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Wednesday December 11 | 2019

Inspector turns down plans for High Street flats and nuns’ abbey

ALL ABOARD: A team of more than 100 paddleboarders rode into town to raise awareness of the sport - and £500 for the charity Stand Up To Cancer. The event, known as Santa SUP [Stand Up Paddleboard] has been going for 10 years and is organised by Jay Manning, aka J-Sup. This year’s run on the Medway also featured elves, The Grinch, a Christmas Tree, a lion and a turkey

Up close and personal: now the four candidates await their fate By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk CLOSE to 60,000 people across Tonbridge and Malling are expected to vote tomorrow [Thursday] to help decide who will form the next government. The parliamentary candidates will know their fate by around 4am on Friday morning. The four hopefuls converged on Tonbridge Baptist Church to face the voters at the Hustings last week, and responded to questions submitted by local residents and picked out of the hat in advance. It was to prove a revelatory evening, with the candidates revealing details of their lives that had not been seen in the leaflets dropped through letterboxes.

The incumbent, Tom Tugendhat of the Conservative Party, was in a combative mood, which was fitting since he frequently referred to his experiences in the Army - he was an intelligence officer who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

‘It took an hour before the ‘B word’ was mentioned in a question’ When asked what would be done to help children who have mental health issues, he admitted that after serving in Afghanistan, ‘I found it hard to come home’. There were two questions on mental health, and citing the example of Hillview School as a beacon of light, he said: “I’ve seen it done well. I’ve seen it

THE Government’s Planning Inspector has upheld a decision by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council [TMBC] to reject a large-scale development above Poundstretcher on the Vale Road roundabout. Developers wanted to add three storeys to the building to provide 10 flats. But the Inspector agreed with the Area 1 Planning Committee that this would ‘appear dominant in views from the south towards the High Street’. Matt Boughton, councillor for Medway ward and Vice-Chairman of the Committee, had also expressed concerns about pollution on the High Street.

Controversial

done badly too. Parity of esteem is just as important as parity of funding.” The Labour candidate Dylan Jones, standing for a second time in the borough, had revealed something of his role as a manager with the Royal Mail. On the issue of mental health he said: “Kent is in a far worse condition than others. When people come to me, as a manager I find it very difficult to access services for staff who are in crisis.” April Clark, the Green Party candidate, is also standing again and successfully gained a seat on the borough council in May’s local elections. She followed the personal theme when she decried the rising use of foodbanks, explaining her own background.

He greeted the decision and said: “Adding an extra three stories of flats above Poundstretcher would have been hugely detrimental to the views of the town from the whole of south Tonbridge. “The impact on air quality on the High Street is also significant and I am delighted the Inspector has agreed that this is a totally unsuitable plan which deserves to be rejected.” Another controversial plan has also been turned down by the Inspector in West Malling after Bellway applied to build up to 65 homes next to St Mary’s Abbey. The 11th century abbey was the first building constructed in the area, with the town growing around it to provide services. Tom Tugendhat, the MP for Tonbridge & Malling, asked the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to intervene and stop the

Continued on page 4

NEWS

Local News

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this week… Business leaders throw their

weight behind Conservatives By Robert Forrester

THE SMELL OF SUCCESS: The Perfume Studio shares its fragrance secrets on BBC’s The Apprentice p10 LIGHTING UP CHRISTMAS: We meet the brains behind Bedgebury’s festive illumination trail p12

LEARNING VALUABLE LESSONS: Headteacher Samantha Price on why the new government must prioritise education p17

A TASTE OF TRADITION – WITH A TWIST: We meet the new owners and chef at the Abergavenny Arms p38

TUNBRIDGE WELLS business leaders yesterday [Tuesday] came out in support of Conservative candidate Greg Clark. The CEO of TEK Group Paul Fleming, who voted Remain, told the Times: “The Conservatives are the only party with a direct and well defined approach to getting Brexit done then getting on with business, if they do not get a majority government or a suitably strong alliance then the uncertainty will continue.

Confident “And if we get a fragmented parliament or a Corbyn PM then I think there will be a lot of entrepreneurs, business owners and employers taking a long hard look at their future plans for investment and growth in the UK.” Victoria Usher, who founded international PR firm GingerMay in Tunbridge Wells a decade ago, says Greg Clark understands the needs of businesses in the town. She said: “I’m voting for Greg Clark because he is a strong figurehead with a proven track record of having held a cabinet position, which makes me feel confident he will represent the views of the business community in Tunbridge Wells. “I also voted remain in the EU referendum, and I really respect the position Greg Clark has taken over Brexit.” Rob Young, CEO of Infinity Group based in Camden Road, is also backing Mr Clark. He said: “There’s no doubt we need investment in public services and infrastructure and to deliver this we need a thriving economy so we need somebody to get in to support business

with policies that encourage growth. “In our industry, we need to be able to find and train the best talent so policies that encourage learning and development are welcome, and the only person that can guarantee these for Tunbridge Wells is Greg Clark.” Markerstudy Group, one of the town’s largest employers, says it has first-hand experience of Greg Clark in action, on both a local and national level. A spokesperson for the company, which employs over 1,000 staff in Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks, said: “It’s a measure of the man that Greg Clark can fully support his constituents whilst battling the issues in parliament. “We are 100 per cent behind Greg in his campaign to continue the good work he’s started. We have seen him personify ‘one nation Conservatives’ and have the courage of his convictions”. BACKING Victoria Usher of GingerMay

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

Labour’s spending plans for the town Continued from page 1

HOW THEY ARRIVED AT THAT £6,000 FIGURE TAXATION: According to the Office or National Statistics, Labour’s spending plans require £80billion a year of extra tax revenue to be raised – not even including the £58 billion promise to WASPI women. This means that if the tax requirement was applied evenly on earned incomes above the personal allowance, the tax increase would be over 30 per cent higher in Tunbridge Wells than nationally – around £3,800 per Tunbridge Wells household. MORTGAGE RATES: Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has anticipated a ‘run on the pound’ on the election of a Labour government. Assuming a conservative 10 per cent depreciation in sterling, inflation could rise by 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent which City economists say would trigger a 1 per cent rise in bank rates to curb this inflation. The average house prices in Tunbridge Wells are £510,515 compared to £314,172 nationally – 62 per cent higher than the national average, with the average Tunbridge Wells mortgage also 62 per cent higher at £214,800. So a 1 per cent rise in mortgage rates would cost £2,150 a year on average in Tunbridge Wells, and landlords are likely to pass on in higher rents.

Car parks to be sold to developers By Richard Williams

CONTACTS 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

Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0TF

CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS HERE at the Times Local News 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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THE site where it was planned to build the £108million theatre and civic complex is to be sold off to developers and is likely to be used for offices or an apartment block. Borough councillors have been presented with a cross-party report, outlining plans to sell off two Council car parks – Great Hall and Mount Pleasant that both sit next to Calverley Grounds. The money would be used to initiate a new development on the current site of the Town Hall and Assembly Hall Theatre. The Calverley Square development was scrapped in October despite more than £10million of taxpayers’ money spent on planning the project, but the Council still has to decide what to do with the current civic building and theatre.

Collapse Both the Town Hall and Assembly Hall Theatre require immediate emergency repairs, which has already landed taxpayers with another £2million bill to patch them up. A cross-party group, including councillors from all the parties on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, was set up to find a solution and new direction for the town following the collapse of the Calverley Square project. Now the group, which consists of councillors David Scott and Tom Dawlings [Con], Hugo Pound [Lab] David Hayward [TWA] and Mark Ellis and Andrew Hickey [Lib Dem], has reached a ‘crossparty consensus’ on a new plan. In their report, which was presented to councillors on Monday, both the Mount Pleasant and Great Hall car parks, which were both earmarked to have the Calverley Square civic and theatre complex built on them, are to be sold off. The cross-party group want to sell both Council assets to developers, using the funds raised to

FOR SALE The Great Hall car park provide the seed money to initiate a revamp of the civic area at the top of the town. The Mount Pleasant car park, a surface level car park used by AXA employees, already has planning permission for commercial office space. The money raised from its sale would be used to come up with a new plan for the Town Hall, which is set to be partitioned for both Council use, as well as providing commercial office space for the town. Funds from the sale of the Great Hall car park, the building, which sits on the edge of Calverley Grounds and was set to be replaced by the Calverley Square theatre, is similarly going to be used to initiate a project to develop the Assembly Hall. New planning permission would have to be sought for the Great Hall car park, which could see it turned into an office, retail or residential development. Councillors have not yet decided how the Assembly Hall will be revamped or whether it will

stay as a ‘theatre’ or become more of a ‘cultural space’. The cross-party group is understood to want to go ahead with plans proposed by Labour’s Cllr Hugo Pound, who as reported in the Times in September, wishes to rerun the original architectural competition that led to the initial building designs in 1939. Both redevelopments could be completed within 5-10 years, but the report stresses the importance that the Council has the support of ‘residents, businesses, investors and partners’. It also notes that the redevelopment of the Town Hall and theatre, which could have a combined cost of anything from £20million to more than £90million, depending on what scale of development is proposed, would require ‘substantial sums’ to be raised from other sources, most likely borrowing. The two developments will also require relocating the Council and performance activities elsewhere, adding to the costs.

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Wednesday December 11 | 2019

West Kent College axe wielder bailed A MAN accused of wielding an axe outside West Kent College has been released on bail pending further enquiries. As reported in the Times last week, a 31-year-old man handed himself into police after there were reports somebody was brandishing an axe in the college’s car park. The man was bailed to reappear at Tonbridge Police Station on December 20.

Hawkhurst fatality

Christmas Day lunch A CHRISTMAS Day lunch for older people will be held at Tonbridge Baptist Church for a 17th year. Couples or people who are on their own are invited to come and enjoy the festivities, friendship and a three-course traditional lunch with all the trimmings – as well as a visit from Father Christmas bearing gifts. Tickets can be bought for £12.50 from reception at the church on Darenth Avenue, which is open Monday to Friday from 9am-4.30pm. To check availability and make a reservation call 01732 352824.

Cycling dealer jailed A COCAINE dealer has been jailed after being caught delivering the drugs to Tunbridge Wells town centre on his mountain bike. Police stopped Jetnor Dalipi after he was spotted cycling along Lime Hill Road and found him in possession of 11 wraps of cocaine, worth around £500. The 21-year-old, of no fixed-address, pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to supplying class A drugs and was sentenced to three years in prison on Friday [December 6].

‘Anti-social’ shop closed after illegal cigarette raids

NEWS IN BRIEF

A MAN in his 30s died following a crash in Hawkhurst last week. The deceased was driving towards Cranbrook on the A229 at around 8.05pm in Gill’s Green on December 4, when his Hyundai Coupe collided with a Range Rover Evoque heading the other way. The driver died at the scene while two women in the Range Rover were taken to hospital. A spokesman for Kent Police said they were appealing for any witnesses to contact them on 01622 798538 quoting MM/RF/125/19.

NEWS

Pub in the Park is set to return for its third year By Richard Williams CELEBRITY chef Tom Kerridge is bringing back his popular food festival to Tunbridge Wells next year. Following on from its success this year, Pub in the Park is to return to Dunorlan Park for the third time on July 10-12. It will also be at seven other venues across the UK. The festival, which boasts ‘world-class chefs, chart topping musicians and summer vibes’ is fast becoming one of the town’s most popular annual events. Last year, nearly 20,000 people turned up to the second Pub in the Park and the crowds were not just wowed by the selection of food, wine and beers on offer, but also entertained by the likes of Rick Astley, KT Tunstall, Soul II Soul, Basement Jaxx and the Stereo MCs, Will Young, Gabrielle and The Bluetones. While details of this year’s line-up are yet to

emerge, TV chef, Tom Kerridge promised Pub in the Park 2020 would be just as good as last year. He said: “Pub in the Park was an absolute blast. I’ve had a sneak peek at the line-up for 2020, and wow, it looks good – tasty food, more amazing chefs and awesome musicians all in your local park.” He added that at each venue, there’ll be Michelin-starred and award-winning pubs and restaurants serving tasting dishes showing their signature style. Every event will celebrate the very best food the country has to offer, combined with great live music, chef demonstrations, top quality shopping and other festival fun. Steve Lane, Pub in the Park Managing Director, said they were ‘thrilled at the prospect of bringing the brilliant food, drink and music festival’ back to Tunbridge wells. Tickets for the summer event go on sale in January.

