Wednesday June 6 | 2018
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Foodbank seeks support to feed children during school holidays
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Seven year old’s story chosen for BBC Radio 2 final Page 2
By William Mata NOURISH Community Foodbank is appealing for support to help feed hundreds of children in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells who may go hungry this summer. The bank has launched its Pennies to Plates campaign, which urges residents to collect small change in a special paper money box that can be downloaded. It is the second year the scheme has been run to help families provide a meal for children over the school holidays. They would usually receive breakfast or lunch at school.
Last year Nourish worked with family liaison officers in local schools to identify children who were at risk of undernourishment. In total it provided 234 three-day emergency supplies to families over the holiday period, providing enough food for 2,106 meals. This year the charity is hoping to raise more than £6,000. Dawn Stanford, Nourish Operations Manager, said: “Almost half of people Nourish helps are children under 18 years of age. “But we were surprised at how many families needed our help over the summer because they struggle with the increased cost of feeding children who are no longer benefiting from free school meals or breakfast clubs.” Nourish is asking businesses, schools and organisations such as
Continued on page 2
PHOTO: Sarah Abercrombie Jones
Struggle
NOT CONSTRUCTIVE More development – but no affordable housing Page 24
FRAME FAME: Local photographer Emma Stokes displays her work at the inaugural Tonbridge Art Fair on River Walk. See page 2
MP calls on Health Secretary to keep West Malling surgery open By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk THE MP for Tonbridge & Malling, Tom Tugendhat, has questioned the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt in Parliament about the future of GP surgeries in small communities like West Malling. The practice, which has 20,300 people on its books, will move the majority of its operation to Kings Hill next year. There has been a surgery on the High Street for 70 years, but the current building was put up for sale by the partners at the West Malling Group Practice. Since then the group has only offered a
commitment to ‘retain a presence’ in the town. The move follows the closure of the GP surgery at East Peckham, which shut its doors at the end of March.
‘The need to invest in premises is deterring younger GPs from becoming partners’ Mr Tugendhat asked Mr Hunt in the Commons: “Does he agree that, in local areas, some of the GP provision could do with a little more work? “I am particularly thinking of West
Malling in my own constituency, where a large element of the community is finding it harder to get access, and there is a danger that the GP surgery may leave the high street.” Mr Hunt replied: “My honourable friend is right to draw attention to that issue. He does have, I think, 28 more GPs in the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group area than in 2010, but there is a particular issue over premises. “The need to invest in premises is deterring younger GPs from becoming partners, and sometimes making GP
Continued on page 2
THE SECRET GARDEN Find Mary Mary Creates’ oasis and help the Hospice Page 15
LEADING THE FIELD
Hillview sports teacher Tayla wins county award Page 70
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Three charities benefit from calendar
‘Structural challenges in the NHS’ Continued from page 1
By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk THREE charities have been chosen to receive the proceeds from the Tonbridge Daily calendar next year. The beneficiaries are The Bridge Trust, the town’s homelessness charity, Chasing Connor’s Cure in Hildenborough – which is funding research for a rare disease – and the West Kent branch of mental health charity MIND. The calendar, which is the brainchild of Tonbridge Daily blogger Suzannah Niklas, has become hugely successful since it was launched in 2016. Last year 960 copies of the calendar were sold, raising £6,750 for worthy causes. It showcases photographic images of the town sent in by the public. This year’s submissions are now being welcomed – send them to tonbridgedailycalendar@gmail. com – and the closing date is July 31. For terms and conditions, visit Tonbridge Daily’s Facebook page. Mrs Niklas has teamed up with Sam Goode, co-owner of Tonbridge Old Fire Station, for the first time to pick the recipients.
BAD PRACTICE: Tom Tugendhat at West Malling’s GP surgery, which is mostly moving to Kings Hill surgeries unviable. We are looking at that problem now.” Afterwards Mr Tugendhat commented: “The future of West Malling’s GP Surgery remains uncertain, with residents not clear on what healthcare will look like in the town next year. “That’s why I raised this with the Health Secretary in the House of Commons. I’m glad that, like me, he recognises there are structural challenges in the NHS and West Malling needs a GP practice to serve all residents in the town.” Two days later he asked Mr Hunt ‘what support his department provides to parish councils in assisting doctors’ surgeries to find suitable venues for general practice’.
Super-clinic
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She told the Times: “The main aim in choosing the charities was that the calendar would help local causes and aid their promotion. “There were so many deserving and hard-working local charities to choose from, it was extremely hard to make the decision. “Sam and I chose them after readers sent in their nominations to Tonbridge Daily. Chasing Connor’s Cure received an enormous amount.” The charity was set up by Matthew and Emma Crawford to find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy after their son Connor was diagnosed with it at the age of four.
Energy The condition affects around 2,500 people in the UK, usually boys. It attacks the muscles and in most cases mobility is lost by the age of 10 and can lead to an early death. “What can we say about the guys at Chasing Connor’s Cure?” said Mrs Niklas. “Their fundraising and energy is infectious. We wanted to help chase that cure for little local boy Connor.” She added: “We saw a freezing cold winter and a rise in homeless-
SUPPORT NETWORK: (Back row, l-r) Sam Goode of the Old Fire Station and Tonbridge Daily’s Suzannah Niklas; (front) John Handley of The Bridge Trust, Emma Crawford of Chasing Connor’s Cure, Lucy Adams of West Kent MIND ness through lack of housing. “After seeing so many people on the street without shelter during this time it struck a chord with us. We wanted to help a charity who help local people get back on their feet again.” MIND was chosen because ‘mental health problems are unseen and the rise is worrying. The Tonbridge
Town’s first Art Fair heralds opening of 35 local studios
PHOTO: Martin Garwood
Steve Brine, the Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care, replied: “General practitioners are independent contractors and therefore it is primarily for them to identify suitable premises from which to provide National Health Service primary medical services. He added: “NHS England offers support to practices where necessary, without the need to engage parish councils.” In addition to the closure in East Peckham, the surgeries at Higham Lane and Pembury Road in Tonbridge are slated for closure – with the new Tonbridge Medical Group super-clinic on the site of the Teen and Twenty Club on River Walk scheduled to take their patient lists. Last week out-of-hours doctors’ appointments at Tonbridge Cottage Hospital on Vauxhall Lane were also terminated, with residents advised to go to a new Urgent Treatment Centre at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury instead.
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
CANVAS OPINION: Zsuzsanna Pataki demonstrates her artistic skills
HUNDREDS of visitors enjoyed the first ever Tonbridge Art Fair on Saturday [June 2] as the pipe opener for a month of Artists’ Open Studios. River Walk provided a suitably scenic setting for stalls displaying paintings, drawings, jewellery, ceramics and photographs created by local artists. Cllr Maria Heslop, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, opened the fair and congratulated ‘the thriving art community in Tonbridge’, adding that she hoped it would become an annual event.
Organiser Anne Molineux thanked those who supported the event including Tonbridge Town Team, the council and the ArtSpring Gallery. The Artists’ Open Studios, which are available at weekends until June 24, offer an opportunity to view the work of 35 local artists in 14 studios in Tonbridge, Hadlow, Yalding, Laddingford and Marden. Entry is free and visitors can meet the artists and see them at work. For more information, opening times and a downloadable copy of the art trail and map, visit www.artistsopenstudios.co.uk
Centre in St Mary’s Road is in need of funding to keep community services, counselling and The Solace Café running. It will be good to know the calendar will be supporting those in crisis’. A panel of six judges will decide on the final 12 images in August and the calendar will be launched at the Old Fire Station in September.
Nourish campaign Scouts and Guides, as well as individuals to hold fundraising events or download a money box template from its website at www. nourishcommunityfoodbank.org.uk The boxes can be donated to Nourish at Metro Bank in Tunbridge Wells on July 14 and 15, or donors can give the total amount raised to Nourish online or by cheque. Paul Haines, Nourish Co-Chairman, said: “Each meal we provide is worth around £3, so we are hoping to raise £6,318 to cover our costs. “We know that, for some families, these food bags from Nourish made a real difference to their lives, enabling children to have treats like regular picnics.”
Healthy competition for young comedy writer A PUPIL at Hilden Oaks School has been selected as a finalist for BBC Radio 2’s 500 Words competition for her funny and highly contemporary tale about healthy eating. Francesca Wade, aged 7, is one of 28 finalists chosen nationwide in the 5 to 9 age category for the short story competition featured on Chris Evans’ morning show. She has been invited to Hampton Court Palace on Friday [June 8], where Mr Evans will be broadcasting live until 9.30am and The Duchess of Cornwall is presenting the prizes. Last year’s competition attracted more than 131,000 entries. They are whittled down to 25 plus three wildcards for each age group – the other is for 10 to 13 year olds. Francesca’s ‘Agent Ramsbottom and the Mysterious Fish and Chips’ is one of the wildcard entries. It’s a humorous account of a police force staffed by babies enforcing healthy eating on an obese society. Agent Ramsbottom tackles a
DEVOURING BOOKS: Francesca Wade mixes the normal with the absurd modern phenomenon when he goes ‘underground’ to investigate the cause of a fatberg, an accumulation of fatty deposits that blocks sewers. She explained the reason for her subject, saying: “I wrote this story as a school half-term homework
project and was inspired by Lindsey Russell’s trip to the sewers beneath London on Blue Peter.” She is also a fan of the film Boss Baby. Her mother Sharon is Deputy Headteacher at the school on Dry Hill Park Road. She told the Times: “Francesca has always loved words and stories, and her favourites are those that make her laugh. She has a keen sense of humour and always looks to raise a smile from those around her. “And she has often had creative ideas for stories and has collected ideas, often mixing the normal with the absurd.” Mrs Wade added: “This was an enormous challenge. It took Francesca the whole of spring half-term to complete it. “Her father and I are enormously proud of her, not just for her achievement but her perseverance in completing the task as she nearly gave up on several occasions.” So does Francesca dislike junk food, like her fictional police force?
“She usually eats healthily and she enjoys Friday’s fish and chip lunch at school. However, her favourite food is chicken pizza!”
EXCERPT FROM STORY “FAT ALERT, FAT ALERT!!” the warning siren screamed. “Sir, there is a report in that illegal substances are being sold in London – rumours are that the scent could even be the notorious fish and chips!” Following the early deaths of grown-ups from over-eating, babies had been put in charge and strict healthy eating laws were in place. “Agent Ramsbottom is there, sir. A man in black tracksuit bottoms and a woman in a smock are stood over a manhole. “The cover is lifting. Sir, two portions of fish and chips with salt and vinegar have been smuggled away!”
NEWS IN BRIEF
Lush life goes on THE Tunbridge Wells branch of Lush has removed banners outside the shop which had been erected in a protest at methods used by the police. The ‘spycops’ campaign, run by the cosmetics brand, saw UK shops display controversial banners reading ‘pay to spy’ over last weekend, featuring a picture of a policeman. But after hostility surrounding the nationwide campaign, all shops had removed the temporary frontage by Monday morning [June 4].
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OFFICERS are appealing for information after a reported robbery in Tunbridge Wells left a man suffering from facial injuries. The victim was approached by a group in the car park behind Hoopers, Grove Hill Road, at around 5am on Saturday [June 3]. Kent Police said the victim had his necklace stolen, as well as cash and a bank card. Anyone with information should call 01622 604100, quoting reference 03-0723.
been introduced in some towns, such as directing nightclub customers one way out to reduce noise. Hastings and Manchester could also be set to have a night czar. Amy Lame has been the London Night Czar for 18 months, and has campaigned with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan for safety measures to protect the public out at night. Mr Davyd said the next stage was to gauge an interest in having a Tunbridge Wells equivalent through consultations, starting with the Facebook page. From there, The Forum could look to either approach the council, or establish the Night Mayor independently. Jason Dormon has 25 years’ experience of working in the night-time economy, and would be ‘perfect’ for the role, according to his colleague.
CZAR MAN? Jason Dormon
By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk TUNBRIDGE WELLS needs a ‘czar figure’ to fight for its night-time economy. That’s the view of Mark Davyd, co-founder and co-owner of the music venue The Forum, who hopes the town will follow the lead of London in establishing the role. Night czars, or night-time mayors as they are sometimes known, typically bring issues that venues are facing to the attention of local authorities. They can also seek to implement safety measures, speak on behalf of venues, and campaign for improvements to taxi, bus or rail services to help customers get home safely.
Mr Davyd is campaigning for Forum co-founder Jason Dormon to take on the role, and the pair are looking to approach Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to discuss the idea. More than 200 people have joined a group on Facebook in support of the initiative. He said: “In Tunbridge Wells we can see the SHOUT OUT Mark Davyd
Pope steps down as Chairman of Friends CONSERVATION group Friends of Calverley Grounds is looking for a new committee member after Cllr Nick Pope stood down as its Chairman. Mr Pope, who won a Park ward seat in May’s Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections, left the post this week after feeling his membership was a conflict of interest. To apply for the vacant committee position, email: friendsofcalverleygrounds@yahoo.co.uk
Ice rink reviewed THE Cabinet of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council could soon award the tender of the annual ice rink inside Calverley Grounds. This is after the authority’s Advisory Board approved a proposal for a supplier to be awarded a tender for a five-year term from October 2018 in a meeting last week. The Town Hall’s leaders are set to discuss the options in a Cabinet meeting on June 21.
VOLUNTEERS in the Friends of Tunbridge Wells & Rusthall Commons groups are to be publically thanked for their work in a reception at The Forum. Mayor Len Horwood will present 45 helpers with a certificate of appreciation at the event on Saturday [June 9] from 12noon to 2pm.
WHAT MIGHT A NIGHT CZAR CAMPAIGN FOR? Mark Davyd said the role of a night czar is not set in stone, but typically the figurehead could look to champion causes such as: town has not been planned to develop the nighttime economy. If it had been, they would never have let a cinema close and move on to an industrial estate. “We need a night czar who recognises how important the night-time economy is. “They will consult on transport and policing issues, informing the conversation, and ask questions about taxis and buses. “At the very least, they will be a spokesman to represent the night-time economy.” Night czars are more commonplace in Belgium and The Netherlands, where simple steps have
n More late night train services n Accessible taxi services for customers n A more visible police presence n A better working relationship with
the council n Representing venue owners in the media
and at meetings
Teacher accolades for services to education By Duncan Audsley TEACHERS at two local secondary schools have won a county award. Many more made the shortlist across 23 categories at the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards 2018, which were held last month at the Mercure Maidstone Hotel. A winner had previously been named for all 12 districts in Kent, and an overall winner was announced at the ceremony. Catherine Dottridge, of Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells, was named Top School Business Manager, and Tayla Strudwick, of Hillview School for Girls, Tonbridge, was named Top Sports Teacher.
The awards were organised by several organisations, including Kent County Council, and 1,200 nominations were received from parents, pupils and staff. Mrs Dottridge has worked at Bennett and other schools in the Tenax Schools Trust academy group for three years. She said: “It is a great honour to have my work for Tenax recognised in this way. Since I joined, we have done a huge amount to create systems and processes to run the business side of a growing and successful Trust at a challenging time for school finance.” See page 70 to read the full report on Tayla Strudwick
COME FLY WITH ME Heathrow is getting the extra runway
Thank you event
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Call for town ‘Night Mayor’ to champion the local nightlife
Support
Car park robbery
NEWS
ROLL OF HONOUR: THE BOROUGH WINNERS West Kent n Top Trainee Teacher: Eleanor Garland (Fordcombe CEP School, Tunbridge Wells) n Top Primary Teacher: Stella Martin (Borough Green Primary School) n Top School Business Manager: Catherine Dottridge (Bennett Memorial Diocesan School, Tunbridge Wells)
Catherine Dottridge
Tonbridge & Malling n Top Team: Jayne
Laker and Hearing Impaired Unit (Slade Primary School, Tonbridge) n Top Secondary Teacher: Aliza Goren (The Malling School, East & West Malling) n Top Sport Teacher: Tayla Strudwick (Hillview School for Girls, Tonbridge)
Heathrow runway is not all good news for anti-Gatwick group A CAMPAIGNER opposed to Gatwick expansion is not celebrating news that the airport has not been chosen to provide a second runway. Instead, Cabinet ministers voted yesterday [Tuesday] for a third runway at Heathrow Airport to go ahead. Protestors in West Kent have long opposed development at Gatwick, with Tunbridge Wells often being in the flight path. Sally Pavey, Chair of Campaign Against Gatwick Noise Emissions [CAGNE], said the announcement was a ‘bad day for climate change’. “The Cabinet has decided today to back the expansion to Heathrow, but it has not been voted
through, so it is not over,” she told the Times. “As far as Gatwick is concerned, it is held back because its station cannot expand and the M23 [which leads into it] is restricted. “Gatwick is a leisure airport. If it was not, it would not be used more commonly over the summer.” When making the Heathrow annoucement in Parliament, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling pledged £2.6billion in compensation for residents and noise abatement measures. The new £14billion runway is set to be completed by 2026. See page 16 for the full story
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Meetings to shape county bus services By Duncan Audsley CONSULTATIONS on rural bus routes, which could result in traditional ones being replaced by taxi-style services, begin in Kent this month. The county council is holding this series of public meetings just months after a U-turn on their controversial proposal to end subsidies to 78 services, including a combined 23 in the Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge areas.
‘We believe there are smarter, more responsive ways to deliver these bus services’ By following this through, County Hall could have saved £2.25million in their 2018/19 budget. But the authority ruled in January that the cuts would not be made in the light of central government grant cuts proving less severe than previously budgeted for. Kent County Council Leader Paul Carter said at the time: “We believe there are smarter, more responsive ways to deliver these bus services. “This could include a taxi-busstyle service which links rural communities to mainline commercial bus routes, or
community-led transport services.” The council is holding 11 meetings around the county, starting on June 19 and ending on July 19. Four of these will be held in West Kent. The authority has a 30-year history of funding routes for residents, which may not be viable if they were to run as a business. Cllr Mike Whiting, Cabinet Member for Transport on the Conservative-ruled authority, said the main objectives of the programme are to maintain and improve rural accessibility for those without alternative means of travel. “We want to explore how we can improve connectivity for our rural residents and assess the viability of offering different kinds of services. “That’s why, for the next couple of months, we’re meeting with residents, parish councils and operators. “We are running our Big Conversation programme to see what we could do, and get feedback from the people that could run them and use them. “Once we have explored potential ideas with the market and completed our engagement with residents, we will work on developing these ideas. “We will then be working with transport and technology providers to look at how we can develop new ways of delivering rural transport.” Liberal Democrat Councillor Peter Lidstone called the timing of the
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
NEWS IN BRIEF
Passengers to have their say on services
public meetings ‘ironic’ because the 7pm to 9pm run time is later than the time some buses run to the villages where they are being held. He said: “Public transport is a vital lifeline to residents in rural communities, particularly the elderly, disabled and those who do not own a car. “Sending a small number of large buses along fixed routes is not working, so we welcome these proposals from Kent County Council. “The Lib Dems believe we need co-ordinated, flexible solutions to public transport in rural areas. Bus companies should co-ordinate timetables with train operators. “Let’s take advantage of technology to provide shared taxis or shuttle buses. “The Dutch have a nationwide scheme subsidising taxis to stations.”
