David Bowie had interesting connections with Tunbridge Wells and Southborough, as revealed by local author Peter Carpenter in his travelogue entitled ‘Bowieland’.
In his intriguing new book ‘Bowieland’, former Tonbridge School teacher and now author Peter Carpenter devotes a chapter to Tunbridge Wells.
The parents of singer and songwriter David Bowie met at the now demolished Ritz Cinema in 1945. As Carpenter relates, he previously had no idea of the local connection as a long-time fan of his music.
Bowie’s mother Margaret Mary Burns, was known to customers of the cinema cafe as Peggy, and it was there that she served a welcoming cup of tea to Haywood Stenton Jones, also known as John, who became David’s father.
Peggy was 32 when she met John and was already a mother of two illegitimate children. One of them was Terry, whose father was Wolf Rosenberg, who hailed from Paris, and whom she met in 1937 while working in a local bar, the Culverden Park Arms.
A sister, Myra Ann, was born before David in 1943 during World War 2, and was subsequently adopted.
Peggy’s family home was nearby at 15 Meadow Road in Southborough, while her uncle Tom lived just round the corner at 106 Springfield Road. Tom later owned some stables at Modest Corner on Southborough Common.
David’s half brother Terry passed his 11 Plus exam and attended Skinners’ School in St John’s Road. Terry later inspired David’s songwriting and sadly suffered from mental illness and committed suicide in 1986, a tragic event which greatly affected the young Bowie.
David Bowie largely grew up in South London after Peggy and Terry moved to South London and he passed away in Switzerland in 2016.
Further details of the book can be found here - https://share.google/ynocPcQYTmXLN80or
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