South Norwood Tourist Board

….and so it came to pass, that after being told continuously that the unique Sensible Garden (the first park bench to be named after a punk, who still on this mortal coil), we are gathering to celebrate it’s 2.33(rpm!) birthday. With no committees, guardians, ‘friends of’ or anything involving a bureaucratic process, coupled with a militant attitude against anyone fly tipping – the community have constantly, consistently attended to maintain it’s appearance and continue to encourage it’s growth. When you pass you may see a few regulars sitting on the benches enjoying lunch, or a glass or two of their favourite tipple, the garden is for use by all to relax and enjoy watching the world go by, whilst safely in the arms of a Sensible environment where all are equal

The toast is also going to be very special, as we are raising a glass to Robbie, all wishing his safe return. It was Robbie himself who unveiled the Sensible Seat with the Captain himself, and was instrumental in the hard work and motivation to all who contributed, whilst immediately understanding SNTB and contributing to the whole tone of the garden’s creation.

It is now four months since Robbie was last seen, but we are all still hopeful and looking forward to more evenings of swapping inspirational tall stories, whilst drinking a few but above all….laughing until it hurts.

As a reminder to our call for Robbie to safely return to his family and friends, the adjacent bench (The Sensible Seat’s Sister!) has been given a facelift and will be unveiled.

The personal statement from Ian below, sums up how SNTB feel:

Missing Robert – ‘cos he was a kindred spirit – he ‘got’ the Tourist Board from the start – he knew it was 50% hokum – and the other half bloody mindedness. There was no ‘can we do this – like renaming the lake’ – just a ‘of course we bloody can.

The Sensible Garden was perfect for him – ‘do we know who owns the land?’ No! Good – lets do it.

One day Robbie was heaving some vast filthy tarpaulin from the brambles. Ah I cried ‘a downed zeppelin skin no doubt’ Straight away Robbie was displaying the ‘zeppelin number’ to a local zeppelin expert who just happened to be passing – hello Jason.

What’s this? Asks Robbie

Zeppelin Wreckage, we relied

Then it took off – it turned out a zeppelin had indeed been downed near the station – experts argued over the numbers on the skin – from Germany. The lettering was wrong – no said another it may have been on a secret mission.

Yes that was definitely the case me and Robbie concurred over a pint or two. – it was a secret mission.

Miss you Robbie.

Please come and share the laughter. We will all meet at 6:30 at the Sensible Garden for a toast and unveiling and then onto the ‘Shelvie Goaty’, to continue our drinking and talking bollocks – a night Robbie would love!