See page 22 for Cllr Lidstone’s comment column
HAVE YOUR SAY… Here are details of when the public meetings near Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge will be staged. All run from 7pm to 9pm
RAIL commuters have the chance to comment on services in a consultation, which launched this week. All network operators, including Southeastern, are running consultations over the next three months in coordination with watchdog Transport Focus. Passenger views will be used to help deliver a long-term plan focused on fare regulation and making tickets easier to buy. To take part in the consultation, visit: www.britainrunsonrail.co.uk
Serious A21 collision
Sessions House, Maidstone ME14 1XQ
A MAN sustained serious injuries when three cars collided on the A21 near Flimwell on Saturday [June 3]. The driver of a grey Mitsubishi Colt was flown to a London hospital after the hatchback was involved in a collision with a grey Suzuki Swift and a silver Mercedes E220 at around 6.05pm. Kent Police said the Colt driver remains in hospital in a critical, but stable condition. The drivers of the other two vehicles and a passenger also reported injuries and were all taken to a local hospital. Any witnesses are asked to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538 or email: sciu.td@kent.pnn. police.uk quoting HW/SM/077/18.
There are seven other meetings elsewhere in Kent
School annexe opens
n July 4: STAG Community Arts
Centre, Sevenoaks TN13 1ZZ n July 5: Borough Green
Village Hall, Borough Green TN15 8DG n July 17: High Weald
Academy, Angley Road, Cranbrook TN17 2PJ n July 19: Lecture Theatre,
For full details, visit: www.kent.gov.uk
A SPECIAL school’s annexe has opened in Pembury for children who need extra support. Meadows Junior School: Ravensdale Campus is run by Barnardo’s and caters for youngsters aged seven to 11.
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Love the local heroes who work for the community By Duncan Audsley UNSUNG heroes will be celebrated in Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Love Where We Live Awards. Nominations are now open for the 2018 ceremony, which will be held at the Assembly Hall Theatre on Tuesday, October 9. There are seven categories: Charity of the Year, Best Group, Ethical Business, Individual Hero, Sports Achiever of the Year,
Young Sports Achiever of the Year and Young Volunteer of the Year. Anyone is able to make a nomination and the deadline for sub-missions is 5pm, Friday, July 27. A spokesperson said: “These community awards celebrate the people who make the borough of Tunbridge Wells a great place to live and work. “They recognise the individuals, groups, businesses and org-anisations who are dedi-
cated to helping others in the community, benefitting the environment, or accomplishing pers-onal goals.” In addition, there will be an eighth trophy – the overall Love Where We Live Award. The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges from the seven main categories. Those on the shortlists will be invited to the Assembly Hall event in October to hear who has won.
WINNERS The 2017 Love Where We Live Awards The spokesperson added: “Last year it was the younger generation who really shone, with the 19th Royal Tunbridge Wells St Matthew’s Scout Group
winning the Best Group category, and a nine-year-old gymnast taking home the Young Sports Achiever trophy.” Nominations can be made by
picking up a form at Tunbridge Wells Town Hall reception or online through the council’s website at www.tunbridgewells. gov.uk/lwwl
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Decision time on plans for a 76-bed care home near hospital in Pembury
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
WHAT IS A GREEN BELT? A Green Belt is a term used to designated zones around towns and cities that have deliberately been kept free of development to protect wildlife. There are more than 1.6million hectares of green belt land in England which are marked to be kept free from ‘inappropriate development’. This does not mean that housing cannot be built on this land. But for any potential project, the builder or developer must demonstrate ‘very special circumstances’, in which the need for the development outweighs the drawbacks.
PLAN FOR 20 HOMES IN MATFIELD
CAREFUL VIEW An artist’s impression
By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A LARGE care home development could be constructed on green belt land in Pembury if plans are approved at a council meeting tonight [Wednesday, June 6]. Quantum Group wants to build a 76-bed care home and 20 properties for assisted living on Owlsnest Wood, which is opposite Tunbridge Wells Hospital. The developer has stressed the ‘urgent need’ for a local care home, and the project could create 36 part-time and 30 full-time jobs.
‘It is going to encroach on the green belt and there is huge concern about the traffic going on to Tonbridge Road’ But villagers have raised concerns that the already busy Tonbridge Road, which connects to Owlsnest Wood and the hospital, will not cope with extra traffic. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Planning
WILL THE FLOODGATES OPEN? Owlsnest Wood Committee will vote tonight on whether to grant planning permission, which was originally sought back in 2015. The Planning Inspector has already advised that the proposal be refused on the grounds that constructing the two-storey buildings on green belt land required ‘very special circumstances’ that had not been demonstrated. This is the second Pembury care home to go before the borough council’s Planning Commit-
Funding boost to help services prevent suicide across county SUICIDE prevention schemes in Kent have been boosted by £667,000 of central government funding. This is the county’s share of a £25million spend by NHS England and Public Health England, who aim to reduce the number of people taking their lives every year by ten per cent by 2021. Funding will be used to extend Kent County Council’s ‘Release the Pressure’ campaign, which alerts people to a 24/7 freephone support line. It will be also spent on suicide awareness and prevention training, research, and boosting mental health services at ‘high risk points’.
Distress Glenn Douglas, Chief Executive of Kent and Medway’s Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, said: “People taking their own lives is a big issue for the health and wellbeing of our whole population. “The extra money this year will help all of us to pull out all the stops to prevent deaths by suicide. “I will make sure that the partnership works tirelessly to help people look after their minds and for services or support to reach people in good time.” The money has been awarded to the partnership,
DEVASTATING Around 6,000 people commit suicide in the UK every year
tee recently, with plans to build a 68-bed care home in Cornford Court passed after a knife-edge vote in March. Tunbridge Wells Councillor Sue Nuttall, who represents Pembury ward, said could speak at tonight’s planning meeting, in opposition. “It is going to encroach on the green belt and there is huge concern about the traffic going on to Tonbridge Road,” she said. “There is a lot of concern about it and a huge number of letters have been sent, almost making identical points. “Residents have not been told how much it costs. There are concerns about how it might affect the doctors’ surgery and the extra pressure it could put on. “Tonbridge Road is already very busy, and at certain times of day it is impossible. “The entrance from it to Owlsnest Wood is opposite the hospital, so it would be even worse. “But that is my view and not the view of the council.” A spokesman from Tunbridge Wells Civic Society added: “This application fundamentally conflicts with green belt policy and the preservation of the ancient woodland, and the intensive development of part of the site could only be justified by very significant social or environmental gains.” The Dorset-based Quantum Group is also
behind other care home projects in the South. The developer said the company has been engaged with the community and would be able to respond to all concerns raised. The Times has approached Quantum for further comment. They had not responded by the time we went to press.
MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE LAUNCHED AWARENESS of mental health issues is being highlighted in Tunbridge Wells by a new campaign. Town MP Greg Clark joined Town & Country Housing Group Chief Executive Bob Heapy to launch BE;ME – BE TOGETHER during Mental Health Awareness Week in May. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and business group Royal Tunbridge Wells Together are behind the campaign. TEA’S COMPANY Greg Clark (right) with Bob Heapy of Town & Country Housing
which is a collaboration between Kent County Council, Medway Council, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust and all the NHS organisations across Kent and Medway. Around 6,000 people commit suicide in the UK every year, according to charity Samaritans. The issue is said to be a priority for Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who pledged the £25million as part of his ‘zero suicide ambition’. Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England, said: “Suicide destroys lives and is devastating for the loved ones they leave behind. “We need to do everything we can to offer more help to people in distress, and this is a big step towards that.”
A planning application has been submitted to build 20 homes in Matfield village. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is now processing the plan to build two onebedroom apartments, seven two-bedroom apartments, six three-bedroom houses and five four-bedroom houses. Developer Rydon Homes submitted the plan last week to build on land off Maidstone Road.
BE;ME – BE TOGETHER will see businesses and community groups display posters and publications which promote advice relating to mental health and how to receive help. There is also a focus on socialising, with special teacups in cafes around the town displaying a branded message. Customers are invited to take a photo with the teacup and share it on social media with the hashtag #BETOGETHER
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BUSINESS
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Production company’s success proves creative potential in Tunbridge Wells By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk ARGENTINE TANGO: Cau on Mount Pleasant Road
Mid-market steak restaurant to stay
STEAK restaurant Cau faces an uncertain future as owners Gaucho weigh up whether to close their 22 UK branches. More than 700 jobs could be at risk if the Argentinian-themed chain decides to leave high streets. But the management of the Tunbridge Wells branch has confirmed there are no current plans to close the Mount Pleasant Road restaurant.
Restructuring Gaucho is one of the UK’s best known restaurant groups, and has drafted in an accountancy firm to advise on options for Cau, according to reports. A company spokesperson said: “As part of a comprehensive strategic review, the group’s new management team, with the support of its shareholders, is at the early stages of exploring a number of financial restructuring options. “No decisions have yet been made.” Cau, which offers burgers, brunch and steak dinners with a Buenos Aires twist, has suffered sales decline amid heavy competition. Rival restaurants Strada and Jamie’s Italian have both recently left Tunbridge Wells, while Carluccio’s, Byron and Prezzo have also closed units in other towns.
FILM production company The Birdhouse Studio has become the latest creative agency to build a success story in Tunbridge Wells. Co-Founders Marcus Sweeney-Bird and Helene Menardi, who are engaged, only started the Monson Road firm six months ago, and are finding the town perfect for their line of work. Their five-strong team have already made their mark by producing advertisement films for big brands such as Chevrolet, Cisco, BT and Jaguar Land Rover. They have also recently completed three music videos for up-and-coming artists Gizelle Smith, Jennings Couch and Laurence Jones. The latter collaboration was particularly successful with the video for Laurence Jones’s latest single Give Me Your Time notching up more than one million views on YouTube. All three videos were shot locally. Mr Sweeney-Bird said: “We owe a large part of our success to being located in Tunbridge Wells. He added that being ‘so close and accessible to London and especially Gatwick, while receiving great support from the local film office and neighbouring businesses’ has helped.
Americana “Scouting for music videos has been a joy with such a variety of unique locations nearby and at much more reasonable rates than London,” he said. “We’re giving back to the local community wherever we can, helping interesting start-ups and small business owners with promo films and in-house photography.”
BIRDHOUSE IN THE SOUL: Company co-founders Marcus Sweeney-Bird and Helene Menardi Tunbridge Wells has proved a bastion for creative agencies, with Yoyo Design and Southpaw as examples of two other successful firms. The potential for growth in this market has even prompted Tunbridge Wells Borough Council leaders to map out future town and office plans to benefit culture. The authority’s Deputy Leader, Alan McDermott, told the Times: “Our aim is to make it a creative town. That was one of our aims with the culture hub and we think with the theatre as well.” Mr Sweeney-Bird continued: “For Gizelle Smith’s new music video, Dust, we wanted an Americana
vibe, and for some inexplicable reason there is a small pocket of the USA in Hurst Green. “During one day, over 13 hours, we were able to shoot at the A21 diner, Sunnybank Garage and T&J Motel, all within a five-minute drive of each other, to create a very unique film, all at a low cost.” He added that their shoot for Jennings Couch’s song Animal Instinct was also completed at locations no more than half an hour from Monson Road in Tunbridge Wells. Some of these had been recommended by the Kent Film Office. Before launching Birdhouse, Mr Sweeney-Bird had worked for 15 years in the music industry, having worked with artists such as Eric Clapton, Julia Michaels and Joe Bonamassa. He added: “By working with the Kent Film Office, we were quickly and easily able to source a number of cost-effective and local locations for these emerging artists. “Filming within Kent gave us freedom and flexibility.” Birdhouse has also recently worked with the University of Surrey to produce films for their Future AI and Robotics for Space Hub. www.goforbirdhouse.co.uk BEHIND THE SCENES Jennings Couch’s video Animal Instinct is shot
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
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Fran represents firms at government forum LANGTON GREEN resident Fran Boorman spoke in a debate which will go towards shaping the government’s proposed Civil Society Strategy. Ms Boorman represented the Federation of Small Businesses at the conference, which was staged last month in London. The strategy will look at how the most vulnerable people in society can be supported, and Ms Boorman said: “Small businesses can lead the way in making a difference. “While they may not have the resources of larger organisations, they do have advantages which can be highly significant.”
Business Awards tickets INDIVIDUALS and companies still have a chance to buy tickets for the Times Business Awards, which will be held on Wednesday, June 13. Television personality Michael Portillo is the guest speaker at the social and networking event, which will be staged at Salomons Estate. Tickets are priced at £95 each, or £850 for a table of ten. To secure your place, or find out more information, call organiser Lara Milan on 01892 739764.
Tonbridge networking A Tonbridge Business Networking event has been planned for Thursday, July 12 at West Kent College. To book a place, or find out more, email Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council at: economic.regeneration@tmbc.gov.uk
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Online retailer in high spirits after award win SPIRIT seller Master of Malt has been named Online Retailer of the Year at the annual Icons of Whisky Awards. The Tunbridge Wells-based brand picked up the prize at a ceremony in The Waldorf Hotel, London, for the sixth time in seven years.
Obsessed It continues a remarkable awards season for the Chapman Way company, who were named Best Online Retailer 2018 by the British Bourbon Society in early April.
Kristiane Sherry, of Master of Malt, said: “We live and breathe whisky, so to be recognised as the world’s best online retailer is a true honour. “We’re fanatical about customer service, and are obsessed with building the most advanced retail platform – not just in drinks, but beyond. “We are all delighted to win this accolade for a truly remarkable sixth time in seven years. “As always, a tremendous thank you has to go to our brilliant customers – we couldn’t do it without you.”
CHEERS: Master of Malt’s Jake Mountain and Guy Hodcroft accept the award from Rob Allanson and Charles MacLean at London’s The Waldorf Hotel
Report shows how region’s firms have high rates of annual growth By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE South East is a booming area for growing businesses, according to the Sunday Times’ list of annual profit growth. There were 28 companies with headquarters in the region occupying spots in the newspaper’s recently published top 100, including six in Kent. One of those is Tunbridge Wells-based children’s fashion retailer Childrensalon, a new entrant which ranked at number 90. The list, which is sponsored by accounting company BDO, rated firms on their profit growth percentage over the past three years. Other Kent firms who made the cut included: Aylesford based blu-3 and three Maidstone firms:
SUCCESS: Caroline Alexander and Melissa Ferns of Tunbridge Wells’ Childrensalon with Nick Rodrigues of The Sunday Times
Watchfinder, Highway Care Group and Apogee Corporation. Childrensalon, based in Kingstanding Way, recorded a 56 per cent annual profit growth over three years. The company has also recently been announced as a winner of the Queen’s Award for International Trade. Chief Executive Michele Harriman-Smith said: “Being included in the 2018 Sunday Times BDO Profit Track is a great achievement for Childrensalon. “In the last few years, our e-commerce website has experienced growth which resulted in the creation of more than 300 jobs in our local community. “We are proud of what we have achieved without compromising our core values and while still offering a very personal service to our customers. “We are beyond thrilled to be given such an important recognition, which we wouldn’t have been able to achieve without our wonderful team. “Thank you to our staff, and congratulations to all the South East-based companies in the list.”
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From driveways to a franchise for successful town Yard Sale By Duncan Audsley THE organiser of Tunbridge Wells Yard Sale said the event is here to stay after thousands attended the second edition on Saturday [June 2]. Sunny weather attracted 130 stall holders to sell items outside their homes, in their gardens, garages or shops around the town. Ingrid Pope was again behind the event, which she founded last year after seeing a similar idea in America. “I have been getting feedback and
people have said they had a really fun time,” she said. “There was a real buzz around the town. “It is hard to calculate how many got involved, but it must have been a couple of thousand people. It was more than last year as we got the word out further afield.” Shoppers came from all over the county and could see where the stalls were on an online map. Mrs Pope said a similar event is to launch next year in Crowborough on the back of the Tunbridge Wells success, and that the idea could be franchised.
“I think we would be getting into trouble if we did not run it again,” she added.
Clear-out Staff at IMAGO charity shop in Monson Road were in for a surprise when squeaky-voiced TV star Joe Pasquale came to see the items at their Yard Sale. The former Price is Right host was on a break from rehearsals for Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, his comedy show at The Assembly Hall Theatre.
NO ORDINARY JOE Comedian Joe Pasquale visits IMAGO
BRIC-A-BRAC Some of the items on sale in a garden
Mrs Pope said popular items among the bric-a-brac on sale around town included vases, children’s clothing and books. Sellers typically made between £100 and £300 from the event, which ran from 10am to 4pm. They had the option of keeping the money or giving it to a charity of their choice. Proceeds from various Yard Sales benefited the Tree of Hope charity. Education charity Crowborough Foundation agreed to collect [and then use or sell on] any unsold items at the end of the day that sellers wanted rid of. Mrs Pope runs de-cluttering service Creating Space Coaching
and feels having a yard sale can also be an opportunity for residents to hold a much-needed clear out. She continued: “We heard that everyone loves car boot sales but it can be a hurdle to get to a field so early. “This event offered an alternative. People were able to take their stuff outside their house, it is a far easier set-up. “There was a great sense of community as it allowed people to talk to their neighbours, which happens less now because of social media. “Kids just loved it as it taught them about buying and selling and also how to haggle.”
