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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
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CHILD’S PLAY: St Luke’s Nursery School performed ‘Our First Nativity’ at St Luke’s Church. Thirty-eight children took part, much to the delight of parents, carers and staff
By Ben Cornwell RETIREMENT Villages Group (RVG), the retirement living company developing the former ABC Cinema site on Mount Pleasant Road, has announced it is on track to have ‘boots on the ground’ there next month. In a statement seen by the Times last week, the company confirmed that they are ‘near the end of the contractor procurement process’ which means that work can finally begin on the site, which has been vacant for more than two decades. The ABC Cinema was closed in 2000 and demolished in 2014, but after multiple failed projects, the plot has been in stalemate for over 23 years. An RVG spokesperson told the Times that this means work will begin imminently in the New Year with the ‘installation of site cabins and adaptations to hoardings’.
“Works are set to take place at the start of the new year with piling and breaking ground taking place beyond that, so residents may start to see construction vehicles come and go from the site,” they added.
Facilities The 1.5-acre development site is set to become a £72million ‘extra care’ retirement facility, known as ‘Thrive Living’ after securing planning permission in November 2022. The site was first acquired in December 2021 by RVG, which is owned by AXA IM Real Assets. The new ‘later living’ village will be an eight-storey building boasting 166 homes and is expected to also include retail space, restaurants, a café, an outdoor courtyard, and leisure facilities, complete with a pool, gym, and spa. The RVG spokesperson added that with
works starting on site in the new year, the Public Right of Way that bisects the ABC Cinema site and provides pedestrian access between Clanricarde Road and Mount Pleasant Road will be closing in January 2024. RVG revealed to the Times that appropriate signage will be provided to direct pedestrians to alternative routes during this period of closure and a realigned public right of way will be opened once construction is completed. The RVG spokesperson exclusively told the Times: “We are delighted to be kicking off activity on site next month as we start our journey towards bringing a new, vibrant and connected community for people over 65 in the heart of Tunbridge Wells, while also bringing life back to this long-dormant site. “We will be staying in touch with local residents and businesses each step of the way and look forward to providing more construction announcements next year.”
INSIDE: TWBC Cabinet Member for Finance steps down – page 2
: 3 DE 2 SI 20 4 IN ES ! - P M Z TI QUI
Former ABC Cinema site set for ‘boots on the ground’ next month
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NEWS
Local News
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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
This week… Huge support for town’s Santa
Sleigh foodbank collection
TRIVIA TRIUMPH: The Times annual festive quiz returns. How many can you get right? P4
GLITZ GALORE: The Diamond Setter opens up shop on The Pantiles. P8
THE Round Table’s newly refurbished Santa Sleigh completed its annual food collection route for Nourish Community Foodbank on Sunday evening (December 17). Across their eight-night collection through the streets of Tunbridge Wells, the local group collected a total of 6.8 tonnes of food, with the St John’s area donating an amazing 1.8 tonnes of food in one collection on Saturday evening. The Round Table told the Times that they received lots of Christmas items this year which will mean those in need have some additional treats to enjoy during the festive period.
Donations
WINTER WONDERLAND: Volunteers put on a magical Christmas community event in Southborough. P10
Chairman of Tunbridge Wells Round Table, Ken Fry said: “The Round Table Elves were delighted to support Santa on his rounds this year, spreading some festive cheer around the streets of Tunbridge Wells, while collecting food donations for such a fantastic cause. “The work of Nourish is needed now more than ever and we are incredibly grateful to the people of Tunbridge Wells for their amazing donations. We would also like to thank Pantiles Rotary for all their hard work sorting out the collections up at the warehouse each day.” Nourish Operations Director, Dawn Stanford added: “We are speechless at the amount of food collected. Thank you so much to the people of Tunbridge Wells for your incredible generosity
CHISTMAS TIDINGS: The Pantiles Rotary Santa Sleigh volunteers and wonderful support. It means so much to us and the Round Table that we have enough supplies to help those in need this Christmas. “Thank you also to the Round Table for your incredible support, care and energy. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and for organising these wonderful evenings and collections.” The Tunbridge Wells Round Table has
Borough Councillor quits finance role
EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 576037 NEWS REPORTER GRACE CORCORAN | 01892 240626 newsdesk@onemediauk.co.uk NEWS REPORTER BEN CORNWELL | 07494 453524 newsdesk@onemediauk.co.uk SUB EDITOR SIMON MUGFORD simon.mugford@onemediauk.co.uk DESIGN/PRODUCTION JASON STUBBS jason.stubbs@onemediauk.co.uk ADVERTISING 07557 847841 robin.singer@onemediauk.co.uk facebook.com/timeslocalnews www.timeslocalnews.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0TF Salomons Estate, One Warwick Park Hotel and Bewl Events & Waterpark are owned by the Elite Leisure Collection, which also owns One Media, publisher of the Times.
CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS HERE at the Times Local News we strive to deliver fair, accurate and balanced reports. When we don’t meet our own high standards we will accept the responsibility and publish clarifications and corrections. If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor. One Media and Creative UK Limited is registered in England and Wales under company number 5398960 with registered office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB.
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PERFECT PANTO: It’s official – the Trinity and EM Forster Theatre pantos are a hit! P34-35
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LAST POST: The Rusthall campaigners
Rusthall residents rally for ‘vital’ post office By Grace Corcoran OVER 70 people turned out last Saturday December 16 to campaign against the proposed changes by One Stop Stores to Rusthall Post Office. One Stop Stores has proposed plans to close 32 Post Offices in their stores nationwide, including the one in Rusthall, where they plan to change the Post Office area to a single Post Office counter at the main shop tills to be serviced by One Stop staff alongside other duties. Labour Borough Councillors, Jayne Sharratt and Alex BritcherAllan who both represent Rusthall ward have ‘huge concerns’ over the changes, which many elderly and vulnerable residents rely on. The Councillors have been leading the campaign against the proposals, setting up an online petition and putting on a rally outside of the One Stop. Cllr Sharratt told the Times: “We have huge concerns that the plans for Rusthall Post Office will
announced that in March 2024 they will be hosting their annual giveaway. This year the group will be giving away £20,000 from the money raised during the annual Dunorlan Park Fireworks in November to local Tunbridge Wells causes. All charities and local causes are encouraged to apply for funding, and funding requests can be made via the Round Table website at: rtwrt.org
lead to a decline in service. We don’t understand how there will be room or time for the current quality of service to be maintained if the post office is integrated into the shop.
Experience “So many elderly or vulnerable people rely on this service for their banking, billing and pensions as well as a friendly chat – it’s so much more than just a post office, the women who work there have an incredible over one hundred years of experience between them, and it’s quite frankly an act of vandalism for the post office to let that go – they should be treasuring them and giving them medals! “The over 2,400 people who have signed the petition and the turnout at the rally on Saturday so how universally strong the feelings across the community are in favour of the post office staying just as it is.” To sign the petition, visit: change. org/p/save-rusthall-post-office
By Archie Lawrence Cllr Christopher Hall (Lib Dem, pictured), who served as the Cabinet member for Finance and Performance at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) handed in his resignation on Saturday December 16 following his vote against the Local Plan. It was voted on at Full Council on Wednesday December 13, where 33 councillors voted for, six voted against and three abstained from voting.
‘My position in Cabinet then became untenable and so I decided to step down and tender my resignation’ Cllr Hall, who represents the Broadwater ward, said the decision to resign from the Cabinet post was ‘straightforward’, highlighting his opposition to the Ramslye fields development. He exclusively told the Times: “I handed in my resignation on Saturday. I came to this decision following my stance on the Local Plan at Full Council, where I voted against. “I was elected by the residents of Broadwater in 2021 to stand up for
and protect the Ramslye fields if they continued to be included in the Local Plan. I have been trying to balance both my responsibilities to the residents who elected me as well as to my Cabinet colleagues since taking up the post as portfolio holder whenever the Local Plan has been discussed. “I will always put my residents first. They gave me the message loud and clear at the election as to their views on the Ramslye fields and their opposition to the Local Plan. For me it was a straightforward decision to back them in drawing attention to issues around Ramslye, which we don’t believe have yet been fully addressed. Unfortunately this was not the agreed Cabinet position. “My position in Cabinet then became untenable and so I decided to step down and tender my resignation.” Cllr Hall will continue to represent the Broadwater ward. Council Leader Ben Chapelard thanked Chris for ‘excellent stewardship of the Council’s finances’, noting the ‘significant steps’ taken in addressing the financial deficit and supporting residents in need through the cost-of-living crisis with the Community Support Fund. Responsibility for Finance and Governance will now sit with Cllr Chapelard.
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
NEWS IN BRIEF
Junior doctors to strike this week
Junior doctors will be striking today from 7am (Wednesday December 20) to 7am on Saturday December 23. There will be a second strike taking place from 7am on Wednesday January 3 to 7am Tuesday January 9, 2024. The NHS will only reschedule appointments and procedures, where necessary, and will immediately re-book, where possible. Patients impacted by the strike action will be directly contacted. If you are not contacted, your appointment will take place as planned. Use 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency. Mental health crisis services can be accessed through normal routes.
Town Hall coworking plans are on course
Work to turn the Town Hall into a coworking space, offices, meeting rooms and event space is progressing well, and the operator, Town Square Spaces Ltd says that it will be opening some show offices in mid-January. The company says it is putting plans in place for a formal launch later in the yewar, with the doors officially opening in spring. However, local people keen for an early, behind-the-scenes peek at the new workspace in the iconic building can book a tour now by going to: twtownhall.co.uk.
Hospice offers tree recycling scheme Hospice in the Weald’s Christmas tree recycling scheme helps to raise vital funds for your local hospice. They welcome a suggested donation of £20 but if you are in a position to give more, your generosity and support will be greatly appreciated. In exchange they will collect your Christmas tree and recycle it for you. To find out more visit hospiceintheweald.org.uk.
Pantiles Christmas markets still open
For any last-minute present shopping, The Pantiles final Christmas market will take place on December 23 and 24. Featuring a wide variety of local produce, tasty treats, designer clothes artisan crafts and festive treats. The Southborough Singers will also be performing on the bandstand on Saturday December 23.
Christmas bin collection changes
Bin collection days from Christmas Day until Friday January 12 will be different to normal. All days are shifted so please check Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s website for a comprehensive collection day guide. Bins and boxes must be out for collection by 7am.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS The Times of Tunbridge Wells wishes all its readers and loyal advertisers a very Happy Christmas. We are now taking a festive break and will be back on Wednesday January 3 in 2024 with all the local news and features that matter to you and your area. Wishing you a healthy and propserous New Year.
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Local News
NEWS
‘The people of Tunbridge Wells are the kindest – it’s official!’
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By Grace Corcoran THE Mayor’s Toy Appeal (MTA) is an annual charity drive to collect Christmas presents for children of families who might otherwise go without. Since 1987, MTA has provided vital support to families facing financial hardship during the challenging festive season. With 660 referrals this year of children in Tunbridge Wells who are in crisis or living in difficult circumstances, Trevor Crawford, who took over running the appeal this year, believes the number of children in need is ‘frighteningly high’. “As this is my first year of running the Mayor’s
‘Around 6,000 toys and gifts for children up to the age of 18 were required to bring together 660 sacks of presents’ Toy Appeal, I do have mixed feelings. We are all thrilled to organise and bring together so many Christmas sacks of gifts for children. However, the numbers are frighteningly high.” Around 6,000 toys and gifts for children up to the age of 18 were required to bring together 660 sacks of presents, expertly compiled by volunteers working to give each child a range of gifts that are appropriate for their age, gender and preferences. People from all over the Borough came in large numbers to donate new toys to the appeal, for
HELPING HANDS: The Mayor and Mayoress with staff and students at Kent College which Trevor and the team remain ‘profoundly grateful’ to the ‘wonderfully kind and generous people of Tunbridge Wells’. To be able to gather the number of toys required, there is a whole machine working in the background. The Big Yellow Self Storage and Royal Victoria Place (RVP) work with the charity to provide storage and a ‘fabulous’ shop location. Major gift donators include Sensible Wines, Groupe-Bel, Razorthorn, Clear-It and Manufacturers Play Press, Thames & Kosmos. Schools got involved too with donations from Hilden Grange, Kent College, Benenden School and Skinners Kent Academy. The Tunbridge Wells Round Table also gives an annual donation, and local author Mat Waugh donated 300 signed books. Along with gift donations, around 20 volunteers
– some who have been with appeal for years and some new faces – helped Trevor at the RVP shop location to get the sacks of gifts ready for each child. Though the number of children in need is high, Trevor is ‘confident’ going forward that whatever the number, ‘the good people of Tunbridge Wells will help us get there’. He added: “It just leaves me to wish the best possible Christmas to everyone, particularly those who are struggling more than normal. To those children we have had the honour to help, we hope we have added a little piece of magic to your Christmas day.” If you would like to get involved with the appeal for next year, please contact Trevor Crawford at trevor.crawford@ mayorstoyappealco.uk in the autumn.
have ‘full visibility’ on what they order. Owen’s father, Paul Carey, said he ‘had a tear in his eye’ as FSA board members said they would recommend a change in legislation to Government ministers.
had some good results today from the FSA. “It’s been a struggle, we’ve been going at this for quite a few years – it has sometimes felt like it was never going to get anywhere, so yes, I was a little bit overwhelmed and had a little tear in my eye today when they said they were going to recommend to the minister that it becomes law. “We’re hoping that people with allergies can go out and eat in comfort if you have this law, because they can see what’s in their food.” The law would push responsibility ‘further up the management chain’ rather than resting with sometimes young and poorly-trained staff. Mr Carey said the FSA has listened to the family and praised its professionalism and objectivity throughout the long process.
Allergen petition by family of Crowborough boy backed by the Food Standards Agency By Elena Percy THE Food Standards Agency (FSA) has backed calls for ‘Owen’s Law’, which would force restaurants to publish allergy information on their menus. On Wednesday December 13, the FSA board members said they will recommend a change in legislation to Government ministers. Owen Carey, 18, of Crowborough, died from an allergic reaction after being given a buttermilk-coated grilled chicken burger despite telling staff he was allergic to dairy. Since his death in 2017, his family has called for Owen’s Law, which would mandate that food outlets put all allergy information on the face of the main menu to ensure customers
Compulsory The FSA agreed it would like to see written allergy information made compulsory in restaurants and coffee shops, and board members said the body would write to Government ministers to discuss their ideas. It added that conversations between staff and customers about allergies should be expected. Owen’s father, Paul Carey, said: “I’m just having a little celebratory whisky because we’ve
MP rises to challenge of judging festive bake off By Ben Cornwell LAST Friday (December 15), Tunbridge Wells MP, Greg Clark took time out of his busy schedule to judge a fun Christmas baking competition. He was invited to Salomons Estate to judge the annual mince pie contest put on by local business Integra Property Management. Having started in 2019 the competition – which is the brainchild of the company’s Head of Landscaping Neil Underhill – raises money for a chosen charity each year. For 2023, employees of the leading residential and commercial property firm, which will rebrand on January 15 as Presence & Co, opted to support the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Entrance to the competition cost £5 and the event raised a total of £130 for the cancer centre after Presence & Co matched the initial £65 generated from entries. Neil Underhill told the Times: “We started the
BEST BAKERS: Greg Clark (centre) and the mince pie makers mince pie competition as a small but competitive contest with just the landscaping team. The prize is a DIY spray-painted gold pinecone. I’m chuffed how far it has come over the last four years and that the whole company is now getting involved.” Mr Clark, along with Presence & Co’s Managing Director Sheree Dawton, was tasked with tasting each one of the entries and commented on their
quality and also how inventively they were displayed. He then declared: “It was a close competition; all the mince pies were so brilliant that three winners must be awarded.” The two runners-up, Alex Marchant and Kat Saunders each received a bottle of Champagne and the overall winner, Neil Underhill, received the now legendary spray-painted gold pine cone and a day in a hospitality box at Chelsea Football Club for his unique pistachio flavoured mince pies. Neil commented: “This is the first time I’ve ever won the competition in the four years it has been running. I’ve come second place and have had critiques from past judges over the years. I am thrilled to have finally won!” Before leaving Greg Clark said: “It’s brilliant to see hard-working local businesses in Tunbridge Wells team-building and bonding whilst raising money for a great charity.”
