Times of Tunbridge Wells 16th March 2016

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Wednesday, March 16th, 2016

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THE PANTIL

Weather ay

Wednesd

to Misty start turning the day, through brighter the day.

Moderate Visibility: 06.09am Sunrise:

Thursday

8ºC

, March 16, Wednesday

2016 March 16, Wells Tunbridge

7ºC Low Pollution: m Sunset: 18.05p

DOWN STANDING Ann Barnes

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Loca news that

matters

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Internat

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ates? ey the candid Who are Scott, Swanl : Matthew ster  Conservative e, Roche Tristan Osborn Maidstone  Labour: Dave Naghi, l Democrat:  Libera tone Bolton, Folkes , Dartford  UKIP: Henry Steve Uncles Democrats: tone  English Wilson, Maids ndent: Fergus  Indepe

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PCC salary What’s the 0 a year Around £85,00 PCCs? idea behind public to hold t, the What’s the elected by the force to accoun They are rable bles and police answe Chief Consta making the effectively unities they serve to work in at to the comm agencies supposed PCCs are across a range of there partnership level to ensure ting and national local and approach to preven is a unified crime reducing

on £19milliin tor is paid tra s ra d e e p ll o ce il n a R ed or ca for delay FRONT

co.uk tt Adam Higne softunbridgewells. adam@time

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INSIDE ILES town in THE PANT comes to Hollywood Cate Blanchett of the shape

PAGES 17-20

er vote? er (PCC) Who can the Electoral Regist Commission ‘letting to Anyone on BUSINESS d of and Crime site is sold ng’ THE Police s has been accuse Dairy Crest home company and ‘wasti Ann Barneresidents of Kent report retirement ign to sucinspectorate Mrs down’ the office as the campa begins in to a police in ‘excellent’, s, incumbent her time Pointing Kent service as as achievement embattled g the s of her ceed the n’ and ew Scott, Paris Brownthen tt rankin lists some looking toward t. s lls.co.ukting the ‘politicisatio ving the Higne tment of after Adam from Matth is widely of Eridge Blayne Jackson earnes Barne dgewe view come appoin impro ks Aerial red Her preven taken by: ate, who in the as well as timesoftunbri row over The remar including PCC’ backfi s the force ed in aadam@ Crowborough es will. be rvative candid ‘Youth sation of servicfigures into... was engulf which the Comg the profile the Conse succeed Mrs Barne privati k with failing of crimen is makin year old ed cy ells.co.u weather pictures to 17 raised tweets angry your check easter accura job. way tipped Send been racist thethat to have South esoftunbridgew COMMUTERSlearn were never when their s in the the claims per annum succession have her allegedly newsdesk@tim ’ a year £85,000 admitted Sheinalso gh ‘not alway sed to ‘profit nced for the s surpri s to pick out missioner job offer was made. Mrs PAGE 3 Barne job, althou time. “If I were Battle lines Mrs Barnes annou of pound to of the be what the paid down from are not on on said millionsher adding:money of CONTACTS it would s. drawn after week to stand three and before David Camer ss’ following don’t run or intendaed’ in Kent. refund for proudservice URE trainsabout or claims last for Even I am most victims here out the to impre to deliver intention n she has held things ed for ARTS & CULT it fails part in the had ‘failed The operat when documentary that refund single achiev live arts in OR some of in a TV Rail has been on the positio She will not take s.

I would Promoting l Assault IAL DIRECT n. | 01892 779615 ular, ted Network i- only service passes EDITOR D MOORE appearance communities ted Sexua d positio ewells.co.uk la half years.n for the office.

“In partic was invest the rural astern for disrup RICHAR timesoftunbridg nt of a dedica came under the newly create Mrs Barnes Southe er claim year £19mi ishme richard@ nsation year May electio total .last as to whethgers who establ immediately candidates, ed’ dis- for the next edalinCentre N in compe And last CTION ‘plann watchdog gto passen l with the or receiv Her legacyother prospective out more be aNSATIO losing out approaches Referr COMPE llionnfor not It paid r Specia DESIGN/PRODU by a police drivin The operat daynned’. are £12mi for.” are paying I will electio she was up of “As ne, a formewho said gated she had been LEE SMITH t- havePassen d that attack from deliv-gers refunds companies g it easier to apply eastern is spent for ‘unpla markerstudy.com nce after decide r, I not to Depar lion; made £7million “Train service Tristan Osbor lsmith8@ or that ing have insura as Labou t South I poor makin is d to ement on for such accord of car delays PCC, ns and to ‘self-le f delays and by Network Rail I am conten and Kent Police illion, running ruptio bus replac for any right sort ate… accident. on ed hersel £1.35m SALES HAK eastern running truc- for an Constable s had ‘failed’ due s. I said I would candid | 01892 779624 than this involved in an s defendpassengers figure Money paid costs such as added. nable positi far signed GEMMA arkerstudy.com nsate South ly-owned infras so and what have comsustai sayingforshe Transport compe Mrs Barne of be he Mrs Barne g: “We need better ional t ered to to er, public ent, ghak@m staff, mentpeople 17,000 people ing strongfranchise Howev by the le amoun on operat n’s compelled IES ation statem the than enerrors’, addin in a very for the sman for services and provid wledging a sizeab ng Southeaster L INQUIR tion caused ridgewells.co.uk .” an indep record.” calling GENERA in her resign confidence’ that More esoftunb futuren. or disrup e, a spoke service n for coveri s said the easter e ackno miserable s, who stood as police newsdesk@tim PCC elec‘absolute uter group online petitio ‘lets down ture company. compensation schem ents train operato be spent But despit PAGES 82-83 a better from South Mrs Barne ate during the firstattracted a had nsarepres operator will have are delays, comm passengers. the now have ONLINE stratenbridgewells taken away n claims the of compe pensation FIND US imesoftu o.uk Defending Group, which ling trains whilst Comensating of of Kent time in office.

2012, has two sets when there dent candid Delivery facebook.com/t ewells.c s,TE The petitio customers, cancel refund said the under-comp of Tonbridge Line te’.

November throughout much own costs after her PROPERTY the Rail rk Rail, softw timesoftunbridg eastern an EU DEBA ly separa or is still tions in to pay of the finest haveTHE service is tors and Netwo their paying H… criticism as ‘entire 48 pages the operat lds, Vice-Chairm annoying is South e relan twitter.com/time customer they don’tAND WE WOULD the market string of office.

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RY NEWS Newbury, Berkshi Reich in Polish World War Two. mainly Richard Moore,

BY NEWBU during started talkingso by his two daugh they should people, PRINTED House, Faraday Road, e’s do Germany what one million ng Freddi pressed to , wanted to know Newspaper More than the camps, includi gassed.

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March esday 16th

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FROM EVE

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G E B R I D T U N

L S W E L

17

ISSUE TWO

I i20

HYUNDA

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nbridg n ett has bee mes tolTu Cate Blanchous market resident town co town’s fam new loca Tinselfilm rumoured s offered up in the star and ght

iles The Pant

arket usual supermThe not your s. foods are our truffle “A lot of our caviar, as well as as goods, such got was really good.” Toole from we

by Keiron interest from feedback stall run ing ed up A wild game also been attract have snapp has and varied Tonbridge urous visitors who years. interesting past few and cured ensure she just kept the farmers’ one of our a host of n, more advent of meats over the er, there and made honeyon The Pantiles spring which to enjoy on THERE are ing veniso all from on hout the to see her to the cider produc take place on the ne includ selecti stalls his are game meat of ago, events througsomething for everyo which s, which , have proved According of weeks pigeons, be “I do a range The Pantile a couple there will promenade… rabbits and areas,” Keiron states. shoppers markets on week of each month ts and the historic rst pheasants, local foodie Cate Blanchett third of residen the town’s and Penshu items, but I’ve found ally first and a wide range the Hever movie star everyday larly popular, especi popular with area. sed to spot stallholders “These aren’t particu MARKETS and take the t as all the them. were surpri e OscarWEEKEND in full swing n has been Festival is on.” visitors to the marke “There’s a culture and alongside lders, the two-tim back a g t veniso ng are doing Avelin bough mingli Markets every month. the Food “We love er Tracey to stallho reported to have weekend at the y,” says Phil. as well as ciders The Pantiles whenever to d more is According first and third beer, Markets Manag Fuller have been, which opportunity are very friendl actress, who Crowborough, seeme ng Pantiles place on the Tara around craft ss is still pretty new, s the perfect traders selling spring inator ping winning in for provide sampli on of has develo it mansi range bread The market The busine Events Co-ord g a programme around and years and £3million s from a wide fish, meat and fresh creatin wandering such as ours. going for three come from local over the les, buy grocerie centre of in May. ing been than at homegoodies. larly from vegetab we make a food fair markets can be hard tic one hits, includ we have et everything homewares. includes The ciders being particu fantas “Some the gourm numerous box office , has some and vintage we had a been great. the Russet variety Kentish apple.” to artwork carried on lly AND 24 e and Carole winter, but The star of Lisa APRIL 23 apples, withit’s a quintessentia been popular ber, so we’ve February,” Blue Jasmin she has bought she in Decem – SAT & SUN, as and also say first r, y Elizabeth, that FAIR have ing NG others its ating popula to very while WEDDI s markets through Januar . “We love doing lders, includ playing host people specul’s country pile, year then The Pantile r of other stallho Urban Truffle, Doyle’s former Pantiles is knot this Tracey reveals, as well as the tying the as In April, The ing from Marie Presleyin Sir Arthur Conan on surrounded So if you’re with a numbe ry faces such had events nd everyth food fi fair. has fine these living mansi you’ll as culina nment wedding ntury l, which is now lising in ttle, some new you pop along to cakes and entertai – a 19th-ce Food Festiva around 7,000 an Thurke venture specia make sure not residence and florists an online owner, chef Jonath was actress is footfall of g in the past.”

Its photographers day. and by 13 acres. -winning Australian of her new es. visitin big month suppli people Cate debut last ideas for your The award precise whereaboutsgetting into MAY 2 se. made his Let’s hope her family ly 30 TO MON, the by the respon t went pretty well, is certain and for a revealing SAT, APRIL impressed be a spring SHOW – Blanchett yet, but she by making time first marke that is being there will GARDEN home just will be among stalls of weekend “I think our work says spirit of things list market Bank Holiday be selling all manner building specia them at the the local s right now,” as an This May will despite the among visit to the c Pantiles. one. ence on The Pantile show. Traders the green fingered next out experi weekend Cider, s garden the and to carried the histori was Turner will appeal “I was using take a shop garden furniture trading on items that Cate visited Jonathan. to test whether to ng brews. ly do g potted plants, One of those unity their tempti d drinks will probab you, includin opport and sampled Wells, she n-base up. dge where sculptures.

15 in Tunbri right space comes of the Marde it was quite MAY 13 TO The owner Turner, reveals TO SUN, so once the popular celebrity r stall.

AL – FRI Phil an A-list of the hugely company, FOOD FESTIV the return ence havingd on the firm’s regula will be more we will see an experi s years, there descen Also in May nts, in previou A GLANCE unexpectedly exotic ingredie AT Festival. As g TS selling Food able temptin stalls FAC st : as lots of height adjust able than 30 speciali spices as well PERFORMANCE , of mirrors, and adjust 109mph i i20 also be plenty s food heated door reach and rake ompatible stereo fragrant herbs There will PRICE: Hyunda £15,225 Top speed 10.9 deliciou produce. in and lots of 100PS, driver’s seat, and an MP3-c . The top-spec fresh local 0-62mph Active 1.0 cooking demos wheel ry inputs steering entertaining browse around. seconds and auxilia the top diesel engine as you 30 value 1.0-litre petrol enjoy : with USB to with ssive SE ENGINE MAY 28 TO Nav MY: ng 99bhp i20 is impre SAT TO MON, Premium FUEL ECONO unit produci 0, so the LIVING – fair is the combined t of torque then this is only £17,70 DECORATIVE 58.9mpg and 126lb/f design your home range. ing the interior decorat across ion for your gems, If you love 110g/km to find inspirat ISSION: Fivelots of vintage in EMISSIONS: TRANSM h to suit perfect place will be set out with D BUY ONE? gearbox l accessories WHO WOUL Active is big enoug of CO2 speed manual wheels makes an projects. Stalls and plenty of beautifu front le then it If the i20 driving the unique furniture your living space. your lifestytionally strong caseIt’s ase. excep for order to enhance purch but e as a privat value for money in the class tance HETT ing drives impor excellent specification CATE BLANC more sparkl s this is of lesser seen whichever e, while the Has been s many driverand equipment. you choos on The Pantile not only than value E WORD: Active model the best UP IN A SINGL combines SUMMED but also THIS CAR engine choice little more Surprising. be adds in a It’s an movie, you’d s, but WAS A... tation ruggedness. car, while IF THIS CARbeyond your expec . the ideal first ssed it a secret will find impre keep folk to ed n older g positio 2016 also tempt raised drivin There are 16th March Wednesday boon, too. a useful with her deli ett was there tried Hollywood ying the artisan d Cate Blanchher round, and she ed g “We realise surpris was showin ns. “I was spotted enjoHILE browsing the home- nanny, whociders, key.” ” Phil explai pretty low

W

Wednesday

16th March

2016

2016

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Wedn

Why separation and divorce can be a civilised affair IF you are experiencing the anxiety and loss of a relationship ending and suffering sleepless nights worrying about the future, you are not alone.

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www.keenemarsland.co.uk Keene Marsland is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . No 71480

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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In over 50% of marriage or relationship breakdowns where there are children involved, grandparents are often prevented from seeing their grandchildren for no good reason.

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Wednesday 16th March 2016

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OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Rail operator is paid £19million for delayed or cancelled trains

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Wednesday, March 16, 2016

INSIDE THE PANTILES

Hollywood comes to town in the shape of Cate Blanchett

Southeastern receives compensation payments when services are late or disrupted Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk COMMUTERS angry with failing services will be surprised to learn that Southeastern is making millions of pounds in ‘profit’ a year when their trains don’t run or are not on time.

The operator claims a refund for money paid to Network Rail when it fails to deliver services.

Southeastern only passes on some of that refund to passengers who claim for disrupted services.

The operator received in total last year £19million; made up of £12million for ‘planned’ disruptions and £7million for ‘unplanned’. It paid passengers £1.35million, according to Department for Transport figures.

More than 17,000 people have so far signed an online petition calling for the franchise to be taken away from Southeastern.

The petition claims the operator ‘lets down their paying customers, cancelling trains strategically so they don’t have to pay refunds, whilst making £12m in profit. Their customer service is beyond useless and the people of the South East have suffered for long enough.’

MP plans to quiz Southeastern bosses at Town Hall rail showdown Although the difference between compensation received by Southeastern and paid out by them is not pure profit, as the operator has to incur extra costs when services are disrupted, it is believed there is a surplus.

Only a fraction of the Network Rail compensation is passed on to passengers, in what has been described as one the ‘least generous’ compensation schemes of any network operator.

Under current procedures, Network Rail is

PAGES 17-20

BUSINESS

Dairy Crest site is sold to retirement home company

COMPENSATION Passengers are losing out on poor service refunds compelled to compensate Southeastern for any delays “Train companies are paying out more in compensation or disruption caused by the publicly-owned infrastruc- for delays and making it easier to apply for.” ture company.

Money paid by Network Rail to Southeastern is spent Defending the compensation scheme, a spokesman for on operational costs such as running bus replacement the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train opera- services and providing staff, he added. tors and Network Rail, said the two sets of compensaBut despite acknowledging a sizeable amount of comtion should be treated as ‘entirely separate’. pensation will have to be spent covering Southeastern’s He said: “The payments scheme between own costs when there are delays, commuter groups said Network Rail and train operators is the operator is still under-compensating passengers. designed to ensure that neither side is John Reynolds, Vice-Chairman of Tonbridge Line Comleft out of pocket by disruption and muters, said: “What we find annoying is Southeastern delays that are the other’s fault. operates the least generous compensation scheme rela“In order to obtain maximum value tive to other operators.” for the taxpayer from the franchise He points out that the formula used by the operator competitions, there is an automatic is based on the assumption that commuters make an system of payments to ensure operators average of 546 individual journeys each year. This are not financially disadvantaged compares to the average figure of 520 for most operawhen their trains are disrupted by tors and 464 for the most generous, Cross Counother parties. try. The higher the number the less com“These payments are entirely pensation is paid. separate from, and different MP Greg Clark Continued on page 3 to, payments to passengers.

PAGE 3

ARTS & CULTURE Promoting live arts in the rural communities

PAGES 82-83

PROPERTY

48 pages of the finest homes on the market

See property section

2 � LOCAL NEWS

Weather Wednesday Misty start to the day, turning brighter through the day.

March 16, 2016 Tunbridge Wells

º

7C

Police chief accused of ‘miserable record’ as the election fight begins STANDING DOWN Ann Barnes

THE PCC ELECTION When are elections?

Thursday May 5, 2016

Visibility: Moderate

Pollution: Low

Humidity: 71%

Who are the candidates?

Sunrise: 06.09am

Sunset: 18.05pm

Wind: 17mph

 Conservative: Matthew Scott, Swanley

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

8ºC

 Labour: Tristan Osborne, Rochester  Liberal Democrat: Dave Naghi, Maidstone

5ºC

6ºC

 UKIP: Henry Bolton, Folkestone  English Democrats: Steve Uncles, Dartford

6ºC

Monday

 Independent: Fergus Wilson, Maidstone

Tuesday

8ºC

What’s the PCC salary?

Around £85,000 a year

9ºC

Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Aerial view of Eridge looking towards Crowborough taken by: Blayne Jackson Send your weather pictures into... newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

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QUOTE UNQUOTE ‘I trust in nature for the stable laws of beauty and utility.

Spring shall plant and autumn garner to the end of time’

Robert Browning

Wednesday 16th March 2016

THE Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Ann Barnes has been accused of ‘letting down’ the residents of Kent and ‘wasting’ her time in office as the campaign to succeed the embattled incumbent begins in earnest.

The remarks come from Matthew Scott, the Conservative candidate, who is widely tipped to succeed Mrs Barnes in the £85,000 per annum job.

Battle lines for the succession have been drawn after Mrs Barnes announced her intention last week to stand down from the position she has held for three and a half years. She will not take part in the May election for the office.

Her legacy immediately came under attack from other prospective candidates, such as Tristan Osborne, a former Special Constable running for Labour, who said Mrs Barnes had ‘failed’ due to ‘self-led errors’, adding: “We need better than this miserable record.”

Mrs Barnes, who stood as an independent candidate during the first PCC elections in November 2012, has attracted a string of criticism throughout much of her time in office.

FRONT RUNNER Matthew Scott

What’s the idea behind PCCs? They are elected by the public to hold Chief Constables and the force to account, effectively making the police answerable to the communities they serve PCCs are supposed to work in partnership across a range of agencies at local and national level to ensure there is a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime Who can vote?

Anyone on the Electoral Register

Her appointment of Paris Brown as ‘Youth PCC’ backfired after the then 17 year old was engulfed in a row over allegedly racist tweets which the Commissioner admitted were never checked before the job offer was made.

Even David Cameron said Mrs Barnes had ‘failed to impress’ following her appearance in a TV documentary about the newly created position.

And last year Mrs Barnes was investigated by a police watchdog as to whether or not she had been driving with the right sort of car insurance after she was involved in an accident.

However, Mrs Barnes defended herself in her resignation statement, saying she had ‘absolute confidence’ that the people of Kent now have a better police service after her time in office.

Pointing to a police inspectorate report ranking the Kent service as ‘excellent’, Mrs Barnes lists some of her achievements, including preventing the ‘politicisation’ and privatisation of the force as well as improving the accuracy of crime figures.

She also claims to have raised the profile of the job, although ‘not always in the way intended’ adding: “If I were to pick out the things I am most proud of it would be what has been achieved for victims here in Kent.

“In particular, I would single out the establishment of a dedicated Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

“As election day approaches for the next PCC, I have decided that I will not be a candidate… I am content that I have delivered what I said I would and Kent Police is in a very strong and sustainable position for the future.”

HOW THEY’RE ALL CONNECTED… THE HOLOCAUST… THE LUNCH… AND THE EU DEBATE BUSINESS lunches can be pretty dreary affairs with post-meal speakers often seeming to drone on. Not so the case last week, though, when a truly remarkable individual came to town in the shape of one Freddie Knoller.

Not only was he impressive because of his agility at the age of 95, in both mind and spirit, but because of the subject he chose to share – how he survived 15 months in Auschwitz.

The notorious network of extermination camps was built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish annexed areas by Nazi Germany during World War Two. More than one million people, mainly Jews, died in the camps, including Freddie’s parents. Most of those killed were gassed.

He also recounted the time, prior to being

sent to the camps, when he fled to Paris where he worked as a pimp. He obtained false papers and earned money taking German soldiers to nightclubs and brothels. Eventually he was betrayed by his girlfriend.

Those at the lunch tell me that it was an inspiring speech, delivered at times with relevant touches of humour, from a man who was both humble and unassuming.

More importantly it came from a man who was not full of hatred and bitterness. As he told his audience: “Life is too short… I am grateful to be here… I love life.”

Freddie Knoller kept silent about those early years for more than three decades and only started talking about his experiences when pressed to do so by his two daughters. They, quite rightly, wanted to know what they should

tell his own grandchildren about his life.

Obviously one of the reasons he talks today at lunches and in schools is to let people know what happened – you’ll be surprised how many people know nothing about the holocaust – and to encourage us all to work together to ensure it never happens again.

And that made me ponder the whole question of the EU. Why? Because, strange as it may seem, the idea of a united Europe started on March 25, 1957 (13 years after the end of the war) with the creation of the Common Market as a ‘means of improving Europe’s economic climate and preventing war’.

Wonder which way Freddie Knoller will be voting on June 23?

Richard Moore, Editorial Director

LOCAL NEWS 

Boost for local economy as dairy site sold for retirement homes Jonathan Banks newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE UK’s largest developer of retirement homes has bought the former Dairy Crest Depot on St John’s Road in a move likely to put an extra £8million into the local economy.

McCarthy & Stone purchased the plot for an undisclosed sum from Ashill earlier in the year after the developers were granted planning permission for 58 residential apartments in December.

As the changes proposed by McCarthy & Stone will require the existing application to be revised, a pre-application community consultation programme has begun.

However, a spokesman for the company said current plans would be used as a ‘starting point’ for any future development which is expected to be delivered within 12 to 15 months of an application being submitted.

The scheme will put around £8million into the local economy, according to figures produced by the Institute of Public Care.

More than 50 jobs are expected to be created during construction and up to 18 once operational, with the individual accommodation units being put up for private sale.

The spokesman added: “We are looking to improve on the existing planning permission, providing this much-needed accommodation.”

Continued from page 1 This effectively means that annual season ticket holders will be paid out just 1/546 of their total season ticket costs for each relevant delay.

Passengers have to apply for a refund, too.

A Tunbridge Wells to London season ticket currently costs over £4,400, meaning average compensation of £8 per delay.

Mr Reynolds added: “Southeastern is calculating that passengers use the trains on 273 days per year, i.e. over weekends and during their holidays.

“It seems unlikely that many commuters spend their holidays going to and from London.”

MP Greg Clark said: “Given the price of rail tickets, everyone should reasonably expect a good service but recently it’s been appalling.

“There is no way that Southeastern should profit from this disruption. Every penny of compensation paid to Southeastern by Network Rail beyond, for example, putting on replacement buses, should be returned to passengers.

“The Managing Director of Southeastern is coming to my public meeting in Tunbridge Wells tomorrow [Thursday] and I will ask him to account for the discrepancy.”

The meeting with Southeastern takes place at 8pm on Thursday at Tunbridge Wells Town Hall.

To register for a free place email: gregclarkmp@parliament.uk

IMAGES The site on St John’s Road as it looks today [left] and as it might look after being developed along the lines of an existing planning application [below]

3

NEWS IN BRIEF

Tunbridge Wells in line to vote to stay in EU ACCORDING to data produced by Sky News, Tunbridge Wells is the most likely local authority in Kent to vote for staying in Europe.

Sky aggregated the results from surveys conducted between May 2015 and February 2016 and analysed them to find which demographic groups are most likely to vote to leave the EU on June 23.

The most Eurosceptic place is Dover. Twelve spots below them comes Tunbridge Wells as the most pro-Europe. This suggests the borough is likely to follow the Prime Minister’s line and vote to remain in Europe.

The next most likely local authority to want to stay in Europe is Sevenoaks and then Tonbridge and Malling.

Victory for Forum’s fight While the properties available are age-restricted for the over-70s, the average age of residents occupying this type of home is 83.

Cllr David Scott, who represents St John’s ward, where the site is located, said: “It is an interesting development and I do feel it will meet a definitive need for that type of housing in Tunbridge Wells.

“I suspect it will also mean less cars than a conventional development, which is a good thing, while the residents will provide a boost for local shops and businesses.”

Shopping centre development likely to get the green light PLANS for the £70million redevelopment of Royal Victoria Place shopping centre are set to move a step closer tonight when it goes before the council’s planning committee.

Council officers are recommending the scheme be approved.

The initiative will create 275 jobs and boost the local economy by £7million a year by providing larger stores to attract more high street names, more restaurants and a new multiplex cinema.

The building has been designed so that its form and the orientation of windows maximise natural light and ventilation, while all of the materials that go into the redevelopment will be sustainably sourced with a high Green Guide rating.

Nicky Blanchard, RVP Centre Manager said: “The town centre location means that Royal Victoria

Place is inherently sustainable, accessible by a wide range of public transport modes and making ever better use of a central, brownfield location.

“We are delighted that so many local people have taken the time to demonstrate their support for our proposals.

“We have worked really hard to take people’s comments on board to create a proposal that will improve the offer for everyone who visits the town centre.”

A scale model of the proposed development [below] is on display at the centre.

MUSIC lovers are celebrating after a Tunbridge Wells-led campaign won a battle to prevent the loss of live music venues.

Launched by Forum co-owners Jason Dormon and Mark Davyd to protect live music, the group wanted an Agent of Change law to help venues.

Although they did not secure this law – which means residential property developers would be responsible for paying for soundproofing if they build near any existing music venue – similar legislation has been created.

From April planning authorities must consider noise impacts on new residents from existing music venues.