A TUNBRIDGE WELLS shop repeatedly raided by police and customs officials for selling illegal cigarettes potentially containing ‘arsenic, pesticides and rat poison’ has been closed down. The Council had issued a warning to Camden Groceries in Camden Road last month following a number of raids that found fake and untaxed cigarettes on the premises. The shop owners had ignored warnings from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC], which also issued the business a Community Protection Notice [CPN] issued under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act. The shop’s landlord was informed about the Notice and on Tuesday, December 3, decided to evict the business.

Counterfeit The shop, known by some locally as the Red Shop, had not only been caught trading in illegal tobacco sales, but also councillors had heard reports that they were selling cigarettes to underage young people. Cllr Carol Mackonochie, Cabinet member for Communities and Wellbeing at TWBC said: “Police and council officers from the Community Safety Unit have been monitoring several businesses suspected of selling counterfeit cigarettes or of avoiding Excise Duty on sales and I am pleased that their hard work has paid off in this case. “The CPN is a victory for the town’s legitimate retailers who may be losing trade as a result. “All smoking is harmful and a report last year said that fake cigarettes can contain arsenic, pesticides and rat poison. “It’s very worrying to think that our young people could get hooked on smoking in this way.”

AND ANOTHER BIG NAME ANNOUNCED FOR FOREST LIVE ITALIAN acoustic singer, Jack Savoretti has announced he is to play Bedgebury Pinetum as part of Forest Live 2019. The bestselling singer songwriter is to appear alongside Keane, James Morrison and Will Young at the weekend festival, which takes place between June 12-14. Jack Savoretti said, “I played three Forest Live concerts in 2019. These Forestry England shows are

A message from

GREG CLARK

great gigs for me in such beautiful locations and I am delighted to have a date in my summer diary to be returning in 2020. Looking forward to seeing you at Bedgebury Pinetum.” Tickets go on sale on Friday, December 13 for £40 (plus £5 booking fee) from Forestry England box office: 03000 680400 or forestryengland.uk/music

CLOSED Camden Groceries was repeatedly raided by police and customs officials

Dear Fellow Resident

Before tomorrow’s election , I want to say 2 things: 1. Thank you for the tremendous support and encouragement I’ve had for my work as your local MP. I will al ways fight for you and our area. 2. We face a crucial national choice. If Conservatives don’t win a majority, Jeremy Corbyn will be Prime Minister by the weekend. A Marxist government would hit our area particularly hard. Only a Conservative vote can stop that. A Lib Dem vote would let Corbyn into Downing Street, supported by SNP. Please make a local and national choice to vote Conservative.

With best wishes, Greg

Promoted by Jon Botten on behalf of Greg Clark, both at West Kent Campaign Centre, Suite 3, Business Centre, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6EN.

ELECTION SPECIAL

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

WHERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE

THERE are 45 polling stations in Tunbridge Wells Constituency, with church halls, sports pavilions and community centres, as well as a number of schools, which are closed for the day to provide voters with a place to cast their ballot. Polling booths across the country open at 7am and close at 10pm, but latecomers who are already queuing will be allowed to vote once the deadline passes. All voters eligible to cast their ballot will have been sent a poll card explaining where to vote. For more information on where your nearest polling station is, refer to the Council’s website: tunbridgewells.gov.uk/ council/voting-and-elections/pollingstations WHEN WILL THE RESULT BE ANNOUNCED?

QUESTION TIME [Left to right] Nigel Peacock, Chris Camp, Antonio Weiss, Greg Clark and Ben Chapelard last week

Candidates set out their stalls before town goes to the polls By Richard Williams

RETURNING officers up and down and the country will announce their respective results as soon as all ballots are counted. In Tunbridge Wells, once the polling stations close, all ballot boxes are sealed, before being taken to Putlands Sports and Leisure Centre in Paddock Wood for the election count. Local Counting Officer William Benson will announce the results of the election count, around 3.30am. The constituency result will be posted on social media and on the Times Local News website as soon as it is known. Nationally, the final result will be declared as soon as all the counts are in, which is usually in the early hours of the morning. The first indication as to who is likely to be the next PM will emerge shortly after the close of the election at 10pm, when the results of the first exit poll are released.

ALL five General Election candidates last week faced the voters of Tunbridge Wells during a hustings in the town centre. Arranged by Churches for Tunbridge Wells and held at the Baptist Church, Greg Clark [Con], Ben Chapelard [Lib Dem], Antonio Weiss [Labour], Chris Camp [Independent] and Nigel Peacock [Independent] were presented with questions from residents in the constituency. Around 300 people attended the evening event last Wednesday [December 4]. The candidates discussed various issues, including social care and the current climate emergency, but it was Brexit that dominated the agenda. Resident, Helen Waters, asked the candidates: “How will you ensure that no deal is taken off the table, when there is insufficient time to negotiate a meaningful trade deal before the end of the 12 month transition period?” The question was aimed primarily at former MP Greg Clark whose party leader, current PM

Queen’s jeweller teams up with British motoring icon A TUNBRIDGE WELLS jeweller has been chosen to be the UK’s only supplier of a new luxury collection released by executive car manufacturer Bentley. The famous British motoring marque released the jewellery to celebrate its centenary earlier this year.

Intricate Bentley, which was 100 years old in July, chose jewellers to The Queen G Collins & Sons as the UK’s only stockist of the collection. The high-end jewellery firm say the collection is sculpted in unique shapes and lines inspired by Bentley’s signature ‘Wing’ badge, and features rings, earrings, necklaces and pendants, balancing a combination of the

‘best traditional techniques and intricate mechanics to offer exquisite detailing’. Director Josh Collins said: “It is an honour to work with Bentley motors. These two quintessentially British brands go hand in hand and we are very excited to provide these innovative jewellery designs to the UK market.” WINGS Bentley jewellery available at G Collins & Sons

Boris Johnson, wants to push through his ‘oven ready’ deal and complete Britain’s withdrawal of the EU by the end of 2020. Mr Clark, who made headlines when he lost the party whip for defying Boris Johnson over No Deal, said: “I campaigned for Remain and I said doing that it is important whatever the outcome [of the referendum] it should be implemented.” He continued: “It has been too long. It has been three-and-a-half years, but I think we have finally got to the point in which we have an agreement that has been agreed by 27 EU member states and supported by big business organisations.” His answer caused disquiet among Remain supporting audience members who shouted: ‘you have not answered the question!’ Lib Dem candidate Ben Chapelard, whose party wants to revoke Article 50 suggested that the 17.4million people who voted for Brexit ‘no longer exist’. “I have found hundreds of people in Tunbridge Wells who, if given the opportunity to vote in a referendum again, would switch to

remain,” he said. While Antonio Weiss, the Labour candidate whose party wants a ‘people’s vote’ on a new deal brokered by Jeremy Corbyn, said voting for Labour ‘was the best chance to stop Brexit’. “No deal is back on the table. The Labour party is very clear that no deal would not be an option.” He continued: “You may not like Mr Corbyn, you may not like me very much, but the best chance to stop Brexit is through a Labour government.” Independent Chris Camp, a self-confessed ‘hard Brexiteer’ told the audience he quit the Conservative party because he was ‘angry’ over Brexit, and that Boris Johnson’s deal was a bad deal. He said: “It is never wrong to walk away from a bad deal and this deal is nearly as bad as Theresa May’s deal.” Independent Nigel Peacock, who also voted Leave in 2016, added that the referendum was ‘divisive’ locally and ballots should have been counted centrally not within borough and district boundaries.

ELECTION SPECIAL

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Wednesday December 11 | 2019

RICHARD WILLIAMS’

ELECTION SKETCHBOOK SO HOW DID THEY MEASURE UP?

WHILE voters get to meet respective candidates individually on their doorstep, hustings tend to provide the only chance constituents get to see the parliamentary hopefuls side by side, and it can prove to be very insightful. For Greg Clark, an old hand at electioneering, he has for once found himself on the back foot. The former Business Secretary has been treading a tightrope over Brexit, attempting to appease Remain supporting Conservatives, as well as make peace with the Brexiters in his local party – who wanted to oust him earlier on in the year after he rebelled over No Deal. In this, he may have succeeded, partially, but when asked how he could prevent a No Deal if things do not go Boris Johnson’s way, Mr Clark attempted to skirt around the issue.

Competition It is a question he simply cannot answer. Mr Clark’s days as a rebel are now surely over, as the price to regain the party whip was to sign up to Boris Johnson’s deal and Boris Johnson’s timetable, no matter how that turns out, and the town’s Remainers know this. The Tunbridge Wells MP for the past 14 years is

also facing competition for the first time. The Liberal Democrats have made no secret that the constituency is now one of their target seats, thanks to Brexit. Candidate Ben Chapelard is pinning his hopes on dissatisfied Remainers switching from blue to yellow, but as his Labour rival pointed out during the hustings, the current borough councillor for St James’ ward will require a record-breaking electoral swing of 83 per cent to pip Mr Clark to the post tomorrow. While the electoral shape of the constituency, especially around the town centre, is changing, it is doubtful there are enough disgruntled Remain voting Conservatives in the parishes willing to risk Jeremy Corbyn in Number 10 just to get their way on Brexit. Something else surfaced during the hustings too. Ben Chapelard is clearly politicaly ambitious but when he told the audience how he campaigned to stop the Conservatives in Tunbridge Wells from switching off the CCTV, despite being ‘a liberal and against surveillance,’ he admitted he was more than happy to put aside these principals because ‘local businesses asked me’. Whether he meant it to come out the way it

did, or he was feeling the effects of campaigning, is uncertain, but confessing a willingness to ditch political principals just to appease voters is perhaps not the look he was after. It is also doubtful this political pragmatism

Turning their back on nearly half the electorate is a risky gambit for the Lib Dems would, or could ever, be extended to representing the interests of the 45 per cent of Leave voters in the constituency either. Turning their back on nearly half the electorate in Tunbridge Wells is a risky election gambit for the Lib Dems – only tomorrow will we know if it has paid off. Mr Chapelard’s ambitions also have another problem in the form of Labour’s Antonio Weiss. If elections were awarded for how politicians presented themselves at public hustings, then Mr Weiss would win the seat hands down. The Labour candidate and Harrow councillor was measured, articulate and expressed the Labour party line while managing to sound

sincere and genuine. ‘You may not like Mr Corbyn, you may not like me,’ he candidly told the room last week, before suggesting a vote for Labour was ‘the only way to stop Brexit’. It is likely we will see Mr Weiss on the green benches of the House of Commons in the very near future. It is, however, highly unlikely it will be as the member for Tunbridge Wells. One thing has been clear throughout Labour’s campaigning – they don’t expect to win here, and are not even trying. Most of Mr Weiss’ election swipes have been directed at the Lib Dems not the Tories. It seems for Labour, success tomorrow will be measured on whether he retains the party’s second place in Tunbridge Wells or loses out to Mr Chapelard. As for the independents, while their intentions are admirable, it is hard to imagine either will keep their deposit, let alone beat any of the party hopefuls With no Brexit Party candidate standing, Chris Camp is a clear protest vote for the hard Brexiters. As for Nigel Peacock, as smart and intelligent as he is, an independent candidate needs some form of previous platform to be successful (Martin Bell springs to mind), which he is surely lacking.

WHAT ARE THEIR TOP PRIORITIES FOR TUNBRIDGE WELLS? GREG CLARK He wants to see the dualling of the A21 complete from Pembury up to Lamberhurst, a stretch of road that he says is currently dangerous. He said: “The A21 is a crucial part of my campaign to relieve the congestion, danger and pollution of the road between Pembury and Lamberhurst.” Mr Clark also wishes to improve mental health provision in the town. He told the hustings: “We now have a great hospital but I think mental

health services need more resources – especially mental health provision for children.”

to air pollution, government figures show. Conservative failure to tackle this important issue must not be allowed to continue.”

times were recently the worst nationally, and future generations are being priced out due to a dearth of affordable homes.”

ANTONIO WEISS

NIGEL PEACOCK

The focus of the Labour candidate’s priorities for Tunbridge Wells is on the effect of government austerity. He said: “Amidst the beauty there is real hardship. A decade of unnecessary Tory and Lib Dem austerity is to blame. It’s scandalous thousands rely on food banks, that NHS waiting

The independent candidate says one of his main priorities is to improve business, especially retail, throughout Tunbridge Wells. He said: “There are too many empty shops and this needs to be addressed. As your MP, I will campaign for business rates to be significantly

BEN CHAPELARD The Liberal Democrat candidate has said his main target is reducing air pollution around the town. He said: “My priority is to treat illegal air pollution levels in Tunbridge Wells as a health emergency. “Each year an estimated 46 deaths across the borough can be attributed

reduced, helping to revive shops and businesses in our towns.” CHRIS CAMP As a former Conservative member, Mr Camp has one main priority: Brexit, but he has outlined what he would like to see for Tunbridge Wells. He said: “I would halt intensive development, especially on Green Belt and outlying towns and villages. Any large development must incorporate significant numbers of both social and genuinely affordable housing.”

