Times of Tonbridge 19th October 2016

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

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STATE BALLET COMES TO TOWN FROM RUSSIA - WITH LOVE Pages 84-85 P

TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS DEFEAT LOCAL RIVALS IN THRILLING DERBY Page 86

COUNTY HALL PLEDGES TO KEEP KENT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE Pages 8-9

KING HAROLD AND HIS SAXON SOLDIERS CAMP AT CASTLE BEFORE BATTLE Page 2

Boating community claims landowner is INSIDE trying to sink their ‘alternative lifestyle’ HIGH SPIRITS

Is spooky feature in calendar a ghost from the past? Page 3

Neighbours rally in an attempt to save The Venice of Tonbridge

By Murray Jones newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

WATER FIGHT Barden Road Boaters

A TRADITIONAL boat mooring community, which has been a ‘much loved’ feature of the town for 25 years, could be forced out of the area because of a battle with their landlords.

However, ‘The Venice of Tonbridge’ on the River Medway is not being allowed to disappear without a fight. The Barden Road Boaters are appealing for support from the council and the public after being threatened with eviction from the Rendezvous Boatyard by the owners.

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

Council commended for looking after stray dogs Page 3

‘They changed the locks and chained and padlocked the boatyard with us inside’ The small group of 13 narrow boat owners, who are moored along the banks of the river, have launched an online petition calling on Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council to protect them from losing their homes.

Boat owner Helen Kirk, who started the petition, which has already attracted around 1,700 signatures, says she and her Barden boatyard neighbours were told there was going to be a change of their tenancy arrangements on Saturday, October 8, when they were visited by representatives of the landowners, accompanied by what she describes as ‘a group of intimidating men’.

Ms Kirk said: “They changed the locks and chained and padlocked the boatyard with us inside.

“I went out and banged on the gate

FAMILY FAVOURITES

Tonbridge takeaway in line to win top award Page 3

shouting at them ‘What’s going on? Let me out’. I have PTSD, so you can probably imagine what that did to me.”

The boat owners were then given a list of updated terms and were told they had to sign they were accepting them within two weeks or face eviction. These new rules would end their access to electricity, water, their on-land toilet and washing facilities, as well as their shed storage and garden areas, which were covered under

their previous agreement.

Another boat owner, Jonathan Sidaway, concedes they ‘live an alternative lifestyle’, but argues these new terms are incompatible with their needs. “It makes life very difficult when you can’t have a cup of tea or go for a wee,” he said.

Land-dwelling neighbours have been quick to offer their support. The Barden Residents Association sent a letter to the council stating: “We are supporting the

boat owners and hope they will have the town’s support, too. The boating community is much loved in Barden and we want to safeguard its future.

“There are no other permanent moorings in the area and our area is becoming gentrified as the poorest families are being forced out by soaring rent increases in the town.

Continued on page 3

WHAT’S ON

Dinosaurs come to life at The EM Forster Theatre Page 82

2 ■ LOCAL NEWS

Weather Wednesday Mostly dry and bright, although some heavy showers will remain likely

October 19, 2016

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13 C

Visibility: Very Good

Pollution: Low

Humidity: 70%

Sunrise: 07.30am

Sunset: 17.57pm

Wind: 12mph

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14ºC

Saxon soldiers camp at castle during a 300-mile journey to do battle with William the Conqueror An English Heritage-organised march to commemorate 950 years since the Battle of Hastings in 1066 called in on Tonbridge on its way to the final battleground in Sussex. Neill Barston reports

13ºC

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‘Somewhere’ over Tunbridge Wells Haysden Park at sunset Photo by Mary Rimmer

Photo by Sheena

Send your weather pictures to... newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

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CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS HERE at the Times of Tonbridge we strive to deliver fair, accurate and balanced reports. When we don’t meet our own high standards we will accept the responsibility and publish clarifications and corrections.

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HISTORY LESSON Slade Primary School pupils with the soldiers

A HARDY band of 1066 re-enactors and their horses, dressed in full Saxon gear, were given a warm reception when they arrived in Tonbridge High Street last week.

The stopover at the town’s castle was part of an impressive 300-mile journey from York to SHIELDED Battle, in East Sussex, to A schoolgirl celebrate the 950th joins the fun anniversary of the last conquest of England.

Against a setting sun, there was some irony when they entered Tonbridge Castle, as it was commissioned by the Norman Lord Richard Fitzgilbert.

So the castle would almost certainly not have existed had the French invasion of 1066 been repelled.

But this resting point for the English Heritage-backed group of warriors was still a fitting location, as the castle was potentially the site of a Saxon settlement by the River Medway – which to the natives would have been known as Medweg, a joining of ‘med’ (middle) and ‘weg’ (way).

“You don’t often see gateways as fine as this,” remarked Nigel Amos, dressed as King Harold, who thanked the crowd of locals, including pupils from nearby Slade Primary School, for coming to show their support.

“I’ve been doing historical re-enactment as a living for the past 20 years now, and English Heritage contacted me to ask whether the march could be done,” Nigel explained.

“While others have walked the route, it has never been attempted on horseback – as we are doing – which has made it one of the most exciting things I’ve been involved with.”

The re-enactors started at York, which is near Stamford Bridge where King Harold

KING’S SPEECH ‘King Harold’ (Nigel Amos) addresses the crowds at Tonbridge Castle

Godwinson defeated Norwegian King Harald Hardrada in September 1066.

As soon as he had sent the Vikings packing, Harold was forced to head south to tackle a threat from Duke William of Normandy, who said his claim on the English throne was worthier.

Harold, as Earl of Wessex – and a favourite of Edward the Confessor – ascended to the throne immediately after the old king’s death in January 1066, which set in motion a medieval game of thrones.

While the precise journey Harold took south is unknown, it’s fairly certain his army would have crossed through the Weald of Kent. And the Tonbridge area could have been a natural stopping point between London and the coast.

Retracing those 950-year-old steps posed its challenges – not the least of which was navigating the 21st-century road traffic.

“It’s been a real journey of highs and lows,” said Nigel. “There were moments when it was just beautiful, like travelling through the

North Downs. But there were days when it just rained and you were travelling through an industrial estate. Generally, though, people were amazing on the route.”

Nigel, who grew up in Medway and studied history at Canterbury Christ Church University, believes the significance of 1066 should not be undervalued.

“This was the end of the Saxon age and a real step change in the history of England. We’re living in an Anglo-Norman world, and a lot of what is here now is as a result of the conquest.”

Entering the town of Battle last weekend, the group will have caught sight of another Tonbridge connection. Local sculptor Guy Portelli has created a striking new artwork for the 950th anniversary of 1066. Depicting a Norman knight on horseback being attacked by a Saxon soldier, it’s already winning praise.

Battle Abbey marks the last stand of Harold’s forces against William on October 14, 1066.

Eager crowds gathered in the grounds to watch 1,000 people recreate the famous clash, which was depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.

William led his cavalry charge up Senlac Ridge to strike at the Saxon defenders, and Harold received the fateful arrow to the eye that allegedly killed him.

After the fall of England’s short-lived ruler, the Norman innovations included the loathed taxation systems which began with the Doomsday Book, just 20 years after 1066.

LET’S TRY AND WIN THIS TIME! The Saxons battle the Normans

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QUOTE UNQUOTE ‘Nothing is more irritating than not being invited to a party you wouldn’t be seen dead at’ Bill Vaughan

Wednesday 19th October 2016

HORSE POWER Saxons in the High Street

LOCAL NEWS 

NEWS IN BRIEF

Council looks after man’s best friend THE RSPCA has rewarded Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council with a Gold Award after the authority was placed in the top 15 per cent nationally for dealing with stray dogs.

From March 31, 2015, to April 1, 2016, the council dealt with 245 stray dogs.

The majority were reunited with their owners thanks to contact details found on their microchips or dog collar tags.

A council spokesperson said the award recognises the ‘personal and professional commitment and dedication of Tonbridge & Malling’s Dog Warden, Lorraine Baseden’.

Banking on success THE Tonbridge-based Charity Bank has been awarded top spot in the index of ethical banks and business societies for the ninth successive year.

Research by The Good Shopping Guide, found that the bank, based in Fosse House in the High Street, achieved a perfect score of 100 – far surpassing typical high street banks in terms of social and environmental responsibility.

It was only one of 11 companies in the UK who achieved the maximum rating.

A bank spokesperson said: “We’re a bank that doesn’t pay bonuses.

“We use the money our savers entrust to us to make loans to charities and social enterprises. In short, we’re a bank for people who don’t just dream of a better world, but are busy building one.”

More rail strikes THE second wave of Southern Rail strikes began yesterday [Tuesday], with passengers facing massive reductions to the already beleaguered service.

Buses are running between Tonbridge and Redhill during peak times.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) began their three-day walk out after rejecting Southern Railway’s last-minute attempt to sway workers with a £2,000 lump sum payment if they signed a new agreement. The conflict is about whether drivers should operate the train doors.

However, there was slight relief for rail passengers as a new compensation scheme was announced by the government.

Customers will now be able to claim if their service is 15 or more minutes late.

Christmas cook needed TONBRIDGE Baptist Church is appealing for a volunteer to cook their annual Christmas dinner.

Organisers say no preparation is needed, they just require someone with the ‘expertise’ to cook the three-course meal for 60 people on Christmas Day. Anyone who would like to volunteer can call 01732 355105.

3

Town’s new calendar features spooky supernatural surprise

By Neill Barston newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

WITH Halloween just around the corner, it’s a fair bet to imagine the streets of Tonbridge might shortly see some spooky action from enthusiastic young trick or treaters.

But the owners of town’s Old Fire Station have their very own reason for calling out the Ghostbusters, after making a startling discovery from a new photoshoot at the site.

The venue’s owner, Richard Collins, and business partner Sam Goode were delighted to contribute a picture to the new Tonbridge Daily calendar raising money for the town’s Lions charity.

However, on closer inspection of their entry showing the frontage of the Old Fire Station, they were taken aback to find a ghostly male figure wearing a hat in one of the windows.

Mr Collins said: “I think the calendar is a fantastic thing for the town, and we’re proud to be part of it, but when we blew up our image of the Old Fire Station we saw what

appears to be a ghost in the window.

“Some say it could be of a man known as William, which may well be connected to the building next door. It is now a public toilet, but it used to be the mortuary for the fire station.”

Despite the ghostly mystery, around 100 people gathered at the Old Fire Station last week to celebrate the launch of the first calendar dedicated to the town.

It was organised and designed by the people behind Tonbridge Daily, the online community Facebook page, and copies are on sale for £7 each in outlets throughout the town.

The funds generated will go to the Tonbridge Lions, who sponsored the production costs.

The photographs used in the calendar feature some instantly recognisable locations around the town, and it is hoped it will become an annual fixture, with potential for Christmas card spin-offs.

Suzannah Niklas, a spokesperson for Tonbridge Daily, thanked everyone who had helped put the calendar together and expressed excitement for the future.

GHOSTLY GOINGS ON Richard Collins and Sam Goode She said: “I’ve been asked over the years about doing one as we get thousands of photos sent in.

“It’s a first of its kind, and we and the Lions are really keen to expand and get the community more involved next year.”

The good news is that since the launch the calendars have been ‘selling like hot cakes’, and a second

Boat people threat

FAMILY AFFAIR Aklakur and Rugina Begum Rahman

Continued from page 1

Takeaway nominated for top prize AN INDIAN takeaway has been shortlisted as one of the ten best takeaways in the south east for the second year running.

Tez has been run by the Rahman family at 179, High Street, Tonbridge for the past four years, and its growing popularity has seen them nominated for the British Takeaway Award, which is decided by public vote.

Owner Aklakur Rahman says: “We all have our own expertise and take a huge amount of pride in what we do.”

Mr Rahman, who took on the premises in 2012, said: “The first two years were a real struggle. There are so many takeaways in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells and the com-

print run is already being discussed.

James Lark, of the Tonbridge Lions, added that the charity was ‘very excited’ about the prospects for the calendar, and hoped it would be well received in the town.

It might just become a collectors’ item for ghost hunters, as much as for those appreciating a fine local landscape.

petition was really daunting. So we asked ourselves ‘how are we going to stand out from the crowd’?”

His sister-in-law came up with the idea of cooking Quorn, a meat substitute, in most of their dishes.

“The vegetarian market is massive, and no one was tapping into it.

As soon as we put it on the menu, it really took off,” said Mr Rahman.

Since joining the online service Just Eat, Tez has generated over 550 high reviews and is currently rated at five and a half out of six stars.

With voting closing on October 24, Mr Rahman is asking his customers to ‘please get online and vote for us’. Visit www.thebtas.co.uk

The loss of this community would further diminish social diversity.”

Such local support has been ‘overwhelming’ for Mr Sidaway, who said: “People who you think maybe wouldn’t appreciate our lifestyle, have come down firmly on our side, and that is really heartwarming.”

Mooring Manager and Tonbridge Waterways owner Phil Hibbs, who acts as intermediary between the boat owners and landowners, was reluctant to comment on the ‘ongoing saga’ as it is in the hands of solicitors.

But he confirmed that the list of terms boat owners were shown was ‘nothing official, just a silly bit of paper with no legal standing’.

It is understood the landowner is a Mr Mockford. The Times attempted to contact him and his representatives for a comment, but was unable to get a response before going to press.

Fears have been raised that the boatyard owners are trying to get the boats off the site so they can prepare

it for a planning application. But a spokesperson for the council said: “There are no policies or proposals to develop this land in our current Local Development Framework, and the site does not form part of the emerging draft Local Plan proposed strategy we’re currently consulting on.

“There have been no planning applications received for a new development here, and in the event that applications were made for housing, as has been speculated, it is unlikely that such proposals would be permitted as the land is within a flood risk area.

“While the council sympathises with the situation the houseboat community find themselves in, and would not wish anyone to lose their mooring, there is very little action the council can take in matters between landlord and tenant.

“Whether the actions of the landowners are within the terms of the tenancy agreement with the narrowboat community and stand up to legal scrutiny is a matter for the community to address.”

Wednesday 19th October 2016

4  LOCAL NEWS

STRAW POLL: Andrew and Kate Mills of Heath Stores dress up for their scarecrow competition

FEEL THE LOVE: (Front, L-R) Dawn Stanford of Nourish, Paralympic gold medallist Will Bayley, Olivia Wittenberg, George Milham; (middle) Heather Cullingworth, Zane Cheeseman, Andrew and Kate Mills of Heath Stores, Rob Campbell and Judy Guest of parkrun; (back) Richard Woodfield, Louise Fitzgerald and Joe Watts of parkrun. Will Bayley was presented with a specially commissioned gold post box (far left) full of congratulations from local residents

Double honour for Nourish at Love Where We Live awards

By Andrew Tong

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk NOURISH Community Foodbank has been crowned the overall winner of this year’s Love Where We Live awards.

At last Tuesday’s ceremony at the Assembly Hall, Nourish was also named Charity of the Year in Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s nominations.

The awards, which have been running in their current format since 2012, recognise and celebrate those who make a difference to their local community.

Paralympic gold medallist Will Bayley attended the presentation, and the table tennis player from Groombridge was presented with a gold post box, made by Sevenoaks carpenter Terry Malone, in recognition of his achievements in Rio. Local people have been requested to leave messages of congratulation in the box, which has made a tour of the Museum, the Assembly Hall and Farmer’s Market.

Nourish Community Foodbank was commended by the judges for the ‘huge contribution it has made to the local community’ since it was established in 2012.

The council commented: “They have helped over 4,500 people in crisis and work with over 90 partner teams who refer clients for emergency help when needed.”

Marianne MacDonald, one of Nourish’s

Wednesday 19th October 2016

A CUT ABOVE: George Milham (left) works with a crosscut saw at the Sherwood Shed project Trustees, commented: “It’s a massive recognition.

We were completely blown away.

“But we can’t take any of [the credit] because it belongs to the whole community and all the donations that local people make.

“It’s the most worthwhile thing I’ve ever been involved with. I do feel quite emotional about it.

‘It’s such a fine line between the haves and the have-nots’ “It’s really difficult, because we had a 38 per cent increase in referrals last year, and if you worked for a company you would be really happy with a result like that.

“But for us it comes on the back of crisis situations, on the basis of someone else’s misfortune,” she adds. “It’s such a fine line

between the haves and the have-nots. It could happen to any one of us.”

Seventeen-year-old George Milham was named as Young Volunteer of the Year for his work with Sherwood Men’s Shed.

The organisation, which started in October last year and was officially opened in April, aims to link the local community and the countryside.

It is based at TN2 Community Centre off Greggs Wood Road and acts as a ‘halfway house’ helping vulnerable residents back into the community, providing them with space to pursue DIY projects.

According to the judges, George has succeeded in ‘finding a niche where he can make a positive contribution to the community and learn new skills. Through volunteering he has been exposed to activities he would not normally have come into contact with’.

Chairman Tim Tempest, who started the initiative with Nick Robinson, paid tribute to George, saying: “He’s a friendly face, he gets on well with everyone and he keeps us all entertained – nothing is too much trouble.

“He comes up with some hair-brained schemes but there is always a grain of reasoning that makes them eminently sensible in the end.”

He added: “It makes it all worthwhile when anyone who comes to the shed gets something positive out of it. That’s what it’s all about.”

The village shop in Horsmonden, Heath Stores, run by Andrew and Kate Mills has won the prestigious Ethical Business award.

They describe themselves as a ‘fusion’ between

a convenience store and a farm shop, with some 20 per cent of their produce sourced locally.

Andrew was brought up in the village and returned five years ago to take over the store.

Kate said: “It’s great to be recognised by the community. We love living in Horsmonden, and it’s wonderful to be able to give something back.”

The couple are heavily involved in charity work in the local area and run a number of fundraising events such as last weekend’s scarecrow competition. They also sponsor the primary school’s football team.

The latest accolade comes on top of a number of other significant awards. It was named as the Daily Telegraph British Village Shop of the Year and UK Community Rural Retailer of the Year, and was also recognised as one of the 20 best small shops in the UK.

LOVE WHERE WE LIVE NOMINEES ETHICAL BUSINESS Winner: Heath Stores.

Finalists: LitterGram, Grovehurst Lake.

BEST GROUP Winner: Royal Tunbridge Wells parkrun.

A non-competitive running club with an average of 130 runners participating in Dunorlan Park each Saturday.

Finalists: Compaid volunteers, Kent High Weald Partnership volunteers.

SPORTS ACHIEVER Winner: Zane Cheeseman, coach at Horsmonden Tennis Club for 14 years.

Finalists: Ellie Miles, Ben Baker.

YOUNG SPORTS ACHIEVER Winner: Olivia Wittenberg.

Olivia, 11, came ninth in this year’s National Cross Country Finals and organised a sponsored run at her primary school raising nearly £1,000 for charity.

Finalists: Gymnast Harley Curtis-Lawrence, swimmer Annabel Guye-Johnson.

INDIVIDUAL HERO Winner: Heather Cullingworth.

A stalwart of the community of Frittenden, she is also the village lollipop lady and serves on the Parish Council. “She will always lend a hand and makes any occasion brighter and more community-oriented.”

Finalists: Susan Ashord, Pam Bridges.

CHARITY OF THE YEAR Winner: Nourish Community Foodbank.

Finalists: Headway in West Kent, Compaid.

YOUNG VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Winner: George Milham.

Finalists: Keaton Smith, Lydia Rawley.

LOCAL NEWS �

5

Volunteers get all fired up making the town sparkle MORE than 12,000 people are expected to attend the ‘biggest annual event in Tunbridge Wells’ – and it’s all organised by volunteers.

The Dunorlan Park fireworks, which are set to explode over the town on Guy Fawkes Night, has been organised every year since 1957 by the Tunbridge Wells Round Table.

Made up of 20 members, aged 18-45, the team volunteer ‘hundreds of man hours’ to create the annual event, which raised £25,000 for local charities last year.

A member of the Round Table, Andrew Mockford, told the Times his motivation for dedicating his time year in, year out: “My father was in Round Table, I first got involved in the fireworks when I was seven years old; that was 25 years ago. I was right there in the shopping precinct, encouraging people to buy their tickets.”

Attracting over 12,000 visitors last year, the show has come a long way from its early years.

Recounting the fireworks of 1967, exRound Table member, Tony Passmore said: “That year I think for the firework display some lunatic had come up with the idea of firing a homemade rocket across the lake. Fortunately it was attached to a wire.

BANG ON The team from Round Table

“There was a great song and dance as the grand happening was announced.

When lit, there were huge flames and smoke and then it moved about one inch.

“You’ve got to remember that in those days it was very much a DIY affair.”

No longer so ‘DIY’, this year’s event will see over 4000 rockets being fired – a record number for the town. As well as

the main spectacle, there will also be a funfair plus a selection of different street food and bars.

Mr Mockford said: “It is now a mammoth event and the largest in the town. We are hoping for a record year and would urge people to purchase their tickets early and come along to enjoy a fantastic evening of fireworks, food and fun.”

TIMETABLE AND TICKETS On Saturday November 5 Gates will open at 5.30pm, with the display at 7pm, lasting for approximately 25 minutes. n Tickets are on sale in Calverley Precinct on Sat 22/29 October and on the day of the event or can be bought online at: http://www.rtwrt.org n Adult/Child tickets are: £6/£4 in advance, £8/£5 on the day. n

Wednesday 19th October 2016

6  LOCAL NEWS

Tunbridge Wells shop windows reflect poorly on the town centre Civic Society criticises Metro Bank and claims no retailer worthy of winning top award

THE adjudicators of good taste when it comes Tunbridge Wells architecture gathered at the Town Hall on Thursday [October 13] to recognise the best of local aesthetics. It was the 38th Civic Society Annual Awards.

Attended by around 120 members of the society, which was founded in 1959 to campaign on issues affecting the character of the town, the ceremony saw a total of ten developments and restorations listed for an award – although not every category had a winner.

weighted metrics, with ‘overall design’ being the most important, making up 40 per cent of the score.

Other considerations include ‘architectural detail’ (20 per cent), ‘in keeping with surroundings’ (20 per cent), building materials (10 per cent) with workmanship and finish making up the final 10 per cent.

The non-architectural Community Contribution Award won by Nourish Food Bank was for their charitable work within the town.

Handing out the certificates to the winners was Mayor David Neve, who ensured that each presentation he delivered was accompanied by a pun – with varying degrees of success.

“If the council can’t even lay paving stones, how can we expect them to build a new theatre?”

Future battlegrounds for the Civic Society

Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

The opening speech was by the group’s Chairman, Dr Janet Sturgis, who welcomed those gathered before briefly explaining the purpose of the awards.

Dr Sturgis said: “Although the Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society is perhaps more widely known for our work in considering and responding to planning applications, or erecting red plaques of former citizens, this evening is where we demonstrate our positive acknowledgement of those who contribute to our town’s character in a variety of ways.”

Dr David Wright, who headed the scrutiny committee in charge of determining the winners, echoed the Chairman by acknowledging the society has a ‘reputation for objecting’ to various planning proposals, but the awards were to highlight the ‘good things’ in the town.

However, although the intention was to highlight positive contributions to the look and feel of the town, the society decided no candidates ‘justified’ winning the Shop Front

Wednesday 19th October 2016

WRONG IMAGE The antithesis of a good store front

GLAZE PRAISE Catchpole & Rye came close to winning

Award category this year.

Despite Catchpole & Rye on Calverley Road ‘coming close’, it was not deemed to be as aesthetically pleasing as previous winners, such as G Collins & Sons the jewellers, the Velo House café and Hall’s Bookshop.

Singled out for particular criticism as being the antithesis of what a suitable storefront in Tunbridge Wells should look like were Metro Bank and The Works, both of which are on the pedestrianised part of Calverley Road.

Explaining the process by which each of the ‘worthy winners’ were assessed, Dr Wright said any one could put forward a property for consideration, which this year saw 30 candidates apply.

The proposals are then scrutinised by a panel of five society members, consisting of one planner, an architect and three lay members.

Each building is then scored out of ten on five

Before proceeding to acknowledge the winners of the awards, Dr David Wright flagged up some areas where he believed the society could be at loggerheads with developers.

Potential redevelopment of the current civic complex and the planned relocation of council functions to a new building on Mount Pleasant Avenue, with a new theatre next to Calverley Grounds, were highlighted as areas of concern.

Dr Wright questioned if the council had the ability to pull off such a task, by comparing it with the ongoing problems at Fiveways.

“If the council can’t even lay paving stones, how can we expect them to build a new theatre?” he said, emphasising this was a personal view and the society would make a final judgment when concrete plans were in place.

Other areas of concern flagged up were the Dandara redevelopment of Union Square on The Pantiles, which he said at nine floors was ‘totally over-scaled’ for the historic promenade.

Redevelopment of the old cinema site will also come under heavy scrutiny, he warned.

LOCAL NEWS �

WINNER

7

OTHER WINNERS

The Brook

Brecknock

A new build on Upper Cumberland Walk.

One of the major challenges before the development began was to ‘capture and move slowworms off the site before they hibernated’.

The panel was fond of the wooden façade and the landscaping around the building.

Owner: Julia & Glyn Maitland-Shadwell Architects: Michael Westlake, Winter Westlake Architects Building Contractors: James Easter and Ian Fieldwick, Coxdown Construction Landscaper: Richard Ayles – Slate Grey

Brecknock, in the Camden Park area, replaced a house named Ganderhay. The brief was to be ‘contemporary’ while retaining ‘resonance’ with nearby Victorian era buildings.

