WOW September 2013

WOW 1

DISCOVER

rooms not usually open to the public!

The Below Stairs Tour – A Servant’s Life

The Upstairs Tour

Monday 16 September Explore the castle kitchens, bedrooms and the servants’ rooms. £5

Join us on a tour to find out more about the State & Battlement Bedrooms. £5

Monday 23 September

The Maiden’s Tower Tour Monday 30 September See where Catherine of Aragon’s ladies of waiting were accommodated. £2

Tours must be pre-booked online at leeds-castle.com/events A valid entrance ticket to Leeds Castle is also required.

25291 LC Generic Tours 98x138.indd 1

14/08/2013 09:29

Britain’s Most Entertaining 40’s Home Front Event Madeline Brown

Lola Lamour

TO

21 & 22 Sept 20133 10am m – 6pm

• Superb Entertainment • • Vintage Fashion • Military Encampments • ‘Escape to the Country’ Theme

For further details, ticket pricesi and terms & conditions see

thedockyard.co.uk/salutetothe40s 01634 823826 The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TE (For SATNAV use ME4 4TY) Registered Charity No. 292101. Fully Accredited Museum. This is a fundraising event in aid of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.

Supported by

Fiona Harrison

CONTENTS 5 WELCOME 6 NEWS 8 NICK WALKER: ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY 9 MEDWAY VISIONS INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 10 FILM 11 INTERVIEW: T JAE COLE 12 MAIN FEATURE: LV21 IS 50!

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS

14 MUSIC 16 THEATRE 18 VISUAL ART 20 OTHER WORLDS, OTHER VOICES: ROCHESTER LITERATURE FESTIVAL PREVIEW 22 CHRIS AUSTIN: THE ARTIST’S SPACE

renew and restore stained glass design and restoration based in rochester: design - creation - repair restoration - installation steve harries - 0779 608 0338 steve.harries@blueyonder.co.uk

SOPHIE YOUNG -

Handmade Plaques & Signs

Children’s name plaques and personalised signs for all occasions Please visit my Facebook page: Sophie Young- Plaques and Signs or email me at Young1s@hotmail.co.uk

Rochester’s friendly Designer Florist Same Day Delivery Funerals & Weddings Unique plants and gifts Online shop at sweetpeaandolive.co.uk Tel: 01634 843024

Dance & Theatre Classes for 2 years + New term starts 3rd September First class FREE with this advert!

Laura Dudman Tel: 07939 241105 www.CaterpillarDanceSchool.co.uk

EDITORIAL: editor@wowkent.co.uk 0845 388 2243 (local rate from BT landlines) FREE LISTINGS: listings@wowkent.co.uk ADVERTISING: advertising@wowkent.co.uk New advertiser & excellent series booking discounts available to all. All ads also appear in the online edition at wowkent.co.uk DESIGN: A Stones Throw astonesthrowdesign.co.uk PRINTING: The Colour Factory Ltd, Sittingbourne, 01795 470 825, www.colour-factory.com PUBLISHER: Emma Dewhurst Current print circulation: 6000 copies Distribution: Medway Towns, Maidstone & Gravesend Copy/listings deadline for October issue: Thursday 19 September ©WOW Kent magazine All rights reserved. While every effort has been made to ensure that details in this publication are correct, we cannot accept responsibility for such.

Readers are advised to check information listed, to avoid disappointment.

Views expressed by contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the editor and publisher. wowkent.co.uk

WELCOME TO WOW Your guide to the best of What’s On Where Medway, Maidstone and the accessible beyond It’s great to be back after the summer break with a brand new magazine. Once again, our fascinating part of the world is brimful with new creative happenings. Among the highlights this month we have the very first Medway Visions Independent Film Festival, and four days of opportunity from Heritage Open Days to explore some of the most interesting and eclectic properties around. Looking ahead, Jaye Nolan previews next month’s Rochester Literature Festival (3 – 13 October), of which WOW is proud to be a sponsor.

Lastly, The Artist’s Space this month is given over to Chris Austin, who died all too soon during the summer. His friend and fellow musician, Lupen Crook, remembers. Heartfelt thoughts go to his family and all who knew him.

Enjoy WOW! Happy reading!

CONTRIBUTORS Robert Flood (Music & Features) is a life-long Medway resident. He runs a Rochester based events company called Feet on the Ground which provides technical support for live events. He is a passionate music fan with a love of the Medway scene and a local history buff who is a member of the City of Rochester Society.

LV21 BY RIKARD ÖSTERLUND (SEE MAIN FEATURE)

PHOTOGRAPH OF THE EDITOR BY RIKARD ÖSTERLUND

AMBASSADORS PLEASE! If you love the magazine please become a WOW ambassador and mention it, especially if you use any of its advertised services, or attend an event because you saw it in the magazine. Thank you.

Find us on Facebook facebook.com/WOWMedway @EmmaDewhurst7 WOW magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper

Sam Froudist (Features) is a writer and bunting enthusiast. She co-runs bunted!, a bespoke bunting business, and is a card carrying member of the Rochester Vintage Society. You can find her blogging over at hellosamgoodbyesamantha.com.

Jaye Nolan is a prolific writer and blogger who has been championing the rich, diverse culture of Medway for the last three years. As Festival Co-ordinator for the Rochester Literature Festival, she is currently liaising with Medway’s top creatives to produce the Festival’s first full-length programme. Also passionate about music and dance, she shouts regularly at the television during reality shows.

Find her and her blogs at jayenolan.com.

Nick Walker (Film) is the director of the Rochester Film Society, screening contemporary world cinema and classics at various venues around Medway. Nick previously wrote for the Guardian, was director of National Schools Film Week and is currently a freelance writer, teacher and film cinema/festival programmer.

For more information on the Rochester Film Society please visit ` www.rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk 5

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VINT AGE

Films

The Rochester Film Society will present daily 1940’s Propaganda, Home Front and Information films hosted by Film Writer and Programmer Nick Walker, at this year’s ‘Salute to the 40s’ event at the Historic Dockyard Chatham.

SATURDAY 21 SEPT: Propaganda and Public Information Films SUNDAY 22 SEPT: Home Front and Public Information Films For more information visit: thedockyard.co.uk/salutetothe40s.