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QUIZ
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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
It’s The Great Christmas Trivia Quiz! It wouldn’t be Christmas without the Times’ annual quiz – this year’s edition was compiled by Grace Corcoran and Ben Cornwell. Here’s your chance to show how much you can remember about what happened in and around Tunbridge Wells in 2o23...
General knowledge 1. How many times did South East Water feature on the Times’ front page in 2023? A 3 B. 5 C. 7 D. 10
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National watchdog increases pressure on South East Water By Victoria Roberts WHILE Kent and Sussex buckled down for the first day of a hosepipe ban yesterday (June 26), water regulator Ofwat has demanded an “urgent” meeting with South East Water (SEW) to address the ongoing water crisis, while threatening potential “action” against the supplier. The first day of the hosepipe ban coincided with a burst water main that left Five Oak Green withOut water for several hours, while further burst pipes and leaks
were reported in Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells. Although reports of burst pipes and other leakages have been
South East Water has blamed increased demand during hot weather for water outages widespread, SEW has blamed increased demand during hot weather for water outages in and around Tunbridge Wells and across the South East. On Monday (June 26), Ofwat wrote
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an open letter to SEW Chief Executive David Hinton, asking for an urgent meeting and criticising the company’s lack of resilience. Highlighting a pattern of supply problems in both winter and summer, Ofwat Chief Executive David Black said there had been “a freeze-thaw event in December 2022 in which 286,000 properties were impacted, and a high-demand event leading to up to 6,000 properties experiencing supply interruptions, low pressure, or being off supply during the week of 12 June 2023”. Continued on page 3
5. This year saw another successful ‘Local and Live’ but in which year did the popular celebration of Tunbridge Wells’ music scene start? A. 2006 B. 2008 C. 2010 D. 2012
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SOAP DODGEMS: Emile Milner (left) and his brother Lars Milner, representing naos, make their way to the finish line of the Soapbox Stars Kart Race at Dunorlan Park on Saturday.
B. Aspens C. Mental Health Resource D. Demelza
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6. What breed is ‘Minnie’, The Amelia’s preserved dog that went on tour earlier this year? A. Shih Tzu B. Maltese Terrier C. Pomeranian D. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
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INSIDE: More train strikes announced – page 2
SATURATION COVERAGE: South East Water has made front page headlines 2. Which ex-Alliance Councillor left in August to form the new party, ‘Independents for Tunbridge Wells’? A. Cllr Nick Pope B. Cllr Ellen Neville C. Cllr David Knight D. Cllr David Hayward
7. Which festival has been announced for summer 2024 at Dunorlan Park? A. Snag and Scotch Festival B. Bratwurst and Beer Festival C. Wieners and Whiskey Festival D. Sausage and Cider Festival 8. Which business won RTW Together’s Big Reveal Christmas Window competition in 2023? A. Catherine Hills B. The Cove C. Kumquat D. Glass by Claudia 9. Who was named the CEO of RTW Together BID this year? A. Alex Green B. Ben Chapelard C. Greg Clark D. Hugh Patterson
STAR QUALITY: Which Hollywood star played at Black Deer? C. Idris Elba D. Luke Evans 12. Which former EastEnders actor is appearing in the Assembly Hall Theatre’s pantomime, Beauty and the Beast? A. Charlie Brooks B. Rita Simons C. Danielle Harold D. Samantha Womack 13. Where was named the Sunday Times ‘Best place to live’ in 2023? A. Cranbrook B. Langton Green C. Penhurst D. Wadhurst 14. A non-native fish was found in Greggswood Stream near Ashenden Park in May. But what type of fish was it? A. Amazonian Silver Dollar B. Redtailed Catfish C. Jaguar Cichlid D. Prussian Carp CHARITY CHELSEA GARDENERS
ROYAL CONNECTION: Where did Princess Anne visit earlier this year? 3. Local street artist Hugh Whittaker recently created a new mural on Grosvenor Bridge underpass. But what alternative name does the artist go by? A. Hughwizzy B. Humor C. Rumour D. Wit 4. Which charity had a show garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2023? A. The Hospice in the Weald
10. HRH The Princess Royal returned to her former boarding school in Kent at the end of September. But which school did she attend? A. Cranbrook School B. Benenden School C. Holmewood House School D. Tonbridge School 11. Which British actor performed at this year’s Black Deer Festival? A. Damian Lewis B. Ricky Gervais
15. The Times celebrated a special edition of the newspaper back in May. But what milestone issue did it reach? A. 250th B. 300th C. 400th D. 500th
DOG ON TOUR: Which breed of dog is Minnie?
QUIZ
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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Picture round
AND AWAY... 2. Who is this comedian who currently lives in Tunbridge Wells and co-hosted the comedy panel game show Shooting Stars, with Vic Reeves?
1. Which anniversary did Bewl Water reservoir celebrate this year? A. 40th B. 50th C. 60th D. 70th
A. Matt Lucas B. Jack Dee C. Bob Mortimer D. Johnny Vegas
4. A restaurant in Southborough topped The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants list. But which one? A. Thai Orchid B. Tallow C. The Imperial
D. The Hand and Sceptre
3. Which Kent castle is this?
5. At the start of the year, local artist Guy Portelli unveiled a sculptural tribute to a legendary singer at The Forum. But which singer was it?
A. Sissinghurst Castle B. Scotney Castle C. Leeds Castle D. Tonbridge Castle
A. David Bowie B. Freddie Mercury C. John Lennon D. Shane Macgowan
Sport
2. The Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon returned this year. How many years has the race been running for? A. 25 B. 30 C. 40 D. 50
1. Local GB hockey player, Ellen Greenall won a gold medal at this year’s Special Olympics. But where were this year’s games held? A. Paris B. Berlin C. Milan D. Barcelona
3. Rank these sports clubs in the order they were established (oldestyoungest). A. Tunbridge Wells Lawn Tennis Club B. Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club C. Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club D. Tunbridge Wells Football Club
LOCAL CONNECTIONS ANSWERS: 1. A. Holmewood House 2. C. Davina McCall 3. B. Ross Noble 4. C. Sherlock Holmes 5. C. Emma Corrin LOCAL HISTORY ANSWERS: 1. A. J.M.W.Turner 2. C. Britain’s first ever motor show 3. D. A WW1 rifle grenade 4. C. £2,000 5. A. Matfield SPORT ANSWERS: 1. B. Berlin 2. C. 40 3. C (1762), D (1886), A (1898), B (1931) 4. B. Dame Kelly Holmes 5. B. Bowls PICTURE ROUND ANSWERS: 1. B. 50th 2. C. Bob Mortimer 3. B. Scotney Castle 4. B. Tallow 5. A. David Bowie
4. Which local sports star brought out a book this year called ‘Unique’? A. Will Bayley B. Dame Kelly Holmes C. Martin Corry D. Virginia Wade
15 C. 400th
Photo: James Hudson
14 B. Redtailed Catfish GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ANSWERS: 1 C.7 2 D. Cllr David Hayward 3 B. Humor 4 B. Aspens 5 A. 2006 6 B. Maltese Terrier 7 D. Sausage & Cider Festival 8 C. Kumquat 9 A. Alex Green 10 B. Benenden 11 A. Damian Lewis 12 B. Rita Simons 13 D. Wadhurst
ELLEN GREENALL
5. This year saw the top prize in a tournament in Tunbridge Wells won by a woman (Jo Cartwright) for the first time. Which sport was she playing? A. Croquet B. Bowls C. Squash D. Archery
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Answers:
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QUIZ
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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Local history
1. Which British artist produced a painting in the 19th century titled ‘Pembury Mill’? A. J.M.W. Turner B. John Constable C. Thomas Gainsborough D. Banksy
2. Which of these firsts happened in Tunbridge Wells? A. The painting of the first UK white line road markings B. The opening of the world’s first aircraft factory C. Britain’s first-ever motor show D. The birth of the first western samurai
POET’S CORNER: Siegfried Sassoon grew up in this local village. Can you name it? 3. What was found buried in Calverley Grounds back in August? A. A roman coin B. A bag of money C. A prehistoric hand axe D. A WW1 rifle grenade 4. A 400-year-old, King Charles I coin was found by a couple in Tunbridge Wells, but how much did the coin sell for at an auction in June? A. £500 B. £1,000 C. £2,000 D. £5,000
CALVERLEY GROUNDS: What was found here back in August?
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5. Famous war poet Siegfried Sassoon grew up in which village in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells? A. Matfield B. Speldhurst C. Five Oak Green D. Horsemonden
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: Who painted Pembury Mill?
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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
QUIZ
Local connections
FAIRYTALE OF SCHOOL WORK: Can you name the school attended by Shane MacGowan? 1. Shane MacGowan, lead singer of The Pogues passed away earlier this year, but which Tunbridge Wells school did he attend? A. Holmewood House B. Rose Hill School C. The Mead School D. Beechwood School
RUNNING JOKE: Which famous comedian was spotted on the run in this park?
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2. Which local celebrity spoke at Benenden School’s Women and Wellness Conference? A. Jo Brand B. Rosemary Shrager C. Davina McCall D. Cate Blanchett
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3. Which famous comedian was spotted at Dunorlan Park’s Park Run earlier this year? A. Alan Carr B. Ross Noble C. Jimmy Carr D. Jack Whitehall
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CELEBRITY APPEARANCE: Who spoke at Benenden School?
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4. The author of which famous fictional detective died in Crowborough? A. Hercule Poirot B. Inspector Morse C. Sherlock Holmes D. Nancy Drew 5. Diana, Princess of Wales has been played by many actresses across both film and television. But which actress who played her recently was born in Tunbridge Wells? A. Elizabeth Debicki B. Kristen Stewart C. Emma Corrin D. Naomi Watts
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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Specialist jeweller unveils sparkling new Pantiles store
By Ben Cornwell THE Diamond Setter opened its new store on The Pantiles on Saturday (December 16). The company, which specialises in diamond and gemstone setting, bespoke jewellery, including wedding and engagement rings and the remodelling and redesign of heirloom pieces, was founded by Gavin and Lorraine Marsh in 2020.
Securing your future in the New Year
Spacious The small, family-owned business previously had a studio at Salomons Estate, but has now opened a new premises with a spacious showroom in the beautiful and historic retail district in Tunbridge Wells. Lorraine told the Times: “Opening a new showroom and onsite workshop this side of Christmas has been exhilarating, but also undeniably challenging. The Diamond Setter started its humble studio in a garage at Salomons Estate in 2020. Our customers came from referrals and personal recommendations.
SHINING BRIGHT: The new Pantiles store “Our story has touched so many people and after three years, we are very excited to launch our beautiful collection and our range of jewellery services to the people of Tunbridge Wells and neighbouring towns.” The couple are very hands-on in the business, with Gavin working as the master jeweller and diamond setter, and Lorraine focusing on sourcing diamonds and gemstones and ensuring that their client’s vision is clear from concept to completion.
Lorraine added that she believes that they are also a ‘pioneer in town’ for offering customers a permanent jewellery experience. Due to their well-equipped onsite workshop, all jewellery services are carried out within the premises so you can have the unique experience of having a piece of jewellery measured and soldered right in front of you. The Diamond Setter will be open every day in the lead up to Christmas from 10am to 5pm.
Jenson Button joins local racing team
By Grace Corcoran ONE of the biggest names in Formula One has joined a local racing team for an upcoming world championship. Jenson Button, who won the F1 Drivers’ Championship in 2009 has signed up to race for the Frant-based team Jota Sport in the World Endurance Championships (WEC).
Thrilled The FIA WEC is the world’s premier international sportscar championship. Mr Button said in a video to his 2.9 million followers on X (formerly Twitter): “I am thrilled to announce that I’m
going to be racing with including nine worldHertz Team Jota in the renowned manufacturing 2024 World Endurance giants such as Ferrari, Championship. Peugeot and Toyota. “I really do think they Contested over eight [Hertz Team Jota] can take rounds across Europe, it to the big teams, to the Asia, North America, manufacturers.” South America and the Jota is one of the most Middle East – the WEC experienced and consists of races of varying JENSON BUTTON successful sports car times, from six hours, to teams in recent history, having finished the longest at 24 hours. on the podium at the legendary Le Mans Round four of the WEC (and the race 10 times in 10 years. championship’s flagship race), the Button will partner Phil Hanson and legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, Oliver Rasmussen, driving a Porsche remains one of the world’s greatest 963 in the WEC’s ‘Hypercar’ category. sporting events. The team will race against a record Round one of the WEC will take place number of Hypercar entries next year, from March 1-2, 2024 in Doha, Qatar.
are paid to JCB Group expands with Tributes former law partner Volkswagen dealership By Jack Thornton EARLIER this month one of Kent and Sussex’s largest family-owned motor groups, the JCB Group, acquired a local dealership from Marshall, part of Constellation Automotive. The company’s newest addition is the Volkswagen Tunbridge Wells dealership, located on Dowding Way which will now be rebranded as JCB Volkswagen Tunbridge Wells.
Successful Owner and Managing Director of the JCB Group, Jonathan Bischoff, started the business as the youngest-ever Volkswagen-sponsored retailer in 1998 and has remained a successful and well-respected partner of the Volkswagen group ever since. Jonathan told the Times: “We are looking forward to welcoming the staff of Volkswagen Tunbridge Wells into the JCB
Group family. Our customer-first ethos will hopefully please existing and future customers of the branch and we hope the business will build from strength to strength, offering our customers the best choice locally. “We value our staff’s input and enthusiasm to be the best in the business. We are looking forward to having a presence in this lovely part of the county of Kent.” The dealer group said its enlarged buying power will mean greater choice and competitive prices for its customers through a huge selection of new and quality approved used cars. The addition of the dealership at Tunbridge Wells alongside their partners in Medway and Ashford, means the group has taken its representation of Volkswagen to three locations. The JCB Group also represents other brands in the southeast of England, including Renault, Kia, Cupra, VW Commercial Vehicles and Skoda.
NIGEL Stanford, husband and father of three, has passed away after a long battle with cancer. A Partner at Cripps in Tunbridge Wells since 2006, the law firm said it was a ‘testament to his strength of character and resolve that he carried on working until very recently’. Nigel was battling prostate cancer for over six years after it was detected in a routine appointment.