Police commit more officers to patrol countryside but they will not be armed By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk KENT POLICE is to double the number of officers in rural areas from six to 12 although the force will not be giving them firearms. Matthew Scott, Police and Crime Commissioner [PCC], said the county will not be following the lead of Devon & Cornwall Police in considering arming officers in rural areas. Instead the PCC is pledging to make officers ‘more local, more available and have more of them,’ in his reforms to rural policing. Currently there are just two officers covering rural areas around all of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Maidstone and Sevenoaks full time. But this number is set to double, as the police also implements methods to prevent crime and arm an extra 90 officers across Kent with Tasers. Mr Scott is currently inviting rural residents to take part in a survey, the results of which will help shape policies decided by the National Rural Crime Network. He said 650 people had shared their views so far. “One of the things people want to see is more police presence in their communities,” said the Conservative PCC. “Policing teams are doubling in size from six to 12 officers and we will also be introducing prevention kits.” Mr Scott said this could include an increased use of SmartWater around sites that could be at
risk of burglary. This traceable liquid leaves a mark on anyone who touches it and can only be seen through ultraviolet light. Police can respond to out-of-town crime by other means than by deploying their limited number of rural officers.
Ultraviolet The force is currently recruiting for 100 extra PCs across the county, with around 25 to 30 set to work in West Kent. All 300 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are also to be kept across the county. Mr Scott said he would be communicating with rural communities over how to address key concerns of poaching and theft from businesses. “They want to see a visible presence and be able to get through to the police. “We want to recruit more call handlers. There are no plans to close any front counters.” And on whether guns could be used by rural officers, Mr Scott said: “No. It would be inappropriate in our communities. “We are increasing the overall number of firearms officers to 100 and adding 90 extra officers to those using Tasers, to ensure every section has one.” Rural residents have until June 10 to have their say in the survey. To take part, visit http://www.nationalruralcrimenetwork.net/
ON THE BEAT The number of rural officers will be doubled
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Work to begin on controversial £30m hub after contract signed By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk CONSTRUCTION is set to start later this year on the £30million Southborough Hub now a contractor has been named. The development could be finished in 2020 and will include new civic and medical centres, a library, and theatre to replace the now-demolished Royal Victoria Hall. Kent County Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Southborough Town Council are all jointly behind it. The project has proved controversial since it was proposed in 2015 and approved the year after, with residents unhappy at the loss of the theatre. Some fields around the back of the Royal Victoria Hall will be sold to housebuilder Crest Nicholson in a deal, agreed last week, which will pay for the hub. Also last week, the building contract for the hub was awarded to Paddock Wood firm Baxall Construction. County Councillor Peter Oakford added: “These are major steps forward for this exciting project. “I am confident Southborough residents will come to appreciate the improved services which the hub will provide, including the much-improved theatre facilities.” As part of the project, football pitches shall be modified to increase the playing area while seeding will take place over the summer to improve the grass quality. The
HARD HAT TIMES: [Front] Kent County Councillor Mike Evans shakes hands with Baxall director Nigel Exall watched by [back row L-R] Baxall Design Manager Matthew Barker and councillors David Elliott, Peter Oakford and Ian Kinghorn. pitches should be in use by the autumn. Work has also been progressing with the NHS on the GP surgery. The Conservative-run authorities have been challenged on the development. In November, the Times reported that Southborough councillors voted to subject the plans to ‘value-engineering’.
Value At the same meeting the authority also approved a clause that could see them pay an extra £500,000 to meet any financial gaps. Cllr Nicholas Blackwell, part of the council’s opposition Labour group, said that despite this latest progress there is still ‘hubris’ surrounding the project. He said: “Southborough Town Council
HUB HUBRIS? The handling of the £30million project has been criticised
will now spend a period of three months looking at further cost cutting measures. “We strongly urge the council to consult with the people of the town. “We need to build a facility that people want, that will be used and will stack up economically.” Labour won a town council by-election in September last year when Cllr Alain Lewis won what was previously a Tory seat, and said ‘secrecy’ around the hub had dissuaded residents from voting Conservative. The hub shall be discussed in an ‘extraordinary town council meeting’ on Tuesday [June 12].
GIVING YOUTH A CHANCE Mick Di Palma, of Tunbridge Wells Youth Football Club, who use the Southborough pitches, has welcomed the announcement. He said: “It’s great to see investment going into support our young people and sport in the community. “We have waited so long for this development and it is finally about to start happening. “It’s great to know that Southborough Town Council will also be seeking protection of the pavilion and the fields for a minimum period of 21 years as part of the FA funding which will accompany our own fund-raising.”
Warning Kent schools could close unless government changes policy By Duncan Audsley newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE Leader of Kent County Council Paul Carter has issued an urgent appeal to the Government for greater school funding. This follows the release of data which shows how county halls are needing to dip into funds reserved for state schools to pay for supporting children with special educational needs. In the past four years Kent County Council has transferred £28million to make up for the shortfall, one of the highest amounts in the country. This prompted Conservative Cllr Carter to write to Tory Education Secretary Damian Hinds to call on him to increase the pot of money allocated to councils with demand rising. He wrote: “It is regrettable that councils are only able to properly provide
support to children with special education needs by instead using funding that was intended for a different group of children. “I am sure that you will agree this is not a desirable or sustainable position.” The data was released after a survey, compiled by County Councils Network, of which Cllr Carter is Chairman.
Obligation It also showed how almost £200million in total was spent beyond what they had budgeted for by UK county councils in three years. County halls have a legal obligation to support children with special educational needs, which could show why they needed to spend the money. But Cllr Carter has warned that state schools may have to make further cuts or even close if funding is not provided.
He added: “Schools have had to make significant sufficiency savings already to sustain anymore would materially affect the education of the pupils in their schools. “We are on a cliff edge now.” The letter was sent to the Department for Education ahead of their spending review. It was also partly written by Ian Hudspeth of County Councils Network. A spokesman from the department said: “By 2020, core school funding will rise to a record £43.5 billion, its highest ever level and 50 per cent more per pupil in real terms than in 2000. “The high needs budget for pupils with special educational needs is £6billion this year – the highest on record. “Thanks to the additional £1.3 billion funding announced last year, every local authority will see an increase in their high needs funding over the next two years.”
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Sisters call for free expression to raise awareness of mental health By Andy Tong THREE sisters from Langton Green have been encouraging their peers to be artistic in order to raise awareness of mental health and support the charity Mind. Annabel, aged 9, Mae, 7, and Alice Sims, 5, originated an idea called The Big Picture, in which they urged children to paint in whatever shape or form they liked because creativity has been proved to help relax and stimulate the mind. More than 30 children from the primary schools in Langton Green and Penshurst Primary – where the siblings are pupils – attended the event, which was held outside Langton Pavilion Cafe. “We wanted children to come and paint their own canvas and express themselves,” the sisters
IN THE MIND’S EYE: (L-R) Alice, Annabel and Mae Sims with their creations
COUNTER CULTURE: The children’s art on display in Langton Pavilion Café
DUCK LUCK: Social Activities Facilitator Debbie Long with resident Peggy Wiltshire
Fairground attractions bring back memories said. “People can have mental health problems in any way, they can be big or small. We want a lot of people to be aware of mental health.” The artists chose canvases of various sizes and painted whatever came into their minds using water-based colours and different sized brushes. They created images of landscapes, seascapes and flowers, along with patterns and mark-making. The artwork was then put on display inside and outside the café.
Mum Emma Sims said: “Creativity has the power to open up conversation and can create dialogue when words can sometimes be hard. It is therapeutic in many ways.
Imagination “Having the space and opportunity to create freely without boundaries allowed the children to express themselves and paint whatever came into their imagination.” She added: “It has created a lot of conversation about mental health in families and has received extremely positive feedback. “Mental health awareness affects us all, and by working together on projects within the community we can help to fight stigmas and increase positive wellbeing.” For more information about the mental health charity Mind, visit www.mind.org.uk
RESIDENTS of Barnes Lodge in Tonbridge enjoyed all the fun of the fair over the Bank Holiday weekend – in the comfort of their own garden. The Tudeley Lane care home offered a variety of traditional games, including Hook a Duck, Shove Ha’penny, Ring Toss and Tin Can Alley. Afterwards, they were treated to traditional funfair snacks like popcorn and candy floss while relaxing in the sun and reminiscing about going to the fair in their youth.
Traditional Nicky Pett, General Manager of Barnes Lodge, said: “Now the weather is warming up, we are making the most of our lovely garden here at Barnes Lodge by hosting lots of activities outside, and dining outside when we can, too. “The residents really enjoyed the traditional games, which certainly took them back to their younger days when summer holidays were spent at the fairground.”
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
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Mary’s Garden of delights revealed to raise funds for Hospice in the Weald
Quirkiness Sarah and Dave Goodall, who run the business, have tended the garden since they moved into the house in 2011 – but it had been cultivated by the previous owner for 60 years. Sarah said: “You could be forgiven for wondering how this oasis of colour and quirkiness found itself hidden behind the Victorian terraces of south Tonbridge. “There’s something of interest around every corner and down each path, and seating areas inviting you to relax and enjoy the vista even
NEWS
New recruit to help Tree of Hope clients get the best deals
SECRET SPACE Mary Mary’s oasis of colour
THE garden design company Mary Mary Creates Gardens is once again opening Mary’s Garden to visitors on Saturday [June 9] to raise funds for the Hospice in the Weald. The horticultural showpiece at 61 Lavender Hill in Tonbridge, which will be accessible from 1pm-5pm, has proved a very popular open garden since it first went on show for the Pembury hospice in 2015.
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before you reach the tiny café offering refreshments at the end of the garden.” She added: “We constantly experiment with new ideas and planting so we can confidently specify materials and plants to our clients. “We also use the space to train and teach our team members, and all of them have a great deal of input into its various quirky spaces. “We do invite clients that we are working with to visit to see what can be achieved, so in that regard I guess it is a show garden. “But it is also very much a family space – we were married in the garden.” Entry costs £5, with children under 12 free of charge. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Donations of cake, or items for the craft stall and raffle are gratefully received. Parking is limited in Lavender Hill, but there will be a parking space outside the house for dropping off and picking up those who find walking a difficulty. There are spaces nearby in Drayton Road or Pembury Road. www.marymarycreatesgardens.co.uk
CHILDREN’S charity Tree of Hope has appointed Lee Vallins as its new Deputy Chief Executive. He will be leading the family support function of the Tonbridge-based charity, which helps children with a disability or illness by supporting their relatives to raise the money they need to pay for specialist care that is not freely available on the NHS. His responsibilities include building supportive and understanding relationships with the families and forging strong working partnerships with suppliers and providers of therapies, medical treatments and specialist equipment to ensure the best deals are available for clients. Lee started his career working in mental health as an occupational therapy assistant, initially working with older people. Then he moved into the area of child and adolescent mental health and was appointed a Youth Manager with the British Red Cross. Lee said: “The Red Cross shaped me as a person, as a manager, and influences my decisions even today, largely through the fantastic line manager and mentor that supported me as I developed in my role over time, as well as the values and principles which the organisation work to. “These values are relevant to how Tree of Hope work in supporting families and young people.” Chief Executive Gill Gibb said: “Lee has a tremendous amount of experience working with families, which has already been put to good use. “This is a very important year and milestone for the charity as we celebrate our 25th anniversary, and I look forward to having the support of Lee this year and in the years to come.” Lee is an adrenaline junkie and wanted to do something immediately to fundraise for Tree of Hope, so he will be wing-walking on an aeroplane. See www.justgiving.com/fundraising/flyingman and www.treeofhope.org.uk
FLYING START Lee Vallins will do a wing-walk for the charity
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Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Prime Minister faces legal challenge after green light for third Heathrow runway THERESA MAY has been warned she faces a battle in the courts if MPs back Government plans for a third runway at Heathrow. The Conservative leader of Windsor and Maidenhead Council, which covers Mrs May’s own constituency, said it was ready to join other local authorities in mounting a legal challenge. Meanwhile residents of villages such as Harmondsworth and Sipson, villages who are facing eviction to make way for the development, said they would also consider legal action. The warning came as Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced that, after years of wrangling, the Cabinet had finally given the green light for the expansion of Heathrow to go ahead. After the Airports National Policy Statement [NPS] was formally laid before Parliament, the Department for Transport confirmed there would have to be a Commons vote by July 11. Despite the strong opposition of a number of Tory MPs with constituencies around the airport – most notably Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson who has previous threatened to ‘lie down in front of bulldozers’ – ministers appeared confident of winning.
The Prime Minster has written to ministers to say that those with long-standing objections to a third runway at Heathrow will be permitted to restate their views at a local level, but not to campaign actively against the decision Although the Labour leadership reacted cautiously to the announcement, the plan, which is backed by some of the big unions, was welcomed by many of the party’s MPs and has the support of the SNP.
Action A more significant hurdle could come from local councils who are threatening to take the case to the courts unless concerns of residents around the airport were properly addressed. Simon Dudley, the leader of Windsor & Maidenhead Council, said they were among four authorities considering legal action along with the environmental group Greenpeace. “Let’s be clear here, if it doesn’t satisfactorily address concerns, then if MPs vote in favour of adopting this National Policy Statement, that opens up a six-week window to a legal challenge
Crowborough cladding firm is called ‘inhumane’ over silence COMPANIES involved in refurbishing Grenfell Tower faced a barrage of criticism at the public inquiry as it was claimed ‘corporate silence’ could endanger lives in future. Several sub-contractors, including the Crowborough company Harley Facades Limited, worked on parts of the refit. Harley Facades were reportedly paid £2.6million to install the exterior cladding. But the inquiry heard that they refused to comment on their work until they had full disclosure of documents. Stephanie Barwise QC, representing survivors and the bereaved, said the move was ‘inhumane’, a view echoed by another advocate, Pete Weatherby QC, who warned them not to play ‘cat-and-mouse’. The work carried out on Grenfell Tower was criticised in withering terms by lawyers speaking on behalf of those affected.
NO COMMENT Refurbishment firms were warned not to play ‘cat-and-mouse’
Compliance Danny Friedman QC said Kensington and Chelsea council ‘oversaw a refurbishment of a social housing high rise tower block in such a way as to render it a death trap’. Polyethylene cladding was wrapped around the west London block during the work, a material ‘now openly described by some in the industry as petrol’, his colleague Ms Barwise said. She told the hearing at Holborn Bars that Harley Facades, which installed the panels, CEP, which purchased and fabricated them, and architects Studio E had all said they cannot yet participate. “These parties make no comment on the detailed criticism of their work, nor do they even comment on drawings that they themselves drafted,” she told the hearing. “Significantly, they do not indicate how they proposed to achieve compliance [to building regulations], assuming, that is, that they ever applied their minds to that question.” Expert reports released on Monday identified
the cladding system installed on the building as the main reason the flames shot up the side of the tower block with such speed. Ms Barwise hit out at the corporate bodies over their alleged behaviour, saying: “These contractors should not be allowed, by their deliberate refusal to participate, to derail determination of the compliance issue even though we are concerned with blatant noncompliance. “Despite their words of condolence to the victims, these corporates have no desire to assist this inquiry, even though their participation could save lives in the immediate future. “The corporate silence deprives the families of the degree of resolution and understanding to which they are entitled and has only served to increase their pain and uncertainty. “It is inhumane to remain silent when so many seek understanding and answers – answers which are within the corporates’ gift.”
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Wednesday June 6 | 2018
CLOSE TO HOME A plane landing at Heathrow, viewed from the village of Longford
and there will be a legal challenge,” he said. In his Commons statement, Mr Grayling stressed that Heathrow expansion would bring benefits across the country with a boost of up to £74billion to passengers and to the wider economy. “The time for action is now. Heathrow is already full and the evidence shows the remaining London airports won’t be far behind,” he said. “Despite being the busiest two-runway airport in the world, Heathrow’s capacity constraints means that it is falling behind its global competitors, impacting the UK’s economy and global trading opportunities.” Mr Grayling said local communities would receive a £2.6billion package towards the costs of
compensation, noise insulation and improvements to public amenities that was among the ‘most generous in the world’. He expected to see for the first time a six-and-ahalf-hour ban on scheduled night flights, and said the scheme would only go ahead if ministers were satisfied it would not impact on the UK’s clean air obligations. The announcement comes after the independent Airports Commission concluded in 2015 that a new north-west runway for Heathrow was the best option for delivering extra airport capacity instead of an extra runway at Gatwick – a decision that was endorsed by ministers in October 2016.
Abortion reform must wait for Northern Ireland Assembly KAREN BRADLEY said she backs abortion reform, but added that the Northern Ireland Assembly must be restored to consider the issue to avoid disenfranchising 1.8million people. The Northern Ireland Secretary confirmed if abortion came before the House of Commons then a free vote would take place, as it is a ‘matter of conscience’. But she insisted her focus is on restoring the devolved assembly at Stormont, amid intense cross-party calls to liberalise Northern Ireland’s abortion laws following the landslide pro-choice referendum victory in Ireland last month. Labour’s Stella Creasy, leading an emergency Commons debate, said the proposal to repeal Sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the
Person Act (OAPA) 1861, which criminalises abortion, would respect devolution and not change the abortion time limit or role of medics. The Walthamstow MP argued she was not proposing any particular law but repealing existing UK legislation that would require Northern Ireland to act. Ms Creasy urged ministers to commit to allowing the Commons to express its opinion on the issue within the next 150 days. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had earlier hit out at the DUP after it insisted Westminster should not meddle with Northern Ireland’s strict abortion regime. He insisted that the UK Parliament has a responsibility to respect human rights standards.
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RBS stake sale is ‘value for money’ THE Government has sold a 7.7 per cent stake in Royal Bank of Scotland at a £2.1billion loss to the UK taxpayer. Treasury spokesman Lord Bates defended the sale against opposition criticism, saying it represented ‘value for money’ for taxpayers. UK Government Investments confirmed the ‘successful completion’ of the disposal at a placement price of 271p per share. The sale of around 925million shares will bring the public holding in RBS down from approximately 70.1 per cent to 62.4 per cent, resulting in proceeds of £2.5billion. The Government originally paid an average of 502p per share during its bailout of RBS during the financial crisis. The public loss is expected to balloon to around £26.2billion as the Government tries to sell off around two-thirds of its stake by 2023.
