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TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS UNVEIL NEW PRESIDENT Page 2

TEAMS MAKE A CLEAN SWEEP OF THE RIVER A TOTAL of nearly half a tonne of rubbish and 15 trolleys were collected by a team of volunteers in a clean-up operation of the River Medway. The Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council organised event was part of the Love Kent Hate Litter and LitterGram campaigns aiming to improve the area’s environment. As previously reported, the river has been blighted by incidents of dumped trolleys along sections of the river Medway in Tonbridge. The rubbish is a danger to people using the river for pleasure and also raises the fear of flooding. Tonbridge Flood Wardens were joined by ten volunteers from Tonbridge Canoe Club who paddled the river at Strawberry Vale, Ashby’s Point, The Botany and Bewley’s Weir to clear litter debris. Organised clean-ups on the River Medway in the past year have produced improvements to the environment in and around the river.

CLEAN OUT Canoe club members helped remove rubbish

WHY HADLOW COLLEGE DESPERATELY NEEDS YOUR PET DOG Page 6

MP TOM TUGENDHAT SPEAKS ON IRAQ INQUIRY Page 3

40 PAGES OF THE FINEST PROPERTIES ON THE MARKET

See property section

Call for an end to ‘unfair’ INSIDE 11 plus entrance exam… LOCAL HERO

Epic hospice charity challenge completed. Page 2

Hundreds of ‘failed’ pupils taken into county grammar schools By Andrew Tong

newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk A QUARTER of pupils accepted into Kent grammar schools have failed the normal 11 plus entry exam. That’s the claim of an education campaign group that is now pressing for the abolition of the Kent Test. The Kent Education Network (KEN) is opposed to the selection system because they say it creates inequality and a two-tier system in schools across the county – and especially in west Kent – which leads to them falling short of government targets. KEN has called for the county’s education authorities to scrap the 11 plus in order to bridge this ‘unacceptable social divide’. The group was set up in January in response to plans for establishing an ‘annexe’ in Sevenoaks to the Weald of Kent grammar school in Tonbridge – which has particularly strong provision for grammar schools with The Judd and Tonbridge Grammar also in the town. KEN spokesman James Parish said: “It is fundamentally unfair that some children who fail the test get a ‘second chance’ while others do not. “Some primary schools routinely recommend 90 per cent of their ‘failed’ pupils for a result reassessment, while others recommend no children at all. “The Head Teacher Assessment process only highlights the inadequacies of the Test itself. It costs KCC £348,000 a year to commission the Test, but they choose to select seven per cent of grammar school children another way.” He also claimed: “Kent has more schools

GREAT SUCCESS Pupils at Tonbridge Grammar celebrate ‘best ever’ exam results

SUMMER TIMES

Your essential guide to family days out. See inside

VERDICT LOOMS failing to reach government targets than any other county.” The questioning of the selection methods comes as a response to a report by Kent County Council’s Commission for Social Mobility.

‘Kent has more schools failing to reach government targets’ KEN explained that while 28 per cent of the county’s students attend grammar schools, seven per cent of those are nominated by head teachers despite failing the exam, or by parents appealing against a result. The KCC commission concluded that access to grammar schools ‘is not solely based on academic ability but is impacted by family income’. Its finding is in line with current concerns that richer parents are able to pay for tutors

to ensure their children pass the examination and avoid going to failing schools. “The commission does not face up to the problem of widespread coaching,” Mr Parish added. “While independent schools are permitted to train children in taking the test, coaching is forbidden in state schools. KEN controversially describes the education system in Kent as ‘a discriminatory form of social engineering’. It claims: “The reason why many schools fail is because they must compete with selective grammar schools, reducing the average success rate of students overall. “Kent students are less likely to achieve three A-Levels than children of other counties, and 55 per cent of our poorest pupils get GCSE results in the bottom 20 per cent nationally.” KCC were invited to comment but had not done so by the time the newspaper went to print last night.

Gatwick decision expected within weeks. Page 4

FAMILY GPS RATED How good or not is your doctor’s surgery? Page 10

2 � LOCAL NEWS

Weather Wednesday Hot and humid with sunny spells, chance of an isolated thunderstorm.

July 20, 2016

27 C

Neill Barston

newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Visibility: Excellent

Pollution: Low

Humidity: 62%

Sunrise: 05.08am

Sunset: 21.02pm

Wind: 13mph

Thursday

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22ºC

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Trotter of the Yard touches down as Juddians President

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Sun setting over Tonbridge by Heather Smith Send your weather pictures into... newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

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HAVING both played and coached rugby in West Kent most of his adult life, Andy Trotter’s appointment as President of Tonbridge Juddians appears a perfect fit. The 64 year-old former senior Scotland Yard Police officer has seen the club develop significantly in recent years, with both its youth and adult teams showing strong signs of progression. With the squad narrowly missing promotion in its last campaign, he believes there is no shortage of optimism at its base at The Slade in Tonbridge. “I think the club has improved hugely over the years, having been promoted a number of times. It has gone from strength to strength with players from all different ages and backgrounds, which makes for a real sense of community here,” said Andy, who was particularly encouraged to see so many aspiring young players making their mark. Among its rising stars is Andy’s grandson James, who captains the club’s under 17’s team. As for Andy, it seems from the very beginning that his sporting and professional interests have intertwined, as he revealed joining the Met Police as a youngster offered the opportunity of playing first class rugby. During his career, he experienced everything from being a rural sergeant serving in Paddock Wood, through to becoming Deputy Assistant Commissioner at Scotland Yard responsible for policing the West End of London. Finally, he became Chief Constable of the British Transport Police.

CLUB MAN President Andy Trotter

It was his handling of latter role in co-ordinating the response to the deadly London 7/7 bombings that earned him an OBE, as well as being awarded the Police Medal for Crime and Public Order operations. As he explained, the major terrorist incident in 2005 that killed more than 50 people across the capital had proved one of his most harrowing challenges. He said: “As a former Met officer when I was serving with the Transport Police, I was asked to do a lot of the media work relating to the 7/7 bombings. It was very distressing, seeing the anguish of those who had wondered what had happened to their loved ones.

Graham proves age is no barrier in ultramarathon

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QUOTE UNQUOTE ‘Please accept my resignation. I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member’ Groucho Marx

Wednesday 20th July 2016

MARATHON MAN Graham Taylor

“It was particularly challenging visiting Russell Square tube station, where search and rescue teams were working to recover bodies from the station, which was an emotional time.” Beyond such tragedies, there have of course been positive memories too; with one of his most cherished moments being involved with managing transport security for the 2012 Olympics in London. He said: “That was very full on, but it was wonderful and one of my career highlights.” Closer to home, he is happily settled in Tonbridge with his wife Kate, and is also serving as a Chair of the Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in London.

AT THE age of 64, Graham Taylor has proved he still has the staying power to complete his latest challenge – an epic 69-mile ultramarathon. The Tonbridge athlete successfully completed ‘the Wall’ challenge, which combines running and walking between Carlisle and Newcastle, in under 24 hours. Graham, who owns a trophy engraving business in Northwood Road, finished in 17 hours and 45 minutes and his efforts have helped raise funds for Hospice in the Weald. “I set out to prove that age isn’t a barrier,” said the sports enthusiast, who helped found the East Grinstead Athletics Club before moving to Tonbridge. “There were around 700 people taking part and there were only a couple of people older than me doing it. “I started just after 7am and managed the first ten miles with just one pit stop. Then came the ups and downs with long straight stretches, and we followed the Hadrian’s Way cycle Route. As evening set in I had to put on my head torch. “Some residents had even left

orange segments out for us. My son Richard had come up to support me and he was there to see me finish on the Millennium Bridge in Newcastle – the last four miles to get there felt very long. “My son said I seemed quite relaxed, but although this was a great achievement I told him, I’m doing again!” Graham’s sponsorship went a long way to reaching the £1,000 he is aiming to raise for Hospice in the Weald and he is planning another event later this year so he can reach his target.

‘My son Richard had come up to support me and he was there to see me finish on the Millennium Bridge in Newcastle’

LOCAL NEWS 

MP’s time in Iraq informs his views on invasion’s failures

NEWS IN BRIEF

Andrea given senior post in PM’s new-look cabinet FORMER Tonbridge Grammar School pupil Andrea Leadsom has been appointed as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The former Energy Minister had originally joined the battle to be the next Prime Minister, but her shock withdrawal from the race following the publication of a controversial news story helped hand the keys to Number 10 to Theresa May.

Taking a monumental seven years, the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war has finally been released. Neill Barston speaks to Tonbridge & Malling MP Tom Tugendhat, who was formerly an army officer during the campaign to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime and offers his verdict on lessons learned. Olympic star at school AFTER serving with the Royal Marines during the invasion of Iraq, MP Tom Tugendhat has gained an especially strong insight into the campaign’s conduct. Though proud to have done his duty with British troops, he is clear the 2.6 million word inquiry into the UK’s decision to join the war represents an indictment upon former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s administration. In making his report, Sir John Chilcot stated its key aims had been to determine if it was right and necessary to invade Iraq in 2003, and whether the UK should have been better prepared for subsequent events. He concluded that British troops had joined invasion forces before peaceful means had been exhausted, and that ‘military action at that time was not a last resort’. The key justification for going to war had been Saddam Hussein’s supposed stockpile of weapons of mass destruction, which the inquiry found had not been substantiated. As revealed by the Times last month, Mr Tugendhat had been working on a Chilcot-linked report for the think tank Policy Exchange alongside former Labour MP Jo Cox, who was brutally murdered on June 16. They had both expressed differing views on the Iraq war, with the Tonbridge MP’s perspective as a serving soldier being that it was ‘strategically unwise’, while Jo Cox opposed the invasion based on her concern for civilian populations. In their joint report Mr Tugendhat explained they had ‘shared a concern that the UK was becoming more introspective and less engaged in the world’ and that Britain had key lessons to learn from Iraq – namely not moving towards isolationism or a taking an anti-interventionist stance on global events. He said: “Jo and I were coming at the report from a different perspective, but we were both passionate about seeing that Britain has a positive part to play in the world, which was our starting point. “It reminded us we should never take the view that we shouldn’t be doing anything abroad, as that would

not be in our interests or duty. I think Britain does a lot of good things across the world, and there is a place for intervention.” As for the Chilcot Inquiry itself, he rejected criticism of its seven-year timescale, describing it as ‘an amazing piece of work’ that had required time to ensure its accuracy. He added: “The key thing to emerge from the inquiry was the failure to have a proper strategy in Iraq, and also the UK’s failure to properly challenge the assumptions that were made by senior officials, as well as the failure of the Prime Minister to challenge those assumptions.” Mr Tugendhat addressed the issue of a perceived collective failure during an appearance on the BBC’s Question Time earlier this month. Speaking to its audience, he explained he was not surprised by Chilcot’s criticism over Tony Blair, but he had been alarmed by the overall strategy in Iraq. He said: “What distressed me was about the senior commanders of the armed forces and our senior diplomats. TOM TUGENDHAT Served in the 2003 invasion of Iraq

The report is extremely harsh on them – not just in the preparation for war, but its execution.

‘I was hit in the face by some shrapnel’ “There are many voices that should have spoken out and stayed silent. There were many generals who should have realised the tactics and strategy were not working and stayed silent. It wasn’t my duty then to judge political actions – it’s the duty of generals and diplomats to look after the men and women who are there executing the will of the Government in the field.” On his own service in Iraq, he revealed he was deployed with the Royal Marines with intelligence duties – which saw a number of frontline encounters with Iraqi forces. He recalled: “I was there with a fantastic group of friends, but it was very much a nerve-wracking time,

though a huge privilege to be there with my unit serving in the Royal Marines intelligence. “I was actually injured out there in the early part of the campaign – we ran into a few fights and I was hit in the face by some shrapnel, but it wasn’t too serious, and I didn’t even notice at the time. Being there was a great experience, though very challenging as it was very clear early on that there wasn’t a plan for ‘the next day’ after the invasion.” As to whether Tony Blair should face legal or civil action in light of Chilcot’s findings, the MP responded that he ‘was a soldier rather than a lawyer’ who wished to focus on how best to improve strategic operations for the future – including building on work David Cameron achieved in setting up the National Security Council. He added that he remained ‘saddened’ that the situation in Iraq remains unstable, which he felt the British and US governments were in part responsible for, along with failings in the new Iraqi administration.

DOUBLE Olympic Gold medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes presented the end of term prizes at Sackville School last week. Earlier this year, the Hildenborough school was selected to be one of Dame Kelly’s charity fundraising partners for her London Marathon appeal. Year 12 student Charlie Large presented Dame Kelly with a cheque for £1,477.88 raised by pupils and staff.

Off to a roaring start BOB Bartlett became the 67th Tonbridge Lions President following an inauguration ceremony at Hever Golf and Country Club. He takes over from James Lark. After retiring from the police force, Bob worked as a consultant event organiser working on the Tour of Great Britain Cycle Race, the Tour de France cycle race and the London Triathlon.

Canine capers in park A DOG show is being held at Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground this Sunday, 24 July, as part of national Love Parks Week. The fun event, which caters for canines of all standards, will also have a serious side in promoting responsible dog ownership and encouraging owners to help keep the borough’s parks clean and tidy for all to enjoy. This event, which has free entry for spectators, runs from 10.30am-4pm. For dogs taking part in the show there will be a small fee of £1.50 per class.

Student wins top prize A STUDENT on the University of Kent’s BA (Hons) Fashion course, at West Kent College in Tonbridge, has won a top national design prize. Cripa Yangkhrung claimed the Hainsworth Statement Award, worth £1,000, at the New Designers Expo in London. Her collection, Earthen Solidity, was selected from among thousands on show.

Pet welfare campaign RSPCA officers in Kent have warned that summer months are the most likely for pets to be abandoned. According to its latest research, one animal every hour is dumped by thoughtless owners heading off on holiday.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

4  LOCAL NEWS

Culturally diverse festival showcases local and international artists Phase 5 Steel Band

SUNSHINE,, music, food and dance from around the world were the order of the day at the 11th Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival which took place in Calverley Grounds over the weekend. The event, organised by Cohesion Plus and the Kent Equality Cohesion Council with the support of Arts Council England, attracted hundreds of supporters. Mela Festival Director Sean Fennessey Gurvinder

Sandher said: “This year despite the funding issues we have managed to deliver an excellent culturally diverse stage programme which showcased a number of local acts alongside internationally renowned artists. “The festival is unique to Tunbridge Wells and I am determined to keep it going.” The festival featured a range of culturally diverse acts including local artists Gurvinder Sandher thanking the audience on stage

Sean Fennessey and Friends. Headlining was international bhangra superstar Jassi Sidhu who had the crowd up and dancing with his unique fusion of bhangra and pop music. He said: “It was a great privilege to perform in Royal Tunbridge Wells. In recent months I have been performing in North America, Africa and India, so to come to an event like this where many in the audience are not familiar with my catalogue of hits and have them up and dancing was a great experience. “I believe events like this are a great way to expose audiences to new styles of music and established artists in particular genres like me to new fans” There was also an array of food, craft and information stalls. Jassi Sidhu performing

Nutkhut Stilt Walkers with Mela Festival Goers

Fears that Gatwick runway will be given the go ahead in weeks By Murray Jones THE final decision on possible expansion at Gatwick looks set to be taken within the next few weeks, after new Transport Secretary Chris Grayling revealed he wants a ‘rapid decision’ on expanding the region’s airport capacity. While the government has yet to respond to the recommendation of the Davies Commission for a third runway to be built at Heathrow and not Gatwick , Mr Grayling told BBC Radio 4: “I’m going to look at this very carefully in the coming weeks. What I’ll be saying to the business community is I think we need to take a rapid decision to provide certainty over what’s going to happen that will be my objective.” Despite the transport secretary refusing to declare his favoured plan, Tunbridge Wells resident’s fears over the expansion of Gatwick were renewed after Sadiq Khan pledged his

Wednesday 20th July 2016

support for a second runway. The Mayor of London made the announcement at an event on Friday, the first time a major political figure has shared a stage with the executives of either Gatwick or Heathrow, to pledge their partisan support. He urged Theresa May to make the decision ‘as swiftly as possible’ to speed up the economic benefits for the area. The new prime minister reportedly told a Medway MP that she would not back the development of a Thames Estuary airport, essentially putting Gatwick’s bid back on the table. She has previously indicated she is against another runway at Heathrow. According to media reports, Mrs May raised her objections to the ‘Boris Island’ plan when seeking the support of Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti - who subsequently went on to back her successful leadership bid. And with her new cabinet containing several figures who oppose Heathrow’s third runway, a victory for Gatwick’s executives is looking increasingly likely.

PROJECT RUNWAY Gatwick expansion back on the table Angus Stewart, of the Tunbridge Wells AntiAircraft Noise Group (TWAANG) said: “The Davies Report was unambiguous that Heathrow is to be preferred to Gatwick. It is difficult to understand how the Mayor of London can set aside such a clear independent opinion.

“As a foreign-owned, profit motivated organisation Gatwick’s ambitions are transparent. It is anxious to sell the business for maximum profit once planning permission is given, leaving the British taxpayer to fund the infrastructure and other costs, and trashing the South East countryside.”

6  LOCAL NEWS

College desperate for dogs to stop course going walkies Murray Jones

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk HADLOW COLLEGE is facing a bit of crisis this summer, not due to a lack of teachers or students – but a shortage of dogs. The college’s Dog Grooming School, which is jointly run with the Pet Industry Federation (PIF), has launched an appeal for local residents to drop off their furry friends this summer, as they struggle to meet their requirement of 18 dogs a day. And with an offer of a free fashionable summer trim for their canine companions,

they are hoping they can tempt enough pet-owners to fill up their 20-week course. Belinda Morris, one of the four staff at the department, told the Times: “We need about 50 more dogs on rotation- but they only need to come in once every few weeks.” “We have indoor and outdoor kennels and mounted wall

English Cocker Spaniel and Schnauzer

latches for dogs who don’t like kennels. The dog’s welfare is our priority at all times.” Listing a number of breeds required she explained: “We need specific dogs to meet the criteria of the course. Our students need to be able to groom these dogs up to breed standard if they want to receive their Level 3 Diploma in Dog

Grooming.” The college is looking for: English Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, West Highland White Terriers, Cairns, Scottish Terriers, Sealyham Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Poodles, Wire Fox Terriers, Welsh Terriers and Lakeland Terriers. Dog grooming at an established parlour can cost up to £80. If you are interested in booking your dog in to be groomed contact the department on 01732 852605

The town at the end of the rainbow… RAINBOW ROAD What a week for changes in our weather. Yesterday (Tuesday) saw the temperature in Tunbridge Wells nudging 90˚F making it hotter than Beirut. And yet a week earlier residents were looking into the sky admiring this double rainbow arching over the town. Social media was inundated with spectacular shots of the natural phenomenon, which is produced by a second reflection of light inside water droplets, which exits the drop at a different angle to the light of the first rainbow. This panoramic photo was taken on the Common early evening by Mark Roe on Tuesday July 12

Wednesday 20th July 2016

LOCAL NEWS 

Harry’s game encourages youngsters to join in the great jam jar adventure BRAINWAVE Master Bourne with his jam jar

TUNBRIDGE WELLS’ school children have raised £6,000 for the Calverley Adventure Grounds project. Primary schools, nurseries and community groups were invited to participate in the Jam Jar Challenge to raise funds for the initiative, which will see an unused corner of Calverley Grounds transformed into ‘an inspiring space for children of all ages and abilities to play together’. The fundraising idea came from Harry Bourne aged six and a regular visitor to Calverley Grounds. He decided to collect any lost coins he found in a jam jar to donate to the project. He also sold some of his old toys and did a few jobs around the house. The fundraising committee recognised the potential of the humble jam jar and invited others to take part during the month of June.

Prime Minister signs off with Paddock Wood free school By Andrew Tong IN ONE of his final acts as Prime Minister, David Cameron approved the opening of a free school in Paddock Wood. St Andrew’s Primary School was given the go-ahead by the Department for Education last Tuesday (July 12), the day before Mr Cameron handed over the keys of No 10 to Theresa May. The Church of England primary was one of 30 schools to be launched on the last day of his tenure in what was one of his flagship policies. Mr Cameron said: “Free schools have been at the heart of this government’s education reforms which have seen more than 1.4 million more children in good or outstanding schools since 2010. “More than 300 have been created since I became Prime Minister and 200 are set to open, meaning tens of thousands more young people, many from

disadvantaged areas, finally have a choice of a good education that helps them reach their full potential. He signed off by saying: “I am proud of what this government has achieved, working with heads and teachers to raise standards so that our young people have the best possible start in life.” The two-form entry school was proposed by the Tenax Schools Trust in association with Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells and St Andrew’s Church in Paddock Wood. It will also be supported by Paddock Wood Primary School. Ian Bauckham, Executive Head of Tenax, said: “We are delighted that, working with St Andrew’s Church, our proposal for a new primary school for the growing town of Paddock Wood has been accepted by the Department for Education. “We intend to create a school which provides additional places to meet the needs created by new housing, genuine choice for parents, and a church school of which we can be proud.”

“We were overwhelmed by the number of children who seized the opportunity to play their part and are delighted that the total raised is enough to pay for several pieces of play equipment,” said project coordinator Rhiannon Harfoot. Claremont Primary School were crowned the Jam Jar Challenge champions raising over £3,000. Class 2C were treated to ice cream donated by Flossies for raising over £600. It is hoped that children will continue to collect money in their jars. Organisers are looking to raise more than £100,000 of their £225,000 target from community sponsorship. Fundraising has already topped the £35,000 mark. To find out more visit www. calverleyadventuregrounds.co.uk

SCHOOL TIMETABLE 

David Cameron’s Conservative government decreed in the last Budget that all schools would be forced to become centrally funded ‘academies’ by 2022.

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That policy was then abandoned in May after the threat of industrial action by teachers and dissent among Tory MPs about existing high-performing schools.

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Free schools were encouraged at the same time as academies under the Academies Act 2010, and the roll-out of hundreds more remains high on the agenda.

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Unlike academies, they can be set up by a variety of nongovernment agencies, such as parents, teachers, businesses, charities, trusts or religious groups.

Evesham offers Waitrose store to Tunbridge Wells By Phil Spacey THE ongoing campaign to bring a Waitrose to Tunbridge Wells was given a glimmer of hope last week - from the people of Evesham in Worcestershire. Tunbridge Wells has become the butt of jokes in the national press which remind readers that without a Waitrose, the town is not as middle class as it likes to think.

‘I was sorry to read in the Daily Mail that you are not getting a Waitrose’ One of these articles in the Daily Mail - which claimed residents are ‘fuming’ with the opening of discount store Wilko instead of Waitrose – inspired one Evesham resident to write to us with an offer of help. Rosemary Hepworth said: “I was sorry to read in the Daily Mail that you are not getting a Waitrose. “They are building one here in Evesham Worcs that we don’t particularly want, if this of any interest to you? “We don’t really think Evesham is the right sort of town for a Waitrose, it’s a bit rural. Most of the locals prefer ALDI.” She continued: “Anyone wanting to shop is more likely to head for Cheltenham, thereby not getting stuck in the traffic which is at a constant standstill owing to a one way system. “In fact they will get to Cheltenham quicker than trying to get round Evesham. “The Waitrose is also taking away the large car park which is the only coach park as well, but naturally the powers that be on the council know best.” The Times asked Waitrose if they would consider relocating their Evesham store to Tunbridge Wells. A spokesman for the supermarket said: “I’m afraid we can’t move our planned store in Evesham, however, we do remain keen to have a Waitrose in Royal Tunbridge Wells one day. “We are incredibly grateful for the support we continue to receive from many local people “While we know the town is absolutely the right location for us, we have just not been able to find the right scheme to date.”

Wednesday 20th July 2016

8  LOCAL NEWS

Rise in domestic violence cases stretches food bank to the limits By Andrew Tong A TUNBRIDGE WELLS foodbank is calling for more support after reporting a significant rise in the number of people using the service over the last 12 months. There has been a 38 per cent hike in the referrals of residents who are seeking emergency provisions – and not just because of poverty. The number of people that actually end up using the Nourish Tunbridge Wells Community Foodbank has also increased by more than a third. And one of the greatest concerns, for a second year running, is a big rise in customers who have been victims of domestic violence. According to Nourish’s Co-Chair, Paul Haines, ‘when you look at the numbers alone, there’s a 63 per cent increase in the number of domestic violence cases we supported last year’. Operations Manager Dawn Stanford believes that this shows the foodbank is no longer the preserve of those facing financial difficulties. “Domestic violence now accounts for 13 per cent, or one in eight of all foodbags we distribute,” she said. “It’s an issue that cuts across all sectors of society. “You don’t have to be poor to suffer domestic violence.” She adds: “We are also increasingly providing support for people who are unwell or who have mental health issues.” Nourish, which opened its doors in November

Wednesday 20th July 2016

seen their benefits cut or lost their jobs. Mr Haines said: “It’s important to recognise that this increase is also on the back of record numbers last year. “It has been a struggle as we are reliant upon the generosity of the public in making food and financial donations to help us provide this much-needed service. “But this year we have increasingly had to use our backup funds.” Co-chair Olga Johnson insists that despite the huge increases, Nourish is not encouraging dependency. Almost two thirds of the customers only need one food bag. “This illustrates the short-term, emergency nature of the support we provide,” she said. “People do not become dependent as we only provide a maximum of 12 food bags per year. “For the few people who require additional support we always signpost further support and help from our partner organisations.” Families and individuals must be referred to Nourish in the first instance by Social Services or by local housing groups, Citizens Advice Bureau, churches, schools and doctors’ surgeries. Last year it worked with 93 agencies in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area, and it is currently considering an expansion into South Tonbridge.

WELFARE SUPPORT Nourish provides essentials

2012, gives out food bags which provide three days’ worth of supplies for the needy. It gained nationwide media coverage after the Times highlighted the fact it is one of very few foodbanks which features a delivery service, to ensure confidentiality and avoid embarrassment for its clients. We have increasingly had to use our backup funds. Nourish helped 3,141 people in crisis in the 12 months up to March this year, from its base at Big Yellow Self-Storage on Longfield Road. The voluntary initiative was set up in response to increasing numbers of low-income working households in the region and people who had

If you would like to donate money or food, or help with volunteering, visit www.nourishcommunityfoodbank.org.uk. For more information, contact office@nourishcommunityfoodbank.org.uk or call 01892 548892.

FOOD BANK FACTS: 

More than a million people used food banks across the UK last year.

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In Tunbridge Wells 17 per cent of households are living in poverty, according to the Office of National Statistics – a 6 per cent increase since Nourish started in 2012.

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The number of children living beneath the poverty line has gone up by almost 3 per cent to 14 per cent in the last five years; 43 per cent of Nourish clients last year were under the age of 18.

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One in three referrals last year came as a result of changes in welfare payments, while 12 per cent had debt issues and seven per cent cited unemployment.

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Nourish has received 31.5 tonnes of food donations in the last 12 months.

