A Year in the Life of Faversham 2009
A Photographic Record of the Town’s Everyday Life 365 images captured by local photographers
A Year in the Life of Faversham 2009 A Community Photographic Project Project Manager: Nathalie Banaigs
Published by Kent Creative Arts CIC www.kentcreativearts.co.uk Copyright
Kent Creative Arts CIC 2010
Photographs Copyright
the photographers 2010
Book design Bob Lamoon www.boblamoon.com Printed by Parkers Digital Press Canterbury No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission in writing from Kent Creative Arts CIC.
First Edition 2010
Foreword FAVERSHAM is a remarkable town steeped in history, surrounded by beautiful countryside and occupied by a fascinating collection of diverse buildings. This book gives just a taste of the delights which await both the visitor and the resident prepared to open their eyes to the intriguing sights around them. The images on these pages have been submitted by people who love Faversham and its diversity. Some present a close-up of landmarks you will immediately recognise; some might take a little longer. The atmospheric views of the Railway Hotel entrance and Royal cinema particularly caught our eye, as did the moody shots of the railway from the short and long bridges and the silhouetted skyline of brewery and church. Others you will probably not recognise, but bring an artistic still-life dimension to what might be a mundane object. The rest give us the opportunity to take a fresh look at the town's year through events and activities that fill its calendar. Check out the Easter bonnet parade, the medieval fair, Open House, the creek raft race, the carnival, the Remembrance Day parade and the Christmas lights switch-on. Commercially, this was a year of change, as any other year. We said goodbye to Woolworths, the main Co-op supermarket, PJ Steel's jewellers, Threshers' off-licence and the Swan pub. In came ASK, Morrisons, BK Homeware, and a colourful old-fashioned sweetshop (our second – does Faversham have that sweet a tooth?), among other new businesses.
Oooh, wasn't it wet? Wasn't it cold? Didn't it snow? Elsewhere we see the influence of the weather on town life: a white-sheeted recreation ground; frost on a marsh dyke; brewery steam in the February air; lashing rain over the gunpowder explosion grave; a brilliant study of a turquoise and white umbrella in drenched Court Street; even an eerie mist rising from the the grammar school playing field on Hallowe'en! And let us not forget the warm weather: West Street looks glorious in the sun; the solar rays pick out the intricate beauty of St Mary of Charity's pulpit; and Stone Chapel swelters in its cornfield. But the pictures of people also delight us - postmen sorting the mail and setting off on their rounds, behind the scenes at the Royal Cinema, shopgirls creating window displays, giggling hairdressers: all proof that Faversham is a working town that has for centuries quietly gone about its daily business, slightly off the beaten track from London to the coast, yet still maintaining a modern and lively approach to developments in society. Faversham is a treasure and this book helps to record its many attributes. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
Christine and Stephen Rayner
Introduction The moment that the first exhibition of “A Year in the Life of Faversham” closed in September 2008 I knew that we just had to organise a similar event again. The exhibition and book had received an enthusiastic public reception far beyond our wildest dreams. The book you are holding is the second volume of “A Year in the Life of Faversham”. It is an impression of life in the Kentish town of Faversham, recorded in pictures by 42 photographers for each day of the year 2009. The first “A Year in the Life of Faversham” project began as a passion for photography and then for the Faversham community. Finally, a structure emerged involving photographers, an organisation team, a jury, designers and printers. For this second “A Year in the Life of Faversham” project, we contacted all the photographers who took part in the first one and asked whether they would like to take part again. Many accepted and many new people joined the team. The photographs give a glimpse of life in the town as seen by the photographers for each day of the year. The project doesn't claim to be a record of everything that happened in Faversham during 2009. It is not a record of assets and events but it is what photographers saw through their lenses: hidden aspects and details as well as iconic landmarks. We wanted it to be an honest look at Faversham in 2009, a tribute to the town and its people in the reality of every-day life. One opens this book as a spectator looking at the town's strengths, its charms and hopes, sharing the happy and sad times.
A core group of photographers chose which weeks of the year in 2009 that they could commit to, to take a photograph per day exploring the town's identity. We received a total of 1238 images, having limited the submissions to two per day per photographer. To select the photographs we assembled a group of jurors who voted for their favourite for each day of the year. Their task wasn't easy. It was made more difficult by having to also select a harmonious collection that could be presented as an exhibition and a book. Eighteen months later, we have a portrait of Faversham. Maybe it is a subjective one, but one rich in passion. This book has fulfilled the aim of creating a photographic record of 2009 and involving the Faversham community in a project about their town. So, here is “A Year in the Life of Faversham”, full of images of a town rich in colour. It is my wish that, for years to come, our children will look at these images with wonder. I would like to thank everybody who made “A Year in the Life of Faversham” and this book possible, with a special mention to Bob Lamoon whose support, help and commitment has been so important.
