire!

Are they burgers a-cooking over yonder?

Just got back from spending a lovely half hour or so at the Slade School Summer Fete. It's only just around the corner from my shop and I know, from past experience, that it's usually a particularly well organised and fun packed event. I love these old fashioned fetes they give you a nice warm sense of belonging as you wander past the tombola, bric-a-brac stalls, children's toy stalls, burger and Pims tents. I even won not one but two prizes on the tombola: a nice bottle of Shiraz Rose and a jar of home made marmalade, both of which I love. On closer inspection the marmalade turned out to be Tomato Marmalade so it'll be interesting tasting that one! I mean what do you do with it? Put it on your toast in the morning? Or do you treat it like a chutney and have it on cheese? There's always loads of games for the children to enjoy like football penalties, basket ball, even archery. This year there was a Medieval theme (thus the archers) which meant we were treated to a drum band, medieval style dancing and marshal arts. Hang on is that Medieval? I guess it could be if we stretch things a little! I tell you after a couple of glasses of Pims and, a burger and some delicious Kent strawberries and cream it really didn't matter. It's still on now if you're in the area till 2-30pm....

Off to Slade summer fete....

It's happening right now so I'm off there to have strawberries and cream and win a bottle of Cabinet Sauv on the tombola!

SIBA Beer Festival: Heaven sent?...

My taste buds are involuntarily going wild at the mere thought of this year's SIBA Beer Festival which will take place in a marquee to the rear of Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Club on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 16th, 17th and 18th. If last year's was anything to go by this is one not to be missed for fans of proper beer. I'm not exaggerating when I say that going to the event last year changed the beer drinking part of my life for ever. Since then I've been far more picky when it comes to what beer I buy in the supermarket, I invested in a copy of the CAMRA Good Bottled Beer Guide, which became a further source of information; okay for a while I did become a bit of a beer bore, it has to be said, but I'm sure you can forgive me for that. Wherever I travel in the UK I now try to find the local small independent breweries' ales. Generally they cost a bit more than the average gassy big brewery alternative but I'd say they are worth every penny and more. Imagine this scene: it's a lovely sunny evening in mid July, you walk in free, you buy a souvenir half pint glass you are then completely spoilt for choice as you are faced with well over a hundred different casks of beer down one side of the marquee, stacked three high along a fifty yard bar with loads of knowledgeable, bar staff (some of them are even pretty girls!)   Ok there's no football, golf or motor racing going on but isn't this pretty close to most men's idea of Heaven! The majority of the beers are produced by micro and medium sized inde breweries, so you get a great smug feeling of doing one's bit for helping further the cause of real beer and boosting the local economy.So get your selves down there on at least one of the three days and give your taste buds a treat. More information to come on times nearer the weekend of the event....

Olympic tickets....

I, like millions of other people, applied for quite a few London Olympics 2012 tickets. In fact if I'd been lucky enough to get all the tickets I'd asked for I'd have been taking out a second mortgage by now! As it turns out I had nothing to fear on that score. I noticed that the organisers had taken £66 out of my bank account last week and I was guessing which event I would be lucky to attend next August. Would it be the Opening Ceremony in all it's quintessential British glory?Would it be the 100 metres final with Usain Bolt breaking his own World Record yet again with such casual ease? Or maybe it would be the event I really wanted to see above all else: the 110 Hurdles Final (my event back in the day!) If not these what then: a swimming event in the giant fish like pool? Gymnastics? To see the future Nadia Komenich perhaps or Olga Korbut? The 1500 metres semi finals? Actually what I've been allocated is the Women's Football Final at Wembley. Not bad, and nice to be going to anything at all but I would have put it top of my list. That said I intend to take my daughter along, who's starting to show some real promise in the game, to enjoy seeing the new Wembley Stadium as I'm yet to have the pleasure. With a bit of look our girls will be in the final. Better than not getting anything and I'm already looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere of the Olympics albeit not in the Olympic park.  Anybody else get the tickets they wanted?....

Fairlawns Footpath Public Enquiry....

Someone has brought the public enquiry about the threatened closure of the footpath at the back of Shipbourne church. I wasn't aware of this at all to be honest. It seems that Tonbridge Rugby Club is the somewhat unusual venue for these court room like procedures. Here's the information that was sent to me today:

Just to remind you that the public enquiry about moving a famous
footpath in shipbourne is on this week. It's being held in the Tonbridge
rugby club. Started yesterday, and continues today (Wed) and Thursday,
before moving to Maidstone next week. Members of the public are entitled
to be there (9.30-5ish)

The atmosphere is electric, as any court of Law, with the inspector as
the judge. In one corner we have the hugely powerful and wealthy
landowner and their top barristers, aided and abetted by KCC. In the
other, brave little Shipbourne parish council  and doughty Kentish men
(and women) trying to protect walkers rights against all the odds.

