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Wednesday August 29 | 2018

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MP changes nappy during Humphrys interview to win ‘radio roulette’

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Times OF TONBRIDGE

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HIGH ANXIETY Local volunteers are no longer involved with Hadlow Tower

WORKING 9 TO 5

How did pupils succeed with new-style GCSEs? Page 6

LOCAL MP Tom Tugendhat has coined the phrase ‘radio roulette’ after revealing that he changed his daughter’s nappy at home while being interviewed over the phone by John Humphrys on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He has invented the concept for ‘when you book live radio interviews and you know you are the only one who can do childcare and you are alone in the house’. He added: “So you do the interview down the link [hoping] your children either won’t wake up or they won’t make a sound. “Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”

Game Mr Tugendhat is married to French supreme court judge Anissia Morel and they have two children aged four and 18 months. He has often taken to Twitter to describe his parenting skills under the hashtag ‘#solodad’. He said he ‘won rather a big game recently’ when he negotiated the flagship 8.10am interview slot – without the famously abrasive presenter Mr Humphrys realising he had been on nappy duty. ‘BBC Dad’ Professor Robert Kelly became a social media sensation after he was disturbed by his children while being interviewed on television last year. Mr Tugendhat, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, said he suffered an ‘epic loss’ last year, when an interview on Catalonian independence with LBC Radio was cut short by his crying baby.

Continued on page 2

READY TO ROAR

Town’s 24 teams prepare for Dragon Boat Races Page 2

Tower should allow open days after millions of public money By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk THE future of Hadlow Tower as a public attraction is in doubt as concern grows about the sale of the iconic folly. Campaigners believe the site should be open to visitors as part of the Heritage Open Days project next month, on September 6-9 and 13-16, because of the millions of pounds of public money used to restore the Victorian structure. The renowned Grade 1 listed building is 175ft high, six feet taller than Nelson’s Column. A covenant ensures the public can access it for 28 days each year and tours used to be held each week. But it was placed on the market for £2million in the summer, and the owner

has made it clear that he does not want the visits to be permitted. The Heritage Lottery Fund spent £2million on restoring the tower after it was badly damaged in the Great Storm of 1987, following a long period of neglect.

‘It’s exactly what we are trying to avoid. The locals really fought for this’ Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council had served a Compulsory Purchase Order on the site and then sold it for £1 to the Vivat Trust, a registered charity that turns derelict historic buildings into self-catering holiday homes. Fundraising in the local community

provided a further £50,000. Yet the tower was sold for just £425,000 in 2016 after the Vivat Trust went into liquidation. It is currently owned by Christian Tym, who lives there with his wife Becca and four sons. The four-bedroom property is available for rental from December to April for up to £2,400 a week. Musical impresario Andrew LloydWebber has spoken out about the access, having been instrumental in putting the tower forward for a restoration prize. He told the Daily Telegraph: “A huge amount of public money was spent on this project. If it’s going to be sold, it should be returned to Historic England and the Heritage Lottery Fund. It can’t go into the pocket of a private person.”

Continued on page 2

PEACE AT LAST

Music@Malling looks back at the Armistice Page 48

ANGELS ON A HIGH

McKimm’s unbeaten men rise to top of league Page 63

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HADLOW TOWER: Continued from page 1 “I don’t think the public purse should be used to speculate,” he added. “This seems to have slipped through the net.” The project won two Historic England Angel Awards, which were created by Lord Lloyd-Webber. “Here we are trying to talk about the unsung heroes all over the country, raising money and giving all of their time to get public access for these buildings, and this campaign was a huge success,” he said. “What we are trying to do with the Angel Awards is to say thank you to those people. With this tower it was the locals who came together and really fought for this. This sort of thing is exactly what we are trying to avoid.” The Hadlow Tower Action Group financed and provided volunteers to run a visitor centre on the ground floor of the eight-storey structure. Caroline Elcombe, the centre’s Manager until last September, said: “The new owner did not wish to continue with the public visits that we used to run every Thursday with a group of volunteer stewards. “His covenants say he must open the tower to the public but we have seen little if any evidence that this is happening. “We have reluctantly had to remove our exhibition equipment, bought with funds raised locally, and are no longer involved with the tower – much to our disappointment.”

Profit Local activists insist that more than 800 people visited the tower before the centre shut last year. Diane Huntingford, Chair of the Tonbridge Civic Society, said: “The work that was carried out on this was supported by the local communities and sizeable amounts by Historic England and the Heritage Lottery Fund. “No individual should profit at public expense,” she added. “It is wrong that it is not to open this year under Heritage Open Days, as is required if public money is given. “Other organisations who have in the distant past received funding from English Heritage, no matter how small, such as The Schools at Somerhill, open their doors once a year for this purpose so the local community and others can visit.” The agent for the sale of the tower, Strutt & Parker, said: “The owner and agent will not be giving a comment at this time.” They added: “Hadlow Tower comes with two covenants to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic England. The sale of the property will not affect the rights or obligations under those covenants.”

