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PHOTO: Craig Matthews
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
‘It would have a catastrophic effect on the viability of continuing to trade’ Hoopers’ MD Debra Angus
Flagship department store faces closure if it loses car park battle By Richard Williams newdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk HOOPERS will tomorrow [Thursday] present its case to the Calverley Square inquiry over future access rights to its car park, which it suggests could result in the closure of the department store. The retailer claims that the council’s plans may well bring to an end nearly a hundred years of a store trading at the bottom of Mount Pleasant Road.
The council has applied for a compulsory purchase order [CPO] that will grant them the right to drive through the store’s customer car park, allowing them to service Calverley Square, their new £90million theatre and civic complex. Hoopers, who bought the site from Weeks in 1990, a department store that had been trading in the location since the 1920s, say the council’s plans creates an ‘existential threat’ to the business, risking 170 jobs. Managing Director, Debra Angus, is
to tell the CPO inquiry at the Mercure Hotel on Thursday that if the Borough Council are granted rights to its car park, the department store would be ‘compelled to close the car park to customers.’ In her submission to the Planning Inspectorate’s Graham Dudley, Ms Angus stated: “If this occurred, it would have a catastrophic effect on the viability of continuing to trade at this location, and a knock-on impact on the group.” Hoopers will present a report by Lee
Stampton of Health and Safety South East, which states: “Frankly, I am at a loss as how we can conduct a risk assessment on the likely new vehicle movements arising from the CPO rights and come out with the risk as being acceptable.” Hoopers, which also has stores in Harrogate, Torquay and Wilmslow, employs nearly 500 people, more than a third of
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Litter louts forced to clean up their act as fines nearly double
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College classes as normal despite suspension of the Hadlow Group’s principal and deputy By Richard Williams
By Robert Forrester
newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk
FINES for dropping litter in Tunbridge Wells are set to almost double as the Council get tough on litter louts. Fixed Penalty Notices [FPNs] for discarding rubbish in the borough were £80, but from April 1 they will rise to £150. There will also be no discount for paying the fine early. The maximum penalty for an on the spot fine is set by central government, under Section 88 of the Environmental Protection Act. In 2017, the Government launched a new Litter Strategy with an ambition to be ‘the first generation to leave the natural environment of England in a better state than it found it’. It noted that existing FPN levels were not high enough to be an ‘actual deterrent’, and the 2006 fines were adjusted in line with inflation. A spokesperson for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said: “The maximum fine for littering is set by central government, last year that amount was increased to £150. “When deciding fees and charges, Cabinet gave their approval for the TWBC penalty to increase to the maximum £150, to take effect from 1 April 2019.” Councillor Dr Ronen Basu, head of sustainability at TWBC said: “There is no excuse for littering and it’s only right that we impose the maximum penalty on those who think that it is ok to drop litter and leave it to be cleared up at the Council Tax payer’s expense. “The vast majority of people don’t litter, they do what is right and find a bin or take their rubbish home,” he added. Fines for littering are set to increase in Tonbridge and Malling too, but not by as much. The new charge for littering there will be £100, an increase of £20, and there will be discounted rate of £65 if the offender pays within 10 days. *Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has dismissed reports that bin lorries will be fitted with cameras to fine people for using the wrong bins or leaving them out in the street. They say vehicles are already fitted with cameras for health and safety reasons, and the council or the contractor Urbaser, has no plans to use the cameras to fine people for either using the wrong bins or leaving them out in the street.
THOUSANDS of students have been told that classes will continue as normal at a number of West Kent colleges despite the suspension of two senior executives and an investigation by the Further Education Commissioner into accounting irregularities. Hadlow Group, which has around 10,000 students in various colleges and campuses in the region, has suspended Group Principal, Paul Hannan, as well as Deputy Principal, Mark Lumsdon-Taylor. The Chair of Governors from West Kent and Ashford College has also resigned. Mr Lumsdon-Taylor had handed in his resignation from his £210,000 a year position at the end of January, but his notice period does not end until March 1, while Mr Hannan has
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which are based in Tunbridge Wells. The town’s store also accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the company’s sales. Ms Angus says the car park, which consists of 34 parking bays, is ‘an important tool’ to engage and retain its customer base as ‘loyal customers are the life blood of our industry’. She will explain to Mr Dudley that the store’s loyalty card programme includes free parking to regular customers, a benefit that is a ‘unique point of difference which helps the store compete with other retailers in Tunbridge Wells.’ Cardholder turnover represents nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of group sales and almost half of that comes from Tunbridge Wells’ customers, claim Hoopers. In 2017, the Mount Pleasant Road store sold off an additional 20-space customer car park nearby on Grove Hill Road, to developers of a residential apartment block, known as the ‘Pink Building’. The sale happened more than twelve months after hearing of the council’s plans to use its store car park lower down the hill. The Council’s QC, Craig Howell Williams, from Francis Taylor Building, might use this information to cast doubt on the importance the group places on its car park for customer retention. TWBC claim the car park is needed to provide access to the Calverley Square development. They argue that vehicles servicing the theatre will predominately be only active at night, when the store is closed, and access is only needed as an exit point for large trucks as they will arrive at the back of the theatre via Mount Pleasant Avenue.
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 576037 CHIEF REPORTER RICHARD WILLIAMS richardwilliams@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 240626 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES ENQUIRIES GHak@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 779650 FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews
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CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS HERE at the Times of Tonbridge we strive to deliver fair, accurate and balanced reports. When we don’t meet our own high standards we will accept the responsibility and publish clarifications and corrections. If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor at David Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0TF, or email newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Markerstudy Leisure is a trading name of One Media and Creative UK Limited registered in England and Wales under company number 5398960 with registered office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB.
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Wednesday February 20 | 2019
been on sick leave from his £264,000 a year job since investigations into accounting irregularities began. The suspension of the two men follow several visits by the FE Commissioner, who it is understood is looking at a series of land purchases between Hadlow College and West Kent and Ashford College [WKAC]. Last year Hadlow Group sold two buildings and car parks at the West Kent site on Brook Street, with the land being made available for housing. A spokesperson for the college at the time said the sale ‘will be used to release funds to reinvest in resources for our students’, adding: “We expect to release significant funds over £1million to reinvest.” Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge and Malling has said he has been in contact with the FE Commissioner who has reassured him that students at Hadlow College, West Kent College will not be SUSPENDED Hadlow’s Deputy Principal Mark Lumsdon-Taylor (pictured with Rosemary Shrager)
Hoopers’ car park fight with council Continued from page 1
However, they admit, up to 10 delivery vans a day would need access to the car park to deliver such things as food and drink to the theatre, and supply the offices and civic centre.
Drawing board Initially, TWBC wanted to purchase half the spaces in the car park, a move that Hoopers vehemently opposed. Subsequently, an offer was made for just four spaces, again opposed by the department store. The CPO currently under examination by the Planning Inspectorate does not include the compulsory purchase of any of Hoopers’ land or car park. It simply requests ‘unrestricted access rights’. Without access, trucks and lorries would be unable to service the backstage area of the theatre, as there would not be space for them to turnaround and head back out onto Mount Pleasant Road. STORE WARS Hoopers is fighting the council over access to its car park
affected by the current investigations. He said: “It is important that the Commissioner is able to get to the bottom of what has happened and make sure that the Group can continue to provide such excellent education to students.” The recent investigations by the FE Commissioner come just after the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) also conducted an enquiry into money paid to the group, to which the ESFA now dispute they were entitled. The ESFA provides colleges with funding for apprenticeship schemes, and it is understood paying back this money could leave a financial black hole for Hadlow Group. A spokesman for the group told the Times yesterday: “The Governors and Senior Management Team have appointed an independent team of accountants and are working proactively with the FE Commissioner and ESFA on a solution, following some concern around the long-term financial health of the Group. “An interim Principal – Graham Morley – has been appointed and both the Deputy Group Principal and Group Principal are currently suspended. “We have also accepted the resignation of the West Kent and Ashford Chair of Governors, Paul Dubrow. Our focus throughout this process remains on our students and the continued delivery of good quality teaching and learning.” It has been a troubled time for Hadlow Group, which took over West Kent and Ashford College in 2014, but saw the flagship college receive a ‘requires improvement’ rating from the education watchdog last year. Ofsted inspectors visited the campuses in October and found too many 16-18-year-old students on level one and three diploma courses were leaving early without getting their qualifications. The group employs around 1,000 people and runs Rosemary Shrager’s Cookery School in Tunbridge Wells, Hadlow College, Hadlow Rural Community School, West Kent and Ashford College as well as a number of other educationbased establishments in Kent. If the CPO is confirmed work on the theatre is scheduled to begin in October 2019 and is predicted by the Council to end in January 2022 Simon Bell from Knights Solicitor based in the High Street, Tunbridge Wells, who is acting for iSmile Dental Practice, which is threatened with demolition from one of the CPOs explained: “As a result of the Inquiry, the CPO will either be confirmed (with or without modifications) or rejected by the Planning Inspector. “If the CPO is confirmed, then substantive construction work on the Council’s scheme to develop a new civic centre, public square and theatre at the western entrance of Calverley Grounds will follow.” Failure to get the CPO confirmed could put an end to the council’s plans for Calverley Square, or at least send TWBC back to the drawing board for an alternative logistics plan for the theatre, ramping up the costs of the £90million development.
Wednesday February 13 | 2019
NEWS IN BRIEF
Local Labour Party united despite split THE Tunbridge Wells Constituency Labour Party has said they are united despite the turmoil in the national party that has seen seven MPs leave to form an independent group. Former Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Umunna was among dissenters who resigned the party whip this week. Martin Betts, Vice Chair of Tunbridge Wells Constituency Labour Party said: “It is a very difficult time for all political parties because of the divisions over Brexit. “We regret the decision of these MPs to leave the Labour Party to set up their own independent grouping. This will only divide opposition to a government that is bungling on Brexit and presiding over the misery of Universal Credit, rising crime, homelessness and poverty. “Locally we are standing united to elect a Labour government to invest in and transform our country.”
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A21 bridge death THE A21 was closed for most of Tuesday after a woman died following a fall from a bridge in the early hours of the morning. Police closed the Sevenoaks Bypass when they were called out around 6.10am, after reports that the 37-year-old from Sevenoaks had fallen from Gracious Lane Bridge. The dual carriageway remained closed for most of the day, with both lanes only fully opening in the early hours of the evening.
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John Martin steps down after a very successful decade at Trinity Theatre TRINITY THEATRE has waved goodbye to its Artistic Director of ten years who turned around the theatre that was on the verge of collapse into one of the region’s most vibrant and thriving arts venues. John Martin is stepping down to seek ‘new challenges and new direction’ after ten successful years at Trinity Theatre, which now welcomes 90,000 people a year through the doors of the converted Decimus Burton church for a range of theatre, music, dance, film and comedy.
‘A testament to his artistic influence’ Alongside Michael Elliott and Stephen Mason, Mr Martin started as one of a trio of volunteer managers in early 2009 when the ailing theatre had just lost its Arts Council funding and was facing a £40,000 deficit. The theatre says Mr Martin’s talent and skills, as well as his ‘generosity in working as a volunteer’ for nearly 18 months, was key in helping the theatre achieve a financial turnaround. Under his direction, Trinity received its first
Council tax rise A COUNCIL tax rise of 4.99% has been approved in Kent. County councillors voted last week to approve the rise, which is the maximum permitted without activating a referendum. Kent County Council said the increase includes 2 per cent ring-fenced for adult social care and 2.99 per cent needed to help meet a shortfall of more than £80m created by the rising demand for services. It will mean people in a band D home will face a rise of more than £62 on April 1 plus a further £24 a year for additional police officers, which was announced by Kent PCC, Matthew Scott, last week.
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five-star review from entertainment magazine, The Stage, for ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in 2017. During his tenure, Mr Martin directed and produced 20 successful shows, seeing audiences for the theatre double, which Trinity says is a testament to his artistic influence and organisational oversight.
Theatrical legacy Michael Stevens, Chair of Trinity Theatre, said: “When John became the Artistic Director, he helped to bring the organisation forward to a sustainable and successful operation—for which we are grateful.” A spokesperson for the theatre continued: “A new Artistic Director will be recruited during the coming months with a remit to build on this theatrical legacy and overall programming alongside the onward artistic ambitions of Trinity Theatre. She added that a search for a replacement for Mr Martin begins in earnest next week, but in the meantime, Executive Director Alex Green will continue to focus on the new heritage strand of activity and will assume responsibility for overall strategic, operational management and planning.
Wealden man missing in Australia POLICE in Australia are searching for a Wealden man after he and his French companion went missing on a beach in New South Wales. A search began for Hugo Palmer, 20, from Forest Row, and his friend, Erwan Ferrieux, also 20, when walkers found items belonging to the two men on Shelley Beach in the early hours of Monday morning.
Left abandoned A further search by police revealed their rental car, a silver Commodore station wagon, had been left abandoned in a car park at the beach, which is near Port Macquarie in New South Wales. A spokesman for New South Wales Police said: “A search of the wagon found a number of other personal items, including travel documents. “A water and ground search commenced
involving police from Mid North Coast Police District, Marine Rescue, SES, NSW Police Force Marine Area Command. There has been no sign of the pair.” He added that police are appealing to anyone who might have seen the men or their Commodore near the Shelley Beach car park or in the surrounding streets to contact them. Reports in Australian newspapers suggest Mr Palmer and Mr Ferrieux had been classmates at school in East Grinstead, and that they have been travelling together for more than three months.
Keen surfers Both men were believed to be keen surfers, and as weather conditions in the area had been rough, police suspect they may have got into trouble while surfing at the beach. However, officers are hopeful the two men may yet be found safe and well.
MISSING Erwan Ferrieux [left] and Hugo Palmer [right]
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As a town, we need to stay ahead of the curve
AN ENTREPRENEURIAL mother who fell in love with Tunbridge Wells while visiting as a tourist, and settled here to raise a family and start a business, believes standing still is not an option for the town. “We followed the pattern of many Londoners wishing for more space for the imminent arrival of our first born,” said Annabel Fenwick, Director of Just Roof Lanterns, which is based on Norfolk Road.
Best move “It’s the best move we ever made—we adore where we live,” she continued. “RTW has a strong entrepreneurial spirit that’s perhaps less on the radar, at least to those living outside the town anyway. “There’s so much new business going on – often facilitated by new parents, fed up with the rat race and the London commute. This is surely backed up by the fact that over a 1000 new companies have formed in RTW over the last year
as your paper recently reported.” However, she warned that while those in the town may believe in Tunbridge Wells, we need people outside the town to feel the same way. She explained: “As your campaign says ‘We Believe in Tunbridge Wells’ but critically, we need those living outside the town to believe that too so that they stay at our hotels, buy in our shops and come to our events. In essence, we need to sell Tunbridge Wells as a destination. “We need to say, ‘Hey look at us, we have lots to see, lots to do. Come shop, come play!’” She argued that it has never been more important for Tunbridge Wells to invest than it is now.
like the plans, but we, and they, need to think of the bigger and brighter picture if the town is to flourish over the next fifty plus years. Doing nothing is not an option.” For more see Letters page 18
Long distance councillor quits A PARK ward councillor who lives 160 miles away in Holt, North Norfolk, has confirmed he is to quit the council following repeated calls from angry residents telling him to step down. Cllr Peter Bulman has previously refused to resign from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, despite the fact that he lives more than three hours away. The Park ward representative, who was elected in 2016, has only attended two council meetings in the last 12 months, yet despite this, he has still pocketed his £5,500-a-year allowance.
Cannot Represent
World class “Royal Tunbridge Wells needs to stay ahead of the curve to stop the town stagnating or worse, deteriorating. That’s why the proposed theatre development is such an important part of the town’s regeneration. And personally, I’d go further and say we need a world class art gallery to boot,” she said. “RTW needs to think big. Of course there will be some resistance and not everyone will
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
FROM THE ROOFTOPS Tunbridge Wells needs to sell itself says Annabel Fenwick
One of his ward constituents, who did not wish to be named, has had it confirmed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] that Mr Bulman has finally called it a day and will stand down in May, despite his seat not being up for election. The resident, said: “He is a zombie Councillor. He cannot represent us because he lives 160 miles away. He has only been to two of the six council meetings he was meant to attend last year. It is right he should go.” In a letter from TWBC, seen by the Times, an official at the council said: “It is correct that, since February 2018, he [Cllr Bulman] has only attended meetings of the full Council and has not attended any of his other committees: Audit and Governance, Licensing and General Purposes.
END OF THE ROAD Councillor Bulman to stand down “However, Cllr Bulman is not in breach of the legal requirement, which is that within a six month period he must attend at least one official council meeting (of either full Council or any committee).” The letter continued: “He [Cllr Bulman] has written to the Chief Executive to confirm that he wishes to resign from his position as councillor, with effect from the May 2019 elections.” Speaking to the Times, Cllr Bulman said: “It is not true that I have been unable to represent people in my ward. I am still very active in the ward. I have always maintained that I never would never serve a full term of office.” The news will come as a relief to fellow Conservative councillors, who have asked him to step aside, including Council Leader David Jukes who urged his Tory colleague to quit last year.
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
Doctors vote to close area’s only stroke unit DOCTORS have voted to open three new hyper acute stroke units [HASUs] in Kent and Medway, which will mean the closure of the unit in Tunbridge Wells. The Joint Committee of Clinical Commissioning Groups [JCCCG] for Kent and Medway met at the Hilton Hotel, Maidstone, last Thursday, and the 14 doctors in attendance voted unanimously to introduce the new units following a five-year review of urgent stroke services. The move remains controversial, with protestors descending on the Hilton Hotel last week to voice their disquiet over the loss of stroke services at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Medway Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother Hospital in Thanet.
