Bromley Buzz

Episode 12 - Royal Bell interview, Rotary Club Fruit Machine, and Strictly

Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale present the latest Buzz about Bromley, recorded remotely (petrol crisis, don't ask). Which member of Bromley Council was called 'darling' on BBC Radio London in the last few days? What were several Mayors of Bromley doing at Biggin Hill airport recently? What is the latest Buzz about Bromley? All this and more is revealed in this latest barely edited episode of the Bromley Buzz podcast. Gary Hillman, who has revived The Royal Bell in Bromley Town centre, is interviewed and talks about family ties and future plans. As Strictly Come Dancing 2021 continues on TV, we share a Strictly-related show at the Churchill Theatre on in 2022, and refer to a 'Buzzing' show on 7th and 8th October this year at the Bridge House Theatre in Penge. Zeenat provides her regular Affirmation of the Week. We also interview the Chislehurst Rotary Club members comprising the Human Fruit Machine at a Macmillan Coffee Morning, and share exciting news of our upcoming interview with Member of Parliament for Orpington, Gareth Bacon. We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz.

Episode 11: actor Debbie Bird before Bridge House Theatre, Penge performances

In this special episode of the Bromley Buzz podcast, Darren Weale interviews actor Debbie Bird about her one-person show, Buzzing, at the Bridge House Theatre in Penge, ahead of her two night run there on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th October.
We discover Debbie's past teaching at Bromley at Biggin Hill's Charles Darwin school, talk about the value of smaller theatres and the Bridge House in particular, Debbie's career pivot (before the term was even widely used), and her 'Buzzing' character Julie - 'Newly divorced. 50. Lost. Julie's search for her sex life is on.' We wrap up with some impromptu improv with Darren as dating suitor 'Gerald' meeting Julie for a first dinner date.... Does it go well? Is he the one? Listen to the episode to find out.
Do go and see the show and support your local Arts scene - and feel better for it. We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. 

Episode 10 - Macmillan, Mayoress of Bromley, and Lift Each Other Studio

Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale present the latest Buzz about Bromley recorded in the Tangent Office Resources shop in Orpington with the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning run by owner Chandra Sharma going on in the background. A bitesize interview with the Mayoress of Bromley precedes a longer interview with Neil and Emily from the new Lift Each Other Studio in Orpington, which has an impressive range of equipment including a punchbag used 'live' during the interview, and a team of coaches, and the ambition that "...if everybody lifts everybody, eventually we will change the world." A final interview is with Jules Serkin of the Business Bunker show and podcast on Channel Radio (Tuesdays 1-3pm). We talk about the things that have made us buzz lately including resuming face to face networking, the prizes donated to the coffee morning, holidays, and family.    
Zeenat provides her Affirmation of the Week which leads to recognition for several people who 'lift up' Zeenat and Darren, and What's On locally. We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz.

Episode 9 - Bromley Little Theatre, eyelashes and spaniels

Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale present the latest Buzz about Bromley, together with Sarah Marsh-Collings, digital marketing expert and the person who coined the name 'Bromley Buzz' (thank you, Sarah!). In this lively episode Darren discovers a regrettable penchant for using the words 'head honcho', Sarah talks mad scientists, and the Reverend Andy Coyne of the Temple United Reform Church in St Mary Cray offers a Thought for the Day, Singing, eyelash talk and spaniels and parks and ice cream vans precede a lovely interview with Keith and Alice of the Bromley Little Theatre (from the dressing room) which shows what an inspiring place at the heart of the community the theatre has. We touch on Bromley's agricultural and equine dimension and the Jack Frost Pet & Country store. We talk about just why it is that we love Bromley (yes, we do), Zeenat provides her Affirmation of the Week, and reflect on impressive deadlifting, and What's On locally. The show wraps up with a Bonus Buzz from Zeenat. We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz.

Episode 8: Bromley Little Theatre

We loved visiting Bromley Little Theatre so much that we have made it our first special, single topic episode of the Bromley Buzz podcast. Listen as Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale talk from a dressing room full of costumes, hair products and theatrical paraphenalia with Alice Foster and Keith Jeremiah about the 80-year plus history of the theatre, its importance to the community and about future plans and productions. Actor Alice reads a little from the script of the current production, and we touch upon topics such as the theatres work with local schools and CASPA, the friendships and positive mental health impact of the theatre, and the sheer love it inspires.  Do go and see the shows, and if you can, support the theatre in other ways via donations and advertising. We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. 

Episode 7 - Super sandwiches, Small Business Champion, and Buzz poetry

Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale talk from a residence in the heart of Bromley about what's buzzing locally, from new US Open tennis champion Emma Raducanu to Bromley Little Theatre and its latest production, to the new Bromley Business Hub and onto a poem specially crafted for listeners Trevor and Sandra in Ireland! We have an interview with former Mayor of Bromley and current Small Business Champion, Hannah Gray, and mentions including for the Beckenham Comedy Cabaret, Perry Hall School - where the words 'Be the best you can be' are important and they were echoed by Hannah in her interview -, the People Skills Course, Telecoms World, and a live recording of a sandwich purchase at Mustard in Southborough! We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz.

Episode 6 - Petts Wood walk and talk and budgies Samson and Kiwi

Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale talk from a sunny Bromley garden, and during a roadtrip to Queensway in Petts Wood, about what's buzzing in Bromley, from Emma Radecanu at the US Open, to the Mayors Ball on 16th October, the Lift Each Other Studio open day in Orpington, Mumbai Central in Hayes, Mindset Matters this week on Channel Radio with Jet of Buster Shuffle, the Chislehurst Rotary Club, Streetpin and Jade Window Cleaning Services, the weekly affirmation, and the Hear Today event on 18th September at Orpington Methodist Church. Plus much more, including more of Petts Wood, including Divas and Dudes Hair Boutique, nail bars galore, Petts Wood DIY, Life In Orpington magazine, Smartypants Bespoke Alterations and Dry Cleaning, Elliotts Cafe (dog friendly!), the Royal British Legion, St Christophers Hospice charity shop, the Cafe and Art Gallery (hi, Shakia!), Queensway Autos, the Petts Wood Mandarin pre-school, Petts Wood Methodist Church and amateur dramatics, the Fired Up Pottery Painting Studio, Pet Perfection, Samson and Kiwi the budgies. And with special sounds provided by Crows and the budgies of Pet Perfection. We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz.

Episode 5 - Costa Del Orpington and beer meets flowers in Chislehurst

Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale talk from Newman Flexible Workspace about what's buzzing in Bromley, from the Costa Del Orpington and Sex In The Walnuts to the whopping sandwiches of Southborough, and DJ Steve Anthony on the Boat That Rocked. Hear from our guest Lauretta Wright of Life In Orpington magazine and her exclusive news about a new Bromley magazine title. Also our own exclusive news as our show goes onto the regular Channel Radio roster. There are updates on events including at the Lift Each Other Studio in Orpington, the Open House at the Royal Bell, and, as ever, the impact of Bromley people outside Bromley, plus spinning chairs, The Cockpit where beer meets flowers in Chislehurst, and more. We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz.