Times of Tunbridge Wells 16th June 2021

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Music festival falls victim to the lockdown push back But Pub in the Park is still set to go ahead next month

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Wednesday June 16 | 2021

EXIT STAGE Black Deer is cancelled for yet another year

ORGANISERS of the Black Deer music festival, that was due to kick off in Eridge next week, say they are ‘beyond devastated’ at having to cancel the event for the second year running. The announcement came after PM Boris Johnson pushed back the planned ending of all Covid restrictions from June 21 to July 19 on Monday evening.

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• VoIP 01892 267200 hello@hostmyoffice.co.uk www.hostmyoffice.co.uk [Tuesday]: “We can’t quite put into words how we are feeling right now. “The delay by the Government on the easing of restrictions means we’re unable to bring you Black Deer Festival 2021. “It’s devastating news for all connected with Black Deer. But we’ll be back in 2022.

We’ll soon be sharing the next steps for Black Deer Festival 2022 with all you wonderful ticket-holders who stuck with us. We’ll be in touch very soon.”

See more on page 2

Foodbank founder is named in Queen’s Birthday Honours THE woman who set up Tunbridge Wells’ local foodbank is to receive an MBE from the Queen. Olga Johnson, founder of Nourish Community Foodbank, was awarded the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for her charity work as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours announced last week. She set up Nourish in 2012

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‘Van Morrison and Robert Plant had been expected to draw crowds of 20,000’ The Americana music festival, first held in 2018, was due to run from June 25-27. It was expected to see more than thousands descend on Eridge Park. Covid restrictions mean it could only go ahead by limiting numbers to 4,000. It is the second time the festival has had to be postponed with 2020’s event rescheduled to this year due to Covid. Acts including Van Morrison and former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, had been expected to draw a crowd of up to 20,000 people, but in a statement, organisers said yesterday

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after recognising a need in the area to support households with a regular source of healthy food for those that cannot afford it. Since then, it has gone on to provide thousands of meals each year to needy families and saw its busiest year during the pandemic where it provided more than 90,000 meals to hard up households.

Olga was awarded the MBE not just for founding Nourish but also for her other charity work setting up Charity Recruitment Search, working for Trustees Unlimited and giving her time to trustee roles at Nourish, Institute of Fundraising, Sightsavers, Healthprom and SPANA since retirement.

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Wednesday June 16 | 2021

this week… County Hall closes the door to any more child migrants

By Richard Williams

MOVING TIMES: One man’s dismay when finding that his life’s possessions had been removed from his home of nearly 40 years P6

SLEEPING ROUGH: Tonbridge School’s 12th annual sleepout. The event raises awareness of homelessness while raising money for charity Porchlight P14

COMEDY NIGHT: Jen Brister of Live at the Apollo fame is coming to The Forum for Entitled Dark Horse Live P30 BOOKWORM: The Times’ new guest book reviewer and blogger, Hannah Kirsop, shares her top summer reads this week P39

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KENT County Council [KCC] has said it will not take any more child migrants a week after threatening the Home Secretary with legal action over the issue. County Hall said it has ‘reached the limit’ for the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) it can look after for the second time in a year. Council leader Roger Gough and Sue Chandler, the cabinet member for integrated children’s services, announced last week that the Council had again reached unsafe capacity and from Monday [June 14] was no longer accepting new UASCs.

Saddened It took similar action last year, but a deal was struck to ease the financial burden on County Hall, which does receive money for each UASC it takes in, but not enough to cover costs. “I am profoundly saddened to be in this unthinkable position once again in such a short period of time. Despite warnings, and continued dialogue with Government, Kent’s UASC support resources are again significantly overwhelmed,” Cllr Gough said. Last Thursday, the Home Office announced measures to encourage more local authorities around the UK to take in child migrants who arrive unaccompanied. The Council had a week earlier threatened legal action against the Home Secretary over the ‘extreme pressure’ on its services and said it was still waiting on a response from Priti Patel before considering its next steps. Cllr Gough said that after taking advice from its

ALONE Child migrants arriving in Dover last week and [left] Cllr Roger Gough Director of Children’s Services, the Council would ‘no longer be able meet our statutory duty to safely care for the children we support’ and no further arrivals could be accepted until ‘sufficient transfers have been made outside of Kent bringing our numbers back to safe levels’. The Council said the government’s recommended maximum number of under 18-year-old UASCs that Kent should care for is 231. Kent’s number of under-18 UASC in care has risen from 274 to more than 400 since the beginning of the year and the numbers are rapidly increasing on a daily basis, according to KCC. The Council said it is also dealing with 1,100 UASC care leavers over 18 who remain in care with the council until the age of 25. Cllr Gough said: “If every other local authority in the UK were to take two or three under 18-year-old UASC who arrive at Dover into their care, Kent’s numbers would reduce to the council’s safe allocation immediately. This remains, a small problem for the nation to resolve but a huge and unreasonable responsibility for Kent.”

Continued from front page

Foodbank honours Operations Director of the foodbank, Dawn Stanford, has also been recognised with a BEM (British Empire Medal). Dawn, who has worked for Nourish for more than eight years, has been give the award for her commitment to helping families in crisis but also has been recognised for her ability to adapt in times of crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Paul Haines, Chair of the Nourish Trustees, said: “We are absolutely delighted that both Olga and Dawn have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for their hard work and dedication to supporting people in emergency crisis in the borough of Tunbridge Wells. “In 2012, Olga saw a need to develop a regular source of healthy food to support households who couldn’t afford it. Since those early days, the charity has grown to meet demand and last year provided over 91,000 meals (2019-2020). “Throughout the pandemic we have seen an unprecedented growth in demand for our services and our incredible team of staff and volunteers, under Dawn’s leadership, have gone above and beyond to meet this unmet need.”

LOCAL BIRTHDAY HONOURS Other people in the area honoured by the Queen last week, include Victoria Anne Rayner, from Tunbridge Wells who is the Chief Executive Officer, National Care Forum. She receives the Order of the Bath for services to Social Care. Patricia Bernal from Tunbridge Wells who is the co-founder and Trustee of Protection Against Stalking has received an OBE [Order of the British Empire] for services to the Prevention of Stalking. And Lynda Shepherd from Wadhurst, East Sussex has received an MBE for services to the community in Kilndown, Kent.

Festival founder left ‘devastated’ after cancellation of Black Deer Continued from front page Co-founder of the event, Gill Tee, said she was ‘beyond devastated’ by the postponement and the festival had already sold 10,000 tickets. She said: “We are devastated that this has happened. We can’t proceed on a 4,000 capacity as we have already sold over 10,000 tickets. “All our suppliers and team that worked so hard to put this in place, it is a massive blow to us.” Also due to take place over the next four weeks is Pub in the Park. The food festival organised by TV chef Tom Kerridge, is scheduled for the weekend of July 9-11 at Dunorlan Park.

SUNSET There will be no festival in Eridge Park this year

Reduction Organisers say it will go ahead and is ‘socially distanced with Covid safety measures in place’, but previous events have seen around 17,000 people flock to Dunorlan Park over the three days so there may have to be a reduction in visitor numbers to adhere to the rules. The inaugural TW Fringe is also scheduled for July. The event, which will see everything from opera to drama, dance and comedy performed over two weeks in the town, is due to go ahead. Organiser, Debbie King said: “We are indeed going ahead. There might be a couple of things changed but that’s all.” Large indoor performances and sporting events do allow a capacity of 1,000 people or half usual audiences, whichever is smaller. It is hoped restrictions will have been completely eased before the August Bank Holiday weekend when the town’s Local & Live music festival is set to take place after a year’s absence. But the town’s pubs, bars and restaurants will be forced to maintain social distancing of one metre plus until at least the rescheduled date for

the easing of restrictions. Other events affected by the delay to lifting restrictions also includes Tunbridge Wells’ Parkrun.

Rebellion Parkrun organisers have said all events including the Dunorlan Park 5km run will not return in England until at least July 24 after the Government postponed the lifting of pandemic restrictions. The free 5km Saturday morning runs were due to restart on June 26. Ministers were expected to hold a vote over the delay to the easing of restrictions in Parliament today [Wednesday], with lockdown-sceptic MPs on the Tory backbenches considering a rebellion, although it is expected the Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer will back the government’s delay.

RATES INCREASE DUE TO VARIANT The delay of ‘Freedom Day’ has been caused by a concern over the Delta Variant of Covid-19 – the strain first identified in India. It is now believed that 90 per cent of cases in the UK are of this new virus strain, although there is no evidence that vaccines are not effective against it. Rates of Covid-19 have increased over the last few weeks, with figures from Sunday showing a further 7,490 cases in the UK - up 2,149 from a figure of 5,341 the previous week – the highest levels since March this year. For the seven days to June 10, there were 32 cases of coronavirus detected in Tunbridge Wells – up from 18 a week earlier. The rate per 100,000 in the Borough is now 27.0, well below the national average of 67.1.

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

NEWS IN BRIEF

Witnesses sought after Pinetum knife assault A 17-YEAR-OLD girl was left injured after fighting off an attempted sex attacker at the Bedgebury Pintetum near Hawkhurst. The incident happened on Sunday evening [June 13] when a man in possession of a knife approached the teenager as she was sitting on a bench next to a lake accessed from Park Lane. The suspect is said to have physically assaulted the victim and during a struggle the young woman sustained injuries. Police were called to the area at 7.07pm and the victim was taken to hospital and later discharged.

Remote The suspect is described as white, in his 40s and was wearing dark trousers (possibly jogging bottoms) and had a face mask on. An investigation is now being led by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Kimber said: “We are working to establish the full circumstances of this incident, which happened at a fairly remote location known as Louisa Lake. “It was a very warm day and there would have been lots of visitors to the Pinetum, including walkers and cyclists. I would urge anyone who may have been in or around this area to contact us if they have any information, no matter how small or insignificant it may appear.” DCI Kimber added: “It is important to remember that incidents such as this remain extremely rare, however we are urging people to be vigilant and to be aware of their surroundings.”

Kent County Show KENT’S annual agricultural show is to be replaced by a scaled down event next month. Organisers of the Kent County Show held each year at The Kent Showground, Detling, say they will replace the event with a smaller Kent County Summer Fayre over the weekend of Saturday July 10 and Sunday July 11. The decision to scale back the event was made before Boris Johnson’s announcement on Monday.

Scale James Forknall, Chairman of the show, said: “After reviewing the Government road map, and the final opening date being so close to the show dates, we could not take the risk of all the hard work needed to put on a large-scale event for it then to be potentially pulled at the last minute. “With staff changes also being a factor, a smaller scale event is far more achievable within the timescale we have to organise. It is so important to us this year, to put on a show to help business owners grow after some very challenging times, whilst also encouraging the public to once again enjoy a great and safe day out.”

Crowborough jab centre A COVID-19 vaccination service in Crowborough is now on the national booking system. Saxonbury House GP Surgery is now asking for anyone over 23 who is yet to have their jab to come forward. The team has three sessions running this week with more than 900 appointments available. People can book their vaccination through www.nhs.uk. The opening comes as all those over 18 are expected to be allowed to book a jab from the end of this week.

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Police investigate ransomware attacks that closed two schools By Richard Williams TWO Tunbridge Wells schools forced to close after hackers broke into their servers have reopened this week although computer experts have warned other schools are at similar risk. Last week, The Skinners’ Kent Academy and Skinners’ Kent Primary School revealed that they were both forced to close after hackers encrypted vital pupil information during a ransomware attack, which normally involve demands for money. It is not known if any ‘ransom’ was paid in this instance. Kent Police are currently investigating the incident. A spokesman for the force said: “Specialist detectives from Kent Police’s Cybercrime Unit are carrying out enquiries after a school in Tunbridge Wells reported that its computer systems had been illegally accessed.

HACKED OFF Skinners’ Kent Academy

Encryption “The incident, which is reported to have involved the theft and encryption of personal data, happened at some point between 5pm on Tuesday, June 1 and 8am on Wednesday, June 2.” The academy that runs the schools said they couldn’t be sure exactly what information the hackers had access to and told parents it would be ‘very wise’ to contact their banks to let them know their details could have been taken. The schools told parents last week: “We cannot be sure exactly what the hackers have access to and what they don’t as everything has been encrypted, therefore we are changing all of the trust’s passwords and would recommend that students and parents do the same. “It would be very wise to let your bank know that your bank details may have been taken.” The school has since said that the number of ransomware attacks against schools have increased in the last four months.

Mike Robinson, CEO of CyberCrowd, a UK cybersecurity firm that works with the education sector, says schools are particularly vulnerable to such attacks. He told the Times: “The National Cyber Security Centre has previously highlighted an increase in ransomware attacks in the UK education sector, which includes schools, colleges and universities. “Often, the education sector is running older equipment, which is more vulnerable to security attacks. Additionally, best practice such as offline back-ups and a general awareness of the cyber security risks is not in place. “Schools and colleges are particularly vulnerable as they carry a considerable amount of personal data on young people, and often the banking and other details of parents. “It is essential that schools and colleges do

everything possible to protect the data they hold and invest in staff training to protect their students.” The Academy Trust hasn’t said how much money was demanded by the hackers, but has said it is working with the police, Action Fraud and the National Cyber Security Centre to investigate the attack. The Academy said: “Whilst the Trust had a number of systems in place to prevent such an attack happening on our network, the sophisticated nature of the organisation behind this, meant that The Academy was not in a position whereby we could access the essential information and data we required to open safely following the June Half term. “The Trust worked incredibly hard to ensure that our students were back in the Academy and face to face education, as soon as it was possible.”