Owner: Geoff and Fiona Turner Architects: Burns Guthrie & Partners Building Contractors: DB Design & Build Ltd

1 Cumberland Walk

Once the King Charles School, the awards panel liked the sensitive renewal of an historic building on a restricted site.

Owner: Melanie O’Brien Westphal Designer/Architect: Mike Westphal Building Contractor: Roger Maynard

2 Clarence Road

Built in 1832, it was once the home of Major General Elias Durnford, famed for building the Citadel of Quebec. The panel praised the restoration of the glazed entrance corridor.

Owner: Anthony and Robyn Williams Building contractors: AT Palmer and Acorn Glass

32 Norfolk Road

The awards panel were particularly pleased with the way the owners had improved the façade, as well as adding an extension which was not out of keeping with its surroundings.

Owner: Joe Tatham and Hannah Rumary Architects: Tatham Homes Building Contractors: Tatham Homes

Hill House

This five-bedroom house in Upper Dunstan Road was designed to fit in with the adjacent 19th-century coach house. The panel liked the design of the slate roof and slender long format bricks as well as the design, with two wings linked by a single-storey family room.

Owner: Nathan & Vanessa Wheatley Architects: Simon Feneley of Feneley Studio

WINNER The Wells Free School

The first project of its type to involve a house building company, Berkeley Homes, in the development of a new school.

Opened to pupils in 2013 in temporary accommodation before moving to the current site, in the grounds of the former Kent andSussex Hospital, the school has six class years from reception to year five, with 24 pupils in each year.

The panel liked the siting near the entrance to the development, which they thought was appropriate for the town centre, as well as the design’s ‘clean lines’ and ‘limited palette’.

Acting Chair of Governors: Robert Atwood Architects: Bond Bryan Architects (Stewart Paine) Berkeley Homes Architect (Nick Davies) Building Contractors: Berkeley Homes

The Mead School

This prep school on Frant Road has recently completed an extension to the front of its building. The panel thought it looked as if it had ‘always been’ part of the Victorian house.

Owner: Mrs Angela Culley, The Mead School Architects: Mr Robert Shreeve, Robert Shreeve Associates Ltd Building Contractor: Mr Jonathan Tomlin, Anglefield Construction Ltd

Tunbridge Wells Bar and Grill

WINNER

The High Street restaurant invested considerable sums renovating its outdoor dining area, including a retractable roof. The panel also praised the new entranceway.

Owner: Ian Campbell (Manager)

Public Spaces on Greggswood Road

Part of the Town and Country Housing Group’s redevelopment of the Greggswood area.

The panel highlighted the new public square outside the TN2 Centre and the playground next to Emerald Walk as examples of well thought-out public spaces.

They liked the landscaping which enhances the public spaces, and the ‘careful and appropriate’ use of materials and colours.

Owner: Town & Country Housing Group Architects: PRP Architects Building Contractors/ Landscaping Work: Hill Partnership Ltd

Wednesday 19th October 2016

8 � LOCAL NEWS

Further budget pain forecast as KCC seeks backing to balance the books billion pounds’ worth of savings made since 2010 as central government funding has dried up. adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk These cuts are expected to result in up to 400 job losses spread across all of the county’s services, TAXPAYERS have been given six weeks to provide except in schools.

Most of the remainder is to come from a 1.99 per their feedback on the ‘huge challenge’ of finding £108million to balance Kent County Council’s cent rise in council tax and the introduction of a 2 budget, the authority announced on Thursday per cent ‘social care precept’ – made possible by government legislation aimed at softening the [October 13].

Proposals indicate that a mixture of tax rises and blow of local authority cuts – while approximately funding cuts will be needed to plug the black hole, £5million in savings are yet to be identified.

If both increases are accepted, it would mean the with one Cabinet member warning further savings KCC precept on a Band C property increasing by will need to be found for the ‘foreseeable future’.

In their budget report, the council [KCC] states it £40 from £1,007.60 to £1,047.84.

Announcing the beginning of the consultation, has identified ‘savings’ worth £75million for the next financial year, which comes on top of half a KCC Leader Paul Carter said the authority had been able to find savings through ‘sensible’ management, adding: ‘Despite these huge “The government has placed an enormous challenge on us by challenges, we imposing on local government some of the biggest cuts compared are determined to to other parts of the public sector. continue to make “With forward planning, and facKent a great place to ing the challenge early on, we are now in a better position than most. live and work’ “We totally understand that some transformational plans take many years to implement. We are Paul Carter forward-thinking, have made intelKCC Leader ligent commissioning decisions and have the situation in hand.

By Adam Hignett

CONSULTATION KCC want you to send your views on the cuts to County Hall

“Despite these huge challenges, we are determined to continue to make Kent a great place to live and work, seeing the population grow and attracting new businesses.”

The council’s total net expenditure for 2016-17 is £1.8billion, the vast majority of which is spent on direct services to the public.

The six-week consultation has been timed to conclude before the government’s autumn budget statement at the end of November.

John Simmonds, KCC’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “We have been under pressure for several years, and yet we have continued to prioritise our universal frontline services as well as protecting the most vulnerable in our society.

“We have to launch this campaign now, based on our best estimates, so that we are ready to get the full benefit in 2017-18.

“The council will still need to set its final budget and council tax in February, but this new approach – with a full budget update to county council in October – enables us to get the ball rolling earlier and prompt a wider debate

with residents, clients and service providers.

“We are anticipating that this trend of additional spending demands and insufficient funding will continue for the foreseeable future, and therefore further significant savings will continue to need to be found until 2019-20 at the earliest.

“The decisions we make in our budget will affect everyone in Kent. That’s why we want to engage with as many residents as possible and we feel that online, through the council’s website, is the most effective medium for the vast majority.

“There will be other ways for people without online access to engage.”

‘We are anticipating that this trend of additional spending demands and insufficient funding will continue’ John Simmonds KCC’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance

WHAT DOES KCC SPEND ITS BUDGET ON? For the Tunbridge Wells borough council tax payer, 72p in the pound goes to KCC, while just 10p in every pound is kept by the borough. The remainder goes to Kent Police (10p), Kent Fire and Rescue (5p) and parishes (3p).

Here’s some of the things KCC is responsible for: n Supporting 5,506

people

with nursing and residential care that best meets their needs n 7,828

people receiving a homecare support service to enable them to stay in their homes n Providing a social care

Wednesday 19th October 2016

service for 35,440 adults last year n 85

children’s centres,

working with 65,000

n 24,300

young person’s

travel passes n 16.9million free bus

journeys for the elderly and disabled n Supporting 5,000

adults

with substance misuse issues n 70

community wardens million visits to

n 5.6

youngsters n About 2,300 children

our libraries

in care, including more than 800 young unaccompanied asylum seekers

n9

n 6,847km of public roads

country parks, attracting

1.6 million visits

LOCAL NEWS �

PROPOSED KCC COUNCIL TAX RATES 2017/18

2016/17 Council

Band A

Band B

Band C

Band D

Band E

Band F

Band G

Band H

£755.70

£881.65

£1,007.60

£1,133.55

£1,385.45

£1,637.35

£1,889.25

£2,267.10

Tax total 2017/18 Council

£785.88

£916.86

£1,047.84

£1,178.82

£1,440.78

£1,702.74

£1,964.70

£2,357.64

£30.18

£35.21

£40.24

£45.27

£55.33

£65.39

£75.45

£90.54

Tax total Increase

Major landlord warns of 50 per cent rent hikes Michael Stickler has spent over 20 years building up his portfolio of 50 properties in the Tunbridge Wells area, mainly one and two bedroom, which are his sole source of income. Here, he speaks to the Times

YOUR SAY: If you wish to take part in the public consultation, visit: http://consultations.kent.gov.uk/consult.ti/BudgetConsultation2017. Or to request the form in alternative formats, email: alternativeformats@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 421553. The closing date for responses is November 27, 2016

Where are savings being found?

Examples of the savings being made can be seen below: The Education and Young People’s Directorate is looking at innovative ways of generating additional income of £1.9million in 2017-18 through the creation of support packages for schools and academies.

In Adult Social Care, KCC has identified savings of £13.3million through transformation, although the increase in demand for, and costs of, care services will mean the extra costs will outweigh even those savings.

KCC also anticipates saving about £2million from its home-to-school trans-

port budget for special education needs pupils through smarter route organisation and intelligent procurement.

The £40million project to convert all of KCC’s 118,000 streetlights to LED technology will deliver in excess of £5.2million in savings on energy bills annually, once complete (as well as reducing KCC’s carbon footprint).

Although the cost of waste disposal per tonne continues to increase, the cost of recycling and handling waste in Kent is lower than four years ago as the county has reduced its landfill waste from 19 per cent in 2013 to below 2 per cent –well ahead of the national target of 5 per cent by 2020.

As central government continues to pull the plug on funding, what else is putting pressure on KCC’s budget?

Additional pressures come from a combination of factors: Rising prices; the demand of supporting a growing population of elderly people; and particularly the introduction of the National Living Wage falling on providers.

By making changes to help cope with the increasing number of elderly residents requiring care, and the increasing complexity of many clients’ needs, the council is seeking to reduce costs by transforming service delivery and investing in support and preventative services.

Cash-strapped NHS Trust wins cost-cutting award

By Andrew Tong

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells (MTW) has become one of the first two NHS Trusts to be awarded a Patient Cost Benchmarking award.

It could turn out to be a major step in helping to restore the Trust’s fortunes after it was told to turn its parlous financial predicament around – and fast.

MTW, which runs Tunbridge Wells hospital at Pembury, was placed in special financial measures in July after it ran up a deficit of £23million.

Ironically, the embattled organisation can now say it is leading the field – along with Portsmouth NHS Trust – in essential

cost-cutting measures. “They are a long way down the line,” says a spokesman for QuintilesIMS, which runs the group.

“They have been doing patient level costing since 2009.”

The PCB Group was set up that year as a way of making trusts more effective by breaking down the costs of individual patient ‘episodes’ – or single treatments.

Almost 100 NHS Trusts now openly share their patient level costing data.

But Patrick McGinley, head of contracting and costing at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, had been working with the group since its inception.

PCB came into being after a request from Kings College Hospital in London to provide a benchmark for patient level costing information between themselves

and Guys & St Thomas’s, with whom a proposed merger was being considered.

Following the research undertaken

by Mr McGinley, MTW’s Trust Board has identified 10 areas of specialism that it wanted to ‘dive into’ for rescue purposes, for example in ophthalmology.

“The NHS is very good at buying tools but it’s a different business trying to get it to use them,” says the spokesman.

“The awards were put in place to incentivise, and straightaway we have had a number of trusts saying they want to build a partnership with us.”

The background to the growth of benchmarking was a review carried out

by Lord Carter in order to stop variations in quality of care and finances across the Health Service.

9

IN THE 2015 budget, George Osborne brought in legislation that from next April means landlords who own rental properties will, over the next three years, only be able to deduct a decreasing amount of their mortgage interest costs against their rental income.

This applies to about 150,000 landlords, but for some obscure reason it exempts those who own such properties within a company set-up. This generally consists of large companies, corporations, overseas investors and companies set up in tax havens.

This discrimination favours companies at the expense of individuals. Hence, on October 6, representatives of landlords asked the Royal Courts of Justice in London to launch a judicial review of this injustice.

Unfortunately, the presiding judge, Mr Justice Dingemans, declared the law was not discriminatory and denied the opportunity of a judicial review.

If he was correct in his judgment, it would be difficult to explain why most landlords who still wish to purchase buy-to-let property are now

doing so through a company.

It would appear the obvious answer is for landlords to incorporate their property into a company. However, generally the costs involved include stamp duty (plus the three per cent surcharge) Capital Gains Tax, and legal fees. Generally, most landlords could not afford these costs, although I understand a local landlord recently paid over £1.5million to achieve this status. So much for Mr Dingerman’s judgment.

Adding insult to injury, this new law (Section 24) is to be applied retroactively. Those who have bought such property with a mortgage as part of a pension strategy need to look carefully at the financial implications of this legislation. It will certainly have a massive effect on individual buyto-let landlords who buy-to-let as a business, particularly if it is their main source of income. Many will find themselves with a negative cash flow and may be forced to sell.

The conclusion is twofold: The number of properties available to rent is likely to fall; and landlords who remain in the market will be forced to increase rents. A similar scheme launched in Ireland a few years ago led to rents increasing by 50 per cent in a three-year period, before it was scrapped.

Many landlords have complained about the effect of this new legislation, however millions of tenants will also be adversely affected by the ‘Tenant Tax’, so may I suggest readers write about their concerns to their local MP? Now is the time to act, not after the rents start to substantially increase.

Wednesday 19th October 2016

10  LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

Tunbridge Wells fashionista sets her sights on world domination

By Murray Jones

murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A LOCAL fashion designer is looking to exploit what she sees as a glaring gap in the clothing market.

Sophie Bath-Stirk, 25 [left], is looking to appeal to young people like her who ‘don’t want to shop at the top of town any more, at places like Topshop, WINTER WEAR A model sports latest collection

Wednesday 19th October 2016

but also don’t have the funds to afford the really high-end boutiques’.

And with her label Lily & Carter, she is convinced that by rooting herself in that ‘middle ground’ she will find a perfect fit with her customers.

Growing up in Nevill Park, she considers her home town to be the place with the perfect demographic, a ‘wealthy, stylish, commuter town’. And after her stall at last year’s Pantiles fashion market sold out within eight minutes, all the signs

suggest the custom is there.

“I often see the addresses of online orders, just around the corner from me and I think, ‘I could hand deliver that!’”

Beginning its third year, the label will be hoping to continue its pattern of growth after seeing a 150 per cent increase in annual sales in their second year, from £20,000 to £50,000.

It was off to a good start after being invited to the London Fashion Weekend – a retail accompaniment to the worldfamous Fashion Week, where she sold old out of stock on all four days.

Selling a range of garments, her Autumn Winter Collection channels inspirations from ski-wear. One of the most popular pieces at the event at the Versace Gallery was the Fleece Tunic Dress.

And now she has just signed a flagship deal with Champneys spa, putting her product in front of thousands of new potential customers, overcoming what she considers the ‘biggest barrier for a start-up – getting your products in front of the right people’.

Although they do have to accept the spa taking a 30 per cent commission on each sale – a fact that Ms Bath-Stirk doesn’t mind as ‘it ensures there is an incentive for both sides to sell the product’.

‘I don’t want my own shop, it would just be an unnecessary distraction’

POPULAR ITEM Fleece tunic dress

Her range is now in nine boutiques, after securing five wholesale deals earlier this year.

Such a bumper year has led to the business’s founder harbouring global ambitions for the brand.

“I am determined to expand into the international market. In terms of the fashion scene, China is unbelievably large. The amount they spend on fashion as a whole is just obscene.”

Although she admits, working internationally brings along its own challenges: “When I was working with a manufacturer in India, being female it was very difficult. It was very clear they didn’t want to talk to me. But in the end, you have to work with each other’s culture.

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

Decade of success celebrated by Pantiles-based creative agency

MINIMALIST The label champions simple designs

Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

“So, for example, we started Photoshopping any cleavage out of the pictures as we know it is considered disrespectful to be that revealing.”

And despite being in the fashion industry, she is keen to avoid any unnecessary frills becoming attached to her business.

Still working from home, she employs only one permanent member of in-house staff, liaising with six key people who have expertise in different areas as and when she needs them – since ‘it’s important to keep costs down’.

And this frugal attitude has been with her from the beginning, when she would watch online tutorials on website design to protect her £20,000 start-up capital.

“My attitude is if I can do it myself, or teach myself to do it, I’m more than prepared to get on and do it.”

While many young designers who’ve started to taste success in a glamorous industry may be tempted to splash out on fancy London offices or retail space, Ms Bath-Stirk is determined to keep her feet on the ground: “I don’t want my own shop, it would just be an

11

JUMP ON IT Limited edition unnecessary distraction. People might be surprised by that, but online retail is growing quicker than I think people realise.”

As for her home town, she is a ‘big fan’ of lots of the boutiques, but ‘there are so many good ones, it’s hard to choose’.

AWARD-WINNING Tunbridge Wells agency ifour marked their ten years of ‘intelligent’ design and digital creativity on October 7 by inviting longstanding clients, suppliers and friends to a celebration on The Pantiles.

The 15-strong team, led by founder by Graeme Hall, were particularly buoyant as they had recently returned from Canada after securing a major brand strategy, positioning and website development project.

Based on The Pantiles, ifour was the most decorated agency at this year’s Kent Digital Awards, with a total of five gold awards, a silver and a bronze for client work and internal agency work. Clients of the firm include Microsoft, NHS, BP and Chapel Down.

Creative Director and founder Graeme Hall said: “Ten years in business is a major milestone, and we wanted to celebrate it with many of the people who’ve joined

us on the journey. It’s not been without its trials and tribulations, but today we’ve built a fantastic team that can compete with much bigger agencies in London and further afield.

“In the last ten years, the marketing world has been transformed. To be successful you now need to provide intelligent design that can inspire a positive reaction and build a brand, but also the digital knowledge to make it happen quickly and effectively.

“Tunbridge Wells has a strong and vibrant creative community and it is great to be a part of it, and we’re now looking forward to ifour’s second decade.”

GOOD TIMES Founder of ifour Graeme Hall with the agency’s birthday cake

Sugar tax is not so sweet for one Monson Road retailer who fears losing life savings THE owner of a Tunbridge Wells newsagent’s has warned government plans for a sugar tax could ‘ruin’ his business.

Neil Bradford, who invested a substantial part of his life savings when he bought Monson News in April this year, said the 200 bottles of soft drinks he sells each week make up a ‘big part’ of his business.

He questioned if people would still purchase his

products if the tax pushes the price of a bottle up by 58p, to around £1.60.

Former Chancellor George Osborne first announced the plans in his March budget as a way of raising revenue while tackling obesity.

The charge, which Prime Minister Theresa May has said she supports, is unlikely to come into effect until 2018, and is opposed by the National Federation of Retail Newsagents.

Wednesday 19th October 2016

12  COMMUNITY NEWS

Beechwood schoolgirl wins logo design prize ROMY CHESSELLS has won the mental health charity Crossways Community’s 50th anniversary logo competition.

The 17-year-old from Tunbridge Wells is an A-level pupil at Beechwood Sacred Heart School on Pembury Road.

She worked on her design during the summer holidays after reading about the competition in The Times of Tunbridge Wells.

Romy’s simple but clever design consists of four stylised depictions of the number 50 configured to form a gold cross.

It will be used on the charity’s letterhead, emails, website and a dedicated anniversary calendar throughout 2017.

Crossways Community is a Christian charity providing residential care and support for adults with acute mental health issues.

Romy was presented with her prize – £200 of Amazon vouchers – by Chief Executive Chris Munday at Crossways’ offices in Culverden Park Road.

She described graphic design as her ‘passion’ and explained the rationale for her design: “The charity is called Crossways, so the cross seemed appropriate – and it’s in gold because of the anniversary.

She added: “Geometric patterns are currently fashionable within the

design industry while the circle completes the design, giving it a logo feel.”

Mr Munday added: “We’re delighted with our 50th anniversary logo. Romy clearly thought carefully about what she was being asked to do and interpreted the brief in a clever, considered and interesting way.”

Romy is studying art, media studies and psychology, and the latter has sparked an interest in mental health. She interacted confidently with residents during her visit.

Gary Hatter, Beechwood School’s head of art, commented: “I’ve been teaching Romy since she was seven years old and seen her grow.

“She has tremendous vision and imagination and also the ability to take a task above and beyond the superficial and turn it into something extraordinary.”

Crossways resident Ray Woods came second with his design of two heads interspersed with garden images, representing ‘the DESIGN CLASSIC powerful and Romy Chessells therapeutic effect displays her winning of gardening’.

Crossways logo

CLOSE ENCOUNTER The cars parked on the B2100 create danger

Rotherfield road is danger to villagers

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

THE residents of Rotherfield have launched a petition to improve road safety in the village with a traffic-calming scheme.

Concerned locals point out that vehicles regularly exceed the 30mph limit when using the B2100 Church Road through the East Sussex village.

This is partly because roadside parking has led to motorists speeding up so they can get through the single lane of traffic rather than wait their turn.

This year, a young child and an elderly man have been injured by speeding cars. Previously, another boy was almost hit while climbing into a car, after which the family moved out of the village.

The petition states: “Traffic on Church Road has increased considerably over the past few years.

Not only the weight and length of vehicles, which clog the road by the corner shop, but also the speed at which they travel throughout the village.”

It also notes that the road is covered with potholes which collect gravel that is thrown up at cars and pedestrians. Cars swerve to avoid the holes, causing more danger, and lorries driving over them cause excessive noise pollution at night.

It calls upon the parish and county councils to implement a ‘traffic calming scheme, which many East Sussex villages have been granted’.

Campaigner Angela Moore says: “When I moved to the village just over 10 years ago, I was so horrified at the speed and the fact they drove so close to my parked car that I went to the local police

station to see if anything could be done. Sadly they informed me that it would take a fatality to enforce any restrictions.”

She adds: “I have been informed by the parish council that it costs too much money to enforce any speed control through the village.

“Ideally we would like it to be 20mph as many children have to walk on the road to get to the local pre-school and primary school.

“We have been informed in the past that council-

‘We request that the road surface on Church Road be repaired immediately before there is a serious accident’ lors believe that the fact there are stationary cars in the village creates a slower speed of traffic.

“Sadly this is not the case as they just drive faster to get from one end of the village to the other so that they don’t have to stop.”

The petition states: “We request that the road surface on Church Road be repaired immediately before there is a serious accident, and that the East Sussex County Council expedite its ongoing plan to limit the size and weight of vehicles allowed through Rotherfield.”

Last month a public consultation on plans to ban HGVs more than 10 metres long from the narrow street through Rotherfield was supported by 97 per cent of 304 respondents.

It followed an earlier petition to stop heavy traffic damaging buildings. The King’s Arms pub in Station Road has been hit seven times.

Volunteers needed to help Churches Winter Shelter TUNBRIDGE WELLS Churches Winter Shelter will be opening for its sixth season on January 2 next year.

It will provide shelter, warmth, nutritious food and assistance with finding accommodation for up to 12 rough sleepers per night.

The season runs for nine weeks until March 3 and Churches Winter Shelter are eager to recruit more volunteers.

If you would like to help, please contact Wendy Hogg, Project Manager, on office.twcws@gmail. com or call 07513 377951 before November 30.

All new volunteers must attend two introductory sessions, one of which will be general training and the other hosted by Kent Police.

Training dates and venues are listed on www.tunbridgewellswintershelter.co.uk

Hamptons are branching out to support Cancer Research ESTATE agents Hamptons International are organising a ‘Relay around the Regions’ nationwide fundraising event.

All of its branches are participating in walks, bike rides, swimming and other sporting activities to raise money for the company’s chosen charity, Cancer Research UK. The Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks offices will take part in a seven-mile walk on Friday (October

Wednesday 19th October 2016

21) starting at Dame Kelly Holmes’ café 1809 in Hildenborough.

Around 300 staff will travel between the firm’s 85 branches, using more than 20 different types of transport including kayaking and tractors.

Hamptons have been supporting Cancer Research UK since 2013 and have raised more than £170,000.

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com and search for Hamptons.

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Children should always come first when a family separates When families break up, children can feel very isolated, puzzled and worried about why Mum and Dad are not getting on and what might happen to the family. It is easy to overlook how badly the children can be effected when you are caught up in the emotional hurt and turmoil.

Tunbridge Wells Law firm, Keene Marsland are only too aware of these issues and challenges.

They have produced ‘Hey! We’re part of it too!’, a children’s guide including a DVD to help them understand what happens when their parents

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separate and divorce. It is so important to reassure the children that they are as important as ever and to help them realise that it is not their fault.

‘Hey! We’re part of it too!’ normally retails at £4.99. We are now offering Times of Tunbridge Wells readers a free copy of the guide to the first 50 applicants. To order your free copy, please call Keene Marsland Solicitors on 01892 526442 , or email – enquiries@keenemarsland.co.uk and quote reference FBTTW1016

End of lease guide for business tenants

Encountering problems with your estate agent

committed to solving your problems in a

cope financially and what you’ll tell the kids.

LEGAL NEWS

What happens at the end of a lease can be more expensive to sort out than taking the lease in the first place!

You may or may not have ‘security of tenure’ depending on whether certain forms were served on you by the landlord before the start of the lease. Even if you have security the landlord can oppose the grant of a new lease if they can prove certain grounds for possession.

and advice from an experienced and

If you are experiencing the anxiety

13

When families break up A young persons guide

Moving home is a massive life event, and buying or selling property represents a significant financial (and emotional) investment. When selling , once you have entered into an agreement with an estate agent, it is legally binding , so ensure you read the contract thoroughly and are happy with the terms. Check exactly what is in the package – eg, with a pre-contract deposit, check with your legal advisor as to whether this is appropriate, and if the money is refundable if the purchase does not go ahead.

When buying, details provided by an estate agent are approximate, so the onus is on the buyer to ensure the specifications are verified. When offered additional services, such as mortgage deals, it may be best to shop around to find a package more suitable.

Making an Inheritance Act claim to challenge a will or the Rules of Intestacy Generally, we are free to dispose of our assets as we want to. However, the law does provide protection for people who have been financially dependant on the deceased. This protection comes in the shape of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants Act ) 1975, known as the Inheritance Act. The Act is there to help spouses, children, civil partners, cohabitees and other surviving dependants who have been left to cope without sufficient money to enable them to get by.

