Pantomime Gala Evening

As part of their 2013 Community Programme, Tonbridge Lions are delighted to be hosting a Gala Evening of this year's pantomime The Sleeping Beauty.

Prior to the main performances on Friday 20^th and Saturday 21^st December at The Angel Centre, special needs groups of both adults and children are being treated to a special preview performance on Thursday 19^th December.

The Kent Branch of the Royal Variety Club will be bringing local groups such as Ridgeview School, Parents Consortium, and Sussex Road School. Other groups such as Prospects and Lighthouse will also come along.

The pantomime which is produced by the Tonbridge based CLIPS Theatre Company, and attended by the Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Howard Rogers, will be guaranteed to make the invited audience’s Christmas treat extra special.

Shows for the public are 20th December at 7.30pm and 21st December at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Tickets are available from the Angel Centre 017323 59966 priced at £11.00 adult; £9.00 concessions and £32.00 for a family of four

Tonbridge Panto

Left to Right - Bethany Kingston, Josh Gurr, Chris Head

It's that time of year again when thoughts turn to Christmas time and organising family trips to our traditional pantos. So get ready, and book early,  for this year's Tonbridge pantomine which will be bursting at the seams with local talent.  This really is the show to go and see as, not only will you and your family have a ball, but it's our very own Tonbridge pantomine and the proceeds go to local charities.

Tonbridge based CLIPS Theatre Company, welcome two newcomers to the panto stage this year. Josh Gurr and Chris Head will tread the boards, alongside Bethany Kingston, in Sleeping Beauty at the Angel Centre in December.

Bethany, who plays the part of Sleeping Beauty is a pupil at the Weald Grammar School for Girls and a student at The Pauline Quirk Academy. She had played the leading role in Annie and has also performed with the Motet choir at the Albert Hall.

Chris, who will be taking on the role of Harry, currently attends the Miskin Theatre School, and  Josh who has secured the role of Cedric is a student at Hugh Christie School in Tonbridge,where he played the leading role in Bugsy Malone and in his spare time attends Stagecoach Theatre School.

This time long favourite fairy tale filled with joy, laughter, and of course the inevitable boos and hisses will be presented by Tonbridge Lions Club and will hit the stage on Friday December 20 at 7.30pm and on Saturday December 21 with three performances at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm.

Tickets are priced at Adults £11.00, Concessions £9.00 and Family of Four £32.00 and available from the Angel Centre Box Office 01732 359966.

Tonbridge Vermiculus

Tonbridge Vermiculus

Imagine my excitement when I spotted a rather beautiful bright red plant (weed) growing amongst the celendine on the banks of the Botany Stream. I'd never seen anything like it, and thought I should photograph it. After all, if a new species of plant were to be discovered in Tonbridge it would really put the town on the map.

Botanical names such as Viriditas Candidum (bright weed) or Tonbridge Vermiculus (Tonbridge Crimson) were racing through my mind. I did learn Latin at school but apologies if I've written something that doesn't make sense. So, with the deed done, and the image safely in my camera, I walked a few steps further only to find that someone had been playing around with a spray can, probably before adding a few choice tags to the walls and surfaces around the Angel Centre. Dream shattered!!!!

Easter Activities at The Angel Centre

Keeping the children entertained over the Easter holidays is easy at The Angel Centre will be offering supervised day care for eight to twelve year olds from 1 to 12 April with Day Camps, Half Day Camps and two hour Drop In sessions offering a range of activities including sports and team games, swimming, arts and crafts and film time.

Tonbridge Swimming Pool will be opening its heated outdoor pool on Friday 29 March complete with beach area for the very young and interactive water arch, and on offer are a range of holiday swimming courses for children aged four to eleven years old. The Games Hut at Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground will also be open with its children’s play area, mini golf course and bouncy castle.  

You can now sign up online or by phone to automatically receive details of the Holiday Programmes taking place at The Angel Centre.  Anyone signing up online will also receive a £7 Family Swim Voucher.        

For more information, please contact the Angel Centre on 01732 359966 or Tonbridge Swimming Pool on 01732 367449 or visit www.angelcentre.co.uk/hp  or www.tonbridgepool.co.uk/hp 

Magic Moments in Tonbridge

Assisting Jordan on stage are his sister Darcy and The Mayor

Magician, Jordan Barker, was on stage at the Angel Centre last week, working with the charity 'Fixers', helping to make Tonbridge smile.