BUSINESS

Local News

NEWS IN BRIEF

Tourist award triumph for Hotel du Vin A TOP town hotel has scooped the award for Large Hotel of the Year at the annual Kent Tourism Awards. Tunbridge Wells’ Hotel du Vin beat off competition that also included The Spa Hotel to take the award at a ceremony at the Kent Cricket Ground in Canterbury on December 2 . The 2019 Kent Tourism Awards saw a number of local businesses and attractions shortlisted, including Salomons Estate, which was a finalist for Business Events Venue of the Year, and The Goudhurst Inn in Cranbrook, which lost out on Pub of the Year to the Foundry Brew in Canterbury. Deirdre Wells, the CEO of Visit Kent, who organise the awards, said: “From first-rate accommodation providers to exceptional visitor attractions, this year’s winners really demonstrate the quality and diversity of Kent’s current tourism offering.”

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Perfume duo show BBC Apprentice hopefuls the sweet smell of success By Richard Williams A UNIQUE Tunbridge Wells business has been showing Alan Sugar’s Apprentice hopefuls the art of making the perfect scent. Ben and Helen Janousek, who run The Perfume Studio in Church Road, were called upon by the BBC’s The Apprentice to set a challenge for the show’s candidates. Broadcast last Wednesday [December 4], the show saw candidates tasked with creating and marketing a brand new fragrance after a little guidance from Mr and Mrs Janouse. The Tunbridge Wells duo showed the apprentices their unique perfume mixing process, before the contestants set about creating their own special scents . “We are fairly unique in what we do,” explained Mr Janousek. “We train people how to design their own perfume, so we were asked to come up with this challenge for the programme’s contestants.”

Support for scale ups A TUNBRIDGE WELLS financial adviser is sponsoring the Scale Up category at the Lloyds National Business Awards. Scale ups are those businesses that have seen the workforce or turnover increase by more than 20 per cent in three years. Castle Corporate Finance, based at Salomons Estate, says scale ups generate around £1.3trillion for the national economy. The firm’s Managing Director, Stuart Stepney, said: “We have been working with ambitious entrepreneurs to help realise their ambitions for many years and recently embarked on our own three-year growth plan so it is apt we now sponsor the ScaleUp Business of the Year Award.”

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

Taste

PERFUME DUO Helen and Ben Janousek of The Perfume Studio

He continued: “They did really well and made some great fragrances. “The great thing about our process is that it is impossible to design a bad perfume. It is all about personal taste.” However, things didn’t end too well for 20-year-Dean Ahmad, who was ‘fired’ by Lord Sir Alan Sugar following the challenge.

PLASTIC SURGEON EXPLAINS RISKS ON THE BBC A TUNBRIDGE WELLS plastic surgeon is also appearing on the BBC as part of a six-part factual programme warning vulnerable groups of the risks of going under the knife. Amir Nakhdjevani, who is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Tunbridge Wells’ clinic Bella Vou, says he is appearing on BBC Three’s Plastic Surgery Undressed to educate people about the pros and cons of cosmetic procedures. “Surgery can provide massive highs and make a big impact on people’s lives, but also there are risks,” he said. “All too often we see on TV or on social media people that have had procedures and have been traumatised by the results. This is usually because people are told there are no risks, but that is not true, and this sort of thing is not good for the industry.” Dr Nakhdjevani appears in four editions of the six-part series, which is airing from now until the New Year and is also on iPlayer. Amir Nakhdjevani

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Art meets nature at Bedgebury’s magic lightshow By Andy Tong BEDGEBURY has come to life again this winter with a stunning display of festive illuminations in the dark forest. The one-mile trail winds through the majestic array of trees, dramatically lighting up their trunks and bare branches – interspersed with remarkable artistic installations. Christmas at Bedgebury is the brainchild of Zoe Bottrell, Managing Director of Culture Creative. Last year was the first time it was staged at the National Pinetum and Forest, though Zoe worked at the venue in 2010 and 2011 for its Electric Forest display. Culture Creative currently run shows at eight venues across the UK, including the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Blenheim Palace and National Trust properties.

However, Bedgebury is a special project for her. “It’s a fantastic place, beautifully natural in the darkness of Kent,” she explains. “It’s very different to working in a formal gardens in a city, for example, with the Heathrow flightpath above your head.”

Poppies She adds: “The shows are all very specific, they are created particularly for each site. The delight here is that the tree selection is the star. “The way that we can play with the natural landscape is a wonder, it’s superb. “And it’s not pan flat – the undulating nature of it means you can look out over the landscape and you get glimpses of what’s coming but you can’t quite make out what it is.” Among the stars of the show this year are two

new installations: Voyage, a flotilla of hundreds of boats across the lake designed by Aether and Hemera from Milan; and Floraison, a bouquet of giant, suspended red poppies by the French company Pitaya. Pride of place goes to the Fire Garden, where flames lick around giant pine cones producing a heady scent. The design reflects the logo of the pinetum and was commissioned from the UK artist Mike Jones. Mike is renowned for his installation Beyond the Deepening Shadows at the Tower of London last year, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. And the much-loved favourite of last year, the Cathedral of Light by Australian firm Mandylights, is back – and proving hugely popular on Instagram again. “We’ve been illuminating trails since 2005, so WATER FEATURE Voyage by Aether and Hemera of Milan

GUIDING LIGHT Zoe Bottrell in the Cathedral of Light we have a huge back catalogue of artists that we are lucky to be able to draw upon,” said Zoe. She is already planning next year’s show – she works up to 15 months in advance, and said: “We’d like to do more with the water. But we don’t want to bring in too much infrastructure into this natural landscape.” This year her company have made their debut in the US with Lightscape in Chicago, which will also be taken to Melbourne in 2020. So the future’s bright for Zoe and Culture Creative. Christmas at Bedgebury, in association with the Forestry Commission and Sony Music, runs on selected dates until December 30 from 4.20pm. Entry costs £18 (£13.50 for children) – traditional fairground rides are extra. Tickets are available from christmasatbedgebury.seetickets.com

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

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East Peckham Dementia Friends launch project to provide support By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk EAST PECKHAM has unveiled a project to support people who live with dementia, providing an information kiosk and a sensory flower bed in the heart of the village. The scheme has been supported by the Parish Council, which is marking its 125th anniversary by supporting the introduction of a Dementia Friendly Community [DFC] in East Peckham.

Stigma The DFC was set up by Sandra Edmonds, Kent County Council’s Community Warden, who is also leading the village steering group to develop the Dementia Friends. Sandra said: “This initiative is so important in raising awareness and hopefully helping to remove the stigma that is often linked to dementia. “In East Peckham we want everyone to be a valued, supported and respected member of the village, with knowledge that helps to support people to live well with dementia in their own homes for as long as is possible.” She added: “The information kiosk was the idea of one of the young people in the village who had personal experience of living with someone with dementia. “Johnny Harman wanted a central point in the village where people could go at any time, night and day, to find out clear

information about the help, services and support that was available. “Hopefully this information kiosk will support residents, especially if they are in crisis with a loved one with dementia, to be able to identify pathways for help. “It can be used by family, carers, friends, or worried neighbours who need to ask advice about someone they are concerned about.” And she explained how they had used a convenient resource: “The Parish Council was able to support this amazing idea by securing the decommissioned BT phone box and turning it into the hub.” The Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling, Jill Anderson (pictured), attended the launch of the project along with Johnny, and residents were invited to join the carers at the village’s regular Carers Café.

This gathering is held on the second and fourth Friday of each month from 1.30pm in the Curran Hall, and is open to carers and those who they look after. The Community Safety Unit of the borough council gave out shed alarms and other home safety information, and the Virtual Dementia Tour bus gave local people an insight into what it’s like to live with dementia. Chris Parker, Chair of Tonbridge’s award-winning DFC, said: “As a protégé they don’t come any better than Sandra. I am so thrilled at everything she has achieved. “When I suggested she become a ‘dementia champion’, she astounded me by completing the training and delivering her first session inside a month. “East Peckham is lucky to have her.”

Hospice in the Weald’s Tree of Light takes shelter in Royal Victoria Place

STAR TURN: The Rotary Club of Tunbridge Wells with the Tree of Light and (left) the hospice’s Kathryn Cracknell and Glen Goodall THE Rotary Club of Tunbridge Wells have launched their Tree of Light appeal in aid of Hospice in the Weald, giving local people a chance to remember their loved ones at Christmas. This year the Tree of Light moves to Royal Victoria Place, offering protection from the elements for the messages that the public are invited to hang from its branches.

Beautiful Supporters enjoyed mince pies and carol singing at the launch event, which was organised by the Rotary Club’s Phillippa Bernstein. She said: “The Tree of Light is a wonderful way for people to remember their loved ones at this time of year, which we often associate with family.

“The tree is beautiful and we are very glad to have it positioned so prominently in Royal Victoria Place for people to visit it.” Hospice Ambassador Glen Goodall said: “We are so pleased to have the support of Royal Victoria Place with this campaign, alongside the longstanding support from the Rotary Club. “It is so valuable in ensuring those in need of hospice care can receive it.” Each year Hospice in the Weald needs to raise the £7million to provide free care for local patients, their families and carers. Those who wish to leave a message can visit the concierge desk on the second floor to complete a star and make their donation. Alternatively, email the Rotary Club at inforotarytunbridgewells@btinternet.com

ART WITH A HEART An ‘Art of the Weald’ exhibition is being held at Tonbridge School next year in aid of Hospice in the Weald, and local people are invited to submit their artworks. The event, at the Old Big School Gallery from March 28-29, will feature a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, digital art, drawing, scratchboard, printmaking, mixed media and 3D art. There will be a silent auction of paintings by exhibitors and celebrities and a chance to purchase prints and greeting cards. Applications are open until December 19. For more information, visit hospiceintheweald.org.uk

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Roxette’s Marie Fredriksson dies

NEWS IN BRIEF

GP faces jail for assault on 23 female patients A GP who used the cases of Angelina Jolie and Jade Goody to instill fear in his victims assaulted 23 female patients, a court heard. Dr Manish Shah preyed on cancer concerns to persuade patients as young as 11 to undergo unnecessary intimate examinations for his own sexual gratification, the Old Bailey heard. The 50 year old from Romford, east London had denied the charges but a jury yesterday [Tuesday] found him guilty of 25 sexual offences against six victims. Shah had already been convicted of similar allegations relating to 17 other women. Judge Anne Molyneux adjourned sentencing for all the offences until February 7.

McDonalds to go vegan FAST food giant McDonald’s is to launch its first fully vegan meal in the New Year. Veggie Dippers will go on sale on January 2 next year in both adult meal and Happy Meal sizes. They are made with red pepper, rice, sundried tomato pesto and split peas surrounded by breadcrumbs and have been accredited by The Vegan Society. Thomas O’Neill, head of food marketing at McDonald’s UK & Ireland, said: “In the last 12 months we’ve seen an 80 per cent uplift in customers ordering vegetarian options at McDonald’s, so it is time for the brand famous for the dippable McNugget to launch a dippable option for our vegetarian, vegan and flexitarian customers.”

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

THE lead singer of 90s Swedish rock group Roxette has died aged 61. Marie Fredriksson, who achieved global success in the 1990s with hits including The Look, Joyride and It Must Have Been Love, succumbed to cancer ‘following a 17-year long battle’, her manager said.

Tribute

BREAKING THE DEADLOCK: During a visit to JCB Cab Manufacturing Centre in Uttoxeter yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson drove a JCB through a polystyrene wall emblazoned with ‘Get Brexit Done’ to show his determination to end the deadlock over withdrawing from the EU

Bandmate Per Gessle, who released ten studio albums with Marie, paid tribute yesterday [Tuesday], saying: “I’m proud, honoured and happy to have been able to share so much of your time, talent, warmth, generosity and sense of humour. “All my love goes out to you and your family. Things will never be the same.” The singer is survived by husband Mikael Bolyos and her two children Josefin and Oscar.

Labour shadow cabinet minister admits voters ‘can’t stand Corbyn’ THE shadow health secretary was recorded yesterday [Tuesday] admitting that Labour’s chances of winning the General Election were ‘abysmal’ because voters ‘can’t stand Corbyn’. John Ashworth, the MP for Leicester South, made the remarks to a Conservative friend who leaked a recording of the conversation to a right wing political blog.