Jason Dormon said it was ‘fantastic news’.

Teen in bus accident KENT Police said a girl in her mid-teens was in hospital last night [Tuesday] after suffering ‘serious’ injuries following a collision ‘involving a bus’ on Broadwater Down. The incident is said to have occurred at 4.06pm with officers still at the scene as the Times went to press.

Road closures put into place reportedly caused long tailbacks in Frant Road.

TN4 to change hands THE former TN4 bar on Mount Ephraim, closed since November, is on the verge of being sold to a company owned by Richard Simm. He already runs the Ragged Trousers and the Sussex Arms on The Pantiles and is co-owner of the Forum. It is understood he is close to finalising a deal to take over the new site.

Round Table donations THE Round Table has given away nearly £24,000 to local good causes from the proceeds of its Dunorlan Fireworks night last November. Those to benefit included Nourish Foodbank, St John Ambulance, Camden Road Lantern Parade and the Sherwood Men’s Sheds.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

4  LOCAL NEWS

Holocaust survivor’s story is still relevant today…

LUNCH GUESTS (L-R): Alastair Caisley, Freddie Knoller, Anthony Gerrard-White and Edward Alexander

Jonathan Banks newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Whether you are looking for kitchen, dining or living furniture, upholstery or accessories the showroom in Tonbridge has it all Located just off the High Street, opposite Waitrose car park

Wednesday 16th March 2016

FIFTEEN leading local businessmen attended a lunch in Tunbridge Wells last week to listen to a speaker tell the story of his incredible early life.

That speaker was Freddie Knoller, whose story took him from a strict childhood in Austria through to the start of World War Two and the streets of Paris when it was occupied by the Germans, and then on to the death camps at Auschwitz.

Auschwitz was a network of Nazi extermination camps in Polish areas annexed by Germany. From 1942 until late 1944 transport trains delivered men, women and children to the gas chambers there from all over occupied Europe. More than one million died at the camps, most of them Jewish.

Ninety-five-year-old Freddie Knoller was one of those who survived.

During the lunch at Salomons he shared his moving story of life under Nazi rule.

He recounted how he joined the French Resistance after fleeing his native Vienna at just 16 years old before being captured and imprisoned at the notorious Auschwitz, where both his parents perished.

He ended up spending 15 months at the camps after a French girlfriend betrayed him, revealing his Jewish identity to the authorities. Hunger among the inmates was so bad they ate anything to survive, including human flesh.

After the liberation, Freddie Knoller went with a British officer to a nearby farm to find food. In the wardrobe he discovered a picture of Hitler which he cut up.

The farmer, a supporter of the Nazi leader, shouted anti-Semitic abuse at Freddie Knoller, who reacted by stabbing him. Soon after this incident he left for France, where he was reunited with his brothers who had survived in the US. For 35 years Freddie Knoller did not talk about his experiences.

Then, one night, his daughters, aged 19 and 21 at the time, asked what they were going to tell their own children about the life of

their grandfather. That was when he opened up.

Asked at the lunch how he endured and survived the atrocities, Freddie Knoller, who now lives in London, replied: “My spirit and optimism.”

He cited them both as ‘a gift’ from his mother.

The question was also posed as to whether he was bitter about his experience under the Nazi occupation. “No,” he responded. “Life is too short.

I am grateful to be here. I love life.”

He visits at least one school a week in the UK to tell his remarkable story, which he also kept a secret from his wife for three decades, and he works with the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Guests at the lunch were handed signed copies of Freddie Knoller’s book Living with the Enemy.

He has also written another book called Desperate Journey (both published by Metro Books) and his testimony can be found in Survival: Holocaust Survivors Tell Their Story, published by the Holocaust Centre.

Discussions are taking place with a view to making a film about his life. Last year saw the broadcast of Surviving the Holocaust: Freddie Knoller’s War on BBC Two. THE STORY BEHIND THE BOOK… Freddie Knoller was forced to abandon his family and flee Vienna as Nazi Brownshirts swept through his apartment building in November 1938.

Little more than an ordinary Jewish schoolboy, his desperate journey took him, among many other places, to Paris, where he earned a living guiding the Nazis around the red light district. He was a pimp – an occupation that provoked complex feelings of guilt, elation and fortune.

But his luck ran out, and he was soon on the run again before he fell victim to a girlfriend’s betrayal that saw him transported straight to Auschwitz concentration camp.

Against all the odds he survived and has lived to tell his remarkable story.

TRUE SURVIVOR Freddie with a copy of his book Living with the Enemy

LOCAL NEWS 

5

ON STRIKE Medical staff walk out

Contract means doctors may quit and patients will suffer Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk JUNIOR doctors took to the streets again last week as part of their series of 48-hour strikes against a ‘dangerous’ new contract they feel is being forced upon them by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

More than a dozen doctors gathered with their placards near the entrance to Royal Victoria Place at Fiveways.

Among them was Dr Aamir Saifuddin, a 29-year-old medical registrar who is responsible for looking after 300 patients during his overnight shifts at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Working 13-hour nights, four days in a row, is ‘extremely demanding’ and often leaves the junior doctor fatigued and concerned he might make mistakes.

While this is manageable and part of the job he loves, Dr Saifuddin worries that the new contract will put lives in danger.

“Being a doctor is a tiring job and things get dangerous if those looking after the patients become too tired.

“With the current proposals, that is more likely to happen and more mistakes will inevitably be made; such as people being given the wrong doses of medicine. Patients are going to suffer.”

Doctors believe the introduction of a ‘sevenday’ NHS service, one of the key parts of the contract, will leave them overstretched at a time when hospitals are already lacking staff.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges claims the proposed changes ‘lack safeguards’ on hours and working conditions, and: ‘Risk a return of

DEMANDING WORK Dr Aamir Saifuddin warns about the danger of fatigue

exhausted doctors and rise in medical errors’.

This view is disputed by the Department of Health, which points to statistics showing that each year 11,000 extra people die at the weekend, as opposed to a weekday; evidence of the need for the contract.

Dr Saifuddin said the figures are being misinterpreted by people who have no idea what life is like on the front line of the medical profession.

He said the figures were always going to be inflated as those who come into hospital at the weekend tend to be sicker in the first place.

“People try and avoid going to the doctors if at all possible at the weekend because it is their time off, so if they come to the hospital it is rarely because they have a cold.”

‘We won’t be able to do our jobs properly under this contract’ Oncology registrar Dr Nicola Davis was also at the public protest, bringing along her baby, whose pram was used to prop up a placard.

Dr Davis, 31, said the new contract was likely to lead to an exodus of staff, making an already bad situation far worse.

“Many doctors are going to feel under pressure to sign, or else they will lose their livelihood; a significant number will simply walk away.

“I have already had one of my friends quit over the issue a few weeks ago.

“We are overstretched as it is and it is not just a lack of doctors. You need all the support staff to make this seven-day idea work, but there are not enough of them around either.

“There will be fewer people spread over more days.”

The Department of Health say the contract will compensate junior doctors by increasing

‘Being a doctor is a tiring job and things get dangerous if those looking after the patients become too tired’

their base pay, currently at £30,000 per annum for Dr Saifuddin plus bonuses.

However, Dr Davis says this is not enough of an incentive: “We deserve to be paid fairly but even though there will be an increase it is not enough to cover the extension of working time,” she says.

“On a per hour basis we will actually be paid less and they have changed the definition of ‘anti-social working hours’ which pay more.

“We could get a better paying job elsewhere, so money is not the incentive; we do it because we want to help patients and save lives.

“But we won’t be able to do our jobs properly under this new contract. We already stay longer if there are emergencies.

“There is a lot of goodwill in the NHS but it will be lost if this is forced upon us.”

Dr Saifuddin stressed that none of those protesting were doing so in order to prove a political point; all of them desperately hoped they could get back to treating patients ‘as soon as possible’.

“This is not about politics. We are not political at all, our argument is only with Jeremy Hunt and we are not prepared to give up.”

STRIKE EXPLAINED What is a junior doctor?

They are qualified medical practitioners who are working while engaged in postgraduate training to become a consultant or a GP and can have up to 14 years’ experience. There are 55,000 junior doctors in England, with a starting salary of £23,000.

What does the Health Secretary want?

Jeremy Hunt claims the current contract, that was introduced in the 1990s, is ‘outdated’.

He believes plans to roster more doctors on weekends are necessary to reduce the 15 per cent extra risk that a patient will die if admitted to hospital on a Sunday as opposed to a Wednesday.

What do the junior doctors want?

They argue the change constitutes ‘unsociable hours’ and means they will not receive the additional pay for shifts previously classified as unsociable, such as on the weekends. In addition they say the end of guaranteed pay rises linked to time in the job will mean that their pay increases at a slower rate.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

6  LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

Companies encouraged to play their part in community projects Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk MORE than 70 people representing businesses from across the borough shared ideas for supporting their community at the launch of a new initiative by the housing association Town & Country.

Hosted at Trinity art gallery on March 4 to coincide with a new exhibition titled ‘Entrepreneurs of Tunbridge Wells’ by Louis Ryan, business leaders discussed how they help the housing association deliver charitable services to those in need.

Named the Corporate Business Partner Initiative, the scheme is being overseen by the Town & Country Foundation, which acts as the charitable arm of the housing group. Businesses are encouraged to provide mentoring and supporting services to help with things such as marketing or branding.

Established in January 2007, the foundation focuses on identifying and responding to social needs around Kent.

The latest initiative aims to provide a platform for companies operating in the area to help provide mentoring, training and marketing materials for the foundation and other charitable organisations.

Roisin Donovan, Community Investment Officer said: “As the charitable arm of Town & Country

Housing, the Foundation’s role in these partnerships is to ensure they are mutually beneficial.

“As a larger organisation we’re in a unique position to offer more ‘in exchange’ to reward businesses for sharing their time and expertise with their community.”

One company taking part, Yoyo Design, said they benefitted from the scheme as it allows them to test new ideas and services as well as act as a useful platform to train more junior members of the team.

Jenny Kitchen, Managing Director of Yoyo Design in Calverley Road, said: “The relationship we have built with Town & Country Foundation means a lot to our creative agency and a lot to me personally.

“Our lives are getting busier and busier and even though most of us do want to ‘do some good’, few of us have the time.

“That’s why we started this relationship. If we carved out some time each month during working hours, we could provide free design services to local charities to help the community.

“I hope the event will encourage other companies to sign-up to the corporate partnership program - I’d hugely recommend it.”

CHARITABLE (LtoR): Artist Louis Ryan, Jenny Kitchen from Yoyo Design and Roisin Donovan

Magic touch for oldest law firm in the town THE oldest law firm in Tunbridge Wells, Thomson Snell & Passmore, is celebrating its first nomination for the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards.

Now in 11th year, the awards were set up to recognise the best advisers and managers within the international wealth industry, including law firms.

Thomson Snell & Passmore has been shortlisted in three categories: Family/ Matrimonial Law Firm of the Year; Property Law Firm of the Year; and Regional Law Firm of the Year.

Chief Executive Simon Slater said: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted in three categories of such prestigious awards.

“It is recognition of our firm’s capabilities and excellence across the board. These nominations reinforce our position as legal advisers of choice to families and businesses.

“As we look ahead to our 450th anniversary, we continue to build on our heritage, and seek even better ways in which to advise our clients in a changing legal landscape.

“Many congratulations to all of our lawyers for their exceptional work.”

The winners of each category will be determined through online voting by peers and clients.

Voting closes on April 20 with the awards ceremony taking place on May 12.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

First female to be appointed senior legal partner CRIPPS has announced the appointment of its first female senior partner at the law firm.

Clare Hyland will be taking up her new role on May 1 and will be succeeding Michael Stevens, who will remain with the firm as a consultant.

Specialising in commercial real estate, Mrs Hyland became a partner at Cripps in 1997 and has headed the firm’s real estate division for ten years.

She will now will work together with other members of the partnership board to make sure the focus continues to be on delivering a client-tailored service, while championing Cripps as an employer of choice.

She said: “We have seen strong growth in recent years and I want to ensure we maintain our momentum and remain a progressive firm that is 100 per cent focused on the needs of our clients.

“I also passionately believe our people are our greatest asset – it’s their expertise and dedication that mean our clients get where they need to be. And our regional and national reputation is NEW APPOINTMENT testament Clare Hyland to this.”

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

7

Entrepreneurs win BBC award for luxury baby changing bag A COMPANY started by two Tunbridge Wells mothers just six months ago has been hailed a ‘national success story’.

Dominique Hughes and Rebecca Da Silva Lima scooped the Small Business Award on BBC Radio Two’s Jeremy Vine Show for their luxury baby changing bag. Branded Jem + Bea, the bags can cost up to £265 each and are designed to carry everything you’ll need to take care of the baby.

They were chosen for the award by business expert Nick Brown who said the company had ‘huge potential’ and is destined to be a ‘national success story’.

Named after their daughters Jemima and Beatrice, the company was founded in September after the close friends noticed a gap in the booming baby accessory market.

Mrs Da Silva Lima, who previously worked as an accessories designer for Mulberry said: “We are both mothers with an interest in fashion.

“We sat down in summer of 2014 and came up with the idea of creating a changing bag which would be stylish with a luxury feel but also practical.

“Within a week we had decided on the brand and then started to hold regular meetings.”

With her connections in the industry, the 36-year-old was soon able to set up a supply chain through a factory in the

Far East and even before the product was launched the pair had John Lewis looking to sell their products.

Importantly, they have managed to ensure the rigours of running a booming start-up have not had too much of a detrimental impact on their family life.

“We have been able to fit most of it around the family and as mothers ourselves we are already used to the challenges of working either late at night or very early while the children are asleep,” said Mrs Hughes.

However, the 35-year-old, who previously worked in the legal office of a government business department after starting her career at local law firm Cripps, admitted there was a steep learning curve.

She said: “We have had to learn how to run a business from scratch and we are not keen on accounting.”

Ultimately their aim is to take the brand global without overexpanding in the process, said Mrs

Hughes, adding: “We are taking the slowly but surely approach at the moment as we want to stay in control of the business but we recognise that eventually we will need help.

“But the whole thing has been really good for our personal development.

There just hasn’t really been the time to let it all sink in yet.”

Despite taking a cautious approach, turnover at the firm grew 70 per cent in between September and January.

Speaking after the pair had been selected for the award, Mr Brown, who made millions following the sale of his PR firm Northern Profile in 2004, said: “Every 26 weeks I choose one of the winners to win a personal mentoring session with me.

“Dominique and Rebecca have come up with a great idea, I can see this being a huge national success story. With John Lewis already stocking Jem + Bea, this is a small business with great potential. I am delighted that Jem + Bea has won my Small Business of the Week Award.”

MINIMALIST Amber grey white £230

FOUNDERS Rebecca Da Silva Lima and Dominique Hughes

Wednesday 16th March 2016

8  LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

Apprentice learning curve is a thriving alternative to degree Last year saw 560 apprentices step on to the first rung of the career ladder in Tunbridge Wells, up from 470 in the previous financial year. In recognition of this being Apprentice Week, we take a look at the trainees themselves and the companies which hire them…

Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

A

PPRENTICESHIPS are back in fashion.

Not so long ago they were viewed as a relatively easy way to enter the job market if all else failed. That’s all changed and today apprenticeships are being offered in both white and blue collar jobs and are seen more and more as way to harness new talent.

One such firm taking this view is Paddock Wood-based IGF Invoice Finance, a company which specialises in providing businesses with loans that ensure cash flow is kept steady while they await payment for goods or services.

The company, run by Tracy Ewen, took on its first apprentice six months ago, with 19-yearold Alex Kelsall now halfway through the year-long programme.

Explaining the reasoning behind setting up the apprenticeship scheme for IGF, Mrs Ewen says: “It gives us the ability to nurture our own talent and skill them up in a way that benefits the business.”

Wednesday 16th March 2016

But she is adamant that the benefits do not come from ‘cheap labour’. Instead the hope is Alex will choose to stick with the company once his apprenticeship is over.

“Legally we could pay the minimum apprentice wage but we are not in this for cheap labour or someone who is just going to do the office photocopying,” Mrs Ewen adds.

“Those places which pay the bare minimum inevitably see a high drop-out rate as young people realise they can make more simply working for the supermarket over the road.

“We spent weeks planning the programme to ensure Alex spends a month in each department.

That way he can see how it all works in a joined-up approach.”

The benefits of being an apprentice are not lost on Alex, who decided to avoid university as he wished to remain close to home and avoid the cost.

He was also pleased to find an apprentice scheme which nurtures his talents and appeals to his interests, admitting he is not a ‘hands-on’ person with an aptitude for manual work.

The former Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys pupil, who spends one day a week at

West Kent College as part of the programme, says: “They need to spread the enthusiasm to more “From quite early on in my GCSEs I realised I local colleges and schools as wanted to pursue a career involving maths as I many do not offer the enjoy working with numbers. chance for their students “I would be interested in things many people to do apprenticeships as may find boring. For instance, I have been they are focused on doing auditing here and I enjoy the university.” implications of it.”

And she encourages Being put into a real working environment also other firms to follow the appealed to Alex, who believes learning on the example of IGF Invoice job suits him better than a university education.

Finance: “Ultimately, the He says: “I think the best way to learn is by being costs of running a thrown into the deep end so you can see how each programme are minimal situation develops, how things really work and compared to the massive how to fix problems.” returns you can get.”

Mrs Ewen is in no doubt the scheme is successful.

“It has proven to be a win-win for us,” she says, adding: “Not only have we been able to give someone an opportunity to learn the business through a massive training curve, but it has also benefitted the staff by ensuring they are skilled up enough to impart their own knowledge to Alex.”

However, she believes more can be done to ensure a higher take-up of the opportunities out there and to facilitate the creation of more apprenticeship places.

“We work well with West Kent College, but although THE APPRENTICE there is great enthusiasm at the Alex Kelsall with top of government the delivery employer Tracy Ewen is not very efficient.

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

Hands-on skills WHILE ‘white collar’ apprenticeships are seeing a surge in popularity and now make up the majority on offer, many are still opting for the more traditional route of learning a hands-on trade.

Tate Chennis-Colbran, 17, was the first apprentice to be recruited by estate agent Alexandre Boyes, which is running the programme alongside East Kent College.

By working as part of the property maintenance team, Tate, who lives with his family in Tunbridge Wells, is working towards a GQA Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Building Maintenance Multi-Trade Repair and Refurbishment.

The former to St Gregory’s Catholic School pupil says: “The apprenticeship is such a great opportunity for me and I have already learnt so much.

“I combine full-time work at Alexandre Boyes with a day at college each week. I’m really

excited to see what the next year will teach me and I’ll enjoy every second of it.”

Already the scheme has given him experience in the fields of decorating, carpentry, plumbing, groundwork and a host of other trades since he joined in June last year.

Kate Boyes, director in charge of lettings at the company, says: “We are so pleased to be involved in the National Apprenticeship Service and Tate has been a fantastic addition to the team.

“As an industry I would like to see more apprenticeships made available as they offer unique job opportunities and career paths to local young people.

“Alexandre Boyes will be recruiting a second apprentice to join the maintenance team this year as there is a huge demand for skilled tradespeople and I am thrilled that we can work with East Kent College to create these opportunities.”

Chance to gain new skills and knowledge

GOOD TRADE Apprentice Tate Chennis-Colbran with employer Kate Boyes

Tracy Ewen’s top tips for winning a placing What did IGF look for in an apprentice’s CV? “IGF specifically wanted a candidate with three A levels, so that level of academic achievement was important to us. However, these qualifications did not necessarily have to be top level, and were more to prove ability to a certain academic standard.”

How can a candidate demonstrate good employability skills, even without much work experience?

If a candidate has been in a sports team, for example, this demonstrates that they are a team player and work well with others; if they were

9

captain, it exhibits leadership skills.

There are several ways to demonstrate employability skills – it is just a matter of identifying them. Whether working on a Saturday in retail or volunteering at a local children’s group, it shows good communication and organisational skills that the candidate might not have been able to otherwise prove.

find talking about yourself quite difficult. This actually shows good character, and the interviewer will take it into account for the duration of the interview. This will avoid a candidate just muddling through and the interviewer not necessarily realising there is a problem.

AMONG those businesses offering apprenticeships is the Markerstudy Group, which recently celebrated its fourth year of success in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work for Awards.

It maintained its position in the top 100 as 29th ‘Best Company to Work For’ in Britain.

Employing over 4,000 people across the UK and Gibraltar, with a substantial number located in Kent, it’s paving the way in providing young people with the opportunity to gain new skills and knowledge, alongside valuable practical work experience, with its apprenticeship programme, ALEX (Apprenticeship Learning Experience).

Director of HR and Talent Development Tanya Gerrard-White said: “We recognise that gaining a university degree is becoming increasingly expensive and that lectures, essays and exams aren’t for everyone.

“By providing apprenticeship programmes that offer a genuine development pathway we are giving the young people in our community the opportunity to start and drive a fantastic career within Markerstudy.”

Contact alex@markerstudy.com or visit alex.markerstudygroup.com What is National Apprenticeship Week?

National Apprenticeship Week is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service and is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

How should a candidate dress for an interview?

“Dressing for the environment a candidate expects to be working in is really important. If that’s in an office, consider business attire – at the very least, a collared shirt and trousers or a skirt that isn’t too short.”

What should a candidate do if they are shy in an interview?

The best thing to do is to tell the interviewer that you are shy or that you

Wednesday 16th March 2016

10  NATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Our teens are the most stressed out in world

Mandelson laments death of Thatcher and warns Brexit will jeopardise peace process

BRITAIN’S 15-year-olds are suffering due to pressure at school, feeling fat and drinking too much, according to a new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The study of almost 220,000 young people in 42 countries and regions in Europe and North America found a sharp increase in schoolrelated stress and that teenage boys and girls in the UK are less likely to report a good life satisfaction. Girls also tended to report higher levels of regular drinking and struggling to talk to their mothers, while both sexes felt overweight.

Activist suspended VICKY Kirby who is at the centre of an anti-Semitism row has been temporarily removed from the party while allegations are investigated.

She was probed by the party in 2014 after a series of posts on Twitter in which she apparently suggested Adolf Hitler might be a ‘Zionist God’ and Jews had ‘big noses’.

A Labour Party spokeswoman confirmed she was now being investigated again.

Posting on Twitter, Labour backbencher Wes Streeting said the suspension was ‘better late than never’.

Popstar sings blues POP star Madonna hit back over claims she appeared drunk on stage during her current world tour. She took to Instagram to say: “Too bad people don’t know the art of acting and playing a character.”

VOICING CONCERNS Lord Mandelson says the EU has been ‘an enabler of peace’ in Northern Ireland

LEAVING the European Union could increase the risk of renewed sectarian violence the Labour peer Lord Mandelson cautioned yesterday.

The former European Commissioner and Northern Ireland Secretary said the reimposition of a ‘hard border’ with the Republic would only bolster extremists.

The EU had been ‘an enabler of peace in Northern Ireland and a fundamentally stabilising presence in Ireland’s recent history’, he claimed saying shared membership had helped ‘underpin’ the Good Friday Agreement.

“Why would we sacrifice such a steadying force for uncertainty and unknowns?” he asked in a speech to the British Irish Chamber of Commerce in the City of London.

Lord Mandelson also lamented the fact Margaret Thatcher was not still alive to take part.

“Who made the central political argument that remaining in the European Community as it then was was absolutely vital for Britain because it would

multiply our strengths and amplify our voice in the world? Yes, Margaret Thatcher made that argument in 1975. I wish she could come back,” he said.

Lord Mandelson said Northern Ireland’s GDP could drop by as much as 3% after Brexit – with 50,000 traderelated jobs ‘at risk’.

“It would mean spending cuts, it would mean rising taxes, it would mean unemployment rising and it would mean investment falling.

“What we have created in Northern Ireland is something really incredible, terribly special but also fragile – and we should not be taking risks with what we have created,” he said.

Lord Mandelson said the referendum campaign would be ‘ferociously fought’ and warned the pro-EU side had to make more effort to win the emotional as well as the practical arguments.

“There are many people in Britain who feel they are pulled one way by their heart and in the opposite direction by their head so there is going to be a battle royal for the hearts and minds.”

Sports star calls for meningitis B vaccine awareness FORMER England rugby captain Matt Dawson told MPs yesterday [Tuesday] there needs to be more awareness of the meningitis B condition.

He was talking at a special petitions committee where the parents of twoyear-old toddler Faye Burdett who died from meningitis on Valentine’s Day were also present.

Faye’s death prompted hundreds of thousands of people to back a campaign calling for greater provision of the meningitis B vaccine.

The two-year-old’s mother Jenny, from Maidstone, Kent, told MPs the medic they encountered was ‘dismissive’.

An image of the youngster covered in a rash and lying in a hospital bed just before she died was shared by her family. This prompted a flood of support for a petition calling for the meningitis B vaccine to be given to all children.

Faye’s father Neil Burdett told MPs that the family shared the picture to try and prevent others from suffering the same fate.

“That was just to raise awareness, if nothing else, to stop other families and other children from going through the two weeks we had just had,” he said.

Dawson decided to lend his support following his two-year-old son Sam’s battle with meningitis, which he survived, in February this year.

“It was really being inspired by what the family had done,” said Mr Dawson.

DIAGNOSIS Bill Wyman and his wife Suzannne Accosta last week

Wednesday 16th March 2016

THREE DJ'S ONE GREAT VENUE

12  NATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Sports retailer to be quizzed over workers

Cameron kicks off Sport Relief

A COMMITTEE of MPs has summoned Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley to be questioned about the treatment of his firm’s workers.

The Business Select Committee has summoned him to give evidence on June 7 in Westminster.

Committee chairman, Labour MP Iain Wright, has already told Mr Ashley that the committee reserves the right to take the matter further if he refuses to be questioned.

Cheers for beers THE Business Secretary Sajid Javid has hinted that another cut in beer duty could be included in today’s [Wednesday] Budget making it the fourth consecutive year Mr Osborne has done so.

Sajid Javid said there are “lots of reasons to cut beer duty” when challenged about the Government’s support for the beer industry in the House of Commons. “I do recall when I was the economic secretary I did get a beer named after me, Sajid’s Choice, which was a fine brew, so there are a lot of reasons to cut beer duty.”