The Hillview 6th Former is becoming quite a celebrity for his magic tricks. His performance in Tonbridge was filmed by Meridian TV and will be screened next Monday on March 7th. Helping their magician friend on stage were a number of Hillview 6th Formers including Tom Garland, Emma Knowles, Chloe Lindford, Shems Ghali and Lex Wallace.

Jordan is also the current world record holder for throwing a playing card. Watch out for him next month when he will be making an appearance on the BBC's Guinness World Record programme.

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

Recognising Tonbridge detail

Painting by Tonbridge Artist Mike Insley

The young man, lazily laying on the grass and enjoying the summer sunshine during the Annual Cricket Week, is a detail in a painting by the Tonbridge artist Mike Insley. I have have often wondered what the three bottles, standing on a crisp white cloth, might contain - perhaps home-made wine or lemonade.

Mike, is well known in the town for heading up the Tonbridge Arts Festival Big Picture and for his involvement in the Tonbridge Art Group.  His painting can be viewed in the foyer of Angel Centre. It's worth going along to have a look and take in all the detail in the image.

Mike Insley (centre) - Unveiling The Big Picture - Tonbridge Arts Festival 2012

These are Mike's words on his painting that hangs in the Angel Centre:-

'This painting is based on a photograph of a cricket match at the Angel County Cricket Ground taken in 1903. The County Cricket Ground was situated on what is today the Angel complex, Sainsbury's and the carpark. It was the first headquarters for Kent cricket and it hosted an annual County Cricket Week in Tonbridge from 1869 to the beginning of the Second World War.

The picture draws heavily on the photograph, but I have made rather more of the figures and in some parts, where it is not clear to me what was going on, I have made some modifications. As well as being a sporting event, I imagined the week would have been quite a social occasion, a chance to renew old acquaintances, make new friends or just soak up the atmosphere.

I am greatly indebted to the unknown photographer.'

Fe Fi Fo Fum I Smell The Blood of a Tonbridgeman

Martin Collis and the cast of children in Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk is coming to Tonbridge, and local man Martin Collis will appear for the second year running in this popular pantomime being staged at the Angel Centre on Friday December 14 at 7.30, and Saturday December 15 with three performances at 11am, 2.30 and 6.30pm

The spectacular Pantomime is produced by the local Drama Group, The CLIPS Theatre Company, and Martin rejoins the cast in the role of Simon Trott, the brother of Jack, who defeats the larger than life giant living at the top of the beanstalk. 

For Martin the panto is a real family affair, as he is not only looking forward to appearing with his four children, but also his wife Lynne. 

The legendary fairytale will have all the fantastic pantomime humour and foot tapping songs we all know so well. So go along, be entertained, enjoy a boo and hiss and have a thoroughly rip roaring time.

All proceeds from the pantomime go to local charities. Tickets are £10 for Adults and £8 for Concessions. A family ticket is £30 for a family of four. All are available from the Angel Centre Box Office 01732 359966

Tonbridge Flower Arrangers Club

Jenny Nye

Jenny Nye, well known for her work at the Chelsea Flower Show, demonstrated two contemporary designs at the Tonbridge Flower Arrangers Club's monthly meeting in The Medway Hall in The Angel Centre. She showed club members and visitors how to complete a textured and a tapestry arrangement with flowers.

The photographs were provided by Peter Ellis of Tonbridge Community Films

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

A painting by Tonbridge artist Mike Insley that is based on a 1903 photo of the Angel Cricket Ground  hangs in the Angel Centre.

It's well worth taking a look.

Tonbridge Panto Over For Another Year

Tonbridge Lions Club`s hugely successful production of Cinderella has taken it`s last bow after entertaining packed houses at every performance.


The Producer Richard Hill said  "The Angel Centre box office was inundated with last minute bookings. So much so, that extra seats were employed to increase the capacity. This meant that there was little room at the front. We hope that this didn`t inconvenience the audience too much”


Performed by the local Drama Group, The CLIPS Theatre Company, the production was very family orientated, with all the usual pantomime humour and featuring many favourite songs.


Lions President Allan Mort says “We had the awful weather last year, so we were pleased that so many people came to be entertained at our second pantomime. Lions are dedicated to providing a community service in Tonbridge, and the pantomime is a welcome addition to our other activities like the Summer Carnival and the Triathlon”


All proceeds from the pantomime go to local charities.