LOVELY TALKS ‘A TRAM RIDE THROUGH THE MEDWAY TOWNS’, Tuesday 10 September Presented by Friends of Medway Archive and given by Bob Ratcliffe. Frindsbury Parish Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £3 members, £5 non-members. To book call 01634 718231

CELEBRATE WITH THE MAIDSTONE MELA! Traditionally, a mela is a community celebration or festival which celebrates food, arts and culture from the sub-continent.

This year, in an effort to embrace the great diversity of the Maidstone population, the Mela organisers have thrown the net even wider with a programme which includes music and dance styles ranging from Bhangra to Pop, Calypso to Polish Folk and from traditional Nepalese dance to contemporary Bollywood.

Friday 6 September: MELA FRIDAY, Jubilee Square, Maidstone Schools Parade 1.30-2.15pm Live Music 2.15-6pm Sunday 8 September: MELA SUNDAY, Mote Park 12.30-6pm maidstonemela.com visitmaidstone.com

‘KENTISH FAMILY NAMES’, Friday 20 September

A talk by Dr Paul Cullen at Rochester Community Hub, 7.30pm.

To book call 01634 337411

LLYS JOA D YT! OU

MEDIEVAL MERRIMENT 7 & 8 Sep Rochester Castle Gardens WILL ADAMS FESTIVAL 14 Sep Gillingham Park KITES & BIKES 22 Sep Capstone Farm Country Park

Wise words

12, 13, 14 AND 15 SEPTEMBER This is a punchy, award-winning festival of words staged in Canterbury over a long weekend. This year’s classy programme includes readings by Sir Andrew Motion, a coffee morning with John Siddique, a ‘Street Slam’ and storytelling on punts! wisewordsfestival.co.uk

GET CRAFTY! Francis Iles have lined up a fantastic series of autumn Art Workshops. The workshops run on a Saturday from 10am to 4pm at the Vines Church, Rochester ME1 1XN. Most workshops cost £40 each. Here’s the list of September workshops – for the full programme go to Artycat.com and follow the workshop link.

JOLLY DAYS 14 September - OUT! Dancers in MERRIMENT Watercolour with MEDIEVAL 7 & 8David SEP Wilcox ROCHESTER CASTLE GARDENS 21 September Acrylic Landscape with Simon WILL ADAMS FESTIVAL 14 SEPSavage GILLINGHAM PARK 21 September Bold Flowers with Julie King KITES & BIKESin22Watercolour SEP CAPSTONE FARM COUNTRY PARK To book call 01634 843881 email advice@artycat.com or call in at Art and Craftworks 104 High Street, Rochester.

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ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY PRESENTS… NICK WALKER PREVIEWS A SELECTION OF SEPTEMBER SCREENINGS

THE BISHOP’S WIFE

JUDEX

Rochester Cathedral Friday 27 September at 7pm The film boasts a superb cast with Cary Grant, David Niven and also Loretta Young, who stars in the titular role of the bishop’s wife! Grant stars as Dudley, an angel from heaven who has been sent to help Bishop Henry Brougham (played by ‘that lovely’ David Niven), who is struggling both at home and in the church as he tries to find funding to build a new cathedral.

The story focuses on the adage that “the grass is greener on the other side”, as Niven and Grant play off each other with great comedic timing.

Deservedly nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture in 1947, along with Best Director for Harry Koster and the film’s original score and film editing, ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ is a sweet, inspirational and joyous film about having faith and believing in miracles.

Ticket includes a pre-film glass of wine at the Rochester Cathedral. To pre-book seats call 01634 810074 or email development@ rochestercathedral.org

MEDWAY VISIONS SCREENING

Nucleus Gallery, Rochester Friday 13 September at 6pm.

ALEXANDER NEVSKY Nucleus Gallery, Rochester Tuesday 24 September at 8pm Sergei M. Eisenstein’s slice of Soviet propaganda, on the eve of WWII, with a score by Sergei Prokofiev is simply a masterful combination of great images with great music. The real Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky (1220-1263) was an historical anti-German figure fending off Teutonic Knights, portrayed here as religious zealots who seek to bring all of Christendom under the Holy Roman Empire – their crest even parallels the Nazi swastika! The story of a Russian war hero who rallies his people to defeat the invading Germans in 1242 is not his bestknown work, undoubtedly that belongs to ‘Battleship Potemkin’; however, its importance to the Russian people - Stalin ordered it shown in every theater to rouse the Russian people after the Nazi invasion of 1941 - and international cinema since is immense.

Free: places are limited so pre-booking essential. Email nickwalker62@yahoo.co.uk Please bring refreshments

Georges Franju is known mostly for his 1960 classic ‘Eyes Without a Face‘. His follow up is a playful tribute to the serials of the influential silent filmmaker Louis Feuillade, and is truly a remarkable and curious film about an unscrupulous banker Favraux, who receives a threatening note, signed by ‘Judex’! The film is defined by its complex twists and turns, and most of all its melodramatic indulgences; the texture of the images is grainy and dark, tending toward shadowy nighttime scenes where cloaked figures skulk through the abandoned streets.

LA NOTTE MEDWAY VISIONS SCREENING

Nucleus Gallery, Rochester Saturday 14 September at 6pm Michelangelo Antonioni’s ‘L’Avventura’ (1960), was a film of mysterious disappearance, betrayal mixed with grief and comforting. His 1961 follow up, a modernist world full of ennui, also covers similar terrain by following a married couple through the day and the night when they finally realise that their love has gone sour.

Marcello Mastroianni and Jeanne Moreau as the doomed couple are of course superb: he perhaps will always be loved for his role in ‘La Dolce Vita’, but here he is subtly brooding, and Moreau with her exotic and sophisticated looks excels with immaculate timing and perfectly framed emotions.

Both screenings are free but places are limited so pre-booking essential. Email nickwalker62@yahoo.co.uk .

Please bring refreshments

For more information please visit: rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk or facebook.com/rochesterfilmsociety

(7 - 14 SEPTEMBER) S N IO IS V Y A MEDW INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL LOCAL ARTS PROVIDERS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO MAKE A NEW HOME FOR INDEPENDENT FILM IN THE MEDWAY TOWNS SAM FROUDIST spoke to the Festival’s founder, independent filmmaker Mr Young Bridging the gap between the ritual madness of summer festival season and Christmas Dickens merriment, the inaugural Medway Visions Film Festival launches this September. Encompassing an eclectic mix of short films screened in a variety of locations, Rochester-based indie filmmaker Mr Young has brought together the likes of Medway Eyes, Creatabot and Rochester Film Society among many others to provide a platform for emerging local filmmakers, as well as an opportunity to introduce international indie films to a new audience.

