The Times of Tunbridge Wells, March 23, 2022

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Cricket team stumped in European cup final

By Robert Forrester TUNBRIDGE Wells Cricket Club (TWCC) narrowly missed out on being crowned Champions of Europe after losing in the final to Spanish side Pak I Care Badalona.

The ECB National Club T20 Champions won seven games in the T10 European Cricket Club Championship tournament over seven days to make it to the final at the Cártama Oval in Spain on Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH LYNDSAY BARKER

Sixes

HOWZAT The Tunbridge Wells squad sporting their runners-up medals on Saturday

The Tunbridge Wells side managed to score 81/7 in their ten overs and came close to lifting the champions’ trophy until a couple of sixes by the Badalona side in the final two overs followed by a four saw Pak I Care take the game 84/3.

Tunbridge Wells Captain, Chris Williams, told the Times: “It has been an amazing experience. Of course, we wanted to win the final, but we are not disappointed. It’s been a once in a lifetime experience.”

Tunbridge Wells residents open their doors to Ukrainian refugees

By Richard Williams THE spirit of helping the vulnerable in their hour of need remains alive and well after residents in Tunbridge Wells lined up to register their interest in housing fleeing refugees from Ukraine.

Two weeks ago, before the UK government outlined its sponsorship programme to allow Britons to take in refugee families from the stricken region, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) launched a webpage where people in the borough could register their interest.

The Times can now reveal that within days of the website going live, 148 residents had put their names down.

The Council removed the page after just five days on March 15 when the Home Office launched its own official register.

Those who completed the form are now being emailed to say that they now need

to register with the Government under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

That government website saw 100,000 residents across the UK signing up within the first day.

The scheme, which went live on Monday (March 21), will see each household housing a refugee offered £350 a month, tax-free.

‘Within days of the website going live, 148 residents had put their names down’ They will not be expected to provide food and living expenses but can choose to offer this.

Under the scheme, Ukrainians can enter the UK with a visa if they are sponsored by a resident.

Individuals, charities, communities and

business groups in the UK can apply to house Ukrainians for a minimum of six months.

An estimated four million people have fled Ukraine since Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian invasion nearly a month ago.

The news follows the withdrawal of western forces from Kabul last year when Tunbridge Wells was among the first local authorities in the UK to offer help to refugees when it made available three homes to families fleeing Afghanistan.

People interested in housing a refugee family can register on the government website: homesforukraine.campaign. gov.uk

Meet the Rusthall couple who are opening their doors to refugees, and the two women that are at the Ukrainian border supplying aid. Page 2.

E DS 17 TH T ES ARGE W A EE M IMSS A - P T S NE T SI LIS BUINA F

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

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this week… RVP owner eyes shopping centre sale to rival landlord

PARKLIFE Tunbridge Wells’ parks need Friends to help them bloom P6

MALL Meadowhall in Sheffield is valued at nearly £800million while RVP [inset] was bought for £96million

IMPRESARIO’S IMPRESSIONS Local music promoter Paul Dunton is back as the Times live music columnist P30

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Meadowhall in Sheffield, which is valued at around £780million – and British Land would take Landsec’s ten retail parks in return.

It could pave the way for a similar deal for British Land’s shopping centres, such as RVP, after the commercial landlord looks to move away from enclosed malls to out of town retail parks.

Mark Allan and Simon Carter, the chief executives of Landsec and British Land respectively, are both under pressure to close persistent gaps between the book value of their assets and the stock-market value of their companies. Landsec trades at a 24 per cent discount and British Land at a 25 per cent discount.

Malls

MEET THE FINALISTS Meet some of the local businesses who have entered the Times Business Awards in our special pull-out P8

STAMP OF SUCCESS Tunbridge Wells grammar pupil on winning a national design competition for Royal Mail P13

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

By Richard Williams OWNERS of Tunbridge Wells’ flagship shopping centre Royal Victoria Place (RVP) is reportedly in talks with a rival retail landlord over an £800million asset swap.

According to a report in the Times on Saturday

(March 19), British Land and Landsec have held talks that would involve at least one of British Land’s shopping centres changing hands, as the two property giants search for ways to lift their drifting share prices.

Under the proposed deal, it is understood Landsec would acquire a 50 per cent share of

British Land saw more than £1billion wiped off its retail portfolio during the pandemic after it had to reduce, and in some cases, waive rents completely.

It has since spent hundreds of millions of pounds buying out of town retail parks, in the belief they are more profitable post pandemic than traditional shopping malls.

Meadowhall, which is jointly owned by British Land and Norwegian bank Norges, was valued at £778.7 million in March last year.

The retail property owner paid £96million for Royal Victoria Place in 2018.

Landsec, which also has shares in the Bluewater shopping centre in Dartford, has ten retail parks valued at £405million.

The news comes after this newspaper revealed last week that the empty BHS unit in RVP is set to be converted into a leisure and entertainment complex following a £9million investment by Elite Leisure Collection, which also owns One Media, publisher of the Times.

Meet the couple who will open home to a Ukrainian family

By Victoria Roberts One of the families who signed up to the local authority’s Homes for Ukraine list is Karen and Eugene Gardner, who live in Rusthall.

The couple were among the first to register their interest in helping Ukranians fleeing the Russian invasion.

“We have a history of helping people here in Rusthall,” Karen told the Times, referring to the World War II Kindertransport that brought Jewish child refugees to the village during WWII. “It’s also in my culture. My parents used to host exchange students, and one of them was a Ukrainian,” added Karen.

Challenge “After hosting students, they always went to the student’s home later, and so my parents went out there to Ukraine to visit,” added Karen, recalling her childhood in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Karen was also an actor in last summer’s Rusthall community play ‘Happy Highways’, in

which she had the line: “In the midst of a financial depression, facing an imminent war, Rusthall responded to our plight with selfless generosity by looking after sixty desperately lonely and terrified children.

“I delivered these lines over many performances – during the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan,” she said. “So you could say I was primed to embody the best principles of Rusthall residents when it came to the time to host refugees. The time then was Afghanistan. The time now is Afghanistan and Ukraine.”

As an art teacher, Karen has also welcomed other refugee children that have been fostered locally into her home studio, where she runs workshops.

Yet she is not underestimating the scale of the new challenge.

The UK government has suggested a minimum commitment of six months from hosts, there will be a language barrier and the Ukrainian refugees might be traumatised.

“We also have to be happy to fold someone else’s life into ours,” she admitted.

ACCOMMODATING Eugene and Karen Gardener “The other person could be a mother with a couple of children. But we’ve got such a great community here for someone who might be waiting to make an alternative life for themselves while they are waiting to see what happens.

“We are getting our guest room ready and freshened up. If there’s enough time, we may even repaint.”

Rusthall’s response to the current crisis is being co-ordinated through the ‘Rusthall Stands with Ukraine’ Facebook page, which has details of fundraising events.

…and the two Rusthall women easing refugees’ strain

AID charity RefugEase has gone to the refugee front line to help and is now helping to evacuate civilians out of Ukraine, after helping with supplying aid to refugees at HELP Hannah [left] and Valentina the border.

Set up in Rusthall by Valentina Osborn and Hannah Jacobson in 2015, following the Syrian refugee crisis, the charity now has a team of volunteers and trustees to help.

Instead of sending items from the UK to support refugees, the group sets up the local aid

purchases where they buy products locally for refugees fleeing Ukraine depending on their need.

“We buy what is needed every day and try as much as possible to go to local small retailers, but it can be hard to get everything you need from local shops,” Valentina told the Times last week after returning from the Ukraine-Hungary border.

Border “Sometimes we do have to go to [the equivalent of] Tesco, but we like to support local retailers as close to the action as possible.”

Volunteers from RefugEase are now also shuttling refugees from the border – identified as a ‘bottleneck’ for refugees.

“Ukrainians can enter Hungary – a member of the EU since 2004 – without a visa for 90 days, which makes the crossing possible,” explained Valentina.

RefugEase is one of the few NGOs working in

Hungary and is working at the border town of Tiszabecs.

“Starting from Monday, they will take 20 to 40 a day,” said Valentina. “Volunteers at the moment are all from the Tunbridge Wells area, although once the support dies down, we will get someone locally, in Hungary, to take care of it.”

The charity has an open call for volunteer drivers in Hungary, who can offer a week or more.

Only a normal driving license is needed and volunteers can contact hannah@refugease.com It was essential to make sure the aid arrangements were on a ‘sustainable’ footing, she said, acknowledging that ‘support dies down.’

RefugEase now plans to re-open a Tunbridge charity shop on a pop-up basis in the near future.

Aid parcels can be purchased at refugease.com Organisations can offer corporate sponsorship by contacting valentina@refugease.com For more on how to help refugees in the Ukraine crisis see Greg Clark’s column page 14.

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

NEWS IN BRIEF

Covid surge sees one in 19 infected A SPIKE in Covid cases has been recorded in Tunbridge Wells with figures suggesting one in 19 people in the area have the virus.

Following the ending of all restrictions, including the need to self-isolate if somebody has tested positive for coronavirus, rates across the UK have increased.

According to estimates by the PA news agency based on NHS England figures, around 5.19 per cent of the population in Tunbridge Wells is infected.

According to the latest data, there were 1,119 cases of the virus in the seven days to March 12, giving Tunbridge Wells a case rate per 100,000 of 940.8.

Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother and Wealden have the highest rates in the South East with 7.08 per cent infected or one in every 14 people.

Bogus charity workers DETECTIVES are appealing for information after bogus charity workers tried to steal a watch from the wrist of a pensioner near Tunbridge Wells.

The victim was approached by two women shortly before 12pm on Saturday, March 12, as he was getting out of a car on the A26 London Road near to Rocks Hollow Gardens.

One of the suspects is alleged to have held the victim’s arm and attempted to remove his watch, which fell to the ground, causing both women to run away.

The women are described as being Eastern European, white, one aged around 16, slim and five feet tall and wearing dark clothing, the other around 20 with short dark hair.

Anybody with information is urged to contact Kent Police on 01622 604100.

New Chair for Chamber KENT Invicta Chamber of Commerce has appointed a new Chair and Vice Chair.

Chris Hare, Executive Director at MidKent College, has been appointed to the top role, while Andrew Metcalf, Managing Director of Tunbridge Wells-based PR agency Maxim is the new Vice-Chair.

Announcing the decision, Jo James OBE, the Chamber’s chief executive, said: “We’re very pleased that Chris and Andrew have agreed to take on the positions.

“Their combined experience of the skills and economic development agenda will be invaluable to the Chamber’s work to support each of our members, and the county as a whole.”

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By Victoria Roberts

Investigations He said: “It was a huge, loud bang. I didn’t know what was happening. It sounded like a war or a plane crashing.

“We ran to the window and there was dust everywhere, it was really scary.”

Both Kent Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECamb) attended the incident.

A spokesperson for SECamb said the bus driver was taken to hospital but confirmed there had been no other injuries reported.

He added: “I can confirm that SECamb was called at approximately 8pm, March 21, to reports of a road traffic accident had left the road on Greggs Wood Road, Tunbridge Wells.

“Ambulance crews attended the scene and the driver of the bus was assessed and treated before being taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital. No other patients received treatment at the scene.”

A spokesman for Arriva told the Times yesterday [Tuesday] the company was investigating.

He added: “We can confirm one of our buses was involved in a road traffic incident last night (around 8pm) and investigations are underway.

“We’re working with authorities and other supportive parties as part of these investigations.”

Police investigate after taxi driver racially abused at railway station POLICE are investigating after a taxi driver in Tunbridge Wells was racially abused while at the town’s main RANT One of the men train station. who allegedly racially Medhat abused the taxi driver Khechine says he was working last Tuesday morning, March 15, when a Range rover pulled into the bays

restricted for taxi use.

“I told him he wasn’t supposed to park there and that he would get a ticket as it was only for taxis, but he then started to racially abuse me,” he said.

Taunts The driver was joined by another man, who approached Mr Khinine’s cab and began shouting aggressively through his window, including racial taunts.

Mr Khechine recorded the two-minute rant by the two men on his phone, which he has forwarded to the Times.

Record fireworks fundraiser finally given to good causes

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DAMAGE The number 277 after the incident

A DRIVER of a bus has been left injured after it crashed into a row of houses in Tunbridge Wells.

The number 277 Arriva bus from the town centre to Pembury crashed into homes in Greggs Wood Road in the Sherwood area around 8pm on Monday night (March 21).

A witness said the female driver of the bus was injured but no residents were hurt, although there was extensive damage to the properties.

Daniel Septimiu, 45, told reporters he was watching television with his wife as his four-year-old daughter slept upstairs when he heard a loud bang.

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Driver hurt after bus crashes into Tunbridge Wells homes

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RECIPIENTS Benficiaries of the Round Table money on Sunday THE organisers of the Tunbridge Wells fireworks display in Dunorlan park have given away their haul of donations to good causes following a record turnout at the event last year.

The Royal Tunbridge Wells Round Table, which has been providing the town’s fireworks for

more than 60 years, raised £50,000 following last November’s event which saw more than 13,000 attend the park to see the display.

As the Times reported in January, however, the fundraising men’s group struggled to find enough good causes to give the money to.

“It was shocking. After he left people came up to me and told me I should report it to the police, so I have,” he said, adding: “To be honest, it is not the first time. It is sad to say but we taxi drivers get a lot of racist abuse at the rank, even here in Tunbridge Wells.”

A spokesperson for Kent Police said: “We were called at around 9.30am on Tuesday to a report that a man was being racially abusive to a taxi driver at Tunbridge Wells railway station.”

He added: “Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”

Mr Khechine’s video can be seen at timeslocalnews.co.uk But last Sunday (March 20), the Round Table finally held a giveaway for charities and good causes chosen to benefit from the record number of donations this year.

Pleasure Among the recipients were Mental Health Resource, Aspens, Compaid, 3H Foundation, Citizens Advice Tunbridge Wells, Baby2Baby&Beyond, Community Car Service, Alexandra Sales Trust, DAVSS, Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees, Tree of Hope, Baby Umbrella, Sea Cadets, The Counselling Centre, Taylor Made Dreams, Child’s Vision, and The Hygiene Bank.

Round Table Chairman, Daldeep Jaswal said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended our giveaway event at the weekend. It was our pleasure to welcome the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr Chris Woodward, to help distribute the cheques.

“The Sea Cadets came along to play some music, providing great entertainment.

“We were really pleased to support so many diverse charitable and good causes this year.

These worthy causes provide much needed services in our town.”

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Couples planning to say ‘I do’ told ‘you can’t’ due to registrar shortage registrars are at now at capacity across the peak wedding season from April to August between 1pm-4pm,” he said.

He stressed: “Ceremonies can still be booked outside of these times. We have recruited additional staff and our dedicated registration teams will keep the situation under close review, working with licenced wedding venues and couples looking to tie the knot in Kent so everyone who wants to can celebrate their special day in our beautiful county in 2022.”

“As of March 8, just over two months into 2022, there were already 6,191 civil wedding bookings for the year in Kent, with bookings continuing to take place.

By Victoria Roberts DEMAND for marriage ceremonies in Kent has meant registrars have now had to ban weddings at peak times this summer.

There had been a 50 per cent increase in demand for officials to host ceremonies in the spring and summer, compared with 2019, Kent County Council (KCC) has said.

Already by the beginning of March, more weddings have been booked in the county than for entire year of 2019, KCC added.

The news comes after peak-time weddings were rationed last year, with no new bookings being taken for Friday, Saturday or Sunday between 12noon and 3pm during the months of July, August and September 2021.

Now KCC has said they cannot attend provide

registrars for any wedding between 1pm and 4pm from April through to August.

Mike Hill, KCC cabinet member for community and regulatory services, said: “With many couples having to pause their wedding plans during the pandemic, and in some cases postpone their arrangements many times over, there has been an unprecedented rise in bookings – with an increase of nearly 50 per cent for some months this spring and summer compared to 2019.”

KCC had been able to meet the demand, but with the the extension of government rules allowing a greater choice of wedding venue – inside and outside – this had ‘further driven demand for civil ceremonies’, addded Mr Hill.

“It means that, despite having one of the biggest registrar teams in the country, all of our

BHS leisure complex is the talk of the town

By Richard Williams HUNDREDS of people have welcomed the news that the former site of BHS in Tunbridge Wells is to be converted into a leisure complex.

After the Times broke the news last week that the unit vacated by the former retailer in 2016 will become an entertainment centre featuring go karts, bowling, a cinema and a state-of-the-art arcade, hundreds of people took to social media to

Demand “This compares to a total 5,846 civil weddings booked for the entire year in 2019 – the last full year unaffected by Covid restrictions.

Wedding venues have said they have now had to adapt to the registrar shortage.

A spokesperson for Salomons Estate, which is owned by Elite Leisure Collection, owner of One Media, publisher of the Times, said the venue puts on around 130 ceremonies a year.

He added: “Whilst the news isn’t ideal, at our venues we’ve become creative with the wedding packages on offer and running times of the day so couples can still enjoy their perfect day, including a complementary stay in our Junior Suite the night before your special day, late licensing so your evening can continue long into the night and tailored menus.”