Five million affected by Tesco Bank glitch TESCO BANK has apologised to customers after they found themselves unable to access its app and online services. The problems lasted from 10.30am to 2.30pm yesterday [Tuesday]. Tesco Bank, which has over 5million customers, has not confirmed the cause. The issues follow a systems crash at Visa last Friday which left millions unable to make payments across the UK and Europe, and TSB’s IT meltdown in April, which left customers unable to access their accounts. In 2016, Tesco Bank was also hit by an attack that prompted a freeze in online transactions for its customers.
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Fox must sell Sky News to secure Murdoch takeover SKY NEWS must be sold if Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox is to secure Government approval for an £11.7billion takeover of broadcaster Sky. The Culture Secretary Matt Hancock has said that in order to address media plurality concerns flagged by the Competition and Markets Authority [CMA], he favours ‘divesting Sky News to a suitable third party’. The CMA raised the possibility of ‘increased influence of the Murdoch Family Trust over public opinion and the UK’s political agenda’, should Fox secure ownership of Sky News. Mr Hancock told Parliament he will now consult over the next 15 days to finalise details of the plans to divest Sky News before making a final decision.
Block But he said if terms of a sale of Sky News cannot be agreed, the ‘only effective remedy now would be to block the merger altogether’. A separate £22billion bid for Sky from US broadcasting giant Comcast was cleared by Mr Hancock, setting the stage for a bidding war with Fox. Rupert Murdoch’s Fox is attempting to buy the 61 per cent of Sky that it does not already own, but the bid has been complicated by competition concerns, media plurality fears and rival offers. “I agree with the CMA that divesting Sky News to Disney, as proposed by Fox, or to an alternative suitable buyer, with an agreement to ensure it is funded for at least 10 years, is likely to be the most proportionate and effective remedy for the public interest concerns that have been identified,” Mr Hancock added. But he said he wants to ensure that the sale of Sky News would ensure it remains financially viable over the long-term; is able to operate as a
major UK-based news provider; and is able to take its editorial decisions independently, free from any potential outside influence. Disney has separately struck a deal to buy Fox’s entertainment assets, including its stake in Sky. Fox said that it has already submitted proposals to divest Sky News to Disney. Fox’s offer values Sky at around £18.5billion. PUBLIC INTEREST Matt Hancock is concerned about plurality
NEWS IN BRIEF
Pressure mounting for Johnston Press papers JOHNSTON PRESS shares plunged after the company logged a fall in revenues and warned of ‘continued pressure’ amid new data protection rules and paper prices. The publisher of The Scotsman and Yorkshire Post said in a trading update that revenues slumped 9 per cent in the period between January 1 and May 31, despite a ‘strong performance’ from the i newspaper. While the company expects full-year results to be in line with market expectations, it warned of further pain in the months ahead.
Stobart coup underway STOBART has confirmed that a group of key shareholders are manoeuvring to install retail boss Philip Day as Chairman in place of the incumbent Iain Ferguson. The infrastructure business is under pressure from former chief executive Andrew Tinkler, former director Allan Jenkinson and the fund controlled by star investor Neil Woodfood. The group owns 33 per cent of Stobart’s shares, and the company will now convene a meeting to allow all shareholders to vote on the appointment.
AO World feels heat ONLINE electricals retailer AO World has seen annual losses nearly double amid competitive trading in the UK and after hefty investment in European expansion. The company has reported group-wide pre-tax losses of £13.5million for the year to March 31 against losses of £7million the previous year.
World News
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
SPORT IN BRIEF
Murray aims to return in time for Wimbledon ANDY MURRAY is aiming to compete at Wimbledon after admitting his near year-long recovery from a hip problem has taken longer than anticipated. The 31-year-old, who has not played since the Wimbledon quarter-finals last July, said: “It’s been very slow, I’ve been out getting close to a year now which is a lot longer than I expected at the beginning. “I’m getting closer to playing again, I have started training a few days ago, hoping to make my comeback during the grass court season.”
United swoop for Fred MANCHESTER UNITED have reached an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk to sign Brazil midfielder Fred for a reported fee in excess of £50million. The 25-year-old is believed to have signed a five-year deal at Old Trafford. Fred has made eight appearances for his country and has been named in Brazil coach Tite’s final 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer.
Emery’s first signing ARSENAL’S new head coach Unai Emery believes his first signing, Stephan Lichtsteiner, will improve the club both on and off the pitch. The Switzerland captain became the first recruit at the Emirates since Emery took charge following the departure of Arsene Wenger last month. The 34-year-old arrives a free transfer from Juventus, having won the Serie A title in each of his seven years at the club.
Weinstein ‘not guilty’ of rape and criminal sexual act charges HARVEY WEINSTEIN has pleaded not guilty to rape and criminal sexual act charges at a court hearing in New York. The 66-year-old film producer appeared at a Manhattan court for the hearing yesterday [Tuesday], his first public outing since he was first charged on May 25. His lawyer Benjamin Brafman said in a statement outside the Manhattan court: “We intend to move very quickly to dismiss these charges.
he did not attend on the advice of his lawyers. They said the former movie mogul did not have enough time to prepare to testify, and that he only learned on the day he was charged of the identities of the two women relating to the charges. The day he was charged had been Weinstein’s first public appearance since facing
Flawed “We believe that they are constitutionally flawed. We believe that they are not factually supported by the evidence and we believe that by the end of the process, Mr Weinstein will be exonerated.” The not-guilty plea comes after he was indicted by a grand jury on charges of rape in the first and third degrees and a criminal sexual act in the first degree last Wednesday. Weinstein was due to face the grand jury – the panel convened by the Manhattan District Attorney – at the time but
numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. He is currently out on a $1million dollar [£751,060] bail, and must wear an electronic tracking device at all times. Weinstein has also surrendered his passport and has agreed to stay within the states of New York and Connecticut. He denies all allegations of non-consensual sex.
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Fashion guru Spade in apparent suicide NEW YORK fashion designer Kate Spade has been found dead in her apartment in an apparent suicide, law enforcement officials said. She was found by housekeeping staff inside her Park Avenue apartment at about 10.20am local time yesterday [Tuesday], the officials said. They confirmed she left a Kate note at the scene. Spade The 55-year-old created a line of sleek handbags in the early 1990s that were a big hit. Her company, Kate Spade New York, has more than 140 retail shops and outlet stores across the US and more than 175 shops internationally.
Fifa tackles Viagogo’s World Cup ticket sales
ON BAIL Harvey Weinstein, pictured with his ex-wife Georgina Chapman
STOP FIFA has filed a criminal complaint in Switzerland against online platform Viagogo for selling World Cup tickets. Football’s world governing body said it joined other parties filing criminal complaints against alleged ‘opaque and deceptive business conduct’ by Viagogo in the so-called secondary market. Fifa said its priority is ‘the safety and security of fans and enforce a fair 2018 Fifa World Cup ticketing pricing scheme’. It said fans who buy through unofficial platforms, including Viagogo, for World Cup games in Russia face being denied entry to stadiums.
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NEWS
Letters
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Wednesday June 6 | 2018
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 READY AND WILLING Volunteers give almost a million hours each year
It is not perfect, but we would at least get a council (and Parliament) that showed some resemblance to voters’ wishes. We may even get more people bothering to vote, as the Brexit turnout suggested. Ian Bradford Tunbridge Wells
This sleepy silence is deafening
Opportunity to give thanks to all our life-saving volunteers As St John Ambulance’s County President for Kent, I would like to seize the opportunity of Volunteers’ Week to thank all our charity’s volunteers who work tirelessly in local communities, supporting patients and their families through some of their hardest and most vulnerable times. Across the country they give almost a million hours every year to support the public at events. That’s over 100 years’ worth of hours given humbly, without expectation of praise. Many readers of the Times will, I am certain, have good reason to join me in thanking our volunteers for their medical care. Some will owe their lives to these everyday heroes. In addition to our frontline first aid provision, St John’s impact would not be possible without all the teams whose work happens quietly in
Drive to help reduce loneliness Dial 2 Drive would like to thank the Times for its coverage of our grant [May 16]. Dial 2 Drive is a service of the local charity Imago and supports local people who are unable to access public transport due to older age, illness or disability to get to their medical and social appointments. The service is seeking additional volunteer drivers across West Kent to use their own cars to carry out the drives. The role fits around other commitments and offers full flexibility to choose drives from one a month to several a day. New driver Kate Raper said: “If you have a spare few hours a week to be a volunteer driver, please do consider helping out Dial 2 Drive. It’s an excellent way of reducing loneliness.” If you want to join the team, email: volunteering@imago.community or see the Community Services menu at www.imago.community Fiona Watkins Via email
We’re not stupid, votes must count I am sure there was a universal groan as a few dared to suggest that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s election results revealed the absurdity
the background, away from the spotlight. I would like to take this moment to celebrate those volunteers in support roles across our whole organisation for making it all possible. I am also grateful to our young people and their leaders, plus other volunteers, such as advocates and first responders, along with the teams of volunteer managers. Thank you for all that you do; for your family spirit, kindness and dedication, and for representing the values that have been the very foundation of St John throughout all its 900 years of history. I am immensely proud to be part of this organisation in Kent, and my thanks are not just for Volunteers’ Week – but for every week. Dr Ian Jutting County President, St John Ambulance of an electoral system that distorts the expressed wishes of those who took the trouble to vote. As depressing were the thoughts of Cllr Tracy Moore – firstly, that ‘excellent councillors’ and ‘strong community advocates’ had been voted off the council, presumably to replaced by councillors who lacked such talents; secondly, having suggested the reason that voters rejected her friends was a consequence of the ‘emotive proposal’ for a Civic Complex – the only lesson she can learn is to ‘engage with the community’ to show them how wrong they obviously are. The fact is, Cllr Moore, the Conservative Party should not have a significant majority on the council. You actually won six of the 16 seats contested. In the other ten seats, a very significant majority (nearly 2,000 voters) deliberately said they did not want to be represented by a Conservative councillor. And this distortion has been going on for years. It would be good to see some humility and a recognition that the electorate is not stupid. Mr Cameron was wrong to argue, while leading a coalition government, that the Single Transferable Vote was too complicated for the electorate to understand. It is not complicated, and we are not stupid.
In the press and on social media, the only voice championing the Civic Complex development is Cllr Tracy Moore. Even the Council’s Leader, David Jukes, has gone unusually quiet! But what about all the other councillors who sleepily nodded through this appalling plan in December? We have not heard a word from any of them. They know they do not have a public mandate. The local election results confirm that. Perhaps that is why they are all being so quiet. We believe the council needs new leadership. Leaders who listen. Leaders who canvas the views of residents as much as they do those of business. Leaders who are humble enough to admit that the current attitude to residents’ concerns has been dismissive and patronising. Hugo Pound Chair, Tunbridge Wells Labour Party
Referendum to give us a voice Having suffered a fractured hip and arm in the cause of justice and democracy – see the Times report of my accident while delivering leaflets for Labour [May 2] – I am likely to have a stiff shoulder for the rest of my life. It is to be hoped that this Civic Complex vanity project can be stopped. I have never hitherto voted Labour, but feel that the Conservative Party is acting in a very irresponsible way, lending vast, unaffordable sums of money to local councils when we are short of funds without verifying that it is a necessary project, like social housing and general infrastructure, improvement of roads and pavements, etc. Does it make sense to replace an existing car park with an underground car park? How are we going to fill a 1,200-seat theatre every night? Let the people have a voice. A referendum was refused. Conservative councillors seem to be yes men. I call this tyranny. This project could take Tunbridge Wells Borough Council well beyond its acceptable borrowing limits. It must stop now. Ann Pickering Via email
Calverley
Observations on life and more important things
SHIH TZUS are those delightful toy dogs that are very clever and intelligent. Which means you can easily train them, as one of Calverley’s dear friends discovered. He lives with his wife in a top floor flat that has all-wooden floors. To keep the place clean, the couple taught their wee doggy to only use the litter tray that stood in the corner on a large sample of carpet. All went swimmingly well until they took (carried) little Oscar round to a friend’s house. Off he scampered across the lounge, which was carpeted. And, yes, you guessed it. Oscar proudly deposited a message on the cream carpet. More than one in fact. Talk about red faces.
TO the Maldives on a freebie trip to research the new book (yeah, right). Plenty of sunloungers by the hotel pool, all full of pretty people who appeared to spend most of their time taking selfies to put on Instagram, showing the world what a good time they were having (not). What surprised Calverley, though, was the lengths people will go to to get the right picture. Some of the guests actually had drones flying overhead snapping hundreds of pictures. Obviously only the best ones went public. You’re supposed to be on holiday, relaxing.
SEEMS we Brits are not so good at being as polite as we used to be. If you believe a new international survey, we say ‘thank you’ only one in seven times when we should utter the words, such as when we’re granted a request. Even so, that’s better than a lot of other places where ‘on average’ the word ‘thanks’ is muttered just one in 20 times. Mind you, we all know how surveys can get things woefully wrong, so maybe we should tell the researchers what to do with their study, thank you very much.
No deviation on High Street plan Linda Terry and Mark Hood are spot on with their views about the ‘improvements’ to Tonbridge High Street [May 23]. My perception is that the consultation was a sop to the wider public, with little or no intention of deviating from the plans of the consultant ‘suits’ deployed on the project. It certainly does not bode well for the Tonbridge station forecourt regeneration, where I suspect that yet again it will be a case of ‘if there is a problem after the work, we shall have to have a look and see what we can do’. For the money involved, that is not good enough. Tony Russell Tonbridge
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
OVERHEARD: Two grown-ups talking over a cup of coffee down the High Street. First one: “Do you remember when we were kids, we would play a game where you knocked on a front door then ran away as fast as possible before anyone opened it?” Second one: “Of course I do. These days, though, it’s called Parcelforce.”
FINAL word. Is it ever OK for chaps to wear summer shorts with sandals and black socks? Surely not. Chin Chin, readers
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
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EDUCATION Times WITH THE
Never a bridge too far for these awards The second Interschools Bridge Competition, held last week in Weald, was a triumph, with children from all over the local area taking part… Edwards and Mia Harrop from St James’s School. • Mixed Category: Winners: Catherine Barwick of TGS and Isobel Chatten of WCPS (who came third overall in the main event) as the top pair representing a primary and secondary school combination.
GAME ON Some of the happy players
• Minibridge: Winners: Zac Howes and Richard Tatum of WCPS Runners-Up: Finn Gomm and Robin Davis of Mersham Primary School.
A FEW weeks ago we brought you news of the second junior bridge competition happening at the Weald Community Primary School [WCPS]. Last week saw the event take place, with around 50 participating children from both primary and secondary schools, including Weald of Kent Girls Grammar, St James’s and Sevenoaks School. “The event was a great success,” organiser Anton Mauve told the Times.
Benefits “This is the second year of the competition and we are hoping that it becomes bigger and better in 2019, with more schools and more players.” It has been proven that playing bridge brings lots of positive benefits. As well as being good for the mind, it is also well known for being a game that commands a mental workout which can stimulate both halves of the brain in equal measure. The event was held over an afternoon, and both the WCPS and Weald village hall were used as
venues for the children to compete. According to Mr Mauve, the village green also doubled up as an ‘ideal setting’ for interval games and pre-tournament picnics. “Most of the success should be attributed to the volunteers who assisted with the logistics, the directing, the break-time refreshments and all the in-play assistance,” added Mr Mauve. Guest Helen Erichsen, one of Kent’s top players, was on hand to present trophies to the winners and runners-up, and medals were given out to all participants. • Secondary Schools Bridge Winners: Sofia Ballara and Minna Briscoe (with a record 81% score, and for the second year running) from Tonbridge Grammar School [TGS]. Runners-Up: Frank Qi and Archie McCulloch from Sevenoaks School. • Primary Schools Bridge Winners: Sophie Phillips and Antoinina Mauve from WCPS (also runners-up in the main event). Runners-Up: James
EYES ON THE PRIZES Tonbridge Grammar winners Sofia Ballara (left) and Minna Briscoe (right) with Helen Erichsen
If you go down to the woods today… A NEW Forest School has just been launched by Beechwood Sacred Heart School in Tunbridge Wells. They decided to do so as this type of learning, where pupils are taught in the great FUN IN THE FOREST SCHOOL Children learning to love the great outdoors
outdoors, offers the chance for them to build on the skills, experience, confidence and independence they have learnt in the classroom. The external area can be used in all weathers,
promotes holistic development, and is suitable for children of all ages and abilities. “Due to the all-inclusive nature of our Forest School, all of our students are able to participate fully, feel satisfied and achieve things not possible inside the confines of a classroom,” a school spokesperson told the Times. They went on to add: “At Beechwood we provide children with regular access to Forest School activities. This added exposure gives children the opportunity to take on new challenges, promote self-esteem, perseverance and helps them to learn to ask for support, which in turn aids and promotes teamwork and social interaction.” On June 22, they are inviting young children to go along and join their Early Years pupils to experience learning in this environment, and also get involved with the Beechwood Bear Hunt. The event runs from 2pm-3.30pm. During the afternoon, parents are invited to look around the school and speak to the Early Years staff in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. For more information, email: registrar@ beechwood.org.uk or visit www.beechwood.org.uk
Education
NEWS
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NEWS
Weekly Comment
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Mark Hood
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Mark Hood has established the Barden Residents’ Association, is a founder member of Keep River Lawn Green, and campaigned to save the Barden Boatyard and River Lawn from development. He is also one of the organisers of the Tonbridge Calling festival
Vice-Chairman of the Tonbridge & Malling Green Party
Genuinely affordable homes to rent are essential HOUSING is probably the biggest challenge facing local authorities – and no more so than in West Kent. No new units for social rent have been provided in Tonbridge & Malling for three years, despite the continuing situation at Tonbridge and District Property Management, who are planning to sell their remaining stock within two years. We already have 1,145 families waiting to be homed, but only 167 were rehomed last year. Three years ago, I highlighted these issues to Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council [TMBC], and they have done nothing in anticipation of families facing homelessness. Doing nothing only increases the mammoth bill for temporary accommodation and housing benefit for private landlords – these funds would be better spent building social housing. Worse still, 69 per cent of the families from the borough requiring permanent housing are placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough, away from family and friends. TMBC is planning to build 482 new homes in Judd Ward, where the majority of families under threat of losing their homes are located. Their needs must be addressed as part of any new developments in the town. At present, none of these new homes is scheduled to be social housing for rent. Conservative policies, including Right to Buy
and Help to Buy, have diverted almost all funding away from social housing for rent, which would solve the problem and raise income for local authorities in the long term. The only people benefitting are the CEOs and shareholders of construction companies who are the main recipients of government money. Councils and their partners need to start building themselves.