Having explored the current offerings of Medway’s art scene, Mr Young saw a gap in the cultural landscape for a film festival that celebrates independent film in a local context. Mr Young’s own film, ‘Shaking the Sky…’ will debut in a series of secret locations throughout the week, with clues released on his Facebook page. The audience will be those who sleuth to discover the hot spots, and those who happen to stumble upon them.

“The idea for the film just popped into my head”, he tells me, “and I wanted people to experience [the film] the way I had written it, to just come to it”. It’s a unique angle, and one that will encourage the audience to engage with the area, as well as participating in the festival.

When I ask Mr Young what success for the festival looks like to him, he tells me that in part it has already happened, by pulling together such a great team of local arts providers, working collaboratively to give film more exposure in the area. The rest, I ask? “Well, that will be determined by the buzz that’s generated, and who turns up!”.

SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER Shaking the Sky…. presented by The Moon The Eye A further glimpse into Mr Young’s surreal, dreamlike world view. All over Medway throughout the festival.

Free: for clues to view go to facebook.com/mryoungfilmmaker Music Videos by Stuart Turner & The Flat Earth Society, presented by Medway Eyes To celebrate their new album release the band commissioned a number of local filmmakers to produce films for each of their songs. Includes a live performance by the band. Supporting films and live performances TBA. Nags Head Pub, Nags Head Lane, Rochester, 7:30pm. Free

SUNDAY 8 SEPTEMBER Animated Shorts, presented by Creatabot A selection of local and international animated short films. coFWD, 161 High Street, Rochester, 2pm. Free Short Film Showcase Shorts by up and coming local filmmakers, Q & A and screening of Paul Williams’ comedy horror short ‘The Furred Man’ as seen on Channel 4. Sun Pier House, Sun Wharf, Chatham, 7pm. Free

THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBER Otherness: Forty Five Days on the Isle of Beauty A documentary by David Wise exploring life on a remote Island in the Medway Estuary. Gillingham Library, High Street, Gillingham, 7.30pm. Free

FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER: JUDEX SAT 14 SEPTEMBER: LA NOTTE Presented by Rochester Film Society – See Nick Walker opposite Nucleus Gallery, 75 Rochester High Street, 6pm. Free entry to both screenings but please email to confirm your place: nickwalker62@yahoo.co.uk For more Festival information and to read the clues for ‘Shaking the Sky’, head to facebook.com/MedwayVisions.

Mr Young can be contacted at mryoung@themoontheeye.co.uk 9

FILM CENTRAL THEATRE ‘AFTERNOON TREAT’

170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS 01634 338338

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (U) 1935 Tue 17 Sep 2.30pm Dir: Sam Wood Cast: The Marx Brothers Matinee screening of hilarious Marx bros classic. £4 (includes hot drink and teacake). 96 mins medwayticketslive.co.uk

LIVE FEEDS AT CINEWORLD

Medway Valley Leisure Park, Chariot Way, Strood ME2 2SS. 0871 200 2000

Regular screenings of live opera and theatre performances from around the world arrive at the cinema via a live feed. They include interviews with the principals, behind the scenes shots and explanations. For prices please contact Cineworld.

NT LIVE: THE AUDIENCE (Encore Performance) Sun 8 Sep, 3pm Tue 10 Sep 12.30pm, 3.45pm, 7pm Helen Mirren reprises her Oscarwinning role as Queen Elizabeth II in this new play by Peter Morgan.

Stephen Daldry directs. 180 mins ROYAL OPERA LIVE: TURANDOT Tue 17 Sep 7.15pm. Glorious production of Puccini’s sublime final opera with Lise Lindstrom in the title role. 180 mins NT LIVE: OTHELLO Thu 26 Sep 7pm. Highly acclaimed production with Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear. . 180 mins cineworld.co.uk

in Fremlin Walk after 7pm. Yearly subscription rates: Adult £24; Couples £42; Senior/Student £19; Guest per film £3.50.

SIGHTSEERS (15) 2012 Mon 16 Sep 8pm Dir: Ben Wheatley Cast: Alice Lowe, Kenneth Hadley, Steve Oram Black UK comedy. 88 mins maidstone-film-society.org.uk MEDWAY VISIONS INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 7 – 14 September See article p9 for details.

MEDWAY FILM SOCIETY – NEW SEASON of 16mm prints The Brook, Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE Members can join for the whole year or for shorter seasons to see films at reduced rates. Non-members: £6.50 per film (concs £5.50). For full details see medwayfilm.org.uk, tel 020 7638 0012 or email medwayfilm@tiscali.co.uk A NEST OF GENTLEFOLK (USSR) 1969 Fri 27 Sep 7.45pm Dir: Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky Cast: Leonid Kulagin, Beata Tyskiewicz, Irina Kupchenko Turgenev’s classic novel brought to life with luscious cinematography.

106 mins With MOLE AND THE ROCKET (Czech animation) 1971 9 mins medwayfilm.org.uk ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY

Chatham Odeon Cinema, Maritime ME4 4LL 0871 2244 007

Rochester Film Society’s Odeon screenings occur every Thursday at 7.45pm. There is an introduction to the screening followed by a post film discussion over a glass of wine. £9.25 Conc £7.00, student £3.50.

For September screenings visit rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk.

MAIDSTONE FILM SOCIETY: NEW SEASON

Nucleus Arts, Rochester

A diverse range of world cinema.

Licensed bar. Fixed rate parking

See Nick Walker’s article on p8 ALEXANDER NEVSKY (1938) Tue 24 Sep 8pm For Medway Visions

Hazlitt Theatre, Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 753922

75 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX

Film Festival: JUDEX (1963) Fri 13 Sep 6pm LA NOTTE (1961) Sat 14 Sep 6pm Introduction and post-show discussion for all 3 films. Screenings at Nucleus Arts Rochester are free but booking is essential: email nickwalker62@yahoo.co.uk. Bring your own refreshments.

