Times of Tonbridge 25th October 2017 by One Media

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

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WE TEST DRIVE THE MIGHTILY IMPRESSIVE SSANG YONG REXTON Page 68

SCHOOLS FACE A WORRYING LACK OF GOVERNORS Page 10

WILL NEW BOUNDARY PROPOSALS AFFECT TOM TUGENDHAT? Page 14

RIVERBOAT TRAGEDY

Young mother from Lamberhurst dies in Avignon accident Page 3

SEVENOAKS won the Dementia Friendly Community [DFC] Award last week, with Tonbridge among the runners-up. The National Trust property Knole House was also recognised as the best Dementia Friendly Company with less than 250 staff. Abbey Funeral Services in Tonbridge High Street was a finalist in that category. The winners are chosen by a panel of judges all of whom live with dementia.

The Tonbridge organisers graciously acknowledged the achievements of their neighbours, and said: “Beaten by Sevenoaks, worthy winners who already do all that we would aspire to do in Tonbridge. Maybe next year. Congratulations Sevenoaks DFC.” Tracey Schneider of Dementia Friendly Kent said: “They’ve done so much work in Sevenoaks with the Well Being days at Knole, the dementia friendly café and the Run, Walk or Push event. These were impacting pieces of work and it quite blew the judges away.” The Forget Me Not Café is run by The Good Care Group and Home Instead Senior Care. They also organised the charity fun run in Knole Park raising £4,500. The stately home offered advice to carers, Tai Chi, massage, laughter therapy and foot healthcare, improved access and created sensory tours.

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INSIDE

Tonbridge loses out to ‘worthy winners’ Sevenoaks in the dementia awards

Impacting

VICTORIA MOORE’S TIPS ON SCENTING YOUR GARDEN THIS WINTER

NEAR BOILING POINT

How Rosemary Shrager’s school was saved from the brink Page 62

DECORATED: Pupils at Hillview School create a Women in War sculpture in memory of Margaret Waite, (left) who left Tonbridge with her horse Jess to serve as a nurse during World War One; she was awarded The Order Of Leopold ll by the King of Belgium for her bravery. See page 2

Officers interviewed after man dies in custody at town’s police station By Andy Tong INVESTIGATORS are this week piecing together the final moments of a 29-year-old man who died while in custody at Tonbridge police station. Police officers are being interviewed as witnesses. The man, who has not been named, had been arrested in Maidstone at around 3pm on Friday [October 13] following allegations of a domestic incident on October 1. The Independent Police Complaints Commission [IPCC] said: “While he was in custody at Tonbridge Police Station, the man collapsed.” South East Coast Ambulance Service and the air ambulance service were called and medical assistance was provided, but at 5.45pm the man was declared dead. IPCC investigators were deployed to the scene, as

is normal and routine in these situations, to carry out post-incident procedures. The complaints commission added: “Officers have provided accounts of the man’s time in custody, a CCTV trawl has been made of the area where the man was arrested and investigators are assessing video footage recovered from the police station.

‘At this stage all officers are being treated as witnesses’ “At this stage all officers are being treated as witnesses.” The deceased’s next of kin have been informed and the IPCC will provide them with updates on the investigation throughout. Police issued a statement saying: “Kent Police has referred the death of a man in

police custody to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. “Whilst the man was in custody at Tonbridge Police Station he suffered a medical incident. Medics from Kent Police and paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the man at the scene where he was subsequently pronounced dead at around 5.45pm.” The identity of the dead man and the cause of death will be revealed when an inquest has been opened – probably within a week or so of the start of the investigation. The inquest will be opened and then formally adjourned. IPCC Press Officer Nick Hitchens explained the procedure: “It’s like conducting a police investigation. Our officers go down to the

Continued on page 2

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

A novel way for grammar pupils to broaden learning Page 25

FALLEN ANGELS

Tonbridge Angels narrowly lose out on a weekend win Page 87

NEWS

Local News

Unexplained death in police station Continued from page 1

Tonbridge Police Station

station and examine CCTV footage and interview the relevant people. “When we are looking for witnesses early on, we don’t want information to be in the public domain because we don’t want to prejudice the memory of witnesses we haven’t yet spoken to.” He added: “To a certain degree we do ask police forces

to minimalise the amount of information they put out. It just blurs the lines if you’ve got different organisations saying different things.”

According to IPCC figures, there were 14 ‘deaths in or following police custody’ across England and Wales in the year to March 31. However, the figures do not stipulate how many people died inside a police station

as they also refer to deaths that occur during transfer from the place of arrest or on route to hospital. The charity Inquest, which monitors ‘contentious deaths’, said there have been 17 deaths in custody so far this year.

Sculpture recognises work of women during wartime By Andy Tong

Rough sleeper has himself arrested for night in cell A MAN who was sleeping rough has been fined after he ripped the sign off the front of Tonbridge Police Station in order to get arrested. Daniel Norris, 39, of Swanley had been sleeping in public toilets on September 25, but tried to get taken into custody so he could sleep in a cell. He pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and was fined a total of £270 at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on October 17. Prosecuting, David Holman said: “Kent Police was called

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

to the incident at 2.20am on Monday September 25 to arrest a male who was still at the front counter of the police station. Norris said: ‘I’m stuck in Tonbridge with no money, no phone, I’m in a pair of shorts in the cold. Yeah I pulled the sign off the wall.’” For the defence, Richard Lamb said: “He had to sleep in the toilets in Tonbridge, it was a cold night. He pulled off the sign at the front of the police station to get arrested. “It was a bad judgement, but he didn’t have two pennies to rub together.”

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THE role played by women during times of warfare is being recognised with a sculpture at Tonbridge Castle from Friday [October 27]. The unveiling of the artwork will coincide with the installation of a knitted poppy carpet on Castle Lawn at 11am, in preparation for Remembrance Sunday on November 12.

‘It was a transitional period for women, some of whom were going to work for the first time’ The Women in War display, which will be sited near the Cannon Lawn, was created by pupils at Hillview School for Girls. They were helped by Tunbridge Wells artist Guy Portelli, who created the statue of Dame Kelly Holmes erected this month in Tonbridge. The work consists of three abstract figures of women with remembrance at the forefront, so one is made of poppies while the other two are

WOMAN IN WHITE Sculptor Guy Portelli (right) works on his creation constructed out of white flowers with a red cross depicting the uniform of nurses of that time. Local historian Pam Mills has coordinated the project, which is designed to create awareness

Fireworks raise money for two special causes Angels Football Club, who run the evening with the Round Table. There will be a ‘beat the goalie’ competition, a children’s fancy dress competition, face-painting, a funfair and community stalls. Gates open at 6pm with the fireworks at 8pm. The Round Table’s Stewart Rolls said of Matt Miles: “He was so fondly thought of by so many, and was such an inspiration to those CHECK-UP: (L-R) Steve Churcher, Chairman of Tonbridge Angels, around him and all at receives a cheque from Lions Vice-President Tom Simmons Tonbridge Round Table – a great friend, a TONBRIDGE Round Table will be raising wonderful father to Dan and Nick, and money for Heart of Kent Hospice at this doting husband to Claire.” year’s Halloween fireworks display in He added: “Heart of Kent Hospice provided memory of former member Matt Miles, who amazing support to Matt and his family during died from cancer on March 27 this year. his illness, and a group of us have been The event takes place on Friday [October supporting this wonderful charity through a 27] at Longmead Stadium, home of Tonbridge number of fundraising activities this year.

of the part women have played in war. She said: “During the Great War it was a transitional period for women, some of whom were going to work for the first time.” The sculpture is dedicated to Margaret Waite, who lived at Postern Farm and joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry [FANY] in 1914. Mrs Mills, who helps organise the local Poppy Appeal, describes how the project came about. “I was researching Tonbridge in World War One and I came across this lady called Margaret Waite. She joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and took her horse Jess and went off to help with the war effort. She was posted to France and Belgium and helped save the lives of men by working on the front line. “The King of Belgium personally pinned on her and two of her colleagues The Order Of Leopold ll, recognising their bravery in the field. “Her story has been forgotten so I have told it again, with background gained from her family.” Margaret died in Tonbridge in 1979. Members of her family, who still live in the town, will attend the event, along with Tonbridge & Malling Mayor Roger Dalton, Mr Portelli, Hillview pupils and representatives of the Royal British Legion.

“The care they provide is free and offered to anyone who needs it – they are currently caring for over 1,300 patients and their families. This incredible support costs £4million each year, with over three-quarters raised by the local community.” For more, see www.tonbridgefireworks.co.uk The Angels are also running the Football Fightback campaign with a charity that is special to them: Cardiac Risk in the Young [CRY], which encourages young people between the ages of 14 and 35 to attend heart screenings.

Undetected The club will be holding another heart screening on December 9 at Longmead. Each screening costs £35 per person, and the Tonbridge Lions have donated £1,000 to the cause so that the total number of young people who have been screened in the town will exceed 1,000. The Angels started the Football Fightback scheme in July 2015 after one of their former players, Junior Dian, aged 24, collapsed on the pitch and died during a pre-season friendly at Whyteleafe FC. His heart stopped while he was playing due to undetected cardiac problems. Seven years before, Angels’ Under-18 player Jack Maddams, 17, died in his sleep from an undetected heart condition. Since then, the club has raised over £33,000, which has paid for 900 screenings. Ken Thomas of the Lions organising committee said: “We are concerned that 12 young people die in this country every week because of an undetected heart condition.”

Detective novelist comes up with all the answers… SUCCESSFUL author Peter James is coming to Tonbridge School on Tuesday [October 31] to talk about his latest book, Need You Dead, which has just been published in paperback. Mr James is the man behind the Roy Grace detective novels, which have sold more than 18 million copies in 37 countries worldwide. The event, organised by the town’s library in conjunction with Kent County Council, will be held in Tonbridge School’s Big School building from 7-8pm.

It will include a book signing and sale. Mr James, who is also an established film producer, has twice been Chairman of the Crime Writers’ Association and has won many awards. Booking is essential. Tickets cost £3.50 and can be purchased at Tonbridge Library [03000 413131] or the EM Forster Theatre Box Office www.boxoffice.tonbridge-school.co.uk The book Need You Dead is published by Pan Macmillan.

Peter James

Local News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Christmas arsonist jailed for three years ARSONIST Andrew Mason-Flucke, who caused a blaze in a Tonbridge block of flats at Christmas, has been jailed. The 46-yearold, of Gorham Drive, Tonbridge, entered a communal bin area in Walters Farm Road and ignited waste inside the bins. Flames spread to the apartment block nearby, causing residents to be evacuated. Mason-Flucke had previously pleaded guilty to arson and was sentenced to three years prison at Maidstone Crown Court.

Volunteers thanked VOLUNTEERS for Tunbridge Wells Multiple Sclerosis Society were thanked for their ‘tireless’ work by Mayor Julia Soyke. Attending the charity’s social evening she saw bands perform and gave a speech which referenced the £12,000 raised towards two major research projects. The branch, which extends from Sevenoaks to Crowborough, provides monthly drop-ins to offer anyone affected by MS the chance to talk to someone in a similar situation.

Uninsured cars seized A CAMPAIGN to target uninsured motorists on Kent’s roads has ended with 17 cars being seized on the spot. Kent Police’s Roads Policing Unit took part in a national initiative to clamp down on motorists flouting the law. During the week of action, 17 drivers were caught driving without insurance and one was given a summons to appear in court. All had their cars seized.

Celebrate a vegan feast THE Tonbridge Vegan Festive Fair will be held at the Angel Centre on Saturday November 18 from 11am to 4pm. The event promotes a plant-based lifestyle, especially during the festive season, and there will be Christmas food options and ideas on offer, including vegan beers and wines, crafts, clothes and beauty products. The fair is family-friendly and entry costs £3 with under 16s free.

Manslaughter investigation after young mother dies in riverboat crash in France By Jonathan Banks FRENCH police have launched a manslaughter investigation after Lamberhurst mother Jess Wilkes was killed in a riverboat accident. The mother-of-one, 27, was thrown from the craft as it travelled across the Rhone river in the southern city of Avignon on Saturday night (October 21).

Birthday Ms Wilkes a PA at a London archjitects, attended Weald of Kent and Kent College in Tonbridge, and was in a group of eight returning from a dinner party when the boat hit a warning beacon. The dinner was to celebrate her boss’ birthday. Her boyfriend Matty Melvin and another companion were both hurt in what was understood to be a routine crossing. An officer with the rescue services was reported as saying: “There was a

media that his sister was ‘larger than life and loved by her family’. He said the family were ‘in a weird state of shock’ and added: “We have gone through that initial shock and tears and now we are just actually trying to deal with the reality of it.” Meanwhile her father, Bernard Wilkes, 72, of Tunbridge Wells, said they ‘want answers’ over the death of his ‘beautiful young The river: Boat hit metal post Jess Wilkes: Thrown into the water girl who lived life to the full’. Ms Wilkes, who celebrated metal post in the middle of the river to alert boats turning 27 earlier in October, had a seven-yearto watch out for a nearby bridge. The boat hit this old daughter named Alissia. A friend wrote on Facebook that ‘no words can and the woman was catapulted into the water.” Local officers have started a manslaughter inves- describe this awful pain in my heart’. Another friend said: “Jess was a wonderful tigation to see if negligence played any part. Ms Wilkes’s brother, Philip Wilkes, 25, told the mother. She was full of life and always smiling.”

Urban artist transforms shoe repairers blighted by tagging By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk COMMUTERS and shoppers could hardly believe their eyes this week when they walked by the cobblers next to Tunbridge Wells station. The outside of Quality Shoe Repairs had been given a makeover by a graffiti artist. The owners of the shop on Mount Pleasant, were approached by Joshua Piehl, who goes by the name Mr Skosh, offering to illustrate the outside for free.

Tagging The premises are often targeted by tagging, the basic writing of a graffiti artist’s name, and shop manager Paul King was delighted to give the go ahead to decorate the exterior – a process that took just two days. “It was in a terrible state, the taggers targeted it and it was looking horrible,”said Mr King.

“He did it for free and it looks amazing, everyone has been positive about it and I think it now looks so much better.” He added that the shop is now unlikely to be tagged again as it is considered poor form for one graffiti artist to cover another’s work. Mr Skosh, 28, of Tunbridge Wells, has previously been commissioned to decorate Oaklands Day Nursery in Tonbridge, Allenby Primary School in London and Grosvenor and Hilbert Park in Tunbridge Wells. His latest illustration shows a beach scene, two men to represent the two who work there and a large boot on the front with several gremlins surrounding it. He said: “I walk past the shop twice a week and it is a busy pathway, so I thought it would be nice, and it also gets my name out there. “Recently, I’ve gone full time – although I have been doing it for 15 years. I have done a lot of schools but I am also being asked to do offices too.” He carries the motto: I like turning neglected spaces into desirable places.

PHOTO: Lee Smith

NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS

TRANSFORMED Joshua Piehl, aka Mr Skosh, outside Quality Shoe Repairs

NEWS

Local News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Beer festival offers last taste of summer Star Green Hop IPA as the best in show. will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk Craig Beeson, festival organiser, said: “Green hop is specific to Kent THOUSANDS enjoyed Kent’s famous and something we have honed in on green hop beers at last weekend’s and events like this try to increase CAMRA Real Ale and Cider Festival peoples’ awareness of it. along the Spa Valley Railway. “It is all volunteer run, and really The seventh running of the four-day offers several festivals in one with festival was dubbed the “most the historic railway involved.” successful yet” by organisers after Alex Greig, owner Fuggles Beer nearly all the stock was finished by Café which has branches in TunSunday (October 22). bridge Wells and Tonbridge, helped Hundreds of ales, beers and ciders organise the beer competition. were put forward by local breweries He said: “It is the biggest one in the south east, it is to be tasted at interesting there is a Tunbridge Wells chance to try tradiWest station and at tional and new beer.” High Rocks, GroomEver jovial former bridge and Eridge, mayor Councillor along the historic David Neve was also line. on the panel of Green hop beers, judges who groaned described by beer at his ‘can I take a Sommelier Sophie Atherton as the “last photo at this CAMRA event?’ pun. taste of summer”, He said after the were the focus of a weekend: “It was competition on amazing to see Thursday night to thousands of people find the best. come and there was CAMRA (Campaign IN HONOUR : Awards were in for Real Ale) expert not a lot of beer left tribute to Iain Dalgleish, long Roger Protz joined by Sunday evening. term West Kent CAMRA chairman, The organisers must her on a team of judges to name Dark who passed away in August be chuffed.”

PHOTO: Lee Smith

By William Mata

CHEERS Judges of the green hop beer competition

WHAT IS GREEN HOP BEER? Hops act as the seasoning ingredient in beer, adding an aroma, flavour and bitterness. For a product to carry the Kent Green Hop Beer tag is must: Be brewed in Kent, only contain hops grown in the county and must be flavoured with undried hops used within 12 hours of picking. The crop ripens in September and goes through a drying process. The specific taste of green hop gives beer a unique flavour and aroma.

AND THE WINNERS ARE… The winners of the Iain Dalgleish Award for Green Hop Beer of the Festival:

GOLD - Dark Star Green Hop IPA SILVER - Downlands Green Hop Root Thirteen BRONZE - Cellar Head GH Pole Dancer

Local News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Warning over copycat Pudsey bear collecting money in park

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE The real Pudsey bear [right] and the one spotted in Calverley Grounds

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk CHILDREN in Need has warned members of the public to be on the lookout for ‘fundraisers’ in fake Pudsey bear costumes who may not be collecting for charity. Friends of Calverley Grounds (FOCG) urged caution after a person dressed in a copycat bear costume, complete with eye-patch, was seen “shaking a donation bucket” around Tunbridge Wells.

‘If anyone tried to speak to the bear it just shook the bucket’ Nicholas Pope, chairman of FOCG, said the bear was spotted around the grounds on Thursday (October 19) but did not say which, if any, charity it was collecting for. “The bear does not look official and I was a bit suspicious of it, the costume looks a bit worn out, so people were a bit wary of the bear. “It was just breathing heavily and if anyone tried to speak to the bear it just shook the bucket, it did not say anything. I think it might have been a bit scary for some people. “We sent out warnings on social media. I

Special awards for self-catering cottages and local B&B THREE local places to stay have been awarded Visit England’s Rose award this year, in recognition of service excellence. One hundred awards are handed out each year based on managers and staff offering delightful surroundings irrespective of star ratings, style or type of accommodation. Hollambys in Groombridge has three self-catering cottages in a converted former estate office set on a small organic farm with outstanding views (www. hollambys.co.uk) Albans Barnyard’s Pippins Cottage in Pembury is a two-bedroom self-catering cottage located on 18 acres of smallholding. Little Saltwood Farm in Cranbrook is a bed and breakfast five minutes from the town, situated on 12 acres of natural pasture, woodland and orchard.

wanted to make people aware it may not be an official thing.” Kent Police have received no calls about a “fraudulent bear”. Children in Need said the bear is not an official Pudsey costume and that fraudulent lookalikes are uncommon. A spokesman said: “We advise all our supporters not to collect money in the street or any other public place without a licence from their local authority. “If anyone is unsure about a collection happening in their area, we would recommend that they ask to see a collection licence and contact the police if they suspect the activity may be fraudulent.” Children in Need is a corporate charity controlled by BBC which raises money for UK childcare. Their fundraising centres around an annual live fundraising broadcast on television, which this year will be held on Friday, November 17. The spokesman added: “Every year, thousands of fundraisers across the UK help raise money to change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people and instances of fraud are very rare. “We would urge anyone who is concerned about collections in their area to contact the police if they suspect the activity may be fraudulent.”