LOCAL NEWS 

Compensation for rail delays to rise after pressure on franchise Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk SOUTHEASTERN has caved into pressure from commuters and agreed to implement a fairer compensation scheme for rail passengers suffering from delays. Until now, the franchise operated a Delay Repay scheme which was one of the least generous in the country; it divided the cost of a season ticket by the equivalent of 546 single journeys a year. That would mean the passenger travelling every working day, all Bank Holidays, some weekends, and taking no holiday whatsoever. However, at a heated meeting between commuters and Southeastern Managing Director David Statham on March 16 – and hosted by MP Greg Clark at the Town Hall – the train operator came under fire for its low level of compensation. Following the outcry, the franchise has since admitted it was ‘out of step’ with passengers and will introduce a fairer compensation scheme. Mr Statham told the MP: “Your constituents are correct; although hard-wired into our franchise agreement, our method of calculation was out of step with some other operators.” He says he is ‘pleased’ to say the calculation has now been revised to assume that 464 journeys a year are made on an annual season ticket. This means that compensation for delayed trains will increase by around 18 per cent. For example, a 0ne-hour delay on a single journey on a Tunbridge Wells to London season ticket will attract compensation of £9.50 rather than £8.15. Mr Clark said the change ‘shows the value’ of the

public pressure exerted through the meeting, adding: “Delayed trains are unacceptable but it adds insult to injury if the compensation is less than the cost of the journey. “It doesn’t make up for the numerous other problems with Southeastern, but it is a step in the right direction.” The meeting triggered the formation of a Rail Action Group, chaired by Mr Clark, to try to hold Southeastern and Network Rail to account. It will meet for the first time this Saturday (July 23). RIGHT TRACK Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark applauds public pressure

Wednesday 20th July 2016

10  LOCAL NEWS

Tunbridge Wells is given the all clear in annual GP check up By Murray Jones newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

FAMILY GP surgeries in and around Tunbridge Wells have been given a clean bill of health by their patients in a recently published national survey, with all Tunbridge Wells surgeries equalling or surpassing the national average. The survey, conducted on behalf of the NHS, saw researchers send out questionnaires to around 1.32 million people nationally, with over 7000 responding in the West Kent region. Most outstanding in the town was Kingswood Surgery, located near Dunorlan Park, with 99 per cent of their patients describing the overall experience of the surgery as ‘good’. But Kingswood’s performance was indicative of the high scores achieved by all surgeries in Tunbridge Wells, a majority of which received an overall satisfaction rating of over 90 per cent, far above the national average of 85 per cent and the West Kent average of 88 per cent. The annual survey measured patient’s satisfaction with a variety of factors including waiting times, ease of making an appointment and frequency of talking to their preferred GP. While the results indicate a high level of performance from the area’s surgeries, patients also highlighted a number of areas where there is significant room for improvement. When patients were asked if they usually wait 15 minutes or less after their appointment time to be seen, six surgeries fell below the national average of 65 per cent, with the Groombridge and

Hartfield Medical Group receiving the area’s lowest score of 50 per cent. The often frustrating process of making an appointment on the phone appears to be reflected in some surgery’s results. For example just 57 per of Saxonbury House’s patients said they found it easy to get through to reception staff. Tonbridge received a more mixed response, with their Medical Group’s performance falling well below the national and local average in a number of categories including waiting times, being seen by their preferred GP and getting through on the phone. Although it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the town as their Warder Medical Centre received an excellent 93 per cent overall satisfaction rating. Dr Bob Bowes Chair of NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group described the results as ‘very encouraging’, adding: “GPs place great emphasis on ensuring that a patient’s experience is as positive as it can be and I am pleased to see that reflected with positive feedback.” TOP MARKS Kingswood Surgery ranked best in town

Good overall experience of surgery (National Avg: 85; Local Avg, 88)

Patients don’t have to wait too long to be seen (Nat: 58; Loc: 59)

Patients who speak to their preferred GP (Nat: 59; Loc: 73)

Ease of getting through to surgery by phone (Nat: 73; Loc: 76)

Lonsdale Medical Centre

Abbey Court

100

Grosvenor Medical Centre

St James Medical Centre

Kingswood

Speldhurst and Greggswood Medical Group

Rowan Tree Surgery

Clanricarde Medical Centre

Rusthall Medical Practice

St Andrews Medical Centre

Waterfield House Surgery

Lamberhurst

Beacon

Rotherfield

Saxonbury House

Groombridge and Hartfield Medical Group

Tonbridge Medical Group

Warders Medical Centre

Hildenborough Medical Group

Surgery

These figures are based on the responses of patients to the annual GP Patient Survey. All figures are expressed in percentages. Full statistics available at: www.gp-patient.co.uk

Wednesday 20th July 2016

FUTURE PERFECT Town planning phase coming to conclusion

Deadline looms for the town’s development plan THE council’s ‘call for sites’ will close on August 1 leaving businesses, organisations and individuals less than two weeks to put forward potential areas for development to cater towards the growing need for more housing in the borough. Research commissioned by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has revealed Nearly 13,000 houses may need to be built by 2033, meaning an average of 648 homes per year. This is a dramatic rise from the 300 homes per year the council believed would be required when it last undertook a similar assessment for the years 2006 to 2026. Furthermore, just over half of the total number of new dwellings should be affordable units the report suggests. Since February, the council has been inviting developers, landowners, town and parish councils alongside other interested bodies to find areas in the borough they believe can be utilised to meet this need – a consultation process it has dubbed a ‘call for sites’. Their input is being compiled as part of a new Local Plan which will lay out a strategic vision for the future development within the borough. In addition, the Local Plan will involve consultations and research addressing needs in relation to the economy, community facilities and infrastructure, as well as forming the basis for protecting the environment. The first draft of the new Local Plan, known as the ‘Issues & Options’, will be consulted on between April and June 2017, with public exhibitions being held around the borough.

Brexit raises fears for future county funding KENT County Council has warned several major projects could be jeopardised as EU funding dries up post Brexit. The warning came from Cllr Mark Dance, KCC cabinet member for economic development, who said the authority could struggle to reach its £100m funding target from the EU. So far, £52 million has been earmarked for various schemes for the period 2014 to 2020 – casting doubt over what would happen to this funding if Britain were to leave within this time frame. Even more uncertainty surrounds the council’s ability to secure the remaining £48 million. Cllr Dance said at this stage the risk to funding was ‘difficult to quantify’, however the European Commission may be contractually obliged to maintain the flow of money to ongoing projects. But any extension to funding would have to be negotiated by every other EU member state and a moratorium might be imposed on any new bids.

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12  LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

Tunbridge Wells export firm calls for industry input in Brexit negotiations Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE owner of one of the largest exporters in Tunbridge Wells has described post-Brexit Britain as presenting an ‘exciting opportunity’ for his company – so long as the process is handled well. Paul Fleming, Chief Executive of TEK Group, said he had been ‘hugely disappointed’ by the lack of hard facts and the abundance of political rhetoric from both sides prior to the vote and criticised some of the ‘main antagonists’ for ‘jumping ship’ afterwards.

‘It is potentially an exciting opportunity if managed properly by our politicians’ However, Mr Fleming – whose family-run businesses recently designed 2,000 seats for a military contractor in Abu Dhabi and made seating for a vehicle used by the Dutch Special Forces – remains upbeat about the UK’s prospects.

He said: “As a UK business owner we now have while our sterling exports are more attractive.” to work with what we have. It is potentially an He added: “We export our products worldwide exciting opportunity if managed propwith our largest market currently being the erly by our politicians and civil serMiddle East, followed by Europe. vants, hopefully with significant input “The exporting process outside of the EU is a relatively straightforward operation even with from industry.” TEK Group, through its three divithe additional red tape and export licence sions – TEK Seating, SitSmart and requirements for our military products.” TEK Military Seating – imports prodAlthough it is early days, Mr Fleming ucts from Europe and the US for disdoes not foresee Europe ‘pulling tribution throughout Britain and also down the shutters’ on UK trade, manufactures its own products within stating it would be ‘more fool the UK for export worldwide. them’ if they do. But he called This means the company is parfor ‘cool heads’ during upcomticularly exposed to fluctuations in ing negotiations. the exchange rate, which has both “It is time for careful planupsides and downsides for the ning to make sure we posifirm’s profitability. tion ourselves in the worldMr Fleming explained: wide market place to our “The short-term volatilvery best advantage. ity with exchange rates “I think the medium to long KEEPING CALM has had an obvious term is looking very positive, Paul Fleming negative effect on our but there will be a bumpy ride euro and US dollar suppliers, before we get there.”

New business plan benefits non-lawyers at Buss Murton BUSS MURTON has promoted a non-lawyer as one of four new partners at the Tunbridge Wells-based law firm. Alex Smith, formerly a Practice Manager, has been made an Equity Partner, with the firm citing his ‘in-depth knowledge of the business’ as one of the main reasons for the promotion. His appointment comes after the firm adopted an ‘alternative business structure’ to allow professionals with business backgrounds and non-lawyers to own a stake in the business. Edward Walter, who joined the firm in 2014 and has over 15 years of legal experience, has been promoted to Equity

Wednesday 20th July 2016

Partner after heading up the Private Client Department. Helen Batt has also been promoted to Partner in the Property Team with Melanie den Brinker becoming Partner within the Family Department. The Managing Partner, Andrew Linton, said: “These promotions mark an important step in the firm’s growth and plans for the future. “We are extremely proud to have such highly skilled professionals in our business. “Not only does this show the long-standing commitment and expertise of our employees, but our desire to support all of them in continuing to build successful and fulfilling careers within our firm.”

NEWS IN BUSINESS

Tonbridge makes the most out of Help to Buy OVER 2,000 homebuyers in Kent have used the government’s Help to Buy scheme since it was launched three years ago, new figures have revealed. Within the county, homebuyers in Tonbridge & Malling district were the second most likely to take advantage of the programme, with 357 buying a stake in their homes through it, after Dartford (542). In contrast, only 31 purchases were made using the scheme in Tunbridge Wells. The figures relate to the three years ending in March. A total of 2,024 households in Kent utilised Help to Buy – which allows any homebuyer to secure a brand new home under the value of £600,000 with just a five per cent deposit – three quarters of whom are first-time buyers. When the buyers put up their five per cent deposit, the government can lend them 20 per cent of the value of the property in the form of an interest-free equity loan for five years.

South East profits up UTILITIES supplier South East Water recorded a 50 per cent increase in its profits for the year to 31 March 2016, despite missing its disruption targets. The company, which supplies water to more than 2.1 million customers in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, saw its pretax profits rise to £42.4m – up from £35.3m over the previous period. However, the utility missed its target of averaging 11 minutes interruption to services per property for the year. The firm said this was due to a ‘significant’ rupture of a 40-year-old pipe in Hailsham, East Sussex.

Excellent dealership

BREAKING WITH TRADITION (L-R) Buss Murton Partners Edward Walter, Alex Smith – not a lawyer but a former Practice Manager – Melanie den Brinker, Andrew Linton and Helen Batt

TUNBRIDGE WELLS auto dealer Lifestyle Renault has been named as a ‘Driver Power – Dealer of Excellence’ by Groupe Renault UK – the United Kingdom operation of the French carmaker that encompasses the brand. Based on Langton Road, the company was nominated for the award in February before being subject to an in-depth independent customer care evaluation to confirm its status as a ‘dealer of excellence’.

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� LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

Family travel agent wins top awards as it fights back against online booking TRAVEL is changing. People want more than a standard package holiday, they want something customised, adventurous and exotic. Catering to this growing demand for exclusivity, and keeping customers coming back year after year, is why the family-owned Baldwins Travel Group has managed to defy the age of internet booking and thrive. Its success was recognised last Wednesday when it won in two categories at the Travel Weekly Achievement Awards, hosted at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Hotel. The firm won in the categories National High Street Agency 2016 and Travel Agent of the Year for London and the South East.

‘With all the problems in the world we have seen an exodus of people changing their holiday patterns’ Established in 1895, the Tunbridge Wells-based travel agent has occupied the same spot on Grosvenor Road ever since – although it has been expanded to include neighbouring units. It has only changed hands three times in its history, and each time has remained within the family that has owned it for generations. The latest immediate family to hold the reigns are the Marks.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

And since the current Chairman Ron Marks took over 25 years ago, the firm has grown to include eight stores in the south east – the latest addition being Lewes – plus 60 staff and a recorded turnover of £30million. It provided services for 23,000 passengers last year. Day to day management is now left to his two sons, Nick and Chris Marks, who through their many years at the business know the travel industry inside-out with a keen insight into the changing patterns of tourism. One of the main factors affecting the sector at the moment has been the marked rise in global uncertainty in recent years. “With all the problems in the world at the moment we have seen an exodus of people changing their holiday patterns from places like Turkey to the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal, which are all now full. “Spain alone has seen a 22 per cent increase in holidaymakers this year due to this effect. “And it is not just the British heading there; the Germans, the Russians and the Italians are also avoiding places they see as unsafe. “It’s not just one nation, it’s all nations,” said Nick. The time it takes for places to recover from a negative event varies, with some countries – such as Egypt – still struggling to re-attract tourists following incidents of terrorism and political instability. But growing uncertainty is failing to stop the increase in new destinations opening up to tourism, they said.

NEW HORIZONS Chris and Nick Marks look forward to fresh destinations

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

Nick continued: “Even compared to five years ago there is a huge amount of extra choice and this will happen more and more. “People are becoming increasingly adventurous, heading to Cambodia, Vietnam, Argentina and Peru. Even Myanmar (Burma) has been opening up recently. “It’s just exploded the number of destinations.” Equally, the negative fallout from Britain’s vote to leave the EU has proven short-lived he said, adding: “For the first two weeks there was a lot of uncertainty and that made for interesting times, but stability has definitely come back.” Another noticeable trend is in the personalisation of holidays and the shift away from pre-packaged deals, said Chris. He explained: “People are more interested in creating their own tailor-made trips, which we have certainly seen in our sales but across the Advantage Network too. “Rather than just taking something off the shelf people want a unique experience they can talk about to their friends and this has been made more possible by increased access to information about the world. “Although there are pockets of uncertainty and these are challenging times, the world is much more reachable.” The Advantage Network is a consortia comprising over 900 members, including Baldwins, who pool resources to benefit from increased group-buying power. This allows smaller firms to compete on price with larger companies such as Thompson and Thomas Cook. Combined, the network has an annual turnover of over £3billion. This competitiveness, not just among holiday companies but also among countries themselves looking to attract tourists, means access to places previously considered exclusive is now an option for people on lower budgets.

Nick points out that currently a two-week stay in Greece, all inclusive at a five-star resort currently costs the same as an equivalent ten days in Mauritius. “It’s becoming more affordable to have luxury.” The idea – and the realities – of holidaying abroad mean it is no longer in itself considered exclusive and or a luxury but a necessity, they said. “In the past a lot more people couldn’t afford to go away and instead they would go to a campsite on the English coast. “It may be a beautiful area but it is now very expensive to travel and holiday in the UK and despite the fall in the exchange rate it is still good value to go abroad.

‘As long as we are continuing to develop our teams, that inevitably will secure new bookings as people feel better about coming into travel agencies’

TOP OF THE CLASS Baldwins Travel scooped two trophies at Travel Weekly Achievement Awards

“I don’t know many people who will not go on a holiday of some type. For a lot of families where both people are working it is the only real family time they get,” Chris explained. Although it was hailed as a landmark ruling which would lead to a surge in term-time holidays, the recent case of Jon Platt – the father from the Isle of Wight who successfully challenged the local council’s attempt to impose a £120 penalty after he took his daughter to Disney World during a school week – seems to have had a negligible affect at Baldwins. “We have not yet noticed any rise but if I am going to be brutally honest it has always happened. “Will we see an increase in families taking their children out of school? Probably not. It will stay exactly the same,” said Nick. Chris suggested some people see the £60 per day fine as a price worth paying as its still works out cheaper than a peak-time holiday. But he thinks it was a ‘common misconception’ that the agents are to blame for the high prices. “It is not the fault of the travel agents or even the tour operators, it is simply supply and demand and it’s a Europe-wide problem. “If you go to a beach resort during the summer holidays it isn’t just going to be the British there, every country is off at the same time and there is limited room,” he said. Moving forward, Nick and Chris believe the future of the company lies in continuing to offer a high level of specialist customer service in order to attract customers and compete with the internet. Nick said: “We have to keep looking at new areas of the world and making sure all the staff have in-depth knowledge of the places where they sell holidays too. “As long as we are continuing to develop our teams, that inevitably will secure new bookings as people feel better about coming into travel agencies.” Convincing people to return to the high street

travel agents is one of the main challenges facing their industry, but both Nick and Chris feel the tide is beginning to turn against online-only providers. Chris said: “Let’s be honest, you can’t get the same level of interaction when you book on the internet. “Someone may come into Baldwins and say ‘I want to go to the Maldives and here is my budget’ – and an agent could say ‘actually for your budget and what you want to do, I would recommend here instead’. “You are not going to get that type of customer experience online, and this is what we are trying to develop. “The challenge is to get people back from the internet, give us a go, and hopefully they will get a positive experience from it “Certainly it is the younger generations who don’t realise it is not necessarily cheaper online and they may not get the holiday they actually want.” But Nick said they had definitely seen a trend in people returning to the traditional travel agency in recent years. One of the catalysts for this change was the disruption wrought by the 2010 volcanic eruption in Iceland which resulted in a giant ash cloud across Europe grounding flights for days. “People found they were stuck abroad and if they had booked on the internet they couldn’t work out how to get home because there was no one to call. “The internet has had an impact on the industry but we are not afraid of it – it is just another platform for us to use and sell from.” The long-term plan is to keep the company sustainable and build a legacy which perhaps their own children will want to continue. Chris said: “We are the second generation and Baldwins has been in the hands of three different families since it was founded. “Hopefully it will be in our custodianship for another couple of generations, if it is right for our children – but you never know.”

‘It gave me an understanding of what it takes to build a reputation as well as how quickly it can be lost’

Wednesday 20th July 2016

16  COMMUNITY NEWS

Financial expert joins Tree of Hope charity treatment, therapies and equipment which are not freely available on the NHS. newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk Mr Grist added: “The key principles are efficiency, effectiveness and economies of scale. We have a responTUNBRIDGE WELLS charity Tree of Hope has appointed sibility to the families that we support to ensure that we David Grist as its new finance manager. help them make the most of their fundraising. Mr Grist, 48, has extensive experience in the “Being supported by Tree of Hope means that finance, legal and leisure sectors and has been they are able to claim Gift Aid, which working as an accountant for one of the oldimmediately increases some of their fundraisest legal firms in the county, Buss Murton. ing by 25 per cent. Tree of Hope, which is based on Little “And having charitable status means they Mount Sion, offers support to children with are able to raise much more money than by specialist needs and their families. going it alone – more than £4million was Mr Grist says his key objective is to ensure raised last year alone.” that the charity follows good business pracHe feels empathy for the parents of children tice in its financial processes. who are supported by the charity because his “I’m working with an amazingly commitown son Charlie, seven, was diagnosed ted team at Tree of Hope who totally with leukaemia last year. Mr Grist remembers the shock relate to the families they supwhen the diagnosis was made. port,” he said. “I want to ensure that what “The bottom just dropped out of is accepted best practice in our world,” he said. business is consistently ap“Thankfully, after chemoplied to the charity model. therapy, Charlie is now in “It’s a case of making remission. But it has given sure systems and conme an understanding of trols are in place that how parents feel when keep Tree of Hope effectheir child is given a diagtive financially.” nosis that will change The charity supports their lives.” KEY PRINCIPLES around 800 families For information about David Grist has who are raising funds Tree of Hope visit: joined Tree of Hope to pay for specialist www.treeofhope.org.uk

Andrew Tong

Wednesday 20th July 2016

SWEET REWARD (L-R) Margaret Fry, Manager Julie Cerullo and Anne Field

Barnardo’s pays tribute to long-serving volunteers BARNARDO’S is rewarding two volunteers in its Tunbridge Wells branch, Anne Field and Margaret Fry, for their combined total of more than 30 years’ service to the charity. Anne, aged 84, has worked at the store for 18 years, while Margaret, 69, has been helping out for 12 years. Barnardo’s is marking its 150th anniversary by thanking its 18,000 volunteers for giving their time to the children’s charity. Store Manager Julie Cerullo marked the occasion by making a cake and presenting the two ladies with a certificate of appreciation and flowers. She said: “Margaret and Anne are amazing and valued members of our team. Without them we wouldn’t be the store we are today.

“Their time and dedication are admirable and we would be lost without them!” Margaret said: “I love being a volunteer at Barnardo’s and it is a privilege to have worked here for 15 years. “The team are great and it is always a pleasure to come in and help, and know that I am helping Barnardo’s to support the most vulnerable children in the UK.” Last year 240,000 children, young people and families in the UK were supported by the charity through more than 960 services. These included young carers, care leavers, foster carers, adoptive parents, parenting classes, training and skills. To find out more about volunteering for Barnardo’s, visit: www.barnardos.org.uk

COMMUNITY NEWS 

Donation boosts ‘beads of courage’ THE HEDGEHOG children’s ward at Tunbridge Wells Hospital has recieved a £1,000 donation with the cheque being handed to a rather special patient. Lucy and Chris Fox, of local charity Megan’s Wish List, presented a cheque to fiveyear-old Jasmin Turner and her mum Lizzie. Helen Stevens, Paediatric Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Play Specialist Sue Edwards accepted the gift on behalf of the unit at Pembury. Megan’s Wish List was set up by the family and friends of Megan Fox, who died of a brain tumour in 2014 aged 17. The charity aims to raise money to help local children and teenagers who suffer from life-changing illnesses and disabilities. The money will be used to allow the unit to

continue to sponsor the Beads of Courage initiative, which helps children receiving treatment for cancer. Each time a young person has a procedure, test or treatment, they are given a bead. The colour of the bead signifies what has happened – for example, white beads relate to having chemotherapy, light green beads are for scans such as x-rays and MRIs, and yellow beads are given after an overnight stay in hospital. The beads help children to make sense of the experience they are going through, and research has shown that the programme has contributed to a decrease in illness-related stress and an increase in the use of positive coping strategies. Megan collected the beads during her treatment and her parents are keen for other young patients to be able to do the same. Mrs Fox said: “We are delighted to be able to donate this money to the Hedgehog Ward to help with the Beads of Courage programme. BEST WISHES (L-R) Mum Lizzie Turner, Play Specialist Sue Edwards, Lucy “We know that Fox, Jasmin, Chris Fox and Nurse Helen Stevens on the Hedgehog Ward the beads helped

Are we moving? Estate agents help children

COURAGEOUS Five-year-old Jasmin Turner Megan to cope and we hope the money we have handed over today will help many other children, and their families, to get through difficult times.” Jasmin, from Crowborough, was diagnosed with leukaemia eight months ago. She has collected the beads throughout her treatment, and now has more than 200. Her mother Lizzie said: “The beads of courage have been brilliant for Jasmin. They have really helped her get through some very difficult times and some extremely tough treatment. “She has loved collecting them. It’s a way of marking each step towards getting better and a great coping mechanism for many children going through serious illness.” For more information about the charity, visit: www.meganswishlist.com

STAFF at Ward & Partners estate agents in Tunbridge Wells saddled up on exercise bikes in the office last Wednesday (July 13) to raise money for two children’s charities, ellenor and Action Medical Research. They were taking part in the company’s Cycle Around the World challenge, in which branches go head to head to cycle as far as they can in one day. The challenge has been running since April, and the Tunbridge Wells team managed to ride 179km through an imaginary Australia for a grand total of 18,651km. They have another 12,000km to go. Branch Secretary Melissa Richards says: “It’s such a great chance for us to give something back – the two charities we are supporting do fabulous work. “And if we burned a few extra calories to justify eating some of the cakes on sale during the day, then that’s even better.” Ward & Partners is part of the Arun Estates group, which has raised £103,000 for a variety of charities during the past year. If you wish to make a donation, visit the branch’s fundraising page at: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WardPartnersTunbridgeWells

WORLD TOUR Branch Manager Lewis Hunt

Wednesday 20th July 2016

18  COMMUNITY NEWS

Old boys soldier on for good of the town TOP OF THE CLASS King Charles’ School Old Boys Association

By Murray Jones newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

OVER half a century ago they were marching, two by two, down to the swimming pool on Monson

Road with towels tucked under their left arms. Last week they were sitting side by side in their old classroom, which now forms part of the One Warwick Park Hotel, celebrating the 36th year of their Old Boys Association. These former pupils of King Charles’ School –

which closed down 56 years ago – have managed to keep in regular contact since 1980, when the six founding members decided to reach out to fellow alumni. They put an advert in the local paper and within a year, they had 385 members. Today the group is still holding strong, with 78 old boys continuing the work of the association; focusing on supporting local schools and young people, especially in the area of sport. Describing the motivation for the group, President Richard Fry told the Times: “Our ethos is simple: we want to do good. “Our school was very, very strict, but we were brought up to respect others and to help our community, and those principles live on through the association. “Primarily, we help support local schools, especially in the area of sport, since sport was something King Charles’ school was really good at.” The association commit to raising £900 each year, to fund an array of charitable donations. Annually, these include bursaries for two Bennett Memorial students as well as a cash prize to help a young sportsperson pursue their passion, as part of the Tunbridge Well’s Love Where We Live awards. Most recently, the group sponsored a swimming gala for local primary schools in January, a throwback to Mr Fry’s swimming-intensive school days. “It was a well-known fact that no one could leave King Charles without being able to swim,” he said.

Air Raid Shelter With the school having been established in 1698, the Old Boys Association includes ex-pupils from a range of eras – the oldest member, Phillip Winter, is turning 100 this month. Whilst not the most senior, Chairman Tony Whitehorn attended the school at a unique time – 1942-47 – experiencing the latter half of the Second World War as a pupil. Describing his typical school week, he said: “Much of our time, during the war, was spent in the air raid centre on Cumberland Walk, which was actually located where the car park for the hotel is now. “The rest of the time, when we weren’t playing sport, we would have over 100 boys crammed into this tiny school.”

Wednesday 20th July 2016

Despite the dramatically different experiences for today’s schoolchildren, Mr Whitehorn said all the old boys feel a strong connection to their local schools. Describing what has motivated the group for over a third of a century, he added: “It comes from a deep respect for the citizens of Tunbridge Wells and a desire to support our local schools.” “It’s been a really long-standing collective effort.”

SWIMMING LEGACY � Former pupil Mick Geer made history with the British Paralympic swimming team. Under his guidance they won more medals than ever before, during their victory at the World Championships in Argentina, 2002 (32 gold, 23 silver and 21 bronze). He was appointed MBE in 2007. � Preceding Mick was Dennis Knight, former coach to Olympic swimmer Gaynor Foy and in 1974 was appointed the first professional coach for the Royal Tunbridge Wells Monson Road Swimming Club, after volunteering for 18 years. At 80 years old, Mr Knight completed an 80 lengths swimming challenge, around 1.25 miles, raising over £1500 for the Old Boys Association, among other causes.

RULES OF THUMB AND FINGERNAIL � In 1892, the school asked for the boys’ opinion, via ballot, regarding the abolition of corporal punishment within schools. The result was surprising, with only 20 votes out of 120 being in favour of abolition. There were some strict rules enforced by the school: � Handkerchiefs were compulsory, as boys wiping their noses on their sleeves was intolerable. Every day boys would have to put them on the desk for inspection. � Fingernails were also inspected, and any boy who bit his nails was instructed to get his mother to buy one pennyworth of (very bitter) Quissin Chips at the chemist, soak them and dip his fingers in the concoction morning and night – until it cured them.

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20 � NATIONAL NEWS

Olympic body delays Russia verdict THE INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee (IOC) has said it will ‘explore the legal options’ for banning the entire Russian team from this summer’s Games in Rio, which begin on August 5. The IOC, which has been accused of delaying the decision, said calls for a collective ban on the Russians will be judged ‘versus the right to individual justice’. The Executive Board met to consider possible action following widespread doping allegations detailed in the report by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) investigator Richard McLaren, published on Monday. WADA has recommended that the IOC consider taking the unprecedented step of excluding all Russian competitors from Rio.