WEDDING SUPPLIERS FLOCK TO CROWBOROUGH THE wedding sector is coming back to the local economy as suppliers are queuing up to exhibit at Crowborough’s upcoming wedding fair.

The event, due to be held on April 9 at Crowborough Community Centre (CCC), had already confirmed a range of service suppliers, from photographers and venue decorators to makeup artists, and had even been forced to turn away wedding celebrants after booking three of them, in order to preserve a balance, organiser Kirsty Harmon told the Times.

“The wedding industry took a huge hit in the pandemic, but now all of the events which had been pushed forward are happening. It’s going to be busy,” she said.

And at £40 per stall – which pays for the hire of the hall and allows engaged couples to enter the wedding fair for free – the suppliers are really putting their money where their mouth is, and showing confidence in future bookings, she added.

“It’s also a great way to save some money while supporting local businesses and the regional economy,” she said.

“This goes back into the charity – the community centre is a charity,” she added.

Bookings for other events at the community centre had started to pick up as well, she said, citing the upcoming comedy night on April 15 and a fundraiser variety show with Taylor Made Dreams on May 27.

Wedding fair visitors can pre-register for free entry at the Crowborough Community Centre’s Facebook page. Tea, sandwiches and cakes will be available to purchase.

ABC Cinema site developers open exhibition into plans

welcome the announcement.

The project by Elite Leisure Collection, which also runs One Media, publisher of the Times, is a £9million project.

Channels The news not only became the most read article on our timeslocalnews.co.uk this year, which saw an uptick in online traffic of 72 per cent compared to the previous week, but it also received more comments on our social channels than any other news over the last 12 months.

On Facebook alone around a hundred comments were received when the news broke, and Twitter, Instagram and other platforms were full of discussion about the leisure complex plans.

Here is what some people have said about the news…

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

By Robert Forrester THE company planning to redevelop another vacated piece of land in Tunbridge Wells is to open hold an exhibition into its plans to build a retirement village next week.

Retirement Villages Group (RVG), who are owned by AXA – Tunbridge Wells’ largest employer – announced at the end of last year they were to redevelop the former site of the ABC Cinema on Mount Pleasant Road last year.

The site has been derelict since the cinema was closed more than 20 years ago and has changed hands numerous times since.

RVG plan to build between 150-180 later living apartments on the site, alongside a café, restaurant and wellness facilities available to both residents and the public.

The project is a larger version of the plans drew up by previous developers Elysian Residences, who had wanted to build around 100 apartments but pulled out of the deal during the pandemic.

The later living developer is now converting the former Arriva bus depot.

The RVG consultation will provide people who live and work in the borough with an opportunity to review and provide their feedback on the emerging designs for the site, as well as ideas on the role that the development could play in the town centre.

Caroline Keiller, Development Manager at Retirement Villages Group, said: “We believe that our proposals for this site will be a positive addition DERELICT A view to the town from the ABC site centre.

“In addition to new homes, we will also be reactivating this long-dormant space in a vital location for Tunbridge Wells, providing commercial space for local, independent businesses and a new publicly accessible courtyard, linking Mount Pleasant Road and Church Road.

“The scheme will also bring other opportunities to create spaces where people can come together, socialise and take part in leisure and exercise activities.

Webinar “We need the community’s help in deciding what those uses should be. We look forward to having that conversation and sharing our vision over the coming weeks.”

RVG will be holding a public exhibition at the Trinity Theatre on Church Road on Thursday, March 31 (3pm to 8pm) and Saturday, April 2 (10am to 1pm) There will also be a webinar on Wednesday, March 30 between 6pm and 7.30 pm.

The project team can be contacted on 0800 130 33 80 or at info@rtw-cinema-site.co.uk if people have any questions or would like to register interest in attending the webinar.

Details of the proposals will also be available for comment online from Monday March 28 at rtw-cinema-site.co.uk.

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

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MP steps in to prevent last stop for bus routes

– parking places in the roads and streets of Hawkenbury,” he added.

Nu-Venture owner Norman Kemp told the Times: “The commercial bus operators who operate these services will have to make changes from times to time or withdraw services.

“We also depend on passenger numbers and it’s a basic rule of business that if income is insufficient or costs increase, it is no different to any other business.”

And Hawkenbury is not the only village to lose bus services.

‘In addition to the financial elements, we have the horror of fuel price rises’

By Sarah Carter NEW bus schedules from April will leave parts of the area under-served, affecting the elderly, disabled, schoolchildren, and people attending GP appointments and hospital visits, residents and local politicians fear.

Villages such as Hawkenhurst and Pembury are particularly concerned about cuts and changes by more than one bus company, driven by low passenger numbers and rising costs.

Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark has been acting on concerns about Bus 285, which operator Nu-Venture warned it is not attracting enough STRUGGLING passengers to cover theiscost of the route.

Royal Victoria Place “Nu said that filledVenture with empty unitsthe number of people using the service is so low that their forecasts do

not see a recovery in use to the point that would make it viable,” Mr Clark told the Times.

The MP has also met Arriva and Go-Coach to suggest the bus operators combine existing services with operating the 285 ‘even if it meant a less frequent, but viable, service’.

Inadequate He added: “I have also met with the UK Chief Executive Officer of AXA to explore whether the company could make an increased contribution to the finances of the service, since it provides a more sustainable way than driving for their employees to get to Hawkenbury from the centre of town, and also avoids additional street parking pressures on the – already inadequate

Operator Arriva is set to cancel and reduce the service on a number of routes from April 17 [Easter Sunday] that serve Tunbridge Wells, East Peckham, Paddock Wood, Pembury, Southborough, High Brooms, Rusthall the Pantiles and the Hospital.

In Pembury, borough and county councillor Paul Barrington-King, said he was ‘100 per cent against any cuts to Pembury’s buses’.

“The 6A is the big one,” he said, referring to the route that takes passengers from East Peckham to Tunbridge Wells via Paddock Wood and Pembury,

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including a stop at the hospital, on weekdays.

Christopher Burley, Commercial Director, at Arriva said passenger numbers had dropped by 30 per cent since the pandemic.

He added: “Before Covid we had identified lower customer demand across some services in the area and these have not improved post Covid where we are only carrying around 70 per cent of the numbers before the pandemic.

“As a result of this we have made changes whereby service frequencies have been reduced.”

Meanwhile, Go Coach, which is also reducing a number of services including the 208, has blamed the ‘horror of fuel price rises’ for the cuts.

David Hunt, spokesman for the company said in addition to falling passenger numbers ‘we have the horror of fuel price rises, the like of which has never previously been seen’.

He added: “Clearly no-one wants to lose their bus service as it represents a vital link for many people, but bus companies are commercial businesses and must at least cover their costs to remain in GREG CLARK business.”

THE PROPOSED SERVICE CUTS Proposed budget-cuts to bus service include: • Cancelled: Sunday Bus 6’s (Arriva) diversion through Pembury; • Cancelled: Monday-Saturday Bus 208 (Go-Coach) from East Peckham to Tonbridge and Pembury (though Autocar would continue a parallel route); • Cancelled: Wednesday/ Friday/ Saturday Bus 255 (Autocar) between Benenden and Tunbridge Wells, via Hawkhurst, Flimwell and Lamberhurst;

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• Cut: one early departure on Monday-Friday Bus 277 (Arriva) Henwood Green to Tunbridge Wells; • Cancelled: Monday/ Thursday/ Saturday Bus 296 (Autocar) from Paddock Wood to Tunbridge Wells via Horsmonden, Brenchley and Kippings Cross; and • Cancelled the ‘dial-a-ride’ Tunbridge Wells Kent Karrier (Compaid), transporting those in isolated rural areas or who because of age or disability cannot use buses and trains.

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Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Volunteers needed as the town’s

Spring is here and the parks in Tunbridge Wells are starting to bloom, but as Victoria Roberts finds out the army of volunteers that keep the town’s green spaces blossoming needs regular replenishing. Pictures by Emily Harding...

AS WINTER recedes, flowers and foliage are springing to life in the town’s parks and the volunteer corps that helps tend to the public spaces also needs renewing, local groups say.

Although the parks are managed by the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s (TWBC) parks team, Friends groups add both sparkle and colour to the green spaces, sometimes putting in considerable fundraising efforts for new facilities, and even maintaining natural features.

Colour The Friends of Dunorlan Park (FoDP) started operating in the 1990s, and their Monday Volunteers are responsible for a surprising amount of the park’s colour, through planting and replanting programmes at different times of the year, such as planting snowdrops and replanting the azalea and heather beds since the start of this year.

Last October, they planted 3,500 English bluebells along the path in Victoria Cross Grove, for colour this spring.

They also help to maintain the park, for example through coppicing to clear the edges of the pond, and cutting back reeds and willows by the bridge.

“The Monday Volunteers in Dunorlan Park are a dedicated bunch of people, all working hard to

PATH TO HAPPINESS A young visitor enjoys the sun in Dunorlan and [right] Monday volunteers at work

‘Our members and volunteers really are the lifeblood of our organisation. We are always looking for new members’

TEMPLE IN BLOOM Spring flowers are emerging

LAKE VIEW ensure the park is kept looking good for everyone to enjoy,” said FoDP group member Joan Hamilton-Smith.

She added: “The volunteers sometimes work alongside Kent High Weald Partnership and both groups get on well. They are looked after, too, with cuppas and bacon rolls!”

Further towards the town centre, and rich in tree cover and hidden habitats, the Friends of Grosvenor and Hilbert Park (FoGH) make the most of their space, planting a tree to contribute to the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative in February.

They also run moth identification events throughout the year – most recently in midMarch, with Dr Ian Beavis from the Amelia showing visitors what he had managed to catch in his moth-trap in the park the night before.

Set up in 2011, FoGH relies on membership fees, donations and grants to run a range of activities in the park throughout the year, from leisure to actual landscape management, like the recent winter pruning of the Community Orchard.

undertake all the activities we undertake in the park. We are always looking for new members,” he said.

Underlining the wonders volunteers can achieve in a public space, Friends of Calverley Grounds (FoCG) treasurer Nick Pope told the Times: “Since setting up in 2012, FoCG have helped draw up a strategic maintenance plan for the Grounds, held successful planting days, advised on public events like the Mela, agreed landscape developments with the Council, and raised £250,000 to build the wonderful Calverley Adventure Grounds playground on the old bowling green, designed by a member.”

Making the most of the formal gardens and

lawns – a legacy of design by Tunbridge Wells architect Decimus Burton – the Friends group also works alongside events such as SKATE, the winter ice rink, while the grassy slope makes it a great outdoor auditorium for events such as Local & Live.

Sports-wise, the park also offers sports courts for tennis, netball, basketball and croquet, as well as an outdoor gym, opened in 2020 by the Council.

“In September 2022, the playground will be hitting its fifth birthday, so it would be really good to have some support in organising something to celebrate this event as well as organising other activities in the park for adults

PARKS’ BLOOMING SUCCESS Over the next few months, FoGH plans a litter pick, Easter Egg hunt, dog show and more.

The group is not just for events, though: future possible capital investments include an outdoor bottle-filling station for park users – making it an even more exercise-friendly place.

Targets Another possible funding target is a defibrillator in the Park, said FoGH treasurer Chris Hughes.

“Both of these are fairly costly items so we have been looking for funding to help us out. So far nothing has been obtained but if anyone is interested in helping us to fund them please get in contact with us.

“Our members and volunteers are really the lifeblood of our organisation and allow us to

Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom has entered the regional South & South East in Bloom competition – part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) ‘Britain in Bloom’ awards – every year since 2010.

“We’ve won and retained a Gold medal in the Large Town category every year and achieved numerous individual awards for our parks and open spaces,” said Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

With the competition resuming in 2022 following the pandemic, Royal Tunbridge Wells In Bloom is taking part in the S&SE in Bloom again – now in the Small City category after the authority outgrew the large town category.

At the same time as locals are digging for victory, the local authority’s parks department is gearing up to reapply for the Green Flag

award, given out every October, which Dunorlan, Hilbert & Grosvenor and Calverley Grounds have all been awarded the accolade in the past.

Park management must re-apply for the status every year, proving that the green spaces qualify as: ‘a welcoming place, healthy, safe and secure, and well-maintained and clean’.

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parks begin to spring into life and children,” said Jim Kedge, former chairman of FoCG. Meanwhile, paying tribute to the Friends’ groups, TWBC’s team leader for Parks and Sports, Peter Every, said: “The Friends groups are very important.

“Wherever possible, we work in partnership with them; we attend their meetings and try to work through and resolve any concerns they have. It’s thanks to their hard work and volunteering that we consistently get Gold awards in the ‘in Bloom’ competitions.

Helping out “All our parks have now achieved the Green Flag, and the majority have had this status for over five years,” he added.

“We get feedback about the parks all the time so we know how important they are to people.

This really stood out during lockdown when for some these were the only spaces they could visit, some people were first time visitors and they contacted us to say how lovely they thought the parks were and how grateful they were to have them.”

Those interested in becoming chair or a trustee of FoCG can contact Nick Pope at nicholas. pope@yahoo.com or 07956 340 255.

Potential Monday Volunteers for Dunorlan Park can contact Kasia at the Council on kasia. olszewska@tunbridgewells.gov.uk, or call the Parks Team at 01892 554031.

Potential new members of FoGH can visit fogh. org.uk for information on how to join, or e-mail chair@fogh.org.uk.

HUB OF ACTIVITY Cafe and bowling at Grosvenor & Hilbert

SPADEWORK Calverley is grounds for making friends

‘Volunteer groups are looked after with lots of cuppas and bacon rolls!’

MILESTONE MOMENT Calverley Playground turns five in September

GREEN AND PLEASANT Varied habitats at Grosvenor & Hilbert Park

A PLACE IN HISTORY

OUTDOOR ARTS Calverley Grounds hosts many events

Built on the south west edge of Decimus Burton’s Calverley New Town development, Calverley Grounds was laid out with formal beds and lawns for the inhabitants of the grand houses.

The grounds passed into the public domain in the 1920s, and are Grade II and II* listed as a conservation area.

Dunorlan Park, named for Henry Reed’s 19th century mansion ‘Dunorlan’, was laid out by leading landscape designer Robert Marnock. Some of his original planting can still be seen around the cascade and water garden by the boating lake.

Grosvenor & Hilbert Park was Tunbridge Wells’ first municipal park, opened in 1889.

Designed by Robert Marnock, it has a range of formal and natural areas.

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Kent Invicta Award for Paddock Wood advice Mela festival organiser centre keeps it local

By Victoria Roberts KENT County Council (KCC) has awarded the community figure and arts events promotor who arranges the Tunbridge Wells cultural festival, The Mela. Gurvinder Sandher was given the Kent Invicta award for his work promoting positive community relations.

KCC cabinet member for community and regulatory services Mike Hill said: “Gurvinder has made an amazing contribution for many years to community relations and racial harmony in Kent. The breadth of his activities is quite extraordinary.”

As Kent Equality Cohesion Council (KECC) chief executive, Mr Sandher is a promoter of various arts events including the Tunbridge Wells’ Mela Festival.

Outside of this, he is currently the Independent Vice-Chairman of the Kent Police and Crime

Credit PWCAC

REWARD Gurvinder Sandher with KCC Chairman Lesley Game [left] and Mike Hill

Panel, and works on issues of County Lines and domestic violence, as well as forced marriages, honour-based violence and mental health stigma.

Cohesion He also sits on a number of strategic boards focusing on equality and diversity, faith, mental health, migration, community cohesion and young people and policing issues.

Previously, Mr Sandher was county chair of the Kent Police Independent Advisory Group for eight years.

Mike Hill added: “He is an enormous force for good in the county and a great friend to this Council.”

Mr Sandher received his award from KCC Chairman Lesley Game at the full County Council meeting on March 10.

The Green Canopy plan will see 2,000 trees planted in the area Credit Spa Valley Railway

OVER two thousand more trees will be added to the local area thanks to Queen’s Green Canopy initiatives and ‘matching’ by local authorities over the growing season, it can be revealed.

As reported in the Times, the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative was launched to mark the royal celebration in June 2022, and to create a legacy in The Queen’s honour to benefit future generations.

The scheme – ‘Plant a tree for the Jubilee’ – aims to create a national canopy of trees to help reduce the L-R: Park Rangers Hannah Gilham, TMBC Climate Change impact of climate change, filter air, Officer Henry Saunders and Head Ranger Ben Jarvis get ready increase wildlife habitat and improve to start planting some of the donated trees at Leybourne the environment for everyone.

Lakes Country Park.

At the same time, the Woodland Trust is running a Big Climate Fightback, and is also selected to benefit wildlife and include hawthorn, offering free trees for schools and communities. rowan, blackthorn, silver birch, hazel and common It donated over 1,000 young trees, or ‘whips’, oak. As they mature, they will absorb around 1.25 after Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. applied to the scheme.

Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth has also donated nine trees to the Borough, a mix of cherry, oak, popular, hawthorn and maple, Pledged now planted off Shakespeare Road in Tonbridge.

Meanwhile, on the border of Kent and East The trees were specially selected to benefit Sussex, the Spa Valley Railway organised a Green wildlife, and include hawthorn, rowan, blackthorn, Canopy tree planting between Groombridge and silver birch, hazel and common oak.