Bikers in race honour MOTORCYCLE clubs from around the country paid tribute to family man and motorbike enthusisast Mick Collings, 53, who died in the tragic accident at Didcot power plant last month.

Before the funeral, club chairman Joe Johnson said: “He was a really good guy, he was one of those blokes that everything he did was 110%.”

Prime Minister David Cameron (centre) hosts a Sports Relief reception at No 10 Downing Street in London. Guests included The One Show’s Alex Jones, rowing star James Cracknell and Made In Chelsea’s Jamie Laing. Sport Relief starts Friday

Prince responds to being labelled a part-time royal after low job count

City fan misses big day LEICESTER City might be riding high in the Premier League to the delight of Foxes fans but one supporter would be forgiven for feeling slightly bitter.

But while 31,824 fans packed into the King Power Stadium this week to see the Foxes carry on their run of form, James Diamond was not among them.

His wife Kate Diamond said: “I guess my husband’s overriding memory of this historic Leicester City run will be me, back in April, persuading him not to renew his season ticket.

“Tune in on the final day of the season to see if our marriage survives that decision.”

ROYAL DUTIES The Duke of Cambridge has responded to accusations he is a work-shy prince.

PRINCE William, 33, has been dubbed a part-time royal after it was reported he had carried out just 87 appearances in the UK last year and 35 on overseas trips, compared to his elderly grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh, who carried out 250.

It had been claimed the young Duke, who works as an air ambulance pilot, is prevented from carrying out more royal duties on his days off because of European red tape, but this was denied by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Pictures of the Cambridges on a recent skiing trip to the Alps with Prince George and Princess Charlotte also provoked anger.

In an interview with ITV News, the Duke shrugged off criticisms he is not spending enough time on royal duties.

Asked about the claims, he said: “It’s part of the job.”

Pressed on whether he is frustrated at the allegations, the Duke, who is engaging in a number of public and media appearances as part of his campaign against illegal poaching, said it takes a lot of time to plan such engagements.

He said: “Well, these sorts of things take a lot of time, they take a lot of planning and a lot of knowledge building, a lot of conversations.

“I didn’t want to get to 45 or 50 and sit back and say ‘I could have said something about that issue but I didn’t because I worried about what people thought or what people said’,” he explained.

William said he wants to have “truly made a difference” in

tackling the poaching crisis.

He said: “I want to turn to my children and my friends and talk to other people my age and having known we have truly made a difference, we have fixed something, we have given hope to the future. That should give everybody a lift and realise there is hope that we can fix stuff.”

Prince William has issued his gravest warning yet that the rhino is dangerously close to extinction, telling ITV News that the world has as little as five years left to save the species.

The Duke of Cambridge condemned the illegal poaching trade that is decimating rhino and elephant numbers in Africa.

William said it would be “devastating for humanity”.

Government accused of damaging education PLANS to turn every school in England into an academy are expected to be unveiled in today’s [Wednesday] budget.

It is reported that all mainstream schools will be converted to academies that are independent of local authority control, with draft legislation likely to be published in days.

The move follows proposals outlined by Prime Minister David Cameron in the autumn to remove the education system from the hands of “bureaucrats” and give power to headteachers and teachers.

The radical change would bring to an end the responsibility for education lying with local authorities.

But the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has said the plans will take away support offered by councils and create schools that are run by academy trusts, “unaccountable to parents, staff or local communities”.

NUT deputy general secretary Kevin Courtney said: “Parents will be as outraged as teachers that the Government can undo over 50 years of comprehsive public education at a stroke.”

Wednesday 16th March 2016

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

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Wednesday 16th March 2016

14  BUSINESS NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Grocer’s shares surge as Ocado sales double

Chancellor will go full steam ahead for high speed rail links

ONLINE grocer Ocado delivered a huge hike in sales as it notched up 250,000 orders in a week for the first time. The group posted a 15.3% rise which is boosted by its deal to handle online deliveries for supermarket Morrisons.

Shares surged as much as 8%. Ocado said it hit its weekly orders milestone, despite ongoing tough trading and a fierce price war with discounters Aldi and Lidl. Tim Steiner, chief executive of Ocado, said: “We are pleased with the steady progress in our business, maintaining double-digit sales growth in a retail environment that remains challenging.”

ON TRACK George Osborne visits a Crossrail construction site

Avon calling in the UK THE multibillion-dollar cosmetic firm Avon, which sells products in 70 countries around the world, has opted to move to Britain despite the chance it will leave the EU after the June referendum.

The 130-year-old company did not give any detail on investment or job creation in the UK, although it said it would cut around 2,500 positions worldwide.

Official posh coffee fix THE Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it will no longer count night club entry fees in the way it calculates the cost of living as part of the consumer prices index (CPI) inflation, but there are 15 new entries, including coffee pods for new coffee machines and cream liqueurs such as Baileys Irish Cream.

GEORGE Osborne is set to give the green light to major rail developments in the north of England and London in his Budget today [Wednesday].

The Chancellor is expected to confirm Government backing for the HS3 high-speed rail link between Manchester and Leeds, and the Crossrail 2 project to connect Surrey and Hertfordshire via stations in central London like King’s Cross, Victoria, Chelsea and Clapham Junction.

The developments came as the National Infrastructure Commission – set up by the Government in 2015 to advise on long-term projects to boost

the economy – released a report calling for ‘immediate and very significant investment’ in transport for the North of England, and a plan for longer-term transformation to cut journey times, raise capacity and improve reliability.

The new report followed last week’s launch of a similar NIC study into Crossrail 2, which urged ministers to ‘get on right away’ with the southwest to north-east cross-London line.

In a £300million Budget package to boost transport links in his cherished ‘Northern Powerhouse’, Mr Osborne is expected to commit the Government to taking forward HS3 between

Manchester and Leeds, with £60million to cut journey times to 30 minutes from their current 49.

Commission Chairman Lord Adonis said: “If the North is to become a powerhouse it has to be better connected. But we must not wait decades for change – journey times should be cut to 40 minutes by 2022.

Meanwhile, the Chancellor will announce £80million for Crossrail 2 to proceed to the next stage of planning and will ask Transport for London to match that contribution with the aim of introducing legislation to Parliament before the 2020 election.

MPs to get yet another pay rise MINISTERS have criticised the decision to break the public sector pay cap by handing MPs a 1.3% rise this year.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has confirmed that the increase will take effect from next month – less than a year after politicians received a back-dated 10% hike to £74,000.

By contrast workers such as NHS staff and members of the armed forces have been limited to 1%.

In a letter to Commons Speaker John Bercow, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Greg Hands stressed that he recognised the watchdog’s independence.

But he added: “The Government’s policy is for public sector pay to increase by 1% per year, and its position on increases in MPs’ pay, at a time when difficult decisions are being taken elsewhere to reduce the deficit, has not changed.

“The part of MPs’ pay we do control – ministerial pay – has been frozen until 2020.”

Under the pay package introduced by Ipsa, MPs salaries are uprated annually in line with increases in average weekly public sector earnings.

However, those figures are typically higher than the 1% cap because they include bonuses and promotions.

Downing Street previously said the rises were a ‘matter for Ipsa’ and were automatically paid to all MPs.

FOLLOWING heavy financial losses, the energy company npower has ended days of speculation by announcing it is to cut 2,400 jobs in the UK. This means that its 11,500 strong workforce will be

Wednesday 16th March 2016

WORLD NEWS 

Norway’s most notorious killer appears in court ANDERS Behring Breivik marked his return to court by making a Nazi salute during his bid to improve conditions inside the Norwegian prison where he is being held in isolation for massacring 77 people in bomb and gun attacks.

Appearing in the public eye for the first time since his conviction nearly four years ago, the 37-year-old Norwegian and his lawyers are trying to convince a judge that his prison conditions are ‘inhuman’ and violate the European Convention on Human Rights.

The government has rejected his claims, saying he is being treated humanely and with dignity despite the severity of his crimes.

Many survivors and families of victims are trying to ignore the trial, fearing it could reopen emotional wounds and give Breivik more attention.

In violence that stunned Norway on July 22, 2011, Breivik set off a bomb in Oslo’s government district and then carried out a shooting massacre at the annual summer camp of the left-wing Labour Party’s youth organisation on Utoya.

He was sentenced to 21 years in prison, the maximum under Norwegian law, but his term can be extended as long as he is considered a danger to society.

Breivik is due to address the court today [Wednesday].

Murder investigation launched after Berlin car bombing death AN EXPLOSION that destroyed a car and killed the driver in central Berlin during rush hour traffic yesterday was probably caused by a bomb, police said, but investigators are working on the assumption it was not a terror-related attack.

The explosion occurred at about 8am local time in the western district of Charlottenburg on a busy street leading into the heart of the German capital.

Photos from the scene showed

the wreckage of a Berlin-registered silver Volkswagen Passat estate, its windows blown out and its front end smashed in half a mile from the capital’s landmark Victory Column.

“The explosion occurred inside or on the vehicle,” said Carsten Mueller, Deputy Chief Spokesman for Berlin police.

“Our investigators are working on the assumption that it was an explosive device that caused this,” he added.

Nobody else was injured in the blast despite the heavy traffic at the time, he said.

Hours later, police were concentrating on the possibility that the explosion might be linked to organised crime.

Investigators have apparently identified the man who was killed but declined to name him.

The city has seen a spate of violence linked to biker gangs involved in the drugs trade in recent years.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

New saint named for the Catholic Church POPE Francis is to canonise Mother Teresa, the nun who cared for the poorest of the poor. He will officially do so on September 4 – the day before the 19th anniversary of her death. The event will be the main focal point of the Pope’s Year of Mercy.

Music to Sony’s ears MICHAEL Jackson’s estate has sold its interest in a massive music catalogue for $750 million (£525million) to Sony.

The sale was announced in a joint press release.

Jackson’s estate owned a half share of the catalogue, which includes the works of artists such as The Beatles and Bob Dylan, which was purchased for $41.5million in 1985.

The sale does not transfer to Sony ownership of Jackson’s master recordings or rights to songs the King of Pop wrote.

IS commander dead

WRECKAGE The car exploded in Berlin’s Charlottenburg district

A TOP Islamic State commander and feared ethnic Chechen jihadi fighter has died of wounds suffered in a US air strike in Syria, a senior Iraqi intelligence official and the head of a Syrian activist group said. Omar Shishani, who was wounded earlier this month, died on Monday outside IS’s main stronghold of Raqqa in Syria.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

16  LETTERS

And another thing…

The Times of Tunbridge Wells always wants 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 School rugby: A touch too far

I read your article [March 9] on whether contact rugby should be played in schools or not with great interest. Skinners’ is right.

If you stop tackling in rugby then you have to stop it in football too as the possibility of injury is just as high. Oh, and while we’re at it we might as well stop children from going horse riding, playing hockey and going skiing because actually all of these sports could potentially cause injury.

In other words it is not just rugby that is

Flower power: Fabulous idea

I was so pleased to hear that Tunbridge Wells is once again taking part in the Royal Horticultural Society’s In Bloom competition. Our town looks at its very best when it is festooned with flowers so a big thank you to all the volunteers who have planted over 800 bulbs to get things off to a great start. I was also very happy to learn that it’s not just businesses that can take part. What a fabulous idea to include green fingered local residents like myself too! I will definitely be perking up my window boxes to do my little bit to ensure we take home first prize! A big thank you to the Times for letting its readers know about the return of this much loved horticultural competition.

Deborah Miller Via email

Gun hobby: Wrong figures row

It is not very often I will say this but Ann Barnes is absolutely right. The Police and Crime Commissioner hit the nail on the head [March 9] with her criticism of gun enthusiasts and the amount of money it costs to process their licences. It is ridiculous to think they are being subsidised by almost £340,000 per year at a time of big cuts to frontline policing.

Mr Potter’s defence of the status quo is feeble.

He states ‘we believe’ there are only 30,000 gun licence holders in Kent, but where did he get that figure from? As prone to cock-ups as she often is, I am far more inclined to believe the PCC has a better understanding of how many licence holders there are as it is her job to know. So if she says its 70,000 it probably is, as she would have been given that information by the force. Mr Potter’s figure seems unsubstantiated.

Julian Brookes Via email

EU and AXA: Particularly revealing

Well done the Times on publishing [March 9] the story of AXA’s position regarding the European Union and this country’s place within it. It is particularly revealing that they say the shareholder would continue to find it a great place to invest in regardless of the outcome. I

Wednesday 16th March 2016

risky! Every time we send our children out into the big wide world we are exposing them to possible dangers. It is up to us to make them aware of them and ensure they use their common sense. What we should be really worried about is children not being properly supervised while taking part in sporting activities. So let’s just make sure it is properly played and monitored and not take the fun element out of sport.

Anna Wright Via email have no doubt that, if other local or national papers took your proactive approach, many more of the signatories to the pro-EU letter that gained news headlines for suggesting a Brexit would cost jobs would also be unmasked in the same way.

Thank you for setting the record straight and let’s hope that by the end of June we are once again a free nation in charge of our own destiny.

Leonard Woodright Via email

EU debate: The real choice

It is indeed good to see Colin Matthews praise the Times [March 2] for giving front-page status to the forthcoming EU referendum. Could I add, however, that Mr Matthews seriously understates the significance of this vote on June 23? Rather than being a vote ‘in a generation’, our choice will determine the character and destiny of this country in the long term. Will Britain be a substantial off-shore island or a leading force in a club of half a billion people?

(Dr) Brian Beeley Via email

Ski store: Family-run business

I wonder whether you could print a reply to Karen Roberts [March 2] who via email wrote to you with the title ‘Ski Store Needed’. Having read this letter I would like to say that Snowear in Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells is in fact an independent ski shop!! We have been in business for over 25 years (I took over in 2008) and are a family run ski business. We don’t carry skis or boots but do have helmets and everything else that a person would need to go skiing. We could also have given Karen information of other independent ski shops in Canterbury or Sevenoaks (not too far away) who would be able to help with her ski/ boot purchases.

Teresa Wilczek Via email

NHS Trust: Not like for like

I would like to respond to your article, ‘Hospital struggling to cope’.

You say in your article [March 2] that ‘according to recent figures, income from private patients

TACKLED The risk of children being injured in sport

rose by 81% from £3.9million to £6.9million between 2010 and 2015’.

This is not a like for like comparison – the Trust opened a new hospital in 2011 which provides all NHS patients with single en-suite rooms. This benefit was extended to private patients and the income is invested back into NHS care. In 2010, this facility did not exist so the figures quoted are not directly comparable.

The Trust has treated private patients in the past, but in old facilities that were not fit for purpose. The increase in income is a reflection of private patients’ wishes to use the NHS when that is possible and at no time is this at the detriment to our NHS patients.

Also to clarify, these figures are in no way related to the cancellations of some planned procedures this year.

It is unfortunate that, in times of high emergency demand, it is sometimes necessary to cancel planned procedures for some patients.

Since the beginning of the year, we have had to cancel around 400 planned procedures which equates to 11% of operations we have performed.

The majority of cancellations have been within the specialities of orthopaedics, ENT (Ear, Nose Throat) and gynaecology.

We apologise to those patients who have had their procedure cancelled during this time and for any inconvenience that this may have caused.

Our primary concern, as always, is to keep patients safe, and we are doing everything we can to return the elective service back to normal as soon as possible.

Despite all the current challenges, the Trust continues to be compliant with the 18-week standard.

Additionally, this month, a new ward with 38 beds will open at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, which will also help improve capacity in the longer term.

Our priority, as always, is to provide the safest and best possible care to our patients and we will continue to do that in coming weeks, months and beyond.

Glenn Douglas Chief Executive, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Calverley COMING to a screen near you this week is the Hollywood biopic about ‘Eddie the Eagle’, Britain’s biggest Olympic failure. Mr Edwards came last in two ski jump events in 1988 and shot to fame as the classic British underdog we all love. He’s instantly recognisable by the huge bottle-bottom glasses that he insists on wearing. The word ‘insists’ is used because Calverley has it on impeccable authority that the plasterer from Stroud has no reason at all to wear the glasses. Problems with his long-sightedness have been overcome through implants. Such is showbiz.

TALKING of showbiz, Himself really does need to get out more. Or rather Himself must get out more to the cinema. Taking one of his regular strolls along The Pantiles the other day he bumped into a young lady he thought he knew.

Nodding in her direction, he smiled but received not a flicker of recognition. No wonder she ignored him. A kindly passer-by explained the lady looked familiar because she was no less a person than Australian Academy Award-winning mega film star Cate Blanchett. The mum of four has, it seems, just moved into our part of the world. That’ll boost footfall on The Pantiles.

MORTIFIED. There is simply no other way to describe how Calverley feels on hearing the following Mother’s Day tale. Hubby and son take wife/mum to a local hostelry for the obligatory lunch and suddenly realise that on this one day ‘she who must be obeyed’ has total control of the TV remote. How can the Man Utd fans watch the big match on TV that afternoon. Easy. Pour loads of wine for wife/ mum, help her into back of car so she nods off on ride home… then leave her until game is over. Come on chaps, that’s a red card.

METRO BANK has just floated on the London Stock Exchange and will be a huge success.

Here’s why. Calverley’s closest friend (yes, he does have some) ventured into the TW store (they don’t say ‘branch’) to open an account.

He was told he had to make an appointment even though four of the five desks in reception were empty because clients had failed to show for booked appointments. He then suggested that walk-ins be seen when others had failed to show. Lo and behold head honcho Vernon Hill (lovely man) listened and took aboard the idea.

Imagine that happening at Lloyds: A customer being heard. Unheard of.

Chin Chin

THE PANTILES NEWS 

17

IN ASSOCIATION WITH: Targetfollow Group Ltd and The Pantiles Traders Association

ISSUE TWO

PANTILESNews

The

Tinseltown comes to Tunbridge Wells Hollywood film star and rumoured new local resident Cate Blanchett has been spotted enjoying the artisan delights offered up in the town’s famous market

W

HILE browsing the homemade honey and cured meat stalls on The Pantiles a couple of weeks ago, local foodie shoppers were surprised to spot movie star Cate Blanchett mingling alongside them.

According to stallholders, the two-time Oscarwinning actress, who is reported to have bought a £3million mansion in Crowborough, seemed more than at home wandering around and sampling the gourmet goodies.

The star of numerous box office hits, including Elizabeth, Blue Jasmine and Carole, has some people speculating that she has bought Lisa Marie Presley’s country pile, while others say she is now living in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s former residence – a 19th-century mansion surrounded by 13 acres.

The award-winning Australian actress is not revealing the precise whereabouts of her new home just yet, but she is certainly getting into the local spirit of things by making time for a weekend visit to the specialist market stalls trading on the historic Pantiles.

One of those Cate visited was Turners Cider, where she sampled their tempting brews.

The owner of the Marden-based drinks company, Phil Turner, reveals it was quite an experience having an A-list celebrity unexpectedly descend on the firm’s regular stall.

“We realised Cate Blanchett was there with her nanny, who was showing her round, and she tried one of our ciders,” Phil explains. “I was surprised to see her there and she just kept pretty low key.”

According to the cider producer, the farmers’ markets on The Pantiles, which take place on the first and third week of each month, have proved popular with a wide range of residents and visitors to the area.

“We love doing the market as all the stallholders are very friendly,” says Phil. “There’s a culture developing around craft beer, as well as ciders such as ours. The business is still pretty new, we have been going for three years and it has been great. The ciders we make come from local apples, with the Russet variety being particularly popular, as it’s a quintessentially Kentish apple.”

The Pantiles markets have also been popular with a number of other stallholders, including some new culinary faces such as Urban Truffle, an online venture specialising in fine food supplies. Its owner, chef Jonathan Thurkettle, made his debut last month and was impressed by the response.

“I think our first market went pretty well, despite the building work that is being carried out on The Pantiles right now,” says Jonathan. “I was using the experience as an opportunity to test whether to take a shop in Tunbridge Wells, and will probably do so once the right space comes up.

“A lot of our foods are not your usual supermarket goods, such as caviar, as well as our truffles. The feedback we got was really good.”

A wild game stall run by Keiron Toole from Tonbridge has also been attracting interest from more adventurous visitors who have snapped up his selection of meats over the past few years.

“I do a range of game including venison, pheasants, rabbits and pigeons, which are all from the Hever and Penshurst areas,” Keiron states.

“These aren’t everyday items, but I’ve found the venison has been particularly popular, especially whenever the Food Festival is on.”

Pantiles Markets Manager Tracey Aveling and Events Co-ordinator Tara Fuller have been at the centre of creating a programme for spring, which includes a food fair in May. “Some markets can be hard over the winter, but we had a fantastic one in December, so we’ve carried on through January and February,” Tracey reveals. “We love doing these events, as well as the Food Festival, which has had footfall of around 7,000 people visiting in the past.”

Let’s hope Cate Blanchett and her family will be among them at the next one.

Events on The Pantiles

THERE are a host of interesting and varied events throughout the spring which ensure there will be something for everyone to enjoy on the town’s historic promenade…

WEEKEND MARKETS The Pantiles Markets are back in full swing and take place on the first and third weekend every month.

The market provides the perfect opportunity to buy groceries from a wide range of traders selling everything from vegetables, fish, meat and fresh bread to artwork and vintage homewares.

WEDDING FAIR – SAT & SUN, APRIL 23 AND 24 In April, The Pantiles is playing host to its very first wedding fair. So if you’re tying the knot this year then make sure you pop along as you’ll find everything from photographers and florists to cakes and entertainment ideas for your big day.

GARDEN SHOW – SAT, APRIL 30 TO MON, MAY 2 This May Bank Holiday weekend there will be a spring garden show. Traders will be selling all manner of items that will appeal to the green fingered among you, including potted plants, garden furniture and sculptures.

FOOD FESTIVAL – FRI TO SUN, MAY 13 TO 15 Also in May we will see the return of the hugely popular Food Festival. As in previous years, there will be more than 30 specialist stalls selling exotic ingredients, fragrant herbs and spices as well as lots of tempting fresh local produce. There will also be plenty of entertaining cooking demos and lots of delicious food to enjoy as you browse around.

DECORATIVE LIVING – SAT TO MON, MAY 28 TO 30

CATE BLANCHETT Has been seen on The Pantiles

If you love decorating your home then this fair is the perfect place to find inspiration for your interior design projects. Stalls will be set out with lots of vintage gems, unique furniture and plenty of beautiful accessories in order to enhance your living space.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

18  THE PANTILES NEWS

Café culture has always been a popular The area’s unique eateries provide just some of its key attractions. We speak to two venues that have weathered the tricky winter months and are now looking forward to a busy spring Francesca Gilpin…

Owner of The CakeShed WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE PANTILES? There’s a good range of cafés and restaurants here, which all have something different to offer and that’s a real selling point for the area.

It certainly brings more and more people when the weather is better, too. There are a lot of music events over the summer months as well, so we hope this will encourage more people. The Pantiles is for life, not just for summer though!

HAS THIS YEAR BEEN BUSY SO FAR? The first couple of months always tend to be quite lean, with people wanting to save money. However, as we move towards Easter things are looking up. An improvement in the weather always helps, but recently people have just been inside the café and keeping cosy.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN OPEN AS A CAFÉ?

The CakeShed has been around for three years now and we make everything ourselves, ranging from cakes to soups. I think this makes a huge difference to what we do. The business

Wednesday 16th March 2016

now has another chef, but I am very hands on myself – all the recipes are my own. It’s just something that I really wanted to do. Life is too short not to be doing what you want to.

We always try and source items locally wherever we can, using a local vegetable supplier, Oliver Greens in Rusthall, and that’s something that is important to us.

YOUR MENU IS FULL OF TEMPTING TREATS – WHAT HAS PROVED YOUR MOST POPULAR FOOD ORDER? We do a range of traditional British cakes with a twist, such as wheat-free lemon cake which is enjoyed just as much by those without allergies as by those who have them.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK? I really enjoy talking to customers and making sure they have a great experience.

It’s not dissimilar from theatre in how you approach it. You are providing entertainment and we always hope to give the very best that we can.

TEMPTING TREATS Francesca Gilpin makes all the cakes

THE PANTILES NEWS 

part of Pantiles’ life…

Ed Pusey…

Manager of Woods bar and restaurant HOW HAS BUSINESS BEEN IN RECENT TIMES? We are really hoping that with the weather improving things will start picking up. We’re working hard and our trade with functions has been good, particularly with parties on a Friday and Saturday night.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE PANTILES? Woods has been here for the past 12 years, and I’ve been here for nearly three. It’s been a really good time.

The past year in particular has been good for jazz in the summer, and our Christmas season was also particularly busy.

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL CAFÉ?

Just trying to be happy is important.

If you are happy towards customers then they will want to come back. Of course, we hope that our food meets with their expectations.

HOW HARD IS IT TO KEEP IMPROVING YOUR MENU? We have worked really hard at our menu, and we’ve done things like put out a large marble table displaying our range of cakes, which are all made in-house and are one of the things that people always comment on.

IS THERE A STANDOUT ITEM OF FOOD THAT THE VENUE HAS BECOME RENOWNED FOR? Everyone seems to know about our all-day breakfasts. If you have woken up late then you can have

19

It’s Rosemary’s time

a full English breakfast (including a vegetarian option) right into the afternoon. I had a first the other day – a taxi driver came in to pick up a breakfast for someone at 3.30pm!

DOES THE VENUE STAGE ANY EVENTS DURING THE YEAR? From May we have jazz on Thursday evenings and we are holding a fundraising evening in aid of Hospice in the Weald. There will also be another evening after that, raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CAFÉ?

We hope that if more businesses are attracted to The Pantiles, then our own business will grow. We’re just concentrating on providing a good service and quality food for our customers.

MEET THE WOODS TEAM (L–R), Oggy Pechov, Ed Pusey, Karen Wood, Dariusz Sitarz, Tori Buckingham, Sam Gritten, Trish Jupp, Sheridan Wood

“Things have been going well and Hollywood film stars aside, The moving towards Easter, I hope that Pantiles also has firm links to a we will carry that forward,” she says. famous celebrity chef ”I think The Pantiles is important Rosemary Shrager not only runs to the town, as it offers somewhere her eponymous cookery school in the that’s different from being right in Corn Exchange, she is also the owner the centre. We’ve been open for two of the popular Shrager’s Patisserie years now and it’s been rewarding as just around the corner. there’s a real community feeling here Since it opened two years ago, the and we have a chic café has built up a reputation for good team.” offering customers quality food and a distinctive continental atmosphere.