Rochester Cathedral Rochester, ME1 1SX

THE BISHOP’S WIFE (U) 1947 Fri 27 Sep 7.00pm Dir: Henry Koster Cast: Cary Grant, David Niven, Loretta Young. Cary Grant plays angel to David Niven’s bishop. See page 8. Tickets £8, concs £6 includes free drink. Email development@ rochestercathedral.org or tel 01634 810074 rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk SCREEN CLASSICS

Central Theatre, 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS 01634 338338

A monthly celebration of classic cinema on the big screen, in association with Rochester Film Society. Introduction and post-film discussion over a free glass of wine hosted by programmer Nick Walker. £7, concs £5, includes free drink.

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (U) 1935 Mon 16 Sep, 7.30pm Dir: Sam Wood Cast: The Marx Brothers, Margaret Dumont & Allan Jones Glorious mayhem. 96 mins medwayticketslive.co.uk LOCAL CINEMA DETAILS: ODEON CHATHAM 0871 224 4007. odeon.co.uk ODEON MAIDSTONE 0871 22 44 007. odeon.co.uk ROCHESTER CINEWORLD 0871 200 2000. cineworld.co.uk THE ROYAL CINEMA Box Office: 01795 591211 royalcinema.co.uk SHOWCASE BLUEWATER 0871 220 1000 showcasecinemas.co.uk/bluewater

MEDWAY AND MAIDSTONE HAVE A NEW COMMUNITY CHOIR LED BY THE VASTLY EXPERIENCED CHOIR DIRECTOR AND VOCALIST, T JAE COLE EMMA DEWHURST WENT ALONG TO SEE HIM IN ACTION AT’THE BIG SING’

T JAE COLE It’s a Monday evening at the Gordon House Hotel. The room is aglow and buzzing for the last summer session of recently launched community choir ‘The Big Sing’. The choir’s tutor, T Jae Cole, sits behind a small table, taking monies and greeting new arrivals.

“What have you brought me to?” cries my nine-year-old in dismay.

Although I have never been before either, I guarantee her a good evening and make a deal allowing her to sit out if she really doesn’t want to join in. My only insistence is that if she joins me on the front row, she must sing. I assume she’ll sit out the session.

T Jae leads us in a surprisingly energetic, on-the-spot warm-up.

My daughter assesses him from the sidelines and to my astonishment, by the time we are shuffling our song sheets, is back by my side, ready to sing. And so it is that we spend a glorious couple of hours coaxed into being better singers by T Jae’s irresistible combination of experience, humour and warmth which somehow conveys technical know-how without you even realising it.

Born in Wolverhampton into a close-knit community, T Jae grew up singing with others. His family were part of the Salvation Army, so as well as vocals he played a variety of instruments and enjoyed the “musical mixture” that implies.

His faith clearly anchors his life. It also informs our evening at the Gordon House Hotel, both in song choice and the gentle way in which we seem to be held safe in an unspoken understanding that, for some of us, it’s an achievement just to be there.

“The Big Sing is about more than singing together,” he says. “It’s about coming together to have fun, build confidence and get to know other people in your community.”

Seeking out and helping to build community is clearly a driving force for T Jae. After a brief stint as an accountant, he moved from Wolverhampton to London in his twenties to seek out a musical career, soon becoming a member of the London Gospel Community Choir, where he remained for 16 years performing roles as varied as Choir Director, tour manager and, of course, performer. His performing career is impressive: he has worked

with the likes of Tina Turner, Will Young and has recently toured with Blur.

His latest venture is Behind the Force, an artist development agency for individuals wishing to further their career in the music industry. Its tagline is ‘Empowering you to achieve your full potential’, which seems to encapsulate what its founder is all about. What with running the choirs, developing Behind the Force and travelling the world with Blur, life is very full for T Jae Cole. I ask him about the future: “I know it sounds crazy but right now I’m living the dream. I really do feel blessed. The journey I’m going through with The Big Sing and Behind the Force, working with ex-offenders, getting to know more people in my community – you can’t get better than that.”

The Big Sing Rochester re-starts Mon 2 September, 7-9pm at the Gordon House Hotel. £5 per session. The Big Sing Maidstone starts Tue 24 September.

Visit big-sing.com for details.

Follow T Jae on Twitter: @tjaesoul t-jaecole.com 11

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 12 - 15 SEPTEMBER 2013

FOR FOUR FANTASTIC DAYS IN SEPTEMBER HERITAGE OPEN DAYS GIVE US A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE FANTASTIC ARCHITECTURAL AND CULTURAL TREASURES ON OUR DOORSTEP. THIS YEAR 16 PROPERTIES IN MEDWAY NORMALLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC ARE THROWING OPEN THEIR DOORS. ROB FLOOD TAKES A LOOK AT JUST SOME OF THE LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS.

LIGHT VESSEL 21 Join the crew aboard LV21 (which adorns this month’s cover) at Gillingham Pier to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the launch of the vessel in September 1963. Light Vessel 21 is a unique 40 metre steel-hulled lightship, the last to be commissioned by Trinity House.

This is a brilliant chance to explore the decks and get immersed in half a century of maritime heritage. As part of the celebrations LV21 will be reunited with her original optic, kindly donated to the vessel by the Friends of St. Mary’s Lighthouse. Visitors will have a close up view and learn about the workings of the optic. Meet the crew, hear their fascinating stories and learn some vital nautical skills from mastering knots to morse code and semafore. Or you can get creative and help turn 50 empty glass jars into a luminating celebratory lantern to mark the ship’s big day. There’s also a great gig on Saturday evening – see side box.

MEDWAY QUEEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY Also based at Gillingham Pier, at the time of going to print we’re hoping that PS Medway Queen will be back in Medway and if all goes to plan, visitors will have a chance to step on board. The Visitors Centre will be open as will the workshops where you can see the apprentices and instructors at work.

THE HOSPITAL OF SIR JOHN HAWKINS, KNIGHT, IN CHATHAM One of the true historical gems of Medway, you can visit the Almshouse Boardroom which serves as the museum of the Charity. Just on the border of Chatham Intra, at 1 High Street, Chatham, this is well worth a visit.

