Parish Cake - Spring 2020

spotlight on..
Cranbrook
Tourism Group
The Cranbrook Tourism Group had its origins
in the former Cranbrook and Weald Tourism
and Economic Forum
THE FORUM had been
created in 2005 following the
appointment by Tunbridge
Wells Borough Council of Trisha
Spencer as the Cranbrook
Tourism Development Officer
operating from the newly
opened Weald Information
Centre in Cranbrook. This role
was subsequently included in
a new post in 2008, of Rural
Tourism and Local Economic
Development Officer.
Trisha’s work received many
plaudits and she was largely
responsible for the creation
of the “Walk Through Time”
folders containing suggested
walks in the district. She was
also responsible for setting
up the Tourism and Economic
Forum which included
representatives from local
businesses, TWBC, Parish
Council, bed and breakfast
establishments and a host of
other interested parties.
History reminds us that the
country was enveloped in a
financial crisis in 2008 and
this led to a squeeze on local
authority budgets. One of the
early casualties was the decision
not to replace Trisha when
she left. The Forum, however,
continued but with limited
funding its ability to deliver
projects became very difficult.
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst
Parish Council continued to
provide representation and what
little funding was at its disposal.
By 2013 it was apparent that
the Forum was no longer an
effective body.
Interestingly, what remained
of the core membership actually
represented the Museum, the
Windmill, St. Dunstan’s and
Cranbrook in Bloom. Since they
all felt the need to continue
promoting these attractions
it was decided in 2015 to
relaunch the old Forum as The
Cranbrook Tourism Group under
the enthusiastic leadership
of borough councillor, Tom
Dawlings.
With the continued valuable
support of the parish council
the group has delivered
the informative “Discover
Cranbrook” leaflets and
completed the reprinting of the
popular “Walk Through Time”
folders. It has also produced a
series of full page promotions
in the Wealden Advertiser
highlighting our attractions and
forthcoming major events. 2020
looks like being another busy
year for the group.
The present team comprises:
• Chairman: Cllr.Tom Dawlings
• Admin: Graham Holmes
• Windmill: Ian Burrows
• Museum: Sue Beavis
• Cranbrook in Bloom: Marian
Cumberland
• St.Dunstan’s: Clare
Bezuidenhout
The Group is always looking
to strengthen its membership.
If you are keen to become
involved, contact any of the
current members.
Graham Holmes
The End of the
Apostrophe
Society
Sissinghurst resident
Carolyn Rolfe on a sad day
for English grammar
WHAT A terrible shock it was, last month, to
read that the Apostrophe Protection Society
closed its doors and effectively ended the formal
struggle to protect the apostrophe. Founded 20
years ago to correct the widespread incorrect
use of the apostrophe, which was
widely used and abused (we’ve all
seen the misuse of MOT’s, HGV’s
etc), plonked here or there at
random, with no regard as to
whether it made sense or not,
leading to serious confusion to
those who use correct English
grammar.
The founder, chairman John Richards’ first
success was to get his local library to write CDs
instead of CD’s. He doggedly persisted with big
names of stores (I can think of several) but in
2012 when Waterstones decided to remove their
apostrophe, he objected, saying if McDonald’s
and Sainsbury’s can get it right, why can’t they?
Do they not teach the correct use in schools,
where an apostrophe is only to be used in the
possessive, or missing letters, such as the dog’s
bone, or I can’t instead of cannot? They are never
to be used in plurals. I saw such abhorrent
anomalies over the Christmas period, for
example: Christmas Tree’s, address’s,
smile your on TV, resident’s and
visitor’s.
What should be done? Should we
stalwarts soldier on and never go out
without chalk or rubber, and continue to
alter the greengrocer’s poster or signs (we’ve
all seen tomato’s !), or should we accept that the
word “Like” will dominate speech, by replacing
punctuation and grammar altogether?
We should all be ardent grammar vigilantes
and apostrophisers, or must we act like sheep
and copy the masses?
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