Rolvenden Section Signal

A fine day out in Tenterden and its environs. First time there for over a month since the last house we views in March. Houses seem to have stalled, despite what the estate agents may say - or we’re just not seeing the one we want. Who knows...

It was a treat to have a coffee and scone from Judges Bakery before setting off on a walk along the High Weald Landscape Trail from Tenterden towards Rolvenden Layne and back. It was glorious, fine, clear and sunny. Hot out of the wind, keen when in your faces. Enjoyed lunch sitting beside the footpath looking over the Rother Levels, listening to skylarks twittering as the soared above. That’s the sort of Twitter we like!

There were buzzards mewing, jays flitting and various tits whizzing by. Magical. We stood for a minute in the silence of the countryside, hearing nothing but birdsong. Plenty of wildflowers on the verges including the first Jack by the Hedge of the season.

We watched part of the Duke’s funeral when we arrived home, getting as far as his coffin entering the Chapel before we had to pause to get dinner ready. It was a really moving event, such precision and ceremony. Royalty is like democracy to me, for all their faults, both are better than their alternatives.

One attraction of the High Weald Landscape Trail is the views of the route of the Kent and East Sussex Railway. The trail crosses the railway at two points, one of which is today’s blip. The signal is the Rolvenden section signal which when off gives the driver authority to enter the single line section between Rolvenden and Wittersham ( which is one of the signal boxes I work)

It looks forlorn, categorically saying stop, but the first shaking down service runs on 7th May and I’m duty signalman at Wittersham on that day. The first public trains run on 22nd May.