Security In the recording, published by the Guido Fawkes website, the Labour frontbencher said he thought the civil service machine would ‘pretty quickly move to safeguard security’ if Mr Corbyn entered Number 10.

And he said party MPs ‘f***ed it up’ in 2016 in their attempt to oust the Labour leader, saying they ‘went too early’. Mr Ashworth also said the situation facing Labour was ‘abysmal’ because voters ‘can’t stand Corbyn’ and think they ‘blocked Brexit’. Mr Ashworth insisted he did not mean what he said, telling the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show: “We’re having banter with each other – we’re joking around. “No I don’t mean it because I’m joking around with my mate because he’s a Tory... If you leak it to Guido Fawkes of course it makes me look like a right plonker but it’s not what I mean when I’m winding up a friend.”

MARIE FREDRIKSSON

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Britons among injured following New Zealand volcano eruption TWO British women were in hospital following a volcanic eruption in New Zealand which may have killed as many as 13 people. As details emerged about the eruption – in which most victims suffered severe burns – police confirmed that officers are investigating the incident on behalf of the coroner. White Island, off the country’s North Island in the Bay of Plenty, erupted with a large plume of ash and jets of scalding steam on Monday while dozens of people were exploring New Zealand’s most active volcano. Police said five people were confirmed dead, with at least eight missing and feared dead. Conditions on the island remained too dangerous for rescue workers to attend yesterday [Tuesday], but officials said flyovers had revealed no signs of life. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told parliament the ‘scale of this tragedy is devastating’. “We know, too, there will be bigger questions in relation to this event. These questions must be asked and they must be answered,” she said. “But our focus now is on discharging our duty of care to support those affected and that is also the focus of the police.” Dr Pete Watson from the Ministry of Health

ERUPTION Tourists photograph the eruption from a boat

added that more deaths among the injured were expected. He said: “There’s many who have suffered inhalation injuries, damage to lungs, so they’re requiring airway support. At this stage, that’s the majority of the people who are in the hospitals.” Police said they had boats stationed 1km off the coast of White Island, but had been unable to send drones to test gas levels and do reconnaissance missions because of persistent, strong winds. Helicopter pilots said they were willing to fly over on body-retrieval missions, but were being hamstrung by red tape and an overly cautious emergency response plan.

Six dead in Czech hospital shooting

A GUNMAN killed six people and left to others injured after a shooting at a hospital in the Czech Republic were yesterday [Tuesday]. Police said they got the first call at 7.19am local time, and the first patrols arrived at the Univer-

sity Hospital in the city of Ostrava, 350 kilometres (220 miles) east of Prague at 7.24am. Four men and two women died in the shooting while another man and woman required surgery. The shooting took place in the hospital’s trauma unit. The nearby university is said to have been closed for the day, with lectures cancelled while the hospital was evacuated and security across the country increased as Police hunted for the gunman, using two helicopters. He was later found in his silver-grey Renault Laguna but turned the gun on himself before officers could arrest him.

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Wetherspoon’s pub drive Mothercare explains woes clothes specialist Mothercare was to create 10,000 new jobs BABY struggling to fight a perception that it had gone PUB giant Wetherspoon’s is to invest £200m on new pubs and hotels over the next four years creating around 10,000 new jobs, the firm has announced. As well as opening new premises, existing businesses across the UK and Ireland will be extended but most of the investments will be channelled into developments in small and medium sized towns. Wetherspoon’s founder and chairman Tim Martin said: “We are looking forward to opening many more new pubs as well as investing in existing pubs over the next four years.”

bust even a year before the company entered administration, its chief executive has said. After 10 years without making a profit, the retailer finally said it would close its doors in the UK in November. However, chief executive Mark Newton-Jones revealed that as the company tried to cut costs, scaling back to only 80 stores, from 250 in 2014, customers thought the brand was disappearing from the high street entirely. “As we reduced the store estate, we did not see sufficient trade transfer to the remaining stores or move online,” he said. “As consumers watched their local stores close, we struggled with the misperception that Mothercare in its entirety had gone out of business.”

Just Eat takeover bid TAKEAWAY delivery giant Just Eat has rejected a higher £5.1billion takeover offer from Dutch suitor Prosus. Just Eat said the bid - which was raised on Monday to 740p a share from 710p a share – ‘significantly undervalues’ the company. RETAILER Ted Baker has seen its crisis deepen The group said it continues to back an agreed after warning over profits once again and all-share deal with Takeaway.com. revealing the immediate departure of its chief Just Eat said: “The board unanimously executive and chairman. The group said chief executive Lindsay Page - recommends that shareholders reject the Prosus who took over from founder Ray Kelvin after he offer of 740 pence per share and continues to quit in March – has been replaced on an interim believe that the Takeaway.com combination is based on a compelling strategic rationale that basis by finance director Rachel Osborne. Ted Baker has also kicked off the search for a allows shareholders to participate in the upside potential of the enlarged group.” chairman after David Bernstein stepped down.

Boss quits Ted Baker

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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, Times Local News, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG

Keeping pace with the times: 30mph limit is now well out of date

information. Many will take umbridge. Cllr Bob Backhouse Sherwood

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

Slogans do not tell the whole story

A BETTER LIFE? Brookmead’s wide road causes problems for pedestrians Speeding in residential areas of Hildenborough has been a problem for a while. In Brookmead, for example, local road safety volunteers have recorded drivers speeding well over the speed limit in the 30mph zone. Several pets have died there already. Postal workers, the elderly, disabled and young children struggle to walk across the wide road that has no zebra crossing. There are no ramps, either, though it is used as a commuter rat-run. As more and more areas round the country, including London, have 20mph roads, isn’t it about time residential roads in Hildenborough have them, too? People coming from London, seeking a better

life, are shocked that many residential roads round Hildenborough are still a whopping 30mph. Slowing down traffic in these places would make the roads safer for people who cycle, and encourage us not to be so reliant on cars. The 30mph limit for built-up areas was decided over 80 years ago; 30mph was chosen in an arbitrary way without evidence or research on survivability. It is well out of date. While I am at it, we also need to reduce the national speed limit from 60mph to 40, so rural dwellers can also have a better quality of life. Ask your politicians what they are doing to make our roads safer for all. Eva Charrington Hildenborough

Refuse to pay extra for this service

Wading through a forest of leaflets

One could be forgiven for wondering where on earth Messrs Styles and Taylor, the principal officials concerned with the local waste and recycling contract, have been for the past two months to conclude that the new service has been trouble-free for most people. In my area, until the end of September, we had enjoyed on-time and reliable collections of waste and, more recently, recycling for 50 years. Now our nominated day is a Wednesday. Last week, the collections dragged out over the following Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Wednesday this week – no collection. To a layman it appears that quite simply the vehicles employed are inadequate for the volume of material. One hopes that the costs of extra collections will not be a bill for the council tax payer to foot. Tony Russell Tonbridge

It was most magnanimous of the Green Party to stand aside for the Liberal Democrats. However, I am sure they are peeved, as are many residents, by the veritable forest of leaflets dropping through their doors. So far it is eight – and I am probably going to receive a couple more. Why such a waste of paper? Most are indiscernible from each other; two are rogue newspapers, one was from a doctor, another from an ex-Conservative MP in Devon. Moreover, at least seven of these were delivered by Royal Mail, although one was delivered free as it was an Election Communication; the Government allows each candidate standing free postage for one letter. Next time we hear bleatings of piety about the environment (which I count as a crucial issue), bear in mind the Swedish forests sacrificed for this welter of duplicated and triplicated

The election communication from Conservative Greg Clark states: “A vote for any other party will help Jeremy Corbyn reach Downing Street.” This is obviously a slogan intended to be used in many constituencies, maybe all, but what does it says about the electorate in Tunbridge Wells? There are two Independent non-party candidates standing in the borough. Perhaps he should include them in the slogan he uses. Both Independents want to leave the EU, as does Greg Clark, who has said that on TV and in print that he wants to support Boris Johnson’s plan. The current Labour leader is indecisive, as Conservative spokesmen and women repeatedly say. But Greg Clark’s slogan also ignores what rival party leaders are saying. He should have more respect for the electorate. R A Underhill Matfield

LibDems overstepped a boundary Alexander Magnus claimed that the referendum result was not a democratic result because 37 per cent voted to leave [November 27]. What he failed to mention was that only 34 per cent voted to remain! Even in an election based on a proportional system, electors who don’t vote have to be ignored. However, this wasn’t an election but a simple yes-or-no answer national vote and proportional representation [PR] was irrelevant. What is undemocratic is the current constituency distribution of electors. Over 100,000 on the Isle of Wight electing just one MP and less than 50,000 in several Welsh constituencies each electing one MP, for example. As part of the coalition agreement, the Liberal Democrats agreed to support changes to the constituency boundaries in return for a referendum on PR. They had their PR vote, which was rejected by the electors nationally, and then they reneged on the deal to alter the constituency boundaries. If anything was undemocratic it was this. Peter Cope Tunbridge Wells

Having your cake and eating it? Either the Ambar restaurant in Belgrade – in Jonjo Maudsley’s piece on Serbia [November 27] – is glam, his word, or it caters for the local hoi polloi, suggesting a greasy spoon café. It cannot be both. Sam Goodenough Tunbridge Wells

YOUR BIG CHANCE… ..to let the world know what you would like to see happen in 2020. This New Year we will be publishing letters from readers on their hopes and dreams for 2020. It can be something personal, political or humorous. It cannot be offensive. Contributions must not be longer than 200 words and must be submitted by Wednesday December 18. Bear in mind they will be published in the edition available from Tuesday December 31. See the top of the page for email and postal addresses for your letters, and please mark them ‘New year message’.

ALWAYS nice to hear from the vicar, especially at this time of year. Calverley is not so sure, though, about the latest Christmas Message from the local church in the leaflet that came through the door. Nice picture of the nativity on the front, but the message says, in part, “It’s not an easy time for some people… Unemployment or reduced benefit payments will have made it hard or impossible for extras to be bought.” Anyone guess which way the vicar will be voting in the election? REGULARS will know that Calverley is not the biggest fan of social media. People just give it too much importance. Take Coldplay’s Chris Martin. The singer says he won’t play Glastonbury again because he was offended by some comments on Twitter: “Sometimes these things hurt me because I’m human.” Well, here’s an idea, Chris – don’t go on Twitter. Simples. The same people who used to be pub bores now go on social media and people take them seriously. In the pub they were ignored.

STILL with social media, Calverley is reminded of a comment the other day by the former Father of the House of Commons, longest-serving MP Ken Clarke. In a discussion about members receiving death threats, he essentially said: “I do get death threats but not many because I’m not on social media and people have to write to me personally.” Calverley rests his case.

FINAL THOUGHT and it’s about that virtual assistant Alexa! This week the robot in the kitchen informed Calverley, as she does, that in the build-up to Christmas she would no longer be revealing the contents of any parcels about to be delivered to the mansion so as not to spoil the surprise. It’s all quite unsettling. Chin Chin, dear reader

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

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EDUCATION Times Why our next government should prioritise education Here, Samantha Price, the Headmistress of leading independent establishment Benenden School, explains why it’s vital for all children to have a good education

IMPROVE THE STATE SECTOR: Samantha Price says the government needs to raise standards

THE education sector has been watching closely during the election campaign to see what the respective parties are promising for schools. Whoever ends up leading the next government, my message to them is the same – focus on improving education. The obvious first priority is for the new Government to increase funding for the state sector – but improvement cannot rely on simple investment alone. A bold, forward-looking government would also look at other ways of helping schools. We should all work together in the interests of improving our already world-class education system. In recent months the independent sector has been characterised as the cause of the lack of social mobility in this country, but if we really look into this, is the independent sector honestly the cause? I would recommend politicians look at why independent schools are popular and bring parts of the grossly underfunded state sector up to their level. It is clear that parents are enthused by factors such as smaller class sizes, a breadth of classroom curriculum and co-curricular opportunities.

