Digital Piano for Hospice Choir

Tonbridge Lions’ President Keith Bourne and the Hospice Choir.

The Hospice in the Weald choir was formed to bring together families of patients, carers and friends of the Hospice, as part of their Music Therapy Programme. 

Singers of all abilities were invited to join in community singing, learning new songs in harmony, with the intention of entertaining patients and families, and fund raising for the Hospice. 

The choir has been so successful, it was considered that the Hospice`s own small keyboard was inadequate for accompanying them, so Tonbridge Lions Club have donated a new Yamaha digital piano to the Hospice.  

 Kylie Ferris, Music Therapist, said “The donation will be appreciated by both the patients and staff in providing a high quality accompaniment for the choir, and for music therapy sessions.”

Tonbridge Watercolour Exhibition

This week I took the opportunity of dropping in to Julie King's Tonbridge Art Class Exhibition of watercolours at Martin & Co - Estate Agents (between The Chequers and the National Westminster Bank). It's a vibrant display of very accomplished paintings in a clean, bright and interesting space. The pieces are hung between the heavy dark timbers of this historic building, and it creates an impressive contrast to the delicate watercolours.

Julie's classes are held regularly at The Baptist Church in Tonbridge, and this is an opportunity for her enthusiastic and talented students to show their original paintings that cover a wide range of subjects from still life to landscape.

Do stop by and take a look. The office staff are very welcoming, and will guide you to the exhibition which is on the first floor. Exhibits are for sale and 20% of money raised will be donated to The Hospice in the Weald.

The exhibition runs until Thursday April 4 (except Bank Holiday Monday). Viewing 9.30am to 5pm on weekdays and 9am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Light Up Your Community

Winning Christmas Lights for TN9 - Elaine Knight, St Marys Road

Tonbridge Lions Club’s first competition for Christmas lights outside domestic residences in the Tonbridge area came to a close on the 20 December as the judges came together to consider the entries.

Having studied the photographs of the submitted entries, Mike Stout, President of Tonbridge Lions, Guy Portelli, well known local sculptor, and Robert Ham, son of the Lion member who had the idea of the competition, inspected the lighting installation of each of the selected finalists before reaching their decision.


There being no entry from the TN11 area it was decided to have two winners in the TN10 area from where the majority of the entries came.

Winner in TN9 was Elaine Knight’s lights in St Mary’s Road. She earned a £200 donation to The Bridge Trust.

TN10 joint winner Adrian Winter, Hopgarden Road

 Winners in TN10 were Adrian Winter of Hopgarden Road and Chris Owen of Framley Road. Both nominated Hospice in the Weald as their chosen charity so a £400 donation resulted. Each winner received Christmas food hamper.

TN10 joint winner Chris Owen, Framley Road

Chairman of the organising committee, John Ruck said,
“The competition was widely publicised in the local press, local news magazines and on internet blogs. We delivered over 100 entry forms to houses where good lighting displays had been installed. Whilst the quality of the entries received was good we saw many more that could have been contenders but were not entered. But we are delighted with the winning lighting schemes and pleased to donate to the nominated charities.”

Tonbridge Lions President runs London Marathon

Allan Mort - Tonbridge Lions Club President

Despite suffering a painful injury, Allan Mort, 61 year old President of Tonbridge Lions Club, rose to the 26 mile challenge to raise funds for Lions International Blood Research Association and Hospice in the Weald - appeals which are close to his heart. After completing the distance in just over six hours he said,

“This was my tenth and definitely my last London Marathon. There was a great atmosphere all around the route and the support, as always, was fantastic. Although I have an injury I managed to complete the full marathon route which was a brilliant feeling. I was beaten by a short head by one of the rhinos! Raising funds for LIBRA and Hospice in the Weald is so important to me. Doing the marathon for charity provides a great motivator as you struggle over the later part of the race. I hope to make a donation of over £1,000 to both organisations and would like to take this opportunity to thank all those supporters who sponsored me!”

Charity Piano Recital

Alex Metcalfe from Tonbridge is playing a Charity Piano Recital in aid of Hospice in the Weald next Saturday October 15 at King Charles the Martyr in Tunbridge Wells ... 7.30pm start, tickets on the door £5.

The programme includes duets with Frances Yonge by Schubert, Poulenc and Luke Bedford, and solo works by Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Schubert, Bach and Rachmaninov.