Times of Tonbridge 15th May 2019

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Wednesday May 15 | 2019

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FEELS LIKE HEAVEN: Tonbridge Angels’ James Folkes jumps on top of team-mate Sonny Miles after they beat Metropolitan Police 3-2 in extratime. Victory in the ‘super play-off’ saw the club promoted to National League South, the highest position they have ever achieved. Six hundred travelling fans staged a pitch invasion at Imber Court after the final whistle. Chairman Dave Netherstreet said: ‘There have been so many challenges this year that sometimes made what has happened a distant dream, and I am so proud of everyone who has helped make the impossible happen.’

Full report, page 62 PHOTO: David Couldridge

Doubts over future of West Kent as Hadlow Group faces break-up

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk THE fate of West Kent and Hadlow agricultural college hangs in the balance as the group that runs them holds talks to hand over control to other educational providers.

Discussions are under way between the Hadlow Group and EKC [East Kent College] about the latter taking over West Kent’s sister college in Ashford.

The group is currently under investi-

gation by the Further Education [FE] Commissioner over allegations of financial irregularities.

The probe was launched in March after the resignation of principal Paul Hannan and his deputy Mark LumsdonTaylor. The chair of governors at West Kent, Paul Dubrow, has stood down.

There are also concerns about the state of the group’s budget with interim principal Graham Morley saying: “The colleges were experiencing some financial difficulty for quite some time. The financial issues are quite serious.”

He added: “None are impacting on the students and staff.

“They are at a strategic level rather than at an operational level.”

But their future may now depend on other ‘interested parties’ who have been ‘invited to develop detailed plans for all or parts of the Hadlow Group sites,’ according to EKC. The Hadlow Group also announced it was ending its 10-year sponsorship of Tonbridge Angels Football Club.

The company, which employs 1,400 people, has around 10,000 students –

including those at Hadlow Rural Community School and Pre-school.

The FE Commissioner has held meetings with the group, the Department for Education and EKC to find ‘a clear resolution to the issues that Hadlow Group has been facing’. A spokesman said: “Proposals relating to the future of Hadlow College, West Kent College and Ashford College have been invited from a number of interested parties – of which the EKC Group is just one.”

Continued on page 2

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Local News

Backpacker missing in Europe found after three-month appeal A MAN from Tonbridge who had been reported missing in Europe three months ago was safely located last week.

Backpacker Dominic Madar, 27, had been travelling between various capital cities when he was reported missing in February.

He left home on January 14 and stayed in Vienna and Bratislava, in Slovakia, and was also intending to travel to Budapest.

He was last seen on February 1, when he went to the British Embassy in Bratislava and was believed to be without any money or a phone.

On the same day he is known to have contacted someone in Budapest asking for a place to stay.

Kent Police were in contact with a number of embassies as part of their efforts to locate him.

Appeals for information were circulated in hostels.

The force would like to thank everyone for assisting with an appeal for information.

LONG JOURNEY Dominic Madar left home in January

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Wednesday May 15 | 2019

Castle Motte repairs will take up to six weeks SCHEDULED repairs have begun on the Motte at Tonbridge Castle.

The popular attraction has been closed to the public since it was damaged by a fallen tree during Storm Freya in March.

The works are being carried out by the borough council in association with English Heritage and are expected to take four to six weeks.

These include the replacement of fencing and damaged tarmac on the footpath that winds up to the top of the mound.

The oak tree, which was believed to be around 100 years old, came down in the high winds.

It was found to be suffering from a fungal infection. Another tree was also deemed to pose a health and safety risk.

A grant of £20,231 was secured from the Government’s Local Authorities Parks Improvement Fund in order to finance the renovation of the Motte.

The feature commands views over the town and forms part of the audio tour of the Castle.

The adjacent Castle Lawn was the venue for a

PHOTO: Suzannah Niklas/Tonbridge Daily

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KEEP OUT The Motte needs new fencing and footpaths

new music festival in the town over the first May Bank Holiday weekend.

It will be also hosting the town’s Food & Drink

Festival on May 25-26 and the fete after the Tonbridge Carnival on June 16, as well as other events throughout the summer.

Force to be reckoned with: Janice Browne dies at 85

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Fayre on River Lawn THE Tonbridge campaign group Keep River Lawn Green will be holding a May Fayre on Sunday [May 19] from midday until 2pm on River Lawn.

There will be maypole dancing led by a professional instructor and the Brooms Bricks and Bowlers Border morris dancers will perform.

Other activities include games such as egg and spoon, three-legged and sack races, story telling, an arts and craft table, jewellery stall and pop-up tea room – with cake donations welcomed.

THE borough council and local bodies have paid tribute to the former Mayor and councillor Janice Browne, who has died aged 85.

Miss Browne was a Conservative member of the council’s predecessor, the Tonbridge Urban District Council, from 1970.

She continued to serve with Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council [TMBC] until 2007, representing Higham and Castle wards.

She was appointed Mayor in 1984-85, and was made a Freeman of the borough when she retired from her public duties after 37 years.

Born in south London in 1934, she was evacuated to Cumbria during the Second World War. She returned to study at Haberdasher’s Aske in New Cross after the war ended.

After leaving the grammar school she worked for London County Council before moving

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 576037 REPORTER ANDY TONG andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES ENQUIRIES GHak@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 779650 FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews

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

If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor at David Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0TF, or email newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Markerstudy Leisure is a trading name of One Media and Creative UK Limited registered in England and Wales under company number 5398960 with registered office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB.

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HADLOW GROUP: Continued from page 1 He added: “All proposals will be analysed and considered by the FE Commissioner against a detailed and well-considered assessment plan.

“Both Hadlow College and West Kent and Ashford College are working closely with the FE Commissioner, and all those involved, to secure a sustainable future for both colleges.

“Throughout this whole process, our emphasis has been, and continues to be, the maintaining of a high-quality teaching and learning experience for our students, ensuring they are unaffected by the current issues.”

The FE Commissioner’s investigation follows an inquiry by the Education and Skills Funding Agency [ESFA] into money paid to the group, which the ESFA disputes that it was entitled to.

The ESFA provides colleges with funding for apprenticeship schemes. Repaying this money could further damage the group’s finances.

The FE Commissioner is expected to make an announcement about the future of the Hadlow Group on June 14.

Meanwhile Kent County Council has confirmed that it is trying to offer assistance. Roger Gough, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “We are, of course, concerned about the situation and are keen to see that students are able to continue their courses.

“We will do whatever we can to advise and assist, and are pursuing discussions with the new leadership of the group.

“Funding for the college is a matter for the FE

into the financial sector as a pioneering woman.

She was also a ground-breaking figure in other ways, ushering in the use of computer systems in the City of London, and she rose through the ranks to become deputy principal of the Bank of England.

She moved to Dry Hill Park Road in 1968 and specialised in planning, chairing TMBC’s Housing Committee and then the Development, Planning and Transportation Committee.

The town’s Civic Society appointed her as their ‘planning expert’ and its chair Diane Huntingford told the Times: “Janice’s planning HIGH FLIER Janice Browne was deputy principal of the Bank of England Commissioner and the Department for Education.”

EKC, which has five campuses across the county, has put forward its proposal for Ashford and Spring Lane in Canterbury, with a view to finalising the takeover in time for the new academic year in September.

The group was formed last year after East Kent Colleges merged with Canterbury, stabilising its finances and impressing Ofsted.

The watchdog gave Canterbury its first ‘good’ rating in 15 years while ‘highlighting the breadth of experience of the senior leadership team’.

‘We are working closely with all involved to secure a sustainable future for both colleges’ East Kent Colleges also took over the Dover and Folkestone from the struggling K College in 2014.

The Hadlow Group similarly acquired West Kent and Ashford five years ago as K College was broken up with debts of £16million.

It successfully turned the finances around, and then invested £26million in a new teaching block at Ashford, which opened in September 2017.

But the project has been beset by difficulties – notably involving grants from the council based on meeting building targets.

Last month the Department for Education paid BAM Construction £1million after a part of the group was ordered by the High Court to pay outstanding debts to the developers.

knowledge was phenomenal, her memory more so. She served the Society for many years as a member of the Executive Committee.

“She will be sadly missed by all those who came across her. She was a delightful force to be reckoned with in any debate.”

Miss Browne filled a wide variety of other public roles: governor at Hugh Christie secondary school and Woodlands Primary, trustee of Petley and Deakins Almshouse Charity and Town Warden.

Protagonist The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jill Anderson said: “Janice served the town of Tonbridge and later the borough for nearly 40 years.

“I remember her as a fierce protagonist for all aspects of the town – particularly Planning and Transportation, where she was a force to be reckoned with at the Area 1 Planning Committee.”

Miss Browne died on April 30 after suffering from cancer and heart disease. She leaves a brother and sister, nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held in her honour at St Peter & St Paul’s Parish Church, Tonbridge on Saturday May 25 at 11.30am.

ANGELS SEEK NEW SPONSOR AFTER RECORD DECADE Hadlow College has stepped down as main sponsor of Tonbridge Angels FC after 10 years, bringing to an end the longest period of corporate support for the club.

The news was announced two days after the team won a play-off final in front of a crowd of 2,200 at Longmead stadium.

Club spokesman Jim Rowe said the horticultural college had been ‘supporting the club through the good times – a promotion to Conference South – and perhaps more crucially the not-so-good times – a relegation back to the Isthmian League’.

The Angels’ Chairman, Dave Netherstreet, said: “It will take some getting used to, not seeing Hadlow College/West Kent College on our shirts as the players take to the field.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the College not only for the sponsorship itself but also all the support they have given us in other areas over the years such as events which are so important to the club.”

Mr Netherstreet added: “Hopefully there will be some initiatives in which we can continue to work together.”

The move is another sign that Hadlow Group is struggling financially after it sold car parks and disused buildings at West Kent’s Brook Street campus to private developers, reportedly raising around £1million.

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

Cultural hub name has finally been confirmed

Abattoir sheep escapes RESIDENTS and workers in Southborough were stunned to find a sheep running around the busy A26 on Monday.

The animal is believed to have escaped from nearby abattoir, Forge Farm Meats, and spent around an hour on the run before staff from the slaughterhouse recaptured the sheep.

Onlookers in Southborough, which is twinned with the French town of Lambersart, said they were concerned the sheep was going to cause a road traffic collision, but thankfully a quick-thinking postmistress locked the animal in a garden until the slaughter men arrived.

Kent’s biggest babies THE largest number of big babies in the county are born in the area covered by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, according to BBC data.

In total, 625 babies out of 4,740 born in the Trust’s area were classed as ‘large’, weighing more than 8lb 13oz, around 13 per cent of births.

The national average is 11 per cent.

Across Kent, around 12 per cent of babies born in the county are classed as large, which the Royal College of Midwives say can cause difficulties during labour and delivery.

Large babies are caused by a number of factors including overweight mothers, a history of having large babies, or being overdue.

The average weight for a baby born in Kent is between 6lb 10oz and 7lb 11oz.

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Bollywood royalty is set to come to town this summer

NEWS IN BRIEF

THE board overseeing the Council’s cultural and learning hub, which caused controversy earlier this year after the surname of suffragist, Amelia Scott, was initially dropped from the official name, has agreed to reinstate it.

Following a Cultural and Learning Hub Board meeting held in Maidstone last week, the centre will officially be known as ‘The Amelia Scott’.

Lib Dem Councillor Mark Ellis, who campaigned to get the full name of Amelia Scott reinstated to the cultural centre, said of the decision: “I am delighted that common sense has prevailed and we are now honouring Amelia Scott properly in a key development for our town.”

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THE Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells is set to recreate one of international cricket’s greatest comebacks.

In 1983, during the Cricket World Cup at the Nevill Ground, Indian captain, Kapil Dev, rescued his team from an embarrassing 9 for 4 against Zimbabwe by scoring 175 in one of the greatest innings witnessed in one day cricket.

His team went on to win the World Cup, beating the all-dominant West Indies in the final at Lord’s.

Vandals ransack Tunbridge Wells FC CULVERDEN Stadium, the home to Tunbridge Wells FC, has been burgled and ransacked.

Kent Police say they were called out at 10.45am on Tuesday to a report of a burglary at the club.

A window had been forced open to the club

premises and a number of items including keys were stolen. It is also believed attempts were made to steal a tractor.

Chairman Scott Bartlett, said the intruders had caused around £6,000 worth of damage during the break-in but nothing of

note was taken.

He added: “I think it must have been kids because they went for the alcohol in the clubhouse, smashed up the fridges and tried to hot wire the tractor.”

Police are appealing for information.

star Ranveer Singh.

The film, which is also being shot at Dulwich College, The Oval and Glasgow is being directed by Kabir Khan, who took to Instagram after a recent visit to the historic venue.

He said: “Got gooseflesh today standing on the historic Tunbridge Wells cricket ground...where Kapil Dev smashed the world record...175 not out during the 1983 World Cup.”

Greatest Now, 35 years later, the India-Zimbabwe match is being recreated for Bollywood for the upcoming film, 83, part of which will be shot at the Tunbridge Wells venue.

Kapil Dev, who is considered one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders, is to be played by Bollywood

Bollywood star Ranveer Singh

Fourth store cash machine raid in a matter of months

By Richard Williams

THIEVES have attempted to steal another cash machine by ram raiding the front of a convenience store in High Brooms, in the fourth such attack in a matter of months.

Police were called out in the early hours last Thursday morning after reports a silver 4x4 had reversed into the front of the Co-op in Silverdale Road.

Police say the thieves connected a chain to the vehicle, which had a red stripe on the sides, in an attempt to drag the ATM from inside the premises, badly damaging the store front in the process.

District Commander, Chief Inspector Peter Steenhuis said: “Considerable damage has been caused to a local shop during this failed burglary.

“We would also like to hear from anybody who saw a vehicle of this description travelling into

the area or leaving towards Southborough.”

He added that on this occasion, the thieves fled empty handed with the 4x4 last seen heading towards Woodland Road.

‘Considerable damage has been caused to a local shop during this failed burglary’ As the Times reported last week, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott is considering selling Tunbridge Wells Police Station following the decision last year to move police officers from the borough to Tonbridge.

But the recent cash machine raid is one of a number of similar such attacks conducted in the borough.

Only last month, a JCB digger was used in a similar daring raid on a cash machine, and that time the thieves succeeded with the ATM after

ripping it from the front of an Asda superstore two miles away in Longfield Road.

In February, thieves used a Mitsubishi Shogan to smash their way into Lambs Larder in Broomfield Road, Bells Yew Green, and again made off with a cash machine.

And just two weeks ago, thieves again used a chain hooked to a Land Rover Defender to remove an ATM from outside the BP garage in Rye Road, Hawkhurst.

It is not clear if the same criminal gang is behind the cash machine raids, but police are keeping their options open.

Chief Inspector Peter Steenhuis, added: “While our investigators are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry, we are appealing for witnesses who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area.”

Anyone who has information or who has footage that may assist the investigation is being asked to call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting reference 46/87536/19.

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Penshurst ‘Tommy’ artist creates another haunting work to honour D-Day invaders SANDS OF TIME Martin Barraud lays out 749 pairs of bootprints

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

reported due to the need for absolute secrecy.

This year’s There But Not There campaign is calling on schools, businesses and communities to help raise funds for the veteran community by buying the Bootprints.

Each pair of vinyl prints costs £4. These can be set down in public spaces as an act of remembrance for those who fought to liberate occupied Europe.

Bootprints plaques, which are manufactured by veterans, are also available set into acrylic for £29.99. The proceeds will go towards employment projects for former soldiers.

Emotional

By Andy Tong WITH the 75th anniversary of D-Day approaching on June 6, a local artist has followed up his hugely successful Great War installation with another creation to mark a tragic incident in the Second World War. Martin Barraud, of Penshurst, originated the There But Not There six-foot silhouettes of ‘Tommy’ soldiers, which were bought by 5,000 communities across the country to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War last year.

A further 80,000 ten-inch Tommies were sold, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity Remembered, while education packs were sent out to 24,000 schools.

Now he has created Bootprints on Slapton Sands to commemorate a rehearsal for the invasion of Normandy by US troops in Devon, code name Exercise Tiger.

On April 28, 1944, 749 American servicemen were killed when their ships were attacked by German E-Boats.

Mr Barraud has laid out 749 sets of footprints on the shore where the catastrophe unfolded.

He said: “Last year our Tommy campaign captured the hearts of the nation, whilst giving a substantial boost to the mental health and

wellbeing of veterans across the UK. “A year on and we’re hoping the great British public will get behind our D-Day 75 campaign by purchasing their own Bootprints to mark the great sacrifice of our World War II heroes, in particular those who helped kick-start the liberation of Europe with the invasion of Normandy on D-Day.” The US Ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, said: “For a long time, many people had no idea that so many hundreds of American servicemen lost their lives on the coast of Slapton Sands as they rehearsed for the D-Day landings.

“Those men did not die in vain. Their sacrifices paved the way for their comrades to succeed on the beaches of Normandy and begin the liberation of Europe from Nazi tyranny.”

Pam Wills was ten years old when Exercise Tiger took place on her doorstep. She remembers meeting the American troops who were stationed nearby.

“The US soldiers came over and talked to us, they gave us sweets and comics, but they then suddenly disappeared,” she recalled.

“We didn’t know Exercise Tiger had taken place, but my father, who was in the Royal Observer Corps watching for enemy aircraft, saw ambulances going to and from Slapton Sands, so we knew something was wrong.”

LEAVE A MARK Each plaque commemorates service personnel who died

Laurie Bolton’s uncle was stationed in Devon and took part in the rehearsal. She said: “My uncle, Sergeant Louis Archer Bolton, died during the exercise.

“He was on board LST 531 when it took a direct hit from a torpedo and sank within six minutes.

His body was never recovered.”

Mrs Bolton added: “He was assigned to the 607th Graves Registration Company – 1st Platoon – responsible for burying the dead on Utah beach.

“He was just 19 years old and a newlywed when he died, and by all accounts was a very well-liked fellow with a great sense of humour.

“I was born on his birthday eight years after he died, so have always asked about him.”

The impending invasion of France meant that the Exercise Tiger incident was only nominally

PAUSE TO REFLECT Martin Barraud with his silhouettes in Penshurst church

Each carries the name of one of the 22,763 British and Commonwealth service personnel and 10,945 US forces who died on D-Day or during the ensuing campaign.

Martin Barraud told the Times: “Two months ago, I was asked to think about how we could commemorate and bring to people’s attention the devastating tragedy.

“I looked at lots of material from then – and D-Day itself – and wanted to try and create something to make people think about that disaster.

“I ended up with the concept of just the bootprints, American bootprints, together, not in neat rows but in some sort of order, looking out to sea, to France. There, but not there.

“The emotional response to the installation has been overwhelming. I want to make people think by appealing to their senses; to see the installation, and think of the young men there, but not there.

“To look at the deep, freezing sea, to hear the sound of the waves and be inspired to look back.”

He added: “Our enduring hope is that every one of the US, British and Commonwealth soldiers, sailors and airmen who gave their lives will have a Bootprint purchased in their memory.

“I’d like every single one of those names to find a home. Each was an individual.”

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

Noisy nursery has forced ‘relaxing’ Salt Cave to close A HOLISTIC salt therapy centre has been forced to close as toddlers at a nursery in the same building are having a ‘negative impact’ on the ability of its clients to relax.

The Salt Cave in Vale Road, near to Tunbridge Wells Station, has provided its remedial treatment for nearly ten years.

The centre simulates a natural salt cave microclimate, which is said to be able to treat a range of respiratory and skin conditions.

According to the Salt Cave’s website, clients go to the centre to ‘relax in one of our treatment rooms, where customers inhale the dry, saltenriched air deep down into the lungs, where the healing benefits do their greatest healing.’

However, Green Cave Day Nursery on the same floor in the former Post Office building has also proved popular with Tunbridge Wells’ mums and dads, due to its handy location next to the train station, and it has grown continuously since it opened in 2012.

Both business are run by the same owners, but manager Beverly Davies has said they are now going to have to close the salt treatment centre due to the growth of the nursery business as clients are unable to relax in the salt treatment room.

She told clients in an email: “We have made this decision with a heavy heart; however we have reviewed the business and with the nursery growing we are increasingly aware that this can have a negative impact on the relaxation that is experienced within the Salt Cave.”

She added that the company’s Earlsfield branch in London will remain open but the Tunbridge Wells Salt Cave will close on Friday July 19, 2019.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support,” she added.

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New community centre is being planned for village playing field everybody in the village is happy’ about the George V Playing Field being earmarked for the community centre.

But Chair of the Trust, Ruth McChesney, said the existing village hall, Copt Hall, was not large enough to accommodate the burgeoning community.

She said: “Hawkhurst Community Trust 2018 is excited to be working with Hawkhurst Parish Council to help deliver, and then run, a modern community centre to best serve the needs of our large, lively village.

FIELDING CONTROVERSY? King George V Playing Field in Hawkhurst – is proposed site for a new community centre

Planning

By Richard Williams HAWKHURST is set to get its own community centre to be located on a popular playing field in the Tunbridge Wells village.

The Hawkhurst Community Trust, which was established in 2018 to oversee the project, say the new community centre will be delivered by Hawkhurst Parish Council.

They have announced the location for the new community centre, which was first proposed 15 years ago, will be the George V Playing Field.

However, the last community centre proposed for a playing field in the borough has been the

subject of much controversy and protest.

Paddock Wood Town Council has been attempting to build a similar development on Memorial Fields, a playing field near to the town centre, for the last three years, but it has been met with fierce opposition.

The Friends of Memorial Field, a group set up to oppose the chosen location of Paddock Wood Community Centre, managed to force the Town Council into conducting a local poll, which showed a majority were opposed to the development, but the town council decided to press ahead with the plans, regardless.

Hawkhurst Community Trust admit that ‘not

“Copt Hall has served the village for 90 years and now this new building will serve the village for another 90. However, Hawkhurst deserves better, which is why we are working hard to provide facilities for our expanding and diverse community.”

The village, which according to the last census has a population just shy of 5,000, has been earmarked for a number of potential housing developments, including plans for 400 homes and a relief road on the site of the village golf club.

While no planning application has yet been submitted for the project, Hawkhurst Parish Council are currently working out the costs and requirements of the development, which they say will ‘serve the needs of everyone now and in the future’.

The centre is planned to include such facilities as internet access, café, meeting rooms, changing facilities, dance floor, help points, hearing loop, post office and an office for the Parish Council.

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Standing room only as tickets for the 2019 Times Business Awards sell out TICKETS for this year’s Times Business Awards have sold out.

For the fourth year running, entries have poured in, demonstrating the depth of talent and business acumen in this part of the world.

From sole traders to international entities, around 150 local businesses from the boroughs of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and the Sevenoaks district have entered this year’s awards.

Forty businesses have been shortlisted and will be presented to the judging panel, who will disclose their findings and announce the 2019 Times Business Awards winners at Salomons Estate on May 30.

Special guest for the award ceremony will be the light-footed star of Strictly Come Dancing, Anton du Beke. Mr du Beke, who has confirmed another season on the hit BBC show, will present the awards to each lucky winner at this year’s event.

And there will be plenty of bubbly on offer, with welcome drinks sponsor Unity Wines supplying welcome Champagne for guests attending the ceremony at

Times LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

2019 Follow us on the night at #TimesBizAwards For those wanting to follow the evening’s proceedings and find out who has won what award, or who hasn’t quite made the cut, coverage of the Times Business Awards will be posted live on Twitter and Instagram. If you want to follow the events of the night, use the hashtag: #TimesBizAwards

Salomons Estate.

To entertain the 200 plus-strong audience, Funk2K have been confirmed, and while you may not have heard of them, you may have heard of their former singer—X Factor runner up, Olly Murs.

The band will be playing a whole raft of pop, funk and R&B favourites following the presentation of the awards.

Forty businesses have been shortlisted and will be presented to the judging panel Unfortunately, not everybody that has made the cut will be able to get a table at the gala dinner, as unprecedented demand this year means tickets have sold out, more than two weeks before the awards ceremony.

But to ensure all finalists get a chance to attend the black tie evening, we are offering standing tickets on the balcony at the Salomon’s Victorian Theatre, where guests can see the awards, enjoy drinks and bar snacks before coming downstairs to listen to the live music and dance till midnight.

Standing tickets will cost £30 per person and are available from info@ timesbusinessawards.co.uk or you can simply call award’s organiser, Eileen Sweeney, on 01892 779 583 to book.

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

Town’s latest developer comes out to support local companies THE company that is making an £80million investment in Tunbridge Wells, and developing the town centre’s most maligned plot of land—after nearly 20 years of neglect—has decided to support this year’s Times Business Awards.

Elysian Residences are developing the former ABC Cinema site on the top of Mount Pleasant Road, building a mixeduse development featuring apartments, a cinema, shops and restaurant, in what has been named the Belvedere.

To show their commitment to the town and to demonstrate their support for local businesses, the company has become Hospitality sponsor for the awards ceremony, and will join such local names as Cripps Pemberton Greenish in throwing their support behind local businesses at this year’s award ceremony.

Gavin Stein, CEO at Elysian Residences, said: “We have decided to become hospitality sponsor for the Times Business Awards 2019 to demonstrate our commitment to the

town and to show our support for all the businesses in the area, who we are very much looking forward to getting to know, working with and alongside with as the Belvedere takes shape and throughout our long-term management of the finished scheme.”

Consultation

Last week, Elysian held a consultation at Trinity Theatre where they were demonstrating to the people of Tunbridge Wells their plans for the Belvedere.

More than 100 local people came to see what the UK company has planned for in Tunbridge Wells.

“Overwhelmingly the sentiment was positive,” said Mark Curry, Head of Planning & Development at Elysian Residences. “Those that were unsure were happy to ask questions and have a meaningful discussion to understand more about the minor changes we are seeking to make.

“We look forward to meeting more people from this wonderful town and working together with local businesses and the community SUPPORT over the coming Elysian Residences’ weeks, months Mark Curry and years.”

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Investment bank uncovers longterm risk to British Land strategy

TOUR DE FORCE [L-R] John Spence, Victoria Sampson, Joseph Oates, Katie Hilsdon and Gareth Warner

By Richard Williams

Lawyers raise more than £15,000 by cycling from London to Paris FIVE members of the Tunbridge Wells-based law firm CooperBurnett have raised more than £15,000 for Brain Tumour Research by cycling 300km from London to Paris.

The legal team had to face unseasonably cold weather, almost constant rain and wind, as well as hailstorms and sleet, during the cycle event last bank holiday weekend.

Cycling 95km on Saturday, the team caught the overnight ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe before finishing the mammoth cycle ride on Sunday, which they did to raise money for the brain charity

after one of the legal team, Katie Hilsdon, lost her cousin, Oli Hilsdon, to a brain tumour.

“Words cannot express how proud I am of our team,” said Victoria Sampson, Partner and Head of Corporate and Commercial Services at CooperBurnett and one of the cyclists.

“None of us were experienced cyclists – I hadn’t ridden a bicycle for 30 years until six months ago – and although we trained really hard, we could not have anticipated the dreadful weather conditions.

When times were tough, we all thought about Oli and his determination.”

THE company that owns and runs Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells is exposing itself to long-term risks by renting to retailers who are either insolvent or otherwise struggling.

That’s the view of investment bank UBS, which examined 50 UK shopping centres owned by several real estate investment trusts [Reits], including Royal Victoria Place owners British Land, and found they had up to 20 per cent of their total shopping centre floor space let out to retailers classed as either in administration or with a company voluntary arrangement in place [CVA].

Impact CVAs are arrangements that not only enable struggling companies to repay debts at reduced levels or over longer periods, but also can result in forced rent reductions on landlords, or in some instances allow retailers to back out of leases altogether.

UBS said the floor space impact is ‘significantly higher than the companies’ reported rent impacted by CVAs, which ranges from 2.7 to 4 per cent of rental income’.

Three new hires for Thomas Mansfield

THE LEGAL EAGLES HAVE LANDED: Neill Thomas, Louise Minifie, Hollie Foreman and Sophia Kelly A SPECIALIST family law firm that launched in Tunbridge Wells just 12 months ago has seen client demand rise so much they have had to bolster their legal team with three new staff appointments.

Thomas Mansfield opened its office in the town last year with two family law solicitors and one administrator.

The firm has enjoyed rapid

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

growth since then, and the arrival of its new professionals mean the company now has three family law solicitors (with another starting in June), one administrator, one paralegal, one employment lawyer and a private client lawyer.

The newcomers taken on by the firm, which also has an office in London, are associate solicitor Louise Minifie, solicitor

Hollie Foreman and paralegal Sophia Kelly.

Partner Neill Thomas said: “The addition to our family team of Louise, Hollie and Sophia adds further substantial experience to a leading team of solicitors, and has come about through client demand for quality legal services.”

He added that since opening in Tunbridge Wells in 2018, the family law department has gone from ‘strength-to-strength’ under the leadership of Susi Gillespie, the head of the family law department.

“Our goal has always been to assemble a team of lawyers specialising in family law who can provide excellent legal advice combined with good client care and at a reasonable price,” he continued.

“The family law department provides advice on divorce and civil partnership dissolutions, the splitting of finances, arrangements for children.”

“In our view, this poses long-term risks to the retail Reits, including lower rental growth prospects and higher vacancy.

“Store closures in malls could lead to a less pleasant shopping experience, reduced foot traffic, and a vicious circle that could lead to further store closures,” the bank said in its report of the analysis.

They did add, however, that ‘some of the companies may have recovered and come out of administration, or have been bought by other businesses’.

But the bank considered ‘these business models to have an above-average level of risk’.

British Land declined to comment on the report, but as reported in the Times, the company has been restructuring its business over the last 12 months, combining its retail and commercial office arm into one department.

The developer has also sold off 12 Sainsbury’s superstores to the Realty Income Corporation for £429million in order to reduce its retail exposure.

British Land bought Royal Victoria Place more than 12 months ago, and promised a major upgrade would be unveiled within a year.

To date, no plans have been announced.

Baldwins named South East’s best

TOP SPOT: Kim Lacey, Manager at Baldwins Travel, Tunbridge Wells [centre] with one of the judges, Colin Currie, and Sophie Griffiths, Editor of the Travel Trade Gazette [TTG]

A LEADING travel industry magazine has named a Tunbridge Wells agent as the best in the whole of South East England.

The town’s branch of Baldwins Travel was named the South East’s Top Agency by the Travel Trade Gazette [TTG], the travel industry’s ‘bible’.

The firm’s Uckfield branch also made the shortlist and was commended as a runner-up in the Top 50 list.

Nick Marks, Joint Managing Director at Baldwins, which was set up in the borough in 1895 and now operates eight branches across the South East, said they were ‘delighted’ to have been recognised.

He added: “This award reflects the effort and hard work that the teams in all of our branches make on a day-to-day basis, creating the perfect holidays for our clients and giving the best levels of customer service possible.”

TTG Group Editor Pippa Jacks said the company was chosen because of its ‘impeccable’ customer service, a focus on training, and strong business growth over the last year.

She added: “Our winners demonstrate that travel retailing in 2019 is a vibrant and successful business sector.”

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St George’s Day lunch raises £40,000 for Pickering Centre

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

OLD BOY Keane’s Tom Chaplin went to Tonbridge School

ALL TOGETHER Guests revel in the festivities at The Spa Hotel

THE St George’s Day lunch at The Spa Hotel has raised more than £40,000 for the Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre in Tunbridge Wells.

A record number of 180 guests attended the annual function, hosted by a group of ten influential men from the town known as The Exiles.

Polly Taylor is co-founder of Pickering, which offers emotional support to people who have cancer and their families, alongside a range of complementary therapies.

She said: “The Exiles have been supporting Pickering for six years and they are my boys – they are absolutely amazing.

“This year’s lunch was phenomenal. We couldn’t believe the atmosphere, the auction prizes, the incredible amounts of money that were coming in – it was so generous.”

Among those donating auction prizes was local restaurateur Matthew Sankey, who pledged to cook a paella lunch for 30 people. He saw that sell for £1,500 – and then committed to making three such feasts.

SLICE OF LUCK Pickering co-founder Polly Taylor with the pork pie she was given

GLASS ACT The Exiles have supported Pickering for six years

Harry Collins, of prestigious town jewellers G Collins & Sons, donated leather passport holders for the table raffles which raised £2,400.