In addition, as a sector we have recently been asking the government to reintroduce a version of the assisted-fees system, which Tony Blair’s Government abolished, whereby the independent sector accommodates extra pupils from the state sector, made possible by the Government paying to the independent school the money it spends per head for state school pupils, with the independent school picking up the rest of the cost. I wonder if the next government might seriously consider this. Private schools could also work with local authorities in a similar way to help them manage the lack of places in some areas. Furthermore, an ongoing commitment to partnership between the state and private sectors is key – partnership enables both schools in a partnership to thrive, and together we can focus on enabling every child to have a first-rate education. I see this regularly in my own school. We have been a sponsor of The John Wallis Church of England Academy in Ashford for the past decade. I and the John Wallis Principal sit on one anoth-

Education

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er’s governing bodies, there’s a wonderful student mentoring programme, we run a combined cadet force, and our heads of academic departments regularly meet to share ideas of best practice in the classroom. We are proud of our partnership working, and realistically we can support more local children this way than through our bursary scheme. (I fully accept that the sector needs to do more on this front; at Benenden we are fundraising hard to dramatically increase our bursary provision). There is potential for the sector to develop even greater partnerships, and meaningful partnership working goes beyond schools. Our facilities are frequently used by local groups, and more than 100 of our girls each week volunteer to help in the local community. We have also been providing free lessons to local state schools who have been forced to cut back on certain subjects.

Reform A new government could develop education further still. The argument for university applications reform is now compelling. Making offers after A Levels, rather than relying on the current imperfect system of predicted grades, would be a step forward. I also support the wider use of contextual offers from universities, in which applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds have to meet lower grade expectations than their more privileged counterparts. Universities, rightly, want the best candidates, and independent school headteachers would not, I would hope, want to stand in the way of a strong system for ensuring a level playing field. However, equally we do not want to see bright, hard-working students educated at private schools miss out on places at top universities because of social engineering. Education is of paramount importance to society – and to voters. Any new government would do well to understand that independent schools are not part of the problem. In fact, they should be a vital part of the solution.

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Weekly Comment

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Wednesday December 11 | 2019 During the General Election we have published political columns by all parliamentary candidates for Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling

Greg Clark Conservative Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Tunbridge Wells

Greg Clark was ﬁrst elected MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005 and held a number of positions in Government, including Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

GENERAL ELECTION

2019

Only a Conservative vote can stop Corbyn becoming PM THE election campaign has clarified the momentous choice facing our country. This weekend, we will either have a Conservative majority government or Jeremy Corbyn will be in 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister. As the respected polling guru Sir John Curtice has said, the election is now a ‘clear binary choice’. A vote for anyone other than the Conservatives will help put Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street on Friday. I understand that after the frustrations of the last three and a half years many people may be tempted to say: None of the above. I understand, too, that some people hold out hope that Brexit can be reversed. But the campaign has established clearly that the Liberal Democrat policy to cancel the result of the referendum is now discredited as undemocratic and extreme. Labour’s policy of a second referendum requires Jeremy Corbyn to be Prime Minister, and would continue to divide the country. A vote for the Liberal Democrats is not a safe option. It leads directly to a hung parliament and – since the Lib Dems and SNP have said clearly they will not support the Conservatives – it means Jeremy Corbyn would become Prime Minister. A Corbyn government would be a disaster for Britain. When I was Secretary of State

for business, major companies, employing thousands of people in the UK, would tell me that their number one concern – more than Brexit – was the prospect of a Corbyn government in Britain. They were aghast that they could see in Britain a Marxist government, committed to raise taxes to the highest level in the history of Britain outside wartime, and to confiscate ten per cent of the value of every business trading in Britain and employing over 250 employees –a seizure of £300billion. They would begin to flee the UK within days of Corbyn taking office, taking away the jobs and taxes on which we rely.

Suffer Tunbridge Wells would be particularly severely hit. We are in Corbyn’s crosshairs for multiple reasons. We are more dependent than most towns on private sector jobs. Our average income is 20 per cent higher than the national average. Local property prices are amongst the highest in Britain and would be viewed as a cash cow for taxation. Our local economy depends on retail, restaurants, financial and business services – the sectors likely to be hit hardest. Labour’s published spending bill – leaving aside the unfunded commitments – amounts to £4,000 a year per household in Tunbridge Wells.

And, as the pound falls as John McDonnell warned it would, the rise in interest rates that would result would put £2,000 a year on mortgage costs for the average Tunbridge Wells home. It is a myth that Tunbridge Wells can afford to be hit in this way. As everyone who lives here knows, we may have higher incomes than the national average, but the cost of living is much higher, too. And to suffer a cut or loss of income in Tunbridge Wells hits harder than in towns with cheaper costs.

During the five elections I have fought in Tunbridge Wells, I have never known a bigger threat to our area and to the future of our children and grandchildren. That is why I ask, more than ever, not to risk this calamity by voting for Labour or the Liberal Democrats. Either would cause Jeremy Corbyn to be Prime Minister this weekend. Please vote Conservative so that we can put the division of the last three and a half years behind us, and look forward to a safe, good future for our country and our community. WARNING Jeremy Corbyn could be in Downing Street on Friday

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

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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…

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

Malling Priory

High Street, Lindfield GUIDE PRICE

£3,000,000 CONTACT • Savills, Haywards Heath • 01444 446000 • savills.co.uk An exceptional Georgian house dating from 1730 and listed Grade II* as a ‘particularly important building of more than special interest’. Although in need of some updating, it is the epitome of sheer elegance set back from Lindfield’s picturesque High Street – described by architectural historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner as ‘without doubt the finest village street in East Sussex’. MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST Main House

n Tiled entrance hall with beautiful oak staircase n Drawing room and separate sitting room, both with wood panelling, fireplaces, tall sash windows, window seats and original shutters

n Dining room with fireplace, full height bay window and doors to courtyard

n Good-sized study n Large kitchen with four-oven Aga, walk-in larder, boot/utility room and doors to garden

n 2 cloakrooms n 6 bedrooms (two en suite) and a bathroom Garage Flat

n Open-plan sitting room and kitchen n 2 bedrooms, bathroom and shower room Outside

n Superb garden including a walled courtyard,

The WOOD PANELLING...

brick summerhouse and light woodland

n Gated driveway, garaging and large cellar n In all, about 0.64 of an acre

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The PRICE…

The KITCHEN…

Nursery Cottages Court Lane, Hadlow ASKING PRICE

£515,000 CONTACT • Barnes Kingsnorth, Tonbridge • 01732 771616 • bkestateagents.com Modernised and extended detached home.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST n Good-sized sitting room with wood-burning stove and doors to garden n Open-plan kitchen/diner n Main bedroom with Juliet balcony, en-suite shower and rural views n 2 further bedrooms n Beautifully fitted family bathroom n Courtyard garden n Driveway and garage

Rosecroft

Farnham Lane, Langton Green GUIDE PRICE

£1,200,000 CONTACT • Knight Frank, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 515035 • knightfrank.co.uk

Thirlmere Road

A pretty house within a complex of four properties overlooking countryside, yet close to the centre of Langton Green.

GUIDE PRICE

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk

n Drawing room with open fireplace, bow window and French doors to terrace

n Sitting room

Tunbridge Wells

£675,000 A home with views in ‘The Lakes’ area of town.

n Family room

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

n Stunning open-plan kitchen/living/breakfast

n Reception room 1 with full height window and doors to patio

room with bespoke units, central island, skylights and French doors to garden

n Cloakroom and utility room n Master suite with luxurious en-suite bathroom and lovely views

n 3 further good-sized bedrooms n Stylish shower room n Secluded garden with terrace, lawn and shed n Tennis court within communal grounds

n Dining room n Playroom/home office/bedroom 5 with marbled fireplace and doors to patio n Kitchen, plus utility room with door to rear n Stylish cloakroom, plus shower room n Master bedroom n 3 further bedrooms

n Sweeping driveway offering ample parking

n Luxurious family bathroom with ‘his’ and ‘hers’ basins

n Detached double garage with room above

n Wrap-around landscaped gardens

currently used as a gym

n Large garage

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Belgrove

Beautiful home tucked away in the heart of the town’s ‘village’ area by The Grove

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AT A GLANCE BELGROVE TUNBRIDGE WELLS n A rare chance to buy a house in a pretty pedestrian street in the ‘village’ area leading into The Grove park n Spread across four floors, with character features including stripped wooden floors and timber sash windows n Priced to allow for some further updating n Entrance hall with original cornice n Reception room 1/bedroom 4 featuring chimney breast with painted wood surround, cast iron insert, marble hearth and gas coal-effect fire n Reception room 2 also featuring chimney breast with wooden surround, cast iron insert, marble hearth and gas coal-effect fire n Reception room 3/dining room/study with marble fireplace n Shaker-style kitchen/breakfast room with door to garden n Victorian-style cloakroom n Master bedroom with marble fireplace, also enjoying an outlook over Belgrove and The Grove n 2 further bedrooms, one with Victorian fireplace n Family bathroom with roll-top bath, shower, Victorian fireplace and rooftop views towards The Common n Further Victorian-style cloakroom n Low-maintenance walled patio garden

Price range £750,000-£800,000 CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk

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Wednesday December 11 | 2019

Property Focus NEW H OMES

If you go down to the woods today… … IN THE village of Flimwell, off the A21, you will be in for a big surprise! You will find the new development Aspect Wood nestled within a woodland setting by the cricket green. Not only is Aspect Wood surrounded by appealing greenery, it is handily placed for the London to Hastings road, Dale Hill Hotel & Golf Club (with its indoor pool, gym and sauna) and Bewl Water reservoir. With properties available from £375,000, the 19 homes have been built by award-winning bespoke housebuilder Quantum, who were highly commended in the Sussex Heritage Trust Awards 2016 and 2017. They have traditional tile-hung and weatherboard exteriors while the contemporary interiors feature Shaker-style kitchens with

Bosch hobs and ovens; high-quality carpet to the living room and bedrooms; white satin wood/gloss balustrades and handrails to the stairs; satin nickel door furniture; high-quality engineered natural oak flooring to the hall and kitchen; and ceilings and walls in Farrow & Ball white. Plus BT and TV points in the living room and all bedrooms, with BT Superfast Fibre Broadband available.

Community Outside, there are landscaped front gardens while the rear gardens are top soiled. In addition to the homes, a new community facility with a village hall and shop has been planned for local residents to enjoy.

Aspect Wood is sandwiched between majestic Bewl Water and magnificent Bedgebury Forest, with glorious scenery and spectacular views evident at every turn

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO BOOK VIEWINGS, PLEASE CONTACT • Laura Locke, Land & New Homes • Wood & Pilcher, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 511211 • woodandpilcher.co.uk

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

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ARTISTS WITH A MESSAGE

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

THE DRIVE OF YOUR LIFE

Tee time

We take a trip to St Andrew’s Page 40

WELLS UNDER PRESSURE

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arts

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Wednesday December 11 | 2019

Meet the artists who

are a cut above the rest This year’s Trinity Theatre Christmas production is The Snow Queen and the striking papercut publicity image for it has been created by local artists Chris Pope and his wife Helen Lawn. Chris explains more about their work and how this special commission came about

So, Chris, can we start by you giving us a bit of background about yourself? I guess I’d summarise myself as a curious creative with a love of the unusual. This has often found expression in a professional career in communications lasting over 20 years, and where it hasn’t, it escapes in a range of creative endeavours, including songwriting, music, photography and, of course, papercut art. Have you always worked in the medium of art? If you consider working with words as a means of expression and communication to be art, then the answer would have to be yes. While my professional life has involved elements of graphic design, photography and video work, the majority has been helping people and businesses creatively and authentically express themselves by sharing their stories. My papercut art journey only started in 2014, when my then girlfriend (and now wife) Helen Lawn set up the collaborative art venture, Pope & Lawn. Can you tell us more about how you started creating artistic papercuts? My wife (who also has a successful career in communications) and I had long shared a fascination with the visual impact of papercut art and its ability

ALT PORTRAIT: by photographer Pat Pope/patpope.com

AN ‘ALT PORTRAIT’ OF HELEN AND CHRIS and some of their papercut artworks

to engage and ultimately communicate with people of all ages. We were both especially fascinated by the degree of skill that’s involved, where the cutting is done entirely by hand. This led to the beginning of an artistic journey exploring what other forms of expression

‘While our original papercuts and related pieces build on the traditional practice of papercutting by hand, they introduce a contemporary twist through the addition of colour and the use of mixed media’ are possible within this art form, and in doing so, to the creation of a growing and unique body of work. While our original papercuts and related pieces build on the traditional practice of papercutting by hand, they introduce a contemporary twist through the addition of colour and the use of mixed media.