THE OLD BROOK PUMPING STATION, CHATHAM Situated behind Halfords on the Brook in Chatham, the pumping station has just reopened after extensive repairs. Built in 1929 and now listed as an ancient monument, you can see the diesel engines used to drive the pumps during storms and flooding as well as an old Victorian printing press on which the Rochester Gazette was printed. There’s also an old Aveling and Porter road roller built by the famous Strood factory standing in the grounds.

BRIDGE CHAPEL AND CHAMBER, 5 ESPLANADE, ROCHESTER A rare chance to visit one of only seven medieval bridge chapels still in existence. Constructed in 1394, the Bridge Chapel displays prints and paintings mainly of Rochester Bridge as well as a fine set of 20th century furniture by Robert “Mouseman” Thompson.

Clockwise: Rob Flood; Simon Kelsey; Rikard Osterlund; Rob Flood; Chris Allen

MANOR FARM BARN, PARSONAGE LANE, FRINDSBURY, ROCHESTER Famously described at the “Queen of Kent Barns”, the Manor Farm Barn was constructed in the early 13th Century and is considered the longest medieval timber structure in Britain. The building is Grade I listed but following a fire that destroyed a third of the original structure, it’s now subject to proposals for full restoration and use as the centrepiece for a heritage arts and crafts centre. A programme of emergency repair work is currently underway and this is a great opportunity to see how it’s going.

ALSO OPEN IN MEDWAY, you can tour Fort Amherst’s ‘Out of Bounds’ Unrestored Area, visit the Royal Engineers Museum, the Barrack Block at Upnor Castle, Chatham Memorial Synagogue, St Werburgh’s Church in Hoo, Temple Manor in Strood and Watts Almshouses on the Maidstone Road in Rochester.

Guildhall Museum in Rochester will be showing some hidden treasures in the rarely open Members Room, there’s a Flower Festival at St Mary’s Church in Burham, behind-the-scenes tours of the Ship Model Stores at No.1 Smithery in the Historic Dockyard Chatham and a last chance to see the Elizabethan splendour of Eastgate House in Rochester before it closes for its HLF refurbishment.

Please note that not all the above are open for all four days. We would recommend that you visit the HOD website for a full list of propeties and their opening hours: heritageopendays.org.uk

LV21 IS 50!

As part of their 50th birthday celebrations, LV21 have pulled off a real coup by securing the supreme talents of Neil McSweeney to perform on-board on the evening of Saturday 14 September. Touring in advance of the release of his third album ‘Cargo’, Sheffield based McSweeney is a captivating performer investing every inch of his six foot plus being into his shows. Critically and artistically acclaimed (Richard Hawley is a big fan), Neil will be joined on the evening by Bellowhead fiddle player Sam Sweeney.

Support comes from the brilliant Dave Read, best known locally as the Claim’s frontman and from Ollie Burgess from Medway favourites, Theatre Royal. This promises to be a fantastic gig in a unique setting and is sure to sell out. Tickets are only £6 and are available from wegottickets.com/event/236905 neilmcsweeney.com

MAIDSTONE is also participating in the Heritage Open Days, with fantastic opportunities to visit some of the county towns most iconic buildings, including Maidstone Town Hall, artworks in Mote House, The Archbishop’s Palace, Boxley Abbey Barn and some fascinating guided walks. For full details see the HOD website.

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MUSIC ANCHORIANS RUGBY CLUB

Darland Avenue, Gillingham ME7 3AN

Fri 20 Sep, 8.30pm: JAZZ: SIMON SPILLETT/BOBBY WELLINS QUINTET Tenor sax giants.

Tickets £10. Tel: 01634 365352 or 07544 312743 ASHFORD FESTIVAL OF ARTS & TECHNOLOGY

High Street, Ashford TN24 8TF

Festival runs Fri 27 to Sun 29 Sep Sat 28 Sep, 8pm: (Main Stage) Medway’s THOMAS KELLY appears in a live performance with light show and electronics. Free

Sponsored Listing

MUSIC TO WINE AND DINE TO: AWARD-WINNING 144 CLUB THE ROFFEN

41 New Road, Rochester, ME1 1DX

Wed 11 Sep THEO TRAVIS + full band. Doors 7.15pm for reception, meals and bar for 8.15pm start. £13 or £23 for 2 course meal.

Sun 29 Sep Roast lunch and live music with TV presenter TINA MAY + band. Doors 12.45pm, service 1.15pm. 2 courses £26, 3 courses £30

THE BARGE

63 Layfield Road, Gillingham ME7 2QY

44TWO SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB Featherby Road, Gillingham ME8 6AN 01634 405037

Thu 12 Sep 8.30pm: DONN BARCOTT BAND Big band with guest vocals.

Raffle & bar. £6 (no membership required) HASTINGS ARMS FUNCTION ROOM

Lower Rainham Rd (leading to Danes Hill), Gillingham ME7 2YD

Thu 26 Sep 8.30pm: ROCHESTER SWING PRESERVATION SOCIETY With special guest Goodman-style clarinettist Ronnie Findon. £5. Free parking. Reservations: 01634 712217.

Find them on Facebook ‘Rochester Swing Preservation Society’.

Free entry Wed 4 Sep, 8.30pm: BARDS @ THE BARGE Open Mic. Fri 6 Sep 9pm: CHIENS D’MER (FRANCE). Sat 7 Sep 9pm : COCO AND THE BUTTERFIELDS. Sat 14 Sep from 2pm til late: RNLI DAY - music & entertainment all day.

Sat 21 Sep 9pm: THEATRE ROYAL + THE DREDGERMEN. Wed 25 Sep 9pm: ONE DAY ELLIOTT + tbc.

Sat 28 Sep 9pm: FATE THE JUGGLER. thebargepub.co.uk BROOK THEATRE

Old Town Hall, The Brook, Chatham ME4 4SE 01634 338338

FOLK AT THE BROOK: Thu 19 Sep 8pm: HOBO JONES & THE JUNKYARD DOGS Skiffle/punk. £10 JAZZ AT THE BROOK: Tue 1 Oct 8pm: NIGEL PRICE ORGAN TRIO with GARY SMULYAN (USA) Soulful, swinging sound. £11 medwayticketslive.co.uk

NUCLEUS ARTS CHATHAM

272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP 01634 812108

SUNDAY LUNCH at LARKFIELD PRIORY RESTAURANT 802 London Road ME20 6HJ (on A20 next to B&Q – formerly Hamlets)

Sun 1 Sep: Sax player MARTIN SPEAKE + full band.