NEWS

Local News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Mixture of homes is approved for the industrial site A DEVELOPMENT of 31 homes will be built on the Travis Perkins industrial site after it was approved by councillors. The three-block construction on Belgrave Road, Tunbridge Wells, will be a mixture of one-bed and two-bed flats with four houses also planned. With builders’ merchants Travis Perkins moving to Longfield Way, Councillor Bob Backhouse, a member of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s planning committee, said the development has green credentials.

Residents “It is good to have the properties built near the town centre as it will allow residents to walk in and which will stop traffic movements. “We have a traffic problem and it is awful at certain times of the day. This is one step which can prevent making it worse.” Councillor Backhouse said the proposal was well-received by most. Four of the flats would be classified as affordable housing.

WELL-RECEIVED An artist’s impression of how the homes will look

NEWS

Patient transporter now promises to make improvements to ‘poor service’ By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk UNDER-FIRE patient transport contractor G4S has promised to make improvements after complaints. Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells, told managers from the firm its “poor service” is “not good enough” in a meeting that included the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). G4S, which ferries West Kent NHS patients to and from hospitals and clinics, has committed to bettering its performance. Previously a whistleblower told the Times patients were “blatantly lied to” by the contractor, who were also reported to refuse to transport terminally ill patients to and from hospitals. Mr Clark, who is also Cabinet Member for Business, said: “Patients have been left stranded for hours, often late into the night, in London hospitals and have also sometimes been picked up so late that they have missed vital appointments. “The people that use the service are often very unwell and it is crucial to their health that they can rely on getting to their medical appointments on time.” Mr Clark said CCG chiefs admitted to problems with their new contract, which for the first time included journeys to and from London hospitals. “They said that they realised quite quickly that it had been a mistake to include these so the responsibility for journeys to London hospitals has been passed back and priority given to journeys to local NHS appointments.”

The MP also said complaints about the service had been “unanswered” to which they had set up a dedicated complaints team. He added: “I welcome these steps but I will be keeping a very close eye on how things go over the coming months. “If anyone experiences any problems with the patient transport service, I would be very grateful if they could let me know.”

Stranded The Times reported in August that Tunbridge Wells patient Husnara Begum (pictured), who suffers severe arthritis, was left stranded in a London hospital – only to be told by G4S to ‘sort herself out’. The CCG were responsible for hiring G4S in December 2015 when the national security firm secured the £90million contract.

In a later report, the CCG found it lacking in all but one area of inspection. They found leadership and responsiveness to warrant the lowest grading of a red warning. Russell Hobbs, G4S non-emergency patient transport services managing director, said: “We are resolutely committed to patient care and delivering a good service. “In August we provided 28,681 journeys across Kent and there were 38 formal complaints raised, which represents less than 1 per cent of the total journeys undertaken.” He added: “We take every single complaint seriously and thoroughly investigate each concern raised. “We continue to work with all clinical commissioning groups in Kent to ensure that together we can provide the resource required to meet the growing demand for this vital service.”

BUSINESS

Local Business News

Volunteer award for health body

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

RIDING WELL Deliveroo has made gains in Tunbridge Wells

PATIENT organisation Healthwatch Kent has been awarded for work with its ‘amazing 78 volunteers’. The independent body helps people with health conditions get the best out of their local services. Chief Executive Steve Inett picked up the Investors in Volunteers award, which is a national quality standard for all organisations with volunteers. He said: “We are so proud. We literally couldn’t make the difference to health and social care services without them.”

MORNING PEOPLE: Ron Roser (right) and John Sawyer, founders of The Muesli Mafia

Delivery firm looks to expand due to demand

Networking group still going strong after ten years…

Deliveroo Managing Director Dan Warne said: “We are delighted our rapid growth across Kent means customers have more choice, restaurants are able to increase their revenue and riders have opportunity to choose well-paid, flexible work. “Now, right across Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Canterbury, we are looking for more riders to join us as we grow.” Despite workers protesting about employment rights, Deliveroo has made huge gains and is now valued at £1.5billion, despite the wider restaurant industry seeing a fall in profits. Mr Warne added: “Deliveroo’s success will mean more restaurants will be able to deliver their food direct to people’s homes or offices, and there will be more work available for people who want to be riders and fit their work around their life rather than trying to fit life around their work.” To find out more, visit www.deliveroo.co.uk

ORGANISERS of networking group The Muesli Mafia are celebrating ten years of gathering business professionals over breakfast. Originally launched in Tunbridge Wells, the group now also meets in Ashford and Maidstone. A venue in each town hosts a meeting once every three months on a rota. Ron Roser, of Langton Business Services, co-founded the events in 2007 alongside John Sawyer, Managing Director of JAZ Marketing, after being challenged by local businesswomen. The pair have since handed over administration of the group to Kent Invicta Chamber, but still front the events, which feature a talk and an opportunity to meet professionals over a bite to eat. Mr Roser said: “I did not think the group would even start, so I am amazed and delighted to still be here getting help and support from the business community.”

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk MORE riders are being sought by delivery firm Deliveroo after the company’s growth in Tunbridge Wells topped 400 per cent last year. A swell in demand for the restaurant food service has seen its fleet of turquoise-clad bikers triple to 200 across Kent in the past 12 months. Deliveroo saw growth of 5,271 per cent in Canterbury, 549 per cent in Sevenoaks and 474 per cent in Tunbridge Wells. It launched in Maidstone in August. Bike and motorbike riders work as self-employed contractors. They typically take orders by mobile phone and collect food from an eatery before delivering it. Some of the 40 Tunbridge Wells restaurants customers can order from include Zizi, ASK Italian, Pret a Manger and Sankey’s.

Local Business News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

LAW firm Cripps has appointed two tax and trusts professionals to strengthen its private client team. Partner Myles McIntosh said “With Richard Mencer and Vikki Logan’s significant expertise from both wealth management and accountancy, we are looking forward to further strengthening our overall service offering.” Cripps has offices in Kent and London, and was last month recognised as leaders in their field in Kent in the Chambers High Net Worth 2017 list.

THERE are more people looking for work in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells than this time last year, according to Jobcentre Plus data. Comparing this month’s data to October 2016, both towns have seen a rise in people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance or Universal Credit. But figures are better than five years ago, and the number of young people aged 18-24 claiming the benefit has remained stable.

Vacancies This month Job Centre Plus recorded 640 signing on in Tunbridge Wells, an increase 75 people or 13 per cent. In Tonbridge 740 people signed on, an increase of 25 people or 7.3 per cent. Surprisingly, the number of young jobseekers signing on is exactly the same in Tunbridge Wells (95) and Tonbridge & Malling (160) as it was in October 2016. The overall number people claiming the benefit is down 230 in Tunbridge Wells from five years ago and down by 754 in Tonbridge in the same time period. Andrew Holmes, Partnership Manager for Jobcentre Plus in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & Malling and Sevenoaks, said there was no obvious reason for that longer-term dip. “We are not detecting any reason why. There have been a few redundancies, but there has been nothing dramatic. “We are getting an increase of employers and they are struggling to fill their vacancies.”

Finance experts join law firm

CELEBRATION The charitable staff

Charity Bank reflects on 15 successful years THE ethical achievements of Tonbridge-based Charity Bank are being celebrated on the organisation’s 15th birthday. The bank, located on the High Street, lends solely to charities and organisations for a social purpose, having provided £195million for good causes since being founded in October 2002.

Savings Charity Bank has recently launched a savings account to be used by charities and business savers. It also offers the Ethical East Access Account with an interest rate of 0.5 per cent.

Chief Executive Patrick Crawford said: “Our goal is to provide more loans to more organisations working to enrich and improve society. “To achieve this, we also need to attract more savers. This is why we are expanding our deposits range and inviting more individuals and organisations to open a Charity Bank savings account and use their money as a force for good.” Loans provided support a wide range of organisations across the arts, community, education, environment, faith, health, housing, regeneration, social care and sports. Charity Bank employs 65 staff, many of whom spend contracted hours volunteering for charities.

Photo: Ray Goodwin

Towns see ten per cent rise in jobseekers

BUSINESS

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Local News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Tunbridge Wells pips Tonbridge in happiness stakes A STUDY has found residents are ‘delighted’ to be from Tunbridge Wells, with the town ranked as one of the UK’s happiest. Results of a survey based on 12 factors, published by property website Rightmove, found the spa town was the fifth happiest, and Tonbridge the 72nd out of 159 boroughs. The news was unsurprising to Pembury resident Patrick Gillian who found the area welcoming when he moved south from Glasgow in the 1980s (pictured right). He said: “Tunbridge Wells has its

challenges but I have always been impressed by the town’s ongoing energy and its ability to reinvent itself.” The 12 factors in the study range from how friendly the neighbours are and how much people feel they can be themselves, to how good the local services are.

Countryside Leamington Spa topped the list, with other spa towns Llandrindod Wells, Epsom and Harrogate also scoring well. When it comes to just the South

East Tunbridge Wells is the second happiest place, behind Leigh-onSea, with Tonbridge finishing 17th. In addition, Tunbridge Wells was ranked first overall for ‘satisfaction of being close to sports facilities’ and second for ‘access to nature and green spaces’. The town also came third for residents feeling they earn enough to live comfortably and fifth for ‘proximity to essential services’. Mr Gillian, a parish councillor added: “Nowadays the town is a mecca for a whole range of diverse and interesting food outlets and

there is something for everyone whatever our taste buds are. “Then there is the town itself, its old worldly charm, its regency buildings and its close proximity to London. “With parklands and access to our glorious countryside and excellent road links, including the engineering marvel of the upgraded A21, Tunbridge Wells has a lot to smile about.”

Governor shortage is a ‘threat to the stability’ of school leadership By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk SCHOOLS are being compromised by a countywide shortage of governors, a West Kent education charity has warned. Data from SGOSS (School Governor’s One Stop Shop) has revealed that Tonbridge and Malling borough schools have a combined number of vacancies of 103 while Tunbridge Wells schools have 65. Governors hold the main responsibility for finance in schools, appointing the head teacher and working with senior leadership teams to bring pupil education to standard. Louise Cooper, chief executive of SGOSS, said West Kent had a ‘particular shortage’ of governors which could create a worrying skills deficit within the bodies. “Governor boards need to have a diverse set of skills so they can be

effective, for example if you are facing an HR or financial situation and you don’t have people with those skills that is a problem.” Ms Cooper said several factors prevent people from becoming governors, including misunderstandings. “If you ask a man or woman on the street,” she continued, “they might say there is an age you need to be or they need to have a connection to the school, but you don’t. “You would bring in additional expertise.”

no current vacancies. “People are so busy with their lives, especially in West Kent where a lot of parents are commuting to jobs in London, so volunteer work is not a priority. “There is a particular problem in the primary sector as parents may also be taking care of younger children.” The experienced governor, who has been on boards since 2002, said finding people with relevant skills from all areas is ‘not going to be easy,’ but

people should not be put off applying. “Being a governor is a very rewarding thing to do,” he added. Sean McQuillan, head teacher of St Gregory’s Catholic School in Reynolds Lane, Tunbridge Wells, said: “We have recently had vacancies but I’m pleased we’ve filled them. “Governors play a vital role in overseeing the school, overseeing curriculum and finances. They bring key skills to help run the school.” FULL HOUSE: Weald of Kent Grammar school annexe in Sevenoaks has no governor vacancies

Vacancies She added: “We looked at the stats and Kent was one of the highest concentrations of schools with a shortage of governors.” David Bower, chairman of governors at Weald of Kent, a Tonbridge grammar school with an annexe in Sevenoaks, is aware of problems but said his board was ‘lucky,’ to have

What does it mean to be a governor? n Governors play an important role

in setting the strategic direction of a school and monitoring progress on all aspects of school life, particularly educational outcomes and finances.

n It is an unpaid role requiring

several hours a week. n A key duty of the board is to

appoint the school’s head teacher and their relationship is critical to the success of the school.

n They gather as a board for

meetings, typically every term. There are usually subcommittees which also meet once a term, potentially more often depending on necessity. n Governing bodies differ in

size but often have around 12 members, made up of parent governors, staff governors and community or co-opted governors. n Almost anyone over 18 can

apply to become a governor but most effective boards will have members from different walks of life with relevant and complementary skills.

n The role of the head teacher is

to work with the governing body on the strategic development of the school and to take full responsibility for the operational enactment of the strategy. n There are a number of ways

of finding schools that have vacancies: You can contact your local school to ask if they need a new governor, or you can contact SGOSS - a national charity that matches schools with skilled governor volunteers. Find out more by visiting: https://www.sgoss. org.uk/volunteers.html

‘We looked at the stats and Kent was one of the highest concentrations of schools with a shortage of governors’ Louise Cooper CEO of SGOSS

Local News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Council considers on-the-spot fines for begging in the street cial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, have been in place in the neighbouring borough of Tonbridge & Malling since April – though they do not THE TOWN’S Community Safety Unit is set to include and stipulation to target beggars. begin a consultation process about introducing The Tunbridge Wells authority has been accused more Public Spaces Protection Orders [PSPOs] of picking on the homeless if they decide to implenext month – which include fines for begging on ment this policy, and responded with the phrase: the street. “Not all street beggars are homeless and not all The unit – a partnership between Kent Police, homeless people beg.” Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TMBC] and The council issued a statement saying: “The county hall among others – is focused on tackling PSPO is not a way to target homeless people and if anti-social behaviour and other ‘quality of life’ it is introduced, staff will be fully trained and will issues in the town as well as crime. have discretion about how they enforce this condition of the PSPO. “The idea behind this being to encourage genuHomeless inely homeless people to engage with agencies If the council’s Cabinet approves the scheme at who can provide help and assistance.” its meeting tomorrow [October 26], the public will The enforcement stipulates that beggars would be asked for their views about Fixed Penalty be banned from approaching members of the pubNotices being issued for PSPO issues such as lic verbally or physically and would be prevented dog-fouling, public drinking and – most contro- from sitting or loitering in public spaces with any versially – begging. container used to collect money. PSPOs, which were introduced under the Anti-SoMaidstone Town Council introduced the PSPO to tackle begging last month, citing concerns about ‘professional begging’ on its streets. Instead the body is promoting a ‘killing with kindness’ campaign calling on the public to donate money to local charities who support the homeless. Mark Hedges of Maidstone Police said: “Many visitors are unaware of the professional begging operating in their local areas. It is very difficult for people to differentiate between a person in genuine need and a professional beggar. “By introducing these measures we can control anti-social behavROUGHING IT iour and keep the areas as safe as Outside a supermarket possible for everyone.”

By Andy Tong

Begging in the shop doorway: A TUNBRIDGE WELLS CASE STUDY CARL is facing his first winter on the streets. He has been homeless for six months, and sits outside a well-frequented supermarket in the centre of Tunbridge Wells. He has a receptacle in which passers-by can leave money. What does he think about the fact that people are discouraged from giving money to beggars so they seek help through other means. “I’ve been through all those channels,” he says. “Tunbridge Wells Gateway are the worst, they’re really useless. “Then there’s [homeless charity] Porchlight. All they do is come along at six o’clock in the morning, wake me up and say: ‘Alright, mate? How’s it going?’ That’s all they do. I wish they wouldn’t, I’d rather get some sleep.”

Carl became homeless after his wife ‘cheated’ on him and he turned to drink. She became involved in drugs and he saw his son taken into care. He has been through the courts but is not allowed to have access to his child. The boy was taken into a foster home and the family will not let him visit. People often buy him items from the shop next to his pitch rather than give him money, in case he spends it on drink or drugs – as the advisors tell you. But he says he would rather have the cash, to spend it on what he wants – and he puts away a few pounds a week if he can. “The people round here are alright mostly,” he says. “There’s a few who have a go at me, call me a druggie, all that. A lot of people are kind and buy me food from the shop here. But I don’t want it, to be honest, you know? I want to eat my type of food.

What the expert says: John Handley JOHN HANDLEY, Chief Executive of The Bridge Trust, a homeless charity in Tonbridge, says: “What seems to have been forgotten is that every single person sleeping rough or begging is different. “These arguments [against giving money to beggars] hold true for a few but not for most, and to use a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to try and sweep the issue away seems overly draconian, and asserting that you will fine beggars £80 – or £1,000 if they don’t pay up – is just daft. When asked if beggars intimidate residents he adds: “A few maybe, but it depends what ‘harassment’ means to you. I don’t consider someone asking me for change is harassment. As for getting off the streets through relevant agencies, Mr Handley agrees entirely with the principle but says the reality is quite different. “The extent of their capabilities may be to simply survive day hour by hour. “Assuming that they all have the capacity to make appointments with job advisors or use computers to do job searches is simply a fantasy.” “In my view, just because you offer only A and B and neither of those can work for these people, to just legislate against them – effectively writing them off – is uncaring, uncompassionate and in many respects dehumanising.”

“I go to the kebab shop late at night and get myself some salad and a pitta bread. Maybe a couple of pieces of chicken. The stuff people give me, it piles up next to me. I don’t eat it, and I end up giving it away to other homeless people.” He does acknowledge that there are people who beg who are not homeless – “there’s a couple of them in Tunbridge Wells and they do really pxxx me off”. But poignantly he adds: “They may have a home to go to. But most of those people are on benefits. What does 58 quid a week get you? That’s not even a day’s wage. So I can’t blame them.” And as for enforcement workers dishing out on-the-spot fines as Fixed Penalty Notices, he says: “That’s no good, is it? How are they going to get the money? I mean, I’ve got a bank card – but there’s not enough money in the account to pay them £80.”

