HOW entertaining it is to read the ravings between those two branch-line towns, Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone as to which is the better place ("Overtaken by Maidstone in happy league", Courier, January 6).

I would like to point out that a town not far from both has a lot more going for it than either of these upstart conurbations.

Just look at some of the advantages Tonbridge has:

An imposing medieval castle that once held the deeds of the realm

Two very flat sports grounds (in Kent it's very rare to have such large facilities that are on level ground)

Can any of the other two boroughs match Tonbridge when it comes to sport? We have a rugby team that has only lost three league games in three years and a professional football team that plays in the Conference South League

Tonbridge School, one of the top five in the country; its sporting facilities are so good that the entire Australian athletic team are making it their base for this year's Olympic Games.

I could go on, but there is one other thing that I feel I should mention: a Tunbridge Wells councillor thinks that the county town has an advantage over his town because it has a river flowing through it. It might be worth pointing out that the water that flows through Maidstone has been passed by Tonbridge.

One other fact that not many people know about is that Tunbridge Wells starts at the top of our Quarry Hill. There is a spot there where you can stand just inside the boundary and look down into that green valley and see a town called Tonbridge, or as I like to call it Camelot.

Harry Elliott

Barden Road

Tonbridge