And former professional golfers Jamie Spence and Paul Way both offered themselves up for auction to take part in The Pantiles Rotary’s annual golf day.

Brothers Robbie and David Sloane cooked up a pork pie for a guess-the-weight contest, which raised more than £900.

The winner then donated it back to the auction and the savoury treat was presented to Polly Taylor as a gift.

During the lunch, Dan and Deborah McDowell, who run Care at Home Services South East Ltd, pledged to add 25 per cent to the running total on the day.

And Sam Stillman, of Stillmans car dealership in Hildenborough, is teaming up with Motorline in Paddock Wood to auction a car in the summer, which could push the final figure raised over the £50,000 mark.

Botham brings celebrity team to school to support Rwanda charity LEGENDARY England all-rounder Sir Ian Botham, Keane singer Tom Chaplin and former England rugby player Rob Andrew will be supporting a fundraising cricket match at Tonbridge School in support of Rwanda Aid. The public are welcome to go to the school to watch the match, which will be played on Friday May 24 from 3.30pm on the head pitch.

Sir Ian will not be playing, but will also take part in a question and answer session earlier in the day.

Other celebrities and former sports stars taking part include national cricket selector Ed Smith, fellow ex-Tonbridge School student and TV presenter Chris Hollins, and former players Rob Key, Gladstone Small and Paul Parker, along with current Kent and England cricketer Tammy Beaumont.

Tom Chaplin is also an alumnus of the school, and his father, David Chaplin, OBE, is Chief Executive of Rwanda Aid, which is trying to raise more than £20,000 at the event.

David Chaplin said: “The funds will be helping to support young people living with disability in their homes, in school, in the workplace and in the community.”

“As with all our initiatives, we aim for this to be so successful that it will become the model for providing care throughout the country.

“We are enormously grateful to Tonbridge School for making its wonderful cricket ground available to us, and we are looking forward to a fun and entertaining day.”

The event coincides with the 25th anniversary of the genocide in the African country.

Rwanda Aid works in the western province, one of its poorest regions, supporting effective education and opportunity for enterprise; helping the disadvantaged and disabled is central to its work.

Tickets for a pre-match lunch and Q&A with Sir Ian Botham, former Kent captain Rob Andrew and others cost £100, and are available by emailing: david.chaplin TALES @rwanda-aid.org.

TO TELL There will be a Sir Ian charity auction with Botham prizes, including a will be round of golf with answering Sir Ian and Tom and questions a flight in a Tiger Moth plane.

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Awareness campaigner takes over Tunbridge Wells ‘dementia friends’

HAND IN HAND: Terry Hill’s grandchildren, Camron and Erin, take part in the Haysden Memory Mile walk; (l-r) former Mayoress Julie Rhodes, volunteer knitter Claire Leeson and Janet Richardson run the stall at Hildenborough Farmers’ Market with the forget-me-not yarn-bomb featuring walkers’ dedications

By Andy Tong THE founder of Tonbridge’s award-winning Dementia Friendly Community [DFC] has been appointed Chair of the Tunbridge Wells organisation ahead of Dementia Action Week, which begins on Monday [May 20].

Chris Parker, Managing Director of Abbey Funeral Services, set up the Tonbridge DFC in 2015, and has encouraged numerous businesses in the town to take notice of how they cater for customers who live with the condition.

Last year Tonbridge DFC was named the most Inspirational Dementia Friendly Community by the Kent Dementia Action Alliance.

Now Chris brings her expertise and enthusiasm to Tunbridge Wells as she takes over from Kate Sergeant, who will be concentrating on her work with the Alzheimer’s Society.

“I am delighted to be taking over the Chair of Tunbridge Wells DFC from Kate Sergeant, who has done an amazing job there,” she said.

“Thanks to Kate, we already have a small but dedicated team. I would love to build on this and see some retailers taking an active part in building a dementiafriendly town.

“Dementia Friendly Communities don’t just happen, they grow – one person, one business at a time.

It’s another exciting challenge.”

Kate Sergeant said: “Chris has done a marvellous job in Tonbridge with her local knowledge and contacts, and is already making great progress in Tunbridge Wells.

“We need to build our connections with local businesses to create a network of dementia friendly people and places across the town.”

Tunbridge Wells DFC started in 2012, and she added: “The fear and stigma around dementia

‘These communities don’t just happen, they grow – one person, one business at a time’ is definitely reducing and people are far more comfortable talking about it.

“However, living with dementia can be challenging and we still have a way to go before there is enough understanding of the condition and appropriate support.

“I would like Tunbridge Wells to be a place where anyone affected by dementia can feel understood, accepted, included and valued.

INSPIRATIONAL “In fact Chris Parker, that would Tonbridge DFC founder be a good

thing for everybody, wouldn’t it, regardless of their medical condition. A dementia friendly community is a friendly community as well.”

Tunbridge Wells Dementia Action Week begins on Wednesday [May 22] with a meeting of the Trinity Encore seniors choir at Camden Centre – the usual venue is Trinity Theatre – at 10.30am.

At 2pm Chamberlain Court care home on Mount Ephraim will launch its Dementia Café.

And the new Farmer’s Market at Market Square will feature an information stall and ‘yarn bomb’ on Saturday [May 25] from 9am to 4pm.

Three United Reformed Churches in the town, at Mount Ephraim, Hawkenbury and Rusthall, will also be ‘yarn bombing’ knitted designs on the railings outside their churches.

Members of the congregations have come together to produce artworks made out of knitted forget-me-not flower designs.

A similar creation was on display for Tonbridge DFC’s Action Week from May 6-10.

Their programme featured a Memory Mile walk around Haysden Country Park and a Virtual Dementia Tour at the Forget-Me-Not Café at St John’s Church Hall in Hildenborough.

Terry Hill, owner of Castle Cars, who won the Kent Dementia Action Alliance award in the Small Business category last year, said: “My staff and I would like to thank Chris Parker for arranging today’s Virtual Dementia Tour.

“Castle Cars have been involved with Tonbridge DFC for some time but this event certainly opened our eyes to what it would be like to be in the shoes of somebody suffering from dementia.”

For more information on Dementia Action Week, which runs from May 20-26, visit alzheimers.org.uk

Making a song and dance for Chasing Connor’s Cure A CHARITY gig is being held at Walthamstow Hall girls’ school in Sevenoaks to raise money for Chasing Connor’s Cure.

The Hildenborough charity was set up by the Crawford family to help find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy after their seven-year-old son Connor was diagnosed with the rare condition three years ago.

Local band Never Too Late will be hosting the night, with special guests The Habituales, who travelled from Spain to take part in the show for free.

All proceeds will go to Chasing Connor’s Cure and the Brain Tumour Charity, which also helps to fund pioneering research.

Matt Crawford, Connor’s father, said: “We feel particularly close to Never Too Late. They found us shortly after Connor’s diagnosis and immediately set about

supporting us with a gig, where we raised a fantastic amount for Duchenne research.

“They continue to support many charities and we are delighted they are holding another gig for us.

“Their approach is simple. They are fabulously talented, very generous people who enjoy creating great nights where charities benefit from all the ticket sales, raffle proceeds and bar takings.”

The band’s drummer Liam Manby said: “We met Connor in 2016. We were looking to support a local charity so we gave Matt Crawford 150 tickets.

“We said, ‘that money’s yours, plus whatever we receive on the night’. We had such fun last time, we were really engaged.”

Tickets to the event cost £12.50 and are available from chasingconnorscure.co.uk

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Connor Crawford takes to the stage with his father, Matt

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Union fears for British Steel staff amid rumours of safeguard loan

UNION officials are urging the Government to guarantee the future of British Steel and safeguard thousands of jobs amid suggestions that the company is seeking a multi-million pound loan to secure its future.

It is understood that meetings were held yesterday [Tuesday] where workers heard details about the company’s plans.

Ross Murdoch of the GMB union said: “This Government has a track record of sitting on its hands while UK manufacturing collapses round its ears.

“Now is the time to take action. Ministers must come out and guarantee the loan required to safeguard British Steel.

“Thousands of UK jobs are on the line, not to mention the entire future of our proud steel industry.”

British Steel employs thousands of workers, mainly at Scunthorpe, but has smaller plants in the North-east.

The news comes weeks after the company was given funds of around £100million to pay its European Union carbon bill.

Uncertainty A British Steel spokesman said: “Last month the company agreed a short term bridge facility with Government to help it meet its EU emissions obligations, and discussions are continuing about a package of additional support to assist the company address broader Brexitrelated issues whilst continuing with its investment plans.”

Unite officer Tony Brady said: “Having just secured a big order

for rail, Unite is firmly of the view that British Steel can and should have a bright future.

“The Government must, as reports suggest, help the steelmaker through the tough times, while urgently addressing the wider underlying problems facing the UK steel industry.

“Brexit is hitting sales and creating uncertainty not just for British Steel, but for the wider industry. At the same time high energy costs are leaving steelmakers competing with their European competitors with one hand tied behind their backs.

“Ministers need to support the wider steel industry with help on business rates and high energy costs, while securing a Brexit deal that secures a customs union and continued tariff free frictionless trade.”

Ex-EDL leader faces Huawei chief offers new contempt trial ‘no-spy’ agreement THE High Court has agreed to hold fresh contempt of court proceedings against Tommy Robinson.

The former English Defence League [EDL] leader, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, faces an allegation that he committed contempt by filming people outside a criminal trial and broadcasting footage on social media.

Two judges gave permission for a new case to be brought against him at the Old Bailey yesterday [Tuesday], following an application by the Attorney General Geoffrey Cox. Robinson was jailed for 13 months in May last year after he filmed people involved in a criminal trial at Leeds Crown Court.

But a contempt finding made against Robinson was quashed by the Court of Appeal in August and he was freed after serving two months.

HUAWEI is willing to sign a ‘no-spy’ agreement with countries – including the UK – in order to ease concerns about its technology, the firm’s chairman has said.

The Chinese telecom giant has been under intense scrutiny over claims that its 5G equipment could be exploited for espionage, which it has long denied.

During a visit to the UK, chairman Dr Liang Hua said the company would agree to a deal to fend off suggestions that it could be used by the Chinese state as a route to spy on the West.

“We are willing to sign ‘no-spy’ agreements with governments, including the UK Government, to commit ourselves, to commit our equipment to meeting the no-spy, no back-door standards,” Dr Liang told a press conference in London.

VIP paedophile claims ‘could not be worse’ THE prosecution has described the claims of Carl Beech as ‘false allegations of the most serious kind’.

The 51-year-old is accused of fabricating testimony about a Westminster paedophile ring.

He denies 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud at Newcastle Crown Court.

Prosecutor Tony Badenoch QC told a jury of seven men and five women: “This case concerns the making of false allegations of the most serious kind against

senior public figures in Parliament, the military and the intelligence services.”

He said that the case also concerns allegations made ‘against a show-business personality’, who he named as Jimmy Savile.

The prosecutor added that over the course of a number of months and years, Beech made allegations to Wiltshire Police and the Metropolitan Police about ‘three child murders, multiple rapes, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and

widespread sexual abuse’.

He added that the allegations all concerned young boys, saying: “It is quite impossible to conceive of allegations of a worse kind to be made.”

Mr Badenoch said that, in 2014 to 2015, Beech told an ‘extraordinary tale’ to the Metropolitan Police and Wiltshire Police about how he was a victim of much of the abuse and witnessed the killing of three boys.

He described the allegations as ‘demonstrably untrue’.

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Taking Jeremy Kyle off air ‘no reflection on the show’ BALL IN COURT Marcus Ball at Westminster Magistrates

Public hearing for Boris over EU claim FORMER foreign secretary Boris Johnson could be prosecuted privately for comments made during the EU referendum campaign.

A judge agreed to hold a public hearing on the matter after Marcus Ball, 29, brought the private case against Mr Johnson for allegedly abusing public trust during the campaign.

Mr Ball alleges that the former foreign secretary committed misconduct in public office by endorsing and making statements which he knew to be false at a time when he was mayor of London and an MP.

ITV CHIEF Dame Carolyn McCall has said in an email to staff that the decision to take The Jeremy Kyle Show off air was ‘the best way’ to protect it following the death of a guest.

The confrontational talk show was suspended indefinitely by the broadcaster following the death of the participant, 63-year-old Steve Dymond, a week after the programme was filmed.

Mr Dymond took a lie-detector test to convince fiancee Jane Callaghan he had not been unfaithful, but they split after he failed, according to The Sun.

Inappropriate An email sent to staff by Dame Carolyn said that it ‘was a very difficult decision to make’ to halt filming and broadcasting of the programme, but that they felt it would be ‘inappropriate to continue to broadcast the show when a participant on it has so recently died’.

The email said: “This decision is not in any way

a reflection on the show, but the best way we think we can protect the show and the production team from the reaction we expect to this death.”

It said that ‘everyone involved’ will be offered support from the Employee Assistance Programme, as well as access to counsellors.

ITV has been urged to end all future broadcasts of the programme following the death of Mr Dymond around a week after filming his episode.

MP Damian Collins, Chairman of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee [DCMS], said in a statement that TV companies ‘have a duty of care to the people who take part in their programmes’ and that the select committee will discuss the issue today [Wednesday].

Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said: “This is a deeply concerning case. Broadcasters and production companies have a responsibility to the mental health and wellbeing of both participants and viewers and must ensure that they have appropriate levels of support in place.”

DEEPLY CONCERNING Grafton Street, Portsmouth, where Mr Dymond’s body was found

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Cow & Gate baby food contains rubber glove A BATCH of Cow & Gate baby food has been recalled from supermarkets because jars have been found to contain pieces of a rubber glove.

The Food Standards Agency said the jars of Cheesy Broccoli Bake may contain small pieces of blue rubber which make the product unsafe to eat.

The jars were on sale at major supermarkets including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Tesco, as well as Boots.

Tube strike suspended A PLANNED strike by London Underground workers this weekend, which was set to coincide with the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, has been suspended.

Around 1,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, including maintenance and engineering workers, were due to walk out for three days from Friday morning.

The union said London Underground had agreed to withdraw proposed cuts to train inspection and preparation, the issue at the centre of the dispute.

Misconduct

EU workforce still rising

The allegation relates to the much-trumpeted claim by the Vote Leave campaign that the UK sends £350million a week to the European Union, which was found to be misleading by the UK Statistics Authority.

Before the hearing, Mr Ball said: “This case is a world first, it has never happened before.

“A member of Parliament has never been prosecuted for misconduct in public office based upon alleged lying to the public.”

THE number of EU workers in the UK has jumped by nearly 100,000 to a new record high, according to the latest figures.

Around 2.38million EU nationals were employed in the UK from January to March, 98,000 more than during the equivalent period of 2018.

Compared with the first three months of 2016 – shortly before the Brexit vote in June of that year – the figure was up by 237,000.

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Vodafone cuts shares after £6.6billion loss

Lean times for Premier MR KIPLING maker Premier Foods slid to a £42.7million annual loss as it was hit hard by pension charges and restructuring costs.

The food manufacturer had posted a £20.9million profit the previous year.

Its profitability was particularly impacted by an anti-discrimination ruling last year on women’s pensions by the High Court.

Profits were also dented by a £30.6million impairment charge related to its Sharwood’s and Saxa brands.

Vegan boost for Greggs DEMAND for new vegan sausage rolls has helped Greggs to increase its full-year profit outlook after ‘exceptional’ sales growth.

The bakery chain, which has nearly 2,000 shops across the UK, reported an 11.1 per cent jump in like-for-like sales over the 19 weeks to May 11 after it launched its vegan sausage rolls across all its stores.

It made the move after it saw demand outstrip supply earlier in the year when the savoury rolls were only available in some shops initially.

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Ei Group raises glass to profit-making pubs

NEWS IN BRIEF

VODAFONE has slashed its shareholder dividend payout for the first time to invest in 5G and cut debts as it revealed a mammoth £6.6billion annual loss.

The mobile phone giant announced a 40 per cent cut to its full-year dividend.

Vodafone swung deeply into the red over the year to March 31, against profits of £2.8billion a year earlier, after it wrote down the value of some of its assets and took a hit on the sale of Vodafone India.