Strength The law firm paid tribute to Nigel in a statement on LinkedIn: “A highly professional operator with a dry sense of humour, he was also a keen and talented sportsman whose quiet competitiveness was a driving force behind the business he helped to build and nurture with pride and passion. “We will miss him very much. Our thoughts are with Nigel’s wife, three children, family and friends at this extraordinarily difficult time.”
Looking ahead to 2024, it’s important to reflect on the current financial landscape, get to grips with your finances and really take control rather than being passive - reviewing old pensions, making sure you understand them and working out whether you are on track for your retirement. Retirement planning is a crucial aspect of securing your financial future, and it’s best to start early to try and ensure a comfortable and stress-free retirement. Start by setting your retirement goals The first step in retirement planning is to assess your retirement goals and how much money you will need. Unfortunately, more people are experiencing pension poverty with insufficient resources to see them through their later years. Crucially, this doesn’t just mean understanding how much money you need to meet your basic expenses, such as bills and groceries, it also means knowing how much it’ll cost you to maintain your current standard of living, such as leisure and holidays, to give you the opportunities in retirement that you deserve. Take the time to envision your ideal retirement lifestyle and work out how much money you would need to fund it. Once you have this retirement goal in mind, you can start working towards achieving it. What is your current situation? Once you have an idea of your goals, it’s important to understand your current financial situation. This can include an analysis of your current income and expenditure, to make sure you are living a lifestyle that you can afford; identifying any debt that you have accumulated – and what you’ll need to do to clear it and where there are opportunities to start saving and investing for the medium to long-term. Create a budget Creating a budget is an essential aspect of retirement planning. It allows you to manage your expenses and invest adequately for your future. Review your current income, expenses, and financial obligations to determine how much you can save each month. Investing Unfortunately, saving your money will only get you so far these days! With inflation rising year on year and currently sitting at a 30-year high, if your money remains in the bank, with interest rates far lower than inflation, it will buy you less with each year that passes. This makes having an investment strategy the key component to any long-term financial planning. Working with a financial planner will help evaluate which investment options are the most suitable to help you grow your savings for retirement. To fund your investment strategy make an effort to manage your expenditure prudently. Identify areas where you can cut back and redirect those funds towards your retirement goals. Consider making adjustments to your lifestyle choices now to support your future retirement goals. Planning for retirement in 2024 requires proactive steps and informed decision-making. By setting your retirement goals, creating a budget, exploring investments options, minimising debt and continuously reviewing your plan, you will give yourself the best chance of securing your financial future and enjoying a comfortable retirement. To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact Amanda at: amanda.redman@sjpp.co.uk.
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Postmistress delivered her 30-year stamp of excellence
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
TRACTOR JOY: More than 40 vehicles lit up the Weald
Picture: Holland Gladwish Photography
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By Jack Thornton LOCAL Postmistress Barbara Johnston has sealed her legacy in the village of Leigh near Tonbridge after delivering a remarkable three decades of service at the helm of Leigh Post Office. In recognition of this milestone achievement, Post Office Area Manager, Richard Wilder, presented Barbara with the 30 Years’ Long Service Award.
Loyal Mr Wilder told the Times: “I want to thank Barbara for being the village Postmistress for three decades. It’s amazing to think that Barbara and her husband took on this shop almost 46 years ago – what long and loyal service to this village. That shows how much they care about this community.” After moving from Stockport to Kent in January 1978 with her husband Alan, the couple decided to take on a general store in the village of Leigh. They managed to enlarge the size of the shop by incorporating the stockroom. Later, when the Postmaster for Leigh was leaving, Barbara and Alan had an extension built on the store to make room for the Post Office. They officially took on the postal branch in December 1993, taking each day one stamp at a time. Alan, who was at the heart of the Leigh community for the majority of that time, sadly very recently passed away, but Barbara is assisted in the Post Office by her daughter Claire Broad. With the support of other staff, they
Thousands gather as festive tractors illuminate the Weald
STAMP OF APPROVAL: Barbara with her award
By Ben Cornwell
continue to serve the Leigh community. Barbara said: “I love being a Postmistress. It’s a great service to provide for the community. The Post Office brings in extra footfall, supporting the shop and vice versa – the two work well together. The Post Office is also a pick-up point for prescriptions. We are the only shop in the village. “We managed to stay open throughout the pandemic so that we could continue to provide essential services. We were really busy as people wanted to stay local and more people were working from home than usual. People wanted to send more mail and parcels to loved ones that they could not see. “We are still really busy today with lots of home shopping returns and banking on behalf of all the major high street banks, especially as more banks are closing.”
ON Sunday evening (December 17), the Weald of Kent Young Farmers Club (YFC) held their second ‘Light It Up’ tractor run with more than forty illuminated tractors parading through several villages across the Weald. There has been lots of support for the event within the local community with many people collecting donations in buckets and several businesses sponsoring the event including M&A Brown & Sons Ltd, Kingcott Dairy, Beshaw Tyres, Tow Truck Trader. YFC club leader and creator of the Tractor Run, Claire Eckley told the Times: “We could tell there was a buzz on social media, so we were expecting large crowds as the weather was also kind. There were thousands of people of all ages viewing in all four villages, and lots of people along the route between the villages. It was beyond anything we expected.” The annual fundraising event collects
donations for the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex Air Ambulances and also for the club itself. Last year the YFC raised more than £5,000 for the Kent, Surrey, Sussex Air Ambulance Charity and £1,700 in club funds. This year’s grand total won’t be tallied up until January, but the club are estimating a total of £12,000 or more, based on where they were at this time last year.
Proud She added: “We always hope to raise lots of money for our chosen charity and our club, but we are also really proud that everyone can enjoy this, no matter their financial circumstances in what can be an expensive time of year. “Our farming community is proud of what they do and it’s a great boost for them to bring some cheer to the villages.” If you would like to donate, visit the event’s JustGiving page at: justgiving.com/page/ wokyfctractorrun2023
Winter Fayre brings sprinkling of Christmas spirit to Southborough stilted walkers, touring around the Fayre. This surprise was brought by Applause Rural Touring Company with Southborough Street Community.
By Grace Corcoran On Saturday December 9, Southborough held its Winter Fayre in the Town Square. Over 1,000 people attended throughout the day to join in with the Christmas festivities. The Fayre is organised by volunteers from Southborough Street Community, a group that aims to create a buzz around Southborough and High Brooms and promote local businesses. There was live entertainment throughout the day, including the fabulous Liam Joseph, The Chartham String Band, The Iron Spring Morris Dancers and the Southborough Singers. As well as Santa’s Grotto, there were many food and drink stalls and a packed Civic Centre full of local craftspeople, perfect for present shopping. There was also a festive surprise for the attendees with Frosty Jack and Snowy, two
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Darren Austin is a director of Synergee Limited, a firm of Chartered Accountants & business advisers based in Tunbridge Wells. If you have any questions you'd like to ask Darren he can be contacted on 01892 772960 | www.synergee.org.uk
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Atmosphere The Southborough lights were switched on by Dianne Hill, the Mayor of Southborough, Father Christmas the Southborough Community Pantomime, which will be performing Red Riding Hood in January 2024. “The atmosphere was magical! With so many things going on and seeing a full town square, Southborough really is the place to be!” said Nell Mellerick, one of the organisers. “Lots of fun and laughter was had – a huge thank you to all the volunteers who made this event happen,” she added.
In place of the usual Q&A, the following are some of the support packages that have beenIt’s made available to help Coronavirus: headthe is below £150. If the combined cost is greater, the season of goodwill, cheer,businesses and Christmasdeal with parties. Will cause an issue with the taxman? Coronavirus Job this Retention Scheme: HMRC will There80% is anofincome exemption forwho events reimburse wages tax paid to workers have be are met, provides laid offwhich, due toif the the criteria coronavirus crisis. This isancapped at exemption of £150 per head. The event must be an £2.5k per employee per month. annual function (likely to happen again the
VAT Deferral: The deferral will apply from March following year, so a 5th anniversary party20 would to 30 June 2020. There is a be lack of clarity on the Gov. not qualify) and must open to all employees (this can specific). The includes uk website andbe welocation are interpreting this£150 as payments related costs such as transport to/ due byVAT 30 and Juneany rather than quarters ended 30 June. from the event, etc. The cost per This means that Mayaccommodation, quarter VAT Returns, where head is calculated by taking the total cost of the payment is due by 7 July, will still be payable as event and dividing it by the total number of normal. Any payments deferred become partners, payable attendees which may includewill employees, by theand endnon-employees. of the tax year (31/3/21 Company or 5/4/21 Unincorporated) If there is more than one annual event, say a
Income Tax Deferral: The self-assessment second summer party and a Christmas meal, the cost of payment July 2020, will bothon is account, exempt asdue longbyas31 the combined costbeper deferred to 31 January 2021. No penalties or interest will be charged.
say £100 for one event and £75 will for the other, only be Cash Grants: A grant of £10k automatically one can be and it would make sense to provided toexempt all businesses currently entitled to Small select theRates £100 Relief. event inAthis example, Business grant of £25kleaving can bethe claimed £75 event as taxable. The £150 is an exemption for businesses in the retail, hospitality or leisure industry rather than an allowance so it does not get ifdeducted their rateable value is between £15k and £51K. from the total cost.
Business Rates Holiday: There is a 12-month business It is the event (April that is exempted rather theretail, rates holiday 20 to March 21) than for all employees attending. In the above example, if an hospitality and leisure businesses in England. employee did not attend the £100 event but did
Time Pay In addition to thea attendto the £75Arrangements: one, the employee would receive deferral schemes noted above, if you have outstanding taxable benefit of £75 as that event is not exempt. tax liabilities (Corporation Tax, VAT or Income Tax) If the employer does not wish the employees to due to coronavirus, you may be able to agree a time suffer the tax on an event, the employer can enter a to paysettlement arrangement. Arrangements willwhich be agreed on PAYE agreement with HMRC aallows case by casetobasis. discuss your options, them gross To up the benefit and pay thecontact tax HMRC onof0800 0159 559. on behalf the employee. Further info and updates can be found here: https:// www.synergee.org.uk/press-releases/coronavirus-update
GABRIELLA Loves Christmas
Gifting Made Easy No. 9 Chapel Place, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1YQ 01892 540216 | gabriellajewellery@outlook.com www.gabriellajewellery.co.uk Follow us @gabriellajewellery
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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Elderly customers spread festive joy with knitted gifts for delivery drivers By Archie Lawrence AS we enter the Winter months and temperatures have started to drop, residents in the Tunbridge Wells area have been knitting warm hats for their Wiltshire Farm Foods delivery drivers to wear.
Heroes This heart-warming gesture from customers of the ready-meal provider comes as a token of appreciation for the unsung heroes of the season – the delivery drivers, who ensure food reaches customers whatever the weather during the Christmas period. One customer, Vora Peck, expressed her enjoyment in creating these special hats to show gratitude towards her local
drivers. She said: “Knitting is a favourite pastime of mine, and it was a pleasure to express my heartfelt thanks to the hardworking delivery drivers who always wear a smile at my door with a personal knitted gift. I hope this small gesture brings some warmth and joy this festive season.” Customers have been giving these handmade gifts to their drivers at their doorsteps, spreading some unexpected joy as the drivers complete their daily rounds. Mark Bell, Retail Sales and Operations Manager at Wiltshire Farm Foods in Edenbridge said: “It’s incredibly touching to see our customers handcrafting these gifts for our team. Our drivers are loving their hats and are very grateful for the special recognition. They really value the relationship they
DO I NEED A WILL ? By Sarah Strong, Partner in the Private Client team at CooperBurnett LLP
HEADS UP: Driver Marcus sports his knitted gift build with our customers that they deliver to - week in, week out. “These hats will certainly make our drivers’ rounds a lot merrier over these colder months.”
Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club kit finds second life By Ben Cornwell TUNBRIDGE Wells Rugby Club recently had a pleasant surprise after stumbling across an Instagram post about women’s rugby in Turkey containing something familiar. The post featured an image of players wearing TWRFC playing shirts. Honorary Club Secretary, Michelle Greenall told the Times: “We are very fortunate that thanks to our sponsors the club is able to update our kit on a regular basis. “As we replace kit, we donate our shirts and other kit to SOS Kit Aid. We’ve donated well over 300 playing shirts to the charity and it was really great to see what has happened to just a few of them.” SOS Kit Aid, founded in 2001 by John Broadfoot, distributes second-hand and unused new rugby kits to disadvantaged youngsters all over the globe. Through its network of relationships, it uses the power of rugby and other sports to make a positive impact on young people’s lives through sporting activities that promote healthy lifestyles, life skills and friendship. Since SOS Kit Aid’s inception, the charity has donated over £8million
FLYING COLOURS: The Turkish club in the TWRC kit
worth of kit, benefiting more than a quarter of a million young people across 56 different countries.
Appeal Club Social Media Officer, Drew Raine, added: “We have been in contact with the club in Turkey. What’s great is the match featured was the first full 15-aside game played by the team. We will be staying in touch and look forward to seeing how the team grows.” Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club have been
Over two thirds of people in the UK do not have a Will. This will inevitably cause problems and difficulties for your relatives and loved ones on your death. Unless they know for certain, steps would have to be taken to ascertain whether or not a Will exists and, if not, they would then have to identify who was eligible to deal with your estate. Without a Will, the Intestacy Rules will dictate who receives your estate and in what proportions, meaning inadequate provision may be made for your intended beneficiaries. It is often assumed that a spouse or civil partner would inherit the entire estate, but this is not the case where there are other surviving close relatives. In addition, co-habiting partners and stepchildren do not benefit under the Intestacy Rules, which may prove problematic when dealing with blended families.
continuing their charitable endeavours by participating in Nourish Community Foodbank’s advent calendar appeal, with the club donating 200 calendars for young children. “The club has a long history of working with Nourish, whether it’s donations, fundraising or members volunteering to help make deliveries,” Mike Rigby, TWRFC Chairperson commented. “Supporting local charities is a core part of the club in our community and it was amazing to see our members step up and support this appeal.”
Even if the Intestacy Rules do currently leave your estate to your intended beneficiaries, these rules are subject to change from time to time. As such, if the rules were amended in the future, these could no longer adequately reflect your wishes. By making a Will, you can remove any uncertainty and make sure that, on your death, your assets will pass to the people and causes that you care most about. This can range from deciding who should receive personal possessions, such as jewellery and other sentimental items, your pets, and making cash gifts, to dealing with your entire estate. By taking professional advice and structuring your Will in certain ways, it may be possible to reduce or even eliminate the amount of Inheritance Tax payable on your death. In addition, it may be advisable under certain circumstances for trusts to be included under the terms of a Will, either to prevent minors inheriting whilst they are too young, to try and balance the needs of a spouse or civil partner against those of your children or try to protect your estate in the event of a beneficiary being declared bankrupt, divorcing or requiring paid care. If you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Strong on
email: SHS@COOPERBURNETT.COM or tel: 01892 515022
WWW.COOPERBURNETT.COM THE latest showing at The Amelia’s Temporary Exhibition Space, Little Owl and the Christmas Lights, a children’s festive showing has had an enormously positive response with over 88 per cent capacity. A spokesperson for The Amelia said: “Everyone at The Amelia is delighted that so many children and adults have fallen in love with Little Owl over this Christmas period. This beautiful show is the first of its type produced by The Amelia and is proving to be an incredibly popular Christmas offering for the youngest members of the family.”