The path is in Shipbourne behind the church. At the kissing gate it is
the one on the right. Fairlawns estates have been working on closing
this path for many years, since they built a fine house next to the path
and surrounded it with 'grounds'. This route is part of the Greensand
way and was an ancient drovers way, so the path has been used for
centuries, and is still heavily walked today.

Will wealth and stealth win again?


Chris Miall

Freedom Parade on YouTube....

For those of you who missed the Freedom Parade on Sunday first of all: Shame on You! Second of all there are quite a few clips of the day's events posted on YouTube including this one by someone who has the complete audacity to call himself Trevor (Spielberg) Arnold. He actually goes further than that and uses a Star Wars-esque theme tune! Thankfully Trevor does live up to his name in some parts of the mini epic movie managing to capture parts of the day quite masterfully. Have a look for yourselves and while you're at it check out the other clips. I thought the whole day was lovely. Weirdly old fashioned but lovely nonetheless; nothing wrong in being a bit patiotic once in a while I say. Let Tonbridge Blog know what you think....

Freedom Parade in Tonbridge....

Tonbridge High Street came alive about 2pm

Drums beating, colours flying

Bayonets fixed

Crowds gather at the Big Bridge for speeches and music

Fabulous day at the Freedom Parade. Real patriotic stuff. It just shows you that we, as a town, seem to still be proud of our soldiers, perhaps more than ever. At least everyone there today seemed to recognise the sacrifice that these boys and others like them are making on our behalf. It actually did make me feel really proud watching them. They are, after all, the most decorated regiment in the history of the British Army. Even an old cynic like me had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. Here's some pictures from the day....

Marching back up the High Street

Maybe in a few years lads!

Trouble makers steer clear of Tonbridge today!...

There's haven't been this many police in Tonbridge certainly in the twenty two years I've lived here. There's all the Community Police Officers from, it seems, every town and village in the area, then there's the regular beat officers but, on top of that, there seems to be almost a paramilitary contingent of seriously mean-looking, hard nosed coppers. The sort that you'd be a fool to cross. If these guys say it's Thursday today then, trust me, just agree with them! Then there are sniffer dogs around, armoured personnel carriers, bomb squad officers. All this for The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment Freedom Parade which starts at 2pm. Presumably anyway. Even the bins are out of use, covered over with signs saying do not use. I would suggest that today will be a great, safe and fun day out for most people. But, if you are a shop lifter or a trouble maker, I would suggest that you avoid Tonbridge today!...

Mr. Books open on Sunday 11-30am till 5pm....

Whilst it might not be your sole reason for coming to Tonbridge tomorrow you might like to come in and have a browse in Mr. Books while you're in town. I'll probably put loads of military books in the window but don't let that put you off if you want to buy a gardening book or a signed first edition (maybe a last minute Fathers Day present!) There's plenty of them too. The first person to tell me the correct answer to this question in person at Mr. Books shop at 2 Bank Street, Tonbridge gets a £10 voucher to spend on any books in stock tomorrow: How many Victoria Crosses have the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment won in their history?

Freedom Parade 2pm Sunday....

For those of you who are worried about road closures and car park restrictions for tomorrow's Freedom Parade you can see the details on the borough council web site HERE. Best thing is to leave the car at home and walk or cycle in. That may be tricky if you have elderly relatives but otherwise probably the best thing. Or just get here very early....

Freedom Parade 2pm Sunday....

Freedom parade tomorrow starts at 2pm from Tonbridge School end of the High Street. See details on TMBC web site HERE. The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment are the most decorated regiment in the British Army and have been around since the 16th Century. They'll be putting on quite a spectacle with colours flying, drums beating and bayonets fixed! So come and support them whatever the weather. It's Fathers Day and it is quite a dad thing to do. So that's the perfect excuse then.

Where's me washboard?...