Controversial Medical director at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and stroke treatment specialist, Dr Peter Maskell said: “The development of hyper acute stroke units will enable many more patients to receive the same high levels of care consistently throughout Kent and Medway. “This is about providing access to the best possible care 24/7, building on the excellent work of our staff and extending this to cover the whole week and all eventualities.” The new HASUs will be at Dartford’s Darent Valley Hospital, Maidstone Hospital and the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford from September. The Joint Committee claims the new units will ensure the overall service will improve and ultimately save lives, with a better 24/7 service. In a statement, they said: “The reality is, sadly, that any stroke patient who dies within a few hours of having a stroke would almost certainly have died whether they were at home, in an ambulance or being cared for in the best stroke unit in the world. “However, most people will survive their stroke, and the critical factor for them is how we can reduce their risk of dying in the following days. “We can do that best by getting them to a specialist stroke centre where they can get clot-busting care within 30 minutes of arrival, and round-the-clock care for the vital first few days after their stroke.” Tunbridge Wells MP, Greg Clark, supports the idea. In his monthly column for the Times earlier this month, he said: “The review is proposing that all stroke patients will be assessed by a dedicated team of rehabilitation specialists whilst they are still in hospital. This team will provide a ‘one stop shop’ for help and support once patients have been discharged. He added that the new units could work with rehabilitation hubs in local communities.
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Tunbridge Wells mother takes her fight to drugs company By Richard Williams
FIGHTER Jeni Beviere wants Vertex and the NHS to agree a deal
newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE mother of a Tunbridge Wells boy suffering from a debilitating lung disease is battling to persuade the government and a US drug company to come to an agreement over a life-extending medicine. Vertex produce a ‘pipeline’ of cystic fibrosis drugs, including the life-extending, Orkambi, which they want to charge the health service £105,000 a year for each patient taking the medicine. The company has rejected a half a billion pound deal offered by the NHS—the largest of its kind in the health service’s history. Jeni Beviere from Pembury, whose 12-year-old son suffers from the condition, has formed a campaign group #UKNeedsOrkambi to try to push politicians and Vertex to come to an agreement and get the drug licensed as soon as possible, following a seven month stalemate. Cystic fibrosis effects about 10,000 people in the UK, and prevents the lungs from expelling mucus and phlegm, which has left Jeni’s son, Josh, requiring a ‘cocktail’ of up to 40 tablets a day, including around 10 antibiotics as well as nebulizers and vitamins. “The drugs he takes now just treat the problems caused by cystic fibrosis,” Mrs Beviere explained to the Times. “Orkambi, can stop the clock on the disease.” She said that the drug could add about 20 years to the life of sufferers, many of whom never make it past their 30s, but talks between Vertex and the NHS broke down in August when the drug giant refused the £500million offer. “They do not want to negotiate because they have a monopoly,” she Mrs Beviere. “The patent for this drug lasts 20 years so they know the NHS cannot get this drug anywhere else.” She admits that drug companies do have large research and development bills but is saddened by the breakdown in talks between Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, and the Vertex board. “They just need to come to the table now and agree a deal. We cannot wait another three years,” warned Mrs Beviere. She said her son has just undergone a lengthy hospital stay, which included two and half hours of physiotherapy each day. “I know it is a lot of money for a single drug, but it is not when you consider how much Josh’s treatment has already cost—and he is one of the healthier ones.” Now, Jeni hopes to get 100,000 signatures on a
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petition that will force parliament to look at the issue. If all else fails, the 42-year-old IT worker wants the government to enact ‘Crown Use’, which would see Britain ignore Vertex’s patent and permit cheaper ‘generic’ versions of Orkambi to come to market.
‘The drugs he takes now just treat the problems caused by cystic fibrosis… Orkambi, can stop the clock on the disease’ “That would see a version of the drug available for people for around £15,000 a year,” she said. “It is a last resort, nobody wants this to happen, but people need these drugs now.” Vertex, which last year made £2.41billion in profits, has argued that Crown Use would ‘significantly weaken incentives for future innovation’, but the company last week pulled out of talks with Shadow Health Secretary, Jon Ashworth, who has also been trying to broker a deal, and has been reluctant to come back to the table with NHS bosses. It is estimated that in the three years since Orkambi has been unavailable to NHS patients, up to 220 cystic fibrosis sufferers in the UK, who otherwise could be alive, have died. “For Josh, if he started taking the drug now, it
could extend his life by about 18 years—if he had got the drug a few years earlier, it could have given him another 23 years,” Mrs Beviere said. Local MP, Greg Clark, said he was in talks with Matt Hancock about the deadlock. He told the Times yesterday [Tuesday]: “This is an issue that affects a number of families in Tunbridge Wells, many of whom I have met at my advice surgeries. “It’s been distressing to hear about the impact that not being able to access Orkambi has on cystic fibrosis sufferers. On behalf of my constituents, I have been pressing the Secretary of State for Health to do everything he can to try and resolve this matter.” A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement: “It is absolutely right that patients should have access to cost-effective, innovative medicines on the NHS at a price we can afford. “Despite being offered in the region of £500m over five years - the largest ever commitment of its kind in the 70-year history of the NHS - Vertex has refused to accept, putting Orkambi out of reach of patients. “We’re aware there may be other avenues open to resolve this issue, but our approach remains urging Vertex to accept NHS England’s generous offer.” Jeni Beviere’s petition to get parliament to discuss the plight of cystic fibrosis sufferers in need of Orkambi is available at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/231602
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Wednesday February 20 | 2019
2019 ON HIS WAY Anton du Beke
The Times Business Awards are back with yet another special night to remember... By Jonathan Banks THE Times Business Awards 2019 announced last week are set to be an even bigger and better event this year, with new categories alongside some old favourites. There are ten options ranging from Young Entrepreneur of the Year to the Service Excellence award and Creative Business of the Year, all celebrating the wealth of talent in our local area from established businesses to start-ups. The guest speaker at the gala night on May 30 at Salomons in Tunbridge Wells will be the face, and feet, of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Anton du Beke. He has been a regular favourite on our TVs since 2004, when Strictly was first beamed into our front rooms. Throughout that time, Anton has released an album, written a novel, and even found time to become a father for the first time – to twins no less. He follows in the footsteps of former politicians Michael Portillo and Edwina Currie as well as BBC Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce who have also presented the awards. In 2016 the Times held its first Business Awards which proved to be a considerable success, attracting more than 150 entries from some of the most innovative and successful companies, both big and small, recognised for their exceptional retail acumen and expertise. The judging process culminated in a sold-out gala night at Salomons in Tunbridge Wells that saw the work of local entrepreneurs celebrated along with the achievements of businesses of every size. In March 2016, Times Local Newspapers added the Times of Tonbridge to its publishing portfolio, and as a result even more businesses and enterprises were attracted to the awards for 2017.
Last year was the biggest and best awards ceremony yet, with more than 200 guests from businesses across the region attending the gala night, which is an ideal platform for networking and building new business partnerships. Editorial Director Richard Moore said: “We are absolutely delighted with the support that these awards have received from the local business community without whom such events would obviously not be possible. “Both those who sponsor the evening and those who put themselves forward as entrants have helped create a gala night that is now recognised as one of the leading social and networking events of the year. “This is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate all that’s good about the businesses in and around Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge. And there’s a lot to celebrate.”
CELEBRATING Some of the award winners at last year’s gala ceremony
Why enter your business in 2019? This is a unique opportunity to showcase yourself and your company alongside some of the outstanding businesses and business people within the boroughs of Royal Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling. You can be part of a vibrant annual awards ceremony that recognises, celebrates and promotes local business excellence. Winning a prestigious business award will add credibility to your company, raise your profile through valuable media coverage, generate new business, inspire your staff and provide an exclusive networking opportunity for you at the awards ceremony which takes place on May 30 at Salomons in Tunbridge Wells.
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
The categories: 1. Start-Up Business of the Year Award – This award recognises new start-ups under two years old at the closing date for entries of April 24 2019 that have translated an idea into a successful business venture. They must be able to detail growth so far and show plans for the continued development and success of the venture. 2. Creative Business of the Year – Is your business success based on innovation and creative thinking in your strategy and every day operation? This category is for any company over two years old in any sector that can demonstrate creativity as well as adding value to the success of their business. 3. Entrepreneur of the Year – This award is open to dynamic individuals who are running their own business and are able to demonstrate significant success and drive in growing their company. 4. Young Business Person of the Year – Entrants for this award must be aged 30 or under by the closing date on April 24 2019 and need to show they have a clear vision / strategy for their business and are committed to growing it. Areas such as increasing headcount, developing and inspiring staff, and involvement in the local business community are all good examples of this. 5. Service Excellence Award – The winner of this category will be giving outstanding assistance and advice to those who buy or use their business or organisation’s products or services. They will be able to provide customer testimonials to support their entry. 6. Best in Food and Drink Award – The winner of this category will be a local business that provides truly remarkable food and/or drink in the area. Whether it is a fine dining restaurant, gastropub, café, bakery, cake shop or drinks company, the winner of this award will have demonstrated how they have put their town on the map. 7. Best Family Business of the Year Award – This category recognises those businesses that not only have the passion and commitment that comes with a company run by a family concern, but also be continually innovating to support future growth and has an equally invested and engaged workforce that understands customer expectations. 8. Best Business 25+ employees – This category recognises larger businesses employing more than 25 people and looks for consistent growth and strong financial performance alongside an engaged workforce and a business plan supporting innovation and future growth. 9. Best Business 1-25 employees – Here we recognise owner-managers and small businesses employing up to 25 people that have maintained consistent growth and strong financial performance. They must understand customer expectations, have an engaged workforce and be continually innovating to support future growth. 10. Outstanding Business of the Year – The ultimate award of all the categories will go to the business that can show outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, as well as sound management practices. The winner must also be able to demonstrate they have a clear strategy to invest in the skills and development of their staff. They will be expected to prove sustainable growth combined with a degree of commercial success that is exceptional for the size of the business.
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How to enter To register your interest and receive an application form, or to find out more information, please contact us through info@ timesbusinessawards.co.uk leaving your full contact details and an indication of which category you might like to enter. You can also call Eileen Sweeney on 01892 779583.
The timeframe… The closing date for entries to the Times Business Awards is Wednesday April 24. Each category will be shortlisted to three entries. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by email on Monday April 29, 2019. Winners will be announced at the gala dinner. Tickets are available priced at £95 per person or £850 for a table of 10. Numbers are limited and based on the previous two years the award dinners will be a sell-out. To book please call Eileen Sweeney on 01892 779583.
HERE’S WHAT PREVIOUS SPONSORS HAVE TO SAY: Handelsbanken Tunbridge Wells were delighted to sponsor an award last year for such a great local event, recognising and rewarding some truly great local businesses and business people. It gave us the chance to really cement our local banking approach, engage with the local business community and to meet new people.’ Nick Green Branch Manager, Handelsbanken ‘We decided to sponsor The Service Excellence Award 2018 after winning Best Business award 2017. We wanted to give another business the opportunity to win an award and feel the same excitement on the evening that we felt. Winning and sponsoring an award has most definitely made an impact on our business. It’s helped to promote who we are, how reliable and customer focused we prove to be.’ Terry Hill Owner, Castle Cars ‘It was wonderful sponsoring the Family Business of the Year Award in 2018. We enjoyed meeting other family businesses that are growing and experiencing the same challenges as we have and we and look forward to taking part again in the future.’ Michele Harriman Smith CEO, Childrensalon ‘John Bullock Design has been a category sponsor of the Times Business Awards since 2017. As sponsor we enjoy extensive media coverage during the build up to the awards in the newspaper and via social media, but also at the Gala Awards evening at Salomons Estate – which is a superb networking event it its own right. Our sponsorship positions us amongst other leading local businesses and has definitely increased our profile. We’ve also entered the awards and were delighted to win last year. This was hugely motivational for our team and has been a great marketing sales tool which we’ve used throughout the year. This year we’re sponsoring the ‘Best Business 25+’ category...and we intend to win a couple more awards too!’ John Bullock Design was delighted to sponsor ‘Creative Business of the Year’ Award in the 2018 TOTW Business Awards
Want to Sponsor the Times Business Awards? In 2016 the Times held its first Business Awards that proved to be a considerable success attracting more than 150 entries from some of the most innovative and successful companies, both big and small, recognised for their exceptional retail acumen and expertise. The selection process culminated in a sold-out gala night at Salomons in Tunbridge Wells that saw the work of local entrepreneurs celebrated along with the achievements of businesses of every size. In 2017, Times Local Newspapers added the Times of Tonbridge to its publishing portfolio, and as a result even more businesses and enterprises were attracted to the awards, which continues to go from strength to strength. More than 200 finalists and guests enjoyed a night of celebration at the 2018 gala awards cere-mony, which made it an ideal platform for networking and building new business partnerships. Being involved, whether by entering or just attending the gala evening is certain to raise the profile of your company, but how would you like to sponsor an award? • Sponsors are guaranteed editorial coverage in both editions of Times Local Newspapers. • Exposure to over 220 guests from the local business community at the black tie gala awards ceremony. • Inclusion within the extensive editorial coverage in SO Magazine. • Extensive coverage on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
40% 950
increase in number of entries over 2 years
Tweets on the night
300 companies attended over the last two years representing over 4,000+ local employees
16,000+ website page views
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Wednesday February 20 | 2019 PHOTO: Sportcam
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DEEP BREATH The 1,250 runners prepare for the start
LEADING LADIES: Female winner Andrea Burquez (right) and runner-up Georgina Frost RISING STAR Teenager Billy Hobbs came second again
On your marks: Former pupils dominate Half Marathon again School pupil, came second to repeat his feat last year, with a time of 1:12.16 – slightly better than his effort in 2018. AROUND 1,250 runners took part in the Alan Lee of Sevenoaks AC came third in 1:13.37, Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon around the town and surrounding villages on a just pipping last year’s third-placed runner, gloriously sunny, crisp morning on Julian Rendall of Tonbridge AC, into fourth. Sunday [February 17]. Andrea Berquez, with a time of 1:26.32, was The popular race, now in its 36th the first woman across the line, followed by year, attracted running club Georgina Frost of Orpington Road Runners, in members and unaffiliated runners 1:26.47 – improving on her third place last from all over the country. year. That went to the Harriers’ Organised by experienced Harriet Woolley in 1:28.30. volunteers from the Tunbridge Harriers race organiser Mark Taylor described the race as Wells Harriers running club, ‘organised by runners for the race was started by the runners. This is a challenging British junior curling team event and we want runners from Beacon Academy in to feel a real sense of Crowborough, who stayed achievement’. around to cheer runners on He thanked his team of at the third drinks station. helpers, saying: “We could The winner was Simon Goldsworthy of Guildford & not do this event without the support of our fellow club Godalming Athletics Club. members, who are marshals, and The former Bennett Memorial all the other volunteers who help schoolboy, who also won last year’s race, clocked a time of one from organising the start and hour 11min 29sec. finish areas, to manning drinks DOUBLE TOP The Harriers’ own Billy Hobbs, a stations. Simon Goldsworthy 19-year-old former Skinners’ “We were delighted with the won again
By Andy Tong
support shown from the town, including businesses sponsoring the events and providing discounts for runners and everyone who cheered the runners along the route. It created a wonderful atmosphere.” The 13.1-mile course started in Southborough, and the picturesque route then traversed some of Kent’s most beautiful countryside. It passed through Bidborough, descending into thick mist in Penshurst before the tough 300ft uphill climb at Spring Hill in Fordcombe and back into the sunshine. The runners then went through Langton Green and Rusthall, along Mount Ephraim and back into Southborough for the finish line. In past years, more than £160,000 has been raised for charity by the not-for-profit event, and this year’s primary recipients will be the Bridge Trust homeless charity, the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre and the Counselling Centre, with some support also going to Citizen’s Advice and Compaid, which provides transport for the elderly and disabled. Many runners were raising funds for charities with whom they have a special connection, including a Tigger who literary bounded across the finish line and three Ghostbusters, who run the Tunbridge Wells Half-Marathon every year wearing different outfits.
RUNNING SCARED: (L-R) Ghostbuster fundraisers James Gibbs, Martin Powell and Tom Hicks
BREAK THE ICE The English Junior Curling team (l-r) Mia Andell and Beacon Academy students Annabelle Martin, Anna Howey and Sydney Boyd start the race They said: “We just wanted to run for fun, but we raised so much in sponsorship that now we do this every year. It was hot running in these boiler suits.” All runners’ times can be found at twharriers. org.uk/tunbridge-wells-half-marathon
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RUNS IN THE FAMILY (L-R) Sofia Baguley with her daughter Gabriella, husband Kitt and son James
Hostess of Colombian Kitchen marks decade running Race for Life SOFIA BAGULEY, Tunbridge Wells’ popular Colombian food hostess, will take part in Race for Life for the tenth year in a row in Dunorlan Park in June. She will once again be accompanied by her children, James, 13, and 11-yearold Gabriella, who have run the 5k event for the last five years. The family are looking to raise £1,000 for Cancer Research UK, and Sofia said: “It will be £100 for each year I have taken part in the race, to mark the occasion.” Sofia’s cousin Mercedes, with whom she grew up, passed away after a long
battle with breast cancer earlier this month. She said: “This year’s race will be in her memory and it will be all the more important to us. “Cancer Research UK is a charity close to my heart as I had breast cancer 11 years ago. “Thanks to the research carried out and new improved treatments, as a result I’m here today. “I have been taking part in the Race for Life 5k since 2009, a year after being diagnosed. I’m grateful to be here, and to be able to do my bit for such an important cause.”
She added: “My children got involved in Race for Life because I started doing it when they were four and two years old, and my husband Kitt always brought them to the park to watch me. “Once they were old enough, they wanted to take part as well as they thought it was fun, and we told them that it was for a very good cause and that we were helping people. “Now obviously they know mummy had cancer and that’s why they also wanted to be part of it. They know it’s important to me.” Cancer Research UK says survival rates have doubled over the past 40 years, and improvements to technology and groundbreaking work offer new opportunities to find different ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Sofia, who hosts an evening of Colombian cuisine in her home once a month, said: “We’ll be donating £5 for each individual guest attending our Colombian night from now until June.” She held an empanada sale in her garden on Saturday [February 16], with all profits going to the charity. The savoury pastries are made with maze flour, which is gluten free. “I made the empanadas and my children did the sale and took in the money, so they were in charge!” Sofia, who is from the port city of Cartagena in Colombia, started her dinner parties in 2013 after being inspired by pop-ups in Cuba, where families opened up their homes. Sofia’s Colombian Kitchen was awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor for two years in row in 2016-17. To make a donation, search for ‘Sofia and kids race of life’ at fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
ellenor chief to step down after five successful years CLAIRE CARDY is standing down as Chief Executive of hospice charity ellenor after five years in the role. She joined the senior management team as Director of Patient Care before taking on the lead role. Under her guidance ellenor has been successfully rebranded, has received an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission, and was named as Kent Charity of the Year.
