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May 2026 Update
- Jun 1
- 5 min read
This post is based on TCB's email newsletter published each month, which you can sign up to here.
See the south of the borough in a new light with the Hook Book
Good news for Hook fans — we’ve launched your next favourite book!
The conveniently named Hook Book is the definitive, in-depth exploration of the suburban reimagination you (hopefully) know and love from the Hook, Lines & Thinkers exhibition which has been running at the Hook Centre for the last month or so. Produced alongside staff and students from Kingston University, we think it’s quite the literary feast for fans and residents of the neighbourhood alike.
The delayed arrival of the first print run means we are yet to add this exciting new publication alongside the rest of the TCB bibliography on our online store, but don’t worry — we won’t be shy about it once we’re ready to go.
Forgetful types can also pre-order the book at all good (and not so good) retailers, but cutting out the middleman is a great way to help your support go further, so please hold out to order it from us directly if you can!
(Our writer also came across options for our American and Japanese readers funnily enough, though is unsure as to the legitimacy of such sources. We will get back to you once we’ve done our due diligence, A.K.A. when Robin works out the internet.)
Dog show and sports day sees Seething silliness rates skyrocket across Surbiton
Alternative headline: Crufts in crisis amid stiff competition for top-dog title at Channel 4
Only a few Saturdays ago, crowds flocked to Victoria Recreation Ground as the excitement bubbling under the surface of the Surbiton social scene finally reached a fever pitch. The reason? Seething Sports Day and Dog Show, and with it a chance to win one of several prestigious titles.
The ‘Dogs which look most like their owners’ categories is always a crowd-pleaser.
In typical sports day fashion, the forecasted rain began falling on our diligent volunteers as they prepared the track for the athletic latter half of the afternoon, but thankfully eased off as the first competitors took to their space hoppers. One can only assume Lefi himself was smiling down upon the day’s festivities as an invisible hand (or hoof) seemed to sweep the grey clouds away to pastures new.
Thank you to everyone who rocked up on the day: our fearless athletes, our abiding crowd, and last but not least, our ever-generous volunteers keeping everything running as smoothly (no mean feat, especially when eggs and spoons are involved).
Tolworth Court Farm Fields monolith update
After several trips to Tolworth Court Farm Fields this month, the (borough's largest) nature reserve finally has its new signage. You'd be forgiven for thinking they have been there forever, but that's just the expertise of the 121 Collective's rust technicians in action.
Depicting local species to reflect the ongoing rewilding efforts, the monoliths have been installed around the various gates dotting TCFF in this month — a heroic effort given the recent weather, both rain and shine. If you need yet another reason to visit this gem in the south of the borough, this is it.
Annual sardine fest catch-up
This newsletter is already looking to be on the longer side, so in brief: sardines were caught, shared and enjoyed; costumers were donned, with there somehow being even more sardine-themed outfits than usual; and the fishing festivities were as festive as ever.
Dates for your diary
Beat the heat with a beach-side disco — 17 June
What better way to celebrate the sun’s (intermittent) return than with a mid-week boogie with the great and good of Seething?
Tickets are now available for this extra-special beach party silent disco. It’s set to take place on Wednesday 17 June — next week — so don’t delay, book today, and get excited for a taste of the summer holidays right here in Surbiton.
Explore the rituals of a Saturday night out with new fashion exhibition
Get ready to be bold, brilliant and adventurous with Knit Wits: Haus of SIBLING — an archive exhibition of knitwear from fashion design house SIBLING, all shaped by the rites and rituals which come with going out on a Saturday Night.
Founded by Joe Bates alongside collaborators Sid Bryan and Cozette McCreery, SIBLING emerged as a fearless force hell-bent on subverting knitwear’s conventions: think oversized rather than refined silhouettes, bold, clashing colours, graphic slogans, and in the wonderful words of those more fashionable than this writer, ‘a deliberate embrace of the awkward and the joyful’.
The archive, which hasn’t been on public display since it was entrusted to the Kingston School of Art in 2017, is as far from your grandma’s thoughtful-but-itchy Christmas jumpers as you can get. Think funny and expressive, radical and rebellious, impolite and in-your-face: the boundary where knitwear meets Millennial club culture. And if you still need convincing, know that SIBLING was so revolutionary in the fashion world that the one and only V&A dedicated one of its Fashion in Motion catwalks to their designs. Not bad at all.
This celebration of SIBLING’s design legacy is on show at Kingston Museum from 12 June until 26 September, but head along sooner rather than later if you can — you might find yourself wanting to head back sooner than you think.
You can see it for yourself between 10am and 5pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Oh, and just to sweeten the deal: did we mention its free entry?
More info regarding opening hours and getting to the museum can be found on the Kingston Heritage Service website, linked below. And if you share anything from the exhibit on your socials, as always be sure to tag us as The Community Brain on Facebook and @communitybrain for Instagram. Much appreciated!
That’s it! Quite a marathon this month: the phrase ‘better late than never’ has never rung quite as true. (This writer is just happy to have had a head start on June’s issue.)
So on that note, we’ll speak to you in a couple of weeks!
Speak soon,
— The Community Brain team