Things have thankfully moved on since the days when all laundry was hand washed and mangled. Nowadays most of us have washing machines and tumble driers. But for those of us who don't there's Bubbles Laundrette on Quarry Hill and even if you do then there's always your duvets or maybe that particularly dirty sports kit. I don't know perhaps it's your turn to wash the team's rugby kit this week. Here's owner Claire Orme (the lady scrubbing away in the picture) and her washer man getting in the Days Gone By spirit of the carnival last weekend. Thanks for sending in the pics Claire; as you know Tonbridge Blog is a sucker for a good publicity stunt....

The things I do for Sara....

Kathie Foster Smith came to see me in my shop a few minutes ago. It's always lovely to see her and especially so because I know how busy she must be with the media constantly banging on her door for a comment about her latest Marmalade recipe! (See earlier posts) She didn't come just for a chat though, oh no she wanted me to cough up £2 for my annual membership of SARA which stands for The Slade Area Residents Association. Of course I don't actually live in The Slade but might as well since I spend more time in my shop than I do at home these days! Kathy's demands didn't stop there either. She's a smooth operator alright and before she'd left the shop I'd also agreed to sponsor Slade In Bloom, SARA's annual competition to judge the best gardens in the community. I'm always happy to help of course, especially since I'm usually given very little choice! One thing to note for the future though Kathy is that I don't need much persuading: I'll do virtually anything for a couple of jars of your award winning orange stuff!...

The New Tonbridge Farmers Market on second Sunday every month....

To my shame Tonbridge Blog didn't make it along to the first of the newly revived Tonbridge Farmer's markets. Shop open, carnival to see, people to talk to, fete to take photos at etc. etc. excuses, excuses! I have heard several reports though that it was well attended (despite the awful weather on Sunday,) that there were around 50 stalls selling a huge variety of local produce and that the location seemed to work well. So it seems that Steve (who calls himself the Chilliman) might just know what he's doing. A little birdie tells me that he used to organise the successful West Malling market so he ought to. I wish him good luck with this venture as I've been banging on about the need for a good one for many years now. I will come along to as many as I'm able and would dearly love to see it go weekly so that the good folk of Tonbridge can make it part of their weekly food shopping routine. In the meantime the monthly ones are a good start. Here are the dates for the other markets this year so you'll have no excuses:
Sunday July 10th; August 14th; September 11th; October 9th; November 13th; December 11th.

Perfect Father's Day?...

Hope we get better weather in Tonbridge this Sunday than for the Carnival and Summer Fete last weekend. The Freedom Parade takes place from 2pm and crowds of at least 10,000 people are expected to line the High Street route of the march. The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment will be the main feature and, so I understand, they will also be joined by local cadet forces including that of Tonbridge School. There'll be entertainment on the big bridge at the end of the parade, followed by yet more on the Castle Lawn, including a display of weaponry. Throw in a few beers, a barbecue and some racing cars and surely you have the perfect  Fathers Day?!..

Real Books not Kindles....

Ironically my last post will almost certainly attract Kindle advertisements in the Google ads box next to it!...

Buy a real not virtual Fathers Day gift!....

You know it makes sense!

Tonbridge Summer Fete....

This lad would rather be with the Tonbridge Lion than Mum!

Impressive display of Taekwondo

You don't mess with these guys!

The Cannon Irish Dancers added a more gentle touch to the proceedings

"Summer" really was stretching a bit today. It's sod's law isn't it that we've had one of the hottest springs on record and then come the day of the carnival and fete, the one day you need it to be fair weather, it drizzles on and off all day and howls with wind. You might say that, quite literally, it rained on our parade! But did this stop the good folk of Tonbridge from enjoying themselves. Well ok maybe a bit but, judging by these pictures, people were still having lots of fun and being entertained. Thanks once again for Tonbridge Lions fantastic organisation despite the weather. Nothing ever seems to dampen their spirits. Especially that furry one!...

Who says traditional entertainment was dead

New Tonbridge Mayor Brian "Whiskers" Luker presented awards for best floats and marchers

Can anyone see those twirlers. They've won an award!

More Tonbridge Carnival pictures...

Keep Twirling girls



Bit cold for icecream!



.....And a few more photos from the carnival procession which finished about twenty minutes ago.



Fabulous marching bands

Not taking any chances with the rain!



A nice wave from the carnival queen



Tonbridge Carnival Live updates....

Show me the money!

Keep on twirling!

Mummy there's a man who looks like a canoe!



Take me back to 1975. I wish someone would!