Our experienced legal teams can help you with any of the above issues.

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Wednesday 18th October 2016

14  NATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Ministers given freedom of speech over airport CABINET ministers who are opposed to the Government’s decision on airport expansion in the south east are to be given temporary freedom to voice their criticisms when the preferred option is announced next week, Downing Street has said.

The highly unusual special arrangement will heighten speculation that the Government is poised to give its backing to a new runway at Heathrow, which has been fiercely opposed by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Justine Greening, whose constituencies in the area would be affected.

The Cabinet discussed the runway issue for more than an hour yesterday morning [Tuesday], but the final decision in the long-running process of choosing an option for development will be made at a meeting of a Cabinet sub-committee next week, said Number 10.

Eurostar services cut A NUMBER of Eurostar services are set to be cut as the company reviews its operations, the cross-Channel rail operator said.

There has been speculation that passengers have been reluctant to travel to Paris and Brussels following terrorism incidents in both cities.

But a Eurostar spokesman said: “The timetable in December will have a reduction in some services. The main reason [for reducing services] is we have introduced new trains with bigger capacity.”

House prices rise THE average price of a UK house in August was £219,000, up by 1.3 per cent on the previous month and 8.4 per cent from a year ago, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

Body found in lorry KENT Police are investigating the death of an unidentified man who was found in the back of a lorry on the A20 in Sellindge, near Folkestone, Kent, yesterday morning [Tuesday].

Wednesday 19th October 2016

MURDER SCENE The Edwards’ home in Spalding and (below) one of the tributes to the victims

Teenage girl facing life sentence for murdering dinner lady and daughter A 15-YEAR-OLD girl is facing a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering a mother and daughter who were stabbed through the throat in a ‘senseless and unprovoked’ attack.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of her age, had claimed a mental disorder diminished her responsibility for the killings of dinner lady Elizabeth

Edwards and 13-year-old Katie Edwards.

But a five-day trial at Nottingham Crown Court heard that the schoolgirl was not suffering from a mental illness when she and her boyfriend planned the killings ‘to the letter’ when they were both aged 14.

The girl, who remained composed in the dock, and her boyfriend, who is also now 15, are thought to be the youngest defendants to be convicted of double murder in a British court.

After the verdicts had been delivered, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said it had been an ‘exceptional case by any standards’ and praised the quiet dignity of family members who sat through the trial.

Jurors were told that the sweethearts – also believed to be the youngest couple to be

convicted of murder – shared a bath, had sex, and watched four vampire-themed Twilight films after the killings in Spalding, Lincolnshire, last April.

The female defendant admitted manslaughter but denied murder, claiming to be suffering an abnormality of mental function which impaired her ability to form rational judgments.

But jurors, who heard that the defendants’ toxic Bonnie and Clyde-style relationship led on to the killings, took two and a half hours to reject the girl’s defence and convict her of murder.

Her boyfriend, who stabbed and smothered the victims as they slept, pleaded guilty to murder before the trial began.

Police found the bodies of Ms Edwards and her daughter on Friday April 15 this year, when three officers forced their way into their

house in Dawson Avenue, Spalding.

Post-mortem examinations found signs of defensive injuries on the older victim’s hands, suggesting she had tried to fight off the boy, while her daughter had been stabbed twice in the neck.

In police interviews and assessments with psychiatrists, the female defendant described the killings as ‘a breeze’ and gave a horrifying account of blood being spattered on a wall and her boyfriend’s face and hands.

In lengthy admissions to police, the schoolgirl said she and her boyfriend had planned the killings after a conversation which began with a joke suggestion of committing a murder.

Both killers face indefinite detention at Her Majesty’s pleasure – the juvenile equivalent of a life term for an adult – and will be sentenced in November.

NATIONAL NEWS �

MPs promised vote ‘if final Brexit deal leads to new treaty with EU’ MPs WILL get a vote on the final Brexit deal secured by the Government if the agreement results in a new treaty with the European Union, Downing Street has indicated.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokeswoman said that the Government would meet its obligations under the 2010 Constitutional Reform and Governance Act, which wrote into law the convention that treaties must be approved by Parliament before ratification except in ‘exceptional cases’.

The clarification came after a Government QC told the High Court that any new treaty agreement with the European Union following Brexit would ‘very likely’ have to be ratified by Parliament.

James Eadie QC said the ‘view at the moment’ was that ratification was likely if the royal prerogative was used to launch withdrawal negotiations under Article 50 of the EU treaties.

Mrs May announced at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham that she intended to

invoke Article 50 by the end of March 2017, setting in train a two-year process leading to Brexit in the spring of 2019.

It remains unclear whether she expects the process to end in one or more treaties setting out the terms of withdrawal or the nature of the UK’s future relationship with the remaining 27 member states.

MOTORISTS have been hit by the biggest weekly rise in fuel prices for more than five years.

The average price of petrol jumped by 1.22 per cent in just seven days, according to figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Data analysis by the Press Association revealed that this was the biggest weekly percentage increase in the cost of fuel since January 2011.

The current price – 113.72p per litre – is the highest since August last year.

The price of diesel also registered its largest percentage weekly increase since January 2011: a jump of 1.39 per cent to 116p per litre.

The RAC’s fuel spokesman Simon Williams said the rise in fuel prices was due to a ‘perfect storm’ and described the outlook for motorists as ‘ominous’.

He said: “The plummeting pound, combined with a rising oil price as a result of indications that Opec and possibly Russia will agree a cut in oil production in November, are driving wholesale prices up.

“However, it is the flash crash of the pound that took place on October 7 which has been the major factor in the sheer speed of the average price increases as fuel is traded in US dollars,” he explained.

“This has led to the average fuel price rising 3p per litre in three weeks.”

Mr Williams said the increase in prices should make the Treasury ‘think again’ if it is considering raising fuel duty in next month’s Autumn Statement.

Legal challenge The Prime Minister will attend her first meeting of the European Council on Thursday, where council president Donald Tusk has said she will make a presentation to fellow leaders on ‘the current state of affairs in the country’, but no detailed discussion of Brexit is expected.

Mr Eadie was defending the Prime Minister’s decision against a historic legal challenge launched by a group of campaigners, who argue she is in danger of undermining the sovereignty of Parliament.

They say that UK citizens face being deprived of statutory rights granted under the European Communities Act 1972, which made EU law part of UK law, without proper scrutiny by Parliament.

Mr Eadie told the court there still would be scrutiny.

He argued that a minister using the royal prerogative to trigger Article 50 without prior parliamentary approval would only be ‘firing the starting gun’ for the Brexit process and it would not in itself change any common law or statutory right enjoyed by citizens.

He added that scrutiny was likely to include Parliament having to ratify any new treaty reached with the EU during the Article 50 process.

Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, Master of the Rolls Sir Terence Etherton and Lord Justice Sales have reserved their decision on the legal challenge at the end of a three-day hearing, promising to give their judgment ‘as quickly as possible’.

‘Perfect storm’ drives up price of fuel at the pumps PUMP ACTION Motorists face higher fuel prices

He added: “The present situation underlines just how rapidly things can change.”

The AA says the cost of filling a typical car petrol tank has risen by £6.67 in seven months.

The organisation’s president, Edmund King, said: “This is a hammer blow not only to family and business finances but a severe shock when people consider that supermarket fuel was available at £1 a litre earlier this year.”

15

SPORT IN BRIEF

Cook gives up daddy duties to play in Test ALASTAIR COOK admitted he felt a pang of guilt after leaving his newborn daughter behind – but it will give him extra motivation in what will be a record-breaking 134th Test appearance for England against Bangladesh on Thursday.

The 31-year-old captain became a father for the second time over the weekend when his wife Alice gave birth to another baby girl.

However Cook, who has missed both of England’s warm-up games, flew back to Bangladesh 48 hours later.

Hamilton faces press WORLD champion racing driver Lewis Hamilton has been summoned by Formula One’s governing body to appear on Thursday at the official press conference for the United States Grand Prix.

It will be the 31-year-old’s first appearance in front of the written media since being criticised in the press for playing with his mobile phone during a pre-race media session in Japan.

Froome aims high THE Tour de France will visit all five of country’s mountain ranges for the first time in 25 years in 2017. The route, which was unveiled in Paris yesterday (Tuesday), will suit British cyclist Chris Froome in his bid to win a fourth title as he is known for performing well in climbs.

Wednesday 19th October 2016

16 � BUSINESS NEWS

Gambling giants pull out of merger talks WILLIAM HILL and Canadian poker firm Amaya have called time on talks over a potential £4.6billion merger.

Discussions were under way for what the companies described as a ‘merger of equals’ which would have created one of the world’s biggest online gambling firms.

But William Hill said: “After canvassing views from a number of major shareholders, the board has decided that it will not pursue discussions with Amaya.”

Amaya owns the PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker brands. The aborted deal comes months after Mecca Bingo operator Rank Group pulled out of a joint bid with 888 for William Hill.

The sector has seen consolidation over the past year. Paddy Power and Betfair joined forces, and Coral and Ladbrokes signed a £2billion merger.

Key markets drive up profits at online store ONLINE fashion firm ASOS has reported a healthy rise in full-year profits, driven by growth across all of its key markets.

The retailer said that pre-tax profits came in at £63.7million, up 37 per cent compared to last year. Sales grew 26 per cent to £1.4billion, helped by a 50 per cent rise in US revenue.

In the UK and Europe, sales rose by 27 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.

ASOS also used its results to hit back over recent claims surrounding working conditions in one of its warehouses. The company said: “We do not use, and have never used, zero-hours contracts.”

Wednesday 19th October 2016

New shoppers help boost Tesco sales and expand market share TESCO has increased its market share for the first time in five years, according to figures from Kantar Worldpanel.

The UK’s biggest grocer increased sales by 1.3 per cent over the last quarter, attracting a further 228,000 shoppers through its doors to expand its share of the market to 28.2 per cent – its first yearon-year market share gain since 2011.

Its 1.3 per cent sales growth, bolstered by family shoppers, is ahead of the overall market, where sales increased by 0.8 per cent on last year.

Sainsbury’s sales fell by 0.4 per cent but its market share also grew by a percentage point to 16 per cent.

Morrisons sales were down 3 per cent due to the effect of the sale of its convenience stores late last year but its market share remained at 10.4 per cent.

Asda’s sales dropped 5.2 per cent – the slowest rate of decline for four months for the Walmart subsidiary – despite a premium own-label sales increase of 8 per cent, while its market share declined by one percentage point to 15.6 per cent.

Meanwhile, shoppers enjoyed the 27th consecutive period of grocery price deflation, albeit easing to 0.8 per cent on last year.

Kantar Worldpanel head of retail and consumer insight, Fraser McKevitt, said: “Foods including ready meals and produce have been among the fastest growing areas at Tesco, helped by its ‘Farm Brands’ but also its standard own-label lines.

“Tesco has attracted a further 228,000 shoppers through its doors to help the grocer grow to a 28.2 per cent share of the market – its first year-onyear market share gain since 2011.

“While the threat of rising prices is on a lot of minds at the moment, we’ve seen the 27th con-

STORE WARS Tesco fights back

secutive period of grocery price deflation, albeit at a slower rate.

“The price of everyday groceries fell by 0.8 per cent compared with a year ago and in contrast to the minus 1.1 per cent reported last month, with deflation particularly noticeable among pork, crisps and poultry products.”

Aldi’s sales increased by 11.4 per cent and at Lidl they grew by 8.4 per cent, taking market share up to 6.2 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively and maintaining the combined market share high of 10.8 per cent, which the two discount retailers achieved last month.

Meanwhile, Nielsen figures show Tesco experienced its best year-on-year sales figures for more than three years with a 1.4 per cent increase in money taken at the tills.

Leadsom unveils UK action plan at fair A PLAN to increase British food and drink exports around the world could boost the economy by almost £3billion, claimed the Environment Secretary during a speech at SIAL Paris, the world’s largest food trade fair.

Andrea Leadsom, who helped spearhead the Brexit campaign, announced a five-year ‘international action plan’ to tap into nine markets across 18 countries, including Japan, Australia and New Zealand and Latin America.

It includes an extra £185million in exports of British products such as tea, jam and biscuits to Japan and an additional £293million worth of exports to Australia and New Zealand to meet a growing demand for British beer and cider.

Mrs Leadsom said: “There is no doubt we are open for business and ready to trade. I want even more of the world to enjoy what we have to offer.

Tourists invade London to buy luxury goods FASHION firm Burberry has seen UK sales rocket as tourists flock to London to take advantage of the pound’s drop in value.

The group said shoppers from China and the United States in particular have been travelling to the UK for luxury shopping sprees.

Burberry has seen like-for-like sales rising to more than 30 per cent in the three months to September 30.

It came as a welcome boost to the retailer and helped the group return to overall sales growth in its second quarter, up 2 per cent against a 3 per cent fall in the previous three months.

WORLD NEWS 

Russia and Syria halt Aleppo air strikes ahead of temporary truce RUSSIAN and Syrian war planes have halted air strikes on Syria’s besieged city of Aleppo in preparation for a temporary truce that Moscow has announced will start tomorrow [Thursday].

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the halt in the strikes should help pave the way for militants to leave the eastern rebel-held parts of the contested city. He added that both Russian and Syrian air raids on Aleppo were suspended at 10am local time.

He described the suspension as a precursor for the opening of humanitarian corridors for the rebels to leave Aleppo tomorrow [Thursday], when Moscow has announced a ‘humanitarian pause’ between 8am and 4pm to allow civilians and militants safe passage out of the city.

At that time, Russian and Syrian militaries will desist from any offensive actions.

Syrian rebels, including al Qaida militants, as well as the wounded and sick, will be allowed to leave for the neighbouring rebel-held province of Idlib.

“The early halting of air strikes is necessary to

the eastern part of Aleppo.”

Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and once its commercial hub, has been subjected to the most intense aerial bombardment since the start of the Middle East country’s conflict in 2011.

In recent months, the Syrian army has pressed its offensive into the rebel-held eastern part of the city.

Air raids have killed hundreds and caused international outrage.

Mohammed Abu Rajab, an Aleppo resident, said air strikes on the eastern neighbourhoods of the city stopped early yesterday morning [Tuesday], just after the city had been subjected to another intense round of air raids. A Russia-US-brokered ceasefire collapsed last month.

RESCUE PLAN A boy is pulled from the debris following an air strike

declare a humanitarian pause,” Mr Shoigu said in a televised statement. “It will guarantee a safe exit of civilians through six corridors and prepare for the evacuation of the ill and the wounded from

One person missing after fatal chemical plant blast ONE person is still missing after an explosion at a chemical plant in south-western Germany which killed two people. It is not yet clear what caused the blast.

Chemical company BASF said the fire at a river harbour at the sprawling facility in Ludwigshafen was extinguished about ten hours after the blast, but

yesterday morning [Tuesday] it was confirmed one person was still missing. Eight people were seriously injured and another 17 had light injuries, BASF said.

Two members of the company’s fire service, which had arrived at the scene when the blast occurred, have been confirmed dead.

The explosion followed a fire in a pipeline between an area where liquids are unloaded from ships on the Rhine River and storage tanks.

BASF said the substances that burned in the subsequent blaze included ethylene and propylene, used in producing car paint and adhesives.

17

NEWS IN BRIEF

Lawyers say autism caused man to kill A MAN facing execution for the murder of Atlanta police officer John Sowa is seeking a reprieve based on a recent diagnosis of autism.

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles was scheduled to hear arguments for clemency yesterday [Tuesday] from representatives of inmate Gregory Paul Lawler, aged 63.

Lawler, who was convicted of the murder in October 1997, is scheduled to be given a lethal injection of the barbiturate pentobarbital at the state prison in Jackson today [Wednesday].

Yemen ceasefire agreed THE warring parties in Yemen have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire that will take effect shortly before midnight tonight [Wednesday], the UN special envoy to Yemen said.

Special envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said he hopes the temporary truce can lead to a ‘permanent and lasting end to the conflict’.

TV presenter sacked NBC News has sacked Today show host Billy Bush, who was caught on tape in a vulgar conversation about women with Republican US presidential nominee Donald Trump before an Access Hollywood appearance in 2005.

Bush, aged 45, the nephew of former Republican president George Bush senior, said he was ‘embarrassed and ashamed’.

Mr Trump has since denied groping women.

Wednesday 19th October 2016

18  WEEKLY COMMENT

Greg Clark

MP for Tunbridge Wells

Greg Clark was elected to Parliament as a representative of Tunbridge Wells in 2005. The Conservative MP has since held a number of positions in Government and currently sits as a member of the Cabinet in his capacity as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: www.gregclark.org

Pembury must improve stroke patient care AROUND the world on Saturday October 29, hospitals, medical practices, charities and community groups join forces for World Stroke Day to help drive improvements to the treatment of one of the most common medical emergencies.

Stroke is one of the largest causes of death in England and Britain’s leading cause of adult disability.

Improving care for people who suffer a stroke has been one of the causes I have campaigned for since I was first elected to Parliament. Serving on the Public Accounts Committee of the House of

‘Time lost is brain lost’ Commons, I joined an investigation into why more people died and were left disabled by strokes in Britain compared to other countries.

I was shocked to discover that more people suffering a stroke in Britain died or were left significantly disabled than in other countries, such as Australia, Sweden, Germany and Canada.

In Australia, for example, for every 100 people suffering a stroke nearly 13 died – whereas in Britain nearly 30 died. And the rate of disability was much higher in Britain, too.

Wednesday 19th October 2016

The reason for the disparity, we discovered, was down to organisation. Indeed, the way other countries organised their stroke care cost much less than the British way, in which delays resulted in longer hospitalisation and rehabilitation.

Speed is of the essence. The shorter the time between the stroke and treatment, the greater the chance of reducing damage to brain tissue. The medical saying goes ‘time lost is brain lost’.

A stroke is always an emergency. Best practice is that everyone who has a stroke should have a brain scan within one hour of being admitted to hospital. If clot-busting drugs can be given within three hours, this will significantly reduce the risk of death and disability.

By far the best organisation is to have specialist stroke units providing 24-hour treatment and care, rather than more, smaller units operating part-time or in generalist areas. Yet when the committee investigated the situation, only 22 per cent of stroke patients in England had a scan on the same day as their stroke, and most waited more than two days. Less than half of patients spent most of their time in a specialist unit.

Thankfully, our Committee’s report led on to the development of the National Stroke Strategy in

2007. It set out a move to dedicated 24/7 Stroke Units and protocols for immediate scanning of suspected stroke patients across the NHS. But it was with great concern that I learned in 2014 that in Tunbridge Wells only 20 per cent of stroke patients were being scanned within one hour of arrival, only 20 per cent were admitted within four hours, and over 30 per cent of eligible patients were not being given thrombolysis – the specialist treatment required.

I pressed our local NHS to take action to improve this unacceptable situation. The latest performance figures show that the hospital has made some improvements, but there is still a long way to go.

A Kent and Medway Stroke Review is now in the phase of engaging with stroke survivors to redesign the system. The final proposals are due to be published next year, and what I hope to see in those plans is a radical overhaul of the service with the opening of specialist stroke units operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – a system other countries have been following for well over a decade.

One of my first campaigns in Parliament was to get the approval for the new hospital at Pembury to be built. It is a magnificent facility, staffed by dedicated staff and all of us have family and friends who have been helped by the team there.

But transforming stroke care is one of a number of areas – including mental health care and dementia care – in which I believe it is important to secure further improvement.

20  LETTERS

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU THE VISION What a new cinema site might look like

Cinema: Let’s hope that the new boutique one doesn’t succumb to temptation of ‘blockbusters’ As one who is old enough to have enjoyed Saturday morning children’s shows at the old ABC Cinema (originally the Ritz), where I saw the first colour movies such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Wizard of Oz, my devotion to the cinema has been sorely tested in recent years.

Odeon’s policy of ignoring critically-acclaimed films in favour of those providing ‘action’, sci-fi, monsters, destruction, rom-coms, and anything lacking serious attention, means that I rarely go to the cinema nowadays, except in January/February, when the Oscar nominations result in a few films that are worth seeing.

But possibly I and others of my ilk are now to be rescued by the cavalry, by the inclusion of a ‘boutique’ cinema in the proposed plans for

Greg Clark: His ministerial career

Your correspondent [And another thing…

October 5] writing about Gatwick night flights characterises our MP, Mr Clark, as a ‘notorious fence-sitter’. I think that is a bit harsh. He has, after all, his ministerial career and salary to consider.

John Telling Tunbridge Wells

Trains: Change of ticket policy?

On arrival at Tunbridge Wells station this morning [October 12], I was informed of a sudden change of policy – if the ticket does not work through the barrier, I must queue for a replacement.

No warning was given in advance, and at the busiest time of the day the queues would have an impact on getting to work on time.

When boarding a train, I discovered from other passengers that the staff had not implemented the same policy at the Hoopers entrance!

the old cinema site. If it happens, I hope it will show the kind of movies that Odeon doesn’t offer, and doesn’t succumb to the temptation of ‘blockbusters’, as suggested last week by your Editorial Director.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

Peter West Hadlow

Cinema: Just walk across the road

With reference to the proposed ‘boutique cinema’ planned for the old ABC site, anyone bemoaning the lack of a small accessible cinema in the centre of Tunbridge Wells only needs to cross the road to Trinity Theatre.

Plenty of choice: Blockbusters, children’s films, and interesting foreign films not usually shown on the main circuit. Take a look at the latest programme!

Cheryl Sinclair Tunbridge Wells On arrival at Cannon Street, I questioned the change of policy and was told it doesn’t exist. If I have a valid ticket, they must let me through the barrier. If Tunbridge Wells has a written policy, I would like to see it.

Commuters are having a torrid time with the changes to London Bridge, without experiencing station staff or managers making up the rules as they go along. I intend to question the rationale for their behaviour tomorrow morning before catching the 7:33 (change in timetable that wasn’t communicated either).

Barbara Hall Via email

A21: Drone gives glimmer of hope

I enjoyed seeing the picture, taken by a drone, of the work being done on the beleaguered A21 in your paper [October 12]. What a clever way of taking a picture.

I have no idea how on earth that kind of technology works, but it was so useful to see a proper visual overview of what’s actually happening instead of sitting in endless traffic looking at works signs and wondering what on earth is going on.

I use that particular stretch of road on a daily basis in order to commute from Tunbridge Wells to Lamberhurst, and to say it’s been a frustrating few months of delays and jams is an understatement.

I understand the work that needs to be done in order to improve the infrastructure and size of this important link road, but the fact that it’s taken for what seems like forever makes me think ‘will it ever be done?’ as I crawl towards the roundabout near the hospital, or narrowly avoid being bumped into as my fellow drivers try to edge ahead of me into the reduced one-lane system.

But seeing that picture in the Times gave me a glimmer of hope that the improvements are actually happening, and us road users are finally getting somewhere!

Elaine Lee Via email

Lottery: How can Lib Dems object?

I applaud the council’s decision to explore the option of a ‘local lottery’ [October 12] to help plug the funding gap for good causes, and particularly like the idea of allowing people to allocate where the majority of the proceeds go – although I admit I am worried some smaller charities may get overlooked.

I do not see, though, why the Liberal Democrats in the council are opposed to the lottery.

It seems to me that, with their usual left wing attitude, they do not believe those on low incomes are responsible enough to make their own decisions on what to do with their money.

Perhaps giving it to good causes, while having some hope of winning what for many is a substantial sum of money, should be the preserve of the rich?

And what is [Lib Dem] Cllr Peter Lidstone talking about when he says it could ‘confuse people’? How patronising.

Millions of people play the National Lottery, which gives a large share of its proceeds to good causes, and do not confuse it with the government’s arts, communities or aid budgets.

It is this sort of typical illiberal attitude of protecting people from themselves which makes one question why the party have the word ‘liberal’ in their name.

And what could be more ‘democratic’ than allowing people to direct the funding towards causes close to their hearts?

No wonder the party is in such bad shape. They don’t even do what they say on the tin.

John Sturgeon Via email

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

Wednesday 19th October 2016

Calverley COLOURFUL characters in politics are few and far between in these days where being PC (quite rightly) rules. Calverley was reminded of this last week when the former leader of TW council, Roy Bullock, once again found the public spotlight.

He attacked the current leader, David Jukes, over the handling of a £17million car park scheme. Mr Roy suffered a vote of no confidence by fellow members shortly after describing his dealings with constituents as ‘keeping the natives happy’. He also said some fellow Tories were ‘the enemy within’. Finding gossip Bullock was so much easier.

ALWAYS nice when you get a pat on the head, and so much better when it comes from one of your most esteemed peers. Himself is delighted to report back that no less a person than Tim Stanley picked up a copy of this publication while visiting Tonbridge, flicked through it, and declared “Oh, it’s a proper paper!” Mr Tim is, of course, the columnist and Leader Writer for The Telegraph and a man of proven good taste. Where do we sign up for those newspaper awards?

DOZING off on the train the other day, Calverley was jolted awake when it came to a sudden halt. And the reason given out by the driver and/or guard was that it was all down to ‘sheep on the line’. Calverley tried counting them but fell back to sleep.

SITTING in the hairdressers, Calverley experienced much joy listening to the following – Customer: “Bought a car last month and it’s been nothing but trouble. Paid £35,000 for it, and that’s second hand, but in my job [legal] you have to look the part. What car have you got?” Hairdresser [female]: “Peugeot 307, 2011.

