Times of Tunbridge Wells 30th March 2016

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OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Jazz nights set to end on a sour note

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All the news that matters

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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

INSIDE BUSINESS AWARDS Video production company projects the right image

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CARE FOR ELDERLY Warning that changes mean higher prices are on the way

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ARTS & CULTURE Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk ONE of the biggest social events in the town – Jazz on The Pantiles - is to come to an end unless a sponsor is found within five weeks.

That was the warning from organiser Julian Leefe-Griffiths, who said the popular music festival had been placed in ‘jeopardy’ after their main sponsor pulled out on Thursday.

He said a desperate hunt for a ‘white knight’ sponsor is now underway to plug the £10,000 shortfall in funding.

Last year, Audi Tunbridge Wells was the main sponsor behind the event, which regularly draws up to 70,000 visitors to the historic promenade throughout the summer.

Mr Leefe-Griffiths, whose business inter-

ests include the Tunbridge Wells Hotel, said: “Sadly until last week we thought this year’s sponsor was on board.

“It is disappointing and has come very late in the day for them to pull out.

“Unless we find a main sponsor it may be impossible to run the jazz this year as

Approximately half of the funding is sourced from the retailers, bars and cafes on The Pantiles, with extra money being donated on the night by visitors who are

‘It is disappointing and has come very late in the day’ we are not prepared to proceed knowing it is not financially viable.”

It costs an estimated £70,000 to organise the jazz, which this year would have run every Thursday from May 5 until September 29. The jazz has been running for around five years in its current form, when a consortium of Pantiles traders, led by Mr Leefe-Griffiths took over the administration of the event.

‘TERRIBLE SHAME’ Jazz night regular Lionel Shell

encouraged to drop £2 into a collection bucket.

However, the main sponsor is needed to make up a shortfall, as stricter regulations on the running on the events plus health and safety issues and the need to pay the performers and staff, have led to higher overheads.

Mr Leefe-Griffiths said: “We are in an impossible situation being just six weeks away from the opening evening.

“It is very damaging. Had we known in January we could have planned our budget accordingly.”

These concerns were echoed by one jazz night veteran, Lionel Shell (pictured left) who has been involved, to varying degrees, in both funding and administrating the event since its inception 20 years ago.

Continued on page 3

Big names sign-up for Chiddingstone festival

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FOOD & DRINK

Chef Marco Goldin is causing a stir at One Warwick Park

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2 � LOCAL NEWS

Weather Wednesday

March 30, 2016

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10 C

Visibility: Good

Pollution: Low

Humidity: 69%

Sunrise: 06.38am

Sunset: 19.30pm

Wind: 5mph

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

9ºC

10ºC

12ºC

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Mother says she has to teach her five-year-old boy at home Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Bright with light winds and isolated showers.

Thursday

‘No place for my son at school’

13ºC

Evening light on the Opera House by: Zoë Jones

Send your weather pictures into... newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES GEMMA HAK ghak@markerstudy.com | 01892 779580 GENERAL INQUIRIES newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timesoftunbridgewells timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timesoftw

HOME-SCHOOLING Jack Turnbull and mum Tasha

A MOTHER claims she has been forced into home-schooling her five-year-old son despite the fact he only lives 800 yards from his village school – and property developers are to blame said a Kent county councillor.

Tasha Turnbull said she worries about the wellbeing and development of her son Jack following six months of teaching him at home, after the county council failed to allocate him a place at nearby Pembury Primary School.

The Turnbulls were told Jack must attend Brenchley and Matfield School as his local primary was oversubscribed. However, Miss Turnbull, who does not own a car, said to get Jack there and back would take up to three hours as the buses were so irregular.

She said: “I am classed as electively home-schooling Jack, but there is nothing ‘elective’ about it. I had no choice.

“The county council said they would pay for Jack to take a taxi each day but said I would not be able to travel with him, which is unacceptable. I am not going to put my son in a car with a stranger.”

In order to get Jack to school, Miss Turnbull claimed they would have to take the 7.20am bus, arrive 10 minutes later, but be forced to wait outside the school gates until it opens at 8.45.

The next available bus is not until 9.02 and there is a further hour wait to take him home again.

She believes Jack is missing out on what should be a normal education, with detrimental effects to his development.

“It is not fair on Jack,” she said. “He should be able to play with children his own age and ultimately he doesn’t respond to me like he would a teacher. He shouldn’t have to be with his mum 24 hours a day, every day.”

And she does not understand why her son, who lives five minutes away from a school, is missing out on his local primary to schoolchildren from elsewhere.

She says: “I know there are children attending Pembury Primary School from

Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Hawkenbury. It’s not right.

“It is not just affecting us, there are at least 18 other children I know of who will be in a similar situation because the council claim the school is at the maximum capacity of 30 children per class.”

‘The county council has offered support to the family’ A decision to secure increased capacity through a £1.8million expansion was rejected in 2013 after many parents and villagers objected to increased traffic and a ‘diluting’ of the school’s character.

Christopher Hoare, the UKIP county councillor for Tunbridge Wells East, which includes Pembury, said the lack of school places across the borough was due to significant amounts of money not being collected from developers.

This had led to a knock-on effect, with schools such a Pembury being legally compelled to take pupils without nearby school places from Tunbridge Wells, while pushing the local children further out still.

He said: “The county council failed to charge and collect sufficient developer contributions from housing developments in the borough for the last ten years for the expansion and building of new schools.”

A Kent County Council spokesperson said they work closely with the borough council to collect developer contributions from new housing, ‘wherever this is possible’ and ‘in line with planning regulations’.

She cited Skinners’ Kent Primary School and plans to expand and relocate St Peter’s Primary School as examples of how money collected is being spent.

She added: “Jack Turnbull was offered his parents’ second preference school. The fact that the family were regrettably unable to secure their first preference was in no way affected by the availability or any absence of developer contributions.

“The county council has offered support to the family, but must follow a fair and transparent process to allocate school places for all children.

“An independent appeals panel considered the appeal and determined that it would not be appropriate to make an exception to the admissions arrangements for Jack.”

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WHY NOT START THE FRIENDS OF JAZZ NIGHTS? 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU

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QUOTE UNQUOTE ‘After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul’s indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer’

William R Alger

Wednesday 30th March 2016

SINCE 1606 when Dudley Lord North discovered the waters and their apparent restorative powers, The Pantiles, with its colonnade and well, has been an integral part of life in this town. The celebrated dandy and leader of fashion Beau Nash provided added social kudos to the area when he acted as something of a Master of Ceremonies in the 18th century.

Today The Pantiles remains a major focal point for the area attracting tourists and visitors alike for food festivals, farmers’ markets and the opportunity to just sit and relax and watch the world go by. It is open to the public and can be accessed free of charge.

And thereby lies a big problem, because you cannot ask people to pay to attend events held on The Pantiles. You can invite them to contribute to an event, you can encourage them to make a donation, but you cannot make payment compulsory.

That’s why Jazz on The Pantiles will end unless a major sponsor comes along in the next couple of weeks. If it does end, then thousands of regular fans who go along every Thursday during the summer months will be disappointed, although that’s a bit of an understatement. They will be furious.

The irony is that it costs £70,000 to stage the music nights and it’s estimated that up to 70,000 people take advantage of the free entertainment. In fairness some of them do make a donation on the night, putting about £25,000 into the coffers, with The Pantiles Traders themselves paying about half and the major sponsor picking up the other £10,000.

So, in theory if all of those who went along handed over just £1 each – problem solved with no need to look for any more cash. But we know that just won’t happen.

Some people, for whatever reason, will refuse to part with money. Many today

decline to put £2 in a bucket as currently suggested. They prefer to be freeloaders.

Another approach to funding is therefore needed if a white knight sponsor does not gallop into sight pretty promptly.

Just a thought, but why not start the Friends of Jazz Nights? You could invite to join all those people who want to see the Thursday events continue. People who might be prepared to pay £20 a year. If you could find just 2,000 like-minded souls that would bring in £40,000, and with traders paying their share that means the evenings could be free with no need for noisy bucketshaking.

The figures might be suspect and it is suggested with no in-depth research having taken place. But you get the idea. There has to be a pain-free way for Jazz on The Pantiles to carry on. But is there the will?

Richard Moore, Editorial Director

LOCAL NEWS 

3

Not again! Supermarket shut down adds to town centre eyesore woes Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk TUNBRIDGE WELLS is about to get another blot on the landscape with the closure on Sunday of Morrisons. The town centre supermarket will be boarded up for the second time since 2006. It is just 200 yards from the old cinema site that has been derelict for more than 15 years.

Residents will remember when the supermarket remained empty for six years, falling into a state of disrepair. The fear is it will now become another major eyesore.

MP Greg Clark called the closure ‘disappointing’ and urged the supermarket chain to deliver on their commitments to find a replacement.

He said: “It is disappointing that Morrisons is closing, especially after the fight we had to get them to reopen the store.

“It is important that the site does not go back to being boarded up and derelict again – Morrisons have told me that they are confident that they will be able to lease the site quickly to other retailers and I look to them to deliver on that commitment.”

However, a spokesman for Morrisons said the company was ‘unable to comment’ on any potential deals to find a new tenant, but said the site would have to be boarded back up to ‘prevent vandalism’.

Despite the setback, members of the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council cabinet are next month due to discuss a new ‘Urban Design Framework’

Continued from page 1

The Pantiles jazz nights in jeopardy Lionel Shell, a familiar face at the popular summer event, described the possibility of it not going ahead this year as a ‘terrible’ for the town.

He said: “Everyone has the will to do it, but unfortunately it all comes down to money and the costs have escalated over recent years.”

Mr Shell explained that when it was first run by the council, jazz evenings cost around £200 a night and 50 people would turn up, but current costs are nearer £3,000 per night.

“For the sponsor to pull out now is a big worry, and there will be a negative impact on The Pantiles economy.

“We are faced with a big problem but I just cannot imagine it not going ahead, but if it doesn’t it will be a terrible shame,” commented Mr Shell.

For our editorial comment see p2

for the town that suggests the site might be suitable for ‘office space, retail and even a hotel’.

If endorsed, the plan could be used to dictate the character of the town for years to come, with implications for both the Morrisons’ site and the old cinema plot.

Compiled by the council’s urban planner, Alan Legg, the document puts forward an ambitious vision for what the two blots on the landscape could look like if the resources are made available.

Speaking to the Times, Mr Legg explained what could occupy the soon-to-be-vacant Morrisons’ supermarket site.

He said: “This is a gateway to the town and has some of the greatest potential for development. It could be a very strong employment area and turned into something worthy of Tunbridge Wells.”

Mr Legg said there was even scope for a building taller than there is now, which would act as a ‘landmark’ for the town.

“A taller building would be possible because the site is situated in one of the lowest points of the town and therefore multi-storey developments have less chance of impacting on the town as a whole,” he added.

Mr Legg said a ‘comprehensive approach’ to redevelopment of the site could see a ‘range of mixed uses’ including the provision of office space, retail and even a hotel.

Morrisons is just one part of a larger area listed in the framework as Zone F, which stretches from Vale Avenue to Clarence Road, incorporating

the Family Court – which itself is due to be left vacant by the autumn – while skirting round the Old Post Office apartments.

The document describes the area as ‘visually

brutal’ which ‘detracts’ from the character of the conservation area, and lays out a general guide to what full-scale redevelopment would entail.

FULL BOARD How the site might look once again

Mixed fortunes as Katie disrupts holiday weekend THE weather over the Easter break blew hot and cold as sunshine turned into Storm Katie and brought major roads, rail services and sporting events to a halt on Monday when 105mph winds battered Kent.

Those coming into Tunbridge Wells along Pembury Road found it blocked in both directions by two fallen trees. They were cleared by midday.

Mother of two Becky Appleton sat for half an hour before making a detour, only to find her path was blocked again along Calverley Park Gardens.

Rail passengers faced severe delays and travellers heading to Gatwick found ‘dozens’ of flights cancelled.

The Dartford Crossing was closed and ferries to and from Dover ran into trouble.

STORM CHAOS Tonbridge Athletic Club was forced Falling trees to cancel its open meet after inspectors blocked Pembury Road decided the wind was too strong.

Those out and about on Good Friday

fared better with hundreds enjoying the sunshine at Bewl Water Country Park when it reopened in time for the Easter break.

Andrew Daniells, Chief Operating Officer at Markerstudy Leisure, said: “It was clear that our new policy on

parking, reducing it from £8 to £2 played an important part in persuading people to come and spend time at the country park.”

BEWL WATER Fun in the sun after the country park reopened for Easter

Wednesday 30th March 2016

4  LOCAL NEWS

EDITOR AT LARGE Frank Baldwin (centre) mingles with guests

LUNCH GUESTS (L-R): Alastair Caisley, Fre Knoller, Anthony Gerra ddie rd-White

Plenty to celebrate with the Tonbridge launch MORE than 100 people from local organisations, shops and businesses went along to the Old Fire Station in Tonbridge last week to celebrate the launch of the town’s new paper… the Times of Tonbridge.

And there was plenty to celebrate.

Distribution teams struggled to keep up with demand for the 104-page edition as commuters snapped up copies at railway stations and shoppers picked up papers at supermarkets, coffee shops and garages. Newspaper staff also delivered copies to 2,000 homes. In all 6,500 newspapers were distributed.

The new paper is an edition of its sister title the Times of Tunbridge Wells.

Tonbridge’s Editor at Large Frank Baldwin said: “We’d

already received lots of positive feedback after the original announcement about the launch and were even more encouraged by the number of people joining us at the celebration.

“It just shows the level of interest in the town and the support for a different media platform such as the Times.”

Both titles are published each Wednesday and are free of charge.

Have you got a question on the referendum you’d like answered?

IN

Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark and Wealden MP Nus Ghani have agreed to respond to questions from our readers. Mr Clark is in favour of remaining in the EU. Ms Ghani is in favour of coming out. Each will answer the same identical questions.

If you have a particular point you’d like them to respond to, then send us an email or letter setting out your question in no more than 40 words.

You may email us at: Newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk The subject line should read: EU Debate

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Or you can write to us: EU Debate, Times of Tunbridge Wells, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1NU Questions and answers will be published in the newspaper.

You may submit only one question. If it is more than 40 words long it might be edited or rejected. No correspondence will be entered into regarding any question or any answer.

The Editor’s decision on what is published is final.

The closing date to receive questions is Monday April 11, 2016.

OUT

LOCAL NEWS 

5

Fundraising for new Calverley play area gets into full swing Just child’s play…

CRACKING FUN Children enjoying Good Friday’s Easter event

THE campaign to raise money for the Calverley Adventure Grounds in Tunbridge Wells has taken off by raising £14,000 in five days. The target for the play area is £225,000.

The idea is to raise the money by November in order to complete the build in time for next summer.

Fundraising co-ordinator Kate Bourne told an audience at the official launch of the next phase of the project that sponsorship opportunities ranged from £50 for a square metre of the site to £30,000 for the largest piece of equipment.

Event management company ID&C has already sponsored a swing. Its director Steve Daly said: “As a father of young children I know it will add value to the Tunbridge Wells landscape and be an everlasting legacy long after they have grown up.”

Organiser Rhiannon Harfoot said: “We are really encouraged and excited by the initial response. Community

sponsorship is a key element of our strategy together with applicable grants and fundraising events.”

She said the design for the adventure grounds would create a unique space for children, inspired by the heritage of Tunbridge Wells, in which they would discover a new adventure with each visit.

“Designed by award winning landscape architect and local resident Jennette EmeryWallis, also responsible for the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens which is renowned for changing the face of play in the UK, the scheme uses the best quality timber play equipment in order to create a long-lasting and highly attractive environment,” she added.

“The town and its children will benefit from a very different play space, designed by one of the leading play designers of our age.”

MP Greg Clarke has offered his support to the project: “The grounds have been a popular place of public recreation for nearly 200 years. This exciting project will give children and families yet another reason to come and enjoy this beautiful park.”

More than 1,000 people attended the Easter Eggstravaganza at Calverley (pictured above) on Good Friday when £3,000 was raised.

The Calverley Adventure Grounds team is part of Friends of Calverley.

ADVENTURE TIME Fundraisers are hoping the new playground will have similar equipment to the items above

Wednesday 30th March 2016

6 � LOCAL NEWS

Southeastern does not employ enough Mick Whelan is General Secretary of major transport union ASLEF, which represents train drivers. He wrote the following open letter after picking up a copy of the launch issue of the Times of Tonbridge – new sister paper to the Times of Tunbridge Wells

I

LOVE newspapers – especially good local newspapers which are such an important part of the communities they serve – and that’s why I was so pleased to see the launch this month of the Times of Tonbridge.

I picked it up last Wednesday – it was being handed out at the railway station and, as the general secretary of ASLEF, the train drivers’ trade union, I spend a lot of time on and around the rails – and it made for a very good read on my way into Charing Cross. The Times of Tunbridge Wells is very popular and I think the Times of Tonbridge will emulate the success of its sister title. Both papers treat their readers, in the communities of which they are a part, as grown-ups – which is refreshing in this day and age – with lots of news and views about what is going on in this part of Kent.

My attention was drawn, first, as you might imagine, to the front page inter-

Wednesday 30th March 2016

view with Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative MP for Tonbridge & Malling, and his criticisms of the service provided to passengers in his constituency by Southeastern. He isn’t alone, of course, in condemning the company.

A recent report by the consumer group Which? named and shamed Southeastern as Britain’s worst train operating company. A survey published in their magazine revealed that passengers in the south east of England are the least satisfied in the UK. Overcrowding, poor value for money and dirty trains were the most common complaints. And commuters forced to stand in the toilets because of ‘crazy’ overcrowding on peak time Southeastern services into St Pancras complained of an ‘omnishambles’ and called for the renationalisation of Britain’s railways. Scores of passengers vented their anger on social media. One, Hannah Holdstock,

SPEAKING OUT Union boss Mick Whelan advocates renationalisation of our railways

LOCAL NEWS �

drivers to deliver the services Tweeted: ‘Chaos. We pay an awful lot of money to travel into London, for them to not be able to run these trains. Pretty disgusting.’

I don’t like to hear such complaints because I love Britain’s railways. I believe in our railways. And I’ve spent pretty much all my working life on Britain’s railways. After a short spell working in a bank, in London, when I left school, I joined what was then British Rail, as a guard, in 1984. When I became a driver, in 1988, I joined ASLEF. I was elected organiser for the Midland region in 2000 and then general secretary in 2011. So I’ve spent 32 years, in one role or another, on the iron road. I’ve been at the front of the train, as well as the back of the train, and I’ve worked on freight trains as well as on passengers trains. I have talked – and still talk – to people who work in all sorts of different jobs on the railway, here and abroad, as well as to passengers and politicians.

I know how important rail is to this country and my union has always been keen to help build a better, more modern railway fit – for passengers as well as for staff – for the 21st century. But I share many of the frustrations voiced by Tom Tugendhat, and the readers of the Times of Tonbridge and the Times of Tunbridge Wells, who travel on Southeastern.

The truth is that we are, to some extent, victims of the success of the great Victorian railway pioneers.

Those engineers who built the steam engines, railway tracks, bridges and tunnels – we all learned their names at school – did a brilliant job but much of our infrastructure is now 150 years old, some of it even older, and it shows. The system is creaking.

Those countries who came later to the great railway party have much more modern rolling stock, signalling, and lines.

We are also the victims of short-term thinking

and short-term planning. As politicians often mutter when I talk to them about the importance of developing a strategic vision for our railways, and of proper long-term planning for our industry – by which I mean looking 30, 40 and 50 years ahead – ‘In the long term, Mick, we’re all dead’. Politicians tend to think in five-year cycles – the length of a

‘On every measure privatisation has failed… Fares have soared’ Parliamentary term – but the railway rarely runs to that sort of timetable.

The fragmentation of Britain’s railways has undermined our purpose, too. Southeastern, like most of the privatised train operating companies, does not employ enough drivers to deliver the services it pledged, in its franchise application, to run.

It’s all to do with cost; the fewer the drivers the company employs, the more money it makes. But Southeastern is dependent on every driver turning up for work. Whenever there is sickness, holiday, or, as sadly happens too frequently in this industry, a fatality – a suicide – the TOCs are stretched and

PAYING THE PRICE We now have the highest rail fares in Europe

cancel trains.

The train companies want to keep their costs down, and their fares up, to make as much profit as possible. That’s why they cram in as many commuters as they can during the rush hour. They are not in the business of providing a public service but of making as much money as possible.

On every measure put forward by John Major when, as Prime Minister, he privatised our railways 20 years ago, privatisation has failed. Fares, and public subsidies, have soared – we now have the highest fares in Europe – while trains have got more crowded. If our railways were brought back into public ownership a commuter paying £5,000 for an annual season ticket to travel from Kent into London would be £1,000 better off. That’s why survey after survey shows that even Conservative voters are fed up – not just with the service provided

by Southeastern and Southern – but with the profits made by foreign-owned companies which take no risk – they enjoy private monopolies and know commuters have no alternative but to pay what they ask – and then take those profits offshore. East Coast, when it was in public ownership, returned £1billion to the Treasury and the taxpayer.

7

Nineteen arrested for child exploitation A MULTI-AGENCY county team set up to tackle child sexual exploitation has received more than 300 calls.

The Kent and Medway Child Sexual Exploitation team was created in December and funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes to target offenders and identify and help young people at risk.

Since then they have had hundreds of calls resulting in more than 600 pieces of intelligence. A total of 19 offenders have been arrested.

Protecting vulnerable children from sexual exploitation is a key priority in the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan. Last year she pledged to give £600,000 over three years to help the force deliver on the priority.

‘Child sexual exploitation is happening in Britain, including right here in Kent. It is not new, but for too long it went unchallenged,” she said.

‘I recognised the need for a more joinedup approach to tackling exploitation and protecting the most vulnerable of children, which is exactly why I found the money so our vital multi-agency team could be set up to.

“I’m delighted at how much success they’ve had in just three months – it just goes to show what can be achieved when partner agencies work together.

‘I hope everyone will take the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the signs to look out for in young people; such as unexplained gifts or cash, drug or alcohol use, missing school and running away.

Anyone with any information, or who has concerns that a child might be being sexually exploited can call Kent Police on 101, quoting Operation Willow. You can also call or text 116000.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

8 � LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

Care for the elderly businesses will Staff shortages and court rulings will also fuel higher prices feeding through to clients Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk BOTH care providers and their elderly clients face rising costs as the triple threat of the living wage, staff shortages and court rulings hit the sector, industry experts warn.

Care home operators who rely on social care contracts face a turbulent future as funding from local authorities is scaled back and costs rise, with possible implications for thousands of elderly people in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.

Those in self-funding care will not be immune either, with costs incurred from wage hikes and recent court rules being passed on to the consumer.