Nathalie Banaigs
The Photographers Ben Anker, Nathalie Banaigs, Jane Bowell, Kevin Boyle, Neil Brown, Philip Bull, Zana Bull, Tony Cartwright, Richard Cornelius, Greg Cullen, Samantha Darby, Richard Drew, Genevieve Ellis, Richard Enfield, David Gethin, Bob Gomes, Tony Gostling, Samantha Jones, Bob Lamoon, Michael Maloney, Sue Martin, Kathy May, Carol Mitchell, Olivier Pairon, Keith Pankhurst, Arthur Percival, Lyn Powell, Chris Quinnell, Mary Ransom, Christine Rayner, Stephen Rayner, Robert Riddle, Susanna Rosti Rossini, Margaret Smith, Peter Smith, Susan Swinerd, Lisa Valder, Robin Warren, Martin Whiskin, Steve White, Emma Wilcox, Murray Wright
Grateful thanks go to: Members of the Photographic Jury: Lady Moira Swire Ted Wilcox Anita Walker Steve Whiting Jessica Muddle Christine Rayner Anne McLaren
Patron of Kent Creative Arts CIC Mayor of Faversham 2008-2010 Mayor of Faversham 2010 Loop Images A Level student Queen Elizabeth School Faversham Times Creek Creative Studios
The Faversham & District Camera Club
Our Funders
Our Gold Sponsors
Our Silver Sponsors
This page has been sponsored by Utility Warehouse Discount Club / Shiel Campbell
St Mary of Charity, Great East Window Bob Lamoon
Thursday 1st January
Friday 2nd January
The Underpass Bob Lamoon
Woolworths Last Day Bob Lamoon
Saturday 3rd January
Western Link Bob Lamoon
Sunday 4th January
This page has been sponsored by Doddington Place Gardens
Joyce Field Allotments, Ospringe Bob Lamoon
Monday 5th January
Tuesday 6th January
Stonebridge Pond Allotments Bob Lamoon
This page has been sponsored by Ossie’s Fish Bar
Purple Peach, Market Square Bob Lamoon
Wednesday 7th January
Thursday 8th January
East Street Richard Drew
Station Steps Richard Drew
Friday 9th January
Saturday 10th January
Saxon Shore Way, Oare Creek Mary Ransom
This page has been sponsored by Jim and Mary Ransom
Faversham Creek, Front Brents Richard Drew
This page has been sponsored by Ossie’s Fish Bar
Sunday 11th January
Monday 12th January
Faversham Station Richard Drew
Station Road Richard Drew
Tuesday 13th January
Wednesday 14th January
Ossie’s, Preston Street Richard Drew
This page has been sponsored by Ossie’s Fish Bar
Abbey Street Tony Gostling
Thursday 15th January
Friday 16th January
Prince of India, Preston Street Tony Gostling
Faversham Market Tony Gostling
Saturday 17th January
Sunday 18th January
The Swale at Harty Ferry Tony Gostling
This page has been sponsored by Kevin Duvall
Market Place Tony Gostling
Monday 19th January
Tuesday 20th January
The Bear, Market Place Tony Gostling
The Worshipful Mayor of Faversham, Ted Wilcox Ben Anker
Wednesday 21st January
Thursday 22nd January
Faversham Creek Genevieve Ellis
This page has been sponsored by Ossie’s Fish Bar
Faversham Market Genevieve Ellis
Friday 23rd January
Saturday 24th January
The Boatyard Genevieve Ellis
Faversham Children Genevieve Ellis
Sunday 25th January
Monday 26th January
Harty Ferry Martin Whiskin
Oare Marshes, near Dan’s Dock Bob Lamoon
Tuesday 27th January
Wednesday 28th January
Shepherd Neame Brewery Genevieve Ellis
This page has been sponsored by Roger & Carol Mitchell for Breast Cancer Care
Brent Geese, Faversham Creek Keith Pankhurst
Thursday 29th January
Friday 30th January
Faversham Creek, Hollowshore Keith Pankhurst
Sunrise over Brewery from Gun Wharf Tony Cartwright
Saturday 31st January