Remarkable ellenor also featured in a groundbreaking TV series last year called The Hospice, which showcased the palliative care and support provided by a passionate and professional team. Claire said: “After a busy five years as Chief Executive of this remarkable charity, I feel that now is the right time to move on and allow others the opportunity to lead ellenor in the next stage of its development, as we enter the second year of our new five-year strategic plan. “I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved here, and I feel privileged to have worked with and met so many remarkable people, who are motivated to make a positive difference to the lives of local families.” She added: “I will remain a loyal advocate of the hugely important work that ellenor does, caring for patients of all ages and their
families at such an important time.” A leading provider in specialist palliative and end-of-life care, ellenor is the only charity in Kent providing hospice care for people of all ages in a place of their choice. Chair of Trustees Roger WedderburnDay said: “I am extremely grateful to Claire for her long period of service, both as Director of Patient Care and subsequently as Chief Executive for over 11 years. “ellenor has grown and developed significantly under Claire’s stewardship. Through effective governance, Claire has established a strong and passionate team, all working to achieve ellenor’s vision of providing the very best quality personalised care and support for local families facing terminal illness. “On behalf of everyone at ellenor, I would like to thank Claire for her excellent service. We will all miss her.” There are no immediate plans to appoint a successor. From April. the executive team will manage the charity with the full support of the board of trustees. INCREDIBLY PROUD Claire Cardy has overseen significant development
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
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MAGIC MOMENTS: Bishop Chavasse pupils present their cards at Barnes Lodge as part of their weekly community link-up
Children create art with a heart after visiting care home for year RESIDENTS at Barnes Lodge Care Home in Tonbridge were feeling the love last week when pupils of Bishop Chavasse Primary School visited to make Valentine’s Day cards. The children were enthusiastic about designing and making the cards. There were many offerings for their parents, but some of them gave their creations to delighted residents of the home. Sheila Ward was one of the lucky recipients, and said: “This just wonderful – isn’t it lovely? Thank you.” The pupils have been visiting Barnes Lodge for nearly a year, arriving once a fortnight to catch up on events and often learning something new. On the previous trip they made their own space mobiles after learning about planets back in the classroom.
Kay Hawkins, Activities Coordinator at Barnes Lodge, said: “There is a huge difference in our residents when the children visit. “Their faces just light up when they arrive, and some of the residents actually stand at the window waiting for them in the morning.
‘Children have such a pure and positive sense of compassion’ “They absolutely adore them and get so much out of these visits, it really is wonderful to see and be a part of.” Donna Weeks, Headteacher at Bishop Chavasse, told the Times: “The most
important thing in life is to be loved and cared about. Children have such a pure and positive sense of compassion, which is why our community link with Barnes Lodge is one I feel incredibly privileged that we have been able to establish and develop over the last year. “Being able to watch the relationships between children and residents grow into something so special, and the impact it has had on all involved from young to old, care staff to school staff and parents, is truly magical. “To find a child’s hand in yours is one of the most moving things that can happen to you, so being able to watch this tenderness happen during our visits to Barnes Lodge is incredibly special – and something more schools should seek to establish.”
Antiques Fair in memory of silverware specialist to help Hospice in the Weald A MAJOR Antiques Fair is to be held in Tunbridge Wells in memory of silverware specialist and dealer George Paterson to raise money for Hospice in the Weald. George was so impressed with the care he received in the In-Patient Ward at the hospice in Pembury that he wanted to organise a fundraiser. He died in October before the event could go ahead, but his granddaughter Claire O’Neill will be fulfilling his wish. Claire, who is an intensive care nurse at AXA PPP Healthcare in Tunbridge Wells, is aiming to bring together more than 40 stallholders for the fair, which will be held at The Skinners’ School on Sunday April 28.
Response “I just want to raise as much as possible for the hospice,” said Claire. “I’m just doing what my grandad would have done. “I am hoping we will attract a queue of people, as well as a waiting list of stallholders.” “The response has been absolutely brilliant so far, I had no idea! And 100 per cent of all money is going to the hospice.
PERSONAL EVENT: George Paterson wanted to give something back “I really want all the stallholders and traders to have a good day. I hope it will promote the wonderful antiques trade.” She added: “Grandad was the head of
our family; he brought me up as if he were my father, we were very close. “He promised the hospice nurses that he would run an antiques fair to fundraise for the hospice, to give something back. “I knew, as he said the words, that he wouldn’t be here to do that. We knew he wasn’t going to get better. I decided right at that moment that I would do this for him when the time came.” Kathryn Cracknell, Relationship Fundraising Assistant at Hospice in the Weald, said: ‘We are so pleased that Claire has taken this initiative. “It’s really special to arrange such a personal event in memory of someone, and Claire is working so hard to make sure everything goes smoothly. “Fundraising ideas and events like this are so important to help us reach the £7million we must raise every year.” Entry to the antiques fair costs £1 and there is free parking. Refreshments will be provided by Fuggles Beer Café and there will be live music from the Heathfield Silver Band. For more information, contact Claire on 07866 598641 or email: patersonsilver@gmail.com
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Passengers miss out on pre-paid tickets RAIL passengers were unable to collect prepaid tickets from machines at stations across the country yesterday morning [Tuesday] due to a fault. A number of operators experienced problems with the system, including Southeastern, Southern, Stansted Express, East Midlands Trains, Greater Anglia and ScotRail. One passenger wrote on Twitter that the issue affected every machine at London Liverpool Street, which is the third busiest in Britain. A spokesman for the industry body Rail Delivery Group [RDG] said the issue was resolved at around 10am. It explained that the problem was caused by computer servers failing to communicate with one type of ticket machine. East Midlands Trains advised customers to
OFF THE RAILS Southeastern and Southern passengers were affected
‘board their services using booking confirmation emails’. Passengers who had not pre-booked were still able to buy tickets from machines.
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
Insulin stockpiles are doubled as £11m paid to prepare NHS for Brexit MATT HANCOCK sidestepped calls to confirm he would resign to block a no-deal Brexit, as he revealed the cost of NHS contingency planning. The Health Secretary said around £11million of taxpayers’ money has been spent so far. He added that there have been costs to the pharmaceutical industry due to stockpiling of medicines. Mr Hancock also attempted to reassure people with diabetes after insisting the two major providers of insulin have made stockpiles of at least 12 weeks – double the amount requested by the Government for other medicines. Speaking in the Commons, shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said Mr Hancock had spoken with his ‘characteristic self-confidence’ about insulin supplies but highlighted concerns from charities and asked if the minister would resign to avoid a no-deal. He added impact assessments linked to no-deal planning for medicines show the NHS will ‘pay more for drugs, UK firms will face more red tape, NHS patients will go to the back of the queue when it comes to international innovation’.
When he announced the £11million figure, Mr Hancock said: “The NHS is not generally buying the extra medicines that are going into the elongated stockpiles. “But the pharmaceutical industry is, because we’ll eventually buy most of those medicines for the NHS. “So there have been costs in the pharmaceutical industry as well, but the cost so far to the taxpayer is £11million and I expect it’ll remain at that level - if a little higher.” Vicky Ford, Conservative MP for Chelmsford, raised concerns over insulin supplies for people with diabetes. Mr Hancock replied: “Whilst across all medicines we have requested the pharmaceutical industry has an extra six weeks of supplies in case of a no-deal Brexit, in the case of insulin the two major providers have already made stockpiles of at least double this – which shows that those with concerns about access to insulin can know that the plans we’ve got in place are being enacted even more strongly than elsewhere.”
Irish leader offered to extend deadline for Brexit but May refused THE Irish premier has said he raised the issue of extending the deadline for the UK leaving the EU with the British Prime Minister. But Leo Varadkar said Theresa May made it clear that Brexit would go ahead on March 29 as planned. The Taoiseach made the comments in the Dail parliament as the Irish Government ramps up its action plan for the event of the UK crashing out of the EU. “I have raised the issue of Article 50 potentially being extended and the Prime Minister has made her position clear that she intends the UK will leave the EU on time on the date that they have set for it,” he told the Dail. Mr Varadkar said the March 29 deadline was set in Britain for Britain, not imposed by the EU or Ireland. “No-deal is not a threat that Ireland is making or the European Union is making,” he said. “No-deal can be taken off the table by the United Kingdom at any time, either by revoking Article 50 or by seeking an extension of Article 50, and we’ll listen to any request that they make for that.” He added that a no-deal Brexit would cause a “dilemma” for the UK and Ireland. “The only solution that can assure that we do not see the emergence of a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland is an agreement on customs, on customs territory, call it what you will, and regulatory alignment between Northern Ireland and the European Union or perhaps the whole UK and the European Union. And that is what we’ve negotiated.”
COMEDY GOLD Harry Enfield attending the Only Fools and Horses the Musical opening night at the Theatre Royal Haymarket last night [Tuesday]
IS schoolgirl has UK citizenship taken away SCHOOLGIRL Shamima Begum, who joined the Islamic State group in Syria aged 15, is to lose her UK citizenship. The family’s lawyer, Tasnime Akunjee, said they were ‘disappointed’ with the decision and were considering ‘all legal avenues’ to challenge it. Ms Begum left Bethnal Green, east London, with two school friends in February 2015. Now 19, she was found in a Syrian refugee camp last week. In a BBC interview, Ms Begum, who has just given birth, had said she now wants the UK’s forgiveness and to return home. But Ms Begum’s mother revealed she received a
letter from the Home Office yesterday [Tuesday]. The letter said Home Secretary Sajid Javid had taken the the decision to remove her daughter’s British citizenship and the order to do so had subsequently been made. It asked her mother to let Ms Begum know of the decision and inform her that she has a right to appeal. Under the 1981 British Nationality Act, someone can be deprived of their citizenship if the Home Secretary is satisfied that it would be ‘conducive to the public good’ and they would not become stateless as a result.
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
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Labour needs major ‘listening exercise’ SHADOW chancellor John McDonnell has called for a ‘mammoth listening exercise’ after seven MPs left Labour in protest at the party’s direction. The comments came as one of the breakaway group, Chuka Umunna, signalled a new centre party could be created by the end of the year. Mr McDonnell played down suggestions that as many as 36 Labour MPs had considered leaving unless Jeremy Corbyn deals with the problem of anti-Semitism within the party’s ranks. Mr McDonnell said: “We need a mammoth, massive listening exercise and address some of those criticisms that have been made.” He said: “I don’t think there is that scale, but the key issue for us – and it was made clear at the Parliamentary Labour Party, Tom Watson said it and others – the Labour leadership, and I’m part of that, we need to keep listening, bring people in, talk to them.”
Three-minute test for sepsis is breakthrough A FAST test for sepsis that can give a result within three minutes has been developed by scientists. The test could save thousands of lives from the deadly condition and experts hope it will be available on the NHS within three to five years. At present, it can take up to 72 hours to diagnose sepsis, which kills an estimated 52,000 people in the UK every year. The new low-cost test, developed by researchers at Strathclyde University, uses a biosensor device to see whether the protein IL-6 is present in the bloodstream IL-6, a molecule secreted by the immune system, is often found in high levels in people with sepsis. Experts hope the test will be used at the bedside in hospitals and in GP surgeries.
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British Gas joins giants in raising energy tariffs
NO TURNING BACK The Swindon car plant will close in 2021
Closure of Honda car factory is ‘bitter blow’ to dedicated staff GREG CLARK has described Honda’s decision to shut its factory in Swindon in 2021 as a ‘devastating decision’ and a ‘bitter blow’. The Japanese firm plans to close the plant, which manufactures 150,000 cars a year, at the end of the current model’s production lifecycle with the loss of 3,500 jobs. A statement said: “This proposal comes as Honda accelerates its commitment to electrified cars, in response to the unprecedented changes in the global automotive industry.
Accelerate “The significant challenges of electrification will see Honda revise its global manufacturing operations, and focus activity in regions where it expects to have high production volumes.” Honda said its UK business may no longer be viable as a global manufacturing hub. There was no mention of Brexit in its statement. Katsushi Inoue, President of Honda Motor
Europe, said: “In light of the unprecedented changes that are affecting our industry, it is vital that we accelerate our electrification strategy and restructure our global operations accordingly. Mr Clark, the Business Secretary, said: “As Honda have said, this is a commercial decision based on unprecedented changes in the global market. Regardless, this is a devastating decision for Swindon and the UK. “This news is a particularly bitter blow to the thousands of skilled and dedicated staff who work at the factory, their families and all of those employed in the supply chain. He added: “I will convene a taskforce in Swindon with local MPs, civic and business leaders as well as trade union representatives to ensure that the skills and expertise of the workforce is retained, and these highly valued employees move into new skilled employment.” “The UK is one of the leaders in the development of these technologies so it is deeply disappointing that this decision has been taken now.”
BRITISH GAS and Scottish Power have joined three other ‘big six’ suppliers in raising the cost of their standard variable tariff to match Ofgem’s price cap. The 10 per cent price rise from April 1 will affect around 4million British Gas customers, who will see their bills rise to an average £1,254 to meet the regulator’s latest cap. Scottish Power’s similar rise will impact on 900,000 clients. Ofgem announced on February 7 that it would increase the price cap for default and standard variable gas and electricity tariffs by £117 to £1,254 a year from April 1 due to hikes in wholesale costs.
Collins sisters on TV THE lives of sisters Dame Joan and Jackie Collins are being adapted into a TV drama. The six-hour series will follow the actress and novelist ‘from a teenage bedroom in post-war London to the insatiable glitz and glamour of 1980s Beverly Hills’. Fable Pictures, a UK-based company which made the movie Stan & Ollie, is producing the series.
Record for migrants THE number of non-EU nationals working in the UK has jumped by 130,000 to a record high, while EU workers have fallen. There were an estimated 1.29million employees from countries outside the EU in the last three months of 2018 – the highest since records started in 1997. The number of EU nationals working in the UK fell by around 61,000 year-on-year to 2.27million in October to December.
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Asda’s boost ahead of proposed merger SALES at Asda continued to rise in the fourth quarter as the supermarket awaits the next stage in its proposed merger with Sainsbury’s. Like-for-like sales were up 1 per cent, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of growth, while net sales rose by 2.7 per cent. Asda chief Roger Burnley said it had been another ‘challenging’ period in retail, but sales were driven by higher demand for the grocer’s own-brand products, especially the premium Extra Special range. “The year ahead looks no less turbulent than the last, with uncertainties around Brexit playing on our customers’ minds,” he said. The results come as Asda and Sainsbury’s await the provisional findings of a competition inquiry into their proposed mega-merger, which are expected this month.
FirstGroup sees fall in revenue from rail TRANSPORT giant FirstGroup has revealed slowing rail revenue growth after admitting a ‘disappointing’ service for passengers amid strike action on South Western Railway. The group said like-for-like rail passenger revenue growth slowed to 4.2 per cent between September and January. It cited ‘significant infrastructure challenges’ added to widespread disruption from the industrial dispute over guards on trains. Passengers were also impacted by ‘operating incidents’ on South Western Railway [SWR]. The revenue growth marks a slowdown on 5.5 per cent for the first six months, excluding SWR. FirstGroup said its rail challenges ‘resulted in disappointing operating performance for passengers towards the end of 2018’.
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First-time buys at 12-year high as parents help with deposits
OPEN THE DOOR: The first-time buyer’s average deposit is 17.8 per cent THE number of first-time buyers reached a 12-year high last year, according to mortgage lending figures from trade association UK Finance. Some 370,000 mortgages were handed out to people getting on the property ladder last year. The total is 1.9 per cent up on 2017 and the highest since 2006 when 402,800 loans were advanced. Housing market experts said people are being helped to make the jump to home ownership by competitive mortgage deals, schemes aimed at first-time buyers like Help to Buy, and contributions from parents. The average first-time buyer is aged 30 and puts down a 17.8 per cent deposit, according to UK Finance’s figures for December 2018. Jackie Bennett, director of mortgages at UK Finance, also expects to see existing home owners locking into attractive remortgage rates in 2019 as more fixed-rate mortgage deals come to an end.
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
NEWS IN BRIEF
New Lloyds scheme helps access to cash
Ms Bennett said: “Demand for new buy-to-let purchases continues to be dampened by recent tax and regulatory changes. “However, the number of buy-to-let remortgages reached a record high of almost 170,000 last year, suggesting many landlords remain committed to the market.” Andrew Montlake, director at Coreco mortgage brokers, said first-time buyers are the ‘life-blood’ of the property market. He said: “Mortgage lenders are becoming more and more competitive in the first-time buyer market, with more products available for borrowers with smaller deposits and a fair amount of innovation taking place, such as family deposit schemes.”
SHOPKEEPERS will be paid to offer customers cashback in their stores in areas where people have little access to ATMs, under a new pilot scheme from Lloyds Banking Group in partnership with Visa. The announcement is designed to boost access to cash, at a time when bank and cashpoint closures prompted concerns about the availability of physical money. Lloyds said the new fee will offer more support to retailers, such as newsagents and small convenience stores, and increase the number of places where people can withdraw their money.
Lucky
THE launch of their vegan sausage roll has helped bakery chain Greggs lift its 2019 profit outlook after driving a surge in customers through its doors. Shares in the group rose 8 per cent to a new record high after Greggs said trading had been boosted by ‘extensive publicity’ around the launch in January. The positive figures come just a month after the company increased its expectations for 2018 – with pre-tax profits for the year set to be at least £88million.
He added: “The issue, however, remains the deposit itself rather than access to mortgage finance, with those lucky enough to have parental assistance able to take advantage of these products whilst those who don’t still struggle to save the required deposit levels. “What we all want to see is a healthy property market with more truly affordable properties, realistic prices and more transactions.” Mark Harris of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: “First-time buyers are essential to the overall health of the housing market. “The fact that their numbers are at a 12-year high, despite the well-documented difficulties first-time buyers face in drumming up a deposit and being able to afford a mortgage, makes this all the more remarkable. “The availability of high loan-to-value deals and the Help To Buy scheme have helped, while the bank of mum and dad is being called upon more than ever.”