And it is not just care and nursing home provision which will be adversely affected by a rise in wages, said Richard Gould, Managing Director of TerraBlu Home Care.

The company, which provides local care services for those who still have the capacity to live at home, already pays more than the living wage, although general wage inflation and other developments pose challenges to the whole sector.

Mr Gould said: “The rationale behind

Wednesday 30th March 2016

moving on to the living wage in order to create a high wage economy is a great thing, but wage inflation will feed into prices.

“Care margins are tight, driven down over the last seven years by the collapse in local authority funding.

“Social care contract provision makes up the bulk of the market in Kent, but as their funding has collapsed so has their ability to pay appropriate fees.

‘The main challenge in West Kent is finding staff’ “Not only have rates fallen but so has the amount of services purchased by the authority which, combined with the living wage, will have a huge impact on those providers catering for this market.”

TerraBlu took the strategic decision four years ago to cease providing services for social care contracts, as the effects of central government cuts to local authorities first started to be felt.

Although this meant the company saw its client numbers fall from around 200 to ‘just under half’, and a subsequent reduction in staff numbers from 70 to around 20, it meant the firm was able to pay a ‘significant premium’ on its wages.

Mr Gould said: “Because I wanted the best staff in West Kent you have to pay more.

“While we pay over the living wage at the moment, if everyone moves up the pay scale it will add wage pressure on us as the premium we pay will also increase.”

And even paying extra is not enough to plug gaps in the labour market.

“The main challenge in West Kent is finding staff because it is a challenging job, but ultimately it is also a very rewarding job.”

Recent court rulings stating travel between jobs must be counted as ‘work time’ and paid as such, have also had a specific impact on providers such as TerraBlu. Effectively this means previous arrangements where expenses simply cover the cost of travel will have to be revisited as travel time will now be paid at the living wage rate.

“We have decided to address this issue head on, but alongside the rise in the minimum wage overall it will end up feeding through to higher costs for the elderly,” said Mr Gould.

Debbie Harris, whose business Chosen with Care helps those in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge who are selffunding find suitable accommodation

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

be hard hit by living wage TOUGH CHALLENGE Richard Gould’s company has already changed tack

‘I have heard of one care service provider who recently closed because it can no longer run a viable business’

also warned the industry was heading for a crisis.

“I have spoken to many providers

and the general consensus is around half will be running a business no longer financially viable once the living wage is introduced.

“Care homes are already pushing up fees with this in mind.”

Wages are also being driven upwards by a shortage of staff through the industry.

“Everyone is struggling to recruit at the moment,” she added.

“I have heard of one care service provider who recently closed because it can no longer run a viable business. It does make you wonder what’s going to happen.”

THE COST OF CARE IN KENT The new national living wage, to be introduced on Friday [April 1], will see the pay for those aged 25 and over increase from £6.70 to £7.20 an hour, an 11 per cent rise in mandatory pay. It is then due to rise to £9 an hour by 2020.

Kent County Council (KCC) currently contributes £463 a week per person to those needing financial assistance for care, which Mrs Harris explained was below the national average of £511, putting added pressure on providers operating in Kent.

KCC is already conducting

consultations on disposing of the remaining care homes still under direct local authority control.

To qualify for any financial assistance, those seeking care must have under £23,250 in capital available for partial funding and under £13,000 for full funding.

Last year there were 21,902 people aged over 65 in receipt of social care funding across Kent, which accounts for around 70 to 80 per cent of those needing care.

The remainder are classed as ‘self-funding’, meaning the entire cost is met by the user.

9

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Tax firm warning on dividend rate hike BUSINESS owners and directors have until April 5 (Tuesday) to sort out their last minute tax affairs to avoid losing out, according to Tunbridge Wells specialists at Crowe Clark Whitehill.

The warning, from Tax Partner Simon Warne, comes as The Chancellor and HMRC are getting ready to implement major changes to how dividends and loans taken out from the business are taxed.

These include rises in the rate of tax on dividend earnings above £5,000, which will see basic rate taxpayers face an increase of 7.5 per cent, and the higher rate go up to 32 per cent.

Mr Wayne said: “Now is the last chance for company owners to take a look at their reserves and to seriously consider whether shareholders are in a better position if dividends are accelerated to the current tax year.”

New SELEP chairman THE South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) appointed Christian Brodie to be its new chairman last week in a role which will see him responsible for championing more than 344,000 businesses.

Mr Brodie, has previously worked in the higher education sector and has chaired the Student Loans Company.

SELEP is expected to have helped secure 45,000 new jobs, 23,000 new homes and £700m of private sector investment in Kent and the wider region by 2021.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

10 � BUSINESS AWARDS

Video production company projects the right image…

Time is running out for those who have yet to submit their entry for the Royal Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2016. Closing date is April 15. To find out more about the awards and how to enter see page 92. One of the local companies already on the entry list is Digitom Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk SMALL and medium sized businesses are often referred to as being the backbone of the British economy, even if it is the corporations that make the headlines.

But there is another class of business that is far more important to the economies of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells than people realise.

And those are micro businesses employing up to nine people. They account for around 90 per cent of all companies operating in these towns, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal.

Many of them are in the creative industries, with a large number making up the ‘knowledge economy’.

One such firm is Digitom, a video production company consisting of just five people, but one that boasts clients as diverse as AXA, Shepherd Neame, Citi Group and the British Army.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Digitom was founded by 37-year-old Tom Chown who built up the firm on the back of his credentials in the TV and film production industry, a path he went down straight after Sixth Form College.

His career prior to setting up his own company saw Mr Chown film documentaries, news, music videos and adverts all over the world, working with Bob Geldof, Kate Moss and David Cameron, to name a few.

Explaining how he came into the industry Mr Chown said: “I always wanted to work in TV and film and was never particularly academically minded.

“They told me at college that if I

wanted to make it in this industry I would have to work really hard through work experience.”

Work experience paid off when he was offered a job at production firm Landscape TV, directing and editing TV programmes.

After freelancing in the advertising business for a couple of years, Mr Chown learned first hand how sensitive the industry is to world events.

“After 9/11 companies ceased spending on advertising and the industry just dropped and died leaving me out of work for quite a period of time.”

A job opportunity presented itself at the BBC in Tunbridge Wells, which he describes as a great

place to ‘cut your teeth’ in the sector.

“I had camera training, edit training and radio. It also led me to doing documentaries and investigations, going undercover.”

Five years after he began at the BBC, Mr Chown moved again to Kent County Council, where he was deputy editor of Kent TV in 2007, before the recession hit and the channel was axed in 2010.

“They offered me a job at the KCC comms team but I couldn’t see myself doing it.”

By this time, Mr Chown’s reputation meant he was in high demand.

“I was doing some freelance work for the Press Association, by filming David Cameron and Vince Cable during the General Election and it kind of grew from there.

“The more I did for production companies the more I started to get approached by clients myself.

In April that year Digitom started actively trading.”

For the first few years the company was a oneman band, with Mr Chown hiring out his

BUSINESS AWARDS 

expertise in a freelance capacity.

However, by 2014 his services were in such demand that he started to hire staff, each with their specialist areas, on a contractual basis.

“Although the majority of our content is for online, what we always aim to do is ensure the style and

NEWS IN BRIEF

TAKE TWO Tom Chown [right] with apprentice Kieran Ryan

Baroness Falkner

‘Clients will spend anything up to £40,000 on a project’ structure of it is always based on traditional broadcast media. We add broadcast values, online.”

Unlike many traditional industries, where tangible items are either made or sold, pricing the product is not an exact science, Mr Chown said, but the company aims for the professional market.

“Our clients are not shops on the high street who want to spend £500 on a video. Our business is marketing managers who nine times out of ten would have used video already.

“They understand the value of video and the merits of it and will therefore have a dedicated budget and they know the value of what we are doing.”

After learning how much the client is prepared to spend, Mr Chown works out whose skills he will require, what equipment will be needed, and how many hours the project could take.

Calculating the actual cost is a difficult task, with every project coming with its own set of requirements and specifications, meaning there is no one-size-fits-all pricing model.

“People drop us an email and say I would like a one-minute video, how much will that cost? You can’t calculate it from that.

“You get an idea after the initial conversation with the client when you find out where we will be filming, how many days we will be filming, plus travel and production time.

“It is still difficult, because how do you put a value on time? There will always be someone out there who can do it cheaper, as there is in any industry.

“You may get three different quotes but it is up to you how much you want to pay because of the workmanship.”

Eventually a price is found, and the team set to work on the ‘pre-production’ stage of the process.

This involves researching the topic, storyboarding ideas and ensuring they have the right resources to execute their ideas.

11

Message of hope for the Lib Dem fightback

The typical client will spend between £10,000 and £20,000 per project, although the actual price range can be as low as £5,000 and as high as £40,000.

Since October, the company has invoiced or received deposits for over 20 jobs.

And in a highly competitive industry ensuring the client gets what they want is vital, as Digitom relies on referrals for the vast majority of its work.

“The most important thing is understanding the client’s brief and making sure you deliver on it.

Bad news always travels faster. One bad job and it will damage our reputation.”

Two years ago, Mr Chown made the decision to grow the business, after working as a sole trader and having to constantly cope with the ‘ups and the downs’ of working alone.

“When you are busy you are really busy, but then you go quiet, because you are everything.

You are the business developer, the secretary, the accountant.

“I had got to the point where I asked what my legacy will be and whether I still wanted to be flogging my guts out by the time I am 50.”

Eager to pass on his knowledge about the industry, Mr Chown took on his first apprentice in April, when 18-year-old Kieran Ryan came on board. “His development has been fantastic,” said Mr Chown.

Only Kieran, who is working towards a diploma in media alongside his apprenticeship, actually works at the studio with Mr Chown.

The other four staff work remotely, with regular communication through Skype and online conference calls, reflecting a modern and costefficient way of doing business.

“I can be cheaper than much of the competition because the overheads are low. There is just no need for me to rent an office in the middle of the town,” said Mr Chown.

But he would not want his business to be located anywhere else.

“Tunbridge Wells is a fantastically creative town.

It is ideally situated near London and Brighton.

“The council work well with the creative sector and are building the media centre on Monson Road and it is very much about nurturing that digital talent in the town.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Research shows that winning a prestigious business award adds credibility to your company, raises your profile through valuable media coverage, generates new business and inspires staff. To find out how you can become a winner see page 92

BARONESS Falkner was on hand to give a talk about the upcoming European Union referendum, the refugee crisis and the state of the party at the annual Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats dinner.

Local Tunbridge Wells Chair Gillian Douglass introduced Lady Falkner, the lead Liberal Democrat spokesperson for foreign affairs, who praised the Prime Minister for the optouts he secured during the EU renegotiation.

In addition, she also backed the current government policy of accepting people from the refugee camps rather than from within Europe, while supporting the Liberal Democrat idea of accepting 3,000 ‘children in crisis’.

Lady Falkner then spoke briefly about the state of the party, saying that the Liberal Democrats have been in worse plight before and have fought back.

In addition, Lady Falkner stated that she supported the idea of a coalition government, calling it the right thing for the country at the time, although she was somewhat critical of former leader Nick Clegg for putting party politics above policy matters.

The event was held at the Royal Wells Hotel on March 18.

IT firm makes finals THE director of Camden Road IT firm Infinity said he was ‘over the moon’ that the company made the finals at this year’s Kent Invicta Chamber’s Annual Business Awards.

Infinity, who provide nationwide IT, telecoms and software development services, were awarded as one of three finalists in the prestigious category ‘Business of the Year’.

Director Rob Young said “We were over the moon as the competition this year was exceptionally high. The awards ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge was fantastic and really showcased some of the best businesses in Kent.”

Wednesday 30th March 2016

12 � NATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Volunteer attacked at children’s charity event ORGANISERS of a charity Easter event said they have been left appalled after a volunteer was attacked because they ran out of chocolate eggs.

Crowds turned out on Easter Sunday for the event at the Church Farm Museum, Skegness, Lincolnshire, which was organised in partnership with the Children’s Charity.

Such was the popularity of the event, the large stock of Easter eggs ran out, causing some people to lose their temper, centre manager Sue Shelford said.

‘Gunman’ still in hospital A 24-YEAR-OLD man who was shot by a firearms officer in after apparently being told by police to ‘put the gun down’ remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Armed police were called to Frenchmans Way, South Shields, South Tyneside, around 1am after receiving reports a man was holding a handgun.

Teen gun crime revealed THERE have been 12 arrests for suspected firearm offences involving children aged between 13 and 17 in Kent in the last three years.

These details were revealed following a Press Association Freedom of Information request to every police force in the UK asking how many children had been arrested and charged with firearm offences between 2013 and January 2016.

Man dies in hit and run A 21-YEAR-OLD man was killed and a second left in hospital after they were knocked down in a hit-and-run.

Police and paramedics were called to Islington, north London, in the early hours of Tuesday after reports that a car had hit two pedestrians in Old Street.

Police have identified the dead man and told his family, with formal identification and a post-mortem examination happening in due course. Officers are now analysing CCTV footage as part of their inquiries, which are being led by detectives from the homicide and major crime command.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Plane hijacker wore a fake suicide explosive jacket A MAN who forced an Egyptian plane to divert to Cyprus and took passengers and crew hostage was wearing a fake suicide vest.

The plane was carrying 56 passengers, including 26 foreigners, on an EgyptAir domestic flight from Alexandria to Cairo when a man on board claimed to have an explosive belt.

Most of those on board were freed shortly after the plane landed at Larnaca airport on the Mediterranean island at 8.50am, before the hijacker, later named by Cypriot government officials as Seif Eldin Mustafa, held seven people hostage for a number of hours.

The man was arrested minutes after some of those being held were seen walking down the stairs of the plane, with another escaping through a cockpit window before they were led away by security officers.

Officials revealed the explosive vest the man was apparently wearing was not real, the airline said.

EgyptAir said Cypriot authorities at the airport confirmed the explosive belt that the hijacker allegedly said that he was wearing was fake.

Footage posted on the official Facebook page of Egypt’s Ministry of Interior appears to show the hijacker passing through security before boarding the flight.

The man, arrowed in red, can be seen loading his bag to be scanned and calmly walking through a detector. He is then frisked by a security official before collecting his bag and walking off.

Cypriot officials confirmed the incident had reached a peaceful conclusion, with government spokesman Nikos Christodoulides saying: “The hijacker has just been arrested. All passengers and crew are safe.”

Four Britons and an Irish national are thought to have been aboard the flight, MS181, and the Foreign Office said it was helping Britons caught up in the incident and remained in close contact with both Cypriot and Egyptian authorities.

A motive for the hijacking remains unclear but Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades said it was ‘not something which has to do with terrorism.’

Some reports suggested the incident was related

SECURITY AT SCAN Hijacker pictured on his way to plane

to the alleged hijacker’s ex-wife.

He also appeared to issue conflicting demands, with Egypt’s prime minister Sherif Ismail saying the man had asked to meet European Union officials but also to fly on to another airport.

The hijacking will raise serious concerns over security at Egyptian airports, and one aviation expert claimed the incident was a return to ‘the security stone age.’

David Learmount said it appeared the captain of the flight didn’t have faith in the security

systems and felt he had to follow the hijacker’s demands, resulting in the first major successful hijack since 9/11.

But he said the captain should have been confident that it was impossible for someone to have got through security with a suicide belt.

He said: “It is taking us back to the security stone age - pre 9/11 when we had lots and lots of regular hijacks because the drill at that time was ‘do what the hijacker asks of you and we will deal with it on the ground with negotiators on the ground’.”

NATIONAL NEWS �

13

PORT TALBOT More job cuts?

The town that steel built awaits its fate THE Government has been accused of ‘taking its eye’ off industrial strategy as steelworkers wait anxiously for a decision on their future.

A crucial board meeting of steel giant Tata, was held yesterday [Tuesday] in Mumbai and could decide the fate of thousands of workers, especially at Port Talbot in South Wales. The outcome of the meeting was last night unknown.

Former business secretary Sir Vince Cable said: “Since the Conservatives have been in government alone they have taken their eye off the industrial strategy we set out in coalition.

“This risks undermining business confidence and investment. The Government must now seek to restore that confidence and work with Tata Steel to resolve this.”

Tata announced over 1,000 job losses in January, including 750 at Port Talbot, but there are fears that more cuts could be made.

Roy Rickhuss, leader of the Community union, who has travelled to Mumbai for the meeting, said: “No-one underestimates the scale of the challenge we are facing but our steel industry is of vital importance to our communities, our families and our nation.

“Steel is the very foundation of our manufacturing base, even the Prime Minister has conceded that it would be simply unacceptable for Tata to end our steelmaking capacity.”

Alan Coombs, chairman of the Port Talbot

multi-union committee, who has also travelled to Mumbai, said: “Our town was built on the steel industry.

“It has given us more than just jobs, it has shaped our lives and communities.”

Steelworkers and companies have called for more action from the Government to tackle cheap Chinese steel imports and high energy costs which have been blamed for thousands of job cuts.

Unite national officer Harish Patel said: “These are deeply uncertain times for steelworkers and their communities.

“Independent analysis shows that Tata’s own transformation plan will return the Port Talbot plant to a competitive footing, but it is clear that the UK government needs to play an active role in backing investment to secure the plant’s future for generations to come.”

Unite Wales secretary Andy Richards said: “We urge the Tata board to show some steel and commit to steelmaking in Port Talbot and the UK for the long term. Port Talbot is an integral part of the Welsh economy, supporting jobs in the local community and throughout the manufacturing supply chain.

“Port Talbot’s closure would devastate the Welsh economy. We urge the Tory government in Westminster to put aside political game playing and work with Unite and the Welsh Assembly government to save our steel.”

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 30th March 2016

14  INTERNATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Hundreds of mines found in Palmyra DEMINING experts have so far removed 150 bombs planted by the Islamic State group inside the archaeological site in the historic town of Palmyra.

Syria’s head of antiquities and museums, Maamoun Abdul-Karim, reported that a technical team has returned to Damascus after a two days of work in Palmyra.

Syrian troops captured the town from IS fighters on Sunday after three weeks of intense fighting.

No more ‘normal’

THE mayor of Brussels, Yvan Mayeur, has said the European Union’s capital can never go back to “normal” again following last week’s terror attacks.

He was speaking in Paris, where a minute’s silence was also observed in honour of victims of last week’s attack on Brussels and also for those killed in Lahore, Pakistan.

Drunk pilot grounded A 50-year-old American Airlines co-pilot has been charged with operating under the influence of alcohol.The Wayne County prosecutor’s office said John Maguire was charged on Monday with the misdemeanour stemming from an incident at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Euro 16 steps up security FRENCH President Francois Hollande says private security firms have hired an additional 3,000 people for the European Championship football tournament after last week’s Brussels attacks. Mr Hollande said 2.5 million people are expected to attend the matches in 10 French cities, and about five million are expected to visit the open-air areas.

Cannes Café Society THE 69th Cannes Film Festival will open with Woody Allen’s latest film, Cafe Society. The movie stars a wealth of big Hollywood names including Steve Carell, Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg and Blake Lively. The festival runs until May 22.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Huge blaze hits United Emirates commuter block

A FIRE erupted and burned up the side of several towers in the United Arab Emirates city of Ajman.

Civil defence authorities put out the fire yesterday morning [Tuesday] at the Ajman One development in Ajman, a city that is home to many commuters who work in the Gulf commercial hub of Dubai, further to the south.

The fire struck one tower in Ajman emirate before spreading to an adjacent block.

Residents were evacuated, but several have reportedly been treated for breathing problems and minor injuries.

The towers were sprayed with water to cool down any remaining embers.

A witness at the scene saw two of the towers sustain severe damage in the blaze, while several others appeared to have light damage.

The complex, developed for an estimated 720 million US dollars by Aqaar, is home to 12 residential towers with some 3,000 apartments.

Two sustained severe damage to their exteriors, while others appeared to have light damage.

The cause of the blaze, which began on Monday night, was not immediately clear.

TOWERING INFERNO Fire ripped through this residential UAE block

The state-run WAM news agency said Ajman’s ruler, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, visited the complex and praised firefighters’ efforts to put out the fire. He also ordered authorities to accommodate those affected until they find housing The blaze comes less than three months after a massive fire raced up the exterior of the 63-storey The Address Downtown Dubai, one of Dubai’s most prominent hotels on New Year’s Eve. It is situated next to Dubai’s biggest shopping centre and the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper.

Similar fires have struck other highrises built since the turn of the century in Dubai and Sharjah, which sits between Dubai and Ajman.

Building and safety experts have attributed the spate of fires to a material commonly used to cover the buildings known as aluminium composite panel cladding. Some panels used in buildings in the Emirates contain a flammable core that can burn rapidly once ignited, allowing fires to spread quickly on buildings covered with the panels without sufficient fire breaks.

North Korea fires off another missile test SOUTH Korea claims a series of short-range projectiles have been shot off from an area near North Korea’s eastern coast in what appears to be another weapons test. It is seen as a response to ongoing military drills between Washington and Seoul.

South Korea’s joint chief of staff said the projectile was fired from an area near the North Korean port city of Wonsan and flew about 125 miles towards an inland area in the country’s north-west.

An official with the joint chief of staff said it is unclear whether the projectile crashed inland or overflew its target and landed in the sea. He said

it was also unclear whether the projectile was a ballistic missile or artillery shell.

North Korea usually test-fires its missiles and artillery into the sea.

North Korea has fired a slew of short-range missiles and artillery shells into the sea and has threatened nuclear strikes on Washington and Seoul since the start on March 7 of the annual springtime war games between the United States and South Korea.

North Korea also launched a medium-range ballistic missile into waters off its east coast for the first time since 2014 and touted a new artillery

system it says could turn the South Korean capital into a “sea of flames”.

An official from Seoul’s Defence Ministry said it is too early to tell whether North Korea used a land target to test the accuracy and range of its weapons.

Tensions are particularly high this year because the drills are the largest ever and follow a recent North Korean nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch.

Washington and Seoul say the drills are defensive in nature and they have no plans to invade North Korea.

BUSINESS NEWS �

15

First-timers lose out to the buy-to-let landlords Property investors rush to beat rise in stamp duty DEMAND for homes surged to a 12-year high in February as buy-to-let investors rushed to beat a stamp duty hike.

The majority of estate agents reported an increase in the number of investors flooding the market ahead of a three percentage point stamp duty increase on the purchase of second homes, which starts on Friday (April 1).

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), which released the report, said there were signs that the extra competition from buy-to-let investors has squeezed some firsttime buyers out of the market. House sellers may see buy-to-let investors as a more attractive proposition than people trying to get on the property ladder as they often have more ready cash and are less reliant on raising finance from a mortgage.

