Jay’s take on Gravesend is all round positive. He has lived here all his life and still goes to Sunday night pub quizzes with five mates he knew at primary school. “People stay here because they want to”, he says, “some people just don’t get it, but it’s a great place to be from.”
The town has Beacon Status for race relations, meaning that it is recognised nationally “as a safe place for new comers.” Jay explains, “it always has been, it must have originally been something to do with being on the river. It’s an accepting place to be.”
I asked him what he thought the theme of my project should be and without any hesitation he replied “celebration - it is what connects everyone together, the regattas, carnivals and parades.” Jay can even count a regatta champion among his ancestors, with a greasy-pole competition winning Great Grandfather.
Back in the 70’s the Sikh community joined in the Northfleet Parade with their own float and he remembers it as the start of something good. He has loaned me a video of the 2002 TV documentary ‘Sikh Street’, which features footage from the parade. Jay thinks it would be great if in the future the newer Polish, Slovak and Romanian communities could take leading roles in the town’s celebrations too.
The Big Seven Festival started today and Jay recommends the Big Day gig that happens on the promenade next Saturday. Our conversation reminds me of the enthusiastic gathering at St. Thomas’ Almshouses last weekend. Lots of laughter about dancing to the Gravesend Band playing on the Fort Gardens bandstand, hanging out along the prom, going to the Shrimper’s Regatta and playing as children down by the water’s edge, in some cases 80 or more years ago. I went down to the Library, trawled through the archives and found so many evocative images of Gravesend's vibrant culture of celebration along the river’s edge.
Lucy
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