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 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU, 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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Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Dragon Boat rivals ready to set river on fire

PADDLE POWER 24 teams are taking part this year FIERY determination meets the waters of the Medway for the sixth annual Tonbridge Dragon Boat Race on Sunday September 9. The event, hosted by Tonbridge Town Team, is

one of the highlights of the town’s calendar. It is held on the same weekend the Tonbridge Medieval Fair, which is staged on Castle Lawn. This year 24 teams will compete from 10am.

Each consists of 16 rowers, who can be replaced at any time, and a drummer to keep rhythm over the 200-metre course. Entry costs £400 per team but the event is not-for-profit. Participants are free to raise money for their chosen charities or worthy causes. Cllr Sarah Spence, the Race Director, said: “Dragon Boat Racing is one of the most exciting and inclusive water sports. “It is said the Dragon Boat Festival originated in ancient southern central China some 2,500 years ago along the banks of Yangtze River, around the same era the Olympic Games began in Greece.” “There are 24 teams including schools, charities, local businesses and associations in this year’s races, and there will be stalls along the River Walk. It should be a great day.” There are still places available on some teams. You can show up on the day and be allocated a berth or find out on Twitter @tonbridgedragon and on Facebook @TonbridgeDragonBoatRace

West Malling surgery is saved from axe By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk WEST MALLING’S GP surgery will remain open for ‘many years to come’ after proposals to move most of it to Kings Hill were shelved. The owners of the practice, which has 20,300 people on its books, put the premises up for sale in favour of the latter site, which they described as ‘half-empty’. There were fears that it would close in same way that West Malling Group Practice [WMGP] shut Woodlands surgery in East Peckham in March. That decision was taken by West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group as part of its sweeping restructuring plans, meaning its 1,500 patients have to travel to Paddock Wood instead. In January WMGP said it would only ‘maintain a presence’ in West Malling, where there has been a surgery on the High Street for 70 years. Then in February it pledged that the building would remain open into next year, but could not

give assurances beyond 2019. The news led to widespread concerns about access for less mobile members of the community, especially those who do not own cars. Trudy Dean, Chairman of the Parish Council, said the move ‘would be very difficult for elderly people, people with mobility problems and families with very young children’.

Key services Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge & Malling, expressed his delight at the decision after being a vocal campaigner against the proposed move. He wrote to the partners on August 14 raising concerns about the practice’s future as well as residents’ difficulty in securing appointments. In response the surgery confirmed that ‘face to face appointments for patients will remain at the West Malling site for many years to come’. Mr Tugendhat said: “I’m delighted that West Malling Group Practice have confirmed that they will remain on the site for years to come. This

safeguards medical services in West Malling. “I’m pleased that the practice have listened to the strong views that I, and many residents, have made frequently, which is that a town like West Malling needs a GP surgery providing key services for all residents.” WMGP put the premises on the market based on the NHS ‘Super Practice plan’, which aims to ‘move all Primary Care services into commercially viable buildings in a move away from the cottage industry it once was and the residential buildings it started in’. It added: “The NHS plan [is] to look at practices to have services for around 30,000 patients in one location.” It cites a report by Dr Thomas Reichhelm, WMGP’s Managing Partner, in 2016 which highlighted ‘ageing accommodation and the stretch of staff across three sites [West Malling, Kings Hill and Leybourne]’. He stated: “Working across three sites at the time of resource reduction, is proving to be tough and probably not sustainable at present.”

RADIO ROULETTE: Continued from page 1 “My wife often has to go to Paris for the day to work, which means leaving very early and getting home very late, so I’m alone with the kids in the morning,” he told the BBC. “If I have an interview to do, I just have to hope they don’t wake up and, if they do, that they’ll accept their breakfast in silence...or will let me change nappies without making a sound.” There have been calls on the government to allow politicians to work more from home, especially young parents, in the wake of a controversial vote last month. The Conservative Chairman Brandon Lewis was criticised for breaking a ‘pairing’ arrangement with Lib Dem Deputy Leader Jo Swinson, who missed two Brexit votes due to maternity leave.

HOME ALONE Tom Tugendhat’s wife Anissia frequently commutes to France

Multi-tasking Under the informal pact an MP will voluntarily abstain so that his or her side does not benefit unfairly from the absence of opponents who may be on official business elsewhere. The Tories won by margins of two and six votes on the Trade Bill, and Ms Swinson called for an end to the ‘charade’ in favour of proxy voting. Mr Tugendhat told the Politico website: “If you don’t need to be in Parliament then actually what I would do, of course, is I would spend most of my time in my community fixing local issues because that is something most people care about. “I wouldn’t be in Westminster debating the issues of state, massive issues of government, and that is actually what an MP’s job is.” Mr Tugendhat has served with the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he compared ‘multi-tasking childcare with a job’ to the work of the military.