Mark Hayward, managing director of the NAEA, said: “The mounting pressure and increased demand for housing has meant that first-time buyers have had to compete with landlords for property and as a result they have lost out.

“We would like to say that come April things will look better for first time buyers. Schemes like the Help to Buy Isa, Help to Buy scheme

SIGNS UP Demand for property rises

and the new Lifetime Isa all sound great on paper, and there’s no doubt that some young people will definitely benefit from them.

“The crux of the problem though is that there is still a huge issue with supply and until we build more homes, and crucially the right sort of homes, we cannot fool ourselves into thinking we are doing enough to help people

buy their own home.”

The new rates of stamp duty land tax (SDLT) will apply to purchases of additional residential properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In the recent Budget, the Government confirmed that big investors will not escape the stamp duty hike, despite their contribution to the housing supply.

A consultation had considered whether it may be appropriate to have an exemption for investors buying at least 15 residential properties, but it was decided that there will be no exemption for significant property investors.

However, people who temporarily end up with two properties due to difficult circumstances, such as retirees downsizing into a smaller property but struggling to sell their original home, will be given some extra breathing space from the new stamp duty rate.

The Government decided that purchasers will have 36 months rather than the originally proposed 18 months to claim a stamp duty refund, in the event that there is a period of overlap or a gap in ownership of a main residence.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Fizzy drinks company cuts back on sugar IRN BRU maker AG Barr has said it will move away from high sugar drinks in light of the sugary drinks tax proposed by the Chancellor.

The Cumbernauld-based firm said it expects ‘at least two thirds of our portfolio will be lower or no sugar’ by the time the levy is introduced in April 2018.

The drinks sector was sent reeling by the announcement of the new tax in the Budget earlier this month, which aims to raise around £520 million a year to help fund sports for schools.

EU uncertainty hits jobs THE recovery in the jobs market has slowed ‘significantly’ amid uncertainty about the impending EU referendum, according to a new study.

Jobs site Adzuna said vacancies had dropped in the last three months, especially in travel, manufacturing and retail firms.

New money is a beast GOLD and silver coins celebrating the Queen’s Beasts are to go on sale to investors, the Royal Mint has announced.

Inspiration for the series was taken from the Queen’s Beasts sculptures, each standing at around two metres (6ft 7in) tall, originally created by James Woodford for the Queen’s coronation ceremony held in Westminster Abbey in 1953.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

16 � LOCAL NEWS

A rugby tackle left my child with a life-changing permanent disability Earlier this month we carried an article about the ongoing debate over the dangers, or not, of rugby being played in schools. Skinners’ Head of Sport Simon Jervis spoke out strongly in favour. This week we hear the other side of the argument from local parent and medical doctor Mahir Shahabdeen THANK you very much to the Times of Tunbridge Wells for raising at local level a national debate.

Your readers might find it [our report in the March 9 issue] reassuring, but I am very concerned that this may be falsely reassuring.

I have been involved as a parent in club and school rugby in Kent almost every playing weekend for over ten years with my two sons. To see five concussions of varying degrees in some matches and five concussions in a single player over a season is not unusual. The main concern is the lack of expertise to recognise concussion and more alarmingly not recording it. We have witnessed this at an international match in the UK last year where a professional player returned to play immediately, all under the spotlight of live TV. It is the prevalence of injuries that has led the concerned experts to start this debate.

Concussion is not the only injury. Other injuries are more prevalent, but easily recognised as the player is unable to continue to play. Again vastly unreported. Data from a local NHS Hospital Trust indicates 46 football, 31 rugby and 31 bike related attendances to the emergency department in 2014.

Sports injury attendance is twice that of Road Traffic Collision. It seems the children are paying

Wednesday 30th March 2016

an unjustifiable price to gain the positive attributes that are stated in your article.

In that longstanding belief, yet unproven that sports does and non-sports activities do not, I let my two children take part in a variety of sports from pre-school age. My younger son at the age of 16 was playing rugby eight times a week in school and club, both at the highest level in Kent.

I am a medical doctor and have the advantage of reading medical evidence from sports injuries before it is in the public domain. The first article on rugby injuries that drew my attention was in January 2015 in the British Medical Journal. While

TACKLING DANGERS Mr Shahabdeen worries about unreported injuries

contemplating on my son’s rugby career, the following month an inappropriate rugby tackle dislocated his knee during a club training session. A year on and after three major operations on his knee ligaments and nerves he is now left with a life-changing permanent disability.

I raised my concerns of rugby injuries with the England Rugby Football Union nearly a year ago. I am still waiting for a reply from the Medical Director. The changes that have been introduced so far, in my view and perhaps of the 70 experts who wrote to the government ministers and the Chief Medical Officer, are unlikely to bring about the level of safety that our children need urgently.

If the children’s welfare and not the rugby economy (applies to other sports too) is more important, then the most beneficial act would be to collect comprehensive data on all injuries that occur during organised sports activities in schools and in clubs. Under-reporting of injuries leads to

falsely reassuring headlines. Parents at present are unable to make an informed decision and perhaps take adequate insurance cover as well, before letting their child get involved in high risk sports.

The culture of rugby at the youth level and higher appears to give credence to aggressive style and size of the player, and less importance to the skills.

This attitude probably stems from club rugby and transfers to the school via the unsuspecting players. The parents and the children are more receptive to authorities in a school environment.

Therefore, tackling rugby at the school level is likely to bring the desired changes early. Playing rugby dangerously is not a necessity for its enjoyment and for the desired benefits.

ADVERTISING FEATURE �

17

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Wednesday 30th March 2016

18  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 Clean up: Road verges littered

In the year that we celebrate the Queen’s 90 birthday, a major initiative is the clean up Britain [Clean for The Queen]. I nominated, unsuccessfully, for the A21 between North Farm and Matfield as the most rubbish polluted strip of road in the country.

Tunbridge Wells is supposed to be an affluent area, certainly reflected in the levels of council tax imposed on its residents, yet the council seem to think that it is ok to have the road verges littered with the detritus of human life.

As a prime tourism centre one would have thought it important to reflect the quality of the town in the initial visual impacts – the roads and paths should act as a mirror for the town.

Reunion: RAF Changi

Please can you help do something about this disgraceful situation?

I should add that the A21 just beyond the Matfield turn-off is equally appalling but that is entirely due to the dispensing of food and drink at the BP Blueboys garage. I do understand that a tax is being considered by government to stop this situation.

An interesting comparison we have witnessed is in Cyprus where the roads are immaculate. The reason – litter louts are fined €1,000 for throwing rubbish out of cars and it is policed. Local residents in Cyprus are proud of their clean environment – the councillors in Tunbridge Wells just seem to think turning a blind eye is acceptable.

John T Reeves Via email

I have been advised by a colleague to contact you immediately! I am hopeful that you will be able to put a small piece in the paper?

Members of the RAF Changi (Singapore) Assoc. are getting together again at the Nevill GC on Friday 8th April at 11.30am.

If you have distant memories of RAF Changi, or indeed RAF Seletar, do come along and share them with us. A light buffet lunch will be available.

Contact Peter Mersh – 01892 862643.

Peter Mersh Via email

of the European Parliament living as far away as Oxford and North London! I would hardly call this ‘local’ representation. How can any MEP claim to really know their constituents if they live miles away from most of them? It just goes to show what a farce this whole European Parliament is. The fact there are so many MEPs as well makes me wonder just how much of our country’s budget is being spent on their salaries. Surely it would be better spent on improving things closer to home like the NHS or affordable housing?

Isabelle Wright Via email

EU debate: Unelected bureaucrats

Southeastern: The response

Daniel Hannan [MEP] might have mentioned (March 23) four other important factors in the [EU] debate: The Commissioners are selected not elected, and we voters have no powers to reject or eject them; the MEPs are selected from their Party List and we rarely meet them or even know their names, as they hold no surgeries (unlike Rt Hon Greg Clark MP) and again we cannot eject them; the very many regulations which percolate to the House of Commons are initiated by unelected bureaucrats and our MPs (if they even bother to read them) pass them on the nod; finally, the EU has not had its accounts signed off for over 19 years. Who would invest in a business with a financial history like that?

Maxwell Macfarlane Via email

EU debate: MEPs are not local

I was intrigued when I started to read your article on MEPs but by the time I had finished the whole thing I was nothing short of astonished. I had absolutely no idea that important decisions that concern us here in Tunbridge Wells were being made by Members

Wednesday 30th March 2016

I read with interest your recent article that stated Southeastern received £19million from Network Rail for delays and cancellations, and then compared this sum to the £1.35million passengers received in Delay Repay compensation in the same period.

Within this story you have added together two entirely separate figures. I would like to clarify this, as I am concerned this may have been a little misleading for your readers and gives the impression we make a huge profit from delays.

That is definitely not the case.

Firstly, we pay Network Rail 48p of every £1 we get from ticket sales for track access and other leasing. This equates to hundreds of millions of pounds a year, which is far greater than the combined £19million we receive for both planned and unplanned delays and cancellations.

And, in relation to the £19million you stated we get from Network Rail, £12million of this is for planned engineering and improvement work. Currently, there is a huge amount of this happening on our network – usually at weekends and public holidays – and this money is a combination of a refund of the fees we pay

Calverley HIMSELF is more than used to the brickbats of life on the media front line, but was taken aback when word reached him he had been accused of writing ‘half-a***d twaddle in the local rag’. And what attracted this ire on Facebook? Calverley’s mention of the Twitterati gathering at Scallywags at 10am on Wednesdays for TWMeetup, a time when most people are hard at work earning a crust.

Has Himself not heard of being self-employed they ranted and much more. A touch of sanity though with one member suggesting the meetings be moved to 8am. Calverley rests his case. Standby for the broadside.

DIRT ROAD The A21

for access and leasing, and covers some of the huge costs a train operator incurs when engineering and improvement work is carried out such as for bus replacement services, extra staff at stations and on trains and loss of revenue when people choose not to travel over a period of time.

Passengers are unable to claim Delay Repay for planned engineering and improvement work and the government is quite clear on this. If this wasn’t the case this crucial work would cost the taxpayer a great deal more.

In total, £7million of the £19million figure you stated is actually associated with unplanned delays such as signalling problems, track faults, train failures, landslides or a trespasser on the track. It is when unplanned delays occur – whatever the reason – that a passenger can claim Delay Repay.

While our first commitment is to running a reliable service, it is only right that passengers can claim when things go wrong and this mechanism allows them to claim compensation if their individual journey has been delayed by 30 minutes or more. We publicise this heavily and are finding that more people are claiming, but not everybody does. Our message is clear, though, if your journey has been delayed by 30 minutes or more, whatever the cause, a passenger is entitled to compensation. For more information go to southeasternrailway.co.uk Alison Nolan Head of Customer Services Southeastern Ed Note: The original article stated that the £19million was a combination of compensation payments for both ‘planned’ and ‘unplanned’ disruptions and that the difference between what Southeastern received and paid out to passengers was not ‘pure profit’.

MY DEAR friend Rosemary Shrager caused much merriment at the Ideal Home Show at Olympia last week. Following an early morning departure from her home on the Kent/Sussex border (something like 5am), the celebrity chef slumped into a comfy sofa in the press room and promptly fell asleep. Her ear-splitting snores attracted the media pack who, being kindly souls, allowed her to enjoy a long, deep slumber.

JEREMY is a decent cove who runs an organic farm and is always (well, often) doing good things. This evidenced by the fact that at the watering hole we share (we should own it by now) he put up a huge basket of goodies for a raffle. It was worth more than £100. With money going to a good cause everyone bought tickets. And the winner: Jeremy’s biggest customer who since taking home the prize has not had to buy a single thing at his farm shop.

TO WINDSOR last week to watch an outstanding new comedian destined for fame. (Confession: he is son). He appeared at a venue in the shadow of the home of Her MaJ. American tourist seated behind Calverley actually utters the following: “Lovely place this Windsor and that castle is really great. Shame she built it so close to an airport.” That caused a laugh (not the biggest of the evening though).

INTERESTING people these financial lawyers.

Calverley hears of a three-hour conference call (obviously on the fee clock) in Tunbridge Wells between those representing different clients. One end young man; other end young lady. Plus, of course listening entourages. Suddenly his phone bleeps and it’s her inviting him to connect with her on LinkedIn, the business networking site.

Naturally she included a picture of herself. Smart move… she won the day.

Chin Chin

EDUCATION �

19

Independents really have a moral obligation to support state schools Academies are back in the news with the announcement by the Chancellor that he wants all schools to become academies by 2020. Academies are independent, state-funded schools which receive their funding directly from central government, rather than through a local authority. The day-to-day running of the school lies with the head teacher or principal, although they are overseen by individual charitable bodies and may be part of an academy chain.

But where do independents stand on the question of academies? Samantha Price is Headmistress of Benenden School SIR Michael Wilshaw [left], the Head of Ofsted, made headlines when he told a recent conference that independent schools should sponsor academies or risk losing charitable status. His comments may be shrouded in a somewhat combative tone, but I agree with the central argument he is making – that independent schools have a moral obligation to support their counterparts in the maintained sector.

In truth I think Sir Michael is pushing at an open door, for most independent schools I know of are enthusiastically engaging with state schools. I agree wholeheartedly that independent schools, if they are not already, should be forging such partnerships – and there are many excellent examples – and, where

resource allows, through the sponsorship of an academy.

The benefits of such partnerships are numerous. Since 2012 we have been sponsoring the John Wallis Church of England Academy in Ashford and are honoured to be a part of this marvellous school’s success. Our partnership working with John Wallis involves our schools’ Heads sitting on one another’s governing bodies; our pupils mentoring one another – for example, girls here were helping Year 6 students prepare for their SATs last month – and we frequently share opportunities: Whether it be jointly attending special chemistry days, off-site events or visiting speakers. We have also jointly launched a Combined Cadet Force and paraded publicly together for the first time at Remembrance Day in the village of Benenden.

This relationship provides invaluable two-way support and the opportunity to truly share excellent practice across the sectors.

Our outreach opportunities extend beyond our

thriving partnership with John Wallis, and we enjoy strong relationships with the village community, with local schools and with other local organisations. We get as much out of these arrangements as anyone else: New experiences provide some of the most valuable education for young people. We educate the girls here at Benenden so that they are fully prepared for life: Not just leaving here with great exam results but so that they are confident, knowledgeable about the world and, above all, compassionate with a deep-rooted desire to help others.

It would be hypocritical if the School were not the embodiment of the compassion that we teach.

Independent schools have a vital role to play in modern society, and a large part of that role is to engage with the community and to help others. I would hope independent schools don’t need Sir Michael Wilshaw, or anyone else for that matter, telling us that.

SCHOOL SPONSOR Samantha Price says Sir Michael is ‘pushing at an open door’

Wednesday 30th March 2016

20  GARDENING GARDENING TIPS FOR SPRING

Victoria Truman

Garden designer

Kent-based garden and landscape designer Victoria Truman www.victoriatruman.com offers her advice and tips for making the most of your plot

Spring into Action...

With the warmer weather finally on the way it’s time to get out into the garden. Here are my top ten tips on what to do in order to get it looking blooming beautiful again

1

Do some early summer landscaping, such as adding fresh gravel or stepping stones to walking areas and some summer planting.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

2 3 4

Clean all patios, furniture and outdoor umbrellas.

Give old furniture a new lease of life using a colour like magenta to give a pop of colour.

By all means plan a particular border in terms of plant sustainability, height, colour and shape – but allow yourself a bit of elasticity so you can change your mind at planting time.

GARDENING 

5

21

If the weather is mild, try digging over the vegetable patch but take it slowly. Dig for no more than 15 minutes to start with, then up it to half an hour. Take breaks and don’t use a massive spade.

6 7 8 9

If lighter work appeals, turn to rose pruning.

Only hybrid teas and floribundas – otherwise known as bush roses – need really hard pruning. Cut them back to about knee height.

Shrub roses can be treated more leniently.

But with all of them, take out dead wood first.

One or two older stems can be removed too,

but that is as much as you need to do with shrub roses. Adopt the same principle with the bush roses, but then cut all the remaining stems to knee height, trying to make the cuts above an outward-facing bud. This way you’re sure to have a rosy outlook for the coming gardening year.

Take a look in your shed and what do you see? The odds are you’ve still got the same old set of tools you started out with years ago.

So it’s time you treated yourself to something better. Shop around, try several brands for weight and comfort. A really good quality spade, fork, rake or hoe may set you back

£20-25 each but do spend as much as you can, because when you try a superior specimen it is so comfortable to use. It is light, well balanced, sharp, stylish and ergonomically designed, which makes everyday gardening a real pleasure.

Even the least green fingered can make a scattering of easy seeds spring up into summer flowers. Sow annuals next month: Sweet peas, larkspur, love-ina-mist and you can have blooms for cutting, too.

10

A Florentine terracotta pot is timeless and will do more for your garden than a dozen plastic pots, while a pergola can transform a small garden, creating an instant dining retreat or a walkway. It’s also a great reason for buying barrowloads of fragrant climbers. Go for the solid, real thing.

Lilies make huge splashes of summer colour for containers and so do dahlias, flowering for weeks on end.

Buying them as bulbs and tubers now will save you cash later.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

24 � WEDDING FEATURE

Safari so good at Port Lympne…

Animal lovers Louise Ross and Oliver Chandler were overjoyed to find out they could wed in a wildlife park in the safari park because we absolutely love animals. As soon as we found out they did weddings it just seemed perfect – very unique.

It was love at first sight! It’s such a beautiful place and it was very convenient as we had the ceremony and reception in the same area. It was a huge weight off the mind to not have to worry about transport.

MANSION SPOUSE Louise and Olly married in the park’s luxurious building How did you and your husband meet?

College sweethearts! We were both studying public services. At the beginning we were in the same class and started to become good friends, but then he was moved to another class and we drifted apart. About a year later we met up for a catch-up and have been in love ever since.

Tell us about the proposal He was a chef at the time so he cooked us a very romantic meal and said we were going to have a nice night in. Obviously, I had no idea how special this night would be – if I did, I probably

Wednesday 30th March 2016

wouldn’t have chosen the Frozen soundtrack for dinner music! After we’d finished dinner he leaned over to kiss me and got down on one knee, it was so sweet! He had been to visit my dad at work to ask his permission beforehand.

After I had said yes, he took me to the pub where he was working – there was a bottle of champagne and our best friends waiting for us to celebrate.

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

We chose to marry at Port Lympne Mansion

Tell us about your big day Our ceremony was at 12.30 so we had plenty of time in the morning to get ready. There was a bit of a panic because it started raining and the plan was to have the wedding outside. Thankfully the rain stopped at 10.30 and the sun was shining for the rest of the day. Like every bride, I had pre-wedding nerves, but once I saw Olly all of those jitters went away and I completely forgot everyone else was there.

I think the biggest highlight had to be the wedding safari. After we had eaten, all of the guests got on these huge safari trucks that took us around the park to see the animals. The giraffes were incredible – everyone was so excited!

The most amazing part of the day for me was our first dance. We hadn’t practised and neither of us can dance but it didn’t matter, we were lost in our own world of happiness and each other. It truly was a magical day.

WEDDING FEATURE n

CAPTURING THE MOMENT Choosing the photographer was one of their best decisions

1 2

25

FIVE TOP TIPS FOR FUTURE BRIDES AND GROOMS

As impossible as it sounds, try and spend some alone time on your wedding day.

Take a moment to let it sink in that you’re now husband and wife! It makes all the difference.

3 4 5

Allow plenty of time in the schedule for photos – they take longer than you think.

Try not to set the wedding date too soon after your engagement. There are a million and one things to plan.

If the venue has a wedding planner take full advantage of them! Nothing ruins a wedding as much as stress. Let them worry about everything.

Where did you spend your honeymoon?

We stayed in the honeymoon suite in the mansion for a couple of nights after the wedding – pure marital bliss. The morning after we had a family breakfast as a final thank you to everyone and then once they had gone home we spent the next couple of days going for walks around the safari park, looking at the animals and spending some quality time together. We then went home for one night and the next morning we went off to Paris, it was so wonderful, I would highly recommend Paris to anyone for a honeymoon, it’s very romantic!

Talk us through some of your key suppliers and how they helped make the day special So many amazing companies to mention!

Firstly, the staff at Port Lympne were great.

They were so accommodating to our needs and I don’t know what we would have done without our wedding planner Stephanie – no matter what we needed or how silly our questions were, she was always there to help.

The photographers were exceptional. We used Anna Shaw Photography. I would say that was one of the best decisions we made. They were brilliant. They took so many photos and were very discreet.

After the wedding they created a professional album for us with all of the best photos so we

had something very special to treasure.

The dress was from Christina K Bridal Boutique in Maidstone. If you are looking for a dress, it is worth taking a look in there. The staff are so friendly and the dresses are beautiful and don’t have a hefty price tag. It was very easy to make appointments for alterations and they were happy to offer their opinion on what accessories would look best.

We had a sweet cart at our wedding reception – needless to say it was very popular! The Sweet Cart Company sent us a huge list of traditional sweets to choose from and were in and out on the day without any troubles.

They even put all of the leftover sweets in bags for the guests to take home.

Planning a wedding can be a very stressful time and can cause a few arguments. Don’t let anyone dictate to you. Remember that it is your big day!

Wednesday 30th March 2016

26 n ADVERTISING FEATURE

Remarkable food for Based on Monson Road, COOK Tunbridge Wells specialises in frozen food that’s prepared by hand, using the same ingredients and techniques you would use at home. We hear more about how they’re bringing meals into the home that are as wholesome as they are quick, easy and convenient Tell us the background of COOK and how it got started COOK was set up by local entrepreneur Edward Perry and his friend Dale Penfold in 1997. Ed looked after the business side of things and Dale, an experienced chef, was in charge of the food. Their founding statement was: to COOK using the same ingredients and techniques a good cook would use at home, so everything looks and tastes homemade. We’ve stuck by this ever since, even though we’ve now got more than 85 shops nationwide.

Originally, getting the food to taste as good as homemade was a big challenge. One of the first recipes Dale made tasted so bad it made Ed cry. It wasn’t just the taste of the food, but

the enormity of the challenge they’d taken on.

But they persevered. Through trial and error and the odd explosion, Dale’s food got better and better and people started coming back for more.

The first shop – called Cakes & Casseroles back then – was in Farnham, Surrey. A few months later, we opened a second, small shop on Monson Road in Tunbridge Wells. Ed and Dale continue to lead the business, with Ed as CEO and Dale as chef director.

What about Tunbridge Wells appealed as a destination to set up a store?

The big appeal back in 1997 was that we knew Tunbridge Wells as a town and that Matt Hills, a school friend of Ed’s, was foolish enough to put in the money for the shop lease and agreed to run the shop. It’s fair to say that shop keeping proved not to be Matt’s calling in life, but he’s still at COOK, overseeing the commercial side of our food development. Over the years, the Tunbridge Wells community has been hugely supportive of COOK. This might be because it’s a town that generally appreciates good food and is also home to lots of people who like to entertain at home.