Disclaimer: This blog is not intended as legal advice that can be relied upon and CooperBurnett LLP does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of its contents.
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Picture: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire
‘No firm date’ for ‘stopping the boats’, Sunak tells MPs
Picture: Louis Alexander/PA Wire
Clear Although Channel crossings have fallen by a third since 2022, some 29,437 people have still made the journey so far this year. Asked by Home Affairs Committee chair Dame Diana Johnson when he would have ‘stopped the boats’, the Prime Minister said: “There isn’t a
firm date on this because I’ve always been clear from the beginning. “We will keep going until we do. This isn’t one of these things when there’s a precise date estimate on it, this is something where before I took this job they had only ever gone up, now they’re down by a third.” During his routine questioning by select committee chairs at the Liaison Committee yesterday (December 19), Mr Sunak stressed his Rwanda policy as a vital part of ‘stopping the boats’ and said he was ‘highly confident’ that the Government would be able to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The Government’s Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its second reading in the Commons on December 12 and will be discussed by a committee of MPs in the new year.
THE BUILDING SAFETY ACT Introduced in light of the catastrophic events of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June 2017, the Building Safety Act 2022 (the Act) contains a vast range of provisions designed to improve the safety of buildings. The Act is particularly significant in terms of its protection of leaseholders, eradicating the standpoint that leaseholders should be the first point of contact for paying for the remediation of historical defects. Who does the Act apply to? In order for the Act to apply to you, you must be a qualifying leaseholder.
KATIE THOMPSON Trainee Solicitor Tunbridge Wells Office 01892 510 222 info@bussmurton.co.uk
The first stage of determining this is to look at the property itself. If the building is above 11 meters in height or more than five storeys high, this will satisfy the definition of a relevant building. The second stage of the test to be satisfied relates to your ownership of the property. In order to satisfy this element of the test, on 14th February 2022, your property must have been your main home, or you must be able to demonstrate that you owned no more than three dwellings in the United Kingdom.
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EU fingerprint checks for British travellers from next autumn
Explorer’s challenge
RISHI Sunak has said there is no ‘firm date’ for meeting his promise to ‘stop the boats’ as Channel crossings approached 30,000 for the year. The promise was one of the five priorities the Prime Minister set out at the start of 2023, when he said he would pass a new law making sure those who arrived by small boat would be ‘detained and swiftly removed’.
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
AN explorer has completed seven marathons in the most remote corners of all seven continents, inspired by a promise he made to his late grandfather to fight for a cure for dementia. Louis Alexander started the challenge in October last year, taking on marathons in locations including the Agafay Desert in Morocco, the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, and Alaska. He finished the feat in Antarctica on December 13. The inspiration behind the challenge was Mr Alexander’s grandfather, Captain Rick Taylor, who died in 2019 with dementia. Mr Alexander, 24, who is based in London said: “At his funeral, when I was 19, I had the huge privilege of delivering the eulogy … and there I made a promise to support this fight against dementia until the day we find a cure.” While running the marathons he carried a letter calling for the Government to invest £16 million in improving dementia diagnostics.
You will also be able to demonstrate that you are a qualifying leaseholder if you have purchased your property since 14th February 2022 and either of the aforementioned requirements were satisfied on this date. Moreover, your property must be said to have a relevant historical safety defect. A defect will satisfy this definition if it does any of the following;
A NEW EU digital border system that will require fingerprints and facial scans to be taken from British travellers on first use is expected to launch next autumn. The entry/exit system (EES) is earmarked to start on October 6, 2024, according to the i and Times newspapers, citing Getlink, the owner of Eurotunnel. Eurotunnel, which runs a car transport service between Folkestone and Calais, is said to be testing the technology, in which personal data will be collected at borders and entered into an EU-wide database. Under the EES, passengers would have to agree to fingerprinting and facial image capture the first time they arrived on the continent. After that, the data, including any record of refused entry, should allow quicker processing, according to travel bosses.
West End nightclub fined for caustic soda tequila shot error A WEST End nightclub has been fined for accidentally serving caustic soda with tequila shots rather than salt, Westminster City Council has said. Four women suffered burning in their mouths and had to go to hospital after taking the cleaning substance at Tiger Tiger in December 2021. The council said owner A3D2 admitted to four health and safety breaches. It was fined £120,000 for ‘failing to ensure [customers] were not exposed to the risk of chemical substances’.
The Act details that developers must pay to resolve defects in buildings that they were responsible for either building or carrying out works on. As a result, qualifying leaseholders will be completely protected from all remediation costs relating to cladding systems, funding being available even if the building developer cannot be identified.
a) Puts the safety of individuals at risk from the spread of fire, or structural collapse of the building b) Arises from works that have been done to the building including the use of inappropriate or defective products during the construction of the building or any works carried out at a later date such as refurbishment works c) The defect was created between 28th June 1992 and 27th June 2022 d) The defect relates to works; •
That took place in the construction of the building
•
That took place during the conversion of the building from a non-residential building to a residential building, or...
•
Any other works commissioned by or on behalf of the building owner
How does the Act protect leaseholders? Through the introduction of the Act, the government has demonstrated its intention to protect leaseholders from the burden of remediation costs arising from the construction of and works to defective buildings.
Should you need any advice on this, please contact us via email: info@bussmurton.co.uk or telephone:
Buss Murton Law Tunbridge Wells: 01892 510 222 Cranbrook: 01580 712 215 East Grinstead: 01342 328 000
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
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Preferred pronoun use not ‘compulsory’ in schools TEACHERS and pupils in England will not be ‘compelled’ to use a child’s preferred pronouns, the Government’s transgender guidance has said. The Department for Education (DfE) has published its long-awaited draft guidance for schools and colleges on how best to support pupils questioning their gender, after it was delayed from the summer. The non-statutory guidance says, ‘parents should not be excluded’ from decisions taken by a school or college relating to requests for a child to ‘socially transition’, such as wishes to change names, pronouns and clothing.
Significant It adds that schools and colleges should make parents aware if their child requests a change – except in the ‘very rare situation’ where parental involvement may raise a ‘significant risk of harm’ to the child. Schools and colleges in England have been told there is ‘no general duty’ to allow children to change their gender identity and they should take a ‘cautious approach’ when considering social transition requests. When judging the ‘seriousness’ of a request by a pupil to socially transition, schools and colleges should consider whether the child has been ‘influenced by peers or social media’, the guidance adds. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “This guidance puts the best interests of all children first, removing any confusion about the protections that must be in place for biological sex and single-sex spaces, and making clear that safety and safeguarding for all children must always be schools’ primary concern.
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Picture: Hrafnkell Brimar Hallmundsson/PA Wire
Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
“Parents’ views must also be at the heart of all decisions made about their children, and nowhere is that more important than with decisions that can have significant effects on a child’s life for years to come.” However, various organisations have stated this guidance leaves many ‘questions unanswered’. Confederation of School Trusts chief executive Leora Cruddas said: “It is disappointing that the Government has chosen to publish this consultation as schools are breaking up, and with widespread media briefing ahead of the draft document’s publication. “This will make it very challenging to respond to any concerns felt by pupils, parents and staff until schools return in the new year.” A spokesperson for Mermaids, a transgender youth support charity, said: “All young people deserve an accepting and supportive school environment to learn and be their authentic selves. “The UK Government’s draft trans guidance for schools in England seeks to prevent that. Its approach is unworkable, out of touch and absurd.”
Volcano erupts in Iceland after thousands evacuated A VOLCANO has erupted in southwestern Iceland, spewing semi-molten rock into the air in a spectacular show of Earth’s power in the land known for fire and ice. The eruption, which began on Monday night (December 18), happened about 2.4 miles from the town of Grindavik, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said. The town near Iceland’s main airport was evacuated in November after thousands of earthquakes damaged homes and raised fears of an imminent eruption. On Tuesday, fountains of orange lava shot into the darkened sky from a fissure in the ground. Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, averages an eruption every four to five years. The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures. But the eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 31 miles southwest of the capital, Reykjavik, is not expected to release large amounts of ash into the air.
Iceland’s foreign minister, Bjarne Benediktsson, tweeted that there were no disruptions of flights to and from the country and international flight corridors remain open.
Lucky Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson, the infrastructure minister, told RUV: “I think it’s very difficult to say anything when nature is involved, but as it seems to be drawing up this morning, we seem to have been quite lucky with the location and development [of the eruption], and we hope that will continue.” Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, a scientist who flew over the site on Tuesday morning on a coastguard research flight, told RUV that he estimates twice as much lava had already spewed than the entire month-long eruption on the peninsula this summer. Mr Gudmundsson said the eruption is expected to continue decreasing in intensity but scientists have no idea how long it could last. “It can be over in a week or it could take quite a bit longer,” he said.
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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
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EDUCATION
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‘We should actively encourage our children to be as creative as possible in their life…’
Ahead of celebrating Christmas, the Times spoke to former teacher-turned-author Leonora Langley about why we should nurture the development of our children’s innate creativity, curiosity and imagination to ensure they become well-rounded, integrated human beings… AS we approach the wonderful time of giftgiving, I was recently taken aback by an email from a friend which made me think deeply about how important it is to celebrate the non-material gifts and talents that are innate within each of us, especially in our children. My friend’s message described the work of scientist Dr George Land who, in 1968, undertook a research study for NASA because it was interested in hiring more innovative
‘During my thirty years of experience as a teacher, I was becoming increasingly concerned that there was too much emphasis on the functional and mechanical rather than the creative and inspirational’ engineers and scientists. The initial project led Land to look more widely at the genius potential of 1,600 children aged 3 to 5 years old who were enrolled in a Head Start programme. He found that a staggering 98 per cent of them qualified as geniuses. Using the same creativity test on a group of 10-year-olds, it had dropped to 30 per cent and on 15-year-olds it had become 12 per cent. Finally, when testing 280,000 adults, it had
plummeted to just two per cent. “What we have concluded,” wrote Land, “is that non-creative behaviour is learned.” This seminal research backs up the argument in my book, ‘Let The Souls of Our Children Sing’, that the development of young people’s innate creativity, curiosity and imagination is vitally important on their journey to becoming wellrounded, integrated human beings. I believe one of the main purposes of our existence is to create. Human beings are not only homo sapiens but also homo aestheticus which means that the left and right hemispheres of our brains need to work in harmony. Wisdom doesn’t emanate exclusively from either the left or right brain but from the integration of the two. While we need the left-brain facility of logical and scientific reasoning, it is the nurturing of our artistic right side of the brain, our inward state of being, that has the potential to offer us greater joy and fulfilment. During my thirty years of experience as a teacher in mainstream education, I was becoming increasingly concerned that there was too much emphasis on the functional and mechanical rather than the creative and inspirational. There seemed to be too much emphasis on cognitive skills and logical reasoning because they can be counted and measured and not nearly enough on developing young people’s inner and invisible needs to help nourish their souls, which is beyond measure.
The pursuit of spiritual sustenance and qualities such as kindness, empathy and compassion have become less desirable than the pursuit of fame and fortune. As young people search for external validation and approval through social media, they have become less inclined to look inward and develop ‘an inner net’ of resources, such as resilience and strength of character, to deal with adversity and challenge. We need to teach our children, at home and at school, that happiness is less likely to be found in the pursuit of materialism and more likely in a harmonious relationship with themselves and others. As American writer,
William Arthur Ward, said in his inspirational maxim, “Happiness is an inside job.” Young people yearn for a learning experience that is more personal and human to help them make sense of their lives and the world around them. They already have access to most facts and figures they need via computers and the internet. By studying data and acquiring mechanical explanations, it may be possible for them to understand the intricacies of a machine but it does not prepare them for the complexities of life. What they search for is meaning in the mountain of information that they are presented with in a bid to become better human beings. As we approach 2024, above all, our present generation of young people, who are under unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety, seek personal development in the form of self-awareness and self-acceptance which will, hopefully, lead them to experience radical self-love and a greater appreciation of their own place, and the place of others, within the world. Let the Souls of Our Children Sing (Giving Voice to Their Feelings and Emotions) is available as a paperback book at £8.99 from Amazon, Waterstones and Austin Macauley and also an e-book at £3.50. austinmacauley.com
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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Loch: helping to create thoughtful business leaders
Next year stands to be a challenging one for business leaders. Inevitable uncertainty created by an impending general election, new employment legislation and an increase in the National Living Wage from April will require new reserves of resilience and imagination. The Times of Tunbridge Wells sat down with Pam Loch, the founder and Managing Director of law and HR business, Loch Associates Group, to find out how the company has been helping businesses navigate the rapidly changing business landscape.
H
eadquartered in Tunbridge Wells, Loch Associates Group is currently busy helping business leaders across the South East prepare for the demands that 2024 will bring, making sure policies and training are in place as well as providing much needed legal counsel. Background Pam Loch is no stranger to navigating and succeeding during difficult times. Loch Associates Group was born during the 2007 financial crisis to provide trusted legal counsel when confidence had diminished with larger firms. After graduating with an accountancy and economical degree, Pam was a management trainee within a large insurance company, before she underwent a law degree and became a solicitor. After working with several top-tier regional and global law firms, she found the work culture an issue. “I found it quite frustrating working in law firms because the Partners tended to have a silo mentality, partly because of years of tradition creating these work environments in business. There wasn’t really an atmosphere of working together – instead it bred an environment of competition and blame culture which did not
produce the best work environment or results for clients.” After realising this culture was endemic in the sector, Pam decided to set up Loch Associates Group from her flat in London with just a laptop. Today, the company has grown to become one of the South East’s leading law and HR businesses, with offices in Kent, Brighton and London, and has doubled its turnover and team to 30 staff in the last three years. Loch Associates Group offers a unique combination of employment law, dispute resolution, commercial business services, HR consultancy, learning solutions, health and safety, training and wellbeing, and mediation services to ensure clients have access to a range of services from a single trusted partner. Creating thoughtful leaders “Over the last few years, we’ve moved from one major event to another – the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit, the war in Ukraine and the rising cost of living,” explains Pam. “These profound, historic events have ushered in colossal change, far beyond the standard levels of uncertainty that many businesses are used to. Incredible pressure has been piled on top of business leaders and they’ve needed to constantly adapt to deal with shifting market
conditions, levels of customer demand and changing employee legislation and attitudes. This is where Loch Associates Group has helped.” Pam explains that the pandemic highlighted weaknesses in leadership and strategy through to a lack of deployment of training and policies.
‘Business knowledge is a constant evolution and training should reflect this’ “This shock to the system has forced many companies to reassess and rethink their strategy. This has included placing greater importance on employee wellbeing, training and to care for and help retain employees. Flexible working rights and new legislation has also changed the way businesses operate. There has never been a more pertinent time to ensure that business leaders remain informed, relevant, and resilient to what has essentially been an ever-changing business landscape. Building businesses and maintaining momentum, post-pandemic, requires leaders with a blend of empathy, dynamism and vision.”
