LIFE

Last Friday, 24/05/15, Sink the Pink, “East London’s premiere queer club night” and “Tranny-Family”, took a trip to the town of Margate to have a party and raise Funds for Kent Pride.

Taking a big group of crazy Trannies anywhere is always an experience so I decided to document some of trip.

Margate is a small-ish town on the coast of England with a lovely beach. But perhaps most interesting is the contrast in 2 very conflicting cultures. Over recent years Margate has received a surge of “Dalstonites” and Gentrification escapees snapping up properties and creating thriving artists community free of the burden of ridiculously high rent.

However, Margate is also Nigel Farage country and some of the locals are still very queer-phobic. So naturally a group of Sink the Pinkers stood out like a sore thumb.

Luckily we came with large doses of love and glitter, so any slurs were met with smiles and unapologetic faggotry.

I spent the first afternoon mostly with Glyn Famous and Raven Mandella as we drove down ahead of the bus.

FORT:

First stop was a coffee shop we’d been tipped off about called “Fort”. It looked out onto the sea and sold Custard Cream milkshakes so we were instantly in love.

The girl behind the counter was wonderfully attentive and asked us if we were part of Sink the Pink. There was definitely a buzz building across the town. This was probably because Joan Oh’s face had been plastered in every vintage boutique and coffee shop across town advertising the ensuing fundraiser.

We took the opportunity to pose with anti UKIP flyers in the coffee shop before leaving for the town centre.

Next we took the opportunity to look visit “Fort Road Yard”…

…FORT ROAD YARD:

Fort Road Yard is a Margate epicentre of extremely fairly priced, good quality vintage furniture, music events and generally great vibes. This is largely down to the yards owner and chief operator “Kelly”.

Kelly and I having just met ended up having a proper in depth discussion on life, politics and the universe for a good half hour. Not bad going considering it was my virgin voyage to Margate.

This left me feeling invigorated. It’s always so refreshing to meet people and have a real in depth conversation free of the time constraints, shallowness and expectations of technology and the city. I felt truly alive and my faith in humanity another nugget restored.

Not long after I was advised to cross the road to peek into another furniture shop which turns out to be another part of Kelly’s empire where I met co-owner and partner in crime “Mr Joseph Brown”.

“Mr Joseph Brown”, greeted me with a wonderfully firm handshake and a reassuring smile. It was all very storybook and I found myself giggling gleefully inside at this mans beautifully entertaining nature. It was fast becoming apparent that these people truly lived this way and have found themselves a brilliant quality of life. They have time to indulge in their hobbies and their neighbours. They care about people and their surroundings and principles like fairness and well wishing are available in wealth.

I left “Fort Road Yard” and “Margate Retro and General store” feeling replenished and humbled.

CASA DEL POM-ZING:

After hyping up a few more of the towns troops in many a vintage shop we joined the rest of the Tran-Fam at “Amy-ZING”, (co-creator of Sink the Pink)’s new tranny palace with Husband “Luke Pom Pom Vandenberg”.

Amy and Luke are building themselves a family home for a very large family. One that can house not only Amy and Luke but also will be the seaside getaway and artistic retreat for many a Sink the Pinker. Amy has always bought the love in all capacities and this is just another example of her and Lukes incredible generosity. Having 10 trannies stay in your new house is a task beyond the capabilities of almost any institution on earth. Yet this amazing woman seems to find it no sweat.

On top of this, or should I say directly below the house, Amy and Luke are creating an Art’s club to encourage the already thriving creative community in Margate and hopefully offer some much needed education and love to those lost in UKIP land and in need of a Queer hug.

It hits dinner time and the trannies start the makeup ritual before the fundraiser. Dreamboat, Fred Sausage helps Amy in the kitchen whilst the others plaster themselves in an obscure mix of Snazaroo, Mac and glitter.

Lentil Dahl is served and the looks are almost complete.

THE GIG:

With bags packed full of looks and Stilettos donned, we headed to the Lido Cliff Bar for a quick photoshoot before the party.

