Rhys Griffiths
@rhysdgriffiths.bsky.social
Journalist, doing the hyperlocal newsletter thing @folkestonedispatch.substack.com. On the terraces at Folkestone Invicta. Love football, food, drink, travel (by train, ideally), history, podcasts and naps
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
The same people who lord the bravery of the war generation now seek publicity by pretending to have pissed their pants in London at the sight of something totally unremarkable in the hope of scaring people who don't live there - as if competitive wimpering is a vote winner. Absolutely pathetic.
February 13, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The same people who lord the bravery of the war generation now seek publicity by pretending to have pissed their pants in London at the sight of something totally unremarkable in the hope of scaring people who don't live there - as if competitive wimpering is a vote winner. Absolutely pathetic.
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
The other half of the early agriculture shitpost canon:
February 12, 2026 at 12:47 PM
The other half of the early agriculture shitpost canon:
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
Ed is live at today's KCC budget meeting. Follow below 👇
Good morning. I'm here at today's Kent County Council meeting, where the Reform-led administration will propose its first budget.
It is the only item on the agenda, but expect it to be contentious.
It is the only item on the agenda, but expect it to be contentious.
February 12, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Ed is live at today's KCC budget meeting. Follow below 👇
Praying Substack hasn't imploded. I'll have to get an actual job
February 11, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Praying Substack hasn't imploded. I'll have to get an actual job
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
Or you can visit the London Borough of Bexley, which has no dedicated news outlet, where Uncle Clive gets radicalised by Facebook and tries to blow up an ULEZ camera.
A survey taken in August 2025 found that across 206 US counties defined as local news deserts, roughly half of people relied on non-journalistic sources, not news organisations, to get local news localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
With no local news, those in news deserts turn to social media feeds, influencers and gossip
research | Feb 10, 2026
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu
February 11, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Or you can visit the London Borough of Bexley, which has no dedicated news outlet, where Uncle Clive gets radicalised by Facebook and tries to blow up an ULEZ camera.
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
A survey taken in August 2025 found that across 206 US counties defined as local news deserts, roughly half of people relied on non-journalistic sources, not news organisations, to get local news localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
With no local news, those in news deserts turn to social media feeds, influencers and gossip
research | Feb 10, 2026
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu
February 11, 2026 at 10:56 AM
A survey taken in August 2025 found that across 206 US counties defined as local news deserts, roughly half of people relied on non-journalistic sources, not news organisations, to get local news localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Can we do this for indy local news, please? 😆
February 11, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Can we do this for indy local news, please? 😆
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
It is so embarrassing that it has taken nearly a decade for a British minister to say this, a statement of the absolute bloody obvious
February 11, 2026 at 7:40 AM
It is so embarrassing that it has taken nearly a decade for a British minister to say this, a statement of the absolute bloody obvious
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
In this week's newsletter we hear more about a fun event with a serious message...
📚 World record attempt to kick off Folkestone is a Library project
Plus: New alternative music bar to open in storied town centre venue, and five-star Invicta move step closer to league title
folkestonedispatch.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:02 AM
In this week's newsletter we hear more about a fun event with a serious message...
Suspect this comment will work just as well 18 months after Reform's landslide. Starting to think it might be the country, rather than the government, that's the issue here...
How you get from massive victory to complete mess in 18 months is a story that should be studied for years
February 9, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Suspect this comment will work just as well 18 months after Reform's landslide. Starting to think it might be the country, rather than the government, that's the issue here...
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
Remember the controversy when Obama was accused of intervening in UK politics? This is the current US government openly seeking to undermine liberal democracy in Europe.
February 6, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Remember the controversy when Obama was accused of intervening in UK politics? This is the current US government openly seeking to undermine liberal democracy in Europe.
Really need to focus and knuckle down this week. Have to get into the curling...
February 5, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Really need to focus and knuckle down this week. Have to get into the curling...
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
Today is #TimeToTalkDay and is a chance to reflect on mental health support. In 2026 the Dispatch is raising money for South Kent Mind, our charity of the year. You can donate to this important cause here...
Folkestone Dispatch supporting South Kent Mind
Help Folkestone Dispatch raise money to support South Kent Mind
www.justgiving.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Today is #TimeToTalkDay and is a chance to reflect on mental health support. In 2026 the Dispatch is raising money for South Kent Mind, our charity of the year. You can donate to this important cause here...
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
In this week's newsletter we look at some of the questions surrounding the prospect of a Folkestone bid for the crown of UK Town of Culture 2028...