Eridge stations on Saturday [March 19], organised Volunteers and teams from the local authority by railway patron the The Marquess of planted the whips in public and residential areas earlier this month, and TMBC has pledged to match Abergavenny.

Lord Abergavenny has been an enthusiastic the donation with a further thousand trees promoter of the Green Canopy scheme, having scheduled for planting later in the year. planted several trees at his estate at Eridge Park.

The Woodland Trust trees have been specially

PADDOCK Wood Community Advice Centre (PWCAC) is to celebrate ten years of local and in-person operation, serving residents from a location in the centre of the town.

Having set up after the Tunbridge Wells Citizens Advice Bureau closed their Paddock Wood branch, the PWCAC operation was completely volunteer-run until 2017, when it gained a part-time paid manager.

Open “Our services are used by many residents who live in the east of the borough of Tunbridge Wells and find the travel into Tunbridge Wells both expensive and difficult to undertake,” said one of the founders, Fiona Pengelly.

“During the pandemic we have continued to operate a full service unless legally required to close our doors. We have remained open for

drop ins and appointments in contrast to other organisations.”

PWAC has advised residents on issues from Blue Badges forms to disability benefits, homeless applications, divorce papers, witness statements for child court orders and more.

“We remain committed to offering a face-toface service as we believe that many of our vulnerable clients cannot cope with the complexities of trying to complete online forms and many do not even attempt to do anything online,” she stressed.

“It takes something like 45 to 50 minutes if you’re going into Tunbridge Wells from Paddock Wood by bus, or if you’re going by train, you have to go to Tonbridge and change. It’s expensive for the clients we have.”

Advisors Meanwhile, now the advice centre is seeing more enquiries driven by the cost of living, while social exclusion factors have not gone away.

“I would say 20 per cent of our clients have no internet, can’t use it, or can’t afford to use it,” she told the Times.

PWAC will not stop work for a celebration on its tenth anniversary on April 1, but ‘will keep working’, she said.

PWAC is currently recruiting a new part-timepaid manager, and is always looking for volunteer advisors.

Rusthall stalwart runs her last raffle RUSTHALL resident and fundraiser Christine Ashdown is gearing up for her last raffle, after years of raising money for charitable causes.

Over the years, Christine has raised money through raffles, bingo, jumble sales and other events, for park play equipment, nurseries, primary schools, Pickering Cancer Care, Help for Heroes and more.

“They are all important to me,” she told the Times.

This time, the worthy cause is the Hospice in the Weald, and she will be raffling items including Fairy liquid, toilet rolls, soap powder, tea and coffee. Tickets are £1.

“We’ve got some tables in the hall as well,” she added, noting that these would include 12

kilograms’ worth of books, ‘fantastic clothes’ and other items.

“Wherever I worked, I was always fundraising there, too. I think: ‘When have you ever done enough?’”

Her future plans involve raising money for the NHS, she said, but it would be in a behind-thescenes role due to her health.

Operation “I had my second hip operation in October, and I can’t do much planning any more, and I don’t like letting people down.”

The event takes place on Saturday, March 26 at St Paul’s Church Centre, Rusthall, at 9:30am.

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Recruitment Open Day 31 March 2022, 10am – 5pm

You can talk to Theresa Steed, our home manager, and her friendly team about the opportunities and benefits on offer and see what it’s really like to work at Tunbridge Wells Care Centre! You can even have your first interview then and there, or book one for another day.

Care is incredibly rewarding with a high level of job satisfaction. Every day there’s an opportunity to make a difference to someone’s life while building a unique relationship with them. The best carers have innate qualities such as good communication skills, patience and empathy – and a passionate desire to help others.

Drop in or call us 0800 144 4101

Are you a carer or nurse in search of a fresh challenge?

Or perhaps you’re someone who’s considering a career in care? Either way, we would like to meet you at our dropin style recruitment day.

142 Upper Grosvenor Road, Kent TN1 2ED

www.tunbridgewells-carecentre.co.uk

If you join our home you will receive thorough on-the-job training and support with gaining further qualifications, as well as a range of industry-leading benefits – competitive pay, family-friendly policies and much more!

On the day, please bring your CV, some ID (such as a passport) and right-to-work documentation, if applicable, and also be prepared to complete a lateral flow test on arrival.

We can’t wait to meet you on 31 March to show you all that we can offer! For more information, call us on 0800 144 4101 or email recruitment@canfordhealthcare.co.uk.

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Toddler mauled to death by family dog A 17-MONTH-OLD girl who died in ‘unimaginably terrible circumstances’ after she was attacked by the family dog has been named by police.

Bella-Rae Birch died in hospital from her injuries after emergency services were called to her home in the Blackbrook area of St Helens at 3.50pm on Monday, Merseyside Police said.

Neighbours described trying to save the ‘beautiful’ toddler after hearing her parents’ screams.

The dog, believed to be a Staffordshire bull terrier or pitbull, has since been put down.

Superintendent Steve Brizell said: “Bella-Rae has lost her life in the most unimaginably terrible circumstances and our thoughts are first and foremost with the family and the wider community at this devastating time.

“Our specialist family liaison officers are providing the family of Bella-Rae with support and officers will remain in the area in the

coming days to provide further reassurance and support for the wider community.

“At this stage we understand that the family dog they had bought just a week earlier has attacked Bella-Rae inside the family home.

Grieving “Bella-Rae was taken by ambulance to hospital by paramedics but despite the best efforts of police officers at scene, paramedics and doctors sadly Bella-Rae died as a result of her injuries yesterday afternoon.

“It has left a family and a community grieving and in complete shock.”

The force said the dog had been humanely destroyed and work was ongoing to determine its exact breed and its previous owners.

One neighbour, who gave her name as Jordan, said she ran to help Bella-Rae. Neighbour Joanne Matthews, 53, said: “She

was such a beautiful little girl, toddling about.

“I’d see the family in passing, just to say hello, and they were always very pleasant.”

Ms Matthews said she had seen the ambulance outside the house on Bidston Avenue at about 3.50pm on Monday and then about 10 police cars, including a van, arrive.

She said: “I saw them bring the dog out. I couldn’t tell what breed it was but from the back it looked like a Staffordshire bull terrier or pitbull.”

On Tuesday morning police officers were stationed outside the house, which was cordoned off with police tape, and a forensics officer was seen going inside the property.

Watchdog finds Met Police approach to tackling force corruption is ‘flawed’

DANIEL MORGAN THE Metropolitan Police’s approach to tackling corruption within their ranks is ‘not fit for purpose’, a watchdog has found.

The force has not learned lessons from the notorious unsolved 1987 murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan, overall its procedures

Postmasters to be compensated THE Government is to compensate hundreds of subpostmasters who helped expose the Horizon IT scandal but lost out after seeing their compensation payments swallowed up in legal fees.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said ministers will be setting out details of the scheme in the coming months to ensure the subpostmasters receive the same level of recompense as others wrongly accused of financial crimes due to the faulty software.

The group of 555 subpostmasters brought the case which resulted in a landmark High Court ruling in 2019, paving the way for millions of pounds in future payouts and which led to the Court of Appeal quashing a series of wrongful criminal convictions.

Wrongful But, because of a ‘no win, no fee’ agreement with their legal funders, Therium, they received only a fraction of the £43 million they were awarded – about £20,000 each.

The Treasury said the new scheme would ensure the 555 would see the the same level of compensation as those who claimed through the HSS. In a statement, Mr Sunak said: ““Without the efforts of these postmasters, this terrible injustice may have never been uncovered so it is only right that they are compensated fully and fairly.”

for rooting out corrupt staff are “fundamentally flawed” and it has a “degree of indifference” to the risks, according to damning findings published on Tuesday.

The Home Secretary called in Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) after an independent inquiry into how the force handled Mr Morgan’s case found it was institutionally corrupt, saying it had concealed or denied failings to protect its reputation.

Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said that the Met had ‘sometimes behaved in ways that make it appear arrogant, secretive and lethargic’ and that the watchdog’s 20 recommendations for change must be “among the commissioner’s highest priorities” in order to restore public trust

in the force.

He said: “It is unacceptable that 35 years after Daniel Morgan’s murder, the Metropolitan Police has not done enough to ensure its failings from that investigation cannot be repeated.

“In fact, we found no evidence that someone, somewhere, had adopted the view that this must never happen again. This will be understandably distressing for Mr Morgan’s family and friends, to whom we send our condolences.

Offences “We found substantial weaknesses in the Met’s approach to tackling police corruption. From failing to properly supervise police officers who have previously committed offences, to inadequate vetting procedures, and much more besides, it is clear that the current arrangements are not fit for purpose.

“The Met’s apparent tolerance of these shortcomings suggests a degree of indifference to

TRAGEDY Bella-Rae and [below] a police officer at the scene wipes away a tear

the risk of corruption.”

According to the findings, in the last two years, the Met recruited and more than 100 people who have committed offences.

It was also found that property and exhibits procedures were ‘dire’ as hundreds of items were not accounted for, including cash and drugs.

More than 2,000 warrant cards issued to personnel who had since left the force were unaccounted for, according to the findings.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was ‘very disappointed that serious issues still persist’, adding: “Standards must be immediately improved. I expect the Mayor of London and the new Commissioner to reverse these deficiencies as a matter of urgency.”

Last week Mr Morgan’s family – who are suing the Met – claimed a “culture of corruption” continues to “flourish at the highest ranks” of the Met. Police pursued thousands of lines of inquiry and conducted six extensive investigations into Mr Morgan’s death, while numerous independent assessments and five forensic reviews have already been carried out.

A £50,000 cash reward for information leading to a successful prosecution – one of the largest rewards ever made available by a UK police force – is still being offered.

gunner died Raab tells of Putin RAF in a waste lorry war crime evidence VLADIMIR Putin’s regime is “responsible for an illegal invasion, there is strong evidence of war crimes and we believe that those responsible must be held to account”, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has said.

Questions Speaking about Russia’s actions in Ukraine during Commons justice questions, Mr Raab warned ‘there will not be a peaceful settlement to this’, adding: “I think we all can agree that trusting Vladimir Putin to keep his word is going to be a very tall order for anyone in the international community, let alone President Zelensky, and there cannot just be a brushing under the carpet of atrocities committed now or in the future.”

His comments came as Conservative MP Ben Spencer (Runnymede and Weybridge) asked: “What steps is (Mr Raab) taking to ensure that the mechanisms are in place so that evidence of war crimes can be confidently collected by the ICC (International Criminal Court)?”

Mr Raab told MPs: “We’re doing two things in particular, first of all I’ve convened a crossWhitehall group, which we’ve done in the past to make sure everything from witness protection

services to gathering of evidence and information co-operation, we can provide whatever support may be needed.

“Secondly I’ve been to the Hague, I’ll be going back again this week and working with a coalition of countries who have also got unique expertise in that area to provide the support that the court needs.”

Mr Raab said “we’re making sure, first of all that things like preservation of evidence, a priority now on the ground, is conducted”.

He added: “Secondly that the message goes out, we and our partners in support of the ICC, are being very clear that if you commit these kind of crimes, sooner or later you end up in the dock of a court and behind bars.”

Conservative former Cabinet minister John Whittingdale (Maldon) asked if the shelling of civilians was in itself a war crime.”

Mr Raab replied: “He’s absolutely right, I’m always very careful to allow the ICC – which is independent, both the prosecutor and the chambers of the court – to make those determinations, but the points of principle he’s set out are absolutely right and we must have no impunity for those either in Moscow or commanders on the ground who commit those kind of atrocities.”

AN RAF gunner who went missing more than five years ago, died after getting into a bin which was then tipped into a waste lorry, an inquest has concluded.

Corrie McKeague vanished on a night out in 2016. Despite frantic searches for the serviceman in the following weeks he was never found.

Injuries The airman, of Dunfermline, Fife, was 23 when he disappeared in the early hours of September 24 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

He was last seen on CCTV at 3.25am entering a service area behind a Greggs shop. His body has never been recovered.

On Tuesday, an inquest jury recorded in a narrative conclusion that Mr McKeague died at approximately 4.20am in Bury St Edmunds as a result of ‘compression asphyxia in association with multiple injuries’, jurors recorded.

In their conclusion, they said Mr McKeague’s “death was contributed to by impaired judgment due to alcohol consumption’.

The inquest, in Ipswich, was earlier told that Mr McKeague, who was stationed at RAF Honington, had slept in a bin before.

He once downed a bottle of wine in 17 seconds, according to a friend, and was described by his former RAF line manager as a ‘nightmare on the drink’.

WE’RE GROWING! Crossways Community is a growing and dynamic Christian charity which provides housing and support in the Tunbridge Wells area for adults living with a wide range of mental health conditions. We also run a number of community-based projects including Reboot which offers mental health awareness training in schools, churches and businesses, The Kitchen Table, our café in Camden Road and Flourish, our new gardening project in Tunbridge Wells.

Crossways has a new Chief Executive in post with ambitious plans to increase our impact in the community. As a result, we are currently recruiting for a number of vacancies across our organisation.

Head of Finance & Operations (full-time) – in this key Business Management role, you will be working alongside the Chief Executive and have proven experience in financial oversight, management and implementation, strategic planning and relational leadership. You will be responsible for giving financial and operational clarity to the Board of Trustees and so will be expected to have knowledge and understanding of all day to day financial and operational issues. Salary £38,000 to £42,000 FTE depending on experience.

HR Manager (22.5 to 30 hours per week) – at Crossways, our staff are our greatest asset so you will be responsible for supporting the Managers with all employee related matters and be a first point of contact for our team members. You will have a clear understanding of employment law, practice and policy, and will have responsibility for all HR documentation, metrics and the running of our HR software system.

Salary £27,564 FTE

Support Workers at Moxham House and 71 London Road (full-time and part-time) you will be working alongside our residents who are living with mental health conditions, helping to deliver emotional and practical support. We provide a comprehensive training programme. The care homes are staffed 24/7 so there are a variety of shifts to cover including weekends and sleep-in nights.

Salary £19,764 to £21,966 FTE depending on experience, plus allowances for weekends, sleep-in and pager duties.

Flourish Gardening Project Manager (full-time) – this is an exciting, new, community-based, mental health focussed gardening venture for Crossways and so you will need to be especially flexible, dynamic and innovative to embed, lead and grow this project. You will have a love of gardening, be calm, confident and patient with good interpersonal skills and the ability to manage client-gardeners, volunteers and your own time effectively.

Salary £23,664 FTE

Part-Time Cleaner (15 hours per week) – working in our 71 London Road care home, you will be a calm and confident individual providing high standards of cleanliness for our residents and staff. Mornings or lunchtimes preferable. Salary £10.14 per hour We offer a competitive benefits package including pension and private health insurance

Head to the Join the team > Work For Us page of our website www.crosswayscommunity.org.uk for full job descriptions and to apply!

Please note, all applications must be made online, we do not accept paper applications.

Job Fair - Why not come and join us at our in-house job fair at 71 London Road, Southborough TN4 0NS from 11am to 3pm on Wednesday 30th March 2022 or for more details telephone 01892 540843

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

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EDUCATION Times

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Top marks for local grammar’s recent achievements Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys celebrates one of its pupils winning a national competition and also the opening of its new Sixth Form Earlier this month, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys opened the doors of its new Sixth Form Centre which has been funded by a combination of parent donations, grant funding and the school itself.

The impressive building, which is located on the site of the old Sixth Form library and a temporary teaching block, accommodates students over two floors with a dedicated IT facility, as well as plenty of space where students can study without distractions in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (TWGSB) is Kent’s largest boys’ selective educational establishment with over 1500 students and a co-educational Sixth Form.

“This is an inspiring environment in which to learn” A TWGSB spokesperson told the Times: “Having realised the absolute necessity for a space for Sixth Form independent learning, the school leadership launched the TODAY. TOMORROW. TOGETHER campaign, which was led by a fundraising board of parents.”

They went on to say that despite the impact of a national pandemic, the project raised £1.5m over three years to help create a state-of-the art

independent studying space.

“The school are enormously grateful to parents, students, staff and Governors who all pulled together to deliver this fantastic study centre.”

Headteacher Amanda Simpson added: “This inspiring environment provides such amazing spaces to undertake independent learning and wider study, I can see that it will transform the lives of our students now and in the future. It can only improve their outcomes in the final phase of their secondary education journey.”

Proud And in other good news for Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys the school also told the Times last week that one of its students Rafi Valle Martin, was one of the eight overall winners of the Royal Mail Heroes Stamp Design competition.

That’s no mean feat given that the contest had over 606,000 entries nationwide.

In December last year we revealed how Rafi had made it as a regional heat winner in competition launched by the Royal Mail which asked schoolchildren to design a set of stamps honouring the achievements of British people during the coronavirus pandemic.

“His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales announced the eight overall winners last week and we are absolutely thrilled to confirm that Year 10

STAMP OF APPROVAL: The Times first featured Rafi’s ultimate winning design back in December last year when he was selected as a regional heat winner for the Royal Mail competition

student, Rafi Valle Martin, is one of the incredibly talented artists who will see his thoughtful design approved by The Queen and issued as a stamp,” the TWGSB spokesperson told us.