Bought it from my friend a year ago and it’s been no trouble. Paid £250 for it.” Score one for hairdresser.

SHERRY lovers be warned. Steer clear of FRIDAYS [TGIF] in Brighton Village Marina.

Calverley washed up there last weekend and asked the waitress for a schooner of sherry.

The word ‘schooner’ drew a frown and the word sherry complete bewilderment. She had never heard of the drink and what’s more, nor had the head barman. The Empire was built on the stuff. These are indeed sad times.

Chin, chin readers

Education in association with:

www.right-tuition.co.uk

EDUCATION ■

21

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

Secondary students get a taste of politics in the corridors of power Ten pupils from Crowborough’s Beacon Academy visited The Houses of Parliament last week, as the guests of Wealden MP Nus Ghani

GROUP TOGETHER Beacon pupils in the House of Commons YEAR 12 pupils at the Beacon Academy in Crowborough were treated to a tour of the Houses of Parliament, including the House of Commons, on a visit to the Education Centre on September 29. They enjoyed an interactive learning session about the Parliamentary process, and a question and answer session with local MP Nus Ghani.

During the course of the discussion, she described her work as an MP, such as her roles with the Home Affairs Select Committee and the All-Party Group for Ageing and Older People, and the campaigns she is running on trains, aircraft noise and broadband coverage.

Ms Ghani was asked to give advice to anyone

considering becoming an MP, and for her views on the current political climate, as well as the greatest challenges she faces in her role.

Commenting after meeting the students, she said: “It was great to welcome the Beacon’s students to Parliament, where they were able to walk the same corridors as some of our most famous historic leaders. I was there as they did a quiz on the Parliamentary process, and am convinced that they knew more about some of the legislative minutiae than I do!

“Their knowledge and enthusiasm is testament to the brilliant work of their teachers, who obviously do such a fantastic job getting them interested in the important work of ‘Their knowledge politics. Beacon Academy provides a fantastic service to the children and and enthusiasm families of Crowborough.”

Mr Alistair Milne, Assistant is testament to Headteacher at Beacon Academy, accompanied the students the brilliant work who on the visit, said: “The tour of is a great way of providing of their teachers’ Parliament contextual background for students of government and politics. The meeting with Nus was an added bonus as the Nus Ghani, MP students were able to gain a deeper Conservative, Wealden understanding of how individual MPs can make a difference in society.”

NEWS IN EDUCATION

By royal appointment

Music centre is on song

PUPILS at St John’s Primary School had a very special delivery last week – a letter from Her Majesty The Queen!

Sent on headed paper from Balmoral Castle, Her Majesty thanked Year 3 pupils for sending her a series of letters which informed her of how they celebrated her 90th birthday at school.

Written on her behalf by a lady in waiting, the missive signed off with: “I am to send you The Queen’s good wishes to you for the future.”

THE Tunbridge Wells Music Centre has recently opened in Southborough Primary School, and is enjoying a successful start to its first term.

The centre is open every Thursday from 4-6pm. As well as a Junior Mixed Ensemble, where children with two-plus years’ experience are invited to bring their instruments and play, there is a choir for children aged over seven. For more information please contact Penny Miller at pmiller@kent-music.com or call 01892 358403.

Wednesday 19th October 2016

22  ADVERTISING FEATURE

From bedroom to office, the steps to success for business support company First Office Systems provide critical technological support to businesses throughout Kent, Sussex, London and the south east. They have provided small, medium and large operations with office assistance since 1991. With a large range of products and services designed to help business function, Nick Brandon tells us why they offer a unique service…

Tell us the history of First Office Systems Ltd. How did it begin? What is the company ethos?

It started in 1991 from nothing when John Donegan and Andy Brett decided to get together and form First Office Systems, initially working from their spare bedrooms!

They originally started supplying photocopiers and fax machines to companies. Now, the business has grown organically to 25 people, plus numerous other contractors.

Each division of the business has specialist staff in it, experts in their field, and we have various accreditations with leading vendors such as AVAYA, Canon, Gamma, Microsoft, Mitel and Samsung.

The company ethos is simple – to

ON TOP OF SOLUTIONS Managing Director John Donegan

constantly deliver exceptional service and give customers the wow factor with every interaction. There are more staff dedicated to technically supporting customers and resolving problems than anything else.

How do you keep up-to-date with technology?

We have always invested heavily in staff training, and we continue to do so to keep our people trained in the newer leadingedge solutions for our customers.

We keep our clients well informed as soon as something becomes available – and with the instantaneousness of life that we all live with, they expect things to be deployable when they want it.

How does your service differ from your competitors? In what way are you unique?

Firstly, we have more technical staff available per customer than our competitors are likely to have. This means we can respond much more quickly to faults and problems – our average response rate is 58 minutes. We seriously doubt any of our competitors can compete with this.

We have quite a few other things which differentiate us, including ISDN Trend testing and Network Fluke testers, a bespoke Computerised Management system, a permanently-manned Support Centre and our Quality Management System due to our ISO accreditation.

What advice would you give to smaller businesses for getting online, and how can it help them run more efficiently?

Internet connectivity is critical in any business! It’s important to research what connectivity options there are at your premises – the broadband you see commonly advertised is not as good as is suggested, and you’d be better off opting for a better, faster connectivity with direct fibre. With the move to The Cloud, the internet connection you use becomes even more critical, as does the ‘need for speed’, reliability and bandwidth.

What do you highly recommend to small businesses in order to help them develop?

Marketing is of huge importance; getting new customers and keeping existing ones.

Finding what works for your business

Wednesday 19th October 2016

‘We have more technical staff available per customer than our competitors are likely to have. This means we can respond much more quickly to faults and problems – our average response rate is 58 minutes’

and what is affordable is key to the success and promotion of your business.

However, I would focus on staff. Staff and employees are the business. They are what makes it fail or succeed.

So focusing on your staff, ensuring they are happy, fulfilled, empowered, challenged, rewarded and listened to is key. Of course, they have to have the right tools for the job and that is where we come in – giving your staff the tools to excel.

We are hearing more and more about The Cloud, how can this help businesses, and how do they make the move to it?

Every business and organisation is different, so there is a not a ‘one-size fits all’ answer on cloud technology and adoption.

Certainly, for a new start-up, loud technology can often cloud be a ‘no-brainer’ as start-up costs can be low or zero and scalability is often a key consideration.

Cloud technology should enable staff SALES DIRECTOR and employees to work Nick Brandon

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

from any location at any time so they are as agile as possible. However, there are some potential drawbacks to cloud services which need to be considered – moving software out of your premises means you relinquish control.

Your website states that 98 per cent of your customers would rate your service as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ – what’s your secret to keeping your customers happy?

Ensuring we go the extra mile is sometimes an over-used cliché. However, we do encourage our staff to do just that.

Managing people’s expectations is key – things go wrong from time to time – everyone knows that life isn’t perfect.

However, keeping customers informed is also key. We lose very customers and most of the few customers, ones we lose are due to acquisition or other reasons rather than dissatisfaction. Anyone who rates us as average or poor (in our surveys) is followed up by a Director to investigate the reasons and try to learn and improve for the future (part of our ISO Quality Management Procedures).

Do you offer frequent interaction and access to assistance at all times for clients?

We have Account Managers whose job it is to interact regularly with

customers to ensure we are doing a great job for them and covering all their needs, as well as providing honest advice.

We do actually offer extended cover, but with any customer we still provide a Support Centre that is monitored 24/7 aside from our normal office hours. We often assist customers out of hours.

23

TECHNOLOGY Experts always at your service

Does the support you provide mould to fit the needs of each company, client to client?

We are flexible – we will accommodate bespoke requests from customers as long we feel we can accommodate them properly. Sometimes a customer will require a certain SLA (Service Level Agreement), or they may have a certain bespoke requirement or term which they want us to cater for. We will always consider something reasonable within our capabilities.

In what ways does your support stretch beyond that of the technological?

We are in business just like our customers are in business. So we often discuss general business issues with customers if we feel we have something to offer in terms of advice, or perhaps even a referral.

We tend to keep in mind that we do have the ability to positively affect their business, whether this is by using technology or otherwise. We are all human after all, and helping fellow human beings is a natural thing to do.

Does the ever-changing world of technology excite you as a company?

Where do you see technology leading you in the next five years?

Yes it is exciting! It never stops changing. In this regard we are very fortunate as customers are constantly requiring our services in order to advise, assist, support, upgrade, and so on.

Naturally, cloud and hosted technology adoption will continue to grow both in terms of IT and telecoms.

Printing and copying are in gentle decline, and more emphasis will be placed on the way documents and data are dealt with in a business, including

electronic workflow and management.

Desktop computers are also like to decline in numbers (and arguably desk phones) as people migrate to more mobile devices, such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. Older software will eventually be replaced (desktop and server) as cloud adoption forces this to happen. Business Management Systems and CRM/Marketing automation is also a key area for many businesses.

Describe First Office in five words…

Service, excellence, professional, experts, likeable.

‘Keeping customers informed is key.

We lose very few customers, and most of the ones we lose are due to acquisition or other reasons’

First Office Systems Ltd 01892 676000 www.firstoffice.co.uk

CLIENT CARE is a top priority – whatever their needs

Wednesday 19th October 2016

WEST KENT’S ULTIMATE PROPERTY GUIDE – FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY A MUST READ FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BUY, LET OR SELL

The Times is proud to work with:

WITH THE

Available in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks

bracketts

est. 1828

Live the Art Deco dream

INSIDE

In a house offering style and space

The regal Jetwells in the crown of Goudhurst village

A fabulous Tudor farmhouse with a view in Frittenden

An extended home offering seclusion in Langton Green

Wednesday 19th October 2016

26  PROPERTY SECTION PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

In my view…

Your at-a-glance guide to

James Hincks Associate Partner Head of Residential Sales Bracketts Tonbridge

Post Brexit The only opinion we can offer as to the “Brexit effect” and its impact to date is to base it on our performance prior to and post the referendum decision.

The decision to leave Europe came when we knew the impact was going to be difficult to monitor with the holiday period fast approaching.

In July the number of new buyers registering almost halved and understandably so with all the ifs buts and maybes. However our new transaction levels were higher than June.

In August the level of new buyers

EDISON COURT

increased by 28%, slightly down from pre Brexit levels but transaction levels were up again on 2015.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

September saw new buyers increase a

£229,950

further 38% and we had our busiest month for viewings with an increase of 95% on our July performance, showing that there is still a market albeit very different from one week to the next.

Evidently one thing is clear, we are in turbulent times, changes to stamp duty and tax implications for landlords are also affecting the market and probably more so than Brexit and until we understand the impact Brexit will have, if any, we can only say it really is business as usual.

Tonbridge is a popular town at all levels of the market and in our opinion, with low interest rates and supply falling short of demand and no immediate signs of falling house prices in the area, we feel there is no time like the present to think about moving.

Tonbridge 01732 350503 tonbridge@bracketts.co.uk

UNDER £350,000 NURSERY ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£330,000 newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Wednesday 19th October 2016

A semi-detached 1930s home with original features located just a third of a mile from High Brooms station.

The ground floor has an entrance hall, a living room with an open fire and double glazed bay window and a dining room with arch to kitchen/

breakfast room. The first floor has a landing leading to two double bedrooms, a good size single bedroom and a bathroom. There is a small garden area to the front and enclosed 52ft garden to the rear.

CONTACT Andrews Tunbridge Wells 01892 515 144 www.andrewsonline.co.uk

UNDER £450,000 ASHDEN WALK, TONBRIDGE

£400,000

This Gough Cooper-built home sits in one of the most eagerly soughtafter locations in north Tonbridge.

The neatly presented and extended accommodation has plenty to offer a family, with a spacious living room opening into the dining room

and family room beyond. The kitchen is well fitted with cream units. Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a family bathroom.

The property is well maintained but still offers scope to improve.

CONTACT Barnes Kingsnorth Tonbridge 01732 771616 www.bkestateagents.com

PROPERTY SECTION 

27

great properties by price range…

UNDER £600,000 PARK FARM, TUDELEY, TONBRIDGE

£525,000-£550,000

Situated off a peaceful country lane, this immaculate four-bedroom semidetached property offers charm and character, fantastic walks and views.

The accommodation is split over two levels, with key features including vaulted ceilings, a modern open-plan kitchen/lounge with integrated kitchen appliances, a master bedroom with en suite shower, central heating, and a car port for two cars.

CONTACT Robinson-Jackson Tonbridge 01732 757300 www.robinson-jackson.com

UNDER £800,000 WHITE FRIARS CHAPEL, COUSLEY WOOD, NR WADHURST

OIEO £600,000

A fine detached converted chapel, presented to a very high standard and situated along a country lane. The original chapel is believed to date back to 1887 and underwent extensive improvement and extension in 2011.

Offered in excellent order throughout, the accommodation comprises a 35ft sitting/dining room, a bespoke concealed kitchen, a utility room, three en-suite bedrooms (one on the ground floor currently used as a study), landscaped gardens and a car port.

CONTACT Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 597039 www.hamptons.co.uk

UNDER £1MILLION WEST HOUSE, WEST ROAD, GOUDHURST , NR CRANBROOK

UNDER £250,000

£895,000

EDISON COURT CULVERDEN PARK ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£229,950 This one-bedroom apartment is situated within a notable purpose-built development conveniently located in the St John’s quarter of Tunbridge Wells, not far from the town centre. There is a choice of lift or stairs leading to the apartment, which consists of an entrance hall, a spacious

open-plan living and kitchen area with integrated appliances included in the selling price.

There is a double bedroom with a built-in wardrobe and a bathroom with a white suite.

CONTACT Firefly Properties 01892 838712 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

A beautiful five-bedroom, Grade II listed attached village house dating in parts from the 16th century. The vendors have completed extensive refurbishments to this spacious home, enhancing and retaining period features such as leaded light casement windows, high ceilings, wide wooden floorboards, exposed brickwork, timber beams, attractive fireplaces and panelled doors.

CONTACT Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

Wednesday 19th October 2016

WADHURST - ÂŁ4,995 PCM Appealing and exuding wannth and chann throughout. 4,410 sq.ft. 6 bedrooms, 6 reception rooms, period paradise! Country kitchen/breakfast room with an AGA, swimming pool with pool house spanning 2,877 sq.ft. with a party room and gym. 4 workshops, 3 bay garages and 5 acres of manicured gardens.

AVAILABLE NOW!

*A

further 32 acres of pasture and paddocks, ponds and lakes are available separately.*

I~ ~~

Cranbrook:, Price Guideline: ÂŁ1:,600:,000 Freehold

30 � PROPERTY SECTION

BALCOMBE FARMHOUSE FRITTENDEN, NR CRANBROOK

£1,195,000

A wonderful one-time Wealden hall house

A

GRADE II* listed former Wealden hall house dating from the 15th century with later alterations.

Brimming with charm and character, this beautifully presented home is arranged over three floors and offers an abundance of exposed timbers and beams, brick flooring, sash and casement windows, and lovely open fireplaces to the reception rooms.

Set amidst beautiful gardens, the property is in Biddenden Road on the edge of the sought-after village of Frittenden, which is within the Cranbrook School catchment area.

You enter the ground floor via a

Wednesday 19th October 2016

south-facing reception hall/dining room with wood panelling and brick flooring and an outlook over the gardens.

There are two further reception rooms – a dual-aspect drawing room and a sitting room which has access to the gardens via a glazed door, both with inglenook fireplaces.

The farmhouse-style kitchen has a range of painted cupboards with wood and granite work surfaces, and includes a Belfast sink and two-oven oil Aga as well as an electric oven and an integral dishwasher and fridge.

The breakfast room, which is open to the kitchen, includes French doors leading out to a terrace.

A utility room has space for a washing machine and tumble dryer.

An oak staircase leads to the spacious first floor landing, complete with picturesque views across the gardens to the countryside beyond.

There are four bedrooms and three bathrooms (two en suite) spread across both the first and second floors.

The generous gardens feature an expansive lawn to the side and rear of the home and several terraces, as well as an all-weather tennis court which is well-screened by evergreen hedging.

There is off-road parking in the drive, which is accessed via an electric gate.

Plus there is a garage and garden store.

PROPERTY SECTION �

31

AT A GLANCE n Village location n Grade II* listed Wealden hall house n Reception hall/dining room n Drawing room n Sitting room n Kitchen n Breakfast room n Utility room n Ground floor shower room n Master bedroom n Three further bedrooms n Two en-suite bathrooms and a family bathroom n Views across the countryside n Tennis court n Expansive gardens n Single garage and garden store

£1,195,000 Available for sale through Savills Cranbrook 01580 720161 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 19th October 2016

IP.Knight . . Frank

34 � PROPERTY SECTION

JETWELLS GOUDHURST, NR CRANBROOK PRICE ON APPLICATION

Oak frames simplified

In their latest column, Round Wood of Mayfield look at the process of buying an oak-framed building The prospect of purchasing an oakframed building can be daunting, particularly if you have limited experience of construction projects.

If you are a first timer, we suggest viewing the process as a series of stages that can be managed to a level you feel comfortable with.

A good supplier will value any input you wish to give, but should be equally happy to oversee the entire process.

OBTAINING A QUOTE The enquiry process will be far easier if you have a good idea of the type and style of building you require.

Your first point of contact with a supplier should be to request any brochures they have. Along with their website and magazines, these are a rich source of inspiration.

During your research, it is also well worth ascertaining if a ‘kit’ building can meet your requirements as they can represent great value.

We supply 47 variations of standard garages, covering one to four bays. You may, however, have specific needs and will therefore require a bespoke design.

Whichever path you take, several decisions will need to be made regarding the size and roof profile of your building.

It is also worth considering at an early stage if you require joinery and living areas, which may have planning implications.

The actual build process can be broken down into three stages: Groundwork, frame assembly and roofing.

The supplier of your oak frame will have in-house teams for each. While it is possible for you to source your own contractors – which can prove more cost-effective if they are nearby – this is only recommended if you are prepared to manage the project to a high degree.

PLANNING Before proceeding with any quote you will obviously need to meet all planning and building regulations in your area. Most

Wednesday 19th October 2016

established frame suppliers will be happy to guide you through the regulatory process and often employ dedicated staff members. This tends to be the simplest option given their experience and contacts in the field and knowledge of the buildings their company supplies.

GOING AHEAD If you decide to take the plunge after obtaining your quote and planning permission, the next stage involves signing off on plans.

Unless you have supplied these via an architect, your oak framer should draw these up for your approval.

A site visit may be required depending on the nature of the project, from which working sketches may also be drawn.

CONSTRUCTION Watching your building go up is the fun part, especially if you have decided that your framer will manage all of the necessary teams!

The first phase involves groundworkers digging out the foundations, pouring the concrete slab and then laying the necessary brickwork.

Then the assemblers move in. First, they will fit a soleplate to the brickwork. Some of the upright green oak posts are secured to this using steel pins, while those that stand independently rest on staddlestones.

The eaves beam, tie beam, rafters and ridge complete the frame assembly.

Studwork and bracing is then fitted, on to which the external weatherboard is fastened. This can be supplied in either oak or softwood, depending on budget.

Next the rafters are put in place, ready for the tiles to be fitted by your final team – the roofers.

Round Wood of Mayfield supply oakframed buildings, quality timber products and home and garden features.

For more information please call their sales team on 01435 867 072 or visit www.roundwood.com

Large, elegant Queen Anne country house with views

T

HIS lovely Queen Anne house is Grade II listed and boasts many period features, including natural wood floors, high ceilings, ornate plasterwork, shutters, period fireplaces, panelling and exposed timber beams – the ideal home for the active family who enjoy entertaining.

This beautifully-built property has been recently refurbished, but still offers potential for further improvements to be made, with planning permission already granted to remodel the rear ground floor kitchen/breakfast room area.

The current accommodation includes three main reception rooms, a kitchen/ breakfast room, a study and nine bedrooms, as well as a magnificent

conservatory. The property is set within a magnificent walled garden, accessible through wrought iron gates and including extensive parking for multiple cars – with the addition of a separate double garage, which has a staircase leading to a boarded storage area in the roof above.

A large lawn, interspersed with mature trees and shrubs, covers the frontal area of land, with a gate leading to the rear of the property, where there is a large York stone terrace and courtyard with a Chilstone balustrade and a fountain.

There is also a swimming pool, designed

by Heritage Pools, with a fully mosaictiled finish.

Steps lead to a further area of lawn with

‘The property has been refurbished, but still offers potential for further improvements, with planning permission already granted to remodel the kitchen/ breakfast room area’

PROPERTY SECTION ďż˝

35

AT A GLANCE n Reception hall n Drawing room n Dining room n Sitting room n Study n Conservatory n Kitchen/breakfast room n Pantry n Utility room n Cloakroom n Two-room cellar n Nine bedrooms (including one master bedroom and two en suites) n Family bathroom n Walled garden and grounds n Heated swimming pool n Greenhouse n Double garage with storage above n Paddock n Approximately 5.18 acres n Full planning permission for remodelling of rear extension

Price on application Available for sale through Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

stunning views across paddocks and the North Downs.

To the side, there is a formal rose garden set behind a yew hedge – complete with a timber greenhouse with power and water.

Situated on the outskirts of the popular village of Goudhurst, with its wonderful

ancient church and central duck pond, Jetwells lies within an area full of period buildings, inns and restaurants.

Cranbrook and other nearby towns offer a range of facilities, with mainline stations at both Tunbridge Wells and Staplehurst and good schools.

Wednesday 19th October 2016

!p9Knight ••Frank

PADDOCK WOOD,

KENT

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

Spacious family home + 5 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + 3 reception rooms + detached double garage and parking + garden + Council Tax=G + EPC=D

Apartment close to Pantiles + 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + 1 reception room + underground parking for 2 cars + central location + Council Tax=E + EPC=B

£2,400 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£1,200 + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

KENT

Conveniently located for town and station + 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + 1 reception + allocated parking space + Council Tax=D + EPC=C

Located next to Dunorlan Park + 2 bedrooms + bathroom + open plan kitchen/reception + communal garden + allocated parking space + Council Tax=E + EPC=C

£1,100 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£1,050 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

*£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/o ccupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check o ut fee - charged at the end of o r early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished / unfurnished. For more details including example inventory fee, visit

www.savills.eo.uk/fees.

With a UK-wide network, wherever you're moving, we'll be local to you what can we do for you?

LANGTON GREEN ,

WARREN AREA, CROWBOROUGH,

KENT

EAST SUSSEX

Well-presented modern home + sought-after private road + 3/4 reception rooms + 5/6 bedrooms + garden + swimming pool + summer house + garage + 4,345 sq ft + about 0.42 acres + EPC=C

Beautifully-restored 'Arts and Crafts' home + Crowborough MLS 2.5 miles + 3 reception rooms + kitchen/ breakfast room + study area + 5 double bedrooms + garage + 2,841 sq ft + 0.82 acres + EPC=C

Guide £1,599,950 Freehold

Guide £995,000 Freehold

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

Contact: Liz Devall

KENT

Spacious family house + MLS 1.7 miles + 2 reception rooms + kitchen/ breakfast room + study + 5 bedrooms + garden with large terrace + double garage + 2,119 sq ft + EPC=D

Well-presented detached bungalow on South side of town + open plan kitchen/ reception areas + 3 bedrooms + delightful West-facing garden + garage + off-street parking + 1,335 sq ft + EPC=E

Guide £855,000 Freehold

Guide £645,000 Freehold

TUNBRIDGE WELLS ,

Contact: Becky Card

FRANT,

KENT

Contact: Becky Card

EAST SUSSEX

Newly refurbished duplex apartment + central location + MLS 0. 7 miles + drawing room + kitchen/ breakfast room + 3 double bedrooms + private garden + allocated parking space + 1,169 sq ft + EPC=C

First floor apartment in Grade II listed mansion + Frant MLS 1.8 miles + 2 reception rooms + 2 double bedrooms + garage + communal grounds of about 7.6 acres + 1,241 sq ft

Guide £499,950 Share of Freehold

Guide £375,000 Leasehold

Contact: Becky Card

Contact: Becky Card

With a UK-wide network, wherever you're moving, we'll be local to you what can we do for you?

40  PROPERTY SECTION

Softly,Softly

By Gabrielle Fagan

DROPPING temperatures and dark nights mean summer days are gone, but rather than lamenting their passing, soften the effect of the changing seasons by creating wicked-looking winter rooms.

This year, the two hot trends for the season are seductive sanctuary or rustic retreat. You can be purist and opt for one or the other, or simply reflect elements of each in a room – both will bring instant warmth, comfort and luxury.

Those are, of course, the vital ingredients of Hygge (pronounced ‘hu-gah’), the Danish word for cosy, peaceful wellbeing which is having a bit of a moment right now.

“Hygge can be described as a state of being and of finding joy in the simple pleasures of everyday life,” says Johnny Jackson, co-author of The Art of Hygge: How to Bring Danish Cosiness into Your Life (Summersdale, £9.99).

“Help yourself enjoy it by making your home a sanctuary and a delight to the senses, with soft furnishings made of luxurious fabrics, and it will be a place where you can unwind and feel completely rested. When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing lovelier than curling up on a sofa, sitting in front of a flickering fire, or snuggling under a cosy blanket or quilt.”

Intimate A pared-back setting allows elegant pieces to star and creates a sophisticated

Wednesday 19th October 2016

tranquil space, where distracting clutter is banished.