Greggs on a vegan roll
Microsoft in London MICROSOFT looks set to launch its first UK flagship store in London later this year, a minute’s walk away from Apple’s main retail base in the UK on Regent Street. According to planning permission documents with Westminster City Council, the store will occupy two floors where Regent Street and Oxford Street meet.
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
Sanders to run for Presidency again BERNIE SANDERS, whose 2016 presidential campaign reshaped Democratic politics, has announced he is running for president in 2020. “Our campaign is not only about defeating Donald Trump,” the 77-year-old self-described democratic socialist told supporters. “Our campaign is about transforming our country and creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice.” A progressive who embraces Medicare for All to free college tuition, the Vermont senator stunned the Democratic establishment in 2016 with his spirited challenge to Hillary Clinton. She became the party’s nominee but Mr Sanders’ campaign laid the groundwork for the leftward lurch that has dominated Democratic politics in the Trump era.
EU will agree deal for reducing trucks’ CO2 THE European Union has reached a tentative agreement on the first specific EU standards for trucks, seeking to get polluting CO2 levels down. The agreement among negotiators from the European Parliament and member states says such emissions for new trucks must be 30 per cent down by 2030 compared with today’s levels. Heavy trucks carry more than two-thirds of freight across the bloc. EU commissioner Arias Canete said the standards ‘will help tackle emissions, as well as bring fuel savings to transport operators and cleaner air for all Europeans’. The rules will still need to be formally endorsed but are not expected to pose any political problems after Tuesday’s deal. The EU also has such standards for cars and light vans.
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Fashion world bids farewell to creative genius Lagerfeld STARS of the fashion world have paid tribute to fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld after his death. Chanel, where Lagerfeld was creative director, revealed that he died after a period of ill-health; he was believed to be around 85 years old. Donatella Versace said: “Karl your genius touched the lives of so many, especially [my brother] Gianni and I. “We will never forget your incredible talent and endless inspiration. We were always learning from you.”
Generous Singer-turned-designer Victoria Beckham posted: “So incredibly sad to hear this. Karl was a genius and always so kind and generous to me both personally and professionally.” Singer Lily Allen remembered the designer as a ‘true genius’ and said: “You made me feel like a princess. “I never quite understood what you saw in me but I am forever grateful for the support that you and Chanel have given me over the last 15 years.” The acclaimed German fashion designer had been at French luxury brand Chanel since 1983. His death comes after he missed the Chanel haute couture show in Paris in January. Lagerfeld was also the creative director of LVMH-owned Italian fur and leather goods
fashion house Fendi, as well as his eponymous fashion label, which he opened in 1984. Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive of LVMH, said: “With the passing of Karl Lagerfeld we have lost a creative genius who helped to make Paris the fashion capital of the world and Fendi one of the most innovative Italian houses. “We owe him a great deal: His taste and talent were the most exceptional I have ever known. “He honoured the LVMH group with an extraordinarily stimulating creative and entrepreneurial friendship. “I will always remember his immense imagination, his ability to conceive new trends for every season, his inexhaustible energy, the virtuosity of his drawings, his carefully guarded independence, his encyclopaedic culture, and his unique wit and eloquence.” Fendi’s next show is due to take place on Thursday during Milan Fashion Week. Lagerfeld was an acclaimed photographer, having gone behind the lens for a number of high fashion magazines and for his own fashion campaigns. IMMENSE IMAGINATION Karl Lagerfeld in his trademark sunglasses
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SPORT IN BRIEF
Itoje out of Wales clash but Halfpenny is back ENGLAND’S Maro Itoje will miss Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Wales because of knee ligament damage. Itoje sustained the injury in the openingweekend victory over Ireland and missed the defeat of France a week later. Leigh Halfpenny and Dan Biggar are both hoping to be fit for Wales. Full-back Halfpenny has not played since suffering concussion in November. Fly-half Biggar injured his knee playing for Northampton against Sale last weekend.
Sweeney is RFU chief BILL SWEENEY has been appointed chief executive of the Rugby Football Union [RFU]. He replaces Steve Brown, who left his role in November after less than 15 months. Mr Sweeney has been the British Olympic Association’s chief executive since 2013. RFU chairman Andy Cosslett said: “He brings a rare combination of experience from the worlds of blue chip business and elite sport and has a tremendous track record in both. “His passion for the game is deep rooted and this will stand him in very good stead.”
Women in shoot-out TWO women will compete in televised snooker matches in the final stages of a World ranking event in the UK for the first time at this week’s BetVictor Shoot Out in Watford. Reanne Evans, the 11-time women’s world champion, will be joined by Essex teenager Emma Parker, with both awarded wild cards for the event, which starts at the Watford Colosseum tomorrow [Thursday].
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
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Rt Revd Simon Burton-Jones Bishop of Tonbridge
The only thing I won’t let go of is supporting Lancashire at cricket. Yes, I know they were relegated in the year Kent were promoted. And football? A genuine follower, not one who chooses a club to show they’re in touch. Two league one sides and a premier league side is a bit greedy. Once people know who you support, they’re so quick to rub it in when your side loses, too. So let’s say in code that the manager of my big team is tall, bearded and German. Likes and dislikes? The author Nick Hornby says men are experts at these kinds of lists, but the tumbleweeds drift across my brain when I try to create them. Coming from a family into drama and acting means something. I would love to have worked in the Bartlet administration (TV’s West Wing), but my IQ is probably closer to that other hero, Homer Simpson. Most of what I know about life has been gleaned from an unconscionable number of hours in front of TV’s longest-running cartoon series.
Martin Betts
Vice Chair of Tunbridge Wells Constituency Labour Party
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The Rt Revd Simon Burton-Jones is the seventh Bishop of Tonbridge. He has oversight and leadership of the education, youth and children, and community engagement work of churches across the Diocese of Rochester, which includes Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge.
People are beginning to pull the threads – and it’s all unwinding SO, a few words about me as a new Times columnist. Though I promise it won’t be all about me in future. Kent isn’t home, but it’s become my adopted county, and one I love deeply. Its people have been so kind to me and my family, and the countryside and towns are full of character. Fleetwood is ‘home’. The home of Fisherman’s Friends and the exporter of footballer Jamie Vardy. Lancashire. But no-one thinks I’m from there when I return to visit family. The accent has gone – apart from the hard vowels. After university and a stint in a think tank, I trained for ordination. Shortly before, I met my wife, Julia, so she knew where things were heading for me. Julia trains in dementia social care and is an author. Since I became an ordained priest, we have lived and worked in Biggin Hill, Bromley, Chislehurst and Rochester, before my new post of Bishop of Tonbridge. So, Kent has been home for well over 20 years.
Weekly Comment
Dislikes? This is where life gets really divisive. So let’s leave it at herbal tea, salted caramel and broccoli. The late George H W Bush hated broccoli, too. Farmers then dumped a truckload in front of the White House to complain. Please don’t. The thing is, we’re all so quick to say what we don’t like – and we’re getting more voluble about it.
There are two sides to my job. I’m an advocate for Jesus. I ‘do God’. And I’m here to promote the common good. This is the Church’s other role. Our nation is like a much-loved jumper that has started to fray. People are beginning to pull the threads and it’s unwinding. Knitting it together again is the priority. Diversity is important in life and to be celebrated. But what is it that unites us, that ensures everyone has a place? What are our shared hopes? Knowing what we agree on gives people confidence to express their differences, too. Right now, the lack of assurance around the things we share in common is making our differences all the more painful.
CRICKET FAN The Bishop still supports his home team, Lancashire
Labour Party member Martin Betts lives in Southborough and has long been active in local politics. He retired after a long career in the Civil Service, where his last job at the Department for Work and Pensions was in communications. He qualified at Leicester University in human resources and training and development. The Times also publishes regular opinions from Conservatives, Lib Dems and members of The Green Party.
Reducing the high cost of traffic congestion BEING stuck in traffic jams and slow-moving lines of traffic wastes time, is expensive and damages people’s health. Recent research has shown that the UK is one of the most congested countries in the world. Drivers in UK cities are spending more time each year stuck in rush-hour traffic. Motorists in London lost an average of 74 hours – more than three days – in 2017, and in nearby Guildford nearly 30. Although there is no comparable local data, this news will come as no surprise to people travelling in and out of Tunbridge Wells early morning or late afternoon. Often it takes more time to travel by car from Tonbridge to Tunbridge Wells than it does to commute to London. Researchers concluded that the overall cost per driver of traffic congestion, including wasted fuel and working time, was £1,168. More importantly, the impact of congestion on air pollution is enormous, badly affecting the health of millions of people across the country. Transport is the largest source of air pollution and the health impacts of traffic congestion can be very serious. This is very worrying when so many Tunbridge Wells schools are on our major transport routes. Even the ‘cleanest’ of car engines can produce noxious gases and other pollutants that can
harm our health – increasing the risk of lung disease, particularly for children, and the risk of dementia. Asthma deaths in England and Wales have risen by a quarter over the last decade, and it is largely for health reasons that Labour is committed to encouraging investment in the manufacture and use of ultra-low emission vehicles.
Questionable Government claims that they are dealing with the traffic congestion problem by improving roads and traffic management are questionable. At the same time, they have mismanaged the rail industry and cut bus subsidies, particularly in rural areas, leaving us with fewer buses and more cars on the road. Instead of reducing support for trains and buses, Labour promises a major expansion of public transport by bringing our railways back into public ownership, capping fares, supporting the creation of bus companies that are run for passengers rather than profit, and restoring many lost bus routes. It was a Labour government that gave all pensioners a bus pass for free travel, but there is no point in offering free travel if there are no buses. We want to encourage more buses and a
CONGESTED Labour promise a major expansion of public transport to deal with congestion greater use of public transport by introducing a similar free travel scheme for under 25s. Our local councils have their role to play in helping to reduce congestion and its damaging consequences. They can do this by firmly backing a cheap bus fares policy and the use of buses as a way of getting into town centres,
setting up a park and ride scheme, and encouraging more car-sharing and car clubs. They must also do more to promote and provide safe routes for cycling and walking for some of our daily journeys, which will help us to make our own personal contributions to reducing the cost of congestion.
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Letters
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And another thing… This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor at Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG Supporting the Times ‘We Believe in Tunbridge Wells’ campaign: We cannot afford to be complacent about the decline of our town I’ve lived and worked in Tunbridge Wells for many years. I support 100 per cent the town’s proposed developments, as highlighted in the Times [February 6]. We cannot afford to be complacent about the decline of the town. It has to be regenerated; these projects are well-conceived and necessary. I welcome and support your campaign, and hope you will continue to champion these developments. David Thorniley Director, Traverse Advisory Limited
We must build on cultural vibrancy As a mum of two small children who has lived in Tunbridge Wells for seven years, I’m really optimistic about the planned additions to our town as highlighted in the Times campaign. We need to build on our growing cultural and artistic achievements and ensure the town stays vibrant and relevant well into the future. The things I value most here are: The determination and community spirit that built the new play area in Calverley Grounds; Trinity Theatre and its amazing line-up; Jazz on The Pantiles; markets on The Pantiles; the ice rink at Christmas, great local coffee shops, the amazing finds in charity shops, the Winter Lantern Parade. Let’s not be frightened of change and seize all these new opportunities with both hands. Lucy Lamb
Cricket festival is valuable resource Yes, Tunbridge Wells a truly great place to live (as I have done for 20 years plus, now). As a Times cricket writer of long standing (the London Times, that is!) I think part of your initiative on the sports front should be to campaign vigorously for the retention (and indeed re-expansion) of Kent’s annual cricket week at the Nevill Ground, which is more than 100 years old. It’s high time the council, and the wider town, really got behind this event and connected far more with it. An annual summer week of professional sport in the town (and last year’s match against Warwickshire was
one of the best the festival has seen) is a very precious thing. Mark Baldwin
The only problem is having to wait I enjoy living in Tunbridge Wells and think with all the developments in the pipeline it’s only going to get better. I find it hard waiting for it to happen. I hope the Calverley Square project can still be part of the town’s plans. L Golding
Time to put town back on the map I recently attended a networking event where I spoke to [Cllr] Tracey Moore about the future of Tunbridge Wells. Following on from this, we have received an email from Charlotte Macdonald of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce regarding the ‘We believe in Tunbridge Wells’ Campaign and I wanted to register my company’s support. I personally have lived here for over 45 years and my company is based here. I, like so many, feel that it is time we put our town back on the map as somewhere people want to visit. For too long I’ve listened to people bemoaning how it’s fast becoming a dormitory town and there’s nothing to bring people here. With all the plans I have just read about in the campaign article [February 6], I am excited for the future of our beautiful town, and I truly believe it could be made great once again. Jonathan Reilly Managing Director Home Car Charging Solutions
Throwing a veil over open debate I love Tunbridge Wells. I’m a relatively recent newcomer, but it’s a marvellous place to live and I’m staying put. However, your ‘We Believe’ front-page article [February 6] is nonsensical to the point of irresponsibility. It’s the same kind of veil behind which some non-thinking on Brexit hides – ‘all you have to do is believe and everything will be fine’. No. Public policy in any sector should be analysed, assessed, challenged and improved. Insisting that people get behind any initiative just because it’s well-intentioned simply serves to close debate down. We should be opening up a forum for discussion rather than shutting it. Kai Thomas Via email
There is a positive side to Twitter Matthew Bailey’s letter [February 6] insinuated many things about Tunbridge Wells Alliance and me that are untrue. Was Matthew too embarrassed to tell us he is a member of and former candidate for the Conservatives? I can congratulate Matthew on including one true fact in his letter – which I had to research; I have Tweeted more than Donald Trump and Barack Obama combined. Unlike Trump, though, I have been using Twitter in a positive way for ten years, to meet people, to promote community projects, and to share useful information. I do not Tweet lies and abuse as his letter implies. Perhaps next time Matthew will be honest and introduce himself as a Conservative with an agenda. Cllr Nicholas Pope Park Ward, Tunbridge Wells
Figure includes behind the scenes Graham Munn queried the £34million annual boost that Calverley Square – the project that includes our new theatre – is expected to give our local economy. The economic impact figure was carefully calculated, by consultants GVA, based on the money flowing into the local economy from the new theatre and offices. It includes the effect of wages to local workers and payments to local suppliers, and also the additional spend by theatregoers in the theatre itself or in nearby restaurants and bars. The equivalent figure for our current theatre was deducted. So, the £34million annual boost represents new economic activity over and above what we have now. Graham’s point was it equates to an average spend of £85 per theatre ticket. While this may be true, it is not how the figure was calculated. Cllr David Scott Culverden Ward, Tunbridge Wells
Nelson shows pubs can be assets
FRUITS IN SEASON: The Cricket Festival at the Nevill and the ice rink are two perennial favourites
Reading the letter about the sad loss of The Primrose pub [February 6], I could not help but be struck by a missed opportunity! The Nelson Arms in Cromer Street was similarly about to be closed down just over a year ago. In this area we are lucky to have
We do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words
Barden Residents Association, which registered the pub as an Asset of Community Value, and so allowed the residents time to make a suggestion for a viable alternative. The present landlord stepped in and bought the pub, which is now a free house. It is certainly an asset to our community. The Nelson hosts regular music nights on Fridays, serves lovely Sunday roast dinners, and also offers a range of real ales and other drinks. They show important football games on a large screen, but also have a ‘snug’ and a range of board games for those wanting a quiet drink. Contrast this with the fate of The Primrose. What a shame that the locals in that area had no representatives who thought to nominate their historic old pub as an asset of community value! Fran Long Tonbridge
Councillors do not control the police I write as the prospective Labour candidate for Rusthall in the May local elections regarding your article on former police Borough Commander Dave Pate [February 13]. I endorse the comments of Cllr Mark Ellis quoted in the piece. How Mr Pate is going to ensure police resources are refocused to Rusthall and Tunbridge Wells as one of 48 borough councillors does not appear to be clear. Indeed, how standing for election for the political party that has slashed our police nationally by at least 21,000 officers since 2010 and presided over rising crime levels in recent years is also not explained. If Mr Pate were standing as an independent in order to prioritise community safety and crime prevention it would be more understandable. But he isn’t. He’s standing for the political party which has cut police to the point that people do not feel safe. Last week’s Police Federation survey found that nine out of ten police officers thought there were too few of them to meet the demands on police, which had left 79 per cent of respondents feeling stressed or anxious in the last 12 months. Instead of complaining that our limited police resources are now based out of Tonbridge, he should be focused on holding the Conservative government to account for cutting vital police resources, not seeking to join them as a borough councillor. Bjorn Simpole Rusthall First-class service at the station I would like to give a big thumbs-up to the staff at Tunbridge Wells railway station. As a fairly new traveller from this station (I previously commuted in London) I have been more than pleasantly surprised at the level of service they provide. The staff are unfailingly polite and always give information with a smile. We are always quick to criticise, but I think we should also give credit where it’s due. So thank you to the Tunbridge Wells staff for setting an example of how to treat fare-paying passengers. Jean Rennie Via email
Calverley is away, recovering from Valentine’s Day
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EDUCATION Times Coming together in a celebration of song Students from local primary schools took to the stage last week for a memorable singing festival A TWO-DAY singing festival for around 600 primary school children took place at the Assembly Hall Theatre last week. The biennial singing festival, which was established by organiser-in-chief Peter Cornish in 1991, sees children from 12 primary schools in the Tunbridge Wells area gathering together to enjoy a series of musical workshops, which then culminate with a concert on the final day.