Rafi attended a ceremony at Clarence House to meet HRH Prince Charles last Thursday and said: ‘When I created the artwork I never dreamt that I would be one of only eight winners out of 606,000 entries. It was a surreal experience to meet our future King and I can’t wait to see my stamp design on letters.”

Prince Charles took the time to speak to each of the eight winners and was reported to quip: “Thank God people still send letters.”

Simon Thompson, Royal Mail chief executive, was also present at the event commented: “As we approach the second anniversary of the first lockdown, it’s fitting that the nation’s children have taken the lead in celebrating the heroes of the pandemic.

“They have captured the resilience and determination of the British people in eight drawings.”

TWGSB student Rafi also wins a £1,000 prize for his school. Its Head of Art, Ms Kublik, said: “As soon as we saw Rafi’s piece we had a feeling it would go far! We were so impressed with not only the beautiful quality of his skilled composition, but also the thoughtfulness behind his design, and his recognition of NHS cleaners and the work that they do to keep a hospital running. We are exceedingly proud of him!”

The stamps are now available on general sale from today, March 23 at post offices and shops.

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Learn at a time and a place to suit you Join us on our online, real time courses, or at one of the KAE centres across Kent.

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Greg Clark Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

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. He is currently Chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committe.

We have to play our part to help people fleeing from Putin When I wrote my last column for this newspaper five weeks ago, I emailed it in from Budapest where I had just visited the Hungarian Museum of National History.

I was drawn to the compelling room in the museum devoted to the Hungarian Uprising, staring appalled at photos and film of 6,000 Soviet tanks rolling into the country in 1956 and crushing the stirrings of liberalism and democracy that had begun, with the reformist Prime Minister hunted down to be executed.

It is profoundly shocking that 10 days later such scenes should be repeated in Europe, in our time.

Tanks rolling westwards from Russia and the heroic President Zelensky being targeted by Russian death squads.

Bombs The 24th February 2022 will be a date that will enter history, like the Hungarian Uprising of November 1956, the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the crushing of the Prague Spring in August 1968. This month will be remembered forever as a turning point in the way we see the world.

The brutality of Putin in raining down bombs and missiles on the people of Ukraine is shocking in its mercilessness and its cynicism.

Cynical because Putin – having first denied any

Sorry, NO Dogs Allowed.

intention of invading, next claimed to be ‘liberating’ the people of Ukraine from their rulers.

The extraordinary courage and heroism of Ukrainians has shown what a lie that was. They are fighting like lions for their democracy and freedom and against being enslaved by a hostile power.

This may be a turning point in a different way to what Putin hoped and intended. After years in which global co-operation has been fragmenting, the unity of response of the free world has been striking.

I was profoundly moved to be in the House of Commons when President Zelensky, the first overseas leader ever to address the Chamber, drew on the words of Churchill in that same Chamber during the Second World War. The President praised the essential role that Britain has played in galvanising other countries to act in unison to isolate and punish Russia, and to supply aid – both military and humanitarian – in which we are the most generous donor of any country in the world.

We have to play our part, too, in responding to the needs of women and children fleeing danger as refugees. Many displaced people, understandably, want to remain close to their home country ready to return and so we must be especially generous in supporting countries like Poland that border Ukraine and who, for obvious reasons, will play

host to most refugees.

Having predicted Putin’s invasion, I felt that we should have acted on that intelligence in advance and prepared a straightforward way to admit refugees into the UK ready to be deployed as soon as it was needed.

Working with constituents to SOLIDARITY help evacuate family members The Assembly Hall is and friends from Ukraine I know lit up in yellow and blue how tense and frustrating it was to navigate the bureaucracy in been inspiring to see so many people rushing the first weeks following Russia’s assault. I wrote forward to help. During the last few weeks to the Prime Minister to urge him to simplify the community groups, schools and individuals too process and I am glad that has been done and that numerous to list have collected supplies and Ukrainian people are already arriving here in raised funds to help the people of the Ukraine – Tunbridge Wells.

I commend the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council from Florence and Eleanor, whose cake sale at Tunbridge Wells FC last Saturday raised over who, at my request, established a register of local £1,000, to The Forum’s Night for Ukraine this people able to offer accommodation. coming Friday. More links to local and other This was followed by the national Homes for charities helping people in Ukraine can be found Ukraine scheme which matches people with at https://www.tw-ukraine-help.org/ accommodation with people who need refuge.

During the weeks ahead Putin will no doubt There is no cap on the number of people who can direct more cruelty to the brave people of Ukraine. be helped. Anyone who is in a position to host We can play our part to support Ukrainians and refugees can offer to do so at https:// show that when the free world is united it can act homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/. as one against those who would destroy it.

Tunbridge Wells people are generous and it has

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Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Letters

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

NEWS

15

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

More youth facilities for High Brooms An electric go kart track sounds like a good idea, given our severe lack of youth facilities in the town, but I am wondering why it is no longer to be sited on North Farm, as originally planned.

The Sherwood and Southborough and High Brooms area has very little on the way of youth facilities currently.

As a local resident and councillor, I’ve been trying for some time to get the dilapidated Oak Road BMX track upgraded to a modern pump track, similar to that rejected in Hawkenbury.

Surely, the old gas works site in High Brooms would be more suitable with adjacent parking and cycling and electric vehicle charging facilities all on one site, and a railway station nearby, hopefully soon.

Cllr Alan Bullion Southborough Town Council, Labour

If yon’t vote, you don’t count In response to Labour Cllr. Hugo Pound (Times, March 9). You’re wrong, Cllr.

Council’s budget was overwhelmingly backed, and this is why. The act of abstaining is defined as ‘a formal refusal to vote on something,’ An abstention is not counted as a vote regardless of the voting threshold.

You are therefore wrong to say that ‘the budget was overwhelmingly not approved by 25 of us’, because 20 abstentions are not counted.

There were 20 votes in favour of the budget and five votes against, that is 80 per cent for 20 per cent against. I think it is fair to say that the vote was overwhelming!

Dogan Delman Tunbridge Wells Cllr voted for tax hike Cllr Pound (Times, March 9) conveniently leaves out in his letter that he voted in favour of the Council Tax rises, which he said ‘was failing the poorer people of the Borough’ at Full Council in October.

Perhaps he has forgotten this?

The same as he seemingly has forgotten the ward he represents.

Aaron Brand Tunbridge Wells Council Tax increase is not small Cllr Dawlings derides the increase in the amount of Council Tax that TWBC receives as deminimus (sic).

I think he means de minimis, but most people would be happy to receive 2 per cent here and 2 per cent there.

What most people are faced with are increases

Housing for families is urgently needed Thank you for publishing my letter a few weeks ago regarding the housing situation in Broadwater.

Town and Country have now held a second round of consultations on the regeneration of the housing stock in Showfields and are proposing a mix of social rent, Shared ownership, and Market.

Another nearby development on the Turners Factory site is currently going through the planning process, with the period for consultation closing last Friday, March 11.

I am surprised that I am one of only two residents of Broadwater who have submitted comments on the application and saddened that the proposal contains no affordable homes.

As with many of the recent developments in Tunbridge Wells, the proposed housing includes 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. These are often called ‘affordable’ whereas they are actually ‘less expensive’ than the 3 and 4 bedroom houses.

Another nearby site is proposing retirement flats and although these will not be affordable, development of this local ‘grot spot’ has been supported by many residents. I assume since both these proposals are on Brownfield sites the Green have decided not to object.

I am not an estate agent, but I believe what Tunbridge Wells town centre needs, and especially the Broadwater Ward, is more family homes and more shared ownership opportunities to help young people get onto the property ladder.

This certainly seems to have worked in the revitalisation of many London Boroughs.

3 bedroom dwellings can also provide live-work opportunities until the third bedroom becomes necessary as children enter their teens.

I am hoping that my comments to the planning authority will be taken into consideration and the developers will appreciate my constructive suggestions, which come from my local knowledge and understanding of the needs of the Broadwater Ward.

Penny Kift Broadwater

PEPPY SAYS CARTOON BY PEPPY: (Follow her on Twitter @Peppyscott)

No regrets over opera stance Screens choke with flames and smoke in Ukraine but for a Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrat councillor it’s time for petty party politics and to ‘regret the cancellation’ of artists formerly known as The Russian State Opera, by Tunbridge Wells’ Assembly Hall Theatre.

Cllr Mark Ellis’ naive ‘regret’ came in an online debate among the borough’s 48 councillors. He believed performers would want to “speak out against Putin’s war.” They didn’t.

When this Russian-run company based at the Russian State Ballet and Opera Theatre in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia since 1978, published a 500-word self-justification through its British front, Amande Concerts, it said this: “It goes without saying we strongly condemn the violence in Ukraine!”

That’s it! Eleven mealy-mouthed words in a page and a quarter! The Kremlin itself could have put it out-in fact routinely does, condemning Ukrainians’ violence.

Cllr Ellis was silent about missing words like ‘war’; ‘invasion’; ‘atrocity’; not seemingly noticing that, far from condemning him, Putin’s name appeared absolutely nowhere in Amande Concerts’ statement.

Our country is in an economic war with Russia.

Our Prime Minister has led the world alliance and given real war-fighting help with thousands of anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. Ukrainians asked to list their good friends put Britain top.

But Cllr Ellis and other local Lib Dems think the key battle is pettifogging party bickering spreading false smears of Putin-linked Conservative donations. Meanwhile I am sure few in the borough share his ‘regret’ this Russian business won’t be sending Tunbridge Wells ticket money back to Putin’s war economy.

Cllr Seán Holden (TWBC, KCC) Benenden and Cranbrook

in costs, not income: 5 per cent here, 12 per cent there, 300 per cent somewhere else.

As senator Dirkson once said: A billion here, a billion there and pretty soon you’re talking real money.

Hugh Masters Pembury

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

OH DEAR, Calverley has upset the comrades.

Last week he pointed out illegal migrants crossing the Channel, 3,000 so far this year, were ‘rescued’ by border force, escorted to places of safety and not required to show any ID. Refugees fleeing Ukraine face far more red tape and even have to get a visa before being allowed entry. This means ‘new lows’ for Calverley spouting ‘racist garbage’. That’s according to the ‘Rusthall Socialist’ on Facebook. How can asking that Channel migrants and Ukrainian refugees be treated the same be considered remotely ‘racist’? It most surely is not… … HOWEVER, the accuser failed to reveal his real name on social media. In fact he is the Chair of Tunbridge Wells Labour Party Bjorn Simpole whose time might be better spent attacking Comrade Putin. Mr Simpole is the same person who once got into serious trouble after an inappropriate remark, that this column will not repeat, about disabled people.

GOOD NEWS. MPs will never again be accused of fiddling their Parliamentary ‘expenses’, as indeed many were in the 2009 scandal that saw some of them jailed. Think payments for second homes and duck houses on ponds. But how can Calverley be making such a claim? Because MPs will no longer be required to submit ‘expenses; they are being re-branded as ‘business costs’. Less details will also be published. Bit like the rail operators who solved the headache of late trains by making journey times longer on the timetables. Hey ho!

QUOTE of the week has to come from Richard Ratcliffe, husband of Nazanin who finally came home after six years of hell in an Iranian jail. She was falsely accused of spying. On hearing his wife was on her way accountant Richard said: “I’d better tidy up the house then”. Great that Nazanin has been freed after Boris finally paid a £400million debt to Iran. But why did he not pay it years ago?

SONG WRITING has become Calverley’s latest passion. It’s prompted by the revelation Ed Sheeran and co-writers earn £5million a year in fees for use of just one of their songs – Shape of You. Imagine that? One song then you can sit back and watch the bank balance balloon. Happy days!

FINAL THOUGHT: Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlines his plans today (Wednesday) for helping people through the cost-of-living crisis. Not that he has worries. He’s worth £200million, his wife is ‘richer than the Queen’ and his father-in-law is a billionaire.

Chin, chin dear reader…

We do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words

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Business feature special

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

17

Ten categories to be celebrated

Times Business Awards are in collaboration with:

The Times Business Awards on March 24 at the Salomons Estate in Tunbridge Wells will celebrate success in the following categories:

Start-Up Business of the Year Award – This award recognises new start-ups under two years old at the closing date for entries of February 14.

Creative Business of the Year – To recognise those businesses based on innovation and creative thinking.

The Times Business Awards 2022 After a two-year hiatus, the Times Business Awards return on Thursday, March 24. The glittering gala evening, hosted

by Eamonn Holmes, will reveal which of the 30 shortlisted entries wins one of the ten categories celebrating the best businesses in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area...

AROUND 200 people from the business community are coming together on Thursday as the Times Business Awards returns.

After an enforced absence due to the pandemic, the networking event of the year is back on March 24, when around 30 shortlisted entries will be told whether they have won one of the prestigious categories.

More than a hundred businesses from Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area have put themselves forward this year, making it one of the most popular business awards over the last seven years since the event has been running.

The judges have now made their final decisions

and the golden envelopes are sealed, and around 30 shortlisted finalists are on tenterhooks as they wait to find out if they are a lucky winner of one of the ten categories.

‘There are new categories which will reflect the impact of the last couple of years’ The winners will be announced at the Gatsby-themed black tie dinner at Salomons Estate Science Theatre tomorrow night, when none-other than the ‘King of Breakfast’ himself,

Eamonn Holmes will be handing out the awards.

The popular daytime and breakfast host, who has recently become the face of GB News in the morning, follows in the footsteps of former politicians Michael Portillio and Edwina Curry, Radio 2 legend Ken Bruce and Strictly Star Anton du Beke, who have all hosted the Times Business Awards.

This year, there are new categories being celebrated at the Business Awards to reflect the trials and tribulations of the last couple of years.

We meet some of the local businesses that put themselves forward this year and are waiting to find out if they are a winner at the 2022 Times Business Awards...

Entrepreneur of the Year – The award for the most dynamic individuals who and are able to demonstrate significant success in growing their company.

Young Business Person of the Year – Entrants for this award must be aged 30 or under by the closing date on February 14, 2022 and need to show they have a clear vision/ strategy for their business.

Resilient Business – The winner of this category will have risen to the recent challenges of the pandemic and diversified or come up with a new business strategy to adopt to the ‘new normal’.

Best in Food and Drink – For those local business that provide truly remarkable food and/or drink in the area.

Best Family Business of the Year – This category recognises those businesses that not only have the passion and commitment that comes with a company run by a family concern.

Best Business 25+ employees – For larger firms that have consistent growth and strong financial performance alongside an engaged workforce and a business plan.

Best Business 1-25 employees – Here we recognise owner-managers and SMEs employing up to 25 people that have maintained consistent growth and strong financial performance.

Outstanding Business of the Year – The ultimate award of all the categories will go to the business that can show outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, as well as sound management practices.

business

awards

2022

Business feature special

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Meet the finalists…

Ethical marketing agency has shown entrepreneurial spirit Colley Raine & Associates Category: Entrepreneur of the Year

C

olley Raine & Associates is an agile, ethical marketing agency based in Tunbridge Wells. When you work with Colley Raine you’re tapping into a large network of highly skilled professionals in social media, events, PR, brand and storytelling, design, CRM and fundraising.

“Think of us as a full-service marketing agency, without the hefty price tag. At the heart of our business lies a strong ethos – a belief that we’re in this together. It’s our take on the African philosophy of Ubuntu – to achieve ourselves we should give back to those around us.

What this means for our clients is unparalleled honesty, fairness and transparency, in every interaction. We never ‘mark-up’ our services, you pay what we pay – for print, web development, advertising and anything else we source for you. Also, we don’t work on a retainer; we flex with you and you only pay for the work we deliver.

We work with B2C and B2B businesses and many charities. Our clients are in retail, hospitality, leisure, homes, creative arts, law and finance sectors and our charities support food poverty, cancer, terminally ill children, refugees, the environment, young people’s mental health and counselling.

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This dynamic resilient fitness gym is a real tonic IPT Fitness

Sponsored by

Category – Resilient Business Award

Sponsored by

We live and breathe our values and try to do the best for our community and our world. Part of this commitment is our promise to deliver at least 30% of our work at a discount to charities.

Our Associates also take pride in giving back pro-bono, many of us are trustees, volunteers, mentors and coaches in our spare time. colleyraine.co.uk or follow us @Colley Raine

I

PT Fitness is a Private Indoor and Outdoor Personal Training Gym in Eridge Park, less than ten minutes drive from Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough. We are a true family business delivering a very personal and friendly service to our clients, many of which have been with us for years.

IPT Fitness Tunbridge Wells personal trainers consist of former professional athletes and are amongst the most highly qualified trainers in the UK. We offer a scientific and concise approach to diet and exercise. Our team has worked and studied all over the world to develop a unique brand of personal training and nutrition.

In fact, we are so confident in our methodologies that following your first assessment we can accurately predict week by week exactly how much body fat you will lose.

