Tom Bromley

Salisbury

Columnist at Salisbury Journal

Author, Editor and Ghost Writer at Freelance

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Articles

Word Up: Why I love vinyl - and why I think it's here to stay

1 week ago | salisburyjournal.co.uk | Tom Bromley

Boiler Room Records revamps store (Image: Newsquest) Last Saturday, I joined the many music lovers visiting their local independent record shop for this year’s Record Store Day. Launched in the UK in 2008, about 300 independent record stores take part each year, selling exclusive LPs and CDs that are only available in store on the day. Being limited editions, once the records are gone, they’re gone, which can lead to diehard fans queueing up overnight to get the record they want.
Tom Bromley: The importance of investing in the arts

2 weeks ago | salisburyjournal.co.uk | Tom Bromley

Giving young people the chance to explore and discover the arts is important in so many ways (Image: Supplied) Thank you to those readers who got in touch regarding my whereabouts the last couple of weeks. I’ve been away in the Spanish mountains leading a writing retreat: a welcome escape from the current relentless roll of bad headlines. So apologies to those hoping those blank pages were the last of me.
The costly crisis on our roads

1 month ago | salisburyjournal.co.uk | Tom Bromley

2 1/1 This week my column is full of holes. No change there, some might be thinking, but at least this week it is deliberate. Some signs of spring are traditional. The gambolling of lambs. The flowering of daffodils. But in recent years can be added another: that boneshaking thump as your vehicle hits another pothole.
An evening of Afghan music for a worthy cause

1 month ago | salisburyjournal.co.uk | Tom Bromley

Veronica Doubleday and John Baily (Image: Supplied) This Friday, Salisbury’s Quaker Meeting House is playing host to An Afghan Musical Evening, featuring a trio of very talented musicians: Veronica Doubleday (vocals and dairah), John Baily (on rubab and dutar) and Sulaiman Haqpana (tabla). The event, from which donations will go toward Afghan Aid is being organised by Muse, a Salisbury charity that promotes social inclusion and integrating those otherwise excluded from society.
The ‘Dan Brown of painting’ had an instinct for narrative

1 month ago | salisburyjournal.co.uk | Tom Bromley

Artist Jack Vettriano, who died on Monday, age 73 – pictured here opening a show of his work in 2022. Neil Hanna/PA Let’s begin with the disappointing news that Salisbury City Council has decided to go ahead with the closure of the public toilets in the Market Square and Central Car Park. At the council meeting on Monday, a proposal by Conservative Councillor Chris Taylor to keep the Central Car Park toilets open was rejected.
Salisbury marks third anniversary of the war in Ukraine with a day of remembrance

1 month ago | salisburyjournal.co.uk | Tom Bromley

Independence Day for Ukraine in Salisbury 2024. Image: Spencer Mulholland This week saw the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, marked in different ways by different countries. Here in the UK, Keir Starmer’s government announced the largest package of sanctions against Russia so far. In Kyiv, a range of world leaders joined Volodymyr Zelenskyy to show their support for the country’s struggle.
The Neighbourhood Plan weighs in at 138 pages of word salad

2 months ago | salisburyjournal.co.uk | Tom Bromley

Aerial shot of Salisbury Cathedral and Close Image: Martin Cook What links an England footballer, an American President, Network Rail and the Salisbury Neighbourhood Development Plan? The answer lies in linguistics and the use of language. Let’s begin with the subtleties of swearing. This weekend, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was sent off for swearing at the referee.
Campaigning is underway for this year’s local elections

2 months ago | salisburyjournal.co.uk | Tom Bromley

Local Elections 2021 at Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre - Picture by Dom Argar / Wiltshire Council Spring might be a while off springing, but it hasn’t stopped campaigning starting for this year’s local elections. I would say those elections were forthcoming but given they’re not happening until May, that stretches the word’s definition beyond breaking point. The opening salvos have proved curious.
Can small outfit Meca really entice the big acts to the City Hall?

2 months ago | salisburyjournal.co.uk | Tom Bromley

Tom Bromley (centre) rocking the Duke of York with his jazz quartet Centrepiece last weekend. I don’t often say that I agree with John Glen but in a speech he gave in the House of Commons this week, he spoke well about the importance of public investment in the arts and the multiplier effect that support has for the local economy.
Bygone: History shows us that city centre toilets closure is nothing new

Jan 23, 2025 | salisburyjournal.co.uk | Tom Bromley

Many people have voiced an opinion regarding the possible closure of the public conveniences in Salisbury Market Place. History shows us that this is nothing new and it goes right back to 1905 when Salisbury Town Council had erected a temporary iron convenience in the Market Place which had caused a great deal of dissatisfaction.