FLAG OF INCONVENIENCE The IOC is awaiting an appeal

The IOC said it will still have to take into account a verdict coming tomorrow (Thursday) from the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The court is due to rule on Russia’s appeal against the International Association of Athletics Federations’ decision to ban its track and field athletes from Rio. Earlier, Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko denied covering up hundreds of doping cases, and said he also expects his staff to be cleared. The WADA investigation alleged Mr Mutko’s ministry ‘directed, controlled and oversaw’ a mass cover-up of Russians’ drug test failures over several years, including swapping samples at the 2014 Winter Olympics. A Deputy Sports Minister and Mr Mutko’s

anti-doping adviser were accused of directing which positive tests should be hidden. Mr Mutko himself was said to have ordered a cover-up when a football player tested positive. He told the Russian agency R-Sport that accusations against him are ‘absolutely unreal, and impossible’. The Kremlin remained defiant in the face of a possible ban. Mr Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Russia is preparing for the Olympics, the Russian team is preparing for the Olympics.” Mr McLaren’s 103-page report details a conspiracy which helped Russian athletes from more than 30 sports to dope with impunity for many years. WADA’s Executive Committee made six other recommendations, including the banning of Russian government officials from international sports events and maintaining the suspensions of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory and Russian anti-doping agency. It has called on football’s governing body FIFA to investigate Mr Mutko’s involvement as president of the Russian FA, a member of FIFA’s council and the chairman of the organising committee for the 2018 World Cup. WADA also called for Mr McLaren and his team of investigators to be given more time to complete their work, since his initial findings were based on just 57 ‘intense’ days. The report had been commissioned after the New York Times published an interview with the former director of the Moscow anti-doping lab, Grigory Rodchenkov, in May. After Russia’s poor performance at the 2010 Winter Olympics, Mr Rodchenkov said he was ordered to work out a new cocktail of steroids called ‘the Duchess’ to give athletes and estab-

lished a system to cover up positive samples. This operation worked in the build-up to London 2012 and remained in place until last year. Mr Rodchenkov, who fled Russia for the US after his sacking in November, gave the investigator hundreds of documents and electronic messages to corroborate his claims.

‘Russia is preparing for the Olympics, the Russian team is preparing for the Olympics’ The most shocking of Mr Rodchenkov’s claims related to Russia taking advantage of its host status at the Winter Olympics in Sochi to devise a plan to allow its athletes to dope. Russia’s secret service, the FSB, had worked out how to open and reseal the supposedly tamper-proof bottles in which urine samples are stored. Russian samples were smuggled out of the Sochi laboratory through a hole in the wall. Then an FSB agent would take the caps of the bottles off and Rodchenkov refilled them with urine supplied by the athletes when they knew they were clean. A selection of samples were sent to a laboratory in London, where an expert was able to detect scratch marks around the necks of the bottles. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the report is based on ‘the testimony of one man with a scandalous reputation’. He also suggested that sport is returning to the Cold War era of ‘political interference’ and hinted a 1980s-style boycott cannot be ruled out.

Eagle pulls out of Labour race to give Smith a clear run at Corbyn ANGELA EAGLE has withdrawn from the contest for Labour’s leadership in order to back Owen Smith as a ‘unity candidate’ to challenge Jeremy Corbyn. The Wallasey MP was the first to mount a public challenge to the Labour leader, but decided to withdraw after it became apparent that Mr Smith had secured more nominations from the party’s MPs and MEPs. Mr Smith, the MP for Pontypridd, received 88 nominations from Labour MPs and two from MEPs in the party’s leadership contest, therefore clearing the hurdle of 51 nominations to become a candidate. Ms Eagle gained 70 nominations, comprising 63

Wednesday 20th July 2016

MPs and 7 MEPs, which left Mr Smith with a lead of 25 among Westminster politicians. It is understood that Ms Eagle considered the gap to be too wide to continue running. Former Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mr Smith will now go forward to fight Mr Corbyn in a ballot of party members and supporters, which ends on September 24. Speaking at Westminster, Ms Eagle said she would be backing Mr Smith in the contest, adding: “We are in lock-step together, arguing for a united Labour Party.” She continued: “We have a Labour Party at the moment that is not working, we’ve got a leader that doesn’t have the confidence of his Members of Parliament and isn’t reaching out TAKE FLIGHT to the country. Angela Eagle is “We need to seeking unity have a strong and united Labour Party so we can be a good opposition, take the fight to the Conservative Government and heal our country. “So I am announcing tonight that I will be supporting Owen in that endeavour with all my enthusiasm and might.”

22  NATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Fresh trail opens up South East coastline A NEW stretch of the England Coast Path has been opened which takes in the White Cliffs of Dover and the site where Julius Caesar is said to have landed in Britain. The first section of the round-England coastal path to be opened in the South East provides 66 miles of new and improved national trails in Kent and Sussex. The route includes wildlife-rich Dungeness and Pegwell Bay, the landing site of Caesar at Walmer and Napoleonic Martello towers along the coast near Dymchurch. A 2,700-mile path will run around the coast of England by 2020, the longest continuous seaside walking route in the world.

Three dead near pool THREE people including the gunman were shot dead near a swimming pool in Spalding, Lincolnshire yesterday (Tuesday). It is understood that Lance Hart, 57, killed his partner Claire, 50, and 19-year-old daughter Charlotte with a shotgun before turning the weapon on himself.

Getting away with it A COUPLE who won nearly £15million on the Lottery hid the winning ticket while they went on holiday for two weeks. Alison and John Doherty, from Elderslie in Scotland, realised they had won £14,671,343 in the Lotto draw on July 2 but went on a pre-booked holiday to Florida the next day before returning to claim their win.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

Downturn looms in housing Inflation rises after fuel and despite continued growth flight hikes

HOUSE prices increased strongly by £16,000 on average over the year to May but experts warned the market is now at serious risk of a downturn. Across the UK, the typical property value was £211,000 in May, marking an 8.1 per cent increase compared with a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The average UK house price was £2,400 higher than in April, and the ONS said the annual rate of growth was unchanged, “continuing the strong growth seen since the end of 2013,” the report said. The official figures show the state of the housing market before the EU referendum vote. Some other housing market reports, which have included data collected following the vote, have suggested the market is cooling. Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight, warned: “Housing market activity and prices look to be at very serious risk of an extended, marked downturn following the UK’s vote to leave the EU. “This is likely to weigh down markedly on economic activity and consumer confidence, which is not good news for the housing market,” he added. Mr Archer said he suspected that house prices could fall back by 5 per cent during the second half of 2016. Last week, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said the supply of homes

coming on the market is plummeting at the sharpest rate on records going back to 1998. It said interest from potential buyers was also fading at the fastest rate since 2008, while house price falls are increasingly taking a grip in London. The ONS figures show that in May, the typical house price in England was £227,000, while in Wales it was £143,000, in Scotland it stood at £141,000 and in Northern Ireland it was £118,000. The most expensive borough to live in is Kensington and Chelsea, where the cost of an average house was £1.27 million in May. Burnley is the cheapest place to buy a home, with the average property costing £69,000. London continued to be the region with the highest average house price at £472,000, followed by the South East and the East of England – £306,000 and £265,000 respectively. In London house prices surged by 13.6 per cent in the year to May 2016. The South East and the East of England also had particularly strong annual price growth, at 12.9 per cent and 12.8 per cent respectively. Mr Archer said: “Pretty solid fundamentals for house buyers – high employment, decent purchasing power and very low mortgage rates – remained a source of support for the housing market through to May while a shortage of properties has also supported house prices.”

INFLATION rose to a higher-than-expected 0.5 per cent last month after fuel prices increased and the Euro 2016 football tournament helped drive up the cost of air fares. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation in June was up from 0.3 per cent in May and matched the 15-month high recorded in March. Last month’s hike in the cost of living came in part from soaring flight prices, which climbed by a record 10.9 per cent between May and June because of more expensive air fares to Europe. But the ONS said it was too early to see the impact on inflation of the plunge in the value of the pound triggered by Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. ONS statistician Phil Gooding said: “The rising cost of European flights, possibly boosted by the Euro football championships, was the biggest reason for this month’s increase in inflation. “The growing cost of oil, feeding through to petrol prices, also helped nudge up CPI. “Today’s figures were collected before the EU referendum, so recent falls in the value of the pound will have had no impact on them.” Overall transport prices rose by 1.1 per cent between May and June this year, compared with an increase of 0.2 per cent over the same period in 2015. And the cost of petrol and diesel at the pumps climbed by 2.3p and 2.6p per litre respectively during that time span.

NATIONAL BUSINESS NEWS �

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

WIRES CROSSED BT is ‘significantly underinvesting’ in Openreach

Vauxhall admits Zafiras first caught fire in 2009 VAUXHALL has revealed it first recorded a Zafira car bursting into flames due to a problem with its heating and ventilation system in 2009, several years before owners were contacted over the issue. Campaigners claim more than 300 Zafiras have caught fire in recent years. The House of Commons’ Transport Select Committee asked Vauxhall director Peter Hope to explain the delay. “Often when fires are reported (the cause is) not clear, either because the vehicles themselves are totally destroyed or because we don’t have access to the vehicle to inspect it,” he explained. “From 2014 onwards, there was a recognition of a pattern and that was then investigated extensively with our engineers.”

Huge surge for Goldman US INVESTMENT bank Goldman Sachs has seen a 74 per cent surge in earnings in defiance of concerns about Brexit. The group reported net earnings of $1.82billion (£1.4billion) for the second quarter to the end of June, up from $1.05billion (£801million) a year earlier.

Record fine over lorries THE EU has imposed its biggest ever cartel fine of ¤2.93billion (£2.46billion) on several lorry producers including Volvo/Renault and Daimler after they ‘colluded on the pricing and on passing on the costs for meeting environmental standards to customers’.

BT and Openreach should be disconnected, say MPs BT AND its Openreach network should be split up unless the telecoms giant addresses significant under-investment and poor service, a report by MPs has warned. The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee said BT is failing to invest in Openreach to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds a year. The MPs warned it should be forced into a full split if it fails to ‘offer the reforms and investment assurances necessary to satisfy our concerns’. The scathing report found that BT was ‘significantly under-investing’ in Openreach, which is responsible for rolling out super-fast broadband across the UK. It added that BT ‘appears to be deliberately investing in higher-risk, higher-return assets such as media properties, and not investing in profitable lower-risk infrastructure and services through Openreach’. Regulator Ofcom was also criticised in the report, with MPs saying it was ‘slow to introduce minimum service standards with financial penalties for Openreach – some nine years after its creation’.

The report added that BT has not brought its service levels up to scratch in recent years. MPs said tougher penalties for poor service would encourage BT to invest more in Openreach. It was also claimed that BT had ‘stifled local competition and thwarted other network providers’ planning’ through its lack of transparency on Openreach costs. Labour MP Ian Lucas, a member of the committee, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “The system to date has worked very, very well for BT and Openreach, but less well for customers, in particular business customers on small industrial parks who have a desperate need for super-fast broadband.” Rival companies such as Sky, Vodafone and TalkTalk have long called for a split between BT and Openreach. They pay to use the network and previously complained over poor service. They also urged the group to replace its ageing network of copper wire. BT recently pledged to spend £6billion over the next three years to see off the threat of a forced split of Openreach.

Growth forecast downgraded by IMF after Brexit THE UK’s growth forecast has been sharply downgraded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following the Brexit vote. It said the global economy is also expected to be hit by the impact of the EU referendum result. The IMF cut its growth forecast for the UK in 2016 by 0.2 percentage points to 1.7 per cent, then slashed it dramatically by 0.9 percentage points to 1.3 per cent in 2017 as the impact of Brexit is felt. However, the organisation warned that the downturn could be even sharper if talks with the EU on Brexit arrangements encounter difficulties and no trade deal is struck, with the UK facing being plunged into recession. In the IMF’s latest assessment of the global economy, the UK experienced the largest downgrade among advanced economies. Although growth in the first part of 2016 in the UK had been ‘slightly stronger’ than expected in April at the time of the previous forecast, ‘the increase in uncertainty following the referendum is projected to significantly weaken domestic demand relative to previous forecasts’. In a sign of the wider impact of Brexit, the IMF has downgraded its global growth forecasts for 2016 and 2017 to 3.1 per cent and 3.4 per cent. A legal challenge over Brexit is to be heard by the High Court in October, two judges have decided. Government lawyers said Prime Minister Theresa May made clear she did not intend to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty before the end of 2016. That would give the High Court time to make a ruling, and for the Supreme Court to hear any subsequent appeal.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

24 � WORLD NEWS

Clamour for death penalty as crackdown continues WAVE OF SUPPORT Turkey’s President Erdogan addresses crowds in Istanbul

TURKEY’S President Erdogan has added his voice to the growing calls for the return of the death penalty following the attempted coup on July 15. The crackdown has widened after courts in Turkey remanded 85 generals and admirals in custody for their roles in the uprising, in which 208 government supporters and 24 plotters were killed. The country’s military command has announced that all elements responsible

Wednesday 20th July 2016

have been neutralised after ‘the necessary response had been given to the snakes in our midst’. The Ministry of Education is reported to have sacked 15,200 people across the country, while the Interior Ministry fired 8,777. The authorities also demanded the resignations of 1,577 university deans. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted that the government is considering reinstating the death penalty. Capital

punishment was abolished in 2004 as part of Turkey’s bid to join the EU. “In a country where our youths are killed with tanks and bombs, if we stay silent, as political people, we will be held responsible in the afterlife,” Mr Erdogan said. Addressing hundreds of supporters outside his Istanbul residence in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday), he responded to calls for the death penalty with the simple statement: “You cannot put aside the people’s demands.” In Parliament the Chairman of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party, Devlet Bahceli, said his party would back legislation to reintroduce the death penalty if it was put forward by the ruling Justice and Development Party. Mr Erdogan’s regime has claimed a US-based Muslim cleric was behind the coup. The Turkish Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim, has vowed to purge supporters of Fethullah Gulen’s ‘by the roots’. He has sent the US evidence of criminal activities – allegations the cleric denies – in support of an extradition bid. The latest high-profile arrest was the air force advisor Lt Col Erkan Kivrak. He joins former air force commander General Akin Ozturk, the alleged ringleader, and General Adem Huduti, commander of Turkey’s Second Army which deals with threats from Syria, Iran and Iraq, in captivity.

OUT IN FORCE German police search the area near the train

Train axeman ‘had IS flag’ in his room AN AFGHAN teenager who attacked train passengers with an axe and a knife in southern Germany may have been self-radicalised, a security official has said. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said documents and a hand-painted flag of the Islamic State (IS) group had been found in the 17-year-old asylum seeker’s room. Four people on the train were injured, along with a woman outside as the attacker fled. IS has claimed responsibility for the attack. Mr Herrmann said people close to the assailant told investigators he had seemed like a calm person, not overtly religious or an extremist. He was shot and killed by a special police unit which happened to be in the vicinity.

“Even during the first emergency call, a witness said that the attacker was shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is greatest) on the train,” Mr Herrmann told ZDF Television. The attacker came to Germany two years ago as an unaccompanied minor, and applied for asylum in March last year. He lived in a home for young refugees until two weeks ago when he was placed with a foster family in the Würzburg area. Witnesses said the interior of the train was covered with blood and looked ‘like a slaughterhouse’. German officials did not identify the victims, but Hong Kong’s immigration department said four members of a family of five from the Chinese city were among the injured.

SPORTS NEWS 

Watson and Davies brothers picked for GB sevens squad MARCUS WATSON, brother of England wing Anthony, has been selected for Team GB’s squad when rugby union sevens makes its debut at the Olympic Games in Rio next month. James Davies, brother of Wales centre Jonathan, has also been included in the 12-man squad along with Scotland’s Mark Bennett. The group were the final selected athletes for Team GB for the Rio Games, which open on August 5. Emily Scarratt will captain the women’s team, which includes Katy McLean, who captained England to the 15-a-side World Cup win in 2014. The women’s sevens squad, who have been training full-time in the format since last October, comprises only one non-English player, Jasmine Joyce of Wales. Tom Mitchell captains the men, featuring James Rodwell, who set a new world record this year by playing in 69 consecutive World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments. The inaugural competition takes place over a six-day period with the women competing first from August 6 to 8 at the Deodoro Stadium in a pool which includes hosts Brazil, Japan and Canada. The men’s competition follows from August 9 to 11 with Kenya, Japan and New Zealand – featuring Sonny Bill Williams – in Britain’s group.

Bruce is latest homegrown name in the England frame HULL CITY manager Steve Bruce has held ‘informal’ talks with the Football Association about the vacant England manager’s job, according to the club. The Tigers say no official approach has been made by the FA and have echoed Sunderland, whose manager Sam Allardyce remains the front runner, in calling for a swift decision. The FA is understood to be mindful of the clubs’ position ahead of the new domestic campaign and could make an offer to its preferred candidate within days, before finalising details next week. A statement from Hull read: “We would hope to see the FA conclude their business quickly in order to avoid further speculation regarding Steve ahead of what is a season of huge importance for the club following our return to the Premier League.” Allardyce was the subject of an official approach and subsequently held talks with the three-man panel of FA technical director Dan Ashworth, chief executive Martin Glenn and vice-chairman David Gill last week. Like Allardyce, Bruce is an experienced home-grown manager who has made his reputation coaching in the lower reaches of the Premier League. The former Manchester United captain led Hull back into the top flight for a second time with victory in the Championship play-off final in May. It will be an extremely lucrative time for any club which finds itself in the Premier League as the money

from the new television rights deal becomes available in the new season. Eddie Howe, the 38-year-old Bournemouth manager, has also been discussed as a youthful candidate, while German legend Jürgen Klinsmann remains an option from overseas. The new manager’s first match will be a Wembley friendly on September 1, three days before the World Cup qualifier in Slovakia. Bruce, who was never capped by his country, has made it clear he would jump at the chance of leading his country, telling Radio Humberside: “There’s nobody more patriotic than I am. “I’m honoured to be linked with it. It’s the pinnacle to go and manage your country. What bigger job in the HULL AND BACK world is there?” Steve Bruce led Hull up, His coaching down and up again career began with brief assignments at Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Wigan and Crystal Palace but he put a reputation for itchy feet behind him during a six-year spell at Birmingham. He went on to manage Wigan and Sunderland before moving to East Yorkshire, where he has overseen two promotions to the Premier League, one relegation and a first ever FA Cup final appearance in 2014.

SPORT IN BRIEF

Jockeys face more tests to ‘manage concussion’ THE British Horseracing Authority’s medical team will look at “better ways to manage concussion” by imposing more rigorous testing on jockeys from next month. They will have to undergo a three-part test of balance when they apply for their yearly professional license. There will be more stringent background checks on historical problems regarded as potential contributory factors to concussion, such as depression and migraines.

Russian to repay London RUSSIAN runner Liliya Shobukhova has been ordered to repay £378,000 to the organisers of the London Marathon after being banned for doping. Shobukhova was paid the money in appearance fees and prize money for the races in 2010 – which she won – and 2011. She was subsequently banned for three years and two months after abnormalities were detected in her biological passport.

Burnley’s two new recruits Burnley, who are returning to the Premier League after a season’s absense, have made Charlton’s Johann Berg Gudmundsson and the Addicks’ highly rated goalkeeper Nick Pope their first signings of the summer. The Iceland midfielder Gudmundsson, 25, started every game for his country during their impressive run to the quarter-finals at Euro 2016 this summer.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

26 � LETTERS

And another thing… The Times of Tunbridge Wells and the Times of Tonbridge always want to hear your feedback, whether on reports we have printed or any other issues you think we should know about. Email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU There’s really nothing funny about the Pembury potholes – we’re stuck in a rut I AM A Parish Councillor in Pembury, and also an amateur artist – and I have used my skills in a humorous way (see below) to demonstrate the

Farage: Conviction politician

Greg Clark [MP] dismisses Nigel Farage in his article (July 6) as ‘shamingly boorish’. Mr Clark would do well to remember that the only reason we had a referendum was because Farage and UKIP forced the Tory party into holding one because its uncompromising stand on Europe was appealing too much to Tory heartland voters – as proved the case by the outcome. Mr Farage is a Marmite politician, loathe him or love him, and some of the company he keeps is distinctly unsavoury, but he is that rare animal that Mr Clark will never be: a conviction politician. With his job done, he has resigned; Mr Clark, like the Vicar of Bray, will sway with whatever winds of change come along. John Ward Moorhouse Tunbridge Wells

Trains: On the wrong track

I have just read the front page of the Times of Tunbridge Wells (July 6) about commuting into London. Murray Jones, the writer, has quoted a return ticket to London costing £32.50. This isn’t correct. It’s £35.70! I just bought my extortionate ticket this morning. Alex Loughlin Via Email Ed: Quite right, sir. An ‘anytime’ return is £35.70. It turns out that the £32.50 we quoted is for a single ‘anytime’ ticket with an off-peak single coming back that was also discounted because of a ‘summer promotion’. Apologies for any confusion.

Parking: Disappearing spaces

Surely I can’t be the only person in Tunbridge Wells to have noticed that our much valued free street parking places are disappearing at an alarming rate. They are increasingly being replaced by a lot more disabled spaces, as well as Club Car spaces, taxi spaces (oddly, as they always sit empty at the top of the town) and now new Permit Holders Only spaces in the Town Hall area.

not-so-funny state of our roads and pavements in the village of Pembury where I live. We live in the Garden of England and it is such a shame that Kent County Council appear to have abandoned our villages to potholes and weeds. KCC says it has no money but in reality there does not seem to be the willpower among councillors to make things good. Soon we will hold our annual event, Pride in Pembury, when local residents and businesses show off their gardens and business premises with floral arrangements. So please, KCC, take pride in Pembury – fill in the potholes and deal with the weeds. Patrick Gillan, Pembury Plus we lost several free spaces on Mount Ephraim when they installed a zebra crossing there a while ago. Given that the council have always appeared proud of their boast that there are (or were) 1,000 free parking spaces in Tunbridge Wells, I find this sudden, and seemingly secret, new policy to reduce them somewhat sinister. And it is not on the residential streets. These are on our town centre roads, where we park for a quick shop or trip to the bank. So is this a devilish ploy to force drivers to use the council-owned car parks instead to generate more ‘council business’ revenue in the face of government cuts? I don’t have any argument with disabled spaces on the street as such, but I had previously understood that the council deliberately kept their free spaces off the streets and in the car parks instead for reasons of safety and convenience, and to keep the street spaces free for others to use. And I believe disabled drivers liked that arrangement, too. So why are they, and the other restricted parking spots which are now appearing all over the streets, forcing the rest of us to hunt harder and longer for a free space? I would very much like to know how many of the famous 1,000 free spaces have been got rid of in the last two years and how many free parking spaces are left today? And will the cavalier cull continue till there are no free spaces left, like some other towns? Christine Walker Via email

And the council’s response…

Councillor Alan McDermott, the Cabinet member with responsibility for Planning and Transportation, told the Times: “Around ten on-street parking spaces have been redesignated for other uses like the Car Club, pedestrian crossings or for Blue Badge holders. These changes will have been approved by Kent

County Council as the highways authority and may also have been publicly consulted on. “The Council is not carrying out a cull of on-street parking but we would prefer motorists to use car parks or another more sustainable method of transport to help with the flow of traffic and so reduce congestion and pollution. This is explained in more detail in the Council’s Parking Strategy, which again was publicly consulted on before it was approved earlier this year.”

Europe: No mood to reform

I have no idea why Royal Tunbridge Wells fell out of step with the rest of Kent on the referendum, but can only think that many felt, like Hilaire Belloc, ‘Always keep a-hold of Nurse, for fear of finding something worse’. That the Nurse, in this case, is undemocratic, inflexible, bullying (cf Denmark and Ireland), spendthrift and unaccountable, is in no mood to reform and never goes back (acquis communitaire) bodes ill for all its members; there may soon be several more, a real all-in stew. We shall be well out of it. A Remainer clamour for a second referendum is straight out of the EU rulebook. Had they won closely, would they have offered a rerun? Should France demand a replay of the Euro 16 final? Maxwell Macfarlane Southborough

Bridge closure: It’s not a game

Thank you for your story last week (July 13) about the planned closure for six months of Grosvenor Bridge. It is only through prolonged public pressure that anything will be done about this. Those at Kent County Council and Network Rail don’t seem to realise that their incessant blame-shifting has a real impact on the people of this town. While their apparent shirking of responsibility might just be an office game to them, it is not a game to local residents and businesses. Businesses will be significantly hit if this closure continues over the crucial Christmas period. Potential customers are not going to go through the hell of crawling traffic to get into the town centre, especially when the alternative of online shopping from the comfort of your sofa becomes ever more tantalising. Local road-users as well, who already face the daily torturous rush-hour journey, will have their frustration intensified by this bureaucratic incompetence. As a rush-hour commuter myself, reading your report was genuinely devastating. I know it may seem trivial to some, but being stuck in a jam where it takes 15 minutes to move just a few feet every single day really has an impact on my mental wellbeing and I’m sure I am not alone. Peter Blackwell 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 20th July 2016

Calverley

SLOW off the mark is not a phrase you can attach to our (relatively) new police chief, Matthew Scott. Within hours of Amber Rudd being announced as his new boss, the Home Secretary, the Kent Police Commissioner had penned a congratulatory media release and declared: “I look forward to working with her.” He also helpfully includes a picture (as above with the Danish) of “Matthew and Amber visiting Computers 4 Africa, a charity based in Aylesford, in April”. He’ll go far that man. ANGLING is not something that particularly appeals to Calverley – until now. So what’s changed? Simples. Those lovely folk who own Bewl Water have put a price on the head of one of their trout in a bid to encourage visitors. The fish has been tagged and the person who reels him in will be handed £2,500. Only problem (aside from the fact Himself can’t lay his hands on his tackle) is that there are another 25,000 other fish swimming around. PLAYERS of that genteel game called croquet are aghast. Word on the lawns, where they knock little balls through big hoops, is that one player takes the game a tad too seriously. The media man apparently threw his croquet mallet out of the pram when he was knocked out of a local tournament in the early stages. Calverley loves people with a strong competitive streak but croquet… EMBARRASSING to the extreme. Two of Calverley’s female colleagues (yes he does have colleagues) went along to a hotel on a sales mission and encountered a major misunderstanding. The receptionist asked the pair to wait in the lounge, where they were joined by another member of staff who proceeded to ask them some strange questions; like where and how they met, etc, etc. Eventually it dawned on the pair that the hotel staff believed them to be a couple who were looking for a wedding venue. Hard to say who was more embarrassed. Chin, chin readers

Education in association with:

www.brightyoungthings.co.uk

EDUCATION �

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

School celebrates SATs scores A TUNBRIDGE WELLS primary school has achieved its best ever SATs results, with some students obtaining 12% above the national average, despite the tests becoming tougher this year. Year 6 pupils at Temple Grove Academy, on Friar’s Way in Tunbridge Wells, scored 65.3% in reading, writing and mathematics compared to the national standard of 53%. Sam Linton, Headteacher at Temple Grove Academy, joined the school in November 2013 and has overseen a huge turnaround in results. She said: “I am so pleased for our hardworking 11 year olds who should feel extremely proud of themselves, as well the staff who have put in a massive amount of effort over the last couple of years. “Although the Government has introduced much tougher standards this year, which means it’s difficult to compare year-on-year results, the real story for us is the ongoing improvement we’ve made. “We have been on a roller coaster to turn the academy around but it has been completely transformed.