Head pastry chef Marc Mouzon trained in Paris and cut his culinary teeth at The Savoy Hotel in London and the Michelin-starred Le Royal Champagne boutique hotel in Champillon, France before relocating to Tunbridge Wells.

He certainly knows how to create a delicious confection of signature sweet delights including macarons, lemon tarts and specialties like Gateaux Opera that see customers consistently coming back for more.

But it’s not just mouthwatering cakes and coffee on offer.

Shrager’s Patisserie also serves light lunches and tempting afternoon teas, too.

The patisserie’s manager is Lynne Barnes IN THE MIX and she is very pleased Rosemary Shrager is with how business has enjoying sweet success gone so far this year.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

Market value

Whether you’re searching for an exotic spice, a local cheese or some vintage French linen you’ll find it – and so much more – thanks to The Pantiles’ specialist producers…

By Eileen Leahy

E

VERY other week something magical happens in Tunbridge Wells’ historic promenade area. It transforms itself from being a pleasant place to sit, sip a drink or browse around the specialist shops into a vibrant, bustling market hub where you can buy all sorts of artisan products and treat your tastebuds to plenty of gourmet goodies.

Held every first and third weekend of the month, the market sees an array of specialist sellers, including McCarthy’s Bakery, Crown Antiques and Gilwing Farm, descend upon The Pantiles to offer everything from gooey cheese and fragrant spices to local beers and quirky finds for the home.

Tara Fuller is the Events Co-ordinator at The Pantiles Bandstand Event Company, who have been in charge of running the successful markets since October 2015.

“We are lucky to have such dedicated market traders who stick with us come rain or shine and keep booking more and more dates,” she explains.

“I think it’s great that you can come to The Pantiles each market weekend and know that the regular traders will be there so you can get all of your supplies. From April onwards you can expect to see around 25-30 stalls on each market day.”

This year there will also be a number of other specialist markets in addition to the foodie and home ones.

“We have some great things planned this year,” confirms Tara. “Our first event is the Wedding Fair on April 23 and 24. We also have the Food Festival booked in for May and September and are planning some other great events such as a Literary Festival and a Vintage Fair later in the year.”

Wednesday 16th March 2016

What does she think the markets bring to The Pantiles and Tunbridge Wells in general?

“I think they add a real sense of community spirit to the town. It’s great to be able to support local traders and know that whatever produce you are purchasing is fresh and grown nearby.

It is really important that we keep supporting this.”

Tara also likes the fact shoppers can

talk to the traders and understand what they are buying and where it has come from.

“The Pantiles Market is quite well known so we do get people from further afield coming along to support the local traders,” she explains.

“It’s also a great way for people to be able to start their own business and they start to feel involved in the trading community.”

So what are the plans for the future?

“We just want to keep building the markets up and increase the number of traders we have where possible,” continues Tara. “I think the specialised markets are really important as well as it’s great to showcase a particular element and have a theme to the market. Hopefully we can put a lot more of these events on in the future.”

NEXT PANTILES MARKET…

This weekend March 19 and 20. For more information visit www.pantilestraders.co.uk

PHOTOS: David Bartholomew

20  THE PANTILES NEWS

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

21

Sky’s the limit for aerial agency Aerial cinematography agency Skyfly Video uses the latest technology to fly drones to capture super-smooth cinematic footage. Directors Marcus Monsell and Michael Thompson explain more about how it works… propellers and eight motors. Having that puts us right at the top end of the aerial filming service we provide. We have progressively been getting in with large production companies in London to do recurring documentary work with the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

PRESUMABLY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LICENCE? Michael: To licence, you have to get something called an operations manual, and we have got three other pilots on ours, so they are licenced to fly under our name. We have a PFAW (Permission For Aerial Work) from the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and are fully insured. We have £5million public liability insurance, which can be increased. Our licence means that 400ft is our limit height-wise, and then 500m horizontally from the operator.

IN FLIGHT Marcus and Michael test their UAV drone

TELL US HOW SKYFLY GOT STARTED Michael: The idea came around when I did my pilot’s licence to fly a full-sized helicopter, which is when my enjoyment of flying came into it.

From there, we bought our first drone and made the connection between my flying background and making the business from filming.

Marcus: We have known each other since we were 10. I had heard that Mikey was getting into the drone industry, and I had come in from a filming background, having done short movies and studied it at school, so we made that connection.

WHAT KINDS OF PROJECTS DO YOU WORK ON? Marcus: Our bread and butter jobs are aerial photography and aerial filming. They go across the spectrum, from creating promotional videos for individual companies, to broadcasting on TV for the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5. With filming, there is also the higher end like feature films, as well as inspections, which are quite a big thing. We have done solar panel inspections,

bridge inspections and harbour inspections.

Michael: There is another strand, which is thermal imagery and 3D mapping. It is a specialised area of drones, which is fairly untouched, as not many people know about it, but we are getting involved in some thermal imaging solutions for UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). That opens a whole new spectrum for thermal inspections of things like solar panels, building inspections and pipeline inspections.

HOW BIG IS YOUR TEAM AND THE EQUIPMENT YOU USE? Marcus: We have three aircraft of different sizes, so one is relatively small, which we use if we are flying indoors or near someone or something. We are based outside of London, but are allowed to fly over the city. We have an in-house editing team and also crew for ground filming when required.

Michael: Our largest drone has eight

IS YOUR PRICING STRUCTURE QUITE VARIED? Marcus: Yes, because we have a range of different sized drones our pricing point varies from job to job. The top end is £1,000 upwards for a day’s work, as we can fit into a bracket where any camera can go on our system, and often we

will be renting a £20,000 camera. We are quite reasonable at the lower end, which can start from £200 to £250.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THE BUSINESS GOING FORWARD? Michael: We want to get more pilots based around the country on our operations manual, and more people working for us in a general expansion of the operation as a whole. We are getting more contractual work with various production companies, and thermal imaging has so much potential, so getting contracts on that basis is a big thing for us.

Skyfly Video Mount Offham, Teston Road, Offham, West Malling, Kent ME19 5PG 01622 828 948 www.skyflyvideo.co.uk admin@skyflyvideo.co.uk

DIRECTORS Michael Thompson and Marcus Monsell

Wednesday 16th March 2016

22 � WEDDING FEATURE

Timeless elegance at The Bell Inn Every couple wants their big day to be perfect by celebrating with friends and family, while keeping in mind what’s important to them. This is exactly what Lisa Jane Lishman and her husband Ian experienced when they tied the knot at The Bell in Ticehurst. The bride tells us more about how the big day of her dreams came together How did you and your husband meet?

It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact day we met. You know the sort – you recall nights out, look back through photos and both of you are just sort of…there. At a guess, probably eight years ago? We’ve always got on and had a laugh (mainly due to Ian supplying the vodka and me attempting the running man), been able to talk the night away and not judge each other, scoffing KFC at 3am in the morning. It wasn’t until our bridesmaid Mel’s birthday party in London in March 2011 that one of us actually made a move (we still argue who kissed who).

I was travelling with work at the time, so we planned our first date for April 1!

Something must have gone right, as Ian joined me on a business trip to Rome the following week, and so the story began.

Tell us about the proposal After drunkenly asking my dad for my hand in marriage the New Year’s Eve

before, we got engaged on March 8 2014 at Lainston House in Winchester. After a busy couple of months for both of us at work, Ian suggested we take a trip away and go and have a look at a couple of his pubs, and that it made sense to stay nearby to make the most of it. I was none the wiser, so it was a total surprise to pull into the amazing Lainston House. After checking in, we decided to go for a stroll in the hotel’s grounds. We found the hotel’s grassy landing strip and walked right to the end. Two benches were set up, and it was here that Ian got down on one knee. As soon as I saw the box, I knew and burst into tears, squealing ‘yes’ over and over again.

Where did you get married and how did you choose the venue?

The elegant and quirky ambience of The Bell Inn, Ticehurst was the perfect backdrop for our wedding and suited the informal, casual style we wanted. Ian

THE LITTLE THINGS Flowers by Sophie at Astilbe & Sorrel

Wednesday 16th March 2016

TIMELESS BEAUTY Dress from The Pantiles Bride.

Hair and makeup

by Ellie at The Beauty Aisle

is from South Africa and had friends and family fly over, so where best to showcase a quintessentially English village than Ticehurst? Ian works in the pub industry, so it was very befitting, and the opulent gold/red décor upstairs, with its exposed wood and chandeliers, really appealed to me. It was the perfect venue for the relaxed feel we wanted, and the food there has never let us down – we knew our guests would be well-fed, very well-watered and welcomed with open arms. Sitting down with them, they were very flexible

KISS ME Lisa and Ian share a special moment after becoming man and wife

WITH THE

I i al T ar t nd a Impion a tod

s 73 Pen 559 26 0189

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Wednesday 16th March 2016

� PROPERTY SECTION

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

In my view…

DUKES PLACE MEREWORTH ROAD, WEST PECKHAM

Richard Smith

Director, Residential Sales, Savills Sevenoaks

£2,975,000

The Sevenoaks residential team has got off to a busy start to the year, with twice as many viewings taking place in January and February compared to the same period last year.

Last year was a bit dysfunctional with the election taking place in May; it hit the market and had an adverse effect on April as well as most of May, then we were into the summer.

However, there seemed to be a better atmosphere in the latter part of 2015 and the market improved dramatically.

With values in London beginning to flatline in the last few months, people are starting to come out of London and there has been an increase in activity and more confidence.

The market between £500,000 and £1m is a very active section of the market and even at the top end we have secured a number of deals at £2m and £3m so far this year.

This has been helped with schemes such as Help to Buy on new build developments in the area, which have had a big impact.

We expect the market to remain price sensitive this year and one of the keys to a successful sale is to set the correct price.

While there will always be an appetite to buy in this area, applicants are reluctant to view properties they consider overpriced.

Many of our current applicants are growing families who want to be near a station and good schools.

Properties that don’t need a lot of work are particularly sought after at the moment.

For those looking to buy, we are currently instructed on a number of fine properties in all price ranges, and with our research department’s forecast looking positive, now would seem to be an excellent time to buy in our area.

Savills Sevenoaks, 74 High Street, Sevenoaks TN13 1JR 01732 789700

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Wednesday 16th March 2016

‘The building still retains original features with exposed timbers, oak doors, lattice oak frame windows, fireplaces and vaulted ceilings’

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE � Grade I listed Tudor property � Fascinating history � Character features � Modernised and well presented � Great hall for entertaining � Reception hall � Entrance hall � Drawing room � Dining room � Library � Study � Sitting room � Kitchen/breakfast room � Utility room � Cloakroom � Master bedroom with dressing room and bathroom � Guest suite with bathroom � Three more bedrooms, two en-suite � Family bathroom � Two-bedroom cottage � Entertainment suite � Garaging � Tennis court � Swimming pool � Landscaped gardens � Paddock � In all around 5 acres

£2,975,000 For sale through Savills 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

Magnificent listed country house brings history to life

D

UKES PLACE is an exceptional Tudor residence with an interesting history dating back to the early 15th century and is Grade I listed. Originally part of West Peckham Manor, it was owned before the Norman Conquest by King Harold’s brother, Leofine.

The manor was given by William the Conqueror to his half-brother, Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, and was later owned by one of Henry V’s knights, who donated it to the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, a medieval Christian military order.

They founded a preceptor at Dukes Place, where hospitality was dispensed to returning pilgrims.

Now, despite numerous alterations and additions by successive owners throughout the centuries, the building still retains many of its original features with exposed timbers, oak doors, lattice oak frame windows, open fireplaces and impressive vaulted ceilings.

Of particular note is the striking double height great hall, ideal for entertaining. The house is immaculately presented throughout and now also features modern bathroom suites and a Mark Wilkinson kitchen.

Accommodation on the ground floor includes a reception hall, drawing room, dining room, great

hall, library, study, sitting room and kitchen/ breakfast room with appliances and utility room.

Upstairs, the master suite has a vaulted bedroom, a dressing room and a stylish bathroom. There is a guest suite with en-suite bathroom and three further double bedrooms, two with en-suite facilities and the third served by an adjacent bathroom.

In addition to the main house is a detached twobed ragstone cottage which has been recently converted to provide excellent secondary accommodation and an entertainment suite adjacent to the swimming pool. There is also an

extensive garage building which has storage over the first floor.

The outstanding landscaped gardens, designed

by Roger Platt, complement the style of the house with structural planting, pleached hornbeam, pollarded limes and topiary. There is a generous terrace overlooking the swimming pool.

A gravel drive provides ample parking and leads to the garaging. There is an area of lawn to one side where the tennis court is located, and accessed via a separate drive is the paddock, which measures approximately three acres. The grounds total around five acres.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

FRANT,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

KENT

5 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + 4 reception rooms + kitchen/breakfast room + lovely gardens + superb views + triple garage + pets allowed + Council Tax=H + EPC=E

5 bedrooms + bathroom + shower room + kitchen/breakfast room + garden + patio + shed + off-street parking + pets allowed + Council Tax=F + EPC=E

£3,950 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£2,650 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

CRANBROOK,

KENT

CROWBOROUGH,

EAST SUSSEX

Kitchen/breakfast room + dining room + drawing room + playroom and study + 4 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + utility room + gardens + parking + Council Tax=G + EPC Exempt

5 bedrooms + 4 reception rooms + 2 bathrooms + kitchen/breakfast room + family bathroom + double garage + beautiful gardens + Council Tax=F + EPC=D

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

£2,450 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and 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.

ERIDGE GREEN,

HEATHFIELD '

KENT

EAST SUSSEX

5 bedroom country house + rural views + Eridge MLS 0.3 mile + 3 reception rooms + study + double garage + tennis court + gardens and paddock + 4,060 sq ft + about 7 acres + EPC=D

Substantial Edwardian house + 7 miles Stonegate station + double drawing room + dining room + study + kitchen/ breakfast room + 6 bedrooms + 4,074 sq ft + garden of about 0.26 acres + EPC=D

Guide £1.95 million Freehold

Guide £1.175 million Freehold

GROOMBRIDGE,

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

LANGTON GREEN,

EAST SUSSEX

Contact: Liz Devall

KENT

Close to village centre + sitting/family room + study + kitchen/dining room + 5 bedrooms + Eridge MLS 2.5 miles + Tunbridge Wells 4.5 miles + 3,104 sq ft + 0.29 acres + EPC=C

Portion of a Grade II listed house + 2.5 miles Tunbridge Wells + 2 reception rooms + study + kitchen/ breakfast room + 4 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + double garage + 2,497 sq ft + about 0.37 acres

Guide £995,000 Freehold

Guide £850,000 Freehold

TUNBRIDGE WELLS ,

Contact: Becky Card

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

Contact: Liz Devall

KENT

Town house with off-street parking + 0.3 miles MLS + 2 reception rooms + kitchen/ breakfast room + 4 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + LGF studio + garden + 2,078 sq ft + EPC=D

Well appointed first floor apartment + tucked-away central location + 0.25 miles from town centre + open plan kitchen/ reception room + 2 bedrooms + 2 bath/shower rooms + communal lift + 802 sq ft + EPC=B

Guide £750,000 Freehold

Guide £299,000 Leasehold

Contact: Becky Card

Contact: Becky Card

� PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment AT A GLANCE STATION ROAD GOUDHURST � Spacious house on the edge of desirable village � Refurbished and well presented � Entrance hall � Study � Drawing room � Dining room � Kitchen/breakfast/family room � Utility room � Cloakroom � Master suite with bedroom, dressing room and bathroom � Four further first floor bedrooms, two sharing a shower room � Family bathroom � Top floor bedroom with snug and shower room � Detached barn annexe with large basement � Off-road parking and garaging � Heated swimming pool

‘There is a heated swimming pool and a barn which has been stylishly converted into an annexe or a possible holiday let’

� Gardens and grounds of approximately 2.36 acres

£1,500,000 For sale through Knight Frank 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

You’ll be chuffed with family property on site of old station H ALTWHISTLE was built on land where the one-time Goudhurst railway station used to lie. The station closed in 1961, and the property was erected as a private dwelling. The current owners have refurbished it to a very high standard with attractive decoration.

The ground floor accommodation comprises a spacious entrance hall, superb drawing room, study, dining room and magnificent kitchen/

Wednesday 16th March 2016

breakfast/family room. All the main reception rooms feature glazed double doors to the rear garden, with the family area boasting three sets of doors. The kitchen is a wonderful feature of the property and is fitted with contemporary units and a large central island and breakfast bar. A utility room and cloakroom complete this floor.

On the first floor there is a stunning master suite with dressing room and bathroom as well as four

further bedrooms, two of which share a ‘Jack and Jill’ shower room, and a family bathroom. On the top floor there is a snug/sitting room, a shower room and a bedroom – possibly creating an ideal teenager’s suite.

The house is approached through a gated entrance over a sweeping gravel driveway to a parking area and detached double open-bay garage and log store. There is a heated swimming

pool and a barn which has been stylishly converted into an annexe or a possible holiday let. The interesting layout includes a mezzanine bedroom with en-suite bathroom and a threeroom basement. It has separate access and a parking area.

The gardens are laid to lawn with a multitude of established trees and shrubs. In total there are just over two and a third acres.

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TUNBRIDGE WELLS

SOUTHBOROUGH

23 High Street, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN11UT Sales 01892 511211 tunbridgewells@woodandpilcher.co.uk Letting & Management 01892 528888 lettings@woodandpilcher.com

124 London Road, Southborough Kent TN4 Of L Sales 01892 511311 Lettings 01892 528888 southborough@woodandpilcher.co.uk

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HEATHFIELD

TONBRIDGE

CROWBOROUGH

27 High Street, Heathfield East Sussex, TN21 8JR Sales 01435 862211 Lettings 01435 868899 heathfield@woodandpilcher.co.uk

38 High Street, Tonbridge Kent TN9 1EJ Sales 01732 351135 Lettings 01732 351135 tonbridge@woodandpilcher.co.uk

The Cross, Crowborough East Sussex TN6 1AL Sales 01892 665666 crowborough@woodandpilcher.co.uk Letting & Management 01892 664666 lettings@woodandpilcher.com

Associated Park Lane London Office

woodandpilcher. co. uk

•Knight · : 41 Frank, .

Brenchley A substantial Edwardian family house on the edge of a popular village Entrance lobby, dining hall, cloakroom, inner hall, cellar, kitchen I breakfast room, utility room, drawing room, sitting room, oak-framed garden room. Master bedroom with en suite shower room, 4 further bedrooms, family bathroom, shower room, study, office. Gardens and grounds. Paved terrace. Woodland. Tandem garage. Store room. Planning permission for ancillary accommodation. EPC rating E. In all about 6.37 acres.

Goudhurst A superb Grade II Listed country house with ancillary accommodation and beautiful grounds Entrance hall, reception hall, great hall I dining hall, drawing room, dining room, family room, kitchen I breakfast room, pantry, utility room, boot room, cloakroom, cellar. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 4 further bedrooms, 2 dressing rooms, shower room, WC, study I home office. Attached 1 bedroom cottage. Beautiful gardens and grounds. Heated swimming pool. Pond. Tennis court. Double garage. Open bay garage. Further outbuildings.

In all about 2.2 acres.

Oak Avenue, Sevenoaks A beautifully designed house of over 4,500 sq ft Located in a quiet position off an exclusive private road on the south side of Sevenoaks. Reception hall, drawing room, dining room, sitting room, playroom, study, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, cloakroom. Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and dressing room. 5 further bedrooms, 3 further bathrooms. Integral double garage. South facing gardens.

EPC rating C. In all about 0.45 acre.

Kippington Estate, Sevenoaks A stunning new house of 6,286 sq ft finished to a very high specification Reception hall, drawing room, dining room, family room, study, superb kitchen I breakfast room, utility room. Master bedroom suite including dressing room, 3 additional bedroom suites, laundry room, 2 further bedrooms, family bathroom, substantial games I cinema room. Large detached garage. Landscaped gardens.

EPC rating B. In all about 0.46 acre.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Stunningly refurbished and close to town centre T HIS handsome semi-detached period property is located in Queens Road, a highly desirable part of Tunbridge Wells within a short walk of the local amenities.

The house has been extensively remodelled by the present owners to create a superb modern family home while retaining many of its original features.

The bespoke, hand-crafted kitchen is a wonderful addition to the home, with a bank of

Miele ovens, underfloor heating and a set of bifold doors opening on to the beautifully landscaped rear garden.

The ground floor accommodation comprises an entrance hall, a sitting room, a dining room, a cloakroom and the extremely impressive kitchen/ breakfast room. Additionally, a useful utility room is housed in the cellar.

Upstairs, the master bedroom boasts a stunning

en-suite bathroom, a guest suite with a shower room and two more bedrooms, which are well served by a family shower room.

The large terrace is ideal for entertaining and leads on to a good sized lawn. To the front of the house is a drive providing off-road parking, leading to an integral garage.

The property also benefits from an air source heat pump.

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE

QUEENS ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS � Semi-detached period property � Popular location � Remodelled and improved � Beautifully presented

‘The bespoke, hand-crafted kitchen is a wonderful addition to the home’

� Entrance hall � Sitting room � Dining room � Cloakroom � Kitchen/breakfast room � Utility room in cellar � Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom � Guest bedroom with en-suite shower room � Two further bedrooms � Family shower room � Rear garden and terrace � Off-road parking � Integral garage

£995,000 For sale through Alexandre Boyes 01892 525522 www.alexandre-boyes.co.uk

Wednesday 16th March 2016

Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells

£1,850,000 - £1,950,000

Dallington, Heathfield

OIEO £1,250,000

An impressive and substantial detached Grade II listed Oast House set in a rural location with stunning countryside views. 4 Reception Rooms, Kitch en Breakfast Room, 3 En Suite Bedrooms, 2 Further Bedrooms, Family Bathroom, Detached Garage, Superb Gardens and Paddock totalling circa 3.5 Acres.

An attractive Grade II listed period farmhouse situated in a private rural loca tion with circa 10 acres. The property sits on the former H aselden Manor site and was once owned by the Speaker of The House of Commons back in the 1500's. The spacious accommodation comprises Seven Double Bedrooms, four Bathrooms, Triple Garage, Detached Stable Block, Gardens, Woodland and Fields of approximately 10 acres.

West Farleigh

Fairwarp, Uckfield

£1,250,000

A substantial detach ed period house dating from the 17th century (Unlisted). Elegant and well proportioned rooms with period fea tures including exposed wall and ceiling timbers, Inglenook fireplaces, panelling and good ceiling heights. 5 Bedrooms, 4 Reception Rooms, Kitchen breakfast room with Aga, self contained annexe and superb brick built barn 58'6" x 18' which is currently utilised as garaging. Gardens of 0.9 acres.

Battle

£925,000 - £950,000

An immaculately presented d etached family home enjoying outstanding rural views within walking distance of central Battle. Accommodation includes 5 Reception Rooms, Downstairs Cloakroom, Kitchen Breakfast Room, 2 En Suite Double Bedrooms, 3 Further Double Bedrooms, Family Bathroom, Large Garden, Rural Views, Raised Terrace Area, Driveway and Detached Double Garage.

£950,000 - £1,000,000

An attractive and detached character property set in the h eart of the Ashdown Forest with spacious accommodation comprising three reception rooms four bedrooms (one ground floor bedroom with en suite), two further en suites, Outside home office, worksh op and garage. Set within approximately 4 acres with stable block and yard.

Cross In Hand, Heathfield

£850,000

A spacious six bedroom family house with accommodation over three floors, situated in a semi rural loca tion within a short drive of the popular market town of H ea thfield. The property benefits from a d ouble garage with a studio above and d elightful gardens of approximately 0.4 of an acre with stunning views towards the South Downs.

Reaching the London buyer in order to achieve the best possible price Call 01892 615757 · www.freemanforman.co.uk · 22-24 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TNl lUX

Wadhurst

£825,000 - £850,000

Horam, Heathfield

£775,000

A charming detached, period family home (unlisted) with spacious accommodation over two floors comprising sitting room with wood burning stove and double doors to the garden, dining room with open fireplace, TV room/snug, study, four bedrooms and family bathroom. Pretty gardens of circa 1 acre, off road parking and garage.

An attractive 3/4 bedroom d etached property offering well presented accommodation arranged over two floors with scope to be further extended and improved . The grounds and gardens are a very appealing feature to this property totalling just over 3 acres and provides ample off road parking available along with integral and detached garaging.

Tunbridge Wells

Heathfield

£775,000

£750,000 - £775,000

A superb Detached townhouse by favoured developer Millwood Homes, situated within walking distance of the High Street, Pantiles and mainline railway station. Sitting I Dining Room, Kitchen, Master Bedroom with En Suite Shower Room, Three further Bedrooms and Family Bathroom. Garden and Allocated Parking Space.

A substantial detached family home situated within walking distance of Heathfield town centre with accommodation to include Sitting Room, Dining Room, Study, Kitchen Breakfast Room, Utility Room, Ground Floor WC, Master Bedroom with Dressing Room and En Suite, Guest Bedroom with En Suite, 5 Further Bedrooms and 2 Bath I Shower Rooms. Detached Double Garage, Attractive front & rear Gardens.

Blackboys, Uckfield

Rushers Green, Mayfield

£700,000 - £725,000

An attractive character cottage in a quiet location with stunning countryside views. The accommodation has been sympathetically extended, comprising a large living room with Inglenook, dining room, farmhouse kitchen with separa te utility, master bedroom with vaulted ceiling, dressing area and en-suite, three further bedrooms including an annexe with kitchen and living area. Large rear garden bordered by farmland.

£650,000

A charming and spacious attached 5 bedroom character cottage (unlisted) with an annexe and uninterrupted countryside views. Accommodation comprises sitting room, kitchen, we, and substantial conservatory.

Further GF accommodation/annexe includes a living room, 2nd kitchen/utility room, bedroom and shower room. Full-width master bedroom, Four further double bedrooms, study/bedroom and a family bathroom.