Talk us through some of your bestselling products Our bestsellers have remained remarkably consistent over the years: Lasagne Al Forno, Classic Fish Pie, Beef Bourguignon and Lamb Tagine are usually at the top of the savoury dishes. Raspberry Pavlova has historically been our bestselling pud, although it’s been challenged recently by Chocolate & Salted Caramel Pavlova – it seems the British public simply can’t get enough of salted caramel.

Our curries – both Indian and Thai – are also really popular because they often taste better than the local takeaway, are great value and you know exactly what’s gone into them.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

COOK’s motto is ‘Remarkable food for your freezer’ – why this choice for a slogan?

We like the word ‘remarkable’ because it pretty much sums up how COOK has grown: through word of mouth, with customers remarking on how good our food is to their friends and family. Of course, the other sense in which the word ‘remarkable’ is used is to describe something that is genuinely exceptional, extraordinary or different, and that’s what we aspire to with our food.

People often can’t quite believe that a frozen ready meal can genuinely taste as good as homemade, if not better. Frozen food tends to have a bit of a bad reputation in the UK. The irony is that freezing is nature’s way

of preserving food; no nasty additives or preservatives are required, and it definitely cuts down on food waste too, as meals can be kept for much longer. We’ve been challenging the perception of frozen food since day one in terms of quality and taste.

As a company, COOK is big on its values – what are they and how are they realised?

We’re trying to redefine what it means to be a successful business, away from a narrow focus on profit, towards the idea that business should genuinely be a force for good in society.

We’ve helped launch the B Corporation movement in the UK, a global community of companies committed to a better way of

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Wednesday 30th March 2016

 PROPERTY SECTION

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

In my view…

Your at-a-glance guide to

Tom Olden Olden Property Consulting

Advice on Residential Lease Extensions You have probably given little thought to the term remaining on the lease of your home or investment property.

Why would you? It is a document which was relevant when you acquired your property but now gathers dust in a file.

It is important that you are aware that the term remaining on your residential lease has a major impact on its value. The shorter the term of your lease, the less valuable it is.

My clients regularly only realise the problems caused by having a shorter lease when they decide to sell the property which can lead to delays to the sale.

Qualifying home owners and investors are entitled to a new lease for a term of 90 years in addition to the term of the existing lease. If your lease has 70 years remaining a lease extension would provide you with a new 160-year lease.

The lease extension is granted following the payment of a negotiated premium to the freeholder based on a statutory valuation.

Ensuring you extend your lease in a timely manner is essential - the longer it is left, the more expensive it will be.

Olden Property Consulting is a firm of chartered surveyors specialising in the valuation and negotiation of lease extensions in London and the South East. For a free consultation to discuss how you could increase or protect the value of your home or investment, please contact Tom Olden.

E: tom@oldenpropertyconsulting.com T: 01892 614788 W: oldenpropertyconsulting.com

VALE ROAD, SOUTHBOROUGH

£175,000

UNDER £200,000 newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Wednesday 30th March 2016

A one-bedroom first floor conversion flat set in a popular residential part of Southborough, just across the road from Southborough Common with its woodland and cricket ground. The accommodation comprises a sitting/dining room,

kitchen and bathroom and benefits from gas-fired central heating.

Although it requires some updating, the property should be viewed on the basis of its potential and is being offered with no onward chain.

CONTACT Wood and Pilcher Southborough 01892 511311 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

UNDER £350,000

comprises an entrance hall, lounge with box bay window to the front, dining room, kitchen, cloakroom, three bedrooms and a bathroom.

The property benefits from a pretty rear garden.

A semi-detached house in the heart of Rusthall which has been in the same family since it was built in the mid-1920s. Offered with no chain and with fantastic scope for refurbishment, the accommodation

CONTACT KMJ Property 01892 515188 www.kmjproperty.co.uk

SOUTHWOOD ROAD, RUSTHALL OFFERS IN THE REGION OF

£285,000

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION 

great properties by price range…

CORNWALLIS AVENUE TONBRIDGE

£770,000

HAWDEN CLOSE, HILDENBOROUGH OFFERS OVER

£425,000

UNDER £500,000 Extended link-detached family home in the popular village of Hildenborough.

Views to the rear over the countryside.

Flexible ground floor accommodation comprises an entrance hall, kitchen, cloakroom, three reception rooms (one currently used as bedroom four) and study. Upstairs: Three bedrooms and a family bathroom. Integral garage and driveway parking. The good size, westfacing rear garden backs on to a field.

CONTACT Wood and Pilcher Tonbridge 01732 351135 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk ROYAL CHASE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£620,000-£640,000 UNDER £650,000

A detached house in sought-after Royal Chase off Mount Ephraim. The ground floor accommodation comprises an entrance hall, double aspect sitting room, dining room, kitchen and bathroom, with a partgalleried landing, three bedrooms and a further bathroom upstairs. The property benefits from off-road parking to the front and an attached garage, with a south-facing walled garden to the rear.

CONTACT Martin & Co Tunbridge Wells 01892 543856 www.martinco.com CORNWALLIS AVENUE TONBRIDGE

SPENNY LANE, MARDEN

£895,000

£770,000

UNDER £1,000,000

UNDER £800,000 A spacious, extended detached house in sought-after Cornwallis Avenue, between Tonbridge and Hadlow. The accommodation includes an entrance hall, dining room, extended living room, kitchen/breakfast room, study, utility room and cloakroom on the ground floor. Master suite with Juliet balcony and shower room, plus three further bedrooms and a family bathroom on the first

floor. Attached garage and driveway parking. Attractive rear garden, 65 ft in length.

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

Detached family home in a semi-rural location in Marden. Set in grounds of around one and a half acres and offering in excess of 3,000 sq ft of accommodation, to include a large double garage with home office above. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, study, sitting room, dining room, family room, cloakroom, kitchen/ breakfast room and garden room. Upstairs there four bedrooms, the master with en-suite bathroom, plus a family bathroom.

The property is offered with no chain.

CONTACT Firefly Properties 01892 838363 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Hadlow Road, Tonbridge I 6 Bedroom Detached House - Offers in excess of £600,000

Brook Lane, Tonbridge I 4 Bedroom Detached House - £579,500

Unique opportunity to purchase a large and versatile

An attractive 4 bedroom detached house set in a

grade II listed home with an abundance of exposed

quiet cul-de-sac within walking distance of the High

beams and inglenook fireplaces. Situated in the

Street and mainline station. Situated on a good

heart ofTonbridge and within walking distance to the

size plot, this light and spacious property has the

station, the property boasts two separate annexes,

benefit of a large master bedroom with en-suite

ideal for a growing family, a courtyard garden and

shower room, a utility room, a study and downstairs

parking for several cars. Subject to the relevant

cloakroom, plus outside it has a landscaped garden,

planning, the house may be divided into 3 separate

garage and off-street parking for 7-8 cars. EPC D

dwellings, each already having their own entrance.

Shipbourne Road I 2 Bedroom Semi Detached Cottage - £385,000

Shipbourne Road I 2 Bedroom End Terrace OFFERSINEXCESSOF£24~000

Rare opportunity to own a period property within

ceiling, 2 double bedrooms, a secluded garden and a

NO ONWARD CHAINI A newly refurbished 2 double bedroom end of terrace house that is within walking distance of the High Street and mainline station. The brand new kitchen has a hob and oven, dishwasher and fridge/freezer with a utility area. The bathroom has a shower over the bath, shower screen and a vanity unit. Upstairs there are 2 double bedrooms with access to a large loft. The ground floor has low maintenance laminate flooring whilst upstairs there are new carpets. Outside there is a secluded walled

parking space. EPC G

courtyard garden with newly laid patio. EPC D

easy walking distance of the High Street and mainline station. This grade II listed cottage has a wealth of period features and has been sympathetically refurbished, retaining exposed beams and stripped wooden floors. Accommodation comprises a lounge that boasts an inglenook fireplace with log burner, a spacious kitchen/breakfast room with a vaulted

Please contact us for Sales, Rentals and Valuations • • t: 01732 770077 I e: tonbridge@ellisandco.co.uk I 93 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1 DR

~

The Property

r..__::, Ombudsman

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~ ~

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since 1925

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LOUNGE & DINING ROOM FURNITURE Skovby M101 modern gate leg table with storage & two chairs mrrp £1,817 Now £895 ONLY ONE! Saving 50% Lloyd loom "Joe" kitchen stool in bright red mrrp £495 Now £250 ONLY ONE! Saving 50% Hulsta Simia media/lounge shelving scheme in ash and white lacquer finish complete with integral lighting a stunning display! mrrp £7,672 Now £2,995 ONLY ONE! Saving 60% Grange Directoire classic French round solid cherrywood table with four chairs mrrp £6,121 Now £2,495 ONLY ONE! Saving 59% Tom Schneider modern glass/walnut table with six chairs in suede mrrp £4,779 Now £2,389 ONLY ONE! Saving 50%

ALL OF OUR BEDS & FURNITURE ARE INCLUDED IN THE BLUE CROSS SALE WELLS REVLON BEDS ARE ALL 50o/o OFF • VISPRING UP TO 50% OFF • TEMPUR BEDS UP TO 50% OFF Wells Bedding and Interiors, 44 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1XF

01892 535555

www.wellsinteriors.co.uk

An attractive Grade II Listed house with fine views Reception hall, kitchen I breakfast room, utility room, cloakroom, dining room, sitting room, drawing room, library, conservatory.

Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 5 further bedrooms (3 with en suite bath I shower rooms), family bathroom. Gardens and grounds. Swimming pool. Croquet lawn. Walled vegetable garden with greenhouse. Double garage. Lean-to garden workroom and tool shed. Log store and wine cellar. Detached barn. Lake. Pond. In all about 3.2 acres.

Hawkhurst An impressive Grade II Listed family residence within the Cranbrook School Catchment Area Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, music room, drawing room, conservatory, kitchen I breakfast room, boot room, utility room, cloakroom. Master bedroom suite with 'his and hers' dressing rooms and en-suite bathroom, 4 further bedrooms, family bathroom. Attached 2 bedroom annexe. Triple open bay garage with storage space above. Stables and yard comprising 4 stables, tack room and feed room. Further outbuildings. Mature gardens and grounds. Heated swimming pool. Fenced paddocks and manege. In all about 10.47 acres.

Albany Hill, Tunbridge Wells Spacious detached family home situated in the popular St James area Entrance hall, cloakroom, kitchen, dining room, sitting room, conservatory, study. Master bedroom with en suite shower room, 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom. Established rear garden. Off-street parking. Garage. EPC rating D.

Blackham An attractive family house in a rural setting Entrance I dining hall, drawing room, sitting room, snug, kitchen I breakfast room, utility room, cloakroom. Master bedroom suite, guest bedroom suite, 3 further bedrooms, family bathroom. Double garage. Workshop. EPC rating D. Garden and land extending to approximately 11 acres.

Mereworth, Kent An imposing Grade II listed Georgian country house Reception hall, drawing room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, sitting room, playroom, study, conservatory, utility room, wine cellar. 2 bedroom suites, 4 further bedrooms, 2 further bathrooms, observatory. Attached former coach house.

2 bedroom cottage. Landscaped gardens. In all about 2.54 acres.

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Harrietsham, Kent A stunning contemporary conversion approaching 7,500 sq ft with panoramic views Entrance hall, open plan kitchen/dining/sitting room, games room, gym/playroom, utility room. 4 bedroom suites, further bedroom, shower room, superb reception room with panoramic views Swimming pool. Established gardens and grounds including a paddock. EPC rating B. In all about 3.9 acres.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

A 1930s exterior with updated open-plan living area indoors AT A GLANCE CROFT WAY, SEVENOAKS � 1930s detached family house � Extended and modernised � Less than a mile from Sevenoaks Station � Contemporary styling � Entrance hall � Sitting room � Playroom � Music room � Cloakroom � Kitchen/dining/family room � Utility room � Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom � Guest bedroom with en-suite shower room � Three further bedrooms � Family bathroom � Driveway parking � Landscaped rear garden with terrace

£1,250,000 For sale through Knight Frank Sevenoaks 01732 744477 www.knightfrank.co.uk

T

HIS substantial detached family house is set in a desirable cul-de-sac off Brittains Lane in Sevenoaks. The property has been sympathetically extended and modernised to provide a contemporary interior with a high specification and excellent open-plan accommodation.

There is an entrance hall, sitting room with log burner, music room, playroom and cloakroom on the ground floor, along with a superb kitchen/ dining/family space with adjoining utility room.

The kitchen area is fitted with bespoke units, a central island with breakfast bar and high-end integrated appliances.

The kitchen is open plan to the dining and family areas, which are spacious and double aspect. Contemporary bifold doors lead out to the rear terrace while triple Velux windows bring in natural light.

On the first floor, the master suite comprises a double bedroom with built-in wardrobes and an en-suite bathroom. There is a guest bedroom suite, plus three further bedrooms and a family bathroom.

The house is set back from the road behind a dwarf brick wall with a driveway and lawned front garden. At the rear of the property is a south-facing garden which has been well landscaped with an impressive terrace and outdoor dining area, an expanse of lawn and a selection of raised planted borders.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells

£1,850,000 - £1,950,000

Herstmonceux, Hailsham

£1,300,000- £1,400,000

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

A superb seven bedroom Sussex Barn conversion with far reaching rural views and equestrian facilities. The property is approached over a private driveway which gives access to a parking area and four bay detached garage beyond. The gardens are a particular feature of the property being landscaped with a paved sun terrace, former swimming pond and pathways leading to the paddocks beyond and equestrian facilities.

West Farleigh

Etchingham

£1,250,000

£950,000

A substantial detached period house dating from the 17th century (Unlisted). Elegant and well proportioned rooms with period features 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.

An immaculately presented detached bungalow in a private location with circa 2 acres and far reaching views over farmland. Walking distance to the village and mainline station. Being marketed for the first time since 1962, the property provides well-proportioned accommodation comprising four bedrooms, three bathrooms, three receptions rooms, outbuildings and potential to extend STPP.

Tunbridge Wells

Wadhurst

£925,000

A substantial link-detached family house situated in a desirable cul de sac on the southern side of Tunbridge Wells within walking distance of the town centre and main line station. Spacious accommodation over two floors to include to include five bedrooms, three reception rooms and two bath/shower rooms. Gardens and integrated double garage.

£825,000 - £850,000

A charming detached, period family home (unlisted) with spacious accommoda tion 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, off road parking and garage.

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

Horam, Heathfield

£775,000

Tunbridge Wells

£775,000

An attractive 3/4 bedroom detached 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 fea ture to this property totalling just over 3 acres and provides ample off road parking available along with integral and detached garaging.

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.

Heathfield

Blackboys, Uckfield

£750,000 - £775,000

£700,000 - £725,000

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.

An attractive character cottage in a quiet location with stunning countryside views. The accommodation has been sympathetically extend ed, comprising a large living room with Inglenook, dining room, farmhouse kitchen with separate 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.

Burwash High Street

Rushers Green, Mayfield

£695,000

A charming four bedroom period village home set in the sought after village of Burwash with its tree lined High Street. This deceptively spacious property offers superbly presented accommodation and beautiful gardens, with superb rural views towards Brightling. The property also benefits from off road parking and garaging.

£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

£500,000 - £525,000 An exciting new development from a highly regarded local developer combining contemporary living with a very high internal specifica tion and fini sh . These two brand new three/four bedroom semi-detached h ouses are loca ted in a popular location within close proximity to shops and am enities.

Tunbridge Wells

£375,000 - £395,000

Period three bedroom semi detached h ouse which occupies a delightful position in the St Jam es area close to the newly refurbi sh ed Grosvenor and Hilbert park.The highly regarded St James primary sch ool and mainline railway stations are within reach. Requiring updating but offering fantastic potential to be extended

£325,000- £350,000 immaculately presented accommodation arran ged over three floors w ith glorious views to the rear. The property is situated in this popular residential street within reach of the Southborough common, Southborough primary sch ool.

Tunbridge Wells

£240,000

Beautiful ground floor one bedroom apartment which occupies an enviable position within a few minutes walk of the mainline railway station, the common and various restaurants/bars. The apartment which h as a private parking space benefits from private entrance h all, open plan kitchen/reception room with bay

Tunbridge Wells

£290,000

The property is in excellent d ecorative order throughout and split on three levels. Internally comprises o large reception room, modern fitted kitchen, white suite bathroom, Master bedroom with built in storage, second d ouble bedroom and converted attic room. Externally the property benefits from two alloca ted

Tunbridge Wells

£325,000 - £350,000

This charming three bedroom period end of terrace house situated within the conservation area w ith excellent views over Rusthall common. The property comprises of mod ern fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, dining room and living room with character fireplace. Upstairs you will find a spacious master bedroom second bedroom m odem bathroom and on the to floor is a recent attic conversion third 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

Tunbridge Wells

£239,950

Two bedroom ground floor purpose built apartment which is located in the popular St Johns area of Tunbridge Wells. Benefits from entrance hall with storage, kitchen, reception room with doors to patio area, two bedrooms. The property forms part of d evelopment offering off road parking and communal garden.

Tunbridge Wells

£3 75 ,000-£400,000

Tunbridge Wells

£240,000

Having been updated throughout by the current owner, the property offers excellent accommodation for modern living including; open plan living room and kitchen; bedroom and ensuite bathroom. The kitchen offers eye and base level units with integra ted white goods. The bathroom offers white suite comprising bath we and basin.

Tunbridge Wells

£400,000 - £425,000

Spacious three bedroom end of terrace house situated in the very desirable Hawkenbury area. The ground floor comprises of entrance hall, large living room, separate kitchen with additional storage areas and conservatory. Upstairs you will find the master bedroom, second double bedroom and a further single room.

The property sits on a good size plot with garage and off street parking for at least two/ three vehicles.

We are delighted to present this brand new three bedroom town house which forms part of this exciting select development of just three properties built by a reputable local developer. The property has been fini shed to a high specification and is presented over three floors, including off road parking.

Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells

£145,000

One bedroom first floor apartment which is located within easy reach of the mainline railway station and High Street. Benefits from a share of the freehold and parking to the rear of the property. accommodation includes entrance hall, open plan kitchen/sitting room, double bedroom and shower room.

£300,000

Beautiful two bedroom period house in the very popular Auckland Road. Downstairs you will find an attractive open plan Kitchen dining room with French doors on to the garden, Modern bathroom with under floor hea ting and a very spacious living room to the front of the property. Situated very close to town.

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

� PROPERTY SECTION

THE FARMHOUSE HILDENBOROUGH ROAD, LEIGH

£1,550,000

Wednesday 30th March 2016

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Beautiful listed home boosted by new kitchen and a paddock T HE Farmhouse is a delightful 17th-century Grade II listed property in the village of Leigh. The house has been refurbished by the vendors throughout, combining its original character with all the necessary comforts of modern family living.

On the ground floor there is a superb triple aspect drawing room which is light and spacious, with a fireplace and doors to the garden. Off this room is a double aspect sitting room and both have doors through to the charming farmhouse kitchen/breakfast room. Recently fitted by Rencraft, the kitchen features white units under granite work surfaces. There is also a dining room and a cloakroom on this floor.

Stairs from the kitchen/breakfast room lead to the first floor landing. The triple

aspect master bedroom has views over the paddock, plus there is a walk-in dressing room and en-suite shower room. There are two further double bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms, an additional double bedroom and a family bathroom.

The second floor has a charming bedroom suite and two additional double bedrooms with under-eaves storage. At present, the vendors use bedroom seven as a study.

The driveway leads through a private close to a double garage and electric gates which give access to a private paved driveway with parking for several cars.

The garden is mainly laid to lawn with a large paddock to the side accessed from a private farm track, over which the vendors have right of access. In all there are just over five and a half acres.

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE n A 17th-century Grade II listed property n Attractive rural setting n Character features n Refurbished n Drawing room n Sitting room n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Cloakroom n Master bedroom with dressing room and bathroom n Three further first floor bedrooms, two en-suite n Family bathroom n Three top floor bedrooms, one with en-suite and one used as study n Double garage n Ample parking n Rear terrace and established gardens n Paddock n In all 5.65 acres

£1,550,000 For sale through Knight Frank Sevenoaks 01732 744477 www.knightfrank.co.uk

Wednesday 30th March 2016

LANGTON GREEN, KENT Similar required + detached modern new build + 5 bedrooms + 6 bathrooms + garden + terrace + garage + Council Tax=G Guide £4,250 pcm

BRENCHLEY, KENT Similar required + 5 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + garden + tennis court + Council Tax=G + EPC Exempt Guide £2,950 pcm

FRANT, TUNBRIDGE WELLS Similar required + detached cottage + 3 bedrooms + secluded garden + Council Tax=F + EPC=C Guide £1,800 pcm

TUNBRIDGE WELLS ,

+ EPC=C

+ swimming pool

+ 2 bathrooms

KENT Similar required + detached family home + 5 bedrooms + garden + garage + Council Tax=F + EPC=D Guide £3,250 pcm

+ 3 bathrooms

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT Similar required + detached oast + village location + 5 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + garden + Council Tax=G + EPC=E Guide £3,250 pcm

TUNBRIDGE WELLS ,

KENT Similar required + grade II listed + spectacular views + 4 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + garden + parking + Council Tax=G + EPC Exempt Guide £2,950 pcm

MAYFIELD , EAST SUSSEX Similar required + grade II listed + 4 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + conservatory + garden + Council Tax=D + EPC Exempt Guide £1,850 pcm

TUNBRIDGE WELLS ,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS ,

KENT Similar required + loft style conversion + town centre location + 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + Council Tax=C + EPC=E Guide £1,350 pcm

KENT Similar required + sought after Pantiles area + Council Tax=D + EPC=E Guide £1,200 pcm

+ 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms

Thinking of renting? There are some important things that you need to know. *Tenancy paperwork fees to include drawing up the tenancy agreement and reference charge for one tenant - £282 inc VAT. £36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required . Inventory check out fee - charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details including example inventory fees, visit savills.co.uk/fees

FRANT ROAD,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Well-appointed family home + adjoins plot below + drawing room + cinema room + study + kitchen/breakfast and sitting room + conservatory + self-contained annexe + detached double garage + tennis court + Tunbridge Wells MLS about 0.9 miles + 5,398 sq ft + about 0.69 acres + EPC=C

Guide £2.5 million Freehold

FRANT ROAD,

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

DUNORLAN PARK,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Rare opportunity for self-build + PP for a 4 bedroom period-style home + popular South side of town + mainline station about 0.9 miles + plot of about 0.42 acres + EPC exempt

First fioor apartment + high standard of presentation + kitchen/reception room + 2 en suite double bedrooms + lift access + secure garage parking + 888 sq ft + EPC=B

Guide £550,000 Freehold

Guide £365,000 Leasehold

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

Contact: Becky Card

� PROPERTY SECTION

COTCHFORD FARM COTCHFORD LANE, HARTFIELD

£1,895,000

Step inside the enchanting world of Winnie-the-Pooh’s Christopher Robin Wednesday 30th March 2016

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

D

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

ELIGHTFUL Cotchford Farm enjoys a fascinating provenance, with both literary and musical connections. In 1924, the East Sussex house was bought by a certain AA Milne as a country retreat for himself, his wife and his son, Christopher Robin. It was where the wonderful stories of Winnie-the-Pooh came to life and the entire area, which borders Ashdown Forest, has now become known as ‘Pooh Country’.