You have your work displayed in a number of local establishments, including Trinity Theatre and Fuggles. Is there anywhere else in the UK where it’s on display? While our papercut art journey has necessarily been one that’s had to fit around work, we’re proud that our art has featured in a number of international art exhibitions as well as several galleries, including the prestigious Chalk Gallery in Lewes which we were previously part of. Personally speaking, the work I’m most proud of currently on display is a piece featuring the iconic Maxi Jazz from legendary dance band Faithless. It’s based on a photograph I took at the launch of his solo music project and is currently hanging on the wall of his home. What do you think makes papercut artwork so appealing? That’s a good question and one that’s hard to answer fully because, for me, so much of the appeal of papercut art is instinctive and visceral, especially when it’s complex and created by hand. (Some of our more complicated works have in excess of 10,000 individual cuts, all made by hand!) You see something and some part of you just goes: “Wow – how on earth did they do that?” And that’s for me part of the power and appeal of papercut

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CUTTING EDGE The Snow Queen artwork

art when it’s done well – it has that effect on people irrespective of age and background in art. How did your project for Trinity’s The Snow Queen come about? We were approached by Elizabeth Mahony from Trinity, an admirer of our work, with a view to commissioning a genuine one-off design and final artwork for The Snow Queen. From the outset it was clear Elizabeth and myself clicked in terms of sharing creative ideas, which helped the finished design to be completed within the tight timeframe of the project. How long did it take to make? In terms of the actual design, the excitement and positivity we shared about the project saw the final artwork completed in a matter of days after exploring a number of different ideas and variations on a theme. In terms of the actual finished papercut original, the actual cutting, all by hand with a scalpel, took about 4-5 hours. It was then delicately sprayed with a special acrylic paint before being mounted in its wooden box frame. So all in all, about a day. The original artwork is being auctioned off for charity. Can you tell us who will benefit and how much are you hoping to raise? As much as possible hopefully! All proceeds will go back into helping the work of Trinity to continue to be a vital hub of the performing arts in Tunbridge Wells. Do you have a local gallery space where people can view your work? We did used to have a gallery space – the only gallery space dedicated to hand-cut, original papercut art in the South East. But sadly when we moved to just outside the town, we had to let that go. It’s an area we often look at revisiting so watch this space. However, for now, the majority of our papercut originals are available to view, and buy, at popeandlawn.com – or by appointment if people get in touch via the website. We have also undertaken a number of bespoke commissions for individuals and businesses, and again can be reached via the website or by emailing: hello@popeandlawn.com should anyone be interested in something unique.

The Snow Queen runs from December 12-31. For more details and to book, visit trinitytheatre.net AT HOME WITH MAXI Maxi Jazz from dance band Faithless with his papercut

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goingout 7 days of activities

WEDNESDAY Father Christmas at Calverley Grounds is on from today until Tuesday December 24. Children can write their names on their letters to Santa and he will magically know their names after talking to the elves, then the young ones can have a good old natter with the world’s fastest delivery driver before receiving their gift and getting a photo as a memento. Tickets cost £16.50 for children and all adults pay £2. For more information and to book, visit fatherchristmasinkent.co.uk

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

MUSIC SAVES SANTA! In the Kidenza Christmas Concert: Santa in Space at The Pamoja Hall

By Jerome Bowman

Head to the Queen’s Hall Theatre in Cranbrook to see the quirky Icelandic comedy film Women at War. Halla is a 50-year-old woman who on the face of it leads a quiet life, but she is waging a secret war against the aluminium mining industry. And her political ideals are not the only pull in her life – the prospect of becoming a mother may change her path for good. This film received almost universal acclaim for its jetblack humour, moving narrative and absorbing performances. To book, you can either purchase tickets as a guest or join the society for the year, so prices vary. For more information, go to cranbrookfilmsociety.org THURSDAY Join the Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society in the Royal Wells Hotel for a talk on Shopping Through the Ages in England. Gilly Halcrow’s irreverent review will take you from the medieval guilds to Victorian shops and up to the first supermarkets. Gain insight into the working conditions for ‘shop girls’ and the stories of some of our most famous high street stores. The talk starts at 7.15pm and non-members are welcome. And as this is the Christmas meeting, refreshments of coffee and mince pies will be provided beforehand. For more information, go online to thecivicsociety.org FRIDAY Celebrate Christmas Tudor style at Penshurst Place today. Roasts & Rambles will be held in the first floor banqueting room (up a flight of stairs) this time, and your hosts will be sharing all the

traditions of a Tudor Christmas in a guided tour before you enjoy a delicious roast (although you will be provided with modern-day cutlery). The three-course carvery lunch costs £22.50 per adult and £11.25 per child aged 5-12, and the rambling starts at 12.30 for a 1pm start. For more information and to book your tickets, go to penshurstplace.com Load your quivers and join everyone’s favourite medieval anarcho-communist insurgency at The Oast Theatre in Tonbridge. Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood is a swashbuckling adventure brought to life through Ken Ludwig’s comic adaptation and promises thrills, romance, laughter in the tale of a man who takes on the ruthless powers that be. The play starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £11 for non-members and £7.50 for merry members. For more information and to book, visit oasttheatre.com

SATURDAY The Tonbridge Philharmonic Society’s annual Family Carols concert will be held in Tonbridge School Chapel. The performance features a mixture of traditional and contemporary festive music and will also feature the Junior Choir. Tonbridge Round Table will be providing mulled wine and mince pies afterwards for a small donation, with proceeds going to local charities. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for children. To book, go to tonphil.org.uk The Pantiles Christmas Market will be offering local produce, artisanal crafts and designer clothes from 10am to 4pm. Guest traders, seasonal themes and a changing range of goods make sure you’ll always find something new. If you are interested in pitching your own stall at the market, or for any other enquiries, you can email: markets@thepantilesevents.com

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colours, with activities including an interactive Alice and Wonderland-themed trail, a husky meet and greet, and vintage fairground stalls. Father Christmas will also be waiting in his log cabin in the snowy forest to give each child their gift. The price, opening times and availability of activities varies, so for more details, visit hevercastle.co.uk

A TOY STORY TO KEEP YOU ON YOUR TOES The Nutcracker ballet at The Odeon Visit Sevenoaks this afternoon for the Kidenza Christmas Concert: Santa in Space at The Pamoja Hall. Santa has suffered a Santanav malfunction and needs your help to get back to Earth. Kidenza introduce children of all ages to classical music in a fun way to inspire them to learn an instrument and maybe even join a band or orchestra. There will be percussion workshops

prior to both performance of the concert led by percussionist Alex Neal, who has played with the BBC Symphony Orchestra since 2003 and has worked on many films, including Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. Tickets for the concert cost £15 for adults and £8 for children, and workshop tickets are £12. For more information and to book, visit kidenza.co.uk

DIE HARD Best -vest hero Bruce Willis goes into battle at the Uckfield Picture House SUNDAY Despite its controversial status as a Christmas film, you can see Die Hard at Uckfield Picture House at 5.45pm. Join Bruce Willis as he learns the importance of avoiding office Christmas parties and proper footwear in this seminal action film, which also stars Alan Rickman as wry villain Hans Gruber. Tickets cost £9.50 with concessions available. For more information and to book, go online to picturehouseuckfield.com

CHRISTMAS COLOUR AT THE CASTLE Hever comes to vivid and vibrant life

MONDAY Put your wellies and woollies on and enjoy a colourful walk around Hever Castle this evening. The gardens and grounds will be bathed in

TUESDAY Tchaikovsky’s score, a tale of imagination and Christmas fantasy and a fantastic set make this Royal Ballet production of The Nutcracker a must-see at The Odeon. It’s Christmas Eve and Herr Drosselmeyer the magician sweeps young Clara away to the great battlefield on the living room floor, through the Land of Snow and to the Kingdom of Sweets. The screening starts at 7.15pm and tickets, which cost £26.75, can be booked at odeon.co.uk

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Going Out

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites pdag.co.uk & thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday George Young, Kelly Bourne, Ryan Weeks (headline) Thursday Groove Agents Friday Soul Avenue Saturday The Violet Jive Sunday Ashley Evans, Chris Parris, Andy Twyman (headline)

live music The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… paulduntonandguests.com

With Paul Dunton

and The Violet Jive at The Grey Lady. There are two great festive concerts taking place in Lamberhurst this Sunday, with the Choir of Royal Holloway at St Mary’s Church and Christmas Carols at Scotney Castle. Close out the weekend in style with one-man blues band Andy Twyman at The Grey Lady, with support from Ash Evans and Chris Parris. Looking ahead to next week, on Monday, The TWUNT Ukulele Jam session is at The George Pub and Alan Richardson headlines at The Tonbridge Folk Club On Tuesday night, local rockers Cyrano headline The Forum with support from The Charlie Rivers Band and Storm Engine. Plus, look out for The Bourne Valley Boys at The Punch & Judy Pub in Tonbridge.

available at twforum.co.uk Friday Gloo Saturday Paradigm Shift

Andy Twyman

THE BEDFORD PUB 2 High Street Free entry Music from 8.30pm More information at thebedfordtw.co.uk Friday Elvis Tribute SCOTNEY CASTLE Lamberhurst Full event information at nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle Sunday 11.30am & 2pm Carols at The Castle

THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Free entry Music from 8pm till late Saturday Rooster Tail

LIVE MUSIC AT THE ICE RINK Calverley Grounds Live music from 7pm Thursday Tunbridge Wells Pop Choir, Infrared, Zee Alexander

THE ROYAL OAK PUB Prospect Road Free entry Music from 8pm till late Saturday 3 x 7

MUSICSTATION Bank Street, Tonbridge Booking essential For information, call 01732 350629 Thursday & Friday 8pm-9.30pm Adult band workshop, all levels welcome

ST EDITH FOLK CLUB St Dunstan’s Church, Cranbrook All event information and tickets at stedithfolk.co.uk Saturday St Agnes Fountain

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM The Common Event information and tickets at twforum.co.uk Friday Tim Cullen presents: Switch – House & Techno Made by Pete, Strickland, Faz Sherazi Saturday Back to the 80’s Tuesday Cyrano, The Charlie Rivers Band, Storm Engine

ST MARY’S CHURCH Lamberhurst Full event details and tickets at lamberhurstmusic.co.uk Sunday 7.30pm Choir of Royal Holloway Christmas Concert

HOTEL DU VIN Crescent Road Music 7pm-9pm Booking advised on 01892 320749 Friday Grant Sav (piano) THE SUSSEX ARMS BASEMENT Sussex Mews All event information and tickets

£3 £1 2 c £ 7 hi 65 ch ld p ild ren er re 1 ad n 2a u 5 an nd lt d un un d de er r

onight [Wednesday], local singer-songwriters George Young, Kelly Bourne, and Ryan Weeks are all performing at The Grey Lady. Thursday night sees The Forum Winter Sessions continue at the Ice Rink in Calverley Grounds with Tunbridge Wells Pop Choir, Infrared and Zee Alexander. My top picks for Friday include the excellent Gloo at The Sussex Arms Basement, and acclaimed pianist Grant Sav at Hotel du Vin. The popular Elvis Tribute returns to The Bedford Pub, and folk fans are in for a treat with St Agnes Fountain at St Edith Folk Club, Cranbrook. Saturday night has plenty on offer with Rooster Tail at The Beau Nash Tavern, 3 x 7 at The Royal Oak Pub, Back to The 80’s at The Forum, Paradigm Shift at The Sussex Arms

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

Sit back, relax and enjoy Christmas Day in the stunning surroundings of Bewl Water. AMUSE BOUCHE SPRING ONION, SMOKED CHEDDAR BEIGNETS Beetroot aioli (GF available) (V) STARTERS MAPLE SMOKED DUCK BREAST Pickled walnuts, clementine, watercress and pistachio salsa verde (GF) (N) SMOKED CHERRY TOMATO AND CREAMY BURRATA TART Crispy basil, pine nut pangrattato (V) (GF available) (N) CHILDREN’S FRUIT STICKS With a strawberry coulis (V) (GF) (DF) 01892 890000 www.bewlwater.co.uk – info.bewlwater.co.uk Bewl Water, Bewlbridge Lane, Lamberhurst, Kent, TN3 8JH

Cyrano

THE PAMOJA HALL Sevenoaks School All event information and tickets at thespacesevenoaks.co.uk Sunday 7pm Enysford Concert Band presents: A Christmas Premiere with conductor Jack Stamp THE GEORGE PUB Mount Ephraim Free entry Music from 8pm till late Monday TWUNT: Ukulele Jam Session TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB Flying Dutchman, Hildenborough Hat collection with suggested contribution of £7 (£5 concessions) Music from 8pm, all welcome. More information at tonbridgefolkclub.org Monday Alan Richardson THE PUNCH & JUDY St Stephens Road, Tonbridge Free entry Music from 8pm Tuesday The Bourne Valley Boys