‘Laughable’
Government to deliver the sort of housing we need, rather than the kind which draws more people into the area that our infrastructure cannot sustain. Despite the massive increase in house building, school spaces and our
roads are struggling to cope with the influx. The combination of unaffordable high rents and welfare changes have seen a doubling in rough sleeping and homelessness. Something needs to change.
PROBLEMS BUILDING UP Housing needs to be affordable, say Tonbridge Greens
It doesn’t matter how many thousands of so-called ‘affordable’ homes are built if they are beyond the reach of those in need. TMBC’s Local Plan proposals rule out the provision of social housing for rent and they are even happy to accept financial incentives to allow developers to avoid including the requisite numbers of affordable houses in developments. Last year, only 183 affordable homes were built in the borough. The Bridge Trust’s CEO John Handley has condemned this inadequate situation as: “Laughable, it’s literally a drop in the ocean.” TMBC Leader Nicolas Heslop is the Bridge Trust’s Chair. It is time to grasp the nettle and apply for the limited funding available from the newly-named Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Peter Lidstone
Tunbridge Wells councillor
Liberal Democrat Peter Lidstone became the youngest member of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council when he was elected in 2016 aged 32. He represents St John’s ward on the authority and was the only candidate to dislodge a Conservative opponent at that year’s count. Having previously worked for charity Build Africa, he now works in London as Information and Reporting Manager at Save the Children. His interest in politics came after attending a conference on the subject at Christian Aid about why Christians should get involved
Invest in cycling as fast way to end congestion it would. The problem is he is wrong. The council’s own figures reveal only 13 per cent of visitors to Tunbridge Wells are passing through – the vast majority of people [87 per cent] are visiting our town for a specific reason. And 40 per cent of all journeys in the UK are less than two miles. These are journeys that could be made on foot, by bike or other sustainable means.
‘Danish levels of cycling here would reduce road deaths by 30 per cent and save NHS £17billion’
GETTING OUT OF A JAM Cycle routes are the way forward A COUPLE of issues that come up regularly on the doorstep are congestion and parking (add to that potholes, which are made worse by large volumes of traffic).
Would a ring road around Tunbridge Wells solve our congestion problems? According to Conservative Leader David Jukes – the man in charge of setting a vision for Tunbridge Wells –
But the key to why we need to encourage people out of private cars is that active travel delivers better outcomes for virtually everyone. There is an obesity crisis in our primary schools, and we have illegal air pollution levels on the A26, next to a string of schools. Danish levels of cycling here would reduce road deaths by 30 per cent and save our NHS £17billion over the next 20 years. Businesses benefit, too, as cyclists make smaller but more frequent purchases, actually
spending more than motorists on average. Heavy traffic divides roads and communities; residents on cul-de-sacs and quieter roads have far more interactions with their neighbours. And cycling is a leveller; bikes can be expensive or cheap and are of course free to run. Naturally, some people will need to drive due to work commitments or inconvenient routes and times. But how much more pleasant would their journeys be if even ten per cent of overall car journeys were made by other means? I imagine it would be a similar impact to what they already see during half term. It was great to see MP Tom Tugendhat championing cycling in his Times column two weeks ago. Well, Tom, would you mind having a word with your party colleagues on Kent County Council and here in Tunbridge Wells? Because plans for a continuous cycle route along the A26 between Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge have been watered down in order to protect six parking spaces, and avoid a shared path on Mabledon hill. Until we are bold enough to take decisions which ensure that cyclists will be protected from traffic while using our roads, this is nothing but empty talk.
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Profile
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LIFESTYLE
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PEOPLE IN
David Bartholomew
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Local photographer David Bartholomew tells us about his favourite places in our area
Where do you head for lunch or a coffee? My best spot for lunch has to be any one of the restaurants or pubs on The Pantiles, and for a coffee The Cake Shed is always my place of choice.
restaurants and coffee shops makes it a great place to relax and watch the world go by. The location also means it’s easy to stroll across the Common, and we quite often end up at Wellington Rocks.
Where do you take visitors when they come to stay?
Looking at the wider area, where is your favourite place to go for a decent Sunday stroll?
Again, because I have a real soft spot for The Pantiles, I will always meet or take visitors there. The architecture and mix of pubs,
For me it has to be across the South Downs Way around the Lewes area, the views are stunning and it’s so peaceful there.
Where have you chosen to live? Having been a lifelong resident of Tunbridge Wells, I recently moved to Heathfield to be nearer family and somewhere a little more rural, which gives me the best of both worlds as it’s only 20 minutes from Tunbridge Wells, where I have my studio.
How do you find the nightlife where you live? Nightlife at my age is probably a little more gentle than it used to be! I do, however, drop into The Mark
Cross Inn on occasions for a beverage.
What’s your favourite shop locally? It would be Tinker & Toad – an eclectic mix of antiques and modern and vintage home furnishings where I can get completely immersed in the surroundings. For more information on David and his photographic work, visit www.davidbartholomew.co.uk
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LIFESTYLE
Families
IN thekn
wABOUT FAMILIES
Langton Pavilion
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OU might be looking to make likeminded friends as a new mum, or find some fun-filled activities for the children to enjoy all year round – the royal spa town has all of this and more...
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FAMILY-FRIENDLY EATERIES Whether they’re indulging in a hot chocolate at Chocolatl on The Pantiles, enjoying a slice of delicious cake at Langton Pavilion Café, or playing board games while tucking in to a hearty breakfast at Daily Bread in Rusthall, children will be well and truly spoiled for choice when it comes to their food. Clare Lush-Mansell, founder of parenting and lifestyle blog My Tunbridge Wells, says: “Tunbridge Wells offers so much for kids, from tiny tots up to teenagers and beyond. It feels like there are new things popping up constantly, including child-friendly cafés, adventure playgrounds and more!”
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AMAZING SPACES From Calverley Grounds and Dunorlan Park, to the Grove and Hilbert and Grosvenor, there are plenty of places where youngsters can run around in the great outdoors, while soft play, kids’ activities and family events are also readily available at nearby venues like Groombridge Place and Bewl Water. So, come the school holidays, they’ll keep themselves busy and stay entertained for
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hours on end. Clare adds: “Tunbridge Wells offers a good balance of outdoor activities, as well as things to do indoors, with many venues hosting different events during each school holiday, which they change from year to year.” Dunorlan Park
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INSPIRING ARTS Each year, there’s a whole host of festivals and events that help to bring art and culture to life for young children. The Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival’s biennial programme comprises object theatre, animation and puppetry for everyone from babies to grown-ups, whereas Trinity Youth Theatre’s ongoing activities include productions, workshops, photoshoots, musical days and much more. Youth and learning manager Jason Lower comments: “Tunbridge Wells is a great place for young people to explore every bit of the arts and culture, and there are lots of opportunities for anyone to get involved, regardless of skill level or experience.”
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MUMMY MEET-UPS Tunbridge Wells is the perfect place to get involved in some warm and welcoming events with other local mums. Mum’s the Word is an exciting events company hosting inspiring meet-ups, talks and live events ‘for mamas and their families’, plus Mama Mixers organises social events and nights out for local mothers looking to mingle with fellow parents. Co-founder Vickey Fitzell states: “I love Tunbridge Wells – it’s a great place to live when starting a family, as there’s so much on offer. It’s such a vibrant town, with so many mums providing services for other mums and their children.”
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
REASONS TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Puppetry Festival
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HEIGHT OF FASHION Looking for the ideal outfit to dress your little ones in? Tunbridge Wells is full of stylish emporiums that purvey the latest looks and trends. There’s a mixture of fabulous independents and bigger-brand stores, including Polarn O. Pyret, which produces colourful, contemporary clothing for babies and children. Then there’s Childrensalon, Chocolatl
which has been ‘dressing children beautifully’ since 1952. CEO Michele Harriman-Smith concludes: “Tunbridge Wells is our home; it’s where Childrensalon was conceived and holds immense sentimental value to us. We have such an emotional attachment to this wonderful town and people, and couldn’t imagine being based anywhere else!”
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
yourh me INSPIRATION FOR MOVING
AND IMPROVING
Ripe for refurbishment In Tunbridge Wells
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ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PROPERTY, IN TERIORS, TOP TRENDS AN D GARDENING
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Raising the bar
On an updated home Page 42
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yourh me
To suit your budget
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Your at-a-glance guide to THE COACH HOUSE TUNBRIDGE WELLS GUIDE PRICE
£895,000
UNDER £350,000
n Master bedroom with en suite
UNDER £450,000
CANNONS WHARF, TONBRIDGE
n Further second bedroom
NORTHFIELDS, SPELDHURST
n Fitted kitchen
GUIDE PRICE
n Family bathroom
OIEO
n 2 double bedrooms
£315,000
n Allocated parking space
£300,000-£325,000 (LEASEHOLD) n Modern apartment n Communal entrance area n Sitting room n Private balcony n Modern fitted kitchen
n Allocated parking space n Short walk to lock and river n Lease and service charges apply CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk
n Semi-detached cottage
garden
n Courtyard garden n Additional road parking
n Entrance hall n Spacious hallway n Sitting/dining room n Conservatory with doors to
CONTACT Barnes Kingsnorth Pembury 01892 822880 www.bkestateagents.co.uk
To suit your budget
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
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great properties by price range…
UNDER £600,000 ARGYLE HOUSE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
GUIDE PRICE
£565,000 n Apartment within detached house n Victorian conversion n Living room with far-reaching views n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n 2 double bedrooms (one with en suite) n Rear garden n Garage n Off-road parking for 2 cars CONTACT Flying Fish Properties Tunbridge Wells 01892 514189 www.flyingfishproperties.co.uk
UNDER £700,000 OLD HADLOW ROAD, TONBRIDGE
£685,000-£699,950 GUIDE PRICE n Detached house n Entrance hall n Family room n Open plan kitchen with breakfast bar n Dining room n Sitting room n Master bedroom with en suite and dressing area n 2 further bedrooms n Luxury family bathroom n Rear garden with decked area CONTACT Wood & Pilcher Tunbridge Wells 01732 351135 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk
UNDER £1MILLION THE COACH HOUSE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
GUIDE PRICE
£895,000
UNDER £800,000 PEMBURY ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Master bedroom with en suite/ shower room n 3 further bedrooms n Family bathroom
GUIDE PRICE
£700,000-£735,000 n Detached property in need of
refurbishment
n Period coach house
n South-facing rear garden
n Entrance hall
n Off-street parking for several cars
n Open plan reception room and
CONTACT
n Kitchen
Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk
n Master bedroom with en suite
n Sitting room n Dining room n Kitchen n Utility room n Cloakroom
dining room
n 3 further bedrooms n Rear garden with courtyard area
and garage CONTACT Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
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yourh me
Plumey Feathers
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
AT A GLANCE PLUMEY FEATHERS CROWBOROUGH n Significantly extended n Entire ground floor wood-style flooring n Entrance porch n Hallway n Bathroom n Sitting room n Kitchen/dining room n Further kitchen area n Utility room n Family room n Cloakroom n 5 bedrooms n Shower room n Front and rear gardens n Large central garden in rear lawn with seating area n Brick built garden store/workshop n Off-road parking for several vehicles
GUIDE PRICE
ÂŁ630,000
Available for sale through Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk
Significantly extended spacious home with character features and countryside views
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yourh me
Langmead
Wednesday May 30 | 2018
AT A GLANCE
LANGMEAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Detached home n Double fronted n Modern dĂŠcor and fittings throughout n Kitchen/dining room with walk-in larder n 2 reception rooms n Master bedroom suite with dressing room n 5 further double bedrooms n 3 bathrooms n Off-road parking for several cars n Landscaped rear gardens with large terrace and outside kitchen n Countryside views
GUIDE PRICE
ÂŁ1,299,995
Available for sale through Flying Fish Properties Tunbridge Wells 01892 514189 www.flyingfishproperties.co.uk
Beautifully improved modern family
property in sought-after village location
Gardening
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
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5 ways gardeners can be more waterwise this summer Want to save your plants and save water? Go easy with the sprinkler and try these expert suggestions instead, says Hannah Stephenson spade’s depth to see if the soil is moist. If it is, you shouldn’t need to water mature permanent plants. Light, sandy soils are going to need more watering than heavy clay ones, especially if you haven’t improved the lighter soil structure with added organic matter.
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USING as much as 1,000 litres of water an hour – more than the average a family of four use in a whole day – means sprinklers aren’t exactly efficient. Organisations including the National Trust, the Royal Horticultural Society and Waterwise have long been promoting water-saving and conservation, and it’s
something we can all embrace in our own homes…
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Check your soil If you’ve added organic matter to your beds and borders, that should help to retain some moisture, but if you’re in doubt, dig down to about a
Use drought-tolerant plants If you are creating new beds and borders, consider drought-resistant plants such as lavender, Sedum spectabile, lamb’s ears and ornamental grass such as Stipa tenuissima, while middle-sized drought-resistant plants include Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’, Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ (wallflower), Russian sage and Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ (catmint). At the back of the border, you could use species more than 1.8m tall, including Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’, Choisya ternata (Mexican orange blossom) and Trachelospermum jasminoides. Most drought-tolerant plants will have either aromatic leaves, fleshy and succulent leaves (which store moisture for dry spells), grey leaves, hairy leaves (which shade themselves with their own hairs), long narrow leaves (which are good at shedding heat without water), or
spikes (which act as ‘fins’ to cool the plant).
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Only water plants that really need it Well-established evergreens and perennials should be happy not to be watered for longer than young plants or annuals in pots, as their root systems will go deep down into the soil to access moisture. Fruit and veg tend to be thirsty, so you may choose to grow less produce.
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Recycle domestic water Use a plastic bowl for washing up and then deposit the water on to your plants, as a small amount of biodegradable washing-up liquid isn’t going to hurt them (with the exception of fruit and veg.) Bathwater can also be reused, via a diverter from the downpipe to a water butt.
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Go easy with the hose Try attaching a trigger nozzle on to your hosepipe to halve the amount of water used and help
direct the flow to the root of your plants. Alternatively, use a watering can, which is far less wasteful and more effective in targeting the water in exactly the right place. You can also add plant food to the watering can to help maintain healthy plants.
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Interiors
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Orange crush The time has come to reflect the sunny weather by adding some warmth to your home. In our opinion, there’s no better way than with delightfully rich burnt orange – one of the season’s hottest new colours
Chi Chi sofa, £1,359 www.contentbyterenceconran.com
This feature also appears in the June edition of our sister publication, SO Magazine Hübsch large terracotta ceiling lamp, £189 www.printerandtailor.com
Drybrush woven cotton rug, £51 www.dashandalberteurope. com
Tourron jumbo cup and saucer, £30 www.abodeliving.co.uk
Merci X3 large bowl, £24 www.abodeliving.co.uk
Ferm Living dual floor vase, £94 www.cloudberryliving.co.uk
Rustic wire cage planter trough, £38.50, www.thefarthing.co.uk
Alexandra D Foster London cushion, £194 www.thelongeststay.com
Finn Juhl sofa, £569.99 www.my-furniture.co.uk
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
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ARTS & CULTURE | LIFE & STYLE |
FOOD & DRINK | MOTORING
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RALLYING CRY AT THE HOP FARM
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Follow the new art trail around town
THIS GIN’S A TOWN TONIC
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Page 61
SUPERB SIGHTS BY THE DANUBE
Comic Shappi takes her hat off…
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To Lady Hamilton Page 49
THREE CHEERS FOR TOP TEACHER
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Arts & Culture
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‘Stand-up is like skydiving, the adrenaline rush is incredible’ This week, Trinity Theatre hosts Shappi Khorsandi and her new Mistress and Misfit show. Here, the comedian and recent I’m A Celebrity star tells us why it’s about Lady Hamilton – who won Admiral Nelson’s heart – and the many parallels her tumultuous life draws with women today
HAPPI KHORSANDI’S show Mistress and Misfit focuses on Emma, Lady Hamilton, who lit up the life of Admiral Nelson and added to the gaiety of nations during the Georgian era. The comedian, who is one of the bestloved stand-ups in the country, admits that she has had a ball penning this for her latest tour: “It has been the most fun to write. It’s about passion and tragedy. What better things are there to write comedy about?” she says. As to the thrill of performing live: “It’s like skydiving,” she enthuses. “The adrenaline rush is incredible. It’s probably the only time in my day when I’m utterly focused and have no responsibility to anyone else apart from the audience. “It’s like a lovely, warm, relaxing bath, but a very high-octane bath! You can’t reproduce that feeling. If I haven’t done stand-up for a while, I just have to get back on stage. I need it like oxygen!”
Shappi, who appeared on last year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, is an immensely entertaining performer. The Guardian comments: “She has plenty to say, and says it with pointedness and potency”, while the Evening Standard observes that Shappi ‘makes live comedy thrilling’.
‘Emma modelled for artists, I modelled for GCSE students in Tower Hamlets’ Much of her material relates to herself, and audiences instantly identify with that. Shappi, who is also a best-selling author having released A Beginner’s Guide to Acting English in 2009, followed by her fantastic, critically-lauded 2016 debut novel Nina Is Not OK, reflects that she can ‘relate Emma’s life to modern women’.