Pam stresses that management should not simply focus on immediate recovery but on long-term planning as well and this should not only involve investing in training but also include taking a more progressive view of company culture, protecting wellbeing and strengthening corporate governance. “Protecting and improving the wellbeing of employees is of high strategic importance as we go into 2024, creating more empathetic and caring businesses as businesses continue to wrestle with people and skills shortages. Therefore, it is vital that business leaders make sure they don’t bury their heads in the sand and are proactive and looking ahead.” Pam says that businesses cannot afford to focus solely on today. “Employment law changes constantly, making it a challenge for employers to stay updated and make the necessary preparations in advance. The upcoming year, 2024, is no exception, as a wave of legal updates is poised to reshape the employment landscape. This is why it’s vital to have a team of trained and equipped managers. They will be under increased pressure as new legislation kicks in next year. And one of the key things to focus on is really making sure that your managers are fully trained and aligned with your business
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
objectives, so they know how to implement new legislation and to proactively manage and support staff. Business knowledge is a constant evolution and training should reflect this.” Pam highlights that one solution for managers to increase engagement with staff could be through engagement surveys to get a better understanding about their concerns, wants and needs, aligned with the demographics of the organisation – especially around legislation and flexible working. “This will help project the right message that you care about your staff and are responsive, which is critical. Encouraging your staff to talk to you demonstrates that you support them, which sends a positive message about how much you value them.” Top-down approach Pam realised in 2007 that businesses would recognise the need for great quality HR support. “We were working with clients by providing legal support not only to businesses with HR teams, but also directly to business owners or their FD’s. I then became aware that there was a need to provide day-to-day HR support to clients. So, we added HR services first, and then wellbeing and training services so we would provide more services under one roof with a top-down approach.” Pam explains that the team works holistically with their clients, taking into account their structure and culture to truly work in partnership. “When we start working with a client initially, we drill down into the different teams within the business to find out what systems and staff they have in place and what improvements can be made to help them work more effectively. For
instance, we would look at AI to consider if there are systems which could support them, and implement appropriate training programmes to develop their managers and staff to help improve productivity. So, it is looking holistically at what the client wants to achieve, what they want to do and what Loch Associates Group can do to help create a business structure that can be as effective as possible.” How can Loch Associates help your business? Considered as a safe pair of hands to help navigate uncertain times, Loch Associates Group has been busy helping businesses in multiple sectors tackle the increasingly changing business landscape. “We can complete an audit of a business within just seven working days, and get under the bonnet of the business to really understand its goals, pain points and how the business is structured.” Pam explains that because the HR and legal teams are really on the ball, the client has the benefit of staying ahead of the curve. “Our team have a huge range of experience which means we can identify what level of resource is required and then the right level of HR support, whether that is at a senior level as the client’s outsourced partner, putting in place systems, processes and training that is much more effective, or providing day-to-day HR support.
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Clients get the benefit that our HR consultants are continuously collaborating with our specialist employment lawyers. They are constantly ahead of the latest legislation. They work effectively as the clients’ in- house HR and legal departments, to make sure that strategically the client is up to date on a day-to-day basis. By combining our HR leadership coaching and consultancy with our expert combination of legal and outsourced day-to-day HR support, we can provide an integrated approach to help businesses navigate the changing workplace landscape.” This year Loch Associates Group hit the acquisition trail by acquiring Sightscreen, an HR, training and coaching specialist operating across the South East with prestigious clients including the National Portrait Gallery. Ben
‘Building businesses and maintaining momentum, postpandemic, requires leaders with a blend of empathy, dynamism and vision’ Holt, Sightscreen’s founder, now heads up Loch Associate Group’s HR and Training and Wellbeing business as Managing Director, bringing 20 years of experience in HR and leadership with him. Staff retention will continue to be an issue in 2024 Pam explains that in recent months managing employee absences has been an issue for many businesses operating across the South East and she also believes staff retention will continue to be an issue into next year.
“As work and private life have blurred, employers need to become more conscious of the need to support the wellbeing of their employees by paying greater attention to their physical, mental, financial and social health. We have and are continuing to see a rise in mental ill-health issues, such as depression and anxiety, in the workplace which is resulting in issues around staff retention. 2023 has been difficult, with the cost-of-living crisis, inflation etc. This has resulted in some employees suffering from financial stress which can then lead to anxiety and depression and long-term absences. Every business faces short-term absences from employees who go off sick, and we help employers to minimise those. The more challenging ones though are often longer-term absences and how you manage that.” Pam stresses that engaging early on with an employee to understand what is wrong and working out the right professional assistance, can help dramatically. “Employers and their managers need to have an understanding and willingness to be flexible and think outside the box. If your managers are equipped and have the right training and policies in place, and are in constant dialogue with staff, this will help them acquire the skills to manage employees remotely and minimise the risks of staff going off sick with potential mental ill-health issues, as they will feel supported.”
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COMMENT
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Rt Revd Simon Burton-Jones Bishop of Tonbridge
The Rt Revd Simon Burton-Jones is the seventh Bishop of Tonbridge. He has oversight and leadership of the education, youth and children, and community engagement work of churches across the Diocese of Rochester, which includes Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge
We must not fear the true story of Christmas OUR lives have been dominated this decade by the C word. Not Covid – to be clear – I mean conspiracy. Conspiracy theory has power partly because there are genuine conspiracies in the world, where corrupt people cover up their actions. But there is also a lot of rubbish out there. Several of the most enduring conspiracy theories involve outer space. Some people believe the moon landings were faked or that the moon is hollow. Others think that we’ve been visited by aliens and those who work at Area 51 in Nevada are concealing it. There are crazy conspiracy theories, like the belief the earth is flat, but others are poisonous and have consequences, like QAnon. Conspiracy theories thrive in uncertain times and they spread virally online. We should care about this because they often represent an assault on truth and frequently pick on minorities. Conspiracy theories grow because people are afraid and angry and want someone to blame. At the same time, there are many who think that history is governed by chaos rather than conspiracy. That the forces at work are random; that there is no hidden hand behind events, outcomes cannot be predicted and we just have to learn to live with that.
In a way, Covid brought all this to the surface. Conspiracies flourish in pandemics, but pandemics also show no-one is really in control. Which brings us to Christmas. Christians believe the birth of Jesus was divinely planned… Anticipating the birth, wise men travelled from the East. Rejoicing in it, angels sang in the sky over the hills. Hearing them, the shepherds wandered over to the stable. Discerning the truth, Herod set his heart on murder. So, the birth of Jesus was no conspiracy, but it was – in a way – covert. A birth hidden to thousands of people scattered across the Middle East, but revealed to a smattering of low-paid, front-line
Greg Clark
Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells
workers turning in an honest night shift exposed to the stars and, in a moment of transcendence, to the most beautiful press conference ever held.
Security But the planning was oddly chaotic. The children of kings are usually born in the safest of places, surrounded by the finest of skills. No chance is taken, no quarter given to failure. By contrast, the mother of God’s Son gave birth as a temporarily homeless woman in a cold and dank place, having made a hazardous journey she was in no fit state to make. A faceless bureaucracy set on a tax-raising census,
depriving her of the security of birth alongside female relatives. And placing her in the political domain of a despotic ruler that put her family in mortal danger the moment the umbilical cord was cut. She and Jesus were unsanitised and unsafe. It seems odd, apparently reckless, for a long-intended Messiah to be born in this way. Are we being told something? Life can take a sudden and fearful turn for the worse in the blink of an eye. It’s not something we usually dwell on at Christmas. Instead, we sentimentalise the stable, channelling Walt Disney to cope with a traumatic ordeal. But after a year like 2023, maybe we’re more open to a different take. The true spirit of this festival is found in Mary’s makeshift labour suite. The God Mary believed in was at his best with his sleeves rolled up, in the grime of a cow shed, acting as midwife to the Messiah. Mary’s story is there for all those whose lives are taking a wrong turning, which includes many more people this year. The role of others is not to tell them everything is OK, despite appearances, but to listen properly to them, which is the most underrated gift we can offer. And if you’re a person of faith, pray quietly that Mary’s God will roll up his sleeves again.
Greg Clark was first elected MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005. He has held a number of positions in Government, including Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. He is currently Chairman of the Commons’ Science and Technology Committee
Britain can be proud of its climate leadership LAST week I attended the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, with a cross-party group of parliamentarians. Driving action to save our planet from catastrophic climate change has always been one of my biggest motivations in public life. I was the Secretary of State who first proposed and then legislated for the UK to aim for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We were the first major country in the world to do so. But Britain’s leadership has been followed by most of the world. More than 140 countries, including the biggest polluters – China, the United States, India and the European Union – have set a net-zero target, covering about 90 per cent of global emissions.
Committed In Dubai I was struck by the progress that has been made since the first COP summit I attended – in Copenhagen in 2009. That summit was a failure because countries refused to commit to any reductions in emissions or to protect biodiversity. Yet now almost every country on Earth is committed to reducing emissions and they are acting on it – though some can and should move faster. On action, as well as policy, Britain has a proud record of leadership. At the time of the Copenhagen COP summit in 2009, coal regularly
supplied 40 per cent of Britain’s electricity generation, but now most of our power generation comes from zero-carbon sources like offshore wind – where we are the world’s leader. In fact we have decarbonised faster than any other major economy. And we will be the first major country to halve greenhouse gas emissions. As important as combatting climate change is, I have always been motivated by protecting our natural environment. And here the imperative of restoring biodiversity and safeguarding the climate come together. The Glasgow COP in 2021 made an historic agreement to halt and reverse deforestation by the end of this decade. Last week’s Dubai COP went further with a new fund to safeguard 10 million hectares of forests. In Britain, our Environment Act will ensure that no products can be sold which are linked to deforestation. When I was responsible for setting Britain’s climate policy I always argued that protecting our planet must also help improve the livelihoods of people here and around the world. Hairshirt environmentalism – adopting measures that reduce standards of living and make people poorer – is wrong in itself and is liable only to alienate potential supporters and thwart progress. One of the most gratifying developments is that our leadership is reaping economic benefits beyond even my expectations when the policy
was first introduced. When we began the auction process for permitting offshore wind farms in 2014 the cost of generation was £117 per megawatt hour, which meant they needed a public subsidy. By last year the cost had fallen to £37 per megawatt hour – an astonishing reduction that meant that wind generators now pay a subsidy to consumers, because they are cheaper than the market price of electricity. And the economic benefits do not stop there. I had the pleasure, as a Minister, of opening new factories like the Siemens wind turbine factory in Hull, which created over 1,000 new jobs and is still adding 50 new positions every month. This is replicated all around coastal Britain, revitalising the economies of towns that had been in decline for years. It is not just the revival of manufacturing that renewable energy is driving: jobs in design, engineering, and technical services are springing up across Britain. As other
countries now look to follow us, we can capitalise on this lead by exporting renewable technologies and knowhow to other countries. The UK will only ever account for a small portion of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, but our influence on global climate policy and practice goes well beyond that. Our diplomatic prowess gives us the skills to shape deals. The City of London means that we have an outsized influence on investment far beyond our own coasts. And, as Chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, I see every week how our universities and technologists are contributing to developments that will make it easier and more economically beneficial to attain net zero and enhance energy security: from battery storage that can turn renewable energy into firm power, to small modular nuclear reactors that can provide reliable zero-carbon electricity. I am proud of what we have done in Britain to make us the most advanced major country in the world on delivering emissions reductions and protecting our environment. The strong theme at the COP summit in Dubai that action on climate should drive prosperity and enhance security was striking to be part of. I came away from COP convinced that not only can we protect our planet, but that we can do so while making people better off economically, too.
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 you can write to the Editor, Times of Tunbridge Wells, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG
Sign the petition to reduce the speed limit on Wellbrook Hill and help save lives For almost two decades, the speed limit at Wellbrook Hill in Mayfield has been a major issue for many local residents. It is a welltravelled road that passes through both residential and commercial areas, making it a diverse and busy route for commuters and residents alike. Its current speed limit of 50 miles per hour is excessively high for the conditions of the road. The current speed limit is inconsistent with the road’s design, which includes bends, multiple junctions and a pedestrian footpath. Lowering the speed limit to 40 miles per hour would provide drivers with more time to react to potential hazards, reducing the risk of accidents and further fatalities. Furthermore, the pavement along Wellbrook Hill, which is less than one metre wide in places, is overgrown and has not been maintained. Residents are forced to walk and cycle mere feet away from fast-moving vehicles including large commercial lorries and buses. On a recent visit to inspect the site, East Sussex County Councilor Anne Cross stated the
thought of walking alongside the road is ‘horrific’. East Sussex Highways has been persistent in its view that the speed limit is sufficient for the road. Over the last two decades, we have seen road use and vehicle size increase dramatically. This change of circumstance has meant the limit of 50 miles per hour is no longer safe and is putting both pedestrians’ and motorists’ lives at risk. Due to the speed limit and narrow pavement, vehicles often cross the solid central line on the road to ensure they are not too close to pedestrians. The speed limit of the road and pavement width are causing drivers to break the highway code to try and ensure pedestrian safety. This needs to be changed. Unless action is taken to reduce the speed limit of Wellbrook Hill to 40 miles per hour, further fatalities are likely to occur. Sign the petition to reduce the speed limit on Wellbrook Hill and help save lives. Change.org/WellbrookSpeed
Where’s the money coming from?
Camden Road’s latest addition
Labour’s plans do not lack ambition (Martin Betts’ letter last week) but my question is: Where’s the money coming from? Productivity is poor, people are opting for 4-day working weeks or WFH, and many – about 8 million I believe, simply do not want to work. Getting them to work would increase the tax base by almost 25 per cent, but how? Raising more taxes appears to be the only option, but this will disincentivise people further. We live in what is called post-industrial Britain and if manufacturing can be closed down and shifted to other countries regardless of the enormous upheaval, it is even easier to move computer-based industries like banking and insurance. Which leaves retail and hospitality, and medicine and care. Hospitality used to be manned from Europe, but that’s largely evaporated as a source following Brexit and largely unreplaced resulting in a manpower shortage. It’s dependent on disposable income and with tightening household budgets likely to shrink putting more people out of work. The care and hospital sector is dependent on ‘third world’ labour, which with the proposed increase in the qualifying salary threshold and restrictions on accompanying dependants, is likely to dry up. So I struggle to rationalise Labour’s grand plans Mr Betts describes, best put into a single word: how? because they remain little more than aspirations. His response to John Ward Moorhouse’s letter on the NHS just underlines Mr Moorhouse’s point: it is a political football which he continues to kick around.
Joseph Hahn Tunbridge Wells
LETTERS
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Mayfield and Five Ashes Parish Council
I have been visiting Tom, my barber, for about five years, so I was delighted to hear that he was launching the P2 Collective on Camden Road. Last week, as ever, he gave me an excellent trim there. If you are new to the area or just want to try something new, you should take a look. I’ve written letters before about how special Camden Road is, and I think this new business will be a great addition. The road is a real mix, we have a few places to get your haircut now (catering to different tastes and styles – we are a
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Calverley
Observations on life and more important things
Dear Editor...
community of well-coiffed people!) restaurants, cafes, shops, bars and more. It’s got a cool, independent feeling that is a little bit different to the rest of the town, and if you haven’t had a chance to visit yet I heartily recommend it!