IPT Fitness services and facilities include: • Targeted training and nutrition for weight management and hypertrophy • Resistance training for the over fifties • Rugby Specific Strength and Conditioning • Fit3D Body Scans and Nutritional advice • Personal Training, Bootcamps, and Fitness Boxing • Plentiful free car parking • Covid 19 health and safety procedures iptfitness.co.uk

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Business feature special

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Company creating a revolution Tax adviser is ‘thrilled’ to have made the 2022 shortlist in HR hopes to be best in show Jack Sales, TN Accountancy

Sponsored by

Category – Young Person of the Year

Sponsored by

HR Revolution Category: Best Business 1-25 Employees

I

’m absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted as a finalist at this year’s Times Business Awards!

I’m a Chartered Tax Adviser and I set up TN Accountancy in September 2018 having left my last employed role in April that year. Since then the business has gone from strength to strength, from starting by myself with no clients and working on my parents’ kitchen table to employing a brilliant Chartered Certified Accountant, acting for over 300 clients and working in lovely town-centre offices.

Along the way, we were lucky enough to be shortlisted as finalists in the ‘Best New Tax Practice’ category in both the 2019 and 2020 Tolley’s Taxation Awards, a UK-wide awards.

H

R Revolution is a business with a passion for people. We provide quality-driven, outsourced HR solutions that specifically shape and mould to meet the demands of your business.

Capacity Since then we took on the aforementioned Chartered Certified Accountant, a former colleague of mine, at the start of 2021.

We have also greatly increased our capacity to act for business and corporate clients, alongside our existing tax services. The next step for us is to take on another experienced tax adviser, which we are in the process of doing, to really build the level of services we can provide.

Growing We strive to provide a level of service akin to a larger firm, but with the personal touch of a smaller practice that goes the extra mile.

My girlfriend and I are really looking forward to celebrating with fellow local businesses at the awards evening! tnaccountancy.co.uk

We strive to alleviate the stress that can come with effective HR management, immersing ourselves as part of your team allowing you to focus on what you do best, running and growing your business.

Our services include everything from HR documentation to complete outsourced HR solutions for start-ups, SMEs, and growth

Visit Corker Home to 15 inspirational show gardens designed to make your garden a Corker! #MakeYourGardenACorker

businesses. We work with our clients to support the complete employee lifecycle from attraction, hiring, onboarding, performance management, development and exits.

From one-off projects to regular retained services, we provide your turn-key people services all under one roof. We take the pressure off and build solid, workable HR strategies for business owners and managers to help their businesses grow.

HR can be a scary prospect for businesses both big and small; there is a lot to take in. We take an innovative people-focused approach to HR and create positive people environments to make a real difference to your business and support your people. hello@hrrevolution.co.uk

You can find us just off the A228 at: Westdene, Whetsted Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6SD Or online at corker.co.uk & 01892 833 325

Business feature special

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

21

Construction expert wants Civil engineering firm aims Clarity on the awards night to build on its past successes Clarity Homes

GSE Building and Civil Engineering Ltd

Sponsored by

Category: Entrepreneur of the Year

A

ndrew Mann is a construction expert with great business development acumen – and even greater ambition! His exceptional work ethic, friendly demeanour and can-do attitude have been the driving force in his company’s impressive growth.

Beginning as a carpenter 20 years ago, Andrew quickly moved into wider construction services, initially offering domestic renovations.

Clarity Homes and Commercial has now expanded to be a highly respected South East building contractor, specialising in delivering large-scale projects for property professionals.

Sponsored by

Category: Best Business 25+ employees being both a fitness fanatic and a voracious reader of business development books.

Never one to tread water, Andrew has developed multiple revenue streams due to his bold business decisions.

His vision is to continue to grow his enterprises, leading a large, profitable business that is held up as an example of best practise and has world-wide brand recognition.

With the hard work Andrew has put in and the investments he has made, that dream certainly looks set to become a reality. clarityhc.co.uk

G

Portfolio

SE Building and Civil Engineering Ltd supports principal contractors on Civil Engineering and groundworks and in recent years we have worked on many significant projects across Kent, Sussex and Surrey, and across the River Thames into Essex.

Andrew’s attention to detail and desire to ‘bring clarity to construction’ has resulted in a stellar reputation and project portfolio.

He understands the need to invest in technology, operations and people to ensure consistently high standards and commercial success.

He also invests in his personal development,

Skills Involvement with our clients at an early stage in the project makes best use of the skills belonging to GSE Building and Civil Engineering Ltd ensuring value engineering, opportunities, sequencing and programme are discussed prior to the contract starting, giving our clients best value and quality service.

Supporting local has never been so rewarding

You can enjoy peace of mind when appointing GSE that the work will be delivered on programme, on budget and to a quality standard that our clients have grown to expect from us.

Our teams are on sites across many sectors, including education, health and social care, commercial and office development, as well as prisons and other public sector projects including airports.

Thanks to our experienced management team and the skills of our 150 employees, GSE Group is the perfect partner for businesses needing civil engineering and construction works undertaken. This is backed up by plant and machinery to help make it all happen, which also extends to external hire clients. gse-group.com

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Our seasonal sharing platters are made with delicious and local produce.

Our Balfour Dining Club menu also includes seasonal favourites made from the very best ingredients.

Open daily 10am - 6pm | April - October balfourwinery.com | 01622 832794 Balfour Winery, Five Oak Lane, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0HT

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Business feature special

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Clothing retailer that’s not Paddock Wood outdoor supplier expecting a Corker of a night being Meek with its entry are Corker Outdoor Meek Boutique

Sponsored by

Category: Best Family Business of the Year

Sponsored by

Categories: Entrepreneur of the Year

T

he Meek Boutique is an online boutique, based in Tunbridge Wells and selling women’s clothing worldwide.

Our typical customer is a woman aged 40-70 who is looking for well-priced, quality, stylish clothing that works well for their shape and lifestyle.

The Meek Boutique (TMB) was founded by Lynne Meek, an experienced personal stylist well known locally for her honest and practical styling advice.

She launched TMB in 2018 as she was finding it hard to source the clothing she knew her clients were looking for.

Our boutique has grown to a much larger family business, and now numbers six staff. We sell a wide range of clothing that is stylish, functional, and above all comfortable.

TMB is known as a business who concentrates on quality of product and offers a very high level of customer service.

Lynne spends a great deal of time every day answering queries and giving bespoke solutions to customers’ body shape and styling issues. We believe this gives us a great USP. There are many online boutiques, but not many owned by a personal stylist offering free styling advice.

The Meek Boutique has become a ‘go to’ clothing shop for tens of thousands of women

C who need quick, easy solutions for their wardrobes. The clothes we sell are always tailored to the current season, and we are able to flexibly move with the weather and other economic situations.

We are delighted to be shortlisted as a Finalist for the Times of Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2022. themeekboutique.co.uk

Sponsored by

Best Family Business

orker Outdoor is an independent, family-run business based in Paddock Wood. They’ve grown over two decades into a leading supplier of stone, horticultural, and landscaping products across Kent and East Sussex.

One thing that makes Corker stand out against the competition is how it works with local businesses. On site, you’ll find no fewer than fifteen stunning show gardens – each one created by a professional landscaper or garden designer from the area.

Each delivers three-way benefit. Most notably, it provides a tranquil, inspiring green space for customers and visitors to explore at their leisure.

Their ability to showcase both Corker’s unique,

stunning product range and the designer’s skill seems almost secondary but generates huge interest for both parties.

Once inspired, you can rely on expertise and dedicated customer service too. No matter how ambitious your project, two decades of experience means they have the insight to make it happen – and contacts for countless skilled, trusted tradespeople they’ve worked with before to get the job done.

“We pride ourselves on delivering impeccable quality and incredible service. A simple outlook – but one that’s enabled us to forge a reputation built on personal and professional recommendation,” says Oliver Corkery, Managing Director, Corker Outdoor corker.co.uk

lumière

“Lighting up the world one little light at a time”

31 High Street - Royal Tunbridge Wells 01892 320198

Decorative lighting gallery in the heart of Tunbridge Wells offering 3000 lighting products for all areas including bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor spaces.

Lighting consultations available in our gallery, in your home, virtually and on-site.  

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Business feature special

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

23

Will success of reward Illuminating success for Street lighting store card end in an award? High lumière TN Card

Sponsored by

Category: Start-up Business of the Year

T

he TN card is the exciting new reward scheme for Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks, launched in 2020 to support our High Street independents and encourage our communities to shop locally.

Our 2000 members are thanked for supporting local with rewards at over 600 independents, from pubs and restaurants to retailers and theatres, as well as enjoying exclusive events that give behind-the-scenes access to our much-loved local brands and the people behind them.

The TN card is free of charge for High Street businesses and is therefore accessible to all. Our only ask is for business partners to provide an exclusive offer for members. They are marketed to our fast growing TN community via social media, newsletters, podcasts, press, printed gift guides and events, as well as featuring in our directory.

This March the TN card has gone digital, with the launch of our iOS and Android app.

Members now have digital memberships, and tools such as maps, reward filtering and push notifications, to make supporting local more rewarding than ever. We are also capturing data for partners through the use of QR scanning.

The TN card proudly supports West Kent Mind, donating 10% of membership sales to the charity, as well as fundraising via events and online campaigns.

Tunbridge Wells employers are invited to join

the TN card by purchasing memberships as a staff benefit - not only rewarding their teams, but in turn, supporting our High Streets, our small businesses and West Kent Mind. info@thetncard.com

Sponsored by

Category: Start-up of the Year

l

umière is a decorative lighting gallery showcasing high-end designs from globally recognised designers such as Ralph Lauren, Kelly Wearstler, Kate Spade and many more.

Melissa, owner of lumière has always had a flair for interiors and a passion for lighting.

Having renovated a number of properties with her husband, Melissa discovered a gap in the market for high-end lighting in their local town of Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas.

As a result, Melissa decided to concretise her dream of creating a decorative lighting consultancy hub, offering a bespoke service which caters for the lighting needs of both retail and trade customers. lumière has a catalogue of over 3000 lights with a broad price range. We offer free delivery to any UK address, and we also offer worldwide shipping.

We carry out home visits and building site visits for local lighting consultations, as well as virtual consultations via Zoom, email and FaceTime for

our clients abroad and those based a bit further afield.

We have a newly renovated design space for client meetings where we can discuss lighting needs for ceiling lights, floor lights, table lamps, sconces, outdoor lights or IP44 rated lights for bathrooms.

During a consultation we use a wide range of resources from paint samples, fabric swatches, and images of previous projects. We use these elements to finalise lighting options clients will love and which will be the perfect match for each given space and project. We would love to help you find your forever light. lumieredujour.co.uk

Business feature special

24

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Celebrate in style at Salomons Science Theatre

Meet the King of Breakfast as Eamonn Holmes presents the Times Business Awards 2022

T

he Times Business Awards 2022 take place at the Science Theatre at the Salomons Estate in Broomhill Road.

A hidden gem of the Tunbridge Wells cultural scene, the theatre was designed by David Lionel Salomons, a scientist, electrician and inventor, who was the nephew and heir of the financier Sir David Salomons who had purchased the original home in 1829.

Acoustics The nephew added the theatre in 1896 to his own design so that he could give lectures on his discoveries and inventions, and he ensured that the acoustics in the room were perfect.

Said at the time to be the largest private theatre in the country, it was a flat-floored room,

Personal training Bootcamps Indoor gym Outdoor facility

originally benched, with a gallery supported on columns on three sides.

Later a 2,400 pipe automatic Welte Philharmonic organ – the largest in the world – was added along with a flying space, fly galleries, a prompter’s box and traps.

In 1990, the Broomhill Opera Company was founded there under the leadership of Mark Dornford May and it gave performances in the theatre until 1996 when the company moved to Wilton’s Music Hall in London in search of a larger space.

During their residency at Salomons, dressing rooms were installed under the stage and an orchestra pit was formed, with retractable raked seating replacing the benches.

Jonathan King and Simon Callow have both directed works there.

As one of the most well-known faces on British television, Eamonn Holmes has been entertaining and informing the nation for more than 40 years.

The Belfast born journalist and broadcaster is perhaps most famous for being the long-standing host of day-time TV shows some of which he has presented with his wife Ruth Langford for 15 years.

Integral His career has seen him work on multiple network channels, but most recently he’s the latest host on the new GB News channel where he presents the breakfast programme. Eamonn has been integral in the recent rise in viewers and listeners the station has been receiving.

The keen Manchester United fan is a patron of the Dogs Trust, along with wife Ruth, and over the years he has also backed a number of other important charities, including the Alzheimer’s Society, children’s charity, Variety GB as well as the Northern Ireland Kidney Patients’ Association.

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Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Life&Times

ARTS • BOOKS • GOING OUT • FOOD • EVENTS • ANTIQUES • TRAVEL • PROPERTY • LIVE MUSIC and MORE...

Arts - Page 26

Events - Page 30

Antiques - Page 36

A feast for foodies

Experience a taste of Kingcott Dairy P32

Arts

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

“Most of us wrongly think that trauma is something that only happens to others”

arts

26

Local author Sarah Woodhouse has just published her global best-selling book You’re Not Broken: Break Free From Trauma and Reclaim Your Life in the UK. Here the Tonbridge-based research psychologist and trauma expert who has spent the past three years living in Australia, explains why we all carry trauma and why her book has been published at an appropriate time...

M SARAH WOODHOUSE

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APPROVED

y book, You’re Not Broken: Break Free From Trauma and Reclaim Your Life, arrived in UK bookshops on March 15th. To say I’m excited about it being available here is a total understatement.

In every podcast or radio interview I’m eventually asked why I think the book is doing so well. I used to go red and mumble. It’s not very British to brag is it?! Over time I understood it’s a very genuine, very important, question.

Why is a book that helps people understand and overcome trauma resonating at the moment? Here’s why: #MeToo, Covid, Trump,

floods, fires, Covid, Ukraine, #BlackLivesMatter, Covid. Did I mention Covid? We’ve been trying to work, live, raise children, learn and thrive within the context of a global pandemic. And now we’ve got the added context of the possible onset of a world war. Of course we’re buying a book about trauma. It would actually be weird if we weren’t.

Experience I’ve just returned home to the UK after three years in Australia. I suppose you’re picturing beaches, sunshine, bush walks and koalas?

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Arts

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Admittedly, there was a lot of that. But I spent most of my time either talking about trauma or writing about trauma. At times this was hard, for me personally and for those I interviewed.

Trauma can be a confronting topic at the best of times, let alone while navigating the daily anxieties of lockdown.

27

My motivation wasn’t purely professional. I wanted to write the book I needed to read all those years ago when I was struggling with an eating disorder, panic attacks and anxiety. Now I know my dysfunction was a response to trauma.

But back then I thought I was going mad.

I called the book You’re Not Broken because a lot of people who carry unprocessed trauma feel fundamentally damaged and broken. Huge relief comes as we understand we’re not going mad, we’re stuck in an old reaction. Once we know it is trauma, we can treat it and heal.

“Trauma is confronting, yes.

But facing it can be the springboard to greater happiness and growth, just as it has been for me”

“Have you read any books about trauma? They tend to be heavy and serious. I knew an accessible and hopeful book about the subject is how to heal”

You’re Not Broken is the outcome of all the writing and talking. It was first published by Penguin Random House in Australia and then in the USA. The Chinese and Russian language editions are out soon too. Definitely worth missing the odd trip to the koala sanctuary!

Before I moved to Australia I researched trauma for twelve years as an academic. I was passionate about my research, but I wasn’t built to write academic papers. Like a lot of authors, my writing has a style of its own. Early on in my academic career I discovered that flowery adjectives and humour go down very badly with the editors of scientific journals.

I didn’t leave academia so I could use run-on sentences and crack jokes (although it is a happy accident). I moved away from scientific research so I could communicate more authentically, honestly and openly about my life’s work.

Reaction

In one way or another, we all carry trauma. But despite the fact it’s a universal human experience, most of us think trauma is something that only happens to other people.

You’re Not Broken dispels this belief by explaining that trauma is a universal human reaction that we’ve all experienced. Severe, life-threatening events can provoke this reaction in us, but so too can seemingly normal subtle experiences. Rather than being about other people, trauma is about all of us.

We all need to understand how trauma shows-up in our minds and bodies, and we all need to learn how to heal it. Trauma is confronting, yes. But facing it can be the springboard to greater happiness and growth, just as it has been for me.

Have you read any books about trauma? They tend to be heavy and serious. They’re often not very accessible and don’t tend to contain much hope. They certainly don’t use gentle humour. I knew an accessible, hopeful, light-hearted book about what trauma is and how to heal was needed, so I wrote it.

You’re Not Broken – Break Free from Trauma and Reclaim Your Life by Dr Sarah Woodhouse is published by Penguin Life and priced £15.99 . It is available in paperback, e-book and audiobook and available from all good bookshops and online

Client Onboarding Assistant – Tunbridge Wells Public consultation on redevelopment of former ABC Cinema site in Tunbridge Wells

Thomas Mansfield Solicitors Limited is a rapidly expanding firm of solicitors specialising in employment, family and private client law. Currently based in London and the South East we have built an enviable reputation for the provision of legal services to individuals based on employing an experienced team of professionals delivering excellent client care.

Retirement Villages Group (RVG) is consulting on proposals for the redevelopment of the former ABC Cinema site, on the corner of Mount Pleasant Road and Church Road in Tunbridge Wells.