“When you’re a stand-up, people have come to see you and share the experience with you. They can read a book about Lady Hamilton, but the way I tell her story draws people in. “For too long, she has been reductively tagged as Nelson’s mistress. She has been regarded as a bit of a harlot (you work in a brothel for one night and there goes your reputation). “Women’s lib wasn’t uppermost in people’s minds in Georgian times. Emma moved heaven and earth to drag herself from scullery maid to Lady Hamilton. I was fascinated by her. She was really clever and compassionate and very hard done by. She was also a master of reinvention and a fantastically creative person. “I initially tried to write a novel about her, but it was too hard, so I thought I’d do a show instead. That was easier
and funnier. I relate her life to modern women.” Shappi also outlines some of the similarities between Emma and herself: “We were both artist’s models. She modelled for great artists, I modelled for GCSE students in Tower Hamlets. “I have never worked in a brothel, but I have had moments that I would only tell you about on stage or when very drunk. I will be sharing some of those stories in Mistress and Misfit.” The comedian, who since 2015 has held the role of President of Humanists UK, also sees similarities between the attitudes towards women then and now. “Any woman who does anything seen as salacious is still demonised today. That’s a very modern theme. It’s not exclusive to Georgian times. “I talk about Emma being married to a man 30 years older than her. If they were from a lower class, women had no financial independence and no options. That happened 200 years ago, but much more recently, my grandmother was married when she was 13 to a man in his 30s. So perhaps my gran was the Emma of her time!” Shappi says the term gold-digger is still bandied about ‘willy-nilly when we don’t know anything about that woman’. “Women who are viewed as marrying above their station are still derided. There are massive parallels with today.” The show reveals the establishment
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Wednesday June 6 | 2018
closed ranks against Emma after Nelson’s death. “Just before the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson wrote an add-on to his will asking that Emma and his daughter be looked after in the event of his death: ‘That is the only favour I ask of my King and country as I go to fight their battle.’ “But they didn’t. Emma ended her days derelict, penniless and an alcoholic in Calais. There was no monument to her. “We have not been told what a massive impact Emma had on Nelson’s life. Historians have wanted to make Trafalgar about Nelson and not about ‘this harlot’.” In addition to many other TV apperances, Shappi’s profile has been increased by I’m a Celebrity. So what were the main benefits of being on Ant and Dec’s jungle-based reality show? “It made you really look at life from a different angle. You are too hungry to think of anything apart from what to do with your life. You have time to figure that out. It made me think I really, really want to write Nina Is Not OK.” And now she is adapting it for the stage. The comedian closes by underscoring her love of stand-up. “It’s a compulsion, a sort of madness. Stand-ups are all mad. We are bright, and if we weren’t mad, we’d be doing something else.”
IMAGE: © ITV
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On track for a new creative collaboration throwaway society we live in’. But the sculpture was a clever publicity ploy, too, which has helped to promote and generate interest in a new art trail which started last weekend. Running until June 10, it’s the brainchild of the group, and will see 36 different creative works on display in ten different locations around town.
Appealing
‘The arTWorks’ art trail is now underway, and it’s aim is to create a new way to see and appreciate art in Tunbridge Wells. Eileen Leahy finds out a little bit more about it…
Mistress and Misfit is at Trinity Theatre tomorrow night [Thursday, June 7] at 8pm. To book tickets, visit www.trinitytheatre.net
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A FORTNIGHT ago, a sculpture that suddenly appeared in front of The Forum on London Road in Tunbridge Wells piqued people’s interest. Entitled ‘Disrespect’, it was made by a group of local artists from CreativesTW to protest at the amount
of rubbish that we leave behind us. In just 90 minutes, they amassed an amount of litter, including plastic bottles, food packaging and remnants of clothing from the Common, and created a piece of work that, in their words, ‘draws attention to the
The idea for ‘arTWorks’ was born after the traditional South East Open Studios [SEOS] event was cancelled for 2018 across the region. SEOS traditionally gives artists the opportunity to open up their workshops and ateliers during the summer to the public so they can browse and buy works and hopefully develop a greater aesthetic appreciation. So instead of resting for a year, CreativesTW decided to do something together on their own. Their arTWorks trail can be followed all around Tunbridge Wells in venues as diverse as Woods on The Pantiles to the Spa Valley Railway, the Adult Education Centre and Town Court Farm studios on Bayham Road. And as the group boasts people working in every medium, including painting, photography and sculpture, there really is something for everyone to appreciate. “The idea was to stage a more compact and local trail which would be more appealing to members of the
public – see more, travel less!” says one of the organisers, Lucy Ames. The trail is free to follow, and each venue is exhibiting the work of at least three artists. Town Court Farm studios has the work of seven people. “Each one is displaying a variety of different styles of art, whether it is paintings, photography, glass, textiles, ceramics or jewellery,” continues Lucy. “Visitors are encouraged to ask questions, find out more from the artists about their inspiration and creative techniques and enjoy the variety of handcrafted, unique products available to buy.” Free ‘arTWorks’ trail guides are available at the Tunbridge Wells Museum, Sainsbury’s on Linden Park Road, and at cafés and public spaces around the town so potential visitors can plan their day out. Venue opening times vary, so check the official trail map at www.artworkstrail.wixsite.com RUBBISH SCULPTURE At The Forum
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Going Out
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going ut Seven days of activities at a glance WEDNESDAY It’s quite the week for art happenings in Tunbridge Wells, with the arTWorks trail currently on plus the Royal Tunbridge Wells Art Society also hosting their Summer Exhibition. As well as being able to browse numerous works, there will also be the opportunity to buy many of the paintings and sculptures on display. The RTWAS gallery, which is located at 61 The Pantiles, is open daily until June 17 from 10am until 4pm. Admission is free.
By Eileen Leahy
This is the final week you can see Seasons of Change: The Fegans’ Story, at Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery. On until June 9, it focuses on the work of a local charity which has been championing childhood and transforming mental health since 1870. Admission is free and the show is on Tuesday to Saturday. The Tunbridge Wells Tuneless Choir meets every other Wednesday at St Peter’s Church in Bayhall Road from 7.30pm to 9pm. For further information,
SCOOT ALONG to the Big 7 Scooter Rally at The Hop Farm
email: tunbridgewells@tunelesschoir.com Trinity Theatre screens the film Funny Cow this evening. Starring Maxine Peake, this tragic comedy-drama from director Adrian Shergold charts the rise to stardom of a stand-up comedienne in an all-male world during the 1970s and 80s in industrial northern England. Tickets cost from £8.50 and screenings are at 11am, 2pm and 8pm. See www.trinitytheatre.net
LOCAL ARTISTS Give their view on the world at the RTWAS summer exhibition
THURSDAY The musical stage version of the George and Ira Gershwin classic An American in Paris is being screened this evening at the EM Forster Theatre. Tickets to see this tale of an American GI falling for a French lady cost £14, and £12 concessions. For further details, see www.emtheatre.com Citizens Advice Tunbridge Wells and District are hosting a special fundraising event at Holmewood House School this evening at 7.30pm. The lecture, entitled Picasso and his Women, coincides with the current Tate Modern exhibition Love, Fame, Tragedy. The lecture, in the school’s Jubilee Theatre, will be given by Liz Strang, an experienced Tate guide and Arts Society accredited lecturer – and a long-term supporter of Citizens Advice. Go along to discover how each of the women in the famous Spanish artist’s life influenced him, and how he immortalised them in his work. Entrance costs £15 and includes a welcome drink and canapés. Tickets are available by calling 01892 864883 or visiting www.friendsoftwcab.org.uk Jazz on The Pantiles continues in full swing every Thursday evening. To make it a really special event, why not avail yourself of One Warwick Park Hotel’s Bubbles and Burger deal, which costs just £10 per person. For more details, see www.onewarwickpark.co.uk Comedian and I’m A Celebrity star Shappi Khorsandi comes to Trinity Theatre tonight with her latest show: Mistress and Misfit. This tribute to ‘England’s unsung hero’, Emma Hamilton – most famously Lord Nelson’s mistress, costs £18 and can be booked via the theatre’s website. See our feature on Shappi on page 50.
FRIDAY
The Big 7 Scooter Rally is on at The Hop Farm all weekend, so if you’re into mopeds, music and the Mod scene this is an event not to be missed! If you arrive on your scooter with a tent, then you can camp all weekend for just £20 per person. For further details, see www.thebig7scooterrally.com Landscapes is the latest exhibition at Trinity Theatre, featuring the work of Francisco Centofanti. This professional artist graduated from the Florence Academy of Art in Italy, and counts local Who star Roger Daltrey among his many fans. This is a great opportunity to see this artist’s work – which is collected and exhibited worldwide – up close and personal.
SATURDAY Today, the local branch of the RNLI will be out and about in the town centre collecting for its Annual Flag Day. All volunteers will be wearing high-viz
Going Out
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
tabards with the RNLI logo and look forward to seeing you. To find out more, visit www.rnli.org Over in Pembury, there’s a Fun Day happening in association with Hope Pembury Churches Together, from 2pm until 5pm. Taking place in the village’s recreation ground, there will be live music and lots of children’s entertainment as well as pop-up eateries and a dog show. Berkeley will unveil a new show home at Royal Wells Park, the new neighbourhood in the heart of Tunbridge Wells. The four-bedroom home offers the latest opportunity to step inside and experience life within the new community. For further information, and to register interest, please call 01892 882295 or visit www.royalwellspark.co.uk Over at the Oast Theatre today and tomorrow its youth division, The Hoppers, will be putting on SWAN LAKE On screen at the Odeon and Trinity
PICK OF THE WEEK: Wealden Times Midsummer Fair Hole Park, Rolvenden June 7-9, 2018 WISTERIA HYSTERIA At Hole Park their annual summer show, which consists of two plays by Phil Burn entitled Supermarket Heist and Audition. Tickets cost £5 per person, and more information on timings can be found at www.oasttheatre.com
If you love interiors, quirky vintage finds, salvage treasures and gorgeous gardens, then you have to visit this summer’s Wealden Times Summer Fair at Hole Park near Rolvenden. With around 250 stalls selling goods for the
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home, garden and wellbeing, as well as fashion and food, there’s lots to enjoy over the three-day event, which runs from Thursday to Saturday. Now in its tenth year, the midsummer fair will also have the added bonus of live music and workshops, and a chance to sample some delicious delights in the many pop-up eateries, including The Pie and Cheese Man and Fine Grind, making it the perfect day out. Tickets start at £9. For more information and to book, visit www.wealdentimes.co.uk
SUNDAY Don’t forget that Pashley Manor in Ticehurst is hosting its annual Rose Week until next Saturday, so if you’re keen horticulturalist, and literally want to take time to smell the roses in life, then make sure you pop along. More details at www.pashleymanorgardens.com Today is Leaf Sunday, when local farmers open their gates so that members of the public can see what life on the farm is really like. One of the local places taking part in this national event is Bore Place in Bough Beech. Their free event takes place between 12noon and 5pm, and on offer will be family-friendly tours of the organic farm and market garden, tractor rides, an opportunity to meet the on-site cheesemakers using milk from the Bore Place cows, walks, face painting, and a delicious organic BBQ as well as an ice cream stall and Pimm’s bar. There is no need to book – just turn up on the day. There is plenty of free parking on site. To find out more about this event, visit www.farmsunday.org
MONDAY There’s still time to visit the glorious Hole Park Gardens in Rolvenden and experience all the wisteria hysteria and amazing azalea action currently in bloom. The gardens are open daily from 11am until 6pm, and more information on
what to see and entrance prices can be found at www.holepark.com The next Arthritis Support Group meeting is on today at 1.45pm at St Philip’s Church, Birken Road, Tunbridge Wells. Arthritis Action supports people with all forms of the condition, their family and carers. For further information, visit www.arthritisaction.org.uk
TUESDAY The Royal Ballet’s world premiere of Liam Scarlett’s Swan Lake is to be live broadcast in cinemas tonight at 7.15pm. Both the Odeon and
Trinity Theatre will be participating in this event, which sees one of the world’s best-loved classical ballets set to a sublime score by Tchaikovsky. Swan Lake follows the story of Prince Siegfried, who one night encounters a flock of swans, one of whom reveals herself to be a beautiful woman called Odette. Odette is being held under a spell by the evil Von Rothbart, who later disguises his daughter Odile as Odette to trick Prince Siegfried into breaking his vow of love. But Siegfried is determined to save Odette, whatever the cost… For ticket details, visit www.odeon.com and www.trinitytheatre.net
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THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles. Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites www.pdag.co.uk & www.thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday Amber Titchner, Becky Copsey, I Am Aquitaine Friday Private Party Saturday Into The Blue Sunday Caleb Howard-Almond, Andy Twyman, Youth
THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM
live music With Paul Dunton
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ummer begins officially this month, and it definitely feels here already as we move into early June with plenty of great live music events on offer across the local scene. My top picks for this week are as follows… For a fantastic midweek gig, the excellent I Am Aquitaine headline The Grey Lady, with up-and-coming soloists Becky Copsey and Amber Titchner also on the bill. The superb J-Sonics headline the Jazz on The Pantiles this Thursday night, and The Forum hosts The Black Deer Festival Launch Party with local acts Lt Leek, Mike Wilton, my Paul Dunton Orchestra, The Lew
The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… www.paulduntonandguests.com
Thomas Band and Kate Ellis all performing. Tim Huskisson headlines The Masonic Hall this Friday evening, and Saturday night offers a variety of fantastic local bands, including Into The Blue at The Grey Lady, Kharma & The Devil at The Beau Nash Tavern, Opposite Origins at The Bedford Pub and Wasted on the Oak Stage at The Royal Oak Pub. For something more alternative, Black Nevada, Colt 48, Atlas, Alive In Lights and The Word will all be rockin’ The Sussex Arms Basement. And Lone Ed are a superb skiffle band to definitely catch at The Punch & Judy on Tuesday night.
Event information at www.twforum.co.uk Wednesday Wayward Sons Thursday Black Deer Festival Launch Party, featuring: The Paul Dunton Orchestra, Lt Leek, The Lew Thomas Band, Mike Wilton, Kate Ellis Sunday Unfest Sunday Sessions (from 1pm), Chali 2na (Jurassic 5), Krafty Nuts (7.30pm)
THE MASONIC HALL St John’s Road All event information and tickets at www.twjazzclub.co.uk Friday Tim Huskisson’s Variety Jazz
I Am Aquitaine
JAZZ ON THE PANTILES The Bandstand, The Pantiles Music from 8pm-10pm (donations welcomed) Thursday J-Sonics
THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry, music from The Lew Thomas Band
8.30pm till late Saturday Kharma & The Devil
THE BEDFORD 2 High Street Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm till late Saturday Opposite Origins
THE SUSSEX ARMS BASEMENT Sussex Mews Open all day, music from 8pm, entry charge may apply. More information at www.twforum.co.uk Saturday Black Nevada, Colt 48, Atlas, Alive In Lights, The Word
THE ROYAL OAK Prospect Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late Saturday Wasted (Oak Stage)
THE PUNCH & JUDY 11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Tuesday Lone–Ed
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Food & Drink
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Meet the new gin distillers
who are kindred spirits What clever timing for the locally-made Pipehouse Gin to officially launch just ahead of the first Tunbridge Wells Gin Festival, which kicks off this weekend on The Pantiles. Here, its co-director, Katherine Larcombe, tells William Mata all about what makes their new tipple so special… Emma was a marketing manager at Price Waterhouse Coopers prior to launching Pipehouse, and Sam runs his own entrepreneurship blog.
How would you describe Pipehouse Gin? It’s certainly not your average gin. Pipehouse is all about creating unusual flavour combinations that work. Our first is Earl Grey & Cucumber. It’s a classic London Dry, but the herbal notes of juniper (the main botanical in gin) are followed by cucumber, and the Earl Grey tea comes with an almost sorbet-like freshness.
How does the company work, and who takes which role? We are all equal partners and have invested the start-up money ourselves. Unlike more traditional companies, we don’t have positions that are set in stone. Everyone pitches in, sharing the logistics and management tasks.
Who is behind the project, and how did you get started?
Why do you think gin is so popular at the moment?
Myself, my husband Ben, and our friends Sam and Emma Priestley. It was Sam’s idea to start making gin, it’s something he’s wanted to do for ages. He mentioned it to us about seven or eight months ago and it seemed like the perfect project. We were all instantly excited and started dreaming up flavour combinations, bottle types, and brand names. We’ve learnt so much along the way.
What were you doing before you decided to launch Pipehouse? I was a secondary school art teacher, and my husband Ben still works as a table tennis coach.
PIPEHOUSE GIN DIRECTORS: (L-R) Sam & Emma Priestley, Ben & Katherine Larcombe
Firstly, because it’s such a great drink, but we think it’s also largely due to the change in legislation surrounding gin. Before 2009 it could only be produced in massive quantities, so only really large companies were able to compete. The change in litigation was a pivotal point and made way for an exciting new generation of craft distillers, including us! It’s this that paved the way for there to be so much creativity within the gin industry, which has made it really appealing.
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Wednesday June 6 | 2018
And what ambitions do you have now? We want to keep exploring new and unexpected flavour combinations, and have so many ideas of what we want to create next. Hopefully, there will be a whole range of new flavours coming soon.
How old are you and have you seen a rise in young entrepreneurs? We’re all under 30 and I’m the youngest, having just turned 27. There seems to be more young people starting their own business and talking about making the leap. I think it’s a really exciting prospect, and hopefully we’ll see it more and more. Tunbridge Wells has so many interesting independent businesses, and there is a great network of creative and entrepreneurial people here.
How does it feel to have started your first business? Making gin has pushed us out of our comfort zone. It’s been scary, exciting, and certainly challenging. Lots of people told us we couldn’t do it. So it feels like a huge accomplishment.
What are your hopes for your first year in business? We have so many hopes, and have already ticked a few off our wish list – managing to get on to a distributors’ list, and having several bars agreeing to stock us. But we mainly hope people will love our gin!
Why is it so special to be making and launching Pipehouse in Tunbridge Wells? It’s been so encouraging for us to see just how many local people and business owners have been excited about Pipehouse. We really couldn’t think of a better place to be launching, and we’re so proud to have Tunbridge Wells on the bottle.
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ONE FROM SEVENTEEN Brought to you by Seventeen, One Warwick Park Hotel
Every week Seventeen, the restaurant at One Warwick Park Hotel, brings you its pick of the week – whether its a top recipe or a key supplier. To kick off their new column, they focus our attention on one of their most popular cocktails – the Berry Breeze – a refreshing drink that’s perfect for enjoying in the June sunshine INGREDIENTS: 25ml Hendrick’s Gin 25ml Elderflower Liquer 25ml Strawberry Puree 12.5ml Sugar Syrup 12.5ml Lime Juice Berries and mint to garnish
REFRESHING Berry Breeze Seventeen
METHOD: Mix the above ingredients into a chilled glass and stir well. Once stirred, top up the glass with soda and ice. To finish the cocktail off beautifully, garnish with raspberry and blackberry skewer and a mint sprig. ENJOY!