“Soldiers in the British Army do it all the time,” he tweeted. “Apache pilots even learn to multitask their eyeballs with one eye controlling weapons and the other flying the helicopter.” He went on to tackle the issue of ‘stereotypes in childcare’, saying: “We need to get beyond gender if we’re going to release talent in our society and stop the rest of us losing out because some have been forced to take time out and so are disadvantaged in promotion and influence.” He added: “We need to think hard about how we enable men and women to choose, I mean actually choose, how they share childcare. “That means thinking about the laws and support surrounding nurseries, childminders and so much more. It means being flexible, and looking for ways to help those who could never afford full-time childcare.”

SOLO DAD ON TWITTER I’ve been alone less than 3 hours. I’m late to work, slightly covered in baby milk, ok baby vomit, my son is furious about his packed lunch – don’t ask – and my wife is away for three days judging the French #SoloDad hasn’t started well. Wife off to a wedding. Son crying because [he thinks] she’s going to marry someone else and may not come back. This could be a longer weekend than I expected. #readthesmallprint Can you send a 4yo boy to school on their own as you run for an interview on @SkyNews? #AskingForAFriend #solodad. Sorry @adamboultonSKY I’m doing my best!

NEWS IN BRIEF

Roadworks due to be completed next week TWO sets of roadworks, which have caused delays to motorists in Tunbridge Wells town centre, are set to be completed on Monday [September 3]. Kent Highways has been working on Vale Road and Nevill Street for several weeks, leading to road and lane closures. Kent County Council was unable to confirm if there had been any delays to the completion of works.

Telephone fraud appeal FRAUDSTERS are targeting pensioners in Tonbridge by posing as Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs [HMRC] employees in a telephone scam. Kent Police received two reports of attempted telephone frauds to pensioners on Monday, August 20. One received a text message and the other a telephone message from a person saying they were from HMRC and that the resident was wanted for a criminal offence. Both were advised to call a specified number to avoid arrest. In each case the recipient did not respond and the incident was referred to the police. If you suspect you have been a victim of fraud, call police on 101.

Park’s pump is broken MANAGERS of Grosvenor & Hilbert Park in Tunbridge Wells said the currently dry pond is a result of works to the feature’s pump. Work is currently ongoing to fix the pump, which had been damaged by vandals. When this is completed the water level will return to normal. It has not been confirmed how long this might be.

Jumble Trail in Slade THE Slade Area Residents Association is holding a free Jumble Trail on Sunday [September 2] from 11am-4pm. The event, the first to be held in Tonbridge, is like a car boot sale but with stalls outside houses. Visitors can pick up a map on the day showing the location of the stalls along with a coffee from 65mm Coffee at Tonbridge Old Fire Station. British Heart Foundation will collect anything that is not sold so nothing will go to waste. For more information visit bit.ly/ sladejumbletrail

Local News

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Wednesday August 29 | 2018

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Skating at Calverley Grounds to return but prices are not frozen By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A RECORD 40,000 skaters are expected to take to the Ice Rink in Calverley Grounds when it returns this year. The Assembly Hall Theatre, who co-manage the feature alongside Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, has announced the rink will be open from November 16 until January 1, 2019. Prices have been raised slightly for this eighth staging of the attraction. Skating will cost £14.50 for adults and £9.75 for children, up from £14 and £9.50 respectively. But whichever way a customer seeks to pay, a booking fee will be charged on top. A spokesman said: “A booking fee of up to £1.75 per ticket will be applied on all tickets booked by

phone or in person. Online booking fees are only £0.85 per ticket.” This policy is consistent with The Assembly Hall’s usual practice.

THRILLS AND CHILLS More than 40,000 are expected to take to the ice

Festivities The festivities will be launched on November 16 with a special event, details of which are yet to be announced. The council is looking to collaborate with The Forum venue again this year to stage live music nights on Thursdays. There will also be an appearance from Father Christmas on select dates and a storytelling workshop will be set up, while chalets will be made available to hire. Last year, nearly 40,000 took to the ice across the festive period, a figure the council will be looking to top in 2018-19. This raised £56,000 for the authority. Cllr Jane March said: “Outdoor ice

skating in beautiful Royal Tunbridge Wells is a wonderful, festive, fun thing to do. “The rink always looks lovely and skating is a great activity for all ages. The rink is very popular so put a date in your diary, book your tickets early and don’t miss out on the fun.”