We are looking for an Administrator to help onboard clients: • answer calls and call back new enquiries • open new client matters on our system

How to get involved

• Close completed matters

RVG is hosting both virtual and in-person events with members of the project team:

• conduct online regulatory checks • Complete marketing spreadsheet

•

• Taking payments

•

Webinar and Q&A with the project team on Wednesday 30th March (18.00-19.30). Please call or email us if you are interested in participating (please see details below)

• Other admin tasks

In-person public exhibition at the Trinity Theatre on Thursday 31st March (15.00-20.00) and Saturday 2nd April (10.00-13.00)

Experience working in a law firm would be useful but not essential.

The main requirement is excellent client communication skills.

You can also provide feedback via our consultation website rtw-cinema-site.co.uk. This will be available after Monday 28th March with all comments to be received before Monday 11th April.

Get in touch You can reach us in the following ways to find out more, provide your comments or register for updates. We will then keep you updated on the proposals.

The right person for this position will thrive on working in a busy, friendly and supportive environment. This role requires organisation, strong IT and document management skills, fast accurate typing with excellent interpersonal skills and a willingness to be flexible.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. We are an equal opportunities employer.

rtw-cinema-site.co.uk info@rtw-cinema-site.co.uk 0800 130 33 80 FREEPOST RUEC-LGSX-ZCLK Redwood Consulting 49 Greencoat Place London SW1P 1DS

In the first instance, please send a covering letter together with your CV for the attention of Sarah Wood at sarah.wood@thomasmansfield.com or telephone 01892 337540.

Short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Please note - no agencies.

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

RWC-1344 (Tunbridge Wells) Consultation Pack_Advert_D3.indd 1

11/03/2022 17:10

28

Books

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Kate Humble and Pat Nevin join headline acts for literary festival

By Hannah Kirsop TWO exciting new headliners have joined the stellar line-up at the Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival, taking place from April 29 - May 2.

Kate Humble is a writer, smallholder, campaigner and one of the UK’s best-known TV presenters.

She is the author of many books - Friend for Life, Humble by Nature, A Year of Living Simply and Thinking on My Feet, which was shortlisted for both the Wainwright Prize and the Edward Stanford Travel Memoir of the Year.

At the Literary Festival, Kate will be offering an insight into her life through the lens of her brand-new recipe book – Home Cooked: Recipes from the Farm, a stunning collection of simple, seasonal dishes designed to help readers reinvigorate

every meal, from the day-to-day to special, celebratory occasions.

Career Pat Nevin started his career at Celtic Boys Club and, during a career that spanned over 20 years, played for Clyde, Chelsea, Everton, Tranmere Rovers, Kilmarnock and Motherwell as well as winning 28 caps for Scotland. Nevin was chair of the Professional Footballers Association and since retiring as a player has worked as Chief Executive of Motherwell.

Described as ‘one of football’s greatest mavericks’, Sunday Times Bestseller Pat will beguile us at the Festival with tales of

Times book reviewer

HANNAH KIRSOP

Hannah Kirsop grew up in Kent and now lives in Horsmonden with her family. She loves to read and share recommendations and runs Bainden Book Club for a group of local women to discuss interesting fiction and non-fiction in a range of genres. You can find www.baindenbookshelf.com online or on Instagram: @baindenbookshelf

Kate Humble

his life in football, his love of culture and his passion for indie-music, Pat Nevin earning him the title ‘the first post-punk footballer’. His memoir – The Accidental Footballer – has been hailed as ‘an absolute pleasure to read’ by The Guardian.

The pair join comedians and authors David Baddiel and Jo Brand who will also be at the inaugural festival.

Session Kate will be appearing at the Assembly Hall Theatre on Saturday, April 30 at 2.30 pm, and a book signing will follow a question-and-answer session.

Pat will appear at the Assembly Hall Theatre on Monday, May 2 at 7.30 pm, and will also sign books following a question and answer session.

Tickets can be bought at www.theamelia.co.uk/tw-lit-fest Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival takes place on Friday 29 April – Monday 2 May 2022 Kate Humble with Home Cooked: Recipes from the Farm (published in hardback by Gaia, priced £25) Pat Nevin with The Accidental Footballer (published in hardback by Monoray, priced £20)

‘Kate will be offering an insight into her life through the lens of her brand-new recipe book’

LEFT ME COLD

TOP PICK FOR THRILLS

Snow by John Banville

Star of the North by D.B. John

(published by Faber & Faber, priced £8.99)

(published by Vintage, priced £8.99)

A country house murder mystery set in deepest Irish countryside covered in snow, the classic single male detective and a characterful supporting cast should have ensured that this novel would hit all the high spots of the genre. Unfortunately, the dramatic weather conditions and the – grossly – sensational murder of the victim failed to whip up any real tension in the novel which fell rather flat. There is a loose investigation by the detective as he vaguely chats to the characters who quickly become caricatures but there is no page turning desire in the reader to get to the denouement at the end…which, in itself, was simultaneously disappointingly mundane and predictable, and truly horrifying to read.

As a huge fan of the crime novel, this completely missed the mark for me.

This is a brilliant thriller predicated on the kidnap of a Korean American girl, Soo-min, who was abducted from a South Korean beach in 1998. Over 10 years later, Soo-min is still missing but twin sister Jee-min (Jenna) remains determined to find out the truth about what happened and enters North Korea, as a CIA recruit, to search for her. The complexity of this novel and the intricacies of the plot are enhanced by two complementary storylines – that of high-ranking North Korean official Colonel Cho whose past may be about to derail his rapid progress in the party and that of Mrs Moon, an entrepreneurial North Korean peasant lady.

Packed with tension and, more unusually, with intellectually stimulating content about the setting, this isn’t a standard thriller and packs a real punch as a gripping book grounded in fact… albeit with some ‘deus ex machina’ concessions to oil the plot. A top pick that will provoke many interesting discussions.

4/10

9/10

Going out

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

29

M

YSTERY lovers are in the midst of a ‘whodunnit’ season at local theatres, with three separate plays all tapping into a Zeitgeist of postwar – or interwar, as far as any of them knew – anxiety which seems somehow familiar to us today…

Last week saw the Voloz Collective’s production of ‘The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much’ at Trinity Theatre on 18 March.

Set in 1950s New York, and with more than a nod to Alfred Hitchcock, the action opens on the most unexpected day of Frenchman Roger Clement’s life. As unsettling as it is to him when his routine is disrupted, he is even more disturbed to realise the disruption has saved his life. The chase that follows is anything but everyday, with acrobatics and live music adding to the sense of dislocation.

Christie fans are in familiar country ‘cosy’ territory in 1950s Chipping Cleghorn, of ‘A

Murder is Announced’, when the murderer is genteel enough to issue an ‘at home’ invitation for murder.

The curious village residents assemble at Little Paddocks for the impromptu party, and Christie is away on her theme of identities won and lost in wartime. It’s on at the Assembly Hall Theatre, from March 29 to April 2.

The final mystery play, ‘Witness for the Prosecution’, at the Oast House Theatre (Tonbridge) on April 23-30, was written nearly 100 years ago, and you have never seen Agatha Christie so noir.

Forget all your ideas of ‘Bright Young Things’ and the ‘Roaring Twenties’ – this was a grim, financially insecure period for many, and it is all too easy to believe in the predicament of Leonard Vole, standing trial for the murder of rich Emily French, who had left him her fortune, unaware that he was married. Then, when his wife turns witness for the prosecution, the angst deepens…

Looking at screens and stages big and small, The Times of Tunbridge Wells presents a selected guide to the week ahead.

Following the award of Outstanding British Film BAFTA to ‘Belfast’, why not take the chance to see Kenneth Branagh’s Northern Irish coming-of-age story at the Odeon? Afternoon showings at 3:30pm.

In the 1948 musical ‘Easter Parade’, Fred Astaire takes Judy Garland through her steps to make her a star. A Senior Cinema showing at Trinity Theatre, meaning low lighting during the screening and an interval. Monday, March 28 at 10:30pm.

Rise, fall and redemption is a classic storyline, and there are few who rose higher, from humbler beginnings, than Tammy Faye Bakker, alongside her televangelist husband Jim, through the 1970s and 1980s. ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ is at Trinity Theatre on Tuesday, March 29 at 8pm.

Will there be any redemption for Carey Mulligan’s ‘Promising Young Woman’ (15)? Find out at Rusthall Community Cinema’s showing on Saturday, March 26. Doors at 7pm.

Crossing from screen to stage, Trinity Theatre has a recorded screening of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s ‘Henry VI Part I’ at Trinity Theatre on Friday March 25 at 8pm.

There is nineties’ nostalgic fun and music with ‘Friends! The Musical Parody’ at the Assembly Hall on Thursday, March 24 at 7:30pm.

In the adult pantomime ‘Cinderella - Grown-Ups Only’, pantomime dames are promoted to drag queens and Prince Charming hopes his Ball (just one ball: the other is in the Albert Hall) will impress Cinderella… Friday, March 25 at 7:30pm. The Assembly Hall. Strictly 16 and older.

With one of the best live music scenes in the South East, here is a round-up of some of the best bands and acts performing this week in Tunbridge Wells...

Trio Voodoo Room play the music of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Cream, promising: ‘No wigs, no pantomime – just great music played by great musicians.’ Trinity Theatre, Saturday, March 26 at 8pm.

The Forum Basement (Sussex Arms) is full of punk on Saturday, with The Wot Nots & Thee Headshrinkers live but masked on stage. Age 18 and over. Saturday, March 26 at 7:30pm.

On the same night, the main stage of the Forum finally hosts UK garage duo Artful Dodger, whose gig was rescheduled from January. The partnership of MC Alistair and Dave Low has played with Busta Rhymes, Calvin Harris, Skepta, Chipmunk, Wretch 32, N Dubz, Wiley, Pro green Taio Cruz and more. All original tickets from January 15 will be honoured. Saturday, March 26 at 7:30pm.

It’s a big weekend at the Grey Lady, with a ‘Fiesta Latina’ on Friday, March 25, starting at 7pm. YaniFit leads Latin Dance, with DJ AJK playing the salsa, merengue, reggaeton and more. Then on Sunday, the Grey Lady hosts Cyrano and All the Above from 8pm.

Also on Sunday, Trinity Theatre’s ‘The Breathing Space’ season of Sunday night chill-outs continues, with the honey-voiced Edwina Hayes, singer-songwriter of folk Americana, who has toured with singers like Jools Holland, Van Morrison, Nanci Griffith and KT Tunstall. March 27 at 7pm.

International relations are tense at the moment, but ‘German Comedy Ambassador’ Henning Wehn promises that ‘It’ll All Come Out In The Wash’. Unwind with his worldview (or would that be Weltanschauung?) at the Assembly Hall on Sunday, March 27 at 7:30pm.

‘A Murder is Announced’ opens at The Assembly Hall [see review, above]. Tuesday, March 29.

Credit Oast Theatre Tonbridge

Victoria Roberts looks back at the events of last week and provides a round-up of activities coming up over the next seven days...

Whether your family is young or old, big or small, there’s plenty to do both indoors and outdoors over the coming week, along with some active ideas.

The Hop Farm is offering two sittings for Mother’s Day lunch, at noon and 2:30pm in its White’s Function Suite, with a roast menu for the grown-ups and a children’s menu. The lunch booking includes free entry to the Family Park, including Animal Farm, outdoor adventure play park, the site’s museums and crazy golf.

There is another chance to meet farm animals at Hadlow College’s (North Kent College) lambing weekend on March 26-27.

Not just the lambs, but also birds of prey and reptiles, along with funfair, food stalls and more. Tickets from Eventbrite.

Hever Castle is fully open this weekend for Mother’s Day, though the special afternoon teas are fully booked. Children can decorate a wooden keyring for mum, in a free craft workshop, or take pictures in the Mother’s Day frame.

The Spa Valley Railway is running this weekend, with departures from Tunbridge Wells West (March 26-27). Family and children’s all-day tickets from spavalleyrailway.co.uk.

There is weekday fun for the little ones at Knole Park (Sevenoaks), with storytime on Mondays, 11-11:30am during term time in the bookshop.

30

Live Music

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

gigguide March 23 to April 12

Live music is well and truly back in the town

By Paul Dunton

A

fter a Covid-enforced absence of two years it feels absolutely great to be writing about the local music scene once again and bringing the local gig guide back to The Times of Tunbridge Wells.

Given that we are in spring 2022, I am essentially starting from scratch and will look to expand the guide to its maximum capacity over time.

I will do my best to list as many events as possible...

If you are a local to Tunbridge Wells venue that hosts regular live music or even if it’s a one-off event,

concert or festival please email me at least six weeks in advance of your event date with the details.

Email to paul@ paulduntonandguests.com • Name and address of Venue • Date and time of event • Name of event and name of act(s) involved • Ticket link and/or website please state if free entry • 1 x high resolution (300 dpi) landscape jpeg (performer only, no posters) • Please state photo credit if required Roll on the rest of 2022!

Cyrano THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, all event information and ticket entry available at www.thegreylady.co.uk Friday 25/03, Fiesta Latina – Yanifit + DJ AJK Saturday 26/03, Closed (private party) Sunday 27/03, The Grey Lady Sessions: Cyrano + All The Above Friday 08/04, Jenny Maslin & Friends Saturday 09/04, The Grey Lady Sessions: Phoebe Katis + Hannah Richards

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM Event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk Friday 25/03, Boogie Nights: A night for Ukraine Saturday 26/03, Artful Doger Sunday 27/03, Gong Wednesday 30/03, A Flock of Seagulls Friday 01/04, Mainly Madness : A celebration of Ska and 2 tone Saturday 02/04, (1pm start) Word Up!: Poetry, Spoken Word & Storytelling Evening show: Boogie Nights Sunday 03/04, Enola Gay + Bruise + Sea Driver Thursday 07/04, Ash Dodd + Sissy Else Sunday 10/04, The Lovely Eggs

Phoebe Katis

Artful Dodger Kharma and the Devil

Trinity Theatre

THE MASONIC HALL St John’s Road All event information and tickets at www.twjazzclub.co.uk Friday 01/04, TW Jazz Club: Tim Huskisson’s Jazz Centre 4 The Black Horse

THE BLACK HORSE PUB Camden Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Friday 01/04, Jam Session - all welcome

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE Crescent Road All event information and tickets available from www. assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Monday 04/04, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac Tuesday 05/04, A Beautiful Noise – Neil Diamond Tribute featuring Fisher Stevens Sunday 03/04, RTWSO Season finale: ‘The Magic Flute’ – Mozart Concerto for Violin in D major op.77 – Brahms Symphony No7 in E major – Bruckner Conductor: Roderick Dunk Soloist: Joo Yeon Sir (Violin) Sunday 10/04, RTWCS: Verdi: Messa da Requiem

GEOGRAPHY WINE BAR Highstreet Open all day, free entry, music from 4pm - 6pm Sunday 27/03, Steffan James Sunday 03/04, Isabella Coulstock Sunday 10/04, Steve Hewitt

THE TRINITY THEATRE Church Street All event information and tickets available at www.trinitytheatre.net Saturday 26/03, Voodoo Room: A Night of Hendrix, Clapton & Cream Sunday 27/03, Edwina Hayes Saturday 02/04, Coldplace (Coldplay tribute) Friday 08/04, Flanders & Swann Saturday, 09/04, Strictly Dan (Steely Dan tribute) Sunday, 10/04, Rachel Croft

THE CLAREMONT PUB Grove Hill Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Tuesday 29/03, Blues Jam Session – all welcome Tuesday 05/04, Blues Jam Session – all welcome Tuesday 12/04, Blues Jam Session – all welcome

THE ROYAL OAK PUB Prospect Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Saturday 26/03, A Fundraiser for Ukraine Friday 01/04, Alchemy Acoustic Saturday 09/04, A Fundraiser for Ukraine

Steve Hewitt

EVEN FLOW CAFÉ St John’s Road Open all day, free entry, music from 7.30pm Thurdsay 24/03, Open Mic - all welcome Saturday 26/03, Kharma & The Devil THE FORUM BASEMENT AT THE SUSSEX ARMS All event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk Saturday 26/03, The Wot Nots + Thee Headshrinkers Saturday 09/04, Falseheads + Bsus2 + Shoplifter BRIDGE PHILHARMONIC: DVORAK'S STABAT ATE

TN1 BAR & KITCHEN Monson Road Open all day, free entry, booking advised www.tn1barkitchen.co.uk Sunday 27/03, 4pm – Andy Vickery & Helen Garrod Thursday 31/03, 7pm – Stuart Bligh Friday 01/04, 7.30pm – The Masqueraders Duo Saturday 02/04, 8pm – Chris Harper

Steffan James

THE IVY HOUSE Tonbridge Open all day, free entry, music from 1pm Sunday 03/04, The Management Acoustic Duo THE BEER CELLAR Tonbridge Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Friday 25/03, Gez Gold Friday 01/04, Matt Brooks Saturday 02/04, Pete Trott Friday 08/04, Nate Austin THE GUN & SPITROAST INN Horsmonden Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm Wednesday 23/03, Jam Session – all welcome Wednesday 30/03, Jam Session – all welcome Wednesday 06/03, Jam Session – all welcome

Food & Drink

food & drink

32

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Meet the dairy farmers who have cheesemaking in their veins...