National News

RICHER ALL ROUND Staff at the branch in Tunbridge Wells

Music to the ears of all staff as Richer Sounds boss steps aside STAFF at the Tunbridge Wells branch of Richer Sounds will be among more than 520 employees who will share £3.5million in cash bonuses.

The news came through yesterday after the firm’s founder, Julian Richer, stepped down from the day-to-day running of the firm.

Mr Richer has transferred 60 per cent of his holding in the hi-fi and TV retail chain into an employee ownership trust.

The decision follows in the footsteps of The John Lewis Partnership.

The move will see him gain £9.2million for the stake, although £3.5million will be handed straight back to staff as loyalty bonuses.

Each of its 522 employees will pick up £1,000 for every year worked at the firm, meaning an average payout of £8,000.

But there are 39 long-serving staff who have clocked up more than 20 years at the group who will pick up hefty windfalls.

Mr Richer said: “I have always planned to leave my company in trust on my death for the benefit of the colleagues in the business.

“Having hit the ripe old age of 60 in March, I felt the time was right, rather than leaving it until I’m not around, to ensure that the transition goes smoothly and I can be part of it.”

David Robinson, Richer Sounds’ chairman, said: “It’s incredibly exciting times and allows our colleagues to feel even more connected to the company.

Pride “They have a real stake in the success of the business and can take pride in knowing that they are shareholders, building for the future.”

Richer Sounds, which has 53 stores across the UK, has been working on the employee ownership trust plans for the past 18 months with legal and accountancy firm RSM. Mr Richer, who founded the business in 1978 at the age of 19, had long planned to hand control of the firm to staff and had already written the plan into his will, but wanted to ensure he could oversee the transition.

BRITAIN’S biggest pub owner Ei Group has seen profits rise for the half-year on the back of robust drink sales.

The company also revealed plans to buy back another £30million worth of shares.

Underlying pre-tax profits rose by 3.5 per cent to £59million for the six months to March.

Revenues rose 7 per cent to £353million as mild weather helped to drive like-for-like sales growth of 6 per cent in its managed pubs.

In recent months, the company has shifted from leased and tenanted pubs towards those managed and owned by the business.

It increased its managed pub portfolio to 419 by March 31, up 100 on the same period last year.

During the period, the company completed the disposal of 348 commercial properties to make £332.7million in proceeds.

Npower suffers after 100k customers leave ENERGY giant Npower has swung to a loss after shedding another 102,000 customers and taking a hit from the energy price cap.

The Big Six provider, which is owned by German group Innogy, fell to a £39million underlying loss for the three months to March 31, against earnings of £37million a year earlier. UK retail revenues dropped 5.6 per cent to £1.7billion.

Npower – who called off a merger with rival SSE in December – saw its residential and commercial gas and electricity customer base drop to 3.97million, down from 4.07million a year ago.

It comes after the provider lost more than 650,000 customers in 2018.

Npower plans to cut around 900 jobs from its near 6,400-strong workforce this year.

ADVERTORIAL

Hairdresser Richard Duncan on getting ahead What motivated you to start your hairdressing business in Tunbridge Wells?

I have been a hairdresser for over 30 years now, it really is my lifelong passion.

In the past I used to travel a lot, doing work for fashion shows and television, but I wanted to settle and run my own business.

I have been working in Tunbridge Wells for seven years and I wanted to have my own unique place, so I struck out on my own – and the rest is history.

You have been running the salon for a year – does that feel like a long time?

It certainly does! I never imagined it would go this well. I have a very loyal base of clients who are always recommending me to family and friends.

What has really helped is the support I’ve had from other businesses in Camden Road. Everyone here wants to do well as a community of traders, and that is really special. I’ve been so surprised every day by how supportive the community is and by all my positive feedback.

And finally, how do you think the future is looking for your business?

I want to build on our strengths. My salon is a great place to come because we keep the atmosphere chilled and friendly, and it helps to give a personal touch to every client.

I also think being open-minded and wanting to learn helps.

I’m always looking to go on new courses and find out about the latest techniques so that customers can get exactly what they want.

Here’s to another year!

Richard Duncan 90 Camden Road Tunbridge Wells TN1 2QP T: 01892 528330 E: info@richardduncanhair.co.uk richardduncanhair.co.uk

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Letters

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And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor, Times Local News, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG Candidacy is like bringing up a child – you need a support network I write to comment on the number of women on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, which was only 15 prior to the local election. Now there are four additional women since the election.

With the loss of one Conservative, that now makes the total number 18 women.

New female councillors were elected in St John’s, Park, Speldhurst & Bidborough, and Benenden & Cranbrook.

Female representation is low at both the local and national levels. The reasons are well rehearsed; that running for office is an enormously time-consuming effort taking up all one’s energies.

If, on top of that, resources are limited, the candidate finds herself doing her own deliveries, canvassing, literature and, in a few cases, solving problems for residents.

It requires a supportive team to elect a candidate, including a spouse and family (if one is lucky). Much like bringing up a child, it takes a whole ‘village’ to bring one up.

I am grateful for the support of my electorate for electing me to St John’s ward and will ensure that I listen to their problems and fulfil my promises to them.

Cllr Marguerita Morton Liberal Democrat Councillor for St John’s

council would have been chosen and a new Cabinet formed. In the wake of the recent election results, the first question on my mind was, who would now lead Tunbridge Wells Borough Council?

In my opinion there is one Conservative member who stands out as being suitably experienced and qualified to act as Leader, and that is Cllr Paul Barrington-King.

I have listened to him speak most articulately in Full Council over many years and believe he can do the job in determining the strategy to be followed in the wake of the election results, and that he would bring a forthright and balanced approach to the local issues.

The Conservative group of councillors must decide who they want to lead them in the coming years at this most critical and important time in the history of the local Conservative party and the borough council.

I wish them well in the collective judgment they make. Time will tell how wise that judgment was, because this borough needs strong leadership which reflects the will of the people for the overall benefit of the people.

Brian Bissell Tunbridge Wells

Moving out of the realm of fantasy

HAPPY FAMILY Cllr Marguerita Morton with fellow Liberal Democrats

Jukes has fiddled while Rome burned I have no sympathy for David Jukes losing his seat on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

He proved to have an enormous ego and was arrogant in every aspect.

Whilst we want leaders with some spunk and a sense of balance, it was his insistence on building the Civic Centre without listening to objections that made him unpopular.

He could not see that Tunbridge Wells was literally dying in front of his face; all he seemed concerned about was punishing shopkeepers with high business rates, keeping increasing parking fees, and not encouraging people to shop in the town.

The more shoppers, the more revenue; that brings in more taxes. Instead, just sit back and watch shops close, the cinema grot spot continue to cause disgust, and be determined to ruin what Tunbridge Wells is noted for.

A salutary lesson.

John Pearce Tunbridge Wells

Former Leader’s dog has bitten back Ex-councillors David Jukes and Tracy Moore – his principal cheerleader for the Civic Complex – chose to learn their lesson the hard way and paid the price.

They, with others, persistently ignored the man in the street, believing they knew best, and drove ahead, and at no small cost – would that they could be surcharged for such folly.

As it is, we are £4million the poorer and a major employer and retail attraction threatens closure; what a legacy to such a monumental and avoidable mistake. Tin-eared doesn’t even begin to describe their arrogance and egoism.

Mr Jukes deserves his comeuppance. He believes that a dog in a blue pram can get elected in the town. The dog, it seems, has bitten

back – you insult your electorate at your peril, Mr Jukes. They [politicians] all exist in the same surreal bubble, as we see at Westminster.

Whence now? The CPO is approved, but will the election result give elected members pause, I wonder?

Edward Baker Tunbridge Wells

It’s not a game – stop scoring points I refer to your article relating to the election results [May 8] in which you published Cllr March’s comments on the outcome of the Public Inquiry into Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Compulsory Purchase Order, where she says ‘this destroys every single argument and vindicates the council’.

You still simply don’t get it, do you, Cllr March?

This is not some political game where you aim to ‘destroy’ your opposition or score points by ‘vindicating’ your own stance.

This is about Tunbridge Wells and the views of the significant numbers of people who have made it perfectly clear that they do not want this project.

These are the people who elected you and enabled you to be elevated to your lofty Cabinet position, and these are the people who will throw you out if you do not acknowledge their preferences and concerns with humility and grace.

Bob Atwood Chair, Tunbridge Wells Alliance

A forthright and balanced approach The local election results, when announced, must have been a shock to many and expected by some, no doubt triggered by the strong feeling that has built up over the Civic Centre project.

The next Full Council meeting is the MayorMaking on May 22, when a new Leader of the

The local elections in Tunbridge Wells reflected local views on our borough council’s actions – particularly, I think, in respect of the latter’s seeming total disregard of what council taxpayers do not want to happen to their money.

Countrywide we have seen the expression of opinions on what the electorate think of the Government’s handling of Brexit.

It will be noted that the desertion of voters from the Tory and Labour parties, both of which under their current leadership have ignored public demand for a second referendum, has not led to a rush to join UKIP supporters.

On the contrary, there has been a loud expression of support for the Liberal Democrats and Green parties, who have declared their intention to annul Brexit.

People have doubtless realised that the fantasy Brexit conditions expounded to them in 2016 are just that – fantasy – and that any version of Brexit in whatever form will be hugely disadvantageous other than for some preposterously ambitious and totally unsuitable Conservative politicians and their rich friends.

The forthcoming elections for the European Parliament will only serve to reinforce this fact, and a General Election will probably see that both Conservatives and the Labour Party under its present leadership have made themselves unelectable.

What interesting times we live in!

Alexander Magnus Tunbridge Wells

Mistakes made on closer inspection Cllr Marguerita Morton [May 8] justifiably criticises the inquiry report for failing to present a compelling case for the Calverley Square project. No evidence was called from an independent and qualified economist.

So far as I know, I was the only qualified economist present, and my statement was ignored. The estimated economic benefit to the local economy of 1 per cent of the local food and drinks turnover was ignored.

Indeed, no other figure was given for the benefit to the town’s local economy.

Economic projections for the benefits to the wider economy have to be very speculative and of dubious relevance.

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

The Inspector also made a significant error and he took it on himself to make judgments which he is clearly not qualified to make.

Mr Riddell, the theatre designer, said that the proposed ‘Lyric’ theatre was not suitable for orchestral and choral performances – unlike the existing Assembly Hall.

The much quoted Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury suffers the same deficiency. The Inspector’s report said ‘the theatre would still be well able to accommodate some forms of music and performance’; this is incorrect.

The Inspector’s apparently uncritical acceptance of the statement that the subsidy might be limited to five years is not supported. Is this after or before capital charges?

The Marlowe didn’t contribute anything to financing charges in its first eight years, and its borrowing is a small fraction of the Tunbridge Wells project.This report is a poor analysis of a poor business proposal.

John Pickering By email

Shades of the after-life at Elysian I was amused to read of the latest development planned for the old cinema site.

I note that it is designed to accommodate older people, but wonder if in fact the developers realise that the name Elysian is in fact (to quote Wikipedia) ‘a conception of the after-life that developed over time and was maintained by some Greek religious and philosophical sects and cults… admission was reserved for mortals related to the gods and other heroes, the righteous and the heroic, where they would remain after death to live a blessed and happy life and indulging in whatever employment they had enjoyed in life’.

I trust the potential Tunbridge Wells residents will be able to fulfil these criteria, whilst remaining alive!

Alison Turner Tunbridge Wells

Plastic wrap takes a step backwards I have enjoyed your excellent newspaper for some years now, but have been dismayed of late to see that it has been coming in an unrecyclable plastic wrapper. Maybe it’s because So Magazine has been coming with it? Anyway, it seems like very much a backward step for obvious reasons and I hope you can change this.

David Bloxham Via email Ed’s Note: The majority of our newspapers do not have plastic wraps. Once a month, when SO Magazine is carried inside, around a third of the papers have the wrap so that they can be made available in supermarkets that insist on the plastic for safety reasons – i.e. so the magazines don’t fall out of the paper when picked up. We also would rather not have to use plastic.

Amelia! What should we call centre?

Great lady that she might have been, I never knew of Amelia Scott until I heard that the new community centre was to be called The Amelia.

I thought it might be in the genre of Alexa by Amazon. What silly fuss. Why not call the centre Tunbridge Wells Community Centre? Then we all know what it is and what it is for.

Roger Darby Via email Last Wednesday, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council announced that the new Cultural and Learning Hub would carry Amelia Scott’s full name.They added that the services within will continue to be branded as ‘The Amelia’.

Calverley is still savouring Food Fesival delights

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Wednesday May 15 | 2019

EDUCATION Times

Art pupil wins prize and exhibition place at esteemed Turner gallery THREE St Gregory’s Year 10 students – Owen Fowler, Abigail Macro and Gwendolen Franklin – recently attended an awards ceremony at Canterbury Christ Church University following the shortlisting of their work for the Turner Contemporary Portfolio Competition.

During the evening it was announced that Gwendolen’s work had been ‘highly commended’. She was one of just three prizewinners in the age 14-16 category, and will now have the opportunity to have her creative piece exhibited at the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate this summer.

Portfolio, organised by Turner Contemporary and Canterbury Christ Church University, is an annual art competition for students, teachers and community groups located across Kent and Medway.

This year the Portfolio theme was ‘Art Rebel’, which took its inspiration from one of the most rebellious and controversial visual art prizes in the world: The Turner Prize.

The infamous competition, which has been won in the past by the likes of Grayson Perry, Damien Hirst, Rachel Whiteread, Gillian Wearing and Steve McQueen, will be hosted at the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate for the first time this autumn.

Boxall said: “We were thrilled that on the night Gwendolen’s piece was awarded ‘highly commended’.

“The Art Department are extremely proud of all the students’ achievements and look forward to seeing Gwendolen’s work displayed at the Turner Contemporary in the summer. The Art Department welcomes more art rebels!”

Prizewinner Gwendolen said of her achievement: “I’m really pleased that my piece of art was chosen, and I’m looking forward to seeing it hung at the Turner Contemporary in the summer.

“The piece is mixed media consisting of sculpture, photography and textiles.” portfolioartcompetition.com

Thrilled All shortlisted students’ work was exhibited at the Portfolio prizegiving evening, and judges said it demonstrated a ‘high standard’ and ‘varied approach’ when it came to use of materials and interpretations of the rebel theme.

St Gregory’s art teacher Rachel

CUTTING EDGE Embroidery on paper by Gwendolen Franklin

WINNING SMILES (L-R) Owen Fowler, Gwendolen Franklin and Abigail Macro

Primary girls crowned West Kent football champions SLADE PRIMARY SCHOOL in Tonbridge have been crowned winners at the West Kent Girls Superleague Football Tournament.

Held earlier this month, the girls’ teams fought off stiff competition in order to win every one of their matches, which resulted in them taking home the trophy.

The school’s Head Teacher, Karen Slade, said: “All in the squad were a credit to the school in the way they performed and conducted themselves throughout. Thank you and well done all!

“Thank you, too, to the staff for organising, and to all of the parents who went along to support.”

Library closure information

PROUD Gwendolen displays her art

TUNBRIDGE WELLS LIBRARY will soon be moving to temporary premises so that work can begin on The Amelia Scott – an exciting new building combining the library, museum and other partners in one location.

During the work, the library will be relocating to temporary premises in the nearby Royal Victoria Place shopping centre.

The library will close on Monday June 3 and will reopen in Royal Victo-

ria Place on Monday June 24, where it will be situated on the lower level, opposite Fenwick.

During the three-week moving period, the council will extend the opening hours of both Showfields and Southborough Libraries.

Opening hours information and contact details for all Tunbridge Wells District Libraries can be obtained by telephoning 03000 413131, or online at kent.gov.uk/libraries

Education

NEWS

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NEWS

Weekly Comment

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Martin Betts

Vice Chair of Tunbridge Wells Constituency Labour Party

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

Labour Party member Martin Betts lives in Southborough and has long been active in local politics. He retired after a long career in the Civil Service, where his last job at the Department for Work and Pensions was in communications. He qualified at Leicester University in human resources and training and development. The Times also publishes regular opinions from Conservatives, Lib Dems and members of The Green Party

The Conservative Party are in meltdown – but will they listen?