Please call 01892 89000 0 or visit www.bewlwa ter.co.uk for more info rmation or to book

at Bewl Water

MAINS ROASTED FREE RANGE TURKEY Chestnut stuffing, pancetta wrapped chipolata, seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, turkey jus (GF available) (N) SPINACH, WILD MUSHROOM AND PUMPKIN WELLINGTON Herb and pink peppercorn sauce, seasonal roast vegetables, roast potatoes (GF available) (V) DESSERTS WARM CHRISTMAS PUDDING Brandy butter and crème Anglais (GF available) DARK CHOCOLATE TART Toasted Italian meringue, espresso Anglais (GF available) Tea/coffee with mini mince pies

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Wednesday December 11 | 2019

The men who have taken on the Abergavenny with open arms… In Frant, The Abergavenny Arms has new owners who are looking to further enhance its excellent food offering and charming ambience. Eileen Leahy finds out what their recipe for ongoing success will be…

determined to maintain and even he Abergavenny Arms is enhance further. one of those classic The pair bought the former country pubs – cosy and coaching inn from jeweller-turnedcharming with a warm publican Richard Burrell in July welcome and great food this year. According to Guy, Mr and drink on offer. Burrell didn’t want to sell his It’s perfect in the summer as you beloved hostelry on to a big can dine al fresco and drink in the faceless pub chain. Keen to sustain idyllic bucolic views of the its friendly feel with a firm surrounding focus on quality food, he countryside, then wanted it to stay in come wintertime individual hands, it’s the ideal so who better to spot for take over than sinking into a Guy, who – as sofa around well as being a its huge resident of Frant inglenook for the past 20 fireplace to years – just take respite Head Chef happens to be from the chilly Craig Wales Richard Burrell’s weather outside. step nephew. The Frant pub’s And although Guy’s convivial character is background is in recruitment something its new rather than food and drink, he and owners, business partners Guy his business partner Phil are Woods and Phil Clifford, are

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

relishing the challenge of this new venture. “We’re not adverse to new projects. We once bought a five-acre development on the Caribbean island of Nevis!” he explains. Guy, who also runs a small farm and racehorse training business with his wife, says he and Phil aim to provide customers, old and new, with a

‘We will be hosting our wine evenings on a monthly basis as of January. There will be tasting menus with dishes sourced from different parts of the world which will then be paired with wines from the same region’ memorable dining experience. They are hoping to do this with the help of the pub’s new Head Chef, Craig Wales, whose last post was at the Michelin-starred West House in Biddenden. But that doesn’t mean they are putting a load of white linen cloths on tables and hiking up prices.

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Food & Drink

floorboards and wonky walls all painted in a pleasing palette of Farrow & Ball-style shades, I was greeted by a super friendly waitress and immediately felt relaxed eyeing up the menu. Nestled alongside classics such as sausage and mash (£12.95) and beer battered cod and hand cut chips (£13.95), I spied a number of less traditional pub dishes, such as chargrilled hispi cabbage with a cucumber, coriander, yoghurt and garlic crumb (£11.95) and coronation chicken croquettes served with pickled apricot, curried mayo and coconut (£6.95). I opted for the latter dish, followed by roast fillet of Cornish hake served with mussels and saffron creamed leeks (£15.95), and can confirm that both were utterly delicious. The croquette was golden in colour and boasted perfect crunch with tender chicken bites perfectly partnered with the hits of sweet and savoury sauces. –The hake, meanwhile, was generous in size and cooked

“Our aim is to provide a fine ‘pub’ dining experience,” says Guy. “We’ll be giving customers all the usual classics, such as fish and chips or burgers – but with a few elegant twists. Co-owner And we also want to serve Guy Woods up some interesting chef specials. We are very focused on keeping our offering as an affordable dining experience – not charging silly gastro pub prices. “Everything is going to be freshly made with an emphasis on using as much local produce as possible and staying consistent. In short, we ultimately want to deliver a great experience!” And given that Guy’s father-in-law is a cattle farmer and his sister is in the wine trade, it’s clear he has a great contacts book to thumb through in order to secure excellent produce. When I visited pub one quiet Tuesday evening the bar was surprisingly busy, and one glance at the menu confirmed that Guy and Phil’s vision of offering a slew of seasonal pub grub alongside a few more exotic dishes was now in full swing. Sitting at a table in the 15th-century building’s charming dining room, which boasts wooden

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to perfection with just the right amount of seasoning and flavour. Another tell-tale sign that The Abergavenny Arms is determined to elevate its dining status just that little bit further is the fact that the wine of the week when I visited wasn’t some run-of-themill chardonnay or merlot, but instead a bottle of premier cru 2016 Gautheron Chablis (£30). “We’ve just launched a new wine list and hope to run specialist wine society-themed supper clubs in the future, too,” confirms Guy. “We will be hosting our wine evenings on a monthly basis as of January. There will be tasting menus with dishes sourced from different parts of the world which will then be paired with wines from the same region.” It looks like 2020 will be a busy year for Guy, Phil and their team as they embark on the exciting adventure of further improving the fortunes of this establishment, ensuring it stays relevant for future generations of discerning diners and drinkers for years to come. abergavennyarms.co.uk

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Travel

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Wednesday December 11 | 2019

The tee-time delights of St Andrews

make a perfect weekend break

This Scottish town may be famous for golf, but Chris Wiltshire finds much more to savour…

AM FEELING slightly overwhelmed by the courses on offer at the so-called home of golf. Each has its own challenges, and all look pretty tasty. But do I have the stomach to try something new on my first visit to St Andrews on Scotland’s east coast? Numbed by a wee dram of local Kingsbarns whisky, I ignore the winter greens and go for it. “I’ll have, er, the oysters please,” I stammer, feeling light-headed at my perilous request. “Excellent choice,” replies the tall, moustached waiter with an uncanny resemblance to TV’s comic Basil Fawlty.

LAPPING IT UP Chris Wiltshire

‘A wily man named Gordon McKay has the patience of a saint as he talks my group of nervous novices through the rights and wrongs of shooting’

Frothing

SWING ACROSS THE SWILKEN The famous Swilken Bridge on the Royal and Ancient Golf course

After 57 years of shunning the slimy little invertebrates, I feel it’s time to confront one of dining-out’s great frontiers. Why, I had previously reasoned, would anyone risk a night of misery by eating a ‘wrong ‘un’? But this is no Fawlty Towers. This is the Fairmont St Andrews Bar & Grill, with jaw-dropping views of beautiful links courses and only a long iron to the frothing North Sea. If the oysters are not fresh here, then I’m Tiger Woods. After loosening the flesh from the oyster shell with my fork, I take a deep breath

to get a chance to play. But the rewards are to walk in the footsteps of golfing giants such as 18-time Major champion Jack Nicklaus, who said after playing the course for the first time: “I fell in love with it. There’s no other golf course in the world that is even remotely close.” I reminisce about epic Open Championships gone by when walking

and then tip the little mollusc into my mouth. I can’t help but chew it and I’m instantly overwhelmed by a salty taste of the sea, the like of which I’ve never experienced before. I slump back into my seat and let out a quiet but satisfied ‘wow’. It’s a perfect aperitif to a five-star gourmet feast of crab, lobster, king prawns and langoustines, all sourced directly from St Andrews Bay. No wonder Head Chef Chris Niven recently picked up a second AA Rosette,

a nod to cooking excellence and a determination to use local, sustainablysourced ingredients. Many are here to savour not only the food and the luxurious five-star Fairmont accommodation, but some of the most revered golf courses in the world. Top of the wish list for many is a round on the Old Course, home to golf since the early 15th century, and a short walk from the town’s busiest shopping streets. Green fees can top £320, and most golfers need to enter a daily ballot just

the fairways with other Sunday ramblers, stopping at the 700-year-old Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole – one of the most iconic landmarks in sport – for a selfie. In a little over 18 months (July 2021), the great and good of the game will gather for the 30th time at St Andrews for the 150th Open Championship and I’ll be able to say: “I was there.” St Andrews is much more than just a mecca for golf enthusiasts. It simply oozes history, from the ruins of St Andrews Castle – destroyed and rebuilt several

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Wednesday December 11 | 2019

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MAJESTIC RUINS St Andrews Cathedral

‘I head through the ancient burial site of the cathedral, at one time Scotland’s largest building, and down to the craggy coast’

nervous novices through the rights and wrongs of shooting in his soft Scottish dulcet tones, promising that everyone will hit at least one of the wee targets. He’s not wrong, as I hit four clays in a row, and I don’t want the session to end. Afterwards, we head back to the Fairmont spa for some R and R, where masseur Carly works on my slightly aching limbs with an aptly named divine custom massage. The golf will have to wait for another day. But this is one bunker I’m happy to be holed up in, whatever the weather. MAKING ITS MARK The 18th tee of the Old Course

times during the wars of Scottish independence – to the eerie Gothic St Salvator’s Chapel and the breathtaking ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, where some of the patron saint of Scotland’s relics are said to be buried. By a twist of fate, a few months earlier I had paid homage to St Andrew at the Amalfi Cathedral, Italy, where his skull is preserved in a tomb in the crypt. I head through the ancient burial site of

the cathedral, at one time Scotland’s largest building, and down to the craggy coast for a bracing walk along the promenade and enjoy wonderful views of the weather-worn relics.

Royal Back in town, I’m reminded of the royal connections when I see a large sign in the window of a local cafe declaring: “Kate and

Wills met here.” There are no such claims at the Scottish Clay Shooting Centre, although I’d be surprised if Prince William hadn’t spent a few afternoons here during his time at university. The centre, ten miles outside of town and surrounded by giant fir trees and abundant wildlife, is an entertaining way to enjoy the great outdoors. A wily man named Gordon McKay has the patience of a saint as he talks my group of

HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP Rooms at the Fairmont Hotel St Andrews start from £129 with breakfast. Dinner at the St Andrews Bar and Grill starts from £32 for two courses. fairmont.com/st-andrews-scotland An hour’s clay shooting at the Scottish Clay Shooting Centre costs £48 per person. scottishclayshootingcentre.co.uk

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Motors

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Motoring News

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

This week… n e-tron’s e-boost n Jag ready to order n Pumped-up food

The high price of motorway snacks

Audi updates all-electric e-tron for greater range AUDI has announced minor hardware and software upgrades for its all-electric e-tron SUV. The new measures will be applied to future models and will increase the range by 15 miles to 271 miles. The improvements come from a variety of sources, with one of the key changes being an optimisation of the drive system, which sees the front motor disengaged when the driver doesn’t need full power so only the rear motor drives the wheels. Elsewhere, improvements have been made to the regenerative braking system, which Audi says contributes to up to 30% of overall range. Drivers can choose between three levels of regeneration when they lift off the throttle. And there are improvements to the cooling

system and a new type of brake. A new power output will also be introduced, called e-tron 50 quattro, which will sit below the existing model in the range and will be available on both the SUV and the upcoming Sportback. It has a power output of 308bhp and 540Nm of torque, a 0-60mph time of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 118mph. UK pricing has not yet been revealed, but there will be no increase in the European cost of the existing 55 model, so expect that to be the same here. Meanwhile, the new 50 trim is about E11,000 euros cheaper, so expect a similar price drop in pounds sterling, giving the e-tron a new starting price closer to £60,000.

New Jaguar F-Type arrives with a dramatic new look JAGUAR has revealed its new-look F-Type, and it’s available to order now. The new car boasts a striking appearance and ditches its predecessor’s V6 engine, instead coming with just V8 and 2.0-litre, four-cylinder powertrain options. Priced from just over £54,000, it is still available in both coupé and convertible forms, and incorporates a heavily revised interior with more tech and driver-focused features than before. The exterior changes are most noticeable at the front of the F-Type, with sleeker headlights giving the nose a more aggressive appearance. The rear of the car gets a subtler update, though the signature ‘roundel’ lights have been ditched in favour of a single ‘blade’-style unit. Inside, the cabin is dominated by a new

12.3-inch digital dashboard set-up, which is combined with an infotainment screen incorporating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The entire system also comes with over-the-air updates for the first time. The entry-level engine is now the 296bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol. A less powerful version of the firm’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 sits in the middle of the line-up with 444bhp and the choice of rear or allwheel-drive, while the tip-top unit remains the full-fat V8 engine in the F-Type R, which now produces 566bhp and 700Nm of torque – up 24bhp and 20Nm on the older model. All cars get an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The range-topping SVR has been cut, too, though a lot of that car’s mechanical upgrades have been carried over to the R.