“As the temperature drops, we spend more time indoors and hanker after intimate spaces for snuggling,” says Jenny Gibbs, founder and principal of KLC School of Design (www.klc.co.uk).

“Neutral schemes are the perfect backdrop for this look and can be layered up with subtle pattern and texture, such as wool, velvet, mohair, tweed or herringbone.

“Cushions and throws on chairs and sofas positively invite winter lounging, table lights conjure attractive pools of light zoning spaces, and a setting feels even more intimate if, beside a chair, there’s a low side table and candlelight.”

COSY MAX: Warm up wood or stone floors with wool or sheepskin rugs, an appropriate way to banish cold toes and celebrate UK Wool Week (October 10-16).

Room diffusers and scented candles with overtones of herbs, fruit and spices, and baskets of berries or pine cones, are ideal seasonal finishing touches.

CREATE COSY: The White Company’s furniture range is made for chic, indulgent spaces, with a Petersham Sofa, upholstered in soft velvet, a truly luxurious choice at £2,100.

‘Hygge can be described as a state of being and of finding joy in the simple pleasures of everyday life’

It teams beautifully with a velvet Beaufort Ottoman at £650. A Sheepskin Beanbag, from £895, would be ideal for informal extra seating.

Scent the air with a seasonal Winter Signature Candle, £20, redolent with the aromas of cinnamon, cloves and oranges.

If space is limited, simply kit out a corner with a Pudding Armchair in Thatch House fabric, £795, from Loaf, and ramp up the comfort with a Chunky Herringbone Throw in gorgeous Earth wool, £129, from Hoo-gah, specialists in Scandinavian homeware.

B&Q’s Concrete Grey Faux Fur Throw is fabulous, too, and only £50.

A trunk works well as a side table, and The White Lighthouse has a well-priced Storage Trunk in faux leather, £80.

Cosy toes are essential: The Rug Seller’s selection features a Softness Shaggy Circular Rug in cream or grey from £34.99.

Pay a nod to the fashionable country trend with Next’s wooden-effect Stag Head wall plaque, £55, and use a Giant Wicker Log Basket With Handles, £94.90, The Farthing, beside a hearth or to hide clutter.

WINTER WARMERS To make those darkening nights so much cosier

MOVE ITim~~ I

To promote your property contact patsy kelly PiKeliy@markerstudy.com I 01892 774781

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk ·"""-·

THESUNDAYTIMES

THE . - _T IMES

Speldhurst £1,350,000 Situated in a superb semi-rural location along a very highly regarded lane, this unique detached 4 bedroom property offers both spacious and versatile accommodation and many fine features. EPC:E

Tunbridge Wells £1,250,000 An excellent refurbished detached house with spacious family accommodation, 4 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms in the "village area" with views and close to Claremont Primary School. EPC:E

Brenchley £1,250,000 A spacious and light, well arranged 6 bedroom wing of a fine Edwardian country house, originally built around 1904 and divided into two in 1954 the accommodation is arranged over four floors in gardens of about 0.84 acres. EPC: G

Crowborough £1,125,000 An elegant and spacious detached Edwardian house situated between the golf club and the town centre with established gardens and many fine period features. EPC: F

Tunbridge Wells £624,999 A modern Regency-style 4 bedroom townhouse situated in a small, popular and attractive development within close proximity of the grammar schools and town centre and offered with no onward chain. EPC: C

Cousley Wood OIEO £600,000 Situated in a semi rural location between Wadhurst and Lamberhurst this fine detached 3 bedroom converted chapel is beautifully presented with wonderful landscaped gardens. EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells Office Sales. 01892 597607 I tunbridgewells@hamptons-int.com

L."!:AMPTONS

11

INTERNATIONAL

Tunbridge Wells £2,080,000 An exceptional 5 bedroom detached house built in the l 930's which has been significantly extended and refurbished to provide light, spacious, flexible accommodation over two floors with 0.38 acre garden and outdoor swimming pool. EPC: D

Langton Green £1,695,000 Situated in a small, private gated road close to the centre of this popular and sought after village, this fine detached 5 bedroom house was originally built in 1988 and has subsequently been substantially extended to provide exceptional family accommodation with a spacious and flexible layout. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells £1,395,000 A superb 5 bedroom detached family house originally dating from the 1930's and subsequently significantly extended and refurbished with exquisite attention to detail to provide substantial accommodation of over 3000 sq ft with a bright and spacious interior and a wonderful flexible layout. EPC: C

Tidebrook OIEO £1,000,000 Situated along a private lane in this sought after historic hamlet between Wadhurst and Mayfield, this delightful 4 bedroom detached house has an interesting and versatile layout with many fine features including a stunning vaulted drawing room along with gardens and grounds of about 3.5 acres. EPC: D

Drl

Beyond your expectations -.

www.hamptons.co.uk

THESIJNlli\YTI \IES

T-"!:AMPTONS

11

INTERNATIONAL

T l·1Eal61.TIMES

Battle £1,750,000 Adjoining picturesque Sussex farmland, an exceptional and historically significant 6 bedroom Grade II listed country house of great charm originally forming part of the Battle Abbey Estate and dating back to the seventeenth century, set amid impressive gardens and grounds approaching in total about 12.59 acres.

Tunbridge Wells Office

Sales 01892 597607

I

tunbridgewells@hamptons-int.com

• Exceptional country residence enhanced for modern day living • Far reaching views over adjoining Sussex countryside • Picturesque rural location on edge of this highly regarded Sussex town • Superb range of outbuildings • Detached former squash court with lapsed planning consent (2015) to convert to ancillary accommodation

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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

·"""·

THESUNDAYTIMES

L."!:AMPTONS

11

INTERNATIONAL

THE . . . .TIMES

£2,750pcm Available 22nd November 2016 This distinctive 5 bedroom family house is offered in superb condition throughout. The property has many delightful features and is situated in a convenient location for the town centre and local schools. Points of particular note include: A large sitting room, fitted kitchen/breakfast room with utility room and family snug. To the first floor there is a lovely master bedroom with en suite shower room, the four further bedrooms are well served by the well fitted family bathroom. To the front of the property is parking for 3 cars. EPC F

£3495 pcm Available 1st November 2016 This exceptional six bedroom, four bathroom detached family home was built in 2012 by award winning developers Millwood Homes to an exacting standard and an individual design. The property is arranged over three floors offering spacious and flexible living accommodation. Points of particular note include: A superb quadruple aspect kitchen/ breakfast/family room. Six Generous bedroom, four bathrooms, lovely gardens and detached garages. EPC C

Tunbridge Wells Office Lettings. 01892 597609

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tunbridgewells@hamptons-int.com

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46 ď Ž PROPERTY SECTION

BROOM HOUSE BROOM PARK, LANGTON GREEN

ÂŁ1,695,000

Private hideaway with a games room large enough for snooker A N ATTRACTIVE detached house which sits well back from a private gated road which is approached from Broom Lane in the desirable area of Langton Green.

Originally built in the 1980s, the property has since been extended to provide even better family accommodation.

From the porch, the front door leads into an entrance hall with polished wood flooring, stairs to the first floor and casement double doors to the drawing room.

The elegant drawing room is well-proportioned, with matching doors to the dining room and double doors to a south-facing terrace. The open fireplace features a carved surround and mantle.

The dining room is another generously sized room with an outlook over the rear garden.

In the kitchen/breakfast room there is an excellent range of cupboards and drawers on two sides with long work surfaces and cupboards above. Integrated appliances include ovens, hob, cooker hood, dishwasher and sink unit.

Adjoining the kitchen is a utility room with matching units and door to the outside.

The sitting room has an open fireplace with a gas coal-effect fire, casement double doors to the terrace and double doors through to the very

Wednesday 19th October 2016

impressive large family/games room with a fully functional bar area, outlooks on three sides, polished wood flooring, spot lighting and double doors to the terrace. This room is large enough for a full size snooker table.

Upstairs, the delightful principal bedroom suite has a dressing room that leads through to a bathroom with a separate shower and twin basins.

The guest bedroom also has an en-suite shower room and there are three further bedrooms that are served by a well-fitted family bathroom which includes both a bath and a separate shower.

All the bedrooms are a good size and include fitted wardrobe cupboards.

Outside, the property is approached by a long, wide drive and includes a generous parking area and a double garage.

The gardens to the front and rear provide a very appealing setting for the house, with the drive flanked by lawns, shrubs and trees.

At the rear, the garden is beautifully landscaped with a long south-facing paved and brick terrace with a summerhouse to one end.

There is a wide expanse of lawn with an abundantly stocked herbaceous border to one side, as well as mature hedging trees and shrubs.

In all, there is a little over a third of an acre.

Langton Green is just under three miles to the West of Tunbridge Wells and has local shops, a primary school, the well-known Holmewood House Preparatory School, a village green, a recreation/cricket ground and a pub.

In Tunbridge Wells itself, there are

comprehensive shopping facilities, as well as numerous restaurants and recreational amenities, such as the two theatres, the cinema complex, two golf courses and the sports and leisure centre.

There is an excellent selection of schools both private and state, including the grammar schools.

PROPERTY SECTION �

47

AT A GLANCE

‘The impressive family/games room has a fully functional bar area, outlooks on three sides, polished wood flooring and doors to the terrace’

n Entrance hall n Two cloakrooms n Drawing room n Dining room n Sitting room/games room/family room n Study n Kitchen/breakfast room n Utility room n Principal bedroom with en suite dressing room and bathroom n Guest bedroom with en suite shower n Three further bedrooms n Family bathroom n Gas-fired central heating n Integral double garage n Gardens of over a third of an acre

£1,695,000 Available for sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 19th October 2016

Tonbridge

£450,000

Detached 2 Bedroom Bungalow offering scope to extend, s.t.planning, 'L' Shaped loungediner. Garage, Parking, Gardens. EPC. D

Plaxtol

£695,000 - £750,000

NEW HOME built for the present owners in 2015, popular village location. 4 Bedrooms ( I en-suite), 28ft lounge-diner, garage & parking EPC B

Central Tonbridge

£295,000

Purpose built Apartment within The Market Quarter' only a few minutes from the High Street. 2 Bedrooms ( I en-suite).Viewing Recommended EPC C

Tonbridge

£850,000 - £875,000

6/7 Bedroomed Detached Family House in a sought after cul-de-sac, about I miles from the High Street. 4 Reception rooms. Garage & Parking. EPC C

Sevenoaks

£490,000 - £520,000

Good size 4 Bedroom Semi-Detached House, now in need of general updating, 2 reception rooms, 20ft kitchen-breakfast rm. Parking, garden EPC D

South Tonbridge

£245,000

Well-presented 2 Bedroom Terraced House in the popular Barden Road area, handy for the High Street & Station. Ideal First Time Buyer or Investment EPC F

Groombridge

£345,000

An immaculately presented late Victorian end of terrace house situated in central village position.

Sitting room, kitchen/dining room, 2 bedrooms, wet room. Pretty enclosed rear garden. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells

£499,950

A newly refurbished duplex apartment situated on popular west side of town. Drawing room, fully fitted kitchen with dining area, 3 double bedrooms, 2 bath/shower rooms. Private gardens & private parking area. EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells

Monthly Rental £1,850

A well presented & extended chalet-style property off Farmcombe Road. Open plan kitchen/

family room, living room, master bed with en suite, 2 further beds & family bathroom. Enclosed garden & driveway. EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells

£299,950

A well maintained ground floor purpose-built apartment, situated on Mount Ephraim. Reception room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, shower room. Communal gardens, allocated parking. No onward chain. EPC: C

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Tunbridge Wells

£330,000

A semi-detached house, in need of some modernisation, located in the St James' area. 2

reception rooms, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom. Decked rear garden. No onward chain. EPC: E

Tunbridge Wells

Monthly Rental £1,250

An immaculate ground floor apartment with terrace, adjacent to The Pantiles. Modern kitchen, living room, master bed with en suite, 2nd bed/study & shower room. Large car park, gas central heating. EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells

£1,250,000

A magnificent late Victorian family house (3,193 sq ft), significantly improved with superb kitchen/day room, beautiful drawing room, large conservatory, 5 bedrooms, en-suite, bathroom, large garden, parking. Walking distance to grammar schools. EPC E

Tunbridge Wells

£450,000 - £475,000

An attractive 3/4 bedroom period semi detached house in an excellent residential road in St John's, convenient for primary and secondary schools. Sitting room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, separate WC, walled rear garden. EPC F

Tunbridge Wells

£375,000

2/3 bedroom detached chalet style house in quiet cul-de-sac, within walking distance of St James' Primary School and town centre. Front and secluded rear gardens. Garage with off road parking. No forward chain. EPC C

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Tunbridge Wells

£1,000,000 - £1,050,000

A fine example of 4 bedroom detached villa in sought-after Queens Road, beautifully proportioned rooms with period features, drawing room, open plan day rooms and kitchen leading out to a large garden, multiple off road parking. Walking distance of grammar schools. EPC E

Tunbridge Wells

£750,000

A quietly located 3 bedroom Victorian Lodge located in one of Tunbridge Wells' premier parks abutting beautiful countryside, good size garden with large summer house/home office, with off road parking and garage. EPC E

Tunbridge Wells

£575,000

Well presented Victorian town house over three floors, modernised to a high standard yet retaining period features. Sitting room, open plan kitchen/dining room with bi-folds out to garden, master en-suite, 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom. EPC D

01892 516615 www.sumnerpridham.co.uk

Andrews >

Tunbridge Wells andrewsonline.co.uk

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St Johns Road, TN4 9TI

ÂŁ256,950

Quirky and unique 2 bedroom maisonette refurbished to a high standard in the popular rejuvenated St Johns area. Open plan living room with originals beams, beautiful kitchen with appliances and modern bathroom on the first floor. The top floor has a landing leading to two double bedrooms and a shower room. No chain.

Energy Efficiency Rating: B

Tunbridge Wells Sales 01892 515 11+1+

To view more properties available from all 85 of our offices, visit andrewsonline.co.uk

Promotional f eature

The British Property Awards decorate Tunbridge Wells Agent with the highest of accolades: Best Agent for The South East Region.

The awards are judged over an eight-week period by a panel of experts within the property field.

Here, agents are assessed on and scored against a rigorous 25 point criteria. These include customer service, industry knowledge, local area knowledge and overall expertise in their field Agents within each Town are invited to opt-in to be judged and unlike the vast majority of awards, The British Property Awards are free to enter to all agents and unlike the majority of awards in the property arena, the awards are not for sale!

~

Le Grys

In July 2016, The British Property Awards announced LeGrys Estate Agents had won the Award for Tunbridge Wells. There is only one winner within each town.

Bill LeGrys, Managing Director, commented on winning the

Lll<rnl thinking dose to horn,

award "This is truly a fantastic achievement for all the Team and I am truly honoured and somewhat overwhelmed".

The awards are one of the most inclusive estate agency awards providers. A team personally mystery shops every estate agent that has entered against the same set of criteria to obtain a fair, balanced overview of their customer service levels. The judging criteria is both comprehensive and detailed to ensure that agents have been rigorously and fairly judged. Those estate agents who provide a superb service and go that extra mile for each and every one of their clients

are then rewarded and highlighted for the service they provide, acting as a beacon to highlight these attributes to their local marketplace.

But more extraordinary is what happened next. Every winner is then assessed using the same criteria against their pier group within their region. A lavish dinner was then put on with the host, Martin Roberts from BBC's Homes Under the Hammer presenting the awards. LeGrys Estate Agents went on to win Best Estate Agent - South East of England.

Bill LeGrys went on to comment" This was a dream come true for us

50-52 London Road, Soulhhorough, Tunbridge Wells. 1N4 OPT. I O1892 529 448 I info@lcgrys.com

Promotional feature

all and I have to thank not just my dedicated Team but also the local supporters of LeGrys. Around 80% of our business comes from referrals which I believe has afforded us the growth we have achieved. We have managed to open three branches in six years and will open our London City branch next month. The fact that these awards are designed to be attainable to all agents, removing common barriers to entry, such as cost, ensures that they are the most inclusive awards. There is no opportunity for bias or manipulation so yes, I am very proud to see LeGrys awarded Best Agent in the South East"

The team celebrate their success with Martin Roberts from "Homes Under The Hammer "

54  PROPERTY SECTION

An Art Deco-style gem that has been extended and refurbished

AT A GLANCE BISHOPS GARTH WHYBOURNE CREST TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Reception hall n Drawing room n Kitchen/dining/sitting room n Utility room n Snug/playroom n Family room n Study n Principal bedroom with dressing room and en suite n Four further bedrooms n Three further bath/shower rooms (two en suite)

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

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HIS stunning detached family house originally dates from the 1930s, and since then has been significantly extended to provide spacious accommodation of more than 3,000 sq ft across two floors.

A handsome oak front door opens to an inviting reception hall with limestone flooring, a fine staircase rising to the first floor and a feature circular window.

From here, you enter an excellent tripleaspect drawing room with square bay windows to both front and rear, a door opening to the garden and an Art Deco open fireplace.

The superb fitted kitchen has an extensive range of wall and floor mounted

units with granite work surfaces, a wide island, two ovens, a dishwasher, a fridge-freezer, a microwave and two wine fridges.

The adjacent utility room is fitted with units to match the kitchen and has an integrated washing machine and tumble dryer and fridge-freezer.

The tiled floor from the kitchen continues into an open-plan dining/ sitting room which boasts a fantastic roof lantern and three sets of French doors, all fitted with bespoke plantation shutters, opening directly to the garden.

There is also an impressive doubleaspect family room with a square bay window to the front and another

‘An open-plan dining/sitting room boasts a fantastic roof lantern and three sets of French doors, all fitted with bespoke plantation shutters’

feature circular window to the side.

Additionally, there is a small study fitted with extensive book shelving.

On the first floor, a roomy landing with a stunning casement window gives access to all the bedrooms and the family bathroom, which is well appointed with twin basins on a bespoke vanity unit with a marble top.

The principal bedroom has a high ceiling and a stylish en-suite bathroom with a separate shower and a dressing room fitted with bespoke wardrobes.

There are four further bedrooms, two of which have en-suite shower rooms,

Wednesday 19th October 2016

and one of which has access to a pretty balcony looking out over the rear garden.

To the front of the house, the garden is formed of areas of lawn and attractive plantings, with a pathway that leads to the front door.

A resin-bonded driveway provides parking for a number of vehicles.

To the rear of the property, the landscaped gardens are predominantly laid to lawn, with tall hedging providing a great deal of seclusion.

Two terraces, one brick and one slate, provide ideal spots in which to sit in the sun, dine and entertain.

we open doors for you ...

BarnesKingsnorth

£575,000 PEMBURY SPACIOUS FAMILY HOME. A 4 bedroom detached house with generously proportioned rooms, beautifully presented and set at the head of a cul-de-sac, close to the primary school. Decorated in soft shades of Farrow & Ball and with excellent entertaining space. Entrance porch, hallway, cloakroom we, 31'6 open-plan living space, kitchen/dining room, bedroom 1 with a dressing area and en-suite shower room, 3 further bedrooms and family bathroom. Outside offers driveway parking and low-maintenance gardens to front and rear. Internal viewing essential. EPC: D

Apply Pembury

£495,000 TONBRIDGE NEW TO THE MARKET This immaculate Edwardian family home boasts a wealth of period features combined with a contemporary, light and airy feel. Conveniently located for the town centre, main line station and many excellent schools. The spacious accommodation comprises entrance hall with oak flooring, sitting room with bay window, dining room with French doors leading out to the rear garden, stunning, triple aspect kitchen/breakfast room and three bedrooms and luxury bathroom to the first floor. The generous landing currently has a study area which could be adapted to provide an additional bedroom. Outside there is small front garden and side access leading to south facing, fully enclosed rear garden. EPC: E

Apply Tonbridge

OIRO £450,000

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

ST JAMES' AREA. A very well presented 3 bedroom detached bungalow which has been improved and updated by the current owners. Set within 1 mile of the town centre and mainline station.

Comprising porch, sitting room, conservatory, kitchen/breakfast room, bathroom with separate bath and shower. Set within established gardens with parking and garage to the rear. Potential to enlarge SIPP. EPC: D Apply Pembury

'B) Primelocatior

t.- rightmove.co.uk

Residential Sales & !Lettings

Pembury: 01892 822880 e.pembury@bkea.co.uk

Tonbridge: 01732 771616 e.tonbridge@bkea .co.uk

Lettings: 01732 771616

e. Lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.bkestatea1ents.com

56  PROPERTY SECTION AT A GLANCE

A chance to court a fabulous apartment in Jekyll grounds

FRANT COURT FRANT ■ Share of freehold ■ Four bedrooms ■ Two reception rooms ■ Three bathrooms ■ Beautiful communal grounds landscaped by Gertrude Jekyll ■ Tennis Court access ■ Off-road parking space ■ Gated development ■ Garage

£725,000 Available for sale through Alexandre Boyes 01892 525522 www.alexandre-boyes.co.uk

A

N IMPRESSIVE, large duplex apartment in a prestigious village development which offers an unusual amount of room over its two floors.

The first floor provides an inviting entrance hall, which gives an immediate feeling of space.

Featured on this floor, in an open-flat format that is ideal for the busy family, is a large drawing room, a well-equipped ultra-modern fitted kitchen and an attractive dining room.

The first floor also has a cloakroom and two of the bedrooms, including a large master bedroom with an en-suite shower room.

The other two bedrooms are on the second floor,

Wednesday 19th October 2016

one en-suite, along with a study area, a generous family bathroom and an attic that is a potential utility room.

The stunning communal gardens, covering approximately eight acres of land, were landscaped by Gertrude Jekyll and include terraced lawns, a private woodland and a lake.

With the development’s far-reaching views, it is perfect for garden walks.

A private shared tennis court is also included, as well as a personl parking space and garage.

Further to this, residents have full access to the communal reception hall, which is ideal for entertaining.

Frant village offers a perfect family setting, with a highly regarded primary school and a mainline railway station with services to London at nearby Bells Yew Green.

The amenities include a local store, two public houses and the beautiful cricket green.

Tunbridge Wells is approximately two miles away with excellent schools and facilities, including the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre, the High Street and the famous Pantiles area – all boasting numerous restaurants and cafés.

‘The stunning communal gardens, covering approximately eight acres of land, were landscaped

by Gertrude Jekyll’

Be with Belvoir! ' '

Personally, we would never use any other lettings agent to manage our property portfolio and I cannot recommend them highly enough ' ' - Mr F- Tunbridge Wells Landlord

' ' Belvoir have an acute understanding of their clients' needs and requirements and, in my opinion, deliver l 00% ' ' - Mrs L- Tunbridge Wells Landlord

01892 615333

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www.belvoir.eo.uk/tunbridgewells

I OOO C

72 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TNl 2QP

MUDDY BOOTS EVENT

22ND

OCTOBER

11AM_3PM Computer generated image of Rosehip House

Follo w us for updates:

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@M ill wood DHomes

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MillwoodDesignerHomes

Tunbridge Wells A four bedroom, three storey town house with views over town offered as top of chain and with vacant possession, situated in a small enclave of similar properties. ECP: C

An elegant four bedroom town house style apartment set in an exclusive gated estate of around 5 acres; double garage and meticulously-maintained grounds, complete with tennis court. EPC: C

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a four bedroom detached home in need to updating and redecoration, situated on a small no through road.

EPC: E

£399,950

Tunbridge Wells

Tonbridge

This good sized two bedroom house is ideally situated in a no-through road close to the park and mainline station proving particularly desirable for commuters. EPC: D

5 bed farmhouse conversion in rural enclave with many features retained, commute from Tonbridge. Lovely gardens, further 3 acres (TBV) available by separate negotiation. EPC: E

Guide price £270,000- £285,000

A modern lift-serviced top floor apartment in the heart of Tonbridge; 2 double bedrooms, bathroom, en-suite, balconied lounge, allocated parking. Walk to station.

EPC: B

A fantastic opportunity to acquire a substantial 3 bedroom detached family home with large garden in a highly sought after location, offering great scope to extend and improve. EPC: E

£265,000

WOOD & PILCHER Opening DoorsFor You Since 1981

•• •• •• •

Tunbridge Wells Office: 01892 511211 I tunbridgewells@woodandpilcher.co.uk Tonbridge Office: 01732 351135 I tonbridge@woodandpilcher.co.uk Southborough Office: 01892 511311 I southborough@woodandpilcher.co.uk *Subject to contract

ELLIS&CO

01732 770077 tonbridge@ellisandco.co.uk

MOAT AT

KNIGHTS WOOD ROYAL TUNBRIDGE

WELLS

Buy a brand new home in Tunbridge Wells for just £57,000* Moat at Knights Wood is an exclusive

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development of contemporary brand

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new 1 and 2 bedroom apartments

Idyllic setting amongst 205 acres

Shared ownership is a government-backed

of beautiful woodland

initiative that helps you to become a home owner. Sometimes known as part buy

High specification including fitted kitchen and integrated appliances

in Royal Tunbridge Wells available

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to buy through shared ownership.

part rent, you buy a percentage share in a brand new home, as much as you can

Ideally location just a ten minute drive

afford, and pay a subsidised rent on the

to the centre of Tunbridge Wells

remaining share.

For more information contact: Sarah Dodd, 0845 359 6387 (Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm), e: sarah.dodd(@moat.co.uk

moat -knightswood.co. uk

<J[J, moat homes local homes to love

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Homes&

Communities

Agency

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Tun~ridge \ Wei Is Borough

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Moat Homes Ltd is a charitable housing association.