Pill-sized camera trialled at hospital to spot cancer

benefits to the patient, such as reducing their time spent in hospital and giving them more freedom to carry on with their normal day.” Dr Henry Taylor, Chief of Cancer Services at MTW, added: “During the coronavirus pandemic we were proud to continue all our cancer treatments as normal and as we continue to prioritise cancer care, this latest innovation will ensure people can get the checks they need and conveniently. “These cutting-edge cameras are small but they will make a huge difference for patients and as always we encourage everyone who has any symptoms of cancer to help us to help you and not delay treatment – we are ready and here to help you.”

By Robert Forrester A TINY camera the size of a vitamin pill is being piloted at the Trust that runs Tunbridge Wells Hospital and can be used to spot signs of cancer and other conditions. Currently, patients with bowel conditions have to undertake an endoscopy, which requires a hospital visit where a long, thin flexible tube with a light and camera at one end is inserted into the throat or bowel.

‘These cutting-edge cameras are small but they will make a huge difference for patients’ Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) is the only organisation across Kent and Medway taking part in an innovative new pilot where patients can now swallow a tiny camera, avoiding the need for an intrusive endoscopy or a possible stay in hospital. Patients with symptoms of potential bowel cancer are referred by their GP for treatment with the imaging technology, known as a colon capsule endoscopy, which is completely painless and comes in the form of a capsule no bigger than a standard vitamin tablet. This new technology means that people swallow a capsule and can then go about their normal day, carrying out everyday tasks such as going to work and driving.

After swallowing, the camera takes up to eight hours to travel through the patients’ system, taking two images per second. Clinical staff then download the information via the data recorder strapped to the patients’ waist. The high-resolution images are then analysed to detect signs of cancer and other conditions such as Crohn’s disease.

Uncomfortable The pioneering device provides an innovative alternative to treatments such as colonoscopies which can sometimes be uncomfortable, require a sedative for the patient and a longer stay in hospital. Dr Laurence Maiden, Chief of Medicine and Emergency Care for MTW, said: “We are always looking for new innovations to enhance the patient experience and ensure we are constantly developing and evolving the outstanding care our teams at MTW deliver. “The colon capsule comes with remarkable

EASY TO SWALLOW The camera is the size of a vitamin pill

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Hard up families face four-year wait on Council’s housing list By Richard Williams THE waiting time for social housing in Tunbridge Wells now stands at around four years. This means it has doubled in the last 12 months leading to claims that the issue is not even on the borough council’s ‘radar’. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC], which does not have any of its own council house stock, relies on private housing companies to provide low-cost accommodation. But according to a Freedom of Information request by a local resident, there are 860 people currently waiting for housing on Tunbridge Wells’ housing register. Last year, the Council managed to rehome just 300 people into social housing, which is defined as being at 60 per cent of the area’s market rent. The average wait time for a three-bedroom social house in the Borough is now more than 1,400 days – just under four years – twice what it was 12 months earlier.

Temporary In 2020, the average wait for a three-bedroom house in the Borough was just two years. Waiting lists for two or one bedroom properties stand at 800 days or nearly three years. Currently, 100 people are in temporary accommodation, half of whom are in a hotel or B&B at a cost of £200 a week to taxpayers. Resident Chris Stevenson, who made the FOI request, says hard up families are stuck in a ‘vicious circle’ and many have ‘no hope’ of ever being housed. He said: “Thanks to the Covid pandemic, many more will be in a worse situation relying on this

AFFORDABLE Furlough has seen a rise in people seeking social housing

list which will ultimately become far worse and will leave many more people in limbo.” Tunbridge Wells councillors think there is more the Council can do. Cllr Hugo Pound, who leads the Labour group, said: “This Council is not doing enough to address the severe housing needed across the Borough – and everyone knows it, but the current administration has not made it a priority. “The Council should become a registered social landlord and start building and managing its own housing for the many families across the Borough who can neither afford to buy nor rent at Tunbridge Wells prices.” Tunbridge Wells Borough Council say of the 13,500 homes tasked by the government to be built in the Borough by 2033, 40 per cent affordable homes – at 80 per cent of market rental value – and of these 60 per cent will be social houses – around 3,240.

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Cllr Andy Fairweather, the Cabinet member for Communities and Wellbeing at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said there has been an increase in the numbers applying for social housing. “This has been especially acute since January this year. On average the numbers of households applying to the housing register is 30 per week. Prior to the pandemic we were receiving around 23 applications per week,” he said. He continued: “The Council is seeing more applications from households who are experiencing difficulties in affording their rent and some due to being on furlough.” He added that fewer lettings have been made by housing associations during the lockdowns. “There hasn’t been the usual number of properties becoming available for re-let. This has led to households on the housing register having increased waiting times, particularly for family houses.”

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

Lawyer suspended after ‘unacceptable’ royal baby tweet A FAMILY barrister from Tunbridge Wells has been suspended by the law firm that she founded after posting a tweet following the birth of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new baby. Joanna Toch was suspended with immediate effect ‘pending an internal review’ from Family Law Cafe (FLC), a company that she set up in Chancery Lane, London. The law firm said it considered the barrister’s comments to be ‘offensive, unacceptable and highly contradictory to the inclusive manner in which FLC has always and will continue to work’. Her suspension came after she commented on Twitter last week about the name of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new baby, Lilibet ‘Lily’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. The barrister, who founded Family Law Cafe in 2014, tweeted: “No Doria? Don’t black names matter?” Doria Ragland is the name of Meghan Markle’s mother. The tweet was in response to Telegraph journalist Julie Burchill, who drew widespread criticism after posting: “What a missed opportunity. They could have called it Georgina Floydina!” Her comment was in reference to George Floyd, whose murder in the US sparked last year’s Black Lives Matter protests. Ms Burchill was later fired by the Telegraph over the comment. Ms Toch later apologised and said her comment was just ‘a joke’.

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

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Parties justify gender imbalances after charge of ‘jobs for the boys’ By Richard Williams POLITICAL parties in Tunbridge Wells this week defended their records on gender equality following accusations of ‘hypocrisy’. Two weeks ago, this newspaper reported how the local Conservative group on the Borough Council elected just one female to chair a committee. Out of 26 senior positions 25 went to men prompting Labour to suggest it ‘smacked of jobs for the boys’. Now the Tunbridge Wells Labour Party have themselves been accused of ‘hypocrisy’ with a Times reader pointing out all their chairs and branch chairs are men, with women only holding secretarial positions.

‘The Labour Party should get its act together on equalities issues before calling the kettle black’ The letter [printed on the right] suggests the local Labour Party was showing ‘hypocrisy and double standards’ and that it ‘should get its act together on equalities issues before calling the kettle black’. Martin Betts, Chairman of Tunbridge Wells Constituency Labour Party, responded, by saying: “At least half of our Constituency and Branch Officers are female, and we have All Women Shortlists for what are regarded as winnable council seats. “Our Chair and Secretary roles are on a par in terms of importance, and we regularly see women acting in both roles.” He continued: “Tunbridge Wells Labour Party will take no lessons on gender equality from the Tories who, 11 years after the introduction of the Sex Equality Act, have appointed male councillors to almost every significant position of responsibility on the Borough Council.”

Dear editor, I read your article with interest and was taken by the hypocrisy and double standards of some of the contributors. Tunbridge Wells Labour Party has a Chair; a broadly similar but scaled down role to that of the Leader of the Council. It also has three Branch Chairs: one for Southborough High Brooms Branch, one

for Paddock Wood Branch and one Tunbridge Wells Branch. All four Chair positions are occupied by men! Not a woman in sight until you come to their secretaries who are surprise all women. Perhaps Tunbridge Wells Local Labour Party should get its act together on equalities issues before calling the kettle black. (Name and address supplied.)

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HOW DO THE OTHER PARTIES FARE ON THE QUESTION OF GENDER DIVERSITY? The Times contacted the local political parties to ask what the gender make-up was of senior positions at their local branches. The Liberal Democrats responded by saying of nine senior roles, four were currently held by men and four by women, with one position vacant. Party Chair, Cllr James Rands, said: “What ought not to be controversial is that groups make better decisions when there is cognitive diversity, where you have people with different perspective and different life experience and different ways of approaching problems.” He continued: “As Chair I want to recruit the best possible candidates, but I recognise that a good candidate in Culverden isn’t necessarily a good candidate in Cranbrook or Broadwater. “We want people who represent their communities and understand the issues a community faces. If you have that approach you will start to develop a more diverse group of councillors.” The Conservative Party, who held their local association AGM last week, have admitted the lack of diversity in the party is not ‘the situation we want’. Chair, Andrew Hobart, told the Times: “We had our local Association AGM via Zoom last week including the election of office holders. “The outcome of elections were – Chairman Paul Barrington-King , Deputy Chairs Andrew Hobart and Bill Hills; Vice Chairs Beverley Palmer, Graham Riddick, Rebecca Winter and Alex Lewis-Gray. “So only two out of seven officers are women which is not the situation we want. “As the Association builds back better after the lockdowns we intend to reorganise our structure to encourage more members to join and to be active. In particular we hope to increase our membership amongst women and amongst younger people.” The Tunbridge Wells Alliance were contacted but the party did not respond for comment.

MP grills Health Secretary on his thoughts about those Dominic Cummings allegations Mr Cummings left his position in government six months ago. During four hours of questioning, led by both Mr Clark and Jeremy Hunt, the chair of the Health and Social Care committee, Matt Hancock revealed that there had ‘never been a national shortage of PPE’ in the UK but admitted there had been ‘local challenges’. He also dismissed a claim by Greg Clark that it was ‘clear’ by the evidence presented to the hearing that ‘the country did not enter lockdown early enough’.

By Robert Forrester TUNBRIDGE WELLS MP Greg Clark was again at the centre of a political row last week as the Health Secretary responded to allegations made by the PM’s former chief spin doctor about his handling of the Covid pandemic. Mr Clark, who chairs the Commons’ Science and Technology Select Committee, had heard from Dominic Cummings at the end of last month. The former chief advisor to Boris Johnson had

‘The best thing to say, is that Government has operated much better in the past six months’ claimed Health Secretary Matt Hancock should have been sacked on 15 to 20 occasions over coronavirus failings and his ‘criminal, disgraceful behaviour’ on the testing target. He also accused the Health Secretary of ‘lying’ both in meetings and publicly. Before hearing evidence last week from Mr Hancock, Mr Clark said Mr Cummings has failed to provide any proof to back up his allegations. He said a deadline of the previous Friday had been set for the evidence being submitted so it could inform the questioning of Health Secretary Matt Hancock. “We have not received that evidence nor any

HEALTH SECRETARY Matt Hancock explanation as to why that has not been available,” Mr Clark said at the latest hearing of his select committee, adding: “It’s important that if serious allegations are made against an individual, they should be corroborated with evidence, and it must be counted as unproven without it.” Despite this, Mr Clark asked Mr Hancock about the allegations, all of which the Health Secretary denied, saying he had always acted with ‘honesty and integrity’. He was then asked what had caused the dispute between the pair. “Why do you think it was Dominic Cummings choose to be so withering? Did you have a bad

CHAIRMAN Tunbirdge Wells MP Greg Clark last week personal engagement over the time, or was it a sincere difference of policy view … what’s the origins of this dispute?” Mr Clark asked. Mr Hancock said he had ‘no idea’. But when asked by the Tunbridge Wells MP if he knew the PM’s ex-adviser had tried to have him sacked, the Health Secretary replied: “Yes, because he briefed the newspapers at the time. Or somebody briefed the newspapers, I now have a better idea who that was.” He added: “I think the best thing to say about this, and this will be corroborated by lots of people in Government, the best thing to say, is that Government has operated better in the past six months.”

Advice Mr Hancock said that scientific advice at the time was against early lockdown, despite admitting he had been briefed of a ‘reasonable worst case scenario’ of the pandemic causing 820,000 deaths. He said: “The clear scientific advice at the time was that there was a need to have these tools like lockdown at your disposal but also that the consequences and the costs of lockdown start immediately and, critically, the clear advice at the time was that there’s only a limited period that people would put up with it, would put up with lockdown. “Now that proved actually to be wrong.” He also revealed to the hearing that the Indian variant of coronavirus – that has now been named the Delta Variant – now comprises 91 per cent of all Covid cases in the UK.

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Wednesday June 16 | 2021

Family in dispute with housing association over authors’ letters

house had letters from Oscar Wilde plus letters to our grandmother from George Bernard Shaw. “Along with the letters, there was history on our family, her jewellery and hundreds of books, some of which have been signed, but because they are considered ‘second hand’ the association did not see them of much value. “All of this history has just been wiped out.” Mr Tarling added that it has all impacted his father’s mental health: “He can’t now remember what the inside of the house looked like. “This has erased all his memories of that house, along with all the physical attachments to his mother. He has, at 88 years of age, been asked to do an inventory of all his possessions.

By Lottie Bulmer A TUNBRIDGE Wells based housing association is embroiled in an argument over the treatment of one of its residents that involves the disappearance of letters from writers Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. Gerald Tarling, aged 88, was a resident of a Town & Country Housing property in Five Oak Green for nearly 40 years until a flood in February 2020 caused his house to be uninhabitable.

