THE THREAT to Calverley Grounds bandstand has led many Tunbridge Wells residents to share their "wonderful" memories of the historic landmark.

The Kent and Sussex Courier has been inundated with comments since we revealed the bandstand was under threat.

Tunbridge Wells couple Peter and Janemarie Taylor, of George Street, had their wedding reception on the bandstand in July 2007.

Mr Taylor said: "I hold it close to my heart. When we got married it was our theme. To walk down to the bandstand and have our special day there. We used it for two or three hours, it was lovely weather.

"The bandstand is where we used to meet before we married. We used to meet at the cafe and have a coffee before we went to work. It's our bandstand.

"Personally I fell in love on this bandstand. It means an awful lot to me.

"The strength of feeling over this issue is quite evident. It is something we don't want.

"Year after year it's condition has got gradually worse. In my mind there is no option – it should be there.

"It is not there just for music and entertainment, it is there everyday.

"The council has been sitting on £26,000 for nearly four years and now complains that it is not feasible to repair."

Valerie Waddington, 82, who was "born and bred" in Tunbridge Wells said she could remember regularly congregating around the focal point.

She said: "I used to visit the bandstand with my grandparents to listen to the band every Sunday and on Empire Day all the schools used to congregate there.

"I would feel very sad to see it go completely.

"In the summer it is much nicer for families to sit on the banks while the children are free to run about (though of course not to misbehave).

"I find there is not enough get-togethers these days, making many older people more lonely."

Richard Snow, of Cornford Park, Pembury, said the bandstand made the perfect amphitheatre.

"We need some concerts. People will certainly turn up for them.

"It is in the perfect spot with lots of space around it where hundreds of people could turn out.

"My wife and I regularly walk in the park. You can see it beautifully, it makes such a difference to the landscape. It's what makes it different from any other park."

Donald Brown, 83, of Houselands Road, Tonbridge, who grew up in Tunbridge Wells, fondly recalls the days he spent playing at the bandstand.

"When I was a young schoolboy on Empire Day all the schools used to go there and had to sing different things and when that finished we had the rest of the day off.

"I used to go down Calverley Grounds and on Sundays listen to the different bands that played there.

"I don't want it destroyed. It is part of Tunbridge Wells' heritage.

"It was there a long time before I was born and should be there a long time more."

Brenda Stephenson, who now lives in Plymouth but was brought up in Tunbridge Wells and often returns said the bandstand means a lot to her.

"I constantly visited the Calverley Grounds and can remember sitting on the grass banks listening to the band play.

"Yes, we all have our memories, but what about our heritage? This is a focal point of the Calverley Grounds and we don't want it flattened."