LABOUR was given a significant boost at the Borough Council elections on May 2 – winning two seats in Southborough & High Brooms and Sherwood, and just missing a victory in Paddock Wood West on the toss of a coin.

In these elections local Conservatives were given a massive thumbs down when their majority was slashed from 32 to a mere eight.

They lost their Council Leader – David Jukes, and Cabinet Member – Tracy Moore, and their vote share slumped from 43% to 29%.

The result was said to be ‘disappointing’ as remaining Conservative councillors stare like rabbits frozen in the headlights at the likelihood of losing their control of the council next year.

Voters have said a massive ‘no’ to a party that has ploughed on regardless of public opinion to spend over £90million on new council offices, underground car park and a new financially risky theatre.

People don’t trust Conservative promises or agree with their priorities, and understand that this project that will result in more cuts in services, increased charges and council taxes.

Over 70 per cent of votes cast went to parties that oppose the scheme.

Voters have also given their verdict on a party led by one of the most incompetent Prime Ministers in modern times, riven by infighting and divisions, and determined to take us into an unchartered Brexit future that will leave all of us poorer for decades to come.

The Conservatives have been sent a strong message, but are they capable of listening to it at any level? Experience suggests not.

Despite opposition, they have ploughed ahead with the Southborough Hub scheme – where they have just lost control of the town council.

They have ignored opposition to the civic centre/theatre project. And the PM is threatening to bang her head again against the ‘her deal’ wall.

FAB FOUR: Tunbridge Wells Labour Councillors [l-r] Luke Everitt, Dianne Hill, Alan Lewis and Hugo Pound

Pressure It seems likely that the (still) Conservative-led Borough Council will do a May and ‘carry on regardless’ with their project. Word has it that they might rush to get contracts signed before a special meeting to discuss the issue on Monday June 17.

Clearly, this sort of response would yet again be a flagrant rejection of the views the electorate

Nus Ghani

Conservative MP for Wealden

have just expressed, and all the opposition parties need to use their new mandate to stand united in keeping up the pressure for a major rethink.

On Brexit, the European Elections are a way to make the government listen again.

It is vital for all of us that Nigel Farage’s ‘no

deal’ Brexit Party is not able to claim victory.

Without an agreement along the lines of Labour’s alternative plans, or a general election, we back the breaking-the-deadlock option of a further public vote, which is the only sensible and democratic way of resolving this crisis.

Nus Ghani was elected MP for Wealden in May 2015 and represents Crowborough, Eridge and Uckfield, among other towns and villages. She also currently serves as Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State at the Department for Transport and is Assistant Government Whip. In 2018, Ms Ghani became the first Muslim woman to speak from the House of Commons Despatch Box. The Times also publishes comment from the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green parties

Access to the internet is not a luxury – it’s a vital necessity I RECENTLY met with BT Openreach to discuss the woeful broadband coverage in Wealden, and the South East more generally.

More than simply a discussion about slow download and upload speeds, of staged upgrades and coverage percentages, this conversation was about building an economy that works for everyone, regardless of their location.

Access to the internet is not a luxury – it’s a vital necessity.

I’ve spoken and written at length previously about the need for a ‘Rural Powerhouse’ economy. Infrastructure is vital for small businesses, and small businesses are the backbone for our economic success and prosperity.

If we want to see economic growth driven by rural innovation and job creation, we must focus on improving the infrastructure that is absolutely vital to increasing the speed with which people can do business, to support enterprise and maximise productivity.

I also strongly believe that there is a moral commitment to be honoured here.

Smaller rural communities have suffered for too long from underinvestment in utilities, with local government budgets, and the efforts of internet providers, being sucked up by larger population centres. That must change.

That’s why I’m so proud of the new legislation that the government is bringing into effect in

December, known as Universal Obligation.

Under this new initiative, eligible homes and businesses will be able to request a broadband connection where the cost of building it is no more than £3,400.

It’ll have to be fast, too, with a download speed of 10 Mbit/s, and an upload speed of 1 Mbit/s.

These speeds are important because they have been carefully calibrated to ensure multiple users on a single network can use the internet at the same time: Vital for small businesses, and critical for the economy of rural Wealden.

LAGGING BEHIND Fast broadband is growing increasingly essential for business and people

Progress In an office, fast internet means being able to share wireless printers, share documents from person-to-person quickly, or even being able to work remotely, raising children at the same time as contributing to the economy, and to the business you’re striving to build.

Downtime, or slow internet, slows down employee productivity. This change in the law means employees can meet deadlines, connect with suppliers, customers and clients, and develop and implement innovative ideas.

To put it simply, internet is a utility businesses need, just as they need water, electricity and heating.

But, in East Sussex, which has the oldest aver-

age age in the country, there are many more reasons that I’ll continue to make improving broadband coverage one of my key campaigns.

In a world where some vital services are more easily, or only, accessible online, it is vital that older people have access to quick and reliable internet.

Making things as easy as possible for you to get the information you need, whether you are looking for shipping times for your start-up business, or GPs opening times, isn’t just good policy, it’s common sense.

BT Openreach, and other providers, are contin-

uing to work closely with both Wealden County and District Councils, so as to coordinate their approach to improving broadband provision across the constituency.

Coordinating with local government is vital, as it ensures that those that need their coverage improved most urgently will be provided for.

We are making good progress, but I’ll be keeping the pressure up.

I will be meeting with councillors, going on site visits with BT Openreach, and applying all the pressure I can in Westminster to ensure that the people of Wealden get the services they need.

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

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Move Times

AVAILABLE EVER Y WEDNESDAY – A MUST-READ

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PROPERTY, IN TERIORS & TOP TRENDS

INSPIRATION FOR MOVING AND IMPROVING timeslocalnews.co.uk

NEW HOMES LAUNCH Saturday, May 18

A GRANARY CONVERSION

well worth the wheat Page 23

Page 23

22

Underground living unearthed Step inside to go subterranean Page 35

A FARM TO GET FIRED UP ABOUT

25

VILLAGE HOME WITH POOL & POND

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Best property buys for...

Hamsell Farm

We all love to see homes with the ‘wow’ factor – which could apply to the kitchen, reception room, garden, or something else. Sarah Bond homes in on specific aspects that make these properties well worth a look…

£1,395,000

The FIREPLACE…

Coopers Lane, Penshurst

GUIDE PRICE

CONTACT • Knight Frank, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 515035 • knightfrank.co.uk An attached, Grade II-listed farmhouse, thought to date from 1560, in a great rural location in Poundsbridge, in between the villages of Penshurst and Speldhurst. Not only does it have a wonderful pool and pool house, but stunning views over the countryside, too.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

n Accommodation over three floors n Spacious drawing room with beautiful working inglenook fireplace n Sitting room/study with views over garden n Dining room with views over garden n Kitchen/breakfast room with electric Aga n Utility room n Guest cloakroom n Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom n 3 further bedrooms n Family bathroom n Gardens with a natural spring feeding a pond n Swimming pool and pool house with French doors n Double garage with storeroom n Sussex barn with water and electricity n 2 paddocks and a copse of woodland n Approximately 5.3 acres

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

The KITCHEN…

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The PRICE…

Hollyfields Hawkenbury

NEW HOMES LAUNCH Sat May 18

First release prices start from

£580,000

(Subject to availability. Help to Buy is available on selected 3-bedroom homes) CONTACT • Berkeley Homes Sales Office • To book an appointment for the launch, call 01892 888 650 or visit berkeleygroup.co.uk

Finchurst Granary

Berkeley Homes are launching their exciting new Tunbridge Wells development of 3, 4 and 5-bedroom sustainable houses this coming Saturday, May 18.

They invite you to join them between 10am and 6pm so you can be the first to view three show homes as they are unveiled.

Plus the Hawkenbury Road development itself, which features an abundance of green space, woodland and wildlife.

Summerhill, Goudhurst

OFFERS IN EXCESS OF

£1,400,000

CONTACT • Jackson-Stops, Cranbrook • 01580 720000 • jackson-stops.co.uk A bright and airy extended granary conversion in a small farmland enclave between Goudhurst and Marden, which is handy for commuting, and is within the Cranbrook school catchment area.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

■ Drawing room with inglenook fireplace and access to terrace ■ Stunning kitchen/dining room with oil-fired Aga and access to terrace ■ Snug with electric ‘wood-burner and access to terrace ■ TV/family room ■ Study with bookshelves and external door

Beagles Wood Road Pembury

£350,000 CONTACT • Barnes Kingsnorth, Pembury • 01892 822880 • bkestateagents.com

A light and spacious terraced family home in the heart of Pembury village, with a footpath opposite leading to country walks through old orchards.

■ Master bedroom with stairs to en-suite

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

■ 5 further bedrooms & 2 bathrooms ■ Vaulted home office over garage with shower

■ Sitting room with a contemporary-style electric fire

■ Landscaped gardens with terrace and deck, plus a paddock – all flanked by farmland

■ Kitchen with breakfast bar and room for dining table

■ Heritage-style double garage with power and light, plus car port

■ Conservatory

■ Just over an acre in total

■ Garden with large decked terrace

■ 3 double bedrooms and a bathroom

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

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Tree Cottage

This property enjoys an appealing location in a rural spot opposite farmland, but just a quarter of a mile from the village centre

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AT A GLANCE YEW TREE COTTAGE THE LANE, FORDCOMBE n A striking 4-bedroom rural home n Large reception room with twin bow windows, feature fireplace and wood burner n Dining room with double doors to garden, open to: n Open-plan living space, including eye-catching central kitchen/ breakfast room with Rangemaster cooker and breakfast bar, and double doors to garden n Cloakroom n Main bedroom with range of fitted wardrobes n 3 further bedrooms n Spacious bathroom n Garden with patio, pergola, lawn and pond n Heated swimming pool with terrace n Detached brick-built double garage and gated parking area for several vehicles n Detached brick-built workshop/shed with light, power and an office

GUIDE PRICE

Charming village home with external workshop and office, pool and pond

£995,000 CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

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Property Focus

ARCHITECTURE

Architecture

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

SUBTERRANEAN LIVING SPACE Open to a light-filled sunken courtyard

U

LET THE SUNSHINE IN With a wide, below ground outside area for enjoyment

Times 35

Architectural services

Wombling Free...

or holes. These are then adapted to fulfil the needs of the owner.

To build from scratch requires a vision of what is possible and a good knowledge of the available means of construction.

Taking an ecological approach in terms of building an underground house also means that careful planning must be taken to use or shift all the waste material from the build, namely earth and varying types of soil and rock.

It’s a tremendous achievement building a structure underground, which is more than just

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John Bullock

Underground, Overground,

NDERGROUND homes have been part of human habitation for centuries – from early cave dwellers, whose houses stretched deep into and below mountains, through to the famous inhabitants of Wimbledon Common, The Wombles, who lived in burrows and helped the environment by collecting and recycling rubbish.

More recently, The Hobbits of Middle-Earth brought underground living to the fore in the popular film series Lord of the Rings. We were drawn to the cosy ‘hobbit-holes’ where Hobbits traditionally live – underground holes found in hillsides, downs, and banks of the famous Shire, notable for their round doors and windows.

Our project this month looks at a similar but modern approach to subterranean living.

Requiring an extension and renovation, an original historic barn has fallen into disrepair, and under planning and green belt constraints the building couldn’t be extended above ground.

Our proposal, therefore, looked at a subterranean solution – creating new residential living space underground to mitigate impact on the historic barn and also its position within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The agricultural building is retained in its entirety and its timber frame preserved and restored. The ground beneath the barn is excavated and underpinned to create additional accommodation leading out into a subterranean terrace, which again mitigates against any perceived urban spread into the countryside.

The proposed subterranean level is fully glazed, which offers an opportunity of visually extending the interior space into the courtyard and also brings light into the accommodation.

The courtyard is accessed from a flight of external stairs into a naturally landscaped garden with tree planting.

But to build underground is a big undertaking.

Most types of subterranean developments are created from existing structures, such as caves

Move

hollowing out a hole, or adding to what may already exist. Introducing construction materials such as bricks made out of the soil and clay from the area, and locally-sourced wood or stone, can all make an underground house construction an extremely special and exciting project to be involved with.

Add to this the fact that Hobbits typically live to 100 years old – Bilbo Baggins reached 131.

And The Wombles’ Uncle Bulgaria celebrated his 300th birthday. So perhaps subterranean living could be good for us!

UNDERGROUND LIVING ADVANTAGES • Underground homes provides a safe refuge from extreme weather • The earth surrounding the homes provides natural soundproofing, creating a quiet living space with privacy • Underground houses blend well into their surroundings • Soil, being a natural insulator, keeps such houses warm in winter and cool in summer • Energy costs are substantially reduced.

In fact, these houses cost 80-95% less than traditional houses to heat and cool • Underground homes require little or no exterior maintenance, like repainting, thus reducing maintenance costs • They are robust structures, being built from strong materials like concrete DISADVANTAGES • Undergound houses are unconventional and require careful planning • One of the main problems is that underground homes cannot be built in a flood-prone area • They require significant care to keep out moisture, both during construction and during the life of the house • Due to the rarity of these houses, prospective customers may shy away from buying them. The mortgage application process may also be challenging • Constructing such houses requires complex ventilation procedures John Bullock Design is a multi-award winning architectural design consultants, and the proud winner of the Times of Tunbridge Wells 2018 Best Business 1-25 Employees Award.

For more information, call 01892 525732 or visit johnbullockdesign.com

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

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MUSIC MAESTRO MARK BIGGINS

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SEE SALVATION JAYNE LIVE

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WE VISIT THE BOTTLE HOUSE

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Strings attached

Husband and wife team bring Eric Carle’s The Hungry Caterpillar to life on stage Page47

TOURING ITALY IS CHILD’S PLAY

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SUNSHINE SCRIBE Richard Clark

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Crete is the word

Published author Richard Clark, who spends his time between Crete and Tunbridge Wells, has been riding high in the Amazon charts with The Lost Lyra. The former journalist tells Eileen Leahy all about his love of writing, and why his adopted home is so influential in this work

I

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

’VE always loved books and reading and so I started writing at an early age. This probably sounds precocious, but I won a writing competition run by our local library when I was five years old. My late father was the crime writer Douglas Clark, who was highly regarded in the 60s, 70s and 80s, so I grew up in an environment where writing was normal.

I went on to study for a degree in English Literature, and on graduation moved into journalism. For nearly 40 years I was lucky enough to work for the BBC, ITV, on Fleet Street, and for some of the biggest magazine titles in the country. A couple of years ago I gave up the daily commute to London to write books full time.

I think my experience as a journalist has helped me, as the tyranny of the deadline is a great motivator! Having to write on demand daily is great training for an author.

Romantic Despite having written numerous books, The Lost Lyra is my first foray into fiction.

I had wanted to write a novel for some time, but I suppose by sticking to non-fiction I had been staying well within my comfort zone.

The book is a romantic adventure set on the Greek island of Crete during the Second World War and in the present. Without wanting to give too much away, the central character of the story is a lyra. Those familiar with Cretan music will recognise this hauntingly beautiful musical instrument as being at the heart of much of the island’s traditional music. It becomes a motif in the book which links the past to the present.

The plot for the book came to me almost fully formed. I love lyra music and the idea that it connects the past with the present. Through its own story in the book, the instrument provided me with a link between the experiences of a British soldier and a Cretan Resistance fighter in the Second World War and in the present day.

I was introduced to the instrument by the maestro Ross Daly when I lived in Crete in the early 1980s.

My wife and I are lucky enough to now have a house in Crete, and I have spent many years writing about the island, so I had a reasonable knowledge of its landscape, people and culture.

Back in 1982, when I was struggling to get my career as a journalist off the ground, I answered an advertisement in The Guardian for a job as an

From Russia to Tonbridge with love What inspired you to choose a Russian-themed programme for your first concert conducting the Tonbridge Philharmonic Orchestra?

Well, I thought that a really big repertoire piece like Tchaikovsky’s Fifth would be a great way to introduce myself to the orchestra (and vice versa).

I’ve been wanting to programme Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sadko for a while. I was introduced to it back when I was a PhD student in America, and I thought then that it deserves to be programmed much more often – it’s an interesting, important piece.

Finally, I had worked with our guest violin soloist Yume Fujise at the Royal College of Music on the Prokofiev Concerto, and it seemed liked the perfect partner to make an all-Russian evening!

