The rain got heavier, and Rishi Sunak's bespoke suit became the focus of attention. I presumed that he'd just fired the starting gun on what would be one of Gravesham's most closely fought elections in recent history. According to the polls, Gravesham would have a new Member of Parliament for the first time in 14 years. The polls were correct; we have a new MP, but it wasn't the battle I expected.

The rain got heavier, and Rishi Sunak's bespoke suit became the focus of attention. I presumed that he'd just fired the starting gun on what would be one of Gravesham's most closely fought elections in recent history. According to the polls, Gravesham would have a new Member of Parliament for the first time in 14 years. The polls were correct; we have a new MP, but it wasn't the battle I expected.

Gravesend residents gathered outside the Civic Centre in Gravesend, objecting to the proposed opening of a home for unaccompanied asylum-seeking (UAS) children.

Edward Moore House was a former care home bought by Kent County Council (KCC) and is currently being redeveloped.

In the early hours of Friday, 5th July, Lauren Sullivan was elected as the Member of Parliament for Gravesham. After what had seemed at times a non-existent campaign in Gravesham, the turnout was 59%, down 6% from 2019.

On Thursday evening, the City Praise Centre in Gravesend hosted the only hustings in Gravesham for the 2024 general election.

The candidates gave an opening statement and then had 90 seconds each to answer various questions on topics ranging from ethics in public office and transgender policy in schools to social care and the persecution of religious groups.

On Saturday, 1st June, anyone with a camera (or a phone) was invited to take part in Gravesham’s first Day in the Life shoot, part of the Gravesham Fringe Festival.

The aim is to make it an annual event documenting the changes in the borough from year to year.

I took portraits of shopkeepers in some of Gravesend’s small shops.

I will be documenting the upcoming General Election in Gravesham for a future edition of The Gravesend Journal.

I intend to work with all the parties as they put their case to the people.

Please reach out with any local events and campaigning. This will be an impartial record of this important time for our community.

In 2000, there were 67 pubs in Gravesend; at one time, there had been many more. Today, just 31 are still trading. As I write, the latest to close is The Peacock, which served its last pint on 1st January this year. As a whole, the UK loses about 500 pubs a year. With rising costs, streaming and home delivery keeping many of us on the sofa, is there a future for the British pub?

A former estate agent's office doesn't sound like the obvious venue for a new pub, but that's what The Compass Alehouse, was before it became Gravesend's first micro-pub in 2014. John and Rachael run the pub with the help of a dedicated group of volunteers, which tells you a lot about its place in the community.

In 2000, there were 67 pubs in Gravesend; at one time, there had been many more. Today, just 31 are still trading. As I write, the latest to close is The Peacock, which served its last pint on 1st January this year. As a whole, the UK loses about 500 pubs a year. With rising costs, streaming and home delivery keeping many of us on the sofa, is there a future for the British pub?

Gravesend’s Vaisahki 2024 was the usual mix of good humour, great food and riotous colours.

The Sikh community hosts a wonderful celebration on the streets of Gravesend, to which all are welcome, of any faith or none.

I met some lovely people, had a great time and will definitely be back next year.

The Jacob Marley leaves Gravesend for the last time and the sun sets on a ferry service that has carried passengers between Tilbury and Gravesend for over 700 years.

The ferry's cancellation is another symptom of the funding crisis hitting local authorities across the UK.

I’m delighted to announce that the first print edition of The Gravesend Journal is now available.

This first edition tells the story of Tony and Vicki Harris, who founded a community group, The Table, to feed the homeless and those in need.

In 2021, UK consumers drank 2.5 million litres or 10 million bottles of water per day. That’s a lot of plastic. It’s great that you’re all drinking so much water; good hydration is important. But when you buy bottled water, you are driving a chain that’s having a significant impact on our environment.

The theatrical ‘get-in’ is a bit like moving house. You arrive at your new home early in the morning with all your worldly possessions piled in the back of a van.

There’s furniture to be unloaded, lights to be put up, and the sound system to be installed. Inevitably, something doesn’t quite fit and you don’t know where the kettle is.

A bike shop has traded from this site in Windmill Street for some 60 years. However, at the end of November Tri The Bike Shop will put up its shutters for the last time.

I spent the morning with manager Leo Brown (not shown), Stuart Britten and James Medhurst.

Some images from Gravesend’s Vaisakhi celebration. This annual celebration of the spring harvest in Northern India is centred around the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara.

Tony and Vicki Harris have been on a journey that would change their lives, seeing Tony giving away all their money and most of his clothes. It would lead them to start a group that would feed up to 50 people, six nights a week, during the height of the pandemic.

I stumbled on this wonderful installation of images, by the artist EVEWRIGHT, dedicated to people of the Windrush Generation. They are displayed on the windows of the Tilbury Bridge Walkway, just a few metres from the Gravesend-Tilbury ferry.

I was reading about the history of The Waterloo pub when it occurred to me - this being census day - the first record of many pubs is when they show on a census.

Fill in your census if you haven’t already, you’re making history and when pubs reopen, pop to your local and buy a pint, we’ll miss them when they’re gone.