* Based on a 30% share of a one bedroom apartment with a property value of £190,000.

Eligibility criteria applies. In line with government priorities, top priority for these homes at Knights Wood is awarded to serving military personnel and former members of the British Armed Forces honourably discharged in

the last two years. People who live and/or work in the Royal Borough of Tunbridge Wells will also receive priority.

Stephens Road, Tunbridge Wells

*Price Range £625,000-£650,000*

A character four bedroom halls adjoining semi-detached property situated in this sought after road in Tunbridge Wells. Conveniently Located for Local primary and secondary/ Grammar schools in the area.

St Davids Road Tunbridge Wells

Broadwater Down *Price Range Tunbridge Wells £350,000-£370,000*

Beagleswood Road, Pembury

Set in a Lovely tree Lined road ; a spacious top floor two bedroom apartment with entrance hall, open plan kitchen/ diner, Lounge with views to the rear and bathroom . Garage, parking and communal gardens.

A mid terraced property situated in this tucked away Location in this popular village.Accommodation includes two bedrooms, Lounge, dining room, kitchen and bathroom . Garden and Garage en bloc.

*Price Range £350,000-£375,000*

Stone Street, Tunbridge Wells

Price £275,000

OIRO £325,000

CHALLENGE US TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY IN JUST 6 WEEKS

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~

SEE WINNING RESULTS!

SOLD SSTC We have buyers who are Looking for three and four bedroom homes in the St Lukes/ St Johns areas ofTunbridge Wells. If you are thinking of selling challenge us to the 6 week challenge!

Standen Street, Tunbridge Wells

Price £535,000

View to see the potential! Popular St Johns area; a three bedroom detached character home with two receptions,study, cloakroom, bathroom and shower room. Garden and Off Road Parking.

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See va riation to standard agency terms an d conditions.

Third Street, Langton Green

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£390,000

A detached three bedroom family home centrally Located in this pretty village.Accommodation comprises of Lounge/ diner, kitchen, utility area, conservatory, useful Loft room. Garden and off road parking.

01892 547 966 tunbridgewells@connells.co.uk 5 Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN11BS

Sold SSTC We have first time buyers and investors who are keen to buy character properties in the St James/ town Location of Tunbridge Wells. Call now for your free market appraisal.

Withyham Road, Groombridge

Price £625,000

Set in this pleasant position towards the rural fringes of this picturesque and popular village ; an extended detached chalet bungalow with Lots of potential to turn it into a Lovely family home.

Scenic views to the rear, mature rear garden and driveway. No Chain.

Ely Gardens, Tonbridge

£850,000 - £875,000

Located in this sought after residential road in North Tonbridge is this delightful five bedroom detached executive style home. Offered to the market 'chain free'.

Hadlow Road, Tonbridge

A three storey period style house currently let as an HMO, potentially generating an income in excess of £30,000 annually, let as five bedrooms.

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/ Great Bounds Drive, Southborough

£725,000 - £750,000

A generously sized extended four bedroom detached family house located on the Southborough/Bidborough borders. Offered to the market chain free, ideal for access to the A21.

£449,995

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I

I

Bitchet Green, Sevenoaks

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\

\ £1,500,000

Located off of a private road in the beautiful hamlet of Bitchet Green is this stunning four bedroom property set in approximately three acres of secluded gardens, complete with stables and paddock.

NEW SHOW HOME OPENING 22ND OCTOBER

JOIN US FOR THE LAUNCH OF OUR NEW SHOW HOME

THREE BEDROOM SUNBURST SHOW HOME OPEN SATURDAY & SUNDAY 22ND - 23RD OCTOBER

01892 800 580 knightswood.co.uk

KNIGHTS WOOD ROYAL

TUNBRIDGE

WELLS

Knights Wood offers a variety of exceptional new homes in a peaceful woodland setting in Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Our marketing suite is open daily, 1Oam to 5pm, Thursdays until 7pm, so come and visit us at the launch event to see for yourself.

Two, three and four bedroom homes available with Help to Buy from £355,000 to £599,000.

Knights Wood, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3UW

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VIEW OUR FULL CHRISTMAS MENU ONLINE

®

The Abergavenny Arms, Frant Rd, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 9DB 01892 750 233 I 750 933 abergavennyarms.co.uk

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@

66 n FOOD AND DRINK

Life is sweet for this local entrepreneur Soft, sugary and oh-so moreish, marshmallows used to be something you’d give to children as a treat, but Helen Robinson from Hawkhurst-based Dulci Bella has taken them to a whole new gourmet level. Here she tells Eileen Leahy how the kitchen table business idea she had five years ago has grown into such a delicious success…

What gave you the idea to go into making marshmallows in the first place?

The positive encouragement of friends and family.

Traditionally, marshmallows have been made by pouring the batter into a tray and then cutting it into cubes.

However, I very soon discovered that the consistency of marshmallow batter is quite similar to that of meringue, and so the adventure of developing a piped marshmallow began!

After several months I had developed a recipe and the technique required to achieve this.

What made you choose the name Dulci Bella?

Because it means soft and beautiful in Italian, and therefore seemed to be the perfect fit for a marshmallow company.

It was also the name of a lady I met a few times at a nursing home when I was on a domiciliary visit as a dental nurse.

She was very sparky, with a love of fast cars, and quite a character!

Wednesday 19th October 2016

What did you do before you went into making marshmallows full-time?

I originally trained as a silversmith and jeweller.

I also worked in print production, did a dental nurse job and started a sales promotion company with my husband – all before working on Dulci Bella.

Who is your core market for the Dulci Bella?

It varies hugely. The flavours of the mallows are quite intense so mainly appeal to the adult palate. I would say that most of our customers are women, and our products are often purchased as an indulgence. I often hear ‘these are just for me and definitely not for sharing!’

How do you market your marshmallows?

I started selling them through food fairs and farmers’ markets. These were both an invaluable learning experience as there’s a wealth of information to be had from talking to fellow producers and, of course, you receive very direct feedback and comments from your customers!

‘Dulci Bella means soft and beautiful in Italian, and seemed to be the perfect fit for a marshmallow company’

However, over the past year the business has become primarily an online one. The marshmallows are made to order – there’s no mass production in our kitchen – and posted within three to five working days, which means they arrive in the very freshest condition.

When is your busiest time?

It’s usually around Mother’s Day and in the lead-up to Christmas.

What’s the most unusual flavour you make?

Probably the After Dark Range of marshmallows. These are flavoured with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cardamom and boast caramel, dark chocolate or Amaretto centres.

They’re perfect to have with coffee – or something a little stronger!

How do you get inspiration for all the different flavours?

I’m constantly on the lookout for new combinations. and thankfully there are always fantastic new ingredients becoming available. I avidly devour

cookbooks and foodie magazines, reading about what flavours are trending and the latest taste partnerings.

It’s sometimes a case of finding something unique and thinking ‘how can I make this work in a marshmallow?’

How did it feel when you won your first Great Taste Food award?

I cried! You have to check the Great Taste Award website to see if you have

FOOD AND DRINK �

been awarded anything as you are not automatically notified. When I won my first in 2014, I kept having to check there had not been a mistake as I won two awards – one for Simply Strawberry and the other for Lemon Meringue.

Have you won any other notable accolades?

I won another Great Taste Award in 2015 for my Really Rather Rhubarby flavour, and another in 2016 for Sonata After Dark. I was also highly commended by the Great British Food Awards in 2016 for Really Rather Rhubarby, which was judged by John Whaite, a former winner of the Great British Bake Off and now a TV presenter.

What have been your most memorable marshmallow moments so far?

One that immediately comes to mind was receiving an email from St James’s asking if I could make a delivery to Buckingham Palace, which of course I delivered personally! Other highlights include supplying the marshmallows for a charity event in association with Liberty of London and MTV. What are your plans for the future?

I will be adding more exciting and vibrant flavours to our product range in the coming months. The mail order preChristmas period is absolutely crazy, so I will be flat out until the beginning of 2017.

My plans for next year include increasing the brand’s online presence, as we currently only deliver within the UK. So we will be looking to branch into international sales. The corporate side of the business will also be developed

67

Inspired by Helen’s Dulci Bella brand? Then here are some marshmallow recipes for you to try at home…

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW BROWNIES Makes: 20 What you need: 112g butter 50g dark chocolate (minimum 75% cocoa solids), chopped 200g caster sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract What you do: Preheat the oven to 175°C (340°F) Gas 4.

Melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Do not let the base of the bowl touch the water.

Stir occasionally until smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool a little. Stir in the sugar, eggs and vanilla extract.

Beat in the flour, salt and baking powder. further as the number of enquiries during 2016 has been gradually increasing, and thankfully looks like it will be a trend that will continue into 2017.

60g plain flour 1⁄4 teaspoon fine salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 25g mini marshmallows (or large ones quartered)

MARSHMALLOW CHOCOLATE MELT 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract 30g dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids), broken into pieces

Serves: 2 What you need: 500ml milk 6 large marshmallows What you do: Put the milk and vanilla extract in a saucepan and heat gently until it comes to the boil. Remove from the heat. Pour the milk into 2 cups and top with the marshmallows.

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a small

A 20-cm square baking pan, greased and lined with baking parchment

Spread half of the batter into the prepared baking pan.

Add three quarters of the marshmallows.

Pour the other half of the brownie mixture over the chopped marshmallows and top with the rest of the marshmallows.

Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until slightly springy in the middle. Leave to cool in the pan before removing and cutting into squares to serve.

heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water or the chocolate will be spoiled).

Drizzle the melted chocolate over the top of the drinks and serve immediately.

To find out more about Dulci Bella and the range of marshmallows available, visit www.dulcibellamarshmallows.co.uk

TIMES READER OFFER

Both images are the copyright of Ryland Peters & Small. Chocolate Marshmallow Brownies (Recipe: Carol Hilker, photography: Steve Painter) is extracted from Brownies, Blondies and Other Traybakes, available for the special price of £10.99 including postage & packaging when quoting ref HT3 (rrp£14.99).

Marshmallow Chocolate Melt (Recipe: Louise Pickford, photography: William Lingwood) is from Fireside Feasts & Snow Day Treats and is available for £11.99 including postage & packaging when quoting HU1 (rrp£16.99.

Please call Macmillan Direct on 01256 302 699 to purchase your copies.

Wednesday 19th October 2016

68  TRAVEL STANDING PROUD The Statue of Liberty

By Sarah Marshall A LAND of opportunity or a hotbed of consumerism? Whichever way you look at it, America has always been a place to spend money, with greater variety and better prices than you might find at home.

Recently, New York was declared the number one city break in a survey

by Cheapflights, and it’s likely many travellers will head across the Atlantic on a Christmas shopping spree this winter.

But as the pound continues to dip against the dollar, Brits will have to tighten their budgets.

Fortunately, the introduction of cheaper transatlantic flights means it’s often better value flying to New York than some European destinations; and better still, improved comfort means an economical option doesn’t necessarily translate as no frills.

Norwegian Airlines, for example, offers Premium seats on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner service for less than £500 one way, with benefits

Wednesday 19th October 2016

Free and easy in New York

including lounge access, complimentary food and drink, reclining-to-almost-flat seats and improved cabin pressure.

Hotels in the city are also wising up to the need for better value propositions; the newly opened Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel touts free wi-fi and gym access as key selling points.

Complimentary cocktail-making demonstrations are available in the bar and a digital display in the downstairs lobby reveals a password for gratis food or drink.

Admittedly, sightseeing can be expensive, but pick the right attractions and the costs are almost negligible.

Remarkably, the recommendations listed here won’t set you back dollar… or even a dime.

CENTRAL PERKS A free celebrity tour of the park

‘Pick the right attractions and the costs are almost negligible’

Imagination runs free at BRIC House Across the East River, a 30-minute journey from Times Square on the Q line, The BRIC Arts Media House in Brooklyn is brimming with creative arts.

The gallery space showcases local talents, with multimedia works displayed for free public viewing. Past ARTS FOR ALL exhibits have included Brooklyn’s BRIC House crocheted tents, decorated table tennis Go bird-watching in Central Park bats and videos of dancing stilt walkers.

It’s hard to believe, but one of America’s Talks, jazz concerts and workshops are best spots for bird-watching is slap-bang held some evenings, and an upstairs café in the middle of Manhattan. More than with free wi-fi is a cool place to eat cake 280 bird species have been recorded in and gather thoughts. Demonstrating the Central Park, including peregrine falcons gallery’s liberal outlook, gender-neutral – inspiring the BBC crew to film here bathrooms are also available on the for an upcoming episode of David premises. Visit www.bricartsmedia.org Attenborough’s Planet Earth II. Most twitchers gather at dawn around Study the New York Public Library the Ramble, a 30-acre maze of boulders.

America’s largest library is filled with 15 Blasé about birds? Then go celebritymillion books, but many visitors come spotting instead. here to do more than just read. Opened in A free audio app from the Central Park 1911, the Stephen A Schwarzman building Conservancy features a tour guided by on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street is now a A-listers; share Sarah Jessica Parker’s National Historic landmark, famous for its ‘sense of solitude’ at The Pond, and visit Beaux-Arts architecture.

Whoopi Goldberg’s beloved Alice in Free guided tours of the site, featured in Wonderland sculpture. Download the app films ranging from Breakfast At Tiffany’s at www.centralparknyc.org/tours/selfto Sex and the City, take place at 11am and guided/audio-guide.html 2pm from Monday to Saturday. Meet at the

TRAVEL 

THE KING OF LIBRARIES Including a touch of Winnie the Phooh

reception desk in Astor Hall – although it’s best to arrive early, as there’s a limit of 25 people per group.

A free 45-minute self-guided audio tour device is also available from the desk.

Aside from the elaborate decor, highlights include meeting marble lions Patience and Fortitude, and the stuffed toys that inspired AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. Visit www.nypl.org Sightsee from Staten Island Ferry One of the first sights to greet immigrants arriving across the Atlantic, the Statue of Liberty, is undoubtedly one of America’s most iconic attractions.

You’ll need a ticket to cruise up close and visit Liberty Island, but it’s also possible to freely marvel from afar.

Running 24 hours a day, the Staten Island passenger ferry trundles past the statue and onward to New York’s least visited borough, allowing tourists to gaze from gangways as anxious newcomers might have done more than 100 years ago.

Time a journey at dawn to watch the sunrise; something no other sightseeing cruise company currently offers.

Pick up the ferry from Whitehall terminal. Visit www.siferry.com

enthusiastic volunteers, Downtown Boathouse has been running free kayak sessions along the Hudson River for 20 years. Turn up to Pier 26, in front of the City Vineyard, sign a waiver, grab a lifejacket and jump in.

Spend 20 minutes soaking up views of Tribeca, New Jersey and even the Statue of Liberty. Sessions operate from mid-May to mid-October. Visit www.downtownboathouse.org Walk the High Line Space is at a premium in NYC, and even the air surrounding buildings is up for sale. Demonstrating great skills of resource, planners have turned to abandoned sites to feed a growing appetite for public areas.

One of the city’s most interesting parks is the High Line, a 1930s freight train track converted into a promenade lined with wild flowers and art installations.

The full stretch runs from Gansevoort District to West 34th Street (between 10th

and 12th Avenues), but the best section is the wide Interim Walkway leading to the Hudson River. Come in the evening to watch the sunset over New Jersey.

Free 75-minute tours run until the end of October. Visit www.thehighline.org Tour Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthplace Donald Trump has a hotel towering over Fifth Avenue, but only one president in American history can truly lay claim to hailing from New York.

Theodore Roosevelt was born and grew up in a brownstone townhouse on 28th East and 20th Street, which was demolished in 1916 and reconstructed several years later.

It now contains a museum with galleries and a bookstore, and has just reopened to the public following major renovation.

Learn about the life of the 26th president, whose unwillingness to shoot a black bear on a hunting trip led to a mass production of Teddy’s bears. Visit www.nps.gov

69

TRAVEL FACTS Sarah Marshall was a guest of Norwegian Airlines (www. norwegian.com/uk) who offer flights from Gatwick to New York JFK from £149 one way in economy, and £419 one way in Premium.  Rooms at the New York Renaissance Midtown (www. newyorkrenaissance. com) start from £127 per night in January 2017. Visit www.nycgo.com for more information on the destination.

HITTING THE HEIGHTS A vertical view of Fifth Avenue

Kayak along the Hudson River Dwarfed by the steel and concrete of ever-multiplying skyscrapers, it’s easy to forget Manhattan is an island. Gain some perspective by getting out on the water and admiring the skyline from an aquatic angle.

Relying solely on donations and

Wednesday 19th October 2016

70  ADVERTISING FEATURE

Flying high in the independent market It is said that buying a home, no matter how high on the ladder you are, is one of the most stressful experiences that life has to offer. Selecting the agent that’s right for you is only the beginning, and finding the best match is key to minimising the worry. We catch up with Carol Prier, Director of Firefly Properties, to find out her secrets to success for sellers and buyers alike…

Give us a brief history of Firefly Properties, and tell us the company ethos I started my career in estate agency in Paddock Wood in 1985, and in 2008 I launched Firefly Properties – during the depth of the recession!

At the time, we could not afford an office, and therefore set up working from home.

My Sales Director took a part-time job at Maidstone Hospital, came to my house at 3pm every day, and we worked through till 9pm in the evening to launch the company.

We went from strength to strength with our 30 years’ of local knowledge, and now boast a team of nine staff with an office on Commercial Road in Paddock Wood.

The ethos of the company is understanding client needs and wants.

SWEET SCENT OF SUCCESS Johanna Ditton, Sales Director

Having grown up in the East End of London in a retail environment, I soon learnt the art of good selling is to listen and to be proactive in your approach to achieving a synergistic goal between two parties. The internet cannot play the part of human connectivity – we deem ourselves a good ‘old-fashioned’ estate agency, but it works. Our unique selling point is that we have a tenacious attitude to finding the right buyer for your home, and we will be there every step of the way.

What makes Paddock Wood such an appealing place to buy a property?

Paddock Wood is now a town, but still has the warmth of a village. The community spirit is very strong and many of the residents are from East and South ALL FIRED UP; Carol (right) with Johanna (left) and Deputy Sales Progressor Jan Parkes

‘Our unique selling point is that we have a tenacious attitude to finding the right buyer for your home, and we will be there every step of the way’

Wednesday 19th October 2016

London, having spent their holidays here at the local hop farms.

The town is laid out so you can walk to the train station and shops from wherever you live. It is also only 50 minutes by train to London. For commuters, it is significantly cheaper to buy here rather than Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Orpington. It’s an ideal location for families, too. Offering both primary schools and Mascalls Academy, you do not need to sit in the car chauffeuring your children around the whole morning.

Who are the typical buyers in the area?

Paddock Wood has a unique set of buyers whereby clients tend to upscale within the town, and the lower end of the market appeals to investment buyers with the station so close. With the influx of new

builds for the future, and the regeneration of the town, the housing market will go from strength to strength. It is a delightful place to bring up children with plenty of activities and parks available.

There have been huge changes to the property market this year – increased stamp duty for investors, and Brexit.

What has been the impact, and how have you adapted?

The impact has been as expected – a slowdown of buyers, particularly at the top end of the market, and apprehension in the middle market. The lower end is still holding with the cheaper mortgage rates, which appeal to first-time buyers.

As a company, we hold our own by selling a cross-section of all price levels to maintain stability.

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

71

Featured Property: Saxbys

HOT ON PROPERTIES Johanna and Jan

Buying a house is considered one of the most stressful life events – how do you help your clients get through it successfully? What’s your secret?

That would be telling! Yes, it is stressful, and we say to all our clients that we are in training as counsellors.

The key ingredient is to have time for people, the listening approach is the most successful and we are experts at problem-solving.

What range of properties do you typically sell? And what’s your common price range?

We sell very successfully across the board in all price brackets. Many of our clients come through recommendations and their properties range from starter homes to elegant country properties.

What are the most common mistakes vendors make when trying to make a successful sale?

Coming to the market at the right time is important, and we encourage vendors to

Horsmonden Road Brenchley TN12 7AU try and sell before setting their heart on their next perfect home.

What are the biggest challenges facing independent estate agents, and how do you overcome them?

We are currently experiencing a slow buying market. We have found that if you look after your serious buyer as a customer, your customer will look after you by becoming a vendor.

Firefly Properties 173 Commercial Road Paddock Wood TN12 6DS 01892 838363 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

Sitting centrally in its large southfacing garden, this impressive 3,200 sq ft (approx) family home offers an elevated location within the pretty, sought-after village of Brenchley.

The property has stunning views across orchards and countryside, and the house benefits from having annexe potential.

The accommodation comprises two kitchens, 3-4 receptions, two master bedroom suites, two further double bedrooms, an outbuilding and electric gates. No chain. £985,000 Freehold.

CHANGING LIVES The Firefly way

What are the benefits of using an independent estate agent?

We combine integrity and a personal approach, instead of sales targets, to win instructions. Our best advice will always be pertinent to each client’s needs. We think outside the box with our advertising and find the buyers from out of area by advertising in London media.

Describe Firefly Properties in five words Passionate, tenacious, honest, flexible, successful!

Wednesday 19th October 2016

72  ADVERTISING FEATURE

Approaching care from every angle Started in 1948, Burrswood Health and Wellbeing provides a range of healthcare services – from relaxing breaks in their beautiful guest accommodation to goal-orientated multidisciplinary therapeutic programmes. The team prides itself on its approach to ‘whole person care’ and provides wellbeing to meet the needs of one’s body, mind and spirit…

How does the care service of today differ from the care offered when you were first founded?

The Burrswood that was founded in 1948 by Dorothy Kerin obviously differed from the advanced care now available, but the fundamental principles have been carried throughout.

She firmly believed in bringing together mainstream medicine and Christian healing, which we still offer in the form of ‘whole person care’ – the care of a person’s body, mind and spirit. These values have remained at our core.

What are some of the largest changes you have seen in the medical industry itself?

There have been constant changes over the years. But we pride ourselves in providing a professional response to the ever-changing needs of healthcare in the UK. The changes in the priorities of the government, in terms of fully-integrated health and social care, are in the areas of hospital avoidance and early discharge.

We are able to assist the NHS and local government in meeting these increasing targets for urgent care.

Also, the priority nowadays is the focus on mental health care (post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety etc), and public health (obesity and alcohol misuse) – all of these are areas of need that Burrswood’s model of care meets.

What do you look for when recruiting staff for Burrswood?

Ultimately, we just want people who have the talent, enthusiasm, and dedication to succeed in a place that keeps the love of Christ at the heart of all that we do.

Wednesday 19th October 2016

People and teamwork are at the crux of what we do here, and we need people with outstanding customer service skills and motivation. A lot of our jobs are non – standard working patterns. Some staff will need to be able to work shift systems so we can ensure 24-hour, 365 care.

What do you believe sets you apart from other healthcare providers?

It sounds like a cliché, but Burrswood really is different – it truly provides care in every aspect of a person’s health.

We make sure we cater to every individual’s needs, be it with a relaxing break in our beautiful guest house or a goal-orientated, multi-disciplinary therapeutic programme. With the input of chaplains and support staff, we ensure we always offer the highest level of care to ensure our patients achieve the best possible outcomes.

What advice would you give to anyone making decisions regarding which care service they opt for?

We are just introducing a new care coordination model whereby we will be able to work with patients to assess their need and create a bespoke whole person care package just for them.

Whether you come for a therapeutic session or a residential stay at Burrswood, we can offer something for everyone – we would suggest simply getting in contact with us so we can help you personally.

Whether you need nursing care, a one-to-one session, a group session, counsellors, care assistants, or a stay in an accessible room with delicious food and therapeutic services, we can help.

‘Burrswood really is different – it truly provides care in every aspect of a person’s health.

We make sure we cater to every individual’s needs’ PEACE AND BEAUTY Burrswood is a magnificent building in gorgeous grounds

What are some of the main struggles people face when seeking care services, and how do you believe these can be overcome?

We find everyone is different, but accessibility, affordability and appropriateness cover the majority of concerns people have.

Whether someone is struggling because they’re finding private provision is too expensive, or they’re worried about long waiting lists, we can help. No one should have to feel like another ‘patient’ rather

than a unique person, and we can support anyone feeling this way – be it anything from a therapy service or a programme – to help them feel more independent.

What do you believe are your key strengths as a care service?

Our unique whole person care approach has got to be our obvious strength – being able to offer care that is not limited to only one aspect of your wellbeing is fundamental in what we do.

Beautiful facilities and location are

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

73

GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS Parkinson’s hydrotherapy group an obvious bonus as well! The heritage and experience we have here is something we are so proud of, alongside all the amazing facilities – we are actually one of a handful of places in the south east with a hydrotherapy pool, to name just one!

What do you offer in the form of outpatient care?

Outpatient care is available in the form of our therapy services suite – which offers physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, counselling, and a wide range of complementary therapies. Appointments are easily available and we have specific group physiotherapy and hydrotherapy sessions for those with conditions like Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis.

We also have a great partnership with 3H Helping Hands for Holidays, who provide support for carers to receive rest and relaxation in our beautiful grounds, which we are really proud of – and want to continue extending!

How does fundraising benefit you as a care service?

Being an independent healthcare provider and charity, we actually receive very limited government funding.

Our lovely charity shop in

Crowborough helps us to raise funds for improving patient care and guest services.

Fundraising and volunteers are so important to us, as they directly enable us to help improve the quality of people’s lives – and that’s fundamentally what all our aims come down to.