In later years, the house attracted another famous owner – musician and founder of The Rolling Stones, Brian Jones, who owned it until his untimely death in 1969.

Cotchford Farm has now been under the same

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

ownership for more than 46 years and combines 16th-century period features with comfortable family accommodation. The property is Grade II listed and set in glorious private gardens.

On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, a study, cloakroom, oak-panelled dining room, playroom/family room with adjoining shower room, kitchen and utility room. A wonderful split-level drawing room enjoys an outlook over four aspects and features an impressive inglenook fireplace with wood-burning stove.

Set on the first floor, the attractive master bedroom has a range of fitted wardrobes and an en-suite bathroom. There are three more bedrooms

PROPERTY SECTION �

on this floor, one with an en-suite shower room, plus a family bathroom. The second floor has two further bedrooms and a shower room.

The house is approached via an electric five-bar gate which leads to a driveway. The beautiful gardens and grounds are a superb feature of the property, providing privacy and seclusion. To the north west of the house lies a substantial kitchen garden and apple orchard. The heated swimming pool is surrounded by terracing and there is a timber arbour for al fresco entertaining.

In the garden is a stone statue of Christopher Robin and a sundial on a stand with Pooh and his friends carved into it.

AT A GLANCE � Former home of AA Milne and later of The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones � Grade II listed country home � Set in the heart of ‘Pooh country’ � Entrance hall � Cloakroom � Drawing room � Dining room � Study � Playroom/family room � Shower room � Kitchen � Utility room � Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom � En-suite guest room � Two further first floor bedrooms � Family bathroom � Two bedrooms on top floor � Shower room � Driveway � Beautiful gardens and grounds � Swimming pool � Outbuildings � In all around 9.5 acres

£1,895,000 For sale through Savills Tunbridge Wells 01892 507000 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Tunbridge Wells £675,000 An immaculately presented modern town house, situated on the favoured south side of town, affording generous room sizes with flexibility of use. Currently 3 receptions, kit/ family room, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Allocated parking, gardens. EPC: C.

Tunbridge Wells Monthly Rental £2,350 A recently refurbished large 4 bed family home in the popular St Johns area Excellently located for secondary schools. Set over 3 floors: kitchen/breakfast room, 2 reception rooms, cloakroom/ WC, 4 double bedrooms & 2 bathrooms. Garage & driveway. Rear garden. Available now. EPC: E.

Tunbridge Wells £475,000 - £495,000 A I920's semi-detached house, in need of some cosmetic updating, situated in the favoured St John's area. 2 reception rooms, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, bathroom. Rear garden measuring 75'. EPC: D.

Bidborough Monthly Rental £1,850 A spacious 3 bed detached family home within walking distance of the village centre. Kitchen/ breakfast room, 2 reception rooms, utility room & cloakroom/WC, 3 double bedrooms & family bathroom. Garage & driveway. Large rear garden. Available 25 April. EPC: E.

Tunbridge Wells £325,000 - £350,000 A Grade II Listed landmark building located close to The Pantiles, recently redecorated throughout, new bathroom and gas central heating system, superb kitchen/family/dining room, 2/3 bedrooms. No onward chain.

Speldhurst Monthly Rental £ 1,250 A completely refurbished & beautifully presented 2 bedroom semi-detached Victorian Villa.

Kitchen, utility room, 2 reception rooms, basement study/bedroom, 2 double bedrooms & family. Driveway for 2 or 3 cars. Rear garden with views. Available now. EPC: D.

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 30th March 2016

� PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Cleverly extended Tonbridge house still keeps its character T

HIS spacious character property is ideally located a short walk from Tonbridge station and the town centre. Thoughtfully extended and offering well-presented accommodation over three floors, it retains period features including square bay windows, fireplaces and stripped wood flooring.

There is a covered porch with quarry-tiled floor which leads into the light and airy entrance hall. To the front of the house is a sitting room with feature fireplace, and there is a separate dining room with a door opening to the garden. At the rear of the house is the kitchen/breakfast/family room with vaulted ceiling, Velux windows, a comprehensive range of fitted units and a Rangemaster cooker.

Upstairs, there are three double bedrooms and a lovely family bathroom. Two further bedrooms, one an impressive 20 ft long, and a shower room are set on the second floor.

There is an attractive front garden with side access to the fully enclosed rear garden with paved patio, perfect for summer entertaining and with steps leading up to a lawned area with a useful garden shed and summer house.

‘Period features include square bay windows, fireplaces and stripped wood flooring’

AT A GLANCE SPRINGWELL ROAD TONBRIDGE n Extended period home n Character features n Well presented n Entrance hall n Sitting room n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast/family room n Three first floor bedrooms n Family bathroom n Two top floor bedrooms n Shower room n Attractive rear garden with patio and lawn

£625,000 For sale through Barnes Kingsnorth Tonbridge 01732 771616 www.bkestateagents.com

Wednesday 30th March 2016

South borough

£895,000

• Detached 5 Bed Family Home • 2 Recepti on Rooms & Study • Open Pl an Kitchen/ Dining/Family Room • Very We ll Presented • Master Bedroomwith En Suite Shower Room • Energy Efficiency Rating: C

Southborough • First Fl oor Flat • Popular Res idential Locati on • 2 Bedroo ms

Tunbridge Wells • Semi Detached House • 3 Bedroo ms • We ll Presented

Tunbridge Wells • Beautiful Ground Fl oor Apt • 2 Bedrooms • Village Locati on

£207,000 Tunbridge Wells • Own Rear Garden • On Road Parking • En ergy Efficiency Rating: D

• 3 Bed/3 Bath Semi Detached • Sought After St James • Long Rear Gard en

£360,000 - £375,000 • No Onwa rd Chain • Off Road Parking • En ergy Efficiency Rating: D

• 4 Bed Semi Detached Cottage • Op en Plan Kitchen/ Din er/ Family Rm • Beautifully Presented

Tun bridge Wells Office 01892 511211 tun bridgewel ls @wooda ndpi lcher.co.u k Southborough Office 01892 511311 South boroug h@woodandpilcher.co.u k

NAEA

• 4 Bedrooms • All ocated Parking Space • 2 Bathro oms

£2,000 PCM • Ava ilabl e April • En ergy Efficiency Rating: D • Age nt's Fees Apply

£550,000 to £575,000 Tunbridge Wells • Cul De Sac Locati on • Off Road Parking • En ergy Efficiency Rating: C

£340,000 Lamberhurst • Corn er Pl ot • Off Road Parking • En ergy Efficiency Rating: D

Tunbridge Wells

£550,000 • Large Co rn er Pl ot • Driveway Parking • En ergy Efficiency Rating: D

~ / \ The Property ~Ombudsman

(i)nTheMarket,om

woodandpilcher.co.uk

• 4 Bedrooms • Short Wa lk Into Town • 2 Bath roo ms

£1,850 PCM • Ava ilabl e April • En ergy Efficiency Rating: E • Age nt's Fees Apply

Tunbridge Wells • 1 Double Bedroo m • Private Balco ny • All ocated Parking Space

£825 PCM • Ava ilabl e Now • En ergy Efficiency Rating: D • Agent's Fees Apply

Other offices in Crowborough, Heathfield, Tonbridge & associated London Branch

Call Carol @ Firefiy Properties 01892 838363 for details carol@fireflyproperties.co.uk

Andrews >

Tunbridge Wells andrewsonline.co.uk

All Saints Road Guide price £450,000 - £475,000 Three bedroom detached house in St Johns, which has been re-modelled and modernised to a high standard. Entrance hall, living room, kitchen/dining room, 3 bedrooms, two bathrooms, gardens front and rear and garage. No chain.

Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Guide Price £300,000 to £325,000 The Pantiles Looking to live in the heart of the Pantiles? Two bedroom apartment with open plan living and views over the towns roof tops. Bathroom with free standing bath, separate shower room and several storage areas are other notable features here.

En ergy Effici ency Rating: C

LANDLORDS WANTED

Guide Price £380,000 Linden Park Gardens Light and bright entrance level apartment with own access, dual aspect living room with access to the veranda, two bedrooms both with bay windows, modern kitchen, shower room, garage and parking.

Energ\:j Efficienc\:j Rating: D

in Tunbridge Wells

Are you a Landlord looking to rent out your property?

Or perhaps you already have tenants but want a professional and pro-active Letting Agent to look after the

Let Agreed - Kiln Bank £500pcm

Let Agreed - Woodbury Park £695pcm

Let Agreed - Dunstan House £575pcm

management of the tenancy?

Andrews Letting & Management of Tunbridge Wells have an in-house property management team to look after your interests as a Landlord.

Let Agreed - York Road £850pcm

Let Agreed - Park Court £2200pcm

Let Agreed - Kensington Court £950pcm

For a FREE Rental Valuation or further details, please come in and speak to the lettings team 01892 525551 or

We've Succeeded - More are Needed!

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

Tunbridgewells.lets@andrewsonline.co.uk

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

we open doors for you ...

BarnesKingsnorth

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£229,950

ST JAMES' AREA. A spacious ground floor flat with excellent natural light and set within 0.5 mile of the town centre and 1 mile of the mainline station. Entry phone system, double aspect sitting/dining room, modern kitchen, modern bathroom, 2 double bedrooms with built-in-wardrobes. Enclosed personal terrace and communal gardens. Communal parking. Double glazing and recently installed gas central heating. Internal viewing recommended. EPC: D Apply Pembury

SOUTH TONBRIDGE

£625,000

SPACIOUS EDWARDIAN SEMI WITH 5 DOUBLE BEDROOMS! Ideally located for schools, town and commuting this character family home offers well-presented accommodation with impressive sitting room with square bay window, fireplace and natural stripped flooring, separate dining room and super light & airy kitchen/breakfast/family room. First floor with 3 double bedrooms and stylish family bathroom, then a staircase leads to 2 further bedrooms and a shower room. The rear garden is fully enclosed with paved terrace for entertaining and lawn with garden shed and summer house. The property enjoys wonderful views across the North downs and is ideal for the family to grow into. EPC: D Apply Tonbridge

NORTH TONBRIDGE

£899,950

SUBSTANTIAL FAMILY HOME WITH ANNEXE in sought after location near open countryside yet within easy access of local school and amenities. Exceptionally generous and versatile accommodation with 5 double bedrooms, 2 bath/shower rooms, spacious sitting room, separate dining room and the kitchen/breakfast room which opens to an additional 19' family room/ office. Along with large entrance hall, utility and cloaks there is the added plus of a spacious 1 bedroom self-contained annexe, just perfect for visiting relatives, grown up children or the au pair. Outside the large driveway offers plenty of parking along with a double garage and the wide rear garden with plenty of lawn space. NO CHAIN EPC: C Apply Pembury

Q} Primelocatior

Residential

t i'rightmove.co.uk Sales & !Lettings

Pembury: 01892 822880

Tonbridge: 01732 771616

Lettings: 01732 771616

e.pembury@bkea.co.uk

e.tonbridge@bkea.co.uk

e. Lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.l,kestatea1ents.com

LAND & DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council have identified the need to increase the amount of housing planned for its administrative area as commissioned in a recent report.

Sites exercise. Sites will be assessed for their suitability under a process known as Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA).

The requirement for 12,960 houses (648 per year) has been identified by The Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) in Tunbridge Wells between 2013-2033.

If you own land within the Borough and would be interested in having it promoted for potential development, please contact us. The deadline for submissions is 1 August 2016.

As a result of this housing need, Tunbridge Wells are now inviting submissions to identify sites within the Borough as part of a Call for

SPRING SO ~ INTO ACTION WITH CPG

ďż˝ PROPERTY SECTION

Wonderfully refurbished home has a stunning pool inside a conservatory Wednesday 30th March 2016

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

BANK LANE UNDERRIVER n Outstanding renovated property n Desirable location n Elevated position with views n Contemporary design n Entrance hall n Drawing room n Study n Kitchen/dining room n Utility/boot room n Cloakroom n Master suite with freestanding bath, dressing area and en-suite shower room n Guest suite n Two further bedrooms

H

OPE FIELD is an outstanding property which has been individually designed to an exceptional standard. It stands on an elevated position in Underriver, just four miles from Sevenoaks.

The current owners have totally renovated the property and highlights now include beautiful landscaped gardens with patio dining area, a private lake, ancillary accommodation and a superb conservatory swimming pool.

The entrance hall boasts a feature glass bannister coiled staircase and a cloakroom.

There is a spacious, triple aspect drawing room

n Family bathroom with a fireplace and doors to the rear terrace and a large open-plan kitchen/dining room featuring a tropical fish tank set into the wall between the dining area and the utility room. A study completes the ground floor accommodation.

Upstairs, the generous master suite features a freestanding bath and built-in wardrobes in the dressing area of the bedroom, as well as a stylish en-suite shower room.

There is a guest room with en-suite facilities and two further bedrooms are well served by a family bathroom.

Adjacent to the main house is a single-storey

cottage, which has a multitude of uses and is currently set up as a two-bedroom annexe.

There is also a detached studio with a cloakroom and kitchen, ideal for working from home.

The stunning conservatory leisure suite has a 20-metre pool, separate hot tub and adjoining orangery living space.

There is a separate double garage, and further into the garden is a greenhouse, a peacock barn and a chicken run. The house sits attractively in its land and is accessed via an extensive gated driveway. In all there is almost three acres.

n Detached two-bedroom cottage n Studio n Conservatory swimming pool n Landscaped grounds n Lake n Almost 3 acres

£2,650,000 For sale through Knight Frank Sevenoaks 01732 744477 www.knightfrank.co.uk

Wednesday 30th March 2016

ADVERTISING FEATURE

IT'S TIME YOU GOT THE MESSAGE A new estate agent is now open for the local home movers of Tunbridge Wells and is upping the game by offering a unique service ...

Rotherby's are based on Calverley Road and the founder and director Stephen Tidmarsh has over 35 years of experience in the industry.

and establish exactly what home owners want from estate agents and our findings prove that this has to be an exemplary service from start to finish.

Specifically serving the needs of the local area, Rotherby's charges for selling are at 0.5 per cent plus VAT on a no-sale, no-fee basis which includes the EPC, floor plan, brochure, photography and accompanied viewings. Stephen states: "We've identified that estate agents need to communicate directly with buyers and sellers at the pace at which the average home mover requires - immediately, effectively and at a sensible fee."

Providing an honest and accurate valuation is where it begins.

Then effective marketing via local newspapers and the major internet portals such as Rightmove, incorporating social platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, ensures each and every one of our properties reach the widest audience possible. After that it's the speed and the manner in which we deal with an enquiry that matters most, to convert it from a viewing to a sale."

To facilitate this, Rotherby's have created a unique online

Rotherby's operate a 24-hour telephone, message and email service to all home movers - seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year. "We know we are unique with our service charter and we conduct an extremely large volume of business outside of the normal working hours. Our high level of service suits the busy working professional who is up early and out until late, often missing the opportunity to communicate during the day due to work commitments.

messenger service for both home sellers and buyers to provide them with real-time updates on their transaction throughout.

"Moving house can be extremely stressful and one of the largest problems that contributes towards this is simply not knowing what's going on," says Mr Tidmarsh, "That's where we're different.

We link directly with the key professionals and in particular the solicitors, not only with the client's individual property transaction but also with all the other properties in the chain to provide constant real-time updates to sellers and buyers alike."

The messenger service is accessed from your mobile to send and receive information whilst on the move - a simple yet effective free service to save you time waiting for return phone calls or emails. "We have taken our time to identify

Wednesday 30th March 2016

The use of the messenger service is exclusive to Rotherby's clients and a personal log-in give buyers and sellers updates on their sale or purchase so there's no need to ask what is happening. We tell you first."

Rotherby's can be contacted via their website www.rotherbys.co.uk, by calling 01892 570223 or emailing info@rotherbys.co.uk

Kendal Drive, Tonbridge

Guide Price £650,000 - £675,000

Set in a delightful and highly desirable Cul-De-Sac in central Tonbridge, this four bedroom detached property is ideally located for access to Tonbridge High Street and Station.

Cornwallis Avenue, Tonbridge

Guide Price £770,000 - £790,000

A charming four bedroom, three reception room, extended detached house located on the sought after Cornwallis Avenue located between Tonbridge and Hadlow.

Hadlow Park, Tonbridge

Guide Price £850,000 - £900,000

Set within the grounds of the exclusive and private Hadlow Park is this superb five bedroom detached family home which has the additional potential of a selfcontained Annexe.

Pine Ridge, Tonbridge

Guide Price £290,000 - £320,000

With stunning views to the rear, offered chain free is this three bedroom 'link' semi detached family house with driveway.

ďż˝ PROPERTY SECTION

THE OAKS FARM HATMILL LANE, BRENCHLEY

ÂŁ1,195,000

Family friendly and close to an idyllic village

T

HE Oaks Farm is a superb home of character, situated just outside the village of Brenchley. Offering just under 3,200 sq ft of space, this linked-attached house has everything that a modern family could need, including a swimming pool.

The property opens to a porch, which leads to a light and airy entrance hall with parquet floor. To the ground floor there is a family room and sitting room, a living room, dining room, conservatory, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room and cloakroom.

The kitchen/breakfast room boasts shaker-style cabinetry, quartz tops and a cream-coloured AGA. There are also two bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor, ideal as a guest suite.

The first floor can be accessed from two staircases, one at either end of the entrance hallway. The master bedroom benefits from a large dressing room which leads to generous eaves storage areas. Three further bedrooms and a large family bathroom complete the accommodation.

To the front of the property there is a large gravel driveway with parking for several vehicles. To the rear is an established garden with heated swimming pool and a gazebo on the paved terrace.

The garden also has a brick-built shed and a duck pond. The lawn area backs on to woodland and the house is set in just under an acre.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

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 n Charming character property n Generous accommodation n Very well presented n Close to popular village n Entrance hall n Sitting room n Living room n Dining room n Conservatory n Kitchen/breakfast room n Utility room n Cloakroom n Two ground floor bedrooms n Ground floor bathroom n Two staircases n Master bedroom with dressing room n Three further bedrooms n Family bathroom n Eaves storage n Heated swimming pool n Gardens and terrace n Duck pond n Backing on to woodland n Gravel drive with parking

£1,195,000 For sale through Maddisons Residential 01892 514100 www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk

Wednesday 30th March 2016

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

� PROPERTY SECTION

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

Deep in Ashdown Forest’s Five Hundred Acre Wood

‘The garden has a fine terrace and sweeping areas of lawn’ AT A GLANCE WITHYHAM HARTFIELD � Character country house � Substantially extended � Rural setting in woods adjacent to Ashdown Forest � Entrance porch � Dining hall � Drawing room � Sitting room � Family room � Study � Kitchen � Conservatory/breakfast room � Shower room � Five bedrooms, two en-suite � Family bathroom

F

OREST PLACE is a fine detached country house with period origins, substantially extended in recent years. Set in Ashdown Forest’s famous Five Hundred Acre Wood, it is approached by a long forest lane to its own gated entrance. Although in a totally rural setting, there is easy access to Crowborough less than two miles away.

The house features an entrance porch which opens to a large dining hall with an inglenook

Wednesday 30th March 2016

fireplace with multi-fuel stove. The drawing room is well proportioned with French doors to the rear terrace. Also on the ground floor is a sitting room, a study, a family room, a shower room and a kitchen which opens to a conservatory/breakfast room.

A spiral staircase in the sitting room leads up to a self-contained suite with a bedroom and shower room. Another staircase from the dining hall leads to a landing with the four remaining

bedrooms, one of which has an en-suite shower room, and family bathroom.

There are attractive gardens and grounds with two entrances, one to the front and the main one to the side through automatic gates. There is a very wide parking area to the front of the double garage which has storage on the first floor and an adjoining outbuilding. The garden has a fine terrace and sweeping areas of lawn leading to mature woodland. In all, nearly three acres.

� Double garage with storage room over � Outbuilding � Gardens and grounds of 2.8 acres

£1,350,000 For sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Your local independent Estate Agent

1kMJProperty

...contactable 7 days a week

£265,000

TUNBRIDGE WELLS This terrace property is situated in the Heart of Rusthall village, close to shops and amenities. The accommodation comprises; Lounge, kitchen/diner, 2 double bedrooms and an upstairs bathroom. The property benefits from a courtyard garden, double glazing and gas fired heating. EPC D. NO CHAIN

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

This 3 bedroom semi-detached family home with driveway comprises; lounge with box bay wind ow to front, open plan kitchen/dining room with double doors leading to garden, 3 bedrooms and a modern upstairs bathroom benefitting from a side fill bath and separate shower cubicle.

Double glazing, gas fired heating and rear garden. EPC E.

Victorian semi-detached house, newly refurbished and set over three floors. Lounge with open fireplace, dining room with log burner open to kitchen, downstairs cloakroom, 2 bedrooms & family bathroom on 1st floor and master bedroom with private shower room on the 2nd floor. DG, GFH rear garden. EPC D. NO CHAIN.

www.kmjproperty.co.uk S::11

Find us on

• 111 Facebook

01892 515188

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sales@kmjproperty.co.uk ~ AP!'RCMO COO

, ~ : i . ~ ....

MADDISONS R E SID EN TI A L

~

THE SUNDAY TIMES

THE alllll.TIMES

Excellence is not a skill. It's an attitude.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Postern Barn, Tudeley

£1,100,000

A tru ly beautiful 4 bedroom barn com·crsion set at the end of a prirntc road in Tudclcy. Vaulted ceilings, a fabulous galleried landing and 2/.1 reception rooms create a wonderfully spacious family home. Slightlyclcrntcd and set in three quarters of an acre, this lm·cly barn is surrounded by farmland with g lorious ,·icws across open countryside. Peaceful lh'ing at its best.