The heart of any good carnival: the marching bands

Well the Tonbridge Carnival procession has been and gone and the weather didn't dampen the spirits of the people involved or indeed most of the spectators. It's always a happy event in the town and this year, apart from the usual array of marching bands, local businesses, social groups and the like newly promoted Tonbridge Angels were there for us all to see. I should of course refer to them as Warrilow's Blue n White Army since that's what it said on their banner carried by a couple of fans ahead of them! Anyway, hot off the press as it were here are a few photos for those who didn't want to brave it in the drizzling rain this afternoon. (You wimps!)


The Blue n White Army





I think this guy is too old to be a player so must be a coach!



The other Tonbridge sports team who did quite well last season!

Victoria Hislop's new book....

And speaking of Victoria Hislop, as I was a few days ago, I hear that her latest book The Thread, will be out in October this year . It seems from the synopsis that she is carrying on what seems to have been a very successful theme of historical novels with an element of split times within a seemingly tranquil Mediterranean back drop; that is over simplifying what is sure to be quite a complex plot but does give you a very brief flavour of her style. I loved her first book, The Island, but must confess to not having yet read The Return, which was her follow up book. I feel slightly bad about this because Victoria was kind enough to do a book signing in Mr. Books for this book a couple of years ago so the least I could have done, you'd think, would have been to read it! By the way I also happen to know that Victoria who, if you don't already know, is a Tonbridge lass and happens to be married to Ian of Have I Got News For You fame, will most probably be involved in next year's Tonbridge Arts Festival in some capacity. In the meantime I'd love her to do a book signing at my shop again or, even better, at the West Kent Book Fair on October 16th. Good luck with the launch Victoria and next time I spot you in Angel Walk I will be a bit more assertive and say hello. It was probably the mild shock of seeing Ian with you and being in a rush at that moment myself which prevented me from making myself known....

Local MP is a low Ranker....

Interesting headine in the Courier this week. I would have thought that a sub-editor is in for at least a very stern talking to at the, normally very safe and conservative newspaper group. What were they thinking allowing that to go out? Something about local MPs being not sexy rankers. Utterly crass! Not a good story either. Not even Tonbridge Blog would stoop so low!...

Piggy and Victoria Hislop spotted in Tonbridge....

Spotted the Hislops this morning strolling through Angel Walk. There they were, Ian with Cafe Nero coffee in hand, Victoria with bag in hand, looking, for all the world, like a normal couple out doing a spot of shopping. Perhaps that's really what they are. It's funny when you see famous people out and about you almost expect them to be your best pal because you sort of feel like you know them so well. I think I'd hate to be the famous one myself. Anyway I just thought I'd name drop, er, I mean mention it!...

Two Exciting Weekends ahead in Tonbridge....

Big couple of weekends in Tonbridge coming up. This Sunday will see the Summer Carnival and Fete down the High Street and on the Castle lawn. So watch out for those twirlers doing their thing; you don't want a baton to to land on you head now do you! Then there's Open Studios going on all over town and beyond which is a great opportunity to see professional artists at work as they, quite literally, fling open their doors to the public. Also on Sunday someone with an entrepreneurial streak, who rather curiously calls himself Steve the Chilli man, has relaunched the Tonbridge Farmers Market which will be held in Botany from 9-30am to 1-30pm. This seems like a good venue for the market although, personally, I'd still like to see it back around the Castle in front of the gatehouse. I wish the organiser well in this new venture and I'll certainly be there on the day to buy a few tasty little snacks. As if all this weren't enough for you Mr. Books Bookshop will be open in Bank Street from 11am till 5 pm. The following weekend (Sunday 19th) has in store another treat. The Freedom Parade will attract thousands of people wishing to show their support for our forces as The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, with bayonets, drums, maces flying and all, will be marching the length of the High Street and back again followed by entertainment, fun and weapons displays afterwards on the Castle Lawn. The Parade starts at 2pm and I for one can't wait....

Slade School Fete is coming up....

I'm being threatened, er I mean encouraged to tell you all about the Slade School Summer Fete so here goes. You just can't say no to these active PTA members you know, especially when it's your daughter's old school. So you may as well just give in! Any other summer fetes? Just let Tonbridge Blog know and I'll do my best to include them. Just don't ask me for any of my bottles of malt whiskey or real ales for the tombola that's all!

Slade Primary School PTA - Summer Fête

Saturday 25^th June – 12 to 2:30 PM

Slade Primary School, Tonbridge, TN9 1HR

This year our Fête will have a Medieval Fair theme with an archery demonstration by our special guest John Cavanagh (see more below) plus opportunities to try your hand at archery, enter our Medieval Fancy Dress competition and to see mock-fighting from Men-at-Arms in full armour!

