Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #370 - Tonbridge Sportsground

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #400

Members of the Tonbridge Model Engineering Society with their sandwich boxes at the ready, for a well earned lunch break at the model railway track in the Sportsground.

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #295

I enjoy spending time being close to the river on a sunny day in Tonbridge. There's always so much to see on the water from the members of the canoe club to day trippers hiring boats. Down by the locks there are fishermen, larger vessels and plenty of wildlife.  Over the weekend I spotted this lovely family and their dog paddling through the town. The dog standing on the front of the canoe was obviously enjoying the experience, as were the onlookers who waved to them until they disappeared under the bridge and on towards the Sportground.

 

 

Once upon a time there were 61 tennis courts

In a previous snippet Tonbridge Daily pointed out that in 1923 the Sportsground had an enormous number of tennis courts - 57 to be exact.

'In 1923 Tonbridge Urban District Council brought the Sportsground for the price of £4080 which at the time had 7 football pitches, 57 tennis courts, 12 cricket pitches, miniature golf and a quoit pitch'.

Many of you contacted me in disbelief that Tonbridge had so many. I think you were doubting me.  I have since found this map of 1923 in a town guide that marks the tennis courts. I may be mistaken but I have counted them on the map below, and I think the number now has risen to 61.  Take a look!!!!

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #223 - Steam Railway in Tonbridge Sportsground

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #221 - Tonbridge Sportground

Tonbridge Daily Photos

Here are some peaceful photos of a snowy Tonbridge Country Park taken today by Tonbridge Tweeter, Tontweet @tontweet, who has kindly allowed me to add them to the blog.

Barden Lake

Barden Lake

Tonbridge Sportsground

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #106 - Sportsground

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #99  -  Tonbridge Sportsground

There's a Mochafella in the Playground

Whilst walking through the Sportsground today I came across Mochafella, Jem by name, serving steaming hot drinks in the childrens playground. How brilliant is this!!! Jem's little pop-up van really is a gem, and this little tardis specialises in hand pump espresso coffee, tea and creamy rich hot chocolate - all very welcome on a cold day in the park. There are even a couple of comfy directors chairs to use when sipping away at your warming drink, and you can have a chat with the man himself. 

Mochafella - Jem and his pop-up

This is really what is lacking in Tonbridge especially around the river areas of the town, and I for one would like to see more pop-ups where we can sit, and socialise, next to some of the best views in the town. I think the Watergate area is underused. In the summer it's welcoming to see the icecream van, but on the other side of the gates, on the High Street side, there's plenty of room for a pop-up cafe, or maybe around the Castle Lawn.  What do you think?

Coffee in the Playground

Please drop into see Jem, stop for a chat and enjoy one of his drinks and snacks. In the 30 minutes I stopped we found connections between the people we knew. And, that's what I like about these places, they provide an opportunity to bring us together, and we start to communicate. He's a Tonbridge man with children who attend Tonbridge schools and clubs, and it would be great to support him. Afterall we really don't want to lose him to another town do we!!!

How many tennis courts has Tonbridge lost?

Recently Tonbridge Daily posted the snippet that in 1923 the Sportsground had the enormous number of 57 tennis courts. Many of you contacted me in disbelief that Tonbridge had so many. I think you were doubting me.  I have since found this map of 1923 in a town guide that marks the tennis courts, and I may be mistaken but I think the number has risen even higher to 61.  Take a look!!!!

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #52  - Netted 5 today !!!!!!!!

I met this gentleman yesterday on his way home after a day fishing in the Sportsground.  His equipment seemed unusually prestine, and was so well stacked and organised, I couldn't let him pass by without a photograph.  Apparently he'd had a good day on the river bank in the park as he proudly told me about the five fish he netted. He seemed very pleased with himself.  It was a pleasure chatting to him. What a gent!!!!!

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

In 1923 Tonbridge Urban District Council brought the Sportsground for the price of £4080 which at the time had 7 football pitches, 57 tennis courts, 12 cricket pitches, miniature golf and a quoit pitch.

Tonbridge Kite Festival

Tonbridge Kite Festival

This afternoon I dodged the showers to take a look at the annual kite festival on the sportsground/racecourse, and there were plenty of kites winging and swirling their way on the strong breezes and against a stormy sky.

A blue sky moment

Andy Young

Andy Young, who was one of the organisers, told me conditions weren't too bad between the showers for the colourful kites and air sculptures to be flown, and the interesting shapes and sizes certainly brought colour to the dark sky above.

If you missed this Kite Festival you'll have to wait another year for the next one to come around.