Wrong

While he took up his temporary residence in Southborough, his children returned to the property to assess the damage and discovered that his belongings including letters from the writers Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw had been removed from his home. The family have copies of the letters from George Bernard Shaw which were sent from the writer to one of Charles Dickens’ daughters thanking her for her work at a publishing house. There were no copies of the letters from Oscar Wilde. Son Marcus told the Times: “My father was sitting in his living room one day and heard a strange noise and suddenly there was a swoosh of foul water and he was up to his knees in it. “The housing association then moved him to

PHOTO: Rose Bainbridge

“There has been an absolute denial of what happened... He has at 88 years of age been asked to do an inventory of all his possessions that have been lost”

MOVING TIMES Gerald Tarling has had to leave his home of nearly 40 years Southborough and everything salvageable from the ground floor was to be moved upstairs. “He was given £8,000 in compensation for his carpets, fridges, washing machine and white goods which were damaged by the water.” He said they did not realise that all the goods had been removed until a later return visit. “His shed, which contained tools and antiques had been opened and everything had been taken along with his belongings from the ground floor.” The association told the family it was nothing

to do with them. “They eventually admitted they had taken and disposed of his belongings,” said Mr Tarling. “There has been an absolute denial of what happened. Under the Interference of Goods Act, the association has a duty of care to my father and his belongings. “He has been offered £12,000 in the way of compensation, but that is nowhere near the sentimental value of his belongings. “My father’s mother was a publisher and the

“The idea that he should have to prove what was there is totally wrong.” A spokesperson for Town and Country said: “Mr Tarling has been one of our residents since 1982, when he moved into his house in Tonbridge. “The flooding from a nearby reservoir and subsequent sewage problems in February last year meant he could no longer stay there and we have now re-settled him into older persons accommodation on another Town & Country Housing scheme. “Although Mr Tarling’s family were able to clear many of the possessions from the ground floor, there were other items upstairs. “We then tried to fix a time for the family to visit the property to collect the remaining items. We phoned his daughter three times and emailed her to say we needed to urgently clear the house, but with no response. “As the house had been badly damaged by water and sewage, we had to start the clean-up process as swiftly as possible. It was important to repair the property and make it available for other families in need. “Mr Tarling’s family have been liaising with our insurance company on the matter of compensation.”

WE’RE ON YOUR DOORSTEP Having a local office means we’re accessible, whether you need to make changes to your policy or make a claim. Our insurance products and financial services include: • Home • Car • Business

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S T E E R T S H YOUR HIG AFE AND S , N E P O E AR ! i H O T READY Say

ts, ubs, restauran p s, fe ca s, p o The sh and llbeing venues health and we the nesses across other local busi pen ge Wells are o d ri b n Tu f o h g borou to they’d love you d n a – in a g a once ‘Hi!’. come and say k, ts of Cranbroo The high stree nd uthborough a Hawkhurst, So ing ve got someth a h d o o W ck o Padd for everybody.

for a oking for a gift You might be lo a treat ert DIY advice, loved one, exp orts by, specialist sp for your fur ba n hool uniform, a equipment, sc ome or righten your h accessory to b e end t to celebrate th just a new outfi of lockdown. with nt to catch up Or you may wa um out coffee, take m friends over a do ething new to m so d n fi r o for lunch

with the kids. ackdrop of the And with the b igh eald, all four h W sh ti n e K s u o glori nd ificent views a n g a m ve a h ts stree ps. on their doorste glorious walks drking and covi a p f o ty n le p h Wit , res, Cranbrook secure measu d uthborough an Hawkhurst, So say d are ready to Paddock Woo et oYourHighStre iT H y a S # . u yo ‘Hi!’ to

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BUSINESS

Local News

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Wednesday June 16 | 2021

Tunbridge Wells expansion an ‘unmissable opportunity’ LETTINGS company Miles & Barr Group has expanded into West Kent by acquiring Southborough-based Brettsletts. The firm, which has offices in Sandwich, Canterbury, Faversham and Folkestone say the acquisition was an ‘unmissable opportunity’ to gain a foothold in and around Tunbridge Wells. Brettstletts, a boutique lettings agency started by a husband and wife duo, was acquired at the same time as Miles & Barr also bought Roger & Hambidge, a Westgate-onSea block management business.

LEGAL BOOST Fees from clients increased last year for Thomson Snell & Passmore

Pandemic year sees revenues grow at world’s oldest law firm By Richard Williams TUNBRIDGE WELLS based Thomson Snell & Passmore saw a ten per cent increase in revenue during the pandemic, the firm has announced. The Vale Avenue based company, which is in the Guinness Book of Records for being the oldest law firm in the world having been founded in 1570, saw fee income increase by 10 per cent in the 12 months ending June 5, 2021. The firm reported total fee income of TW_FINAL.pdf 1 15/06/2021 £24.9million for the year, marking the

eighth consecutive period of growth, despite the challenges presented by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Senior partner Joanna Pratt, alongside CEO Sarah Henwood, will now be embarking on a new three-year business plan based on the experiences of the last 15 months.

Reshaping Sarah Henwood said: “Our latest financial results are testament to the firm’s long history of adapting and 11:53 responding to change.

“These continue to be challenging times for all, with the pandemic reshaping ways of working across all industries. “It has allowed us to really examine how we operate as a firm and to put in place measures to further improve our efficiency and effectiveness. “We are embracing new ways of working and, as always, remain committed to keeping our clients at the heart of everything we do, while continuing to support our staff and local communities, as we look to the future.”

Tell your dog to clear their diary At Bruce’s Tunbridge Wells we’ve packed all our expertise into designing a doggy day care dedicated to unleashing happiness and enriching the lives of dogs and their families. C

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THE Kent History and Library Centre run by Kent County Council [KCC] has been allocated £627,245 to equip it into a Business & IP Centre space. The expansion is part of a £13million Treasury pledge to turn more libraries into a network of Business & Intellectual Property Centres (BIPCs).

Help More than 100 regional and local libraries across England have already been turned into BIPCs. The Kent centre at the library in James Whatman Way, Maidstone will be able to provide the help and

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Foothold Simon Thompson, lettings director at Miles & Barr Group, said: “We have a strong foothold across East Kent, so we decided to look to a new region within the county and the purchase of Brettsletts provided an unmissable chance to establish our presence in Tunbridge Wells.”

Grant turns library into new business resource

Why not book a visit or virtual tour and enjoy a FREE taster session to begin your dog’s adventures!

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Following the Brettsletts’ sale, the founding partners at the agency will continue to provide consultancy services while the company transitions to Miles & Barr Lettings.

support for small businesses and entrepreneurs. It is set to launch during Libraries Week in October. The BIPC network has a strong track record of supporting people from all walks of life to start, protect and grow a successful business. In three years it has supported the creation of more than 12,000 new businesses and led to the creation of more than 7,800 new jobs. Mike Hill, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services, said: “I am delighted that the Kent History and Library Centre is to be included in this major nationwide initiative.”

THE BANK OF MUM AND DAD (BOMAD) HELPING THE NEXT GENERATION ON THE PROPERTY LADDER

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etting onto the property ladder has arguably never been harder nor more expensive. The average house price has for the first time in history, hit £250,000 according to Halifax so is it any wonder that more and more are turning to The Bank of Mum and Dad for help? Panoramic Wealth have been advising clients fully through the process for many years. This means we are dealing with both generations, from the parents (or grandparents) gifting the monies down, to advising the next generation with the purchase of their properties. Having multigenerational advisers and being a family owned business ourselves has ensured that advising families is a particularly strong area of ours at Panoramic. The Bank of Mum and Dad is now the 11th largest lender in the UK with around 1 in 4 property prices being aided by them but why? Buying a property, is often seen as a must in the UK when it comes the next step in progressing through life. However, often paying high rent, paying off student loans and credit cards can mean it is tricky to save enough for a deposit. Where BoMaD is making the biggest impact, is when it comes to the deposit. The higher this is, the more availability of loans there are, the lower mortgage payments will be each month. Previously, this could have been as low as 5% of the purchase price but with lenders reacting to Covid-19, this has jumped to at least 10% and even then, the availability of these are few and far between. This change in requirement for a deposit of 10% or more is where we are seeing parents step in to help out the next generation by way of gifting. There are, however, many implications to this gift but what are they? Life expectancy is continuing to increase, meaning retirement is often lasting more years

than previously and therefore, the money has to too. The dangers of over gifting could result in those trying to lend a hand now actually running out of money in the future. How can Panoramic Wealth help? We can enable you to maximise the impact of this gift without falling into the trap of running out of money in the future. As it is usually it is more of a requirement to make

a gift rather than a loan and such gifts need to be taken into account in relation to potential inheritance tax and other liabilities. What we see with our clients is that when The Bank of Mum and Dad (or grandparents) works, the whole family benefit. Children get onto the property ladder and do not have to continue paying rent and parents are able to gift monies with a warm hand and not a cold one which ensures they are still around to see the benefits of doing so. Panoramic, in conjunction with Weald productions have recorded a series of podcasts, one of which on BoMaD so if that is of interest, head to our website – www. panoramicwealth.co.uk. It may be that the Bank of Mum and Dad is not needed as there are various other routes to home ownership that few people are aware of:

Mortgages for Professionals are available to recently qualified Accountants, Actuaries, Barristers, Dentists, Medical doctors, Pharmacists, Solicitors and Pilots. These use a multiple of 6X salary rather than the standard 4.49X. (Engineers, Vets and Optometrists have a ceiling of 5.5X.) n Joint borrower sole proprietor – This allows those moving into the property to combine their income with a supporting family member. Only those moving into the property are put on the property deed which avoids a SDLT surcharge of 3%. n Up to 4 friends can combine their incomes to purchase a property together. This ensures that together, the loan can be much larger and avoids the necessity of renting. n Individuals within the Armed Forces, Firefighters, Police Officers, NHS Nurses and Paramedics along with Teachers are heroes and are recognised by being able to borrow up to 5X. n

The information noted above is not deemed to constitute financial advice and should not be treated as such. Any advice or recommendation given would be tailored to your own individual circumstances. It should be noted that your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up mortgage payments. Panoramic Wealth Management is regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Ross Jefferies & Gary Jefferies

If you would like to know more about how we can help you or your children get onto the property ladder, please call Panoramic Wealth today on 01892 559555 or email – journey@panoramicwealth.co.uk. If you would like to hear more about The Bank of Mum and Dad, please head to our website – www.panoramicwealth. co.uk – where we have recorded a podcast in conjunction with Weald Productions, delving deeper into BoMaD amongst other topics of note.

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NEWS

Community News

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Wednesday June 16 | 2021

SUMMER

OPEN DAY 26 June 2021 2-4pm

LAST ROAR: The Lions at Wadhurst Fair in 2019, Left to right, Bob Dubock and Peter Wright

Crowborough Lions take pride as they call it a day By Lottie Bulmer

As lockdown restrictions begin to ease and the daylight hours get longer, we’re really pleased to be able to hold our Birchwood Care open day. Come and meet the team and find out about our family-run residential home in Speldhurst and our home care service supporting people in and around Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. Our team of warm and friendly staff will be on hand to answer your questions and discuss the care options available to you from Birchwood.

We can’t wait to meet you.

To pre-register your attendance, please call us on 01892 341260 or visit us at birchwood.care

THE Crowborough Lions Club has announced it will be disbanding after nearly 50 years raising money. The decision was made due to a lack of new members and the age of its exisitng ones. The club was formed in 1974 and introduced fundraising events to Crowborough such as a Saturday morning bookstall, local fetes, and a Summer Tea Party. In a statement the club said: “Crowborough & District Lions Club very much regret to announce that we shall be disbanding no later than the

end of June 2022, or earlier. “This has been brought about by a number of factors, including age, ill health, change of priorities and lack of new members.

Serving “Most of our members are now older than many of the guests that we host at our community Christmas lunches and Summer Tea parties. “The decision to close has not been taken without a great deal of thought, but it is now proving impossible to carry on serving the community as we have for the last 47 years.

“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be among you all and we will miss the companionship that we know is reciprocated throughout our area. “Finally, we would like to wish you all, good health and happiness and a return to a more normal environment in the future.” The Lions are an international organisation with around 1.4 million members. The group’s aim is to improve their local communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace, and promote international understanding.

Bewl regatta’s reigning champion defends his title BEWL Water played host to Heron Southern Championships boat race. The championships took place on June 5 and 6 with representatives from four sailing clubs including Welton Sailing Club, Bewl Sailing Association, Chipstead SC and Wivenhoe Sailing Club, who took to the water in Heron Dinghies. The conditions were sunny, with fair weather cumulus clouds and variable light winds. Due to the gentle winds, the

original race programme of three races on Saturday and three on Sunday morning altered to four on Saturday and two on Sunday afternoon to take advantage of the better wind. Colin Nutt, Bewl’s expert race officer shared how unusual this is explained: “It’s hard to set a course when the wind is coming from all directions” “It paid off to delay the start until the wind came in on Sunday, so we got our six races over the weekend”.