Pipehouse are officially launching tomorrow [Thursday, June 7] at Chapel Place Wine Bar, Tunbridge Wells, from 6pm. Please feel free to go along and enjoy a sample…
You can enjoy a selection of delicious cocktails on the new Terrace at One Warwick Park Hotel every day of the week. To book a table, please telephone 01892 520 587. You can find further information on the restaurant’s weekly menus at www.onewarwickpark.co.uk/seventeen
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Wednesday June 6 | 2018
A family-friendly venture With a clear goal for what they hope to achieve, Digby Furneaux and Katie Bagley, along with their young son and puppy, have reinvigorated The Brecknock Arms in Bells Yew Green. Here, Hannah Patterson discovers what they have in store…
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HERE are few things in this world that bring me more joy than being at a country pub in the sunshine. When my colleague and I arrive at The Brecknock Arms one lunchtime, the summer sun has finally arrived and is blazing down upon Digby Furneaux and Katie Bagley’s new venture. A NEW CHAPTER Katie Bagley, Digby Furneaux and son Barnaby
If you’re a regular on West Kent’s culinary circuit, you may have already come across the pair of them. Katie has worked in bars and restaurants throughout her career, but her main experience stems from the restaurant Cau in Tunbridge Wells, where she was general manager for four
years. It was here that she met Digby, who has been in the industry since he was 11 years old and worked in his parent’s restaurant in Lincoln. Other than a brief two-year flirtation with IT, Digby’s life has been in hospitality. After moving down to Tunbridge Wells at the age of 16, he’s worked at The Viva on Mount Pleasant, Ask,
Zizzi’s, Loch Fyne in Sevenoaks, The Mill House, Tootsies and The Abergavenny Arms. “We always wanted to open our own place,” Katie tells me, “but we had to find a way that worked for us. Saying this, we were very impulsive when the opportunity arose to take the over the lease of The Brecknock Arms – it was simply too good an opportunity to pass up.” They signed on the dotted line on April 23, and, within four weeks, they had moved house, renovated and opened the pub.
‘A lot of pubs have been closing lately… it’s because so many are stuck in the past. You cannot last if you refuse to move with the times’ So, what can we expect from the new Brecknock? According to Digby, their secret recipe is looking forward. “Sadly, a lot of pubs have been closing lately,” he notes, “and I believe it’s because so many are stuck in the past. You cannot last if you refuse to move with the times.” The pair believe that the modern average pub-goer expects more from their local than previous generations. To them, a pub that hasn’t changed in 30 years simply won’t cut it anymore. There is a demand for a higher quality service, a greater variety of good drinks, and a menu that is reflective of the county. But even that’s not enough according to them. The above is no secret to pub success. A lot of popular pubs have already implemented these sorts of changes, so you need an edge – something that will help you stand out from the crowd: “We don’t want to be a carbon copy of other establishments.” The four of us are sitting in the sprawling garden behind the pub. It’s a beautiful space and one that is not going to waste – certainly not if this young family has anything to do with it.
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MOUTHWATERING A small menu means quality ingredients
As well as using local suppliers, they’re planning on being as self-sufficient as possible, and they are starting with the chickens that happily live in a coup in a corner of the garden. “There’s so much we want to do with this space, and the chickens are just the beginning,” beams Katie. “Not only will they provide eggs for the kitchen, they will be something for small children to see and enjoy when families come here. “At some point we’ll bring in more animals and FEATHERED FRIENDS The resident chickens at the Brecknock Arms
plant a vegetable garden. At present, there’s a sandpit and small wooden kitchen for children, and we already have families who are regulars as their children keep asking to come back.” Being a young family, they are determined to define themselves as a family-friendly venue – a place where parents won’t feel anxious about bringing their little bundles of joy. The Brecknock Arms is to be the new community hub of Bells Yew Green and all are
welcome. However, this isn’t your standard ‘gastro’ pub: “We really want to appeal to drinkers and eaters alike. “It’s important to have a strong food menu, especially to us,” Katie says. “But it won’t be what solely defines the pub.” The menu is brand new, having launched only a couple of weeks ago, and it certainly is strong: Think grilled Kentish asparagus with a soft poached egg (£7.50), moules à la crème (£6.95), pan seared lamb rump (£17.95) and wild mushroom linguine (£11.50). It is a small menu though, with only three starters and six mains to choose from at present, but this is for good reason. “When you visit a pub with a huge menu, you know instantly that the ingredients aren’t fresh. It’s simply not possible or sustainable,” Digby point out. “Our selection will always involve fresh, local ingredients, and there will always be a vegetarian and a vegan option. “We use Penshurst Fine Food, Oliver Green’s vegetables, Sankey’s for the fish and Southborough Butchers for our meat – all fantastic suppliers and all local.” For drinks, The Brecknock is still a Harvey’s pub, and will have three of their most popular beers on tap: Harvey’s Best, Wild Hop and an
IPA, with a spare pump to offer new beers on rotation. On top of an array of wines and spirits (Digby is a dedicated gin fan), there will be popular lagers like Moretti, Foster’s and Heineken available. “This is still very much a drinking pub,” he explains. “There’s a darts team that play here every week, and a cricket team turn up twice a week. The dining area is not dominant or pretentious, which allows for a relaxed drinking environment.” The couple have had an exceptionally busy couple of months, and the difference is certainly noticeable, having visited the Brecknock once or twice in the past. It feels lighter, exceptionally welcoming, and it comes with that comforting feeling that only comes from a true local pub. With frequent live music, and the BBQ season here at last, you can expect exciting things to come from the brand new Brecknock Arms. THE BRECKNOCK ARMS Bayham Road, Bells Yew Green, Frant, Tunbridge Wells TN3 9BJ 01892 750237 info@brecknockarms.com www.brecknockarms.com
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travel
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Travel
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
One river, ten countries and one epic multi-centre adventure Running from Germany all the way to the Black Sea, the Danube offers the ultimate European river cruise holiday with its famous waters carrying you through iconic cities and spectacular vistas
AGGSTEIN CASTLE This 12-century gem towers above the Danube at Wachau in Austria
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S ONE of the world’s greatest rivers, the Danube is often called ‘the river of kings’ due to its historic popularity with leaders, including Julius Caesar, who used it to navigate Europe. Having traditionally served as a strategically important route for transport and trade, today it is best known as the lifeblood for classic river cruise itineraries that take in a host of stunning destinations, including Vienna and Budapest. Beginning in the mountainous Black Forest region of Germany, this magnificent waterway charts a scenic course some 1,780 miles through nine further countries – Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine – before flowing out into the Black Sea.
Intimate Passing directly through four fascinating European capitals – the aforementioned Vienna and Budapest plus Bratislava and Belgrade – a Danube river cruise removes the logistical stresses of organising an independent city break. Instead, it provides a relaxed avenue through
which to enjoy a multi-centre, hassle-free holiday. New-to-cruise travellers will find a Danube river cruise a great introduction to exploring the world by water. It offers a more intimate experience than life aboard a much larger oceanbased vessel, which cannot reach the smaller ports and often spends days at sea at one time. During a cruise on the Danube, travellers can disembark daily and venture into one of the many bucket-list destinations that line the river’s banks, and spend time wandering past beautiful architecture, uncovering extraordinary history, sampling world-class wines and tasting national delicacies from goulash to bratwurst. Once back on board your ship, there is no end of spectacular and ever-changing scenery to gaze at between stops. As a taster, here are some top destinations you can explore during a Danube river cruise: Nuremberg: Distinguished by its medieval architecture, and over 950 years old, this ancient German city in northern Bavaria is popular with travellers interested in food, art and history. Day trippers should explore the Kaiserburg Castle at the northern edge of the Altstadt (Old Town) to learn about one of the most important
THE ROMANIAN ATHENAEUM A beautiful concert hall in Bucharest
fortified imperial palaces of the old Holy Roman Empire. If visiting during the festive season, the Hauptmarkt, Nuremberg’s central square, is an absolute must as it plays host to
Christkindlesmarkt, one of Europe’s best Christmas markets. Year-round, it is home to the Schöner Brunnen, a beautiful gilded fountain, and Frauenkirche, a 14th-century Gothic church.
Travel
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
BRATISLAVA CASTLE Has survived a chequered history to look out over the city and way beyond
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city’s heart is a pedestrianised 18th-century old town famous for its lively bars and cafés. To see one of Bratislava’s most appealing art nouveau structures, head for Blue Church, officially The Church of St Elizabeth. Budapest: Divided by the Danube, modern-day Budapest comprises the ancient towns of Buda and Pest, which line either side of the river bank. Connected by seven bridges, including the iconic 19th-century Chain Bridge, these contrasting faces of a vibrant city boast some of Europe’s most impressive architecture, including the imposing domed neo-Gothic Parliament building. River cruisers exploring Budapest from the Danube should visit historic Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church and Buda Castle on the Buda side. If time allows, head inland to see Heroes’ Square and twin this with visits to City Park and the Széchenyi Medicinal Bath in Pest. After all, no visit to Budapest would be complete without a soak in one of the city’s famous thermal baths.
‘New-to-cruise travellers will find a Danube river cruise a great introduction to exploring the world by water’ Passau: Known as the ‘Three Rivers City’ due to its position at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers, this Baroque-style German city lies on the Austrian border and lays claim to having the world’s largest church organ with 17,774 pipes. Find it at St Stephen’s Cathedral. Regensberg: The only German city to avoid being bombed during World War II, Regensberg is home to at least 1,300 listed buildings of historic interest. Highlights for architectural
enthusiasts include the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), Steinerne Brücke (Germany’s oldest stone bridge), Porta Pretoria (the gates to a 179 AD ancient Roman fort) and the many high-towered mansions that date back to the Middle Ages. Vienna: Dating back to the days of the Romans, the Austrian capital is imperial grandeur at its very best. Due in large part to its heritage as the capital of the former Habsburg Empire, it is best known as the ‘City of Music’. The inspiring musical legacy will strike a powerful chord with fans of former residents Beethoven, Brahms and Bruckner, and it was Johann Strauss II who most famously celebrated Vienna by penning The Blue Danube Waltz in 1866. Today, the city overflows with iconic sights, including the ornate Hofsburg Palace and Opera House, and boasts a bustling café culture to rival Paris. Stop by Café Sacher Wien to sample the original Sacher-Torte, dubbed the most famous
cake in the world. For river cruisers looking to shop till they drop, Vienna’s new luxury shopping area, Goldenes Quartier, is the perfect place to go to snap up designer togs from brands including Prada, Miu Miu and Emporio Armani, while art lovers will want to make for the iconic Kunsthistorisches Museum Wiens in the Museums Quartier to see one of Austria’s finest art collections. Across town at the Prater amusement park in Leopoldstadt, the historic Wiener Riesenrad ferris wheel towers almost 65-metres high and offers spectacular city skyline views. Bratislava: Just a short trip down the Danube from Vienna lies the quaint Slovakian capital. Considerably smaller and less imposing than its Austrian counterpart, walkable Bratislava is a pretty city easily explored as a daytime stop on a Danube river cruise. Built around a Baroquestyle hilltop castle that overlooks the river, the
Belgrade: Despite its chequered history, the Serbian capital of Belgrade is deserving of a second chance. It is budget-friendly and a paradise for foodies. Art lovers, too, will enjoy a stop here by visiting The Church of Saint Sava – the world’s largest Eastern Orthodox Church contains mosaic work so detailed that it is still being added to 83 years after it was first built. Iron Gates Gorge: Beyond Belgrade, as the Danube journeys south towards its Black Sea exit point, the spectacularly picturesque narrow and dramatic Iron Gates Gorge divides the Alps in the north west from the Carpathians in the south east, and forms a natural border between Serbia and Romania. A natural highlight for any Danube river cruiser. All in all, whether you explore just a section of the Danube or cruise the river from end-to-end, a trip on this mighty waterway will lead to holiday memories of a lifetime.
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Look Good, Feel Good
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Why a Minnie Mouse polka dot is the must-have look this season MINNIE is, of course, rarely seen without her signature spotty red and white frock, and fashion has gone totally dotty for her spots this season. It started on the catwalks, with Dior, Balenciaga and Self-Portrait plumping for polka dot prints on frock coats, flowing midi-dresses and statement blouses. Now the high street has followed suit with a sea of spotty pieces – including a variety of chestnut brown Pretty Woman-esque dresses – perfect for sunny summer.
And the key to styling spots? The best advice is don’t complicate things. A monochrome tiered skirt, whether mini or maxi, should be paired with a plain tee, while a ruffled blouse teamed with faded blue mum jeans plays up the 80s associations. From tiny dots to sizeable spots, there’s a polka print for everyone. Here’s our pick of the high street’s best…
SEEING RED… SPOTS Zara Polka Dot Stretch Dress, £25.99
SPOT THE BLOUSE Simply Be Spot Ruffle Blouse, £32 FEELING RUFFLED LOOKING SWISH Baukjen Pure White V-Neck Tee, £35; Martha Ruffle Skirt, £89, and Classic Gold Buckle Belt, £59
M&S Collection Spotted Ruffle Maxi Skirt, £45
IT’S ALL BLACK AND WHITE Joseph Ribkoff Black/Vanilla Top, £175, 1ere Avenue
Look Good, Feel Good
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Your simple guide to staying safe in the sun Whether you’re jetting off to the tropics or staycationing at home, sun protection is essential in the summer, but doesn’t it sometimes feel like a hassle? Slathering on a thick white cream that gets under your nails, on your sunglasses and your phone screen – and pretty much everywhere
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SPF sprays Say goodbye to chalky creams and hello to see-through sprays that make application a doddle. Just be sure to give the bottle a very thorough shake before you spritz, to ensure the SPF ingredients are dispersed throughout the liquid. • Garnier Ambre Solaire UV Water Clear Sun Cream Spray SPF 30, £8, Boots • Dior Bronze Beautifying Protective Milky Mist Sublime Glow SPF 30, £29.50
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Make-up mixes Skip one step in your morning routine by choosing a foundation or BB cream that has in-built high-factor protection.
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else – can make you want to ditch the sunblock altogether, can’t it? The good news is that these days unctuous lotions aren’t your only option when it comes to sunscreen. Use these suncare shortcuts and quick tricks to take the stress out of SPF… • Bioderma Photoderm MAX Tinted Aquafluid Golden SPF 50+, £13.20, FeelUnique • BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF 30, £28
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Skincare solutions If you’re a beauty buff who wants ultra-effective skincare alongside SPF, the latest face-only sunscreens will certainly float your boat. With anti-ageing, acne and pollution-fighting formulas, these day creams really mean business. • Eucerin Sun Oil Control Face Protection SPF 50, £12, Boots • Filorga UV Bronze Face Anti-Ageing Sun Fluid SPF 50, £25, FeelUnique
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Motoring
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Motoring News
A round-up of the latest car reveals, consumer issues and hot deals
An all-new, flexible, comfortable Citroen SUV revealed for the first time in Europe CITROEN has taken the covers off its new Europe-specific C5 Aircross SUV. Set for a full European launch at the end of the year, the Aircross has been created with flexibility in mind, and has been designed for comfort, thanks to an advanced suspension set-up and upgraded seats which offer buyers the ability to change the layout of the cabin. Citroen has also given the C5 Aircross a good degree of all-surface capability. It benefits from 230mm of ground clearance, as well as grip control with hill descent assist. The technology aids performance in trickier conditions. This can be boosted with the option of adding mud and snow tyres. Two petrol versions are available from launch: A 128bhp Puretech engine linked to a six-speed manual,
and a more powerful 178bhp with an eight-speed automatic. There are three diesel engines: A 128bhp unit with a six-speed manual, followed by the same engine but linked to an automatic ’box, and the range is topped off by a 178bhp oil burner driven through an automatic gearbox. A plug-in hybrid powertrain will also join the line-up but towards the end of next year. Citroen’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushions suspension system adds allows larger bumps and impacts to be absorbed easily. A variety of safety assistance features have been fitted, too, while the interior is dominated by a 12.3-inch instrument panel and an eight-inch colour touchscreen. UK prices and full specifications are due to be revealed later in the year.
Trying new Amazon test drives on your home turf MOTORISTS in four UK cities can now book test drives of the latest Volvo V40 hatchback through Amazon. The ‘Prime Now’ initiative, which aims to offer greater convenience, is available in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh on selected weekends in June and July.
Easier The process is simple, with customers simply entering their details on the dedicated Amazon page, selecting their location and choosing a time slot. The vehicle is then delivered to the customer’s home or workplace by a trained expert, who can explain all the functions and features during the drive, which has
the advantage of taking place on roads familiar to the customer. The drives last 45 minutes each. If the initial run proves successful, Volvo may look at expanding the scheme. It comes after the manufacturer introduced its ‘Care by Volvo’ ownership package, combining lease fees, vehicle tax, insurance and maintenance into one monthly subscription fee with no up-front cost. Jon Wakefield, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: “We aim to make people’s lives easier. Our ‘Prime Now’ test drive offer does just that, allowing potential customers to try our V40 on their terms and in familiar surroundings.” He added that it’s ‘the first of its kind in the UK’.
Supermarket fuel prices upped daily for weeks SUPERMARKET fuel stations have increased the price of petrol and diesel fuel every day since the end of March, according to the RAC’s Fuel Watch service. On March 26, the average price for unleaded and diesel fuel on the big four supermarket forecourts was 116.66p and 119.35p respectively. Eight weeks later, those have risen to 124.74p and 127.69p respectively – an increase of nearly 7%. RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: “This is the worst series of consecutive daily supermarket fuel price rises we have seen since we began monitoring this three and a half years ago.” The price increases come after a rise in the wholesale price of oil – by 17% to above 80 dollars per barrel, with a poor exchange rate. “Supermarkets are highly influential in the price charged at pumps across the UK,” he continued. “Despite operating under 18% of all forecourts, they sell 45% of all fuel.” He added that other fuel retailers will ‘often match supermarket price rises’. Williams criticised the supermarkets, saying that while they react to rising oil costs rapidly, they are reluctant to do the same when the wholesale price falls. “The outlook for fuel prices in the weeks ahead is not good,” he warned.