Classics This year’s theme was ‘Songs from the Shows’. Each school sang their chosen favourite song from a musical, then joined forces to sing a collection of five songs and medleys all together. The programme included old favourites such as Doe a Deer from The Sound of Music and new classics like From Now On from The Greatest Showman. Mrs Elisa Harrod, Director of Music at Rose Hill School, oversaw the concert’s musical direction, while professional pianist Alexander Metcalfe and talented young drummer Andreas Purse provided the musical accompaniment. The children learnt their songs at school and then rehearsed them at the Assembly Hall before performing them in two evening concerts last
EDUCATION IN BRIEF
A new lease of life PUPILS at St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School in Tunbridge Wells have signed up to the Recycle With Michael scheme. This clothing recycling initiative is run by the Salvation Army and encourages children to fill bags given to pupils by the charity with any pre-loved clothing and shoes they no longer want. Instead of being dumped in landfill sites the clothes are then sold in Salvation Army stores and a small percentage of their value is then passed back to the schools participating in the scheme. To find out more visit salvationarmy.org.uk
In the swim THE Tunbridge Wells and District Primary Schools’ Sports Association Swimming Gala takes place next Wednesday, February 27 between 6.15pm and 9pm at St John’s Sports Centre. A number of local school pupils will compete in the gala in order to win the overall title. Parents and carers who have children participating in the event are asked to bring a 50p donation in order to watch the event and the organisers politely request that the correct change is brought along in order to cover costs.
week, on Monday February 11 and Tuesday February 12. On the final evening, the Mayor and Mayoress of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr Len Horwood and his wife, Mrs Judy Horwood, joined the audience, which included the parents and friends of the children taking part. One of the organisers told the Times: “For many of the children, who are aged between eight and 11, this is the first time they have set foot upon a proper stage and sung in a massed choir.” During the two-day event Mrs Harrod also led an infant singing workshop for pupils aged six and seven. During these, younger children from each of the participating schools had the opportunity to learn scales and sing in rounds. The festival is organised by the Tunbridge Wells Group of Primary School Music Teachers, a voluntary body, and is supported by Kent Music. The Satellite Rotary Clubs of Southborough and Pembury also helped with the preparation of the event, and after each performance helped to raise money for ShelterBox, an international disaster relief charity. “The schools singing festival is non-competitive and is held simply to celebrate the joy of singing together in a large choir,” added the spokesperson.
IT’S SHOWTIME: The theme of this year’s primary school pupils’ festival was Songs from the Shows
Lessons in promoting self-esteem Andrew Webster, Headmaster at The Mead School in Tunbridge Wells explains why his pupils’ emotional wellbeing comes first SUPPORTING pupils’ mental wellbeing is fundamentally my number one job as nobody can learn and succeed if they don’t have emotional health. If a child walks into a learning environment with the wrong mindset then even the most outstanding provision becomes redundant. This philosophy has been at the heart of my leadership since taking the helm at The Mead. We have increased our timetabled personal, social and emotional education and we champion a ‘growth mindset’ culture where children embrace challenge and lose the fear of failure.
Emotional resilience More than anything however, we believe that it is through honest, supportive and sincere relationships that humans find their emotional resilience. The Mead has long been regarded for its pastoral care and there is no magic formula here. It is simply personified in the dedication of all of our wonderful staff, willing to go the extra mile, to know and care for every child and to always have the time to listen. Being a small school under one roof we have a level of care that permeates throughout the building and it is the first thing commented upon by most prospective parents. No policy or initiative can replace the most vital things you can give to children to support their mental health and development, your time and respect. At The Mead they have these in bucket loads. The Mead’s next Open Day is on Thursday February 28. To book an appointment to view the school please call 01892 525387.
IT’S GREAT OUTDOORS Mead pupils nurturing mental heath with nature
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Making a song and dance to celebrate first Fairtrade Fortnight in Tonbridge By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk
FEELGOOD FACTOR 30 Razzamataz girls will perform a flash mob
TONBRIDGE will be marking Fairtrade Fortnight with an exciting programme of events celebrating its inaugural year of involvement in the scheme. The town achieved Fairtrade Town status last October 2018, so that it is now recognised by the Fairtrade Foundation as a community that cares about the products they buy. It also demonstrates that Tonbridge is dedicated to working with poor farmers and others to help them build their economic viability. The public should be on the lookout for the Razzamataz Theatre School students, who will be performing a flash mob dance at a location close to the High Street at 2.30pm on Saturday March 9.
‘The mark is not only a guarantee of quality but also an assurance products are ethically sourced’ On the previous Saturday [March 2] there will be a number of buskers performing outside the Oxfam Shop on the High Street on March 2. There will also be a public meeting the evening before [Friday March 1] in the Castle Chamber at Tonbridge Castle. The Senior Policy Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation, David Taylor, will give a presentation at the gathering, which starts at 7pm. Mr Taylor will talk about the Foundation’s cam-
paign ‘She Deserves a Living Income’, which is calling on the chocolate industry and government to enable cocoa farmers to escape poverty and earn a living wage. There will be an art exhibition at the Angel Centre from Thursday February 28 curated by Sarah Spence and Victoria Casillas. It will be based on their recent Terra Nostra display, which was held at Tonbridge Creates popup installation on the High Street.
The Tonbridge Town Team welcomed the plans to mark the occasion, and its chair Howard Porter said: “We are delighted that Tonbridge has become a Fairtrade Town and that, this year, we will be taking part in Fairtrade Fortnight. “This is an important time of the year for us as it provides an opportunity to raise awareness of what Fairtrade is and the work that is being done around the world to improve conditions for small-scale farmers in the developing world.”
He explained: “By buying Fairtrade, shoppers here in Tonbridge can contribute to this and help 1.6million farmers trade their way out of poverty. “The Fairtrade mark is not only a guarantee of quality but also an assurance that products have been ethically sourced.” Thirty performers from Razzamataz will be taking part in the flash mob, and the theatre school’s principal, Eve Aston, said: “We were delighted to be invited by the Tonbridge Town Team to be involved in these celebrations. “We have some students dancing who have just turned six – and this will be their very first time performing in public – and also others up to the age of 15.” She added: “All of my students are aware how fortunate and privileged they are to be involved in this community event.” Cllr Georgina Thomas, who has organised the buskers, said: “It’s great to get local artists involved in Fairtrade Fortnight. “The singers will be setting up outside Oxfam in the High Street performing a mix of covers and their own original material. “Not only will they be promoting a good cause but all the busking tips will go straight to the artists too – in true Fairtrade style” Cllr Frixos Tombolis, who chaired the steering group that co-ordinated the campaign to achieve Fairtrade status and raised support, paid tribute to the efforts of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council [TMBC]. He said: “The council has supported Fairtrade in a number of ways – passing a resolution, setting up and administering the Fairtrade steering Group, successfully submitting the Town application and part-funding activities and promotions.”
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
WORTH FIGHTING FOR Town Team members (l-r) Howard Porter, Sarah Sturt and Sally Pearce promote products at the Farmers’ Market
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Fairtrade helps small-scale farmers ensure they earn decent, stable incomes and have long-term contracts with companies. In addition, they earn the Fairtrade Premium, which they invest in vital business, social and environmental projects. Today, more than 1.6million farmers and workers across 74 developing countries have the chance to trade their way out of poverty and benefit from the international Fairtrade system. By purchasing Fairtrade products, shoppers help these farmers while also buying quality products that they know have been ethically sourced. The Fairtrade mark independently certifies that products meet economic, social and environmental standards, making it the most widely recognised ethical mark worldwide.
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FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT BUSKERS
Saturday March 2, 10am12pm, Oxfam Shop, High Street: Ryan Weeks – Heavily influenced by Otis Redding and James Taylor with a touch of indie rock mixed in he has appeared many times on BBC Radio Kent.
ETHICALLY SOURCED PRODUCTS
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12-1pm: Lee Willz – rapper, singer-songwriter from Tonbridge who won a global competition against thousands of other bands at the 02 in London he has released two brand new singles, YDKM and Like That.
PRODUCTIVE CAMPAIGN Fairtrade wants farmers to earn a stable income
2-3pm: Kia Spurle – Tonbridge singer who has found popularity on YouTube with her covers of songs by pop stars like Sia, Adele and John Legend. As a stage actress she has appeared in productions like The Dreamers.
MAIN RETAILERS SELLING FAIRTRADE GOODS • Marks and Spencer Foodhall and Café, Cannon Lane • Waitrose, Sovereign Way • The Co-operative, Martin Hardie Way • The Co-operative, York Parade • Sainsbury’s, Angel Centre • Sainsbury’s Local, Shipbourne Road • Lidl, Quarry Hill Road • Aldi, Cannon Lane • Hilden Lisburn BP Garage (M&S Simply Food), Tonbridge Road • Greggs, High Street • Starbucks, High Street • Basil, High Street • The Bakehouse at 124, High Street • Beyond the Grounds, River Walk
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Rural cottage Backing on to farmland
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A BARN THAT STEPS BACK IN TIME
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HOME WITH A FAIRY-TALE FRONTAGE
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NEW HOMES BESIDE THE WATER
A rural seat within the town
In a fine Victorian home Page 35
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A RURAL LETTING SET TO SURPRISE
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Best property buys for... We all love to see homes with the ‘wow’ factor – which could apply to the kitchen, reception room, garden, or something else. Sarah Bond homes in on specific aspects that make these properties well worth a look…
The HALL…
Leavers Barn
Maidstone Road, Hadlow
Guide price
£1,299,995 CONTACT • Knight Frank, Sevenoaks • 01732 744477 • knightfrank.co.uk A stunning barn conversion dating from the 1840s with planning permission to erect further garaging, plus stables and a shed. There’s air conditioning upstairs and features include brickwork and beams, half-moon windows and vaulted ceilings, while the woodland has a treehouse and aerial runway. MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST
n Reception hall n Drawing room with inglenook fireplace and bifold doors to courtyard n Dining room, open to farmhouse-style kitchen with island and Aga n Study with doors to courtyard n 3 ground floor bedrooms, one with en-suite shower, plus family bathroom n Vaulted master bedroom with en-suite shower n 2 further bedrooms, one with en-suite n Triple-bay garage with studio and office n Partly walled garden with terrace, kitchen garden, greenhouse, store, plus woodland n Lawn tennis court n In all about 2.15 acres
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The PRICE…
The KITCHEN…
Canterbury Road Pembury
£295,000 CONTACT • Barnes Kingsnorth, Pembury • 01892 822880 •bkestateagents.com A great end-of-terrace home for first-time buyers, including a cosy sitting room and a large garden with two areas of decking. MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST
South Lodge
Penshurst Road, Penshurst
n Sitting room featuring a brick fireplace. This currently houses a wood-burner that is available by separate negotiation
Guide price
n Roomy Shaker-style kitchen/dining room including a study space with computer desk
£1,475,000 CONTACT • Savills, Sevenoaks • 01732 789700 •savills.co.uk
n 2 bedrooms, one with rooftop views n Upstairs bathroom n Good-sized garden with store
A pretty Grade II listed family home dating from the 16th and 17th centuries with a later Victorian front extension. It’s set in wonderful landscaped gardens on the edge of the village, and features include a superb carved oak staircase, exposed timbers and brick flooring. MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST
n Arched oak front door n Drawing room with open fireplace and direct access to garden n Dining hall featuring an impressive fireplace with wood-burning stove n Double-aspect snug with fireplace and wood-burning stove n Bespoke kitchen/breakfast room with 4-oven oil-fired Aga, coffee machine, illuminated display shelves, fitted bench seats with storage, and doors to garden n Wine cellar n 2 staircases n Master bedroom and dressing room, both with fireplaces n Guest bedroom with en suite n 4 further bedrooms n 2 bathrooms, one with roll-top bath and one with part-vaulted ceiling as well as an oval bath and glass basin n Delightful landscaped gardens with 2 brick terraces, rose garden, pond, vegetable garden, sheds and woodland n Triple garage with secure room over n In total, about 1.6 acres
Hendal Farm Cottages Cherry Gardens Hill Groombridge
Guide price
£455,000 CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk An extended semi-detached house set amid open farmland just 1.5 miles from Groombridge village centre. MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST
n Living room featuring a fireplace with a wood-burning stove and patio doors to garden n Dining room with feature brick chimney breast n Recently installed Shaker-style kitchen with RangeMaster electric oven and access to garden through rear porch n 4 bedrooms, one en suite n L-shaped garden backing directly on to neighbouring farmland
Connecting people & property, perfectly. Hawkhurst TN18 A substantial and impressive Victorian family house, dating back to approximately 1850.
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Full height sash windows with shutters Wealth of period features Over 7,000 sq ft Within Cranbrook School catchment area
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3
3
1.2 acres
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Your local expert, Simon Biddulph, looks forward to helping you. simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com 01892 310997
Guide price £1,495,000
Newick Lane TN21 A substantial country house in a rural location with distant views.
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Attached annexe cottage Detached office approximately 1,313 sq ft Gardens, pasture and woodland In approximately 14.5 acres
4
3
4
Your local expert, Simon Biddulph, looks forward to helping you. simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com
Guide price £1,750,000
01892 310997
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £288 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. There will also be a £48 charge to register your deposit with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme if applicable. (All fees shown are inclusive of VAT.) Please ask us for more information about other fees that will apply or visit www.knightfrank.co.uk/tenantfees. Knight Frank is a member of the ARLA Client Money Protection Scheme and our redress scheme for consumers is Property Redress Scheme.
Connecting people & property, perfectly. Gun Hill TN21
Wadhurst Road TN6
1
1
A handsome late Victorian country house, set within beautiful gardens and grounds.
A beautifully presented wing of a Victorian country house that has been extended with rural views. • • •
Refurbished to a very high standard Detached two bay oak framed garage In approximately 1 acre
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2
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Wealth of period features Tennis court Outbuildings
4
2
Guide price £2,500,000
Guide price £1,250,000 mark.yelverton@knightfrank.com
01892 310997
Pembury TN2
simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com
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A substantial Grade II listed farmhouse approximately 4,300 sq ft. Attached converted barn Period features Conveniently located for transport links
A detached Grade II listed farmhouse with separate barn conversion and annexe. 5
3
5
2.4 acres
Guide price £1,200,000 mark.yelverton@knightfrank.com
01892 310997
Staplehurst TN12
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3
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Rural position Many period features Outbuildings
5
2
3
2.6 acres
Guide price £995,000 01892 310997
mark.yelverton@knightfrank.com
01892 310997
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £288 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. There will also be a £48 charge to register your deposit with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme if applicable. (All fees shown are inclusive of VAT.) Please ask us for more information about other fees that will apply or visit www.knightfrank.co.uk/tenantfees. Knight Frank is a member of the ARLA Client Money Protection Scheme and our redress scheme for consumers is Property Redress Scheme.
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Lovingly renovated period property close to the Common and play park
AT A GLANCE CHURCH ROAD SOUTHBOROUGH n Early Victorian four-storey, mid-terrace townhouse with fine period features n Elegant drawing room with tall sash windows, original shutters and two fine wooden fireplaces – one with a gas Hunter coal-effect stove n Cloakroom n Well-fitted kitchen/breakfast room with a two-oven gas-fired Aga and door to garden n Utility area with door to garden n 4 double bedrooms n 1 single bedroom n Well fitted family bathroom n Luxury shower room n Partly walled rear garden with a brick-paved patio area
GUIDE PRICE
£875,000
CONTACT • Jackson-Stops, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 521700 • jackson-stops.co.uk
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Property Focus
NEW HOMES
Wonderful waterviews open up at the lakes A NEW phase of luxury waterside apartments has just been launched at a major lakeside development with superb road and rail links, just half an hour from Sevenoaks. A two-bedroom apartment has opened to show off The Waterview Apartments – a collection of 27 one, two and three-bedroom units at Holborough Lakes, with prices starting at £265,000. Celebrating modern country living, the apartments are set beside a beautiful eight-acre freshwater lake lined by woodlands, with many overlooking the water or one of the trim trails designed to encourage a healthy outdoor life. The rural Kent heritage-inspired architecture features timber cladding, traditional brickwork and steep pitched roofs, also giving a nod to the popular New England style. At the heart of each home is an elegant, individually-designed kitchen and living space including Bosch appliances and LED feature lighting, with full height windows flooding the living room with natural light. The new neighbourhood is bolstered with community and leisure amenities that include a private residents’ gym, on-site child care at the Benjamin Rabbit nursery, a primary school, village hall and green. It also enjoys full-time estate management and a very social residents’ association. A host of excellent restaurants can be found
nearby in West Malling and the surrounding area, while historic and lively Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury and Maidstone are also accessible. The development lies within striking distance of two motorways, and commuters can reach London’s St Pancras International in just 43 minutes via the high-speed link between the Channel Tunnel and London. There is also a direct bus service to Canary Wharf.
CONTACT • Berkeley Homes • 01634 775643 • holboroughlakes.co.uk
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Lettings
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Property Focus
LET TINGS
An unusual and extremely striking modern family home offering adaptable open-plan countryside living. Set within what was originally a walled garden, its high brick walls are still a feature of the property.
fireplace, timber-clad wall and bifold doors to terrace
MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST
n South-facing garden with superb terrace
n Built in 2017 n Double-aspect reception hall n Sitting room with brick
n Family/dining room n Kitchen with large island and expansive windows on three sides n 6 Bedrooms n 3 Bathrooms
n Electric-gated driveway providing off-road parking n Double Garage
CONTACT • Savills Tunbridge Wells Lettings • 01892 507050 • savills.co.uk
Summerfield House
The Walled Garden, Argos Hill
To let unfurnished
Guide price £3,895
pcm
Plus fees | Available from March 1, 2019
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
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WILD ABOUT CLIVE CAMPBELL
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SEE NATE AUSTIN LIVE
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A TASTE OF SPELDHURST
Group effort
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See The 39 Steps at Trinity Theatre Page 44
EXPERIENCE SOME VITAMIN SEA
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It’s time to enjoy yet another comic caper...