War and Peace fights Netflix claims of ‘dark tourist’ spot By Duncan Audsley newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk ORGANISERS have leapt to the defence of a battlefield festival following claims made in a Netflix documentary. The War and Peace Revival, a five-day event of battle re-enactments and military fairs staged at

The Hop Farm in Paddock Wood, was featured in the series Dark Tourist shown on the online streaming service. Presenter David Farrier filmed at the 2017 edition for an episode that was recently broadcast. In other programmes he visited alternative and macabre holiday destinations, including places of natural disasters and nuclear testing sites. Of The War and Peace Revival, he said: “Around 80,000 dark tourists come here every year to pretend to be soldiers from different wars, different sides and different times.

Challenges

LET BATTLE COMMENCE: The War and Peace Revival is one of the biggest events of its kind

“They don’t just come to watch. Many take a week off work just to hang out in the mud. I’m not sure that making a ghastly piece of history fun, is

BROADSIDE David Farrier made the documentary for Netflix

Ice skating sessions last for one hour with numerous slots available for booking during the day from 9.45am to 8pm. There are also three dedicated parent and toddler sessions a day. Booking will become possible through the council’s dedicated website in the next few weeks.

the best way to understand it, or avoid repeating it. It’s definitely not my idea of a holiday.” The War and Peace Revival was held in July at The Hop Farm for the second time, after moving back from Folkestone. It marks battles from the two World Wars and Vietnam, and will return in 2019 from July 23-27. Organiser Steve Morgan said Farrier completed filming under a ‘working title’ and it was not known that footage would be used for the feature Dark Tourist. He also responded to challenges from the presenter about participants wearing Nazi outfits. “It is all historical fact,” Mr Morgan said of the show. “If you are going to show history you have got to show both sides of it. “For the same reason, in a historical film you see actors portraying both sides. It is educational and the acts here are incredible. It is a historical family event.” Mr Morgan added he was not angry with the documentary and that the portrayal had been ‘edited’ to ‘fit the topic’.

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Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Rain added to ‘mini-Glastonbury’ Paul Dunton hails ‘diehard’ fans and bands who help to keep festival going will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk LAST weekend’s Local & Live Music Festival has been hailed as one of the best ever, despite heavy rain impacting visitor numbers. Thousands turned out from Friday to Monday [August 24 to 27] for the free events, which were held mainly at Calverley Grounds but with stages also erected inside local pubs and at The Spa Hotel. Organiser Paul Dunton (pictured right) paid tribute to the ‘diehard fans’ who braved heavy showers on Sunday and the musicians who paid their own money towards keeping the event going. Now in its 14th year, Local & Live relies on sponsorship and this year a crowdfunding campaign was set up to help meet the running costs of £40,000. Mr Dunton said around 4,000 people were around the venues at some points, although the total number is hard to calculate. “Saturday was so good,” he said. “It was a very nice turn-out and that shows how much of an effect the weather has. “It was a shame about the weather on Sunday but the indoor venues were packed and it was nice

to see lots and lots of diehard fans outside enjoying the music. “People brought tents, it reminded me of a mini-Glastonbury! It was hard work for the sound team but we managed to keep the stage completely dry. More and more people started coming down as the day continued.

‘We are grateful for the support. Without the help we could not put it on’ “It has been wet at times in previous festivals, but this was a full day of rain.” Among the bands who performed were The Violet Jive, The Varlies and The Breretons. Mr Dunton said some musicians were giving 10 per cent of merchandise sales to the cause, while others had contributed to the crowdfunding. He continued: “We are grateful for the support. Without the help we could not put it on.” To make a donation to the crowdfunding campaign, visit gofundme.com/local-amp-livemusic-festival-2018

PHOTOS: Rose Bainbridge

By William Mata

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

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feel, says Local & Live organiser

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Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Mixed reviews for changed GCSEs but students still make the grade By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk SCHOOLS recorded impressive GCSE results despite changes to the exams, which have been criticised by some. The tests were taken by hundreds of students across Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge in their final compulsory year of secondary school. For the first time, almost all results were graded 9 to 1, in a government move to replace the A* to G system. A grade 4 is seen as a standard pass and grade 5 a good pass with performances only in the very top tier being rewarded with a grade 9. This has seen grade boundaries adjusted for some subjects and follows on from English and mathematics papers being made harder to pass. Sean McQuillan, Principal of St Gregory’s Catholic School, said: “It has been stressful over the past two years for students and staff, mainly due to the unknowns relating to the new exams. “It will take some time before the changes settle down and staff have a more accurate basis for gauging student progress. “It will be helpful when we can see the broader national picture of the impact of the changes.” Michael Crow, Deputy Headteacher of Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, said: “The new GCSE syllabi and

examinations were a challenge that our students and teachers have risen to. “There was more content to learn, coursework was removed from the vast majority of subjects and exams included more challenging questions designed to challenge students’ metacognition.