“I hope you get more wind next year” Dave Butler, the reigning champion won every race in his boat ‘Tiger Monkey’ with crew Emily Clixby. There was a tight finish in the final race of Sunday with five boats crossing the line within one minute due to stronger winds. Mr Nutt added: “I’ve never finished five boats in 60 seconds before.” For full race results, visit yachtsandyachting.com WIND IN THEIR SALES: Sailing on Bewl [picture Richard Hayden]

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

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Community News

Hawkhurst Hospital to pilot a new sustainability scheme

A NEW garden and community hospital kitchen is set to open as part as Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust’s (KCHFT) new sustainability strategy. Hawkhurst Community Hospital will be the first site to introduce a community kitchen garden where there will be planters filled with fruit, vegetables and herbs all to be harvested and cooked into healthy meals for patients in the trusts care. The new project is part of the KCHFT’s sustainability scheme where by 2026 it is aiming to have 100 per cent renewable electricity across all its sites where possible, generate 10 per cent of all energy use internally, have no waste going to landfill, and achieve a 40 per cent reduction in our estate footprint. The trust are also hoping to have gardens like the one in Hawkhurst at all of its sites. Head Chef at Hawkhurst Community Hospital

GET UP AND GROW The hospital will be growing fruit, vegetables and herbs

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Sarah Agyemang said: “We are so excited to be able to start growing our own vegetables and herbs for our patients. Growing our own produce means we can use the freshest ingredients straight from the garden.” KCHFT’s Chief Executive, Paul Bentley said: “Our vision is a community that supports each other to live well – if we are to make this a reality we need a culture where we all become aware of the link between health, care and sustainability and how the actions we take contribute.

Strategy “So, our first strategy is an investment in the health and resilience of the communities we serve, which in turn protects our planet.’’ KCHFT is asking for donations of other plants and seedlings, including tomato plants, rhubarb crowns and herb plants, including parsley, basil, chives and coriander, or vegetables, such as radish, broccoli, or beetroot. If you are interested in volunteering to build raised beds and planters, joining in managing and planting the garden and looking after the produce grown. You can become involved by contacting Hawkhurst Head Chef Sarah Agyemang on sarah.agyemang@nhs.net

Station staff cheer up passengers with blooms GREEN fingered staff have been recognised for their hard work tending to Tunbridge Wells train station’s gardens. The blooms have been highlighted by the Southeastern as one of the top five station gardens along the lines. The garden at the station is cared by station staff and volunteers from the local community. Tunbridge Wells, Snodland, Elmstead Woods, Petts Wood and Eynsford each boast a host of agricultural features to support biodiversity and also help to

beautify local areas. Southeastern team member and Tunbridge Wells’ Platform Assistant, Debbie Jagniaszek has worked at the station for twenty-five years and says the garden has been there ‘as long as she can remember’. Debbie said: “When the garden is in full bloom, lots of passengers sit there, they stop and admire it and they are respectful of the garden.” FLOWER POWER Kenn Soldivillo tends to the plants on Tunbridge Wells Station [picture Ady Kerry/PinPep]

Cranbrook is the final stop on treasure hunt’s tour this weekend SAY Hi to Your High Street’s treasure hunt reaches the end of the line this weekend, in historic village of Cranbrook. The market town is no stranger to supporting local businesses and was granted a charter to hold a weekly market back in 1290 by Archbishop Peckham of Canterbury. Participating business, Phillip’s Man’s Shops is one of the town’s shops which remains close to its historic roots and its premises are around 500 years old. Steven Mummery, manager of the outfitters

shared his love for Cranbrook: “We just instantly fell in love with the town and have been here ever since — we love the community feel. “I work as a fireman part time, but I couldn’t give up working for the family business as I enjoy it too much. Having constant interaction with customers and being a part of a community is something that I find really special.”

TREASURE TROVE

SAY BYE Cranbrook is the last of the high streets to host the treasure hunt

By taking parrt in the hunt, you could be in with a chance of winning a collection of accessories from independent fashion boutique, Odyl, a china drinking set from Happy and Glorious, or even a £100 food hamper and a meal for two at The Hive. Traders joining in with the hunt include Josh Page of Lightning Tech repairs and florists Floral Studio. Josh shared why he chose

Cranbrook to set up his own business in: “After years of working for other people, I decided the time was right to set up my own business. “I chose Cranbrook as I loved the area and it also meant I could be near my relatives. I love the excitement of liaising with customers and that no two days are the same. It really does make me excited to work every day – I can’t imagine myself in a different industry.”

To enter the treasure hunt this weekend, you simply need to visit Cranbrook this Saturday, find all nine clues which are hidden in the participating businesses around the town. You then need to share a selfie showing your haul using the hashtag #sayhicranbrook either on Facebook, tagging @ VisitTunbridgeWells, or on Instagram, tagging @ tunbridgewellsvisitor.

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National News

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Thomas Mansfield Wills & Inheritance Planning

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

Met accused of ‘corruption’ over 80s unsolved murder

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LONDON SEVENOAKS TONBRIDGE MAIDSTONE

THE Metropolitan Police has been accused of ‘a form of institutional corruption’ for concealing or denying failings over the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan (below). A report by an independent panel said the force’s first objective was to ‘protect itself’ for failing to acknowledge its many failings since Mr Morgan’s murder, the panel’s chairman Baroness Nuala O’Loan said. Mr Morgan was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, on March 10, 1987. Despite five police inquiries and an inquest, no-one has been brought to justice over the father-oftwo’s death, with the Metropolitan Police admitting corruption had hampered the original murder investigation. The Met owes Mr Morgan’s family, and the public, an apology for not confronting its systemic failings and those of individual officers, the report said. In a statement through their lawyer, the family of Mr Morgan said: “We welcome the recognition that we – and the public at large – have been failed over the decades by a culture of corruption and cover up in the Metropolitan Police, an institutionalised corruption that has permeated successive regimes in the Metropolitan Police and beyond to this day.” The Independent Panel’s report, which runs to more than 1,200 pages, expressed concern that within the Met “a culture still exists that inhibits both organisational and individual accountability”. It found: “The family of Daniel Morgan suffered grievously as a consequence of the failure to bring his family to justice, the unwarranted assurances which they were given,

the misinformation which was put into the public domain, and the denial of failings in investigation, including failing to acknowledge professional competence, individuals’ venal behaviour, and managerial and organisational failures. “The Metropolitan Police also repeatedly failed to take a fresh, thorough and critical look at past failings. “Concealing or denying failings, for the sake of the organisation’s public image, is dishonesty on the part of the organisation for reputational benefit and constitutes a form of institutional corruption.” The initial investigation into Mr Morgan’s death was heavily criticised, with the murder scene not searched and left unguarded, and no alibis sought for all the suspects. A later probe by Hampshire Police, brought in to investigate amid fears of corruption, was compromised when a senior Met officer was appointed to work with the team, the report said. The Met said in a brief statement: “We deeply regret our failure to bring those who murdered Daniel Morgan to justice.” It said it was considering the report and would ‘respond in more detail’ later. Home Secretary Priti Patel described the Morgan case as ‘one of the most devastating episodes in the history of the Metropolitan Police’. She said she has asked Dame Cressida for a ‘detailed response’ to the panel’s recommendations and the wider issues outlined in the report, adding that there were questions about the ability of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to hold police to account.

All over 18s to be offered jab this week ALL adults in England should be able to book their first Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the week, health leaders have suggested. Sir Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of the NHS, said the health service would ‘finish the job’ of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to the ‘greatest extent possible’ over the next four weeks during the extension of lockdown. He said that just 1% of hospital beds in England are occupied by patients with Covid-19. And the average age of people in hospital has “flipped” thanks to the vaccination programme – now there are more younger people seeking care who

typically have better outcomes. Meanwhile the NHS has been given orders to “gear up” for new Covid-19 treatments, which the NHS expects to come online in the next few months which will also help to prevent severe illness and death. These new treatments are expected to be given to people in the community, without the need for hospital treatment, within three days of infection.

Historic Sir Simon told the NHS annual conference: “It is now very important that we use the next four weeks to finish the job to the greatest extent possible for

the Covid vaccination programme, which has been a historic signature achievement in terms of the effectiveness of delivering by the NHS – over 60 million doses now administered. “By July 19 we aim to have offered perhaps two thirds of adults across the country double jabs. “And we’re making great strides also in extending the offer to all adults, today people aged 23 and 24 are able to vaccinate through the National Booking Service. “I expect by the end of this week, we’ll be able to open up the National Booking Service to all adults aged 18 and above.”

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

Ikea fined for ‘espionage’ A FRENCH court has ordered flat back home furnishings giant Ikea to pay 1.1million euros (£946,600) in fines and damages over a campaign to spy on union representatives, employees and some unhappy customers in France. Two former Ikea France executives were convicted and fined over the scheme and given suspended prison sentences. Among the other 13 defendants in the highprofile trial, some were acquitted and others given suspended sentences.

Convicted The panel of judges at the Versailles court found that between 2009 and 2012, Ikea’s French subsidiary used espionage to sift out troublemakers in the employee ranks and to profile squabbling customers. Ikea France was convicted of receiving personal data obtained through fraudulent means in a habitual way, and ordered to pay one million euros in fines and about 100,000 euros in damages. Trade unions accused Ikea France of collecting personal data by fraudulent means, notably via illegally obtained police files, and illicitly disclosing personal information. Lawyers for Ikea France denied that the company had any strategy of “generalised espionage”. A lawyer for the unions, Solene Debarre, expressed hope that the verdict would ‘make some companies tremble’, adding: “One million euros isn’t much for Ikea, but it’s a symbol.” The company, which said it cooperated in the investigation, had faced a potential financial penalty of up to 3.75million euros.

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National News

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Haircut prevents zoo residents getting the hump with heat spell BACTARIAN camels at London Zoo were given a helping hand with shedding their fur on the hottest day of the year so far. As temperatures soared to 28C (82.4F) on Monday, keepers Mick Tiley and Jessica Young removed nearly 13lb (5.8kg) of fur to help keep camels Genghis and Noemie cool during the hottest day of the year so far. Mr Tiley said: “Camels moult naturally once a year and Genghis and Noemie were about

halfway through theirs, so, while we were cleaning their paddock, we helped finish it off for them.

Hot “Noemie loved it, and snacked on some tasty leaves while we gave her a good brush; however, like all youngsters having a haircut, there was a certain amount of grumbling and Genghis didn’t hold back in showing me how unimpressed he was.”

PM insists UK-Australia free trade deal will benefit British farmers

BORIS Johnson has insisted British farmers will benefit from the UK’s free trade deal with Australia, the first to be negotiated from scratch since Brexit. The Prime Minister said it was ‘good news’ for services and manufacturers in the UK, with British products such as cars, Scotch whisky and confectionary set to be cheaper to sell to Australia because of the tariff-free agreement. Mr Johnson and his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison, announced the agreement on Tuesday despite concerns from British farmers that they could be undercut by cut-price imports. Industry leaders have also spoken out over

possible compromises on food standards, as the UK has a ban on producing and importing hormone-treated beef, which is permitted in Australia.

Tariff-free Following the concerns from the farming sector, Downing Street said there will be a cap on tariff-free imports for 15 years, with other ‘safeguards’ expected to be brought in to protect British farmers. Mr Johnson said the trade agreement will

adhere to the “strongest possible” animal welfare standards, while Mr Morrison insisted that Australian standards were “very high”. But the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for more information on provisions for animal welfare following the announcement, as it also urged assurances on whether the safeguards for famers are sufficient. Elsewhere in the agreement, Downing Street said Britons under the age of 35 will be able to travel and work in Australia more freely – suggesting the farm work requirement on working holiday visas could be scrapped.

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Education News

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Wednesday June 16 | 2021

EDUCATION Times Pupils stage sleepout in aid of the homeless charity Porchlight

The annual fundraiser teaches boys about the plight of rough sleepers their houses in the morning, boys had to experience the reality of tackling a day’s activities without basic facilities such as showers or clean clothes, which provided a further experience of how it may feel to be without a home. For Field Day, boys were each given a ‘character’ to play for the day: based on real life stories of those supported by Porchlight, each character had their own backstory and history, many of which made for challenging reading.

Insight Tired as they were, boys were set a series of tasks throughout the morning, which were designed to bring home to them the unfair start many have in life and the reasons behind routes into homelessness. Team challenges with the theme of ‘Life Isn’t Fair’ included a race where boys’ varied starting TONBRIDGE SCHOOL’S First Years joined together on Tuesday June 8 for the school’s largest annual sleepout to date. More than 160 boys and staff built cardboard shelters and spent the night sleeping rough in the school’s Quad. The event teaches boys about the many issues that can lead to homelessness and also raises funds for Porchlight, a charity which supports homeless and vulnerable young people in Kent. The Sleepout has been running for more than 12 years and, since 2011, Tonbridge has been working with Porchlight. In this time, the school has raised over £100,000 for the cause, making it the charity’s largest individual donor. This year’s event has already raised more than £17,300. The evening of June 8 saw shelters constructed as the sun set, with the boys under strict

positions were determined by a series of apparently random questions, and a task to move water between buckets, where some teams had pint glasses and others had small cups with holes in them. Finally, boys had to complete a housing benefit application form and even draw up a budget for running a flat when living on universal credit, a task made trickier as phones had been taken away and they had to rely on mental maths rather than calculators. Juliet Burnett, the School’s Community Action Manager, said: “In linking the Sleepout to Field Day, all involved gained a much greater insight into the exhaustion of trying to function after even one night of rough sleeping, and the associated challenges faced by the homeless. All went home reflecting on their experiences and on the vital role that Porchlight plays in turning around the lives of those they support.”

instructions to build in their house groups and maintain their own Covid-secure shelters. The boys heard more about the vital work of Porchlight and the profound effect that the pandemic has had on the homeless of Kent.