Are your gardens open to all? eople are welcome Of course! People to freely enjoy our grounds, healing services and chaplaincy support. We truly believe anyone can improve their health and wellbeing as a consequence of experiencing what we offer.

Our grounds are stunning, as well as our Tea Room with home-made light lunches and tea. It’s all open seven days a week – and we also have a Christian bookshop if you wish to pop in there, too. You can actually hire our facilities as well – so if anyone wants to contact us regarding that, please do!

NURTURING SPIRITUALITY The chapel at Burrswood PATIENT CARE Recovering from hip surgery

‘Outpatient care is available in the form of our therapy services suite – which offers physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, counselling and a range of complementary therapies’ NUMBER ONE Caring for guests and patients is of the utmost importance

How would you describe Burrswood in under ten words?

Transforming lives through whole person care.

Burrswood Health and Wellbeing, 01892 863637, www.burrswood.org.uk

Wednesday 19th October 2016

74 n LIFE AND STYLE

GO-FITUK Go-FitUK is a femalefocused Personal Training Transformation Studio based in Tunbridge Wells. They work with you to get the body you have always wanted. Their approach is multi-disciplined, which embraces mind, body and nutrition. All three are essential for success, and through their continual guidance and support you will see real results- guaranteed!

PACKAGES INCLUDE • Go-FitUK Body Transformation Success manual, including nutritional guidelines and how to approach portion control – key factors in weight loss.

• Seven day meal plan with tasty recipes to kick you into action • Go-FitUK App to allow you to book your training sessions, track your daily nutrition and training plan, and record your progress – they make sure you keep on track to achieve your goals • Professional and dedicated PT support and guidance every step of the way during your transformation

WE GUARANTEE IT…. WE GET RESULTS….

LA COSA NOSTRA CAFE

CRANBROOK CHORAL SOCIETY There is something very special about a large choir, accompanied by a fine orchestra, singing some of the greatest music ever written and the 100 voices of Cranbrook Choral Society will be performing Haydn’s magnificent ‘The Seasons’ at St. Dunstan’s Church Cranbrook for their autumn concert on the 19th November.

Full details are on their website: www.cranbrookchoral.org.uk It’s great that you don’t have to go to London to hear live performances of this quality.

Since opening in August, owner Bruno and his team have enjoyed welcoming new customers daily to their fully licensed 30-seater venue in the heart of the thriving St John’s Road area, La Cosa Nostra Café. Their strong attention to detail, relaxed dining experience and takeaway options, has led to a growing number of customers coming back for more.

So why is everyone talking about La Cosa Nostra Cafe? Is it because they handpick the fruit from their family orchard or very carefully select their specialist suppliers for the best fresh produce or because all of the food served is cooked to perfection and to order? Or maybe people are interested to see the 370 year old natural spring water well discovered during renovations...

The all-day breakfast, lunch and takeaway panini menu uses simple and fresh produce, lovingly combined to offer classic and contemporary dishes. Chef Erminio, who hails from Naples, and Bruno, whose family is from the same region of southern Italy, have dissected authentic favourites to create even healthier variations, so that all who visit leave less guilty from indulging!

“An Italian serving great Italian food. Pasta was great and I was naughty and had two deserts just to check the first one wasn’t just a myth.” 5 Star Trip Advisor review

Contact us: www.go-fituk.com | 01892752259

Whether you hanker for a cup of roasted coffee, slice of a gooey brownie, scoop of refreshing gelato, a glass of wine or a hearty lasagne, let the hours pass as your taste buds enjoy exploring.

EJ FINANCIAL LIMITED ARE HELPING PEOPLE PLAN AND PREPARE FOR THEIR RETIREMENT

La Cosa Nostra Cafe is based at 77 St Johns Road and is open Monday to Saturday 7.30am to 4.00pm. 60 yards from Johns Road Car Park, free for the 1st 30minutes and 40p for 2hours!

Making a big life change is scary, but know what is even scarier? Regret Some recent Life Company research showed that most people were generally happy in retirement. However, when asked, 46% had regrets.

The three top regrets were not starting their pension contribution early enough, leaving it too late when engaging a financial adviser and not planning earlier for their retirement.

Owner, Ted Shaw, says that many people do not allow for the ‘mars bar’ effect when retiring, whereby ‘work, rest and play’ becomes ‘play, rest and play’. In other words, there is no regular workplace income but there is a further opportunity to spend.

The top three shocks for people looking at retirement were long term care costs, inflation effects and making the wrong decision on retirement planning.

At the age of 80, average spend is 43% less than a 50 year old.

In retirement, it is a case of income for life vs capital preservation and how do you pass on as much of your assets as is legally possible on your demise?

ejfinancial.co.uk Wednesday 19th October 2016

WITH THE

THE TOWN’S TOP MOTORING GUIDE – FROM EVERYDAY DRIVES TO LUXURY SUPERCARS

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

BEHIND THE WHEEL

FIRST DRIVE

With the MX-5 as a baseline, it’s no surprise that the 124 Spider is a great car to drive, but there is a very different character to the Fiat.

The 138bhp engine may be less powerful than the MX-5’s 158bhp 2.0-litre unit, but it offers similar performance.

The 7.5-second sprint from 0-62mph is two-tenths slower than the Mazda’s, but the 134mph top speed is marginally faster.

FIAT 124 SPIDER

‘As a soft-top you could live with every day, the 124 actually beats the MX-5 by a nose’

FACTS AT A GLANCE

By James Fossdyke WHAT’S NEW? Amazingly, the Fiat 124 Spider manages to be both very new and hardly new at all.

It shares little more than a name with the old 124, which went out of production in the 1980s, but it shares much with a far more modern roadster – the fourthgeneration Mazda MX-5.

The bodywork takes cues from the old car, what with the round headlights and the wide, vertical grille, but applies them in a distinctly modern way.

The majority of the underpinnings, meanwhile, are pretty much straight from Mazda’s much-acclaimed drop-top.

Granted, the suspension has been tweaked, but otherwise the only major change is the new powertrain.

Unlike the MX-5, which uses

naturally aspirated 1.5 and 2.0-litre engines, the 124 gets a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine. It sits between the two Mazda engines in terms of power output, but the turbocharger gives it more torque and more mid-range grunt, lending the Fiat a very different character to its Japanese sibling.

LOOKS AND IMAGE No matter which angle you approach it from, the 124 Spider is an impossibly pretty car. From the wide front and the wide, rounded headlights to the creases in the long bonnet and the square tail lights, it’s a stunning thing to look at.

Inside, it’s basically identical to the MX-5, with the circular air vents, driverfocused cockpit and seven-inch infotainment

PRICE: £23,295 MODEL: Fiat 124 Spider 1.4 MultiAir Lusso Plus ENGINE: 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol producing 138bhp and 177lb/ft of torque TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual, driving rear wheels PERFORMANCE: Top speed 134mph, 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds ECONOMY: 44.1mpg EMISSIONS: 148g/km

system that perches on the main dashboard. There are a few differences, though, such as the optional Tobacco leather fitted to our test car, and the gear lever, which is slightly more comfortable and ergonomic.

The changes are just enough to give the 124 a charming Italian character that the MX-5 can never match. The Mazda may be a pure driving machine, but the Fiat is undoubtedly the more stylish option.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY As with the MX-5, the 124 Spider is hardly the last word in spaciousness. It’s only a two-seater, and there isn’t even a glove box as such, although you do get a small cubbyhole in the centre console and a lockable box between the seats.

There is a little more space in the boot, but it’s hardly cavernous back there.

Official figures tell you there’s 140 litres of space, although you’d be hard pushed to get much in. The opening is far narrower than the boot itself, and because there’s a huge boot lip you’ll have to lift heavy items quite a way to drop them in.

Also making the car impractical is the lack of adjustability. The seat has plenty of fore and aft adjustment, but the backrest adjustment is notchy and the seat base doesn’t move up and down.

The biggest problem, though, is that the steering wheel doesn’t adjust for reach.

It’s a small issue really, because it’ll be fine for most, but taller drivers might struggle to get comfortable.

In the real world, it actually feels substantially quicker than the Mazda.

The turbocharger gives it real punch and means you don’t have to drop so many cogs when overtaking.

There is a touch of turbo lag, which is a little annoying, but keeping it on the boost is a small, yet rewarding, challenge.

And it isn’t just the engine that differs from the Mazda. The suspension has been tweaked to improve the Fiat’s ride, and has worked a treat. The 124 is supple and smooth in a way the MX-5 just can’t compete with, but it has had an effect on the handling.

Whereas the MX-5 is pin-sharp, the Fiat is a little woollier on turn-in, and the body rolls more than the Mazda.

The steering, too, is a touch less direct.

But those small concessions don’t stop it being a really good car to drive briskly.

The MX-5 is the ultimate driver’s car, and though the 124 is a half-step behind in terms of excitement and involvement, it’s actually a far better all-rounder.

VALUE FOR MONEY The 124 Spider pricing starts from £19,545, which buys you the basic Classica trim.

It’s £1,100 more expensive than the basic 1.5-litre MX-5, but you do get the more potent turbocharged engine, 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless start and air conditioning, as well as other niceties such as cruise control.

Upgrading to the £22,295 Lusso gives you 17-inch alloys, climate control and the seven-inch infotainment system, which comes with satellite navigation and a reversing camera.

While at the top of the range is the £23,295 Lusso Plus, which adds leather upholstery, automatic lights and wipers and a Bose surround sound system.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? As a soft-top you could live with every day, the 124 actually beats the MX-5 by a nose, but it is noticeably more expensive than the Mazda and doesn’t offer quite the same performance or handling.

As a result, buying the Fiat is very much an emotional commitment, rather than a rational one. You’ll always respect the MX-5 for being a technical masterpiece, but you’ll love the 124.

Wednesday 19th October 2016

76 n MOTORING

STOP SEARCHING. START LIVIN If you're searching for the ultimate SUV, look no further.

You've found the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it's the most awarded SUV everA. With more features as standard including Natura Plus heated & ventilated leather seats, dual-pane panoramic sunroof and 8.4" touchscreen Sat Nav. No wonder it's been voted one of the Top 10 cars to own by Auto Express. The search is now over.

But your weekends - and real living -have only just begun.

GRAND CHEROKEE

*Offer available on new Grand Cherokee 3.0 Litre V6 Summit [incl. £775 Special Paint] at £53,325 OTR registered between 1st October and 31st December 2016. OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR THE JEEP®GRAND CHEROKEE DIESEL RANGE IN MPG [I /100KM]: EXTRA URBAN 44.1 [6.41. URBAN 35.3 [8.01. COMBINED 40.3 [7.01. C01EMISSIONS: 184 G/KM. Fuel consumption and co, figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/regulations and may not be repre sen tative of real-life driving conditions. 0% APR Representative Hire Purchase available up to a 1year term with 10% customer deposit required. Jeep Deposit Contribution only available in conjunctionwith Jeep Hire Purchase. The offer shown may be changed if the on the road price of the vehicle increases. Subject to statu s. Guarantees may be required. Ts&Cs apply. Jeep Financial Services, Sll ORW. 'Claim relates to Jeep Cherokee nameplate over its lifetime. We work with a number of creditors including Jeep Financial Services. Jeep is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC.

Models shown are New Alfa Milo 875cc TB TwinAir 105 hp incl. metallic paint at £475, OTR £15,135 &Alfa Giulietta 1.4 TB 120 hp at £19,225 OTR incl. metallic paint at £525. Range of official fuel consumption figures for the Alfa Milo &Giulietta range: Urban 29.7 - 64.2 mpg (9.5 - 4.41/100km); Extra Urban 54.3 - 97.4 mpg (5.2 - 2.9 1/lOOkm ); Combined 41.5 - 80.7 mpg (6.8 - 3.51/100km). C0 2 emissions 157 - 90 g/km. Fuel consumption and co, figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/regulations and may not be representative of real-life driving conditions. ACustomer deposit is £1,710. Optional Final Payment is £3,882. ContractTerm is 48 months. Offer available on New Alfa Milo 875cc TB TwinAir 105 hp incl. metallic paint at £475 between 1st October and end of December 2016. MCustomerdeposit is £1,999. Optional Final Payment is £5,373. ContractTerm is 48 months. Offer available on Alfa Giulietta 1.4 TB 120 hp incl. metallic paint at £525 registered between 1st October and end of December 2016. Alfa Deposit Contribution only available in conjunction with Alfa Romeo Preferenza PCP. With Alfa Romeo Preferenza you may return the vehicle instead of making the final payment.

It must be in good condition and if you exceed the agreed annual mileage, you will be charged 6p per mile for exceeding 6,000 miles p.a in this example. Subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Ts&Cs apply. At participating Dealers only. We work with a number of creditors including Alfa Romeo Financial Services. Alfa Romeo Financial Services, PO BOX4465, Slough, Sll ORW. We reserve the right to change any offer without prior notification.

Wednesday 19th October 2016

MOTORING NEWS n

Wild new Rover Many students are dicing with death AN ALARMING number of university students have admitted to using their mobile phones while behind the wheel, as well as speeding and drink driving.

According to a survey of 2,313 young Europeans commissioned by Ford, 43 per cent said they had sent texts while driving, while 38 per cent used apps and 36 per cent answered phone calls.

An additional 60 per cent said they break the speed limit, while 13 per cent had admitted to drink driving.

Comparatively, of those who left school at 18, 45 per cent said they speed, nine per cent admitted to drink driving and 41 per cent claimed to use their phone behind the wheel.

These findings come after earlier research from the World Health Organisation and the European Road Safety Observatory found car crashes are the leading cause of death among young people.

Jim Graham, Manager at Ford Driving Skills for Life, said: “Getting to university is an incredible achievement and it is also where many of us make some of our strongest friendships. But we want to make sure these are lifelong friendships.

“It is crucial students, and all young people, understand the terrible consequences, both for themselves and for others, that taking risks behind the wheel can lead to.”

THE new Land Rover Discovery has been unveiled, featuring seven full-sized adult seats and an updated exterior design.

The fifth generation of the 4x4 has been designed with families in mind, while also keeping the all-terrain capability the model is well known for. Therefore, there are nine USB ports as well as in-car wi-fi, an intelligent full-time four-wheeldrive system and off-road driving assistance technology.

Its new aluminium construction saves an impressive 480kg from the outgoing model, with 85 per cent of the body made from the lightweight material.

The exterior design has been overhauled to bring the new Discovery in line with the rest of the Land Rover range, but the overall shape is familiar. Trademark features such as the stepped roofline remain, while the narrow head-

A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF DISCOVERY Land Rover’s latest model

lights and grille are reminiscent of existing cars such as Discovery Sport and Evoque.

Speaking about how the design team approached reinventing such an iconic car, Jeremy Hicks, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The underpinning value of a Discovery is the authenticity of its capability – the car that can climb up a mountainside and wade through rivers.

“And then there’s the versatility – the car that can tow 3.5 tonnes, have all the seats folded and carry whatever you want, wherever you want.

The trick has been to take that, keep it, but put it in a new body.”

There will be 600 First Edition models from launch featuring three unique exterior colours, a bespoke interior trim and 22-inch alloy wheels. The new Discovery will be available in the UK in the spring of 2017, with prices starting at £42,495 OTR. First Edition models will be the most expensive on offer, priced from £68,295 OTR.

77

Higher taxes to fix roads?

NEARLY half of Britain’s motorists would be willing to pay higher levels of vehicle tax if the revenue was used to improve the country’s roads, according to the RAC. The organisation’s survey of 1,714 UK motorists found that 45 per cent were prepared to pay more vehicle tax, providing funds raised were ringfenced to carry out much-needed road maintenance.

More than a quarter of those questioned (28 per cent) said the state of Britain’s major roads has declined over the past year, with 83 per cent of those citing road surface quality as the biggest concern. However, the state of local roads seems to be of greater concern, with a massive 80 per cent claiming improvements to such routes should be one of the government’s top five priorities.

RAC roads policy spokesman Nick Lyes said: “The fact that a sizeable, and consistent, proportion of motorists are prepared to pay more in taxes to improve the condition of local roads indicates just how big an issue this has become. While the UK’s motorways and major A-roads are benefitting from some of the biggest investments in a generation, sadly the same cannot be said about local roads.”

POTHOLE PERIL On many local roads

Wednesday 19th October 2016

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The Ghibli Diesel is every inch a Maserati, featuring a gorgeous, coupe-like silhouette, luxury leather interior and with its economical yet potent diesel engine, 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, there are also plent y of rational reasons to justify your decision.

MASE RAT I

MOTORLINE MASERATI MAIDSTONE BIR CHOLT ROAD, MAID STONE, ME15 9XY Phone : 0162 2 616 LQL,

I

Web : www. motorline .eo .uk / ma s erati

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Offi cial fuel cons umpti on fi gur es for t he Mase rati Gh ibl i Di esel in mpg llitres/100 km] : Urban 36 .7 17.71, Extr a Urban 57.6 li.j .9], Comb ined l.j7_9 15.91. C0 2 em iss ions on comb ined cycle : 158 g/km . Fuel consumption and CO, figures are based on standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. *BUSINESS USERS ONLY. Model shown is Maserati Ghibli Diesel MY16 V6d ljdr Auto. Contract Hire payment profile of £/j,788 +VAT in advance, followed by 35 monthly rentals of £399 +VAT. Rentals shown above exclude maintenance and are based on 8,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charge apply. Finance subject to status. Guarantees and indemnities may be required, we work with a number creditors including Maserati Financial Services. Vehicles must be registered with FCA Fleet Services UK Ltd by 30th June 2016. PO Box lj590, Slough, Berkshire SU OWU.

PUZZLES �

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

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1 2 6 9

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5 6 9

B U T T ON A R N N E A R S J F T O F F A V I G A R C H E R N T A I WA N I S GO L I A T U E N A N S ON

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

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In this Sudoku, the normal 3x3 boxes are now strangely odd shapes – but all the rules and logic of normal Sudoku apply.

Fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and box contains every number uniquely.

Puzzle solutions will be published in next week’s paper

Sudoku:

2 9 5 7 6 1 3 4 8

3 4 8 2 5 9 6 7 1

7 1 6 8 4 3 9 2 5

S S E K I N I Z E R A D G U H N E S E X Q H U A A M E L

T A M P L O T I A L B Y G I N G O NM A N A R E P Q O S U A L I K I S S A

Jigsaw Sudoku:

8 3 9 5 1 2 4 6 7

1 6 7 4 9 8 5 3 2

4 5 2 6 3 7 1 8 9

5 2 3 1 7 6 8 9 4

9 8 4 3 2 5 7 1 6

6 7 1 9 8 4 2 5 3

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1 2 3 8 4 7 6 5 9

4 7 2 6 5 9 1 8 3

9 5 8 3 1 6 2 7 4

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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Wednesday 19th October 2016

80 n RECRUITMENT

WITH THE

FIND YOUR PERFECT JOB TODAY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A MUST READ FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK LOCALLY

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Fill your vacancy now in print or online.

For more information contact Jordanne Reville on 01892 576049

Wednesday 19th October 2016

RECRUITMENT n

81

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO PLACE AN ADVERT CONTACT OUR SALES DEPARTMENT ON 01892 779624

“

After just one day of the

newspaper being out, our

recruitment advert had received a great response from potential candidates; three of which we

“

had at interview stage.

We will certainly use the Times of Tunbridge Wells for future recruitment adverts.

John Haynes, Partner, Belvoir Tunbridge Wells

Wednesday 19th October 2016

82  WHAT’S ON SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON WITH THE

Eileen Leahy Local events

CAPTURE THE CASTLE Visit Sissinghurst’s latest exhibition

>> WEDNESDAY This morning from 10am-3pm the Kent High Weald Partnership will be holding a big gardening session at Dunorlan Park. So if you want to help hoe, weed and keep one of the town’s majestic green spaces looking smart for you and your family’s enjoyment, then your contribution will be greatly appreciated!

Just turn up wearing appropriate attire. >> THURSDAY Following their gardening stint in Dunorlan, Kent High Weald Partnership will be in green-fingered action again today. This time they’ll be at Barnett’s Wood from 10am-3pm for another of their horticultural overhauls.. If you want to help just turn up in your gardening gear.

The Play and Display exhibition is currently on at Sissinghurst Castle.

Featuring a range of paper cards and toys, the collection shows how popular and charming paper dolls, model theatres and puppets have been over the centuries.

Normal National Trust admission charges apply. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst >> FRIDAY The EM Forster Theatre in Tonbridge will be hosting two events today. The first one is a production of Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs 2 – The Magic Cutlass by Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto. Les Petits Theatre Company bring this charming children’s book to life. Prepare to see what Flinn does when his

Wednesday 19th October 2016

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

friends are kidnapped by the evil Mr T Tex Rex and forced to look for a magical cutlass. Tickets cost £10 each or £8.50 per person for groups of ten or more. Visit www.boxoffice-tunbridgeschool.co.uk Later on in the evening at EM Forster is another Tonbridge Comedy Night, and this month’s comedians are Stuart Goldsmith, Kate Lucas and Christopher Betts. The action kicks off at 7.30pm and tickets cost £12 each.

The sixth annual CAMRA real ale and cider event will be back at the Spa Valley Railway from today until Sunday. With 130 ales, 30 different ciders, plus numerous hop and cask beers and a few Belgian brews, there really is something for every palate. The main action takes place in the Tunbridge Wells West Victorian Engine Shed and there will be trains departing every 40 minutes so you can sit, sup and enjoy the Wealden scenery. For more information visit www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk >> SATURDAY Running from 10am-1pm, the Autumn Charity Fair takes place in King Charles the Martyr Church Hall in aid of the Barnabas Fund and Canon Andrew White’s Fund for Persecuted Christians in Syria and Iraq.

There will be a variety of WINGING IT Captain Flinn

stalls selling china, glass, stationery, toys, books, games and much more. Refreshments available and admission is free.

The next Hospice in the Weald community choir concert takes place at 8pm and is entitled Harvest Harmonies. The group formed a few years ago to provide singing as a kind of therapy for hospice patients, and to also provide opportunities to raise money courtesy of their annual autumnal concert. The choir meets every other Tuesday evening at the hospice throughout the year.

Doors open tonight at 7.30 pm and tickets cost £5.

Call 01892 820578 to book. >> SUNDAY A Halloween-inspired event taking place over the weekend, and every day until next Sunday, is the pumpkin trail at Emmetts Garden. Children and their parents are encouraged to journey along it and seek out eerie clues to find out where and who it leads to. It promises to be a fun seasonal activity – especially as there’ll be a special prize at the end of it. £1 per participant and normal admission charges apply.

Tonight at the Assembly Hall the Russian State Ballet perform their version of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. With a cast of talented dancers, and a live orchestra boasting over 30 musicians, it promises to be a magical evening. Tickets cost £33 for adults and £21 for children. www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk See page 84 for our exclusive interview with the show’s director.

Sam Neill and Julian Dennison Wilderpeople star in the Hunt for the Wilderpeople, a charming film from New Zealand in which they play foster father and son respectively. Showing at Trinity from 7pm, this well received black comedy centres on the pair’s adventure when they are forced to go on the run in the wild.

Bittersweet and enjoyable in equal measure.

Tickets cost from £9.50. www.trinitytheatre.net >> MONDAY Half term gets under way this week and there is plenty to keep children of all ages amused and

WILDLIFE See the Hunt for the Wilderpeople

occupied. Older ones can be spooked by Grimm’s Terrifying Halloween Tales, which is on every day until next Sunday at Groombridge Place. It’s an event that’s inspired by some of the Grimm brothers’ most ghastly stories, with witches and ghouls reacting extracts of some of their classics.

It also includes pop-up eateries, fire pits and ghost boat rides. Ticket prices cost £14.95 per adult and £10.95 per child. A family ticket is priced at £45. Visit www.groombridgeplace.com Over at Knole, there’s a Family Monday taking place from 11am-3pm. Visitors can enjoy free arts and crafts sessions, which will be inspired by nature and her rich bounty of materials. So stroll around the grounds and let the pretty red and golden hues and falling autumn leaves inspire you. Suitable for children aged 5-12. Normal admission costs. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole There will be a Half Term Forest School at Grosvenor and Hilbert Park. The event will be divided into two separate sessions taking place on Monday and Tuesday, and Thursday and Friday. Open to children over seven, the range of activities on offer will be both practical and fun, including things like making camping mallets and pirates’ swords from wood and learning lots of tips on how to survive in the wild. Tickets cost £35 per child. To RAIL ALES book, or for more CAMRA is on information, email: at Spa Valley steff.dagorne@ Railway tunbridgewells. gov.uk >> TUESDAY The Wild Garden is the focus of autumn colour at Bateman’s, with a range of stunning ornamental trees and shrubs to enjoy in their

WHAT’S ON 

83

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS glorious gardens. The family home of Rudyard Kipling is also renowned for its wonderful orchard, which turns vibrant shades of red, green and auburn as the apples, pears, plums and greengages ripen. Their Halloween activities this year include pumpkin carving, apple bobbing and minibeast hunting. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/batemans Understanding the Stone Age is pop-up exhibition happening at Grosvenor and Hilbert Park this evening from 5.30pm. Put on in association with the Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, it gives both children and interested adults the opportunity to explore this rich era of history. As well as lots of detailed information, there will be artefacts on loan from the museum on display. The event is free but pre-booking is required. Call 07917 643 961.