Doors 12.45pm for 1.15pm service.

Tickets include roast meal, £26 for 2 courses, £30 for 3 courses.

ST MARY’S ISLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE CHATHAM MARITIME

Sat 21 Sep, Day and evening community events with ROAN KEARSEY-LAWSON BAND and Blew Tubes Funky Brass Band.

Information from 01634 891888 To book 144 Club gigs and see menus, call 01634 365453 or go to 144club.co.uk ALSO: FINCHCOCKS MUSICAL MUSEUM Goudhurst, TN17 1HH

Fri 6 Sep 7pm (meal), jazz at 8.45pm: Evening concert with American sax player FRANK GRIFFITH (Glen Miller Orchestra, Buddy Rich Big Band) + full band.

Tickets £10, meals available at £15.

For information and bookings: finchcocks.co.uk or 01580 211702

With licensed cafe Sat 28 Sep 7.30pm: AMNESTY MIXTAPE Charity night with live bands and comedy plus dance flash mob, retro games and more. Tickets £5.50 from wegottickets.com or £6 on the door SINGAPORA LOUNGE

51 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LN

UPCDOWNC and MOTHERBOY PRESENT ‘SONIC DEATH’ – A TRIBUTE TO SONIC YOUTH Sat 14 Sep, 8pm. With FRAU POUCH, PITY PARTY, HOUDINI and more.

Free entry ST MARGARET’S CHURCH

St Margaret’s Street, Rochester ME1

Sat 28 Sep, 7pm: Friends of Eastgate House present MUSICA CANTIANA. Tickets £5 for members, £8 for non-members. Tickets from 01634 721886 or 811172 or info@ friendsofeastgatehouse.org.uk LV21

Gillingham Pier

NEIL McSWEENEY Sat 14 Sep, 7pm With Bellowhead fiddle player Sam Sweeney. Support comes from Dave Read (The Claim) and Ollie Burgess (Theatre Royal). Tickets £6 from wegottickets.com/event/236905

KENT If you like to sing you’ll LOVE Rock Choir!

Pop, rock and Motown singing for adults with no auditions, and no need to read music.

Ale

Rochester, Kings Hill, Maidstone, Gravesend, Rainham/Gillingham Rock Choir also rehearses in many other locations across the UK.

BOOK YOUR FREE TASTER SESSION TODAY www.rockchoir.com T: 01252 714 276 The Rock Choir name and logo are trademarks of Rock Choir Ltd

Sun 1st Jam Night Tues 3rd Ukulele Jam Night Wed 4th Funke & The Two-Tone Baby Thurs 5th Full Circle Swing Sun 8th Jam Night Wed 11th Awesome Bin Liner Thur 12th Hobo Jones & The Junkyard Dogs Fri 13th Headcorn Morris Sun 15th Jam Night Tues 17th Quiz Night Wed 18th 7pm Gong Scourers Manic Morris 9pm Kent Duchaine Thurs 19th Tombstone Liquor Sun 22nd Jam Night Wed 25th The Strangers Thurs 26th Kingsize Slim Sun 29th Davey Malone and The Longtails live album recording Scan the code to download FREE Kent Live Music app ANDROID

APPLE

John St, Rochester

tel: 07772 214315 www.themanofkent.com

COMEDY BILLABONG CLUB

Royal Function Rooms, Star Hill, Rochester ME1 1XB

For details of Sept gigs, please go to billabongcomedyclub.co.uk COMEDY AT THE HAZLITT

Exchange Studio, Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 758611

ELIS JAMES, ROMESH RANGANATHAN & IAN STONE Wed 4 Sep 8pm. A strong line-up for the first show in the Hazlitt’s new comedy season.

PAUL McCAFFREY, TOM DEACON & JUNIOR SIMPSON Wed 2 Oct 8pm. £10, Comedy Season pass (4 shows for price of 3) £30 ROBERT NEWMAN’S THEORY OF EVOLUTION: WORK IN PROGRESS Fri 27 Sep 8pm. New material tryout ahead of a major UK tour. £10 hazlittartscentre.co.uk JOKING WITH INTENT

The Good Intent, 3 John Street, Rochester ME1 1YL

OPEN MIC COMEDY CLUB First Thursday of the month.

Thu 5 Sep, 8-10pm. Line-up tbc. £2 admission. Find Joking with Intent on Facebook MARLOWE THEATRE STUDIO The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787

THE MARLOWE COMEDY CABARET Sat 28 Sep 8.15pm.

Comedy and quirky cabaret (includes adult themes & language) £13 marlowetheatre.com (booking charges applies via internet) NUCLEUS ARTS CHATHAM

272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP 01634 812108

With licensed cafe AMNESTY MIXTAPE Sat 28 Sept 7:30pm. Live bands plus comedy and more in support of Amnesty. Tickets £5.50 from wegottickets.com or £6 on the door

STEPPING STONE STUDIOS 2 Museum Avenue, Maidstone ME14 1QX

THE COMEDY CLUB Every third Friday of the month.

Next gig: 20 Sept. £5 in advance, £8 on door. Call 07787 470495 or go to wegottickets.com. Doors 7pm.

Food available. steppingstonestudios.co.uk THE STILE BRIDGE PUB

Staplehurst Rd, Marden, TN12 9BH 01622 831236

STAND UP SUNDAY Sun 22 Sep 8pm. With Marlon Davis headlining. £5, tickets in advance. stilebridge.co.uk

Wed 2 – Sat 5 Oct, 7.30pm. Written and composed by Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse. Directed by Francene Harris. Tickets £10£14. For more information email jeanettedavis707@hotmail.com or visit gillinghamdramatic.co.uk.

Box office no: 01634 372322 or as Hazlitt above. EXCHANGE STUDIO: SOLDIERS’ WIVES Fri 20 Sept 8pm.