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TMBC says that with changes under way for PSPOs, which are intended to protect public spaces from persistent anti-social behaviour, now is the right time to consider adding extra controls. “Alcohol Control Zones, which are already designated in some places in the borough, are soon to automatically change to PSPOs, and therefore it is now a good time to consider whether further measures are required.” Responsibility for the enforcement of PSPOs would be undertaken by police in cases involving alcohol and drugs, while the council’s street scene enforcement officers would be involved in dog issues and begging. Cabinet member Councillor Lynne Weatherly said: “These are all issues where in the past people have told us they would like to see action. “It is very early days and if approved by Cabinet the next step would be to consult more widely before deciding what, if any, prohibitions should be introduced.” ROUGHING IT In a shop doorway

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Local News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

‘It’s a choice of making an investment or risking the decline of the town’ Last week this newspaper carried a story about the formation of TW Alliance a new group of professionals committed to forcing a rethink on plans to spend £72million on a new Civic Complex and theatre on land adjoining Calverley Grounds. As part of the Times’ commitment to providing readers with balanced views on topics where opinion is divided we invited Cllr Tracy Moore, who is leading the council’s case for the develop, to respond. The following article she has written is unedited IMAGINE living in a town where you can see West End quality shows within walking distance of work, a town where the bars and restaurants are buzzing every night of the week with pre-theatre customers. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council will decide at its full council meeting on 6th December whether to proceed with an ambitious plan to build a new 1200 seat theatre at the edge of Calverley Grounds,

‘If you look at the last 100-year history of Royal Tunbridge Wells, there has always been opposition to change’ opposite the train station in Royal Tunbridge Wells. The investment would also include a new civic centre and commercial office space, underground car parking for 260 cars and a wider, more welcoming public square and entrance into Calverley Grounds. As a mum of three and resident of Tunbridge Wells for 13 years, I believe now is the time to

invest in the future prosperity of the town, or risk standing still. The council began this journey in 2014 when the Assembly Hall Theatre required significant spend on its upkeep. A decision was taken then to refurbish the 78-year-old building to keep the doors open at a cost of £1.5m but, recognising the limitations of the existing buildings and the cost of maintaining them, work was commissioned to explore the possibility of building a new theatre in the town centre to ensure that cultural and leisure facilities keep pace with the building of new homes. An impressive, award winning project team has been working over the past three years to deliver a bold vision of new cultural, commercial and civic facilities. Members of the team have won the Stirling Prize and worked on schemes including the York Theatre Royal, the Shaftesbury Theatre, the Olympic Park master plan and the Chichester Festival Theatre. Our theatre architect is a board member of the Theatres Trust and has worked with a team who have delivered more than 1500 projects in 80 countries, including the Savoy Theatre, the New Amsterdam Theatre on 42nd Street,

ENTRANCE View of the square

Local News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

the Dolby Theatre in LA (where the Oscars are civic centre and theatre would enhance the hosted each year) and the Young Vic in London. western edge of Calverley Grounds. Picture this - a The objectives of the project are threefold – to wider entrance and grassy slope would create an replace the Town Hall and Assembly Hall Theatre, improved link between Mount Pleasant and the which are no longer fit for purpose; to secure the park. New paths would lead you up to the left to a future prosperity of the town by creating new cul- new, publicly accessible roof terrace above the tural and civic facilities and to enrich the lives of civic centre instead of the public toilets. residents and visitors for current and future generaDesign South East, the region’s leading source of tions. It is proposed that the borough council would built environment design support, is independently borrow around £77 million from the Public Works assessing the design and the financing is being Loan Board (PWLB). independently verified by CIPFA, the leading The PWLB was established in 1793 for local author- accountancy body for the public services. ities to borrow to invest in capital projects and they will offer the council a low, fixed rate for 50 years. It Opposition is similar to a mortgage to buy your house – borrowIf you look at the last 100-year history of Royal ing long term for a long-term asset. Other areas around us have borrowed to invest in their cultural Tunbridge Wells, there has always been opposition and leisure offer. Ashford borrowed £75 million for a to change. When the council bought Calverley hotel, cinema and leisure facility, Canterbury £74 Grounds from Calverley Hotel in 1921 for £10,000 million for half a shopping centre and Swale £28 there was a public inquiry. When the council built a pavilion in the Calverley Grounds in 1926 million for a cinema, hotel and leisure facility. to seat 1200 people under cover there It is estimated that a new theatre could have a was opposition to the spend. There positive impact on our local economy of over were strong protests in 1930 about £14 million per annum. I see this as a choice the council’s plans to build a town - to invest or risk decline. Choosing to do hall, library, museum, art gallery nothing is not the cheap option, we could and Assembly Hall. still face costs of millions of pounds These buildings have served us maintaining and propping up out-dated well for 80 years, but at the time facilities no longer fit for purAlderman Sir Robert Gower MP pose. suggested that scheme We have used an expert “would be an act of crimiteam to develop the nal folly” suggesting that design but we have also the “Public Library and sought the advice of Museum were luxuries.” independent experts. In the 1980s the developHistoric England is ment of the Royal Victoria supportive of the public use Place [RVP] shopping of the new buildings and is centre was opposed by prepared to be persuaded Tracy Moore some, with one group that the new claiming that the RVP would put “Tunbridge

Wells under more threat than it has ever known”. That development, too, faced a public inquiry. Whether building the existing civic complex in the 1930s or building Royal Victoria Place in the 1980s, there has been opposition to change. If the council had not weighed those views against a long-term vision for the town, I believe we all would be worse off. After the RVP was given the go-ahead Chartered Surveyor Weekly magazine featured a story with the conclusion that the RVP and other developments in Tunbridge Wells were “bold steps being taken – albeit kicking and screaming at times – into the 21st century.” The new civic development is an asset replacement project and park enhancement project to take Royal Tunbridge Wells forward - hopefully not kicking and screaming, but rather with broad support from business, residents and visitors. I really believe it is a choice to invest or risk decline.

RELAXING The first floor bar

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Find out more details by visiting www.twciviccentre.co.uk or go to the road show at Royal Victoria Place on Saturday, November 11. GRAND DESIGN The proposed civic complex

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Local News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Tunbridge Wells and in proposed changes By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk PROPOSALS to reshape political constituency boundaries have not been endorsed by local MPs. Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells constituencies would be reshaped and expanded, while Wealden would be lost, under plans to reduce the number of members of Parliament from 650 to 600. Whitehall has commissioned the independent Boundary Commission to hold a consultation for the changes which would come into force in time for the 2022 election with the intention of cutting costs. But critics have argued the reforms would give OUT OF A JOB? Nus Ghani would lose her Wealden seat

PRESENT: This is how the boundary lines are drawn up today, dividing Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Wealden over three constituencies.

an overall electoral advantage to the Conservative Party and make constituencies too large. Under the plans Tunbridge Wells would be remodelled to include Crowborough and border Uckfield but would lose Brenchley to the new Mid-Kent and Ticehurst constituency. Tonbridge constituency would grow to accommodate Southborough and Capel but would lose West Malling and King’s Hill, where the town’s council offices are based.

‘The current proposals would split Tunbridge Wells into three different constituencies’ Wealden would be swallowed by Mid-Kent and Ticehurst, Lewes and the newly created Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough. Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells, said: “Tunbridge Wells has always had a very strong identity yet the current proposals would split it into three different constituencies. “For example it seems strange for Langton Green to be in a different constituency from Rusthall. “It is absolutely right that constituencies should be equally-sized, but there is a long way to go before any particular new boundaries are adopted. “The current proposals raise some important anomalies which can be addressed in the consultation.” With Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Wealden

Local News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

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Tonbridge to be split to political boundaries NO COMMENT Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat

all safe seats for the Conservatives there would be little likelihood the changes would lead to the Tories losing seats. However, the independently drawn up map by the Boundary Commission for England, makes no reference to politicians automatically picking up the seats. Nus Ghani has been tipped as a possible future Conservative cabinet member, but the change could force her to move to another area. She said: “Of course, I am happy to represent the Wealden constituency as it stands today, but if the Boundary Commission’s proposals are approved in this parliamentary timetable, my seat is set to become Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells for the 2022 election. “I will continue to serve all of Wealden to the best of my abilities and I will closely monitor the progress of the boundary proposals through the consultation and legislative phases.”

All constituencies will have between 71,031 and 78,507 voters under plans. Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge, did not wish to comment. His office encouraged everyone to respond to the consultation which can be accessed online by visiting www.bce2018.org.uk before the consultation closes on December 11. After looking at whether any more changes need to be made, in September 2018 the commission will make final recommendations in a report published and presented to the Parliament. Electoral boundary changes have been on the cards since the idea was first presented in 2011. Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells constituencies have existed within their current boundaries since 1974. Wealden was created in 1983. All three constituencies have only ever had Conservative MPs. UNSURE Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark

FUTURE: This is how the proposed changes to the boundary lines would look. Tonbridge would lose the Malling part of its constituency under proposals, while Tunbridge Wells would gain Crowborough.

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Community News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Rotary hands out charity money as it launches new membership drive

HELPING HAND: The Rotary Club of The Pantiles at their Golf Day fundraiser

By William Mata

will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A MEMBERSHIP drive and new website have been launched by The Rotary Club of The Pantiles in a bid to attract new people. The plans were unveiled at their annual Giveaway Dinner this month. The organisation raises thousands of pounds a year for local charities.

Opportunity Vice-President Roy Patey said: “We are hoping the website will help us to recruit more members, particularly enthusiastic younger people.

“Sadly, there has been a decline in membership over recent years, and we’re encouraging people to join because it is an opportunity to do something practical

ROLL OF HONOUR President Mike Hutchins announces a winner

for our community rather than just putting £5 into an envelope. “It’s also a chance to meet like-minded people in a very sociable environment.” He added: “Sustainability is always a challenge. We currently have 24 members whereas we used to have around 70, and we are one of just two rotary clubs now after the third one was forced to close. “Rotary is probably the biggest charity group in the world, and while it is thriving in Asia, we are seeing a decline in Britain and also in America.” The group is based at the Nevill Golf Club in Benhall Mill Road and meets several times a month. The biggest of their charity events is their Golf Day in July. During the Giveaway Dinner, President Mike Hutchins presented a share of the £6,800 raised for charity to Tunbridge Wells Hospital Radio, Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre, Porchlight and the Tunbridge Wells Counselling Centre. Talking of the challenges of finding new members, Mr Hutchins said: “A new WI [Women’s Institute] opened in Tunbridge Wells not so long ago and managed to sign up 100 people. “I would like to find out exactly what they are doing to attract members.” The Rotary Club has more than a million members around the world with some 35,000 branches. The new website can be seen at www.pantilesrotary.org

JUST THE TONIC: (L-R) Claire Sheldon, Gurbax Sira and his wife Sabine

Village’s much-loved pharmacist retires after a quarter of a century HILDENBOROUGH residents assembled at the village’s Farmers’ Market this month to thank Gurbax Sira and his wife Sabine for the 25 years of service they have given to the community at Thompson Chemist. Sira took over the Riding Lane pharmacy on March 1, 1992. Coincidentally, he handed over the shop to its new owners on the same date this year, making his tenure exactly a quarter of a century long. Claire Sheldon, Chairman of the Parish Council, thanked a ‘very

overcome’ Sira on behalf of the village and presented him with a cheque made up of generous donations collected from residents. It was hoped he would put the money towards one of his new hobbies – a set of golf clubs had been proposed. Sira has also recently joined Tonbridge Lions Club, which he said was sure to keep him busy. Sabine was also presented with a bouquet of flowers; it was pointed out that behind every good man is a good woman.

Community News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

UNIVERSAL APPEAL The Syrian All Stars on stage at The Forum

Requests

By Katie Harris FIVE hundred people attended a hugely successful music event in Tunbridge Wells to herald the arrival of Syrian refugees to the area. The Festival of Hope at The Forum on October 8 was held to welcome families and individuals who have settled in the town after leaving their homes in the wartorn nation. The gig was organised by Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees [TWWR] and £1,100 in donations were collected to fund the group’s ongoing work. TWWR Chair and festival organiser Maura Richards said: “What a wonderful day. Everyone talked about the atmosphere and the energy and how alive it all was. The highlight was seeing our Syrian friends so happy.”

The line-up of six bands included the Syrian All Stars, professional musicians from the Middle Eastern country, and the Kent-based Orange Circus Band. Authentic Syrian cuisine, homemade waffles and face painting were also on offer to attendees. Amanda Lynch, who helped to put on the concert, added: “We did this to raise people’s consciousness about the plight A TASTE OF SYRIA Food served by volunteers

of refugees and how we can help. “During the festival I realised that the consciousness was already there – people just needed a time and a place to express it.” TWWR works alongside official agencies to support refugees in the town. The organisation is run by local volunteers and aims to promote a positive attitude towards refugees in the area.

Hospital Radio seeks votes for remotes so patients can tune in YOUR votes are needed by Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells to enable it to buy replacements for patients’ missing TV remote controls via the Aviva Community Fund. This will enable more patients to listen to and enjoy the service and make record requests.

Town makes a song and dance to welcome refugees

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When Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury was built in 2011, each ward room was fitted with a plasma TV, which gives patients access to TV and radio, including Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells on Channel 705. The TV sets were paid for by the League of Friends. Many of the remote controls are now missing and the NHS Trust does not have the funds to replace them. Those collecting radio requests are finding that many patients are unable to access any TV or radio because they cannot operate the sets. Hospital Radio Station Manager Chris Manser explained: “Our volunteers have worked hard in the last 12 months to successfully save our service from closure.

“So it is now frustrating that patients who would like to listen to and enjoy the programmes and have a request cannot do so. “We are asking readers to ‘Vote for Remotes’ and bring some pleasure to patients during their stay in hospital.” Voting is open until November 21, and the project needs to gather at least 1,000 supporters as soon as possible for a chance to succeed.

If you would like to register to vote, visit www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk /voting/project/view/17-1323

IN TUNE Volunteers play patients’ requests

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County News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

PROPOSAL An artist’s impression of the Lower Thames Crossing

TAXING TIMES The council has called for residents to take part in the consultation

Rise in county’s council tax proposed to balance books COUNCIL tax could rise by 1.99 per cent as County Hall seeks to save £64million this year. Residents have now been offered the chance to take part in a six-week consultation as Kent County Council [KCC] tries to decide how it can find extra savings from a budget of £933million.

Option

Second Thames crossing is backed by government By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk WORK towards the proposed £4.4billion Lower Thames Crossing is progressing with the promise of government funding. After a meeting with Highways England leaders, the Chief Executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce said further financial backing has been secured for the planning process. Under plans, this second tunnel linking Kent and Essex would be built within the next decade between Thurrock port Tilbury and Gravesend, a few miles south of the Dartford Crossing. Jo James, Chief Executive of the chamber, said: “Despite concerns over future government expenditure, the Treasury committed funding for the team working on the project to drive it forward

through the planning and community engagement process. “It’s essential that we keep pushing the case for the new crossing at every opportunity, and demonstrate the almost universal support there is for it from the

‘Its impact will ripple out north and south on both sides of the river’ county’s business community.” Opponents have argued the crossing has the potential for a negative impact on the wider transport network. There is currently a ferry service between Tilbury and Gravesend, which is the last crossing point before the Thames reaches the sea. Tim Jones, Project Director for High-

ways England, said: “The crossing is an integral part of the future road network, serving not just Kent, Thurrock and Essex but to the UK more widely. “Its impact will ripple out north and south on both sides of the river, improving our country’s ability to move goods, services and people nationwide and beyond to mainland Europe by better serving our ports.” Highways England plan to hold further engagement with the community and local businesses during 2018, and members of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals then. Further briefings will also continue into next year. The government will have the opportunity to make a direct consent order to push plans through. No planning permission is required.

A spokesman for the council said KCC is considering raising council tax by 1.99 per cent as an option to bring in £6million a year. For most residents that would represent a rise of £20.88 per annum. In addition, the council is proposing to add the 2 per cent social care precept introduced by central government last year. This will produce £20.96. Ahead of central government’s annual budget announcement at the end of November, the consultation will ask the county’s residents if they agree with KCC’s proposals. Conservative councillor Paul Carter, the authority’s leader, has already appealed to his party’s ministers to ease financial pressures. In launching the consultation,

Cllr Paul Carter

Cllr Joe Simmonds which can be accessed online, he warned ‘big decisions’ need to be made after previously stating frontline services could be cut. “The difficult decisions we make in next year’s budget will affect everyone in Kent,” he said. “That’s why it is important that as many residents as possible take part in this year’s consultation.” Councillor John Simmonds, portfolio holder for finance, said the county council is prioritising social care but also will make sure potholes get repaired and waste is disposed of. “Hopefully people will appreciate this is a small price to pay,” he said of the potential rise in council tax. “Local government has been singled out to make far more savings than other parts of the economy, including central government, who have not been as zealous.” Details of the consultation and how to take part can be found at www.kent.gov.uk/budget Or call 03000 421553 to request a different format

County News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Ofsted results show Kent schools are a class act By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk NINE out of ten schools in Kent are rated in Ofsted’s top two bands of performance. Research by Kent County Council has revealed this month that 91 per cent of both primary and secondary schools were rated as either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. Ofsted carries out inspections of all state schools and some independent schools on behalf of the government. There are four grades schools receive in reports with the highest two, ‘outstanding’ and ‘good’,

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IT TAKES TWO Kent firefighters dance before testing a fire alarm

awarded to 89 per cent of schools nationally. Patrick Leeson, County Hall’s Director of Education, said: “Kent has more good and outstanding schools than the national average. “And the overall percentage of outstanding schools in Kent, at 22 per cent, is the same as the national average.

Improvement “This means that 10,181 more pupils attend a good or outstanding school compared to this time last year, including 7,351 primary pupils and 2,887 secondary pupils. “The trend over time continues to be a good rate of improvement. “We expect the positive improvement trend to continue towards our ambitious target of at least 95 per cent of primary and secondary schools to be judged good or outstanding in the next year or two. “I would like to thank all the governors and senior leadership teams who continue to work so hard to ensure every child goes to a good school.” TOP MARKS Kent schools have Ofsted results above the national average

They’ve got the moves – and an important safety message FIREFIGHTERS parodied a classic scene from the film Dirty Dancing to highlight the importance of testing smoke alarms. Kent Fire & Rescue Service [KFRS] regulars Joanne Gilham and Nathan Pavey took the roles of Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze for the YouTube clip, now seen more than 18,000 times. The video ties in with the 30th anniversary of the romantic drama and sees the firefighters dance in full gear to the backing of theme ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’. In the climactic moment, Mr Pavey lifts Ms Gilham into the air for her to press the test button

on a smoke alarm. A message then appears saying: “Keep having the time of your life – test your smoke alarm weekly.” Ian Thomson, Head of Community Safety at KFRS, said: “This parody is a great deal of fun, but delivers a simple yet serious message about carrying out a quick [alarm] check every week. “This check can make such a difference to the lives of the people we care about and love the most. You can watch the video by searching YouTube for ‘Kent Fire Dancing’

NEWS

National News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Universities angered by Tory MP’s Brexit demand A CONSERVATIVE MP has been criticised for sending a ‘sinister’ letter to universities which requested the names of professors teaching students about Brexit. Chris Heaton-Harris, a Tory whip and Leave campaigner, also asked establishments to supply copies of their syllabuses and links to online lectures covering the topic. The request was sent to vice chancellors across the country, the Guardian reported.

BBC Radio 4’s World At One. “It is absolutely disgraceful. I am sure that most university vice chancellors will deal with it in the most appropriate way, which is to drop it in the wastepaper basket. “If he doesn’t know that universities are autonomous, that universities aren’t like Chinese re-education camps, then he doesn’t know very much about what it’s like to live in a free society.”

Extraordinary Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor at the University of Worcester, said: “When I read this extraordinary letter on Parliamentary paper from a serving MP, I felt a chill down my spine. Was this the beginnings of a very British McCarthyism?” A copy of the letter from Mr Heaton-Harris, seen by the Press Association, states: “I was wondering if you would be so kind as to supply me with the names of professors at your establishment who are involved in the teaching of European affairs, with particular reference to Brexit. “Furthermore, if I could be provided with a copy of the syllabus and links to the online lectures which relate to this area I would be much obliged.” The Chancellor of Oxford University, Lord Patten of Barnes - a former Conservative Party chairman - accused Mr Heaton-Harris of ‘idiotic Leninism’. “I couldn’t believe that this could come from a Conservative MP. I think he must be an agent of Mr Corbyn in terms of further increasing the number of young people who want to vote Labour,” he told

CRITICISED Tory MP HeatonHarris

National News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Queen names army’s most senior animal

RYAN GIBBONS, 29, the burglar currently on trial for murdering an ex-Royal Navy officer has denied he deliberately ran him over. Gibbons told a jury at Manchester Crown Court that it was ‘obviously my fault’, but said he never saw Mike Samwell, 35, trying to stop him take his car and did not realise he had driven over him. Mr Samwell had awoken to the sound of smashing glass in the early hours of April 23 and ran downstairs in his underwear to discover burglars had broken through the kitchen patio doors, snatching his car keys, at his home on Cranbourne Road in Chorlton, south Manchester. He went out to confront Gibbons in his Audi SR sports car, shouting “get out of the car”, but Mr Samwell - who served in the Royal Navy for 12 years - was then run over twice. The trial continues.