,vest House, Goudhurst

£1,250,000

A simply beautiful family home in the heart of the desirable ,·illagc of Goudhurst. [i'u ll of character and period charm, this dcccpth·cly spacious 16th century residence offers 5 bedrooms, .1 reception rooms, 2 bathrooms, off-street parking for up to .1 cars and a lm-cly south-facing garden.

The Oaks Farm, Brenchley

£1,195,000

A beautiful family home close to the popular ,·illagc Brenchley in Kent. A substantial property. it offers G bedrooms. 4 rc<Jcption rooms and is presented in first class condition throughout. \\'ith a large garden. heated s"·imming pool and fabulous outdoor entertaining space. this really is one to , ·ic\\·.

The White House, Hadlow

£2,400,000

A truly elegant and substantial property nestled between the market towns of Iladlow and Tonbridge in Kent, m·crlooking open farmland. The highly flexible accommodation includes 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 5 stylish reception rooms and a beautiful, ,·c rsatilc annexe, all making The White House the perfect family home.

Acorn House, Brenchley

£1,200,000

A most imprcssi\·c 5-bcdroom family home located in the heart of the desirable ,·illagc of Brenchley. Extended and imprm·cd by the current mrncrs to offer 5 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, .1 bathrooms, a double garage and a fabulous 150 ft rear garden.

The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells

£900,000

A fabulous. spacious triplex apartment in an cmfablc position in the ,·cry heart of Tunbridge \\'ells coming to the market for the first time in just under 25 years. Offering 4 bedrooms.

2 bathrooms. a spacious dine-in kitchen and a lm-cly main rnccption room ,Yith a balcony m·crlooking the historic Pantiles. this is an absolute gem of a property.

www.maddisonsresidential.co. uk Royal Victoria House, 51-55 The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TE Telephone: 01892 514100 Email: info@maddisonsresidential.co.uk

MADDISONS

- - - - RESIDENTIAL ~

THE SUNDAY TIMES

THE alllll.TIMES

Excellence is not a skill. It's an attitude.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Fair Oak Farm, Mayfield, East Sussex A rare business & lifestyle opportunity in the heart of the East Sussex countryside, incorporating a Grade II listed farmhouse, detached oast conversion and a thriving holiday let business in beautifully converted farm buildings and eco-lodge tree houses. · Operating as an existing profitable boutique holiday lettings and potential wedding venue business · 12 acre estate · 5 bedroom farmhouse and detached oast house conversion · Converted barn & farm buildings · 2 eco-lodge tree houses · Further barns & outbuildings · Planning Permission for additional accommodation

Offers in the region £3,000,000 "Mixed Use"

www.maddisonsresidential.co. uk Royal Victoria House, 51-55 The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TE Telephone: 01892 514100 Email: info@maddisonsresidential.co.uk

� PROPERTY SECTION

BELL ORCHARD ST MARY’S PLATT

£1,450,000

AERIAL VIEW Of the newbuild homes

A new-build designer property in a charming country setting W ISMER is just one of three outstanding properties newly built by Millwood Designer Homes in St Mary’s Platt.

The attractive five-bedroom family house lies in a charming, semi-rural setting off a quiet country lane.

Finished to a very high specification, and sitting in a larger than average plot, it is well screened by mature trees and shrubs, and is

Wednesday 30th March 2016

located between Sevenoaks and West Malling.

On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, a cloakroom, a study, a drawing room with woodburning stove, a stunning kitchen/breakfast/ family room, a utility room and a dining room which opens into a lovely garden room. The garden room and the family/breakfast areas benefit from bifold doors to the rear garden.

Upstairs, the master suite features a bedroom,

walk-in wardrobe and bathroom, and there are four further bedrooms, one with en-suite facilities and another with ‘Jack and Jill’ access to the family bathroom.

Special features include a high spec kitchen with granite and Silestone worktops, fully integrated appliances and ceramic floor tiles.

The bathrooms and cloakroom feature white suites by Villeroy & Boch and there is underfloor

heating to both floors. There is also wiring for a state-of-the-art multiroom audio system, an alarm system and TV/satellite and BT/data points are provided to all principal rooms.

The front garden is landscaped and has a driveway accessed through a five-bar gate.

The double garage is attached to the house via a covered porch area, and altogether the property sits in roughly three quarters of an acre.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

‘Special features include a high spec kitchen with granite and Silestone worktops and integrated appliances’ AT A GLANCE � Newly built by Millwood Designer Homes � One of three houses in an exclusive setting � Set off a quiet country lane � One mile from Borough Green Station � High specification throughout � Entrance hall � Study � Cloakroom � Drawing room � Dining room � Garden room � Kitchen/breakfast/family room � Utility room � Master suite with bedroom, walk-in wardrobe and bathroom � Four further bedrooms (one with en-suite shower room and one with access to a family bathroom) � Family bathroom � Double garage and driveway � Large plot of around 0.74 of an acre � Farmland views � 10-year Premier Warranty

£1,450,000 For sale through Hamptons Sevenoaks 01732 430290 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 30th March 2016

RYE, EAST SUSSEX

FRANT,KENT

Luxury country living + 5 bedrooms + 4 bathroom + 6 reception rooms + substantial garden and woodland + tennis court + Council Tax=H + EPC=F

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

£7,500 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

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

BRENCHLEY, KENT

CRANBROOK, KENT

Sought after rural setting + 5 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + kitchen/d ining room + triple bay open garage + patio and garden + Council Tax=G + EPC=C

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

£3,750 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

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

*£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/o ccupant/gu aranto r reference wh ere required. Inventory check o ut fee - charged at the end of o r ea rly termination of th e tenancy and th e amount is dependent on the property size and wh ether furnished / unfurni shed. For more details including example inventory fee, visit

www.savills.eo.uk/fees.

Hunting for a new home?

Buying, selling, renting or letting, talk to Savills this Easter.

WOODBURY PARK ROAD,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

MOUNT EPHRAIM,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Well-placed for grammar schools + 2 reception rooms + studio + kitchen/breakfast room + 5 bedrooms + garden + off-street parking + views to rear + 2,460 sq ft + EPC=E

Stylish Penthouse apartment + MLS 0.5 miles + secure gated grounds + 2 receptions + gallery with study + 2 bedroom suites + roof terrace + 2 parking spaces + 1 ,933 sq ft + EPC=C

Guide £1 million Freehold

Guide £975,000 Share of Freehold

ST JOHNS ROAD,

Contact: Liz Devall

RUSTWICK,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Substantial terraced Victorian townhouse + 2 reception rooms + kitchen/breakfast room + 6 bedrooms + summerhouse + rear garden with deck + 2,515 sq ft + EPC=D

Tunbridge Wells MLS about 1.5 miles + well-placed for schools + 2 reception rooms + study + 4 bedrooms + view over golf course + garden + 1 ,593 sq ft + EPC=E

Guide £850,000 Freehold

Guide £750,000 Freehold

Contact: Becky Card

Hunting for a new home?

Buying or selling, talk to Savills this Easter.

Contact: Becky Card

-

__,

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 4Fn I

Elysium Park

Maidstone Road, Ashford

Old Park Hill, Dover

Viewing by appointment.

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

r c11s 2FJ

I

ADVERTISING FEATURE �

71

your freezer at COOK some new products we don’t stock anywhere else, such as frozen breakfast pastries and fresh bread, baked by the Lighthouse Bakery, who are based nearby in Bodiam. So far, the reception has been fantastic.

We also wanted to really promote the idea of a COOK shop as a hub for the local community, in particular through our Community Kitchen scheme, which gives local groups 30% off our food for community events, and also through donating both food and time to local causes.

Among the local groups we’ve been working with are the YMCA and Chapter 1, a local charity that gives support to young people at risk, and also the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre. For the future, we hope that both sales from the shop and our community activities keep growing strongly.

COOK TUNBRIDGE WELLS

4-6 Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1ND 01892 523 840 www.cookfood.net

EASY PEASY Conveniently located COOK in Tunbridge Wells centre

doing business. In the US, it includes businesses like Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Patagonia, the clothing firm. Here in the UK, there are now 80 certified B Corps that have all passed a tough test to prove that they care about people and the planet, as well as profits. COOK was the first national retailer to become an official Living Wage employer last year and we were named recently as the 28th Best Company To Work For in the annual Sunday Times ranking.

Your founding principle is ‘to cook like you do at home’ – what makes your food stand out for home cooks and look and taste homemade?

Even good cooks sometimes fancy the night off, and that’s where we come in. As one wrote in to tell us: “I love cooking and

that’s why I love COOK…good food cooked as I would.” The simple fact is that we don’t cut corners and are obsessive about the taste of our food. In many ways, we’re the ready meal company for people who don’t normally buy ready meals. People trust that when they buy our food, they’re buying the equivalent of a home-cooked meal, prepared by hand with the same care and attention to detail as they would put into it at home.

Are the ingredients used in your food sourced sustainably and responsibly?

We take sourcing of ingredients extremely seriously. Our goal is to establish longterm relationships with farmers and suppliers that are based on trust and transparency. We’ve been working really hard recently to build strong relationships

with British farmers. For example, we now have just two farms from which we source all our free-range pork. While it’s time-consuming and expensive, we know this approach pays off. When the horsemeat scandal hit a few years ago, we were able to trace back all our beef to the farm, the field and the cow.

And because we mince all our meat at the kitchen ourselves, we knew exactly what had gone into our Lasagne al Forno and Cottage Pie. Where would you like to take COOK going forward?

Our new shop in Tunbridge Wells was really a bit of an experiment for COOK. It’s much bigger than our shops usually are, was a brand new design and had

MOUTH-WATERING A great homemade taste was difficult to perfect but was worth it

Wednesday 30th March 2016

72 � FOOD AND DRINK

The job of the Italian chef One Warwick Park hasn’t even opened but Tunbridge Wells’ most luxurious hotel is already creating quite a stir. Ahead of its June launch we spoke to Marco Goldin the restaurant’s new head chef about his culinary vision and why diners can expect a truly authentic Italian experience

By Eileen Leahy

B

EING charged with the task of creating a first class restaurant for one of the area’s most highly anticipated four star gold status hotels would be a daunting prospect for most - but not, it would seem, for Marco Goldin.

The 43-year-old Italian has just been appointed executive chef at Tunbridge Wells’ One Warwick Park and he is absolutely relishing the challenge.

“I’m feeling very good, very positive,” he confirms as we sit down over coffee to discuss his new role.

“I have been really welcomed here. Coming from London where it’s faster, tougher and there’s more pressure I have been shocked by the positivity. It’s so much more relaxed.”

This, Marco says, has already helped him forge good relationships with his colleagues and local suppliers thus ensuring everyone is on board to deliver a restaurant that eclipses the competition.

Having lived in the UK for the past five years Marco’s professional CV reads like a foodie lover’s dream.

He has worked for the prestigious Caprice Holdings group who own The Ivy, J Sheekey and

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Daphne’s - where Marco was Head Chef, and also for D &D London who own famous eateries including Le Coq d’Argent, Quaglino’s and Cantina Del Ponte, where Marco was in charge.

Before accepting the job at One Warwick Park he was Executive Chef at the Royal Academy’s Keeper’s House restaurant.

During his illustrious career Marco has also travelled all over the world, from Los Angeles to Spain and Malaysia, satisfying his appetite for producing great gourmet food.

Can he define the vision for his new restaurant which we can reveal will be called L’Amore which is Italian for love - and what does he want to bring to Tunbridge Wells that is new and exciting?

“Ultimately I want to amaze and for people to experience my style of cooking,” he declares.

“I come from Venice, in the North East of Italy and since working in London I have noticed that most chefs reference only the South of Italy in their cooking. I want to provide diners with a whole experience of the country.

“In Italy every region has a different plate or delicacy” he continues. “Things can totally change just three kilometres down the road. And not everyone eats tomatoes! Where I come from they are a thing for summer. In the north we have

CAUSING A STIR Marco Goldin in the kitchen

FOOD AND DRINK �

73

in launching a new hotel more cheese, more pork. I want people to see there are different types of Italian food.”

Over the past month Marco has been doing a lot of planning; speaking to local suppliers and sourcing the best produce in order to make customers fall head over heels in love LIKELY IMAGE How the restaurant might look

with L’Amore.

“I want to let the quality of the ingredients speak for themselves and to make people happy,” he states.

“Being Italian, sitting at the table is all about the chance to communicate with people. It’s not just

a meal, it’s convivial. It’s about relaxing, laughing and eating with pleasure.”

When it comes to summing up Marco’s cooking style it would seem that less is more.

“I don’t want to dress dishes up with too much sauce. When you have good quality products you don’t need to add anything else. The plate of food should say it all.”

L’Amore’s menu will change according to the season and what’s available. Marco doesn’t believe in offering dishes that are always set in stone. “The menu should always be constantly evolving.”

There will also be plenty of local gourmet produce to enjoy. Does he have any favourite finds from the area yet?

“I think the local meat is very good. I also love

‘Coming from London where it’s faster, tougher and there’s more pressure I have been shocked by the positivity. It’s so much more relaxed’

asparagus, artichokes and seagull eggs. I love their flavour. Try pan frying them and adding a little truffle oil on top,” he suggests.

Marco is also a big fan of experimenting with foods à la Heston Blumenthal who he cites as a culinary inspiration along with Marco Pierre White.

“I love the technical side of food, all the little chemical things – it’s like a game. I love coffee, tobacco and to mix these into food to create smoky flavours.”

“When I was in Spain I worked with Ferran Adria, head chef at El Bulli. I also admire the great Italian chef Guactiero Marchesi. I am inspired by what they have done. They use whatever they have and create something amazing. They are more than just chefs, they are alchemists.

“When you understand how to do that you have the power to transform food into something else, to create something great on the plate.”

So what will set L’Amore apart when it opens in June? “To offer food with real taste” he swiftly responds. “A different taste, a Marco taste…”

One Warwick Park which is part of Markerstudy Leisure opens in June 2016.

For more information on the hotel visit www.onewarwickpark.co.uk Part two of our interview with Jeremy Davis, owner of Lynne’s Organic Farm will appear in next week’s edition of the Times of Tunbridge Wells.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

74 n LIFE AND STYLE STORE ANYTHING Just opened between Frant and Bells Yew Green Store Anything is a new, independent self-storage centre catering for both private and business users with the emphasis on ease of access, customer service and competitive pricing for storage requirements from Tunbridge Wells, Crowborough and the surrounding villages.

We offer immaculate, new shipping containers in the yard and individual storage boxes in the warehouse giving direct, unlimited access to occupiers from their vehicles without the need to travel up and down corridors, stairs and lifts.

The site has 24 hour infra-red CCTV, flood lighting and is security alarmed. We have staff on site during working hours and forklift assistance if required. The office is manned so we can receive goods on your behalf and, with prior arrangement, facilitate dispatch if you cannot be in attendance personally.

GODINTON HOUSE & GARDENS - PLANT FAIR The gardens at Godinton House will be hosting a Plant Fair on Monday 2nd May, with the gates opening at 11am.

We also have office space to rent on flexible terms with high speed broad-band and personal telephone numbers for which we can offer an answering service as part of the package. Why not base your business here?

Enjoy a stroll round Godinton’s 13 acres of gardens and pick up some inspiration from the Italian Garden, Rose Garden, herbaceous borders and greenhouses and then stock up with plants from a dozen local specialist nurseries.

Conveniently situated between Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells, we guarantee no traffic delays or parking issues in accessing our site and that you will find us clean, friendly, convenient, and competitive.

There will be unusual varieties of shrubs, herbs, grasses, roses, alpines and climbers. Anthea Hammond of Heavy Petal will be selling her living ornaments constructed from beautiful succulents.

For more information please call, visit or browse our website www.storeanything.co.uk

Head Gardener, Viv Hunt, said “Our local nurseries produce a wonderful range of unusual plants and we’re keen to support them as they help to conserve the diversity of plants available to gardeners.”

This year there will also be pots from Pivington Pots, metalwork from Cranbrook Iron, plant supports made by Godinton’s blacksmith Joel Tarr and homemade fruit juices from Jo Britcher.

AWARD WINNING B&B COMBINES WITH LOCAL TOURIST ASSOCIATION Stone Green Farm is a 15th century farmhouse set in 7 acres of grounds in a quiet location with great access to all Kent attractions, London and the Continent.

Guests are welcomed from all over the world by Geoffrey and Caroline Fletcher, owners of the 5* Stone Green Farm B&B. They attribute their success to ensuring their guests receive the highest quality service from crisp Egyptian cotton bedding to locally sourced tea and produce for breakfast whilst welcoming everyone to their family home.

Awards received in 2015 included the Travellers’ Choice having been voted by TA users as one of the top 25 B&Bs in the UK in 2015. There are over 600 B&Bs just in Kent so this was a fantastic accolade to their service and home. They were also welcomed into the Trip Advisor Hall of Fame having achieved 5* ratings for 5 years in a row.

Being part of the local tourist organisation ATTA ensures they are able to provide local up-to-date information about attractions to their visitors.

The Ashford and Tenterden Tourism Association (ATTA) is a local level, membership driven association for attractions, accommodation, and leisure and hospitality providers. Offering member’s inclusion in promotional brochures, web presence, networking opportunities with advice and support from over 50 key tourism businesses and professionals, alongside collective pr, media and exhibition opportunities. For more information about the association contact Sarah Barber on 01233 330345 Caroline & Geoffrey, Stone Green Farm B&B, Mersham, Ashford, Kent. TN25 7HE Tel: 01233 720365, Mob: 07714 696636, www.stonegreenfarm.co.uk

Wednesday 30th March 2016

The gardens and Plant Fair open at 11am, entry to the plant fair and garden £5 adult, refreshments will be available in the stables. The house and tearoom will open from 1pm, with the first house tour at 1.30pm

STARJUMPZ CHILDREN’S CENTRE

CATCHPOLE & RYE BATHROOMS

Starjumpz Children’s Centre in Tunbridge Wells, has been offering intensive therapy to a five-year-old boy with autism from Gibraltar.

Opening Of New Workshop Premises at Saracens Dairy, Pluckley, Kent by The Hon Damian Green, MP

Jay Ritchie and his family have been visiting the centre on a daily basis so he can receive combined Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and pioneering Neurofeedback treatment.

Jay, whose autism and strong sensory needs affects his ability to communicate and interact with people and his surroundings, first came to the centre last August after his parents came across Starjumpz on the internet. They believe the Neurofeedback treatment that caught their eye whilst researching the centre, has been hugely influential in the astounding developments witnessed in their son.

Starjumpz Director Joanna Brett, commented: “We’ve been using Neurofeedback to calm and regulate Jay’s nervous system, stimulate language development and improve sensory and auditory processing. As well as being calmer, Jay is more able to make sense of sensory input and engage in communication and learning. He can now spontaneously say a few words to communicate, count to ten and identify body parts.”

Neurofeedback teaches the brain to function more efficiently and helps a variety of childhood problems including ASD, ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. It is also available at the centre for adults struggling with anxiety and depression, migraines or PTSD. For more information on Starjumpz and the pioneering services and treatments on offer to children with learning, developmental, motor and behavioural challenges, please visit www.starjumpz.com or call 01892 510 257.

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

WITH THE

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

FIRST DRIVE:

By Matt Kimberley WHAT’S NEW? In the history of mid-life updates, this is possibly the smallest you’ll ever have seen.

No cosmetic revisions here – not even new alloy wheel designs. The only mechanical difference is a new exhaust system with lower back pressure and a 5.8kg weight saving.

Performance-wise, you’ll have noticed the name is now Cupra 290, and true to form it has 10bhp more than the old one. A tweak in the engine management software delivers the nominal extra go, which comes hand-inhand with a wider peak torque band. The full 258lb/ft is now put down between 1,700rpm and 5,800rpm; 50 and 500rpm improvements at either end.

There’s also Full Link phone-pairing software, so whatever your phone, it should hook up to the system with a degree of internet connectivity.

LOOKS AND IMAGE Nothing changes with the appearance because Seat has hit on a winning formula.

The Leon is its best-selling car, and it’s the first real international sales barnstormer the company has had this decade. It ain’t broke, so there’s no point fixing it. The change is the boot badge upgrade, to Cupra 290.

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

SEAT LEON SC CUPRA 290 SPACE AND PRACTICALITY From right now you can get the 290 in threedoor (and, most lovely) SC, do-it-all five-door hatch and more practical ST estate shapes.

The ST has a couple of hundred litres more boot space than the 380-litre tub shared by the other two. There’s adequate rear legroom for passengers but it’s not the airiest place for them to be. If there was a black mark it would be on the white seat trim, because it’s the sort of thing that will get dirty all too easily.

BEHIND THE WHEEL Seat hasn’t taken the chance to enliven the cabin, so it stays one of the least imaginative in the hot hatch clique. The seats might be well-shaped and supportive, but a few Cupra logos and a flat-bottomed steering wheel aren’t really enough any more.

But... hit the road and that’s forgotten. The free-revving 2.0-litre engine masters everyday driving with barely 20 per cent of its ability.

Use a bit more right boot and the fast turbo response gives you astonishing overtaking punch. Keep the throttle pinned on your friendly local private airfield and it’ll get to the 155mph limiter with ease. It’s a monster.

It also sounds better. That new exhaust gives it more of a growl both inside and outside the car, and, unless I was dreaming, it’s a bit louder, too. Both good things.

It changes direction like a rogue firework,

even under power, if you’re skilled enough to handle it that way. The VAQ slip-limiting system is as good now as it always was – i.e. superb. Be aware, though, it’s much firmer on the track-biased Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tyres, which you can add as options. The standard Continentals are much more forgiving.

VALUE FOR MONEY With the Cupra 265 confined to the bin (almost no one bought one), the entry point is now the full-fat and beautiful SC. The

highest-spec Focus ST is more than £2,000 cheaper (before haggling), but it’s not as accomplished a motor. On the other hand, a Civic Type R is more expensive and you get less equipment to show for it.

The Leon could be a bit better equipped, as evidenced by the now huge options list, but everything you really want is on the car already. In terms of value, it splits the pack, but it depends what each buyer is actually looking or hoping for.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? The flagship Cupra still isn’t that common a sight in the UK, but owners are the type who exchange a nod and a wave. It’s like a secret shared between two strangers: It’s a hell of a car, and those who’ve bought one know exactly why. The Cupra 290, like the 280 before it, is part of modern hot hatch legend – if only within the scene itself.

THIS CAR SUMMED UP IN A SINGLE WORD: Mighty.

IF THIS CAR WAS A...

Power Ranger it would be the red one. It’s an all-rounder, a leader, and boy does it have some skills.

FACTS AT A GLANCE PRICE: from £28,375 ENGINE: 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol producing 286bhp and 258lb/ft TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual driving the front wheels PERFORMANCE:

Top speed 155mph, 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds (SC) FUEL ECONOMY: 40.4mpg combined EMISSIONS: 164g/km

Wednesday 30th March 2016

76 � MOTORING

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 lf100km); Combined 41.5 - 80.7 mpg (6.8 - 3.5 lf100km). 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 £3,863. 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 Contributi on 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.