Moving, funny solo show performed

by Catherine Shipton (best known for playing Duffy in TV’s ‘Casualty’) telling the stories of five women whose husbands are on duty in Afghanistan. £12, concs £10 For online bookings go to: hazlittartscentre.co.uk

THE WOODVILLE

Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD 01474 337774

LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB presents: PETE FIRMAN (comedian magician, headlining) with SARAH PASCOE AND JASON PATTERSON Thu 5 Sep 8pm. Tickets £12.75 or £18.25 with curry! woodville.co.uk

THEATRE BROOK THEATRE

Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE 01634 338338

CABARET OF CURIOSITIES Fri 20 Sep 8pm. Indoor circus, cheeky burlesque and much, much more. (not suitable for under 16’s) Tickets £11 medwayticketslive.co.uk HASTINGS ARMS

18 Lower Rainham Road Gillingham ME7 2YD

‘TELLING TALES’ Storytelling for Adults - Folk Tales from Old London Tue 24 Sep, doors 7pm for 8pm start. With Helen East & Rick Wilson.

Admission £6. For more information tel: 01634 852614 or email tony.ed@me.com HAZLITT THEATRE

Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 758611

MAIN HOUSE: Gillingham Dramatic Society presents JEKYLL & HYDE – THE MUSICAL

MARLOWE THEATRE

The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787

ALIENS LOVE UNDERPANTS Fri 13Sun 15 Sep. Various times. Children’s show based on the popular children’s book. Tickets £12 PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT The Musical Mon 23-Sat 28 Sep, evenings 7.30pm, Fri 5pm & 8.15pm, Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm. £20-£40.50.

Parental guidance recommended for children under 15. marlowetheatre.com (booking charges applies via internet) ORCHARD THEATRE

Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000

POSTMAN PAT LIVE Sat 7 & Sun 8 Sep, Sat 1pm and 3.30pm; Sun 11am. Tickets £13, child £11, family £40 (2 adults, 2 children). Children’s menu for £5.95 available to book online. PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT The Musical Mon 9-Sat 14 Sep, Mon-Thu 7.30pm, Fri 5pm & 8.15pm, Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm. £22£37, concs available. Booking fee of £1.50 applies. orchardtheatre.co.uk

17

VISUAL ART BEACH HOUSE

Beach Street, Herne Bay CT6 5PT

BEACH CREATIVE: Paintings by Tim Skinner and Helen Morley Private view Wed 11 Sept at 7.30pm, then daily to Wed 18 Sep. See website for opening hours. beachcreativecic.co.uk BELOW 65 GALLERY

Gilbert & Clark Frame & Print 65 High Street, Maidstone ME14 1SR 01622 685146 Free entry

Open 9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Sat MIKE ROGERS: A RETROSPECTIVE Mon 2 – Sat 28 September. This lovely gallery in the heart of Maidstone presents a retrospective of paintings by Mike Rogers celebrating the artist’s diverse style and subject matter. gilbertandclark.com

CHRIS NORMAN Sat 21 to Thu 26 Sep (closes 1pm). The exhibition is based in and around the Great Lines Heritage Park, past & present. Preview - all welcome: Fri 20 Sep 6-8pm.

LuMEN – Various Artists Fri 27 Sep to Thu 3 Oct (closes 1pm). Preview – all welcome: Sat 28 Sep 6-8pm. nucleus-arts.com

Opens Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm ROWLAND HILDER OBE TRIBUTE EXHIBITION English land and sea scapes .Runs to Sat 14 Sep. Followed by the AUTUMN EXHIBITION: JOHN SCARLAND RETROSPECTIVE Poetic figures in oil, watercolour and sculpture.

Opens Fri 20 Sep and runs to 9 November. Free entry francis-iles.com NUCLEUS ARTS

272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP 01634 812108

Gallery opens Mon-Sat 10am5.30pm, Sun 11-5.30pm. Free entry LUPEN CROOK PRESENTS… Runs til 1pm on Thu 12 Sep Oil paints, jigsaw puzzle pieces, discarded newspapers and other everyday treasures go to create Crook’s unique ‘Broken Arts’.

A JOURNEY… PETER REEDS Wed 14 Sep to 19 Sep (closes 1pm).

People, life and art through this popular local artist’s eyes. Preview all welcome: Sat 14 Sep 6 – 8pm.

GREAT LINES OF DISCOVERY –

75 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX Open 10am-5pm Mon-Sat; Sun 11-5pm 01634 780932

NUCLEUS ARTS, MAIDSTONE

2-4 Granada House, Gabriel’s Hill, Maidstone ME15 6JR 01622 690337

Not-for-profit gallery shops with eclectic selection of artworks for sale.

NO.1 SMITHERY: The Gallery, The Historic Dockyard Chatham, ME4 4TZ 01634 823800

INTRODUCING THE RALPH STEADMAN SCHOLARSHIP

FRANCIS ILES GALLERY

103 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 843081

NUCLEUS ARTS, ROCHESTER

ARTISTS FROM 8 TO 108!!

ALL MAY ENTER THE BEST OF… ART COMPETITION An exciting new art competition launched by a happy partnership of WOW magazine, Rochester Independent College and University of Kent School of Arts.

Head Judge: Internationally renowned cartoonist, illustrator & artist Ralph Steadman Competition Theme: NOW Great prizes include an original, framed ‘Thought Sheet’ by Ralph Steadman for the adult winner, arts materials vouchers and one exceptional aspiring artist has the opportunity to be awarded the Ralph Steadman Art & Design Scholarship, giving them a 2 year full scholarship for A Levels to Rochester Independent College OR a bursary of £2000 per year for three years towards to help fund their visual arts degree.

ENTER NOW! Download an application form from wowkent. co.uk or rochester-college.org

Open 10am-6pm. Adults £17.50, Children £11, concs available.

Includes unlimited return to all Dockyard attractions for one year.

FROM SHORE TO SEA: PAINTINGS

BY SIR JOHN LAVERY RA Sun 15 Sep to 1 Dec. Evocative paintings depicting WWI from a naval perspective. thedockyard.co.uk ROCHESTER ART GALLERY

Medway Visitor Information Centre, 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 338319

Mon-Sun 10am-5pm. Free entry THE ILLUSTRATOR’S ART: Prints by ANDRZEJ KRAUZE, LYNN HATZIUS & MATTHEW PAGETT Runs until Sat 5 Oct. Bold paper cuts and prints.

CRAFT CASE: londonprintstudio artists KAHO KOJIMA & CHISATO TAMBAYASHI Exquisite handcut, embossed and pop-up printed books. Free Artist Talk by londonprintstudio’s John Phillips on Sat 28 Sep (just turn up).

