Calling for unity and kindness, a Crowborough man says he wants to reclaim the town and get its community spirit back.
George Thomas, 30, has started leaving bunches of flowers in the town centre for anyone to take, and has attended the weekly army camp protest marches – just to stand with signs calling for people to be kind.
He told Crowborough News he was prompted to do so following the angry and divisive exchanges there have been between people after the Home Office started using the army training camp to house asylum seekers.
But his campaign is not about taking sides – it’s about respect. “I think a lot of people object to the hate and vitriol the army camp issue has caused in Crowborough. I know there are decent and good people on both sides of the issue and my view is quite simple: we should be able to disagree and still get along.”
He admitted being apprehensive the first time he stood at the protest march with his message of “Love thy neighbour”. And it did cause some angry exchanges with a small minority of protesters.
George said: “I wasn’t surprised but I was confident that I wouldn’t get attacked. If someone is just spreading a message of kindness I don’t think anyone could get violent.”
And although the message was a biblical one, George said it hadn’t come from any faith. “I don’t have a Christian faith but that doesn’t stop you sharing some of Christianity’s values and messages.”
George has lived in Crowborough since he was 15 and says it has always been a place with a strong sense of community. “I really want us to get back to the Crowborough we had where people looked after each other, looked out for each other. If you look up Crowborough now all you find is the army camp issue and how it has divided the community.”
But he said he believes the community spirit is still there. “Take the volunteers from Brighter Crowborough, for example. No-one has asked them to do it, they’re not paid, they don’t ask for thanks, they just pick up litter, tidy up our town, to make it a better place for everyone.
And his simple message appears to be resonating with many people. Posts on Facebook under his nicknamed group “kindness-simply-kindness” are getting a positive reaction. Responding to one of his posts with a sign talking about kindness one person said: “This is exactly what Crowborough needs. Not hate and slating each other – it’s not hard to be kind.”
And another commented: “The people of Crowborough who value integrity and respect are beginning to speak out, refusing to allow such conduct to define or tarnish the town any longer.” While another wrote: “This is the Crowborough I recognise. Thank you.”
George said he was pleased. “There is so much negativity in the world right now. I was always raised to be kind and do my bit. I want to help reclaim Crowborough. There is still kindness here. The flowers and my messages are all about spreading a bit of joy.”