The children are proud to come here and their behaviour is outstanding – they are proud of representing the academy in the community.” Temple Grove pupils overall scored 77% in reading, compared to the national standard of 66%; 81% in mathematics, compared to 70% nationally; 73% in grammar, punctuation and spelling compared to 72% nationally; and 69% in writing compared to 74% nationally. The average percentage relates to the number of pupils who reached the expected standard in all three subjects. The academy is sponsored by Temple Grove Schools Trust, a charitable organisation dedicated to inspiring excellence in primary education. Enrichment funding from the Trust has enabled Temple Grove to introduce new ways of teaching and provide opportunities to learn beyond the curriculum. Sam continued: “Recently we’ve focused heavily on maths as that was our priority after last year’s results. We looked at the latest initiatives out

Children’s university gets top marks again A ‘GRADUATION’ evening was held last week at St Gregory’s RC Comprehensive School in order to celebrate the Children’s University program they have jointly run over the last academic year with Bidborough CE Primary School. Eight sessions were run at both schools for Key Stage 2 (KS2) children and included a variety of subject matters, such as Italian, Food Technology, Tennis and Science. The KS2 children were presented with certificates for their academic achievements by the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, David Neve.

Musical centre hits the right notes CLASS ACT Headteacher Sam Linton with Temple Grove Academy’s Year 6 pupils, who have achieved the academy’s best ever SATs results, some above the national average there and introduced Singapore Maths across the school, which is a new way of teaching. It is all about helping children master maths and gives them a thorough grasp of numbers, making sure any gaps in their knowledge are covered before moving on to the next topic.

“Since the SATs results were announced I haven’t been able to stop smiling. It’s a great reward for all our hard work and I’m delighted that more and more pupils now want to join the academy and be part of the great things ahead,” concluded Sam.

KENT MUSIC is launching a new centre in Tunbridge Wells which will offer after-school singing and music-making for primary school children. Led by music teacher Cheryl Hooker-Blake, Tunbridge Wells Music Centre will feature a choir for young singers as well as a junior mixed ensemble for a range of instruments. Sessions will be held at Southborough Primary School each Thursday during term time from 4-6pm, starting on September 15.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

28  ADVERTISING FEATURE

Sitting smart on intelligent design Offering top-quality ergonomic office seating and accessories from many leading manufacturers, SitSmart prides itself on a personal service that allows you to find the chair to suit your needs. CEO Paul Fleming tells us how you can sit comfortably and decrease back pain both at home and work and have a good level of local business. We’re working very hard to make more local businesses and home workers aware of what SitSmart can offer. In Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area, we’re able to offer a trial period, where, after a consultation, the customer can trial a seat that’s recommended and suited to their particular requirements before committing to purchase.

Talks us through some of the accessories you sell SitSmart offers a range of ergonomic accessories and office storage solutions, as well as seating for the workplace. We have a range of ergonomic desktop equipment, as we consider the chair as only one part of the picture when aiming to provide an ergonomic workspace, whether in a commercial setting or home work space.

Which sectors do you tend to focus on? We cover corporate business, as well as stylish home furniture. However, we’re now also expanding into the upgrade of school furniture. We recently undertook a large upgrade project for Weald of Kent School, and are pleased to announce that we’re currently working with Tonbridge School, refitting and redesigning the seating for their new library.

ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY? SitSmart HQ Tell us the background of SitSmart SitSmart was founded in Godalming, Surrey 25 years ago. It became part of TEK Group 12 years ago when I bought the company and relocated it to its newly-built Tunbridge Wells warehouse and head office facility. It was a natural extension of the existing business, TEK Seating, as health and safety in the work place was starting to develop, with employers supplying staff with appropriate seating, recognising the demand for the workforce increasingly sitting for long hours at their desks with the rise of the digital age. What are the company’s overall goals? The main aim of SitSmart is to provide not just the product, but also the service and assessment to ensure people are using their

Wednesday 20th July 2016

workstation correctly. We look to find the correct seat and accessories for each individual’s needs, taking into account body composition and previous injuries to ensure our customer has the product to prevent discomfort at work or home when seated. Do you operate both locally and nationally? We operate nationwide, but we’re a family firm based in Tunbridge Wells. We have a showroom and offer consultations locally,

CHAIR MAN Paul Fleming

Who are some of your clients? We cover all seating requirements, from 24-hour seating for control rooms and 999 emergency services call centres, to commercial large-volume requirements and high-end ergonomic seating. For instance, we supply Headily Court, assessing and supplying seating for injured service personnel returning from conflict with injures. Some of our larger customers are Network Rail, UK MOD, UK Government buildings, Channel 4, General Medical Council and Thames Water.

‘Nearly 5million working days are lost each year through back pain. With a statistic like this, it can cause a huge problem for employers, as well as employees’ Are there many bestsellers to look out for? From our office chair range, the 24-hour seating and high-comfort, high-ergonomic seating rages are our most popular. We cater for large corporations, as well as considerable demands from individuals with a home office. Employers can feel confident that they’re fulfilling their obligations to their employees, because we’re able to take a holistic approach to work

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Paul Fleming

stations within an office or home environment. Ergonomic keyboards and mice, along with height-adjustable desks, are all very popular accessories amongst our customers.

In what ways do you balance ergonomic support with fashionable style and design? Ergonomic support doesn’t mean style and design has to be compromised. It’s important

that even the most heavy-duty chair, such as our 24-hour range, is still attractive. This is important for corporate image and the working environment. Our stylish living range, which still ticks the ergonomic box, is extremely attractive and harmonises with contemporary designs and trends. With our range of balance chairs, you can make a statement while still achieving comfort and good posture.

How would you advise your customers to help reduce the risks of back pain? It’s proven that the risk of back pain is considerably reduced by having the correct chair and ergonomic accessories for each individual. In order to achieve the most comfortable working environment, individual assessment must be carried out in order to tailor different needs and create an appropriate setup.

Why is it so important for employers and employees to use the right chairs in the workplace? Nearly 5million working days are lost each year through back pain. With a statistic like this, it can cause a huge problem for employers, as well as employees. With the growth of the computer age, it’s normal for office workers to spend lengthy periods at their desks. It’s important for their wellbeing, both inside and outside the office, that back discomfort is eliminated as much as possible.

Finally, what are your hopes for the future of the business going forward? To maintain growth in this sector by continuing to raise awareness of the importance of good posture and ergonomics in the workplace environment, on both a national and local level. We’re directing a lot of resources at conventional marketing strategies, as well as a full redesign of our website and review of our social media presence. We’ve also recently taken on a new business development manager.

LONG TERM ERGONOMIC PLAN support staff

WHO ARE SITSMART?

SitSmart is part of the TEK Group of companies, all of which specialise in seating across a very diverse customer base and requirement level, with head office facilities in Tunbridge Wells and production facilities in Leicestershire. TEK Military Seating LLP designs and manufactures seats that will protect you from the effects of an IED mine blast in a military vehicle. TEK Seating Ltd supplies work vehicle driver seats across a huge rage of industries, including construction, agricultural, commercial, material handling, bus, coach and marine. SitSmart 14 Decimus Park, Kingstanding Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3GP 01892 510 202 www.sitsmart.co.uk sales@sitsmart.co.uk

Wednesday 20th July 2016

CASH PRIZE FOR WHOEVER CAN CATCH BEWL:S GOLDEN TROUT One lucky angler could find themselves Â£2,500 ....------~-~ better off if they rise to the challenge of landing ------the Golden Trout at Bewl Water.

SUMMER IN ASSOCIATION WITH

www.tunbridgewellskidsonthego.co.uk

YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO FAMILY DAYS OUT ACROSS KENT & EAST SUSSEX

SPECIAL PULL OUT EDITION

SPLASH OUT There’s an array of secluded scenic spots in our region to enjoy this summer

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: JULY >> WEDNESDAY JULY 20 PENSHURST PLACE: Every day until September 4 children can enjoy the fun Maize Maze that forms part of the house’s glorious gardens. Hunt out the clues hidden in the tricky maize and see if you can solve the various riddles strewn about. Gardens and grounds tickets cost £6 per child. www.penshurstplace.com >> THURSDAY JULY 21 CHARTWELL: Winnie The Pooh’s Trail is open every day during the holidays right until September 4 at the former home of Winston Churchill near Westerham. Encourage your children to follow the trail to spot the bees and help locate Winnie’s missing honey pot. Tickets cost £1 in addition to usual admission price of £6.70. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell >> FRIDAY JULY 22 TONBRIDGE CASTLE: Treat the family to a night at the cinema – with a difference. For the next three nights the Luna Open Air Cinema is showing three classic films. Tonight it’s Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, tomorrow you can enjoy Grease, and on Sunday you can settle down to the classic Back To The Future. Tickets cost £9 for children and £13.50 for adults. www.thelunacinema.com >> SATURDAY JULY 23 LAMBERHURST: Go along to the picturesque

reservoir at Bewl, near Lamberhurst and have a go at attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Parade of Paddle Boarders.’ Organised by active holiday experts Neilson, visitors will also have the opportunity to try out Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) and SUP Yoga. For more information visit www.bewlwater.co.uk >> SUNDAY JULY 24 SCOTNEY CASTLE: As part of National Dragonfly Week, Scotney Castle will be participating in a day of related activities. So if you, or any children you know, are into these intriguing insects then go along and enjoy the info on offer and learn some fascinating facts. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle

event. No need to book, just turn up to the visitor’s centre between 10am and 2pm, pick up a collecting bag and follow the outdoor exhibition trail which highlights the vital conservation work carried out around the pinetum. Hunt out natural finds such as cones and leaves in order to make a fantastic picture collage. Costs £2 per child and usual car fee applies. www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk >> WEDNESDAY JULY 27 HAYSDEN COUNTRY PARK: Today is National Play Day, but apart from going to your local park or having a get together with friends, why not pop along to the pond at Haysden and discover what lies beneath - in terms of local wild life and fish. The event runs from 10am – 2pm and is free to all. www.tmbc.gov.uk

>> MONDAY JULY 25 BEWL WATER: Kicking off today and running from Monday to Friday every week until Friday August 26 there will be a raft of children’s activities happening at the beautiful Bewl Reservoir. These include camps which can be enjoyed as a full day from 9am – 4pm for £39.99, or a half day from 9am – 1.30pm for £24.99. Activities include rounders, cricket, natural walks, pedalos and bike trails. Booking and advance payment is essential. www.bewlwater.co.uk

>> THURSDAY JULY 28 BURWASH: Recreate the magic of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book by visiting his childhood home at Batemans. Simply follow the special trail that’s been created for this summer in order to find Baloo, Akela and other characters from the book who are hiding in the garden. On August 3 there will also be a special Jungle Book story book day from 10am – 4pm. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/batemans

>> TUESDAY JULY 26 BEDGEBURY PINETUM: Starting today and running until August 5 is the Crafty Pictures

>> FRIDAY JULY 29 PADDOCK WOOD: The Chilled in a Field popular family festival takes place over the weekend at

the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood and is geared towards both parents and their children having fun. Expect lots of cool music from the likes of Secret Sessions and The Egg, plus glitter wrestling, glamping, free family theatre shows and hot showers! To book tickets visit www.chilledinafieldfestival.co.uk >> SATURDAY JULY 30 HEVER CASTLE: Bring your children’s history lessons alive by taking them along to one of the

HAPPY CAMPERS Your children will love experiencing the great outdoors

32  SUMMER FAMILY EVENTS SPECIAL

The Times in association with:

www.tunbridgewellskidsonthego.co.uk

SUMMER CALENDAR OF FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS

PIC CREDIT: RACHEL OTTERWAY

stunning reserve which forms part of the Kent Wildlife Trust. So if you want to learn all manner of forest skills including den building and fire making out in the great outdoors, this is the course for you! Registration fee costs £15 per person. To book visit: www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

WINGING IT Tiny tots will have a ball at the Chilled in a Field festival jousting days at King Henry VIII’s former home in Hever. The Knights of Royal England will be running these energetic and entertaining events most weekends throughout the summer. Entry is included with a standard admission TICKET, £9.30 for children, £16.50 for adults. www.hevercastle.co.uk >> SUNDAY JULY 31 HICKSTEAD: It’s the final day of the UK’s most esteemed equine event. So if your children like horses, then make sure you head to Hayward’s Heath for the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead, where you can see some spectacular

showjumping as well as enjoy a spot of shopping thanks to the 250 specialist retailers that will be present. Entry ticket prices vary, so for more information visit www.hickstead.co.uk

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: AUGUST >> MONDAY AUGUST 1 GROOMBRIDGE PLACE: This summer you can experience the beauty of this stunning stately home and also benefit from a little theatrical entertainment at the same time. Theatre troupe Brymark is putting on two shows a day throughout the summer based on the life of Peter Pan entitled The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. They will also be holding drama workshops. Tickets cost £10.95 per child and £14.95 per adult. >> TUESDAY AUGUST 2 PEMBURY: If you’re mad about horses then try out the Pony day happening at Wellgrove Farm stables just outside Tunbridge Wells. A full day costs £40, and includes two rides or you can do a half day for £32 and enjoy one. For more details visit www.wellgrovestables.co.uk

HORSING AROUND Enjoy an equine experience over the holidays

Wednesday 20th July 2016

>> WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3 SEVENOAKS WILDLIFE RESERVE: From 10am til 1pm there will be a Family Bushcraft event at this

>> THURSDAY AUGUST 4 RIVERHILL HIMALAYAN GARDENS: Until August 7 there will be face painting and nail art events for children to enjoy while they roam around these stunning grounds. Running from 11am until 4pm, a team of talented artists will be on hand until the weekend to etch all manner of woodland creatures on your little ones’ hands and faces. This event is free once you have paid the usual entry fee of £5.75 per child. www.riverhillgardens.co.uk >> FRIDAY AUGUST 5 ALFRISTON: Two of PAW Patrol’s finest – Chase and Marshall – are making their debut at Drusillas today. The policing pups from the Nickleodeon TV series will be patrolling around the grounds, meeting and greeting visitors. Entrance to the zoo, which boasts over 190 different species, costs from £11 per child. www.drusillas.co.uk >> SATURDAY AUGUST 6 BRIGHTON: Throughout the summer you can dive in and learn all types of fascinating fishy facts at one of the area’s most popular family attractions, Brighton Sealife Centre. During August you can also follow the Disney Pixar interactive trail, where you can discover lots about the real life versions of Dory and Nemo. Entry costs from £10.50. To book tickets go to www.visitsealife.com

ON YOUR BIKE! Head to Bewl Water's 12 mile cycle path

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

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WITH THE

Available in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks

In great shape Live in your own square

Cheers to a home named after stylish summer drink

Fairytale cottage lies in the woods by Common

bracketts est. 1828

A chance to seize the 17th-century Old Tong Barn

Wednesday 20th July 2016

 PROPERTY SECTION

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

In my view… Will Peppitt Head of Residential in the South East, Savills

Your at-a-glance guide to EARDLEY ROAD SEVENOAKS

£335,000

The prime regional housing markets have remained in positive growth both year on year and since the autumn statement of December 2014, according to Savills Research. However, pre-referendum uncertainty all but stalled price growth across all regions in the second quarter of 2016. At a regional level, London’s outer commuting zone, 30-60 minutes from the capital, which includes areas such as Cranbrook and Haywards Heath, remained most robust, up 0.8% in the quarter and 3.5% on last year. The inner commuting zone, including Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells, saw 0.3% growth and 2.7% on last year. By contrast, prime suburban markets around London were down -0.4% between April and June. Prime regional markets are at a different stage in their cycle, having been slower to recover since the 2007 peak, and therefore appear to have been slightly less affected by pre-referendum uncertainty. While the prime regional markets continue to offer real value compared to London, these figures suggest that the ripple of house price growth out from the capital was put on hold pre- referendum. Across the market, the outperformance of urban locations against rural continues to be an overarching trend. On average year on year, homes in urban locations saw a 3.6% increase in price growth, compared to 0.9% in rural locations. The referendum vote to leave the EU is expected to result in added caution in the residential property markets. Looking ahead, the true strength of market demand is only likely to become clear over a period of months, though early indications are that there remains a seam of demand for good quality, well-priced stock and much less market disruption than in the capital.

Savills 0207 409 5945 www.savills.co.uk

UNDER £250,000 PRIORY STREET, TONBRIDGE

£225,000 newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Wednesday 20th July 2016

A two-bedroom garden apartment unusually set over two floors and close to Tonbridge mainline station and the High Street. The well presented accommodation comprises a private side entrance, a hallway, a sitting room, a fitted

kitchen, a shower room and a bedroom on the ground floor, with a further bedroom on the lower ground floor. Outside, there is a courtyard garden and the property is being sold with the benefit of a share of the freehold. CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

UNDER £450,000 MILL STREAM PLACE, TONBRIDGE

£425,000

This delightful modern family house is in a private development, and offers stylish and versatile accommodation. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, a living room, a spacious kitchen/ dining room and a cloakroom. There

are two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor, and the master bedroom – with dressing area and en-suite shower room – is on the top floor. There is also a garage and allocated parking space, with a raised deck and enclosed garden to the rear of the house. CONTACT Robinson Jackson 01732 757300 www.robinson-jackson.com

PROPERTY SECTION 

great properties by price range… UNDER £600,000 SPELDHURST ROAD, LANGTON GREEN

£550,000-£595,000

An attractive, considerably improved detached former lodge house. The good-sized accommodation is on one level, and beautifully presented with period features. There is an entrance hall, a kitchen/dining room open-plan to a triple-aspect sitting room, a cloakroom, four bedrooms and a family bathroom. Plus driveway parking and pretty landscaped gardens. CONTACT Batcheller Monkhouse 01892 512020 www.batchellermonkhouse.com

UNDER £800,000 PRINCES STREET, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£795,000

A Victorian semi-detached townhouse in a sought-after road close to the centre of town. Very well presented throughout, and with period features, this house has a side entrance door leading to a hallway, with a sitting room to the front, a dining room and a dual-aspect kitchen. Upstairs there are two bedrooms and a bathroom, with a further two bedrooms, a family room and a shower room on the top floor. To the rear is a pretty garden with a terrace for outdoor entertaining. CONTACT Maddisons Residential 01892 514100 www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk

UNDER £1MILLION UNDER £350,000

MADEIRA PARK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£995,000

EARDLEY ROAD, SEVENOAKS

£335,000 An attractive duplex apartment located in a convenient position for commuters, being less than half a mile from Sevenoaks railway station. The property has been completely refurbished and offers modern open-plan living and stylish fittings. Approached up steps and over a large roof terrace on the first floor, the property has an entrance hall, a kitchen/ dining/sitting room, a bedroom

and a bathroom, with stairs up to a useful study area on the third floor. Parking space is available by separate negotiation. CONTACT Savills Sevenoaks 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

A substantial, detached Edwardian family home located in a very desirable residential road on the favoured southern side of town. The property features an entrance porch, a hallway, a sitting room, a dining room, a kitchen/breakfast room and a ground floor shower room, with five bedrooms, a family bathroom and a separate WC upstairs. To the rear of the house is a delightful garden with a summerhouse and garden storage. CONTACT Brooks Peacock 01892 531199 www.brookspeacock.com