Mark Biggins

Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sadko is often recognised as the first Russian tone poem. What else makes it such a significant work?

Firstly, it marked a significant turning point for

PHOTO: Andreas Grieger

Ahead of the Tonbridge Philharmonic concert on May 18 new music director, Mark Biggins, reveals what’s in store for this popular local orchestra on Saturday evening

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

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Arts & Culture

Husband and wife puppeteers Ben Thornton and Katie Haygarth, who live in Tunbridge Wells, are delighted to be at Trinity Theatre next week, performing Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar as part of the book’s 50th birthday celebrations. We find out more…

Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves, and how you first met?

Ben: I’m originally from Leigh-on-Sea, but moved to Tunbridge Wells almost two years ago when I married Katie. I’ve been on tour with many children’s productions, including Octonauts, Sarah & Duck and In The Night Garden Live – which is actually where Katie and I met!

Katie: Ben and I met in 2013 and spent four years travelling between Essex and Kent (fortunately we have lovely parents who let us stay for weeks on end). We got married and bought a house together in Tunbridge Wells in 2017. In fact, we signed the contract for our house on the Monday and got married on the Friday!

VISUAL APPEAL Richard also writes a blog about life in Crete

What can children and families expect from MEI Theatrical’s stage adaptation?

Ben: The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a beautiful book and very popular with adults and children alike. And this year marks the 50th anniversary of the book, which makes this tour that extra bit special. We also perform three other Eric Carle stories: Brown Bear, Brown Bear; The Very Lonely Firefly; and 10 Little Rubber Ducks – which are all equally as popular and beautiful.

Katie: This adaptation is truly beautiful, full of colour, creativity and magic – not to mention the epic amount of puppets. There are over 75!

The show is very gentle and the music is just stunning. It’s like a rock concert for toddlers. They are encouraged to join in with the stories.

What are the key musical challenges for the orchestra in Prokofiev Concerto work?

When you look at the score of the parts for the Prokofiev Concerto, it is easy to see where the challenges are. Not only are many of the parts technically very demanding, but Prokofiev is hugely detailed in the way he marks up the score. These are things that you’d never see in Rimsky-Korsakov or Tchaikovsky, and portraying all of these details is absolutely critical to bringing this piece to life.

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‘This adaptation is truly beautiful, full of colour, creativity, and magic’

English teacher in the Crete capital Heraklion.

To my surprise, I got the job, so it was an accident really that I washed up there. I arrived with nowhere to live, not knowing anyone or anything about the island, the language or the job. But from the moment I disembarked from the ferry from Piraeus, I was made to feel so welcome I fell in love with the island.

After returning to the UK to resume my career as a journalist, I have returned regularly ever since. I now split my time between our village house there and our home near Tunbridge Wells.

I have now written nine non-fiction books, all about Greece, and predominantly Crete – they are travelogues based on my visits to the country over the years. And, of course, my debut novel The Lost Lyra, which has been an Amazon bestseller.

When I embarked on writing my first book, I stuck to the old adage of writing about something you know about and love, and that was Greece. It worked, and I have stuck to that successful formula ever since.

Richard Clark’s books are all available in Kindle and paperback formats from Amazon worldwide

Rimsky-Korsakov personally, as it marked the moment when he turned to compositional full time. Just imagine if he’d never left his first profession in the navy and we didn’t have Scheherazade!

The idea for the piece (including aspects of its musical structure) was concocted by Balakirev, who wanted to use this depiction of a Russian folk tale as a way to promote Russian musical nationalism. But in pure musical terms, RimskyKorsakov combines Russian folk elements with really novel harmonic structures to portray Sadko’s journey into an underwater kingdom.

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Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 5 is a regular feature on concert programmes with its big themes, full-blooded textures and bombastic rhythms. Do you have a favourite moment in the symphony?

This symphony will always have a special place in my heart as it’s the first I ever conducted as a rather fresh 19 year old at university – and since then, it is probably the piece I have performed most often.

As for a favourite moment, it’s hard not to say the wonderful elegiac horn solo which begins the second movement.

But, actually, if I have to choose just one, I’ll have to say that it’s when the Allegro explodes with the strings in the finale. It is just visceral musical excitement!

The Tonbridge Philharmonic perform this Saturday, May 18, at 7.30pm at St Peter & St Paul’s Parish Church, Tonbridge. The orchestra will perform: Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No 1; Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sadko; and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 5. Tickets cost £16 per adult and £8 for children. To book, visit tonphil.org

Have you always been into puppeteering?

Ben: I found that it’s good to have a niche, otherwise you’re just another actor in this big wide world. So after studying puppetry briefly at drama school, I decided to partake in a couple of puppetry workshops and have worked professionally as a puppeteer ever since.

Katie: I graduated from LAMDA and had never done puppetry before, but my first job was in the Puppet Theatre at Chessington World of Adventures. I was trained by Olly Taylor (who has worked for the Jim Henson Company), and from that point I became passionate about puppetry.

I recently made my TV puppetry debut, on a children’s TV programme called Jovis Bon Hovis, which you can catch on TBN UK in August.

What are the challenges involved with puppeteering?

Ben: When adapting a book for the stage, it’s vital that the puppets match what the children

WHO’S PULLING THE STRINGS? Ben, Katie and the caterpillar

are used to seeing in the illustrations. We have to work hard to find the best way to animate the puppets and make them look as much like the real animals as possible.

What will be special about performing the show in your home town, at Trinity Theatre?

Ben: It’s very rare for actors to be able to walk to work from their house. Most of the time we’re used to living out of a suitcase and staying in hotels miles away from home, so this will be a lovely treat. I can’t wait to see the local audiences and hear their reactions.

Katie: To be performing at the wonderful Trinity Theatre, where we have seen many shows, is a joy. We love Tunbridge Wells, and the theatre scene here is looking very exciting for the future.

It’s also amazing for local friends and family to be able to come and see us perform.

Why do you think the story of The Hungry Caterpillar is so timeless?

Ben: It teaches some very important messages – science, counting, healthy foods – and has some humour thrown in, too. Long may it live on!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar plays at Trinity Theatre on Wednesday May 22 at 1pm and 4pm.

For more information and tickets, telephone 01892 678 678, or visit trinitytheatre.net AMINAL MAGIC Eric Carle’s characters as puppets

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Going Out

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goingout 7 days of activities

JOIN THE BIG FISH LITTLE FISH FAMILY RAVE At Groombridge Place

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

VINCENT VAN GOGH is At Eternity’s Gate, at Trinity Theatre

By Jerome Bowman

WEDNESDAY Brittens music store is holding a Free Adult Taster Session on everyone’s favourite four-string, the ukulele, today. The session, which starts at 2pm and finishes at 3pm, will include running through the basics with a teacher and having a go yourself. These sessions are free but booking is essential, so to try something new, or perhaps an instrument long forgotten, go to brittensmusic.co.uk/events This is the last day you can see the acclaimed film At Eternity’s Gate at Trinity Theatre. The biopic portrays troubled artist and hater of ears Vincent Van Gogh as both brilliant and morally ambiguous.

Willem Dafoe’s Oscar-nominated performance makes this essential viewing. The film starts at 2pm and tickets are £9 per adult and £8 for concessions. To book, visit trinitytheatre.net THURSDAY People’s poet, comedian and general snarker John Cooper Clarke is bringing his Lancashire drawl and new show, The Luckiest Guy Alive, to the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill.

It will be a blend of written verse, ponderings, gags and general chat – all razor sharp, of course. For more

information and tickets, which cost £30, go to the pavilion’s website, dlwp.com FRIDAY This is the last week that you can see an exhibition by artist Louise Body at St Dunstan’s Church in Mayfield.

The gallery, which will be open for free entry between 9am and 5pm, features her landscape paintings as well as her hand-printed wallpapers. Body has a rich career of working with clients such as Laura Ashley, Paul Smith, Dr Martens and the V&A Museum, and her work has featured in many magazines as well as several books. The exhibition will be on until Saturday [May 18]. For more information, visit stdunstansmayfield. org.uk

SATURDAY The Tonbridge Philharmonic Society will be in concert at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Tonbridge, at 7.30pm.

This is their first concert with new Music Director Mark Biggins, whose experience includes conducting the Norwegian Radio Symphony Orchestra as well as the Epsom Chamber Choir. The concert will feature music by three of Russia’s greatest composers: Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky. Tickets cost £16 per adult, but concessions are available, so to find out more and to book, go to tonphil.org.uk Grab your glowsticks and fairy wings, because the Big Fish Little IT’S ALL Fish Myth and NUNSENSE Magic Family At the Oast Rave has returned Theatre to Groombridge

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

FROM WALLPAPER TO LANDSCAPES Louise Body’s art exhibition is in Mayfield

Place. The family-friendly event, which starts at 1pm and finishes at 4pm, is suitable for the under-eights, and everyone else as well, with a DJ set from 2 Bad Mice featuring a mix of acid house, techno and drum and bass. So if you want to take the children to a rave without the danger of the police shutting it down, tickets cost £11 per adult and £8 per child, and can be booked by going to groombridgeplace.com Dan Goggin’s musical comedy Nunsense is at The Oast Theatre in Tonbridge. After accidentally poisoning 52 of their fellow sisters, a gang of eccentric nuns have to find a way to come up with the money for the burial costs – no doubt raising hell as well as cash in the process. The amateur production starts at 8pm. Tickets cost £11. To book, call 01732 363849 or visit oasttheatre.com

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk SUNDAY A new production of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre is being staged at Smallhythe Place near Tenterden tonight at 7.30pm.

Critically-praised production company Hotbuckle, who have previously adapted Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, promise to bring their inventiveness, humour and unique to touch to one of England’s most loved pieces of literature.

Tickets cost £14.

To book, call 01580 762334 or visit nationaltrust. org.uk The Pantiles Market will be open today, offering local produce, artisanal crafts and designer clothes. Guest traders, seasonal themes and a changing range of goods make sure you’ll always find something new. It runs from 10am-4pm. If you are interested in pitching your own stall, or for any other enquiries, email: markets@thepantilesevents.com MONDAY Do you play the ukulele? If the answer is ‘no’ you still have no excuse not to join the TWUNTS in The George pub on Mount Ephraim for their relaxed Ukulele Jam at 8pm. Grab a drink at the bar and join in with the group on a huge variety of songs.

Attendance is free and all are welcome. You’ll soon pick up a few chords. For more information, visit twukulele.com

Going Out

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Studio Ghibli’s Oscar-winning animated film Spirited Away will be screened at the Uckfield Picture house this evening at 5.30pm. After becoming trapped in the Shinto spirit world, young girl Chihiro must find a way out and rescue her parents, making some unlikely friends along the way. This acclaimed classic is beautifully made, and is guaranteed to either capture your imagination or at the very least give you some very strange dreams. A must-see, especially for young children, but also for all ages. Tickets are £9.50 for adults and £5.50 for children, and can be booked by visiting picturehouseuckfield.com MIRROR ON THE WORLD John Cooper Clarke’s new show

TUESDAY The Afternoon Tea & Fashion Show at the Royal Wells Hotel, in association with V10 Clothing, will be raising money for local charity Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource. Tickets cost £20 and include afternoon tea and a glass of Prosecco. To book, call 01892 615552 or email: jennyw@twmhr.org.uk

PICK OF THE WEEK: Julian Clary: Born to Mince

Assembly Hall Theatre Tunbridge Wells Saturday, May 18, 7.30pm

Julian Clary is baring his soul in the name of light entertainment.

The comedian is excited to be back in the provinces with another night of saucy innuendo, withering remarks and song butchery. The show may well be the final mince for the master of camp, so don’t miss out. For more information and to book, go to assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

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Going Out

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles. Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites pdag.co.uk & thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday Alana Hazzard, Leon J Benson, Sophie Nevill Friday Soul Kitchen Saturday Project 5 Sunday James Kirby, Inbar Starr, Coney Island Maybe THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE Crescent Road. All event information and tickets at assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Thursday Luther Friday The Summer of Love Sunday Rumours of Fleetwood Mac

live music With Paul Dunton

T

ONIGHT [Wednesday], local singer-songwriter Alana Hazzard headlines at The Grey Lady, with support from Leon J Benson and Sophie Nevill.

On Thursday, the excellent Blakey’s Boys play Jazz on The Pantiles, and renowned Luther Vandross tribute act ‘Luther’ is at The Assembly Hall.

Friday night brings Boogie Nights at The Forum, Acoustix at The Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Big Squeeze at The Chequers Inn, Lamberhurst, and Pagan at The Sussex Arms.

Saturday night sees Goldy Bee & Stuart Evans at The Beau Nash, Project 5 at The Grey Lady, Salvation Jayne at The Sussex Arms, Roy Orbison & The Traveling Wilbury’s Experience

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

at Trinity Theatre, and White Diamonds at The New Telegraph Club, Tonbridge. And classical music enthusiasts can enjoy a wonderful orchestral concert at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Tonbridge, featuring a Russian programme with violin soloist Yume Fujise and conductor Mark Biggins (see page 46).

On Sunday night, James Kirby, Inbar Starr and Coney Island Maybe are at The Grey Lady, and Matt Brooks is at Verdigris, Tonbridge.

On Monday, Tonbridge Folk Club welcomes special guest Na Mara.

And on Tuesday, Mini Mansions and Sons of Raphael are at The Forum, while The Bourne Valley Boys return to The Punch & Judy, Tonbridge.

JAZZ ON THE PANTILES The Bandstand. Music from 8pm Thursday Blakey’s Boys MUSICSTATION Bank Street, Tonbridge. Call 01732 350629 Thursday & Friday 8pm-9.30pm Play it Again. Adult band workshop, all levels welcome. Booking essential.

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM The Common. See twforum.co.uk Friday Boogie Nights Saturday 1pm Forum Extension Ideas Day Tuesday Mini Mansions, Sons Of Raphael

TRINITY THEATRE Church Road. Event information and tickets at trinitytheatre.net Saturday Roy Orbison & The Traveling Wilburys Experience 31st Anniversary Tour ST PETER & ST PAUL’S PARISH CHURCH Tonbridge. See feature on page 46 and tonphil.org.uk Saturday Orchestral Concert: RimskyKorsakov: Sadko; Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 5; Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No 1 (Yume Fujise soloist). Conductor: Mark Biggins THE BEDFORD PUB 2 High Street. Music from 8.30pm.

See thebedfordtw.co.uk Saturday Elephant Radio

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim. Music from 8.30pm Saturday Goldy Bee & Stuart Evans Sunday Open Mic Night VERDIGRIS High Street, Tonbridge. Music from 6pm.

See verdigris-tonbridge.com Sunday Matt Brooks TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB The Flying Dutchman, Hildenborough.

Music from 8pm. See tonbridgefolkclub.org Monday Na Mara THE GEORGE PUB Mount Ephraim. Music from 8pm Monday TWUNT: Ukulele Jam Session

THE ROYAL OAK PUB Prospect Road. Music from 7.45pm Saturday Kharma & The Devil (TBC)

THE TOAD ROCK RETREAT 1 Upper Street. Music from 8.30pm Tuesday Jimmy C & The Blues Dragons

THE NEW TELEGRAPH CLUB 26 Priory Road, Tonbridge. Members free. Guests £5. Doors open 6.30pm Saturday White Diamonds

THE PUNCH & JUDY St Stephens Road, Tonbridge.

Music from 8pm Tuesday The Bourne Valley Boys

THE SUSSEX ARMS BASEMENT Sussex Mews. See twforum.co.uk Friday Pagan Saturday Salvation Jayne THE CHEQUERS INN Lamberhurst. Music from 7pm Friday Big Squeeze Sunday 2pm Bexhill Crypt Brass Orchestra THE NELSON ARMS Cromer Street, Tonbridge. Music: 8.30pm Friday Acoustix

Salvation Jayne

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

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Crazy kart racers start their engines…

Eager racers turned up in force to a special launch party to mark the final countdown to Crazy Jean’s Soapbox Race on Saturday June 8 He said: “All those here who’ve signed up to take part means we can raise funds for these two amazing charities, which is what this day is all about.

He added: “But you won’t beat Henry Paul because our kart is very fast!”