Trinity Theatre Club performs a stage parody of classic thriller The 39 Steps next week. Its director, Helen Thorpe, tells the Times about the challenges WHEELY GOOD FUN Richard Hannay tries to get a grip on the mystery
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HE 39 Steps, by John Buchan, is one of the great English thrillers. It was really a precursor of the crime genre and is still very much loved. Having been a big fan of Hitchcock’s now classic film adaptation of the novel – which was fully approved by the author – it was a natural step for me to go and see Patrick Barlow’s stage adaptation when it came out in the West End. And wow what an experience I had! So I am very happy to now have the chance to put on a production of it at Trinity Theatre next week. It is a play that beautifully captures the essence of the original novel and the thrill of Hitchcock’s fabulous script, which took over six months to construct. Rumour has it Hitchcock worked on it while riding up and down the Thames living on just lobster and champagne! So along with the wonderful energy
and humour of Barlow’s spin, the sheer brilliance of replicating Hitchcock’s entire movie on to the stage is a sight to behold. It’s clever, funny, fast moving, and so it’s accessible to all. It’s just a terrific yarn, beautifully told, with the right amount of comedy and subtext. The 39 Steps has always been a classic British thriller, but what’s surprisingly
succeeding, building such things as the Forth Bridge out of ladders, re-enacting an airplane chase and crash, changing to different areas of Britain – all within five seconds. Then there is the love story, of course; particularly the fact that our hero and heroine can’t stand each other at first, but are tied together (literally) so
‘There’s constantly a catastrophe being solved, it is very visual and very physical’ delightful is how popular it has been across virtually the whole world. Having been performed in places as diverse as Japan, Russia, America, Germany and Israel, audiences – regardless of nationality – all seem to love it and, amazingly, laugh and gasp at the same things. Audiences also seem to love watching the actors being challenged and
they can’t escape each other and as a consequence, their feelings. Set in mid-1930s London, The 39 Steps story is a classic portrayal of one man’s flight from wrong accusation through a series of improbable adventures as he is pursued by authorities. The painfully British and devastatingly handsome protagonist Richard Hannay finds himself in the
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
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In celebration of musical youth
Trinity Theatre’s youth theatre are putting on their version of High School Musical this weekend. Here its director, Jason Lowe, reveals more about it to Eileen Leahy
clutches of a beautiful woman, Anabella Schmidt, who later reveals herself as a spy. She has uncovered a plot called ‘The 39 Steps’, but she is murdered clutching a map of Scotland. Richard Hannay takes on the adventure, wooing every attractive lady in sight and jumping through windows and on to trains as he tries to escape spies and cunning murderers, before finding love while handcuffed to a beautiful woman. Hannay must solve the mystery of The 39 Steps and save his skin before it’s too late. There’s constantly a catastrophe being solved, it is very visual and very physical. We also have most of the actors, sets and props on stage all the time – just like a 1930s radio studio. The ingenuity the cast shows from scene to scene is a joy to behold, and yet we stay true to the story, and there are some dark themes in this thriller to deliver. Clever lighting and set design
with sound effects all add to what should be a terrific experience on a cold February night. The key thing for me when putting on Patrick Barlow’s stage version of The 39 Steps at Trinity is that the actors are challenged by the seemingly impossible. They literally do everything. As a child I was brought up loving magic, mime and acrobatic acts. Later, I studied drama and learnt about commedia dell’arte and all types of physical theatre, and this play fulfils so much of these elements. It’s rare to find a play full of pastiche comedy genres. This one has it all, albeit disguised as a darkly delicious espionage thriller. Frankly it’s terrific. The 39 Steps runs from Tuesday February 26 until Saturday March 2 at Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells. Tickets, which cost from £14, can be booked from the box office on 01892 678678 or via trinitytheatre.net
IN THE FRAME Trinity Theatre Club performers
The next plays to be produced by Trinity Theatre Club are: Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women, in May, Alan Ayckbourn’s haunted farce Taking Steps, in July, Charles III by Mike Bartlett, in October. For further details, see the Trinity Theatre Club website trinitytheatreclub.co.uk
PLEASE CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT TRINITY YOUTH THEATRE? We run weekly workshops for 5-19 year olds, as well as producing plays, short films and musicals. We regularly work with 120 young people each week, with more involved in shows, as well as through our Backstage Youth Theatre and Movie Makers workshops. We also run a wide range of one-off workshops, such as Stop Motion Animation and our popular Musical Days. WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL? As director and producer, I set the creative path for the show and I am the arbiter of decisions. I bring everyone together to show off our talented young cast at their best. I am fortunate to work with a brilliant creative team, including Musical Director Juliette Finn, a former Trinity Youth Theatre member, as well as Production Manager Harriet Woollam, and Choreographer Stephanie Vezmar-Jakes. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH SHOWS TO PUT ON? We aim for a mixture of creatively challenging and familiar, well-beloved shows, to give young people the opportunity to work on a variety of engaging projects. As for this one, I foolishly told some members of the youth theatre that I had never seen High School Musical. As a result, I was made to watch the film for the first time later that year and loved the joy, cheesiness and life-assuring nature of the whole thing. After that, and a large amount of prodding from various youth theatre members, we decided to tackle this show as our inaugural February musical. CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE SHOW? It’s basically Grease meets Billy Elliot. Set in an American high school, the students must deal with issues of first love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extra-curricular activities. When the show opens, it’s the first day after winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater
A RIGHT SONG AND DANCE The students are set to shine Dudes find their cliques, recount their vacations, and look forward to the new school year. Basketball team captain and resident jock Troy discovers that the brainy Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High. They cause an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical, led by Ms Darbus. Although many students resent the threat posed to the status quo, Troy and Gabriella’s alliance might just open the door for others to shine as well. HOW MANY ARE IN THE CAST, AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN REHEARSING? It’s a cast of 28 people, and we’ve been rehearsing since October (with a break for Christmas). It’s safe to say that I know the songs fairly well by this point! WHAT HAVE YOU AND THE CAST ENJOYED MOST ABOUT REHEARSALS? Playing around with the script, and exploring the characters, making it our own version – a sparky, funny tribute from a brilliant young cast to a movie they love. WHAT WILL AUDIENCES ENJOY MOST ABOUT SEEING THIS MUSICAL? I think they’ll be blown away by local talent telling a relatable, feelgood story. Plus, for those familiar with the movie, they’ll get to see the songs they know and love come to life on stage.
WHY IS YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN THEATRE IMPORTANT? It’s important for their creative and personal development and can be lifeaffirming and confidence-building, as young people surprise themselves with what they can accomplish. This is especially evident in our Speech Bubbles programme, working with 5-7 year olds in local schools, developing their speech, language and communication skills through drama games and storytelling. This vital programme complements the rest of our work on Les Misérables: School Edition, Terry Pratchett’s Mort and High School Musical. WHAT’S COMING UP NEXT? We’re very excited to be performing Sweeney Todd this summer, a thrilling theatrical treat that has shocked, awed and delighted audiences across the world. We’re also taking a pair of shows up to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer, and will be putting on the original play version of JM Barrie’s stage adaptation of Peter Pan in October. If you’re interested in joining Trinity Youth Theatre, sign up for auditions at trinitytheatre.net/participate/youth High School Musical is on at Trinity Theatre on February 22 and 23. For tickets and timings visit trinitytheatre.net
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goingout 7 days of activities
WEDNESDAY Simon Ginnaw will be hosting an RSPB talk on Britain’s Coastal Birds & their Secret Lives in St Phillip’s Church, Tonbridge. The UK’s coastal birds are some the most specialised, varied and nomadic on the planet, ranging from puffins to purple sandpipers to razorbills. You do not have to be a member of the RSPB to attend, with tickets costing just £4.50 for non-members. For more information visit rspb.org.uk or email lar123@virginmedia.com Ferdinand Magellan has still not cleared up his mess, so take your kids on the Travel Around CHECK MATE Groombridge Place, Giant Chess
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
By Jerome Bowman
the World Garden Trail, finding Magellan’s boating gear and solving riddles as you go. Penshurst Place is open from 10.30am till dusk . The trail is included in the standard ticket cost. For more information and to buy tickets visit penshurstplace.com
THURSDAY
Scrawny shut-in Mark Watson is bringing The Infinite Show to Trinity Theatre. One of the UK’s most beloved, or at least the thinnest, acts, Mark will be ranting about the alarming lack of empathy in the world. The Sunday
NOTEWORTHY Brittens try out day Times described him as an “unstoppably funny superhero” so don’t miss this one. The show starts at 8pm, tickets cost £19 and can be booked online at trinitytheatre.net
FRIDAY This is one of the last days Hever Castle will be holding their Living With Nature event. Investigate animal footprints, join the gardeners for a nature walk around the grounds and feed the birds and ducks. If you get a Castle ticket as well you can learn about the use of natural imagery in the castle paintings. Tickets can be booked online at hevercastle.co.uk
SATURDAY There’s been a murder, but police cuts mean that it’s up to you to help The Spa Valley Railway on their Murder Mystery Evening. The dinner and who dunnit evening starts at Tunbridge
Wells West at 6.15pm and includes the trip to Groombridge and back and an evening of intrigue. To see the menu and to book tickets, sleuth out the website spavalleyrailway.co.uk If you’ve always wanted to learn an instrument, but have never known which one to try, you’re in luck, as today is Brittens Try Out Day. Staff at Brittens will be on hand to help you blow trumpets, strum guitars and tinkle the ivories. No bookings necessary, just an interest in trying something new. For more information you can go to brittensmusic. co.uk Bore Place in Edenbridge will be running an Artisan Bread Making course with patisserie chef Joanna Owens. This course is for budding home bakers who want practical and theoretical advice on the whole process. You will learn about making farmhouse, brioche and ciabatta bread. If you feel your interest rising, the day’s tuition and lunch costs £75 and places can be booked at boreplace.org
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
WATCH THE BIRDIE RSPB coastal birds talk, Sandpiper pictured
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk five days of tuition, materials and lunch. For more information visit burrswood. org.uk or call 01892 865988
TUESDAY
SUNDAY
Groombridge Place is now open again. There is plenty to see and do on the estate. Peacocks, the famous Zedonk and free roaming deer can all be found on the grounds. You can take the canal boat to the forest, walk around the gardens or enjoy lunch in the café. Play giant chess or have a go on the even larger swings in the enchanted forest. The newest attraction is the treetop walk, the highest and longest in Britain. There’s a lot to get in, so for more information and to book tickets, visit groombridgeplace.com
From 10am Clive Campbell’s exhibition From Prism to Art will be open at Trinity Theatre. Campbell’s novel approach to stained and fused glass has produced a variety of representational and more abstract pieces. Inspired by his grandfather’s gift of a prism as a child, Campbell’s collection is truly unique. Entry is free. This is the first day of the exhibition, but if you can’t make it go to trinitytheatre.net to see more dates. Not many plays can say they have a cast of 140 characters, an onstage plane crash and a good old fashioned romance, but The 39 Steps certainly can. This award winning spoof of the classic book by the same name starts at 7.30pm. A virtuoso performance by a small cast, expect hijinks and drama. Tickets on the opening night cost £24 for two people and can be booked at trinitytheatre.net
MONDAY
Salomons Estate are hosting an Afternoon Tea Dance starting at 12.30pm. Music from the 30s, 40s and 50s will give you plenty of opportunities to do the foxtrot. The event will be hosted in the Victorian Theatre in the grade II listed Salomons mansion. Tickets cost £14.50 per head and can be booked by calling 01892 515152. Visit salomonsestate.com for more information. Burrswood are hosting an Icon Painting 5 Day Workshop. Peter Murphy will be leading the workshop through the steps to create an authentic Byzantine style Icon, using Serbian Lime wood, gold leaf and genuine medieval pigments. You can even book full board if you are coming from further afield, and all tickets include
FLOUR POWER Artisan bread making course, wholemeal bread pictured
Going Out
Scotney Castle 10am to 5pm Every Day. This National Trust site is a must see for the half term. First, you can roam the estate, which is 770 acres of parkland, fields and woods. Explore the hop gardens, have a picnic if the weather permits it and take a stroll through the walled
PICK OF THE WEEK:
International Garden Photographer of the Year Exhibition Sissinghurst Castle Until March 21st 2019
IMAGE: ‘Narcissus Paradise’ by Anne Maenurm
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garden. You can also take a tour of the house, built in 1837, and see the first floor of this wellpreserved country home. There are plenty of activities on for the kids including a fruit tree trail and den making. For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk The International Garden Photographer of the Year Exhibition will be exhibited in the stunning Sissinghurst Castle until the 21st of March; exhbitions include a range of landscape photography from amateurs and professionasl. Categories include Wildlife in the Garden and Beauty of Plants. For more information about visiting the castle and the exhibition go to nationaltrust.org.uk
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The heart of Tunbridge Wells…
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UNBRIDGE WELLS’ most enduring landmark has to be The Pantiles. As well as being a major tourist attraction, the town’s historic promenade is also a haven for local businesses boasting myriad cafés, bars and restaurants plus a number of successful creative agencies and unique independent shops. Stroll down the famous walkways - which date back to 1606 when Dudley, Third Baron North discovered the Chalybeate Spring and you can easily while away a good few hours browsing all manner of interesting shops selling everything from interior finds and chic clothing to stunning artwork, kitchenalia and bespoke bridal wear. Then of course there’s the rich offering of pubs and eateries to try out, too. Whether you want a pint of craft ale, a cake and a
coffee or to indulge your tastebuds courtesy of some delicious local gourmet goods you’ll find it all here. Add to the mix a bi-monthly market as well as other specialist artisan ones which include regular French and Vintage markets plus an annual food and drink festival and the weekly Jazz on The
Pantiles evening which kicks off every May and runs until September and you really do have a vibrant hub of cool culture and social activity that’s hard to beat.
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Wednesday February 20 | 2019
Pantiles feature
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Enjoy a potter along The Pantiles Tunbridge Wells is well known for its impressive array of quality restaurants, independent shops and unique businesses, a number of which can be found dotted along the town’s historic walkway. Here we talk to some of the traders and entrepreneurs operating there about what they enjoy most about being located in The Pantiles…
Style my home
Beumée
How long has the business been on The Pantiles?
How long has the business been on The Pantiles?
We have had a studio in The Pantiles for five years. We moved here from Calverley Road as an opportunity arose to move to bigger, light and spacious premises in a great historical location of outstanding architectural beauty.
Situated in a prominent position on the Historic Pantiles, Beumée Contemporary Fine have been exhibiting for sell investment fine art from world renowned artists for the past four years. Why did you choose The Pantiles to establish the business, and what makes it special?
Why did you choose The Pantiles to establish the business, and what makes it special? We had already contacts with local businesses here and maintain strong relationships with them, it is a very friendly place to work. I have always loved The Pantiles area and our offices are in a great position for all amenities The Pantiles has to offer. If clients come to visit us we have a great choice of cafes to take them for a coffee or a drink. In summer it has a holiday atmosphere, people spill out onto the street to eat and meet. Jazz evenings have increased in popularity creating a buzz in the summer months that makes you feel lucky to come to work in such a lovely place.
The Pantiles is a very attractive and stylish part of Royal Tunbridge Wells. Home to a variety of specialist shops, cafe’s and events it provides a vibrant, safe, continental like setting that appeals to both our local and international clientele. We have also enjoyed partnering with The Pantiles on several projects including the installation of the now much admired and photographed statue that resides here titled ‘Polar Dance’. The statue, once situated outside ‘The Natural History Museum, London’ is by Royal appointed sculptor Tessa Campbell Fraser, whose work is sold exclusively through ‘BEUMEE’.
Bella Vou How long has the business been on The Pantiles?
31B HAIR How long has your business been on The Pantiles?
We have been on The Pantiles since 2015. We’ve been on The Pantiles for two years in April. Why did you choose The Pantiles to establish the business, and what makes it special?
Tel number 01892 510070. Website. www.stylemyhome.com caroline@stylemyhome.com
With it’s elegant walkway, independent cafes, bars and restaurants, The Pantiles is quintessential Royal Tunbridge Wells. It has a great deal to offer our clientele; a relaxed, sophisticated and yet discrete air about the place which suits our patients needs. Georgian architecture and beautiful countryside only minutes away also gives clients from further afield something else to enjoy. Every Thursday throughout the summer there’s Jazz on The Pantiles. Tunbridge Wells is home to two theatres, Trinity Theatre, who we support as sponsors. Royal Tunbridge Wells is recognised for having a healthy work-life balance with many spa’s and health and fitness places. The Clinic is easy to get to by car or train - London can be reached by train in just under an hour. If it’s sea and beaches you’re after, Eastbourne, Hastings and Brighton are only an hour away by car.
Why did you choose The Pantiles to establish your business, and what makes it special? We at 31b feel that The Pantiles encapsulates the true heart of Tunbridge Wells. With all the history surrounding and small owned businesses within, the feel of ‘home’ runs through - so starting a business here is a local dream come true. With our small personable team, and our personal touch on our service, we treat everyone as one of our own. Not to mention we have Prosecco available while you wait!
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Wednesday February 20 | 2019
THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7. Websites pdag.co.uk & thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday Jennifer Lee Ridley, Amber Titchener, Oscar Roche Friday Salvatore Duo Saturday Project 5 Sunday Jack Mackey, Sorrel Nation, Freddy Green Monday Singers Night (Open mic)
live music With Paul Dunton
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HIS Wednesday [tonight], local acts Jennifer Lee Ridley, Amber Titchener and Oscar Roche all perform at The Grey Lady. Meanwhile, The Forum host their popular Stable showcase with 5MH, Malpractice, Tres Kings and The Unknown all on the bill. On Friday night, superb local acts in action include Nate Austin at The Vale Vault and Sapphire at The Bedford pub. Sorrel Nation will be performing at The Spa Hotel and Foot Down will be headlining at The Sussex Arms Basement. Fans of Dreadzone are in for a treat this weekend as they headline backto-back nights at The Forum on both Friday and Saturday nights.
The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… paulduntonandguests.com
Saturday night also sees local acts Platform 4 at The Royal Oak pub, Red Rooster at The Beau Nash Tavern and Project 5 at The Grey Lady. Jack Mackey, Sorrel Nation and Freddy Green will all be at The Grey Lady on Sunday evening. Looking ahead to next week, The George pub hosts the TWUNT Ukulele Jam Session on Monday night, and the excellent Kent Duchaine return to The Punch & Judy in Tonbridge on Tuesday. Two other great options for Tuesday are The Ryk Mead band at The Toad Rock Retreat and Beans on Toast at The Forum with support from Jess Morgan and Benjamin Folke Thomas.
