Outraged of Tunbridge Wells: Original Complaints from Middle England by Nigel Cawthorne
| Outraged of Tunbridge Wells: Original Complaints from Middle England by Nigel Cawthorne | |
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| Category: Humour | |
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Reviewer: John Lloyd
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| Summary: Newspapers full of niggles from curmudgeonly correspondents. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 288 | Date: November 2013 |
| Publisher: Gibson Square Books | |
| ISBN: 9781908096913 | |
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It was ever thus… cyclists go too fast, without using a hooter or lights; there are hoodlums everywhere one looks, and no public conveniences; people pretend to have qualifications and degrees they haven't rightfully earned; buses are too busy with shopping women who should be indoors already, cooking for their working menfolk… It's a very clever idea to show exactly what is behind the 'disgusted of Tunbridge Wells' tag, and as a book to be shelved alongside those with the wackier letters sent to the Daily Telegraph, these selections from the Royal town's press itself make a great eye-opener to the complaints and complainants of Kent.
From the dying days of Victorian years to the burgeoning Elizabethan era, these letters cover a complete gamut of interests. What's surprising however is how many of them make their persuasive case by saying 'this must change, else people will get hurt' – whether it be vans playing amplified music, dog mess, dodgy pavements and roads (or use thereof), or any change whatsoever to the public baths. But at least we can rest assured that something is being done. A bandstand concert was held up until a noisy dog was removed. Empire Day of 1907 was available for heaps of miscreants to learn how to hang the Union Flag correctly. And a bus shelter was installed near the War Memorial – who knew such a thing would have been a priority in 1943?
Still, despite all that, Tunbridge Wells was going to hell in a handcart – if not getting knocked off the road by one. People have to imitate gazelles to avoid dog leashes, can't find a park bench that hasn't been trodden on, and must suffer a bus ride full of school children that – gadzooks – throw paper bags for all of twelve minutes. But it gets worse – children wouldn't mind seeing a fox hunt kill as they would all be the type to enjoy watching a car crash anyway. And it gets even worse than that – women go to pubs. Yes, we're all doomed.
Teachers saying 'it's not us, it's those above us putting stupid ideas in our way' show just how the world always seems to turn back to its starting place. These letters really do provide for a welter of social history, and this book is all the more enjoyable for it. It's not to be treated particularly as a comedy book, for the sense of humour is certainly more Punch than anything more modern or less gentle. It certainly works as a gift book, a quirky window to the world that will entertain, in a low-key way, anyone interested in the peccadilloes of this our land. (Although points deducted for bad editing and layout at times.) It will certainly raise many a knowing nod and smile, if not exactly large laughs, and to repeat is a good report of why the regional nomenclature was rightfully deserved. I'm sure the Man on the Clapham Omnibus would agree with that last.
I must thank the publishers for my review copy.
50 People Who Buggered Up Britain by Quentin Letts is more than enough to raise a whinge. My favourite so far of this season's literate gift books remains Dedicated to...: The Forgotten Friendships, Hidden Stories and Lost Loves found in Second-hand Books by W B Gooderham.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Outraged of Tunbridge Wells: Original Complaints from Middle England by Nigel Cawthorne at Amazon.com.
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