Bromley Buzz

Episode 281 - Bromley FC Community Trust and supporting armed forces veterans

Darren Weale talks with Graham Orr, Chair of Bromley Football Club Community Trust, and Cllr Mike Botting, Armed Forces Champion and Loneliness Champion for Bromley, and formerly a regular on the podcast when Mayor. 
 
The growing work of the Trust, particularly with veterans living in Bromley, is covered, acknowledging the pivotal help of Charlotte Ryan from Bromley Council. A wide range of ongoing and planned activities involving veterans are described, including Ravens Chat, and the Veterans Hub. That includes the club having signed up for the Armed Forces Covenant, and what that means.  More information for veterans and their families can be found here.  
 
We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, where we feature local events here. We are also on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and You Tube. The Bromley Buzz podcast is sponsored by Shampan restaurants, and London Biggin Hill Airport.

Episode 280: Bowie Universal - Sara Captain's art exhibition at Ripley Arts Centre

Darren Weale attends the opening of 'Bowie Universal' - Sara Captain's David Bowie art exhibition at Ripley Arts Centre, and talks with Sara about David Bowie, her art, and David Bowie's significance for Bromley and culture more widely.
From the late Bromley-grown superstar's early career onwards, Sara captures in various formats his growing popularity, influence, and influences. Visitors can buy artworks, prints and more from the exhibition, which runs until at least 15th April. The exhibition also contains a small, but helpful selection of Bowie memorabilia.
We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, where we feature local events here. We are also on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and You Tube. The Bromley Buzz podcast is sponsored by Shampan restaurants, and London Biggin Hill Airport. 

Episode 279: Parkinson's in Bromley - what people can do

Darren Weale talks with Sarah Newsom and Liz Bromfield from Parkinson's UK Bromley and District Branch ahead of World Parkinson's Day on 11th April, when they will have a stand in Bromley Town Centre outside The Glades shopping centre.
 
A wide-ranging conversations covers numerous topics including the many things the branch does with and for people with Parkinson's, their families, carers, and those around them in Bromley. 'It isn't just a one person thing.'
 
Parkinson's is a very complex conditions with profound impacts on peoples lives, but once diagnosed and prescribed, that 'can change your life'. 
 
Sarah talks about her own Parkinson's story, including 'the camaraderie of it all', symptoms, treatment, and enjoying Bromley Football Club Community Trusts Strongher gym programme, being part of the Parkinson's Bromley football team, and relaxation sessions, coffee, cake and conversation. 
We talk about upcoming events and support Bromley Parkinson's has received, including from Kyn Bickley, who have made it their nominated charity this year.
 
In the midst of talking about such a serious topic we reflect on joy and laughter and that aspects of how people help restores their faith in people.
 
We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, where we feature local events here. We are also on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and You Tube. The Bromley Buzz podcast is sponsored by Shampan restaurants, and London Biggin Hill Airport.

Episode 278: Pub love - Bromley MP presents award to Crown & Anchor

Zeenat Noorani talks with Martin of the newly award-winning Crown & Anchor pub in Bromley, the award having been presented by Bromley Member of Parliament Peter Fortune. 
 
We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, where we feature local events here. We are also on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and You Tube. The Bromley Buzz podcast is sponsored by Shampan restaurants, and London Biggin Hill Airport.

Episode 277: Cllr Graeme Casey - Spring catch-up in Priory Gardens, Orpington

Darren Weale  catches up with previous Bromley Buzz podcast guest (episode 143) Cllr Graeme Casey outside the Lopeto Cafe in Orpington's Priory Gardens, with vocal accompaniment from a Robin, geese, and passing park and cafe users. 
 
While enjoying Basque cheesecake and coffee, and ahead of the May 7th local elections, as usual we steer clear of politics, while encouraging listeners to vote, and refer to how the year is going for Graeme and his enjoyment of being on the Council planning sub-committees.
 
We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, where we feature local events here. We are also on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and You Tube. The Bromley Buzz podcast is sponsored by Shampan restaurants, and London Biggin Hill Airport.

Episode 276: Cllr Gemma Turrell, Deputy Mayor Of Bromley - celebrating Bromley, classical cats, dinosaurs, and Beyoncé

Darren Weale and Zeenat Noorani talk with Cllr Gemma Turrell, Deputy Mayor of Bromley,
 
Gemma comes up with a great tagline for the borough - 'London living with a Kent lifestyle' and talks about her personal journey, her cats, boardgames, and her cool experiences as Deputy Mayor. She also reveals that the Bromley Buzz is her "number one podcast on Spotify"! 
The discussion ranges from Pokémon to Mount Everest, and Narnia to Florence. 
 
We are spreading the love!
Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, where we feature local events here. We are also on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and You Tube. The Bromley Buzz podcast is sponsored by Shampan restaurants, and London Biggin Hill Airport.

Episode 275: Spark Festival and communities of connection

Darren Weale visits Bromley's Greener Cleaner Hub in The Glades shopping centre during the Spark Festival and speaks with Amber and Michaela from In Common, John Breech from the Hub's energy team - supported by UK Power Networks, and Charlotte from the Hub, who talks about the Hub's current and future activities that people can take part in. 
From a player coming on stage in a coffin, to coming away with awards, and many a mishap along the way, we hear about the Society, which is over 75 years old, and features members from 18 years of age to 'as old as you like'. With alumni including Nicholas Gasson from TV's Merlin, several members have gone on to professional careers. 
Local pub The Woodman is given due credit for its warmth and helpfulness and allowing items to disappear onto the FDS stage as props from time to time.
In between telling many a story from the decades, the three refer to the benefits of taking part in a theatre society, such as being in a long-established community, learning, and confidence. As Wendy says, 'No one will believe now I was really shy', and refers to being Bubbles Laverne and covered in balloons for a production!
We are spreading the love!
Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, where we feature local events here. We are also on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and You Tube. The Bromley Buzz podcast is sponsored by Shampan restaurants and London Biggin Hill Airport.

Episode 274: News, events, Cllrs Thomas Turrell and Will Rowlands, and the Green Belt

Darren Weale and Zeenat Noorani talk about the latest news and events in Bromley, and as we look to share one or two items from our archive, we include an interview with Cllr Thomas Turrell - also London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley - and Cllr Will Rowlands, when Thomas was walking for charity and to celebrate the Green Belt last spring (2025). That was recorded at Scadbury Manor. Thank you to BBC Radio London's Eddie Nestor MBE for his contribution to the opening of the show.  
 
We are spreading the love!
Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, where we feature local events here. We are also on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and You Tube. The Bromley Buzz podcast is sponsored by Shampan restaurants, and Ian Wood Property.