Wednesday 20th July 2016

Pluckley ÂŁ1,250,000 Freehold

~~~

With all the curves in the right places and dressed to impressed with no expense spared. This glorious, twin roundel oast house can be found in a leafy lane location down a gravelled driveway lined with trees. This wonderful family home boasts original features with exposed brick work, stone flooring and exposed light oak timbers. It comprises, an entrance hall, a wonderful country kitchen/breaifast room with a claret coloured A GA, a sitting room, drawing room, dining room, cloakroom, a fabulously light and bright rear entrance hall, a principal suite, a guest suite, 3 further bedrooms and a family bathroom. Externally, this property is a haven, with the sound of trickling water and bird song, a charming log cabin with a veranda overlooking the pond, this is the perfect retreat. A wonderful family home filled with period charm.

Woodchurch ÂŁ1,450,000 Freehold An impressive Grade II listed detached Georgian Farmhouse, filled with old charm with awesome potential within fabulous grounds, outbuildings and a stocked lake. This Kentish gem comprises an entrance hall, country style kitchen with a British racing green coloured AGA, a breakfast room, sitting room, a drawing room with a tremendous inglenook fireplace, a light and airy dining room, a cloakroom, a delightful double aspect principal suite with its own dressing room and en-suite and 4 further bedrooms all with en-suites. Outside there are 8 acres ofgardens, paddocks, a pond to be enjoyed from the terrace and a fully stocked fishing lake which generates an income. The most delightful detached barn with 2 bedrooms and an open plan living space, a separate office, workshop and studio with bundles ofpotential sits within its grounds.

ďż˝ PROPERTY SECTION

CARRICK HOUSE SHERNFOLD PARK, FRANT

ÂŁ949,000

A bright family house offering the seclusion of a private park A

SUBSTANTIAL detached family house situated in a sought-after private park in the highly regarded village of Frant, close to Tunbridge Wells. The bright, spacious accommodation is arranged over two floors and is beautifully presented throughout. An entrance porch leads into a roomy reception hall with a feature fireplace, a cloakroom and stairs to the first floor. There is a large L-shaped sitting room with a dining area and a French door opening to a balcony with steps down to the garden. The Chalon fitted kitchen has an excellent range of cupboards and drawers with long white granite mixed-work surfaces, an integrated Rangemaster cooker with five-ring induction hob and a dishwasher.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

From the inner hall there are double doors to a delightful terrace. Also on the ground floor is a family room to the front, a large utility room and a useful boot room. Plus access to the integral garage. Upstairs, the dual-aspect principal bedroom has an en-suite shower room with Ilux power shower. There are three further bedrooms which are all well served by a family bathroom. The house is approached via a private drive through five-bar gates to its own gravelled driveway, with an area of lawn to the front. There are gates either side of the house and a pathway leads to the summerhouse. A newly laid slate terrace to the rear provides a good outdoor entertaining area, and the garden is mainly laid to lawn and well screened by mature trees and shrubs.

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE n Substantial detached family house n Generous accommodation n Lovely setting n Sought-after village n Entrance porch n Reception hall n Cloakroom n Sitting room with dining area n Family room n Kitchen n Boot room n Utility room n Master bedroom with en-suite n Three further bedrooms n Family bathroom n Integral garage n Driveway parking n Gardens and summerhouse

£949,000 For sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

‘The Chalon fitted kitchen has long white granite surfaces and a Rangemaster cooker’

Wednesday 20th July 2016

Hildenborough £975,000 - £995,000 Improved and well maintained family house, half a mile from station. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms, conservatory, utility room, study, cloakroom, garaging IN ALL ABOUT I ACRE. EPC D

Luxury Apartment within the Historic Judd House, just off the High Street and within walking distance of the Station. First floor Apartment. Fitted kitchen - lounge, 2 bedrooms, bathroom & parking. Last one remaining of 6

South Tonbridge

Central Tonbridge

£635,000 - £675,000

Tonbridge

£315,000 - £340,000

£350,000 - £380,000

Substantial Bay Fronted semi-detached house 5 Bedrooms, en-suite, family bathroom, separate shower, 2 reception rooms, 25ft kitchen-breakfast room, cloakroom, garage, parking, corner plot. EPC E

Refurbished period cottage, few minutes' walk of the High Street and the Castle with its gardens, grounds & adj 50 acre sports ground. Hall, 2 reception rooms, utility, 3 bedrooms, Ist floor bathroom, enclosed rear garden.

Tonbridge

Hadlow

£395,000 - £425,000

Choice of 2 New Homes. Pair of Semi-detached house, just completed both offering similar accommodation. Cloakroom, lounge-diner, fitted kitchen, 3 Bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, parking, gardens.

£330,000 - £350,000

Modern End Of Terrace House within a small select development, within walking distance of village shops & amenities. Hall, cloakroom, kitchen, lounge-diner, 3 bedrooms ( I ensuite), garage & parking, garden. EPC B

Rusthall £210,000 Set opposite and overlooking The Common a newly created ground floor apartment, finished to a high specification, with Gas CH brand new fittings and floor coverings throughout, double bedroom and private rear garden. EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells £315,000 Great position close to a Local Park and High Brooms Station this 3 storey End Terrace House has flexible accom' new kitchen and sanitary fittings. 3 Beds and 2 Reception Rooms, Bathroom/WC and Separate WC plus a 95 foot rear garden. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells £660,000 - £675,000 Within the favoured St James Area and its primary school catchment this attractive detached house has "no forward chain". Generous accommodation, 2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, tandem garage. EPC: D

Burwash Weald £770,000 This spacious new-build home has accommodation, in excess of 2,600 sq ft, a Spacious hallway, Cloaks/WC and three Reception Rooms plus a hand-built Kitchen with integrated Neff Appliances, Six Beds in total with Three Bathrooms (2 of which are en-suite)

Tunbridge Wells Monthly Rental Of £2,600 A beautiful 5 bedroom town house in sought after Claremont Road. Kitchen/breakfast, open plan reception room, master bedroom with en-suite, 4 further bedrooms & 2 bathrooms. Courtyard garden, gas central heating & permit parking. EPC: E

Tunbridge Wells Monthly Rental Of£ 1,550 A stunning 2 bedroom garden apartment within a mansion house along leafy Broadwater Down. Hallway, kitch/breakfast, large living room, 2 very big bedrooms, family bathroom. High ceilings & period features. Large garden, garage, parking & cellar. EPC: D

South borough Attractive period house close to Southborough Common 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms. Formerly part of the Holden House estate. Private garden and carport. EPC rating C.

Bid borough A substantial and beautifully presented family home offering over 3,000 sq ft of accommodation 5 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, 2 bathrooms. Garage and established gardens. EPC rating C. In all about 0.23 acres.

 PROPERTY SECTION

PIMMS COTTAGE CRITTENDEN ROAD, MATFIELD

£925,000

Raise your glass to cottage with permission to extend Wednesday 20th July 2016

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE

n Grade II listed character cottage n Stylish interior n Lovely location n Planning permission for ground floor extension and conversion of garage into an annexe n Entrance porch/boot room n Cloakroom n Inner hall n Study n Sitting room

HIS quintessential oak-framed 17th-century cottage has been sympathetically updated with a fresh modern finish which enhances its many attractive period features. Lying within lovely gardens, and enjoying a southerly aspect to the rear, Pimms Cottage is ideally located about half a mile from the centre of Matfield village. The property offers scope to further enhance the living space, with planning and listed buildings consent to replace the conservatory with a larger garden room and convert of one of the garages for useful additional guest accommodation. The ground floor opens to a porch/boot room and leads into a lobby with wide oak flooring. There is a sitting room in the oldest part of the house with oak wall and ceiling beams, painted wood panel doors and a substantial brick inglenook fireplace fitted with a wood-burning stove. A spacious study has a quarry-tiled floor and is fitted with built-in cupboards, and a stylish country kitchen features oak flooring, an oil-fired Aga and modern units. This is open plan to the dining room and has doors out to the conservatory. The bedrooms are on the top two floors, with a master bedroom with en-suite shower room and a further double bedroom on the first floor, and two good-sized bedrooms on the second floor. The character family bathroom, with oak flooring and a lovely outlook over the garden through a large sash

window, is fitted with a ball and claw bath and also serves as a laundry room, with space for a washing machine and tumble dryer. The mature, well-screened gardens are of particular note, and are divided into several areas by trimmed hedges, offering a great space for children and animals. There is a brick terrace, a level lawn, a meadow area and a separate lawned area ideal for more informal play. Electric gates from the road open on to a gravel driveway and a courtyard which provides good space for parking and turning in front of a substantial brick-built garage block.

n Kitchen open plan to dining room n Conservatory

‘The gardens are of particular note, offering a great space for children and animals.’

n Master bedroom with en-suite n Three further bedrooms over top two floors n Family bathroom n Substantial garage block n Beautiful gardens n Around 0.54 of an acre

£925,000 For sale through Savills Tunbridge Wells 01892 507000 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 20th July 2016

MARDEN,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

•

KENT

New build in commuter village + 5 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + reception room + kitchen/ breakfast room + utility room + rear garden + double garage + Council Tax=TBC + EPC=B

Sought after Camden Park area + 3 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + 2 reception rooms + off-street parking + communal gardens + Council Tax=G + EPC=D

£2,750 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£2,500 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

HAWK.HURST,

KENT

Village area of Tunbridge Wells + 3 bedrooms + 1 bathroom + 2 reception rooms + separate cloakroom + enclosed rear terrace + permit parking + Council Tax=E + EPC=D

Carefully restored apartment + 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + state of the art appliances + modern interior design + stunning surroundings + Council Tax= TBC + EPC=C

£1,600 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£1,295 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.

NR WAD HURST,

ROYAL CHASE,

EAST SUSSEX

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT

Lovely garden and views + 2.5 miles MLS + 3 reception rooms + kitchen/breakfast room + 4 bedrooms + paddock + pond + garage + 2,797 sq ft + about 2.44 acres + EPC=E

Individual family house + convenient for schools and town + 0. 7 miles MLS + 3 receptions + 4 bedrooms + SW-facing garden + garage + driveway parking + 1,749 sq ft + EPC=E

Guide £1.05 million

Guide £950,000 Freehold

Contact: Liz Devall

LANGTON GREEN, TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

TICEHURST,

Contact: Becky Card

EAST SUSSEX

Chalet bungalow with annexe + MLS 2.1 miles + 3 reception rooms + 4 bedrooms + attractive garden + garage + off-street parking + 1,928 sq ft + about 0.25 acres + EPC=D

End-of-terrace over 55s bungalow + sought-after village + 2 reception rooms + 2 bedrooms + private terrace + communal garden + en bloc garage + 926 sq ft + EPC=D

Guide £795,000 Freehold

Guide £290,000 Leasehold

Contact: Becky Card

ďż˝ PROPERTY SECTION

PLANNING DECISION NOTICE Description: Good use of underdeveloped land Type:

Any size and number of units

Location:

Anywhere in the South East

If you have been refused planning permission for what on the face of it would seem a reasonable application, SJD Projects may be able to assist. Through our network of developers and investors, we have been instrumental in achieving planning on sites that otherwise have not achieved their full potential. For a no obligation assessment please contact our offices on our freephone number 0845 456 8969.

Mobile: 0773 951 4350 Website: sjd-projects.com

Wednesday 20th July 2016

LAND & DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

Freephone: 0845 456 8969 Email: steve@sjd-projects.com

Cowden, Kent

Offers in the Region of ÂŁ775,000 Freehold

A Spacious 5 Bedroom Chalet Bungalow in a stunning location with far reaching views of the surrounding countryside. On entering the property one is struck by the bright and spacious hallway which leads to all the ground floor rooms and features a lovely spiral staircase to the first floor. The kitchen/ breakfast room offers plenty of room for the family and benefits from a newly fitted kitchen with access to the side of the property leading into the gardens. The through lounge dining area is very spacious with patio doors leading to the front terrace area, the perfect spot for outside dining. The lounge also features a fireplace with large multi-fuel log burning stove. The master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, family bathroom and two additional double bedrooms are also located on the ground floor; all the bedrooms overlook the rear garden and fields beyond. There are large gardens to the front and rear of the property and parking for several vehicles with secure gated driveway. The property also has disabled access. EPC - D56. Viewing highly recommended. EARLY VACANT POSSESSION.

(~ RICS -ACOU TRY LIFE

rightmove.OC)Jj( (e The UK .. number OM P'Ol*1Y w.t>ti~

Primelocation.corn

4a High Street, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 SAG

 PROPERTY SECTION

Tucked away in a woodland setting overlooking Common

ESTLING under a canopy of woodland trees, this charming Grade II listed two-bedroomed attached cottage overlooks Southborough Common. Sporting an immaculate white and pale blue painted exterior, Oak Cottage is approached via a pathway that wraps around the front of the house. Inside, on the ground floor, two generous reception rooms sit either side of the hallway. To the right is a sitting room with character features including a working fireplace, polished wood floor, bespoke shelving and French doors

to the garden. Across the hallway is the dining room, which enjoys views of the lawns to the front stretching into the trees beyond. A door then provides access to a large, parttanked cellar beneath the room. Off the dining room is the pretty kitchen where bespoke country style cabinets provide ample storage space. A large window overlooks the rear of the property, and it has its own side access door to an off-street parking area. Upstairs, the master bedroom is a bright and spacious double-aspect room flooded with light

from two more large windows which overlook the cricket green and Common below. The second bedroom is also a good sized double benefitting from woodland views. A large family bathroom with a separate walk-in power shower completes the accommodation. To the front and side of the property is an expanse of lawn which stretches seamlessly into the woodland and its pathways. The off-street parking space is for two cars, and is situated at the side of the house, discreetly screened by hedging.

AT A GLANCE

OAK COTTAGE CHURCH ROAD, SOUTHBOROUGH � Grade II listed attached period cottage � Overlooking Southborough Common � Woodland setting � Character features � Well presented � Entrance hall � Spacious sitting room � Dining room � Kitchen/breakfast room � Cellar � Two large double bedrooms � Family bathroom � Off-road parking

OIEO £500,000 For sale through Flying Fish Properties 01892 514189 www.flyingfishproperties.co.uk

Wednesday 20th July 2016

we open doors for you ...

BarnesKingsnorth

OIEO £430,000 PEMBURY SALE AGREED IN 5 DAYS - SIMILAR UGENTLY REQUIRED FOR WAITING BUYERS. CORNER PLOT AND IMMACULATELY PRESENTED. A modern, 3 bedroom detached house set back from the road, on the edge of a cul-de-sac and enjoying a corner plot with sunny garden, garage and parking. Beautifully updated and maintained, comprising: entrance hall, sitting room, stylish kitchen/ dining room, cloakroom and family shower room. Low maintenance garden with granite paving and raised flowerbeds. NO ONWARD CHAlN. EPC: D

Apply Pembury

£645,000 TONBRIDGE Charming Grade II Listed Cottage in quiet backwater, yet just a stroll from the town and mainline station. With roses round the door and oozing style & character, this detached property offers that special something extra! On the ground floor there is a bay fronted sitting room, family room, study hall and a kitchen/ dining room. Upstairs there are 3 bedrooms, an en-suite shower room and the family bathroom. Pretty cottage gardens, potting shed and a summerhouse retreat completes the picture! NO CHAlN. OPEN DAY SATURDAY 23RD JULY 11.00AM - 1.00PM.

Apply Tonbridge

£550,000

PEMBURY

BEAUTIFULLY MODERNISED detached family home in the heart of the village. Good room proportions and presented to a high standard. Comprising: Entrance hall, 13' x 18'2 sitting room with doors to a separate dining room, cream shaker-style kitchen with breakfast bar, cloakroom WC, principal bedroom with en-suite shower room and extensive storage, 3 further bedrooms and contemporary-style family bathroom. Driveway parking and detached garage. Well-stocked and thoughtfully planted gardens to front and rear with level lawn and sheltered patio to the rear. EPC: TBC

Apply Pembury 'B) Primelocatior

Residential

t f rightmove.co.uk Sales & !Lettings

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

Tonbridge: 01732 771616 e.tonbrid 9 e@bkea .co.uk

Lettings: 01732 771616

e. Lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.bkestatea1ents.com

54 � PROPERTY DESIGN WITH THE TIMES

John Bullock

Architectural services

Having studied at Edinburgh College of Art and The Royal Academy of The Hague, John Bullock launched John Bullock Design in 2003. With offices in Tunbridge Wells High Street, John has won awards for his work and is committed to delivering the best outcomes for clients. www.johnbullockdesign.com

Challenge of converting a barn kicks off new series of answering readers’ queries Since the launch of this property section the newspaper has received a number of letters from readers looking for specialist advice when it comes to extending their home or building a new one. That’s why we have teamed up with architectural designer John Bullock who each month will be answering one of your questions. This time round it’s about converting a barn YOUR QUESTION:

Dear Design with the Times, We live just outside Tunbridge Wells and have a beautiful listed farmhouse which is set in three acres. In the grounds there is an old barn, and although we’ve lived here for over 20 years the barn has never been used except for the occasional party and as temporary storage when our children returned home from university. The barn is about 60 years old and it is approximately 150 square metres, it is in good condition and has quite an industrial look with a concrete frame and corrugated cladding. It was originally constructed for the farm, which no longer exists. We would like to downsize and wondered if it would be possible to obtain planning permission to convert the barn into a contemporary and more manageable home for ourselves, and if so how much it might cost to convert? Yours, Ralph and Mary Whiteman

If you have a question you’d like John Bullock to answer then please email it to: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells. co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Please mark the subject as: Design Team You can also write to us at: Design Team Times of Tunbridge Wells/ Tonbridge 16 Lonsdale Gardens Tunbridge Wells TN1 1NU

Wednesday 20th July 2016

OUR ANSWER:

It is a very interesting time for planning opportunities of this type and there is currently a window of opportunity to convert redundant farm buildings to dwellings. Over the past year we have been successful in obtaining planning permission for several similar projects, however there are a number of principal requirements that need to be fulfilled:  The building must be redundant  The building must be of sound structural condition  The building should be able to be converted without

significant extension  The development must not harm the building’s character  The access, car parking and residential cartilage must not harm

the character of the countryside  The conversion would meet an identified local need for housing

With a sensitive design scheme your barn would appear to meet this criteria and it would certainly be worth pursuing. With any design we always feel it’s important to work with the structural style of the building and also its setting to create a design which is site-specific. Here the site appears to be fairly well screened and it is best to work with the building to express its industrial character. Externally, replace the corrugated roof with a welded zinc sheet system and integrated gutter. The existing roof may well contain an element of asbestos so it is advisable to arrange for a specialist to check this. On the walls vertical oak cladding would add a tactile element. Over time the zinc will dull to a ‘watering can’ grey and the walls will silver and the building will blend into the landscape. Internally, vault the ceilings to express the form of the external envelope. Light can also be brought into the space by way of windows in the roof. Work with the internal floor area to create pure contemporary–feeling spaces. Divide the barn to create two bedrooms, each with its own en-suite dressing room and bathroom, and then leave the larger area for open-plan living with kitchen, dining and sitting areas. A formal planning application would be necessary and with this submission an ecological assessment would be required. This would need to be undertaken by a specialist who would visit the site to establish if there is evidence of any protected species in habitation such as bats or barn owls. If there is it doesn’t stop development but measures would need to be put in place to accommodate these. For example, the ecologist might suggest bat or owl boxes on the outside of the building. It would also be necessary to employ the services of a structural engineer to assess the structure and confirm that the building is in sound structural condition and can be converted without significant remedial works. Once planning permission is granted it will last for three years, and if at any time you formally commence works the permission will be retained in perpetuity. It is quite difficult to cost the project at this early stage, and after planning is granted detailed drawings would need to be prepared and a formal tender process undertaken. However, and as a guide, we are currently seeing tender costs for this type of work returning between £1,750 and £2,250 per metre depending upon the level of specification. If we took the midway price the conversion costs are likely to be somewhere in the region of £300,000, but you would also need to factor in costs for services and finishes in addition to this and also VAT. You should be eligible for a reduced VAT rate of 5 per cent for conversion of a farm building to form a dwelling, but check this with your accountant.

‘With a sensitive design scheme your barn would appear to meet this criteria’

PROPERTY n

â€˜Divide the barn to create two bedrooms, each with its own en-suite dressing room and bathroom, and then leave the larger area for open-plan living with kitchen, dining and sitting areasâ€™

Wednesday 20th July 2016

PROPERTY SECTION �

HIS unique family home is deceptively roomy and sits on the village green in the heart of Pembury village. Packed with character, and only partially attached at one corner to the neighbouring property, this converted former coach house is reminiscent of a Mediterranean villa internally and has to be viewed to be believed. Once through the front door, there is the choice of going into the house itself or continuing into an attractive brick cobbled courtyard with a magnificent fig tree and gates leading into the garden. Inside the house, there is an inner hall with a cloakroom and an internal door to the garage. You are then led through to a superb dual-aspect kitchen/dining room. The kitchen has an arched door into the courtyard, and is fitted with shaker-style units and stainless steel work surfaces, with a step down to the dining area.

Also on the ground floor is a bright and spacious sitting room with arched windows overlooking the courtyard, and a step up to a study area with doors to the garden. There are two staircases to the first floor, with the principal bedroom lying at the rear and enjoying a large balcony overlooking the garden and trees. A dressing room could also be used as a further bedroom, or converted back to a shower room if preferred. The family bathroom has a double-ended bath with shower over and a first floor family room offers the perfect space for children to play. Beyond this are three further bedrooms, creating a very versatile layout. The property has driveway parking for several cars, and an integral garage which has space for a car as well as storage. To the rear of the house is a sunny secluded garden consisting of level lawn, patio and decking.

AT A GLANCE

A deceptive façade hides a Mediterranean layout inside this village house

LORINERS LOWER GREEN ROAD PEMBURY

n Master bedroom with balcony and dressing room

n Former coach house

n Family bathroom

n Only partially attached

n Spacious internal garage

n Deceptively spacious

n Attractive cobbled courtyard to side

n Character features n Beautifully presented n Entrance hall n Cloakroom n Kitchen/dining room n Sitting room with study area n Two staircases n First floor family room

n Three further bedrooms

n Level garden to rear n Driveway parking

OIEO £700,000 For sale through Barnes Kingsnorth Pembury 01892 822880 www.bkestateagents.com

‘There is an attractive brick cobbled courtyard with a magnificent fig tree and gates into the garden’

Wednesday 20th July 2016

ďż˝ PROPERTY SECTION

AT A GLANCE

CAMPHILL SERPENTINE ROAD, SEVENOAKS n Extended and modernised 1930s house n Desirable location n Period features n Flexible accommodation n Entrance hall n Cloakroom n Drawing room n Dining room open to family room n Study n Kitchen/breakfast room n Garden room n Utility room n Master bedroom with en-suite n Three further bedrooms

Improved 1930s property offers character features C AMPHILL is a detached family home of character, set back in a desirable residential road in central Sevenoaks. Built in the 1930s, the property has been extended by the current owners to offer spacious, well presented accommodation, ideal for both modern family living and entertaining. Character features include leaded light and bay windows, hardwood flooring and panelled doors. The entrance hall has a traditional wood panelled staircase to the first floor and a cloakroom, and the principal reception rooms are flexible in configuration. The sitting room has an open marble fireplace and bay window to the front, while the dining room has steps down to a family room and a spacious study. The contemporary Stoneham kitchen/ breakfast room was fitted in 2014 and has a comprehensive range of wall and base

Wednesday 20th July 2016

units. Caesarstone work surfaces extend to a breakfast bar it has underfloor heating and a range of integrated appliances. Off the kitchen is a garden room with exposed brickwork, stained glass windows and double glazing. There is also a built-in loft store, access to the integral garage and a utility room. Upstairs, the double-aspect master bedroom enjoys views over the rear garden and has an en-suite shower room. There are three further double bedrooms, one of which includes a vanity unit, and a well-appointed family bathroom. The property is approached over a driveway providing parking, which leads to the generous integral garage. The attractive landscaped rear garden is well stocked with a range of flower borders, shrubs and mature trees and has an adjoining area of lawn. There is also a paved terrace which is convenient for al fresco entertaining.

n Family bathroom n Integral garage n Driveway parking n Attractive rear garden n No onward chain

ÂŁ1,025,000 For sale through Savills Sevenoaks 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells

Andrews >

andrewsonline.co.uk

Vale Road, TN4 000

Guide ÂŁ550,000

A character home over 3 floors with an established courtyard garden ... 2 reception rooms, one with feature cast iron fireplace and sash bay window and kitchen with direct access to courtyard. 3 bedrooms, (2 with period fireplaces) bathroom and separate we on first floor. Second floor comprises 4th bedroom and en-suite shower room. Energy Efficiency Rating: F

Tunbridge Wells Sales 01892 515 11+1+

LANDLORDS WANTED

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

Andrews

REQUIRED FOR PROPERTIES IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS

lettings@andrewsonline.co.uk

� PROPERTY SECTION

THE OLD TONG BARN TONG ROAD, BRENCHLEY

£985,000

Character barn in gorgeous grounds revamped with a contemporary feel

Wednesday 20th July 2016

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE n Attractive Grade II listed barn conversion n Thought to date back to around 1650 n Character features n Contemporary styling n Flexible accommodation n Reception/dining hall n Galleried family room n Drawing room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Utility room n Ground floor master bedroom with dressing area and en-suite n Ground floor guest bedroom with ‘Jack and Jill’ shower room n Two further first floor bedrooms, both sharing a washroom n Attached studio with cloakroom n Courtyard garden and parking area n Beautiful gardens and grounds, including 3.5 acres of apple orchard

£985,000 For sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

ELIEVED to date back to around 1650, this fine Grade II listed barn has been beautifully renovated to a high standard. The ample interior combines period features with stylish contemporary touches, and provides flexible family accommodation. Located in the historic village of Brenchley, the property sits in stunning gardens and grounds, including a large apple orchard. The house opens to a large vaulted reception/ dining hall, and the L-shaped drawing room also offers plenty of space, along with a Stovax wood burner, underfloor heating and French doors to the garden. From here stairs rise to an impressive galleried family room with the vaulted ceiling here reaching full roof height. The well-fitted kitchen/breakfast room has a range of white cupboards and drawers, long granite composite work surfaces, a central island

with cupboards underneath and integrated appliances. The dining hall, drawing room and kitchen all have porcelain tiled flooring. Adjacent to the kitchen is a utility room with door opening to the courtyard. In another wing of the ground floor, the generous principal bedroom has a dressing area and a beautifully fitted en-suite bathroom. There is a guest bedroom with fitted cupboards and a ‘Jack and Jill’ shower room – which also opens to the reception hall. On the top floor there are two further bedrooms, accessed via a second staircase in the drawing room. They both share a washroom. An attached studio with cloakroom is currently used as an artist studio. The house is approached through a delightful walled garden with timber gates, and there is parking for several vehicles.

The garden is mainly laid to lawn and has a variety of shrubs and trees as well as a vegetable patch, a brick built gazebo and shed. In addition, there is a wild meadow which has a pond and a pathway to an apple orchard of about three and a half acres.

‘Located in the historic village of Brenchley, the property sits in stunning gardens and grounds, including a large apple orchard’

Wednesday 20th July 2016

1-kMJProperty

Your local independent Estate Agent

...contactable 7 days a week

This terrace house is situated in the heart of the town just 1/ 2 mile walk from the mainline station . Lounge, dining room/ extra bedroom, kitchen, basement cinema room, plus further useful storage room, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom . Courtyard garden, double glazing and gas fired heating. EPC D.

Character filled terrace cottage in an elevated position, in Denny Bottom . Living room, dining room , fitted kitchen, rear porch/ utility space, 2 double bedrooms & bathroom with separate shower. Double glazing and gas fired heating . Stunning terrace garden with garden room & sun deck above. EPC D.

3 Bed semi detached house. Lounge with box bay window to front, dining room, modern fitted kitchen, main bedroom with en-suite shower room, 2 further bedrooms and modern fitted bathroom . Oak effect UPVC double glazing , gas fired heating and a Low maintenance rear garden . NO CHAIN. EPC E.

Modern 2 bedroom " back to back" house just over 1/ 2 mile from a Mainline Station.Open plan Lounge/ dining room with underfloor heating, modern fitted kitchen, 2 bedrooms and an upstairs bathroom. The property benefits from double glazing and a parking space. Electric heating. EPC D.

www.kmjproperty.co.uk ar::I Find us on â€˘ 111 Facebook

01892 515188

<i)nTheMarketcom

sales@kmjproperty.co.uk

Five Oak Green Road, Five Oak Green

£650,000 - £675,000 Whitefriars Wharf, Tonbridge

A deceptively spacious five bedroom detached family home with generous gardens and parking, situated in the lovely village of Five Oak Green.

Main Road, Sevenoaks

A two bedroom, third floor, modern apartment located in the popular Whitefriars Wharf development just off Tonbridge High Street. Offered to the market chain free.

£400,000 Six Bells Lane, Sevenoaks

An enchanting three bedroom semi detached period cottage offered to the market chain free and situated in the popular village of Sundridge.

OIEO £260,000

£275,000

A charming one bedroom ground floor garden flat forming part of the conversion of this grade II listed building conveniently located for the commuter.

j[f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -r

,- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

WOOD & PILCHER