PICK OF THE WEEK: Pumpkin Moon, Eckley’s Farm, Maidstone, Kent From Thursday October 20 to Sunday October 30

Given there’s nowhere local to pick your own pumpkins for Halloween, it’s definitely worth making the effort to travel out to this family farm in Maidstone. Fifteen acres of it have been planted with 13 different varieties of pumpkin and squash. Not only are there the usual orange pumpkins, there’s also a number of other varieties, including the Munchkin, Goosebump and Snowman. After you’ve picked your preferred pumpkin, you can enjoy the mini Maize Maze and hot food and refreshments.

Entrance is free, and prices start from £1 for a Munchkin and £2-£3 for a regular pumpkin.

Ten per cent of the profits will be donated to the Heart of Kent Hospice and the British Heart Foundation.

Paul Dunton

THE BEDFORD PUB

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

Live music FOR fans of jazz and soul classics, the excellent June Beckles and Roger Lewin will be at The Cross Keys pub this Wednesday night. On the same night at The Grey Lady, you can see a selection of local acts playing in honour of the late Ollie Nicholls, a very popular local musician and producer who tragically died in 2008. Ian Knapp, Chris Pope, myself and Phoebe Katis will all be performing a selection of solo original material.

The Forum has a busy week ahead, and fans of indie and alternative music can look forward to MassMatiks and Rory Indiana, who both play on Thursday night. Friday night sees The Beat, featuring Ranking Roger. They are renowned for their songs fusing ska, pop, reggae and punk rock.

Further options for Friday include the superb Groove Platform, at Cassidy’s Bar, and if you are a blues enthusiast, I highly recommend Nicky Moore and Danny Kyle who will be at The Cross Keys.

Many fabulous live acts are in action over the weekend. On Saturday, for a good singalong and plenty of dancing, you can catch popular local act Second Helpin’ at The Beau Nash, Wasted will be at The Royal Oak and The Acoustic Reverb Collective are hosting a showcase at The Bedford Pub featuring a great selection of local acts, including Finlay Peggy and Daniel Gurney , Arthur O’Hara, Joe Cox and The Alley Devils.

There’s also a great opportunity to try out some beautiful Yamaha Guitars at Brittens Music Store on Saturday and listen to some great local guitarists perform on the various models. All are welcome – from beginners to pros…

For a chilled Sunday vibe, The Tringham Sisters will be at The Grey Lady, followed by Ellie Wade and Dave Shep Shepherd and Ron Trueman Border will be at The Punch and Judy in Tonbridge next Tuesday evening.

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

The Pantiles, doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Paul Dunton, Chris Pope, Ian Knapp, Phoebe Katis FRIDAY Soul Kitchen SATURDAY Unit 7 SUNDAY The Tringham Sisters, Ellie Wade, Dave ‘Shep’ Shepherd

TUESDAY Social Media Sins, Michael Wood, Sean de Burca WEDNESDAY Higgs and The Bosons, Ashley Evans, Mystery Clarke, Sarah Tonin

2 High Street, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm onwards

SATURDAY Acoustic Reverb Collective Showcase: Finlay Peggy & Daniel Gurney, Arthur O’Hara, Joe Cox, The Alley Devils THE BEAU NASH INN

Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

SATURDAY Second Helpin’

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

SCALLYWAG CAFE

Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

45 Mount Ephraim, open all day, music from 8.30pm till late, music cover charge may apply

THURSDAY MassMatiks, Rory Indiana FRIDAY The Beat featuring Ranking Roger SATURDAY Rooted: House Music & Techno Party

WEDNESDAY Cabaret Open Mic Night FRIDAY Ed Watts Jazz Piano WEDNESDAY Naked Jazz Jam

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

CASSIDY’S BAR

Crescent Road, information on times and tickets at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Castle Street, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

THURSDAY Whitney Queen of the Night FRIDAY Shane Filan

FRIDAY Groove Platform THE PUNCH & JUDY

DUKE OF YORK PUB

The Pantiles, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm onwards

MONDAY Open Mic Night

11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm

TUESDAY Ron Trueman-Border BRITTENS MUSIC STORE

THE CROSS KEYS

St John’s Road, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm website www.crosskeystw.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Sonny’s Jazz: June Beckles & Roger Lewin THURSDAY Cross Keys Open Mic Night FRIDAY Blues with Bottle: Nicky Moore & Danny Kyle MONDAY TWUNT – Ukulele Jam WEDNESDAY Sonny’s Jazz: Lynne Jackaman Trio

Grove Hill Road, open all day, free entry 10am-5pm

SATURDAY Yamaha Guitar Showcase (all day)

THE ROYAL OAK

Prospect Road, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm onwards

SATURDAY Wasted MONDAY Open Mic Night

MassMatiks

Wednesday 19th October 2016

84 n ARTS & CULTURE

From Russia with love This Sunday, Swan Lake will be performed at the Assembly Hall by the Russian State Ballet. Here Eileen Leahy talks to the man behind the production, impresario Alexej Ignatow, about the importance of this traditional dance genre in our contemporary culture, and why he loves staging shows in Tunbridge Wells WHAT CAN AUDIENCES EXPECT WHEN THEY COME ALONG TO SEE YOUR VERSION OF SWAN LAKE? A beautiful and classic interpretation of this wonderful ballet by Tchaikovsky. All the operas and ballets we put on as a company are as traditional and faithful to the original works as possible. It’s good to see modern versions, but this gives audiences the opportunity to see a piece how it was intended.

only work with established Russian operas, ballets and theatres. Most other companies bring different dancers together, rehearse and then go on tour, whereas we work with established organisations such as the Russian State Ballet and Opera.

We go to Russia, assess their repertoire, rehearse and bring them on tour to the UK.

‘In total we have about 80 people. That includes approximately 40 dancers, 30 musicians – who all play in our live orchestra’

HOW MANY DATES HAVE YOU DONE SO FAR ON THIS PARTICULAR TOUR? We have 64 shows in total and so far we’ve done approximately ten. We finish this tour in Eastbourne on December 3.

We tour regionally, so most of the time people are seeing performances such as Swan Lake for the first time. For us it’s about giving them the chance to enjoy a genuine masterpiece, as colourful and traditional as possible – that’s very close to my heart.

DO YOU REGULARLY RETURN TO RUSSIA? Of course! Although I have been based here and running my company for the past 16 years, my wife and I visit a lot as my family is there and we

BLACK SWAN Odette

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Wednesday 19th October 2016

HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS TAKE FROM FINDING A DANCE COMPANY TO TOURING WITH THEM? It takes about a year. My wife and I do everything from sourcing the ballet company to organising the tour, bringing the artists over, rehearsing with them and then going out on to the road.

We are one of the few to do everything from start to finish.

HAVE YOU BEEN TO TUNBRIDGE WELLS BEFORE? Yes, we came recently with our production of Carmen, and I have to say that the audiences here are very knowledgable about both opera and ballet.

They are used to seeing good, high quality performances, so if at the end we get huge applause we know we have done a good job as the Tunbridge Wells audience standards are high!

We strive to get that kind of appreciation and praise when we perform.

WHITE SWAN Odile

HOW BIG IS YOUR CURRENT TOURING COMPANY? In total we have about 80 people. That includes approximately 40 dancers, 30 musicians – who all play in our live orchestra, and numerous support staff.

WHAT OTHER PRODUCTIONS HAVE YOU BROUGHT TO THE UK WITH THE RUSSIAN STATE BALLET? We are currently touring Swan Lake alongside The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty, and will work right up to December, sometimes putting on more than one show a day.

WHAT DOES BALLET BRING TO THE WORLD OF DANCE AND CULTURE IN GENERAL? It’s a true art and it’s so varied, there are so many different types of ballet now, but classical is still very relevant today.

Russian ballet is famous all over the world because it has had the same teaching system for over 100 years: Children start very young and are disciplined. The music helps, too, and the fact we have a lot of children coming along shows that traditional ballet is still very popular.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BALLET? It depends on the occasion. If I bring my young sons it would be something like The Nutcracker as they love the music – and the mice!

If I’m taking my wife to see something it would be Swan Lake, as the storyline is so beautiful, as is the music.

Tickets to see the Russian State Ballet’s production of Swan Lake at the Assembly Hall cost £33. The performance starts at 7.30pm on Sunday October 23. Visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

ARTS & CULTURE �

AUNT THEY NAUGHTY? Whatever is nephew Mortimer (centre) to do with his homicidal relatives?

Seeing the funny side of murder and mayhem…

Trinity Theatre Club is putting on their production of Arsenic And Old Lace all this week. Here the play’s Director, Helen Thorpe, tells the Times all about the American classic piece of 1930s comedy drama that sees two old ladies bumping off elderly men and burying them in their basement – for a laugh THE reason I decided to put on Arsenic And Old Lace goes back to my youth.

My father introduced me to the influential 1930s film director Frank Capra and I instantly fell in love with his work.

He made some truly wonderful gems, including It Happened One Night, Mr Deeds Goes to Town and Mr Smith Goes to Washington, and he always worked with great actors like James Stewart, Gary Cooper and Cary Grant, who starred in his version of Joseph Kesselring’s play Arsenic And Old Lace.

Capra’s movies are so quintessentially American; they are warm, witty and richly entertaining.

So when he took Kesselring’s charming story about a New York theatre critic who finds out his adorable, beloved aunts are dispatching elderly male visitors to their lodging house with poisoned elderberry wine, and turned it into a silly, sweet screwball comedy where the action goes at a cracking pace, it was a sure-fire hit with me.

Seeing the film again inspired me to pick up the script and give it a read, and here we are!

The main thing that appeals to me about this piece is that it’s a bit like a good Agatha Christie work, in that murders abound, there’s a bit of perky romance, and quirky, interesting characters are scattered throughout.

There’s also plenty of action, a smattering of thrills and a good slice of humour. But in addition to all this, there’s an interesting

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EACH TO THEIR OWN POISON! The cast is stellar, and New York landladies Martha and I have added a few of my Abby drink to a killer idea… own touches to the production to spice things up to make the audience feel like they’re watching a movie. I’ve included black and white film footage and formatted the action so it’s similar to that of the actual movie.

It’s a little unusual for amateurs to weave media into a show like this, but more and more of the professionals are doing it, and as I always say, ‘If it’s good enough for them it’s good enough for us!’

We had great fun filming the escape from the asylum and the killing of Mr Spenalzo! But come and see the show for all of this – I don’t want to reveal too much here…

I have been putting on productions at Trinity for the past seven years. It’s a very special theatre to me as this is where I first cut my teeth on directing post my training, and I’ve never looked back.

It’s hard to say what I love most about directing. Sometimes I think I am crazy as it’s such a responsibility and, like an actor, your reputation is completely on the line.

It’s also probably the most challenging and creative process you can do as you’re taking a script of whatever genre, age or style, and reading and connecting with it with an objective to give it life.

There is no other feeling like it, and it certainly makes me proud to be part of the wonderful world of theatre and to have the chance to work with some amazing people.

Arsenic And Old Lace is on at Trinity Theatre until Saturday October 22.

Matinees are at 2.30pm on Wednesday and Saturday in addition to daily performances at 7.30pm. To book tickets, which cost from £10 for afternoon shows and from £13 for evening ones, visit www.trinitytheatre.net

backstory – as Arsenic And Old Lace is actually partly based on fact.

There was a lodging house – known as the Goerz House – which Kesselring lived in, and the murderous old lady plot was directly inspired by similar events in Windsor, Connecticut.

The relevance of the story for today is that we still get these extraordinary characters and events happening to normal people every day, whatever the country.

When putting on my own version of this classic, I knew right from the start that the production I wanted to do needed to be very much in tune with Capra’s trademark black comedy style.

In terms of the casting process, for me it’s all about the fit; getting the right people together and testing they can give me what I am looking for. That is excellent comedic acting skills with feet firmly entrenched into a genuine and truthful performance.

There also has to be frisson between the characters – especially the two old ladies – and I have been extremely lucky to find two former drama school-trained professional actresses for these pivotal roles. They are delightful to watch, have great chemistry and have taken the aunts to a whole new level.

I wanted to keep my script and staging similar to that of the film – but in terms of the ladies’ ages, I made the decision to cast them as being in their early 60s, as I think it’s important that they move around and keep up with the farcical style of the play.

‘The cast is stellar, and I have added a few of my own touches to the production to spice things up’

Wednesday 19th October 2016

86  SPORTING TIMES

Failure to convert chances costs visitors despite Bomber heroics

TALL ORDER TJs climb high at the lineout

Worthing 2-0 Tunbridge Wells

By Brandon Begg HOCKEY: DESPITE a strong team effort, Tunbridge Wells men’s First XI suffered defeat away from home against an industrious Worthing side.

Wells had most of the possession in the first half, but just couldn’t quite convert any of the chances they had fashioned in the early period of play.

Worthing scored the first goal of the match late in the second half, which they converted from a short a corner. Then, two minutes before the half-time whistle, Callum Hunter Wood had a blinding topright shot disallowed.

After a stern half-time talk, Wells were fired up and ready to get a goal back and equalise. But the second half of the game was a similar story to the first, the visitors having a lot of possession but not being able to convert their chances.

Worthing gained a penalty flick after a horrific tackle in the D. The resulting penalty was slung into the top-right corner, but a miraculous diving save from James Bomber kept the scoreline as it was.

Despite Wells’ efforts in going on the counterattack, they were unable to respond with a goal.

After another Worthing short corner, the home side scored for the second time just before the final whistle to complete their win.

REACHING OUT Callum Hunter Wood (left) makes a tackle

TJs snatch thrilling victory in derby to end 40-game streak

Organ hits high notes to seal well-deserved win for hosts Tunbridge Wells 3-0 Bromley & Beckenham 2nds

By Brandon Begg HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS ladies’ first team secured a valuable home win against Bromley & Beckenham’s second team on Saturday.

Wells maintained a steady start to the match, playing safely and defending well.

Their captain, Jen Hunt, thought she had opened the scoring from a short corner straight strike – but it was disallowed for being too high.

The home side needed to increase their intensity in the second half and score some goals.

Taking a positive team talk on board, Hunt forgot her earlier

Girls’ teams seek mentors RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS Rugby Club is looking for coaches to help its three girls’ teams.

There are currently 50 girls aged between 11 and 17 who are looking to build on the success of last year and match the achievements of the mini, youth and seniors sides.

The Under-13s, U-15s and U-18s train for two hours on Sundays and at mid-week sessions. They are seeking current and former players to pass on

Wednesday 19th October 2016

disappointment to score from a straight strike on a short corner.

Wells then scored again, with Perdi Knight cracking her shot into the bottom left corner from a slipped ball across the D from Hunt.

Bertie Organ worked skilfully up the pitch from midfield using the strong defensive outlets in Amy Jones and Pip Ross to maintain composure.

There was some further gloss added to the result as Organ, who was named player of the match, moved into the D area and slipped the ball past the keepers’ pads to leave Wells with a well-deserved win.

FIRST STRIKE Jen Hunt opened the scoring their ‘positional knowledge, experience and tricks of the trade’.

The club and the RFU will assist those looking to gain coaching or refereeing qualifications to support women’s and girls’ rugby.

Simon Parsons, TWRFC Ladies Director of Rugby, said: “Training these girls has been some of the most rewarding experiences of my rugby career and the potential we have is amazing.”

If you are interested in helping, contact Simon at symz3@hotmail.com

Tunbridge Wells 19-20 Tonbridge Juddians

By Nick Manser RUGBY: AN IMPERIOUS run of 40 games without defeat for Tunbridge Wells ended on Saturday as local rivals Tonbridge Juddians staged a dramatic second-half revival in the Kent Cup at St Marks.

TJs, who are currently sitting in fourth place in the league above their opponents, produced an industrious display of forward power to eventually win by the narrowest of margins, 20-19.

The crowd of 600 was treated to a stunning finale to this cup encounter as TJs, recovering from a 19-point deficit, stole the show with a try in the dying moments, while holding off a valiant final charge from Wells.

However, the first half truly belonged to the hosts as they came out firing against an initially clumsy TJs side. Wells’ inside centre Ollie Lewis Donaldson was clinical in dotting down to draw first blood within five minutes.

Clearly stunned by Wells’ early surge, TJs restarted intent on flexing their muscles and restoring order amongst the loose play.

Yet, in what was to typify TJ’s first-half performance, lazy scrummaging led straight away to a penalty for the hosts.

Wells’ energetic attacking paid dividends, as it was Mike Hathaway who found himself as a makeshift forward and touched down from a lineout drive. Despite a missed conversion the home support was in fine voice after a near perfect start.

TJs failed to learn their lesson as play got underway again, giving away another penalty at the scrum. However, it was a well-worked backs’ move from Wells and a sniping finish from Donaldson that gifted the centre a brace of tries – Wells’ third made the score 19-0.

However, before the interval TJs No 8 Zain van Rensburg showed power to cross over by the

posts, and the tide was to turn emphatically in the second half as TJs came out with renewed resolve and power. They applied pressure on the Wells defence, running penalties and making territory with every phase.

With TJs maintaining the lion’s share of possession and pressing towards Wells’ line, winger Guthrie Holliday performed a crucial try-saving tackle to deny the visitors.

However, the continued barrage of TJ pressure told as Wells lock Jake Mills was sent to the sin bin for hands in the ruck.

Quality TJs closed the gap further with their resulting penalty kick making the score 19-10, and the momentum of the game had changed. Wells’ heroic defensive exploits had not only resigned them to 14 men, but also saw their talismanic No 8 Doherty suffer a recurring hamstring injury.

Second-half tries from Liam Prescott and Ryan Fuller – and five points from Prescott’s boot – edged TJs in front with 10 minutes left. For the decisive score, winger Fuller chased down a chip from stand-in fly-half Tom Simmonds.

The dramatic closing few minutes saw Wells attempt unsuccessfully to snatch the lead back from their buoyant visitors.

Matt Cook, Tunbridge Wells’ coach, said it had been a hard-fought encounter. “It was very close, but it was the weight of the attacks that were coming at us which took their toll and allowed TJs to sneak the result in the last 10 minutes,” he said.

“This was actually an exceptional result for us and showed that we have the quality to play against higher-league opponents.

“Our next game will be interesting against CS Rugby, who were relegated from National Three last year and are looking to return straight away.”

SPORTING TIMES 

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‘Bare bones squad’ keeps Wells on track for FA Vase encounter Tunbridge Wells 3-0 Crockenhill

By Scott Bartlett FOOTBALL:

TUNBRIDGE WELLS warmed up for their FA Vase tie at Abbey Rangers this Saturday with a comfortable victory over SCEL First Division outfit Crockenhill in the Kent Senior Trophy.

Manager Jason Bourne fielded an unfamiliar line-up with injuries, suspensions and an eye on next week’s encounter.

Josh Biddlecombe and Dale Ashman were suspended; Brad Potter and Tom Davey were rested, while the influential Ryan Crandley was not fit enough to be risked and stayed on the bench.

Tunbridge Wells got off to a positive start with a goal after just six minutes, with Perry Spackman heading to Ollie Bankole on the edge of the six-yard box.

He made space before hitting the ball low and hard into the middle of the net.

Three minutes later, a promising move from the Wells might have added to the

scoreline, when Under-21s player Tom Lawrence made a surging run through midfield and crossed for Bankole, who volleyed just over the bar.

Chances came and went for the Wells playing on home turf, before they finally increased their lead a couple of minutes before the break.

Efficient Paul Butler won the ball on the halfway line and played a great pass into the channel for Bankole, who rounded the full-back and crossed for Brad Large to put a stooping header past the goalkeeper from close range.

In the second half, Crockenhill made a better fist of the early exchanges, but couldn’t pierce a strong Wells midfield that was creating plenty of opportunities.

Four minutes remained when the Wells tied up the game following some lovely build-up play that resulted in a Tom

Bryant tap-in. Manager Jason Bourne praised his young side for an efficient performance that has kept them on track ahead of their FA Vase encounter.

He said: “We were without a few of our players for the match, and were down to our bare bones for the squad. But several of our Under-21s side came in to take their chance with the senior team, including Brad Large who scored.

“One of the most pleasing things was that we managed to keep a clean sheet, with defending being the bedrock of any team,” he added.

“We’re looking forward to our FA Vase match against Abbey Rangers, having managed to reach the final in the competition in 2013.

“We’ve had the opposition scouted, but we will just play to our strengths.

“From the start of this season we’ve said that we want to go and win trophies, which is something I’ve done as a player and want to experience as a manager.”

Tonbridge Ladies feel the heat as Phoenix blaze away Phoenix U-19s 9-1 Tonbridge

By Dan Couldridge FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE Angels Ladies were brought down to earth in a disappointing exit from the Kent County Plate after a heavy defeat by Phoenix Sports Under-19s.

Their younger counterparts proved to be sharper and fitter throughout the first half of last weekend’s match, and the home side raced into a 5-0 lead.

One of the only bright spells for the Angels in the first 45 minutes came with Abigail Skilton’s successful long-range effort in first-half injury time, which kept their interest in the competition alive.

There was a much-improved start to the second half from Tonbridge, which was disrupted by a long stoppage to the

game for a serious injury to the Phoenix captain, before the opposition continued their dominance of the match.

From the restart Phoenix scored a sixth goal and never looked back, going on to record a 9-1 victory.

TOUGH TASK Angels on the back foot

As reported previously by the Times, Angels’ manager Dan Couldridge enthused that the side has made a solid start to its debut campaign this year.

The team recently received a boost in gaining sponsorship for its training jackets from the Foresters Arms in Tonbridge, with the pub’s management delighted to be part of the team’s development.

Following the postponement of the last league game against Castle Colts, Tonbridge will face a Anchorians development side on Sunday, October 23.

Late move by Stevens secures JOTA’s first victory MOTORSPORT: JOTA Sport claimed a dramatic first win of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship season in a nailbiting Six Hours of Fuji on Sunday.

A gutsy move for the lead by Will Stevens with just five minutes of the race remaining secured victory for himself and co-drivers Roman Rusinov and Alex Brundle in their #26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 05-Nissan at Fuji Speedway in Japan.

The win has helped the Frant-based team maintain third place in the championship and puts them in good stead for the Six Hours of Shanghai, taking place on November 6 in China.

David Clark, JOTA Sport Director, said: “It was a very accomplished performance from the team and the drivers this weekend. From start to finish they operated marvellously and the success was hard-fought and really deserved.

“If anyone is in any doubt about how exciting endurance racing can be then

they need to watch this race. The tension in the final 30 minutes was extraordinary.

“We came out on top and it is a real testament to the hard work and skill of all our team members.”

THREE OF A KIND (L-R) Alex Brundle, Roman Rusinov and Will Stevens of JOTA Sport

JOTA Sport is running two cars this year, with the other one being entered into the European Le Mans Series which will be competing next at Estoril, Portugal, on October 23.

PLAYMAKER Tonbridge winger Damian Scannell sets the pace

Angels put aside Cup dreams as Dartford show experience Tonbridge Angels 0-3 Dartford

By Neill Barston FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE Angels manager Steve McKimm has expressed ‘disappointment’ that his team were unable to end a fourdecade wait to make the first round of the FA Cup. Despite having home advantage, the side were beaten 3-0 by a well-drilled Dartford outfit, whose higher league experience proved the difference on Saturday.

However, it could well have been a different story, as the Angels looked the more determined of the two sides early on in this Kentish clash.

Not since the early 1970’s had Tonbridge made the first round of the FA Cup, and after dispatching Hereford decisively in the third qualifying tie, their prospects had looked promising.

They started brightly at the Longmead Stadium, with a testing Tom Parkinson shot from outside the box striking Dartford’s left post inside the first 10 minutes.

However, when the influential Tonbridge midfielder was substituted after taking a knock midway through a first half, the visitors’ confidence grew and they responded with several dangerous counter-attacks.

Dartford’s Alex Brown broke the deadlock by latching on to a rebounded shot from outside the penalty area to slot home the opening goal on 35 minutes.

When the Darts gained a free-kick just before half-time, the resulting attempt nearly made it two.

After the interval, as heavy rain began to fall, Dartford picked up from where they left off by scoring twice in quick succession.

The first strike came courtesy of Andy Pugh on 47 minutes, and just four minutes later Elliot Bradbrook’s looping header sailed past Angels goalkeeper Anthony Di Bernardo to ensure that Dartford progressed into the next round.

Following the surprising substitution of Tonbridge playmaker Damian Scannell just before the 60-minute mark, the home side struggled to regain a foothold.

While Angels spent much of the second period camped out in the visitors’ half, they were unable to respond to a stronger and more disciplined Dartford side.

Lapses Manager McKimm admitted some defensive lapses had cost them after initially having the upper hand.

He said: “Dartford scoring their goals when they did just killed the game, and they deserved their win.

“I just told the team to play their natural game and we had five corners in the first 12 minutes. They were playing a lot of long balls that we were dealing with. They only had one shot in the first half and they scored with it.

“We’d lost Bradley FortnamTomlinson in the warm-up to the match, and then Tom Parkinson was off in the first half, which we will have to assess. But we had Tom Phipp on, and Jerrome Sobers came in and did well.

“There are other cups including the FA Trophy and Ryman Cup, but we have now got to concentrate on the league. We’ve a lot of games ahead of us and we’re now fifth in the table and don’t want other teams to overtake us.”

CONTACT US:

If you have a sports story or you would like to see your club’s reports and results featured in these pages – or on our website at www.timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk – please email them to sport@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or sport@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Wednesday 19th October 2016

By Appoin t ment to Her Majesty The Queen Jewell er G. Collins&Sonsltd Royal Tunbridge Wells

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