I'm from Gravesend in Kent, in the south east of England, not a lot goes on in Gravesend believe it or not, we're only 21 miles away from the City of London, so often get overshadowed by our westerly neighbour. We do share the same river, the mighty Thames, just before it leads out to the estuary.
Here in sunny Gravesend, (I say sunny, because in summer its often the hottest place in the UK, dunno why? But before some smart arse says, its not because I live there!!) we are linked to a few famous names, I had the choice of two, General Charles Gordon of Khartoum.
The statue of General Gordon, in the Gordon Gardens at Gravesend Promenade.
or
Pocahontas - The statue of Pocahontas at St Georges Church
In 1616, the Rolfes travelled to London, where Pocahontas was presented to English society as an example of the "civilized savage" in hopes of stimulating investment in Jamestown. On this trip she may have met Squanto, a Patuxet man from New England. Pocahontas became a celebrity, was elegantly fêted, and attended a masque at Whitehall Palace. In 1617, the Rolfes intended to sail for Virginia, but Pocahontas died at Gravesend, Kent, England, of unknown causes, aged 20 or 21. She was buried in St George's Church Gravesend; her grave's exact location is unknown because the church was rebuilt after being destroyed by a fire.
I'm sure you all know the story of her, I won't bore you with all the details but if you want to read more, click this
link.
She sure doesn't look like any of the pics above, I've gone for probably a more apt version of Pocahontas.
This is a 25mm Redoubt Miniatures figures from their FIW range.
I kept the colours pretty muted, just as they should be.
Local History: Something from the history of your own land, region or town.
Well I'd say she fits into that category?
As for the point, 20 for the bonus round and another 5 for the figure.
So a total of 25 points
I didn't realize she had traveled to England. (That part wasn't in the Disney movie!)
ReplyDeleteOr that she was 12, Disney left that bit out too???
DeleteLearning that Pocahontas ended in Gravesend is news to me.
ReplyDeleteThere you go Jon, you learn something new everyday.
DeleteLooks good Ray, and a nice piece of local history. When I was a child in Gillingham, there was a monument on the 'top road' ( Watling St, old A2 ) which I found much later was to Will Adams, the first Englishman to reach Japan and the inspiration for the 'Shogun' book and films. So that's another one you could maybe use... Lots of history in your area!
ReplyDeleteThere's more than you think David. Did you know there's a Will Adams pub in Gillingham too?
DeleteNo, I didn't know that! Hmmm.. this could make a little add-on to a future blogpost about the Broadside show..
DeleteGreat work Ray!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michal!
Delete"Local History: Something from the history of your own land, region or town."
ReplyDeleteErm... I went to school with a lass who won a national magazine beauty competition in the early noughties, had her boobs done, released a music CD (it didn't do very good), showed off her nearly-new, nekkid boobs in the press, married a footballer and now features on ITVBe footballer's wives/Z-list celeb's programmes. Would she count?
Yep!
DeleteNice work Ray
ReplyDeleteThanks Neil.
DeleteGood, quick win for the points, Ray. I knew the poor lass died over here but not in Gravesend. Such a sad story, imho.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is, Simon.
DeleteGood choice Ray, and beautifully painted.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence, it was a pretty easy paint tbh.
DeleteNice link to local history there Ray and interesting to find out the Gravesend association with both these historical figures...what is the story with Gordon of Khartoum?
ReplyDeleteBit long winded, but……..
DeleteGordon returned to Britain and in1865 commanded the Royal Engineers' project around Gravesend, Kent, to erect forts for the defence of the River Thames. Gordon disapproved of the forts he was building at the mouth of Thames to guard against a possible French invasion, regarding them as expensive and useless.
Following the death of his father, he undertook extensive social work in Gravesend, feeding homeless boys whom he found begging on the street while also attempting to find them homes and jobs. Many of the "scuttlers," as Gordon fondly called the homeless boys, were lodged at his own home, the Fort House. Together with Mrs. Sarah Mackley, his housekeeper, he adapted two rooms at Fort House to serve as classrooms and basic needs resource rooms for boys living on the streets. He also rented a small house in East Terrace for working boys to be taught for free. Gordon's closest friends were a couple, Frederick and Octavia Freese, whose son Edward, became Gordon's surrogate son. Persuaded by his friends in 1867, he became a trustee for the local Ragged School committee. Before 1870, there was no universal school system in Britain, and the Ragged Schools were a network of privately-funded schools that gave a free education to children whose parents were too poor to afford the school fees. Outside of the Fort House were graffito written on the wall by one of the evidently less-educated boys that read: "God Bless the Kernel". Another "scuttler" later recalled: "He made me feel, first of all, the meaning of the phrase, the Goodness of God. Goodness become to me, through Gordon, the most desirable of ideas...We were under the spell of Gordon's personality. We lived in the magic of his mystery-enchanted".
Every year, Gordon gave away about 90% of his annual income of £3,000 (equivalent to £351,000 in 2021) to charity. Gordon did not enjoy his celebrity status, and though extremely charismatic, he only kept a limited circle of friends and found dealing with strangers difficult. A colleague recalled that Gordon's time at Gravesend was the "most peaceful and happy of his life", but Gordon was often bored, and constantly asked the War Office for an assignment to somewhere dangerous.
Gordon's memory, as well as his work in supervising the town's riverside fortifications, is commemorated in Gravesend, the embankment of the Riverside Leisure Area is known as the Gordon Promenade and Gordon Gardens where the statue of him was placed. Four of the Rejects, Postie, Smiffy, Surj and myself all went to Gordon School, named after him, unfortunately the school closed in 1987.
The house he lived in while staying in Gravesend was destroyed by a bomb during WWII, the site is now part of the Fort Gardens, within the Gordon Promenade. Most Gravesender’s call the whole area, The Prom.
I have no idea as to her connection to Gravesend. Nicely done Ray.
ReplyDeleteCrazy ah?
DeleteReally interesting post Ray and especially beaut to paint a figure with local 'connections'; particularly one so famous, and simply represented, in popular culture.
ReplyDeleteNext stop CGG?
Regards, James