THE Queen has named the most senior animal in the British Army - a Drum Horse called Perseus who has the rank of Major. Towering over the Queen, the animal, which is 17.1 hands high, was given his new name by the monarch when she visited the barracks of his unit, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, with the Prince of Wales.

Cold calls frozen out

Chef’s producer tribute JAMIE OLIVER paid tribute to Patricia Llewellyn, producer of BAFTA award-winning The Naked Chef, in an Instagram post following her death from cancer. The chef said: “What a loss, she was an amazing, kind, fun and truly wonderful woman, she had a huge impact on me and my early TV career. “She will be sorely missed,” he added.

Justice seen to be done COURT proceedings have been broadcast in Ireland for the first time. Two judgments handed down by the country’s Supreme Court in Dublin were aired in a pilot project on Tuesday [October 24]. State broadcaster RTE filmed the two judgments using small robotic cameras inside the court room. It was screened live on RTE’s on-line player.

Burglar denies murder

NEWS IN BRIEF

PEERS have inflicted a double defeat on the Government over demands for a ban on the ‘omnipresent menace’ of nuisance coldcalling. The House of Lords backed by 253 votes to 205, majority 48, a cross-party amendment that would allow unsolicited calls to be outlawed where harm to consumers had been identified. The defeat was despite a move by ministers to placate critics with the promise of a future ban on unsolicited calls by claims management firms and in the area of pensions. Supporters of the changes to the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill want the Government to go further.

NEWS

Briton fighting in Syria is killed

Brexit can be stopped by UK, says Tusk IT is up to the UK to decide whether there is a good Brexit deal - or even if the country decides to leave the European Union at all, Donald Tusk has told MEPs. The European Council president said it was up to Theresa May’s Government whether there is a ‘good deal, no deal or no Brexit’ at all. Updating the European Parliament on last week’s Brussels summit, Mr Tusk stressed his obsession with the unity of the 27 members who will remain in the EU after the UK’s departure. “Ahead of us is still the toughest stress test. If we fail it, the negotiations will end in our defeat,” he said. “We must keep our unity regardless of the direction of the talks. The EU will be able to rise to every scenario as long as we are not divided. “It is in fact up to London how this will end:

With a good deal, no deal or no Brexit. “But in each of these scenarios we will protect our common interest only by being together.” European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker moved to reassure the UK that there was no “hostile” agenda from Brussels and a “no-deal” scenario was “not our working assumption”. Mr Juncker told MEPs in Strasbourg: “The Commission is not negotiating in a hostile mood. We want a deal. Those who don’t want a deal the no-dealers - they had no friends in the Commission.” Leaders of the other 27 EU member states agreed on Friday to begin discussions among themselves on a possible transition period prompting hopes in Downing Street that they will agree to move on to trade talks in December.

A BRITISH man who had been fighting Islamic State in Syria has been killed clearing mines in the newly liberated city of Raqqa, his mother said. Jac Holmes, from Bournemouth, had been battling against the extremist group with the Kurdistan People’s Protection Units (YPG) since January 2015. Angie Blannin, who lives in Dover, Kent, said she was ‘extremely proud’ of her 24-year-old son, who was killed on Monday [October 23] and had no previous military experience. “He stood up for what he believed in and he had the courage of his convictions to go out and do something where he thought that the West were not doing enough,” she told the Press Association. Raqqa had served as the capital of IS’s so-called caliphate since 2014, and had been under the group’s control for more than three-and-ahalf years until its liberation last week.

BUSINESS

National Business News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

BrightHouse repay millions in redress

NEWS IN BRIEF

Consultation on Heathrow third runway reopened A PUBLIC consultation into the planned third runway at Heathrow Airport has been reopened until December 19 due to new evidence. The Department for Transport (DfT) published a series of fresh reports into the impact of expanding the west London hub, including updated noise analysis and a new air quality plan.

Wizard boosts book sales HARRY POTTER helped grow revenues at publisher Bloomsbury in the first half of the year. The group said total revenues rose 15 per cent to £72.1 million in the six months to August 31, while pre-tax profit jumped from £100,000 to £1.7 million. Print revenues were up 16% to £60.1 million as a Harry Potter Box Set and the House Editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone proved popular.

Weak pound helps tourism THE UK is one of the world’s best value destinations for 2018 because of the slump in the value of the pound, according to a leading travel guide. Lonely Planet is urging holidaymakers from overseas to ‘reap the rewards’ of currency exchange rates while the UK Government ‘busies itself with Brexit’. Sterling is down 14 per cent against the Euro and 11 per cent against the dollar since the referendum last June. From January to July this year there were a record 23.1million overseas visits to the UK, up 8 per cent on the same period last year.

Minister sets out plans for people ‘overwhelmed by debt’ PEOPLE struggling with serious debts could be given a six-week ‘breathing space’ free from further interest, penalty charges or the threat of enforcement action in order to seek advice to manage money problems. Under plans proposed by the Treasury, borrowers would be able to use the grace period to access help such as drawing up informal repayment plans and investigating debt write-off options. Treasury Minister Stephen Barclay said the measure was aimed at helping people who were ‘overwhelmed by debt’. A call for evidence on the plan will run until January 2018, with specific policy proposals set to follow and draft legislation produced no later than 2019.

Economic Secretary Mr Barclay said: “For many people in the UK problem debt seems impossible to escape. Its effects can be far-reaching, impacting all aspects of a person’s life and leaving them feeling helpless. “That is why we are working to give people who are overwhelmed by debt more time to seek advice, find a workable solution, and help get their lives back on track.” The 2017 Tory manifesto committed the party to introduce a breathing space and the Government has also come under pressure in the Lords, with peers set to consider amendments to the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill calling for such a measure.

RENT-TO-OWN firm BrightHouse has agreed to pay out £14.8 million in redress to 249,000 customers after the financial watchdog found that it did not act as a ‘responsible lender’. The compensation is linked to 384,000 customer lending agreements which ‘may not have been affordable’ and payments which ‘should have been refunded’, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said. BrightHouse, which provides household goods to customers on hire purchase agreements, has been working with the FCA since 2014 after the watchdog identified the firm’s lending assessment and collections processes fell short of its expectations. The FCA said that the group ‘did not always deliver good outcomes for customers, particularly those who were at a higher risk of falling into financial difficulty’. BrightHouse has ‘identified customers that may have been treated unfairly where its processes fell short of FCA expectations’ and has committed to ‘putting things right’ for these customers.

Vote on deal to end driver-only trains row DRIVERS on Southern Railway are to start voting on whether to accept a proposed deal to end their long dispute over driver-only trains. Ballot papers are being sent to members of Aslef, with a recommendation to accept. The drivers have rejected two previous attempts to reach an agreement. The proposal is for a 28% pay rise and agreement that trains will have a second, safety-trained person on board, apart from ‘exceptional circumstances’.

World News

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

SPORTS IN BRIEF

Doping will not become a criminal offence in UK DRUGS cheats in British sport will not be jailed, sports minister Tracey Crouch has said after a review of the UK’s anti-doping rules. Recent scandals have led to calls from some quarters for the UK to follow the example of Australia, France and Italy in criminalising doping. Most drug-testing agencies, however, do not want doping to be criminalised, as they believe getting convictions will be difficult and sporting sanctions are more relevant.

Bingham handed ban FORMER world champion Stuart Bingham has been given a six-month suspension for breaching snooker’s betting regulations. The 41-year-old, who won at the Crucible in 2015, was found to have placed bets of close to £36,000 on matches - some of which he was playing in - over 12 years.

Djokovic plans return NOVAK Djokovic will make his return to tennis in Abu Dhabi at December’s World Tennis Championship. The Serbian has skipped the back end of the current season because of an elbow injury.

England team picked GREG Rutherford is in a 75-strong athletics squad representing England at next year’s Commonwealth Games. The former Olympic long jump champion joins Adam Gemili and Dina Asher-Smith in a strong team heading to Australia’s Gold Coast.

NEWS

Conservatives seek Murder suspects visit airport where Kim Jong Nam was killed right-wing coalition THE two women accused of killing the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were taken back to the scene of the crime on Tuesday [October 24] as their murder trial moved from the courtroom to the Malaysian airport for a three-hour inspection tour under police guard. The judge, prosecutors, defence lawyers and representatives of the women’s home countries were escorted inside Kuala Lumpur airport by armed police on a tour meant to give the court a better perspective of events as they unfolded. Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong, of Vietnam, appeared subdued at the start of the tour, which took a break about an hour later when Aisyah became emotional. She was seen sobbing quietly. She and Huong were given water to drink and, when the tour resumed, both were being pushed around in wheelchairs. Aisyah’s lawyer, Gooi Soon Seng, said the women, who were wearing bulletproof vests and handcuffed, were given wheelchairs because they complained of exhaustion. High Court Judge Azmi Ariffin visited the check-in kiosk in the budget terminal where the two women allegedly smeared VX nerve agent on to Kim Jong Nam’s face on February 13. The judge followed the path Mr Kim walked to the airport clinic seeking help and retraced the movement of the two women, who were seen on security footage rushing to the toilets afterwards to wash their hands. Huong and Aisyah, who have pleaded not guilty, are the only suspects detained in the

AUSTRIAN conservative leader Sebastian Kurz has said he will try to form a coalition government with the right-wing Freedom Party after winning this month’s election. Mr Kurz’s People’s Party and the Freedom Party campaigned for tougher immigration controls, quick deportations of asylum-seekers whose requests are denied and a crackdown on radical Islam. Austria’s president tasked Mr Kurz on Friday [October 20] with forming a government. Mr Kurz said that after meetings with all the other parties in parliament he decided to invite the Freedom Party to enter talks on a coalition - a decision that was widely expected. He told reporters that his prospective partner, Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache, had shown ‘a will to bring about change in Austria together’.

brazen assassination of Mr Kim, an outcast from North Korea’s ruling family who lived abroad in virtual exile for years. Their defence lawyers have said the women were duped by suspected North Korean agents into believing they were playing a harmless prank for a TV show. Prosecutors contend that the women’s conduct showed they knew they were handling poison.

Decline in African elephant killings ELEPHANT poaching in Africa has declined for the fifth year in a row, experts have said. But populations of the animal continue to fall due to illegal killing and other human activities, while seizures of large scale illegal ivory shipments were at record highs in 2016. In East Africa, where elephant populations have nearly halved in a decade, illegal killing has dropped back to pre-2008 levels.

NEWS

Letters

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

And another thing… This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU Hanging out at River Lawn – sonnet for our green space I am a Barden Road resident and have lived and worked in Tonbridge for nearly 30 years, having recently retired from The Judd School. I attach a sonnet I have recently written about River Lawn. I make no great claims for its literary merit, but your paper has admirably supported the campaign against the sale of River Lawn. Thank you for the publicity you have given the issue so far. Nick Pallot Everyone needs somewhere to hang out, not work or home or school, and preferably outdoors with trees, where squirrels and children scout for conkers, schoolboys with fags push boundaries, mothers push prams, or pull the dog along, the old, the jobless with their lager, meet

Let us vote on the Civic Complex and aren’t alone, a property that belongs to all, a green bracket between stream and street, a space apart where everyone can be themselves, yet public enough that no one dare go daft, a hub for genuine company, not dubious cyber-companions who aren’t there. River Lawn fills all these needs and more, a hang-out for the few and many, for the rich and poor.

I CAME, I SAW… Young and old enjoy the Conker Championships on River Lawn

Cross section of River Lawn

How about police or pavements?

Prompted by our not-so-local Councillor Base’s remarks on the River Lawn area [October 4], I decided to see for myself just how underused this ‘poor example of green space’ is. In a 15-minute spell at River Lawn one lunchtime, I counted 46 people using the area, either as cut-through to and from the park on foot or on bikes, or sitting on the walls and benches overlooking the river. Many were families, with babies in pushchairs, or those enjoying the safe, quiet space with toddlers who were having fun kicking through the carpet of autumn leaves or picking up conkers. Others were ‘grown-up’ office workers, having their lunch in the fresh air or sitting looking at the river with a cup of coffee. Two groups of teenagers were chatting under the trees. Together with the dog walkers, an elderly gent on a mobility scooter and a couple of joggers, I couldn’t have wished for a more inclusive representative sample in my brief stint observing. Hardly underused by any stretch of the imagination… I also counted nine squirrels and several pigeons – but disappointingly, no sign of a badger, rat, mole or a toad… Charlotte Raveney, via email

Recently published articles in your weekly have clearly shown that those who are supposed to represent the people of Tunbridge Wells and put our priorities forward have continued to misjudge the wants and needs of our community. Three informative items by William Mata neatly reflect the current direction of travel. To their credit, two councillors, Messrs Williams and Simmons, feeling that local democracy was not being served, each conducted a referendum on the desirability of a new Civic Centre. The results were, in my experience, in tune with most of us who live in the town. Accordingly, if our streets were clean and not overgrown with vegetation, if our infrastructure was up to the task and our pavements not a patchwork of trip hazards, then this superficial project might gather more support from those of us who live and breathe Tunbridge Wells 24/7. The pavement around the Millennium Clock is a classic example of the ineptitude of the council – laid twice and clearly deteriorating today. If there is to be a £72million budget for this unwarranted project, I would rather it funded more police or encouraged more office space, both of which you featured in your paper of October 11. Might it be the attitude, lack of understanding, or incompetence of this administration that is seeing so many unoccupied shops in the town? Or is it that having a Council Leader who lives outside the county that provides a distorted view of what Tunbridgewellians actually value? Democracy only works if those who are to be represented take their councillors to task on all such issues. Martin Dawes Via email

More than just a few conkers I was born on the Barden Estate 79 years ago and feel I know enough about my home town to take Cllr Base down a peg or two! He proves in his arrogant remarks that he knows nothing about this beautiful part of Kent. Has he ever been to River Lawn? He will find there is a lot more there than a few conkers. I would like to say just one thing to Michael Base: Stick to your own ‘patch’ and keep your nose out of ours! Teresa Malyan, Tonbridge

What an excellent letter from Roy Bullock [October 4], and I fully agree with everything he said, especially about holding a referendum on the Civic Centre and new theatre. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, led by David Jukes, has no regard whatsoever for the views of the council taxpayers about the £72million project. They are so desperate for support, they have to go into schools to try and gain the support of children. It is a pity they don’t make the same effort to contact the general public. They come out with glossy leaflets, social media and misleading facts, and I wonder how much money have they spent so far. I went to their gathering in Calverley Grounds, and they had large photos of what it could all look like. However, to speak to a councillor or the theatre director I found nigh on impossible, as they were too busy speaking to the few who supported the scheme. I ended up speaking to a council employee who couldn’t even tell me the name of the little side street that this development was to be built in! When I questioned the amount of £2million that was spent on the Assembly Hall a few years ago, she replied that this was an insignificant amount of money! Anyway, she said she would get one of the councillors and the theatre director to come and talk to me, but after waiting more than 20 minutes no one came. Perhaps they didn’t want to speak to ‘Mr Angry’. Come on councillors, be brave and honest and let the taxpayers vote on it. Lionel Hanmore Tunbridge Wells

‘Holistic’ approach is risible Adam Hignett’s Council Sketchbook [October 4] showed that even in the Council Chamber there is much disquiet about the £72million being spent on the new Town Hall. Rightly or wrongly, comparisons were made with this sum and the mean pickings available for other projects. Perhaps some councillors are finally, if reluctantly, listening to their constituents. Cllr Tracy Moore’s assertion that a ‘holistic approach’ is used for council projects is, frankly, risible. Take just one example: The council attracts more and more commuters into the town on a road system that jams up, who then have nowhere to put their cars, so householders find their streets increasingly clogged with badly parked cars. The council’s solution is to let them park on pavements. If it’s holistic, where do pedestrians fit in? Cllr Moore does make a habit of publicly putting her foot in her mouth, and she should leave alone the new-age blather. Sam Goodenough Tunbridge Wells

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

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

ANOTHER week and another tale of social media going wrong. This time round it involves a grandmother and her use of the family group Facebook. Daughters spent sometime explaining how to use Facebook to keep in touch with everyone. All went well until last week when she posted a message to her youngest daughter. It was about her daughterin-law and was read by one and all. She thought it was private. Let’s just say it was not very complimentary. CALL Calverley sentimental if you like, but he got quite emotional (honest) when he spotted this particular notice posted on one of those supermarket boards near the checkouts. It was offering a white gold diamond engagement ring for sale at £300 ono. When new it cost £699. Then came the words: “Only worn for five months.” What sadness and disappointment lies behind those words? Mind you, the engaged couple might just have been hard up. That’s the cynical interpretation. SIGNS outside restaurants and pubs fascinate Calverley. (No surprise there then.) This one caught his attention. WHEN it comes to Brexit, Calverley thinks it best to keep his views to himself. People should just leave it. Here, though, is a cautionary tale: A business colleague needed to recruit newly qualified engineers for his hydraulics company. He found online three possible candidates. One Spanish, one Italian and one English. (No it’s not a joke.) He contacted, by phone, on a Saturday all three. The Spanish chap and the Italian appreciated his call and sent over their thoughts and CVs ten minutes later. The Englishman explained he was watching rugby at Twickenham and asked that he be called ‘sometime next week’ when he was free. The businessman has 15 staff: 13 are from mainland Europe. I wonder why? Chin, chin readers

Education

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

Partnership opens up new chapter for young readers through workshops to help them develop the skills to read effectively to children. Beanstalk recruits, vets, trains and supports volunteers to work in primary schools with children who have fallen behind with their reading. In Kent, Beanstalk currently has approximately 340 volunteers who work with over 1,000 children. According to the latest SATs results, more than 4,300 primary school leavers in Kent did not reach the expected standard in reading.

Life-changing

WHEN IT IS GOOD TO TELL STORIES Reading to children encourages them to pick up books themselves AS WE all know, the ability to read has a huge impact on confidence and can significantly affect future life choices, so it makes total sense to support children from as early an age as possible with their reading. The Kent-based literacy charity Beanstalk has just announced it is teaming up with Southern

Water to support children all over the county with their reading, thanks to a £10,000 donation. The money will fund a year-long project to support the Read and Achieve scheme in Kent, helping 1,500 children who are struggling with their reading. The grant will also fund the training of volunteers, including Southern Water employees,

Malou Bengtsson-Wheeler, Area Manager for Beanstalk South East, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Southern Water and their employees who have elected us as their charity partner for Kent. “We greatly look forward to working with them over the coming 12 months, delivering life-changing one-to-one literacy support to children across Kent, helping to improve confidence and attitudes to reading.” Beverley Thompson, Community Campaigns and Engagement Manager for Southern Water, added: “We’re so grateful to Beanstalk for offering employees training on how to read effectively to children as part of the Reach and Achieve scheme, and we’re really looking forward to being a part of the project.”