Kingcott Dairy in Staplehurst is home to award-winning dairy farming family and cheese makers the Reynolds Family. They’ve been nurturing and milking their dairy herd for over 30 years and launched their first cheese in 2010. Now son Frank, (below) is making a name for himself with the farm’s newest cheese: Kingcott Blue. Eileen Leahy discovers more about it

F

or centuries it has been predominantly the French and Italians who have been revered for their cheese making prowess but over the past few decades the UK has started to impress with its diverse dairy offerings too.

Obviously the likes of Cheddar and Stilton have been around for hundreds of years but it’s fair to say we are also seeing a steep rise in the number of artisan cheesemakers dotted around the British isles too.

One such person is Frank Reynolds who is part of the Kingcott Dairy dynasty operating out of their picturesque dwelling in Staplehurst.

“Dairy farming is all I can remember wanting to do!” Frank explains. “Growing up here in Staplehurst meant I was always around cows and tractors, and it is fantastic to be able to do a job I enjoy.”

Frank’s father Steve started dairy farming in 1990 but the family’s roots in rearing and milking cattle can actually be traced back 400 years.

“We have now grown to over 300 acres

and we farm using only low impact, sustainable and regenerative practices,” Frank adds.

The herd is grazed on the fields most of the year and clover is regularly planted to aid carbon capture.

Quality Healthy, happy cows are also of the highest priority says Frank and he and his dad Steve and brother Archie care for a small herd of Danish Red cows, which produce a high protein milk, perfect for cheesemaking.

“I’m proud that as a dairy farm we are following more sustainable farming methods to help lower our impact on the environment. We’ve definitely made a start by choosing to have a smaller amount of cows on our land and farm in a way that means they go out and graze and enjoy the fields and pastures for a large part of the year.”

So what made Frank’s dad decide to start making cheese in the first place?

“The historically low returns to the dairy

*minimum subscription term applies see website for full terms

Food & Drink

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

farmer for their milk meant that my father had to diversify to survive as a small dairy farm. We began making cheese in 2010 and have loved seeing the increased interest in local produce and its providence.”

The family firm started off with Kentish Blue which has now become Kingcott’s signature cheese.

“We wanted a local blue cheese which was a bit different to the usual Stilton varieties,” reveals Frank.

He adds the farm launched their second cheese Kingcott Blue three years ago with a specific aim in mind.

“The idea was to offer a softer textured blue cheese with smooth flavours, hoping to appeal to people of my age (20-30) who seem to enjoy creamier, less stronger cheese varieties.

“Having worked out what I wanted to make I then had to find the best way of making it.

Because the moisture content is higher, it’s much more difficult to achieve the blue veining.

“We wanted a local blue cheese which was a bit different to the usual Stilton varieties”

We use a natural mould, the cheese is made entirely by hand and then left to mature for six weeks,” says Frank.

The cheese has received industry recognition with two stars at the 2021 Great Taste Awards and a Gold award at the prestigious International Cheese & Dairy Awards.

Both Kingcott Blue and Kentish Blue are made on the Kingcott farm using unpasteurised milk straight from the cows, having travelled only ten metres to the cheesemaking room.

Is one variety more popular than the other I wonder?

“Both are selling really well!” smiles Frank.

“Kentish Blue is quite well known within the South East and has been around for 12 years. But the Kingcott is definitely gaining popularity in pubs and restaurants, especially during the warmer months!”

Provenance The family trades out of a few farmers’ markets including Penshurst which takes place on the first Saturday of each month. They are also

stocked in Groombridge Farm Shop in Eridge, Oliver Greens on The Pantiles and Fullers Farm Shop on Bunny Lane.

“We’re also stocked in lots of independent food shops all over the county and can courier orders via our online shop which we set up 10 years ago. We use DHL overnight couriers to make sure our cheese arrives in peak condition – wherever it’s going in the country.”

“Healthy, happy cows are of the highest priority for Kingcott Dairy” What in Frank’s eyes makes up the perfect cheeseboard?

“With over 700 varieties of British cheese there is a huge range produced here, and as a farmer I would always prefer to buy British. I like to have three or four varieties on a cheeseboard but I do like to vary them throughout the year and prefer to buy cheese from smaller local dairies.”

And although Kingcott have diversified they

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33

still sell milk on which is the surplus they don’t use in cheesemaking.

“It goes to a dairy processor, who collects it from our farm, then pasteurises and bottles it ready for sale.

“It means that we can concentrate on looking after the cows and making cheese!” Frank laughs.

“Our cheese is all handmade meaning minimal electricity is needed and hopefully we can start to generate some energy of our own in the near future,” he concludes.

Chosen as the Taste of Kent Awards’ overall food product of the year for 2020 and boasting numerous accolades from prestigious specialists such as The Great Taste Awards and International Cheese & Dairy Awards, it’s easy to see why Kingcott Dairy has now established its place as one of the finest cheese producers with two stellar varieties to come out of Kent in recent times. www.kingcottdairy.co.uk

34

Food & Drink

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

food & drink

Wines to say ‘thank you’ on Mother’s Day This Sunday [March 27], is Mother’s Day in the UK so Times Drinks Editor James Viner rounds up five marvellous, joyful bottles (including three special bubblies) which will certainly put a smile on mum’s face 1) A versatile, voluptuous & aromatic South African white for the ‘Queen Bee’ in your life 2021 Queen Bee Viognier, Western Cape, South Africa (12.5%, Laithwaites; £9.99 mix 12+) We are drinking more and more, everhigher quality, South African wine (exports by volume into the UK increased by 12 per cent last year) in the £8-£12 category.

Unleash Viognier! This is a keen price tag on a smooth, scrumptious, and blossomy vegan-friendly white with honeysuckle, orange blossom, ripe white peach, apricot and light ginger scents and flavours. Try it with roast chicken, fish pie, mild curries, veggie/chicken tagines, prawns sizzling in butter, pad Thai or prosciutto with melon or figs. One for those queen bees who like wines with slightly lower acidity.

berries and toasted almonds, tastes fresh and at this price upholds both considerable integrity and poise. 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Pinot Meunier.

Another one for salmon and shellfish – or graze on dim sum or sushi. Delicious and remarkable value. Let it go ‘pop’!

3) A supersmart Kiwi sparkling wine to serve as an aperitif Cloudy Bay Pelorus NV, New Zealand (12.5%, Tesco; £24) For the pure pleasure of the ritual, nothing quite beats opening a bottle of bubbly or decanting a bottle of port (see wine below). A top-quality dry sparkling wine made mainly from Chardonnay from the award-winning Cloudy Bay winery, this refreshing bottle majors on crunchy green apples and citrus with some nutty, bready hints. It’s an inviting, mouth-watering aperitif that could take on light party food such as smoked salmon blinis and savoury pastry canapés. Good too with a seafood platter.

2) Must-try bargain supermarket rosé Champagne Veuve Monsigny Rosé NV Champagne, France (12.5%, Aldi; £17.99) Made for Aldi by Philizot & Fils, a husband-and-wife team based in the Marne Valley, this own-label bargain pink champagne is continually one of the ‘good ones,’ but right now it’s a must-buy that will keep Mum suitably refreshed on Mother’s Day (and beyond). Tasted last week at the Aldi Press Tasting on a sunny day at the Tate Modern, it was in really fine form. A moreish aperitif, it smells of red

4) Top vintage Port to sip with chocolates Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port 2004, with decanting funnel gift, Portugal (20%, Lea & Sandeman, The Whisky Exchange, Secret Bottle Shop, Cotswold Port, Harvey Nichols; £25.95-£32) If you’re getting Mum chocolates, then you’ll need a fitting wine to pour with

them. Although vintage Port only accounts for a minute portion of total shipments, for most shippers it epitomizes the very crowning point of production. In the early 1950s, the mounting demand for vintage ports led Fonseca to make a second vintage port under the ‘Guimaraens’ label in so-called ‘non-classic,’ or undeclared years. Sip this especially luscious, top-tier vintage Port from independent, family- and Fladgateowned Fonseca contemplatively with rich blue cheeses such as Stichelton, walnuts, dried fruits, chocolates and in good, maternal company. It also comes with a handy decanting funnel gift.

Serious wine at a great price.

5) Splash out on top vegan-friendly rosé Champagne Charles Heidsieck Rosé Réserve NV Champagne (12%, Wine Trust, Amazon, The Finest Bubble, Whisky Exchange; £49.95-£59.95) Sometimes only champers will do! At this time of the year, Mums need conviviality and merriment — and what’s more uplifting than a cordial glass of exceptional rosé champers?

Founded in 1851 by Charles-Camille Heidsieck, the original ’Champagne Charlie,’ small, stunning, iconic Charles Heidsieck is one of champagne’s greatest and most-admired names.

Silky, extremely persistent and complex, this one is a spellbinding belter and had extended lees ageing before release (around 4-5 years).

It’s a dance of finely-tuned acidity, tangy red fruits and almonds, with a toasted brioche note underneath.

Let taste have its conquest over price.

BENTLEY ’S

ON-LINE LIVE BIDDING

Follow James on Twitter @ QuixoticWine

ON-LINE LIVE BIDDING

ANTIQUES & FINE ART AUCTIONEERS

SATURDAY 2ND APRIL 10AM

(Please note earlier starting time 10am for Smalls & 11am for Furniture) Full Catalogue & Images Available Online Friday 25th March

Viewing: Thursday 31st March 9.30am – 5.30pm - Friday 1st April 9.30am-5.30pm - Saturday 2nd April 9.00am-10.00am (10am Sale Starts)

MARK WALLINGER (BRITISH, B.1959), ‘A REAL WORK OF ART’, A LIMITED EDITION SIGNED STATUETTE, 1993, NUMBER 39/50, WITH ORIGINAL BILL OF SALE EST: £1,000-£2,000 SUPERB CARTIER DIAMOND & 18CT WHITE GOLD ‘TANK’ WRISTWATCH, WITH ORIGINAL BOX, PAPERWORK & RECEIPT EST: £6,000-£8,000

GOOD QUALITY KPM PORCELAIN PLAQUE, C.1840, PAINTED WITH THE ROYAL BAVARIAN ARTILLERY BY DIETRICH MORTEN EST: £600-£800

FINE QUALITY ANTIQUE CHINESE SILK ROBE WITH GOLD-THREAD DRAGON EMBROIDERY EST: £400-£500

ITALIAN SCHOOL (19TH CENTURY), ‘ITALIAN MUSE’, OIL ON CANVAS EST: £200-£400

PAIR OF CHINESE SUZHOU JUWOOD ARMCHAIRS, BELIEVED TO BE C.1850/1870, WITH PROVENANCE EST: £400-£600

GOOD QUALITY HUGE LIBERTY & CO MAHAL CARPET, APPROX 22FT X 13FT EST: £1,200-£1,800

SUPERB & RARE PATEK PHILIPPE 18CT GOLD LIMITED EDITION ‘MILLENNIUM’ WRISTWATCH, WITH ORIGINAL BOX, PAPERWORK, MEDALLION & RECEIPT EST: £14,000-£16,000

18CT GOLD SEVEN STONE DIAMOND RING, APPROX 2CTS EST: £1,500-£2,500

GEOFFREY KEY (BRITISH, B. 1941), ‘PARTYING FIGURES’, OIL ON CANVAS, SIGNED & DATED 1999, 120CM X 150CM (ONE OF FOUR PAINTINGS BY GEOFFREY KEY IN THIS SALE) EST: £10,000/£15,000

GOOD CHINESE DESK WITH LATTICE UNDERTIER, IN THE QING TASTE, POSSIBLY HUANGHUALI EST: £500-£800

GEOFFREY KEY (BRITISH, B. 1941), ‘NIGHT OUT’, OIL ON CANVAS, SIGNED & DATED 1996, 52CM X 76CM (ONE OF FOUR PAINTINGS BY GEOFFREY KEY IN THIS SALE) EST: £4,000-£6,000

PARKING ON DAY OF SALE IN CRANBROOK SCHOOL CAR PARK (OPPOSITE) COURTESY OF CRANBROOK SCHOOL

The Old Granary, Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3JQ E-mail: enquiries@bentleyskent.com Visit us @ www.bentleysfineartauctioneers.co.uk

Telephone: 01580 715857

Wednesday March August23 4 || 2021 Wednesday 2022

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

property news

Landmark house locations take a hit despite the market boom

THE price of buying a home near one price 15 per cent below 2021 figures. of the UK’s most famous landmarks Other famous landmarks where has dropped by 6 per cent in the past asking prices have dropped in the last year, despite a pandemic market boom year include Hadrian’s Wall (-3 per pushing the average UK house price cent), York Minster (-1 per cent), and up by 10.8 per cent during the same Nelson’s Column (-1 per cent). time.

This property price decline, Increased equivalent to almost £40,000, is based on the current average asking price for However, London’s much-reported homes within the same postcode as declining property market has started these famous landmarks versus the to show signs of a bounce back in more same time last year. recent months, and Buckingham Research by around GetAgent.co.uk has The group Palace places third on thedrop table9.2 after saw like-for-like sales per GREGGS has said it plans to open 100 found that theafter the it reduction in cent against asking have increased bythird 13 per 2019prices after the impact of the new stores by the end of the year demand forthat cityhave living during thenational lockdown cent in thebut past year.lifted by the it was announced a rebound in sales helped Thenew Houses opening of 48 sites.of Parliament and return it to profit. pandemic, particularly across the London market, a trend that is also Westminster Abbeyathave also seen Greggs had 2,115 locations the start of July The bakery chain told investors thatisits apparent whenwas it comes to famous growth100 andnet these landmarks are and said itstrong is targeting openings for the recovery in trade in recent months ‘stronger landmark property prices, also to the current year tohome continue itshighest strong average growth plans. than we had anticipated’ as it saw growth in with the of London asking price ofto allcreate landmark property It said this is expected around 500 suburban areas andTower local high streets.seeing the largest annual in the to average asking markets at over £1.3m. new jobs in the second half of the year.

The business said it has andecline opportunity grow to 3,000 stores as it struck an ambitious tone after withstanding the impact of the Expansion pandemic.

The group has also targeted growth areas such However, the business highlighted even more as delivery and drive-thru sales after the ambitious growth plans as it said it ‘has the pandemic weighed on some core trade such as opportunity to expand its UK estate to at least HOUSE buyers that come from Hong boroughs including Hillingdon (14 per its travel sites.

3,000 shops’.

Kong aresales the most common cent), Westminster (13 per cent), Greggs said its like-for-like for the four nationality Roger Whiteside, the chief executive of Greggs looking homes in London, Kensington and Chelsea cent) weeks to the end of July werefor 0.4 per cent above research who turned vegan in 2019, said he(10 sawper more hassame found. and Richmond per cent), as well as the levels it saw in the period in 2019, growth potential through(10 product innovation, The latest property market analysis City sausage of London (17 per cent) before the pandemic struck. such as itsthe vegan rolls.

by London Cypriots topitsinresilience Enfield (18 The Newcastle-based businesslettings said itand nowestate agent, “Greggs once againranked showed inper a Benham Reeves, looked total cent) Haringey (13 from per cent), expects full-year profits to beand ‘slightly ahead’ of at the challenging firstand half, emerging the while of residential property titles topped the table in previous predictionsnumber as a result. lockdownSingapore months innationals a strong position and to overseas in Havering (49 perrestrictions cent) and Hounslow New openings haveregistered also helped to buoy individuals its rebuilding sales as social were each borough, (75 per cent). he said, adding the total sales over the half-year to Junebefore to breaking this progressively relaxed,” nationality to reveal The UAE for the £546.2million, to justfigure shortdown of theby£546.3million company expects its accounted full-year profit to most be slightly nation had the biggest presence foreign own registered homes in Sutton (22 it posted in the samewhich period in 2019. ahead of Greggs’ expectations. in each pocket of the market. per cent) and Bromley (17 per cent), The market analysis shows that Hong while in Bexley it’s the United States Kong buyers currently have the IN biggest NEWS BRIEF (14 per cent), in Harrow it’s Saudi property footprint within the London Arabia (11 per cent), in Lambeth it’s the market.

Netherlands (16 per cent), in Merton it’s They account for the highest Guernsey (10 per cent) and in Kingston proportion of residential homes it’s China (12 per cent). registered to foreign addresses in a total of 17 boroughs, with Barking and Demand Dagenham home to the highest percentage Kongfrom homes, with Outside of London, Hong Kong A BELARUSIAN activist who of Hong DEATHS drugs have SEVEN men have been found thehis nation accounting forthe 31 per centyear of in nationals also the ran a group helping risen for eighth a guilty ofaccounted murderingfor a law all foreign registered properties. percentage foreign registered countrymen flee persecution row and remain at their higheststudent who of was mistakenly in Birmingham, has been found dead in Kiev. highest level in more than homes a gunned down in aManchester, botched Leeds and Liverpool, while the Irish Vitaly Shishov, leader of the quarter of a century, figures drive-by shooting.

Market topped the Sheffield Kyiv-based Belarusian House show.

Tyretable firmin boss Feroz and and 40, Jersey rankedthe top in Hong Kongers also topwere the table in Ukraine, was found hanged There 4,561indeaths Nottingham Suleman, arranged and Bristol.