“It has been stressful over the past two years for students and staff, mainly due to the unknowns relating to the new exams” “Our boys have performed very well and the new grade 9 has allowed many of them to demonstrate their academic abilities well.” Instead of the traditional five A* to C grades including mathematics and English as a benchmark for GCSE performance, schools are increasingly looking at Progress 8 scores, which monitor a child’s progress from the end of primary to the end of Year 11. These are still being calculated and will offer a comparison between schools when they are released by the Department for Education this winter. Kevin Courtney, of the National Education Union, said: “This year it has been impossible for teachers to predict their students’ results because of a lack of

THE SKINNERS’ SCHOOL Jon Newman collects results, with Conor O’Sullivan

certainty in the new 9 to 1 grade boundaries. “By design, success is being rationed and fewer people have received the top grade of a 9 than used to receive an A*. “We are already hearing that students who were hoping for the highest grade have been disappointed to receive an 8, as they no longer see themselves as one of the highest attainers.”

Continued on Page 8

RETAKING EXAMS AND ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS Exams in GCSE mathematics, English language and English literature can be retaken in November. For other subjects students, would need to wait until the following June. For many students taking A levels is the next step after GCSEs but other types of qualification are available at this stage. Two of these are: BTECs: This is a vocational qualification which teaches skills through practical, work-related activities and allows students to apply what they have learned. Apprenticeships: A choice that is growing in popularity, apprenticeships are being considered as an alternative to both university and A levels. This offers an opportunity to earn and learn in a workplace environment.

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Students collect top grades after tough two years’ work Continued from Page 6 THE top grade 9 was achieved by 7 per cent of entries at Bennett Memorial Diocesan School, more than double the national proportion. Cllr Roger Gough, portfolio holder for education at Kent County Council, visited the secondary on results day. Following impressive A level results, where nearly 20 per cent of grades were awarded the top A* mark, Kent College is celebrating encouraging

GCSE results. Nearly 50 per cent of girls achieved an average grade of A*, A, or equivalent in all of their subjects. And 27 per cent of the grades under the new system were awarded the coveted grade 9. Headmistress Julie Lodrick said: “I am delighted with the results, especially in light of the new reformed exams.” At Benenden School 57 per cent of all grades were grade 8 or above, equivalent to A*. This represents an improvement on last year’s ‘excellent’ results, when 55 per cent of grades were at A*. A remarkable 30 per cent of all the results under the new system achieved grade 9. There was further success at Beacon Academy in Crowborough, where 74 per cent of students achieved both English and mathematics at grades 9 to 4 and 55 per cent achieved English and mathematics at grades 9 to 5. Headteacher Anna Robinson said: “These exceptional results for our students will be widely celebrated throughout our school community.” Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys had one student achieve nine grade 9 results and 98 per cent of students achieve five GCSEs, including English and mathematics, at grade 4 or above. Down the road, Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School saw 26 pupils attain five or more grade 9 results. Richard Smith, Assistant Headteacher, said: “We are ecstatic with the performance of our pupils and how they have risen to the demands of the new, challenging 9 to 1 GCSEs.” At St Gregory’s Catholic School 80 per cent achieved a pass in English and 70 per cent a pass in mathematics. At Weald of Kent Grammar School in Tonbridge, 58 per cent of students taking the new style GCSEs gained a top grade of 9 to 7. It is the final results day for retiring Headteacher Maureen Johnson, who thanked students and staff for their effort.

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

WEALD OF KENT GRAMMAR SCHOOL An embrace at the end of the GCSE process

BENNETT MEMORIAL DIOCESAN SCHOOL Lily Baisch, Tilly Sturge, Tom Hawkey-Soar, Cllr Roger Gough, Grace Shaw-Hamilton and Finlay Sawyer

JUMP FOR JOY Girls at Kent College Pembury

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

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FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT thekn w.guide WEALD OF KENT GRAMMAR SCHOOL Girls clutch their paperwork

BEACON ACADEMY Louis Kemp prepares to open his results TUNBRIDGE WELLS GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL Grace Grant, Tabby Gardiner and Rosie Peacock

THE HAYESBROOK SCHOOL

ST GREGORY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL Niamh McGauley, Betty Smith, Cassidy McCarthy and Jaoa Costa

NEWS

Hillview School for Girls saw 64 per cent achieve a grade 4 in both mathematics and English. Headteacher Hilary Burkett said: “The last couple of years have brought significant changes to specifications and our curriculum but our staff and students have embraced these challenges knowing that all of the learners at Hillview can achieve.” The Hayesbrook School saw 42 per cent of grades at 5 to 9 or A* to B. Principal, Daniel Hatley said: “I am delighted to be able to congratulate so many boys on their considerable and well deserved achievements.” Neighbouring The Judd School announced more than half of all entries were graded A*, 8 or 9 for a record fifth year in succession. Meanwhile, there was further success at Mayfield School with almost half of all entries awarded 9-8 or A* equivalent.