Tunbridge Wells

£695,000

Hadlow

Offers over £775,000

This very desirable three bedroom detached house is located in one of Tunbridge Wells' most sought after locations within close proximity to the very popular Claremont Primary School and main line railway station. EPC: E

A rare opportunity to acquire an address in an exclusive private gated estate. This three bedroom detached family home with double garage is set in beautifully maintained gardens and offers wonderful potential to annexe/ extend (subject to planning permission). EPC D

Tunbridge Wells £495,000 Three bedroom home. Price will be reduced to £485,000 during open day only on Saturday 23rd July 10.00am - 11.00am. By appointment only. EPC. D.

Tunbridge Wells

Brenchley

£650,000 - £675,000

This well presented four bedroom detached family home is located on the south side of Tunbridge Wells conveniently located to offer good pedestrian access to the Pantiles. the old High Street and main line railway station. EPC: D Tunbridge Wells Office I 01892 511211 tun brid ge w e 11 s@ w ood and pi I cher. co. u k Southborough Office I 01892 511311 south bo roug h@ w ooda nd pi lch er. co. u k Tonbridge I 01732 351135 ton brid ge@ w ood and pi I cher. co. u k

This two bedroom ground floor flat with 2 bathrooms. own garden & ORP requires some updating, should be viewed on the basis of its potential. EPC: D

Offers Over: £425,000

Two bedroom cottage in a wonderful village location with character features including exposed beams and inglenook fireplace with wood burner and bread oven. Walk to the village or commute from nearby Paddock Wood. EPC: Exempt

woodandpilcher. co. uk rightmove

£295,000

~ nTheMarkelcom

Other offices in Crowborough , Heathfield & associated London Branch

PROPERTY SECTION 

AT A GLANCE BLACKHURST LANE TUNBRIDGE WELLS � Impressive contemporary detached house � Desirable location � Designed by an architect � Open-plan living � Entrance hall � Living/dining/kitchen areas � Sitting room � Utility room � Downstairs bathroom � Study/bedroom � Family room/bedroom � Master bedroom with en-suite and roof terrace � Three further first floor bedrooms � Family bathroom � Balcony � Driveway and garage � Landscaped gardens

Super stylish architect-designed home

£1,350,000 For sale through Batcheller Monkhouse 01892 512020 www.batchellermonkhouse.com

‘A superb double-height hallway with glazed atrium opens into the open-plan living/ dining and kitchen area, where full-height glazed windows overlook the gardens’

HIS striking, ultra-modern house in Tunbridge Wells offers stylish and adaptable space. A modern open-plan living area is the heart of the home, and full-height windows and glazed atriums allow light into the building from every aspect. Located in a highly desirable no-through lane off Pembury Road, this impressive property was designed by Finnish architect Mer Makipentti, and has the further bonus of being surrounded by landscaped gardens. A superb double-height hallway with glazed atrium opens into the open-plan living/dining and kitchen area, where full-height glazed windows overlook the gardens. The stylish kitchen has Corian work surfaces, a central island unit with inset hob and drawers beneath. A long, eye-level window adds an interesting view, and it has cupboards above and drawers below. The utility room houses the ovens and has access to the outside.

Further rooms on the ground floor include a separate sitting room with access to the front terrace, a family room and study – both of which could also be used as double bedrooms – and a bathroom. A bespoke staircase is the central feature of the property and leads to a first floor landing and walkway which splits the bedrooms to each side of the house. The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and entry to a large terrace. The second bedroom has its own large balcony above the garden. There are two further double bedrooms and a family bathroom. To the front of the house is a gravelled driveway with parking and a garage. There is a large decked terrace which can be reached from the sitting room, and the rear landscaped garden has well-stocked mature borders and raised beds and is a mixture of lawn, decked and terraced areas.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

CONTEMPORARY SEAFRONT APARTMENTS HYTHEIKENT 6 Unique contemporary apartments, including two stunning split-level penthouses, all with uninterrupted views of the shore line. Direct beach access with terraces on the ground floor and generous balconies at first floor level, ensure all occupants can make the most of this exclusive location.

From ÂŁ625,000. Available from July 2016.

tgdesignerhomes 07887 507798 kate@tgdesignerhomes.com

01892 838363

ďż˝ PROPERTY SECTION

Perfect period property to let in prime town location

VAILABLE to let and lying just opposite the highly desired Claremont Primary School, this period family home is close to the both thee town centre and the mainline station. Sympathetically restored to the highest standard and providing a modern finish as well as traditional period features, it is a substantial terraced property over three floors with plenty of space for a growing family. The property opens to an entrance hallway with storage cupboards and stairs to the first floor. To the front of the building is a spacious sitting room which is open plan to a dining room with a a feature fireplace, bay window and wood floors. To the rear is a superb fitted kitchen/breakfast room with integrated appliances and the benefit of a dual aspect. The first floor comprises a lovely master bedroom with feature windows to the front and an en-suite shower room, as well as two further bedrooms and a family bathroom. There are two more large bedrooms and a further bathroom on the top floor. French doors lead from the kitchen out to a pretty, enclosed rear garden which is Astro turfed for low maintenance. There is residentsâ€™ permit parking in the surrounding streets.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE

n Period family house n Popular ‘village’ area of town n Opposite highly regarded primary school n Period features n Very well presented n Entrance hall n Sitting room open plan to dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Master bedroom with en-suite n Two further first floor bedrooms n Family bathroom n Two top floor bedrooms

‘Sympathetically restored to the highest standard and providing a modern finish as well as period features, it is a substantial terraced property over three floors’

n Further bathroom n Pretty rear garden n Permit parking n To let unfurnished

£2,700 per month To let through Hamptons Lettings 01892 640317 www.hamptons.co.uk

CLAREMONT ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£2,700 PER MONTH

Wednesday 20th July 2016

ELLIS&CO Sales & Lettings DOUGLAS ROAD, TONBRIDGE. GUIDE PRICE £525,000-£575,000

KELCHERS LANE, GOLDEN GREEN. £435,000

4 BEDROOM SEMI DETACHED

4 BEDROOM SEMI DETACHED CHALET BUNGALOW QUIET RURAL LOCATION LARGE LOW MAINTENANCE FRONT & REAR GARDENS PAVED DRIVEWAY & GARAGE COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS CONSERVATORY EPC D

HOUSE SPACIOUS & VERSATILE ACCOMMODATION OVER 1900 SQ FT 4 DOUBLE BEDROOMS 3 RECEPTION ROOMS WALKING DISTANCE TO STATION & HIGH STREET GOOD LOCATION FOR SCHOOLS EPC E

SHIPBOURNE ROAD, TONBRIDGE. £385,000

QUARRY HILL ROAD, TONBRIDGE. £370,000

2 BEDROOM SEMI DETACHED COTTAGE CHARACTER GRADE II LISTED COTTAGE WALKING DISTANCE TO STATION & HIGH STREET OFF ROAD PARKING VAULTED KITCHEN/DINER 2 DOUBLE BEDROOMS EPC G

4 BEDROOM TERRACED TOWN HOUSE NO ONWARD CHAIN' IMMACULATELY PRESENTED THROUGHOUT 15 MINUTE WALK TO MAINLINE STATION SUPERB LOCATION FOR SCHOOLS KITCHEN/BREAKFAST/FAM! LY ROOM EASILY MAINTAINED GARDEN EPC E

CHILTERN WAY, TONBRIDGE. GUIDE PRICE £320,000-£340,000 LEASEHOLD

CANHAM HOUSE, TONBRIDGE. GUIDE PRICE £265,000-£285,000 LEASEHOLD

3 BEDROOM GROUND FLOOR APARTMENT QUIET RESIDENTIAL LOCATION CONVENIENTLY LOCATED FOR HIGH STREET RESIDENTIAL PARKING DOUBLE GLAZING GARAGE EN BLOC EPC E

2 BEDROOM APARTMENT EASY WALKING DISTANCE TO STATION & HIGH STREET IMMACULATELY PRESENTED MASTER BEDROOM WITH EN SUITE SHOWER PRIVATE PATIO SECURE ALLOCATED PARKING EPC B

SHIPBOURNE ROAD, TONBRIDGE. OIRO £240,000

;

BOURNE PARK, GOLDEN GREEN. £180,000 LEASEHOLD

NO ONWARD CHAIN' 2 BEDROOM EOT HOUSE NEWLY REFURBISHED KITCHEN WITH COOKER, DISHWASHER & FRIDGE/FREEZER WALKING DISTANCE TO HIGH STREET & STATION SECLUDED COURTYARD GARDEN EPC D

2 BEDROOM DETACHED BUNGALOW OVER 55'S DEVELOPMENT QUIET RESIDENTIAL LOCATION BESIDE LOCAL BUS ROUTE GARDEN & DECKING COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS ALLOCATED PARKING EPC EXEMPT

Please contact us for Sales, Rentals and Valuations t: 01732 770077

e: tonbridge@ellisandco.co.uk

~ /\

93 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1 DR

The Property

ombudsman

~ ~

ELLIS&CO

01732 770077 tonbridge@ellisandco.co.uk

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

TO PROMOTE YOUR PROPERTY CONTACT RAJ'SY I<ELLY

PKelly@markerstudy.com I 01892 i74781

The Times in association with:

SUMMER FAMILY EVENTS SPECIAL 

www.tunbridgewellskidsonthego.co.uk

>> SUNDAY AUGUST 7 ARUNDEL WETLANDS: Be a nature explorer this summer and pay a visit to the beautiful Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) in Arundel, Sussex. This conservation area gives visitors close up access to certain protected species and areas of environmental importance. There’s also a great café so you can make a day or weekend of it. Tickets cost £5.45 per child and £11.95 per adult. www.wwt.org.uk

>> WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10 TONBRIDGE SWIMMING POOL: If you can’t get away this summer then fear not as the heated outdoor pool located behind Tonbridge’s castle will make you feel like you’re on your holidays. There’s also an appealing al fresco dining area where you can enjoy light snacks or lunch. Tickets cost from £3.80 for non-members. For more information visit www.tmactive.co.uk

>> MONDAY AUGUST 8 KNOLE: If the weather’s not playing ball then how about heading to Knole in Sevenoaks and participating in its Hidden Animals trail which runs every day throughout the summer holidays. Lots of soft toy leopards will be spending the summer holiday in the house’s grand showrooms and it’s up to you to find them! Usual admission of £5.50 per child and £11 per adult applies. National Trust members go free.

>> THURSDAY AUGUST 11 IGHTHAM MOTE: Enjoy a day of Victorian Fun with a special house quiz, watercolour painting, dressing up and period games and activities. This is a good opportunity to look back to the time of the house’s Victorian owners, the Colyer-Fergusson family. Usual admission of £5.50 per child and £11 per adult applies. National Trust members go free.

>> TUESDAY AUGUST 9 SPA VALLEY RAILWAY LINE: Every Tuesday throughout the summer holidays children can ride on this picturesque train line for just £1 when travelling with an adult (who pays £11 each). Hang out at the High Rocks or explore Groombridge Place en route. www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk

COUNTRY LIVING Rudyard Kipling’s childhood home at Bateman’s hosts a Jungle Book special this summer

>> FRIDAY AUGUST 12 BOWLES OUTDOOR CENTRE: This popular outdoor activity centre will be hosting a wealth of interesting activities over the summer holidays. Today it’s centred around Low Ropes and the Leap of Faith. Children aged over 8 can enjoy participating in these balance challenges, which also promote good teamwork. All course prices

HANG LOOSE Younger ones can have a Go Ape! Junior adventure in Cranbrook

PIC CREDIT: YORKSHIRE.COM

SUMMER CALENDAR OF FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS

vary, so to find out more visit www.bowles.ac >> SATURDAY AUGUST 13 ASHDOWN FOREST: Not only is it a wonderful area for walks and to explore in general, its connection with AA Milne’s Winnie The Pooh makes this corner of East Sussex a must visit for children of all ages. When you’re there, make sure you pop into Pooh Corner. www.ashdownforest.org >> SUNDAY AUGUST 14 TUNBRIDGE WELLS BORDERS: If you’ve never been for a walk around the glorious grounds of Salomons, a beautiful former country estate in Tunbridge Wells, then make sure you go this summer, as you’ll see plenty of wildlife in their natural habitat and various plant and tree species. Visiting on a Sunday is perfect as you can enjoy a delicious cream tea on the terrace afterwards! If you want a guided walk, it costs £3 per child and £5 per adult. www.salomons-estate.com >> MONDAY AUGUST 15 CROWBOROUGH: If you’re a fan of the film Hunger Games and aged 10 or over then this camp which recreates the drama and action of the film of the same name is the ideal day out for you. Running from 10 until approximately 3pm this survival camp is packed full of fun and

thrilling adventure and will teach you a lot of survival skills too. For ticket information and prices, visit www.buzzadventures.co.uk >> TUESDAY AUGUST 16 CRANBROOK: If you really want to have a go at swinging through the trees and navigating wobbly wooden bridges, but are too small for the Go Ape at Bedgebury then try out this excellent Go Ape junior version in Cranbrook. Tickets are priced from £18. www.goape.co.uk >> WEDNESDAY AUGUST 17 SEVENOAKS: Buzy Bees Playbarn is the perfect place to take shelter from the rain and offers tiny tots and under 12’s a wealth of fun indoor activities to enjoy. The perfect place to let off steam there are three areas - under 2’s, under 5’s and over 5’s - plus a garden with Go Kart, Trikes and Cozy Coupe Cars. Entrance costs from £3.50. For more information visit www.buzybees.co.uk >> THURSDAY AUGUST 18 WEALD OF KENT: If the weather’s not playing ball or your family members are feeling too tired to take on yet another activity then how about bringing them on a wonderful scenic drive? Taking in all the picturesque countryside that our region is renowned for, you can also stop off here

Wednesday 20th July 2016

74  SUMMER FAMILY EVENTS SPECIAL

The Times in association with:

PIC CREDIT: JOHN MILLAR

CALL OF THE WILD Face and nail painting fun

and there en route and enjoy an ice cream at Bewl Water reservoir or an amble around the ruins of Bayham Abbey for example. Download a map of the route that takes you through some of the wonderful Wealden countryside by clicking onto: www.visittunbridgewells.com >> FRIDAY AUGUST 19 HAWKHURST: The Fish Farm includes planted gardens, scenic waterfalls and hosts a variety of wildfowl from across the world. There are three junior coarse ponds, with rods and nets available for hire and no fishing license is required. All day fishing permits start from £7 www.hawkhurstfishfarm.co.uk >> SATURDAY AUGUST 20 UCKFIELD: There’s nothing children enjoy more than a day spent out in the woods, foraging, exploring and having fun. Wander over to Wilderness Wood where they can do all this and more – while you join in or let them do a specific day’s course while you relax in the cool rustic café. Entrance is free, but donations are most welcome. www.wildernesswood.org >> SUNDAY AUGUST 21 ROBERTSBRIDGE: Bodiam Castle. If you’ve got some wannabe knights and princesses-inwaiting in your family then take them to this stunning 14th century castle which has plenty to amuse children of all ages including stocks, battlements and arrow slit windows. Entrance costs £4.10 for children and £8.20 per adult. www.nationaltrust.org/bodiam-castle >> MONDAY AUGUST 22 FOREST ROW: If you just love a little something unusual then head to the Ashdown Llama Farm at Whych Cross this summer and see all this specialist centre has to offer. As well as being able to take a llama for a walk and learn all about them, there are also donkeys, alpacas and reindeers to see too. Entrance costs £5 per child and £6 per adult, and tickets can be booked from www.llamapark.co.uk

famous writer Vita Sackville-West, scaling the narrow staircase up to the property’s impressive look-out tower or wandering around the maze-like gardens will provide people of all ages with a most enjoyable day out. Over the summer holidays there’s also farmers’ markets and camping sessions. Normal National Trust prices apply. For further information visit www.nationaltrust.org. uk/sissinghurst-castle

>> WEDNESDAY AUGUST 24 TUNBRIDGE WELLS COMMON: There is a short circular walk you can do which is buggy friendly and not too challenging, but will take in the Wellington Rocks, the town’s cricket ground and also give you access to various wildlife and flora and fauna. To find out more visit Explore Kent’s website www.explorekent.org >> THURSDAY AUGUST 25 EDENBRIDGE: As any parent, grandparent, or carer will know the summer holidays are long - and often wet! If you’ve exhausted the numerous soft play centres in our area, then try Manic Monsters for a rainy day. Entrance costs from £5.95 per child – babies go free. Visit www.manicmonsters.co.uk for more information. >> FRIDAY AUGUST 26 LEWES: Blackberry Farm is a fantastic day out for all the family, thanks to the variety of activities on offer. Set in 18 acres of breath-taking Sussex countryside you can go along and enjoy petting rare breed animals and riding ponies to being a young farmer for the day and helping to feed, muck out and exercise animals which range from pigs to goats. Ticket prices are £8 per person. www.blackberry-farm.co.uk

>> TUESDAY AUGUST 30TH CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE: Explore the stunning Ancient Egyptian garden located in the grounds of this picturesque castle. Named The Fields of Eternity it was created in 2014 by expert Egyptologists and encourages visitors to think about the landscape of Ancient Egypt through its planting schemes, which represent the Nile and the castle’s own unique collection of antiques from this era. >> WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31 LINGFIELD:: If you’ve never been, then now is the time to visit the British Wildlife Centre. With over 40 different native species which range from voles, otters and weasels to fallow deer and pole cats this really has the best variety of British wildlife on offer anywhere in the country. Tickets cost £8.50 for children over 3 and £11.50 for adults. www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk >> THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1 HASSOCKS:: Washbrook Family Farm. This offers a wonderful day out for little ones under the age of ten. Not only can they meet their favourite animals, get them bouncing on the inflatable pillows and taking a tractor ride to ensure a great day packed full of merriment and memories. If it’s raining, get them playing in the indoor centre. Tickets cost £6.50 for children and £7.50 for adults. www.washbrooks.co.uk

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: SEPTEMBER >> FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2 HASTINGS: Want one last historical hit for the holidays? Then head to Hastings and experience the amazing Smugglers Adventure Experience. Part of the 1066 experience, which also includes Hastings Castle, it’s an exciting and educational

www.tunbridgewellskidsonthego.co.uk

review of life in the 11th century. Just prepare younger ones for a little dose of ghoulish and ghastly history! Tickets start at £5 per child. www.smugglersadventure.co.uk >> SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3 NUTLEY: Today and tomorrow Pippingford Park will be hosting Into The Trees. The event runs from 10am to 6pm and is a fascinating family day out which takes you into the amazing world of woodland and forests and shows you how you can work and play within them as well as ways to help their conservation >> SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4 TUNBRIDGE WELLS: Bright Young Things is putting on a one-day saxophone workshop to give children the chance to learn all about this wind instrument. Running from 10am – 4pm it’s the perfect way for your children to gain a hands-on approach to music. The day’s fee is £50. To book a place visit: www.brightyoungthings.co.uk

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER With seven weeks of freedom now ahead let the Kids On The Go comprehensive guide steer you through the summer holidays to ensure you’re always guaranteed a fun day out and about. As well as listings for holiday clubs and courses, their Days Out section will tell you all you need to know about what’s on where. www.kidsonthego.co.uk

>> SATURDAY AUGUST 27 CAMBER SANDS: Make the most of the weekend by taking a trip to the seaside. One of the nearest to us is Camber, which also has the added bonus of being sandy and having plenty of sand dunes in which the children can play. www.visitkent.co.uk >> SUNDAY AUGUST 28 BLUEBELL RAILWAY: Running from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead every day throughout the summer this is a great way to see some stunning scenic countryside. A collection of vintage carriages is housed in the museum and there are also lots of contemporary interactive games to keep younger ones amused. Tickets and train journeys vary so for more details visit www.bluebell-railway.co.uk

>> TUESDAY AUGUST 23 SISSINGHURST: Walking around the library housed in the former home – and castle - of

>> MONDAY AUGUST 29 ASHFORD: Pig racing, discovering edible eats in the garden or marvelling at the majesty of eagles and owls MELLOW YELLOW swooping around, the Rare Have a fantastic time at Breeds Centre has it all if you’re Washbrook farm, Lewes after a day out with a difference. In fact there’s actually so much to do at this brilliant facility located just a short drive from the gorgeous village of Woodchurch, you’ll have to make time for another visit to fit everything else in. Tickets cost from £9.50. Go to www.rarebreeds.org.uk

Wednesday 20th July 2016

ONE

ARWICK

ARK

HOTEL

Nestled in the heart of the charming town of Tunbridge Wells, the venue sits right in the charismatic Pantiles district. One Warwick Park's highly skilled top chefs will deliver onsite catering and our dedicated team will provide you with unparalleled service and attention to detail. Being at the forefront of the latest wedding trends and holding close relationships with Tunbridge Wells' most prestigious bridal suppliers. One Warwick Park features an exceptional duplex suite providing the perfect space for the bridal party to pamper themselves before the ceremony. Our wedding packages are attractively priced and include everything you could want from a day that will last a lifetime. Please contact a member of our events team with your requirements on 01892 520587 or email info@onewarwickpark.co.uk www.onewarwickpark.co.uk

76 � WEDDING FEATURE

But I just can’t help falling Every engaged couple has the perfect wedding in their mind. Fleur and Aubrey wanted their day to be stress-free, fuss-free and a lot of fun - so they went to the Graceland Chapel in Vegas... at Manhattan - a stunning restaurant with a view to match. It was in the bar after dinner that Aubrey disappeared, coming back after a few minutes only to drop to one knee and propose! I immediately said yes and cried a lot. As I said - the perfect day. Where did you get married and how did you choose the venue? We got married at the Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas. Elvis was present, as you’d expect! It was fantastic. So stress-free, simple and fun. ROCK N’ ROYALTY The happy couple with the King himself

LOVE ME TENDER Fleur and Aubrey relive their wedding in Tunbridge Wells How did you and your husband meet? I had just moved to Tunbridge Wells and was trying online dating for the first time to meet new local people. I knew no-one in the town at that time. Aubrey and I met on the site and had our first date on a Saturday morning at Café Nero. Aubrey was undergoing cancer treatment at the time and so it was more of a friendship at first. It took us a while to realise we were in love and we moved in together in August 2013. Tell us about the proposal We always go away for our birthdays and last year I booked a long weekend to New York for Aubrey’s. We had one of those rare perfect days whilst we were there that you

Wednesday 20th July 2016

never forget. We woke up to snowfall, which was a fantastic start. Following a late breakfast, we went to the Top of the Rock for the amazing views of Manhattan. We took a romantic walk through Central Park before sheltering from the snow and drinking wine at the Tavern on the Green whilst watching the world turn white outside. That evening I had booked a table at the River Café, tucked under the Brooklyn Bridge looking back

I can’t recommend it enough. It was exactly what we wanted without all the fuss and expense. We combined it with a honeymoon in California, which was brilliant. Tell us about your big day and some of its key highlights We had an early start with a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon. We landed in the canyon for a champagne breakfast and were back at our hotel by late morning for a couple of hours poolside. I had my hair and make-up done in our room and the limo that came as part of the wedding package collected us promptly at 4pm. Ten minutes later we had pulled up to the chapel. At 4.15pm, Elvis walked me down the aisle to Love Me Tender and Aubrey and I exchanged our vows. We left the chapel to Viva Las Vegas and, after photographs, we jumped back in the limo to the hotel. In full wedding attire, we decided to have some early evening drinks at our favourite bar close to the hotel. It’s quite common in Vegas to see the bride and groom just strolling down the street or having a meal. The day ended with a fantastic dinner at Twist in the Mandarin Oriental overlooking the Strip How did you start your married life together? Did you go on a honeymoon? We spent our honeymoon in California visiting LA, San Fransciso and the wine region around Sonoma. Once home, we had an intimate

WEDDING FEATURE �

in love with you…

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS

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WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ Dancing the night away at the Camden Quarter

Which suppliers would you recommend for future brides? I am a big fan of keeping things local as much as possible. My Eliza Jane Howell dress came from Isabella Grace, with alterations handled by Miss Kay EYE OF THE STORM seamstress across Wedding band, Barnstorm, the road. Aubrey kept the crowd on their feet came with me to choose it, which was great fun. As family celebration at Thackerays and we didn’t need the usual wedding gifts, a big party with our friends at Camden we talked to The Secret Cellar who put Quarter, where my brother-in-law’s together a gift list of wine that has just band, Barnstorm, entertained us. been delivered! As I mentioned, we held celebrations at Thackerays and Camden

Keep it simple! It is your day and no-one else’s. Listen to what other people think but don’t feel pressured to move away from what you want to keep other people happy. Enjoy every second of it. The planning can be lots of fun! Try on more than one dress. Let the groom have his way (some of the time).

Quarter, both in Tunbridge Wells. My flowers came from the amazing Darling & Wild on Camden Road and we used local photographer Steven Dunton for our wedding shoot, which took place at various spots around Tunbridge Wells.

‘We left the chapel to ‘Viva Las Vegas’ and, after photographs, we jumped back in the limo to the hotel’

SAY CHEESE Guests celebrating with a hashtag

Wednesday 20th July 2016

78 n WEDDING FEATURE

From Blockbuster Video to a pretty Buxted mansion

FLOWER POWER Photography by Chris Giles www.chrisgilesphotography.com

Fairy tales start in the most unlikely of places as SO Magazine’s Lauren Chalmers-Stevens discovered when a chance meeting led to a happily-ever-after… How did you and your husband meet? I’d love to tell you a gushing romantic tale, but the truth of it is that Scott and I met ten years ago in a Blockbuster store. It was a Saturday night and my best friend Leanna and I were waiting in the queue to return a DVD. She introduced me to Scott who was a good friend of her boyfriend. We were chatting away until we finally reached the till where I was informed that I’d incurred a rather large late-return fee. Unfortunately, I had left my purse at home and Scott generously paid! After our Blockbuster encounter, Leanna set up a double date and the rest is history. Tell us about the proposal... It was Christmas day 2013 and there was one large present left under the tree. Scott seemed a little uptight and insisted that all my family, including our husky dog, were in the lounge whilst I opened it. Inside there was a DVD with ‘Play Me’ written on the front. It turned out to be a video timeline of our memories together, telling our story from the start, but I still had no idea what would follow at this point. Towards the end of the DVD the music stopped and I read on the screen ‘WILL YOU MARRY ME?’ I turned around to Scott, who was on one knee with a beautiful diamond ring and I said yes! The proposal was a complete surprise and was particularly special to me as my mother, who was terminally ill, was there to witness this moment along with all my family. It was a lovely surprise and a very happy day for us all. Where did you get married and how did you choose the venue? We tied the knot in St Margaret’s church, a

Wednesday 20th July 2016

‘Scott and I had been captivated by this grand Palladian mansion’ picturesque 13th-century church in the heart of Buxted village. We were married by Rector Evan France who was welcoming and understanding regarding our specific wishes for the ceremony. After the service, we walked the short distance (about two minutess) to Buxted Park Hotel for our wedding reception. Scott and I had been captivated by this grand Palladian mansion, set in the finest parkland with surrounding views of the Ashdown Forest, when we first saw it. The staff were exceptionally friendly, hospitable and couldn’t do enough for us. Marc Desseaux, the eccentric French toastmaster, went above and beyond to make the day a delightful and pleasurable experience for everyone. Our wedding was

enhanced by this wonderful character and I would thoroughly recommend Buxted Park to anyone looking for a wedding venue. What were some of the highlights? I woke up at 5am on the morning of the wedding with my bridesmaids. I was extremely excited, equally nervous and I drew the curtains to brilliant sunshine and clear blue sky. Getting ready for the big day with my seven best friends was so much fun. It was wonderful seeing my dad, brother, bridesmaids, flower girl and

pageboys in their outfits and revealing my dress before descending the staircase to the awaiting wedding car. Fortunately, my dad kept me calm from the minute I left the hotel. It was such an exciting feeling walking up to the church door. A key highlight for me was the moment I walked in and first saw Scott at the end of the aisle. I instantly felt relaxed and my nerves passed as I was surrounded by all our family and friends - a very special feeling. After the ceremony, the whole day flew by. The most emotional

WEDDING FEATURE �

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS

which was a mixture of relaxation and adventure. In Mauritius, we walked with lions and swam with wild dolphins. Our honeymoon ended with a skydive. Jumping out of a plane over the Palm in Dubai was the most incredible experience!

part for me were the speeches - they were entertaining, full of laughter and tears. We partied the night away, with lots of dancing and singing! We didn’t want the day to end and I spent my first day as a wife voiceless!

TASTY TOWER Cake by Catherine from Creative Cakes

How did you start your married life together? Did you go on a honeymoon? We spent the first few days as husband and wife relaxing and opening cards and presents. A couple of days after the wedding we had a BBQ - carrying on the wedding celebrations with our family and friends. It gave us a chance to catch up with everyone before we set off on our honeymoon to Mauritius and Dubai. We spent two weeks on our honeymoon,

Who were your key suppliers? My dress was a Ritva Westenius gown from Teokath in Canterbury and Amy in the boutique was extremely helpful throughout the experience. The seamstress too worked wonders transforming my dress from a size 12 to a size 6. We used Dex and Donal at Pollen for our flowers and decorations at the venue. The bouquets and table flower arrangements were really fabulous. The ballroom was very elegant and beautifully laid out and it was so exciting when Donal arrived with all the bouquets early in the morning. For photography, we used the very talented Chris and Laura from Chris Giles photography. Chris was brilliant on the day he has an amazing artistic vision and they also both helped our guests and us tremendously throughout the day. We were married in St Margarets Church Buxted, East Sussex by Rector Evan France. Jan arranged the lovely church flowers. Our superb venue was Buxted Park Hotel, East Sussex. Our Wedding Coordinator Holly and the team were all very helpful. As already mentioned, special thanks to Marc Desseaux for helping making our day so special. Suits and ties were from Lapel Mens Hire, Mark was vey helpful and knowledgeable and went the extra mile to find a peach cravat that matched the bridesmaid dresses. Our fabulous cake was beautifully made by Catherine at Creative Cakes. Entertainment planning, photobooth, lighting, dancefloor and sound set by the talented Raff at Apollo Funk Entertainments. DJ, and friend of ours, Ben Turner, kept us all on our feet.

1 2

3 4 5

Cherish the day together. Take some time to sit down or walk together to reflect on the day. We felt overwhelmed at times and were both so busy mingling with our guests. It’s important to take some time out together to take it all in. Choose the dress wisely. When shopping for your wedding dress, don’t take too many people to your bridal appointment as too many opinions may spoil the experience. Remember you have to feel completely comfortable and happy with the dress. Initially, I secretly went dress shopping on my own as I had no idea what type of dress I wanted or what would suit me but wanted to form my own opinion. Once I had an idea of the type of dress I liked, I brought my Mother, mother-in-law and Nan along to help me make the final big decision! Hire a videographer to film the day. People will tell you how quickly the day passes and it really did! We so enjoyed watching the video as it captured the most important parts and gave a new perspective by recording, for example, little moments that we didn’t necessarily notice during the day. Make it your own. Listen to the opinions of others but remember it’s your day and don’t feel pressured into making decisions. Ultimately, it’s all about the two of you. Enjoy the experience from the proposal to the day itself. If you find yourself getting stressed, take some time out together - not talking about the ‘W’ word helps. Try to make the most out of being a bride, after all you only get to do it once and you will miss it when its over! Relaxing with a glass or two of Prosecco with the bridesmaids on the evening before the wedding was also a fun and relaxing time.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

