Bromley Buzz

Episode 111: 15-year old Jake, JusB charity volunteer

Darren Weale interviews Jake, a 15-year old volunteer with Bromley-based youth charity JusB. Jake explains what the charity means to him and that it has been his 'second home for 5 years'.
JustB has to raise £75,000 by the end of June or face closure. It has, as of when this episode is published, raised £40,000 of this sum. Please contribute if you can. A donation link is here.
A full interview also featuring Project Manager Ned McWhirter will be published soon.  
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.

Episode 110: Sue Spike and the County Chronicle magazine

Darren Weale interviews Sue Spike, owner and Editor of the County Chronicle magazine, which serves Biggin Hill and areas near Bromley, including Westerham, Sevenoaks, Oxted, Edenbridge, Godstone, and Lingfield. 
Sue talks about her career, launching the County Chronicle in 2020, though the magazine does have earlier roots. She talks about the editorial content, which includes a regular Bromley Buzz column, and insights and 'antics' from Biggin Hill Councillors Melanie Stevens and Sophie Dunbar, how the magazine is prepared each month, and more.  
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.

Episode 109: Cllr Hannah Gray, Mayor of Bromley

Zeenat Noorani and Sarah Marsh-Collings interview Mayor of Bromley Cllr Hannah Gray, as her second term as Mayor of Bromley draws to a close. 
Hannah reflects on the most meaningful, funny, and curious moments and events of her year and looks forward to the first thing that she'll do when she hands over the chain(s) of office. You can also hear our earlier interview with Hannah, recorded on her first full day in office, 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.
#bromleybuzz #ProudOfBromley

Episode 108: Bodyguard and @betsiatthemarsden

Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale share the latest buzz about Bromley.
With thanks to Bromley Buzz sponsor, Ian Wood Property, we talk about lots of Bromley positives, including Mercedes Yearley of Quest Soul Theatre, and having brunch (along with our Buzz colleague Sarah Marsh-Collings) with Cllr Hannah Gray, Mayor of Bromley. We share an excerpt from our interview with Hannah, which will be our next full episode. We cover West Wickham Village Day and Bromley High Street Day, networking chocolate and wine, the Norman Park Community Sports Centre, our double page Bromley Buzz spread in the new County Chronicle magazine, and the uplifting story of @betsiatthemarsden, plus Sarah and Zeenat going to see Bodyguard at the Churchill Theatre, which runs from 15 to 20 May. We also share Ian Wood's exclusive about the Chelsfield Village Fair, from Chelsfield Village Voice magazine. 
We have Zeenat's regular weekly affirmation, on loving our bodies inside and out.
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.
#bromleybuzz #ProudOfBromley
 

Episode 107: Poetry and Orpington Literary Festival

Darren Weale interviews poet Richard Bowdery at the Orpington Record Store and Cafe,ahead of the Orpington Literary Festival which runs from 15th to 21st May. 
We talk about poetry, poetry therapy, and Richard reads two poems from his book 'Let Sleeping Dogs Stand', plus one from Darren (written on the day), and another by Nikita Gill. Richard talks about his  'poetry for those who don't read poetry', mental health, Barney the spaniel, many poets (Theresa Lola, Pam Ayres, TS Elliott, Ezra Pound, Edward Lear, Dylan Thomas , Thomas Hardy, and Wordsworth), and Richard offers tips for someone contemplating writing poetry. He refers to fellow poet - and part of the Orpington Literary Festival - Jerry Dowlen and his Cray 150 Publications, the Croft Poetry Group, Cleo Felstead's monthly poetry sessions at Fitology in Chielshurst, and the Shortlands Poetry Circle. Richard closes with another original poem, Anarchist.
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.
#bromleybuzz #ProudOfBromley

Episode 106: Shrek, Victoria sponge controversy, and the ABBBAs

Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale share the latest buzz about Bromley.
We talk about the new sponsor of the Bromley Buzz, Ian Wood Property, and earlier and current support from Lee Thomas of the Newman Flexible Workspace, the CASPA event at Theatre 62 in West Wickham with Mercedes Yearley of Quest Soul Theatre, and hear singing from performaers Jamie and Izzie. We share our Victoria sponge controversy, and Zeenat's Let's Talk Better presentation at Community Links Bromley's Volunteers Assembly. We again share the new 'ABBBA' awards.
We have Zeenat's regular weekly affirmation.
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.
#bromleybuzz #ProudOfBromley

Episode 105: Flavia Bertram on Green Energy

Darren Weale interviews Flavia Bertram, Outreach and Communications Officer for the South East London Community Energy co-operative (Selce). 
We talk about the cooperative status of Selce, its history, and purpose. A very active organisation that is keen to do more in Bromley, and partnering with Community Links Bromley, Selce is rolling out energy cafes here, recruiting volunteers as energy advisors, and creating solar arrays, a community share offer, and providing consultancy services for greening homes, called 'future fit homes'. All that as well as offering advice and support to businesses, schools, and those running community buildings on energy consumption through lighting ,including helping with their fundraising needs.
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.
#bromleybuzz #ProudOfBromley

Episode 104: Let’s Talk Better at Bromley Voluntary Assembly

Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale share the latest buzz about Bromley.
We feature the recent Bromley Voluntary Sector Assembly held at Community House by Community Links Bromley. The excerpt from the event is of Zeenat and Darren talking about their #LetsTalkBetter campaign, which was launched in Bromley on 24th February 2023. The campaign is supporting locally-based charity CASPA, and the Let's Talk Better website is 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.
#bromleybuzz #ProudOfBromley