Reaching the London buyer in order to achieve the best possible price Call 01892 615757 · www.freemanforman.co.uk · 22-24 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TNl lUX

Tunbridge Wells

£500,000 - £525,000

Crowborough

£500,000 - £525,000

An exci ting new development from a highly regard ed local developer combining contemporary living with a very high internal specifica tion and fini sh. These two brand new three/four bedroom semi-detached houses are loca ted in a popular loca tion within close proximity to shops and amenities.

This five bedroom modern property which forms part of this exclusive gated development within easy access of the town centre and railway station. The property offers superb entertaining space including a stunning open plan kitchen breakfast room with bi fold doors and snug area. Arranged over three floors.

Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells

£325,000

£250,000 - £275,000

Two bedroom house situated in a very private loca tion in the desirable Hawkenbury area. The h ouse is in good condition throughout, the downstairs comprising of spacious living room with log burner, modern kitchen with space for dining. To the rear is a nice size garden. Viewing highly recommended.

Top floor two bedroom apartment which offers exceptional uninterrupted views of Tunbridge Wells and surrounding countryside. The building holds a pleasant position close to Dunorlan Park and within reach of the town centre. The property has use of communal gardens, a lift and its own garage en-bloc.

Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells

£300,000- £330,000

Ground floor one bedroom flat with it's own private entrance including no stairs situated within this prestige block built by Milward Homes. The property offers an open plan modern u shape kitchen with integrated appliances, spacious lounge with bi fold doors on to the south facing garden, offering patio and !awned area.

£475,000 - £500,000

Extended three bedroom semi detached house which occupies an enviable position within the ca tchment area for the popular St James primary school. Both the Tunbridge wells and High Brooms railway stations are within reach, as is the beautiful Grosvenor and Hilbert park which has recently been redeveloped.

Reaching the London buyer in order to achieve the best possible price Call 01892 515300 · www.freemanforman.co.uk · 22-24 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TNl lUX

Tunbridge Wells

£215,000

Tunbridge Wells

£225,000 - £250,000

Two bed room top floor apartment which occupies a convenient position close to the High Broom s mainline railway station and sh opping parade. The apartment boasts plenty of storage, off road parking and communal gardens. The property still benefits from the rem ainder of an NHBC build mark.

One bedroom garden apartment which occupies a fantastic central loca tion within a short walk of the railway station and Victoria place sh opping centre. The property owns a share of the freehold w ith further information available from our sales team.

Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells

£290,000

Character top floor two bed room period apartment with converted attic room currently used as a bed room.

The property is in excellent decora tive order through out and split on three levels. The property is in excellent decora tive order throughout and split on three levels. Internally comprises of large reception room, modern fitted kitchen, white suite bathroom, Master bed room w ith built in storage .

£400,000 - £425,000

We are d elighted to present this brand new three bedroom town house which forms part of this exciting select d evelopment of just three properties built by a reputable local d eveloper. The property h as been fini sh ed to a high specifica tion and is presented over three floors, including off road parking.

..,

Tunbridge Wells

£290,000 - £310,000

This attractive two bedroom terraced h ouse loca ted in the very popular St James area, situated within close proximity to all the local am enities on Camden road and town centre. Offers spacious open living room w ith built in units, stunning m odern fitted kitch en and a modern downstairs white suite bathroom.

Tunbridge Wells

£230,000

One bedroom apartment in the very d esirable Broad wa ter down. The property h as been renovated to a high standard by the current vendor combining period fea tures with contemporary style throughout. The flat comprises of mod ern fitted kitch en and bathroom, spacious living room and double bedroom.

Reaching the London buyer in order to achieve the best possible price Call 01892 515300 · www.freemanforman.co.uk · 22-24 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TNl lUX

Nr Ninfield, £1,400,000 Horsey heaven and a whole lot more, is available at this very special small country estate. Standing proudly are 2 magnificent detached houses both oozing quality with solid oak throughout. A detached holiday let with use of swimming pool, hot tub and steam room. A detached office suite is currently rented out and of course if both houses are not needed, either of these would attract a high yield. Set in some 7.1 acres - in an area of outstanding natural beauty - with a 6 box stable yard, 4 '" paddocks, floodlit 'Charles Britton' Manege, • • • • • 2 small lakes and several stocked ponds.

More outbuildings. Spectacular views abound and must be seen to be fully appreciated.

Highly recommended.

Nettlestead, ÂŁ1,800,000 Often sought but seldom found, this is a magnificent country house with outstanding equestrian facilities second to none. We are extremely proud to be marketing this beautiful Grade II Listed gem and competition yard owned by Olympic medal winner David McPherson. Spanning some 3,444 sq.ft this stunning house has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen/breakfast room with Aga, 2 stunning receptions, a 2 bedroomed cottage, 3 stable blocks with 13 stables, 2 tack rooms, a veterinary area, feed room, 55 x 50 arena, horse walker, various outbuildings and the piece de resistance is the Hickstead inspired show-jumping course within the glorious 7 acres. Very highly recommended.

Early viewings advised to avoid disappointment.

,

Your local independent Estate Agent

~MJProperty

...contactable 7 days a week

consider ourselves part of the community. Having lived locally all our lives we immerse ourselves in the community and support local events throughout Tunbridge Wells, whether through advertising them, helping at them, donating to them or our children 'K', 'M' and 'J' being there on duty with St John Ambulance.

We are genuinely contactable 7 days a week, we don't tie clients in to a long contract and we always provide realistic market appraisals and advice and offer competitive fees.

Selling property throughout Tunbridge Wells and surrounding villages

So if you are thinking of moving now or in the future, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01892 515188 for your free market appraisal.

www.kmjproperty.co.uk .-:I

Find us on

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MORE PROPERTIES URGENTLY REQUIRED

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sales@kmjproperty.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells £725,000 - £750,000 A 4 bedroom detached family house, in need of some cosmetic updating, situated in the popular St James' area. 2 receptions, kitchen/breakfast room, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths ( I en suite). South facing garden, tandem garage. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells Monthly Rental£ 1,295 A stunning loft conversion warehouse-style apartment located in the centre of the town.

Two double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Luxurious fixtures & fittings. 1,076 sq. ft. Available now. EPC: E

Tunbridge Wells £499,950 A I920's semi-detached house, priced to allow for some cosmetic updating, located in the heart of the St John's area. 2 receptions, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, bath. Approx. 75ft rear garden. EPC: D

Bidborough Monthly Rental £1,850 A spacious detached family home located within a short walk of Bidborough village centre.

Kitchen/breakfast, 2 receptions rooms, 3 bedrooms & family bathroom. Integral garage, driveway and beautiful rear garden. EPC: E

Tunbridge Wells £275,000 A 3 bedroom semi-detached house, in need of general upgrading and modernisation, situated in a residential road on the north-east side of Tunbridge Wells. No onward chain. EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells Monthly Rental £2,000 Located off of Claremont Road. Spacious and stunning Grade II Listed first floor maisonette located in the heart of Tunbridge Wells. Kitchen, 2/3 receptions, 3/4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.

Off road parking. 1,668 sq.ft. EPC: D

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

THESUNDAYTIMES

THE . . .T IMES

Tunbridge Wells £1,395,000 Excellent 6/7 bedroom detached family house situated at the head of a small culde-sac with views across fields. The spacious and well presented accommodation includes a superb kitchen/breakfast room and large conservatory. EPC: C

Horam OIRO £950,000 This detached 1930's property has been refurbished and extended providing spacious family accommodation with established gardens and grounds with a lake. It is set back from the road on the outskirts of the village in about 3.5 acres. EPC: F

Crowborough £995,000 A highly individual 5 bedroom detached family house with a beautifully presented light and spacious interior approached through electric double gates at the end of a short private road. EPC:C

Tunbridge Wells £875,000 A superbly, imaginatively renovated, extended and refurbished 5 bedroom detached family house in highly regarded sought after location in southern part of the town. EPC:D

Nr Rotherfield £750,000 An attractive and very well presented detached house with superb outlooks, fantastic living accommodation including an excellent kitchen/breakfast room, 5 bedrooms and 3 bath/shower rooms. EPC:D

Tunbridge Wells £725,000 This impressive, very spacious ground floor apartment, with private garden, is the major part of a fine late Victorian house understood originally built for the Abergavenny family. Situated on a popular tree lined avenue. EPC:D

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

Mayfield ÂŁ985,000 A fine former Vicarage dating from about 1910 with excellent family accommodation of 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, now with scope for updating. Set close to the High Street in very attractive gardens of about 0. 7 acres. EPC: F

Wadhurst ÂŁ1,395,000

Situated along a private and highly regarded road close to the centre of this popular East Sussex village, this well presented detached house has been substantially extended to create an excellent family house with gardens of about 0.75 acres and wonderful southerly views. EPC:D

DCJ

T-"!:AMPTONS

Beyond your expectations

11

www.hamptons.co.uk

·"""·

THESUNDAYTIMES

INTERNATIONAL

THE . . . .TIMES

Pilgrims Way, Westerham £1,650,000 Nestling on the southern slope of the North Downs therefore benefitting from far reaching views, a very well presented detached 5 bedroom country residence of character set within secluded gardens of approximately 0.8 acres. EPC: D

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Maidstone Road, St Mary's Platt £875,000 Spacious detached 5 bedroom family home located in the popular village of St. Mary's Platt. The property has generous entertaining space, a swimming pool, garage and off street parking, on a plot that extends to approximately 1.48 acres, including a formal garden and woodland. EPC: D

Sevenoaks Office Sales. 01732 423127

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sevenoaks@hamptons-int.com

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ADVERTISING FEATURE �

Thinking of moving home soon?

You’ve made the decision to move, found your dream home and your offer has been accepted. Feelings of excitement and apprehension set in and all you want is the whole process to end with you safely ensconced in your new home. So what steps can you take to ensure that the process will run smoothly and costly mistakes are avoided? Well, skimping on surveys and conveyancing can cost you dearly in the long run. So here are some top tips to help your move go as smoothly as possible. will not visit the property themselves, so should there be something you feel uncertain about bring it to their attention and they will provide you with the options available in order to try to resolve the issue.

5

REMEMBER TO ARRANGE BUILDING INSURANCE FROM THE DATE OF THE EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS. From exchange of contracts you will be legally responsible for the structure of the property. This is often overlooked and can potentially have serious consequences. Make sure you have buildings insurance cover in place from this date.

With this being said and the potential risks of buying a home with hidden problems amounting to thousands of pounds in potential outgoings, why would you cut corners for the sake of a few pounds when the risks are so large?

For your FREE copy of The Kent Guide to Buying and Selling your Home, or for further advice regarding your buying/selling experience, contact Max Barford Solicitors in Tunbridge Wells today and speak to one of my property team on 01892 539 379 or email times@maxbarford.co.uk

2

DECIDE WHETHER YOU ARE HAPPY TO RELY ON THE MORTGAGE LENDER’S VALUATION OR DO YOU REQUIRE A FULL SURVEY. A lender’s valuation is an assessment carried out by and for the benefit of the lender in order to check that the property presents adequate security for its loan should you default and the property has to be sold. However, it does not report on actual faults in the property. For many, a Home Buyer’s Report, which will expose problems such as damp, dry rot and subsidence, is adequate but if you are buying an older house or unusual home a full structural survey will be a wise investment.

You wouldn’t buy a car without the

4

3

E ID EERS GU FRE MOVE

1

GET YOUR MORTGAGE AGREED FIRST Although borrowing from banks and building societies has improved recently, it is not a given. So to avoid disappointment, check you can get the mortgage you need before starting the process. You can get a mortgage agreement in principle secured first, but remember that this is an indication and not a legal agreement.

CHOOSE YOUR CONVEYANCING SOLICITORS WITH CARE For a free copy of the Kent Guide to Buying and Selling If you take the risk of buying without Your Home or for further advice regarding your home REMEMBER TO FACTOR IN the support and guidance of an buying/selling experience just complete and cut out this THE TRUE COST OF MOVING. expertly trained legal conveyancer, you coupon and post to the address below. Alternatively call Mortgage arrangement fees, run the risk of walking into a financial or email us today quoting reference MBRTO104 survey fees, legal costs and removal booby trap which can seriously hamper costs are all substantial costs of moving. your progression up the property Telephone 01892 539 379 However, the often overlooked but most ladder. You should also make sure or Email times@maxbarford.co.uk expensive cost is Stamp Duty Land Tax you know who you are instructing (SDLT) which varies dependent on the and that the firm is registered with a Name value of the property purchased. If you regulatory body such as the Solicitors purchase a property above £125,000 Regulation Authority. There are bogus Address SDLT becomes payable. Recent changes law firms out there who will take your to SDLT have been introduced to try money and then close up shop which to make the tax fairer. Under the old means you lose the money and your regime the SDLT percentage rates dream home. That is why it is essential increased at various thresholds. Under that you get the advice and guidance the old rules SDLT was payable at a you need every step of the way from single rate on the whole transaction a known reputable law firm. They are value. From 4th December 2014, SDLT there to help you avoid the pitfalls of is payable on a sliding scale depending what can be a murky area. on the portion of the purchase price The cheapest option may not always Tel.No that falls within each rate band. There prove to be the best. Remember, this is no doubt that the SDLT changes will may well be the biggest purchase you’ll Email be of benefit to many home buyers. For make and you want to be sure that you example, under the old regime, Stamp know what you are buying. You should Duty Land Tax payable on a purchase be able to contact your conveyancer Max Barford & Co price of £350,000 would be £10,500 and fully understand what is happening 16 Mount Pleasant Road and under the new regime it would at each step of the move. If you are Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1QU be £7,500 - representing a saving not sure, ask! One further point to www.maxbarford.co.uk of £3,000. bear in mind is that your conveyancer Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. No. 71480 knowledge of a service history, so why would you run this financial risk when buying a house?

M HO

BY DEBORAH MILLER

Wednesday 16th March 2016

Oxted, Surrey

Guide Price ÂŁ2,750,000

Oxted Station 3.1 miles, Hurst Green Station 1.6 miles, Edenbridge 4.5 miles, Westerham 4.2 miles, M25 Junction 6 is 6.1 miles (Distances and time approximate) An attractive 1930's Arts and Crafts style house situated in an impressive elevated position with far reaching views.

Entrance Hall I Sitting Room I Drawing Room I Dining Room I Study I Kitchen I Utility I Conservatory I Two Cloakrooms Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, dressing room and terrace I Five Further Bedrooms (One ensuite) I Family Shower room I Garage Timber framed garage and store I Vegetable garden I Summer House with Sauna I Outdoor Swimming pool All-weather tennis court About 12.8 acres

Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker. corn

Your local team At Strutt & Parker, we know the importance of teamwork and experience gained through local knowledge.

Sevenoaks, Kent Sevenoaks station 0.5 miles, Sevenoaks town centre 0.5 miles

An extremely handsome Grade II listed Edwardian house located in a central Sevenoaks location, being offered on the open market for the first time since 1959 and providing a unique refurbishment opportunity Reception hall/Dining room I Drawing room I Sitting room I Breakfast room I Kitchen I Larder I Ground floor bathroom I Four first floor bedrooms I Two family bathrooms I Cloakroom I Two second floor bedrooms I Box room/attic I Detached single garage I Outbuildings About 0.26 Acre

Guide Price ÂŁ1,395,000 Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker. corn

Sevenoaks, Kent Sevenoaks town 1 .1 miles, Sevenoaks Station 1.2 miles, M25/A21 interchange approximately 2 miles

A delightful detached and spacious family house situated within a short distance of the High Street and mainline station Porch I Reception hall I Sitting room I Study I Split level drawing room and dining room I Kitchen/breakfast room I Garden room I Utility room Master bedroom with ensuite bathroom I Three further bedrooms Family bathroom I Integral garage with a BMW i vehicle electric car fast charger I Garden shed I Delightful front garden I Secluded rear garden I about 0.11 acres

Guide Price ÂŁ1,100,000 Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker. corn

� PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

‘A family area and playroom have double doors to the garden and provide an informal living space’

Charming converted dairy boasts a pool and paddock

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HEQUERS DAIRY is a very interesting detached property which was formerly an actual dairy and converted in the early 2000s. The Hildenborough house has been sympathetically refurbished by the owners and provides stylish, versatile living accommodation.

The ground floor comprises a spacious openplan sitting/dining room which has a central

fireplace housing a double-sided wood-burning stove. A family area and a playroom both have double doors leading out to the garden and provide an informal living space. The generous kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with a comprehensive range of units with integrated appliances. There is planning permission to build a porch over the doorway. Also on the ground

floor is a guest bedroom with en-suite shower room and a cloakroom.

There are two staircases rising to the first floor from opposite ends of the house. The master bedroom has a lovely en-suite shower room and there is an adjoining bedroom which is currently being used as a dressing room. There are two further bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The house is approached over a shared drive which leads to a private parking area and a detached four-car garage with storage room over.

The gardens lie predominantly to the south with a large decked terrace that has steps to a path through the lawned gardens and on to the heated swimming pool. There is also a wooded area and a paddock. Altogether, there are almost two acres.

AT A GLANCE LONDON ROAD HILDENBOROUGH n Converted dairy building

n Master bedroom with en-suite shower room and adjacent bedroom/dressing room

n Well presented

n Three further bedrooms

n Versatile accommodation

n Two bathrooms

n Open-plan sitting/dining room

n Detached garage with storeroom over

n Family area and playroom n Kitchen/breakfast room

n Swimming pool

n Cloakroom

n Landscaped gardens

n Ground floor guest bedroom with en-suite shower room

n Paddock n In total about 1.9 acres

£1,500,000 For sale through Savills 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 16th March 2016

we open doors for you ...

The Beeches & The Firs

Barnes Kingsnorth

KEMSING NR SEVENOAKS

Looking for that ideal New Home then come to our OPEN HOUSE on SATURDAY MARCH 19TH between 11am and 1pm and view this pair of brand new Semi-Detached houses.

Now nearing completion The Beeches & The Firs are of brick construction with upper tile hung elevations and attractive feature canopy. The family accommodation is generous with entrance hall, cloakroom, delightful, double aspect kitchen/ family room leading to a super living room which enjoys double doors to the garden. Upstairs there are 2 double bedrooms, 1 single and a beautifully finished bathroom with the luxury of underfloor heating. Features include the contemporary 'Shaker Style' fitted kitchen with granite worktops and comprehensive range of integrated appliances,

11ml 'g)Primelocatior t i'rightmove.co.uk

Residential Sales & Lettings

stylish wood laminate flooring, fitted carpets, Heritage fittings to bathroom & cloakroom and quality Oak internal doors. Enjoying the peace of mind that comes with a CRL 10 year warranty the properties are neutrally decorated and just waiting for your own personal finishing touches.

Outside there is driveway parking for several cars and landscaped gardens to the rear. The properties are situated in the popular village of Kemsing with shops & amenities close by and Primary School within a mile, perfect for busy family life!

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

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

• SITE NAME & LOCATION: The Beeches, 71a and

The Firs, 71b Dynes Road, Kemsing • TYPE OF PROPERTY: Pair of Individually Designed

3 bedroom Semi-detached houses.

• LOCATION: Kemsing • PRICE:

£400,000

each

• BEDROOMS: 3

Lettings: 01732 771616 e. Lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.bkestatea1emts.com

er

ESTATE AGENTS

"'Makin8 'Moves" Residential Sales I Residential Lettings I Property Management

al!.

25 - 27 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, l{ent TN4 SAE ~ 01892 614777 sales@mcauleymiller.com lettings@mcauleymiller.com

Tunbridge Wells

Andrews >

andrewsonline.co.uk

Western Road, TN1 2JQ Guide £345,000 Semi detached two bedroom period property with features including a fireplace and exposed wood floors. Entrance hall, downstairs cloakroom, two reception rooms, kitchen leading to garden, two double bedrooms and bathroom.

Energy Efficiency Rating: E

The Ridgewaye, TN4 OAD £249,950 Individual 1st floor maisonette in a detached property overlooking allotments, in a private road. Own entrance, 2 double bedrooms, living room, kitchen/dining room, bathroom and cloakroom. Views onto woods at rear.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Avon Street, TN1 2JG £340,000 Terraced family home in the StJames area of town, with 2 reception rooms, a fitted kitchen, 3 bedrooms, upstairs bathroom and westerly aspected rear garden.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

London Road, TN11BQ £2600pcm Luxury, three double bedroom apartment in the prestigious Post Office Square development close to the mainline station and local amenities comprising large living room and kitchen/diner with full range of appliances, utility room and walk-in larder. Two bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom (one with separate shower cubicle) plus the master bedroom has a walk-in closet. This very spacious property also has another shower room, lots of other storage plus gas under floor heating, secure allocated parking space and a private garden overlooking the well maintained communal areas.

Energy Efficiency Rating: C

Tunbridge Wells Sales 01892 515 11+'+ Tunbridge Wells Lettings 01892 525 551

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

� PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Fabulous techno-trimmings in a house designed by architects

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HIS unique home, close to Benenden, was designed by it’s current architect owners and offers a flexible open-plan living and entertaining space. The property has a high technical specification with features including an intercom and door entryphone, underfloor heating below engineered oak floorboards, Lutron mood lighting controls to the

kitchen and living space, data and TV cabling to most rooms, thermal store providing hot water, solar heating system and high suction central vacuum system.

On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, living room, kitchen/dining space, cloakroom, impressive master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, guest bedroom, two further bedrooms

(one used as a study) and bathroom. The lower ground floor comprises a large games room, a family room, cinema/music room, storeroom, utility room, cloakroom, two further bedrooms (one a possible gym) and a bathroom.

The property is in a rural setting and is approached via a country lane on to a gravelled driveway with off-road parking for several

‘To the rear is a large garden leading into a wild meadow with wonderful views’

vehicles. This leads to a detached open-bay garage with an additional closed garage. To the rear is a large lawned garden leading to a wild meadow with wonderful views over the surrounding countryside. There is a decked area with a paved path, sheltered outdoor kitchen/ entertaining space, heated swimming pool and Kentish pond. In all it sits in just over 1.65 acres.

AT A GLANCE STEPNEYFORD LANE BENENDEN

n Two further bedrooms, one used as study

n Contemporary house that is one of a kind n Architect designed n Low energy, low maintenance n Rural setting and open views n Entrance hall n Kitchen/dining room

n Family room n Storeroom n Utility room n Cloakroom n Two lower ground floor bedrooms, one a possible gym n Family bathroom

n Drawing room n Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom n Guest bedroom with en-suite bathroom

n Games room

n Heated swimming pool n Off-road parking and garaging n Gardens and grounds of 1.65 acres

£1,495,000 For sale through Knight Frank 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

Wednesday 16th March 2016

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Pentland " Homes Last chance to purchase one of the final 4 bedroom luxury homes at two of our stunning developments in Kent.

Just one 4 bedroom 2,207 sq ft Pevensey home remains at Bluebells, Ashford and just one 1,828 sq ft Lydden 3 storey, 4 bedroom home remains at Elysium Park, Dover.

Discover the Pentland difference, each home features high quality fixtures & fittings with underfloor heating and high specification kitchens and bathrooms.

Bluebells lTN 25 4 Fn I

Elysium Park [ c11s 2FJ I

Maidstone Road, Ashford

Old Park Hill, Dover

Viewing by appointment.

Book online at: www.pentlandhomes.co.uk or Telephone: 07889 810402

� PROPERTY SECTION

‘This second floor apartment extends to over 2,400 sq ft and enjoys sensational southerly views across the grounds’

Elegant mansion flat in Penshurst parkland

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WAYLANDS is a beautifully refurbished Grade II listed Victorian mansion house situated on the edge of the historic village of Penshurst. Now converted into a number of separate properties, this second floor apartment extends to over 2,400 sq ft and enjoys sensational southerly views across the grounds and countryside beyond.

Offered with no chain, points of particular note include a 42ft double reception room within the apartment, a private terrace and the 50 acres of

communal parkland in which the mansion is set.

The apartment boasts a vast L-shaped reception hall, a superb triple aspect reception room divided into two areas, and a beautifully fitted kitchen with integrated appliances and a feature raised breakfast area. The principal bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and dressing area, and there are two further bedrooms, one en-suite, as well as a fitted family bathroom.

Set in landscaped grounds and approached though a gated drive, the formal gardens

include manicured terraced lawns with long gravel pathways. Next to the lake there is an impressive rockery – rumoured to be the largest private rockery in Europe and built as a fairy grotto by the original owner for his children.

Beyond this is a formal cricket green and hard tennis court. There are fine mature trees throughout and areas of woodland.

This apartment has the benefit of a private terrace providing a fine spot for entertaining, and one allocated parking space.

AT A GLANCE

PENSHURST ROAD PENSHURST � Period features � Set within 50 acres of communal parkland and gardens � Spacious accommodation � Second floor � Entrance hall � Large double reception room � Kitchen with feature raised breakfast area � Master suite with bedroom, dressing area and bathroom � Two further bedrooms, one en-suite � Family bathroom � Private terrace � Parking space

£895,000 For sale through Hamptons 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 16th March 2016

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•

iJl1iFLY PROPERTIES

BY CAROL PRIER

This attractive and surpri singly spaciou s detached famil y home with 3 double bedrooms, kitchen/diner and en-suite to master bedroom. Situated in a most popular residential area on the edge of Paddock Wood but still convenient for schools, a wide range of shops and Paddock Wood main line railway station. EPC: D

Idyllic location nestled in the heart of Brenchley village yet quietly tucked away along a private drive adjacent to the orchards -just perfect! Extensive gardens to rear and side with so utherly orientation. Circa 1920 offering three bedrooms, Two receptions, open fireplaces, oak windows, LPG gas central heating, off road parking. EPC: G

Grade II listed period home, set out over three floors, offering a large inglenook fireplace with wood burning stove, farmhouse kitchen, small conservatory. The first floor offers a large landing area which lends itse lf as a study, two bedrooms and modern bathroom. To the second floor a delightful double bedroom offering far reaching views. Outside beautiful gardens to front and rear and ample parking to the front.