Tonbridge Grammar School pupils eager to take Action! Once a week normal lessons are suspended at one of the country’s top performing schools so that Year 7 and 8 students can participate in an inspiring mode of learning EVERY Wednesday, Tonbridge Grammar School [TGS] calls for action – quite literally – as it gathers some of its sixth formers and invites a group of external experts to work alongside the current crop of Year 7 and 8 students in order to further enhance their learning experience courtesy of their Action! programme.

Workshops The high-performing selective school, which is also a partner of the International Baccalaureate World Schools network, has been successfully running this initiative in order to engage its youngest pupils in a series of interactive activities and workshops designed to ‘challenge and provide intellectual stimulation’ as well as promote problem-solving and the ‘application of knowledge’. A TGS spokesperson commented that by participating: “The girls are able to see themselves as individuals with various skills and abilities, some more developed than others, and understand that they can make choices

about how they wish to move forward.” All 360 students have signed up to this year’s Action! programme, which could involve a challenge that may be an unfamiliar activity, or an extension to an existing one. During this academic year, TGS girls can enhance their learning courtesy of Bollywood Dancing lessons, digital photography sessions, Judo, special effects make-up for film and first aid skills. “The girls can also choose to cook, creating an

INTERACTIVE: Students can try a variety of activities

THE BAKE OFF: Girls can learn basic cookery skills as part of the Action! programme exciting mix of savoury and sweet recipes they can then recreate at home. Sessions also cover the safe handling of knives, kitchen hygiene and basic food safety,” the school spokesperson continued. “We are committed to providing a first-class education, and our provision enables us to offer these exciting co-curricular opportunities. “Many of the skills developed through these activities are directly transferable to the academic arena, such as problem-solving, working as a team and performing under pressure in front of an audience. We encourage all students to be active and to get involved.” TGS students achieve some of the highest results at GCSE and in the International Baccalaureate Diploma, both in the UK and globally. MAKE-UP YOUR MINDS: Students learn the art of special effects make-up

NEWS

FEATURES

Education Advertorial

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

The benefits of boarding At Cranbrook, the top priority is that your children are happy, healthy and well cared for – allowing them to achieve their full potential academically, socially and physically. Careful attention is also taken to ensure all boarders are integrated with their day-student counterparts - making them part of the Cranbrook community from day one. When a child joins the school, he or

she will be in the care of a resident Head of House, overseen by the Director of Boarding, assisting by tutors and matrons. The House team monitor all aspects of a student’s progress and liase directly with parents throughout this process. Boarders benefit from supervised homework time as well as increased access to the School’s resources and out

of class hours, including SEN support. All aspects of children’s welfare are considered very carefully at Cranbrook, and this extends to the food served. There is an excellent in house catering team who provide three meals day in the School dining hall. Each house has a unique feel and established traditions, of which the boarders feel extremely proud. Inter-

Baccalaureate charity bake

Year 12 students at The Skinners’ Kent Academy have been raising money for Breast Cancer Research. As part of their International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme, all students much complete at least 25 hours of Community Service. This centres around helping the community where a need is identifies. The framework of the qualification develops students’ values, enabling them to work within the global society and contribute to helping in the world in which we live. This year, the sixth form students decided to take part in the Breast Cancer Research coffee morning. They designed and made a variety of different cakes which they then sold to staff and students to raise money for charity. Two of the Sixth Form students designed gravity cakes with sweet treats cascading onto the base of the cake. These cakes were then auctioned and sold to the highest bidders. Over the course of the two days the students raised £230 for the house competitions are enjoyable but ultimately hard-fought affairs which reflect the passion of the boarders. Cranbrook, of course, offer excellent facilities which include a theatre, lecture theatre, performing arts centre, observatory, swimming pool, astro turf pitch and gym.

charity. The next event fast approaching is the Halloween disco for year 7 and 8 pupils, where the Academy hopes to beat last year’s £700 raised for charities including Tunbridge Wells’ food bank and to fund their annual OAP Christmas party for local pensioners. The Skinners’ Kent Academy, Tunbridge Wells | www.skinnerskentacademy.org.uk

It is difficult to do justice to do Cranbrook boarding life – there is no substitute for coming to have a look around – please contact the Registrar to arrange a visit on 01580 711804. Cranbrook School, Cranbrook www.cranbrookschool.co.uk

Education Advertorial

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

FEATURES

Now is the time to care about childcare… Following recent changes within the childcare industry, we spoke to three local childcare providers about the types of care available, the importance of good childcare from a young age, and some of the activities they offer St Luke’s Nursery School, Tunbridge Wells www.stlukesnurseryschool.co.uk

1. What sets you apart from other childcare services available? Our ‘Oustanding’ Ofsted rating for our early years setting based in the hall of St. Luke’s Church, Tunbridge Wells. We’re a sessional nursery and pre-school owned by Marley Westell – he’s a former Foundation Stage teacher of 25 years. We provide a personal high quality early years’ experience which helps children to thrive and flourish; we embrace a free, messy and open ended style of play and learning. Being a pack away setting sets us apart as well, as we are fortunate in being able to change areas of learning every day to suit our children’s requests or interests; we’ve a ‘growing’ garden area with a muddy kitchen. We really encourage outdoor play, whatever the weather, and we always encourage creative thinking, independence in children and staying active within the community. We take part in the Tunbridge Wells Lantern Parade every year and host an arts festival every other year! We’ve an active parent body of ‘parent mentors’, good links with feeder schools, and our team are very caring with a good understanding of how young children learn and develop. We believe strongly in

promoting tolerance and respect for others and, despite being in the Christian church, we celebrate all faiths, festivals and cultures throughout the year. 2. Tell us about what you offer, and the options available We are a sessional nursery and operate in term time for 38 weeks of the year, taking children from 2.5 years to 5 years. Our hours are 9am-noon each week day with the addition of noon-3pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are fully funded for three to four years old for up to 15 hours a week or, if eligible, we can do 24 hours of funded session per week. 3. How is the childcare industry changing and how is that affecting you? There’s been an enormous amount of change in the past few years for Early Years childcare! However, none has impacted our sector more than the thirty hours and the changes to the minimum wage. As our profits have diminished with the onset of new hours, we have had to change the amount of funded children we now have here. Whilst previously we only had one main intake in September, we now take younger children in January and Easter to ensure we are filling ‘the funding gap’. Another massive challenge the sector faces is the change to funding for one-on-one care for children with complex needs; our funding has decreased which is a real shame. However, one-on-one care is still massively important to us and something we pride ourselves on providing to a high standard.

Kent College, Pembury

www.kent-college.co.uk 1. What sets you apart from other childcare services available? We believe there are many benefits to joining our nursery. We are set in 75 acres of beautiful woodlands and have just opened our new extensive outdoor adventure play area for a start! Girls here have access to our onsite heated pool, sports hall and fully equipped theatre and well as specialist teachers for music, drama and French. Being in school with older pupils is also very beneficial to our girls as they are surrounded by role models; they get to participate in shows and sports matches alongside them – this then makes the transition into full time school seamless. We have our ‘buddy system’ as well which allows the youngest girls to form friendships with those older than them. 2. Tell us about what you offer, and the options available We offer ‘Wrap around Care’ which is available from 7.30am until 7.30pm – offering a breakfast club, after school club and supper club. There’s plenty of arts and crafts and activities running as well as excellent catering facilities providing hot, nutritious meals and catering to a variety

Rosehill School, Tunbridge Wells www.rosehillschool.co.uk

1. What sets you apart from other childcare services available? Our kindergarten here at Rosehill School provides young children with a wonderful foundation for a lifetime of learning and experiences. We help children, from three years old, to explore and play in our light and airy rooms as well our designation outdoor areas. We’ve also got our 18 acres of beautiful school grounds - including a bluebell wood with a woodland classroom! Our children are supported by staff with excellent qualifications and experience who are committed to ensure that every child achieves their potential in a fun, stimulating environment. We also keep classes small with a high staff ratio and a friendly atmosphere! 2. Tell us about what you offer and the options available We have a family ethos that starts in our kindergarten classes. The fantastic facilities we have

of dietary needs. It’s worth noting that we always have excellent medical care and teaching staff as well who are trained to help with specific leaning needs a child may have. The girls can expect to take part in music and drama lessons, in our equipped theatre with lights and staging, as well getting to play in our forest school and getting an outdoor education all year round. 3. How is the childcare industry changing, and how is that affecting you? We’ve noticed an increasing number of families are finding themselves in a position where both parents work and therefore childcare is an absolute necessity. We are extremely flexible in terms of the sessions we offer as we appreciate that families are often struggling to strike that balance between work and home life. Because we are a boarding school for girls in year four and above, we are fully set to look after girls out of the usual schooling hours. We have wonderful facilities to offer meals in the morning, noon and night which means we are here to help if a parent finds themselves delayed on a train, in an emergency or stuck in a meeting. Parents can feel safe in the knowledge that their daughter is being looked after by a team that know her personally and care for her. here in our prep school, such as our theatre, ICT suits and sports hall, are a real benefit to children – as well as our special teachers who support their learning and nurture their interests. Children attend five mornings a week in September, with the option to stay all day, and fees are competitive against other local schools. The activities and opportunities we arrange are designed to stimulate the natural curiosity with which young children explore and make sense of the world. 3. How is the childcare industry changing, and how is that affecting you? We recognise that many parents now need wraparound care so we have recently extended our hours to offer care from 8am through to 5.15pm. We’re also growing and developing the School with exciting new projects such as our new indoor pool! With unstinting support and encouragement, our children are ready to continue their learning journey throughout the school - If you would like your child to be excited to learn, ready to respond to experience and opportunities in a resilient way then we are the perfect choice for you!

NEWS

Weekly Comment

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Peter Lidstone

Tunbridge Wells councillor

The youngest member of Tunbridge Wells Borough council, Peter Lidstone, aged 32, is a Liberal Democrat councillor and was the only candidate to successfully dislodge a Conservative opponent at the last local elections. With a full-time job as part of the charity Build Africa, the former law student of the University of the West of England is also ﬂuent in French. His interest in politics came after attending a conference on the subject at Christian Aid about why Christians should get involved

Extension to car park is not correct solution I MAY not always agree with the Conservatives on the Council, but some recent decisions they have taken are hard for me to comprehend. Last month they approved a £3.2million extension to the town centre car park at Crescent Road. The decision to use ratepayers’ money to fund this was an odd one for a number of reasons. Firstly, the extension will provide extra capacity in a town that doesn’t need any. The Council’s own documents show that town centre car parks are currently at 74 per cent capacity, only filling up at Christmas time. Surely a seasonal solution (such as park & ride or town centre hopper bus) could be provided? To use an analogy, imagine Tunbridge Wells FC building an expensive new stand for one high-profile cup tie. The real reason people stay away from our town is the chronic congestion, not the lack of parking. And by increasing town centre parking, the Council won’t tackle the existing congestion and illegal pollution levels. The Lib Dems are fully committed to cleaning up our town’s chronic air pollution. The extension is not cheap, even by Local Authority standards. At £33,000 per space it is

three times more expensive than the industry average. The payback period is 30 years, by which time there is every likelihood that we will be hailing rides via an app rather than owning a car that spends 97 per cent of its life parked. I quoted a number of sources (including a Stanford Economist and KPMG’s Head of Automotive) to support

‘The real reason people stay away from our town is the chronic congestion’ this view; yet the Council quoted none to support their faith in car ownership levels continuing for 30 years. The return on this investment relies on the 96 new spaces being used 100 per cent of the time by new customers. This is unlikely. But most bizarre is the fact that we have not yet voted to proceed on the Civic Site move. This is clearly the driving factor behind extending Crescent Road car park, but the Conservative leadership will not admit it. Lib Dem Councillor, and

BIG ENOUGH ALREADY Crescent Road car park former Mayor, Dave Neve submitted a perfectly logical motion for us to wait until we know, for sure, whether the Council will be building on Great Hall and Mount Pleasant car parks before going ahead with the Crescent Road extension. But he was narrowly voted down by a majority of

Conservative Councillors (including the current Mayor, who, by convention, remains neutral in a vote) following the party line. I can only hope critical thinking is on better display in early December, when we decide on how to spend over £70million of public money.

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Wednesday October 25 | 2017

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UNDER £250,000 HIGH STREET, TONBRIDGE

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£175,000-£182,500 A well-presented first-floor apartment situated in the centre of Tonbridge, close the mainline station, which has regular train services to London and the coasts. The property has a communal

entrance, an entrance hall, an open-plan living room/kitchen with views over a tributary of the River Medway, a fitted kitchen, a double bedroom and a bathroom. The outside area includes a communal courtyard to the rear. CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

UNDER £350,000 AVEBURY AVENUE, TONBRIDGE

£300,000 A two-bedroom apartment in central Tonbridge with two double bedrooms (one en suite), a family bathroom, and open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas. Well located, this property also benefits from a private balcony overlooking the River

Medway as well an allocated parking space and as visitor parking. Outside, there are also flower borders and shared lawned areas around the building which are maintained by the management company. CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

To suit your budget

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

PROPERTY

great properties by price range… UNDER £450,000 SPEYSIDE, TONBRIDGE

£325,000 A well-presented and modernised end-of-terrace house situated on the north side of town. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, cloakroom, living room and a kitchen/breakfast room. Upstairs, there are three first floor bedrooms and a family bathroom with a separate shower cubicle. The house also includes a loft room with Velux windows to the front aspect and plenty of storage space. Externally, there is a garden to the rear and a large covered storage area as well as residents’ parking. CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

UNDER £500,000 ALBION ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

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£450,000 Located in the popular St James area of Tunbridge Wells, this pretty period property comprises an entrance hall, a living room which has been opened up to the dining room and has a bay window and a fireplace, a kitchen/ breakfast room, a bathroom, three bedrooms and an upstairs toilet. Outside, there is a small garden to the front of the house and a lawn with a convenient decked space to the rear. CONTACT Andrews Tunbridge Wells 01892 515144 www.andrewsonline.co.uk

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POUNDSBRIDGE COTTAGE PENSHURST

HAWDEN CLOSE, TONBRIDGE

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A part weatherboarded threebedroom period property set amongst rolling hills and countryside. The combined grounds of this property include a paddock and an area of private woodland where work has begun to construct two stables. Internally, there are a wide range of period features, including exposed beams, open fireplaces and ceiling timbers in the

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sitting and dining rooms. Two staircases lead from the downstairs to two loft areas which have been floored and fitted with Velux windows. CONTACT Wood & Pilcher Tunbridge Wells 01892 511311 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

A four-bedroom house in a cul-de-sac. The entrance hall leads to a spacious sitting/dining room with double doors to the patio. There is also a study, a downstairs cloakroom and a family/TV room, as well as a kitchen with integrated appliances. There are four bedrooms (one en suite) and a family bathroom upstairs. The terrace has far-reaching views and the property includes a large workshop. CONTACT Barnes Kingsnorth Tonbridge 01732 771616 www.bkestateagents.com

PROPERTY

Oaklawn

An airy property offering a lush country feel on the edge of town Built in the mid 1980s, the house has since been extended, renovated and improved throughout

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

AT A GLANCE OAKLAWN SANDOWN PARK TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Entrance hall n Drawing room n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Study/family room n Conservatory n Utility room n Cloakroom n 5 bedrooms (2 with en suite bathrooms) n Family bathroom n Gas-fired central heating n Integral garage n Garden n In all about 0.362 of an acre

ÂŁ1,250,000 Available for sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

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Newlands Road

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

AT A GLANCE NEWLANDS ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Detached house n Recently renovated to a high standard n Coat cupboard n Downstairs toilet n Sitting room n Study n Stylish kitchen/diner with bespoke feature window overlooking garden n Snug room n Master suite n 3 further bedrooms (two of which are doubles) n Family bathroom n Beautiful stepped garden laid to lawn n Outdoor seating area n Pergola with a fruit-bearing grapevine n Off-road parking for 2 cars n Catchment area for good schools

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£780,000-£810,000 Available for sale through Le Grys Southborough 01892 529448 www.legrys.com

Convenient location for stunning modern family home that has its own grapevine

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Verulam House

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

AT A GLANCE VERULAM HOUSE IDE HILL, SEVENOAKS n Portico entrance n Reception hall n Drawing room n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Garden room n Orangery n Family room n Cloakroom n Coats Cupboard n Study n Shower room n Billiards room n Wine cellar n Utility room n Boiler room n Master suite with balcony n 3 further bedrooms, all with en suites n 2 further bedrooms on second floor n Family bathroom n 2 storage rooms n Integral double garage n Established gardens and woodland n Total area of 3.2 acres

Elegant house with fabulous orangery in gated development near Sevenoaks

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Â£3,250,000

Available for sale through Savills Sevenoaks 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Yew Tree Barn

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Situated on the dge of Broadwater Forest with lovely views across its own land and beyond AT A GLANCE YEW TREE BARN BROOM LANE LANGTON GREEN TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Semi-rural location n Entrance hall n Sitting room n Dining room n Superb 28ft kitchen/breakfast room with vaulted ceiling n Utility room n Cloakroom n Stunning principal bedroom suite with windows on two sides enjoying a rural outlook n 3 further bedrooms n Family room/bedroom 5 n Family bathroom n Detached 3-bay garage n Landscaped rear courtyard n Garden meadows n Paddocks n In total, approximately 7.91 acres

ÂŁ 1,395,000 Available for sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Unique barn conversion boasts modern-day technologies mixed with many traditional features

FEATURES

Food & Drink

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Kitchen confidential When her Tunbridge Wells cookery school was on the brink of bankruptcy, Rosemary Shrager had the good fortune to meet her financial saviour. Here, she tells Eileen Leahy how she very nearly reached boiling point…

ELEBRITY chef Rosemary Shrager is one very busy lady. When she’s not running her eponymous cookery school, located in the Corn Exchange in The Pantiles, she’s filming the enormously successful BBC Two series The Big Family Cooking Showdown with Giorgio Locatelli or travelling to Thailand for the next instalment of the successful BBC Two reality TV show The Real Marigold Hotel which she stars in. Then factor into her already hectic schedule numerous demos and book signings, plus an imminent top secret trip to China for more filming, and you can see just how in demand Ms Shrager is right now. But being so busy, she tells me as we sit down to chat in the smart dining area of her glossy cookery school kitchen, is just the way she likes it. “I’m constantly driving here, there and everywhere, but it’s all good fun. I enjoy it. If you see a window of opportunity you just have to go for it,” she says, pouring herself a large cup of coffee before naughtily adding: “I’m thinking of getting a tattoo in China!” I’ve been invited by an upbeat Rosemary to talk about her new partnership with

the Hadlow Group, which helped save her beloved cookery school last year. Also present is the Hadlow Group’s CEO, Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, who first met Rosemary in March last year when her school was in a financial mess and looked like it would go under.

