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.

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.

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.

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.

One of my favourite buildings in Gravesend is the Borough Council Civic Centre and Woodville Theatre.

Designed by renowned architect Henry Thomas Cadbury-Brown construction started in 1964, and the building was opened on 15th November 1968.

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 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.

Are you looking forward to pubs reopening? Here’s what is hoped will happen.

On April 12 - Restaurants and pub gardens will be allowed to serve customers sitting outdoors - including alcohol.

Pubs across the country have had a torrid year. The square mile of central Gravesend had 29 trading pubs and bars as we entered the first lockdown. Sadly it seems inevitable that not all of those would reopen when restrictions are partially lifted on April 12.

We’re told we are a living through the strangest of times. Yet, it’s surprising how quickly sights that a few months ago would have seemed entirely alien become ordinary.

At some point, these things will become history, so it seems only fitting to record some of them.

This production of Rapunzel could be just another casualty of a dreadful pandemic that continues to kill thousands worldwide. Maybe it’s nothing more than that.