🎨 Could Folkestone become the first-ever UK Town of Culture and win £3m prize?
Plus: Sadness at death of ‘incredible’ former teacher, and council ‘continuing to prepare’ for auction of former library building
folkestonedispatch.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:00 AM
In this week's newsletter we look at some of the questions surrounding the prospect of a Folkestone bid for the crown of UK Town of Culture 2028...
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
you can literally travel to Mongolia, take a taxi from Ulaanbaatar to Choirin, find the last house in the outskirt, and ask Munkhbat who's about fifty or eighty, no one knows for sure, he spent his entire life drinking and throwing rocks at passing cars, he would say "Peter Mandelson? He's a c*nt."
February 3, 2026 at 9:03 PM
you can literally travel to Mongolia, take a taxi from Ulaanbaatar to Choirin, find the last house in the outskirt, and ask Munkhbat who's about fifty or eighty, no one knows for sure, he spent his entire life drinking and throwing rocks at passing cars, he would say "Peter Mandelson? He's a c*nt."
So, like most employees who get sacked for fouling up their job so badly they put the entire business in existential peril?
February 3, 2026 at 3:41 PM
So, like most employees who get sacked for fouling up their job so badly they put the entire business in existential peril?
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
February 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
If there's a TV show that had a greater impact on my sense of humour, I can't think of it. Magical, magical stuff
‘We put a stink bomb in Stephen Fry’s shoe’: Vic and Bob on the inspired idiocy of Shooting Stars
‘Christians complained about the stuffed buzzard wearing a crucifix round its neck. Birds can’t be Christians, they said. It’s the most complaints we ever got’
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:58 PM
If there's a TV show that had a greater impact on my sense of humour, I can't think of it. Magical, magical stuff
Magic bean salesmen keeping an eager eye open for anyone carrying this £3 paper today. And I thought we're supposed to be concerned about Boomers getting scammed?
Daily Express: NOW YOU MUST GIVE BRITAIN A PROPER BREXIT #TomorrowsPapersToday
January 31, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Magic bean salesmen keeping an eager eye open for anyone carrying this £3 paper today. And I thought we're supposed to be concerned about Boomers getting scammed?
Reich Chancellery says Germany repeated its invitation for Stalin to come to Berlin for talks
KREMLIN SAYS RUSSIA REPEATED ITS INVITATION FOR ZELENSKIY TO COME TO MOSCOW FOR TALKS.
January 29, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Reich Chancellery says Germany repeated its invitation for Stalin to come to Berlin for talks
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
Jewish descendent of holocaust victims and survivors here.
What he said was fine.
Neighbours hiding minority children from uniformed government thugs in service to a nativist agenda is bad enough.
I'm sure Anne would have preferred people spoke up BEFORE the Nazis got to the death camps stage.
What he said was fine.
Neighbours hiding minority children from uniformed government thugs in service to a nativist agenda is bad enough.
I'm sure Anne would have preferred people spoke up BEFORE the Nazis got to the death camps stage.
The Minnesota governor is getting widespread criticism for comparing children dealing with immigration enforcement to Holocaust victim Anne Frank.
Tim Walz condemned for comparing Minnesota children to Anne Frank
The Minnesota governor is getting widespread criticism for comparing children dealing with immigration enforcement to Holocaust victim Anne Frank.
bit.ly
January 28, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Jewish descendent of holocaust victims and survivors here.
What he said was fine.
Neighbours hiding minority children from uniformed government thugs in service to a nativist agenda is bad enough.
I'm sure Anne would have preferred people spoke up BEFORE the Nazis got to the death camps stage.
What he said was fine.
Neighbours hiding minority children from uniformed government thugs in service to a nativist agenda is bad enough.
I'm sure Anne would have preferred people spoke up BEFORE the Nazis got to the death camps stage.
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
Another twist in the ongoing saga of the former library building in Grace Hill? This week's newsletter is out now...
📚 Grace Hill library latest: ‘We’ll buy the building for £1’
Plus: Road of Remembrance work could now start in summer, and Army explosives experts called to property during police operation
folkestonedispatch.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Another twist in the ongoing saga of the former library building in Grace Hill? This week's newsletter is out now...
Reposted by Rhys Griffiths
Auschwitz was at the end of a process. We must remember that it did not start from gas chambers.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.
January 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Auschwitz was at the end of a process. We must remember that it did not start from gas chambers.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.
This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.
Auschwitz took time.