Rob Wormington Lib Dem Councillor, St James’ Ward The coalition made their own bed
The first time I heard someone complain about election campaigns starting earlier every year in Tunbridge Wells I was rather dismissive, but it’s December and it seems the shenanigans have begun early. As the results of the 2023 elections came in, the ‘Borough Partnership’ decided to continue with their current arrangement. There was no requirement to do this. The Lib Dems could easily have done without Labour (Tunbridge Wells’ smallest party at the time – although the breakaway faction from the TWA now holds that title). But they didn’t. They carried on with the same coalition. Lib Dems, Labour, TWA and one independent all chose to get into the same bed and now they all need to lie in it. I see Chris Hall has stood down as he is required to do having (as he promised voters he would do) voted against a local plan including development in Ramslye. And I understand TWA and Labour are planning to use this to undermine the coalition. It’s not clear what benefit they’ll derive from doing so but no one has suggested local politics is over-encumbered with strategic thinkers. We’re barely halfway through the electoral cycle. There are almost six months left of this ‘partnership’ and no viable alternative before 2024 elections. The public expects Councillors to do their job. That ‘partnership’ is how Councillors can address residents’ concerns. It’s not a mechanism for self- or party-aggrandisement. Get a grip of yourselves and behave.
James Rands
PEPPY SAYS... CARTOON BY PEPPY: (Follow her on Twitter @Peppyscott)
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
JOLLY GOOD: Hats off to the chap manning (yes you can say that) the ticket office at Tunbridge Wells station. When Calverley passed through on his way to a Christmas media bash in London he was much taken by the man’s festive attire. He was wearing the most colourful stand-out shirt that, coupled with his greying beard and lights twinkling on the Christmas tree behind him, really cheered up travellers. That’s another reason to be thankful that the Government dropped plans to close ticket offices. SOUND OF SILENCE: To the local Sainsbury’s and joy of joy – no Christmas music blaring out the same dozen songs as Calverley scoots down the aisles buying cheap booze. Thanking staff for not subjecting him to the usual festive ear bashing, he asks if it’s a change in policy. “ No the sound system has broken down… and we really like the Christmas music,” came the reply. Ah well, no accounting for taste. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Spare some sympathy for young people eating out this holiday. Many of them suffer from ‘menu anxiety’ according to yet another survey. Apparently ordering a meal at a restaurant causes them such stress they have to ask others to speak to the waiting staff. This is most acutely felt by those aged between 18 and 24. A third will also choose dishes based on what they will look like on social media. Astonishing. Mind you, Calverley himself does suffer some stress in restaurants, mainly over who is picking up the tab. GOOD MANNERS: Out and about shopping of late has led to Calverley holding open shop doors for others. (He really is a considerate chappie). Members of the older generation invariably say ‘thank you’ or give a nod in recognition of the courtesy. Those of younger years will glide through, often chatting on their mobiles, oblivious to anything going on around them. Still, at least this gentleman can order for himself in a restaurant! HANDY HANDOUT: Those struggling with utility bills this winter might want to think about getting a job with Wealden District Council. So far the authority has handed out ‘heat and light payments’ totalling £245,000 of taxpayers’ money, to staff electing to work from home instead of going into the offices which are being kept open… and also need heating and lighting. Wealden is run jointly by Lib Dems and Greens. Calverley does not recall reading any of this in recent election leaflets. FINAL THOUGHT: Party poopers have been given an easy out this Christmas – Covid. Calverley is informed that those who don’t fancy accepting an invitation simply claim, ‘Sorry but we’ve tested positive’. Difficult to argue with that excuse. Chin, chin dear reader… have a merry Christmas and may your wishes come true in the new year.
Letters printed on these pages do not reflect the views of the Times of Tunbridge Wells. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter if too long.
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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Sponsored by Handelsbanken Tunbridge Wells
Property Feature
23
Picture: SwoopMediaUK
Looking ahead to the year in property
Your dedicated guide All you need to know about the current housing and commercial market in Tunbridge Wells and the wider area
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Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Sponsored by Handelsbanken Tunbridge Wells
‘This award is a fantastic achievement for all those on site at Pearmain Place’ Dandara celebrate as its countryside development in Crowborough receives Quality Recognition Award…
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NEW GUIDANCE ON PROTECTING YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY THIS WINTER
With more than two-thirds of private rental properties suffering some form of damp or mould, the government is encouraging landlords to combat the problem. James Richards, Partner of award-winning Sales and Lettings Agent, Maddisons Residential, explores what this advice suggests, especially now the cold and very wet weather is very definitely upon us.
RECOGNISED: The Dandara team receive their award INDEPENDENT housebuilder Dandara has won an esteemed award for its new Pearmain Place development in Crowborough, East Sussex. Having launched off-plan in September, the development of 100 family homes has received a ‘Quality Recognition Award’ from Premier Guarantee, the UK’s leading warranty provider. Judges who visited the development close to Ashdown Forest were impressed by the standard of site management, workmanship, health and safety, site tidiness and general cooperation. Lewis Miller-Hudson, Senior Site Manager at Pearmain Place, commented: “We are really enjoying building in Crowborough. It’s surrounded by greenery and is a beautiful place for new homes. Given that we started work on site in June, we are thrilled to receive a Quality Recognition Award acknowledging our great work on site. “The team works exceptionally hard to ensure that the quality on site is always above standard so it’s great to gain this national industry recognition for all our hard work.”
Property Feature
Ashley Tassell, Construction Manager for Dandara South East, added: “This award is a fantastic achievement for all those on site at Pearmain Place and a testament to their continued hard work. This is the fourth Quality Recognition Award our South East region has won this year and it shows
‘We are really enjoying building in Crowborough. It’s surrounded by greenery and is a beautiful place for new homes’ the consistent quality, dedication and skills that our team maintain across our developments. “We are extremely proud of our site team for the amazing work they do, and we look forward to welcoming residents to the site in spring next year to enjoy the quality of the excellent homes.” Already popular with local homebuyers, Pearmain Place is ideally located for commuters, close to the A26, eight miles from Royal Tunbridge Wells and 33 miles south of London. For those
who love the seaside, Eastbourne is around 26 miles drive away. It’s just a short drive from Crowborough train station, where you’ll find regular services to Uckfield and London. Crowborough itself boasts a variety of local independent shops, dining establishments, a Tesco Superstore, a Sainsbury’s Local, a Post Office, a health centre, and a selection of primary and secondary schools. Sports enthusiasts will find plenty to engage in, including a popular leisure centre with a swimming pool, a riding school, Crowborough Beacon Golf Club, and local football and running clubs. The development is conveniently located just minutes away from Ashdown Forest, spanning over 6,500 acres of ancient heathland and housing rare species of wildlife and plants. Walshes Park is also in close proximity. Currently available for sale are a selection of three-, four- and fivebedroom properties starting at £435,000 for a three-bedroom semi-detached home with carport and parking. To find out more about the homes on sale at Pearmain Place, please visit: dandara.com/pearmain-place or call 01892 349 093.
The government was spurred to act following several tragic events over recent years, most notably the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 due to exposure to black mould. With its own research finding that 69% of privately rented properties have mould or damp, Ministers have been keen to dispel the notion that this is down to ‘lifestyle choices.’ New guidelines have sought to encourage landlords and tenants to work together to make “small, reasonable adjustments to their behaviour”. As a Letting Agent, we conduct regular reviews of our clients’ properties both internally and externally, checking for any areas that could be the cause of damp. In the winter months, we pay particular attention to any leaking pipes and ensure that the heating system is working efficiently. Externally, we’ll be checking to see if there are any missing roof tiles or issues with the guttering (has this been recently cleared of leaves, etc), whether there are any cracks in the walls or rotten window frames. A tell-tale sign of there being an issue is damaged plaster or problems with the skirting boards or flooring. The Housing Health and Safety Rating System, under which the landlord is held liable, highlights actions that may be taken to avoid damp, such as: • Install dampproof membranes around doors and windows • Add frost protection to pipes and tanks • Make sure your baths, sinks and drainage are installed correctly to limit leaks • Consider installing ventilated roofs and underfloor spaces • Install and encourage the use of extractor fans in key areas where steam is likely, such as bathrooms and kitchens • Introduce low-level ventilation throughout the property. If the property has many tenants, ventilating properly becomes ever more important.
Interest rates likely to remain steady into 2024 By Stuart Killacky, Handelsbanken AT Handelsbanken we are currently in the process of formulating our broad macroeconomic outlook for 2024. – and there is both good news and bad. It is fair to say we are not expecting robust growth in the UK – but neither are we expecting to see a recession.
Confidence However, the latest figures show consumer confidence remains firmly in negative territory for the moment and spending on large durable goods is still slow. Fresh data is due on Friday, and finance professionals will be watching avidly for any change. Investors have been concerned that some sort of ‘wage-price spiral’ might emerge. This is where rising incomes
increase the demand for goods, meaning prices rise too. This in turn means people demand even higher wages, leading to increased production costs for those goods, which then have to go up again. Should this happen the Bank of England would almost
certainly feel obliged to increase interest rates again. However, recent data suggests this is not as pressing a concern as previously thought. Our view is that the present level of UK interest rates – 5.25% – is unlikely to change before next summer. If the Bank is not forced to increase, they are also likely to lag behind the US and Eurozone in reducing them, given the more benign inflation being experienced over there. So there is good news; in that we can expect to see a period of stability, at least as far as interest rates go. So Merry Christmas – and here is to a more positive 2024! Drop in to the Tunbridge Wells branch on Mount Ephraim, call us on 01892 553070 or email tunbridgewells@ handelsbanken.co.uk handelsbanken.co.uk
Meet the expert: James Richards is a Partner at Maddisons Residential, leading independent Sales and Lettings Agent in Tunbridge Wells, offering expert sales and lettings advice with excellent customer service.
www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk 18 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TN Telephone: 01892 514100 Email: info@maddisonsresidential.co.uk
NEW YEAR NEW HOME 2024
REASONS TO CHOOSE KMJ PROPERTY Genuinely Family Run/Owned Contactable 24/7 Three offices across Kent & East Sussex Shortlisted for Best Customer Service in the South East Best in Postcode for Customer Service Best Estate Agent Award for Tunbridge Wells & Crowborough Included in The Best Estate Agent Guide Genuine, honest advice whenever you need it
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Sponsored by Handelsbanken Tunbridge Wells
Property Feature
27
Market sees rise in off-market property sales
Stephen Donnelly of SJD Projects and SITED looks at the increasing popularity of ‘off-market’ or private sales in the property development business… THE property market has changed astronomically in the past few decades, bringing in a new era of off-market and private sales. Last year it was reported in The Telegraph that an astonishing one in four sales above £1million in London had taken place ‘off-market. So, why are off-market sales rapidly gaining traction? While there are many benefits associated with private sales, we are focusing on the primary factors driving the recent surge in popularity. The first is discreetness. Unlike conventional methods, details of your property or site are not posted on portals, paraded in agents’ windows, or advertised online and in newspapers only to attract the attention of a
‘The best buyers and developers no longer search through pages and pages of advertisements for their next opportunity’ flock of uncommitted buyers. Instead, sales are made through direct contact, ensuring your property or site is sold swiftly to a reputable buyer. Private sales generate a sense of exclusivity, boosting the likelihood of a quick and hassle-free transaction. In comparison, traditional property advertisements have become somewhat outdated and, in many cases, ineffective. The best buyers and developers no longer search through pages and pages of advertisements for their next opportunity.
Instead, they simply contact companies such as SJD Projects or SITED, and let us know about the types of sites they are interested in. We then contact them when presented with a property or site that meets their requirements. At SJD Projects and SITED we work to source the right developers for your property, meaning you do not waste your time with unsuitable buyers. All of our sales are made discreetly, protecting both your identity and your individual interests. Since the company was founded over 20 years ago, SJD and latterly SITED have worked to build relationships with reputable developers and buyers that are looking for sites and properties throughout the UK providing a truly bespoke service for our clients. If you have a site or property that you would like to sell off-market, please contact us today at steve@sjd-projects.com or steve@sited.land
LET US BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME FOR 2024 Forest View, Maresfield Park, East Sussex, TN22 3ER A fantastic opportunity to acquire a custom build plot in Maresfield Park, East Sussex. Generous plots with full planning permission to build your dream home.
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Forest View - Maresfield Park is a private estate located in a highly sort after location on the southern end of the Ashdown Forest which offers superb walking and country pursuits. Bespoke Design - The Abode Team will tailor the design of your future home so it’s bespoke to you and your lifestyle. Project Management - Constructing your dream home with Abode Homes, will enable you to work with a team of professionals who will deliver a turnkey solution to your chosen specification. Quality Design - Abode Homes uses the highest quality materials, all homes are meticulously designed to maximise light and space resulting in a well-balanced tranquil home. Plot prices from £495,000 with build packages from £795,000
Lonsdale Gate Lonsdale Gardens High Street Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1NU
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GRAYSTONE VILLAS
Southborough, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN4 0NR
Graystone Villas harmoniously blends classic exteriors with stunning, luxury interiors. This beautiful home benefits from private parking, and beautifully designed landscaped gardens, within walking distance of many local independent boutique shops. Graystone Villas in Southborough continues the tradition of fine period properties in the borough of Royal Tunbridge Wells, drawing inspiration from the area’s most cherished residential dwellings. This collection of four, three/four-bedroom properties enjoys a central Southborough position, within walking distance of the town’s amenities, the common and several grammar schools. Classic exteriors, crisp render, bay windows, and architectural plasterwork mouldings are blended with contemporary interiors. A mix of formal reception rooms, open-plan living and generous ceiling heights create a formal yet contemporary flow throughout. An elevated specification is abundantly apparent throughout. Bespoke kitchens with fabulous entertaining spaces that feature quartz worksurfaces, boiler taps and Bosch appliances, Bifold doors seamlessly guide you to beautifully landscaped courtyard gardens. Prices From £795,000
Lonsdale Gate Lonsdale Gardens High Street Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1NU
01892 354091 07748056177 wg@abode.homes www.abode.homes
For all enquiries 07748056177
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Property Feature
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Sponsored by Handelsbanken Tunbridge Wells
KPE offers electrical solutions across Kent
KENT PRO ELECTRICAL is the go-to choice for exceptional electrical services in the Kent area. With a commitment to excellence and delivering top-notch electrical solutions, we are your trusted partner for all your electrical needs.
Technology Our team of skilled and certified electricians is dedicated to ensuring your safety and satisfaction. We have the expertise to handle a wide range of electrical services, from installations and repairs to maintenance and testing. Whether it’s a residential, commercial, or even a solar project, we’ve got you covered. At Kent Pro Electrical, safety is our priority. We adhere to the highest industry standards and always keep safety in mind while working on any
project. Our electricians are equipped with the latest tools and technology to provide efficient and reliable services. We take pride in our attention to detail and ensure that all work is completed to the highest quality. Our commitment to customer satisfaction is unwavering. We provide prompt and reliable service, clear communication, and transparent pricing, so you can have peace of mind throughout the process. We work closely with our clients to understand their specific needs and deliver tailor-made solutions. Kent Pro Electrical is your fantastic choice for all your electrical requirements. When you choose us, you’re choosing quality, safety, and reliability. Contact us today and experience the excellence of Kent Pro Electrical for yourself. kentproelectrical.com
PUBLIC NOTICE
Licensing Act 2003 An application for a Premises Licence at Montagus, Unit 12, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2SP has been made by New Horizon Events Co Ltd
Calling all Letting Agents & Landlords We deliver a comprehensive range of electrical services including design, installation and maintenance across domestic, commercial and industrial sectors.
● Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) ● Planned and reactive maintenance. ● Electrical upgrades and additions.
www.kentproelectrical.com info@kentproelectrical.com
A summary of the proposed licensable activities and the proposed hours of opening: Supply of alcohol: Mon to Wed – 11:00 to 23:30, Thurs to Sat – 11:00 to 00:00, Sun – 11:00 to 22:30 Late Night Refreshment: Mon to Wed – 23:00 to 23:30, Thurs to Sat – 23:00 to 00:00 Opening hours: Mon to Wed – 09:00 to 23:30, Thurs to Sat – 09:00 to 00:00, Sun – 09:00 to 22:30 Any person wishing to view details of an application can contact the licensing team on 01732 227004 Any person wishing to make representation about the proposals should make them in writing by 08.01.2024 to: Licensing Partnership, Council Offices, PO Box 182, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. TN13 1GP licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk www.sevenoaks.gov.uk It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary of conviction for the offence is Unlimited.
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Sponsored by Handelsbanken Tunbridge Wells
Property Feature
31
Charming period cottage in Groombridge
KMJ Property proudly offers for sale this cottage in beautiful Groombridge village, which seamlessly blends period charm with modern finishes and conveniences… KMJ Property is delighted to present this charming two-bedroom period cottage nestled in the heart of the sought-after village of Groombridge. Beyond the charming picket fence, this property unfolds with well-flowing accommodation. Step into a sitting room adorned with a wood burner, inviting you to cosy evenings by the fire. The kitchen/breakfast room is a perfect space for entertaining while cooking. A rear extension seamlessly connects the spaces, leading to a bathroom fitted with a white suite. Also, off of the kitchen/breakfast room is side access to the property.
The village convenience shop, bakery, ‘outstanding’ primary school, and Groombridge Place beckon are just a stone’s throw from the property. Tunbridge Wells is a short drive away, extending access to further amenities with its mainline railway station. This property needs to be viewed to be appreciated – for more details, visit: q kmjproperty.co.uk q
Versatile An added bonus to this property is the work-from-home studio at the rear of the garden currently laid out with space for two desks. Upstairs are two double bedrooms, each benefiting from extensive fitted wardrobes with sliding doors and a versatile loft room, accessedq through the second bedroom, which is currently being used as a bedroom. The property is bordered by a picket fence enclosing a garden with gated side access leading to a good-sized rear garden. ● Groombridge village location ● 2/3 bedrooms ● Mid-terrace ● Side access ● Work-from-home studio ● 2/3 reception rooms ● EPC: D ● Council Tax Band: C
Mortgages that work for you,
without the hard work As a relationship bank we think getting to know you is the best way to help you. You’ll have a dedicated account manager from application to completion, making those key decisions so your move is stress-free.
Ready to move? So are we. Call Handelsbanken Tunbridge Wells branch today on 01892 547702
handelsbanken.co.uk/tunbridgewells Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage Our lending facilities are only available to persons aged 18 or over and are subject to status. Written quotations and Terms and Conditions are available on request. Handelsbanken is the trading name of Handelsbanken plc, which is incorporated in England and Wales with company number 11305395. Registered office: 3 Thomas More Square, London, E1W 1WY, UK. Handelsbanken plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Financial Services Register number 806852. Handelsbanken plc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ). HB 22 - 0717 - 0264 l 10.240 l 04.2022
HB 22 - 0717 - Tunbridge Wells Mortgage Advert.indd 1
19/08/2022 14:52:38
Are you looking to change agents or are you ready to have your property fully managed? We can transfer you to TN Lettings with NO SET UP FEE! 1st month free 9% there after
01892 249070 info@tnlettings.co.uk
Your Trusted, Local, Independent Letting Agents
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
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Last chance to get your tickets for Christmas at Bewl Water THIS week marks the final opportunity for families to secure tickets for Christmas at Bewl Water, Kent’s newest holiday attraction in Lamberhurst. Child entry starts at £40, covering a delightful two-hour experience of festive fun With a 20 per cent discount on the few remaining tickets, prompt booking is advised, especially as popular time slots are nearly sold out. Parents can book online at christmas. bewlwater.co.uk and use the access code ‘XMAS20’ to redeem the 20 per cent discount. The experience lasts two hours and promises a day filled with workshops and activities, including a visit to see Santa. Bewl Water says visitors must arrive two hours before their booking, which marks their arrival time at his grotto if they want to make the most of all that’s on offer. Families will be warmly greeted by the elves
before strolling through a twinkling light tunnel and exploring various interactive wonderlands. Each of these spaces boasts a distinctive theme, complete with captivating soundscapes and towering Christmas props that enhance the enchantment.
Magical Expect frost-covered trees, beanstalks coming to life, and whimsical toadstools beneath a starry night sky. Pass through Narnia’s wardrobe, explore a Christmas-themed play area, and enter a giant fairy-tale book doorway to access the workshops – all included in the ticket price. Write letters to Santa with the help of his elves in the post office, decorate delicious gingerbread in Mrs Claus’ Bakery, and mix a special recipe for Rudolph and his crew. Children will also have the chance to dive into Christmas crafts and see the elves perform magical stories on the stage. In addition to the wonderlands and workshops, the Winter Warmers Cabin will serve a delightful range of snacks and seasonal hot drinks, ensuring both parents and children stay well-fuelled and in the festive spirit. Families can even gather around a fire pit for marshmallow toasting and shop for souvenirs at Market Square before their magical visit to see Santa. The visits are exclusive to each family, allowing parents to tailor the experience by sharing their children’s interests and hobbies when booking tickets online. Each child will receive a free gift and have the opportunity to capture memorable photos with Santa.
Let Fine Wines of Mayfield help you celebrate your Special Day in style. With over 1,000 wines in stock, finding the right wine is what we do! We can make the daunting task of finding the right wine comfortable and stress free. We can also help create that 5 Star experience by helping you curate the perfect pairing of wines to go with your menu. Know exactly what you’re looking for? Let us know, with access to Tens of Thousands of wines and the ability to contact leading suppliers across Europe we can secure the perfect bottle for the occasion. Track down that wine you enjoyed on your first holiday or Impress your guests with the finest champagne, whatever you want we can help. We can go the extra mile to make your day all the more special. Come and see us at either Fine Wines of Mayfield, Royal Victoria place, TN1 2SR, OR Mayfield High St, TN20 6AQ, (near the church). With Big discounts available, we have great wines available for every budget. Speak to our helpful, friendly and knowledgeable staff we can guarantee your satisfaction. Great Wines at Great Prices
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Sunisa Avery, Creative Manager at Bewl Water, shared, “One of the most magical aspects of the grotto, aside from the man himself, is the journey with his elves leading you to the door. Little ones will learn a secret knock as they await Santa’s welcome, where inside, he’ll know each child’s name, age, and interests, promising pure magic.” Available until Christmas Eve, ticket options for Christmas at Bewl Water include a day ticket priced at £15. This grants visitors access to everything included in general admission, excluding a visit to see Santa – making it the ideal choice for older siblings, parents wanting to join in the fun, or couples seeking a festive date night. To take advantage of 20 per cent off on the last remaining children’s tickets, use the access code ‘XMAS20’ when booking online at: christmas.bewlwater.co.uk
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Arts
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Having an absolute ball
For the first time in its history Trinity Theatre is putting on a Christmas pantomime (oh yes it is!) Cinderella is currently running until New Year’s Eve and according to its Director, West End star Hywel Dowsell, it promises to be a fun and fast-paced show that everyone will enjoy as he tells Eileen Leahy…
I
‘Our production of Cinderella is going to be very fast paced and lots of fun for all the family!’ Why put on something that’s not for everyone when you can put on a panto that will appeal to all? Everyone is buzzing and so excited to be a part of this new tradition at Trinity,” says Hywel whose usual day job is starring in Phantom of The Opera in London’s West End. “Nick came to me with the idea as he and I have done panto together for years. He’s always produced and written and I’ve usually played the Dame or been the assistant director, but this year I have been given sole responsibility to direct and I am very excited to take over the reins!” Glittered with stars from London’s West End, Hywel adds that Trinity’s take on Cinderella is packed with lots of musical theatre numbers and pop songs and plenty of jokes to entertain the whole family as well as boasting a spectacular set and lots and lots of surprises… The principal cast includes Natasha Hoeberigs as Cinderella, Jenna Boyd as her fairy godmother, Tom Blackmore as Prince Charming and Ben Sell and Thomas Hewitt as the Wicked Sisters.
HYWEL DOWSELL “We really do have some brilliant West End stars coming to Tunbridge Wells,” says Hywel who has also starred in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Hound of the Baskervilles. And he says that unlike most panto casts there isn’t a big celebrity name headlining: “We already have an amazing cast who are all West End stars and know exactly what they are doing so why would we go with someone who only gets on stage once a year when we can work with West End professionals?” Hywel has extensive panto experience to draw on having been part of one ever since he graduated from the Guildford School of Acting. He was the Assistant Director and resident Panto Dame at the Capitol Horsham for a number of seasons, which is where he met Nick, and has also worked with Parkwood Productions as their Dame and Assistant Director at The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare as well as The Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone. Hywel’s Pantomime credits to date include Aladdin, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, Jack & The Beanstalk and Beauty & The Beast. And what’s the secret of keeping such an old-time tale like Cinderella fresh and relevant
Pictures: Chris Pope
t wouldn’t be Christmas for most of us if there wasn’t a trip to see the local pantomime and luckily we’ve always been spoilt for choice with some very good productions on offer. And this year, for the first time in its history, this will include a Trinity Theatre panto. The venue is currently putting on Cinderella, an all-time classic, that is running until December 31 at the popular arts venue on Church Road. So why have they waited all this time to put one on I hear you cry? Well according to the show’s director, West End star Hywel Dowsell, it’s because Trinity’s new Chief Executive Nick Mowat listened to feedback when he took up the position and decided that this would be the year for things to change. “Trinity has such a loyal audience and it was clear that this would be such a fun thing to do.
‘We have some brilliant West End stars coming to Tunbridge Wells and can’t wait to be part of your Christmas’ for today’s panto audience? “A lot of it is in the script. So there are lots of contemporary references and current affairs – not too much politics though – as well as references to celebrity culture and Tunbridge Wells. Nick and his co-writer have worked very hard – often doing re-writes to ensure it stays fun.” Hywel tells me that the choreography will be pretty special, too: “We have an amazing
choreographer called Yamit Salazar who is a genius and has added a lot of flavour to proceedings. “There are lots of routines for the audiences to enjoy. And as we all know Cinderella does go to the ball so there will be plenty of theatrical magic sprinkled in there, too.” The pantomime finishes on New Year’s Eve but in the meantime there will be both matinee and evening performances, as well as school ones and also a number of audio-described, signed and captioned performances, too. And what else is Hywel excited about? “Being a part of Trinity’s community and the fantastic work it does, but also to be a part of people’s Christmas – that’s an honour actually.” TICKET INFO: Don’t miss your chance to see Cinderella, the magical pantomime at Trinity this Christmas. The clock is ticking, get your tickets to the ball now! Call the Box Office on 01892 678678 or book online at: www.trinitytheatre.net
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Arts
35
‘We enjoy being part of such a fun family tradition’
Wicked Productions, which was founded by Tom Swift from Tunbridge Wells, has just launched its Christmas panto, Aladdin, at the EM Forster Theatre in Tonbridge. Here, Edward Turner who is playing the main role and Etheria Chan who’s cast as Princess Jasmine tell the Times all about the fun and frolics of their show for 2024… 2023 is your first year performing with Wicked Productions, which is back in Tonbridge for its eighth year! How are you both feeling about joining the team this Christmas? Etheria: I am extremely honoured to be part of this marvellous team and very lucky to have my first pantomime experience with such a wonderfully experienced production! Edward: I am so excited to join the team, they have been so incredibly welcoming. Aladdin is a story loved by many and we have lots of excited families looking forward to seeing this production. What can audiences expect this year from your characters? Etheria: Jasmine is the mayor's daughter (not quite a princess!), she is fun, likeable and she absolutely adores Aladdin! However, she may
make mistakes, so definitely requires help from the amazing audience, but go easy on her… Edward: Our Aladdin this year takes a more local approach, we are fun and energetic characters that hold a local feel! You can expect lots of great songs and plenty of laughs! What do you think makes panto so popular and well-loved among audiences? Etheria: Besides being a longstanding Christmas tradition in the UK, the interaction between the cast and the audience, and the unpredictability of each show is simply magical. Anything can happen, and no two shows are the same. It is an immersive experience for the
‘Pantomime definitely brings people together – you just feel refreshed and energised. I guess that is why it will never go out of style!’ whole family to enjoy. Pantomime definitely brings people together and you just feel refreshed and energised – I guess that is why it will never go out of style! Edward: It’s a great family tradition to go and see a panto, to enjoy with all of your loved ones and friends. It is also a great time for all to sit back, enjoy fantastic entertainment and leave with smiles bigger than ever.
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"Passionate about where I live, I created the TN card as a practical way of supporting our High Street. Three years on, we have thousands of members keen to make a real difference in our community and enjoying rewards for doing so."
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For lots of young people, this might be their first experience of live theatre. What would you say they can look forward to seeing in this year’s show? Etheria: Just enjoy the fun and games of the Christmas panto with the best jokes, songs and dances, a flying carpet and villains fighting. There’s also the possibility of a young and sweet romantic story! Edward: People can look forward to seeing genuine talent and amazing performers leading such a fun and exciting show. Produced by such a brilliant team – only the best for Tonbridge!
And finally, are you excited to meet our very excited Tonbridge audiences, who look forward to panto all year long? Etheria: 200 per cent YES! I truly hope everyone will have the best time at Aladdin at the EM Forster Theatre. Edward: I am SO excited to meet the Tonbridge audiences, I've been told they are the best so cannot wait to take to the stage for the people of Tonbridge! Aladdin plays at the EM Forster Theatre this Christmas until December 31. Tickets are priced from £18 to £27. To book or find out more visit: www.emftheatre.com
36
Food & Drink
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Sample a taste of true culinary excellence
A year on since accomplished chef Gary Jarvis took over the kitchen at The Bottle House Inn, Grace Corcoran went along to try out the seasonal menu at this Penshurst pub just ahead of the Christmas rush… MY friend Natalie and I are driving through lashing rain to reach The Bottle House Inn, which is located on Cold Harbour Road in Penshurst. But enduring the torrid weather makes the experience all the more cosy as we step inside this 15th-century pub. The Bottle House team welcome us with a smile and sit us down with a great view of the establishment – staff at the bar creating concoctions with the on-site infused spirits using foraged produce from the kitchen garden, wine bottles suspended between exposed beams, and a mix of open and snug spaces that add real charm to the building. Pub manager, Paul Hammond, who has been with The Bottle House for over 30 years, warmly greets us and recommends drinks. A Chilean Pinot Noir he suggests is exactly to Natalie’s taste, while I try a homemade dandelion-infused Aperol Spritz cocktail.