Among the racers was BBC Kent presenter Anna Louise Walter – who, it was announced, will be broadcasting her Saturday afternoon radio show live from the event as she takes on the nail-biting track herself.

She said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic to be taking part, but fear for my life as I’ve heard the jumps are bigger and better than last year!

“I will be broadcasting live and can’t wait to get involved.”

READY FOR THE OFF Nicole Piesse Turner (middle) with her Crazy Jean’s colleagues THE much-loved Crazy Jean’s Soapbox Race returns to Tunbridge Wells in less than a month.

Over 150 enthusiastic local residents and business folk – who make up the 45 teams taking part – enjoyed an evening at the town’s Hotel du Vin last week to hear final plans for the family fun day, when they will race ‘pimped up’ soapbox karts down a hair-raising track through Dunorlan Park.

Organiser Nicole Piesse Turner, Director of local PR company Chatty Hatter – the team behind the community event – thanked everyone for getting involved, and hoped the race would raise even more than last year’s total of £21,000 for local charities.

This year’s funds are in aid of Pembury’s Hospice in the Weald and Taylor Made Dreams,

a Crowborough-based charity which enables children with life-limiting illnesses to achieve their dreams.

The headline sponsor of this year’s event – award-winning local company Childrensalon – were also in attendance, and were also thanked for their continued support in helping to stage such an ambitious community event.

Nicole Piesse Turner said: “We have had such an incredible amount of support in the run-up to the kart race, and we now need people to come along, buy tickets and enjoy this truly unique day.”

The founder of the races, Garry Jeffery, whose company Henry Paul Funerals won last year’s time trial, joked to the crowd that he planned to race to victory again.

BACK TO SCHOOL West Kent College burning rubber last year

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A range of wacky family-friendly sideshows was also revealed for the day, along with an even more ambitious downhill racetrack to entertain the thousands of spectators.

A huge kids zone will include an inflatable village, a cinema marquee, a crazy golf zone and mini football activities, as well as a mountain boarding and parkour wall.

Trackside facilities also include a huge and varied food and drinks village and VIP tent.

TV chef Rosemary Shrager is returning to host the day again, alongside star commentator Tom Swift of Wicked Productions.

The event, on Saturday June 8, will once again see local businesses, organisations and residents given a basic soapbox kart to ‘pimp up’ before going head-to-head in hilarious Red Bull-style time trials on the specially made racetrack.

After racing as fast as they can round chicanes and over nerve-wracking jumps, the fastest four will battle it out in The Grand Final to find the ultimate Crazy Jean’s Soapbox Race winner.

For more information, as well as tickets and sponsorships opportunities, please visit crazyjeansevents.com

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food

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Food & Drink FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

Discover the country pub with a

lot of bottle...

‘The fruit and nut combination gives body to the gooey cheese, offering up multiple layers of texture and flavour’

Andy Tong pays a visit to The Bottle House in Penshurst and uncorks a vintage classic with a refreshing bouquet…

T

he Bottle House Inn has been a favourite place to eat for generations of West Kent folk. But where once it was renowned for its generous portions and country pub charm, it has now transformed itself into a destination restaurant – more gourmet than gourmand.

It’s a fascinating place, dating from 1492 and featuring a succession of little rooms poking out, which was once a parade of shops – the bakery next door was a going concern into the 1980s.

Yet time moves on. The arrival of Head Chef Mark Harkins last year has led to an overhaul of

the menu, as he makes The Bottle House stand out among a plethora of stunning pubs in the area. The process of change actually began ten years ago when the pub was taken over and refurbished. These days the lighting is muted and intimate, the furniture and decor all done in tasteful rural chic, and there is a calm assurance about the level of service.

But not everything has changed. The Cubby and the Nook are still there where the old shops were, the magnificent pitted copper bar remains, and Paul Hammond stands behind it to welcome you as he has done for 34 years. And the plates are still very full.

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

I begin with an apricot and nut encrusted baby Camembert with carrot chutney (£7.50).

The fruit and nut combination gives body to the gooey cheese, offering up multiple layers

‘Rather than a slab of crackling, there is only a thin twist. Controversial?

Absolutely’ of texture and flavour. The chutney is so light and uplifting, there’s no chance of those layers feeling too heavy.

My guest opts for the chicken liver parfait with another chutney, this time apple, fig and chilli (£6.50). It starts gently and then fills the mouth with rich, deep sensations. The chilli offers a

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

superbly subtle booster.

I couldn’t wait to get stuck into my roast lamb rump with salsify, wild mushroom, spinach and peas (£18.50), and it was even better than I could ever have imagined. The thick slabs of meat were pink and succulent with a crispy skin and melted away in the mouth.

The salty salsify and nutty fungi were perfectly complementary.

Paul tells me the chef wants the salsify to give a hint of salt marsh lamb alongside the pastureraised brethren. This month there will be a wild garlic note to the dish.

Food & Drink

Then there’s the five-hour slow roast pork belly with creamed hispi cabbage and bacon, Dauphinoise potatoes and apple and cider jus.

Here is a surprise. Rather than the customary slab of crackling that’s either blissful or teeth-wrecking, there is only a thin twist of it.

Controversial? Absolutely. The chef is focusing instead on the fat beneath the crackling, which is usually the poor relation.

He cooks it separately to reduce it before replacing. The result is stunning, the allconsuming richness feels almost guilty. And the cider and apple harmony simply sings.

Custard cream cheesecake with biscuit crunch and vanilla ice cream (£6.50) sounds suitably lighthearted after all the finery. And sure enough it’s a delightful confection, lavishly sweet but not at all cloying. It’s gone before we can draw breath. I’m tempted to order another.

The Bottle House may have moved on but it retains a

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pub feel and has two ales on the pump, both from Larkins’ Chiddingstone brewery just down the road. Their Traditional is a popular pint for driving diners with its low alcohol content, and it’s refreshing and characterful. But there’s also Larkins Best, a rare and special treat. You just don’t see it often these days, and it’s as good a pint of bitter as you will ever try. It’s complex but unassuming – until you catch yourself jabbering away. Get someone else to drive, is my advice.

There’s an impressive array of wines by the glass. For the lamb I went for a glass (or two) of Barbera del Piemonte Ottone I San Silvestro (£4.50 for 125cl). It’s a smoky Italian red full of sultry passion that reverberates like a lingering kiss.

Paul says: “Mark has brought more breadth to our food. He wanted to come to a small independent trader to put his stamp on the menu. He wants it to be different to the pub classics on offer in five or six other places in the area.

“If you don’t want to upset your existing clientele then you’d never change anything.

You’ve got to take risks. Mark really wants to raise his game.” thebottlehouseinnpenshurst.co.uk

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Wednesday May 15 | 2019

Taking care in cosmetics We all worry about our looks, and possibly other aspects of our bodies that may benefit from a touch of cosmetic care. John Sheffield is Chairman and Director of leading Tunbridge Wells skin care and dermatology clinic rtwskin. The Times’ Jerome Bowman asks him how he and his wife Nina got started in the business READY FOR YOUR PROCEDURE One of the treatment rooms in the London Road clinic

Where do you think the drive that Nina had to start this business came from?

Her parents. Nina was raised by them in the city of Grodno in Belarus, where they both worked as Ear, Nose and Throat surgeons. Her father was a successful plastic surgeon and professor of Medicine. He held a senior post at Grodno Medical University and had dreams of opening a specialist clinic in Odessa when he retired.

Unfortunately, he lost all his savings during the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Despite this, Nina’s father set up his own clinic on the fourth floor of a block of flats with no lift, and just a two-line advertisement in his local paper.

On the first day they were open, they could hear people outside, and Nina’s mother opened the door to see people queuing all the way up the stairs and crowding the stairwell. She was so surprised she slammed the door at first!

What has helped to make your business a success in the 13 years you’ve been open?

What inspired you to set up a skin care clinic?

It was really all driven by my wife Nina. Without her this business would never have been built.

When I first met her, I was living in Cyprus, semiretired and running a plastics factory in Malaysia.

We had a very comfortable life in Limassol with a large house and boat and all the things that make life pleasant. But these things are not

everything, and Nina, as a qualified specialist in Otolaryngology [ENT], had a strong desire to set up her own clinic specialising in aesthetics.

So we decided to do it. We sold everything we had in Cyprus and moved back to the UK to start our new business. I’m so happy that we did, because this has been the most enjoyable and satisfying project I’ve been involved with in my working life.

We have learned a lot of lessons about the best way to do things, and being open-minded is the key to this.

Having a strong team is also really important.

Unfortunately, some surgeons go into cosmetics for the wrong reasons, so I’m pleased to say that we now have a team of specialists that are very talented, intelligent and results-driven.

We also have excellent front-of-house staff,

John Sheffield and managers who are just as crucial.

Of course we couldn’t achieve the results we do without the proper equipment. This was another learning curve for us. We started by trying to use equipment that was more affordable, but quickly realised this is not the right thing for our clinic.

Particularly with lasers, there is a huge range in the quality and effectiveness of them, and we now only use the highest quality and most rigorously tested lasers available.

‘Our last customer survey showed that 98.2 per cent of our customers would recommend us to family and friends’ They are very expensive, but safe and effective with reliable results. It also generates a great deal of personal recommendation.

Ultimately, it makes our customers happy with the result and that is what matters.

Our guiding philosophy is that we under-promise and over-deliver on any treatment. Our fantastic facilities and highly skilled staff mean we can produce great results.

Our last customer survey showed that 98.2 per cent of our customers would recommend us to family and friends.

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

TATTOO REMOVAL John is also the chief laser operator How do you approach the ethical side of cosmetics?

It is no secret that there is a lot of debate about the ethics involved in the industry.

From our perspective, of course we want customers to come in and have treatments, but we are also, first and foremost, a private medical practice.

What I mean by this is that our focus is on results, not profit margins. We don’t want

people to leave feeling dissatisfied, and we always advise them on the most appropriate treatments and provide quality aftercare.

For example, we may advise someone to talk to their doctor about possible noncosmetic treatments for an issue before they come to us for a procedure.

Our industry is also very innovative, but it does mean that as responsible practitioners we have to assess every new treatment, and do the proper research to separate the pseudo-science from the measurable and demonstrably effective methods.

We will never offer a treatment that we don’t think will produce the desired outcome.

Life&Times

Finally, could you tell us about your plans for the future at rtwskin?

We have lots of exciting things coming up in the next few years.

Mainly, we are going to broaden our range of services, and we also plan to start providing acute surgery.

We are also going have a new waiting room built in the central courtyard where patients can sit and have a coffee.

And Nina’s two sons, Michael and Nicholas, will be joining our practice soon.

Nicholas, her eldest, is shortly to graduate as a doctor, and will be sub-qualifying as a dermatologist before coming to work with us.

Michael and his fiancée are both qualifying as dentists this summer, and we are planning to open a dental practice on the top floor.

So very soon we will have four Doctor Sheffields in the family!

So does this mean you have to perform a lot of self-regulation?

Yes, more than you would think, actually.

Private medical practice is less regulated than it used to be, but I personally think it is right to scrutinise and research everything you do as much as possible.

We self-elect to be regulated by the Care Quality Commission [CQC], despite this not being a legal requirement, and we are also an approved NHS supplier.

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AKSANA DE CASTRO Medical Laser and Cosmetic Injection Specialist

rtwskin Cobden House Medical Centre 25 London Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1DA 01892 22 22 22 / support@rtwskin.co.uk rtwskin.co.uk

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Travel

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Wednesday May 15 | 2019

7 reasons why Italy is the perfect holiday destination for families Children are at the heart of Italian culture, so it’s no surprise the country is geared up to welcome tourists of all ages, says Sarah Marshall

U

NLESS you’re surrounded by other understanding parents, taking children to beaches, restaurants and hotels can be an undertaking riddled with apologies and concerns about what they might do next.

But in Italy, a country where family is sacred, children are welcome everywhere. Here’s why…

1

THE FOOD PLEASES ALL AGES Every child loves pizza, pasta and ice cream – so it’s impossible to go wrong in Italy if you have hungry little mouths to feed. Best of all, most restaurants are happy to accommodate young diners, and it’s not uncommon to see plastic slides and playpits being used in the corner of a terrace.

And early to bed? Here, that concept simply doesn’t exist. All family generations are well respected, but bambinos are especially adored, so why wouldn’t they deserve a place at the table, too?

2

YOU CAN STYLE IT OUT EVEN WITH KIDS IN TOW Carrying bags of nappies, baby bottles and soft toys shouldn’t mean you have to compromise on style. Compared to their ‘family-friendly’ competitors in other European destinations, Italy has an inherent sense of refinement and style. You won’t be forced

A TASTE OF LOCAL CULTURE A mother and daughter enjoying pizza outside the Colosseum in Rome

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

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out of the pool by this year’s latest gaudy inflatable, and there’s not a sniff of drunk and disorderly behaviour on the beach.

3

THE FLIGHTS TIMES ARE SHORT Any parent who can keep their child still and quiet on long-haul flights is either a magician or extremely lucky. Generally, little fidgets don’t fare well in the air – which is why it makes sense to stay closer to home.

Most Italian destinations can be reached in under three hours, and even some of the most southern sunspots have regional connections in the UK.

4

EVERYONE WILL LEARN SOMETHING NEW Italy is overflowing with historical gems, making the country one great big living museum. It’s the perfect place for kids to delve into the past – learning about the power THE ICE CREAM ON THE CAKE The best of worlds old and new with an ice cream outside the Roman Pantheon and influence of the Romans, or imagining what life might have been like two thousand years ago in the time-frozen city of Pompeii. Simply wandering around cities like Venice and Florence is a history lesson in itself.

5 ITALIAN BEACH BUDDIES A sand and sea-filled snapshot to remember

THE WELCOME IS WARM (EVEN IF YOU SCREAM AND SHOUT) Hospitality is key for Italians.

They smile a lot, want to talk to everyone, and will treat you as a friend, relative or family member – making it a relaxing place to be on holiday.

Rather than being seen as

a nuisance or an irritation, children are welcome everywhere, and grandparents are also treated with respect.

6

EVERYTHING IS DELIVERED WITH LOVE Italians are known and loved the world over for their exuberant personalities.

They are loud, prone to exaggeration and highly expressive – exactly like children. So parents can rest assured that in many cases, it’s actually the Italian adults who are bold and boisterous – making younger upstarts seem incredibly calm.

7

ITALY BOASTS GREAT FAMILY RESORTS…

Specialist tour operator Sardatur, which sells high-end family holidays to Italy, brings three recommendations: n FALKENSTEINER CAPO BOI RESORT Villasimius, Sardinia Multiple restaurants are open day and night at this resort, making it the perfect spot for a foodie family. Freshly-caught fish and meat specialities are prepared at the restaurant’s live cooking stations, alongside authentic pasta, and traditional pizzas straight from the wood-fired oven. n VERDURA RESORT, Sciacca, Sicily Many holidaymakers feel so at home at this Sicilian resort that they come back year after year. Book early to bag the popular, connecting deluxe rooms. as they get snapped up so quickly. n RESORT VALLE DELL’ERICA, Hotel La Licciola, Santa Teresa Di Gallura, Sardinia The resort’s popular pools are a great place for meeting new friends and for children to play, without worrying about noise levels and disrupting peace-seeking couples.

For more information, visit sardatur-holidays.co.uk

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Motoring

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Motoring News Road rage – danger of confrontation revealed

ONE in five motorists have admitted getting out of their vehicle to argue with another driver, according to a new study by automotive data experts HPI. Of the 1,002 motorists surveyed, 22% said they had left their car for a confrontation, while 19% said they had followed another driver after an incident.

The survey also indicated that more than a third of motorists admit to taking their frustrations out on other drivers after a bad day.

And 3% said they were always furious behind the wheel.

Seeing people using a mobile phone at the wheel was the most common road rage trigger at 17%, while 10% said speeding made their blood boil.

But the state of Britain’s roads had a bigger effect on people’s moods, with 31% saying potholes wound them up, followed by 20% who flew into a rage while stuck in traffic.

Fernando Garcia, Consumer Director at HPI, said: “Our research of what really gets UK motorists hot under the collar reveals some fascinating findings. What it really highlights is that it doesn’t take much to wind up UK drivers, and many are putting their safety and the wellbeing of others at risk.