Stunning 4 bedroom detached family home set in a sought after development within Matfield village. Aspacious family home with accommodation comprising entrance hall, cloakroom, superb family kitchen/breakfast room, separate dining room, both rooms offer far reaching views across orchards, large sitting room, master bedroom to first floor with en suite and 2 further double bedrooms, family bathroom. To the second floor, guest bedroom suite with dressing room and en suite shower. Viewing highly recommended. EPC: C

Extended and beautifully presented 3/4 bedroom sem idetached famil y home situated on a corner plot with a charming garden, garage and driveway. The ve rsatile accommodation comprises entrance hall , cloakroom, stud y/ bedroom 4, sitting room with fireplace , kitchen/dining room. 3 bedroom s, fitted wa rdrobes and a contemporary bathroom. EPC: C

light and spacious one bedroom ground floor apartment within a converted Victorian chapel. The accommodation requires some modernisation but this project will appeal to those looking for a comfortable home of character within this much sought after village.

Please note the main photo is the front of the property and the apartment is situated to the rear. EPC: D

Chartfield was built circa 1969 and is set in a charming plot with far reaching views to the front out across the North Weald. Excellent accommodation comprising entrance hall, large sitti ng room, separate dining room, 3 bedrooms, bathroom with separate WC, kitchen/ breakfast room and utility which has been put on as an addition in recent years. EPC: E

£895,000 Spacious end of terrace family home situated on a quiet corner plot within a select deve lopment which offers wa lking distance to vi llage amenities. The extended ve rsatile accommodation comprises 2/3 receptions 3/4 bedrooms, ground floor cloakroom, pretty garden to the rear and open garage space en-bloc. Viewing highly recommended. EPC: E

Moorside is a fabulous, detached family home which is set in grounds of approximately 1.5 acres offering in excess of 3,000 sq ft of accommodation, to include large double garage with home office above. Offering a semi rural location with accommodation comprising 4/5 bedrooms, master with en-suite, further 4/5 reception rooms, ground floor cloakroom and large entrance hall with minstrel gallery. EPC: D

Paygate Cottage stands in a large plot of undulating gardens offering the additional benefit of full planning to build a brand new detached family home of 1,200 sq ft within the grounds. The planning permission provides for part of Paygate Cottage to remain for use as ancilliary accommodation to the new dwelling. Paygate Cottage has 3 bedrooms, 2 receptions, fitted kitchen and bathroom.

Detached garage and studio. EPC: E

I

Hadlow Park,

Tonbridge

I

Guide £850,000 - £900,000

Set within the grounds of the exclusive and private Hadlow Park

• Three reception rooms

• Ground floor cloakroom/We

is this superb detached family home, which has the additional

• Four first floor bedrooms

• 3/ 4 Acre secluded gardens

potential of a self-contained annexe offering exceptionally

• En-suite dressing area & shower room

• Potential for a self-contained annexe

• Utility room

(including aditional bedroom, bathroom & kitchen)

flexible living accommodation for the growing family.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

A very special townhouse to let tucked away in a prime location

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HIS outstanding attached Victorian townhouse, which is now available to let, has been restored and renovated to an exceptionally high standard by the current owners, while preserving all of the original style and character.

The property has been featured within a number of magazines and enjoys stylish accommodation over five floors.

Set in the historic heart of Tunbridge Wells, it lies in a tucked away private no-through road.

The period home opens to a reception hall with a large sitting room on the ground floor.

The garden level houses a superb kitchen with a range of bespoke units, granite work surfaces, gas-fired Aga, integrated dishwasher and fridge

freezer. This room opens to the breakfast room/ living room with its marble surround fireplace and wood burner, bay window and views. There is also a bathroom on this floor, and one of the bedrooms – which could double as a home office or games room – can be found on the lower ground floor.

The first floor features the master bedroom with a bay window, as well as a further bedroom and shower room. On the top floor there is an excellent double bedroom with a well-fitted en-suite bathroom.

To the front of the house there is parking in the private lane. The garden on the south side comprises an attractive brick-paved terrace on two levels with a gate to Cumberland Walk path.

‘It has been restored to a high standard’

AT A GLANCE CUMBERLAND WALK TUNBRIDGE WELLS � Stylish period townhouse � Arranged over five floors � Private location � Entrance hall � Sitting room � Kitchen/breakfast/living room � Bathroom � Lower ground floor bedroom or office � Two bedrooms and shower room on first floor � Large bedroom with en-suite bathroom on top floor � Garden � Parking � Available to let from 25/03/2016

£2,995 per month To let through Hamptons Lettings 01892 313000 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 16th March 2016

KNIGHTS WOOD FEELS LIKE HOME FOR THE FIRST RESIDENTS OF DANDAMS STUNNING DEVELOPMENT IN ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS As the first owners settle in, this exceptional collection of brand new homes looks a perfect fit for its tranquil woodland setting.

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"Our first Dandara home" One of the new residents, Heather Rhodes, lived in South borough with her young son before moving to Knights Wood in November. Speaking of their decision to relocate, Heather said, "We had grown out of our apartment in Southborough and needed some more space and a garden for my little boy.

My cousin mentioned Knights Wood and from the moment we visited for the first time to see it for ourselves, we didn't really consider moving anywhere else!

"Key factors for us were the affordability of the homes at Knights Wood, plus the fact that a new primary school is being built here - that is a real draw. This is the first time we've lived in a Dandara home and the car barn and driveway are just two of the things that I've enjoyed about it so far.

"Also, I work in London and despite the fact that it sometimes now feels like we're living in the countryside, I can still

use the same station, so my commute is exactly the same as before. Plus, it is great to come home to such peace and quiet.

"It has been the depths of winter since moving in, so we haven't done too much exploring yet- but we're looking forward to longer, lighter days and exploring the wooded areas nearby. I do rather like having John Lewis and M&S on my doorstep though!"

From the moment we visited for the first time to see it for ourselves, we didn't really consider moving anywhere else

Popular with a wide range of buyers Speaking of the popularity of Knights Wood to date, Susie Bennett, Sales Director at Dandara said "Following on from the success of The Avenue, almost 60% of our second phase - The Lanes - is now sold, with more properties scheduled for release soon.

"We have seen a real mix of people choosing to buy at Knights Wood, including families, investors, commuters and first time buyers, which highlights the fantastic range of properties available here.

"The majority of our buyers were people already living in the Tunbridge Wells area and keen to continue enjoying all that the town has to offer. However, a noticeable number of buyers have come from London - in fact, of the 38 homes released in the first phase, almost 25% were sold to buyers from SE, BR (Bromley) and CR (Croydon) postcodes. "/ think the type of lifestyle available here at Knights Wood the green open spaces, easy commute and excellent local schools - will only increase in appeal to people currently living in London."

Tunbridge Wells property market holds strong Ashley Mason - Head of Sales, Knight Frank, Residential Development South East overviews the Tunbridge Wells housing market.

"During downturn in the 2008/9 Tunbridge Wells proved highly resilient and weathered the market turmoil extremely well. Since 2012 house price growth in the town has consistently outperformed other major centres in Kent and the South East Market as a whole. The vibrant town centre, excellent commuter links and on-going investment within Tunbridge Wells, including the dualling of the A21

and the Longfield Road improvements, are major factors in the strong price growth we expect to see in the next five years. As the Central London market continues to cool the key commuter belt locations are expected to attract even stronger demand and Tunbridge Wells is perfectly positioned and provisioned in order to satisfy that demand."

Skinners' Kent Primary School The proximity of Knights Wood to High Brooms station has undoubtedly been a big draw for many, as has the presence of a new school, with work progressing well on the new Skinners' Kent Primary School (SKPS) building.

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Tunbridge Wells

South East

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140 130 120 110 100 90 80

Woodland Management Plan

SKPS opened in September 2015 in adapted temporary premises at the nearby Skinners' Kent Academy in Blackhurst Lane, with the school set to transfer to its new purposebuilt facilities at Knights Wood for September 2016.

SKPS currently has a Reception and Year One class, with an additional 30 children due to be welcomed in the next academic year.

Gemma Faircloth, Head Teacher says, "Our pupils have

settled very well and are already making excellent progress this year. They all look smart in their uniform and visitors to the school have commented on this, and also how engaged they are with their learning. Feedback from parents has been extremely positive and they feel empowered by their involvement with their child's learning. All of the staff are incredibly proud of our school and our pupils are looking forward to moving into our new building at Knights Wood later this year."

Enquiries please contact Skinners' Kent Primary School on 01892 553060.

Residents looking forward to exploring the ancient Kentish woodland that surrounds Knights Wood will be pleased to know that a ten-year Woodland Management Plan has been created by Dandara, in partnership with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Designed to increase the biodiversity of the woodland and improve public access, the Plan is now approved and work commenced in January this year.

Kent

� PROPERTY SECTION

CALVERLEY HOUSE FOREST ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£1,999,500

Contemporary designer home has stunning views over town

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ALVERLEY HOUSE is one of two attractive Millwood Designer Homes built in 2012 and situated in a private drive on the popular south side of Tunbridge Wells.

The house is immaculately presented to a high specification with contemporary fixtures and fittings.

The spacious accommodation is enhanced by large picture windows framing a spectacular panoramic view over the town, the Nevill cricket

Wednesday 16th March 2016

ground and beyond – towards the North Downs.

Particular features include underfloor heating with digital controls, an alarm system, a Sonos wireless sound system on the lower ground floor, and fibre optic broadband – as well as the remainder of a ten-year NHBC Buildmark Warranty.

Arranged over three floors, the accommodation comprises of two principal ground floor reception rooms with bifold doors opening out to

a balustrade balcony spanning the rear. Also on this floor is an entrance hall, a study, a utility room and a cloakroom.

The lower ground floor features a Stoneham kitchen with a central island, integrated appliances and ceramic flooring and is open plan to a well-proportioned dining/family room with bifold doors out the garden. There is a second utility room with space for white goods and a further cloakroom.

The first floor has a master bedroom suite with stunning views, a stylish en-suite bathroom and a fitted dressing room. The accommodation is completed by four further double bedrooms, two with en-suite facilities, and a family bathroom.

There is an enclosed landscaped garden to the rear, mainly laid to lawn, with a terrace accessed from the lower ground floor.

Driveway parking at the front of the house leads to an integral garage.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE � Millwood Designer Home built 2012 � Set in a private drive off a popular road � Spacious accommodation over three floors � Far-reaching views over the town � Entrance hall � Drawing room with balcony � Sitting room with balcony � Study � Two cloakrooms � Two utility rooms � Open-plan kitchen/dining/family room � Master suite with bedroom, bathroom and dressing room � Four further bedrooms, two en-suite � Family bathroom � Integral garage and driveway parking � Enclosed rear garden with terrace

£1,999,500 For sale through Savills 01892 507000 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 16th March 2016

ADVERTISING FEATURE

~Royalty~ Celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager hosts cookery demonstration to launch new phase of five bedroom homes at Royal Wells Park Kings Avenue is a brand new collection of luxuriously appointed five bedroom homes launching at Royal Wells Park this month. Combining Regency design with the quality and elegance of a traditional London townhouse, these luxuriously appointed 4 storey town houses are set behind secure gates, located in the most exclusive part of the development. Last week, local celebratory Chef, Rosemary Shrager, was invited to showcase her culinary expertise and offer her top cookery tips and advice on the latest kitchen essentials to VIP guests and potential buyers. The interactive cookery demonstration highlighted the benefits of having an impressive open plan kitchen/dining room - a theatre for entertaining family and friends.

Rosemary commented: "Cooking and entertaining at home has become so much more accessible thanks to open plan living.

Gone are the days where the host is left on their own in the confines of the kitchen, with guests waiting for their meal in a formal dining room.

"The stunning new Berkeley townhouses at Royal Wells Park have fabulous open plan kitchen/dining rooms which allow cooking for family and friends to be part of the entertainment the chef can still participate in the social gathering and the cooking experience becomes fun!"

Karrina Oki, Sales & Marketing Director at Berkeley Homes (Eastern Counties), said: "We were delighted to welcome Rosemary as a special guest in the kitchen at Royal Wells Park our kitchens have been especially designed to become the hub of the home, with high specification appliances and fittings, extensive work top space and breakfast bars providing a stage from which to showcase one's skills. The open plan layouts allow for guests to relax whilst still being very much involved."

Prospective purchasers will be able to choose from 2 different house designs in Kings Avenue.

The layouts of the new homes are intelligently designed to create plenty of flexibility in the use of the accommodation. The lower ground floor in each property hosts an integral garage with a door leading onto the hallway, plus a cinema room/games room. The ground floor accommodation boasts a generously proportioned kitchen/diner plus a further spacious dining/family room which leads on to the garden. Upstairs the first floor offers two suites - a master and guest suite both enjoying an en-suite bathroom and dressing room with a private terrace off the master suite. The top floor provides a further three bedrooms and a large family bathroom.

Offering spacious, bright living accommodation and landscaped gardens, each townhouse demonstrates Berkeley's famously high standards of interior design, specification and sustainability.

Going beyond the customary requirements of a new build home, the houses will offer the utmost in luxury living, with many enjoying features such as underfloor heating, top of the range fixtures and fittings including a Sonos sound system.

Individually designed kitchens are complemented by polished composite surfaces, painted glass splashbacks and a full range

of Siemens appliances.

The bathrooms and en suites feature pristine white designer sanitaryware and brassware in polished chrome. Other elegant touches include engineered wooden floors, bespoke fitted wardrobes in selected bedrooms, luxurious carpets to all bedrooms and glazed interior doors.

Pricing and availability Prices for the 5 bedroom houses in Kings Avenue start from ÂŁ1.125m.

Please visit www.royalwellspark.co.uk for further information or call the sales team on 01892 532 011

ROYAL WELLS

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PARK

ROYA L T UN BRIDGE W ELLS

WEDDING FEATURE �

63

For a country wedding with natural beauty

GRAND ENTRANCE The bride and groom get showered at The Bell Inn

GOOD LUCK MUM Toby kisses the bride

and accommodating, offering options to suit all budgets. Even the rooms that our guests stayed in and the new ‘Love Nest’ lodge out the back still have people talking.

Tell us about your big day and some of its key highlights As I’m sure every bride and groom attest, our day was magical from start to finish. My mum, bridesmaids and I began the day at about 8am over a chilled breakfast and bubbles, while we got ready at Shoyswell Cottage in Burwash, listening to jazz and playing with the resident dogs. I spent about 20 minutes with my dad, which was precious before the entrance music began. My heart was beating, but the whole room seemed to fade way as I walked towards my now husband. It sounds clichéd, but I really did see just him. We didn’t choose traditional music and went for songs that represented us and were meaningful to us as a couple. In addition to the legal proceedings, Ian and I said our own vows at the exchange of rings, which added a nice personal touch.

What approach did you take to the dress?

I always knew I wasn’t one to go for the big, white dress. Even after trying one on just to make sure, I felt like I was playing dress-up.

They are gorgeous in their own right, but just not me. Jenny Packham has always been a

favourite designer of mine, and her wedding dresses embody timeless elegance with a unique vintage touch. I have my mum to thank for helping me make my dream come true.

Maria and Alexandra from The Pantiles Bride were incredibly helpful, attentive and made it a really amazing experience. The next big choice was which of these exquisite gowns was for me.

Luckily, Eden Platinum was an easy choice – the soft grey silk lining and incredible beaded detail really gave it that classic Art Deco feel. I felt so beautiful, I had the moment, I cried and so did my mum. Decision made. I completed the outfit with a simple long veil and a handmade headpiece, which I sourced on Etsy by a company called Dolores Petunia.

How did you start your married life together?

As Ian and I paid for the wedding ourselves, my parents decided to treat us to a surprise honeymoon. All we were allowed to know was the day we departed and that it was going to be hot. So, during breakfast the day after, my mum and dad told us we were heading off to Malaysia for two weeks – to much squeals and jumping of joy and excitement. Although, in the true style of my dad’s sense of humour, he did initially give us a fake itinerary to somewhere else as a joke! The treat started with three days in Kuala Lumpur sampling street markets,

seeing the sights and enjoying all the local experiences, before heading off to the most idyllic paradise that is Pankor Laut Island for a week of indulgent bliss.

Finally, describe your partner in five words Considerate, thoughtful, ambitious, funny and gorgeous.

THE MOST PERFECT DAY Lisa offers five top tips for planning your dream wedding

1 2

Remember what is important – no matter how lavish, big or small your wedding is, it’s ultimately about you and celebrating your love and the start of your life together.

Stay true to who you are as a couple and what you feel is most important. Ian and I wanted to make sure the music, flowers and food/drink really reflected us and what we enjoy, so put effort into securing these first, along with the venue.

3

There are protocols that are needed in every wedding, but as long as these are followed, the rest is a blank canvas for you to personalise (should you want/have the time to). We decided that our vows and words of commitment were really important, so we added our own sentences to the legal side of things.

4

Rely on your bridesmaids/groomsmen – they have been with you through thick and thin and want nothing more than to see the bride and groom have the most perfect day. Have one of them act as a ‘poker’ to herd everyone for photos (for example), so you aren’t chasing guests around and can spend time with your new husband/wife.

5

Accept that some things may not always run like clockwork or according to a list (I made loads). Guests will get tipsy, speeches will overrun or it may rain, but you have just had the best day of your life and, to be honest, no one would have noticed or cared.

Take time to spend with your husband/wife and just enjoy everyone who has come to share the day with you – family, friends and vendors.

ROLLING FIELDS The spectacular country wilderness at Highfield Park

ROLLING meadows, stables, grazing cattle, woodlands and a lake, make the Highfields Park Estate the perfect spot for any rural event. A Grade II listed Georgian house with a pretty walled garden is the crowning glory of the Estate which offers a wonderful period backdrop for any countryside setting.

Estate Manager, Kelly Morphew, explains more about the running of the Estate and what it offers. She says “Highfields Park is a completely blank canvas which is why many of our guests absolutely love it. As a small family run venue, we are happy to offer exclusive use which gives our guests total privacy and the ability to make any event their own. From festival weddings, to birthday celebrations, pop-up restaurants, corporate away days and filming shoots, our Estate has the ability to change into many things for many people!”.

The day-to-day function of the Estate is running a Charolais cattle herd as well as looking after a variety of animals, including sheep, lambs, pigs and cows. The farm is also home to a small flock of crossbred mule ewes and a selection of ducks and geese that are happy splashing about in the lake. Plus if you’re lucky you may even spot their resident kingfisher too!

Kelly says “The paddocks give you ample room to erect marquees and on occasions we have been able to offer overnight camping, allowing guests to use the space for weekend stays or extended corporate events. The event field has a mains water supply, extensive parking and some on-site storage which all help to make the area perfect for these types of outdoor events”.

The farm is also able to provide straw bales to complete a rustic or vintage themed event and even your pooch can get an invite, as long as they are kept on a lead!

For special filming projects access can be arranged inside the house which has a large entrance hall, sweeping staircase, dual aspect bedrooms, and period dining and formal rooms, which create a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere.

The venue is only a 15 minute drive from Royal Tunbridge Wells and around 20 minutes from East Grinstead, making it an exceptional and accessible place to hold your special event.

Find out more at www.highfieldspark.co.uk.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

64 � FOOD AND DRINK

Seven steps to gourmet heaven Foodies will be delighted to know that AG restaurant has launched a delicious new winter tasting menu Charlie Bond was among the first to experience it in the luxurious surroundings of Alexander House

W

HEN your Friday evening involves dinner plans in a sophisticated threeAA rosette restaurant you know it’s going to be special.

Upon arrival at the luxury Alexander House Hotel, my guest and I are led through to the 1608 Champagne Bar. Taking up residence in front of the roaring fire, we’re served two glasses of Jacquart Mosaique rosé (£14.50) and greeted by restaurant manager Michael, who hands us menus and the wine list on an iPad – how very 2016.

He explains that tonight we’ll be dining from the AG winter tasting menu, which consists of seven courses paired with seven wines.

While I’m certainly hungry enough to eat seven courses, I’m not sure how my head will feel after

sorbet. The wine served is a Château Laulerie, Côtes de Montravel Sémillon. It’s light in colour, clean-tasting and refreshing.

Not quite ready to admit defeat, we move on to the autumn squash cheesecake with mandarin, accompanied by a thyme ice cream. The Austrian Eiswein Hopler dessert wine served is decadent, sweet and the ideal accompaniment for the creaminess of the dessert.

With such a variety of dishes and so many delightful flavours, it’s hard to choose a favourite, but after much deliberation, my guest and I conclude that the venison ever so slightly eclipses the others.

From start to finish, the evening has been resplendent. As we bid farewell and head into the night, I already know that tomorrow’s dinner with its single course won’t be nearly as astounding…

BLUE FOR YOU AG’s restaurant is elegant and stylish

SENSATIONAL STARTER Rhubarb purée with fennel foam

‘With such a variety of dishes and so many delightful flavours, it’s hard to choose a favourite’ seven glasses of wine, but I’m certainly willing to give it a go.

While we marvel at our options for the evening, we’re brought a selection of canapés, which include anchovy straws, vegetable crisps and olives.

We’re then ushered into the newly refurbished AG’s restaurant to begin our culinary journey.

The chic grey colour palette studded with shots of teal and impressive glass feature panel make this intimate space both homely and sophisticated, with diners of all ages enjoying the restaurant’s relaxed ambience.

To begin, our waiter pours a glass of Jacquart Reims Blanc de Blanc champagne. It’s dry, zesty and perfectly accompanies the chef’s amusebouche of rhubarb purée with fennel foam and toasted pearl barley.

We’ve also been presented with a basket of soda bread with a choice of butters including sea salt and seaweed, and a truffle and mushroom variety.

Both are equally flavoursome although I find the former appeals to my palette more – it almost tastes like sea air.

Our starter is more indulgent: Foie Gras topped with chocolate zest and served with blood orange and toasted brioche. This is paired with a Sauternes – a sweet wine with honeyed aromas.

The brioche and chocolate is perfectly offset by the sharpness of the orange, and the flavours and

Wednesday 16th March 2016

Charlie Bond had AG’s winter tasting menu with wines, which costs £125 per person

textures are brilliantly complementary.

Next up is smoked scallops set atop pickled kohlrabi with pastrami. It’s stylishly presented under a glass cloche from which swirls of smoke unfurl as it is lifted. Then our waiter brings individual jugs of beef tea to pour over it, and a Comte de Provence rosé that is lusciously fruity and light.

The smoky scallop and pastrami paired with the saltiness of the beef tea makes for a taste sensation – so I’m disappointed when my plate is empty.

A palette cleanser of foam green tea, lime and cucumber follows. This leaves us suitably refreshed and ready for the next course: Line caught cod with leek, leek ash and truffle. The cod is light and moist, but the addition of the leek ash brings a dry, charcoal flavour. To complement this, we are served an Australian chardonnay that has citrus notes and a crisp acidity.

SEAFOOD DELIGHT Smoky scallops

The following dish is presented so beautifully that I’m almost reluctant to eat it. An explosion of colour appears before us in the guise of venison loin with red cabbage, salsify and a Moroccan spiced pastilla parcel, adorned with blackberries and vibrant red and purple embellishments. The Dolcetto Lagrein Australian red with its notes of blackberry partners it sublimely.

At this stage, we’re almost full, but there’s still the small matter of dessert.

“Would you like a small break?” our waiter asks, eyeing our empty plates. While this is probably a sensible suggestion, we have now been eating for almost two hours, and the fear is that once we stop, we won’t be able to start again.

So, we politely decline and await the first of our dessert options.

The dark chocolate mousse, served with chilli and mango, is accompanied by a cooling lime

Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa Turners Hill, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH10 4QD 01342 714 914 www.alexanderhotels.co.uk GAME ON Venison loin with red cabbage

On the menu at...

FOOD AND DRINK 

Bread and butter pudding with winterberry compote

Shin of beef and root vegetable pie

Fresh potato gnocchi

65

Bramley apple and raspberry crumble

Risotto – Golden Cross goat’s cheese and spinach purée

Pan-seared pigeon breast

The Blue Anchor, Beacon Road, Crowborough, Sussex TN6 1BB | 01892 654519

Wednesday 16th March 2016

66 n LIFE AND STYLE CATCHPOLE & RYE BATHROOMS Opening Of New Workshop Premises at Saracens Dairy, Pluckley, Kent by The Hon Damian Green, MP Catchpole & Rye Limited was pleased to welcome The Hon Damian Green, MP for Ashford, to the official opening of their new workshop facility on Friday February 19, 2016.

The new premises will double the production capability of the leading British bathroom manufacturer at Pluckley and provide a huge opportunity for growth and employment in rural Kent.

The dedicated building will house engineering and polishing workshops alongside an enhanced product development facility.

Allied to the imminent opening of its newest showroom in Tunbridge Wells, this represents another milestone in the company’s continued commitment to business development within Kent, and its future market development both at home and overseas.

For more information, please contact Rita on 01233 840840 rita@catchpoleandrye.com pr@catchpoleandrye.com

TRADITIONAL FAMILY FUN Spring Week at Godinton House & Gardens will start on Monday March 28 from 1pm.

The week, with its traditional treasure hunt, children’s crafts and garden games is set within the fabulous 12 acres of stunning gardens surrounding the historic house of Godinton.

Start your journey around the spectacular gardens, looking out on the way for bees and butterflies enjoying spring. Your treasure trail will lead you through the Wild Garden where you might catch sight of our resident moorhen and end up in the walled garden where you will find the craft marquee and garden games to try your hand at during the afternoon.

Local artists will be in the garden during the week, demonstrating their skills. The tearoom will be open all week for visitors to enjoy our delicious selection of homemade cakes or even indulge in a delightful cream tea.

CASHARA Launch Evening - Wednesday 23rd March 2016 at 5.00-8.00pm Cashara are pleased to announce they have now moved to their fabulous new premises at 23 High Street, Tenterden, TN30 6BJ. Come and enjoy a glass of wine whilst browsing the new Spring/Summer collections. Ladies can also benefit from a complimentary mini colour analysis by Sophie from Emerging Colour and view this season’s beautiful colours.

Cashara specialise in a range of ladies cashmere and silk knitwear and accessories Made in Italy.

For more information please contact Cassie on 01580 761222 or shop online at www.cashara.co.uk sales@cashara.co.uk

Wednesday 16th March 2016

VELOCIPEDE CYCLES Velocipede Cycles is an independent cycle retailer on Camden road in Tunbridge Wells, who aim to provide outstanding customer service.

Since opening in 2013 we have grown and established ourselves as the leading traditional bicycle shop in town, specialising in mountain bikes but also selling hybrid/ commute bikes and a range of childrens bikes.