‘I had the place converted, pulled in favours and products from people and opened up’ A mutual friend introduced them, and despite the fact they only had a few minutes to talk initially, thankfully the Hadlow Group decided to help. Now the pair want to reveal what happened. “We feel that it’s important to tell the story ourselves,” Rosemary begins. “To understand the situation, you need to know how passionate I am and how much work I have put into my business, but also how passionate Mark is about his business and the educational value of it.” Before we met, news of the closure of Shrager’s patisserie on The Pantiles had just broken, so they were keen to put the

record straight on that matter, too. “It was effectively with a franchise,” confirms Mark. “It was used by our students but was entirely separate to the cookery school, and we have now made arrangements for their continued work experience.” This situation, along with the cookery school getting into financial trouble, is also familiar territory for the Hadlow Group, which is now a highly successful organisation that has transformed struggling educational establishments in Kent, including Hadlow and K Colleges. But this wasn’t always the case. “We’ve seen our turnover go from £5million a decade ago to just over £52million, but back in 2003 we were like Rosemary’s cookery school, in a really bad place,” says Mark. “So our job has been about transforming ourselves into a corporate business, and we are now very much that. “We play the pieces in the game, we don’t let the game play us. We’re not just an educational institution, we have a lot of commercial branches like cafés and garden centres, too. Our business is about creating fantastic outcomes and developing skills.” It would appear that this merger is a

Food & Drink

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

PERFECTLY PAIRED Rosemary Shrager and Mark Lumsdon-Taylor

case of so far, so good, as during the course of our chat both Rosemary and Mark chip in on each other’s sentences, often laughing and keen to show cohesion. It’s clear they get on well and also mutually respect one another, and undoubtedly have a shared passion for teaching. “All I ever really wanted to do was teach,” continues Rosemary, who has been doing that for the past ‘17 years or so’. “I loved showing people how to do things, and I always wanted to help other chefs as I learnt the hard way

– on the hoof. I wasn’t trained, had no mentor, nothing. I worked in some great restaurants and really wanted to achieve, so put myself through an apprenticeship without realising it. I basically just got on with it for years and years.” And it’s because she didn’t have anyone to show her the way or support her that Rosemary went into running cookery schools. It is also how she landed a mentoring role in the ITV series Ladette to Lady ten years ago, where she taught modern-day Eliza Doolittles to cook,

which in turn launched her TV career. So how did she end up running a cookery school in Tunbridge Wells? “Christopher Nevill [the Marquess of Abergavenny and a local property mogul] is a friend of mine, and he said ‘I think I’ve found a place for you. I’ve just bought The Corn Exhange in Tunbridge Wells’. “So I came down to see it and thought ‘it’s absolutely spot on, it will work’. It’s near the station and in a destination town, but one of the conditions of getting it was to run apprenticeships, so Kent County Council helped me a lot with that aspect, and they still do. “I had the place converted, pulled in favours and products from people and opened up four and a half years ago. “But that’s a very short version of the story!” she laughs. However, what on paper seemed like an ideal scenario: Famous chef running a revered cookery school in an historic part of an attractive and affluent spa town, was, in reality, a disaster. Rosemary soon found herself in a lot of financial difficulty, and says she stopped sleeping as she was worried about her staff being made jobless: “They are what it’s all about here and I am responsible for them. And I take that very seriously. “It was really just a bit too big to take on by myself. I had a lot of people supporting me but I had the wrong people in place advising me financially and it was a disaster.” Mark interjects: “You had no experience in this market place of teaching education skills. It was clear people were taking advantage.” “Absolutely correct,” agrees Rosemary. “My naivety and lack of experience and business acumen was one of the key things that led to the financial troubles.” She goes on to tell me that she’s ‘a tough person’ who ‘says it like it is’, but with all the monetary strains of her cookery school mounting up she soon found herself in a very bleak place. “That day when I met Mark in March 2016 I knew I couldn’t carry on any longer. It had taken everything from me – my energy, my sleep. I was looking ghastly and I felt ghastly. We were counting the days…” She told Mark he had approximately one week to save her school. “I was totally honest with him.”

‘What they do brilliantly is deliver on cooking and teaching, so why would they need to get bogged down in finance?’ Mark takes up the tale: “Rosemary said ‘I’ve got this school in Tunbridge Wells, but it’s in a bad way with an identity that’s not working, but it does have fantastic facilities.’ “Hadlow’s motto is ‘Intelligent thinking with due consideration’, and after meeting Rosemary and going through her portfolio, I thought it could work for Hadlow’s catering, hospitality and corporate fine dining branches. “I said: ‘OK, let’s do an acquisition, let’s create the new Rosemary Shrager Cookery School, as joint venture partners.’ As a brand, Rosemary is at the top of her league, and working with her is a massive opportunity for our young people.” Mark says the business had a significant amount of debts the group weren’t prepared to take on, so the company was dissolved and a new one created. “We had a clean balance sheet and put together a 12-month process map to reposition the business in terms of its branding, staffing and financial structure – the bit where Rosemary was badly advised. What the Hadlow Group does is

FEATURES

find opportunity and turn it into reality.” Rosemary is very candid: “I had no idea how complicated it all was. When I started this journey I approached West Kent College, but they shut the door twice in my face and said ‘don’t bother to do it’, and when anyone says that to me I am even more determined to do it! Never give up is what I always say, and I never do.” Essentially what all this boils down to is that Rosemary is not a businesswoman, she is a talented chef, a TV personality and a tour de force when it comes to mentoring and inspiring her students, so it’s great she now has a team on board who can handle the day-to-day running of her school, and benefit in myriad ways, too. “That’s a very good point,” says Mark. “What they do here brilliantly is deliver on cooking and teaching, so why would they need to get bogged down in finance, operations, marketing, tax and payroll?” Rosemary adds: “I think the partnership almost sounds made in heaven: We have something they want and they have something we want. I think if it was one-sided then it would fall down. I bring status and global appeal and the Hadlow Group name gets out there. It puts them on a much wider scale.” Mark is in total agreement: “The USP here is Rosemary Shrager, so this acquisition had to be solely about that.” With her business up and running once again, it’s now time to start concentrating on upping their trainee chef numbers, but also getting more people visiting the school for one-off events, team-building days or simply a group of friends learning some expert culinary skills. The business, Mark reveals, is growing at ‘about 25 per cent month on month’. They’ve set themselves a target of reaching a maximum of 100 apprenticeships with placings in establishments all over the county and the school as their main base. The partnership has also benefitted in other ways, too. “Without Rosemary’s involvement we wouldn’t have our pupils gaining work experience as runners or hair and make-up artists on film sets, like a couple did recently on The Big Family Cookery Showdown,” states Mark. “That’s what it’s all about: Getting opportunities to young people. All you need is a break in life,” smiles Rosemary.

FEATURES

Advertising Feature

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Clocking in at a new eatery After undergoing a massive refurbishment, The Clock House in Tonbridge has opened its doors to serve up a real treat. With a winning combination of clean décor, a varied tapas menu and mouthwatering cocktails, this new local haunt is certain to make an impact. Hannah Patterson met owner Daniel Ward to get a taste of what its customers can expect… The Clock House looks fantastic! Is this a complete renovation?

It was a big project, carried out over a two month period. We knew from the outset that we wanted an open kitchen to create a buzz around the theatre of the food being prepared in front of our customers. So we had to knock through one of the walls of the existing small kitchen to open it up to the restaurant. All the booth seating had to be ripped out and redone to create the large seating area we now have at the back amongst the already exposed open brickwork. We have created a real Mediterranean feel, somewhere that will be light and airy, even in the grey and gloomy English winter.

Where did the name come from? I see there are clocks everywhere…

THE RIGHT TIME Daniel has worked hard to achieve his gourmet goal

We couldn’t decide on a name for ages, and it was actually a customer who noticed the clock outside and suggested it. It worked well as our sister restaurant is called The Ivy House, so we now have The Ivy House and The Clock House.

How have you found business since opening? The first couple of weeks were crazy, but I think

that’s to be expected with any new opening – and now we are at a more stable point.

Which neatly brings me on to ask why tapas?

It was the way it all came together – and I love Spanish cuisine! We’d been looking at opening a destination pub with a 60-80 person capacity for a while, and it was pure timing that the previous owner of the premises gave his notice in April when I came to have a look around. The area is perfect as Tonbridge is such an up-and-coming area, but we knew we could make it look new and work for us. My wife Polly and I visit Spain each year, and

have always enjoyed this way of eating. I’ve been practising it for a couple of years, and now I’m loving working in the kitchen alongside our Head Chef, Rodriguez (former owner of Pulpito, Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells) who shares my passion for it.

As a lover of food, is this how you ended up in the hospitality industry?

I fell into hospitality, really, as I was working as a hotel porter while at college. Just from observing and learning, I always found my interest in the banqueting at the hotel – it didn’t take long to realise that was where my passion lay. I worked my way up through to a Banqueting Supervisor

Advertising Feature

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

and, eventually, a Banqueting Manager. Food was always a big part of my life, and hospitality is in the family. My mum and stepdad have a hotel just outside Sandwich called The Blazing Donkey, and I worked there for a while before returning here to carry on working in various different restaurants and catering roles.

Specials Board. We also offer lots of Vegetarian and Gluten free options. We try and reflect what Polly and I would consider a good night out. That’s why we focus on good quality food and wine to share, and delicious cocktails to start and end the night with.

You have a lot of cocktails on the menu – which of them is the most popular?

We are very much a family restaurant during the day. We’ve got all the necessities needed to cater for families and, being a family man myself, we love to encourage that vibe as much as we can.

The Pornstar Martini is the most popular by far, but they all sell fast during our daily Happy Hour.

What food would you eat if you were coming here as a customer?

I’d definitely have to go for the Patatas Bravas and Padron Peppers. Other than that, I’d choose the croquettes and one of our amazing paellas – they are real show stoppers! To drink, it would have to be our white Rioja – it’s delicious! If it was just a lunch meal, then I’d have to go for a pint of Estrella.

Has the tapas been as well received?

We’re keen to make sure we’re supplying what is wanted, so we are looking into slightly changing our menu soon, just by two or three dishes, to focus on what has proved to be popular. We’ve offer a wide variety from cold meats and cheeses, to the traditional dishes you would expect like gambas, calamari and paella, to our own signature dishes which appear weekly on our

What is the atmosphere like at lunchtime?

And do you have plans for hosting events? Absolutely, The Clock House Is ideal for social events as the food is perfect for sharing. We have had enquiries to hire the whole venue for weddings, parties etc, and that is something we welcome people to discuss with us. We are launching our Party Menus at the beginning of November, to be used throughout Christmas, and beyond, for any form of group booking. These menu’s will start at £18 p/head and cater for all requirements. We also offer a Take Away service as we had lots of people asking us for one. For us it is really about trying different things and seeing what works for our customers. With that in mind we are also looking to launch a Baby Cafe Monday - Friday 10am - 12 noon, where Mums can bring their young ones and enjoy coffee and cake, in a big space where the kids can run around, judgement free. Tonbridge is really lacking something like this, so watch this space!

CONTACT INFORMATION The Clock House 8 Barden Road, Tonbridge TN9 1TX T: 01732 302072 E: dantheclockhousetonbridge@ gmail.com www.theclockhousetonbridge.co.uk

FEATURES

Motoring

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

TEST DRIVE:

SsangYong Rexton WHAT IS IT? The SsangYong Rexton is a big, rugged SUV which fills the gap that’s developing at the lower end of the market. As cars like the Hyundai Santa Fe become steadily more premium – and expensive, those in need of an offroader are becoming limited to smaller, crossover-style vehicles or ferreting about in the used market. A massive step up from the old model, the latest Rexton offers genuine off-road ability, and space for seven, at a price lower than just about anything else in this sector. It’s not as accomplishe on road as some rivals, and nor does it have the badge appeal – but we suspect many buyers simply won’t care.

WHAT’S NEW? The new Rexton shares very little with the outgoing model. The engine, formerly a Mercedes unit, is now a SsangYong-developed 2.2-litre unit, while the bodywork is all-new as well. Inside is where the biggest changes can be found – it’s a world away from the old car. Where you’d previously find reams of scratchy plastic, there’s now quilted leather, real wood and softtouch materials. There’s also a

comprehensively reworked infotainment system to operate the car’s ample interior equipment.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? The Rexton only comes with one engine option, a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel. It only offers up 178bhp, which seems low for a car of this size, but 420Nm of torque makes it feel reasonably sprightly off the line, and it will cope easily with a full complement of passengers. It will also tow up to 3,500kg. Though a six-speed manual gearbox is standard fit, SsangYong expects barely any of its customers to go for this, so the seven-speed, Mercedessourced automatic will take the lion’s share of the sales. It’s relatively smooth and unobtrusive, though taking manual control isn’t as easy as it should be – rather than steering-wheel mounted paddles, there’s a switch mounted on the side of the gear selector.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? Take it out of its comfort zone on-road and you soon start to upset the handling. The Rexton is prone to understeer, and leans like a ship in hard cornering –

something that other modern SUVs have managed to phase out. The steering doesn’t help matters either – it’s overassisted and doesn’t inspire much confidence on faster roads. Keep the pace relaxed, though, and this car gives a cushioned and comfortable ride – provided you avoid the 20-inch alloy wheels.

HOW DOES IT LOOK? SsangYong has drafted in the famed Italdesign to style the Rexton, and the end result is a much more slick and cohesive effort than with the previous car. Though it’s not what you’d call pretty, the bold chrome grill is a good addition, while the rear has shades of Porsche Cayenne about it. The sides are less successful, with overly glitzy polished wheels on top-spec models and an awkward styling line over the rear arches.

SsangYong’s new Rexton has arrived in the UK. Tom Wiltshire gets the feel behind the wheel

FACTS AT A GLANCE: MODEL: SsangYong Rexton ENGINE: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel POWER: 178bhp TORQUE: 420Nm MAX SPEED: 115mph 0-60: 11.9 seconds MPG (COMBINED): 34 EMISSIONS: 218 g/Km PRICE AS TESTED: £34,000

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE? The interior is leaps and bounds ahead of any SsangYong that’s gone before. Rather than an awkward, third-party infotainment system, the brand’s own 8-inch screen (9.2-inch on higher-spec cars) is fully integrated into the centre console. It works well, as does the high-res display in between the dials, which controls driving functions on the move. Base models get cloth upholstery while mid and top-spec cars have leather, and all cars have a classy wood finish on the dash, centre console and doors. Apart from some scratchy plastic around the air vents, the internal material quality is easily on a par with offerings from Kia and Hyundai.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE? Even base-spec Rextons come with a wealth of equipment for their price. As standard, you’ll find cruise control, climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, electric mirrors and all-round parking sensors. The safety front is even better, with autonomous braking, front collision warning, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and a whole suite of off-road aids all thrown in. The options list is limited to just paint and a tow bar, so you’ll have to stick to the three generously-equipped trim levels if there’s a certain bit of kit you’re after.

VERDICT SsangYong is not expecting to convert Range Rover buyers over to the brand with this new model, but for the first time it has a chance of being considered on its own merits rather than simply out of necessity. It’s more rugged and utilitarian than anything you’d find at this price point, but makes a decent fist of budget luxury at the same time. If you don’t mind the slightly agricultural driving manners, the Rexton could be the SUV for you.

‘A massive step up from the old model, it offers genuine off-road ability, and space for seven, at a low price’

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

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Advertising Feature

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

That also means we try various types of tiles that are made in different ways in different countries.

Which of your tile types is the most popular?

Polished Porcelain Jubilee tiles have been with us since the first days of Tiles DIY, and they’re a great product with regard to the price and quality ratio. Wood-effect porcelain tiles are really popular at the minute as they offer such a stylish durability. When installed with underfloor heating, they will instantly make any room your favourite! Overall, porcelain tiles are probably the best to look for. They offer a far nicer finish in comparison to ceramic tiles and are undoubtedly more durable. Also, glazed porcelain tiles do not require sealing, so if you’re looking for low maintenance, they are the way to go.

Is maintenance and aftercare a big part of what you do?

They are very important, but vary from tile to tile. It depends a lot on which tile you’re buying and where the tile is going in your property. If you pop in and speak to a member of staff, we can always advise you, give you the best maintenance tips and assist with aftercare. We have an extensive range of maintenance products, and we’re always happy to help you pick out the right product for you.

YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP Both in store and online, says Jamie Smart (right)

When it comes to tiles, we’ve got it covered!

How would you advise someone looking to brighten a small area when choosing tiles?

Gloss finish tiles are a really good way to brighten up a smaller living area. They reflect a lot of light, which helps to make any room seem that bit bigger. For a really stylish look, we sometimes get people opting for the contrast of lighter walls with a darker floor. You can also choose different colours of grout, which helps, as we have a variety of samples in store for people to try out.

Ultimately, we’re a customer-orientated tile company, and that’s what sets us apart. We sell bathroom, kitchen, wall and floor tiles in a variety of styles – we’re your one-stop shop whether you want a natural stone look or mosaics. We really pride ourselves on our customer service. Many of our stores are next to other tile shops, but we still find people will come to us when they realise the extra level of service and customer care we provide. We’ve always had great feedback, and that’s something we’re really proud of.

Our in-store displays are great for seeing examples of tips and tricks, such as making rooms appear brighter and bigger.

Have you observed an increase in underfloor heating in the lead-up to winter time?

Yes, it’s definitely becoming more popular now that we are in winter. Tiles can get very cold throughout this time of year and can become uncomfortable without the addition of underfloor heating. The use of the heating can change it in a matter of minutes! We’re actually doing special offers on underfloor heating at the moment for that very reason.

Are there any other deals you would specifically recommend?

We do such a range of offers that are always changing – if you visit us online or in store, you are bound to find some kind of deal to suit your needs. One offer that we are particularly proud of is our price guarantee scheme. If you can find a genuine quote elsewhere, we can guarantee to beat it by 10 per cent. We’re very confident in our prices and, equally, we value our customers so much we want to make sure we provide the best offer they can find. Customer service is paramount with us – we always put customer satisfaction first. We have received positive reviews on both our webpage and social media as a result of this. That’s the secret to a successful business, really – putting the customer at the centre of everything! For more details, visit www.tilesdiy.com

What are some of the mistakes to avoid when sourcing tiles and tiling?

I’d say one of the most common mistakes when purchasing tiles is not taking a sample home. The colour of a tile varies in different lights, so it’s essential to check it at home before investing – we always offer a free of charge sample service to all customers for this very reason! On top of that, we also have a wider choice of tiles than most as we source worldwide and have access to different price levels in a way that means we can suit every customer’s budget.