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82 � FOOD AND DRINK

Expect a taste of something unique next time you’re on The Pantiles by visiting this deli with a difference

Daniel Hatton won a Michelin star for Thackeray’s and has worked for the likes of Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay. Here he tells Eileen Leahy why he gave up fame for his family and why he now cooks purely for passion and not pressure

TALKING SHOP Hattons is now open

ALKING into Michelin-star chef Daniel Hatton’s smart new premises on The Pantiles, it’s immediately clear that his stylish new venture is going to be popular. As well as the enticing smell of freshly ground coffee and fragrant pastries that hits you upon

Wednesday 20th July 2016

entering Hattons Deli & Lifestyle, there’s a visual feast for the eyes and senses pretty much everywhere you look. The shop’s marble-topped serving counter houses a huge glass case stocked full of tempting gooey and wax-wrapped cheese, and behind this is a shiny new coffee machine from which

cups of aromatic flat white and creamy lattes are regularly served up. In addition to the central foodie hub are a number of shelves piled high with gourmet goods including Italian biscotti, bottles of exotic oils and spicy condiments. Then there’s the tempting menu which offers everything from bowls of breakfast granola and berries to roast beef ciabatta and brie and cranberry bagels – all priced at a very affordable £3.50. So far, so deli you may think, but actually Daniel’s new shop, which has only been trading for the past month, also offers something else. Nestled towards the back of the store is an area that resembles a smart Parisian-style sitting room but it is, in actual fact, a gorgeous homewares pop-up. Did the inspiration for a blend of quality food and interior gems all available under one roof come from anywhere in particular, I ask the former Thackeray’s head chef who has also worked for Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay over the past decade. “Not at all,” says Daniel. “The concept was as simple as Lisa loves interiors and I love food, so let’s do something that incorporates both.” But as we sit down to talk properly it becomes clear that there was another very important reason behind Daniel’s move from running pressurised kitchens to his own business. “We had our son, Elliott, three years ago and

‘The concept was as simple as Lisa loves interiors and I love food, so let’s do something that incorporates both’ he is disabled so we needed to have a work/life balance. “We wanted to work as a family instead of me coming back at midnight with no idea of what had been going on so we did a total lifestyle change.” Despite their very good reasons for opening a shop, wouldn’t it have been easier to keep working for someone else? “No,” replies Daniel, whose son Elliott has been diagnosed with epilepsy and Global Development

FOOD AND DRINK 

Delay. “Everything’s a gamble in life and I would rather do this and it go under than not to have given it a go. Obviously we don’t want this to happen as it is our dream and it means I can have dinner and bath time with my boy and that’s worth its weight in gold.” In addition to the lifestyle and deli store, Daniel also runs a successful catering company, Hattons of Royal Tunbridge Wells, which does events all over the south east including weddings, school balls and private dinners. But this is only on a part-time basis so the new shop fits in well with the entertaining side of his business. When it came to researching whether the retail concept would work Daniel took a practical approach. “I sat out on The Pantiles for six weeks just watching and seeing where people were going and what they were buying. “Obviously you’ve already got The Cake Shed and Chegworth’s so I’m not going to compete with them. What we need to do is work together and give the people of Tunbridge Wells something that’s a bit different.” One of Daniel’s best-selling items is Monmouth coffee which he says literally ‘flies out of the door’. He’s also keen to work with reputable local producers so stocks Bean Smitten coffee, which is hand roasted in Flimwell, charcuterie from Moons Green in Northiam and Stonegate’s goats’ cheese. They’ll soon be selling 1606 gin, which is distilled in Tunbridge Wells, once they have their alcohol licence later this summer. The way Daniel selects his products is simple: “For me it’s about giving the experience of eating great food and if it’s local then even better, but I have a massive passion for France, Spain and Italy too. The Faella pasta we stock here is the finest you’ll eat. Once you have tasted it you won’t go back to buying anything else.” Given that Daniel has worked for Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay and also won a Michelin star in 2012 while running Thackeray’s,

where he originally trained under owner/chef Richard Phillips, he knows a thing or two about good food. What did he learn from working for such culinary greats? “Work ethic. You have to be precise and take pride in what you do.” Daniel left Thackeray’s in 2013 because he and Lisa were in the process of buying a country pub, but when this sadly fell through and Elliott was born their priorities changed and they branched out by themselves. “Elliott spent a lot of his early life in hospital so now I just want to be able to close the door at 6pm and be with my family,” says Daniel. “If we do any more it defeats the reason why we started all this, and that’s to spend more time with our son. Having him makes you realise what is important life.” SWEET TREAT One of Daniel’s dessert offerings COUNTER CULTURE Daniel enjoys his new role

WHAT MAKES THIS A DELI WITH A DIFFERENCE

Hattons is open from 8am-6pm Tuesdays to Sundays during the summer months and open later on Jazz and Soul Train nights. Prices for Hattons of Royal Tunbridge Wells bespoke dining service start at £60 per head and include four courses, staff and equipment. For weddings and larger events prices start at £35 per head. For more information visit: www.hattonsrtw.co.uk

Incorporated in Hattons delicatessen is a beautiful interiors shop which is run by Daniel’s wife Lisa. She used to work for the French interiors brand Maison so has a very good eye when it comes to all things stylish for the home. In her pop-up you’ll find a highly covetable collection of Swedish and French-inspired mustbuys including luxury cushions, mercurial glass ornaments and chic crockery. The homes range also stretches out into the main café area with cups, prints and pretty jugs all on offer.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

84  ADVERTISING FEATURE

Variety is the spice of global travel life

With so much choice in our world, often it can be hard to decide what kind of holiday you would like, let alone where. Here we bring you three very different ideas from Canada, Greece and Switzerland SPIRIT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA BRITISH COLUMBIA is celebrated for its natural beauty, its wild open spaces, pristine mountain landscapes, dense forests, clear, sparkling lakes and its dramatic Pacific Ocean coastline. Meanwhile, the province’s biggest and most cosmopolitan city, Vancouver, is regularly named in international surveys as being among the world’s most livable cities, known for its thriving cultural scene, excellent public transport, moderate climate and healthy outdoors lifestyle. Vancouver is a popular destination in itself, offering as it does the ideal combination of big city amenities and easy access to some of Canada’s most awe-inspiring countryside. Vancouver was established as a frontier town in the 19th century, and visitors can still get a taste of those early days in the historic Gastown neighbourhood, with its distinctive Victorian architecture. Nowadays it is TIME FOR REFLECTION A perfect mirror image of Schäffer Lake in BC’s Yoho National Park

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home to stylish restaurants, cafes and bars, and a variety of independent boutiques and galleries, popular with both locals and tourists. One of the more unusual attractions here is the Gastown steam clock, which marks each quarter hour with a blast on its whistles. Vancouver’s Chinatown – one of the biggest in North America – is another of the city’s characterful neighbourhoods, and the perfect place to find authentic Chinese cuisine. And there’s no shortage of greenery within the city’s boundaries, including the vast and densely forested Stanley Park, with its well-maintained coastal footpaths. Just off the coast is Vancouver Island, where you’ll find the capital of British Columbia, Victoria. One of the real highlights of this attractive city is the world-famous Butchart Gardens, created in a reclaimed limestone quarry in 1904 and now a National Historic Site. Covering

some 30 acres, it contains a series of themed gardens, including Italian, Japanese and Rose gardens, planted with thousands of brightly coloured flowers. Vancouver Island is the ideal destination for wildlife watching and outdoor activities. The town of Campbell River, known as the ‘Salmon Capital of the World’ draws anglers from across the globe, while on other parts of the island you can join bear-watching tours or embark on whale-watching boat trips. Not far inland from Vancouver are the snowtipped Coast Mountains and the charming ski resort of Whistler, the perfect base for the exhilarating winter sports for which this part of western Canada is so famous. There is plenty to do besides skiing and snowboarding, though; hiking, fishing, mountain biking and golf are all popular, and there are several galleries and museums in and around Whistler to enjoy.

TO BALDY GO… North America's majestic Bald Eagle

‘Not far inland from Vancouver are the snow-tipped Coast Mountains and the charming ski resort of Whistler, the perfect base for the exhilarating winter sports for which this western part of Canada is so famous’

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

IONIAN ISLAND PARADISE CORFU, one of the most beautiful, and popular, of the Greek Islands, has a very distinct charm all of its own. Over the centuries it has come under the rule of the Byzantine Empire, the Venetians, the French and the British, all of whom have left their mark on Greece’s most westerly island. The first port of call for the vast majority of visitors is the capital, Corfu Town, where reminders of this island’s long and tumultuous history abound. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is still watched over by the 16th-century New Venetian Fortress at one end, while the 15th-century Old Fortress guards the harbour. In between are elegant plazas, arcades and neoclassical buildings more reminiscent of Italy than of Greece, and a host of centuries-old churches and intriguing museums. The Venetian-style bell tower of St Spyridon’s Church, built in 1620, is one of the Old Town’s most prominent landmarks, rising above the older church building which houses the relics of Corfu’s patron saint. Nearby is the Esplanade, also known as the Spianada, a large treelined lawn where locals play cricket – a legacy of the days of the British protectorate in the 19th century. Running alongside the Esplanade is the Liston, an elegant arcaded promenade modelled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, dating from Corfu’s brief period of Napoleonic rule, and at its northern end is ACHILLES the neoclassical Palace of St Stands tall on Corfu Michael and St George, built

PLENTY TO EXPLORE One of the beautiful villages on Corfu

as the official residence of the British High Commissioner. Today it hosts the Museum of Asian Art, the only one of its kind in Greece. Overlooking the sea just out of town stands Mon Repos, a summer residence of the Greek royal family where the Duke of Edinburgh was born in 1921, while further south you’ll find Kanoni and pretty Mouse Island, one of Corfu’s most photographed views. Albania is just a short boat trip away and the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Butrint, with its extensive Roman ruins, is a popular day trip. Away from the sightseeing, there are numerous sandy beaches where you can simply soak up the sun.

GRAND TOUR OF SWITZERLAND THE Swiss railways are famous the world over, and there really is no better way to explore the country’s magnificent alpine scenery. Soaring, craggy mountains, flowerfilled meadows and sparkling lakes pass by your window as you travel between some of Switzerland’s most attractive towns. Enjoy a walk through the charming lakeside city of Lucerne, and take a ride on the funicular to the top of the Stanserhorn for spectacular views over three countries. Board the William Tell Express for an unforgettable journey as it winds its way through the lovely Reuss Valley and the 15km-long Gotthard Tunnel towards Locarno,

on the shore of Lake Maggiore. From here you can enjoy another scenic rail journey to Brig, via the Italian mountain town of Domodossola and the engineering marvel of the Simplon Tunnel. Near Zermatt, ascend the summit of the 1,620m-high Gornergrat aboard Europe’s highest cogwheel train for panoramic views of the mighty Matterhorn and the surrounding mountains. And travel along the natural bends and inclines of the UNESCO-listed region of Jungfrau-Aletsch, taking in glorious views of the Lötschen Valley as you make your way towards the inviting festival town of Montreux on the shore of Lake Geneva.

THE RED TRAIN Another thrilling rail route through the mountains from Switzerland to Italy

Wednesday 20th July 2016

86 n ADVERTISING FEATURE

When it comes to the future, always choose with care...

It is never easy discussing the sensitive issues with loved ones and it feels impossible to know where to begin. Care home expert Debbie Harris offers advice on how to approach a decision that will shape the course of both yours and your family’s future.

What are the central concerns people express when considering care homes? If a family is looking for a care home on behalf of a relative, the overwhelming emotion is confusion and not knowing where to look and what to look for. The internet provides so much information it is almost impossible to navigate. This is accompanied usually with a sense of guilt; guilt that, as a family, they are unable to cope and look after their loved one themselves. They worry that their loved one won’t be happy, that the staff might not be as understanding of their specific needs and that the food provided will not

be to their taste and so they will eat less. Another huge concern is: ‘How can we afford it?’ The average care home in the Tunbridge Wells area, for a self funding family, costs £1,000 per week.

‘It is very easy to be misled by a well presented care home with new carpets and furnishings, into thinking that they will provide the best care.’

What factors must be taken into account when selecting the ideal home? When selecting a care home there is a simple check list to follow before you begin looking. 1 Work out what you can afford to pay and speak to a financial advisor who specialises in care home fees. 2 Consider carefully where the home should be

Debbie Harris of Chosen With Care

located. Try to find somewhere near a family member who can visit frequently or in an emergency. 3 Ensure you know what category of home you are looking for. For example, do you need a residential home a nursing home, or a dementia home? Perhaps you need a combination of all three? 4 Consider what the needs for your loved one will be in a year’s time, not just now. (Moving to a care home is a major upheaval - you don’t want to have to do it twice). 5 Decide how quickly you need the home.

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Urgent availability can limit your choice considerably. 6 Check the CQC report at www.cqc.org.uk 7 Consider whether mum would prefer a larger, purpose built home or something that is smaller and converted as they have very different atmospheres. 8 Check for specific ‘house rules’. Are pets allowed for example? If you’re loved one likes a glass of wine with their evening meal, is this going to be allowed? How much of their furniture and personal effects can be accommodated?

ADVERTISING FEATURE �

home, or live-in carer to see if that works for your parent. Another alternative could be respite care. Once you’ve found the right care home see if the home will allow your parent to, in effect, ’trybefore-they-buy’. In other words let them move in on a respite basis to see if they like it. What happens if you have a parent who is reluctant to move into a care home? If your parent has capacity and doesn’t want to move into a care home then that it is their choice and you must accept that. The care home will not admit them if they say they don’t want to go. However, if you are concerned that your parent isn’t coping and isn’t safe at home then you could discuss a respite stay. It may be that they may have unfounded fears about life in a care home, which a brief respite stay might allay. There are countless

What are the challenges faced when looking for a home? The challenges facing families looking for a care home lie mainly around a lack of knowledge. Most people have never been into a care home and only do so when they need one. It is very easy to be misled by a well presented care home with new carpets and furnishings, into thinking that they will provide the best care. It is important to talk to the staff and the Manager, see if you like them and trust your instincts. In addition, not understanding what type of care may be needed in the future can result in a resident being moved because the care home can’t accommodate their needs. Often families don’t take into consideration how a person’s needs might change in the coming years and choose a home that can’t meet those needs moving forward. How can you tell if a client would have a happier and fuller life if they move into a care home? How do you know if it’s the right decision for them? Care homes are not for everyone but, despite negative press reports, for the vast majority of

residents, a care home does exactly what it says it does; ‘cares’. This gives a feeling of security, at a stage in life when otherwise, a person might feel especially vulnerable. If a person has been struggling with mobility and so has not been able to get out to shop, then their diet may suffer without the services provided by a care home. Lack of mobility can also lead to loneliness. A care home can provide an instant social circle of like-minded people as well as organised activities to stimulate the mind. Many of the physical tasks of maintaining a house - cleaning, laundry, gardening - cease to be an issue when the care home route is taken. There are of course other options. People can stay at home with carers coming in to support them, or they can have live in care. Both of these options suit many people very well.

Are there steps families can take to make the transition for their parents any smoother? Leaving their family home to a care home? To ensure a smooth transition into a care home there are several things that you can do. 1 Communicate with your relative and make sure they understand what is going on. 2 If possible, include them in the research you do whilst looking for a home. 3 If possible, visit the home with your relative and have lunch, or stay for the

cases of people who have expressed a wish to stay in a care home at the end of a respite period. Are there any legal considerations when considering a care home? Especially if they suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s? It is advisable to discuss with a solicitor the implications of moving a relative into a home. If you have already set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to deal with the finances and well-being of your loved one, then this would obviously ease the decision-making process. In either case, the solicitor should also be used to look over the contract that the care home will ask you to sign when your relative is admitted. It is also advisable to consider the whether anything needs to be changed in the will.

afternoon before the move. 4 Take in as many personal items as possible so that the new room feels familiar and homely. 5 Look at the items on their bedside table and the table beside their favourite chair and bring them into the home - they are likely to be the items they use all the time. 6 Bring in their favourite chair if the room is big enough. 7 Stay with them whilst they settle in and orientate themselves.

What’s the best way to approach a parent when considering a home? Communication is key. Talking through the options available with your parent is really important. Unless you are presented with a situation where a care home is the only option available to you, there are other ways of getting support. You could suggest carers that visit at

Wednesday 20th July 2016

88 � LIFE AND STYLE STUART NICHOLSON TAKES OVER THE BLUE ANCHOR I started visiting the Blue Anchor in Beacon Road, Crowborough nearly 15 years ago, but since last November I’ve moved to the other side of the bar. Being a mechanic by trade and now an owner of a public house, I’ve found it a learning curve, hard work but also rewarding. It was a typical local pub but now it’s been given a complete overhaul inside and out. We’re extremely proud of the transformation, especially the huge garden and the kids play area. We’re lucky enough to have a large dinning area big enough to regularly host functions, like Birthday parties, Anniversaries, garden parties, BBQ’s, Christenings and Christmas parties as well as live music.

A SENSORY AND VISUAL DELIGHT - HADLOW'S HIDDEN GEM For those who frequent Hadlow and the surrounding area, they may have visited Broadview Gardens, a hidden gem nestled in the outskirts of the village. For those who haven't, then they have missed a sensory and visual treat.

Since the re-opening we’ve been striving to deliver quality food and a first class service using locally sourced produce and friendly professional staff. Our gastro chef, Chris, was one of the head chef’s for our Olympic hero’s during the 2012 Olympic Games. And not forgetting the locals, who have been a constant support and have kept me on my toes, especially recommending beers on tap, menu ideas... You know who you are!

The gardens are exceptionally maintained and managed by the award winning college students which include 'Best Ever in Show' at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, a ‘Gold’ medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as well as winning RHS Chelsea Floristry College of the year 2015. This adds to a growing list of awards that have been gained over the years.

At the Blue Anchor you will find excellent quality food and an ambiance for a unique dining experience for the whole family. So whether you fancy a quiet romantic meal for two or a party in the garden, the Blue Anchor is the place to be. We look forward to seeing you soon.

This award-winning experience is being put to practical use in the gardens, which are set over eight acres and include a variety of stunning and surprising features. Each corner you turn offers a new vista such as the Grasses Garden, The Fountain Garden, The Oriental Garden, The subtropical style Garden (May to October), The Italian Garden and the Dry Garden. Broadview also holds the National Collection of Hellebores and the National Collection of Japanese Anemones. Each time visitors come to the gardens they will see new delights with flowers and plants for every season as well as a range of unusual plants and collections. In addition to this, each year, from September to May, students build new gardens on themes from domestic gardens, show gardens to public landscape styles using an extensive variety of plants and materials in common and innovative ways.

IS YOUR CHILD THE CUTEST KID OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS? Submit your ‘Cutest Kid of Tunbridge Wells’ pics to hello@tunbridgewellslocallife.co.uk & via twitter to @TWellsLocalLife / @HappyFeetMgt / @wardrobefairy to enter our fabulous competition to #Win some amazing prizes. The winner will receive a 12 month contract for their child with Happy Feet Management Talent & Model Agency based in Tunbridge Wells and mum will receive a day of pampering courtesy of Tunbridge Wells Local Life as well as a personal styling session and treats courtesy of Victoria Genevieve Styling. As well as pics from the photoshoot with the 10 child finalists to be held at The Happy Feet Studio in Tunbridge Wells on 02/09/16'

PETER JENNER JEWELLERY MAKER & DESIGNER Established beneath the picturesque ‘Musick Gallery’ on The Pantiles in 1980, specialising in commissions in platinum, palladium and gold, our shop is our workshop. Offering an personal design service, we are qualified diamond and coloured stone specialists, and use state-of-the-art technology combined with over 45 years experience in the best traditional handmade methods. Come and see our new and exciting range of diamond engagement rings beautifully crafted to the finest quality. We are also experts in individually designing and making wedding and eternity rings to perfectly complement exisiting rings. A varied selection of award-winning silver jewellery also stocked – perfect ‘thank you’ gifts for bridesmaids, best men and ushers. For commissions please ring first – we look forward to seeing you! Peter Jenner's, 43 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TE 01892 521796 www.peterjenner.com

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While walking the gardens and enjoying the wide variety of plants and displays, children and their parents can have fun in the swing park or a picnic on one of the many lawns dotted around. Visitors can also take advantage of a well deserved cup of tea and cake in the Broadview Tearoom which is open to all and has a special area set aside for families. Here they provide Kentish food, which comes from the College or the surrounding area. The proceeds of the Tearoom go towards the student's education. For visitors who want to grow their own gardens, then they can buy something from an extensive range of fabulous plants and garden products from Broadview Garden Centre, where experienced and knowledgeable staff are able to offer advice on any gardening issue. To find out more see www.broadviewgardens.co.uk. Entry to the gardens is free.

WITH THE

THE TOWN’S TOP MOTORING GUIDE – FROM EVERYDAY DRIVES TO LUXURY SUPERCARS

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

FIRST DRIVE

AUDI Q2 1.4 TFSI COD SPORT

FACTS AT A GLANCE PRICE: Base model from £22,230 ENGINE: Four-cylinder, inline spark-ignition, turbocharged TRANSMISSION: Seven-speed S tronic PERFORMANCE: 150bhp, 250 Nm torque ECONOMY: 45.2mpg combined EMISSIONS: 123g/km

The Q2 also fulfils the fundamental expectations of an SUV with benefits such as good visibility and a large boot, which can carry up to 1,050 litres. Optional practical solutions include a power tailgate and a three-way split rear bench backrest with cargo through-loading.

By Sophie Williamson-Stothert WHAT’S NEW? Unveiled to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in March, this sporty-looking SUV is the fourth (and smallest) member of Audi’s Q range – the entry point to the range, alongside its bigger brothers the Q7, the Q5 and the Q3. Priced from £22,230, it’s set to take on the Mercedes GLA and the BMW X2.

LOOKS AND IMAGE Taking the form of a five-door utility vehicle, the Q2 is quite the looker. Thanks to its high shoulder line and a low roof that descends and merges into the C-pillars with contrasting colour offset blades, the Q2 boasts a bold and muscular stance. Up front, its high-mounted single frame octagonal grille, hawkeye headlights and large air inlets mounted on the front bumper result in a menacing look. The Q2 incorporates the latest multimedia gadgets from the new A4 and there are three generously equipped specification levels to choose from, with the entry level SE versions benefitting from a suite of features from standard. These include a smartphone interface, which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a seven-inch MMI screen and Bluetooth connectivity. For an additional £1,500, Sport models gain 17inch alloy wheels (up from 16-inch on the SE), drive select with five operational modes, cruise control, light and rain sensors, and sport seats. Step up to the range-topping S Line, £2,250 above the Sport, and standout features include the hallmark front, side and rear styling enhancements, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, LED interior lighting and a multi-functional steering wheel. All models can be specced with Audi’s virtual cockpit display – an all-digital 12.3-inch display showing information tailored to the driver’s needs. To help attract a new generation of buyers, Audi

BEHIND THE WHEEL

‘These little touches have been specifically designed to counter criticism that all Audis come only in dull greys, blacks and blues’ has created an extensive palette of extravagant colours for customers to choose from – 12 to be precise. There’s also a huge list of customisation options inside and out, including a two-tone roof and coloured dash inserts and inlays. These little touches have been specifically designed to counter criticism that all Audis come only in dull greys, blacks and blues. All UK cars will also come with colour-coded bumpers.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY Let’s look at the tech: Inside, drivers will be impressed to see the Q2 comes with a wireless phone charger, smartphone connectivity and a Bang & Olufsen stereo system as standard. In short, the Q2 is equipped with technology you’d expect to find further up the range. Along with the optional virtual cockpit and head-up display, the Q2 can also be ordered with assistance systems such as Audi’s pre-sense safety kit (which includes pedestrian recognition and Autonomous Emergency Braking), adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist and active lane assist.

It’s spot on. Audi has managed to build a spacious and compact SUV that can nip around corners with ease. In fact, it’s one of the most powerful models in the segment. It even incorporates a low seating position, similar to what you’d find in an Audi saloon car, which gives you confidence while on jaunts along winding country roads. The Q2 is launching with an initial choice of two four-cylinder petrol engines – the 115bhp 1.6-litre TDi and the Cylinder-on-Demand 150bhp 1.4-litre TFSi. A three-cylinder 115bhp 1.0-litre TFSi and a four-cylinder 150bhp 2.0-litre TDi will become available later in the year. The 1.4-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel units are expected to top the sales charts. As an alternative to the six-speed manual gearbox, Audi has said it will offer the seven-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission across the range, bar the 1.0-litre, which is already standard on the 2.0-litre TDi. The brand has also announced that from 2017 a 2.0-litre TFSi petrol unit, allied exclusively to Quattro all-wheeldrive and S tronic, will

be introduced to the range. At this point, it will be possible to combine the 150bhp TDI and TFSI engines with Quattro drive.

VALUE FOR MONEY As standard, the Audi Q2 offers buyers plenty of bang for their buck. You could describe it as a compact A4; not only is it offering premium equipment and driver engagement at a lower cost to its rivals, it’s got bags of space and oozes family-friendly practicality from every corner. It’s also more than £4,000 cheaper than the entry-level Mercedes GLA 200 CDi Sport.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? Hatchback drivers in the market for their first SUV would find the Q2 an appealing alternative, since they wouldn’t be giving up on the performance and handling values of a sporty supermini. For couples looking for a versatile and refined family vehicle, with a spacious and stylish cabin, this crossover should be at the top of their ‘to test drive’ list. The Q2 will be available to order in August 2016 with first deliveries expected in November.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

90 n MOTORING

Model shown is the Jeep Renegade 2.0 MultiJet II 140hp 4WD 75th Anniversary [lncl £700 Special Paint] at OTR £27.495. OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR JEEP RENEGADE RANGE MPG [L/100KMI: EXTRA URBAN 47.9 [5 .9] - 70.6 [4.01. URBAN 32.5[8.7] - 55.4 [5 .11. COMBINED 40.9[6 .9] - 64.2 [4.41. C01EMISSIONS: 160 - 115 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. 'Customer deposit is £8.461. Optional Final Payment is £13.160. Contract Term is 14 months. Promotion available on new Renegade 75th Anniversary editions registered between 4th May 1016 and 31st July 1016. Jeep Deposit Contribution only available in conjunction with Jeep Horizon PCP. With Jeep Horizon you have the option to return the vehicle and not pay the final payment. subject to the vehicle not having exceeded an agreed annual mileage (a charge of 6p per mile for exceeding 10.000 miles per annum in this example] and being in good condition. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions apply. At participating Dealers only. Jeep Financial Services. PO BOX 4465. Slough. Sll ORW. We work with a number of creditors including Jeep Financial Services. Jeep@isa registered trademark of FCA USLL C.

Model shown is New Alfa Giulietta 1.4 TB 120 hp at £19,225 OTR incl. Stromboli Grey Special Paint at £525. Range of official fuel consumption figures for the Alfa Giulietta range: Urban 29.7 - 60.1 mpg (9.5 - 4.7 1/lOOkm); Extra Urban 54.3 88.3 mpg (5.2 - 3.2 1/lOOkm); Combined 41.5 - 74.3 mpg (6.8 - 3.81/lOOkm). C0 2 emissions 157 - 99 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. ' Customer deposit is £1,599. Optional Final Payment is £5,803. ContractTerm is 48 months. Promotion available on New Alfa Giulietta 1.4 TB 120 hp at £19,225 OTR registered between 1st July and 31st July 2016. Alfa Deposit Contribution only available in conjunction with Alfa Romeo Preferenza PCP. With Alfa Romeo Preferenza you have the option to return the vehicle and not pay the final payment, subject to the vehicle not having exceeded an agreed annual mileage (a charge of 6p per mile for exceeding 6,000 miles per annum in this example] and being in good condition. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions apply. At participating Dealers only. Alfa Romeo Financial Services, PO BOX 4465, Slough, SL! ORW. We wo rk with a number of creditors including Alfa Romeo Financial Services.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

MOTORING NEWS �

AA leads the charge on battery vehicles SALES of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are about to take off, and the AA predicts that more than 500,000 of these alternatively-powered cars will be on UK roads by 2020. The AA believes that dispelling the myths surrounding the costs associated with running these sorts of vehicles could help increase these estimates significantly. To aid this process, the AA has partnered with Chargemaster, the UK’s leading electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure provider, to provide support and access to a growing network of UK charge points. AA president Edmund King said: “We think that the EV revolution is about to take off and we want to help consumers understand the benefits of low-cost, lowemission driving and to show them it is accessible and affordable. “Per mile driven, an EV is five times cheaper than the average petrol car and carries no vehicle excise duty.” The partnership will provide EV owners with a range of benefits, including home charging units and access to thousands of charging points at preferential rates. The organisations will also begin expanding the number of domestic and public charging points available around the country.

SENIOR SERVICE Recommended road safety changes for the elderly

Help for older drivers PLUGGING THE GAP Chargemaster will boost number of UK EV points Chargemaster is currently installing 40 of its latest 50KW Ultrachargers in London – which are capable of charging an EV in less than 30 minutes – quadrupling the number of charge points within the M25 in the process. AA research reveals there are a number of barriers and misconceptions surrounding EV ownership, such as their high purchase price, the durability of the battery and the availability of public charge points. David Martell, Chargemaster CEO, points out that questions over charging

points at a destination are a significant barrier to EV ownership, a concern that worried 81 per cent of AA respondents. “We want to change that perception. This new relationship with the AA will see hundreds more AA-branded charging points installed,” he said. “They’ll go in at AA-rated hotels and other accessible public places such as supermarkets, public car parks and town centres, while we will be embarking on a public awareness campaign to show that charging a vehicle at home is neither difficult nor costly.”

BRITISH roadways should be modified to make them less dangerous for older drivers, a report has suggested. The government-backed report by the Older Drivers Task Force, managed by the Road Safety Foundation, says the UK does not heed the needs of older drivers when developing road design standards. It argues that if it did, all road users would benefit. John Plowman, Chairman of the Older Drivers Task Force, said: “Our road transport system, our roads and vehicles have been designed for use by fit, middle-aged motorists in the middle of the spectrum of road users. “Looked at through an older driver’s prism, the current road system doesn’t do them many favours.” T-junctions and intersections drew particular attention. According to the report, of all car crashes that occurred

in the UK between 2012-14, 55-65 per cent took place at or within 20 metres of a junction, a figure that didn’t change much with driver age. However, for fatal crashes in the same scenario, the figure was 30 per cent for ages up to 65, increasing to 50 per cent for those aged over 75; a significant problem for elderly drivers. The report points out the majority of crashes that occur at intersections take place at T-junctions where no traffic control devices are present, or where there is only a give way sign. To solve this problem, it suggests studying the effectiveness of having mini-roundabouts at busy T-junctions with little or no change to kerb lines. Other suggestions include reflective backplates on road signs and traffic signals, larger lettering on direction signs, and regular cleaning of signs.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

92 n MOTORING

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.~. EJ The Gat!house

Repairs MOT Testing Annual & Routine Servicing Air Conditioning Courtesy Cars Quality Parts

INVICTA HONDA Tunbridge Wells Business Park, Dowd ing Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DS Call 01892 598875 or visit www.tunbrid gewells-honda.co. uk

Fuel consumption figures for the Jazz EX 1.3 i-VTEC Manual mpg (11100km): Urban 45.6 (6.2), Extra Urban 62.8 (4.5), Combined 55.4 (5.1). C0 2 emissions: 120g/km. Fuel consumption figures sourced from official EU-regulated laboratory test results, are provided for comparison purposes and may not reflect real-life driving experience. Mode l Sh own : Jazz EX 1.3 i·VTEC Manual Sunset Orange II at £15,995 On The Road (OTR). Term s and Conditi o ns: New retail Jazz EX 1.3 i· VTEC petrol ordered from 01 July 2016 to 30 September 2016 and registered by 30 September 2016. Subject to model and colour availability. Offers applicable at participating dealers and are at the promoter's absolute discretion. Not to be used along with any other offers currently available. *0 % APR re p rese ntative Hond a A s pi ra ti o n s (PCP): Maximum customer deposit 30%. You do not have to pay the Final Payment if you return the car at the end of the agreement and you have paid all other amounts due, the vehicle is in good condition and has been serviced in accordance with the Honda service book and the maximum annual mileage has not been exceeded. Excess m il ea ge ch a rge includes VAT at current ra t e. Indemnities may be required in certain circumstances. Finance is only available to persons aged 18 or over, subject to status. All figures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change. lnvicta M otors (M a id st o ne) Limite d a re c r edit bro ke rs, not lend e r s. Credit provided by Honda Finance Europe Pie. Cain Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1HL. Honda Finance Europe pie is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Services Register number 312541. **5 Yea r s' £555 Servicing : Please visit www.honda.eo.uk/cars/offers tReference only specific to Sportrax 90.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

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94 � PUZZLES

Scribble pad

7. Outline (13) 8. Impassioned (8) 9. Mail (4) 10. Trend-setter (6) 12. Passionate (6) 14. Foundation (6) 16. Small (6) 18. Faithful (4) 20. Face (8) 22. Debauchery (13)

Down 1. Ancestor (8) 2. Insult (6) 3. Eye amorously (4) 4. Appreciative (8) 5. Daze (6) 6. Deficit (4) 11. Deride (8) 13. Indolence (8) 15. Restive (6) 17. Crowd (6) 19. Incursion (4) 21. Memorandum (4)

SOLUTIONS

22 Dissoluteness. Down: 1 Forebear; 2 Offend; 3 Ogle; 4 Grateful; 5 Stupor; 6 Loss; 11 Ridicule; 13 Idleness; 15 Uneasy; 17 Throng; 19 Raid; 21 Note.

Wednesday 20th July 2016

12. Cries distractedly about fifty souvenirs (6) 14. Artist who may scratch a living (6) 16. Country lovers (6) 18. Food for the sailor, of course (4) 20. Don’t forget about a person in society (8) 22. Artist who leaves his mark? (13)

Across

SUDOKU:

Across 7. Does he go round causing riots? (13) 8. Nuts are found in them, and bolts (8) 9. Finishes off objectives (4) 10. Mother goes to the doctor having knocked back S. African port (6)

QUICK CLUES

DOUBLE CROSSWORD: Cryptic: Across: 7 Revolutionary; 8 Scuttles; 9 Ends; 10 Madras; 12 Relics; 14 Etcher; 16 Swains; 18 Tack; 20 Remember; 22 Impressionist. Down: 1 Penchant; 2 Porter; 3 Bull; 4 Piastres; 5 Anneal; 6 Prod; 11 Surprise; 13 Condense; 15 Hikers; 17 Almond; 19 Arms; 21 Maid.

CRYPTIC CLUES

Down 1. Inclination to write a song (8) 2. He may handle your case (6) 3. His eye’s on the target (4) 4. Traipses around for money (8) 5. Girl has the French rising temper (6) 6. Jab with a soft stick (4) 11. An unforeseen reaction (8) 13. Make little of (8) 15. Shriek upsets pedestrians (6) 17. Old man cracks a nut (6) 19. They carry weapons (4) 21. A dim sort of girl (4)

SUDOKU

Quick: Across: 7 Configuration; 8 Vehement; 9 Post; 10 Leader; 12 Fervid; 14 Ground; 16 Little; 18 True; 20 Confront;

DOUBLE CROSSWORD

PUZZLES 

ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ

CODEWORD Codeword is the crossword puzzle with no clues. The number in each square corresponds to a letter. Work out the words in the grid using the letters provided. Fill in these known letters first, then use skill and judgement to work out the others.

An isolated Somerset valley in 1894 provides the setting for which supernatural BBC horror drama?

8. What “Don’t Echo” according to the title of Lee Mack’s Sky1 panel show that had its fourth series this year?

WORD SPIRAL Starting from 1, fill in the grid clockwise with four-letter words. The last letter of each word becomes the first letter of the next to reveal the key word in the shaded boxes. 1

9. Brian Harvey and Tony Mortimer were among the original line-up of which boy band, formed in 1991? 10. Alexander Skarsgård is portraying a famous jungle dweller on the big screen in which new film?

15. Which Monty Python member had a cameo as a surfer in Home and Away?

5. Who was sent to David Lynch’s dystopian town of Twin Peaks to find Laura Palmer’s killer?

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1

6. The Getaway is the long-awaited eleventh album from which American rock band, their first since 2011? 7. In which 2000 movie did John Cusack play music enthusiast Rob Gordon, who revisits his past relationships to work out what went wrong?

Tom Hanks – Q13

15 11

16 13

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Building cover Just Peruse Herb Breathing organ Sport Ado Beach grains

9. Writing table 10. Flying toy 11. Jealousy 12. Period of time 13. Spool 14. Arm or leg 15. Meat 16. Defect

Keyword clue: A marine growth

SOLUTIONS

7 High Fidelity; 8 Duck Quacks; 9 East 17; 10 The Legend of Tarzan; 11 Love Your Garden; 12 Millennium; 13 Philadelphia and Forrest Gump; 14 Mary Portas; 15 Michael Palin.

4. Dwayne Johnson plays rogue CIA agent Bob Stone in which recently released movie?

14. Who is giving us an insight into What Britain Buys on C4?

CODEWORD: 1=W, 2=S, 3=J, 4=O, 5=Y, 6=H, 7=Z, 8=L, 9=C, 10=Q, 11=N, 12=G, 13=A, 14=R, 15=T, 16=U, 17=X, 18=I, 19=D, 20=M, 21=V, 22=B, 23=E, 24=P, 25=K, 26=F

3. Who joined Chris Martin and Coldplay to close this year’s Glastonbury festival?

13. For which two consecutive films did Tom Hanks win his Best Actor Oscars in 1994 and 1995?

WORD SPIRAL: 1 Roof; 2 Fair; 3 Read; 4 Dill; 5 Lung; 6 Golf; 7 Fuss; 8 Sand; 9 Desk; 10 Kite; 11 Envy; 12 Year; 13 Reel; 14 Limb; 15 Beef; 16 Flaw. Keyword: SEAWEED

2. Wentworth Prison is a contemporary re-working of which popular 1970s-80s Australian soap opera?

ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ: 1 The Living and the Dead; 2 Prisoner: Cell Block H; 3 Barry Gibb; 4 Central Intelligence; 5 Agent Dale Cooper; 6 Red Hot Chili Peppers;

Lee Mack – Q8

11. Alan Titchmarsh helps to provide the horticultural makeovers on which ITV show? 12. What was the title of Robbie Williams’ first British number one single, in September 1998?

Wednesday 20th July 2016

96 n RECRUITMENT

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Wednesday 20th July 2016

98  WHAT’S ON SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON WITH THE

Eileen Leahy Local events

If you would like to see your events featured in our weekly What’s On pages please email info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

>> THURSDAY The Tall Tales, Tiny Tavern exhibition is now in full swing at the Tunbridge Wells Museum. It is an interesting artistic collaboration between a local writer and artist LOOK HERE using a doll’s house and Learning To Drive its furniture as the is on at Trinity creative ingredients for each different tale. Get in the summertime swing of things by going along to the ever popular Jazz on The Pantiles this evening from 7.30pm, where Unit 7 will be taking to the bandstand. If your children are already on their school holidays then why not let them stay up late tonight in order to participate in the High Weald Partnership’s Beautiful Bats walk at Dunorlan. The free event starts at 8.45pm from the Halls Hole Road entrance to the park and booking is essential. Visit: www.khwp.org.uk

FLYING HIGH Pepenbury fundraisers take to the skies >> WEDNESDAY If cabaret is your scene then pop along to Scallywags café, which is hosting an Open Mic night from 8pm. Starring Champagne Charlie and Tom Carradine, these events are always a fun way to spend an evening. Tickets cost £5 on the door. For more information visit: www.scallywagcafe.co.uk Laurie Anderson, the American performance artist and musician, has directed Heart of a Dog, showing at Trinity Theatre at 8pm. In this celluloid exploration of her feelings after the death of her singer/ songwriter husband Lou Reed, her mother and beloved dog Lolabelle, we discover a poignant piece of autobiographical cinema. Anderson also examines life in New York City after 9/11.

THE JAZZ SINGER Curtis Stigers

To book tickets visit: www.trinitytheatre.net In association with The Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival, Curtis Stigers will be performing tonight at the Assembly Hall. The respected singer and saxophonist, who had major hits in the 1990s including You’re All That Matters To Me and I Wonder Why, will be on stage from 7.30pm. For further details visit: www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

>> FRIDAY Angela Cartwright and Frances Clayden will be taking to the skies dressed in Superwoman costumes at 5.30pm in order to raise money for the Pembury-based charity Pepenbury. The duo will be flying off from Headcorn Airfield and doing a Wing Walk so the charity can buy a new minibus. If you want to support the ladies then you can do so by going to the Virgin Money Just Giving Friends of Pepenbury page or by emailing thefriendsofpepenbury@gmail.com At 6.30pm The Spa Hotel’s open air cinema will be screening the classic 80s’ film Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. Visitors can also enjoy a hog roast and drinks from a pop-up bar. Tickets cost £12 per person and can be booked at www.spahotel.co.uk This weekend The Legend of Tarzan comes to the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood with open-air screenings every evening at 9.30pm until Monday. Tickets cost £25 per car or £20 if you book in advance. To do so visit: www.moonlightcinema.com >> SATURDAY Treat your tastebuds to some delicious delights at the Tunbridge Wells Farmers’ Market, which runs until 2pm today outside the Town Hall and showcases some fantastic seasonal and local products. Showfields and Ramslye Summer Fayre and Fun Day takes place from 12-3pm at Rowan Tree Walk. Visitors can enjoy an afternoon of music, face painting, a

Wednesday 20th July 2016

bouncy castle and competitions with great prizes to be won. The Soul Train steams into town tonight so if you’re a fan of funky tunes and 60s and 70s grooves then make sure you’re boogying the night away on The Pantiles from 7.30pm. Funny Money starts its week-long run at the Oast Theatre in Tonbridge today. It’s a classic, fast-paced farce written by the king of this theatrical genre Ray Cooney, and will have audiences giggling all the way through. For tickets and further information visit: www.oasttheatre.com >> SUNDAY Head to Trinity if you would like to enjoy a Sunday afternoon of uplifting comedy. Tomfoolery, a one-man show by pantomime pro Tom Swift, is full of amusing rants, recollections and clever magic tricks that will brighten up a sleepy Sunday instantly. At 3pm and 7.30pm The Dance Consortium will be putting on two special nostalgia performances at The Assembly Hall in order to celebrate their 30th anniversary. If you want to go along and enjoy the various dance routines put on by this local group you can book tickets by calling: 01732 359684.

RIPPLED EFFECT Alexander Skarsgard is Tarzan

>> MONDAY The Tunbridge Wells Ukulele group meets every Monday at the Cross Keys pub. If you play the instrument or just enjoy listening to it then pop along at 8pm. At 7.30pm Mike Leigh’s Pirates of Penzance will be streamed into the Uckfield Picture House. This is the film director’s first foray into opera and the results are most impressive. Book tickets to avoid disappointment: www. picturehouseuckfield.com Money Monster is showing at Trinity tonight. Starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Jack O’Connell it’s a fast-moving, powerful film which sees Clooney’s character – a TV presenter and Wall Street whizzkid – and his production team taken hostage live on air. >> TUESDAY Grosvenor & Hilbert Park is hosting Around The World in a Day. This drop-in event, which is located in the park’s new Hub, features facts, figures and activities

WHAT’S ON 

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton

FUNNY MAN Tom Swift in his one-man show

from all over the globe including Africa, Europe and America. The Cross Keys’ weekly pub quiz runs from 8-10pm and costs £2 per person to enter. Trinity will be showing the movie Learning To Drive, in which Patricia Clarkson plays Wendy, a woman who is devastated after husband leaves her. In order to be more independent she starts taking driving lessons from an immigrant named Darwan, who is played by Ben Kingsley. The story centres around the relationship the pair strike up as they both help each other through a tricky stage of life.

PICK OF THE WEEK Richard III Thursday July 21

BACK TO BLACK Ralph Fiennes is Richard III

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Basement, Dinosaur Pile-Up, The Sun Days THURSDAY Blurred Vision, Noble Jacks, Special Pre Ramblin Man Performance FRIDAY Sleep In Solitude, Fall From Glory, Attack The Skyline SUNDAY Unfest Sunday Sessions MONDAY October Drift TUESDAY Area 11

MUSIC ON THE PANTILES BANDSTAND

8-10pm, live music on The Bandstand, free to attend, donations welcome

The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… www.paulduntonandguests.com

Live music THERE is a fine array of gigs and concerts this week, so make sure you venture out and support live music at one of your favourite local venues. My top recommendations of the week are as follows… The superb rockin’ three-piece Blurred Vision are in action at The Forum this Thursday night supported by the alternative/folk sounds of Noble Jacks. Other options for Thursday night include Unit 7 at Jazz on The Pantiles, and for classical fans, local duo LYRAE are performing at Il Vesuvio restaurant, offering a mixture of easy listening song, piano and violin music. For blues fans, the divine talents of Robin Bibi & Alan Glen are at the Cross Keys Pub this Friday, while there are some excellent pop and rock bands playing the local circuit this Saturday night including Red Rooster at the Beau Nash, Shine at the Royal Oak Pub and The T16’s at No.9 Smokehouse. For fans of indie, metal and progressive rock music, you can catch Sleep In Solitude, Fall From Glory and Attack The Skyline at The Forum. For fans of acoustic and singer-songwriter acts, the Local & Live sessions at the Trinity Theatre this Saturday feature the breathtaking Hattie Webb, who offers a spine-tingling sound comprised of her enchanting vocals and brilliant musicianship on the harp. Hattie will be supported by superb local indie-folk group Sound Sanctuary. This Sunday the renowned sibling duo The Breretons are at The Grey Lady, and look out for Harley and Woods there next Wednesday night supported by Ed Jones and The Diamond Cuts.

THURSDAY Jazz series: Unit 7 SATURDAY Soul Train NO.9 SMOKEHOUSE

9 Nevill Street, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

The Breretons

FRIDAY Robbie Ransom SATURDAY The T16s CASSIDY'S BAR

Castle Street. Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm onwards

FRIDAY Velvet Goldmine IL VESUVIO RESTAURANT

Camden Road, 01892 534420

THURSDAY Belle ragazze music night: LYRAE (voice, violin and piano) 7.30pm, £5 dining supplement, under-12s free. Booking is recommended SCALLYWAG

WEDNESDAY Ralph Taylor, Ed Jones & The Diamond Cuts, Harley & Woods THE CROSS KEYS

St John's Road, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Sonny’s Jazz: Derek Nash & Dave Colton THURSDAY Open Mic Night FRIDAY Sonny’s Blues: Robin Bibi & Alan Glen MONDAY TWUNT Ukulele Jam WEDNESDAY Sonny’s Jazz: refer to venue website above Harpist Hattie Webb

45 Mount Ephraim, open all day, music from 7.30pm, entry charge for music may apply, more information at www.scallywagcafe.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Cabaret Open Mic Night FRIDAY Ed Watts (Jazz Piano) THE ROYAL OAK

Prospect Road, 0pen all day, free entry, music from 8pm onwards

SATURDAY Shine MONDAY Open Mic and Jam Session TRINITY THEATRE

Church Road

SATURDAY Local & Live Sessions: Hattie Webb, Sound Sanctuary, The Paul Dunton Orchestra THE BEAU NASH INN

Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

SATURDAY Red Rooster THE PUNCH & JUDY

11 St Stephens Street, Tonbridge, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

TUESDAY Vultures

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

The Pantiles, doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Anna Howie, Ian Knapp, Andy Twyman FRIDAY The Bob Dylan Experience SATURDAY Soul Train after party. Free entry and open until late SUNDAY Holly Stanford, Billy Jupp & Paul Rippengal, The Breretons TUESDAY Milly McCarron, Kirsti Robinson, Youth

THE ALMEIDA Theatre in London launches its first foray into live streaming on Thursday evening with its production of Richard III. Starring Ralph Fiennes as Shakespeare’s most notorious villain and Vanessa Redgrave as the bitter Queen Margaret, this classic piece of theatre will be screened via the internet in both the Odeon in Tunbridge Wells and The Kino cinema in Hawkhurst.

Catch Local & Live at Trinity

Wednesday 20th July 2016

100 n ARTS & CULTURE

Immerse yourself in the chilling story of the world’s most iconic ocean liner This summer you can see rare artefacts and pictures from the doomed Titanic in an internationally renowned exhibition which is coming to Tunbridge Wells. The Times discovers what lies in store BUILT in Belfast by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in 1909, Titanic was one of three ‘Olympic Class’ ships commissioned by the White Star Line group. The brief was to create the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner in history and, after an epic construction that took over three years, Titanic was ready to take to the seas. This marvellous creation was considered a feat of engineering thanks to its double bottom and 15 watertight bulkheads with electric doors that, Shipbuilder magazine said at the time, made Titanic ‘practically unsinkable’. She was also dubbed the world’s most glamorous ‘floating hotel’ thanks to the glittering ballroom, five-star dining, elegant reception rooms and swimming pool which were all at the disposal of the first-class passengers. The iconic Titanic embarked upon her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on April 10, 1912. The passengers on board ranged from multimillionaires and movie stars to teachers and tradesmen who all wanted to travel to America – the hallowed land of opportunity and dreams being realised. The guest areas and accommodation were divided into three categories: First, second and third class. Five days into her epic journey across the

Wednesday 20th July 2016

LUXURIOUS LINER The Titanic sets sail

Atlantic – and after having made stops at Cherbourg in France and Queenstown in Ireland – Titanic’s captain, Edward Smith, had to plot a new course after hearing reports of icebergs posing problems further ahead. Yet despite being tipped off, everything seemed as normal to Captain Smith and his crew on that fateful evening of April 14. The sea was calm, there was no wind, the temperature hovered around freezing and the sky was clear.

Sadly all these factors proved to be the vessel’s downfall as ice is notoriously difficult to spot in such placid and cold conditions. Just 20 minutes before midnight on April 14, Titanic’s chief lookout Frederick Fleet cried “Look out – iceberg!” But sadly the alarm call came too late and 40 seconds after receiving it the world’s finest ship had struck a 100-metre glacier and the hull was being ripped wide open. Within the hour most of Titanic’s watertight

compartments at the front of the vessel had flooded and suddenly the unimaginable was happening: Titanic was sinking. It took just three hours for the luxurious liner to be immersed into the Atlantic with over 1,500 lives being lost and just over 700 passengers surviving. Yet despite this enormous tragedy happening over 100 years ago it still continues to capture the public’s attention and has spawned numerous books, films, documentaries and exhibitions over the years. They include ‘Titanic in Photographs’ an international collection of pictures and artefacts from the historic ship which is having only its second outing in the UK when it comes to Tunbridge Wells this summer. Based on the bestselling book of the same name by world renowned maritime historians Daniel Klistoner and Steve Hall, Titanic in Photographs will be displayed in three different parts of the Royal Victoria Place (RVP) from this coming Saturday (July 23) until Sunday August 21 before it tours around South America and the US later this year. Marc Burchett, Marketing Manager of RVP told the Times, “I am extremely proud that we will

ARTS & CULTURE 

be bringing this unique exhibition to Tunbridge Wells and Kent this summer. It will certainly provide visitors with something different to enjoy and has great appeal to all ages. I think the story of Titanic has captivated us all and this exhibition will certainly not disappoint.” The gallery-style display will take visitors on a journey back in time, through the eyes of those who were there, including Harland and Wolff’s professional photographer, Robert Welch, and the numerous press photographers and passengers who were on board both Titanic and her rescue ship, Carpathia. Almost 100 large-scale period photographs, all of which are numbered and set out to guide the visitor through the infamous story of the Titanic, from her conception to her tragic demise, will be on view. There will also be a central image totalling eight metres by the acclaimed artist and Titanic expert Ken Marshall, illustrating the incredible detail of the ship’s luxurious interiors and stunning exterior. But the photographs are just one element of this must-see exhibition. In addition there are numerous display cabinets, containing over 130 genuine artefacts from the Titanic and her identical twin sister ship, the Olympic. These rare and often unique items, which include gilt and crystal light fittings, china, silverware, crystal and elegant furniture, all help bring the TREASURE TROVE A selection of historic artefacts

photographs to life, transporting the visitor back in time and placing them in the picture. Also on display is stationery from Titanic’s Reading and Writing Room, some of which was sent home as a souvenir by one of the victims after they posted it at what was to be the last stop in Queenstown. A railway ticket that was purchased on board the Titanic from the Purser’s Office by a thirdclass passenger for an onward journey that would never take place can also be viewed. Although the emphasis of the exhibition is based around the beauty, opulence and splendour of this truly magnificent ship, there are many poignant reminders of how it all came to an end including lifeboat plaques, a passenger list, memorial postcards and even a gold pocket watch, which was dropped by a first-class passenger as he rushed to secure a place in one of the last lifeboats and found by one of Titanic’s crew members. ‘Titanic in Photographs’ is brought to you in association with Royal Victoria Place and the Times of Tunbridge Wells. Entry to the exhibition is free and visitors to Royal Victoria Place will be able to tour around it during normal trading hours. For your chance to win our Titanic competition see page 17

101

TIMELESS MEMORIES The liner’s log book and a passenger’s pocket watch

FASCINATING TITANIC FACTS 

On July 29, 1908 the design plans for the Titanic and her sister ship Olympic were agreed in principle



There were 246 injuries and two deaths recorded during the ship’s 26-month construction in Belfast



Twenty horses were required to carry Titanic’s main anchor



The ship burned around 600 tonnes of coal a day – hand shovelled into its furnaces by a team of 176 men. Almost 100 tonnes of ash were ejected into the sea each day



The Titanic even had its own on-board newspaper – the Atlantic Daily Bulletin



There were 20,000 bottles of beer on board, 1,500 bottles of wine and 8,000 cigars – all for the use of first-class passengers



Titanic’s Grand Staircase descended down seven of the ship’s ten decks and featured oak panelling, bronze cherubs and paintings



The scheduled time of the first lifeboat drill was cancelled by Captain Smith without explanation. This meant that the crew were unrehearsed when the real lifeboat evacuation commenced



When it sank it went down almost four kilometres into the Atlantic ocean



As the ship slowly slipped beneath the waves, bandleader Wallace Hartley and his fellow musicians carried on playing until the final moments



Only 16 wooden lifeboats and four collapsible boats were carried, enough to accommodate 1,178 people, only one third of Titanic’s total capacity



John Jacob Astor IV was the richest passenger on board, with a net worth of around $85m (approximately $2bn today). He went down with the ship



Robert Ballard – a Franco American explorer – discovered the wreckage in 1985, 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland

 James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic

which starred Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet has grossed more than $2bn and won 11 Oscars 

The last remaining survivor of the disaster, Millvina Dean, died on May 31, 2009, aged 97. She was two months old at the time of the sinking

Wednesday 20th July 2016

102 � THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Kent Barker Country matters

After taking a leap from London, the plan was to start a new life in the countryside and a career as a famous author. Instead I acquired a dog and part-time work managing a community orchard. You can read these experiences on my blog: www.kentcountrymatters.blogspot.co.uk

Is it true the festival fun is really over?

HEW. They’ve all gone. The last car left an hour ago. The stage has been dismantled and driven off. The loos should leave tomorrow along with the sound engineer’s marquee and the generator. And that, as they say, is that. This was the tenth festival to be held in the field behind my house and, in theory at least, the last. But at around midnight last night I began to wonder if I’d made the right decision. There was a great band on stage playing Grateful Dead numbers. A couple of hundred people were dancing down the front or chilling on straw bales or camping chairs. Others were sitting round the nearby bonfire, while a few ‘up late’ children were bouncing on the trampoline. Spread all across the field were assorted tents and camper vans and gazebos, many adorned with twinkly lights. And some imaginative soul had lined the main walkways with nightlights in fireproof paper bags which provided a magical glow – looking a bit like landing strips for fairies. If you’d followed them you’d have arrived at the bar area and the second stage, where an acoustic guitarist and singer were jamming into the night. The bar itself had closed

Wednesday 20th July 2016

an hour earlier, drunk dry by enthusiastic revellers, and empty beer barrels and wine bottles were lined up awaiting collection.

‘If I appear a jolly host, they should have seen me when all the power to the catering area fused’ And everywhere I went I was waylaid by happy people, most of whom wanted to bend my ear and persuade me not to call time on ‘their’ festival. “Why” they asked, “don’t you want to do it again?” It was a hard question to answer in a few words. It would have taken too long to tell them about the months of planning along with the weeks of preparation. I could have said that before they arrived the entire field had been freshly mown – at least twice all over and three or four times along the paths and in front of the stage. I could have moaned about how the tractor broke down just when I needed it most and how I had to find an alternative, and transfer the giant mower attachment over, bashing my fingers and skinning

a small mountain of waste they’d generated and I’d been left to dispose of, overflowing the large wheelie bins I’d ordered. But that would all have been churlish. My reward for all this aggravation is not the modest payment I receive, but much more the enjoyment everyone gets from being there. And it is heartwarming to see so many people having fun in my field. So what I actually said to anyone who asked was that I was planning to take a year off. If Michael Eavis can do it at Glastonbury, then why can’t we in Kent? I also said that it wasn’t actually my decision that this would be the last one. The people who do all the rest of the organising – booking, arranging, and paying the bands, sorting the stage and generator and marquee and sound and lighting, and selling the tickets – they had decided that after ten years they needed a rest. So I told them that after a year off I’d be open to suggestions. As everyone kept telling me, it would just be too sad for our little festival to disappear altogether.

my knuckles. I could have explained how letting 300 campers loose in an unmarked field results in anarchy and how I’d carefully delineated sections where people could pitch tents and park their cars, and where they should not. How I’d put up posts and strung bunting along the edges to make it look jolly, and then printed and laminated and attached direction signs. And of the frustration of finding that someone who’d arrived at 4am had ignored the signs and pitched her tent completely blocking an entrance way. I could have told of having to move everything out of the barn in order to turn it into the bar area, and build racks for the beer and surfaces to serve off, and of cleaning out the shed that would be the second stage, and running electric cables and an internet feed from the house. I would probably have said to them that, if generally I appear a jolly host, they should have seen me when all the power to the catering area fused and I was wandering around around with an electrical screwdriver and a torch trying to work out why… Meanwhile someone was asking me if I had any more plastic glasses, and what should we do because the beer was running out, and the caterer was asking about when her oven and urn would FIELD DAY be back on, and I bashed my Campers ‘chilling’ on forehead on a low beam… and how, straw bales or chairs after they departed, there would be

Summertime offer you Will not want to miss out on

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By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Jeweller G. Collins & Sons Ltd Royal Tunbridge Wells

~. Oiollins & ~ons -------••-------76/78, High Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1YB Telephone: (01892) 534018 Fax: (01892) 510536 email: info@gcollinsandsons.com · www.gcollinsandsons.com

Patek Philippe Diamond Ribbon Ref.4968R