With our success in the last few years, despite online competition, we have decided on a refit to give the shop a fresh new look.

Along with the refit we are excited to be launching some new bicycle brands as well as some specially selected new accessory brands which have been chosen for their great value for money without compromising on quality.

Ticket prices include all activities, adults £5 and children £3, should you wish to visit more than once during the week a ticket admitting up to four people is available for £25.00.

As well as sales we also provide 0% finance, repairs and servicing, mobile servicing, maintenance courses and free advice on everything cycling.

The house will be open for tours on Monday March 28 and Friday April 1, with an additional charge of £4 for the house tour.

We will be closed on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th March whist work commences and welcome you to join us for our relaunch on Saturday 19th March .

We would also like to take this opportunity to offer all of our customers 20% off of servicing (for a limited time) to get your bike in top condition as the good weather approaches.

So why not pop in from 9am on the 19th to take advantage of this offer and take a look at our new brands and shop.

Velocipede Cycles 122-124 Camden road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2QZ www.velocipedecycles.co.uk | 01892 512120

WITH THE

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

FIRST DRIVE:

By Matt Joy WHAT’S NEW? Forget those fancy European brands you think you know; when it comes to making a solid private purchase, the Hyundai i20 is about as sensible as you can be – and that’s a good thing. Smart, well-equipped, good value and offering a slick driving experience, it’s hard to fault, but that hasn’t stopped Hyundai giving the i20 an update for 2016.

Most importantly, it’s now available with a brand-new three-cylinder turbo-charged petrol engine, in two power outputs with impressive claims for fuel consumption and performance. Equipment upgrades have been made across the range while there’s a whole new model, too; the i20 Active is designed to be a compact crossover, with a 20mm increase in ride height, unique bumpers, roof rails and a rear spoiler.

LOOKS AND IMAGE The standard i20 is a neat and inoffensive piece of design, but in the new Active form, there’s a little bit more going on. The extra detail in the front bumper gives the front end some additional presence, as does the increased ride height. It’s not as distinct from its conventional sibling as some rival offerings, but it will snare some buyers who find the regular five-door too conventional.

Hyundai’s image has also come a remarkable way in a matter of years. Its badge carries as much weight as many European rivals and in cars like the i20 and Santa Fe, it is producing cars with distinction.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY There are no sheet metal changes for 2016 so the i20 keeps its exterior and interior dimensions.

Those seated

O F

T U N B R I D G E

W E L L S

HYUNDAI i20 ACTIVE

up front should find it easy to get comfortable. Although the seats aren’t huge, they offer useful support and the low-set dashboard means the view out is good. In the rear, it’s a little tighter for space with headroom at a premium for those near six-ft tall, but legroom is good for the class as is the boot space.

BEHIND THE WHEEL While the Active model has suspension raised by 20mm, its effect on the i20’s behaviour is minimal. The ride quality is good on the vast majority of surfaces, with only particularly poor surfaces creating significant intrusion into the cabin. On the flip side, the handling is safe and secure if unremarkable, but the steering is light and accurate plus the raised ride height doesn’t make the i20 Active suddenly heel over in corners.

What really marks out the 2016 i20, however is that new powerplant. Threecylinder turbo engines used to be the preserve of Japanese Kei cars but this Hyundai offering is a gem. The on-paper performance might seem modest, but this belies how perky it feels. It will rev quite happily without significant engine noise, but better still is the generous torque which allows you to be lazy with the gearshifts and still make good progress. Despite that, the official figures are impressive with 58.9mpg combined and 110g/km of CO2, while the 120PS version feels no quicker on the road.

VALUE FOR MONEY Go for the i20 Active model and you get 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, DAB radio and rear parking sensors for your £15,225, and this comes with the 100PS 1.0-litre turbo engine only. The regular i20 starts at £10,995 for the S model and even this comes with electrically adjusted and

heated door mirrors, height adjustable driver’s seat, reach and rake adjustable steering wheel and an MP3-compatible stereo with USB and auxiliary inputs. The top-spec Premium Nav SE with the top diesel engine is only £17,700, so the i20 is impressive value across the range.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? If the i20 Active is big enough to suit your lifestyle then it makes an exceptionally strong case as a private purchase. It’s excellent value for money whichever specification you choose, while the Active model not only combines the best engine choice but also adds in a little more ruggedness. It’s an ideal first car, while older folk will find the raised driving position a useful boon, too. There are

FACTS AT A GLANCE PRICE: Hyundai i20 Active 1.0 100PS, £15,225 ENGINE: 1.0-litre petrol unit producing 99bhp and 126lb/ft of torque TRANSMISSION: Fivespeed manual gearbox driving the front wheels

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 109mph, 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds FUEL ECONOMY: 58.9mpg combined EMISSIONS: 110g/km of CO2

more sparkling drives in the class but for many drivers this is of lesser importance than value and equipment.

THIS CAR SUMMED UP IN A SINGLE WORD: Surprising.

IF THIS CAR WAS A... movie, you’d be impressed beyond your expectations, but also tempted to keep it a secret.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

68 n MOTORS 15 FEB-31 MAR El 111 UI r::.:'"~.:..::::~;;ff~::::::·:

ZERO PAY DRIVE AWAY I

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£0 DEPOSIT* £0 FOR3 MTHS FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION £500*

FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION £1,000*

THE FIAT SALES EVENT. ANY CAR IN THE RANGE. ANY NEW CAR IN THE DEALERSHIP. ANY QUESTIONS?

FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION UP TO £2,000*

THAMES MOTOR GROUP TUNBRIDGE WELLS, LONGFIELD ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT TN2 3EV. TEL: 01892 256074 WWW.THAMESMOTORGROUP.CO.UK

5.9°/o APR

REPRESENTATIVE

Fuel consumption figures for new Fiat Range in mpg (V100km): Urban 29.7 (9.5)-68.9 (4.1); Extra Urban 46.3 (6.1)-97.4 (2.9); Combined 38.2 (7.4)83.1 (3.4). C02 emissions 171 - 88 g/km. Fuel consumption and CO, figures based on standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Promotion available on new Fiat models registered from 15th February to 31 st March 2016. '£500 deposit contribution on New Fiat 500 Series 4 models, £1,000 deposit contribution on Fiat 500L models and up to £2000 deposit contribution on Fiat 500X models. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. Retail customers only. With Fiat i-Deal 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 and being in good condition. Deposit Contribution is only available in conjunction with 'Fiat i-Deal No Pay Drive Away'. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions apply. At participating Dealers only. Fiat Financial Services, PO BOX 4465, Slough, SL1 ORW. All vehicle images are for illustration purposes only and may include options or body paint colours, which incur an additional cost. We work with a number of creditors including Fiat Financial Services.

Models shown are Alfa MiTo 875cc TB TwinAir 105 hp Progression incl. Alfa Red Special Paint at £475, OTR £14,335 & Alfa Giulietta 1.4 TB 120 hp Progression incl. Luna Pearl Paint at £510, OTR £18,960. Official fuel consumption figures for the Alfa MiTo & Giulietta range: Urban 29.7 - 64.2 mpg (9.5 - 4.4 l/100km); Extra Urban 54.3 - 97.4 mpg (5.2 - 2.9 1/lOOkm); Combined 41.5 - 80.7 mpg (6.8 - 3.5 1/lOOkm). C0 2 emissions 157 - 90 g/km.

Fuel consumption and CO, figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/ regulations and may not be representative of real-life driving conditions. •customer deposit is £999. Optional Final Payment is £3,B63. Contract Term is 48 months. Promotion available on Alfa MiTo 875cc TB TwinAir 105 hp Progression incl. Alfa Red Special Paint at £475 registered by end of March 2016. · customer deposit is £1,949. Optional Final Payment is £5,158. Contract Term is 48 months. Promotion available on Alfa Giulietta 1.4 TB 120 hp Progression incl. Metallic Paint at £510 registered by end of March 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 on these models) and being in good condition. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions apply. At participating Dealers only. We work with a number of creditors including Alfa Romeo Financial Services. Alfa Romeo Financial Services, PO BOX 4465, Slough, Sll ORW.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

MOTORS n

69

The official fuel consumption figure s in mpg (1/ 100km) for the Ma zda Range : Urban 30.4 (9.3) - 74.3 (3 .8). Extra Urban 51.4 (5.5 ) - 88 .3 (3.2 ).

Combined 40.9 (6.9) - 83.1 (3.4). C0 2 emi ss ion s (g/ km) 161 - 89.

The mpg figures quoted are sourced from off icial EU-reg ulated test resul t s ob t ained through laboratory t esting. These are provided for comparability purposes only and may not ref lect you r actual driving results .

Retail sales only, subject to vehicle avai lability for vehicles registered between 22.12.15 and 31.03.16 at participating dealers. T&C apply. * 0% APR finance available on all Mazda3 and Mazda6 models over 24, 30 or 36 months with no minimum deposit required. At the end of the agreement there are 3 options: (i ) Renew: Part exchange the vehicle. (ii) Retain: Pay the Optional Final Payment to own the vehicle or (iii) Return the vehicle. Further charges may be made subject to the condition or mileage of the vehicle. Excess mileage charge of 14.9p per mile applies. You will not own th e v e hicl e un t il all payment s are made . Finance subject to status. 18s or over. Guarantee/indemnity ma y be required. Mazda Financia l Services RH11SR. Models shown: Mazda6 Saloon 145ps S E, OT R from £19,795. Mazda3120ps S E, OT R from £17,395. Models shown feature optional Metallic/Pearlescent paint: Mazda3 Snowflake White Pearlescent paint (E540) and Mazda6 Soul Red Metallic paint (£660). OTR price includes VAT, number plates, delivery, 12 months ' road fund licence, first registration fee, 3 year or 60,000 mile warranty and 3 years· European Roadside Assistance. 0 Test d r ives subject to applicant status and ava il abilit y. Details correct at time of going to print. Not available in conjunction with any other offer unless specified.

Cambria Automobil es PLC, trading as lnvi c ta Tunbridge We ll s Mazda is a cre dit broke r not a le nd e r for this fin a ncial promotion . We c an introduc e you to a limited numb e r of care fully se lected finan ce provid e r s and may receive a commis s ion from t h e m for th e introduction .

CITROEn

THt~t'~ ONt THAT ~U T~ YOU. CITROEN C1

4.9% APR REPRESENTATIVE FI NANCE•

This fantastic offer ends 31 March 2016 .

CReATive TeCHNOLOGie

CITROEN

FOR18VEARSANDOVERWllllTEUMA11CS

SIM PLY /p

ORI Vt &

3 YEARS'

INSURANCE+ ~~~:~ERVICING WARRANlY BREAKDOWN COVER

~ 'tJI ~ citroen.co.uk

CITROEN prefers TOTAL Offer applies to retail sales of qualifying models ordered & delivered 04/01-31/03/2016 or until such time as offers/prices may be withdrawn by Citroen at its complete discretion & include VAT, delivery to dealer & number plates, Government Registration Fee & 12 months' graduated vehicle excise duty. 'Citroen SimplyDrive 3 year Personal Contract Purchase offer available on a ll Citroen C1 models . A deposit is required fo llowed by 35 monthly payments, with an optional final payment at the end of the contract. Excess mileage charges will apply if you exceed the agreed annual mileage. A guarantee may be required. Over 18s only. Finance provided by & written quotations available on request from PSA Finance UK limited [company registration number 0 1024322) t/a Citroen Financial Services, Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1QA, UK. Citroen Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Thames Motor Group (Tunbridge Wells) Ltd is acting as a credit broker&: is not a lender. To finance your purchase we will only introduce you to Citroen Financial Services, the exclusive provider of SimplyDrive. ooThe first year's Road Fund licence (RFL) is provided with the car. Vehicle tax is charged at a rate of £0 fo r Citroen C1 as it falls within vehicle tax band A. The customer must apply for years 2 &: 3 RFL. Citroen SimplyDrive is subject to status. +Minimum age 18, maximum age 75. DRIVERS ARE REQU IRED TO INSTALL THE TELEMATICS BOX & CONSENT TO DATA CAPTURE & TRANSMISSION TO QUALIFY FOR INSURANCE. All drivers must hold a full UK licence & meet eligibility criteria including limits on driving convictions & claims. INSURANCE SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION IF YOU RECEIVE FOUR WARNINGS FOR POOR DRIVING. Excesses apply. 3 years motor insurance is provided and underwritten by U K Insu rance Limited , which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Payments will vary according to age, post code & annual mileage. The costs of insurance, servicing & Roadside Assistance are included within the monthly cost of Citroen SimplyDrive but are provided on a monthly pay-as-you-go basis & can be cancelled at any time without penalty or affecting the remainder of the Citroen SimplyDrive contract. Routine servicing included, excludes wear parts. Offers & specification correct at time of going to press from participating Dealers . Terms & conditions apply. Please ask us for details. Subject to stock availability.

Official Government fuel consumption figures (Range): Urban cycle, Extra urban, Combined (litres per 100km/mpg) & C0 2 emissions (g/ km); Highest : Citroen C1 PureTech 8 2 manua l 5.4/ 52 .3, 3.7/ 76 .3, 4 .3/ 65 .7, 99. Lowest: Citroen C1 VTi 68 S&S man ual 4 .5/62.8 , 3.4/ 83 .1, 3.8/ 74.3, 88. MPG figu res are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not reflect actua l on-the-road driving conditions.

THAMES MOTOR GROUP 01892 549766 NORTH FARM INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT, TN2 3EY www.thamestunbridgewells.citroen.co.uk

Wednesday 16th March 2016

70  MOTORING

A hybrid black to make you The BMW i8 is a work of art - a sports supercar that builds from silence to a turbo-charged growl

‘First impression is of a pure stunning beauty in terms of the flowing aerodynamic lines that would seem to cheat the wind out of any form of resistance to its inevitable forward progress’

Wednesday 16th March 2016

MOTORING 

beast purr…

By David Thacke BMW can be relied upon to be innovative when it comes to the design and manufacture of new products, but on paper this brief must have looked very daunting indeed. A hybrid eco-friendly sports car with a near quarter ton battery pack and potential for 130+ mpg would require extreme lateral thinking. So when the opportunity arose to experience the finished article I was more than a little interested in how well this all came together.

First impression is of a pure stunning beauty in terms of the flowing aerodynamic lines that would seem to cheat the wind out of any form of resistance to its inevitable forward progress; a mythical black beast sitting on its rear haunches ready to pounce, the Transformeresque dihedral doors taking door opening to a new level (literally) completing the image.

The quality interior is roomy and thoughtful ergonomics are apparent. Once you’ve slid down into the seat, it fits to your body like pulling on socks. With smaller seats in the rear, it is in practical terms a two seater. The briefing on all the equipment seems totally overwhelming and to be honest, a little frightening. hat if I turn that knob that way and press this button, might I find myself fired up through the roof and stuck on the showroom ceiling?

With the door closed and ready to go it all becomes very intuitive - press that button, move a lever and like any other automatic car you’re off, only in stealth mode! No vibration, no noise, only the most relaxing sensation of progress; you really do feel like you’re wearing it, not sitting in it.

Driving through town silently in the i8 is about as stress free as it comes in this day

71

and age. Press the throttle a little more and imperceptibly the petrol engine comes to life like a well-trained functionary just taking care of business. Comfort mode is relaxing, smooth, almost silent with just the occasional chirp from the three-cylinder petrol engine to give assurance it’s still on duty. Looking around at the hand-stitched leather interior you get a sense of well being.

Then upon reaching the motorway and moving the gear lever to sports mode, all the instrumentation turns from relaxing pale blue to dark red and those rear haunches are ready to bound you forward. The engine barks out a synthetic growl. A turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine teams with two electric motors for a combined 362 hp and will deliver 0-62 in just 4.4 seconds, and with a restricted top speed of 155mph, it’s now a 911 beater, a Ferrari chaser. With precise handling it feels a lot lighter than its one and half tons might suggest and explains its arrowstraight stability at speed. The chassis is truly superb with 50/50 weight distribution, low centre of gravity and no chassis flex, giving an abundance of mechanical grip, making the most of its weight for true downforce. On deceleration the kinetic energy is harvesting power to the batteries ready to meter out for extra power when needed, instead of producing wasted heat in the braking system through friction. The seamless synergy is truly breathtaking.

The BMW i8 is justly in the supercar division using Formula One technology, the pinnacle of engineering, to produce a stunning automotive work of art. The i8 would compare favourably with a 911 Porsche on most levels, but with a saving at the thick end of £46,000 and certainly more exclusive, it has to be on your shopping list.

FACTS AT A GLANCE PRICE: On the road price (including Plug in Car Grant) £99540.00 SYSTEM OUTPUT in kW (hp) 266 (362) ELECTRIC MOTOR: Output in kW 96 ELECTRIC MOTOR: Max. torque in Nm 250 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE: Cylinders/valves 3/4 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE: Capacity in ccm 1,499 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE: max. output in kW (hp) at 1/min 170 (231)/5,800 COMBINED CO, EMISSIONS: 49/km COMBINED FUEL CONSUMPTION: 134.5 mpg TOP SPEED: 155 mph

ALL GEARED UP An east switch from stealth to sports mode

Wednesday 16th March 2016

72 n MOTORS

This Easter weekend, motorsport's heavyweight hitters will barge their way round the kent circuit. Together with these 5 tonne beasts there will be lots of support race action and Easter-themed off-track family fun.

RACEDAY ADMISSION £19*

Brands Hatch hosts the opening rounds of the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. It will be your first chance to see the star drivers out on track this year. In addition to the three BTCC feature races there is a full support race package including the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Renault UK Clio Cup.

The British GT Championship boasts a dazzling line-up of supercars, with marques such as Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mclaren and Porsche represented on the grid for this battle around the famous Grand Prix circuit. In support will be the young Grand Prix stars of the future in the BRDC Formula 4 Championship.

RACEDAY ADMISSION U.7*

RACEDAY ADMISSION £19*

Our premises are lacated at Kingstanding Way Business Park in Tunbridge Wells.

We invite all new and seasoned enthusiasts to visit us today to find out more about our classic car restoration services.

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Wednesday 16th March 2016

Cruise the Danube to Vienna & Budapest Aboard the 4 star ms Serenity SAVE £250pp with our voucher (right) 10 days by coach from £699* Departures June – October 2016 FREE local coach departures Book by 31st March 2016 *based on October Departures.

TRAVEL 

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IVER cruising is so easy and once you step aboard, all that’s left to do is enjoy yourself.

On a river cruise you have the freedom to travel and experience so much, without the hassle of lugging your belongings around, using different transport or changing hotels.

With panoramic windows and plenty of deck space, you can let the views come to you as we cruise from country to country, passing breathtaking natural landscapes, traditional towns and magnificent cities.

Some of Europe’s greatest cities are found along its rivers, allowing us to cruise into the heart and stop overnight, giving you the freedom to come and go as you please.

Enjoy the flexibility and choice of exploring independently or as part of a group on our specially arranged excursions.

On every cruise the captain and crew do everything they can to ensure your holiday is filled with treasured memories.

Whether you’re travelling alone, with a partner, or as part of a group the warm and friendly atmosphere on board our ships brings people together and is a great way to make new friends.

Cruise the Danube to Vienna and Budapest Europe has so many cities waiting to be explored. Cruise the Danube to Vienna and Budapest and discover the delights of the Danube on one of the most scenic journeys through the heart of Europe.

From the pretty city of Passau on the Austrian border to the Hungarian capital of Budapest we cruise in comfort and style aboard the ms Serenity, passing though the beautiful scenery of the Wachau valley and dipping into the history and culture of amazing cities along the way. With a full day in the musical city of Vienna and Budapest as well as a visit to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava,

VIENNA Statue of Pallas Athena

this is a wonderful opportunity to sail the waters that are beautifully immortalised by the composer Strauss, in the classical waltz The Blue Danube.

Benefits of travelling by coach There are many ways to join your cruise and none better than by coach. There are numerous local departure points where you can join your coach for free, with the added convenience of not having to travel too far from home. We will collect you from a nearby town or city and take you to the port aboard modern, executive coaches, where you are then taken to the ferry to mainland Europe and continue by coach to our ship. There are over 250 FREE regional departure points, and once you board the coach there will be no more than five additional pickup stops en route to the UK port of departure (excluding motorway services and overnight hotel stops).

Additional benefits of coach travel Additional benefits of travelling by coach include the services of experienced friendly coach drivers, who often have long standing relationships with the tour companies they use, and are therefore familiar with the holidays. Their friendly demeanour helps to make the journey to and from your destination enjoyable, and quite often they will get involved with any activities and get to know everyone.

If travelling by coach there is also the convenience of overnight stays at a hotel as part of the cost of the journey when travelling via your chosen ferry ports, when travelling to your destination or travelling home from your holiday.

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SLOVAKIA Bratislava castle

STUNNING Danube Gorge, Romania

Wednesday 16th March 2016

76 � RECRUITMENT

WITH THE

FIND YOUR PERFECT JOB TODAY – A MUST READ FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK LOCALLY

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with a dedicated and experienced team.

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and the local authorities.

Tel: 01892 676076 | office@termtimeteachers.co.uk www.termtimeteachers.co.uk

Wednesday 16th March 2016

RECRUITMENT n

77

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO PLACE AN ADVERT CONTACT OUR SALES DEPARTMENT ON 01892 779624

Fill your vacancy now in print or online For more information contact

Jordanne Reville jreville@markerstudy.com 01892 576049 Wednesday 16th March 2016

78 n RECRUITMENT

Jump IT Recruitment Solutions Ltd Established 2002. Based Tunbridge Wells.

We successfully supply permanent and contract IT and technology staff to clients across all market sectors in the UK and overseas.

Current skills we need in West Kent include: C# ASP.NET & SQL Developers, 2016 Graduates (IT, Computer Science, Maths, Physics), DevOps, HTML CSS PHP, Help Desk, JavaScript, API, Project Management, RedHat Linux Engineers If you live in West Kent and would like a new IT role, please contact us on: Tel: 01892 616 888

Email: info@jumpitsolutions.co.uk

Latest jobs can be found here: www.jumpitsolutions.co.uk/jobs Tweet us @jumprecruitment Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JumpITRecruitment

Term Time Teachers have been in Education Recruitment for over 15 years and are the local supply service for schools and nurseries etc. Our experience in this field is vast; we have worked alongside many schools within Mainstream, Independent and SEN; and our first hand knowledge from actually working within schools is also vast; our team have experience as Teacher, Deputy and Acting Headteacher, Senco, HLTA and classroom support staff. Term Time Teachers has worked closely with ALL of the local schools in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas and we have built exceptional working relationship with them; this ensures we are more often than not, the preferred supplier for those schools.

Term Time Teachers are based in Tunbridge Wells with an Open Door policy, where we welcome anyone to chat regarding the many, various roles we have.

Term Time Teachers can support your search for a Teacher, Teaching Assistant, Support Staff and Admin Staff in schools and nurseries.

All staff supplied to schools are vetted to our strict vetting and clearance procedures.

Term Time Teachers can offer you support and guidance in CV writing, interview preparation and of course training to increase your professional / personal development; we also offer free safeguarding courses.

Term Time Teachers have been recognised for our vetting and administration via the Quality Mark Award, as well as our team also being recognised and awarded for their commitment to Education and Recruitment.

Carol Parisella the Managing Director of Term Time Teachers who was awarded a Fellowship (FIRP) with the Institute of Recruitment Professionals comments: Choosing the right Supply Service is very hard for teachers/TAs and schools, there is a lot of choice.

I personally would always recommend you search for the right supply service; someone who actually knows the areas you are looking to work in; also check how long they have been working with the schools in the area you are looking for positions in, proven success records are so important. Always check with your supply service regarding the relationships they have developed with schools etc, always check if they themselves actually have knowledge of the Education system and the demands of the classroom; this will reflect how well they will work on your behalf.

Finally, call your local schools and ask them directly who they would recommend you contact and most importantly why.

Term Time Teachers can be contacted on 01892 676076.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

THE GREAT OUTDOORS �

Kent Barker Country matters

Planning to interview a princess paparazzi-style

I

HAD been formulating the question for some time, but in the end she simply said: “I’ve no idea”. I suppose the royals are pretty adept at sidestepping questions they don’t want to answer.

Let’s go back a bit. It is 11.30am. Just a couple of hours until the Princess Royal is due to arrive in our village to open some new affordable homes. She is patron of the housing association that built them. And she knows the village because, in the 1960s, she attended the famous girls’ school near here. All winter we’ve waited for some snow and now the skies darken, the heavens open and we’re in the midst of a blizzard. It could ruin arrangements.

Having wrestled with my republican conscience about whether to attend at all, and having decided to do so more in my capacity as a reporter than a parish councillor, I have to decide what to wear. Everyone else is bound to be in smart suit and tie. I don’t actually own a lounge suit since that plague of moths a few years back, but I do have an old tweed affair without too many holes. I hate ties; they’re conventional and

uncomfortable. I’m not sure I’ve worn one for 20 years. Except to get into the pavilion at Lord’s during test matches. And then I don a rather comical bow tie in a feeble attempt to protest at the genderist absurdity of a rule that insists men must wear a tie but women need not. By the same token the women meeting the Princess won’t be wearing ties either, so I decide on a roll-neck top which, admittedly, looks a bit peculiar with the brown tweed suit. But then if you sport, as I do, a pony tail, you’re going to look a bit peculiar anyway. Which is, I suppose, the intention.

‘A man in an ornate gold chain, possibly a mayor or lord lieutenant, struts about looking official’ The security is pretty low key. We present photo ID to get into the village hall but there are no police or security people around. After 20 minutes we troop off the short distance down the road to the new houses. It’s stopped snowing. Fortunately. Because now we have to

79

and how nice these ones are, and whisks off the Dralon to expose, not a beautifully carved stone plaque, but a rather grotty notice printed on white board declaring that she’d officially opened the cottages on this day. Apparently the beautifully carved stone plaque had broken in half on the journey up from Wales. So after we’d all had a chance to take some photos it was time to walk back to the village hall for tea and cakes with our guest of honour.