There will also be a bumper raffle, bouncy castle, face painting, hair plaiting, bottle tombola, assault course, BBQ, refreshments and Pimms and strawberries. Entertainment will include a martial arts demonstration, Djembe drumming from Year 4 students and music from the school choir and orchestra.   We will also be dedicating a bench in the memory of former school caretaker Mr Mike McKee who sadly passed away last year.  The Fête will be rounded-off with the traditional tug-of-war in the central arena.

Meet Paralympic Archery gold medallist John Cavanagh!

The PTA are delighted that Paralympic Archery Gold Medallist John Cavanagh has agreed to join us to give a demonstration of his extraordinary skills. 

John will be available throughout the Fete to display his medals, sign autographs and talk about his experiences of competing in Athens and Beijing and his hopes for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.  See www.london2012.com/paralympic-archery  to read more about John.

The fete is open to all the public and will run from 12pm to 2.30pm.

June Tonbridge Insider out now....

The new issue of The Tonbridge Insider is out now. If you haven't seen a copy of it yet don't despair. You can visit the library, who usually have some spare copies, the Angel Centre and quite a few shops and sandwich bars. If all else fails you can read it online like a virtual magazine. Not a bad read actually especially that Tonbridge Log chap. Bit of a cheek him mimicking the name of this blog though! Blummin imposter....

Here and Now and Then....

What does everyone think of the new Here and Now? You know that glossy newspapery thing that pops through your door every so often from the council. Is it just a Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council propaganda sheet or a useful source of information? It certainly informed me that there's to be a military march by the 2nd Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment a week on Sunday. They are going to have bayonets fixed so that should be exciting shouldn't it. It'll keep the hoodie clad teenagers in place if they step out of line anyway. (Only joking kids.) Here and Now also tells us who all our councillors are for which wards and so on; I must admit, I didn't know who mine where either. Then there's information about the music nights at the castle this summer which this time, thankfully, won't be the usual tribute bands and Motown Memory Lane type stuff but full on Opera and a bit more sophisticated. Bit of culture, know what I mean! There's more info in there about what your kids can do over the summer in the borough's many leisure centres from rock climbing to swimming, to aerobics. They tell you where you can empty your bulky rubbish and even how not to park your cars. So is it useful or just a self-congratulatory waste of paper. Come to think of it it doesn't look like recycled paper (which is another thing they preech about in Here and Now) but perhaps I'm wrong....

Let's all be Citizen Journalists....

It's very quiet in Tonbridge this week. Certainly all the book lovers seemed to have decamped to Hay on Wye Literary Festival in Wales where I quite often go myself during this week of the year. But what news is there locally. There's always some worthwhile things to report lurking beneath the surface which don't make it into the local newspapers. There's a great move at the moment to promote so-called citizen journalism and anyone with access to a computer, smart phone, i-pad, i-pod touch or whatever device can do it right here on Tonbridge Blog. So start sending in your own version of the local news right here. Just make a comment below it couldn't be easier....

Tonbridge Half Marathon Charities....

The way my training is going I'll be hobbling around the Tonbridge Half Marathon course in September (no don't say that: THINK POSITIVE instead!) but there's still plenty of time for anyone else to take part. Even if you don't take part by running in the event itself you can still get involved in a number of ways. The organisers will always be glad of any help from volunteers willing to help on the day at drinks stations for example. Then there sponsorship opportunities; I gather that a few of the prizes for the race are still to attract sponsors. I was thinking of Mr. Books for the over 50s prize actually, as reading books might be more appropriate for that age group! So that might be quite a good fit! Then there's simply watching the event on the day and cheering on the runners; let's get the whole town out for a festival atmosphere. Hopefully you may also wish to make a donation, however large or small, to one of the three chosen charities which you can do very easily online these days. You can see these on the official race web site and just click on the link. I'll single out Hospice in the Weald as my own personal favourite of the three, the others being the Kent Air Ambulance and DKH Legacy Trust. Tonbridge Blog won't be asking for individuals to sponsor me personally but instead would ask you to donate via their Just Giving page here. It's very easy to do and these days you can use paypal in addition to many other methods of payment. Anything you can give would be greatly appreciated by the charity I'm sure. Now then, I must get that calf muscle strain recovered as quickly as possible so that I can resume training. Any physios out there willing to help an old sportsman?!..