Tower (26 per cent), Newham in one of the city’s parksHamlets not related to drug poisoning Newcastle execution of a rival of Benhaminand Reeves, Marc (24 per cent), (23inper cent), and Director far from his home, police said Lewisham registered England businessman broad von Grundherr, said: “International cent), in Greenwich in a statement. Hackney (23 per Wales 2020, the(22 Office for daylight but the gunman he form a shot considerable per cent), Southwark (21 per cent), (ONS) homeowners A murder investigation has National Statistics hired instead dead part of the UK property market Aya and London, Islington (20 persaid. cent), Brent (19 per been launched, with a focus innocent passer-by in particular, has suffered due to a drop cent), Hammersmith Fulham (16number on the death apparently Thisand is the highest Hachem. in demand a resultaofjury Covid perlike cent), Camden (16 records per cent), Barnet being made to look since began in 1993, On as Tuesday, at travel restrictions.

(15 perread. cent), Croydon per cent), suicide, the statement and up(13 3.8% from the Preston Crown Court took less “Nowthan thatfour UK travel have Waltham Forest previous (12 per cent), Authoritarian president year. hoursrestrictions to find we expect to see an uplift in Redbridge Wandsworth Alexander Lukashenko has (11 per cent), Separate figures releasedbeen lifted, Suleman, from Blackburn, international (11what per cent) Ealing (8 showed per cent), vowed to continue he andlast week that there guilty ofdemand murder.throughout the the year, which, turn, Jersey nationals are 1,339 the next most called a ‘mopping-up were drug related remainder Sixofaccomplices were in also will help boost what has been prevalent in the deaths Londonregistered market, in Scotland operation’ against civil convicted of killing the a beleaguered society activists, accounting whom he for the lastmost year,foreign the worst drug somewhat businessman.

AllLondon will be market in recent months.”at a later date. registered properties a total of four denounced as ‘bandits’. deathinrate in Europe. sentenced

Sausage rolls back on the menu as Greggs plans 100 new stores

Hong Kong buyers are the most prevalent in London

Belarus activist Drug deaths hit Student killed found dead in a 25-year high after botched ‘fake hanging’ across England drive-by killing

National News Property NewsNEWS 3513

Antiques

antiques

36

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Silver linings of an esteemed career in timeless Art Nouveau masterpieces

Alexander Pushkin talks about the works of designer Christopher Dresser...

Alexander Pushkin

C

hristopher Dresser (1834 – 1904) was a British designer and a design theorist, one of the most important figures in industrial design, who had a great influence on the development of art both in Great Britain and abroad.

His name is synonymous with the British Art Nouveau style, and he also went into history as the founder of the AngloJapanese style.

‘The famous designer experimented with various interesting styles, shapes, and materials’

Born in 1834, Christopher Dresser was passionate about arts and crafts since very early childhood and at the age of 13, he was enrolled at the Government School of Design, Somerset House, London.

Along with design, he also studied botany. That became his specialisation and later led to his appointment as Professor of Artistic Botany in the Department of Science and Art in South Kensington.

He published several articles dedicated to the complementary of botany and arts, with a special focus on botany adapted to art manufacturers.

Focus The articles came out in the Art Journal in 1878. A talented researcher and writer, Dresser also published several brilliant books and papers on botany and earned a doctorate degree.

However, it was design that was Dresser’s true calling. He experimented with styles, shapes, and materials, and his pieces included various items, from carpets to pots.

A revolutionist in decorative art, he developed both practical and theoretical parts of the art of contemporary design.

Dresser happened to work with lots of textures and materials, including wallpapers, textiles, and glass; his works

‘Dresser’s pieces, especially in silver and electroplated, are in very high demand all over the world’ were executed in many techniques, but as for the ones that brought him true fame, was metalwork, especially silver and electroplate.

Among his many partnerships were Dresser & Holme and Linthorpe Art Pottery. Exquisite designs, elaborated by Dresser, were used by several prominent makers, including Elkington & Co and Alessi.

As a part of his academic journey, Dr. Dresser travelled the world, giving lectures on different design topics and published books on design and ornament, such as “The Art of Decorative Design” (1862), “The Development of Ornamental Art in the International Exhibition” (1862), and “Principles of Design” (1873).

Besides, the prominent designer was appointed as an emissary to Japan, since his name became firmly associated with Japanese art. Splendid designs by Dr. Dresser have always been pure inspiration for both beginner artisans and professional craftsmen. His pieces, especially in silver and electroplated, are in very high demand all over the world.

Often exhibited in the world’s finest museums, they are rare gems at auctions and are only sold by the most prestigious retailers. pushkinantiques.com

Antiques

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

37

What is waiting to be found in your safe or jewellery box?

This week the team at Gorringe’s extends an invitation to Times readers to attend their upcoming specialist jewellery and watches valuation days...

Joseph Trinder

increase in interest in the world of antique and later high-quality jewellery and wristwatches amongst international buyers.

We therefore invite you to take a moment to consider that ring which you don’t dare wear or perhaps a wristwatch which isn’t really your

‘Recent highlights of discoveries at Gorringe’s include a lady’s 18ct gold Cartier Baignoire wristwatch’

F

ollowing the success of our recent Asian art valuation days, the Gorringe’s team and I are turning our attention this time to another of the most buoyant, exciting and at times surprising elements of today’s market – that of jewellery and watches.

Wristwatches As other forms of investment have become either subdued or potentially risky in return and the interest rates to be yielded from banks are typically next to nothing, we have seen a sharp

style nowadays – as their present value may well surprise and delight you!

Recent highlight of such discoveries at Gorringe’s include a lady’s 18ct gold Cartier Baignoire manual wind oval wristwatch, presented on a Cartier green leather strap with deployment clasp. An example of sheer quality of manufacture balanced beautifully with the effortless elegance of design and style synonymous with a name such as Cartier, this piece perfectly reflects the demand for marketfresh watches of this kind. I had the privilege of being on the rostrum when this piece was offered in our Spring fine auction earlier this month – a full complement of telephone bidders battled it out with determined interest across the three global online platforms we use at Gorringe’s to secure an impressive ultimate price of £14,000 – against a pre-sale estimate of

£2,000 - £3,000, this perfectly sums up the present market’s determination for such pieces.

Other results in wristwatches earlier this month included £9,000 achieved for a gentleman’s late 20th century 18ct gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day Date wristwatch, and a modern stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual example which concluded at £4,200.

Elements Amongst the familiar elements of high-quality jewellery to have recently been discovered by the team include a modern platinum and single stone brilliant cushion cut diamond ring which achieved £8,000 in this month’s sale.

Yet often in today’s market, more unusual pieces which you perhaps might not initially think of are also achieving very impressive sums at auction - such as a single strand graduated amber bead necklace which we sold recently for £1,000 – an example of a material which has greatly risen in value over recent years as overseas markets to include Chinese buyers highly favour this remarkable naturally occurring material.

Other such examples of jewellery include novelty pieces, with even brooches (which have for years been thought of as rather difficult) making a decisive come-back – an example being an early to mid-20th-century French Cartier figural enamelled gold brooch which sold recently for over £2,000.

Another element of the market which has huge appeal to collectors today is mourning jewellery – something which may perhaps be considered a tad morbid for modern sensibilities, typically pieces dating from the Georgian – Victorian periods which may refer to a lost loved one with dates of their life, or sometimes encase a small lock of hair or a portrait, these poignant and emotive remembrances are something we are seeing acute interest in within today’s market.

To register your interest in our April 4specialist jewellery valuation day in Tunbridge Wells, with our qualified specialist and head of jewellery Roger Mead in attendance, please contact me via josepht@gorringes.co.uk or call me directly on 07789979396.

On the lookout for the elusive Sussex Pig

Eric Knowles of The Hoard in the Corn Exchange reveals the history of this quirky hog

picture credits: Victoria & Albert Museum

Traditional They are used in traditional Sussex weddings, with the bride and groom toasting each other from the ‘hog’s head’ – a tradition which dates back to the middle of the 19th century if not beyond, and which is still rather nobly observed by those of a mind to keep such practices alive.

Sussex folk have long identified with the pig, on the basis that the animals display a degree of single-mindedness – if not stubbornness – which is to be admired. Their ‘wun’t be druv’ motto refers to the general belligerence and noncompliance of porcine beasts, and it can be found inscribed on many examples of the traditional

‘The company evolved through subsequent iterations up to the present day, and the Sussex Pigs are still being made now’

earthenware vessels of which I went in search.

Earthenware They were first made around 1850 by a concern known as the Cadborough Pottery, who had been making earthenware pieces for domestic consumption, using the local red clay and finished in a lead glaze. Production continued as the company evolved through subsequent iterations up to the present day, and the Sussex Pigs are still being made now, though – as you

might expect – with the intention of appealing to the wider tourist trade instead of just those engaged in their nuptials.

I have to say that I found Rye a fascinating place, particularly when it became apparent that it had been one of the last bastions – rather incongruously – of Tunbridge Ware production. A gentleman by the name of Thomas Littleton Green manufactured his own range of wares, though generally making smaller items than those which his predecessors in and around Tunbridge Wells had turned out. Naturally, he also chose to

represent scenes from his own locale rather than Kentish buildings (or ‘buildings of Kent’ if I’m to be mindful of the local vernacular !) We therefore find representations of Rye’s windmill, church and crenelated tower amongst the catalogue of almost 100 different designs that TLG produced.

Rye is no doubt proud of its place in the archives of Tunbridge Ware production, but I am inordinately pleased to say that we shall soon be wresting the crown of ‘most recent manufacturers’ back from Sussex, as we currently have our own craftsmen engaged in the production of some new material, and will be offering these pieces for sale in a few short weeks. Do pay us a visit down at The Pantiles Arcade, and keep tabs on our progress towards restoring Tunbridge Wells’s pre-eminence as the home of its eponymous craft.

picture credits: Victoria & Albert Museum

H

ello everyone. Now, my journey may not have been on quite the same scale as the endeavours of Ernest Shackleton, but I have been exploring ! I extended one of my recent working weekends down on The Pantiles to take in a trip to Rye, in search – specifically – for something known as a Sussex Pig which I had heard about in conversation with a visitor to our store.

This, it transpires, is a two-part ‘jug and mug’ assembly which is – as the name might suggest – made in the shape of a pig. The head is used as the mug, as it stands upended on a tripod made from the ends of its ears and the snout, whilst the remainder forms the jug.

38

Motoring

Wednesday March 23 | 2022

Motoring News Jaguar I-Pace EV batteries to get second life in portable energy storage systems

JAGUAR Land Rover (JLR) has signed an agreement that will see the batteries from some of its electric I-Pace SUVs reused once the car is scrapped.

The British firm is working with energy experts

Pramac to create a portable zero-emission storage unit powered by I-Pace batteries.

The lithium-ion cells come from prototype and engineering test vehicles that are no longer in use, supplying zero-emission power when access to the mains supply is limited or unavailable.

JLR says this is the first step towards its goal of creating a circular business model for its vehicle batteries as part of its plan to be net zero by 2039.

The storage system revealed today by JLR and Pramac has a capacity of up to 125kWh, which the

firms say could power the average home for a week. Up to 85 per cent of the donated battery can be repurposed by Pramac for the device, including modules and wiring, with the remaining materials recycled back into the supply chain.

The unit is available for commercial hire and has Type 2 electric vehicle connections with a rating of up to 22kW AC. To demonstrate its capabilities, the device was used to run the Jaguar TCS Racing Formula E team’s diagnostic equipment while testing in the UK and Spain. A device will also be deployed at the JLR Experience Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, to help the site cope with inconsistent mains power.

Andrew Whitworth, battery manager for the Circular Economy Team at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “This announcement is a great example of

This week…

I-Pace battery iniatitive

n

VW Microbus returns n BMW finally buys Alpina

n

how we will collaborate with industry leaders to deliver our sustainable future and achieve a truly circular economy.

“We’re delighted to be working with Pramac to use Jaguar I-Pace second-life batteries to provide portable zero-emissions power and supporting Jaguar TCS Racing this season was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate what these units are capable of.”

Degrade More of these ‘second life’ programmes for vehicle batteries are in the works at JLR. Electric vehicle batteries are engineered to the highest quality, but all batteries degrade over time through use and regular recharging. That means that the cells in a car can reach a point where they are no longer of sufficient quality for use in the vehicle, but can find another home in low-energy operations.

Nissan is another car manufacturer that has been working on these second life systems using old Leaf batteries to provide home storage solutions, such as capturing energy from solar panels.

Volkswagen reinvents iconic BMW acquires Alpina in historic deal microbus with electric ID.Buzz BMW has acquired tuning firm Alpina after more than 50 years of collaboration.

The Buchloe-based brand is well known for creating uprated versions of BMW’s sporty models, with the two firms working closely together since the mid 60s. Up until this point, however, Alpina has remained entirely independent from BMW. This new deal will bring Alpina into the BMW Group from the end of 2025, though both parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details, while no shares in the Alpina will be acquired.

Mobility

VOLKSWAGEN has unveiled the ID.Buzz as its new electric MPV and van that pays homage to the T1 – one of the brand’s most iconic models.

Originally shown in concept form more than five years ago, the production version has been revealed with surprisingly few changes, at least on the exterior, with Volkswagen stressing that ‘form follows function’. The ID.Buzz will launch in two forms, an MPV version and a van, which is called the ID.Buzz Cargo.

Model Measuring 4.7m in length, and with a long 3m wheelbase, the passenger model will debut in five-seat form, though Volkswagen has said that a ‘six and seven-seat configuration and an extended wheelbase will follow’.

Key styling details include bold LED lights that run into the large Volkswagen emblem, along with a two-tone colour scheme, two key elements that feature on the original T1 model. When the dual paint is selected, the top half of the model will always be painted in Candy White.

Based on the dedicated MEB platform for electric vehicles, which already underpins a range of EVs from the Volkswagen Group, the ID.Buzz offers a vast 1,121 litres of boot space with five seats in position, and a huge 2,205 litres with the rear seats folded.

As for the commercial model, its 3.9m-cubed cargo space slots it between the Caddy and Transporter in its van range for space, with VW saying it can carry two euro pallets in the back, along with a maximum payload of 650kg.

Inside, the dashboard layout closely mirrors that of Volkswagen’s MEB-based ID.3 and ID.4 models, including a large central touchscreen measuring up to 12 inches and small digital dial display, with the whole interior having a light and minimalist look.

Both MPV and van versions are said to be made and supplied on a ‘carbon-neutral basis’, with the interior being free from all animal leather, and Volkswagen working to use a range of recycled plastics in the interior.

The ID.Buzz will come to Europe with a 77kWh battery and a 201bhp electric motor. Volkswagen is yet to announce an electric range, but it’s expected it will be able to travel around 250 miles on a full battery, while it can rapidly charge at up to 170kW, with a charge from five to 80 per cent set to be able to take place in just half an hour.

Smaller and more affordable powertrain options will launch in the future.

Both versions will also come with technology that allows bi-directional charging, which offers the possibility for electric cars to feed power they don’t need to the domestic mains and help stabilise the electricity grid.

Jozef Kabaň, head of design at Volkswagen, said: “The ID. Buzz is timeless, sustainable and yet also extremely functional – that makes it unique. At the same time, it shows that it is successfully transferring the genes and stylistic elements of that iconic vehicle into the digital era.”

Prices for the ID.Buzz are yet to start, but pre-sales are set to begin in May ahead of first deliveries commencing later in the year.

Pieter Nota, member of the Board of Management responsible for customer, brands and sales, said: “The automotive industry is in the midst of a far-reaching transformation towards sustainable mobility. For that reason, existing business models need to be re-examined on a regular basis. For over fifty years, the Buchloe firm has demon­strated how to deliver top-quality car cachet through meticulous attention to detail.

“The BMW Group is also driven by this same passion for cars that capture the imagination.

That is why we are now embarking on a new chapter in our long-standing partnership.

Acquiring the trademark rights will allow us to shape the long-term course of this brand steeped in tradition. We are delighted to welcome the

Alpina brand to the BMW family.”

BMW says that small-series manufacturers – such as Alpina – face increasing challenges when it comes to ‘electromobility and increasing regulation worldwide – particularly emissions legislation’. By becoming part of BMW Group, Alpina will be better equipped to deal with these particular issues.

Andreas Bovensiepen, co-managing director of Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG, explains: “We recognised the challenges facing the automotive industry early on and are now setting the right course for Alpina and for our family firm, Bovensiepen.

“This marks the beginning of a new chapter.

Both the Alpina brand and our company are extremely desirable. We made a conscious decision not to sell Alpina to just any manufacturer, because BMW and Alpina have worked together and trusted one another for decades. That is why it is the right decision strategically for the Alpina brand to be managed by the BMW Group in the future.”

Alpina will continue to build and sell its cars as usual up until the end of 2025. Currently, Alpina vehicles are assembled on BMW production lines prior to final assembly taking place at Alpina’s workshops in Buchloe, near Munich.

Officially founded in 1965, Alpina gained experience in BMW tuning and motorsports before manufacturing passenger cars based on BMW vehicles from 1978.

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