THE extortionate cost of motorway service station snacks has been revealed in a comparison with the average price in a supermarket. Mystery shoppers visited 21 service stations across the UK on behalf of Admiral Car Insurance to gather prices for a wide variety of snacks and drinks, revealing the average cost is 117% more than the same goods in a supermarket. The most shocking individual item was bottled water, which was 420% more expensive at Beaconsfield services at £3.52 compared with £1.67. That’s despite there being four outlets available for free water refills. Admiral also found the price of fuel was about 14% higher than the national average for both petrol and diesel. Clare Egan, Head of Motor Product at Admiral, said: “We all expect to pay a little more for convenience, but the amount people are charged at service stations amounts to highway robbery in some cases… “Given the availability of free water refills at all of the service stations and the push to be plastic-free, motorists don’t need to spend anything on bottled water, let alone forking out as much as 420% more than in a supermarket.”

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Recruitment

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Wednesday December 11 | 2019

WITH THE

FIND YOUR PERFECT JOB TODAY â€“ A MUST-READ FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK LOCALLY

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

CODEWORD 4

A B C D E F G H I J K L MNO P Q R S T U VWX Y Z 1

15 25

18 12

8 4

20 24

15 12

21 3

21 12

21 20

17 26

25 9

16 20

24 14

8 7 5 7

25 15 1

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.

Codeword:

7 2

5 2 8

9 3

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

6 3

4 3 1

5 8

18 23

7 9 2

5 1

6 18

22 13

21 11

21 3

21 8

3 17

12 6

1 3

DIFFICULTY RATING:★✩✩✩

7 1

6 5 2 8 6

1 6 3

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★✩

CLASSIFIEDS

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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

T R A F F I A G O P L A G U E E P N S WE E T I M T Q U A D O U T E M A I L N S A D A S H N I E T L Y D I A

M A R I A A E N D J V A N E GO O E E R E L A X R C V E B A B E D O A B R I D G E D O D A E E Z E K I E L A N I M E L I S S A

Sudoku:

2 9 5 7 6 1 3 4 8

3 4 8 2 5 9 6 7 1

7 1 6 8 4 3 9 2 5

8 3 9 5 1 2 4 6 7

1 6 7 4 9 8 5 3 2

4 5 2 6 3 7 1 8 9

5 2 3 1 7 6 8 9 4

9 4 8 6 3 7 5 2 1

2 5 7 9 1 3 6 8 4

6 3 9 7 5 1 8 4 2

9 8 4 3 2 5 7 1 6

6 7 1 9 8 4 2 5 3

Jigsaw Sudoku:

3 6 1 2 7 8 4 5 9

7 9 5 4 8 6 2 1 3

4 8 2 1 6 9 7 3 5

8 1 3 5 2 4 9 7 6

5 7 4 3 9 2 1 6 8

1 2 6 8 4 5 3 9 7

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Wednesday December 11 | 2019

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Sport

FOR EVENstories MOREto: NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.ukor newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Wednesday December 11 | 2019 Please send sports newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Two penalty tries leave Wells on the back foot By Graham Withers RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS were caught cold by a strong Sidcup side after taking a weekend off in the London and South East Premier Division. The home side scored first after a Wells counter-attack ended with a pass going astray on their left after 13 minutes. Sidcup switched the ball fluidly to the opposite wing where centre Oli Vidgeon dummied and went over from 30 metres for a converted try. Wells responded with their own turnover, and though they were stopped just short of the line Nick Doherty reached over from the base of the ruck for an unconverted try after 24 minutes. The visitors were on the back foot again when they conceded a penalty soon afterwards, the Wells pack collapsing two scrums. After Frank Reynolds saw his own penalty kick slip wide, Sidcup went in at half-time with a 14-5 lead. The second half began with a madcap 10 minutes in which four tries were scored including another controversial penalty try. Ryan Taylor-Dennehy, replacing the injured Max Hobbs on the wing, broke from 35 metres out and found Reynolds on his inside shoulder. He cleverly drew the full-back before giving it back to the skipper to score under the posts,

then added the extras himself. From the restart, though, Sidcup lock Freddy Ruff found a hole in the Wells ruck defence and burst clear 30 metres out before powering through a last-ditch tackle to score, Josh Twyford converting. Back came Wells, clever play down the blind-side allowing centre Mike Doherty to power his way over for a try that was expertly converted from the left touchline by Reynolds.

Controversy After three tries in four minutes the contest was now delicately poised at 21-19, but then came the moment of controversy. Colby McMahon kicked a stray Wells pass ahead and looked set to score before Mike Doherty, racing back, dived onto the ball a metre short of the line. The referee, however, awarded a penalty try and showed Doherty a yellow card. A skirmish between the two teams on the halfway line saw two more players sent to the sin-bin, Wells’ Josh Hawkins and Sidcup flanker Lennie Bush. Twyford sent a mighty penalty kick 45 metres between the sticks to stretch the lead to 31-19 as the game entered the last ten minutes. Then Wells were picked off while on the attack again. A looping pass to the left was intercepted by home wing Andre Patterson, who held off two

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

Sidcup 38 Tunbridge Wells 19

SKIPPING THROUGH Captain Ryan Taylor-Dennehy bursts clear to score two points behind Hertford but losing ground on the top three. Leaders Wimbledon lost their unbeaten record at home to second-placed Guernsey. Wells now face Wimbledon in another tough test on Saturday [December 14, kick-off 2pm].

defenders to run the ball in from 65 metres for a converted try. The visitors did not look like securing the try bonus point and also lost Agy Eukaliti to the sin-bin for a no-arms tackle as time ebbed away. Wells drop down to fifth place in the table, just

Hat-trick for Tout as TJs hit Dings for six OUT AND ABOUT Dave Priest feeds Duncan Tout for a try

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

Lock forward Rory McHugh was held up after a gallop down the left but quick recycling sent the ball all the way out to the right wing, where his fellow lock Dave Irving had space enough to score an unconverted try. Centre David Priest off-loaded to Tout to hand him his second try, which Robinson converted to give the home side a 24-5 lead at the break. TJs were soon into their stride in the second half as scrum-half Charlie Edwards took a quick throwin and centre Priest found acres of space to run in the try, Robinson converting.

Tonbridge Juddians 38 Dings Crusaders 5 By Geoffrey Pettitt RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS maintained their position at the top of National Two South with a strong first-half display against Dings Crusaders.

They ran in four tries early on to give them the bonus point and put aside some of the problems the leaders have experienced in recent weeks. TJs were soon on the front foot, full-back Toby May and wing Murray Galbraith-Lowe interpassing for May to score a try in the corner which was not converted.

Dings responded from a line-out, strong forward play driving the maul over the line for hooker Joe Hawkesby to touch down for an unconverted try. When TJs regained possession in Dings’ territory they broke to the right for centre Duncan Tout to burst through the defence and score, Will Robinson adding the extras.

Muscular After a scrappy period of play, Murray GalbraithLowe fielded a clearing kick and initiated a crossfield passing move. This involved Robinson, May and finally Tout who, with another muscular run down the left wing, made it over the line for his hat-trick. Robinson converted TJs’ sixth try with a fine kick from wide out to complete the scoring with three minutes remaining. TJs extended their lead over Henley to two points, three in front of Taunton. Tonbridge now travel to Bury St Edmunds on Saturday [December 14, kick-off 3pm].

Reformed Academy shows potential in Bethany Memorial However, the pressure eventually paid dividends when a link-up between forwards and backs set Zach Trengrove up and running for the opening try.

By Drew Raine RUGBY: THE revitalised Tunbridge Wells Academy came out on top by 19-10 in the annual Anthony Clarke Memorial match at Bethany School. The game commemorates Anthony, a First XV player at the club, and his friend Amy Donelan who lost their lives in a road accident 16 years ago. An even contest saw the school camped in Wells’ half for much of the game and they were only held back by some strong defensive work. Wells applied a lot of pressure and forced errors but then too often lost the ball again at the breakdown.

Develop

LEADING LIGHT Academy skipper Sam Dupuy with Roger Clarke, Anthony’s father

Wells scored again with a blistering run from the halfway line by Markuss Lagunovics followed by a conversion from Sam Dupuy. Bethany clawed a try back, but well worked forward play by Wells sent Billy Grigson in between the posts for a converted try. The hosts fought back again with a fine move off the blind-side of the scrum to score but the conversion struck the post and came out.

The Wells Academy has bounced back after experiencing difficulties raising the numbers last season and changes in coaching personnel. “Today was our first run-out for the newly reformed Academy,” said Jim Scully, Director of Rugby at Tunbridge Wells. “The Academy aims to develop our youth players through to our senior squads and today’s performance showed the boys have some real potential. “But today is also about Anthony and the fund established in his name that has helped numerous players from TWRFC and Bethany School on their rugby journey.” For more information visit twrfc.com/team/ academy

Wednesday December 11 | 2019

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Sport

Kent Football United 1 Rusthall 4

PHOTO: David Couldridge

By Rich Smith

Angels recover from two goals down to take vital three points By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS stormed back from going two goals down to secure a muchneeded victory in National League South. The recovery will help to boost their confidence after a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Hungerford Town in midweek. Despite a bright start as the Angels used the width of the pitch well, it was Billericay who took the lead in the seventh minute. Femi Akinwande cut in from the right wing, made space and fired his shot past Jonny Henly for a fine individual goal. The visitors extended their lead when Odysseus Alfa was not closed down and unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard shot that flew into the top right-hand corner of the goal.

Converted By now it was all Billericay, who forced Henly into making a series of fine saves. But the game was turned on its head in the second period. On 49 minutes Khale Da Costa’s free kick seemed to deceive the Billericay defence and went straight into the visitors’ goal. Tonbridge were on the way back, and just two minutes later a Ben Greenhalgh Cross was converted by Tom Derry for the equaliser. On 67 minutes the home side went ahead when Joe Turner’s cross from the left was fired in by Da Costa for his second goal. Chances fell to both sides in the remaining quarter of the match but Tonbridge held on to secure the three points. Manager Steve McKimm said : “After Tuesday evening’s disappointing second half performance my players knew what was

Adams rushes Rusthall to victory

COUNT THE COST Khale da Costa scores the winner

Tonbridge Angels 3 Billericay Town 2

Life&Times

expected of them and they certainly delivered.” McKimm had gone straight over to the away supporters after the final whistle at Hungerford and apologised for the substandard performance. The only goal of the game came on the hour as the Angels defence failed to deal with a cross, allowing the unmarked Marcus JohnsonSchuster to score. Midfielder Tommie Hession-Harris has decided to leave the Angels because of the demands of travelling. He joined in the summer and made 15 appearances, scoring four goals. Tonbridge now take a break from league action to play Hampton & Richmond in the FA Trophy first round on Saturday [December 14, kick-off 3pm].

RON SAUNDERS, ANGELS SHARPSHOOTER One of Tonbridge Angels’ most famous sons, Ron Saunders, has died at the age of 87. After starting out at Everton, the former centre-forward played for the club in the 1950s and scored 39 goals in 53 matches during the 1956-57 season. He went on to enjoy a very successful professional career at the very highest level. He made 236 appearances for Portsmouth and also played for Gillingham, Watford and Charlton. Ron moved on to a glittering career in management and led Aston Villa to the First Division championship in 1980-81 - their first title for 71 years. He resigned from Villa in 1982 when they were in the quarter-final of the European Cup - his assistant Tony Barton guided them to victory over Bayern Munich in the final soon after.

FORWARD CHARGE: Ron Saunders (front row, centre) with the Tonbridge Angels team of 1956-57

FOOTBALL: A FINE first-half performance saw the Rustics race into a 4-0 lead against the bottom side in Southern Counties East League Division One at the Glentworth. With goalkeeper Billy Johnson serving a one-match ban following his sending-off last week Matt Ballard made his first-team debut but with the Rustics in such dominant form he was seldom tested. Rusthall took the lead after four minutes when Tommy Lawrence curled in a free kick from the right and central defender Ryan Styles headed in at the far post. Rusthall continued to dominate with both full backs, Louis Anderson and Callum Gallie getting forward at every opportunity. In another flowing move Anderson was tripped in the area and the division’s leading scorer Luke Adams sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot. Adams scored again in the 38th minute when the keeper spilled a driven cross from the right and and he was on hand to volley home his 15th goal of the season. A minute later it was 4-0 with the goal of the

game from Lawrence, the young midfielder calmly slotting his shot past the advancing keeper. The Rustics were unable to keep up their dominance in the second period as the home side came out determined to gain a foothold in the game. The Dartford side did get a consolation in the 67th minute when Robbie Bissett pushed an attacker in the box and Ryan Imbert struck the penalty past Ballard. Third-placed Rusthall return to Jockey Farm to entertain Kennington, two points behind in fifth, on Saturday [December 14, kick-off 3pm]. CHART TOPPER Luke Adams has scored 15 goals this season