We most certainly entertained and shocked some of the locals. Most were hugely into us and enjoyed watching the towering heights of Rodent Decay and Dinah Lux catwalk across a sandy field towards the seafront for a photo. Yet we still had some educating to do for a group of young men shouting “faggots”, so we continued to shake our things and pose regally for an epic photo taken by the incredible “Gabrielle Hall”…

(This photo is by Gabrielle Hall)

(This photo is by Gabrielle Hall)

It was finally time for…

THE PARTY:

The venue opened early and the dance floor existed solely of Sink the Pinker’s with a few dubious looking punters sat at their tables. But two hours later and the venue had filled out. By 10 there was not a dry seat in the house and by midnight every weirdo, queer and fanatic was a hot glittery mess rolling around on the floor to the Spice Girls.

Within the space of 4 hours, Sink the Pink had managed to encourage Margate into a lipstick stupor. All inhibitions had been flung out the door and all that was left was the pounding hearts and broken thongs of a liberated new coming. Margate has opened its doors to Sink the Pink’s crazy ways and a new generation of queers has found itself their space to let loose and experiment.

Job done and we leave the club satisfied. On the way back to Tranny Towers we stop by a Kebab shop where Graham Cruz and Dinah leap out to fetch some snacks for the tired trannies. Inside the shop Dinah meets some local girls. They are totally immersed in her and she asks if they would like to Join team Dinah by writing Dinah Lux on their foreheads. They all willingly perform the initiation and wonder off drunkenly into the night.

A greasy pile of meat and chips later and it’s time for bed.

RAVEN’s WAKE UP CALL

It’s some time the next morning and Raven Mandella has not been to sleep. He decides it’s time to invade the sober loft with his new kimono and jump on every one possible.

Apparently it’s time to wake up so I decide escape the house for a little bit of lone time.

After another lovely breakfast and much needed coffee at “Fort” with Glyn Famous, we head into town to visit, “Hunky Dory”. We are greeted by yet another insightful and friendly shop owner who welcomes us into his emporium of unique furniture and collected oddities. This shop is a wonderful curated cavern of Religious Paraphernalia, Regimental Uniforms and funny trinkets, all tastefully selected and displayed.

We leave having purchased a Bahamas Police force hat and an office chair.

Next we stumble across, “Mr Joseph Brown”, once again this time in his 3rd shop, “Margate Retro”.

This shop houses yet more sturdy vintage furniture in pristine condition. Glyn is instantly drawn to a “metamorphic” desk with a typewriter on top and a solid set of draws.

Once again, Mr Joseph Brown comes into his element. He gives us a full theatrical demonstration of the desk and draws and even loads up the typewriter for Glyn to play with.

After further discussion I learn that Mr Joseph Brown and I share very similar ideals. In a quote from Mr Brown himself regarding the typewriter he says:

“We’ve reached the age of the iPhone. This wonderful device that does so many things. Yet as a people and a society we’ve returned to equipment that is a visual feast and a tactile experience.”

We leave the shop having made some wonderful purchases and a new friend. Not to mention a free copy of “History of Aviation” magazine each and a coffee compliments receipt to take back to the yard and get a much needed beverage.

FORT ROAD YARD DAY 2:

We regroup with the Tran-Fam once again at the yard. Most are exhausted but happy sat behind shaded glasses, however, Raven is still partying from the night before. The Lamé still shines and the Prosecco flows.

Whilst waiting for everyone to gather I meet Charlie Evaristo, an artist who runs “Margates smallest gallery” in the back corner of the yard. Charlie creates bright and playful screen prints that he sells from the Gallery. They are bold fun pieces and definitely worth a look, not to mention they are very reasonably priced.

Finally we trudge down to the sea front for fish and chips by the beach and a trip to the toilets in the Turner Contemporary Gallery, (review coming soon).

It’s nearly time to get back to London and our work is complete.

We leave Margate with a sense of satisfaction and sparkles in our bums.

Margate, you have refreshed my life perspective and you have definitely not seen the last of Sink the Pink. Especially considering the Mumma of Sink the Pink, Amy Zing has now made her nest in you. You are a town of much hospitality and there is definitely a quality of life in you worth chasing.

I hope to see you soon.

written by Ted Rogers “Artpornblog”

You can visit “Kelly” and “Mr Joseph Brown” @margateretro

(FB, Ebay and Twitter)

or Visit “Charlie” @CEvaristoBoyce (Twitter)

otptical-confectionary.tumblr.com

…OR go and actually meet them and have a real conversation.

xXx