‘The colour of a tile varies in different lights so it’s essential to check it at home before investing’

One of Tiles DIY’s six stores is in Tunbridge Wells, located in the Stag Trade Park off Longfield Road. Store Manager, Jamie Smart tells us how the company prides itself on its great choice, value and service Tell us a little about who you are…

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MEET THE TEAM Jamie with his in-store staff

FEATURES

Spa Advertorial

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Time to unwind With National Spa Week approaching, the UK Spa Association are working to raise public awareness of the physical, mental and emotional benefits of regular spa attendance. With the fast paced lives of the 21st century, spa attendance is as necessary for some as a gym membership. Stress is an unavoidable reality in our modern lives and it is advised, by the UK Spa Association, to regularly attend a spa or salon to invest in quality relaxation treatments that help combat the damaging effects of stress. As of Monday 30, thousands of spas and salons across the UK will be offering introductory offers and promotions to encourage you to indulge yourself and give your wellbeing a well-needed boost as we head into the colder months. We’ve rounded up some of the best local spas and found out about some of their most popular services and offers…

Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa, East Grinstead Prepare to relax and unwind as you set foot in the Grecian inspired interiors of The Utopia Spa. The luxurious spa days are tailor made to suit guests’ ever need. On arrival, guests will receive their programme for the day that outlines their treatment times and dining experience. Guests then have access to the award-winning facilities which include pools, steam rooms, monsoon showers, outdoor hot tub, barrel sauna and relaxation room. The outdoor Zen garden at Utopia Spa is truly a unique experience – you can splurge on a private hot tub for two and even add a glass of fizz to celebrate a special occasion. Between treatments, guests may also wish to take part in exercise classes and make use of the gym. All spa days include the option of a mouth-watering two course lunch or an indulgent afternoon tea, leaving guests with their every need taken care of. Choose from a Half Spa Day for a quick pick me up or opt for a Signature Spa Day for a slice of opulence. The Utopia Spa offers a wide variety of treatments – from winter scrubs to revitalising facials and relaxing massages. At Alexander House Hotel and Utopia Spa, every effort will be made to find the perfect treatment for you. www.alexanderhotels.co.uk/ alexander-house-luxury-hotel-sussex

Spa Advertorial

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

FEATURES

Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa, Wilmington Set across two floors, the Roman inspired Utopia Spa offers exceptional facilities including pools, bubble tubs, saunas, steam rooms and monsoon showers, as well as a nail spa, hair salon and relaxation lounge where guests can enjoy complete tranquillity in a cocoon of comfort. Each spa day is carefully designed to allow every guest the ultimate Utopia experience. The Twilight Spa is perfect for those short on time to unwind and leave the stresses of the day behind them, while our Tailor Made spa days allow for complete indulgence with up to £260 worth of spa credit for those looking to personalise their experience and select their own treatments for their day. Guests can choose from a wide variety of treatments such an invigorating

body therapies, luxurious facials and relaxing massages. All of our spa days include the option of a mouth-watering two course lunch or an indulgent afternoon tea, leaving guests with their every need taken care of. www.alexanderhotels.co.uk/ rowhill-grange-luxury-hotel-kent

The Spa Hotel, Tunbridge Wells The Spa Hotel offers the very highest standards in luxurious and relaxing spa experiences, with an extensive menu of professional ESPA, Aromatherapy Associates, Shellac, Guinot and signature treatments. The experienced therapists have seen first-hand how essential oils have effectively enhanced the state of the people’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Indulging in a trip to the spa removes you from the stresses of day to day life, so that you can slow down, de-stress and have some time to yourself. A number of massages are also proven to soothe aches, pains and chronic muscle tension. One of

the most luxurious treatments available is The Ultimate Aromatherapy Experience, otherwise known as the ‘Hero Treatment’ – it includes 90 minutes of intense massage from head to toe, with one of 12 signature oils chosen specifically to suit your emotional and physical needs. The Pure Massage treatments are on the more affordable side of things – ranging from £20 to £58, so there’s something to suit any budget. There are 12 spa packages in total, ranging in prices and including overnight accommodation. All of the packages include use of the pool, sauna, steam room and gymnasiums as well at least one spa treatment and lunch, afternoon tea or a glass of bubbly. www.spahotel.co.uk

Life & Style

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

FEATURES

FUNUSUAL GIFTS IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The festive season is rapidly approaching, and the time to find that perfect present is running out. Take a breath before you go completely crackers, because Drusillas Park in East Sussex has the solution to all of your shopping woes! Ideal for any gift occasion, Drusillas’ Keeper for the Day scheme is a unique treat for anyone who is mad about animals. Working side by side with one of the zoo team for a whole day, you can get nose to nose with nature as you feed, clean and care for a variety of furry and feathered friends.

PIZZA GOGO A dream became a reality in 1987, with the birth of Pizza GoGo. Since then, the company has expanded rapidly with over 100 branches.

For a shorter and sweeter look into zoo life, Drusilla’s’ Close Encounter experiences provide an amazing opportunity to meet some of the zoo’s most popular residents. You can have a picnic with a panda, take lunch with the lemurs, meet the meerkats, sip tea with the racoons, or even feed the penguins. For those who are feeling brave there is also the chance to snuggle up to a snake and tickle a tarantula!

They have been one of the UK’s leading take-away and delivery companies and decided to introduced the concept of FREE delivery to the business! Located at 141 Camden Road, their free delivery makes it an easy and a highly attractive option for customers. Fantastic offers are available every day, seven days a week and Pizza GoGo are serving high quality pizzas with fresh dough, made on site, from 11.30am till late.

Alternatively, the annual adoption scheme allows children to learn about the importance of animal welfare, without all the costs and responsibilities associated with owning a pet. Nearly all of the animals at the zoo are available for adoption and the income generated helps support the zoo’s ongoing animal care and conservation programmes. Adopters receive a photo, a certificate signed by a Zoo Director, a plaque on or near the animal’s enclosure and a complimentary ticket to visit the new member of the family.

01892 677715 www.pizzagogo.co.uk

Still not sure what to get? For all year around enjoyment, Drusillas Club Membership may be just the ticket. This offers access to the Zoo, Playland and rides for 362 days of the year. Gift Vouchers can also be purchased and redeemed against any one of the Drusillas Park experiences.

Located just off the A27 in Alfriston, Drusillas Park is open daily from 10am. For more information, please telephone 01323 874100 or visit www.drusillas.co.uk

SUSAN FYNES SHARING FAMILY WEALTH WHIreland Wealth Management are hosting a ‘Sharing Family Wealth’ seminar at the Spa Hotel on Thursday November 9th for those who are interested in learning more about effectively planning for the succession of your wealth to your family. Over the coming years, more and more wealth will be passed down through the generations, yet recent reports suggest that as many as 50% of families don’t discuss how and when this may happen for them. There are many complications around this topic which is perhaps the reason why many shy away from effective planning. Tax is one of the biggest concerns for passing on family wealth and many are not aware of the main taxes, and the reliefs available. There are many solutions available to assist with this and WHIreland work with a wide range of professional advisors as well as private individuals to deliver wealth planning and investment management solutions to a diverse range of clients.

To attend the seminar, visit www.whirelandplc.com/ sharingfamilywealth

Susan Fynes, a systems based artist who creates visual representations of the connection between thought and action, has launched new website www.susanfynes.com in which she is selling limited edition giclée print of her work. Having exhibited in New York, London and across the UK, including a solo show, her work has been collected by film producers, corporate art buyers and individuals. Based in Tunbridge Wells, Susan graduated with a BA in Fine Art from the University of Greenwich and a Masters from the University of Brighton. Having studied closely the psychology of what motivated humans to act, she creates arresting, soothing, vibrant and spiritual pieces that are based on a code she translates to canvas – using colour as the new language and hand drawing each piece of the code to create a highly geometric statement of colour, language and movement. Her paintings make a real statement in a home or the foyer of a hotel or office. Originals are also available, and she takes commissions.

Contact hello@susanfynes.com or 07775 737186

FEATURES

Gardening

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

WINTER GARDENING TIPS

Victoria Truman

Garden designe designer

Our gardening expert explains how to keep your garden smelling sweet this winter www.victoriatruman.com

Some of my favourites are:

 Rake leaves and make leaf

mold or compost

good to do this to ensure you get to use your garden in the warmer months, because if it’s being landscaped you definitely won’t be able to use your outdoor space. It’s unlikely you’ll be sitting outside in the sun that much in late autumn and through into winter, so it’s the perfect time to begin a redesign. It’s also much better to move and relocate plants and shrubs over the winter when they aren’t growing or flowering. You probably won’t want to keep every single plant, but it’s much kinder to those that you really do want to keep to be dug up and moved around in the colder months.

garden tools  Finish cutting back perennials

that have died down  Start forcing bulbs like

paper whites, hyacinth and amaryllis ready for Christmas. Add organic matter to beds  Cover compost so that rain

doesn’t flood and leach the nutrients  Keep weeding  Lightly prune roses while

they’re dormant  Plant bare root shrubs, trees

and roses

Viburnum

Witch hazel

 Viburnum x bodnantense  Sweet box (Sarcococca confusa)  Witch hazel (Hamamelis × intermedia)  Winter daphne (Daphne odora)  Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima)  Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox)

Winter daphne

 Clean, sharpen and oil

Seasonal scents S TART thinking about shrubs that smell sweetly during the winter months. Plants that flower in winter are always a joy. They’re often beautifully scented and attract any insects that brave the winter cold. Choose the right location for these plants. To get the full benefit of winter-scented plants, it’s a good idea to place them somewhere near the house, for example, next to the front door or at the edge of a path, so that you can appreciate their fragrance each time you pass. Start planning a garden redesign in the winter so you can enjoy your garden in the summer. It’s

NOVEMBER TIPS

Winter honeysuckle

Gardening

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

How to protect your tender plants from winter frosts

Lift plants Dig up tubers and rhizomes of tender plants like cannas and dahlias once the foliage has been blackened by the first frost. Cut them down to within 5cm (2in) of the base and dig them up with a fork, taking care to avoid damaging the rhizomes, remove all loose soil and dry them off before storing them in boxes of dry sand or soil in a cool, frost-free place like a shed (for dahlias) or a greenhouse or conservatory (for cannas). If you live in a mild area, you may get away with just a thick mulch, such as straw or compost, around the roots. If you can provide shelter for dahlias or cannas grown in containers, bring them under a porch or into an unheated greenhouse.

SO, WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU BE TAKING? Wrap them up Use horticultural fleece, hessian or bubble wrap to wrap around permanent plants in pots. You need to stop the roots from freezing, which could ultimately kill the plant. If you have lots of pots, huddle them together near a house wall, where it will be slightly warmer. They will insulate each other and you can use one large length of material to protect all the plants. Tie the covering round them securely so it doesn’t blow off in winter.

As the weather cools down, plants will need covering, bulbs will need lifting or mulching and extra winter protection needs to be given to tender specimens which will have to be brought indoors if they are to survive the coldest months

Next time you’re planting a tender permanent specimen in a frost-resistant container, line the inside wall of the pot with bubble wrap to save you having to do it in the autumn. Plants in borders which can’t easily be moved, such as tree ferns, should be wrapped in horticultural fleece, from the base of the trunk upwards. The leaves of tree ferns and other tender plants such as cordylines should be tied upright, packed with straw and covered with horticultural fleece, plus a layer of mulch should be laid over the root area.

Move them indoors Many tender plants, such as geraniums, begonias and half hardy fuchsias, will need to be brought under cover before the first frosts. Put them in a frost-free greenhouse or garden shed to give them the best chance.

Follow our tips, from using bubble wrap and fleece to building a wigwam-style frame…

‘Leep old curtains to hand to cover borderline hardy plants overnight’

FEATURES

Make a frame Small tender shrubs can be protected with makeshift frames made from chicken wire or a wigwam made from bamboo canes packed with straw and then covered in netting. In wet weather, you may need to temporarily cover them with clear polythene to stop them rotting. If frost is forecast, keep a pair of old curtains to hand to cover borderline hardy plants overnight to prevent damage.

Puzzles

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU 5

T R

A B C D E F G H I J K L MNO P Q R S T U VWX Y Z 25

21 13

25 14

T T

7 25

8 1

2 25

14 6

25 5

5 4

4 8 9 2

9 3 6 2 5

4 2

25 4

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.

5 7

3 6

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

3 12

Codeword:

10 22

18 25

4 3

3 11

26 12

3 7

17 6

2 5

8 1 3

6 5 7

2 3 1 2 1

6 5

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 N Q U I L

O A D B O G L F U GM E N T R V U O T A J E N V Y T O R O K S U R E T Y O N X W I G H T G E E R E NO R M A L L

Jigsaw Sudoku:

Sudoku:

4 3 6 9 2 7 1 8 5

2 1 5 8 6 3 4 7 9

8 9 7 1 5 4 2 6 3

T H E R E D A E I Z U L U S E C E U L I A N S S A H E A T O A P E N A L A W I ON D O L A G M R Y P I N T

1 5 9 7 8 2 6 3 4

7 4 3 6 1 5 9 2 8

6 8 2 3 4 9 7 5 1

9 6 4 2 3 8 5 1 7

3 7 1 5 9 6 8 4 2

5 2 8 4 7 1 3 9 6

1 2 9 4 7 5 3 8 6

5 1 2 6 8 9 4 7 3

7 6 1 2 9 3 5 4 8

6 5 3 8 2 7 9 1 4

3 8 4 1 5 2 7 6 9

9 4 6 5 1 8 2 3 7

8 9 7 3 4 6 1 2 5

2 7 8 9 3 4 6 5 1

4 3 5 7 6 1 8 9 2

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★III

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★I

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

CODEWORD

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NEWS

Recruitment

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

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

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Recruitment

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Fill your vacancy now in print or online For more information contact Jordanne Reville on 01892 576 049 jreville@markerstudy.com

NEWS

FEATURES

Arts & Culture

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

Escape to the country and find an art ‘town’ The Art Farm is a local group of passionate and talented artists who operate their studio out of a farm called Town Court in Tunbridge Wells. Ahead of their Tinsel ’N’ Treat Art Fair this weekend, Eileen Leahy caught up with member Lucy Ames to hear how the group got together MIXING IT UP Lucy at work in her studio

Can you tell us a little bit of the history behind The Art Farm creative collective? In 2016 Neal Scrase, of Neal Scrase Fine Art Services, began the process of converting outbuildings at Town Court Farm in Tunbridge Wells to rent them out as studio space to artists. I, along with others, including Mike Flight, Vanessa Fletcher, Anna-Marie Buss, Stephanie Hymas, Karen Summers and Matthew Grant, have rented a shared studio space at the farm ever since. Did you all know each other? Many of us did courtesy of Creatives @ Tunbridge Wells, a networking group who run a gallery in Ely Court. However, The Art Farm is separate and unique. Town Court Farm is in an inspiring rural setting, and its facilities allow artists to rent studio space at a reasonable price in which they can truly be as messy as they like in order to be creative! It sounds a little bit like the famous Bloomsbury Group set up… Yes! We aim to be a Charleston Farmhouse for the modern day, with all the benefits of sharing the

READY FOR ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR (L-R) Sue Davis, Lucy Ames, Pauline Alexander, Mike Flight (looking skeletal), AnnaMarie Buss, Meikie Knappert, Neal Scrase and Claudia Wiegand (dogs Oz & Monty) same space, combining ideas, gaining motivation and inspiration from the collective unit and generating joint exhibition opportunities – but without the Charleston set relationship problems! Do you all have specific roles? None of the artists have specific roles at the farm yet, other than Neal, who manages the relationship with the farmer, and develops and maintains the artist studios as well as providing fine art printing services to the group (and unofficial mentoring!)

Is there a criteria to joining The Art Farm? Our members are those who share the studio space or have shared it at any time, and those who have exhibited with the group at Art Farm events. It’s a growing and eclectic circle… How do you go about recruiting potential new members? It’s organic, we have simply grown as the space has expanded. We now have a glass artist called Claudia Wiegand, and two recently joined – painters Sue Davis and Miranda Hicks.

Arts & Culture

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

They join a number of other resident artists who work in many different mediums, including oils, acrylics, collage and sculpture. How often does The Art Farm hold exhibitions? This year we have taken part in South East Open Studios and are hosting an art fair titled Tinsel ’N’ Treat this coming weekend. We are currently planning for our Open Studios 2018 event as well as other seasonal weekend events. It’s an exciting place to visit thanks to the diversity of its people and their crafts. Any memorable shows to date? We launched the open studios week with a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, during which the artists served tea, coffee, soft drinks and yummy cakes while dressed up as characters such as Alice, the Mad Hatter (on stilts!) and the White Rabbit. It was so much fun, and the visitors joined in with the sunny mood it created, as well as helping us to raise funds for the Hospice in the Weald.

Working his magic… Magician Adam Smith has performed for the likes of Kate Moss and Rio Ferdinand. With a show at Salomons on Saturday, he reveals how he got hooked by the world of illusion… I’ve been a magician for 15 years, which includes my first two years of training with one of the top magicians in the Magic Circle. Initially, I was a civil engineer. But I decided to change careers after a work colleague showed me a trick and I was instantly hooked. Like all magicians I did my training at the Magic Circle. People think it’s very secretive and I suppose it is to an extent, but as a fellow magician once said, the Magic Circle’s real trick has been to make people believe it is so clandestine! My favourite tricks are sleight of hand

card tricks. One time I was performing in a local bar and after 20 minutes a gentleman said they must be trick cards, so he went and bought a pack and came back asking me do them again with those. I did, and he said: “Damn I just wasted £1.50!” I have also been fortunate enough to be invited along to quite a few celebrity parties. I was at Kate Moss’s wedding doing tricks and have also done them for Rio Ferdinand, Didier Drogba, Jude Law and Jack Whitehall. I’m also just about to start touring my new stage show with the amazing Sam

Going back to his musical roots

What are the collective’s artistic goals? The Art Farm aims to be a centre from which local artists can continue to come together and promote the creation of fine, handcrafted artisan products by local people. Over time, we hope it will be possible to extend The Art Farm into the provision of art classes, and have a gallery on site, but above all we want to remain as a base which brings like-minded artists together. The Art Farm’s Tinsel ’N’ Treat fair is on from October 28-29 at Town Court Farm, Bayham Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5HU from 11am until 4pm. Entrance is free.