“Boys had to experience how it may feel to be without a home” A light-hearted competition, judged by Porchlight, awarded prizes to boys who constructed the most efficient shelters or made artistic improvements to their basic boxes. Those taking part in the Sleepout were fed from a soup kitchen, run by Lower Sixth volunteers, and then tried to sleep, some rather unsuccessfully. This year’s sleepout led directly to a Field Day on Wednesday (June 9). Instead of returning to

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GREG CLARK MP ADVICE SURGERIES

If you have an individual problem which you think I can help with or you would like to have a chat about a more general issue, please do get in touch. I am holding regular advice surgeries – by zoom or telephone. To make an appointment, please call:

01892 519854 or email:

greg.clark.mp @parliament.uk

WE’RE RECRUITING! Elite Leisure Collection, formally Markerstudy Leisure, is one of the region’s fastest growing group of companies consisting of five independently owned, award winning, ambitious brands employing over 80 staff. Due to continued growth and exciting new plans we are now recruiting for new superstars to join our teams based in Tunbridge Wells RECEPTIONIST

Playing a vital role in the everyday operation of our Reception, you will be responsible for creating the first impression for all guests, by greeting them and making them feel welcome. This high profile role requires an excellent customer facing approach with exceptional levels of customer service.Your main focus will be to ensure customer satisfaction, directing guests to their conference or event, checking guests in and out of our accommodation and also managing a high level of email and telephone enquiries. Strong communication and organisation skills are essential.

SALES SUPPORT ASSISTANT

As part of our venue and media sales team, this is a results driven and varied sales support role that incorporates sales support and development, relationship management and sales administration. Working in both B2B and B2C sectors, you will support our existing successful sales team to manage/monitor new enquiries, process new contracts, liaise with existing clients whilst providing administrative support to our small but ambitious sales team. To be successful in this role you will need good verbal and written communication, computer literacy with strong administration skills and great attention to detail.

MAINTENANCE CRAFTSMAN

Under the direction of our Head of Maintenance, the main purpose if this role is to provide a high quality and efficient maintenance support service in line with agreed standards of the business/ venue operation. Working as a part of a small but highly effective team, this is a hands on, varied

role working across three of our venues. The role requires a reasonable level of competence with all maintenance repairs, ability to follow established procedures and systems and a flexible attitude to accommodate venue needs through morning, evening and weekend work.

CHEF DE PARTIE

An opportunity has arisen for a full-time experienced Chef de Partie to assist in the day to day running of our busy kitchens. The main responsibilities are to manage a section within the kitchen whilst ensuring cleanliness, stock control, organisation and high standards of the section. You will ensure that all dishes are prepared and cooked according to the specific restaurant standards alongside keeping to the required cleaning schedule and that the cleaning tasks are delegated as appropriate. Previous experience of working in a similar venue/restaurant is required along with a creative passion for food and quality.

ASSISTANT TO EXECUTIVE PA

Seeking an assistant to our Executive PA on a fixed term contract, the role is to support our Senior Executive PA in upcoming project work. Fixed term for 3 months with option to renew for a further 3 months, subject to project workload. Work includes research and procurement for several new developments at all our sites (including Salomons Estate, Bewl Water and One Warwick Park Hotel), cataloguing of furniture from premium development projects for sale – managing enquiries and sales offers and ensuring all records are up to date. Hours of work are flexible and some work can be done remotely. The successful candidate will be superbly

organised, have a can-do attitude, excellent IT skills, be willing to work from different locations and able to interact well with fellow staff and potential customers. Must have own car.

NIGHT PORTER

Our Front of House department is now recruiting for a reliable and enthusiastic Night Porter to join our successful team. As the Night Porter you will be assisting the team in achieving the venue goals and providing guests with superior service. As a Night Porter you are responsible for managing the reception department during the night and take on all reception duties. To attend to any guests needs efficiently and effectively as needed to deliver an excellent guest experience, and to ensure all buildings are secure at night. To successfully fill this role, you must have a proactive approach to work with a positive and the ability to work on your own initiative. You must have excellent verbal communication in English, the ability to work methodically and to an agreed time frame.

HOUSEKEEPER

Under the direction of the Housekeeping Manager and Supervisor, a Housekeeper aims to provide a high quality and efficient service in line with agreed standards of the venue operation, to be responsible for cleaning and tidying the bedrooms and public areas of the venue. The ideal candidate will have previous experience of housekeeping in a busy venue, the ability to work under pressure and a flexible attitude to accommodate customer needs through morning, evening and weekend work, according to venue occupancy.

To apply for any of the above roles please send a covering letter and CV to Lisa McVickers lisa.mcvickers@salomons-estate.com

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NEWS

Weekly Comment

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Rt Revd Simon Burton-Jones Bishop of Tonbridge

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

The Rt Revd Simon Burton-Jones is the seventh Bishop of Tonbridge. He has oversight and leadership of the education, youth and children, and community engagement work of churches across the Diocese of Rochester, which includes Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge.

Young people are the victims in the cult of winners and losers IT IS reassuring to hear more talk about the mental health of children and young people from this pandemic. But this issue predates lockdown. Most informed people know there has been a significant spike in mental illness among younger people in the last two decades. Worrying increases that can’t be ignored. It is a complex issue and there are many overlapping causes; but here are three. The culture of perfection. Stephen Hinshaw and Rachel Kranz have described this for young people, and especially young women, as ‘the triple bind’ – the need to achieve perfection academically, socially and physically. They painfully describe this as: ‘act sweet and nice; be a star athlete and get straight A’s; seem sexy and hot even if you’re not’.

Appearance This cult of perfection has leaked into personal relationships and appearance too, which leads into a second cause of the deterioration of mental health. And this is digital architecture. Social media has been described by the US scriptwriter and film director Aaron Sorkin as the biggest social experiment in human history. But it’s an experiment without adequate consent or safety measures. We can now make a numerical calculation of

how popular we are, by virtue of the likes and retweets we get. And on Instagram especially, we can grade our looks, going up against elite competition we have little chance of matching. Todays’ social media is not aligned with the values we desire and that young people are especially prone to its effects. No-one intended this, but it has happened because our tech know-how has outstripped our wisdom. And the tech revolution has only just got going. At the

start of this century, Facebook, Instagram and Tik-Tok didn’t exist. There are things yet to be called into being that may challenge us even more deeply. It’s not that social media is a bad thing. But its architecture is leaky, cold and unsafe. We made it, and we can do better. The third cause of the hit to mental health is the culture of winners and losers we have created. Learning to win at some things and lose at others DISTRESS Young people are being pressured to show they are always ‘winners’

is part of human development. But asking people to look at their whole lives in terms of winning and losing can make them sick.

Natives How often do we hear people say they succeeded at something because they wanted it more than anyone else? Determination and hard work are important, but do not decide outcomes alone. Natural talent, loving parents, family wealth, good schooling, personal contacts all come into play. I wonder sometimes if people use the mantra that they succeeded because they wanted it more than others to obscure the fact they had a head start in life? Telling young people they will always make it if they want it enough creates a cult of winners and losers, where those who miss out have only themselves to blame. We imagine that young people have a voice because they are digital natives, inhabiting this land with ease. But this voice is not properly heard by others and what appears to be self-confidence is often a cover for insecurity. More adult honesty would be a start. After all, if we curate perfect images of our lives and show them off, compete for likes and attention, and run other people down on social media, what hope are we offering to children and young people?

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Wednesday June 16 | 2021

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Letters

NEWS

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And another thing… This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or you can write to the Editor, Times Local News, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG

Hip hip hooray for our NHS

Not an easy task for a headteacher with a somewhat disgruntled staff who should have been on holiday. However, with a budget and the inability to be creative, teaching staff had the opportunity to greatly increase their knowledge, skills and practices within the classroom like never before and it still goes on. I know teachers trained in more recent years who I believe are far more skilled than ever I was because of the improved training and education of teachers having progressed their development through the provision of training. To suspend Inset is a retrograde step. The stress that teachers have experienced in trying to provide a service during these past years has been as great as any who have been on the front line of coping with the threat of Covid. There is no easy fix to help children catch up. But I think it will be done by teachers who are well aware of the issues, to have the chance to meet and talk through in a structured basis what should be done to solve this problem. Phil Endersby Horsmonden

This week is dedicated to carers

Lack of women a sign of desperation Responding to your edition on Wednesday, June 2, I’d like to praise Carol Wilson (Labour) for drawing attention to the lack of women in our local politics and Cllr Hugo Pound for pointing out the same backwards move. Can I offer a little light? Is this a ‘it’s always darkest before the dawn’ moment? With the Conservatives on our Borough Council tying 24 to 24 Tories v other elected councillors and feeling the need to ‘politicise’ the Mayoral position, so that the Mayor can use his casting vote to secure Conservative control. Could this be the last desperate attempts to cling to local power? Recent elections have seen the demise of support for the Tories as voters often feel they have been stuck with the same party and the same thinking for too long. Despite this revealed behaviour, the pursuit and retention of power is not an end in itself, it must be with the purpose of improving our community. In conclusion, not only are women missing from our council officials, but also young people, who could bring the fresh thinking, we so desperately need. Liz Orr, Women’s Equality Party Tunbridge Wells

Houses should pay for care I agree with David Williams – last week’s [June 9], that house prices are too high, but it’s a normal market function of supply and demand. The answer is to build more. I take issue with his proposal to tax homeowners on the increased equity of their property, many of whom scrimped and saved to get on the property ladder and, thereafter, beggared themselves to move up it. Many believe that the so-called baby-boomers have it all; they don’t, and they certainly didn’t in the post war decades. Equally, I don’t believe that the equity in parents’ homes should be ring fenced for the

this year. Although it did mean going to Maidstone Hospital from Tunbridge Wells, the treatment I received could not have been better. After an overnight stay following the operation, I was home by the next day. Well done the NHS. Keith Marsh, Tunbridge Wells next generation to inherit while the state picks up the bill for nursing home care. There is a perfect symmetry in the accrued house values being disbursed for end-of-life care. If this was adopted it might serve to concentrate the minds of young people who want it all: parties, foreign holidays, raves and festivals while waiting for the inheritance to drop into their laps. John Ward Moorhouse Tunbridge Wells

Dog’s will love chargers Southborough’s new car charging point looks like the perfect watering place for the local dog population. Let’s hope, for the dogs’ sake, there’s not another kind of leak. Ralph Steerpike Culverden Down

This week is Carers Week 2021, a week dedicated to raising awareness of the extraordinary efforts and many challenges facing carers every day around the United Kingdom. I would like to share with your readers the fantastic work carers do looking after the nation’s most vulnerable people. There were 9.1m family carers in the UK at the start of lockdown, and it is estimated that a further 4.5 million have taken on caring responsibilities since the Covid pandemic. Many are solely responsible for the wellbeing of a loved one who may rely on them completely, sometimes 24/7, without any form of break. Whilst caring can be a hugely rewarding experience, many carers neglect looking after themselves. Hilary cares for her son, Shaun, who is brain damaged after an accident in Ibiza when he was 19: “There’s no let up, no way forward, no support. It’s just…everything. I really need a break, for my mental health. It just feels like hotels and restaurants are opening up, but

Cash buyers hard to come by In last week’s edition of the Times, you wrote about how cash buyers could be the only way to beat the ‘bottleneck’ of the property market. But being a cash buyer is incredibly rare – who has £300,000 just sitting in the bank, ready to spend at the drop of a hat? The market has become incredibly elitist, buying a house is no longer considered a neccessity, it is now something that only a high earner with the right backing can afford, yet the number of people needing houses has increased massively. Furthermore to this, those who have had their incomes disrupted by the pandemic and have taken the government handouts are penalised for doing so by banks and are unable to get mortgages as easily as those who didn’t take the government support. What a way to kick them while they’re down. The chances are that they’ve followed every guideline surrounding the reopening of their businesses and they needed the extra boost to make up for the lack of income. I really do hope that something will change soon, otherwise we will have a whole generation who will never be able to own their home. Colin Farmer Eridge

PEPPY SAYS...

Inset days are not the problem In reply to Malcolm Rogers thinking that bringing Inset Days to an end would solve the problem of helping children. It took me two minutes of research to refresh my memory on the introduction of Baker Days as we first knew them. Most teachers might welcome the cancellation of 5 Inset Days. They would then get back the five days of their holiday that were taken away with introduction of Inset. The number of attendance days for children remained the same, along with a prescribed number of teaching hours per week that schools should aim for. It did not change with introduction of Inset Days. During my first 18 years of teaching, I had one day of training and then Mr Baker introduced training days. Each school had to provide some form of training for their staff for those five days per academic year.

Follow Peppry on Twitter @Peppyscott

FOLLOWING your article about hip and knee surgery at Tunbridge Wells, I must congratulate the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS on my recent experience of hip surgery. Having seen the orthopaedic team at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in September last year I received my new hip on the first of May

disabled people are left to the last, at the bottom of the pile. I’m never, ever, going to give up on my son. Life is too short you know; you need to keep fighting.” The nation’s carers perform such a vital role in keeping the country running, saving the NHS millions every year and going far beyond the call of duty to provide for some of the country’s most vulnerable people. We owe them a debt of gratitude. I would like the carers of this country to know that the charity I work for, Revitalise, based in Chigwell, Essex, are here to give you a warm welcome at our centre, should you need a break or change of scenery, with 24-hour on-call nurse-led care and discounted rates until the 28th June. So, anyone who feels they could benefit from our support, need only ask. Devon Prosser Revitalise

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Homes & Interiors

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

Interiors

Turn up the heat...

Our top gift ideas for Father’s Day Page 22

Grand designs

Stylish new homes revealed in Wadhurst

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Homes & Interiors

Property Focus NEW S

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Wednesday June 16 | 2021

Property prices continue to bounce back from pandemic shutdown of the market By Lottie Bulmer THE closing down of the property market in March 2020 has done little to negatively impact property values. The average house has increased in value by £22,000 over the last year which is a growth of 9.5 per cent, according to research by Halifax bank. The near 10 per cent increase according to Halifax would mean the average home in Tunbridge Wells has risen from £463,777.2 last year to £515,308 this year.