BUSINESS

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Seventh heaven for vehicle camera company after latest award success Simon Marsh

The company, which is part of Markerstudy Group, has recently launched a new camera featuring ADAS technology, which can detect driver fatigue and mobile phone use at the wheel. And the hard work has paid off, with Managing Director Simon Marsh recently collecting the Claims Innovation of the Year – Outsourced Partner trophy at the Insurance Post Claims Awards in London.

Changing By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk VEHICLE technology firm VisionTrack has won its seventh industry award, just two years after it was founded. The Tunbridge Wells-based company has become a leading provider of in-vehicle video telematics. VisionTrack specialise in providing dashboard cameras, which can help bring down insurance rates for drivers by helping guard against fraudulent claims. It now has 12,000 connected devices across the UK, with the fleet sector their primary clientele.

Mr Marsh said: “We’ve known our products are at the very forefront of innovation since VisionTrack launched. For this to be recognised by a Post Claims Award makes me incredibly proud of my team and what they do every day. “Fleets and the insurance industry are really waking up to the power of good video telematics. “It’s changing the claims landscape – we see hundreds of clips every day showing the exact circumstances behind an incident, which overturn fraudulent or exaggerated claims and save time and money. “The technology we have available to us is continually being improved – I’m so excited to see where we can go in the next 12 months.”

Rail firm spends £30m on deep cleaning 112 south east trains SOUTHEASTERN has spent £30million giving 112 trains a deep clean, which it says will benefit 600,000 passengers. The franchise holder, which serves Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge stations, completed the venture in Derby alongside firms Eversholt Rail and Bombardier. As part of the revamp, 83,000 seat covers were dry cleaned, 20,500 litres of paint were applied, and seven miles of carpet were replaced. Each train required three weeks of work, and the entire project took three years. This was completed on the Class 375 fleet, which was introduced in 2004. By contract, the trains must be given a deep clean in this style every 15 years.

THE MAN BEHIND THE CAMERAS: SIMON MARSH Simon Marsh founded VisionTrack in 2016 after nearly two decades of experience in the telematics industry. His previous business transported highvalue products throughout Europe, breaking into bio/pharma logistics by developing and improving online temperature tracking and thermal mapping, which was – at the time – unheard of. He told the Times his motivation for founding VisionTrack: “One of my drivers was killed in a serious collision involving two other people. “I was a fleet operator at the time, and spent over 12 months wondering what had caused the incident. It transpired that my driver wasn’t at fault but it was devastating for all parties. “I’ve always been passionate about road safety, but this motivated me to provoke change, both in terms of education and introducing preventative safety measures on the road. “I’ve worked tirelessly to support better driver behaviour and improve road safety ever since.”

said: “Our 625,000 daily passengers deserve the highest levels of comfort, and that’s why our trains have been renovated. “We are very proud of our teams, who have worked incredibly hard over the past three years to ensure trains have been refurbished to the highest standards.” The company has also recently spent £1.1million expanding the car park at Staplehurst railway station to create another 300 spaces.

COMPANY CRITICISED OVER INCIDENT

The Networker, an older-style train type which still commonly serves Tunbridge Wells, was not refurnished this time, and may well be phased out after a new rail franchise contract is awarded from November this year. Southeastern Managing Director David Statham

An independent report has criticised Southeastern and Network Rail after trains were stranded in snowy weather. Nine services ground to a halt outside Lewisham railway station on March 2, leaving some passengers without heating or toilet facilities. Arthur D Little and Southwood Rail Consulting, who compiled the report, said ‘many passengers were experiencing unacceptable conditions’. Southeastern and Network Rail announced a joint action plan last week in response, to provide more staff training to deal with these conditions. A spokesman described the incidents as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘regrettable’.

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

Transport association discusses road safety A COMPANY that boosts South Africa’s economy by transporting lorries was given tips by industry experts in a meeting of minds in Tunbridge Wells. The Freight Transport Association [FTA] welcomed Transport for London and FM Conway to its offices in St John’s Road this month to meet with Cross-Border Road Transport Agency [C-BRTA] representatives. C-BRTA’s Chief Executive, Sipho Khumalo, said he was keen to take advice on board to help the firm provide a safe and easy passage for freight infrastructure. He added: “We’re committed to driving economic growth and prosperity, which will be borne out of safe, efficient trading partnerships, and our meeting with the FTA has thrown up plenty of new ideas for us to adopt back home.”

Law firm backs festival A CROWDFUNDING campaign to ensure the return of the Local & Live Music Festival was backed by law firm Cripps. Last weekend’s event, one of the biggest of its kind in Tunbridge Wells, relies on donations and sponsorship to meet its running costs, which run into tens of thousands of pounds. Cripps, with an office on Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, sponsored Local & Live and also handed out free sunglasses. Gavin Tyler, Managing Partner of Cripps, said: “It’s a fantastic showcase of the best of Tunbridge Wells, both in terms of the acts performing and the enthusiasm from the thousands of music lovers who attend.” For more on Local & Live, see pages 4-5.