UPDOWN GALLERY

Satis House, 11 Elms Ave, Ramsgate CT11 9BW 01843 588181

Tue - Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 11-6pm.

Mon by appointment SCHOOL OF PARIS 21 Sep to 25 Oct Works by artists working in Paris c 1900-1940.

Another intriguing exhibition from this bright new gallery. Free entry updowngallery.co.uk

19

FESTIVAL CO-ORDINATOR JAYE NOLAN LOOKS AHEAD TO NEXT MONTH’S FIRST ROCHESTER LITERATURE FESTIVAL THURSDAY 3 – SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

THURSDAY 3 OCT National Poetry Day ME4Writers’ POETRYMON: Handmade cards bearing poems by local writers will be hidden throughout the Medway Towns. Follow the online clues to find yours to keep or just… come across one! See the special Poetrymon page at me4writers. wordpress.com

A NIGHT AT THE THEATRE – ‘BANG UP’

by Sarah Hehir & ‘SHE WRITES: WHAT’S THROUGH THE DOOR?’ Upstairs at Rochester Visitor Information Centre, 7pm - 10pm A rehearsed reading of BBC Prize Winner Sarah Hehir’s award- winning Radio 4 play, ‘Bang Up’, followed by 17%’s dark comedy short play showcase, based on the HG Wells story, The Door in the Wall. Directed

by Amy Clare Trasker. Tickets £6

The award-winning Guyanan writer reads from selected works in celebration of Black History Month.

Not to be missed. FREE

SATURDAY 5 OCT MAGGIE HARRIS POETRY WORKSHOP Strood Library 10am - 12noon An opportunity to discover your inner voice as the writer shares her deep knowledge of poetry. Both events with Maggie Harris are in association with Medway Libraries.

FREE

FROM SORCERY TO STARSHIPS coFWD, 2pm - 4pm Fantasy and sci-fi creative writing workshop with Philip Kane. £3.00

Rochester High Street 2pm - 6pm (TBC) A fun, interactive investigation into the unknown: site specific performances direct you to a final performance. Fee to cover props.

MONDAY 7 OCT PLAY: WRITE

An evening of writing games for fun and inspiration led by Philip Kane. FREE

Rochester Library, 7.30pm - 9.30pm

coFWD, 161 High Street, Rochester 11am - 1pm Writing games and interactive debate. £3.00

SUNDAY 6 OCT THE SKYWATCHER INVESTIGATION

The Good Intent, John Street, Rochester, 8pm

MAGGIE HARRIS

SATURDAY 12 OCT THE POTLATCH

Photo: Marilyn Simpson

Following several eclectic one-off events to pique local interest and develop an audience, we have been putting the finishing touches to a ten-day programme of wordinspired events, under the umbrella title ‘Other Worlds, Other Voices’. It’s an eclectic programme of readings, interactive storytelling, workshops and performances which aims to create a central platform and meeting point for locally-based writers, readers and like-minds.

Here’s a taste of what to expect next month!

TUESDAY 8 OCT CITY WITHOUT A HEAD Ye Arrow, High Street, Rochester 8pm ME4Writers launch their much anticipated alternative encyclopaedia about life in cities, attempting to define the essence and nature of Medway. Extracts from the book and acoustic music. FREE

THURSDAY 10 OCT WRITE AROUND TOWN 11am - 1pm Join ME4Writers on a creative writing journey around Rochester.

FREE

THE HERO’S JOURNEY A CALL TO ADVENTURE Gordon House Hotel, 7.30pm An unmissable evening with Bill Lewis, original Medway Poet, painter and storyteller. Referencing his own life and work, and sharing his great knowledge of magical realism, metaphor and myth, Bill contemplates Joseph Campbell’s vision of ‘The Hero’s Journey’, and how it impacts on film and literature. £5.00

SUNDAY 13 OCT RLF FINALE - ALICE Venue TBC 2pm - 6pm Lewis Carroll’s eternal tales of Alice are interpreted through music, dance and writing. Feature new work by classical composer James Cook, with members of the City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra.

FREE

OTHER WORLDS, OTHER VOICES EXHIBITION SAT 5 – 12 OCTOBER, Rochester Library FREE

Please note that while most events are free, they may still require booking. For the full programme and to book events, please go to rochesterlitfest.com.

21

THE ARTIST’S SPACE

photo by

Phil Dillon

LUPEN CROOK REMEMBERS CHRIS AUSTIN, ONE OF MEDWAY’S FINEST MUSICIANS, WHO SADLY DIED THIS SUMMER

from bizarre hippy collectives and whatever next musical plot was being hatched, the same was spent in perfect silence. Chess, literature, day-gazing he was a solitary man, at times unreachable and impossible to distract … only a fool would have tried.

Late 90’s, a grotty bedsit above an estate agents on Duncan Road, Gillingham. I don’t know how I wound up in that red-lit room, likely led astray by Wolfgang Riot or Matt Duffy looking for late-night naughties.

Either way I remember feeling uncharacteristically at ease, less shredding nerves and skewed schizophrenia, in the company of Chris Austin. Wildhaired, chatter-boxing and frantically stabbing at a scuffed-up, un-tuned telecaster that hung from his skeletal frame - there was an instant connection.

Crossing musical paths with so many of Medway’s musical community was testament to Chris’ versatility and charisma. I am certain each of them would note his determination, stubbornness, and sprite-like resolve, not least the talent that possessed him. Friends also know, that behind his broad smile and fiery extroversion, a self-doubt scratched from the inside. With hindsight, it’s easy to see this was wholly unfounded, but Chris Austin beat back those demons in real-time to write the songs he did.

Beautifully honest songs, gifts for the many, and priceless memories for a lucky few.

Many felt that connection with Chris. Infectious, outspoken, and astute - his ability to bring warmth to a room full of strangers, raise the spirits of a gathering and create chaos out of nothing never ceased to amaze me. But for every memory foot-tothe-throttle, fuelled by mania, medicine procured

A Co-educational Day and Boarding School

Your route to a top university

01634 828115 www.rochester-college.org

• Year 7 to 6th form • Average class size 8 • High performing & non-selective • No uniform • Retake specialists