Actually, half a dozen of us ROYAL VISIT with a small red dot on our name Princess Anne returns badges had been warned NOT to Benenden (almost) to indulge in the tea and cake because we’d be the first to be wait around outside. The young family who have presented. Now was my chance. I was planning to just moved into the house she’s going to inspect conduct an exclusive interview with the Princess, are hovering nervously at their open front door, paparazzi-style, for the parish magazine. probably worrying about their heating bill. A man She moved along the line towards me and in an ornate gold chain, possibly a mayor or lord started a conversation about lack of sites in the lieutenant, struts about looking official. village for affordable housing – a subject close Eventually, just as it was beginning to be a bit to my heart and on which I sounded off at some boring, a Range Rover sweeps into the close and length. Just before she moved away I asked, on disgorges HRH. Almost before you can take in that behalf of the magazine, if she could say a few she’s wearing a blue raincoat and furry hat, she’s words about the changes she’d noticed in the disappeared into the house and we’re all ushered village since she was at school here? “I’ve no further down the close. Well, that WAS exciting. idea,” she said. “I didn’t have a chance to see the Now we’re waiting in the cold again. village. We drove straight past it on our way here.”

Finally the Princess and her entourage emerge As she turned away I was left to reflect that, even from the back door, walking past the dustbins for the parish mag, this wasn’t going to look like to an odd-looking metal stand propped up by a much of a scoop. At least the young family was sandbag and covered by a bit of red cloth that happy with the visit: “She was ever so normal. looks like an old Dralon curtain. She says a few She even laughed when our toddler slipped going words about the importance of affordable houses, upstairs,” said dad.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

80 � WHAT’S ON A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

SEVEN DAYS OF EVENTS AT A GLANCE

Dave Barnett of TW events Just a small selection of events available in and around Tunbridge Wells. For more details visit the website or follow me on Twitter or Facebook. >> WEDNESDAY It’s an Open Mic Night with a difference tonight at Scallywag Café as dapper cabaret performer Champagne Charlie hosts and Tom Carradine tinkles the ivories. Pick up your song sheets and head along to perform – or just go to be entertained. >> THURSDAY It’s back to Trinity Theatre for a live theatrical performance as Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest gets The Pantaloons treatment in an anarchic take on the classic comedy of manners. This energetic show features all the usual Wildean wit, plus a few surprises, including a singing butler, travel by means of musical montage and a post-interval Hollywood style recap.

The Uckfield Picture House is reshowing the 2015 concert of Puccini classics by Jonas Kaufmann, filmed at La Scala in Milan. >> FRIDAY It’s only just over a week until Easter so get your children ready for the big event at the Tunbridge Wells Museum.

On Friday, there will be a fun arts and craft session which is themed around Easter Bunnies. As always it’s free and no need to book.

It’s Bond, James Bond, as CREATE bring you an evening of Fleming-inspired fun at St Barnabas Church in aid of next year’s Lantern Parade. First it’s the one-man show: Bond the Unauthorised Parody, which is followed by a quiz, plus there’s even a prize for the best dressed Bond character. >> SATURDAY Step back in time at Penshurst Place as aardvark productions transport you back to 1588 for a live reenactment of the trials and tribulations that befell Queen Elizabeth I before her triumphant defeat of the mighty Spanish Armada!

Trinity has another film screening this afternoon – Spotlight, which won Best Picture at this year’s Oscars.

Starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams, it tells the story of the investigation into child abuse in the Catholic church by the Boston Globe.

Wednesday 16th March 2016

Paul Dunton

A selection of events in Tunbridge Wells.

For more details visit: www.tunbridgewellsevents. co.uk/thisweek

With a quick change of mood this is followed in the evening by the monthly Comedy Cafe, so pull up a chair, order your food and enjoy the humour of up-and-coming comedians Lloyd Griffith, Javier Jarquin and Marlon Davis.

This evening, the Tonbridge Philharmonic will be performing Handel’s Messiah in the chapel at Tonbridge School. One of his most memorable pieces, this was written in 1741 but is still performed throughout the world by both professional and local groups.

Tonight also sees nine hours of Northern Soul in the heart of Tunbridge Wells. Slip on your dancing shoes and head to the Camden Quarter for a night of spins and flips with some top DJs! >> SUNDAY There are two competitive arts shows on in the area today. First at Trinity is the GEMS concert, where winners in the Tunbridge Wells Arts Festival perform and are awarded their prizes. And at the Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks there is Young Musician of the Year featuring some outstanding performers aged 12 to 21.

Trinity rolls out another Oscar-nominated film: Trumbo.

It stars Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston as a screenwriter blacklisted by the US Senate.

If you enjoyed yesterday’s Handel you might want to head over to Tudeley where the Baroque Singers will be performing Mozart’s Requiem at All Saints’ Church. >> MONDAY In what is a light week for culture on screen, this evening you can catch the Royal Opera House production of Boris Godunov, written by Modest Mussorgsky in 1870. This is being shown at The Odeon, The Hawkhurst Kino and the Uckfield Picture House.

There’s also an evening of sea songs and shanties as Hard Pressed come to the Tonbridge Folk Club at the Forester’s Arms in Quarry Hill – audience participation is welcome. >> TUESDAY Trinity finishes its film week with Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, showing three times today. The Museum finishes its short series entitled The Art of Faith with a lecture on Buddhist and Hindu art.

Finally, Mark Beaumont is at the Assembly Hall tonight to recount his journey of extreme endurance, through deserts, mountains and the vast Savannah desert, as he cycled the length of Africa in a world-breaking 42 days.

Live music PICK OF THE WEEK… The Kast Off Kinks will be rocking The Forum this Saturday evening (March 19), playing an array of Kinks favourites including Waterloo Sunset and Sunny Afternoon. The band features numerous official members of the iconic group – apart from the Davies brothers – and they are absolutely top notch!

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

MONDAY – TWUNTS: Ukulele Night Thing Wednesday – Sonny’s Jazz: Jazz Funk Giants THE BEDFORD PUB

2 High Street | Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm till late THURSDAY – Sean Fennessey & Friends

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

NO.9 SMOKEHOUSE

Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk THURSDAY – Dub Pistols + The Rumblings of Digestion FRIDAY – The Smyths: The Queen is Dead 30th Anniversary SATURDAY – Kast Off Kinks

9 Nevill Street | Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm till late FRIDAY – Juicy Lucy

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

The Pantiles | Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www. pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk WEDNESDAY – Charley Blue + support from Andy Twyman ticket-only show, full details at www.pdag. co.uk/event/2016/03/16 FRIDAY – Soul Kitchen SATURDAY – Volare Trio SUNDAY – Count Bouncy & The Beat, Leandri, Declan Foster, Poppy Raine TUESDAY – Lachlan Daly, Sonja Fritzsche, MODL, Storm Engine WEDNESDAY – Becky Copsey, Jack Clarke, TYN, Julius Cowdrey

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

Crescent Road | Show times & ticket prices vary, visit www. assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk for more details THURSDAY – Rumours of Fleetwood Mac FRIDAY – Think Floyd SATURDAY – Purple Zeppelin CASSIDY’S SPORTS BAR

Castle Street | Open all day, free entry, music from 9pm till late THURSDAY – Tom Hunt’s St Patrick’s Day special!

FRIDAY – Something Borrowed SCALLYWAG

45 Mount Ephraim | Open all day, music from 7.30pm, entry charge for music may apply WEDNESDAY – Open Mic Night with Champagne Charlie and Tom Carradine

TRINITY THEATRE

Church Road | Show times and ticket information at www. trinitytheatre.net FRIDAY – Letz Zep SUNDAY – GEMS Concert THE BEAU NASH

THE ROYAL OAK

Prospect Road | Open all day, free entry, music from midafternoon onwards.

SATURDAY – Local & Live at The Royal Oak with Kirsti Robinson + The Breretons + The Paul Dunton Orchestra MONDAY – Open Mic/Jam Session

Mount Ephraim | Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late SATURDAY – Mick Mepham THE CROSS KEYS

St John’s Road | Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk WEDNESDAY – Sonny’s Jazz: Alex Hutton Piano Trio THURSDAY – Open Mic Night FRIDAY – Blues with Bottle Club: Fran McGillivray, Mike Burke, Roger Nunn

KAST OFF KINKS Play The Forum Saturday March 19

WHAT’S ON �

Mister Maker’s live show throws some shapes in Tunbridge Wells He’s entertained millions of children on his popular CBeebies hit show Mister Maker and now Phil Gallagher is taking his arty alter ego on tour for the first time Neill Barston nbarston@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk GAINING a BAFTA award nomination for his highly energetic role as CBeebies screen favourite Mister Maker is just one of Phil Gallagher’s many career highlights.

After nearly a decade of playing the popular role that has brought him an audience of millions, the BBC show then went global with the spin-off series Mr Maker Around the World which introduced countries, including Brazil, Australia and Africa, to the character’s entertaining mix of fun-filled arts and crafts.

Now, Phil is taking his Mister Maker show on a big UK tour, which includes a date at the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall on May 14.

“It will be great to bring the live show to Tunbridge Wells, which I’ve been wanting to do for years,” says Phil. “There’s lots of music and dancing along with the Shapes from the show – whom I’ve tried to give plenty of character.

“There really is something for everyone with it, and for the finale there’s 10

minutes of non-stop music to a song that you wouldn’t expect Mister Maker to be doing. I come off stage and I am so exhausted and sweating that I have to lie down for five minutes!” laughs Phil.

The show in Tunbridge Wells will be something of a family gathering as one of his best friends from university will be there as well as his sister Claire and her family.

Phil, 38, who lives in Gillingham and is a fervent football fan, started his media career by doing a degree in radio, film and TV studies at Canterbury Christ Church University. This led to his first media break with BBC Radio Kent as a sports reporter.

He eventually transferred into TV, which took plenty of hard graft, but he says it has been worthwhile and provided him with some fantastic opportunities to travel and meet fans of the show around the world.

Among his many highlights has been taking Mister Maker on the road to the exotic surroundings of Jakarta in Indonesia, which he recalled as ‘crazy’ but highly memorable, playing to an audience of 10,000 after expecting only a few hundred.

“When I got the job as Mister Maker, it really was a dream come true for me, which sounds like a cliché but that was the case,” explains Phil. “I had always wanted to be a TV presenter and looked up to the likes of Phillip Schofield and Andy Peters in the Children’s BBC broom cupboard. I have always loved their Gordon the Gopher character and am a fan of shows like The Muppets. I just wanted to try and recreate some of that kind of magic with the TV programme and the live shows as well.”

81

MAKER’S MARK Phil Gallagher has been entertaining children for nearly a decade

MISTER MAKER AND THE SHAPES LIVE are at the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, May 14. Tickets £10 children/£14 adults.

Box office is 01892 530613 For more information on Mister Maker Live dates visit www.mistermakerlive. co.uk/tickets/4584627240

Wednesday 16th March 2016

82 � ARTS & CULTURE

Culture at the heart of Promoting live arts in Kent and Sussex, Applause Rural Touring provides artistic excellence for local and regional communities that might otherwise have limited access. Director Dawn Badland [left] talks to Frederick Latty about how they help bring people together…

TELL US THE BACKGROUND OF APPLAUSE RURAL TOURING

I’ve been running Applause since 1997. It started as a small local authority arts project, which was gradually built up. We used to deliver just in west Kent to rural communities, but gradually built the organisation to deliver across all of Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex. We have over 140 local promoting groups, which book either in our indoor or outdoor programme for their local communities. They’re largely rural communities, or isolated from easy access to a good cultural offer.

WHAT KIND OF CULTURAL OFFER DO YOU PROVIDE FOR THESE COMMUNITIES?

We offer a programme of small-scale, professional theatre and music to local voluntary groups, so they can select something for their community. We then offer a subsidy on that, which makes it affordable for them.

We also provide them with publicity support, tickets, posters and training to help them sell that to a local audience.

DOES THAT INCLUDE TUNBRIDGE WELLS?

We’re based in Tunbridge Wells and began from an initiative that involved Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, so that’s where we work from.

We have a local promoter in the town and in the borough of Tunbridge Wells, but we then reach

Wednesday 16th March 2016

out beyond to other towns. We’re part of the Tunbridge Wells Cultural Consortium, which is a group of cultural organisations in Tunbridge Wells helping to try and develop a momentum of cultural activity in this side of the county.

Because Applause has a wider remit, we’re also connected to the Kent Cultural Transformation Board and the East Sussex Cultural Leaders’ Network, so we try to inform and bring back the general vibe as to what’s going on in the wider sector.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO GIVE EVERYONE ACCESS TO CULTURE LOCALLY?

It’s been quite controversial over the last few years about a really good professional cultural offer not being available regionally. Rural Touring was always ahead of the curve in terms of ensuring that for people for a variety of reasons, which might be that they can’t afford it, or that there are social or physical barriers to accessing major towns, meaning they don’t really have that experience. What’s unique about Rural Touring is that people experience it with their community, so it becomes a social interaction that just happens to formulate around a performing arts event.

IS YOUR FOCUS JUST REGIONAL, OR NATIONAL AS WELL?

The quality of the work is always surprising for audiences of Rural Touring, because there are many, many artists from this country and internationally who develop small-scale work specifically for us. We help develop some of that work for our summer outdoor programme, where companies either make a new piece of work, or modify their work for a village fete or festival setting. Indoors, we’re part of a big

national network of various organisations that help the development of really good-quality, new performance theatre work. We’re also part of the National Rural Touring Forum, which is an umbrella organisation that helps advocate rural touring on a national level and develop project work.

HOW IS IT FUNDED?

We’ve just got another Arts Council grant of £87,000, and we’re funded by Kent County Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, East Sussex Arts Partnership and some other local authorities. We’ve had continued Arts Council funding for projects since we began.

difficult to reach in traditional venues. We also programme a lot of work for family audiences, so that the whole family can visit an event together. If you’re working in a small community, you’re going to get a big cross-section, so we try to develop and help promote work that will be attractive to a cross-section of a community, rather than any very specific age ranges.

ARE YOU RUN BY VOLUNTEERS?

The local promoters are largely on a voluntary basis, so they might be village hall committee members. Essentially it’s a voluntary promoter engagement, but from their point of view, the benefits they’ll get are that they have this experience of working with professional performers, and many of them are brilliant at holding events because they might wear many different hats and give a lot of time to their community.

IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU ENSURE THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE?

We develop a broad programme.

Over 50% of our audience is over 60, which is a good opportunity, because that age group can be

FANCY DRESS Rural touring is suitable for a wide range of ages

ARTS & CULTURE 

the community

83

Upcoming Events Here are some Rural Touring productions to check out this weekend…

Gentlemen of Few: Live In Concert Friday March 18, Robertsbridge Community College, 7pm Gentlemen of Few are a five piece ‘NuGrass’ band, who fuse bluegrass, folk and soft rock. Hailing from southeast Kent, they have been performing together for just four years, and have already been nominated for Radio 2’s Young Folk Award. Their set is a mixture of originals and covers played on guitar, banjo, piano, bass and trumpet, and their unique sound is an enjoyable blend of melodic vocals and passionate, footstompin’ bluegrass and folk. The band are storming their way around England, performing to thousands of people at gigs and festivals and appearing on radio shows such as The Chris Evans Breakfast Show. Suitable for all ages.

Company Gavin Robertson: BOND - An unauthorised parody Friday March 18, St Barnabas School, Tunbridge Wells, 7.30pm This production is both a parody and a tribute to the Bond phenomenon, spoofing the movies and exploding every cliché in the book(s). In just one hour, you will be transported from London to Hollywood, then to the Caribbean and even outer space. Gavin Robertson is a highly versatile, physical actor, and an extremely experienced creator of solo theatre, effortlessly switching between playing our hero, hit man, Bond girl, Ian Fleming and the arch villain – with a cat.

He dishes out a decent Sean Connery impression too! Suitable for 12+ years.

MULTICULTURAL Applause offers a broad programme of theatre and music

It’s about making a connection between what’s available and where the audiences are. Lots of regional theatres are struggling these days to find audiences, and in many ways, Rural Touring is a brilliant solution to that, because the audience numbers are quite often really large.

It’s a mixture of regular performers we work with over a period of seasons, and then new possibilities and offers. We’ve got quite a good system, which we need to have to ensure that we’re able to connect with that many people.

DO YOU TEND TO WORK WITH A MIXTURE OF DIFFERENT ARTISTS?

We’re at a really exciting point, in that we’ve just taken on several new dynamic board members. We’re looking to diversify our income streams into trusts and foundations, continue to build our relationship with the Arts Council, and work with Creative Arts East on a number of projects.

We try to change our programme so that we’re not doing the same every season, but we’ve got a good knowledge of who’s out there, and we might have returning companies that are particularly successful or based in Kent.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE APPLAUSE GOING FORWARD?

Box Tale Soup: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Saturday March 19, Bilsington Village Hall, 6.30pm Drawing on the wealth of peculiar episodes from both Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, Box Tale Soup invite you down the rabbit hole into a timeless world of beautiful paper puppets and wondrous fantasy. Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland floods onto the stage in a whirl of strange contraptions, handmade puppets and extraordinary characters. Join Alice on her remarkable journey in this new production to enchant all ages.

Young and old alike will find magic in Wonderland, and make it safely home again – the only danger is, you may not want to leave! Age suitability 5+.

Applause Rural Touring The Yard, 2a Speldhurst Road, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 0DP 01892 457 635 www.applause.org.uk admin@applause.org.uk www.facebook.com/ ApplauseTouring Twitter: @ApplauseTouring

Wednesday 16th March 2016

Tonbridge- 01732 758726

Tunbridge Wells路 01892 739131

Kent TN91TN

Kent TN48AG

Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/lOOkm) for the new Ford range: urban 14.1 (20.1) - 83.1 (3.4), extra urban 28.8 (9.8) - 94.2 (3.0), combined 20.8 (13.6) - 88.3 (3.2).

Official C02 emissions 306-82g/km.

The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results, are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience.

Image for illustration purposes only. may not be exact model. tSavings include discount on MRRP and deposit allowance from Ford Credit. * Finance subject to status, guarantees and indemnities may be required. Overl8s only. Terms and conditions apply. Must be ordered and registered by 31/03/2016. Freepost Ford Credit. Prices correct at time of going to print and are subject to change without notice. Subject to availability at Lifestyle Ford.

Lifestyle Ford reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time and without notice. Lifestyle Ford Head Office 3 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 SAG. Images for illustration purposes only, metallic paint

www.lifestyleford.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Has the tide of justice turned for fathers in the family courts?

Thousands of parents run the contact and residence battle every year. They argue and fight over who the children should live with and when contact should take place.

BY MAX BARFORD It’s not surprising considering the emotional stress that’s experienced when faced with the life changing event that comes with ending a relationship. For the majority of parents an amicable agreement based on what is in the best interests of the child will be agreed without any intervention from the Courts but for many who cannot reach that agreement an application to the Court is often the next step. Generally, the Courts will not intervene in contact and living arrangements of children unless one party makes an application for what is now called a Child Arrangement Order. This was previously known as an application for contact and/or residence before changes to the law came into effect in April 2014. It was a contact application that started the Ethan Williams court battle that has received so much press coverage recently.

The unusual thing about Ethan’s contact battle was that the media was allowed to report the case. In this case the Court made a decision to relax the limitation on publishing details in order to assist in locating Ethan’s whereabouts after his mother ran away with Ethan after the Court had ordered that he should live with his father even though his application to the Court had been for contact with his son.

Now that the mother has returned Ethan to his father the Judge must also take into consideration her reckless behaviour. The mother will have a long way to go to show she can be trusted by Ethan’s father or the Judge. There will be further hearings to determine how often she sees Ethan and there is every possibility that this will result in even less contact with Ethan. How the Judge deals with the mother will remain to be seen but the one thing her conduct will not achieve is the

reviewing of the change of Ethan’s primary residence to his father.

If you are involved in or considering arrangements for children it is very important to understand what the process is and what orders the Court can make including that the Court has the power to change which parent a child lives with where the Court believes it is in the best interests of a child to do so.

As an experienced Family Law Solicitor I have advised many parents over the years and helped them achieve the best outcome possible in their circumstances. In many cases matters can be resolved relatively quickly through correspondence from your legal advisor and without recourse to the Courts. Mediation and collaborative law can also assist with reaching an agreement that is acceptable to both parents. An application to the Courts should only take place when you are unable to reach an agreement. It should be remembered that an application to the Court means that a judge will decide when and if contact should take place with a parent and/or where your child should live.

Ethan’s case is full of heartbreak and emotion but the Judge has sent a clear message that parents who do not focus on what is in the best interests of the child will have an impact on what the Judge orders when considering contact and residence arrangements. Attention must also be paid to the harsh consequences of breaching a Court Order. In the past some judges have issued little more than stern words to the party breaching the Court Order in family contact cases but more recently the tide appears to be turning and breaches are not accepted and consequences will follow. This is an important point.

The Court simply must not be seen as willing to ignore breaches of its own Orders and allow parties to take matters into their own hands.

My advice to any parent facing the stress of contested child care arrangements is to get good legal advice at the start and understand what your options are and work with

In many cases matters can be resolved relatively quickly through correspondence from your legal advisor

your legal advisor to resolve matters on a conciliatory basis as far as possible and always focus on what’s in the best interests of your child.

If all else fails an application to the Court can be made and the judge will decide.

Max Barford & Co Solicitors 16 Mount Pleasant, Tunbridge Wells.

Kent TN1 1QU www.maxbarford.co.uk

TIMES OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS READERS OFFER Up until 30th April 2016, Max Barford are offering the first 10 new applicants the opportunity to meet with a member of their team of expert Family Law Solicitors for an initial 30 minute FREE CONSULTATION to discuss the options available to you.

Choosing the right legal team is very important for you, so please do call today to take advantage of this offer – 01892 539379 or email – times@maxbarford.co.uk.

Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. No. 71480

Wednesday 16th March 2016

Executors risk potential claims using DIY probate applications

WHENEVER we think of solicitors one of the first thoughts that springs to mind are expensive fees and processes that seem to go on forever.

Perhaps this is the reason why some choose to take the DIY route when dealing with the Estate of a loved one. Although this route is not for everyone - the number of personal applications being made to the probate registry are on the increase.

We saved one of our clients over £115,000 in tax, so even after the payment of our fees the beneficiaries received more by instructing us than if they had done it themselves.

BY CATRINA DODDS

So what are the benefits and disadvantages of instructing a solicitor?

The most obvious benefit when dealing with the matter yourself is the saving on legal costs to the Estate. For many, this is the main reason for the Executors or personal representative (if the deceased died without a valid Will) making the probate application themselves. The DIY route is fine for many if the Estate is a straightforward, non-taxable Estate. The downside for the DIY Executor/personal representative is that, firstly, the Executors are personally responsible to the Estate and beneficiaries, which means they must accept any liability if things go wrong.

Secondly, they have to be willing to invest the time it takes to prepare the probate papers, possibly attend an interview at the probate registry to obtain the grant of probate and then collect in all the assets and distribute them in accordance with the Will or letters of administration. There is also a risk of not dealing with certain things such as the income tax of the deceased with HMRC and protecting the Estate

by advertising notices if required and minimising any tax payable.

So it’s clear it is possible to complete the process yourself, but when should you consider getting expert advice and instructing a solicitor, rather than doing it yourself?

There are a number of reasons to instruct a solicitor. One of the common reasons is simply when you don’t feel able to do it yourself or if you’re not willing to accept the risk if a mistake is made. However, there are also a number of lesser known reasons why instructing a solicitor is a good idea.

Did you know that instructing a solicitor, who is a specialist in Probate, taxation and administering an Estate could actually save the Estate money and on many occasions it can even pay for itself and leave more in the Estate to be distributed?

Solicitors who are experts in this field, not only know the process of obtaining the grant of Probate and administering the Estate, they know when to challenge inheritance tax calculations. This ensures the minimum

amount of tax on the Estate is paid and the savings can be substantial - in a recent case we saved one of our clients over £115,000 in tax on the Estate, so even after the payment of our legal fees the beneficiaries of the Estate received more inheritance by instructing us than if they had done it themselves. In addition, they didn’t have the inconvenience and loss of their time in dealing with it themselves.

We also look to see that the Will is as tax efficient as possible at the time of death, even though it may have been prepared many years earlier. If it isn’t, we will look at options available to minimise the amount of tax paid.

This again often results in tax savings to the Estate which can be substantial and frequently amounts to tens of thousands of pounds saved which in turn is passed on to the beneficiaries.

So when is it advisable to instruct a solicitor?

In addition to the examples set out above. You should always get legal advice if: • The Estate is a taxable Estate • The terms of the Will are not clear • The person who died has left money

or property in a trust • Part of the Estate is to pass to children under the age of 18 • There is land or property abroad • There is a business • Anyone is likely to dispute the Will.

Instructing a solicitor to deal with the Probate and administration of an Estate is an investment both emotionally and financially. You need to make sure that the person you are instructing is an expert in this field and is able to demonstrate to you that they offer a service that is tailored to your needs and that all tax implications are fully considered and challenges are made when appropriate. There are many Probate services that other low fixed fees and promise to turn your Probate and administration around in record time. The real reason for instructing a solicitor to deal with the Probate is to ensure that the taxes that are paid by the Estate are kept to a minimum and that the Estate is protected from any future claims. It is not just about offering a conveyor belt Probate process.

We have many years experience of dealing with not only the application process, but also with taxation issues,

Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulations Authority no. 71480

HMRC and other third party offices. We fully consider the tax implications of the Will at the time of death and ensure that you are advised of any tax saving measures available which will provide a more tax efficient outcome for the Estate meaning that the beneficiaries may actually receive more.

So before you decide to instruct a solicitor or not, make sure you make an informed decision. The mistake could be a very expensive one and if you are the Executor/personal representative, the beneficiaries would be entitled to pursue you for any loss to the Estate caused by unnecessary tax payment or failure to carry out a relevant step in the process. Just imagine if the Executors of the Estate that received the tax savings of over £115k had failed to get this benefit for the Estate. The beneficiaries could well be knocking on the door demanding payment!

Max Barford Solicitors 16 Mount Pleasant Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1QU www.maxbarford.co.uk

TIMES OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS READERS OFFER Up until 30th April 2016, Max Barford & Co are offering the first 5 new applicants the opportunity to meet with a member of their expert team of Probate Solicitors for a FREE INITIAL 30 MINUTE CONSULTATION, to discuss the options available to you.

So please call us today on – 01892 539379 or email times@maxbarford.co.uk