‘On the menu is an array of delicious dishes including Classic Steak Tartare and Mussels with Garlic, Pancetta and Peas’ The establishment prides itself on creating menus based on seasonal produce but there are also plenty of pub classics such as Beer Battered Fish and Chips (£16.50) or a Homemade Shortcrust Steak Pie (£18.00). The Classic Steak Tartare (£11.00) and Mussels with Garlic, Pancetta and Peas (£10.00) starters also sound delicious, and there are plenty of options for vegetarians too, including the Carrot
GARY JARVIS
and Coriander Soup (£9.00) and Apple and Chicory Tart (£16.00). But then Paul throws us a curveball, with a grin asking, ‘Would you like to go with the chef’s recommendations?’ And we both quickly agree to put our culinary experience in the safe hands of Head Chef Gary Jarvis, who has been at the pub for a year now and boasts impressive credits as former Head Chef at The Curlew in Bodiam and The Lyle in Tunbridge Wells. While we wait for our starters, Paul tells us that we have come on a ‘Friday Night Live’ which means that every Friday evening, The Bottle House hosts a musician to play for diners. This week we’re treated to the chilled acoustic music of Steve Spall, from The Violet Jive, whose guitar set feeds into the easygoing ambience.
An elegant plate of Tricolour Beetroot (£9.50) soon arrives for Natalie, along with the Cured Chalk Stream Trout (£10.50) for myself. The deep fuscia colours of the beetroot and the coralorange trout are simply stunning, and both deliver on taste. Next, we are treated to a pre-main course snack: Mushrooms on Toast (£9.50). Like a hug protecting us from the showers outside, it’s the ultimate comfort food. We had to ask Gary what the secret ingredients to that creamy sauce were – and he kindly obliged. “It’s simple really”, he said, listing off brandy, cream, shallots and tarragon oil, which is poured over homemade brioche toast piled high with sweet mushrooms and red peppers and garnished with tarragon. Gary is being modest
– ‘simple’ certainly plays down the number of complimentary flavours making up this delicious plate of food. As we await our main course – the Roast Pork Belly (£21.50) and Fillet of Stone Bass (£20.00), a glance around the inn and it seems everyone is genuinely having a lovely time. There is a mix of diners – a group of older men catch up over a pint, a couple are engrossed in chatter behind us, and a family of four tuck into another stunning looking portion of food. “The standard here has always been high”, Paul tells us, “but since Gary joined, he has taken it to that next level.” Now, for the main. My plate might look gentle – muted colours of sand and toffee-browns surround a delicate fillet of fish – but the food is packed with flavour and contrasting textures. A perfectly cooked, soft stone bass rests in a pool of a deep-flavoured mussel and champagne sauce, which the lemon in the gnocchi cuts through, while the cauliflower adds that nutty crunch. Nestled among the mussels, waiting to be fished out for that strong salty-sweet hit. In short – it’s a considered dish and tastes really great. As Natalie and I let our main course settle, we comment on how at ease we feel here. “Desserts?”, Paul asks, suggesting the Chocolate Delice (£9.50) and Plum Bavarois (£9). We don’t need much tempting. He brings out a glass of Black Muscat dessert wine for the Delice, which is the perfect pairing for the rich finale. With a year at the helm, it’s evident that Gary is delivering thoughtful, elegant and unquestionably tasty food for The Bottle House’s regulars and newbies alike. We can’t wait to return!
Celebrate in Style Book now for this festive season! @thebrasserie_owp 01892 520 587 brasserie-owp.co.uk
17 Chapel Place, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1YQ
FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Christmas cheers: Choosing wines to make your celebrations extra special
Food & Drink
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a larger format! Magnums and Double Magnums add to that party atmosphere and you won’t spend half your time taking corks out as the drinking gathers pace.
‘Magnums and Double Magnums add to that party atmosphere and you won’t spend half your time taking corks out as the drinking gathers pace’ DESSERT It’s Christmas so my first suggestion is to go back to Champagne! Try a rosé or a demi-sec, but even the standard brut will match sweet foods. It’s a great palate cleanser, so compliments the food in that remarkable practical way of allowing you to enjoy each mouthful of dessert afresh. There are new sweet wine options to explore, such as Vin Santo from Italy, or some new world wines where you will find the sweetness not so over-powering.
Paul Adams, of Fine Wines of Mayfield, who also has a shop in Royal Victoria Place, has some suggestions for wines to pair with your festive feast… CHRISTMAS SPARKLE Pre-dinner drinks are traditionally sparkling, so the first question is rosé or not rosé? The second question is English or not? The list of sparkling options is enormous so you could go for something you really like, or perhaps treat yourself by trading up. For example, if you enjoy the non-vintage from a particular Champagne house, Christmas might be the time to try its Blanc de Noirs or Vintage.
ON-LINE LIVE BIDDING
FIRST COURSE Let us assume that the first course is fish or seafood. With fish or seafood, cooked, smoked or raw, it’s got to be white wine and convention suggests dry white wine, but it is undoubtedly a matter of personal preference. I must give a shout-out for The Pished Fish, based in Mayfield – its booze-infused smoked salmon is just amazing. thepishedfish.com
MAIN COURSE A main course of turkey suits a lighter wine style, but it’s not essential. With all that’s going on from rich sauces, bold brussel sprouts and pigs in blankets, there are a range of flavours that a bold full-bodied red can easily work with. Even with nut roasts there are still a number of strong traditional flavours to take into consideration. But do take into account the number of people and think about trading up to
BENTLEY’S
CHEESEBOARD Port and bold reds are the obvious choices, but most cheeses, with the exception of strong, hard varieties are actually better complimented by white wines. Salt loves sweet. Sweet wines beautifully balance the saltiest cheeses such as hard Grana, blue cheese, aged Gouda, or feta. Fresh and soft cheeses love crisp whites, dry rosés, sparkling wines, dry aperitif wines, and light-bodied reds with low tannins. Wines with apple, berry, stone fruit, tropical, melon, or citrus flavours work best. Visit our shop in Royal Victoria Place, just by Santa’s Grotto if you’re looking for last-minute inspiration. We have hundreds of wines available to suit most budgets, so come in and see what we have. Merry Christmas!
ON-LINE LIVE BIDDING
ANTIQUES & FINE ART AUCTIONEERS
SATURDAY 6TH JAnUARY 10AM
(Please ote two separate startig times 10am for Smalls & 11am for Furiture) Full Catalogue & Images Available Online Friday 22nd December
Viewig: Thursday 4th Jauary 9.30am – 5.30pm Friday 5th Jauary 9.30am-5.30pm Saturday 6th Jauary 9.00am-10.00am (10am Sale Starts)
We would like to wish all our customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
19TH CENTURY CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE PORCELAIN POEM INSCRIBED JAR & COVER, 7CM HIGH EST: £200-£400. 19TH CENTURY CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE PORCELAIN JAR & COVER, 7.8CM DIAMETER EST: £100-£200
ROWLAND HILDER OBE PPRI RSMA (1905-1993) – ‘VIEW FROM THE STUDIO’, WATERCOLOUR, 34CM X 52CM. PROVENANCE: FRANCIS ILES GALLERY, ROCHESTER EST: £750-£1000 VICTORIAN BURR WALNUT PIANO-TOP POP-UP DAVENPORT EST: £300-£500
A VINTAGE CHINESE CABINET, 181CM HIGH X 114CM WIDE EST: £400£600 (PART OF A COLLECTION OF CHINESE FURNITURE IN THIS SALE).
A VINTAGE BEROMAT ONE ARM BANDIT PENNY SLOT MACHINE, C.1940’S/50’S, 73CM HIGH X 47CM WIDE EST: £200-£400
GEORGE III SILVER TRAY BY JOHN HUTSON, LONDON 1794, ENGRAVED WITH THE MONIS FAMILY CREST, 58CM WIDE, APPROX 70 OZS EST: £1000-£1500
OUR VALUERS ARE IN YOUR AREA FOR FREE HOME VISITS TO ASSESS AND COLLECT YOUR ITEMS FOR YOU, CALL OUR SALEROOM OFFICE TO BOOK YOUR FREE APPOINTMENT.
ROWLAND HILDER OBE PPRI RSMA (1905-1993) – ‘THE MERE’, WATERCOLOUR, 50CM X 72CM. PROVENANCE: FRANCIS ILES GALLERY, ROCHESTER EST: £1250-£1750
PAIR CLASSICAL-REVIVAL LEAD GARDEN URNS, 66CM WIDE X 34CM HIGH EST: £200-£400
PARKInG On DAY OF SALE In CRAnBROOK SCHOOL CAR PARK (OPPOSITE) COURTESY OF CRAnBROOK SCHOOL
The Old Granary, Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3JQ
Telephone: 01580 715857 E-mail: enquiries@bentleyskent.com Visit us @ www.bentleysfineartauctioneers.co.uk
38
Health & Wellbeing
Wednesday December 20 | 2023
Seeking comfort and joy this festive season
In her regular column, Lucy Parker of Flow Tunbridge Wells has some advice for those struggling with the stress of Christmas…
L
et’s face it, life can feel challenging, and no one can deny we are currently in the thick of some extremely dark times globally. War, economic and environmental crises are all on our doorstep and knocking on our doors through the media and our phones. From this perspective, it feels ironic at best and distasteful at worst to even be discussing our Christmas presents and festive feasts. That may be so, and yet here we are, all rushing about panic buying and stocking up on sprouts, wrapping paper and emergency sellotape. Last week we looked at the relative fluidity of time and how it can speed up or slow down depending on our perspective. This week I want to suggest that our varied attitudes towards our ‘needs’ are also very changeable and even more so at Christmas time. Christmas of course is primarily a Christian celebration of the birth of Christ and a time dedicated to compassion, gratitude, and hope. We would be wise to remember this over the next few days before we allow ourselves to be swept up in the consumer tide and desperately try to ‘keep up with the Joneses’.
Mindful I spent a few hours in London this weekend attempting a little Christmas shopping. I was struck by how fast the consumerist urge began to creep up within me as I strode around Carnaby Street, marvelling at the sights and starting to convince myself I needed to buy the latest this, that, or whatever. Shopping is a contagious sport and retailers are masters at reeling us into the game. There I was, happily strolling around when a hook of a fairy light or good tune pulled me into a shop and almost filled my basket for me. Fortunately for me – and my bank account – I was able to keep this in check and stay mindful of the fact that I don’t need any of these things, not one. My life, nor the lives of my loved ones, will not be improved by a light-up Christmas turkey decoration or novelty slipper. As an aside, did you know that the Christmas jumper is one of the least environmentally friendly items of clothing we can purchase and the worst examples of fast fashion? So much so that Lidl have launched a Christmas jumper rental service this year. My invitation to you is to stop right now and take a good hard look at everything you already have. Firstly, do you have a roof over your head and feel warm and safe in the comfort of your home? Are you fit and healthy and able to take care of your basic needs? Do you have food on
your table and a bed for the night? Are you blessed with friends and family that love you? These things are so easy to take for granted and equally the most fundamental for our physical and mental health and happiness. What we, as well as our children, need first and foremost is
‘Snuggle down together and bask in your blessings before you fall into the consumer trap’ safety, love, and to be both seen and heard. My invitation to you is to do just that this Christmas, to snuggle down together and bask in your blessings before you fall into the consumer trap and get stuck there till the spring! Shower your children, parents and friends with your unconditional love, connection, and ability to show up with your presence, not just presents. It may sound trite, but I truly do believe it is the thought that counts, not the cost. You probably already have everything you need – you may just need someone to help you remember that long enough to put down your wallet and take stock of your abundant life. Having said this it’s important to point out that Abraham Maslow was right when he built his ‘hierarchy of needs’. Should you feel that some of your basic needs of food, shelter and safety are not currently being met then it may be that you do need some support. We have some excellent charities locally that can help such as: – Nourish Community Foodbank nourishcommunityfoodbank.org.uk – Mental Health Resource mentalhealthresource.org.uk – Porchlight porchlight.org.uk These charities allow us to support our local community as donors, as well as help those who find themselves in need, helping, as Nourish say ‘local people who have hit a bump in the road’. All that remains to say is that I wish you a very Merry Christmas and look forward to supporting you with ideas, suggestions, and insight in the New Year. If you’re feeling the stress of the season mount up and think you could benefit from talking to a qualified counsellor in January, don't hesitate to get in touch with me. I have availability for weekly sessions and am keen to support you back to health. Lucy Parker, Coach, Counsellor, and Yoga Therapist flowtunbridgewells.com embarkcounselling.co.uk
Monday
Wednesday
Pembury Pembury Primary School Lower Green Road Monday 5.30pm Call Jesse 07710549334 We are currently recruiting a new consultant for this Group. Contact Jesse to find out more about this exciting Opporutinity 07710 549334
Paddock Wood Paddock Wood Community Centre Maidstone Road Tonbridge, TN12 6EB Wednesday 9.30am Call Simone 07738681969
Tuesday Cranbrook New Morning Time from 9th January Cranbrook Rugby Cricket Club Anglet Road Cranbrook, TN17 2PN Tuesday 8am & 9.30am Call Debbie 07789776887 Staplehurst New Venue from 9th January Staplehurst Primary School Gybbon Rise, TN12 0LZ Tuesday 7pm Call Debbie 07789776887 Rusthall St Pauls Primary School Entrace Via Gladstone Road, TN4 8RZ Tuesday 5.30pm Call Jesse 07710549334 We are currently recruiting a new consultant for this Group. Contact Jesse to find out more about this exciting Opporutinity 07710 549334 Crowborough Crowborough Community Centre Pine Grove, TN6 1FE Tuesday 5.30pm & 7.30pm Call Beckie 07948352691 Paddock Wood Paddock Wood Community Centre Maidstone Road,TN12 6EB Tuesday 5.30pm & 7pm Call Simone 07738681969
High Brooms St Lukes Church Hall Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9JH Wednesday 5.30pm & 7pm Call Jesse 07710549334 Ramslye St Marks C of E Primary School Ramslye Road, TN4 8LN Wednesday 7pm Call Susie 07717177892
Thursday Crowborough All Saints Church Hall Church Road, TN6 1ED Thursday 9.30am, 11am, 5.30pm & 7pm Call Mary 07738014528
Friday Crowborough All Saints Church Hall Church Road, TN6 1ED Friday 9.30am & 11am Call Mary 07738014528
Saturday Tunbridge Wells St Barnabas Primary School Quarry Road, TN1 2EY Saturday 8am & 9.30am Call Jesse 07710549334
S ’ D L R O W E H T G N I R O T RES S R A C C I N O C I T MOS
6 8 9 1 E SINC
H Engineering Ltd, Little Cacketts Farm,
WWW.H-ENGINEERING.COM H-Engineering Advert - TOTW.indd 1
Haymans Hill, Horsmonden, Kent, TN12 8BX info@h-engineering.com | 01892 549042
27/06/2023 13:10