Awards for spirits SPIRITS firm Atom Brands has won a host of titles at the Whisky Masters award series. The Tonbridge producer saw several drinks in their portfolio score highly in blind tasting events. Atom produces spirits under titles including That Boutique-y Whisky Company and The Blended Whisky Company. They won 15 gold medals and four master medals at three events: The World Whisky Masters, the Irish Whiskey Masters and the Scotch Whisky Masters.

High Street award bid WEALDEN MP Nus Ghani has backed the heart of Uckfield’s shopping to be named as a Rising High Street of the Year in the Great British High Street of the Year contest. She praised the Uckfield Chamber’s support for local businesses.

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Community News

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Stem cell transplant man returns with tennis medal By Andy Tong

A LOT OF HELP: (L-R) Trench Community Partnership members Yasmin Hosken, Pauline Plummer and (far right) Marilyn Smith with PCSO Linda Baker at the allotment

Kent Police distribute proceeds of crime to support allotment project A COMMUNITY allotment in Tonbridge has received a donation of £400 from Kent Police to support a project run by the Listening Ear. The initiative, which is backed by local Police Community Support Officers [PCSOs], helps vulnerable residents with their general wellbeing. The donation came from the Kent Police Property Fund, which distributes money raised from the sale of unclaimed lost property, or items seized during police operations, to communities across the county. Money generated by the fund is distributed to local groups which provide a service. The allotment in Waveney Road is overseen by the Trench Community Partnership, which is made up of a number of agencies, including Tonbridge

& Malling Borough Council and Kent Police. The funds will be used to help buy seeds, shrubs, and plants so that keen gardeners can continue to grow fruit and vegetables all year round. The money will also provide a membrane to prepare the allotment for next year. PCSO Linda Baker said: “The Listening Ear remains an important local resource which aims to help people who may feel isolated or anxious. “Visitors to the community allotment are not only learning how to grow their own produce, but more importantly are developing the confidence to come out and meet other people.” If you are interested in taking part in the community allotment project, email PCSO Baker at: csu.tonbridge.and.malling@kent.pnn.police.uk

A BUSINESSMAN from Tunbridge Wells has won a medal at this month’s British Transplant Games in Birmingham after receiving a lifesaving stem cell transplant. Andrew Hunter, 37, won bronze in the tennis competition at the annual event in Birmingham where people who have had stem cell or organ transplants take part in a variety of Olympic-style disciplines. The games offer gentle encouragement to transplant patients to build their strength and fitness after treatment. They also aim to raise public awareness of the need for more people to join the NHS Organ Donation Register and be a stem cell donor for the blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.

Fight Mr Hunter, who founded the jobs website Adzuna, was part of a 17-strong team from Anthony Nolan, all of whom have had stem cell transplants. They brought home a total of 21 medals, including in golf and the 100m sprint. In 2015, he was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and Anthony Nolan found an anonymous donor to replace his damaged cells. Andrew said: “It feels awesome to be at the British Transplant Games. Eighteen months ago I was in a hospital bed in isolation, with no hair, feeling very ill, and thinking: ‘Am I going to get through this?’ “To be able to compete in an athletics event feels incredible. It also feels great to be surrounded by so many other transplant recipients that are fighting the good fight.” He added: “To my donor, I’d like to say thank you for saving my life.

BOUNCING BACK Andrew Hunter with his bronze medal “Without him, I would not be here today.” Tom Bishop, Senior Patient Services Manager at Anthony Nolan, said: “This was our fourth year taking Team Anthony Nolan to the British Transplant Games, and it was an amazing weekend for everybody involved. “The games are a testament to the incredible spirit and determination of people who have received a stem cell transplant; many of whom will experience a difficult and complicated recovery. “Winning medals is brilliant, but what this event really demonstrates is how many stem cell transplant recipients like Andrew can go on to live rich, healthy and fulfilling lives.” He added: “Team Anthony Nolan are all winners in our eyes.” For more information on the charity, or to join the Anthony Nolan register, visit anthonynolan.org

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Local News

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Wednesday August 29 | 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

Council ex-deputy dies

Tonbridge Road fix date

Groups bid for PCC cash

Herstmonceux astronomy

FORMER Deputy Leader of Kent County Council John Simmonds, MBE, has died aged 82. The Conservative member for Canterbury North stepped back as Cabinet Member for Finance earlier this year due to ill health, and passed away on August 19. The married father of three lived in Whitstable. As we went to press, the county council had not so far disclosed the cause of death or given details of funeral arrangements. But Council Leader Paul Carter paid tribute: “John has steered Kent County Council in recent years through the most austere financial times the authority has ever experienced.” The council has yet to advise the public when a by-election will be held for the Canterbury North seat.