FEATURES

Local musician and Times music correspondent Paul Dunton returns to Trinity Theatre on Saturday for another of his orchestral concerts. He tells us what he has in store for his fans this time…

Jones from Britain’s Got Talent. I’d count Derren Brown and the late Paul Daniels as inspirations, but my ultimate hero when it comes to traditional card tricks is a gentlemen called Lennart Green – a true card manipulator and someone I try to emulate. The Paul Dunton Orchestra is provides an atmospheric fusion of alternative and pop with a classical twist. We always enjoy playing at Trinity Theatre, and when we perform there on Saturday we will be showcasing tracks from our forthcoming album ‘Clearly Invisible’, as well as a varied selection of uniquely arranged standards from a wide range of artists. Our line-up consists of me, eight violinists, four cellists, a flautist, bassist, percussionist and two lead vocalists, Charlotte Andrew and Poppy Raine. We’ve had a busy schedule over the past few years, including a tour to Wiesbaden in Germany and an eightstate tour of the USA which culminated

The Smith and Jones Show is on October 28 at Salomons. Buy tickets at AJ Magic in Southborough or call 07469 241313. For more on Adam, visit www.adams-magic.co.uk

in a spectacular roof-top performance at the New York Strand Hotel. The album’s been a long time coming, and I really hope people will enjoy it. There are lots of new songs and some revamped older ones, and it’s a big progression for our sound and style. We have the incredible James Kirby opening for us. He’s regarded as one of the best live solo artists around. His sound reminds me of artists such as Paolo Nutini, Newton Falkner and John Mayer. In short, James is a class act. The Paul Dunton Orchestra & James Kirby play Trinity Theatre on October 28 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 on the door or from www.trinitytheatre.net

FEATURES

What’s On

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON WITH THE

Eileen Leahy Local events

FACE-OFF Design your own horror masks at Trinity

>> WEDNESDAY It’s half term week and there’s plenty of action and adventure to get your little ones stuck into. Over at Hever Castle, visitors will have the opportunity to meet scary characters like Vicious Vampire in the Creepy Crypt and hear terrifying tales of goblins, trolls and witches along the eerie Halloween trail. Children will also have the chance to decorate cupcakes and a prize will be awarded for the best creepy costume. For details, see www.hevercastle.co.uk If you’re planning upcoming nuptials, then make sure you visit One Warwick Park’s Wedding Showcase today. This is a must-do for any soon-to-bebride and groom, as they will have the opportunity to tour around the hotel’s superb function facilities, and meet their florist, venue dresser, stylists and caterers after enjoying canapés and a welcome drink. Register your interest today by emailing: info@onewarwickpark.co.uk There are plenty of engaging activities going on over half-term HEVER AT HALLOWEEN A particularly spooky time to visit Anne Boleyn’s castle home

at Grosvenor and Hilbert Park. Today, you and your family can enjoy a Mug Painting session from 2pm-5pm. Suitable for all ages, £2 is the suggested donation towards mug and materials. To book your place, email: steff.dagorne@ tunbridgewells.gov.uk Also, don’t miss the park’s Families in the Forest event on from 11am-3pm on Friday as well as their Halloween Party from 2pm-4pm on Saturday. >> THURSDAY CBeebies favourite Mister Maker comes to the Assembly Hall today. The popular creative crafter will host two performances at 1.30pm and 4pm and tickets cost £11 for children and £14.50 for adults. For more details and to book, go to www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Enjoy the magic of Chiddingstone Castle’s Wizardry which runs School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, every day until Saturday. Discover how to fly a broomstick, make potions, cast spells and much more – all with the help of a troupe of theatrical performers. Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards. For more information, see www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk Trinity Theatre screens a live transmission of Carmen this evening from 7pm. Bizet’s classic

If you would like to see your events featured in our weekly What’s On pages, please email eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

opera of love and loss is beamed live from a stunning location on Lake Constance in Bregenz, Austria. Tickets cost £19 and can be booked via www.trinitytheatre.net If you want a good laugh, then head to Vittle & Swig on Camden Road, where there will be another of their popular Comedy Nights. This month, Noel James headlines with support from Harriet Kemsley and newcomer Janet Garner. Compered by Russell Hicks, the comic action kicks off at 8.30pm and tickets cost £10 per person. >> FRIDAY Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve is playing host to a Spooky Forest Skills session today from 11.30am. You’ll have the opportunity to create a spider’s web and wizards’ and witches’ brooms – all out of natural materials. You can also follow the creepy trail outside on the reserve to learn some gruesome wildlife facts. Tickets cost £7 and booking online is advisable as places are limited. Visit www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk From tonight until November 2, you can catch a screening of the hugely popular LEGO Ninjago Movie at the Moonlight Drive-in Cinema at the Hop Farm. On every night at 7pm, it’s the perfect way to finish your half-term fun. Tickets cost £25 per vehicle and can be ordered via www.moonlightcinema.com >> SATURDAY Trinity puts on its Design Horror Masks workshop from 10am until 4pm today. It’s a chance for young artists to fashion some frightening faces for a terrifying Halloween costume, or to simply hone their creative skills. Suitable for 7 to 13 year olds, tickets cost £40, or £35 for Trinity Youth Theatre members. To book, call 01892 678678 or go to www.trinitytheatre.net The Vintage Fair comes to King Charles the Martyr Church Hall again today and will be full of amazing vintage fashion specialists as well as salvaged homeware, retro records and costume jewellery traders. There will also be a DJ playing Northern Soul and Motown all day, and refreshments will be available in the courtyard. Entrance costs £1. Under-16s go free. Head over to Bewl Water later today for a fun Halloween Disco. There will be two sessions, one

from 2pm-4pm for younger tots aged 4-9, and another two-hour session at 5.30pm for those aged 9 years plus. Children are encouraged to come along in fancy dress and will be treated to tricks and treats galore. Tickets cost £15 per child, which includes food and a spooky gift. To book in advance, email: info@bewlwater.co.uk Rusthall will also be hosting their own torchlight procession and bonfire event tonight from 7pm. >> SUNDAY The stunning stately home and grounds of Penshurst Place is also hosting a week of fiendish fun, which includes a Halloween Garden Trail where you can stop en route to hear spooky tales before moving on to create some creepy crafts. The trails run from 10.30am until 5pm, with the craft activities on from noon until 4pm. Activities are free and included in the standard grounds admission price. For further information, visit www.penshurstplace.com/whats-on/events-andactivities The UK’s longest and highest tree-top walkway is still open at Groombridge Place. Measuring 350m in length, and standing at over 20m above the forest floor, it’s guaranteed to provide a thrilling day out for keen explorers – both young and old.

PICK OF THE WEEK Nightwatch King John’s Nursery Saturday October 28 6pm King John’s Nursery on Sheepstreet Lane in Etchingham will be collaborating with the Wadhurst Astronomers and Sussex Wildlife Trust to bring you an evening of stargazing and storytelling. The latter is led by Andreas Kornevall, author of Lost and Forgotten Stars of Norse Mythology. To book this nocturnal adventure for all the family, call 01580 819 220. Tickets cost £12.50 for adults and £7.50 for children. A hot supper, wine and hot drinks will be available. www.kingjohnsnursery.co.uk

What’s On

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

PLAN YOUR PERFECT DAY At One Warwick Park’s Wedding Showcase

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton Live music Flawless Carbon

The walkway costs an additional £5 per person on top of the usual entrance fee. While there, you can also experience the venue’s special ‘spooktacular’ fun! For more information, visit www.groombridgeplace.com >> MONDAY The new Hayward exhibition of screen prints by Eduardo Paolozzi has now arrived at the Tunbridge Wells Museum as part of a national tour. Sir Eduardo Paolozzi (1924-2005) was one of the pioneers of the pop art movement in the UK. Next time you’re in town, drop in to see his groundbreaking work. >> TUESDAY Although most of the Halloween fun will have taken place at the weekend, Hever Castle will be offering visitors a special spooky Dine and Stay in its beautiful five star bed & breakfast establishment, which adjoins the castle. Guests will have an eerie private tour with TV’s Most Haunted star Ciarán O’Keeffe before enjoying a devilish dinner. Tickets cost £200 per person based on two people sharing a Deluxe Room. The price includes access to the castle and gardens from midday on Tuesday, overnight accommodation, a welcome drink, Ciarán’s private guided tour and a three-course meal. A nonresidential package is also available at £95.

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

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM Event information at www.twforum.co.uk

THURSDAY Louis Berry and The Gallerys FRIDAY The Smyths (Sold Out) SATURDAY The Sussex Music Festival: Road to Rock, Hercules Morse, Ichiro, Echoes In Red and Juxta

THE GEORGE 29 Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm till late

THE SUSSEX ARMS (basement venue), Sussex Mews Open all day, music charge may apply music from 8.30pm onwards. For further information, visit www.twforum.co.uk

SUNDAY Turbowolf and Vodun

SATURDAY Otherkin TUESDAY Fish Head, Faded Shades and Jellyfish

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE Crescent Road, tickets and event information at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

THE PUNCH & JUDY 11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm onwards

THE BEDFORD 2 High Street, open all day, free entry, more information at www.thebedfordtw.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Aid Lewis, Paul Monham, Rosie Pennie and Flawless Carbon FRIDAY Interstellar Soul Band SUNDAY The Secret Crowd, Red, Green & Blue and Ant & Fie TUESDAY Paul Jackson, Ellie Wade, Chasing Shadows and Si Connelly

MONDAY TWUNTS – Ukulele Night

WEDNESDAY Kate Rusby SATURDAY Joe Brown SUNDAY King of Pop (Michael Jackson Tribute)

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles, doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk, www.thegreylady.co.uk

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY The Vault Cellar Sessions THURSDAY Jemma & Paul SATURDAY Sean Fennessey & Friends SUNDAY Acoustic Atlas THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

FRIDAY Soul Night SATURDAY Grosvenor Road THE KING WILLIAM IV Pembury, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm onwards

SATURDAY Jason Lines THE SPA HOTEL Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm onwards, booking recommended on 01892 520 331

FRIDAY Live Jazz: The Violet Jive

TUESDAY The Tuesday Night ‘Halloween’ Specials

James Kirby

NEWS

Sporting Times

Please send your sports stories to newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Wells have wind in their sails despite going down to 13 men Tunbridge Wells 31 Westcombe Park 15

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

RUGBY: STORM Brian did his best to upset the first competitive meeting in 15 years between these two old Kent rivals in the London & South East Premier League. The home side kicked off with a strong south-easterly at their backs and soon had the advantage of an extra man as referee Matt Astle yellowcarded Charlie O’Sullivan for holding a player back. There was a second yellow card 12 minutes in, and the game stayed lively.

Wells dominated the first quarter but then the visitors gained the ascendancy. Dave Allen and man of the match Hayden Pengelly resisted several strong attacks. But on 32 minutes a clever lineout saw Ryan Hackett cross in the corner, though the conversion into the wind was impossible. By half-time Wells were 12-5 ahead. On 48 minutes, Combe scrum half Miki Zanirato slotted home a fine 45-metre penalty. But Wells responded with a cracking Pengelly turnover which brought a penalty that Reynolds sent into the corner after the visitors were marched back ten metres for dissent. Chaz Spence switched the ball to the blindside and Nick Doherty cleverly twisted and stretched over the line to score on 53 minutes. By 57 minutes, the lead had stretched to 24-8.But thanks to another yellow card and an injury, Wells had to go down to 13 players.

FULL STRETCH Nick Doherty reaches for the line The game moved to uncontested scrums and on 69 minutes it was no surprise when Combe scored a second try. Then full-back Ryan Taylor-Dennehy took a touchline conversion and drew the ball into the wind and between the posts. Combe still had time to mount several attacks but Wells’ game management was proving superior. This was an impressive Wells display and they now find themselves in sixth place in the league, but the challenges keep coming at this level. On Saturday they entertain an in-form Hertford squad, who are two places above them in fourth [kick-off 3pm].

SMART SPONSORS TEK Group and Sitsmart have become a main sponsor for Tunbridge Wells rugby, with the latter putting their name to the First XV shirts and the former on second team kit. The local business manufactures seating for the military as well as trucks, buses and boats, agriculture and the construction industry. Chief Executive Paul Fleming said: “We’re proud to be supporting the club as they ascend the table in their first campaign at such a high level.”

Ruthless Cinderford show title credentials Tonbridge Juddians 15 Cinderford 33

By Adam Hookway

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

RUGBY:

ONE FINAL HEAVE TJs push hard at the Cinderford line

Allberry hat-trick as Wells rout Trojans with clinical display Tunbridge Wells Men’s 1st XI 7 Trojans 1 By Francis Bridgeman

By Graham Withers

Attacks

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

CINDERFORD arrived at The Slade intent on bashing down the TJ defences, and they succeeded with a victory that keeps their title challenge on track. TJs had the swirling wind at their backs for the first half and territory came quite naturally. So, too, did a Charlie Edwards opening try after some good close quarter phase play and a snipe. Liam Prescott added a penalty five minutes later and TJs were 8-0 up. However, the wind was not always dominant, and Cinderford managed two converted tries to go in at the interval 8-14 up. TJs knew they would be under the cosh in the second half, but they rose to the challenge for long periods with stout defence and excellent attitude.

Yet Cinderford carved out the openings to extend their lead further to 33-8 with the try bonus point secured with 20 minutes to go. Two successive yellow cards for TJs was not a game changer but they were bitter pills to swallow in the face of Storm Brian and a strong opposition. TJs rallied with line breaks from deep by Matt Betty and Hugo Watson whilst George Lawson was injecting pace and effort on the right wing. The home side managed one last effort, with Will Colderick crashing over after TJs had got a foothold in Cinders’ territory. Nathan Holmes slotted the conversion but time was up and TJs ended up without any points. TJs remain in 11th place in National Two South and now travel to Worthing, who are one place below them on Saturday [October 28], kick-off 3pm.

HOCKEY: SITTING on top of South Premier League Division Two, Tunbridge Wells started brightly with Trojans unable to make any inroads into the Wells’ half thanks to the relentless press. Good work from Sam George and Ben Allberry forced the Trojans keeper to parry a shot out to Ben Brandt, who controlled the bobbling ball and slotted the rebound to give Wells the lead. From there the home side never looked back. Allberry netted a second and added to his tally shortly before half-time. The score climbed to 5-0 when Allberry’s shot was blocked on the line by a Trojan foot, and he duly completed his hat-trick with the penalty stroke. Trojans did pull one back, but this seemed to re-energise the home side and George rounded off a fabulous solo effort with a reverse-stick finish into the bottom corner. Then Brandt netted his second. It was a comprehensive win and powerful performance from Wells that ensures they remain top of the league with no points dropped so far. They now play Bournemouth at Tonbridge School on Saturday [October 28], 1pm start.

Polished finishing sees Wells return to winning ways Tunbridge Wells Ladies’ 1st XI 4 Bishops Stortford 1 By Francis Bridgeman HOCKEY: THE Ladies got back to winning ways with an excellent performance against Bishops Stortford in East Region Division One South. Annie Wilson gave the hosts an early lead with a neatly placed effort into the far left corner of the goal. Soon after, Amy Hare and Wilson combined to put Nelia Bekker through on goal and she flicked the ball into the net in composed fashion. The scoring continued after the break with Hare adding a third from a short corner rebound and skipper Jen Hunt making it four in similar fashion. Finally, the visitors raised the standard of their play, pulling a goal back midway through the second half. The scoreline reflected a combination of Wells’ dominance and some polished finishing to ensure that chances were converted. The result sees Wells move back up to sixth place in the league, overtaking Bishops Stortford. Now they face a trip to Old Loughtonians on Saturday [October 28], 1pm start.

Sporting Times

PHOTO: David Couldridge

Wednesday October 25 | 2017

STAND AND WATCH Joe Turner’s corner hits the post

McKimm’s fury at Angels for second-half ‘disgrace’ Tonbridge Angels 1 Tooting & Mitcham 2 By James Rowe FOOTBALL:

TONBRIDGE ANGELS came down from the high of their impressive victory over Leiston midweek with a poor second-half showing against

a Tooting & Mitcham side who chalked up a third consecutive win in the Bostik League Premier Division. The early pressure came from the home side and was rewarded after 11 minutes, when Joe Turner’s pile-driver from 25 yards gave Tooting keeper

Angels Ladies 5 Long Lane Development 2 By Dan Couldridge FOOTBALL: ANGELS Ladies recovered from a 22-0 mauling at Charlton Athletic in the Women’s Cup to record an emphatic 5-2 win over their title rivals Long Lane Development in the league. The early stages were evenly matched, but just when the hosts looked to have taken charge of the game, a Long Lane counter-attack on 15 minutes saw the visiting forward round goalkeeper Sam Wright and fire into an empty net. Four minutes later, however, Tonbridge equalised. Wright’s long clearance found Becky Janes, who set up Abigail Skilton to lob the goalkeeper. There followed a long spell of dominance for the home team, including the best goal of the day. Some excellent passing down the right set up Kelly Moran to play the ball to Janes. She laid it off for Megan Akehurst to fire into the roof of the net from 25 yards out. Just before half-time, a Janes shot was parried into the path of Lauryn Underhill, who made sure from close range. Long Lane saw much more of the ball in the second period but strong defending from the Angels ensured there were no meaningful attempts on goal. Angels’ fourth goal arrived on 84 minutes, with Becky Saxby sending a ball down the line for Underhill, whose cross was met by Maisie Gibb – and she scored her first senior goal. Long Lane pulled a goal back as a long-range free kick crept under the body of Wright, but in added time Underhill pounced on a poor back pass to score from a narrow angle.

Frustrating The best chance for the hosts came in the 58th minute, when Xavier Vidal found himself one on one with Mattie Pierson, but the custodian did well to put the midfielder off. In the 59th minute the ball bounced around the Angels goal area and Craig Stone’s clearance rebounded off his teammate, Callum Adonis-Taylor, and into the goal for what was to prove the winner. Tooting defended well thereafter, and despite a decent chance for the Angels’ Dan Thompson deep in stoppage time, the points returned to South London with the away side. Angels Manager Steve McKimm said: “First half I thought we did OK, but the second half was frankly a disgrace, and to be honest I thought some players hid. “Not taking anything away from Tooting, they’ve come here and done a job on us, but our players need to have a close look at themselves, and after Tuesday it was particularly frustrating.”

By Richard Smith FOOTBALL: THE Rustics crashed out of the FA Vase as a poor run of form saw their losing streak stretch to four games in a row. Epsom & Ewell, from the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League, arrived at Jockey Farm Stadium without a win from 11 league games and rooted to the bottom of the table.

But inside 15 minutes, a nervouslooking home side found themselves 2-0 down, though Steph Harper’s fifth goal of the season did give the home supporters some hope. On 39 minutes, Rusthall keeper Joe Cullip made a superb save diving full length to his right to turn the ball round the post But two minutes later disaster struck for the home side when skipper Paul Butler was shown a red card for a seemingly clean tackle.

Rusthall once again started slowly, and two goals in the opening ten minutes of the second half saw them 4-1 down and almost out of contention.

Embarrassing To their credit they worked hard to get back into the game and Harper scored from the penalty spot on 73 minutes after he was brought down by central defender Alex McKay. Harper’s first spot kick was saved by Conor Young but the linesman

Underhill topples team at the top as Angels forget woes

Mattie Pierson no chance. The lead was to last only three minutes, however, when good running off the ball by Omar Folkes allowed the Terrors forward a chance to shoot low past Jonny Henly in the Tonbridge goal. Tonbridge generally had the better of the first half, with Nathan Elder missing a glorious chance to restore his side’s lead on 40 minutes The half concluded with a flurry of Tonbridge crosses, but the two sides went in for the break at level pegging. The second half was something of stop-start affair with neither side able to impose themselves on the game.

Rustics crash out of the FA Vase Rusthall 2 Epsom & Ewell 7

NEWS

flagged to say the keeper was off of his line when the kick was taken, and Harper gave him no chance with the retake. In the final ten minutes, the ten men ran out of legs as the visitors added three more goals to give the final scoreline an embarrassing look. Rusthall must now pick themselves up for the visit of Beckenham Town in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division tonight [October 25], 7.45pm kick-off.

SWIMMING: TONBRIDGE Swimming Club took 20 swimmers to Sevenoaks to compete against five other squads in the annual Inter-Club Sprints Trophy gala. The individual races were all 50 metres apart from the youngest age group (25m sprints) and all the relays were 4x25m splash and dashes. This gala also had mixed relay races with teams made up of two boys and two girls. With the boys and girls swimming in any order, this made for some exciting races, with the lead often changing on each length.

Tonbridge ended the evening as they had begun, by winning 5 of the last 6 events, including the exciting Squadron relay comprising of a boy and girl from each age group.

Championships Individual races were won by Grace MacAuley, Ruben Cowley-Antelo, Amelie Thomas-Green (two), Charlie Brice, Erin Nisbet, Sarah Brown, Oscar Thatcher, Noemie Thomson, Toby Henbest and

Charlie Curtis. The ten and under medley and free 12 and under medley, 14 and under medley and 8x25m squadron relays were also won. There were second-place swims by Holly Geake (two), Emily Geake, Harry Bevan and Sarah Brown, as well as the Open medley relay and the 14 and under freestyle relay teams. This gala was one of the best team efforts in recent months ahead of the annual club championships, when swimmers will look to gain Kent County Qualification times.

PHOTO: David Couldridge

Tonbridge fine-tune their race practice UNDER PRESSURE Lauryn Underhill tackles a Long Lane opponent