MODEL SHOWN JEEP RENEGADE 1.6 E-torO llOHP JUSTICE 5SPEED MANUAL 2WD AT £19.495. OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR JEEP RENEGADE RANGE MPG [L/lOOKM): EXTRA URBAN 47.9 [5.9) - 70.6 [4.01. URBAN 32.5 [8.7) - 55.4 [5.1). COMBINED 40.9 [6.9) - 64.2 [4.4). C01EMISSIONS: 160 - 115 G/KM. Fuel consumption and CO, figures are obta ined for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/regulations and may not be representative of real-life driving conditions.

•customer deposit is £1,548. Jeep Deposit is £1,150. Total Deposit £4,798. Optional Final Payment is £10,110. Contract Term is 14 months. Promotion ava ilable on Jeep Renegade 1. 6 E-torO 110hp Justice 5 Speed Manual 1WDat £19,495 registered by 31st March 1016. tJeep Deposit Contribution only ava ilable in conjunction with Jeep Horizon PCP. With Jeep Horizon you have the option to return the veh icle and not pay the fi nal payment. subject to the veh icle not having exceeded an agreed annual mileage [a charge of 6p per mile for exceeding 10.000 miles per annum in this example] and being in good condition.

Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions apply. Jeep Financial Services . PO Box 4465 . Slough , Sll ORW. Jeep., is a registered trademark of FCAUS LLC.

Wednesday 30th March 2016

MOTORING n

77

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

Wednesday 30th March 2016

78 n MOTORING

THAMES MOTOR GROUP TUNBRIDGE WELLS, LONGFIELD ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT TN2 3EY. TEL: 01892 256075 WWW.THAMESMOTORGROUP.CO.UK

5.4% APR REPRESENTATIVE

Fuel consumption figures for Fiat 500X Range in mpg (11100km): Urban 32.5 (8.7) - 61.4 (4.6); Extra Urban 49.6 (5.7) - 74.3 (3.8); Combined 42.2 (6.7) 68.9 (4.1). C02 emissions 157 - 107 g/km. Fuel consumption and co, figures based on standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Model shown is a 500X 2.0140hp MultiJet AWD Auto Cross Plus. Uconnect™ LIVE systems, where available, require a data enabled smartphone to use. Promotion available on new Fiat models registered from 15th February to 31st March 2016. *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 (a charge of 6p per mile for exceeding 10,000 miles per annum) 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.

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.

We will use our experience to advise you on the best way to restore your classic, vintage or collectible car, and help you to revive its past glories.

• Fram full graund up restaratian ta summer check aver • Specialist mig and tig welding Full engine and gearbax rebuilds • We can lacate hard ta find parts, • In hause machining facilities • Vapaur blasting • Everything yau need ta care far yaur classic car ...

• Baak yaur mDT anline ,··;'

with us

/

Contact details: H-Engineering Unit 12, 2, Kingstanding Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3UP 01892 549 042

Wednesday 30th March 2016

I

www.h-engineering.com

TRAVEL 

79

TRAVEL

WITH THE

TRAVEL TIPS AND MORE – SHORT BREAKS TO LUXURY ADVENTURES

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Choosing a novel UK break

By Nicholas McAvaney BEATRIX POTTER, LAKE DISTRICT Wandering around the Lake District’s World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, I quickly forget I’ve ever grown up.

Children and parents are lost in Potter’s delightful imaginary world, so perfectly illustrated in her books.

I traipse through a reconstruction of the Peter Rabbit garden with glee, spying Jemima Puddle-Duck and a bronze statue of three children unveiled by Renee Zellweger in 2006.

The Windermere attraction is gearing up to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Potter’s birth with a series of events, including a live-action show of her stories performed during the summer months.

In fact, attractions all over the region have plans to honour the early 20th-century children’s author.

Continuing my journey across Lake Windermere, I stop at the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead where originals of her intricate watercolour illustrations are on display.

I take time to examine her careful brush strokes and spy some mistakes and corrections. The artwork is wonderfully preserved, especially given much of it was stored in damp basements and next to water heaters for many years.

A display of Benjamin Bunny’s pelt strikes me as somewhat morbid, although it serves as an insight into Potter’s brilliant scientific study of animals, which

YORKSHIRE MOORS Brontë sisters country

informed her drawings.

The inspiration for many of her stories was her beloved home Hill Top, in nearby Sawrey. Here I learn some intriguing facts about the author who I had always presumed was a kind old lady, fond of children and animals.

She was in fact a shrewd businesswoman and her books were merely a revenue stream to acquire and maintain a sizeable real estate portfolio in the Lake District. She eventually bequeathed a number of the properties to the National Trust in her will.

Brimming with childish enthusiasm, I recollect the opening illustration in The Tale of Tom Kitten, which sees the protagonist and his friends scampering up the path to the entrance of Hill Top. Copies of Potter’s stories have been carefully placed around the house, bookmarked at pages where a room or items in it feature. Staff members even explain how The Tale of Samuel Whiskers was the result of Potter’s 23-month battle to eradicate rats from the building.

Returning to the grown-up world, my journey ends at the adjacent Tower Bank Arms, a pub owned by the National Trust but managed independently. The manager gives me a lengthy spiel about the wide range of ales available.

I go for a tipple of the Loweswater Gold, brewed just down the road, before considering my lunch options.

Thankfully, and perhaps not without forethought, rabbit is not on the menu.

CHARLOTTE BRONTË, HAWORTH, YORKSHIRE Strolling along Haworth’s main street, I stop every few metres for a photograph of the quaint stone shopfronts and postcard-worthy views over the Yorkshire moors. I find it hard to imagine the village was once a crowded industrial town and a cesspool of death and disease during the early 19th-century period, when English literature’s great Brontë sisters lived here. At that time, the average age of death was 24.

The girls’ father, Patrick, played a pivotal role in helping clean up the village’s water supply, the main cause of high infant mortality rates, disease and other deaths.

But his own children failed to benefit, as they passed away before he was buried in 1861.

His valiant efforts are documented at the Brontë Parsonage, their former family home, which is now a museum. I visit to find out more about the tragedy-tinged lives of Charlotte, Emily, Anne and their brother Branwell.

The Parsonage illustrates a picture of three women who

LAKE WINDERMERE Beatrix Potter country

resisted social convention and expectation to realise their unbridled ambitions. It is 200 years since Charlotte was born, and a special exhibition curated by author Tracy Chevalier aims to further explore that contrast between her constrained life and furious determination.

Some of Charlotte’s books and toys are on display, along with examples of her writing and coded letters which scholars believe were attempts by the sisters to disguise their – often outrageous for the times – work.

Charlotte’s life was especially sad towards the end as she outlived each of her siblings, before dying on March 31, 1855, only nine months after marrying curate Arthur Nicholls. She was pregnant at the time, further adding to the tragedy, although the Victorian pre-nup on display suggests her marriage may not have been the happiest.

Letters she had sent to Constantin Heger, a schoolmaster she met in Belgium, reveal to me a heartbreaking insight into her unrequited love for the man, which no doubt fuelled her creative writing.

Much of that prose was created in the dining room at the front of the house, where the sisters would circle the table each night, commenting on each other’s work. Their portable writing tables are on display, along with the chair on which

Emily succumbed to illness in 1848, only 12 months after her only novel, Wuthering Heights, was published.

Top Withens in the nearby moors is believed to have inspired Wuthering Heights, although Emily’s descriptions are of a much larger farmhouse than the small stone ruins that remain today.

The walk up there is as enjoyable and atmospheric as it would have been in the mid-1800s, though.

Many people congregate around Brontë Falls, a mile from Haworth, where the sisters would picnic during the summer months.

Although sadness and difficulty ultimately helped shape the Brontës’ timeless novels, I take solace in the fact they were able to enjoy some happy times in their lives.

TRAVEL FACTS Nichola McAvaney was a guest of Visit England. Tickets to Keighley and Windermere can be booked at www. trainline.com. Booking in advance with Trainline saves you up to 43% with advance fares versus buying on the day of travel.

Stay at Ponden Hall (www.pondenhall.co.uk) and The Belsfield (www. lauraashleyhotels.com/thebelsfield).

For more information, go to www.visitengland.com/Literature

Wednesday 30th March 2016

80  TRAVEL

Raise a toast to the beauty of Bordeaux

I

NLAND from France’s central Atlantic coast lies the famous port city of Bordeaux. Once the capital of the Roman Aquitaine, this beguiling metropolis of past and present is now the epicentre of the wine world.

The vine was introduced to the Bordeaux region during the mid-first century. Since then the idyllic countryside surrounding the city has sprung 116,160 hectares of vineyards, 57 appellations, 10,000 wine-producing châteaux and 13,000 grape growers.

Almost all of Bordeaux’s celebrated wine estates are huddled near the Gironde or one of its two tributaries, the Dordogne and the Garonne. These three tranquil waterways are a gateway to the stone-built communes and regal châteaux that lie beyond the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city.

Luxury river cruise operator Scenic are wellversed in travelling these serene waters. Their 11-day Beautiful Bordeaux itinerary is a showstopping amalgamation of exclusive culinary encounters, unforgettable wine tasting events and excursions to regions of vast historical and cultural importance.

Whether you’re a wine aficionado, river cruise fanatic or you simply love to travel in style, you’ll discover more than one advantage of embarking on a five-star Scenic river cruise through this charming pocket of south-western France.

Minister Alain Juppé, revitalised Bordeaux, pedestrianising its boulevards, restoring its neoclassical architecture and implementing a high-tech public transport system. In mid-2007 his efforts were rewarded as half of the entire city became UNESCO-listed.

In Saint-Emilion the Romanesque churches and ruins of yesterday stretch all along the steep and narrow streets of this charismatic commune.

Libourne is the charming wine-making capital of northern Gironde, recognised for its typically French flavour, bistro-littered cobbled walkways and picturesque authenticity.

Blaye and Pauillac sit adjacent to each other at the mouth of the Gironde near the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In ancient times Blaye was a port of the Santones. Tradition states that the Frankish hero Roland was buried in its basilica, which was on the site of the town’s citadel. The latter has gained international recognition due to the wines produced in its medley of surrounding chateaux.

The town of Cognac gives its name to one of the world’s best-known types of brandy or eau de vie.

And a long-time oyster-harvesting area on the south side of the tranquil, triangular Bassin d’Arcachon (Arcachon Bay) promises romantic beachside strolls and a scattering of charming eateries replete with the freshest seafood.

Scenes from a dream The new millennium was a major turning point for the city known as La Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty). The mayor, former Prime

Spectacular Space-Ships Anyone can cruise these rivers, but only Scenic guests will get to experience the luxury of a Space-Ship. Aptly named due to their generous

Wednesday 30th March 2016

proportions, these stateof-the-art vessels boast some of the largest suites on Europe’s waters.

Cabins range from the Standard Suite, which measures in at a hearty 160 ft2, to the colossal 455 ft2 Royal One Bedroom Suite. Each welcoming retreat features an en-suite bathroom replete with L’Occitane toiletries, complimentary mini-bar, queen size bed, HDTV with Mac mini system and your own private butler service.

Looking for a room with a view? Over 84 per cent of the stylish suites are decked out with innovative Sun Lounges, a unique all-weather balcony system that gives you the freedom to enjoy the river views at any time of day.

Dining becomes a daily celebration in one of the five on-board venues offering a medley of à la carte menus and plentiful buffets. The Panorama Bar & Lounge is always open for you to enjoy a free drink or two, and it’s not just local beverages – you can order branded beers, top-shelf spirits, perfectly mixed cocktails and handpicked wines without ever handing over a Euro.

Unique experiences and the freedom of choice Each day you can look forward to another insightful and exciting trip ashore. Scenic’s Freechoice excursion programme gives you the flexibility to pick your preferred sightseeing activities from a wide selection of included options. In Cadillac you can pick between a

FROM SHIP TO SIP Cruise around the vineyard region

Château Guiraud dessert wine tasting and a rural bike ride through the rolling vineyards of Sauternes to the Grand Cru Class estate of Château Myrat.

Upon arrival in the fortified town of Cognac you are invited to choose from one of two excursions: Visit the Terres d’Oiseaux nature park which is home to over 100 species of migratory bird, or indulge in a brandy tasting at the acclaimed property of Rémy Martin.

There are even more sightseeing treats on offer in Arachon. Stop by a local oyster farm and sample the decadent produce, take a trip to the Le

TRAVEL 

81

GETTING THERE Scenic Luxury River Cruises offers a Beautiful Bordeaux itinerary with complimentary upgraded flight or rail options. The package includes return travel from the UK, 11 nights suite accommodation on board a five-star Scenic Space-Ship on an all-inclusive basis and a choice of excursions and once-in-a-lifetime experiences as well as a personal butler service for every guest. 2016 prices start from £2,145pp including an exclusive £200pp discount when you quote ‘BONJOUR’ at the time of booking with Baldwins Travel Group www.baldwinstravel.co.uk

Teich bird sanctuary or climb Europe’s largest sand dunes and soak up the beautiful panoramas.

Once in a lifetime The pièce de résistance of your days ashore are Scenic’s exclusive Enrich events. Every cruise features at least one of these complimentary cultural highlights, and in Bordeaux all expectations are exceeded at the magical Château Giscours. You’ll be escorted to the lavish estate in the heart of the Médoc countryside. Here you’re invited to sit

down to a delicious four-course dinner accompanied by Grand Cru wines. The stately setting is enhanced by the virtuoso musicians playing live for your enjoyment.

Financial peace of mind From flights to unlimited drinks, excursions to accommodation, you’ll be amazed at what’s included. Both on board and ashore, luxury comes as standard when you travel with Scenic.

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Every Escape includes return flights and transfers, 4 to 5-star hand-picked hotels, flexible payment options and 24/7 Emergency Assistance Service. Simply put, we will look after your every need, from the moment you book to the moment you return safely home.

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86 ■ RECRUITMENT

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88 � WHAT’S ON A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton

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

Live music There are lots of amazing gigs and concerts to be enjoyed this week across the town and my top picks are as follows: Please support the UK Unsigned Music Life showcase at The Cross Keys Pub this Thursday night. There will be various performances from a selection of deeply talented up-and-coming musicians all from the local area.

For Jazz and Blues fans and everything in between, the excellent Paul Malsom & The Nocasters will be at The Cross Keys on Wednesday April 6.

Matt Bridle & Sophie Mullen will be performing at Cassidy’s this Friday evening, performing a vibrant mix of popular standards from the 60s to the present day.

Flawless Carbon will be live at The

Bedford Pub this Saturday evening.

Their energetic and unique blend of British and American Blues Rock is not to be missed!

For acoustic fans, singer-songwriter James Kirby headlines The Grey Lady this Sunday evening with support from Dan Clews.

James and Dan have toured all over the world are regarded as two of Kent’s finest songsmiths and musicians and to have them perform on the same bill will be quite something…

For folk enthusiasts, Tonbridge Folk Club welcomes all comers to the function room upstairs at Ye Olde Chequers Inn located in Tonbridge High Street.

Musicians and singers welcome, music from 8pm.

GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www. pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk

WEDNESDAY – Natalia Gonzalez – Morales + The Breaks + Megan Jordan

WEDNESDAY– Peter Taylor, The Gallerys, Creatures of Habit FRIDAY – Into The Blue SATURDAY – Unit 7 SUNDAY – James Kirby + Dan Clews TUESDAY – Eliza Lewis + The Pioneers + Sam Firth

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk THURSDAY – Rory Indiana, Shoe Bag, Kid Brother, Sappy FRIDAY – Burlesque Fever SATURDAY – Dirty Dike, DJ Sammy B-Side, Gizmo (Rum-Com), Will B

FLAWLESS CARBON At The Bedford Pub, Saturday night

THE BEAU NASH Mount Ephraim Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late SATURDAY – The Waterman Trio

and the Cricketers SATURDAY – Liza Pulman Sings Hollywood SUNDAY – RTWSO: Kempf (3pm start)

THE BEDFORD PUB 2 High Street Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm till late SATURDAY – Night Spotlight: Flawless Carbon

CASSIDY’S SPORTS BAR Castle Street Open all day, free entry, music from 9pm till late FRIDAY – Matt Bridle & Sophie Mullen

NO.9 SMOKEHOUSE 9 Nevill Street Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm till late FRIDAY – Bloodstone Blue

MASONIC CENTRE St John’s Road Details of event times and tickets at www.twjazzclub.co.uk FRIDAY – TW Jazz Club: The Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra

THE CROSS KEYS St John’s Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm website www.crosskeystw.co.uk WEDNESDAY – Sonny’s Jazz: Mike Hatchard & Shane Hill THURSDAY – UK Music Life Unsigned showcase FRIDAY – Sonny’s Blues & Groove: refer venue to website above MONDAY – TWUNT Ukulele Jam session WEDNESDAY – Sonny’s Jazz: Paul & The Nocasters + guests THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE Crescent Road Show times & ticket prices vary, visit www.assemblyhalltheatre. co.uk for more details FRIDAY– Buddy Holly

DAN CLEWS At the Grey Lady Music Lounge, Sunday night

Wednesday 30th March 2016

SCALLYWAG 45 Mount Ephraim Open all day, music from 7.30pm, entry charge for music may apply WEDNESDAY (April 6) – Carradine's Cockney Singalong THE ROYAL OAK Prospect Road Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm onwards SATURDAY – Lost Indecision SUNDAY – Pete & Del MONDAY – Open Mic/Jam Session TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB Ye Olde Chequers Inn, 122 High Street, Tonbridge MONDAY – Ninebarrow (all welcome, free entry, music from 8pm onwards)

89 � WHAT’S ON SEVEN DAYS OF EVENTS AT A GLANCE

Dave Barnett of TW Events Here are my picks for the week.

This is just a small selection of events available in and around Tunbridge Wells. For more details visit my website or follow me on Twitter or Facebook >> WEDNESDAY Groombridge Place looks the most interesting with its Alice in Wonderland spectacular featuring a range of Carroll’s fantastic characters.

How Lion Became King Of Tinga Tinga Land, on at Trinity Theatre today and tomorrow, is a fun-packed performance that will transport children through an adventure on the African Plain. It is followed this evening by the biopic of art collector, Bohemian and socialite Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict. >> THURSDAY Starting at Scallywag tonight, the 368 Theatre company brings a new murder mystery to Tunbridge Wells café nightlife every month. If you prefer more traditional comedy then it’s time for the monthly Camden Quarter Comedy Club. This week’s line-up features David Whitney and MC Stuart Laws. At the Oast Theatre in Tonbridge there is a youth group double bill from the National Theatre Connections programme. The first play is Bassett, where some pupils have been locked into a classroom in Wootton Bassett School as fallen British soldiers are repatriated nearby. Then it’s Pronoun, a love story about transition, testosterone and James Dean which explores gender issues in the young.

These are on until next Saturday. >> FRIDAY The Forum departs from their regular musical fare tonight as Miss Chantilly Lace brings you Burlesque Fever, with

A selection of events in Tunbridge Wells.

For more details visit: www.tunbridgewellsevents.co.uk/thisweek

magic, comedy and a little bit of music as well as a bevy of burlesque beauties all in a vintage setting; it’s another night of original Tunbridge Wells entertainment.

Ralph Fiennes and Tilda Swinton star in the film A Bigger Splash at Trinity this evening, where a whirlwind of jealousy and passion create danger for everyone involved in this French/Italian (but English language) erotic thriller. >> SATURDAY There’s a Wild Child Weekend Workout from the Kent High Weald Partnership at Barnett’s Wood this morning. A good chance to check out this fantastic resource in the town while the kids have some Easter-themed fun in the great outdoors.

Madame Butterfly by Puccini, a story of love and betrayal set in Japan, is one of the world’s most popular operas and is the inspiration for the musical Miss Saigon. This production comes from New York as part of the Met Opera Live on Screen season and is showing at the Odeon and the Picture House in Uckfield this evening. >> SUNDAY It’s the first Sunday of the month so it’s the regular Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra concert at the Assembly Hall this afternoon. This month it’s an all-American spectacular infused with jazz and dance rhythms guaranteed to get the feet tapping! Featuring music from Copland, Gershwin and Bernstein with soloist Freddy Kampf.

There are two films at Trinity today.

This afternoon it’s British comedy Dad’s Army with its fantastic cast headed by Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring. If you like the original stories you won’t be disappointed. This is followed in the evening by Chronic, a

Franco-Mexican drama with Tim Roth.

The Picture House in Uckfield is celebrating its centenary this year with some special screenings. BBC Radio 4 Today presenter Francine Stock is introducing and leading a discussion on the 1957 classic Sweet Smell of Success starring Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis. One for film buffs. >> MONDAY Tonbridge Folk Club welcome the duo Ninebarrow to their new venue Ye Olde Chequers Inn on the High Street.

Ninebarrow are an exciting awardwinning duo who are impressing audiences across the country with their innovative take on the folk tradition. So if you want some entertainment on a Monday night this should be good. >> TUESDAY The exhibition of Polish paper cuts, Wycinanki, finishes in a couple of weeks at Tunbridge Wells Museum. If you’ve not been it’s worth a visit.

The week ends with a couple of films at Trinity. First it’s The Big Knights, a short animation from the Peppa Pig team, showing at 11am and 2pm so perfect for the young ones.

This is followed in the evening by Hector, a captivating study of a homeless man with a tragic past starring Peter Mullan.

This is Dave Barnett’s final events round-up for the Times of Tunbridge Wells and he will be missed. As he bows out we would like to thank him for all his wonderful work since our launch. We also wish him all the very best with his future ventures. If you would like to see your events in our weekly What’s On pages please email info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Buddy brilliant!

Audiences will be jiving in the aisles this Friday to the sounds of Buddy Holly and The Cricketers at the Assembly Hall. We spoke to performer/producer Simon Fielder about why this is such a great night of fabulous 50s fun

By Eileen Leahy HAVING rocked the socks off audiences all over the world for nearly 25 years, the Buddy Holly and The Cricketers show is coming to Tunbridge Wells with a fantastic medley of music and memories that pay tribute to the legendary 50s rock and roll sensation.

This fantastic celebration of the late, great American singer’s life and his timeless canon of musical work illustrate just why Buddy Holly’s talent still lives on – nearly 70 years after he tragically died in a plane crash.

As well as dancing and singing along to a plethora of his famous pop hits, including Peggy Sue and That’ll Be The Day, audiences will also be treated to a series of re-enactments of Buddy’s life.

“We love creating a great party atmosphere,” declares one of the show’s founders, Simon Fielder. “We’ve been doing this for 24 years and it’s still great fun.