THE FORUM The Common Event information at twforum.co.uk Wednesday 5MH, Malpractice, Tres Kings, The Unknown Friday & Saturday Dreadzone Tuesday Beans on Toast, Jess Morgan, Benjamin Folke Thomas THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late Friday Soul Night Saturday Red Rooster THE BEDFORD/THE VAULT 2 High Street Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm. See thebedfordtw.co.uk Friday Nate Austin Unplugged In The Vault Friday Sapphire at The Bedford THE SUSSEX ARMS BASEMENT Sussex Mews Music from 8.30pm. Event details and tickets available at twforum.co.uk Friday Foot Down THE SPA HOTEL Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry Booking advised on 01892 520331
ON THE DOUBLE: Dreadzone Friday Live music from Sorrel Nation at Zagotas Bar THE ROYAL OAK Prospect Road Open all day Free entry Music from 8.30pm till late Saturday Platform 4 THE GEORGE Mount Ephraim Open all day Free entry Music from 8pm Monday TWUNTS Ukulele Jam Session
THE TOAD ROCK RETREAT Upper Street, Rusthall Open all day Free entry Music from 8.30pm Tuesday Ryk Mead band THE PUNCH & JUDY St Stephens Road, Tonbridge Open all day Free entry Music from 8pm Tuesday Kent Duchaine UNPLUGGED Nate Austin
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food
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Food & Drink FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
Fire up your tastebuds A trip to The George & Dragon in Speldhurst provides the ideal winter warmer for Eileen Leahy
O
N A WET and windy February evening most of us would be sitting at home curled up on the sofa. But as my husband and I discover upon arriving at The George & Dragon in Speldhurst one particularly chilly Saturday night, this is simply not the case for everyone. Every table in the historic pub’s main bar area is taken up with dining couples or larger groups of people who have braved the harsh weather to sit,
sip and soak up the 13th-century pub’s convivial ambience. Some are probably locals, but given how busy the car park is many have also clearly made the relatively short ten-minute journey out here from Tunbridge Wells – and perhaps beyond. The roaring fire crackling away in the inglenook fireplace is certainly a crowdpleaser, and the glimmering candles and twinkling fairy lights which are festooned over every one of the pub’s traditional beams certainly contribute to the amiable buzz in the bar.
And as we sidle up to the counter to order some drinks the welcoming atmosphere continues thanks to the cheery greeting we receive from the friendly staff as they pull pints and hand out menus to fellow diners. So far so good then. Let’s just hope that the food we’ve heard so much about matches up to our impressive introduction to The George & Dragon, which is making a name for itself in the culinary department. It’s already got a great reputation for its Sunday roasts and relaxed lunches, but we’re here
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
to try out its à la carte menu. And after ordering a couple of glasses of Tres Curas 2016 Chilean Sauvignon Blanc (£5) at the bar, we are shown to our little table in the Buttery, a small yet snug dining area just off the main public bar. Again, each one of its six wooden tables is occupied, which is a nice surprise given that the bleak winter months are a notoriously difficult time of year for the hospitality industry. Yet it’s clear from the pub’s brisk trade that it is benefitting enormously from the effects of having its dining and drinks offering stepped up a few gears by the latest owner, Chris Cozens, who took over in May 2017. He and his team, who also run The Leicester Arms in Penshurst, have introduced lots more local ales and artisan gins, and have shone a spotlight on delivering good gastronomic dishes. Additionally, they have opened the Banquet Hall upstairs, which caters for private parties, and have also vastly improved the pub’s overall décor – think black and white framed arty pics of hunter gatherers and a pleasing earthy colour scheme. But what of the food on offer? Well, judging by the extensive menu, which includes a note stating that all the meat and fish is sourced locally from Fullers and Sankey’s,
THE CREAM OF GASTRO DINING One of the pub’s dining area
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk there’s plenty to please all palates. As you’d expect from a gastro-style country pub, there is a good mix of pub classics – such as beer battered fish and chips (£14.40) and a gourmet burger (£14.50) – most of which can be served as half portions for
Food & Drink
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decent selection of finer dining to be enjoyed. We decide to indulge in a starter each before the main event. Being a fish fan, my choice is simple: I go for the interesting sounding smoked salmon rillettes plate with beetroot,
‘The welcoming atmosphere continues thanks to the cheery greeting we receive from the friendly staff as they pull pints and hand out menus to fellow diners’
younger diners, or at lunchtime. And as well as a good selection of lighter bites, including cod fishcake with pickled cucumber and a tomato coulis (£8) and smoked ham hock terrine with homemade piccalilli and sourdough (£7.50), there’s also a very
horseradish and crème fraîche (£8.50). When it arrives, it’s presented as a sizeable quenelle of lovely lemony and creamy shredded salmon, accompanied by more salmon and a few artisan condiments. The beetroot compote is perfectly pickled and adds a pleasing acidic counterbalance to the richness of the rillettes, while the peppery homemade horseradish and sweet balsamic vinegar nicely complement the citrusy slivers of the fish. The only thing missing is a little crust of bread or two to soak up the remaining rillettes. My husband’s choice of a hen’s egg (£6) defies its simplistic description, thanks to the fact it arrives in a
golden breadcrumb case, which when sliced open reveals a beautifully runny and rich yellow yolk. The mustard mash served with it gives a good kick of flavour alongside the cubes of aromatic roasted squash, and the portion is just enough to not be too filling. With two glasses of red Argentinian Trivento Malbec (£7) delivered for our next courses, we sit back and watch diners drift from the Buttery. So relaxed is this place that none of those who’ve just eaten are actually heading home – most go up to the counter for a little nightcap, or sit by the fire.
Once our main courses are placed in front of us there are collective ‘oohs and aahs’ as they look so darn good. Mine is a colourful plate of sliced, perfectly pink, duck with a colourful assortment of winter vegetables, including roasted parsnips and carrots, florets of baked crispy kale, potato gratin and chargrilled little segments of orange (£14). It’s a veritable smörgåsbord of seasonal comfort food. My husband has opted for pork belly (£16.50), which is another visual triumph and looks like it could feed an army thanks to its generous portion size, which includes a huge triangular slice of roasted black pudding and an assortment of hearty winter greens. Its accompanying sweet apple compote gives the crunchy caramelised layers of belly real depth of flavour. As the food has been so good this far it would be rude not to indulge in a little sweet treat, but as we’re both pretty full by now we decide to share the pear and pistachio frangipani tart (£6.50). And it tastes as good as it looks: Wonderfully perfumed, dense and probably hugely calorific thanks to the blobs of clotted cream and berry sorbet served with it. But indulging in such a delicious and decadent dessert like this seems like a fitting way to finish our thoroughly delightful dinner. And if we didn’t have to get home to a babysitter, I’m sure we, like our fellow diners, would have quite easily slipped back into the bar for a little nightcap by the fire, too… speldhurst.com
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Books
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
The Lost Man by Jane Harper Published in hardback by Little, Brown, priced £12.99 (ebook £6.99). Available now.
The bookcase This week’s bookcase includes reviews of The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo and The Lost Man by Jane Harper
Jane Harper’s smash-hit first book, The Dry, was a mystery set in the Australian outback. The location was a character in itself, and you’d finish every chapter feeling thoroughly thirsty. It was a winning formula, and Harper has wisely returned to this scorched part of the world for her third novel. When Nathan Bright’s brother is found dead at the border between their two cattle farms, all signs point to suicide and Nathan has to try to make sense of it. Unlike Harper’s previous works, The Lost Man doesn’t feature detective Aaron Falk. In fact, in this tale everything is so remote that the police barely feature – it’s a detective novel without detectives. Almost the entire thing is set on one ranch and there are no shortage of suspects, from family members with grudges to shady figures from the past. We’re constantly reminded how dusty it is, and Nathan is always daydreaming before snapping back to the present, but the pace is frenetic, the landscape epic and the red herrings so cleverly placed that your prime suspect changes by the chapter. (Review by Sam Priddy)
8/10
BOOK OF THE WEEK
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
Published by Quercus, priced £16.99 (ebook £7.49). Available now
8/10 A Love Story For Bewildered Girls by Emma Morgan
Published in hardback by Viking, priced £12.99 (ebook £7.99). Available now A SLOW-BURNING story about relationships, friendships and the mistakes we make along the way from first time novelist Emma Morgan. Therapist Grace falls head over heels for a woman she meets at a party, while lawyer Annie allows herself to trust a man with manners impeccable enough to impress even her fussy mother. Violet, Annie’s flatmate, is crippled by her fear of pretty much everything until she tries something new and surprises herself. Morgan’s story flits between these three main characters –
YANGSZE CHOO’S second novel, The Night Tiger, continues in the vein of her debut work, The Ghost Bride, blending intrigue with Chinese folklore. Following young doctor’s servant Ren and dance-hall girl Ji Lin, the book takes the reader on a vivid journey through 1930s Malaysia and the afterlife. Five characters’ lives slowly intermingle as the night turns shapeshifting men into tigers that murder with suspicious accuracy, bringing up old secrets and adding danger to new relationships. Starting with a severed finger and an otherworldly mission, and ending with a thrilling betrayal, the tale’s various twists and beautifully written interpersonal relationships are intriguing to read. The novel paints a luscious view of Malaysian natural surroundings and historical culture. Though its denouement might feel as though the tale might continue in another book, and the climax seems a little rushed, the story is engaging enough to hold you to the end. (Review by Rosemin Anderson)
perhaps a little too quickly at first, when the reader is still getting to know them – and gradually her vivid creations come to life. We really begin to care for Annie, Grace and Violet, sharing their sorrows and cheering them when they recover their strength. Morgan writes beautifully and accurately about the pain of finding out someone you love doesn’t love you back, and realising there’s nothing you can do to change that. She also cleverly includes the subtle red flags we all choose to ignore when we like someone. Plot twists are subtly signposted but not predictable. And while it has little action and simple plot lines, Morgan’s touching and accurate portrayal of human emotions makes it a gripping read. (Review by Beverley Rouse)
NON-FICTION
It’s Not About The Burqa by Mariam Khan Published in hardback by Picador, priced £14.99 (ebook £9.35). Available February 21
“WHEN a woman travels from A to B, she will encounter mad dogs along the route who will bark at her… Never stop to reason with a mad dog,” writes novelist Sufiya Ahmed in this eye-opening book of 18 essays by Muslim women. And the collection provides ample evidence that Muslim women have mad dogs barking at them from a multitude of directions, from ill-informed fundamentalists to ‘white feminists’. Writers, politicians, fashionistas, comedians, journalists and lawyers – they’re all here, and all speaking up for themselves and their
chosen paths through the maze of condemnation. They don’t all agree, but editor Mariam Khan’s cunning juxtapositions provide plenty of food for thought. So beauty blogger Amena Khan’s celebration of the fashion mainstreaming of the hijab is immediately followed by Nafisa Bakkar pointing out what a mixed blessing these arguably shallower forms of visibility and representation may turn out to be. (Review by Liz Ryan)
10/10
CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK
The Burning by Laura Bates
Published in paperback by Simon & Schuster, priced £7.99 (ebook £4.99). Available February 21 Laura Bates – founder of the Everyday Sexism Project – shines a light on some of the most frightening and difficult issues facing teenage girls today. A frank and impressive novel from the best-selling author of Girl Up, this focuses on the sexism, sexual harassment and online abuse many girls suffer as they navigate their
way through school. Anna Clark and her mum have moved to a sleepy Scottish fishing village to escape her old life, but her past catches up with her, and as the online abuse and bullying begin again, Anna finds herself drawn to the story of a local girl accused of witchcraft centuries ago. It is every teenage schoolgirl’s nightmare, and at times an uncomfortable read, but Bates tackles the issues head on, showing the dangers of social media without preaching. This is a must for teenage girls – and their parents – and boys should read it, too. (Review by Holly Williams)
8/10
BOOK CHARTS HARDBACKS 1. The Familiars by Stacey Halls 2. The Binding by Bridget Collins 3. I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella 4. The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield 5. Normal People by Sally Rooney 6. The Age Of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff 7. Becoming by Michelle Obama 8. The Lost Man by Jane Harper 9. The Story Of Brexit by Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris 10. The Ice Monster by David Walliams (Compiled by Waterstones)
8/10
PAPERBACKS 1. Tangerine by Christine Mangan 2. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn 3. Still Me by Jojo Moyes 4. A Pinch Of Magic by Michelle Harrison 5. The Cut Out Girl by Bart Van Es 6. Broken Ground by Val McDermid 7. The Tattoist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris 8. This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay 9. Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott 10. The Blood Road by Stuart MacBride (Compiled by Waterstones) EBOOKS 1. The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay by Nicola May 2. The Infirmary by LJ Ross 3. Bring Them Home by D.S. Butler 4. The Rumour by Lesley Kara 5. The Beekeeper’s Promise by Fiona Valpy 6. Hit And Run by Andy Maslen 7. Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane 8. The Liar by Nora Roberts 9. Next Victim by Helen H Durrant 10. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley (Compiled by Amazon)
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travel
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Travel
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
Cruise through your summer holiday by taking in these sights from the sea Experience the fantastic culture, rich history and delicious cuisine of the sun-soaked Dalmatian coast and Italy…
C
ELEBRITY CONSTELLATION offers you some of the classiest and most unforgettable experiences at sea as you travel this special part of the world. You’ll eat some of the most celebrated food and drinks– from fresh Neopolitan pizza to eye-watering Greek ouzo. And this cruise is just as much a feast for the eyes – ancient
‘The distinctive limestone buildings and terracotta rooves of the Old Town cast the city with an ethereal golden light, while the formidable city walls provide a reminder of its rich history’ wonders like the Colosseum combined with exquisite coastal scenery can only mean one thing, you’re in for a treat. The choice of ‘must-do’ experiences is endless. Carefully stepping into the world’s most romantic mode of transportation, feel the undeniable allure of Venice on an evening gondola ride through the city’s tranquil waterways;
BEFORE SUNSET Experience the magical allure of Dubrovnik
Discover Montenegro’s old world charm; Climb a mountain road to the village of Lakones for panoramic views of Corfu; Cycle through Valletta’s meandering streets; Enjoy a scenic drive along the Amalfi Drive to the famous Amalfi Coast and much more. VENICE Every angle, every shadow and every moment in Venice is a photograph waiting to be taken. Gondoliers in striped shirts, serenading love-struck couples. Bedsheets blowing in the breeze, hung from a balcony above an ancient courtyard. A hundred bridges making a patchwork of the city. The Grand Canal is lined with opulent, elegantly decaying architecture, typifying the Venetian penchant for grandeur. Step away from the tourist hotspots and you’ll find a network of winding lanes and alleys. Here, you can peer into shops selling colourful masks and even more colourful gelato, for hours on end without getting bored. SPLIT The Roman emperor Diocletian liked Split so much that in 295 AD, a palace was built here for his retirement. It’s one of the sunniest places in Europe, with scenery to match. The beautiful beaches are sandwiched between bright blue seas and
STREETS AHEAD Take in a city tour around Valletta the white stone walls of the town. Dotted with shops, bars and restaurants, these are well worth a visit for some laid-back relaxation. DUBROVNIK You can also enjoy lunch, dinner and drinks at Above5 to admire the city’s vistas at any time of the day. Don’t miss a Bitter Mendez, a cocktail fusing
tequila with vermouth and Campari, as the stars come out to sparkle above the city’s ancient fortified walls. There’s nothing better to fuel your explorations of Dubrovnik. The distinctive limestone buildings and terracotta rooves of the Old Town cast the city with an ethereal golden light, while the formidable city walls provide a reminder of its rich history.
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk DIVE RIGHT IN Cool down in a Corfu cove
Travel
they’ve been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Head to the Byzantine Museum to truly understand Corfu’s fascinating past. VALLETTA During your visit to Malta, make sure to visit the capital city of Valetta, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s not difficult to see why: spend your time exploring the quaint boutiques lining the narrow cobbled streets, admire the colourful Barakka Gardens or allow yourself to be awe-struck by the St Michael’s Co-Cathedral, which was built between 1572 and 1577. The best thing about Valletta? It’s so compact that practically everywhere can be reached in a short walk.