“With nearly a quarter willing to get out of their vehicle and confront another driver, this could easily escalate into something far more serious, and drivers need to think about remaining calm and collected when behind the wheel.”

This week… n Motorist anger n Hybrid makeovers n Supercar hen-dos

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

Pre-wedding supercar thrills now a hit with hens as well as stags

NEW LOOK NIRO The revamped hybrid shimmers into the showrooms

A fresh look as updated Kia hybrids go on sale

KIA’S newly updated Niro Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models have gone on sale, with prices starting at £24,590.

Their new look takes inspiration from the all-electric e-Niro.

The car’s ‘Tiger Nose’ grille now sits alongside refreshed front and rear bumpers. Cars finished in ‘4’ specification get new ‘ice-cube’ headlamps, too. And all cars also get LED daytime running lights as standard.

The PHEV model is available with 16-in alloy wheels with dark grey inserts, while 18-in diamond-cut alloys are fitted to cars in grades ‘3’ and ‘4’.

Vehicles in ‘2’ specification get smaller 16-in units – though these have been redesigned as well.

Inside, the Niro has soft-touch materials on top of the dashboard, and a

both the dashboard and instrument panel have a new gloss black trim.

A new 10.25-in display is also being introduced on ‘3’ and ‘4’ grades – while the latter specification also gets a seven-in TFT driver display.

Kia is including a new telematics system called UVO Connect with all hybrid Niro models. It uses an in-built SIM card to retrieve and update live data, giving those behind the wheel access to real-time traffic information, as well as weather forecast and fuel station locations. It can even tell drivers about on and off-road parking, with prices and locations.

The system also features an app for both Android and Apple smartphones allowing owners to access key driving information from their phones.

HEN parties are now looking to supercar experiences for pre-wedding thrills as often as stag groups, according to a specialist firm.

Trackdays.co.uk says it saw a 65% increase in such bookings for brides-to-be in the last year – bringing interest on-par with that of grooms, who have traditionally made up the majority of interest in supercar experiences.

Why the sudden increase? The firm believes a declining desire to celebrate hen dos abroad is a large factor, along with an apparent boom in the gift experience market.

Trackdays.co.uk Operations Manager Imran Malek said: “Supercar driving experiences are becoming increasingly popular with hens looking for adrenaline-fuelled action in cars that can reach 200mph or more.

“We’ve seen a huge surge over the last year, especially in hen party bookings, and we now receive as many as we do for stag parties.

“As the 2019 wedding season fast approaches, I would not be surprised to see more hen than stag-do bookings for the first time this year.

“It would appear that hens have had enough of stags enjoying all the track day action and now also see it as the perfect way to celebrate before the big day.”

CODEWORD 4

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Numbers are substituted for letters in the crossword grid. Above the grid is the key with two letters solved. Try to complete the first few words to give you more letters, or look for a frequent number that might reveal a common letter. As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

Codeword:

9 7

4 5 2 1

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

6

18 6

10 2

5 23

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22 18

6 7 1

4 2 8 7

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

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DIFFICULTY RATING:★★★★

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★✩✩✩

CLASSIFIEDS

Life&Times

Puzzles

In this Sudoku, the normal 3x3 boxes are now strangely odd shapes – but all the rules and logic of normal Sudoku apply.

Fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and box contains every number uniquely.

Puzzle solutions will be published in a forthcoming issue

E P L G A T J E A S U A B O T A S I T

I S O D E S H O I R E T H X E E R E A N R S T R V E Y T I R B E S S E T T E A N N E R C A I L E M P R E

B R R A Z H I E H R Q U R A S M I

I F F L Y E D E F T Y OW H U I S N K E E R

N P Y E

Sudoku:

1 3 4 8 5 9 2 7 6

5 9 7 3 2 6 4 1 8

2 8 6 7 1 4 9 5 3

6 7 3 5 9 1 8 4 2

9 2 1 4 8 3 7 6 5

4 5 8 2 6 7 1 3 9

8 4 2 6 7 5 3 9 1

3 6 9 1 4 8 5 2 7

7 1 5 9 3 2 6 8 4

1 2 5 4 8 9 3 6 7

5 6 3 7 4 2 9 1 8

8 9 4 3 2 7 1 5 6

6 1 7 2 5 3 4 8 9

4 3 9 8 1 6 2 7 5

Jigsaw Sudoku:

9 5 8 1 6 4 7 2 3

7 4 2 6 3 8 5 9 1

2 7 6 5 9 1 8 3 4

3 8 1 9 7 5 6 4 2

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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Sport

FORsports EVENstories MORE to: NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Please send newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Wednesday May 15 | 2019

PHOTOS: David Couldridge

Angels rising high after thrilling super play-off

TEAM SPIRIT The Angels celebrate their promotion

Metropolitan Police 2 Tonbridge Angels 3 (after extra-time)

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS won a pulsating ‘super play-off’ final at Imber Court, edging past Metropolitan Police to claim a place in National League South.

It’s the highest division in the league stucture the club has ever achieved – two tiers below League Two – having also been there in 2010-14.

This was a deserved win but they were made to battle every inch of the way by a young and talented Met side – the Angels’ experience may have made the differenece.

But it was a close run thing with just four minutes of normal time left on the clock when they equalised to force the tie into extra-time.

Fittingly D’Sean Theobalds’ goal

– his first for the club – was a brilliant strike by any standards.

Tonbridge made the better start and in the first 15 minutes chances fell to Tom Derry, Joe Turner twice, Adem Ramadan and Arthur Lee. But with only their second attack of the game Metropolitan Police were in front. A penetrating move down the left flank in the 18th minute left two Angels players on the deck.

Vocal The ball was threaded through to the home side’s man of the match, Ethan Chislett, and the midfielder curled a shot into the top right-hand corner, giving keeper Jonny Henly no chance.

The Met took control and should have added to their tally five minutes later but Henly made a fine save.

In the 27th minute Craig Stone’s short cross found Chinedu McKenzie in a perfect position but the Angels

striker was unable to take his chance.

The large and vocal contingent of 600 travelling supporters were thankful that their side were still in contention with the deficit only 1-0 at half-time.

Seven minutes into the second half, the visitors were awarded a free kick just outside the area for handball and Lee’s shot found the back of the net via the slightest of deflections.

The Angels threatened to turn the screw and only a superb double save

by Met keeper Bertie Schotterl prevented them from taking the lead.

On 57 minutes the hosts were ahead again as Henley’s punched clearance hit Luke Robertson and the winger saw the rebound drop into the net.

The Angels piled on the pressure against a tiring but determined Police rearguard. With time running out, midfielder Theobalds took possession just inside the Met half and jinked and weaved his way past several players.

‘IT’S NOW OR NEVER – JUST GO FOR IT’ Angels manager Steve McKimm said after the match: “To get promotion is testament to the extraordinary effort of everyone at this club.

“That’s three tough games we’ve had [in the play-offs] and this is the toughest because we knew nothing about them. They had lots of energy and put us under pressure. But we were clever when we had the ball and we managed to find little spaces.”

Of D’Sean Theobalds’ wonder goal he said: “It was massive, he’s been outstanding for me since [I signed him at] Christmas – but all those players deserve a pat on the back.

“We’ve had to do some ducking and He made the space to execute a shot that found the narrowest of gaps between Schotterl and the left-hand post to take the game into extra-time.

The Angels had chances to finish the tie in normal time but they had to wait until the seventh minute of the additional half-hour.

Substitute Jared Small was isolated on the right wing but managed to get the better of his marker and swung in an excellent cross.

Derry was lurking with intent at the

diving with players and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but this half a season it has worked.

Theobalds said: “The gaffer’s always telling me, ‘you need to shoot more’. The opportunity came to me and there wasn’t much time on the clock so I said to myself, ‘it’s now or never – just go for it’.

“I always thought, we’ve got this.

We knew we had to be patient but we were a bit nervous, it’s a final. But I was positive we’d come out on top.

“Everyone gets on, we’ve got a great mix and it’s a friendly club.

“It’s about people believing in me and I’m glad I could repay them.” back post and made no mistake in planting a firm header past Schotterl for the Angels to take the lead for the first time in the game.

The Met forced Henly into action before the end but Tonbridge saw the game out and their fans invaded the pitch to mob their heroes.

Having won the play-off final of the Bostik League Premier in front of more than 2,200 fans at Longmead on Bank Holiday Monday, it was a superb double feat inside a week.

HEADING FOR GLORY Tom Derry (left) scores the winner

Teenager Bepey wrecks Lordswood Paceman Johnson rapidly Tunbridge Wells 201-9 beat Lordswood 149 by 59 runs (D/L method)

By Alan Cutts CRICKET: TUNBRIDGE WELLS got their

season up and running with a hardfought win at Lordswood – their first against these opponents since 2010 and only their second this century.

Teenage left-arm paceman Isaac Bepey was the driving force behind Wells’ first win of the season in the Kent League Premier Division after last week’s opening defeat to Beckenham.

It was third-place against last year’s runners-up as Wells travelled to Martin Grove, where the Medway club’s venue has been renamed the Peter Edmonds Ground in honor of a club stalwart and benefactor.

For the second week running the match was decided by the DuckworthLewis method after rainstorms and hail led to several delays.

The toss was won by Lordswood, who asked Wells to bat first with the surface and outfield still awkward after recent downpours.

Conditions were very testing for the

batsmen with uneven bounce, and although the home attack was depleted Tunbridge Wells slid to 50 for 3 after 14 overs, with Taylor Chandler capturing 2 for 24.

Will Stickler joined his brother Sam and they began to rise above the difficulties with the fourth-wicket stand posting a hard-fought 49.

Respectability Sam Stickler then found another ally in Alex Williams in a partnership of 51 and the score slowly gained respectability.

The former reached a fine halfcentury but finally fell for 68 off 89 balls with eight fours and two sixes as Chris Piesley took the limelight, snapping up 5 for 34 to knock the innings apart.

Williams was able to reach a halfcentury of his own, scoring 54 off 56 balls including four fours and three sixes, and the visitors closed on 201 for 9 from their allocated 44 overs after

the recalculations were made.

Lordswood’s reply was upset by a sensational start from 18-year-old left-arm pace bowler Bepey, who ripped out the top three for just seven runs, playing in just his fifth Kent League Premier match.

The fiery Ari Karvelas (2-11) backed him up and was highly economical, and the home innings sagged to 70 for 7 before a recovery took shape.

However, Michael French found a staunch ally in Hugh Scott (33) and they counter-attacked in a valiant eighth-wicket partnership which raised a vigorous 67.

DLS reset the target to pass at 209, and French gave hopes of a victory but he was left stranded on 69 not out with seven boundaries.

The return of Bepey put paid to any remaining home hopes as he grabbed 4 for 31 and Michael Waller chipped in with 2 for 37 to leave Lordswood 59 runs short on 149.

Wells now entertain Sandwich Town next at the Nevill on Saturday (May 18).

makes mark for Cowdrey Harvel 206-8, Cowdrey 122-4 (match incomplete)

By Stuart Clarke

CRICKET: COWDREY were frustrated by heavy rain as they started their campaign in Kent League Division Three after being promoted as champions last summer.

It has been all change at the Tonbridge club in the close season with Anthony Mills stepping down as skipper and Ryan Addison taking over.

Last year’s Australian run machine Ashley Borella has not returned this year; Sri Lankan first-class cricketer Minhaj Jalill has taken his place.

For their first game they faced a tough trip to Harvel, who narrowly missed out on promotion themselves last year, and two long rain delays put paid to any chance of victory.

Addison won the toss and invited the home side to bat first, and newcomer Harry Johnson, who has moved to

Cowdrey from Hartley, opened the bowling with 2 for 11 in his 7.2 overs.

He was ably backed up by all-rounder Addison, who picked up 3 for 46.

Harvel’s captain Robert McSweeney led the way with 49 and opener Dominic Saunders contributed 40.

Due to the delays Harvel declared early on 206 for 8 after 44.2 overs to try and force victory, setting Cowdrey a nominal 207 off only 28 overs.

It was never a realistic chase and it gave Cowdrey’s top order an opportunity for some batting practice.

Xavier Yeats-Brown (30) looked fluent at the top of the order, supported by Stuart Clarke (28) in a stand of 42, and there were some brief fireworks from Jalill, who hit a couple of huge sixes before being stumped for 17.

Mills saw off the remaining balls playing some fine strokes as the innings closed on 122 for 4, Harvel picking up 11 points and Cowdrey 9.

Cowdrey now host Gravesend at Swanmead on Saturday (May 18).

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Jenkins sets club record with strong early-season form

RALLY IN THE VALLEY The Harriers contingent at the Darent Valley 10K

By Julian Fussell CYCLING: PIP JENKINS of Southborough & District Wheelers (SDW) is one of several club members who have been in blistering early-season form.

She completed a fast Welsh 25-mile time trial course near Rhigos in an impressive 54min 45sec, finishing in sixth place and setting a new club record and personal best time. In the men’s event Matt Kuwertz recorded a time of 53.12.

Jenkins went on to win the London Women’s Racing TT series, completing the 18.5-mile course near Dorking in 45.01. David Rumm was third in the men’s race in 46.23.

Natasha Jarman recorded 30.20 at the Wigmore CC 10-mile time trial, and in the ESCA 10-mile TT at East Hoathly Doug Finch finished in 36.46.

There were also strong results for the juniors in Spring in the Park at Gravesend Cyclopark. Theo Sandell came second in the Under-12 boys’ race, while in the U14s Patrick Lear (sixth), Ben Neal (seventh), Maurice Tate (11th) and Scott Purchas (12th) were all well placed. In the U16 juniors Sam Cartwright was 13th, Felix Ledger 23rd and Patrick Torrison 25th in a competitive field.

Harriers steal narrow lead over Kent Grand Prix rivals Orpington Keith Mitchell (38.02), Mike King (38.44), Tobyn Young (39.37) and Alex Holmes (39.42) all breaking the 40 minute mark.

Cathy Gill (44.13) led home the women followed

by Jillian Holford (45.00) and Hayley Larkin (45.47).

So the Harriers gained a small advantage over

Roche puts hip surgery behind her with new PB in East Grinstead race TRIATHLON: CLARE ROCHE produced an outstanding performance for Tunbridge Wells Triathlon Club in the second event of the southeast series at East Grinstead on Sunday (May 12).

She finished second in the 60-plus age group, clocking a new personal best for the event, 1hr 37min 41 sec – all the more impressive since she recently had a hip replacement.

Richard Bysouth finished ninth V40, Jennifer Rhodes 18th Senior, Thomas Readman 29th

Senior and Joshua Dale 40th Senior in the sprint distance of 400m swim, 26km bike and 5km run.

In the Aquabike, Nick Austen was second male V45 and Steven Dunkerley third V55.

In the Ladies only Tri event, Rowena Lennox Howey finished 15th overall in 55 minutes.

Neil Couchman and David Bagge kicked off the duathlon series at Gravesend cyclopark strongly by coming second and fifth overall respectively.

At the Tonbridge triathlon Michael Thomson

Orpington Road Runners in both the men’s and women’s event but the rivals remain neck-andneck halfway through the season.

Jane Roome took second place overall in the multi-lap, multi-terrain Pulborough Vineyard Half Marathon in West Sussex. topped his age group male V50 in the standard distance (800m swim, 50km bike, 10km run), winning in a time of 2:38.54, while Adam Dennis came second in male V40 in 2:38.46.

In the sprint distance Alex Holmes finished second in male V40 in 1:20.41, James Sarre was fourth with 1:23.30 – in only his second ever triathlon – and Nick Austen was seventh, while Graham Hubbard was 17th in male V50.

In a Go-tri event for beginners Naoise Kronholm finished strongly on the track to come home second female V40. Nicola Griffiths and Sarah Grimshaw were seventh and 14th in the senior female age group respectively in the swim-run aquathon after the bike leg had to be abandoned because of a road accident.

PHOTO: Glen Whittington

ATHLETICS: TUNBRIDGE WELLS Harriers were out in force for the Darent Valley 10K, which forms part of the Kent Grand Prix for local running clubs, taking in the villages of Farningham and Lullingstone.

Andy Howey was first home for the club in 37min 4sec and first in the M50 category, with

ON A ROLL Pip Jenkins wins the London Women’s Racing time trial