Surged Russell Galley, managing director at Halifax, said: “House prices reached another record high in May, with the average property adding more than £3,000 (1.3 per cent) to its value in the last month alone. “A year on from the first easing of national lockdown restrictions, and the gradual reopening of the housing market, annual growth surged to 9.5 per cent, meaning the average UK home has increased in value by more than £22,000 over the past 12 months.”

BOUNCE BACK: The market has strongly recovered from its 2020 coronavirus shutdown He added: “For some homebuyers, lockdown restrictions have also resulted in an unexpected build-up of savings, which can now be deployed to fund bigger deposits for bigger properties, potentially pushing property prices even higher. “Whilst these effects will be temporary,

the current strength in house prices also points to a deeper and long-lasting change as buyer preferences shift in anticipation of new, post-pandemic lifestyles – as greater demand for larger properties with more space might warrant an increased willingness to spend a

higher proportion of income on housing.” Mr Galley said all UK nations and regions except the north east of England witnessed an acceleration in annual house price inflation in May. He said of annual house price growth: “For Wales and the North West, these are the biggest percentage gains since April 2005, and for Yorkshire and the Humber since June 2006. “The south of England, traditionally the driving force of national house price performance, is for once lagging somewhat behind the rest of the country.” Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: “House price growth in the south of England may be lagging behind the rest of the country but property prices are still more expensive there than elsewhere. “While buyers are prepared to go further in the search for more space and less need to be in the office every day, pushing up demand for property away from the capital, it remains to be seen whether this is a long-term trend or whether the attraction of city centres will return at some point.”

House prices almost quadruple since the Queen’s coronation JUNE marks the 69th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation, and the UK and its property market has changed dramatically in the following years. In 1953, the average UK house price was £1,884 which – when adjusted for inflation – is £53,794 in today’s money. Now, almost 70 years later, the average UK house price is £256,405 – an increase of 377 per cent. With the crown estate being one of the biggest landowners in England, properties in areas sharing a postcode with a royal residence benefit from its royal connections. According to whoownsengland. com, the crown estate owns 264,233 acres across the country.

The Queen’s best-performing property is Bagshot Park, a sprawling Royal estate in Surrey Heath, and has had the strongest growth in value since March 2020, with the average price for a home in its GU19 postcode rising 19 per cent to £480,423.

Impressive This is followed by two more Royal residencies, Sandringham House and Anmer Hall, both of which are located in the PE35 postcode of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk area where house prices have enjoyed a 17 per cent annual rise to currently sit at £343,018. CEO of Keller Williams UK, Ben Taylors the estate agency which

conducted the research said: “Queen Elizabeth’s reign continues to be mightily impressive for a multitude of reasons, not least the way in which relative stability has been maintained through some of the UK’s most troubled moments in history, including wars, economic crashes, and catastrophic global events. “A 377 per cent increase in house prices is just one point that illustrates this fact. “As for the Queen’s enviable portfolio - it spans almost every corner of the UK and so acts as an informative microcosm of the UK market’s ups and downs since Covid attacked. “We see Her Majesty’s regional homes in the likes of Scotland and Norfolk performing well,

ROYAL CONNECTIONS: Surrey Heath is the location of the Queen’s best performing property, Bagshot Park

while her London residencies have lost significant value were they, in some bizarre twist of events, to be sold on the open market. “But the Queen needn’t lose too much sleep, nor do I believe

should any London homeowners. The capital’s market is famously resilient, so this past year’s drop in value should soon be regained as the pandemic becomes one more event on Her Majesty’s timeline of historic events.”

New show home opens up on Kent and East Sussex border IF you’re looking for a country pile after moving to the area, Hamptons estate agents have the answer. A new showhome has opened at Gill Wood, in Wadhurst, just 7 miles from Tunbridge Wells and is a new gated development of 28 homes. Set in Wadhurst Place – the country park which enjoys views over the Wealden countryside – the estate consists of 14 five bedroom detached and 14 three bedroom semi-detached luxury family homes and have been designed to reflect the local architecture style while allowing for modern day living. The houses are aptly named to pay homage to various trees that can be found in the surrounding 47 acres of woodlands. Gill Wood offers residents the ability to work from home whilst also enjoying access to over 18

acres of parkland. The houses feature contemporary kitchens finished with Silestone work surfaces and fully integrated Bosch appliances as well as substantial rear gardens that back onto the woodland.

Garages The gardens feature well screened hedging and paved terraces. Each home has a private driveway, some with separate garages, which offer plenty of parking space. Prices start from £675,000 for a three bedroom house and £1.25m for a five bedroom house. For further information on the launch of the showhouse or to book a viewing appointment please call Hamptons on 01892 516 611 or visit hamptons.co.uk

SUSSEX STYLE: The new development draws on local traditional architecture

GILL WOOD, WADHURST PLACE PRICES FROM £685,000

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Situated in an elevated position in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the outskirts of the much sought after village of Wadhurst in East Sussex, Gill Wood is a stunning new development of just 28 homes set in Wadhurst Place, which enjoys spectacular views over the Wealden countryside. 01892 640 316

TUNBRIDGEWELLS@HAMPTONS.CO.UK

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Homes & Interiors

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

Father’s Day

13 gifts for dads who like a stylish home interior

Sam Wylie-Harris picks the perfect pressies to inspire his home decor, from sprucing up his man cave, to kitchen tools and firing up the BBQ

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HETHER it’s tidy tools for dad’s WFH desk, the kitchen implements he longs for after feasting on celeb cooking shows or a bonsai tree to fit his newfound interest in house plants, there are lots of opportunities for Father’s Day (June 20) gifts that will make his home look extra-stylish. Here is our pick of the presents…

1. Katie Leamon Correspondence Set, Typewriter, £25, Katie Leamon Encouraging the time-honoured tradition of putting pen to paper will help him steal some time away from the screen, and what could be nicer than writing on a natty notecard? This luxury gift box comes with 10 sheets of illustrated typewriter paper and 10 notecards, complete with envelopes.

2. TranquilPlants Chinese Elm Bonsai Kokedama, £42.99, Etsy

Cited as a bonsai for beginners, this eight year-old Chinese Elm Bonsai boasts a beautiful S-shaped trunk and attractive shoots mounted on a moss ball. It can be proudly displayed in any sunny situation, loves a little water once a week and a spritz keeps the moss fresh.

3. George Foreman Go Anywhere Gas BBQ, £150, Argos Nothing beats firing up the BBQ in summertime, wielding the tongs and cooking outdoors. This little baby heats up quickly at the push of the piezo button, cooks with gas and because it’s portable, dad can rustle up kebabs pretty much anywhere… think camping trips, a jaunt to the seaside or his favourite suntrap.

4. Halden Gin Glasses, Set of 2, £30, The White Company With an eye for detail and a love for gin, he’ll love brushing up his favourite G&T serves with these fashionable balloon-

shaped gin glasses, easy to grip and garnish.

5. MasterClass Agudo Five Piece Knife Set and Magnetic Block, Gift Boxed, £42.95, Presence Kitchen knives are an essential piece of kit in his culinary arsenal and these blades of steel will take the effort out of slicing, dicing or carving or anything he turns his hand to. There’s a chef’s knife, carving knife, bread knife, utility knife and paring knife – all featuring ergonomic handles – while the slimline magnetic storage stand makes the cut.

6. Bar Red E27 100lm 2W LED Light Bulb, £29, Oliver Bonas Ah, cocktails. When he wants to put on a show, this funky red ombre-tinted ‘bar’ light bulb will put the spotlight on all those decadent drinks. A stand out on any home bar, the Vico Grey Concrete Desk & Table Lamp base is priced £36, and sold separately.

Homes & Interiors

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

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7. Soho Home Rowley Tapers (Set of 2), £21 (Members, £18),

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stylish candles, light a hard to reach wick in a hurricane lamp, or style up a summer mantel.

Kalik Candle Holder Gift Set, £150 (Members, £128), Soho Home Soho Homewares have become a talking point, especially with so many luxe furnishings inspired by their worldwide members’ clubs to help you ‘get the look’. These eye-catching rippled effect candles and marble holders emulate those seen in White City House, London, and your dad might just love them.

Celebrating the female form, this nude bookend is available in a range of colours and with headless homewares trending – Etsy have a site dedicated to ‘nude home décor’ – we’ve picked this beauty to bookend his favourite novels.

8. Extra Long Log Burner Matches, £9.45, Oh Curio

10. Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Car Diffuser Set, £73,

These extra long matches (290mm x 60mm) will perfectly compliment

Jo Malone One for the road… well-travelled

9. BlueSkyCrafting Naked Lady Statue Bookend, £15.45, Etsy

13 TIME FOR TEA Hob kettle with Dragon Whiste

PRETTY IN PINK Red ombre-tinted ‘bar’ light [left] and five piece knife set

WELCOME STRIPE Faux tigerskin doormat fathers can now mirror Jo Malone’s signature fragrance with every scented journey. Simply attach to the air vent. Includes a refill.

11. Alessi Tea Rex Hob Kettle with Dragon Whistle, Special Edition,

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£125, John Lewis Released in celebration of the original Alessi Bird Kettle’s 30th anniversary, this is an iconic gift he probably wouldn’t dream of splashing out on himself – but he will thank you every time it whistles and the dragon lets off steam. Suitable for induction hobs.

12. Tiger Doormat, £21.29, Redcandy

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12 This durable doormat is made from all natural fibres, and would make a wild addition to your dad’s man cave – styling up the entrance, while helping to keep the floor clean.

13. Picture Gallery Wall Small Photo Frame Set, £180, The White Company It takes a little bit of effort, but the White Company have done most of the hard work behind this wonder wall that will allow him to show off his favourite photos. The set comes with six wooden frames in varying sizes, two printed layout templates and instructions to help mount and align each frame. It’s a perfect way to tell him ‘Happy Father’s Day’ from the whole family.

Say

to DIY

2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS AND MAISONETTES AVAILABLE FROM £380,000!

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If you are thinking of selling we would be delighted to come and see you for your personal property valuation UN OF DE FE R R

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Sales, Lettings, Property Management 34 Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1LU • Tel: 01892 530109 • Web: tw-property.co.uk

PLOT OR NOT?

If you think your land or property has development potential, why not give us a call without obligation and in confidence.

WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR LAND AND PROPERTY WITH DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL

Many of our clients retain our services and, in the majority of cases, pay our fees saving property owners significant costs. Commercial buildings for residential conversion, former public houses, redundant buildings for redevelopment, buildings for conversion or replacement, houses for improvement, large sites on the edge of town, barn conversions, large gardens in residential areas and major regeneration projects.

Contact Stephen Donnelly on 07739 514350 or 01892 579937 website: sjd-projects.com email: steve@sjd-projects.com For regular updates, visit us at twitter.com/projects

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steak How do you like yours? sTeAk is a new quirky restaurant situated in the charming Chapel Place, just steps away from the thriving Pantiles, where we pride ourselves on bringing you the best mouth-watering steak, cooked to perfection, however you like it. you can expect a warm welcome and exceptional service with a smile. All our steaks come from 30-day dry-aged dexter beef cattle. we are proud to work with southborough Butchers, providing us with flavoursome locally sourced produce. Although we specialise in steak, it is important for us to accommodate our non-meat eaters too so we also have plenty of vegan and vegetarian dishes for you to choose from.

To book your table please go to www.steaktunbridgewells.co.uk or call 01892 552592 we look forward to seeing you.

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

Food & Culture

Latin fever

See Gloria Estefan tribute act at the Assembly Hall

Recipe for success Hoopers announce new collaboration with food and drink purveyor Macknade Page 32

Page 38

NEW

& h t l a e H ng i e b l l e W TURE FEA

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Food & Culture

arts

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Wednesday June 16 | 2021

“People have never needed to The Forum is hosting its first night of live comedy tomorrow (June 17) post lockdown. Eileen Leahy chats to Vix Leyton, one of the comedians taking part, about the event and discovers how we can all join in virtually…

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the best comics in the UK in an al fresco FTER 15 months of having setting at the iconic Forum,” continues Vix. to stay closed due to the Rich and Paul already collaborate on coronavirus, Tunbridge Rich’s award winning podcast Wells’ most famous Insane in the Men Brain and independent music Islington Radio show venue The Forum has finally Tuned Up Time been able to reopen. Machine - both of But tomorrow which are recorded (Thursday) the iconic in Paul’s studio in indie locale won’t be Tunbridge Wells. hosting any music but “With Paul’s tech instead a night of skills and Rich’s comedy – with a comedy knowledge, difference. it felt like a natural Organiser, podcaster next step to look at and participating COMEDIAN doing some live shows,” comedian Vix Leyton told the VIX LEYTON says Vix, who hails from Times last week: “It’s going to Wales. be a fantastic night with a great line up, and it’s also going to be a real trailblazer for gigs that serve real life audiences and those who can’t access shows locally - Tunbridge Wells beamed out globally to an unlimited number of people. Perhaps that’s the future of comedy!” Entitled Dark Horse Live, the evening will be presented by the award-winning Kent comedian Rich Wilson who will be There are five comedians on tomorrow’s collaborating with Paul Daniels of Dark bill including Jen Brister of Live at the Horse Digital studios, based in Tunbridge Apollo fame, Clinton Baptiste from Peter Wells. Kay’s Phoenix Nights and also local “It’s a night that will showcase some of

“It’s a fantastic feeling to be back hosting and performing live events again”

DARK HUMOUR Clinton Baptiste AKA actor Alex Lowe will perform

PUBLIC NOTICE

Licensing Act 2003 Application for the grant of a Premises Licence An application for a Premises Licence at Taw, 68 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5TN.