KOTOR A coastal city in Montenegro, Kotor is a charming and historical place to treat yourself to some me-time. When exploring this city, the best place to begin is the Old Town, a quaint medieval site that’s nestled amongst the hills and sheltered by the city’s ancient walls. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Old Town is home to serene churches, architecture and restaurants, where you can get lost in the history of Montenegro. One of the best places to dine is Galion, a lovely seafood restaurant where you can look out onto Kotor Bay and listen to the calming live music. CORFU The verdant island of Corfu is positioned off Greece’s north west
coast, on the Ionian Sea. As we approach the island on our Corfu cruise you’ll be greeted by the quiet majesty of the Palaio Frourio (the old fortress), which rises dramatically from the cliffs. One of the greenest islands in Greece, Corfu is home to thousands of olive trees, giving it a relaxed and scenic vibe. The idyllic beaches only compound this sense of relaxation, which stays with you as you explore the many charms of Corfu town. Much of the architecture in Corfu takes a traditional Venetian style, making it feel, in parts, more Italian than Greek. The quaint streets of Corfu town are so culturally important that
SICILY (MESSINA) Founded by the ancient Greeks, the ‘Door of Sicily’ is the setting for Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. Why not linger over a glass of local red wine in dramatic Duomo Square? While here, dine upon the magnificent feast of flavours that the island has to offer. Simple ingredients are grown locally and showcased to perfection in regional dishes. Expect juicy citrus fruits from fragrant groves, shellfish and tuna caught that morning from the harbour and sweet, crumbly ricotta on top of crusty bread. Cool nights call for evenings spent on beachside terraces, a glass of local wine in hand. We recommend Malvasia –zesty and aromatic – or a crisp and fruity Chardonnay. STONE LOVE See the cultural sights of Rome
NAPLES Naples is a vibrant, chaotic city,
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characterised by a thousand sights and sounds. The smell of clams fresh from the sea vies for sensory space with the honking of car horns, the clamour of architectural styles and gusts of heat from restaurant kitchens. Accept the unpredictability and you may just find your new favourite Italian destination. On your Naples cruise, you’ll find a hive of culture waiting to be discovered. The city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and there are a number of renowned museums and art galleries, as well as ancient architecture, castles and palaces and an art collection that includes works by Raphael, Botticelli and Michelangelo. ROME (CIVITAVECCHIA) On your Rome cruise, you discover Italy’s capital at your own pace and find out that there is more to the Eternal City than meets the eye. Few places have an artistic and cultural heritage as rich as Rome’s. Ancient sculptures by Michelangelo can be found throughout the city – and that’s before you even step into one of the city’s museums or art galleries. In the Eternal City, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to food, especially gelato. To try it at its best, head to Neve di Latte. Simple flavours are executed to perfection, and there’s also a working kitchen on site so you can watch the gelato being made. Head gelato maker Simone Romano may even fill you in on how they make their super-smooth and satisfying treats. HOW TO GET THERE: Celebrity Constellation sails a 10 Night itinerary between the 10th & 20th Oct 2019 around the Dalmatian Coast & Italy - calling at; Venice and then Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Valetta, Sicily and Naples and then Rome (Civitavecchia). Prices start from £1879pp based on an Ocean view stateroom and flights from London Gatwick. Contact Baldwins Travel for more information on this and many more great itineraries. www.baldwinstravel.co.uk
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Motoring
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Motoring News DETAILS of the new DS 3 Crossback have been revealed in full ahead of its arrival in UK showrooms this May. Priced from £21,550, the Crossback is the latest SUV to feature in the French manufacturer’s range of cars. It will be available initially with the choice between three petrol and one diesel engine, though an electric version is expected to arrive later in the year. Petrol engine power outputs will range from 99bhp to 148bhp, while the sole diesel produces 98bhp. Lower-powered versions will utilise a six-speed manual gearbox, with punchier versions sending drive through an automatic ’box instead. All models in the range get a decent standard of equipment, with basespecification Elegance models benefitting from parking sensors, keyless entry and a seven-inch touchscreen system. Performance Line cars get a sportier exterior design, along with seats finished in Alcantara – though prices bump up to £22,950. Customers upgrading to
This week… New SUV details Mobile offenders Futuristic failings
Half a million motorists spotted still using phone while driving
DS 3 Crossback pricing includes special launch edition Prestige specification will find climate control, automatic windscreen wipers, leather upholstery and a ten-inch infotainment system added to the car’s list of standard equipment. Prestige models start at £24,950. And range-topping Ultra Prestige cars are fitted with a reversing camera, head-up display, matrix LED headlights and heated front seats with massage function. These command a £30,950 price tag. They’re joined by a special launch edition – La Premiere – which benefits from 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, and DS’s full Drive Assist system, packing active cruise control and lane keeping assist. La Premiere models cost from £32,450. The expected all-electric version, to be called the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, will use a 100kW motor to offer 186 miles of range under new WLTP test cycles. In addition, it will hit 60mph in a brisk 8.5 seconds.
NEARLY half a million people were observed using a mobile phone at the wheel during 2017, a survey by the Department for Transport has found. The data released shows that 1.1% of drivers (445,000 people) – were seen driving while using a mobile phone in Great Britain. This represents a 0.5% decline over the previous three years. The rate for Scotland was significantly higher than that in England and Wales – 2.0% versus 0.6%. Taxis and private hire vehicles also proved to be the worst offenders, at 3.3%, beating van drivers at 2.1%, private car drivers and bus drivers at
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
1% each, while goods vehicles and lorries were the least likely to offend at 0.6%. Young motorists were the worst: 4% of those aged 17-29 were caught, compared with 0.6% of over-60s. Pete Williams, of the RAC, said: “It’s clearly good news these figures show improved compliance with the law.” But he pointed out that ‘the vast majority of these surveys were carried out months after the penalty for using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel was increased’. He added: “Our own research with drivers suggests the problem has far from gone away.”
UK driverless car progress slowed by potholes, poor broadband and scepticism THE development of self-driving vehicles in the UK is being hampered by potholes on roads and poor broadband, a new study has found. Analysis by consultancy KPMG found that although the UK led the charge in the promotion of self-driving vehicles, it was being let down by an overall lack of highquality infrastructure. Slow mobile networks mean cars can’t communicate with one another as effectively – and KPMG says the UK ‘lags behind other countries in 4G coverage’. Local road quality was highlighted in the report as well, particularly around towns where potholes are a common sight. The study also found that public scepticism about driverless cars was higher than in other countries included in the report. It acknowledged that the UK was pushing towards better mobile networks, with extensive investments in 5G testing, but admitted that it ‘needs to continue proactive efforts to address the critical factors of infrastructure and consumer acceptance’. The survey looked to find out how well countries were preparing for the arrival of driverless technology. The UK came seventh out of 25 – behind the Netherlands, Singapore, Norway, the US, Sweden and Finland.
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Motoring
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Recruitment
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Wednesday February 20 | 2019
WITH THE
FIND YOUR PERFECT JOB TODAY – A MUST-READ FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK LOCALLY
OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE
CODEWORD 3
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Codeword:
2 8 7 5
To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.
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24 9
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Numbers are substituted for letters in the crossword grid. Above the grid is the key with two letters solved. Try to complete the first few words to give you more letters, or look for a frequent number that might reveal a common letter. As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.
1 3 7 9 4 6 9 1 2 9
6 3 8
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5
6 4 1 4 7
© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles
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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.
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DIFFICULTY RATING:★★★★
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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS
SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU
DIFFICULTY RATING: ★✩✩✩
CLASSIFIEDS
Life&Times
Puzzles
In this Sudoku, the normal 3x3 boxes are now strangely odd shapes – but all the rules and logic of normal Sudoku apply. Fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and box contains every number uniquely.
Puzzle solutions will be published in a forthcoming issue
D S A T MA B F A S T E A Q U R A D
W L E F A R I L A I O I R T I N E Z E E A I R E S T P R S A S E P E R C B Q U A L A U G R A I V E L S R A S E E
N K U R I E C E L E V I E I X I E S J U R Y O A H T E R N L N C I D Y S
Sudoku:
1 4 2 5 8 6 9 3 7
3 9 5 7 1 2 8 6 4
8 7 6 9 3 4 5 2 1
9 3 1 8 2 5 4 7 6
7 2 8 6 4 3 1 9 5
6 5 4 1 9 7 2 8 3
4 6 7 2 5 9 3 1 8
8 7 2 5 3 9 6 1 4
7 9 6 8 2 1 5 4 3
5 6 8 3 4 2 9 7 1
2 8 3 4 7 1 6 5 9
5 1 9 3 6 8 7 4 2
Jigsaw Sudoku:
9 2 5 7 1 6 4 3 8
1 4 3 2 6 8 7 5 9
3 5 9 1 7 4 8 6 2
6 1 4 9 8 5 3 2 7
2 8 7 4 5 3 1 9 6
4 3 1 6 9 7 2 8 5
© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles
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Sport
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Relief for fans as Rusthall lift themselves off bottom Rusthall 3 AFC Croydon 2
Harvey falls just short in battle of narrow margins
Both teams enjoyed periods of possession in the second half but Rusthall looked the more dangerous and took the lead in the 72nd minute. Croydon failed to clear their lines and the ball came out to Paul Butler, the Rusthall captain, who scored through a crowded penalty box for his first goal of the season. Five minutes later, a mistake in the Croydon defence allowed Camacho to run into the box and, bearing down on goal, he was brought down for a penalty. Camacho took the kick himself, placing the ball firmly into the net for a 3-1 lead. It wouldn’t be Rusthall if they didn’t give their supporters cause for concern. In the 90th minute they gave away a free kick on the edge of the box from which Obun duly scored to make it 3-2. But the home side managed to hold on and record their second win of the season – and first home victory since April 4.
By Joe Croker FOOTBALL: RUSTHALL finally won at home for the first time this season to move off the bottom of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division. They started brightly but it took only five minutes for them to concede. Rusthall failed to clear the ball from a mêlée in the box and Dominic Obun pounced to open the scoring. Rusthall pressed after the goal, playing some neat football with Louis Clarke putting in dangerous crosses. But Danny Carpinini, the Croydon goalkeeper, pulled off a magnificent double save and then tipped Clarke’s fine shot over. In the 23rd minute Steve Camacho launched a free kick into the box, Charlie Clover met it and drove the ball into the net to level the scores.
Tunbridge Wells 1 Oxford University 2
LIFT THE SPIRITS Rusthall celebrate Steve Camacho’s penalty Now Rusthall face a derby against resurgent neighbours Tunbridge Wells at Culverden Stadium on Saturday [February 23, kick-off 3pm].
Derry makes instant impact to lead Angels’ demolition job Burgess Hill Town 0 Tonbridge Angels 4
PHOTO: David Couldridge
By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: NEW signing Tom Derry scored twice on his debut as Tonbridge Angels scored all four goals in the first half and moved up to third place in the Bostik League Premier. Derry was signed from East Thurrock United thanks to contributions from the fans’ ‘12th Man’ fund and at times the striker seemed unplayable. His pace and movement constantly confused the Burgess Hill back line and he also set up a profitable partnership with another recent recruit up front, Chinedu McKenzie. After seven minutes Tom Beere’s corner found Joe Turner and he headed into the net just inside the left-hand post. McKenzie saw a lobbed effort land on the bar. But in the 17th minute he combined well with Derry, who scored his first goal for his new club. On 26 minutes it was 3-0 with Derry again outpacing the Burgess Hill defence. To complete the first-half rout, McKenzie scored from Adem Ramadan’s assist. The second half could not live up to the heights of the first period. Angels continued to press but the Hillians were better organised at the back. One downside for the Angels came in the 78th minute when substitute Jared Small was given a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident.
MAKE AN IMPRESSION Tom Derry scores his first goal for the Angels The Angels beat Wingate & Finchley 2-1 away from home in midweek, Small scoring the winner with four minutes remaining. Reece Beckles-Richards had put the home side in front after 17 minutes but Turner levelled the scores from the penalty spot on 70 minutes. Tonbridge now take on Merstham at home on Saturday [February 23, kick-off 3pm].
Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “We told them to start with high intensity and it worked. “I heard a few of our supporters suggesting that we should have scored more goals in the second half. “But our instructions were to create chances where you can – and we did that – but try to get that clean sheet, which is exactly what we did.
By Julian Fussell FOOTBALL: TUNBRIDGE WELLS took home a well-deserved point after an entertaining draw at Canterbury’s temporary stadium in Faversham. City started brightly and in the 9th minute Adam Woollcott’s well-taken free kick crept low past the defensive wall and into the bottom corner of Wells keeper Cameron Hall’s net. Play was broken up by free kicks and stoppages, and a minute before half-time Wells defender Akeem Adeyemo was substituted, already on a yellow card and having received a final warning from the referee. The Wells came out after the interval with a greater sense of urgency and Jake Beecroft begun to take control in midfield, stretching the
opposition with his range of passing. On 66 minutes the Wells got their reward as Beecroft received a short pass from a free kick and lashed a fierce, 30-yard drive into the Canterbury net to level the scores. The game became more stretched and a flurry of opportunities followed for both sides including a spectacular flying volley from Wells striker Jason Thompson that went just wide with the keeper stranded. With all their substitutions made, the home side were left to play out the game with 10 men after an injury to their captain Lee Quinn, but the Wells were unable to take advantage. The result leaves the Wells in 16th place in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division. They now face a local derby against neighbours Rusthall at Jockey Farm on Saturday [February 23, kick-off 3pm].
PHOTO: Martyn Sexton
Beecroft in control to ensure Wells make their point Canterbury 1 Tunbridge Wells 1
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
MIDFIELD GENERAL Jake Beecroft shows his passing skills
HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS were left frustrated by their defeat at Tonbridge School in a mid-table clash between two sides who were separated by just three points in the congested South Premier League Division One. The visitors were set up with a high press and deep defence but Wells’ back line moved the ball out from the back and worked the flanks well. A period of pressure from the students midway through the first half saw them earn a penalty corner, and Wells keeper Keir Starley had to make three important saves in quick succession. Soon after, an incisive break down the right by Sam George brought Ant Dalrymple into play, he found Ian Harvey in the D and the latter gave Wells the lead. Harvey went close again moments later but was unable to deflect in another cross from the left wing and collided with the goalpost.
Fitness The visitors got back on level terms just before half-time. A fast break by Oxford led to a lastditch tackle that led to a penalty stroke. In the second period Wells lacked the incisive ball in the final third. Russell Self had a shot saved when one-on-one with the keeper, while Harvey fired just wide. With ten minutes left, the visitors grabbed the lead after a fast break down the right and a fierce snapshot into the roof of the net. For all Wells’ pressing, the visitors’ fitness levels showed in the final period to keep the home side at bay. With almost the final play of the game Wells won their first penalty corner, but a defender got a touch to Harvey’s drag flick, which looped agonisingly over the bar. The result leaves Wells in 10th place while Oxford University moved up to fifth, illustrating just how tight the league is. Wells face another stern test against fourthplaced London Edwardians at Kings College on Saturday [February 23, 12.30pm start].
Playle tries hard but fails to stop leaders East London 3 Tunbridge Wells Ladies 0 By Amy Hare HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS came unstuck against the leaders of the East Region Divison One South after the home side showed their adaptability in the second half. Wells started well, holding East London at bay and denying them the opportunity to enter the circle while Annie Wilson’s impressive attacking play put them on the back foot. Despite solid defending, however, Wells were unable to stop East London’s fast-paced and skilful forwards creating scoring opportunities. Player of the match Ali Playle showed her shot-stopping skills in goal but Wells conceded before half-time from a well-worked attack. East London started the second half with a new game plan and a change of personnel, and scored two more goals, one from a penalty corner. Wells reformed and tightened up, Laura Blaxland at the back keeping her cool and making successful passes to the midfield. It was a tough game against a determined opposition but Wells worked hard right to the end. The Ladies have a weekend off before they host Crostyx at Kent College on Saturday March 2 [2pm start].
Wednesday February 20 | 2019
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Battling Wells lose after Tring come out stronger
CARRY ON CHARGING Wells’ Mike Hathaway launches another attack
Tring 45 Tunbridge Wells 24
PHOTO: Bruce Elliott
By Roger Clarke RUGBY: A MUCH-changed Tunbridge Wells came up against an impressive Tring side and saw the match slip away in the second half. The visitors began brightly but after 17 minutes Tring worked a short line out to their right wing Richard Roberts, who scored an unconverted try. Four minutes later, they went over again after exploiting the centre channel, with Tom Newton converting to give the hosts a 12-0 lead. Frank Reynolds successfully kicked a penalty to get Wells on the scoreboard after 24 minutes as a Tring back row went to the sinbin for a tip tackle. Wells continued to apply pressure and after a penalty to the corner the pack rolled a maul to the line for Mike Hathaway to get the touchdown on 33 minutes, Reynolds converting. Reynolds had a chance to put Wells into the lead towards the end of the first half with a
penalty from close range but he put his kick wide and the visitors went in at half-time 12-10 down. Tring came out strongly in the second half, Harry Green scoring twice within the first six minutes and Newton converting both. After Tring’s George Hayes adding a further try on 56 minutes, Wells scrum-half Anthony Storkey was forced off with a hand injury. But Max Hobbs came on for his first game since October and cut a brilliant line to score from halfway out on 61 minutes, Reynolds converting. Tring scored again to stretch their lead to 38-17, but Wells debutant Matt Symonds appeared on George Montgomery’s shoulder after the latter had intercepted and he put in Mike Hathaway to crash over for his second try. In injury time Wells threw caution to the wind in their search for bonus points and a pass was intercepted for Tring’s concluding score. Tunbridge Wells now have a weekend off before meeting Bedford Athletic at St Marks on Saturday March 2 [kick-off 3pm].
TJs flying high as hat-trick for Edwards sinks islanders Guernsey Raiders 17 Tonbridge Juddians 35 By Adam Hookway RUGBY: AFTER their impressive victory over the runaway leaders of National Two South, Tonbridge Juddians travelled to the Channel Islands to inflict defeat on the bottom club. TJs took advantage of a missed knock-on to kick to the corner from where they created a first try through Duncan Tout after seven minutes, Will Robinson converting. Guernsey were dominating possession but when a kick was fielded by full-back Toby May,
he was supported by winger Murray GalbraithLowe and scrum-half Charlie Edwards crossed a try which Robinson converted. A similar move just a few minutes later came to an end just a metre from the line with a knock-on. From a quickly taken penalty Edwards did a dummy pass and his quick feet took him over the line, Robinson again converting. The Raiders still had most of the ball and finally managed to get on the scoreboard with an unconverted try. But TJs restored their lead with a third try from Edwards just before the break, Robinson added the extras again, making it four tries, four conversions and a bonus point for TJs by half-time and putting them in a very strong position.
DOWN THE LINE: Charlie Edwards scores one of his three tries
Winning start for Couchman and Bagge By Adam Dennis DUATHLON: TUNBRIDGE WELLS triathletes showed fine early-season form when they competed in the Gravesend Winter Duathlon. This race does not include the swim but has a second running element instead, comprising a 5km run, 20km bike ride and 3.5km run. The event was the first of a series of six races with 20 clubs competing across the South East. Neil Couchman and David Bagge both won their categories as 1st M40 and 1st M50 respectively. Carol Tsang finished a strong ninth female overall and third in her age category. Tunbridge Wells Triathlon Club are well placed in the team standings with 2nd Male and 5th Female leading into the second event in May.
WINTER WARMERS: Carol Tsang , Neil Couchman (centre) and David Bagge compete in Gravesend
The second half proved a different matter. TJs’ ability to contain the home side’s attack was less effective and they conceded penalties while playing on the back foot. Guernsey crossed for two more tries but could only convert one of them, making the score 17-28 and increasing the pressure on TJs. But the visitors sealed victory when Robinson made a fine break from a rare period of possession and passed through Guernsey’s first line of defence. His pass reached the flying Finlay Coxon-Smith
who bumped away a couple of tacklers and to score under the posts. Robinson completed his 100 per cent conversion rate with the last kick of the game. TJs remain in third place in the table and have a rest next week, when they will await with interest the outcome of Henley against Taunton Titans, the teams in fifth and fourth place within two points of them. Tonbridge return to league action when they travel away to Old Redcliffians in Bristol on Saturday March 2 [kick-off 2.30pm].