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
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Powered by
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CHILD’S PLAY If your children love music, these comfy headphones boast a soft fleece fabric enclosing adjustable flat speakers. Machine washable and size adjustable, there are plenty of funky designs to choose from. Snuggly Rascals Comfortable Headphones for Kids, £14.99, Snuggly Rascals, www.snugglyrascals.com GLAMOUROUS GLIMMER
tech
The Huawei P20 Pro not only looks sleek and sexy thanks to its lustre casing, it also has an advanced camera system which is powered by Artificial Intelligence. Featuring the world’s first Leica triple camera with x5 hybrid zoom, it boasts point and shoot perfection which automatically adjusts camera settings to capture the perfect picture. Huawei P20 Pro, £799, available from all major UK retail partners, including Carphone Warehouse, EE, Vodafone, Three and O2.
PANORAMIC VIEWS Capture special vistas shake-free with this handy fold-out stand which allows you to capture stunning, high quality shots on the go. Simply attach to your phone, camera or GoPro and get some amazing panoramic shots. The Panoramic Phone Stand With Remote Control, £23.96, available from The Original Gift Company, www.theoriginalgift.co.uk
Must-have gadgets
State of the art technology Theknow brings you the latest tech and clever time-saving gadgets and widgets to make your life easier and more enjoyable. Eileen Leahy picks her top tech essentials
POWERED BY
BEDSIDE MANNER LISTENING PLEASURE With an all-metal housing and multifunction, three-button microphone and remote, these earphones deliver perfect clarity whether used for music or audio calls. Brainwavz Delta IEM Noise Isolating Earphones With Microphone & Remote, £16.27, www.brainwavzaudio.com TIME IT RIGHT Handmade in Cornwall, this clock is a unique combination of moon phase, thermometer and time. Designed to be completely weatherproof, it’s ideal to measure the temperature in the garden, whether that’s really hot or freezing! Made from recycled paper packaging, the material has a very solid, robust, slate-like look and feel. ECO Moon Time & Thermometer Combination Clock, £35, from The English Beagle, www.theenglishbeagle.com
Looking for a solution to all those tech cables clogging up your bedroom? Well, this clever two-drawer bedside table could just be the answer. Boasting a modern design with stylish glass top and minimal aesthetic combined with modern technology features, such as wireless charging for mobile devices with no distracting ambient light, it means you’ll get a full night’s sleep and wake up fully charged – as will your phone! Revive charger, £199, Bensons for Beds, www. bensonsforbeds.co.uk
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Recruitment
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
WITH THE
FIND YOUR PERFECT JOB TODAY – A MUST-READ FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK LOCALLY
Fill your vacancy now in print or online
From just £99 For more information contact our commercial team on 01892 779650
OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE
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To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.
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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.
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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.
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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS
SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU
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
E A V E L I F L A I E R A I N E N J I G S E E C A N T T I I R ON O U NO S E
S E X C L B L O Y R E B AW E Y O O A Z U S I S L S
S E L U OM S B E M E L R E A E S H
A L A Z B O Q U R P I N A G
ON A E K E I D N R E S O S L C I D S R P Y E N A
Sudoku:
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5 6 4 2 8 7 3 1 9
3 7 9 4 1 5 2 6 8
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1 8 9 4 5 3 7 6 2
5 2 6 7 8 9 1 4 3
7 3 4 9 1 2 8 5 6
8 5 6 3 7 2 9 4 1
7 3 2 1 4 9 5 8 6
Jigsaw Sudoku:
4 7 5 3 6 8 2 9 1
2 9 1 8 4 6 3 7 5
3 1 2 6 9 7 5 8 4
8 6 7 5 2 1 4 3 9
6 5 8 1 3 4 9 2 7
9 4 3 2 7 5 6 1 8
© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles
CODEWORD
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Puzzles
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Sport
Please send sports stories to: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Three cheers for Tayla, inspirational teacher By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk TAYLA STRUDWICK of Hillview School in Tonbridge has seen her dedication and hard work recognised with an award for Best Sports Teacher in Kent. Tayla has been an inspirational figure at the girls’ school, where she has set up a popular and hugely successful cheerleading programme. “It was such an honour to even be nominated for the award, as nominations come directly from the students,” said Tayla. “Everything I do at Hillview is to ensure the students get the most out of their school life and have as many opportunities as I can give them. “To know that pupils appreciate what I do and see me in such a positive way is truly touching and makes all the long hours worthwhile.” She has been credited with encouraging girls to take part in sport, regardless of shape, size or ability – and ‘cheer’ has been an important example of this inclusiveness. In March the Hillstars were crowned school cheerleading team of the year after attending the National Championships in Telford. Tayla took five teams to the event and none of them was beaten by another school. They came back with three first places and two runners-up spots – and that was only because Hillview had two teams in the same division so they beat each other. She has taught at the school since 2012, having been a cheerleader herself as a student. It was the specialised subject of her dissertation at Brighton University. “I feel physical activity is so important for young people
LEADING LIGHT: Tayla Strudwick with her five teams at the National Cheerleading Championships
and unfortunately it isn’t quite the same as it was when I was growing up,” Tayla told the Times. “It used to be that being sporty was a good thing and competition to get into teams was high. Unfortunately it isn’t quite the case now and many schools struggle to get teams together.” That’s certainly not a problem at Hillview; more than 200 students auditioned to be part of the cheerleading squads. “We do our upmost to ensure sport is fun and engaging,” said Tayla, who believes that sport is becoming more popular and fashionable among girls. Historically boys have been more active in games but women in sport now have a much higher profile thanks to government initiatives and interest in the media. “Girls are now seeing more and more role models
in sport, which is fantastic and we have had numerous students go on to study sporting degrees and courses at college and universities.” Hillview was Tayla’s first teaching job and she has ‘never looked back’: “The opportunities and achievements I have experienced since being at Hillview have been extraordinary. “The cheerleading groups have grown each year and are certainly one of my biggest achievements since my teaching career began. “We have such a range of year groups involved and it’s so nice when I hear that the sixth formers and younger students often meet up for lunches and social events.” Cheerleading neatly fits the performing arts ethos of Hillview while also offering a fitness angle, and the school is blazing a trail that others may follow. “I feel it completely sets us apart from other schools as it gives so many of our pupils the chance to train hard and compete, not only nationally but internationally. It’s not something that other schools in the area offer.” It is not only glamorous but also demanding in different ways, requiring strength and stamina, agility, coor-
Fenwick puts Walmer under his spell Cowdrey 256-9 beat Walmer 137 by 119 runs By Stuart Clarke CRICKET: A FIERY affair between two in-form sides at Swanmead in Kent League Division Four saw Cowdrey open up a gap at the top of the table. Home captain Anthony Mills lost his fifth toss in a row and on a green surface Walmer had no hesitation in asking Cowdrey to bat first. Ash Borella, with 56 including five fours and two sixes, and Jack Southwart (26) negotiated a tricky first hour to put on 108 for the first wicket.
Impetus However, three wickets then fell in the space of three overs, with both openers being deceived by left-arm spinner Thomas Mitchell. Rebuilding started with Barney Scott and Stuart Clarke (22) before the latter fell to Tom Burnap, who brought himself into the attack. The impetus continued with talisman Ryan Addison (31) and the destructive
Jack Mutch (25) providing support for the steady Scott (41). The home side posted an imposing 256 for 9 with Burnap picking up 4 for 45 and 38 wides also playing a big hand in the large total. The Walmer response was reduced to 7 for 2 when fast-medium pacer Chris Fenwick removed the dangerous Burnap caught behind first ball. But Walmer counter-attacked with Charlie Walsh hitting a quick 44 with five fours and four sixes. Mills introduced Rob Fenwick and took an excellent catch off a skier to dismiss the aggressor. The dependable Glen Warner turned the contest in Cowdrey’s favour with accurate medium-pace bowling to return 3 for 32. Fenwick picked up 4 for 28 as Walmer were dismissed for 137. Tonbridge moved into third place after their 73-run victory at home to Addington Village. They posted 199 with contributions all down the order, then bowled out the visitors for 126 with Chris Martin taking 4 for 23,
dination and close teamwork to perform the acrobatic ‘stunt’ skills. Hillview have competed against other European teams at Disneyland in Paris – and were even invited to take part in the parade through the park. In April they performed at the London Marathon, supporting the athletes who ran on behalf of the NSPCC, stunting in front of Buckingham Palace. They have already been asked back next year, and a spokesman for the children’s charity said: “The crowds
on the Mall were all looking over. They were all absolutely incredible and full of energy and enthusiasm.” Hillview’s spokesperson Charlotte Pope said: “Tayla has provided fantastic opportunities here for our students through her cheerleading squads. “Her boundless energy and enthusiasm throughout the school day, afterschool clubs and during the weekend competitions are contagious. As such, her students always give her 100 per cent pure commitment.”
RUNNING THE SHOW: The Hillstars perform on the Mall at the London Marathon
O’Riordan’s all-round abilities put Wells on the winning track Tunbridge Wells 227-8 beat Beckenham 90 by 137 runs By Alan Cutts CRICKET: TUNBRIDGE WELLS recovered from their crushing defeat at Blackheath to achieve a comprehensive victory over Kent Premier League champions Beckenham at Foxgrove. The visitors were asked to bat first and Wells captain Chris Williams raced to 50 off 53 balls in a belligerent opening partnership of 65 .
Ruins GAME CHANGER Rob Fenwick picked up 4 for 28 assisted by Nilesh Patel (2 for 10) and John Simmons (2 for 39). All eyes will be on the town derby at Popular Meadow as Cowdrey pay a visit to local rivals Tonbridge.
But then the home side’s Junaid Nadir broke through and four wickets tumbled for just four runs to leave the top order in ruins at 76 for 5. Nadir was then surprisingly rested after he had snapped up 4 for 15 from seven incisive overs. Marcus O’Riordan managed to rally enough support to pull off a brave reversal of fortunes.
He remained unbeaten on 65 off 93 deliveries and took his side through to the end of their 50 overs assisted by his brother Julian (27), the siblings adding 67 for the seventh wicket. Ari Karvelas then blasted 29 from 13 balls with two sixes and three fours as Wells reached 227 for 8 and set the hosts a tricky target, Nadir ending up with 5 for 49. The fiery Karvelas (3-18) then combined with Alex Williams (3-15) as the reply subsided to 38 for 5 after 13 overs of pace. Marcus O’Riordan took 2 for 11 to wrap up the innings at 90 off just 29.2 overs, concluding a fine all-round performance. It was a powerful win for Wells, whose had not shown such dominance hitherto this season, and they move up to fourth place in the table, still in touch with the leading pack. Second-placed Sandwich Town now visit The Nevill on Saturday [June 9].
Sport
Wednesday June 6 | 2018
Sandell keeps up perfect record in Under-10s races Union event to finish second fastest and first Veteran overall. The winner of the race featuring 28 riders was P. Wright (Paceline RT) in 20.26. Competing in a breezy Medway Velo CC 10-mile time trial on the Isle of Grain were Dave Millis (25.44), Martin Yardley (26.03), Colin Jarman (26.11), Natasha Jarman (28.04) and Mike Daniels (29.43). The winner was K. Tye (Velorefined.com) in 20.46 from a field of 56 riders.
Impressive In the Lewes Wanderers 30-mile time trial, taking place on a cold morning course near East Hoathly, both Matt Kuwertz (1hr 7min 9sec) and Neil Couchman (1:11.34) posted impressive times. Kuwertz finishing sixth overall in a race won by H. Shaw (Eastbourne Rovers). Finally, Doug Bentall rode the High Wycombe 25-mile time trial, recording a time of 1:00.39. For more information about club rides and road racing visit www.southborough-wheelers.co.uk
Earl teams up with Eddie’s new recruits in South Africa RUGBY: FORMER Tonbridge School pupil Ben Earl has been chosen for England’s rugby union tour of South Africa. The Red Rose side face the Springboks in a three-Test series starting in Johannesburg on Saturday [June 9]. Earl, who has yet to earn his first international cap, is one of eight uncapped players chosen by coach Eddie Jones while more established players are rested. The 20-year-old used to play at centre before moving into the back row, where he usually operates as an openside flanker. A member of the Saracens academy, he made his debut for the senior Sarries side in November 2016 and scored on his Aviva Premiership debut against Exeter in March. Earl has signed a new contract with the Premiership champions, and Sarries’ director of rugby Mark McCall said: “His development has been hugely encouraging. Ben is part of a fantastic crop of exciting young players coming through our academy.” He has completed his first year
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Perrier and Hagger impress in first Ironman in Lanzarote
PICK OF THE BUNCH Theo Sandell (right) is on top form this season
CYCLING: THEO SANDELL is developing a reputation as a young rider to look out for as the Southborough & District Wheelers junior impressed again at the third Spring in the Park meeting at Cyclopark in Gravesend. Sandell has now won all seven of his Under-10 races this season, including an overall win at the Primavera series at Lee Valley Velopark. Wheelers have been enjoying success in local road racing events too. Competing in the Full Gas summer circuit series at Lee Valley, David Pettit finished 28th in a competitive race featuring 45 riders that was won by S. McMahon (Gemini BC). In the fifth meeting of the Summer Series at Cyclopark, Keith Henderson finished seventh in the Cat E/1/2/3 race won by I. Pucci (Sigma Sport), with Torin Henderson (5th), Tim Johnston (13th), Cameron Preece (15th) and Tom Jones (20th) in the Cat 3/4 race. The club was also well represented in 10-mile time trials with David Rumm recording a time of 21min 40sec in the Southern Counties Cycling
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at Queen Mary University of London, where he is studying comparative literature. Earl attended The New Beacon School in Sevenoaks and began playing for the town’s rugby team at the age of 12. He went on to captain the Tonbridge School First XV. He has represented his country at Under-16, U18 and U20 age groups. The latter side won the Grand Slam and reached the final of the U20 World Cup in Georgia last year. He captained England U20s against France and Wales during last year’s Six Nations and led the side again throughout this year’s Championship. He scored a try against New Zealand in the U20 World Cup final and also touched down against both Italy and Ireland this year. A talented all-round sportsman, he has swum at national level and played cricket for Kent U14s and U15s. MAKING HIS MARK Ben Earl scored against Exeter on his Premiership debut
TRIATHLON: TUNBRIDGE WELLS Triathlon Club’s Kieran Fitzpatrick and Eric Perrier took part in Ironman Lanzarote alongside local athlete Jude Hagger, in what is one of the sport’s toughest one-day challenges. There was a mass start for 1,800 competitors in the 2.4-mile sea swim from Puerto del Carmen. A strong swimmer, Hagger recorded a time of 1hr 7min, while Perrier also had a strong start, exiting the water after 1:13 and Fitzpatrick 1:20. The bike section consisted of a 112-mile route across the lava fields of Fire Mountain before ascending to the iconic Mirador del Rio for breathtaking views across the bay. Relentless Atlantic headwinds sapped energy from start to finish, testing the handling of even the most confident riders on the exhilarating descents.
Whitby delivered a consistent performance across the disciplines to win the F30 category in a time of 2:37. Matthew Chipping and Grant Aitken travelled to Cambridgeshire to complete the Grafman Middle Distance Triathlon. The race started with a two-lap, 1900m swim in Grafham Water, followed by smooth tarmac for the 55-mile bike route through local villages, then a half marathon around the lake. Both athletes impressed with fourth-place finishes in their age groups, Chipping (M25) recording a time of 4:20 with Aitken (M50) 4:45. Clare Roche capped a successful weekend for the club by qualifying to represent Team GB at the Nottingham Sprint Triathlon. Roche completed the 400m swim, 20km bike and 5km run at the National Water Sports Centre to finish 1st F60 in a time of 1:25.
Scorching Perrier completed the bike course in 6:45 with Fitzpatrick making up 5mins to narrow the gap on the road and Hagger finishing the section in 6:51. The three-lap marathon extended along the beachfront to Playa Honda in scorching sunshine. Perrier clocked 4:02 for the marathon, crossing the line in a combined time of 12:11 to finish 42nd in age group in his debut race over this distance. It was also Hagger’s first Ironman and she finished fifth in age group in a time of 12:37 after completing the marathon in 4:24. Fitzpatrick ran 3:39 for the marathon to secure an Ironman personal best of 11:55 and was also well placed in age group. He and Tunbridge Wells club mate Pippa Whitby both claimed first place in their age groups at the Marshman Standard Triathlon. This popular, low-key event enjoys a reputation for a flat and fast bike course, though athletes have to contend with tough headwinds across the Romney Marshes. Fitzpatrick was first home for the club, crossing the line in 2:15 to claim sixth place overall. He capitalised on strong bike and run legs to progress up the field from 30th place after the 1500m open water swim.
LONG WAY ROUND Ian Botham will play for over 12 hours
MARSH FELLOWS Kieran Fitzpatrick and Pippa Whitby at the Marshman Standard Triathlon
Botham tees off in Lamberhurst GOLF: SIR IAN BOTHAM will play a hole at Lamberhurst Golf Club today as part of the Beefy Charity Foundation’s Golf Challenge. The former England cricketer, whose nickname is ‘Beefy’, will play a hole at 18 different courses around the country on a single day to raise money for his foundation’s charitable activities. He will take on the par-three 18th hole at Lamberhurst at 1.55pm The day begins at 6am and the order of holes is: 1 Rockliffe Hall, 2 Marriott Worsley, 3 Lindrick, 4 Worksop, 5 Breadsall Priory, 6 The Leicestershire, 7 Ombersley, 8 The Belfry, 9 Staverton Park, 10 Orsett, 11 Lamberhurst, 12 Mannings Heath, 13 Boundary Lakes at The Ageas Bowl, 14 Mendip Spring, 15 The Glamorganshire, 16 Minchinhampton, 17 Sunningdale, 18 North Middlesex. They complete their round at 8.15pm.
Disability golf returns to Poult Wood GOLF: POULT WOOD will again be hosting the Southern Disability Open on Saturday [June 9]. The event was launched last year by tmactive, the leisure arm of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, in conjunction with England Golf, Kent Golf and the Disabled Golf Association. The competition will take place on the 18-hole course. It is open to both men and women with a wide range of disabilities and golf handicaps.
Jamie Blair, England Golf’s Disability Manager, added: “England Golf, working with our county and club partners, want to provide events for disabled players within our game. “The Open provides a great opportunity for disabled players to compete and provides an opportunity for new players getting into golf, through the work of clubs across the county, to put their skills in practice.”