“The Buddy Holly and The Cricketers cast is made up of some of theatreland’s finest actors and musicians who have appeared in West End shows ranging from Buddy, Lennon and Return to the Forbidden Planet to Jailhouse Rock.”

During the two-hour rock and rollercoaster of hits and homage there are also tons of his other fabulous 50s classic hits woven into the set by Elvis and Chuck Berry.

“It’s just a great two hours of music and rock and roll greats that will have people dancing,” says Simon.

“We want people to get up on their feet and leave the show feeling uplifted and energised!” he laughs.

So if you want to experience a slice of this sensational rock and roll piece of musical history then make sure you’re in the Assembly Hall on Friday night – a Teddy Boy quiff and oversized specs are optional of course…

For ticket info visit www.assembly halltheatre.co.uk

OH, BOY! Get ready to rock and roll with a new Buddy

Wednesday 30th March 2016

90 ■ ARTS & CULTURE

Chiddingstone’s new culture club On May Bank Holiday Chiddingstone Castle is hosting its first literary festival. Eileen Leahy spoke to the organiser and some of its esteemed guests to find out what to expect over a weekend that celebrates books, theatre and poetry Robert Bathurst

WHAT do Downton Abbey’s Robert Bathurst, Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell and the veteran broadcaster Sandy Gall all have in common?

They, along with a wealth of other revered writers, actors and poets will all be appearing at the first Chiddingstone Literary Festival.

Running from Sunday May 1 until Tuesday

Wednesday 30th March 2016

May 3, the beautiful historic 16th-century castle will host an impressive array of literary talks, inspiring musical performances and poetry readings.

There will also be pop-up cocktail bars, cafés and children’s theatre workshops to keep you refreshed and entertained during the three-day event.

The festival was the brainchild of local Chiddingstone resident Victoria Henderson, a former publicity manager at Century and Michael Joseph publishers and an online contributor to the Lovereading Juliet Nicolson website.

She came up with the idea after realising that despite the fact there are over 350 literary events up and down the country, her corner of West Kent had absolutely nothing.

“I was struck by the plethora of literary festivals nationwide, but astonished to find none on my home ground. I thought: Perhaps this was something I could address…

“I decided to approach Mark Streatfeild, who is Chairman of the Trustees at Chiddingstone Castle, as it seemed the obvious venue,” says Victoria.

“With help and support from publishing colleagues and friends we have been able to put together an impressive line-up.”

Proceedings kick off with the novelist Vita Sackville-West’s granddaughter Juliet Nicolson talking about her latest book A House Full of Daughters. In it she reveals the eccentric lives and intimate secrets of seven generations of the infamous Sackville-West family from Sissinghurst Castle.

ARTS & CULTURE ■

Photo: David Bartholomew

READ ALL ABOUT IT Chiddingstone Castle’s first literary festival

“A festival like this is a storyteller’s dream come true,” says Juliet, speaking to the Times about her Chiddingstone debut.

“I think there is a real thirst for meeting writers and being able to talk to them,” she reveals.

“People want to know how you started, why you write, where you do so and even whether

it’s with a pen! It’s just such fun to discuss the art of writing.”

Juliet will be exploring the themes in her new book with her ‘great friend’ Imogen Lycett Green, the granddaughter of poet John Betjeman.

“We’ll talk about life and mothers and daughters. I hope that my book will have some relevance to other females. We are, after all, Janet Ellis someone’s daughter. That’s the one thing every woman has in common.”

Other draws to the festival include Cold Feet and Downton Abbey actor Robert Bathurst, who lives in Stonegate, performing a unique version of Christopher Reid’s The Song of Lunch with his co-star Virge Gilchrist.

In an exclusive interview with the Times he told us how he became involved in Chiddingstone’s inaugural festival.

“The organisers approached me after seeing me in The Song of Lunch at the Minerva theatre in Chichester,” Robert explains.

The play is an adaptation of the poem by Christopher Reid which tells the story of a reunion between two former lovers. It features a mix of poetic monologue and spoken dialogue which Robert describes as ‘very engaging’.

“It is a story about someone who tries to rekindle love with an old flame,” he continues.

“They go to an Italian restaurant and it’s a complete disaster. My character does a lot of drinking but it’s very funny and has a lot of poignancy to it.

“It’s in a language which is so extraordinarily lyrical. I talk to the audience in narrative then go into the dialogue, then talk directly back to the audience about how the conversation is going.

It’s very direct, it’s very engaging and it’s not like the poetry you learnt at school.”

It wasn’t a hard sell to get Robert on board for the festival once he’d visited the venue at Chiddingstone.

“It’s the perfect spot in the most beautiful corner of Kent which I hadn’t really explored before,” he says.

“It’s delightful. The organisers have clearly done their research and discovered there’s room for a literary festival here. It’s also attracted a lot of very good writers and I think it will be very exciting. I hope it will become a long-running one.”

Other writers and artists who will be waxing lyrical about their tomes and trade include former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis, who will be chatting about her debut novel The Butcher’s Hook. The tale is set in Georgian London and is one of intrigue and intimacy. It has just been published – to much critical acclaim.

There are also plenty of heavyweight literary offerings on Sunday, including talks by former ITN war correspondent Sandy Gall discussing his book War Against the Taliban: Why it All went Wrong in Afghanistan.

He will be sharing his intricate knowledge and passionate interest in the country’s past, present and future alongside Major Richard Streatfeild who served in Helmand.

If you’re a fan of espionage then you’ll want to book tickets to the Q&A featuring Andrew Lownie, Sandy Gall author of Stalin’s Englishman and Adam Sisman, John Le Carré’s biographer.

They will also be chatting about Guy Burgess and the infamous Cambridge Spies set.

91

On Monday and Tuesday the literary festival turns its focus on children with fun events for all ages, including the Pericles Theatre Company performing The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter in order to celebrate the author’s 150th anniversary.

Brian Moses will perform a special poetry and percussion session on the same day and there will also be a Roald Dahl storytelling event to celebrate his 100th birthday.

Fans of Chris Riddell, author of the Ottoline and Goth Girl series of books and Children’s Laureate will be present on Monday afternoon answering questions about his impressive canon of work.

If the weather’s fine you can enjoy a literary walk around the grounds of Chiddingstone Castle with local historians Penny Harris and Chris McCooey, or take part in an ‘espresso’ theatre stall brewing freshly-made individual ‘plays’ from London’s Royal Court Theatre.

Other events happening over the three days include the winning entries of a short story competition in aid of the festival being read out on Bank Holiday Monday by Geoffrey Streatfeild from the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre.

Both he and his soldier brother Major Richard Streatfeild, who is appearing alongside Sandy Gall, grew up in Chiddingstone and their family once owned the historic castle.

Go along and find out how life for them has turned yet page another interesting page…

For more information contact www. chiddingstone.org.uk/literary-festival

Steve Day

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Are you a winner?

Businesses in and around Tunbridge Wells have embraced the new RTW Business Awards and we’ve received an influx of entries across all eleven categories. If you want to raise the profile of your company, generate new business and inspire your staff don’t miss this unique networking opportunity.

There’s still time to enter yourself or your business for an award. Or if you know a local company or individual that deserves recognition you can also make a personal nomination. Just send us their details and we will personally contact them to invite them to take part.

In the next two issues of the paper before the closing date on Friday 15th April, we will be running a special RTWBA feature showcasing entries just as we’ve done on pages 10 and 11 of today’s paper. Plus all shortlisted entries will be featured in an awards round-up in early May. Tickets are selling fast for the glittering awards ceremony which will take place at Salomons Estate on Thursday 19th May. We’re delighted that Edwina Currie, former government minister, author and broadcaster, will be hosting the evening. Tickets for the black tie event are available for £95 per person or £850 for a table of 10. Ticket price includes 3 course dinner and an allocation of wine per person.

To enter a category please visit: www.rtwba.co.uk New Business of the Year Sponsored By: Ansacom Green Company of the Year Sponsored By: Global Office Creative Business of the Year Sponsored By: Fox Marketing Services Corporate Social Responsibility Sponsored By: McMillan Williams Solicitors Business Hero of the Year Sponsored By: Easistore Family Business of the Year Sponsored By: Thomson Snell & Passmore Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored By: Infinity Group Young Business Person of the Year Sponsored By: Russell Fewin Commercial Facilities Solutions Service Excellence Award Sponsored By: Rent Locally Outstanding Business of the Year Sponsored By: Parfitt Cresswell Solicitors Times of Tunbridge Wells Readers’ Choice Award Sponsored By: MJ Exhibitions

To nominate a company for an award or buy tickets for the gala awards dinner please call: 01892 739 764 or email: info@RTWBA.co.uk Main Sponsors O F TUNBR IDGE WEL LS

PUZZLES 

DOUBLE CROSSWORD

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

Down 1. Put it on without being told? (7) 2. Fond of, to some extent (7) 3. Some vestige of sanctity?

(5) 4. Keep us in a bad spot (7) 5. Hurry up they’re hard to fathom (5) 6. Extravagant when out and about (5) 9. A leader of opinion (9) 14. Far from friendly? (7) 15. Draughtsman’s intentions? (7) 16. Discovers something new in airways? (7) 19. Being made to work (5) 20. Boat strike? (5) 21. Number get a fever that’s ill-defined (5) Scribble pad

1

3 10

14

15

8

11

4

16 13 7

QUICK CLUES:

Across 7. Fame (6) 8. Betterment (6) 10. Furnish (7) 11. Commerce (5) 12. Whip (4) 13. Divest (5) 17. Malice (5) 18. Manage (4) 22. Following (5) 23. Storm (7) 24. Rough (6) 25. Hit (6)

17. Story-tellers (5) 18. Observed part of the act, we hear (4) 22. I’m illuminated round the edge (5) 23. Dish of caviare one is greedy to have (7) 24. Empty one container into another (6) 25. A small-holder in the fruit trade (6)

2 9

Down 1. Struggle (7) 2. Release (7) 3. Two (5) 4. Belong (7) 5. Raid (5) 6. Drive (5) 9. Poverty-stricken (9) 14. Tyrannise (7) 15. Clique (7) 16. Pagan (7) 19. Pertness (5) 20. Purloin (5) 21. Gives out (5)

12 6

1. Hairless 2. Trade 3. Lengthy 4. Movable barrier 5. Simple 6. Three feet 7. Sailing vessel 8. Caution Keyword clue: A fish

5

9. Body part 10. Eager 11. Bird’s home 12. Mexican food 13. Darts line 14. School test 15. Fail to hit 16. Rotisserie

SUDOKU

ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ

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

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

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

S

11

12

13

24

25

26

A

1. Which actor played former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the recent ITV1 drama Churchill’s Secret?

2. In which new Sky1 series is Jamie Theakston investigating whether dogs can be taught to pilot planes?

3. Phase is the title of the debut album from which British singer?

4. Which new biblical epic film is set in 33 AD and stars Joseph Fiennes as Roman tribune Clavius?

5. Which US TV sitcom of the 1950s starred Jackie Gleason as bus driver Ralph Kramden, and Pert Kelton then Audrey Meadows as his wife Alice?

9. What was the title of former Spice Girl Melanie C’s first solo Number One hit, in April 2000?

10. Which actor is playing has-been music manager Richie Lanz, who discovers a young Afghan girl with a talent for singing in the new film Rock the Kasbah?

11. Which sitcom penned by Caroline and Caitlin Moran has returned for a new series on Channel 4?

12. Which Irish balladeer’s hits of the 1960s included Walk Tall and What Would I Be? 13. Which 1990 film saw handymen played by Kevin Bacon and Fred Ware discovering that huge underground worms were appearing through the Earth’s surface?

14. Which of Steve Coogan’s comedy characters has been starring in the Sky Atlantic sitcom Mid Morning Matters?

15. What was the title of US singer Bobby Gentry’s only 7. Which 1940 film starring Cary Grant and UK Number Katharine Hepburn was later remade as One hit, in the 1956 musical film High Society?

October 1969?

8. Which presenter is encountering some challenging environments in the new ITV1 series Life at the Extreme?

6. Which US rock band released the EP Saint Cecilia as a free download?

SOLUTIONS

14 Exam; 15 Miss; 16 Spit.

Keyword: WHITING CODEWORD: 1=X, 2=B, 3=O, 4=U, 5=C, 6=T, 7=Y, 8=K, 9=F, 10=S, 11=G, 12=E, 13=Z, 14=P, 15=I, 16=L, 17=D, 18=Q, 19=M, 20=H, 21=V, 22=J, 23=N, 24=W, 25=A, 26=R ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ: 1 Michael Gambon; 2 Dogs Might Fly; 3 Jack Garratt; 4 Risen; 5 The Honeymooners; 6 Foo Fighters; 7 The Philadelphia Story; 8 Davina McCall; 9 Never Be the Same Again; 10 Bill Murray; 11 Raised

By Wolves; 12 Val Doonican; 13 Tremors; 14 Alan Partridge; 15 I’ll Never Fall in Love Again SUDOKU:

CODEWORD

DOUBLE CROSSWORD: Cryptic: Across: 7 Spates; 8 Bureau; 10 Untried; 11 Taper; 12 Edam; 13 Staid; 17 Liars; 18 Seen; 22 Limit; 23 Avarice; 24 Vacant; 25 Punnet. Down: 1 Assumed; 2 Partial; 3 Relic; 4 Sustain; 5 Deeps; 6 Outre; 9 Editorial; 14 Distant; 15 Designs; 16 Invents; 19 Slave; 20 Smack; 21 Vague.

Quick: Across: 7 Renown; 8 Reform; 10 Provide; 11 Trade; 12 Lash; 13 Strip; 17 Spite; 18 Cope; 22 After; 23 Tempest; 24 Coarse; 25 Strike. Down: 1 Grapple; 2 Unloose; 3 Twain; 4 Pertain; 5 Foray; 6 Impel; 9 Destitute; 14 Oppress; 15 Coterie; 16 Heathen; 19 Sauce; 20 Steal; 21 Emits.

WORD SPIRAL: 1 Bald; 2 Deal; 3 Long; 4 Gate; 5 Easy; 6 Yard; 7 Dhow; 8 Warn; 9 Neck; 10 Keen; 11 Nest; 12 Taco; 13 Oche;

CRYPTIC CLUES: Across 7. Set back after the spring floods (6) 8. Foreign office desk? (6) 10. Under it changes are yet to be made (7) 11. Light with a tendency to grow less? (5) 12. Cheese that’s made the wrong way (4) 13. Dignified way to help (5)

93

Wednesday 30th March 2016

94 � THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Kent Barker Country matters

Headless horseman startles dog walkers

W

HY have the words to that wonderful Stanley Holloway song bubbled to the front of my brain: “With her head tucked underneath her arm she walks the bloody tower / With her head tucked underneath her arm at the midnight hour” ?

It was written in 1934 by Watson and Lee and later covered, in an inferior version, by the Kingston Trio. I confess to being a bit of a fan of Stanley Holloway’s songs and monologues since a slightly crackers headmaster at my junior school used to wheel out an ancient reel-to-reel tape recorder on wet afternoons when games were ‘off’ and play them to us. This happened so frequently I could recite most of them from heart.

Later I found a vinyl album of Holloway’s ‘greatest hits’ and used to annoy my hippy friends by playing it loudly on the stereo when they had come round to chill out and listen to Pink Floyd’s Atom Heart Mother or David Bowie’s Hunky Dory. I think I still have the album somewhere in the back of the cupboard.

Anyway, to return to the earlier question: Why was this song with its ludicrous lyrics (For Anne

Wednesday 30th March 2016

Boleyn was once King Henry’s wife, Until he made the headsman bob her hair!) coming back to haunt me – forgive the pun. Well it all started when I was out with Myrtle on one of our favourite walks in the woods at the bottom of Walkhurst Lane. In a few weeks they’ll be brimming with bluebells and rare wild orchids and then, as the leaves come out, the views to the fields through the bare boughs will disappear and we’ll be enveloped in our own little freshgreen forest glade.

By that time, with luck, the ground will have dried out a bit and we’ll be able to do the walk without sinking wellie-boot deep in the glutinous muck. I mean it’s just OK for me but Myrtle can’t be persuaded to wear wellies – and anyway, even though she’s quite a long-legged hound, her undercarriage would still scrape the mire. Not that she minds particularly, but it does make a ghastly mess on the back seat of the car and, when it’s dried, rubs off on the living room sofa.

I’ve got thick army blankets covering both, but it still leaves a residue and is none too welcoming for visitors.

SIXTH SENSE Is there something worrisome near Walkhurst woods?

Sorry, where were we, oh yes, walking through the woods to the Headless Horseman field. The what? Yes, the Headless Horseman Field! Now I have no idea why this clearing is so named. Just that the first time I saw it, my local guide, Mary, called it that. And it was just so right. It had exactly that eerie feeling about it. It’s bordered on all four sides by thick woodland and is a large piece of open meadow or scrubland perhaps 500 metres long by 100 wide, sloping down to the southern end. There are small scrub-oaks growing up in places but otherwise it’s the preserve of rabbits, the occasional dog walker and, we are to assume, the headless horseman cantering about at midnight. What he’s doing there, how he came to lose his head, and what prevents his horse from stumbling in one of the rabbit warrens and breaking a forelock is, sadly, unexplained. It’s a mystery but, I am sure you’ll agree, a rather romantic one.

Perhaps it’s just coincidence but, not that long after I first ventured into this field, a new neighbour appeared on the scene. He called me up about joining the tennis club and we got

chatting and arranged to meet for a beer and before I knew it he’d become part of our Friday evening circle where we play a couple of sets and then all decamp to the local for libations.

Now it turned out that Mike was a scriptwriter for TV dramas, often murder mysteries, and he had the disarming habit, should the conversation flag momentarily, of asking if anyone had any ideas for a good murder. He’d been writing so long that he’d killed off his various victims in just about every imaginable (and sometimes unimaginable) way.

I’d not seen any of his dramas until he announced a rerun of a Midsomer Murder.

Eagerly I tuned in and discovered that the half of the village who were to lose their lives in that particular episode were all being knocked off by… wait for it… a headless horseman! Had Michael spent too long in the Walkhurst woods?

Had he been watching reruns of Sleepy Hollow?

Had he also been forced to listen to old Stanley Holloway recordings at prep school? I don’t know, but I’ve never been able to look at him in quite the same way since.

Concerned about your home being sold to fund your future care fees?

The Issue

The Reasoning

You probably own your home as joint tenants if you are a couple and solely if you are single. For couples this means you own it wholly, jointly and severally. Ultimately therefore you do not own it 50:50 as you might have assumed. You actually own all of it together and when one partner dies the surviving partner owns it solely and absolutely.

When you own your home as tenants in common you actually own half each. With our Post death Property Protection Package when the first partner dies, they leave their half into their Trust.

The surviving partner is the Trustee of that Trust and also the Primary Beneficiary which means that as they own half and are Trustee of the other half they have complete control over the property and what happens to it. The children and/ or whoever else is also nominated as ultimate Trust Beneficiaries will have access to that half of the property when the surviving partner dies.

The first half of the property then is 100% securely in Trust for the beneficiaries and will not be at risk. As a result of this simple strategy and because it is not possible to sell just the survivor's half of the property, the integrity of the property is protected.

While the "market value" of half a property is negligible, The Care Act 2014 guidelines do allow for this half to have a charge placed on it under a deferred payment arrangement for care fees which is why this package includes a Lasting Power of Attorney grant for Property and Financial affairs which will enable a preappointed Attorney to act on behalf of the survivor should they be unable to themselves and negotiate with the Local Authority for the property to be rented out and a percentage of the income given to the Local Authority instead of a charge being placed.

The second half of the property would then ultimately go into the Trust for access by the nominated beneficiaries when the surviving partner eventually dies.

It is sole and absolute ownership that enables a whole property to be taken into consideration as an asset by the local authority and puts the property in danger of needing to be sold to fund care.

The Reality Today The care Act 2014 introduced in April 2015 allows local authorities to assess your assets to determine if you need to pay for your own care under the new charges and assessment of resources regulations.

Currently if you have assets above £23,250, you are on your own and require care, you will probably have to pay for it all currently averaging around £1,000 per week.

Savings, cash and income would be used first and then your property would need to be taken into consideration. You would be expected to pay for all of your care until such time as your assets were depleted to below the £23,250 threshold.

You would then pay for a proportion of your care until your assets were below £14,250 - at which point all your future care would be paid for after any relevant income was taken into account.

The Solution For couples, simply by changing the way you own your property well in advance of any care considerations i.e. from joint tenants to tenants in common and by setting up two property Trusts either immediately or within a properly structured Will at the same time will in most cases, protect the integrity of your home should you ever require care in the future, so long as avoiding care fees was not a primary motivating reason behind the implementation fo the strategy - i.e. you should be looking to protect your half of your property should your spouse remarry after your death, or you should be looking to ensure that your children would not lose 50% of their inheritance should they be made bankrupt or divorce or for example you should be looking to prevent a generational inheritance tax burden in the future. These are all sound reasons for implementing this strategy which in themselves are not deliberate deprivation of assets, but the implemantation of which protects the integrity of the property.

For sole owners the process is simply to set up a Trust now and convey your property into it which will produce the same result again this must be well in advance of any care considerations and the motivation must not solely be for the purpose of preventing your home being used to fund your care.

E

With our Whole of Life and Post Death Complete Property and Family Protection Package both halves of the property are conveyed into Trust IMMEDIATELY. This means the whole property is protected straight away and not just after the first party dies. The benefits of this package are that it then protects the property even if both parties go into care before the death of either. It also means that if the survivor goes into care the property does not have to be rented but if it is 100% of the income goes directly into the Trusts for the benefit of the survivor or any of the other Trust Beneficiaries and does not have to be given to the Local Authority. The most important benefit of this package though is the property can be sold at any time and the resulting proceeds be fully protected for the whole family within the Trusts and no negotiation with the Local Authority is required.

Sole owners and couples who have immediately conveyed their properties into Trust well in advance of any care consideration and not solely for the purpose of preventing their home being used to fund their care (deliberate deprivation of assets) secures the integrity of the property (so long as entry into care is not within 6 months of setting up the strategy) as the property is not absolutely owned by an individual anymore and it is not legal to force a Trustee to do something that is not in the ultimate best interest of the Trust Beneficiaries.

Call us now on 01892 278171 for a friendly chat about which package would be of best benefit to you and your family.

www.thywill.co.uk

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SPLASH ~ AWARDS 2015 Thy Will Be Done Voted

Best Business of 2015

76/78 High Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1YB Tel. 01892 534018 | Fax. 01892 510536 Email. info@gcollinsandsons.com | www.gcollinsandsons.com

‘When two halves meet’ Designed by Josh Collins The Zoë ring

The Zoë ring ‘When two halves meet’

by Josh Collins