A summary of the proposed licensable activities and the proposed hours of opening: Intention to offer, provide and sell alcoholic beverages to our paying clients. Opening times 9am until 10.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday with the occasional Sunday seasonal events. Any person wishing to view details of an application can contact the licensing team on 01732 227004 Any person wishing to make representation about the proposals should make them in writing by July 5th 2021 to: Licensing Partnership, Council Offices, PO Box 182, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. TN13 1GP licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk www.sevenoaks.gov.uk It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary of conviction for the offence is £5,000.

Food & Culture

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

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laugh more than they do now” COMEDY CLUB Comedians (L-R) Jen Brister, Rich Wilson and local funny girl Aimee Cooper

character comedian Aimee Cooper. Rich and Vix will also be taking to the stage. The intimate al fresco live gig will follow all the necessary social distance guidelines for those lucky enough to have bagged a ticket, but the good news is that it will be streamed via Facebook Live so everyone has the chance to enjoy a good – and much overdue – laugh. “The night aims to merge the accessibility of lockdown staple Zoom comedy gigs with the production values and experience of a live show,” explains Vix.

“For the audience experiencing it live, it will be a fantastic, expertly curated line up of comedy in the grounds of the iconic Forum, while the virtual audience will get the benefit of a professional set up so they can experience it as close to being there as possible.”

Variety Vix goes on to say that producer Paul will be manning the Facebook Live page to make sure viewers feel fully immersed in the show.

“They can feedback, get involved with any crowd chat and even heckle!” laughs Vix. And Vix is certainly excited to be back performing again. “It’s a fantastic feeling to be back hosting and performing live events again - people have never needed to laugh more than they do now. One of the big things we learned over lockdown is that there are a lot of people out there without access to live entertainment, for a variety of reasons, who really want it. “The online shows really opened up the world

for them, and their support was absolutely priceless, so as the world returns to a version of normal, we want to make sure that avenue remains open to them. Paul and Rich are really committed to finding a way of making live events work for the audience ‘in the room’ and the audience online and demonstrating that it can be done.” Tickets cost £12.50 to go to the gig at The Forum or £4.99 to be part of the live stream. For more info visit https://www.darkhorsedigital.co.uk/

Food & Culture

food

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Wednesday June 16 | 2021

“We want the local community to come together over a shared love of good food and drink...” Last week luxury department store Hoopers announced it was welcoming the popular Kentish epicurean purveyor Macknade to provide its food and beverage offering in store. Eileen Leahy discovers more about this perfect partnership WHAT’S IN STORE Macknade will provide the new food and drink offering at Hoopers

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T’S TRUE TO SAY that we’re fairly spoilt with a fantastic selection of places to eat here in Tunbridge Wells, but when it comes to actually dining in shops the choice is pretty much limited to fast food joints or unadventurous cafes. Well Hoopers luxury department store on Mount Pleasant is about to change all that thanks to an exciting new partnership it’s recently announced with one of the county’s finest purveyors of quality foods and drinks.

“Working with Hoopers presents a wonderful opportunity to bring the Macknade experience to an ever-growing audience” As revealed in last week’s Times’ business pages, Hoopers, a family-run department store which has traded in Tunbridge Wells since 1990, is joining forces with Macknade, East Kent’s renowned epicurean emporium, in order to bring its customers an array of all-day dining options. Macknade - which is best described as an independent grocer, deli and dining destination - has sites in Faversham and Ashford so this will be its first in West Kent. Hoopers, which sells designer fashion, cosmetics and homewear, and also has stores in

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Food & Culture

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

33

Flavour saviours for a perfect picnic Instead of settling for sausage rolls and soggy sandwiches why not up your picnic game this summer? WITH the weather finally becoming a little more decent and Father’s Day on Sunday what better time to throw a perfect picnic? In days gone by sandwiches, sausage rolls and scotch eggs were the staples for such an event but as any foodie knows the opportunity to serve up

Naples in 1999, the Firezza team wanted to bring proper authentic Italian pizzas back to the UK. Over the past two decades an additional 18 eateries have been established. And the secret to their success? Classic Neapolitan metre-long pizzas made only using the finest ingredients, hand stretched and fire baked at 400oC.

“Where better to appreciate all that fragrant basil, aromatic oregano and richly roasted tomatoes than the great outdoors?”

Wilmslow, Torquay and Harrogate revealed its Macknade at Hoopers partnership is something they are ‘very excited’ about. Its Managing Director Debra Angus said: “Living in East Kent I have long been a loyal customer of Macknade and have admired its ethos, passion and commitment in providing a fantastic food-based experience. “The resonance of two family businesses joining in partnership with our customer at the centre is a very exciting prospect.”

Excited The new Macknade eaterie is scheduled to open this September and looks to echo the foodie emporium’s mission of creating spaces for communities to come together over a shared love of food and drink. Stefano Cuomo, CEO of Macknade commented: “Macknade’s whole purpose is to bring communities together through quality food and drink experiences.

“By partnering with Hoopers, we aim to create a favourite place in the town for everyone to enjoy. Tunbridge Wells residents have long taken pride in supporting local, independent businesses and the surrounding area of the Weald is full of producers that we already admire, and whose stories we can’t wait to share.” Occupying the 4000 square foot former café site within Hoopers, Macknade will create an informal restaurant space offering an all-day dining experience for customers, taking them through from breakfast and brunch to lunch, light suppers and leisurely drinks. Macknade at Hoopers will also offer a retail range, including a selection of produce used on the new restaurant menu, as well as wine, beer and cider. A curated collection of indoor plants and hand-tied bouquets from Macknade’s floristry department will be also available, alongside bespoke hamper services and foodie gifts. Shane Godwin,

Managing Director of Macknade added: “Working with Hoopers presents a wonderful opportunity to bring the Macknade experience to an evergrowing audience, creating a fruitful partnership with a trusted name in Tunbridge Wells, who share our values, and from whom we can learn a great deal. “Once finished, the restaurant will become the ideal place for all manner of get togethers from business breakfasts, to relaxed brunches and suppers with friends and family.” To find out more about Macknade, please visit www.macknade. com

something really special transforms a plain old picnic into a fabulous al fresco feast. In addition to platters of cold meats or a board of specialist cheeses have you considered serving up slices of quality pizza? Already scored and ready to hand out, they make perfect sense. Just make sure you go for quality over quantity though. One local pizza purveyor who can ensure your tastebuds are treated to the best tasting and authentic pizza is Firezza on Mount Ephraim. Opened in 2014, it is part of a small chain which boasts locations all over London and the south east. Having first opened in 2001 in Battersea following a trip to

PERFECT PIZZAS Head to Firezza on Mount Ephraim for summer picnic ideas

Perfect for sharing, Firezza’s menu consists over of 22 different topping combinations on a quarter or half metre base. Flavour combinations include the Picante, with Nduja, pepperoni, fresh basil, red chilli and tomato and mozzarella and the Tutta Bufala, with fiery buffalo salami, Buffalo mozzarella D.O.P, tomato, mozzarella and fresh basil. There are also vegetarian and vegan options of their trademark stone baked pizzas. So where better to appreciate all that fragrant basil, aromatic oregano, richly roasted tomatoes and tasty indulgent cheese than in the great outdoors? It sure makes a change from a cheese sandwich and packet of crisps…

Food & Culture

Wine

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Wine Special

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

We’ll raise a glass to this sparkling summer news Squerryes wine estate in Westerham has plenty of reasons to be be joyful with a new award recognising its sparkling wine to add to its trophy collection...

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QUERRYES Wine Estate has just announced that it has been recognised among the top five Champagne and Sparkling Wine brands in the world. The 300-year-old estate which is located in Westerham has been lauded with an array of prestigious awards at the International Wine Challenge - the world’s most influential and rigorouslyjudged wine competition. The biggest was winning the English Sparkling Wine trophy for its 2014 Blanc de Blancs – which essentially makes it the best English sparkling wine in the world.

Impressive The news comes just as we head into a week-long celebration for English Wine Week which runs from June 19 to 27. Judged alongside the world’s top Champagne and sparkling wine houses, Squerryes was rated the best English wine producer, winning three out of four trophies and placing the brand in the top five globally.

The impressive accolades also coincide with the winery opening its new restaurant The Bottle Store. Here visitors can enjoy a Squerryes Tasting Flight of award-winning sparkling wines, alongside a menu of seasonal dishes and stunning views across the vines.

“These recent awards are testament to the quality of our terroir” Squerryes’ owner, Henry Warde commented: “Our family motto, ‘Licet Esse Beatis’, meaning ‘it is permitted to be joyful’, is at the heart of all we do and these recent awards are not only testament to that but also to the quality of our terroir and winemaking abilities here at Squerryes. “The Bottle Store restaurant is the only place you can sample all of our award-winning wines together – and what better place to do so, than on the

estate where they are made?” Set right at the heart of the 300-yearold, 2,500 acre Squerryes estate, in the original winery, The Bottle Store serves a brasserie-style menu created by estate chef, Alexander Baillieu, featuring locally-sourced ingredients, including from Squerryes’ own kitchen garden, that effortlessly showcase the natural flavours of the estate and wider Kent region.

Vintage Squerryes 2014 Blanc de Blancs was awarded the International Wine Challenge 2021 trophy for Best English Sparkling Wine and Best Blanc de Blancs while Squerryes 2011 Brut was given the trophy for Best English Sparkling Classic Blend. Squerryes has also won five gold medals for five consecutive vintages at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships. And for all that we say to your very good health Squerryes! www.squerryes.co.uk/bottle-storerestaurant.

Wine Special

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

Food & Culture

35

Celebrate your dad this Father’s Day Sunday is Father’s Day so make sure it’s a special one by investing in one of these top tipples says Times Drinks Editor James Viner

LOOKING for something just a little bit more adventurous than a Number 1 Dad mug or box of chocolates for Father’s Day on Sunday (June 20)? Fear not, James Viner has a tasty selection of quality bottles…. These four brilliant boozy drink-related recommendations are designed to keep pops happy on Father’s Day. 1) CLASSY AUSSIE CABERNET SAUVIGNON FOR A CLASSIC ROAST LEG OF LAMB Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Margaret River, Australia (Tesco, £10) Elegant and supple, this polished Margaret River Cabernet is not big but it doesn’t need to be. There’s ample flavour on offer –mulberry, bay leaf, forest berries, blackcurrant, cassis, minted chocolate, and mocha are all in the mix, along with melded tannins – and it has more than enough length to satisfy. Sophisticated, supple and full of character — just like dad! Not a hair out of place. A very useful Tesco buy indeed. Get your ribeye steak or boeuf à la gardiane on and serve to your father! Hello Fuller’s butchers. Alc 14% 2) FUNKY WHITE FOR THE ADVENTUROUS DAD MADE BY AN AMERICAN FROM KENT-GROWN

LIVE

GRAPES IN AN URBAN WINERY IN LONDON Blackbook Winery, ‘The Mixup’ Redhill Farm Estate 2018, Kent & London (The Wine Society, £14.50, offer) The Wine Society just took a walk on the wild side, readers. Boom! Crafted by an American at a celebrated urban winery in Battersea, this textural white has tangy refreshment in spades. It’s an original, less-matured, lowish-alcohol, partially skin-fermented, unfined and unfiltered 50:50 ‘mix-up’ of Kent-grown Bacchus and Ortega – two cherished early-ripening German crossings. An ambassador for English quality (also check out Blackbook’s textbook ‘Painter of Light’ Chardonnay) to pour for English Wine Week and a mouth-watering treat to delight your hipster pa. Think elderflowers, hedgerows, nettles, plus a hint of almond, clove and cinnamon. Alc 10.5%

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3) MUST-TRY LIMITED EDITION ALDI GIN INSPIRED BY THE MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE SUMMER SOLSTICE Elements by Haysmith’s Eclipse Gin, England (Aldi, £14.99) Part of Aldi’s June spirits festival

and an enormous £20 less than the Hendrick’s counterpart from Sainsbury’s, this zesty and silky gin is a lightning strike of sheer junipery, citrusy and peppery refreshment. Superb value for a great all-rounder for this summer, it’s certain to enhance pop’s home bartending skills and take everyone on a gin-spiring journey through an English garden on a balmy solstice night. Makes a glorious, light and elegant G&T to satisfy juniper purists. Or sip neat over ice with an orange slice. Terrific value. Alc 40%

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4) FLESHY PINK PROVENÇAL PERFECTION TO PERFECTLY PARTNER A MULTITUDE OF DISHES Château La Mascaronne, Côtes de Provence Rosé 2020, France (Hedonism, The Champagne Company, Wines with Attitude, Harvey Nichols, £17.50-£22) Treat dad this Father’s Day to a really chic bottle of organic, pale, dry rosé de Provence. From the Mediterranean coast to the foothills of the Alps, and from Aix-en-Provence to Nice’s celebrated Riviera, Provence’s picturesque vineyards stretch across approximately 120 miles. 166 million bottles of AOP wines (equivalent to 1,246,010 hl in volume) were produced last year, 91% of which were rosé, 5% were red, and 4% white wine. Located in rolling hills just outside the medieval village of Le Luc, 40km to the northwest of St Tropez, Ch. La Mascaronne adopted sustainable farming methods in 1999 and the estate’s vineyard has been certified organic since 2016. Here textbook, gorgeous, hawthorn, and white peach scents, red plum, raspberry, redcurrant, strawberry, white peach and zingy majesty unite in pitch perfection. One for a lamb, saffron and apricot tagine with a parsley, roasted red pepper and feta couscous perhaps? No matter how you’re rejoicing on Father’s Day this refined bottle made from Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Vermentino from vineyards at 300 metres by top rosé winemaker Nathalie Longefay has X-factor up to its eyeballs. Drinking it is a treat. Same owner as Cos d’Estournel. Outstanding. Alc 13.5% Follow James on Twitter@QuixoticWine

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Food & Culture

health & wellbeing

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Wednesday June 16 | 2021

Minding your business… Coinciding with Father’s Day on Sunday, Men’s Health Week ends this Friday (June 18). It raises awareness of health issues which disproportionately affect men and aims to help men become more aware of potential health issues they could face and offers ways to find support EACH YEAR, the Men’s Health Week has a different focus and this year, the week aims to raise awareness of the struggles many men are experiencing with their mental health as we slowly re-open and adjust to a post-Covid world. Men’s Health Forum, the male mental health charity, reports that men are twice as likely to die from Covid than women, according to the age-standardised figures.

‘Men are also significantly less likely to access psychological therapies than women’ The forum has also reported that three out of four suicides are by men, and it is the biggest killer of men under the age of 35. Further to this, 12.5 per cent of men in the UK are suffering from one of the common mental health disorders. Men are also significantly less likely to access psychological therapies than women. During the first three quarters of 2015, out of the people who accessed psychological therapies, only 36 per cent of them were men. To mark the campaign, people are being encouraged to spend a week focusing on their own wellbeing with a different activity to complete from Monday to Friday.

AU D L E Y C A R E W I L L I C O M B E PA R K We support you in your own home Our dedicated team of highly trained carers will support you based on your individual needs. With a Good CQC rating, we will help you with as little or as much as you want. You only pay for the time you use. We go the extra mile to ensure your needs are met in a safe way with all the correct protections in place. Personal support | Companionship Housekeeping | Specialist care Contact us to find out more

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Food & Culture

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

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Can do attitude The ‘CAN DO’ challenge asks everyone to try a different way of improving your wellbeing each day of the week. They have been compiled into an easy to remember acronym… n On Mondays, Connect with other people. Call an old friend you haven’t seen for a while or meet a friend for a drink after work. After the impact on isolation which Covid restrictions have, it is easy to feel disconnected from others and the community. According to the NHS, spending time socialising has a plethora of mental benefits, including helping you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth, giving you an opportunity to share positive experiences, and providing emotional support and allow you to support others. n Make time on Tuesdays to be Active. Exercising boosts wellbeing through improving self-esteem and reduction in stress and anxiety. The recommended amount of exercise for an adult is two and a half hour’s worth of moderate exercise a week, but according to the Mental Health Foundation, only 65.5 per cent of men reach the recommended physical activity levels. Get outside and into the glorious sunshine we’ve been having and take a walk around the park during your lunch break. n On Wednesdays, ignore the distractions and Notice your surroundings. Turn your phone off and take in what there is around you. With life getting back to normal, it is easy to get wrapped up in the pressures of work and socialising and forget about me-time. In Tunbridge Wells we are nestled in the county known as the Garden of England. Why not make a visit to Dunorlan Park to clear your mind and

get back to nature? According to Mind the mental health charity, doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals can improve your mood, reduce feelings of stress and anger and help you to feel more relaxed. n On Thursdays, Discover. Learn something new, read a book you haven’t read before – here at the Times we have a great selection of reads

each week - see our book reviews on page 39. Learning a new skill can also help you to give you a sense of purpose, and it doesn’t have to be something which you will be assessed on, just something you can incorporate into your everyday life, for example a DIY project or maybe cooking a new dish. n Friday’s challenge is to Offer (or give) – by doing something for someone else.

This could mean volunteering for a local organisation, helping out a friend with something they have been struggling with, or donating to a local charity. Helping others has a range of mental health benefits including creating a sense of belonging, helping you to keep things in perspective and according to Mental Health Foundation, an act of kindness can boost feelings of being in control, happiness and optimism.

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Food & Culture

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

goingout 7 days of activities

HIGH ENERGY Get a midweek boost at the Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre

By Lottie Bulmer

IN BLOOM Enjoy the gardens at Salomon’s this Father’s Day

SHOW STOPPER The Estefan Experience is coming to The Assembly Hall

MOUNTAINEERING Outdoor climbing courses are happening at Harrison’s Rocks

STUNNING SALOMONS Salomon’s Estate is the backdrop for the Father’s Day picnic. Dads can enjoy a free beer while they watch the little ones battle each other at table tennis, go on scavenger hunts, bounce on the bouncy castle and play table football. The picnics are all prepared by the estate’s chefs and will be ready to collect upon your arrival for you to then choose the perfect picnic spot to view the 36 acres of rolling gardens. Adult picnics cost £17.50 per person and children’s picnics are £9.50 per person. To book tickets, visit salomons-estate.com SWEAT SESSION For a midweek boost and to blow off the working from home cobwebs, head over to the Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre for an evening ‘Bodyattack’ class. Founded by New Zealand Olympian Les Mills, the high energy workout class combines running, lunging and jumping with strength exercises and is the perfect session to power you through the to the weekend. The classes run on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. To book your place, and to see the full timetable of activities visit fusion-lifestyle.com LATIN FEVER Showbusiness is back with a flourish in

Tunbridge Wells. At the Assembly Hall on Friday, you can enjoy The Estefan Experience - an evening celebrating Gloria Estefan’s life with hits including Get On Your Feet, Conga, Rhythm is Gonna Get You, Anything For You, Dr Beat, Turn The Beat Around and many more. As Gloria’s career boasts over 100 million album sales and 26 Grammy Awards you’re in for an incredible show. This show-stopping Latin experience is backed by a full live band alongside Cuban-themed singers and dancers. Tickets cost from £30 and are available at assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk ROCK ON Step out of your comfort zone at Harrison’s Rocks in Groombridge. You can join ‘Indoors to Out’ – a rock climbing course run by Southern Sandstone Outdoor Climbing, and get to grips with all things mountaineering. The three hour course will take place on Friday and cover set-ups and go through the Code Of Practice outlined by the British Mountaineering Council so that you’re fully equipped with the skills and local knowledge to climb independently and safely. For more information or to book your place, visit rockclimbingstore.co.uk FLOWER POWER On Thursday (June 17) four gardens in Crowborough are opening to the public as part

of the National Open Garden Scheme. The scheme gives people access to over 3500 private gardens nationally in order to raise money for nursing and health charities through admissions and tea and cake. The lawns which visitors can admire across the town include 8 Mill Lane, which is a compact garden with clematis walk and well stocked borders. Mole End, which is a garden for all seasons, with deep borders, vegetable and fruit garden and a beehive. Sweet Springs has an extensively planted large garden wrapped around the cottage which isn’t open to the public, and Hoath Cottage, which is an informal garden dedicated to supporting wildlife. Visitors are encouraged to use the town’s carparks as there is limited space at the gardens. Make a day of it and refresh yourself with homemade tea after a wander around the gardens at Crowborough Community Centre. Refreshments are served in aid of Family Support Work. Tickets cost £6.00 for adults and child go free. Booking is essential, visit ngs.org.uk to reserve tickets. BARRELL OF LAUGHS Comedy at the EM Forster theatre is happening on Friday 18. Stuart Goldsmith, Erich McElroy and Russell Hicks are taking to the stage to kickstart your weekend. All three performers are veterans of the circuit and Hicks’ performances have been praised by Comedy Palace: “Anyone who has seen Russell Hicks knows that it is never the same show twice. CRACKING UP EM Forster’s comedy evening is on Friday

SWEET SPRINGS One of the gardens open in Crowborough on Thursday

“Taking a different approach than most comedians, Russell Hicks weaves improvisation with stream of conscious delivery that has moved many audience members to return for two nights in a row. “Nothing in this biography can do his act justice other than to say, you just have to see him live.” With socially distanced seating this is the perfect way to start the weekend. Drinks and snacks for pre show or in the interval can be booked using an in seat bar service app. Tickets cost £13 per person and can be booked via emftheatre.ticketsolve.com ZOOMING IN Got a petrolhead in the family? Hever Castle is playing host to a whole fleet of supercars on Father’s Day weekend. On Saturday June 19 you can get up close with Porsches, Mustangs, Fiat 500, Alfa Romeo, Lancia & Abarth and on Sunday June 20, there are displays of Rolls Royce, Lotus, Mustang, Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Ferrari & McLaren. Formula One painter, David Johnson is also on hand to give visitors the opportunity to buy his art as well as being able to see him paint live. If cars aren’t his thing, challenge Dad to an axe throwing contest at the castle, brought to Hever by Flying Iron Co. The castle is a great day out for all ages, with the opportunity for a leisurely wander around the historic estate to a frantic run around the water maze to avoid getting wet. For more information and to book tickets, visit hevercastle.co.uk

VA VA VROOM Park up at Hever Castle this Father’s Day Credit: Hever Castle and Gardens

FATHER’S DAY is on Sunday (June 20), and with the glorious weather we are having, Tunbridge Wells is bursting with things to see and do to celebrate with the family at the weekend and beyond…

Food & Culture

Books

Wednesday June 16 | 2021

The bookcase… Over the past year or so more people have had the chance to fall in love with reading again. Here’s our pick of this week’s top reads to enjoy

FICTION

Grown Ups by Marie Aubert, translated

By Rosie Hedger, is published in paperback by Pushkin Press, priced £12.99 (ebook £8.99). Available now Grown Ups by Norwegian author Marie Aubert tells the story of 40-year-old architect Ida, who is single and struggling with the realisation that her chances of having children are rapidly deteriorating. A short but impactful read, Grown Ups questions the meaning of womanhood and the changing dynamics of a couple once a child is introduced into the household. As Ida’s relatives gather at their family cabin for her mother’s 65th birthday, some news from her sister Marthe sees tensions between the siblings rise, building to an almighty family feud. Exploring the modern themes of dating apps and egg freezing, this is a real page turner with the impressive ability to be both hilarious and devastating. (Review by Sophie Morris)

The Other Black Girl

By Zakiya Dalila Harris is published in hardback by Bloomsbury Publishing, priced £14.99 (ebook £10.49). Available now It’s impossible for Zakiya Dalila Harris’ hotly anticipated debut to escape comparisons with the movie Get Out, as it’s a horror-style take on what it means to be black in America today. Nella is a young black woman working at an all-white publishing house – an industry Harris used to work in – and some of the behaviour Nella puts up with is uncomfortably realistic (Harris has spoken about the book being inspired by personal experiences). Things take a

turn when another African American woman is hired at work: the Other Black Girl. She starts thriving in situations Nella has always struggled in, and Nella receives a note telling her to leave the company – or she’ll regret it. Harris builds tension like no other – you’re hugely invested in Nella’s success, and the twist at the end is simply brilliant (read: terrifying). It will definitely be one of the biggest reads of the summer, and for good reason. (Review by Prudence Wade)

HANNAH KIRSOP

8/10

I Couldn’t Love You More

By Esther Freud is published in hardback by Bloomsbury Publishing, priced £16.99 (ebook £11.89). Available now From her first novel Hideous Kinky, Esther Freud has been writing about mothers and daughters and the difficulties, bonds and mysteries of their relationships. I Couldn’t Love You More interweaves the struggles and relationships of three generations of women: Aoife, Rosaleen and Kate. Rosaleen’s relationship with sculptor Felix Lichtman initially feels like liberation from the restraints of a backwardlooking Catholic Ireland, but it ends in betrayal and abandonment. Freud takes a kaleidoscopic approach to storytelling, shifting timeframes and points of view, meaning the start of the book requires concentration. At the story’s heart are the pressures of the Church and bad priests on unmarried mothers. Claustrophobic lives with lack of agency prompt difficult consequences for each generation of women, who have to wrestle control back to protect those they love. (Review by Bridie Pritchard)

8/10

9/10

Guest book reviewer

The Godmother

By Hannelore Cayre (published in paperback by Old Street Publishing, priced £6.99) Patience Portefeux is the unlikely villain in this magnificently original, comic tale about the transformation of a middleaged civil servant into the expertly crafted ‘Godmother’ who, when opportunity comes her way, becomes the newest

9/10

Year of Wonders

By Geraldine Brooks (published in paperback by HarperCollins Publishers, priced ~£8.99)

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

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Based on a true story, this debut novel details the fate of the village of Eyam in Derbyshire when it was beset by the Great Plague following the arrival of a bolt of cloth from London. The villagers decide to contain it by quarantining themselves and so the story, narrated by young housemaid Anna Frith, weaves through the difficulties and hardships faced by a community facing a lifethreatening disease and crippling loss. With a wholly absorbing plot and strong characters, it transpires that the plight of Anna and the villagers during

drug dealer on the Paris streets. Peppered with flash backs to Patience’s early life as the daughter of two crooks, Cayre’s narrative perfectly positions Patience so that her foray into crime seems only natural as she works to outwit the French police in the company of her excellent companion, her dog DNA. A clever, witty and unique take on the traditional crime novel, it is impossible not to be rooting for Patience all the way.

8/10

their health crisis is timeless and remains relevant in the world we find ourselves in today. A moving, devastating but uplifting novel that captures the worst of times but also humankind’s natural faith that there will be better times ahead.