HIGHWAYS teams from Kent County Council are still repairing the Tonbridge Road sinkhole outside Maidstone which opened up on May 28. The A26 in Barming has been closed ever since, and will now be opening on October 20, nearly five months later. A spokesman said: “Following the completion and demobilisation of the compaction grouting works last week, our activities are now focused on the ground preparations for the sewer replacement.” Diversions continue to cause traffic build-ups going in and out of the county town. The sinkhole opened up close to the junction with Hermitage Lane, which leads to Maidstone Hospital, where some Tunbridge Wells patients have to go for specialist appointments.

CHARITIES and community groups have the chance to bid for up to £10,000 each to help prevent crime in their neighbourhoods. Kent Police & Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has announced £100,000 will be given away in total as part of The Safer in Kent fund. Bids can be made up until September 11. Applicants should be able to offer evidence to support the need for their project, and demonstrate how it will help make their area safer in the long-term. Mr Scott said: “Preventing crime and antisocial behaviour requires teamwork I am pleased to be able to support this ongoing effort.” To read the full eligibility criteria, and to submit an application for funding, visit kent-pcc.gov.uk/safer

THE 14th annual Herstmonceux Astronomy Festival returns this week, running from Friday, August 31, until Sunday, September 2. The family event, popular with both amateur astrologists and complete beginners, gives visitors the chance to attend for the whole weekend or just a day. The full programme includes the screening of a sci-fi classic, lectures, talks about the telescopes, viewing (weather permitting), trade stalls and a beer and refreshments tent. Speakers lined up include: Dr Simon Steele, Jane Green FRAS, Dr Colin Forsyth and Dr Amelie Saintonge. For further information, including details of camping and accommodation options, telephone 01323 832731 or visit the-observatory.org

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Wednesday August 29 | 2018

May pledges £4billion aid in Africa trade push Arlene Foster

Foster defends no show on Pope visit THE leader of the Democratic Unionist Party [DUP] has defended the decision not to send a party representative to meet the Pope at Dublin Castle on Sunday, despite other Northern Irish parties attending. Arlene Foster said the invite to the event was addressed to her personally and it was ‘her decision’ not to attend. She denies this amounted to a veto on attendance by a fellow party member. She said her decision not to show up was due to a long planned family holiday, but critics claim the DUP has missed an opportunity to make a significant gesture of reconciliation. Mrs Foster said: “I was out of the jurisdiction on a long pre-planned holiday with my family because I know how busy September and October are going to be. “I think it is very ironic actually that while the Pope was marking a celebration of the family, others can’t understand that I was with my family at the weekend. That’s the reality.” Other Northern Irish parties, such as the Ulster Unionists and Alliance, sent representatives, although their leaders did not attend.

THERESA MAY has outlined Britain’s first postBrexit trade pact as she also committed the UK to providing an extra £4billion of investment in African economies. The Prime Minister made the pledge in a speech in Cape Town on her first tour of the continent, which will also see her visit Kenya and Nigeria. Her pledge came during a speech in which she also committed to a ‘fundamental shift’ in aid spending, with a focus on long-term economic and security challenges, rather than immediate poverty relief.

‘This will ensure that our investment in aid benefits us all’

are good news for British people as well as African people.” Britain’s overseas aid budget totalled £13.9billion in 2017, an increase of £555million from 2016 and in line with the legal commitment to invest 0.7 per cent of national income in this area. It has proven a controversial pledge among some Tory backbenchers, with successive international development secretaries vowing to use the cash to help develop trade against the backdrop of Brexit. Mrs May made an ‘unashamed’ vow to ensure the aid programme works for the UK, explaining: “Today I am committing that our development spending will not only combat extreme poverty, but at the same time tackle global challenges and support our own national interest. “This will ensure that our investment in aid benefits us all, and is fully aligned with our wider national security priorities.”

Mrs May said the additional £4billion of UK investment aimed to ‘pave the way’ for at least another £4billion from private sector financing, as part of the Government’s ambition to overhaul the United States as the G7’s top investor in Africa. Speaking at the First National Bank in Cape Town, Mrs May said: “As Prime Minister of a trading nation whose success depends on global markets, I want to see strong African economies that British companies can do business with in a free and fair fashion. “Whether through creating new customers for British exporters or opportunities for British investors, MENDING RELATIONS: Theresa May and South African our integrated global economy President Cyril Ramaphosa means healthy African economies

Local News

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Corbyn speech labelled as bad as Enoch Powell A FORMER Chief Rabbi has described Jeremy Corbyn’s remarks about British Zionists as ‘the most offensive’ made by a British politician since Enoch Powell’s 1968 ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech. Jonathan Sacks was referring to comments made by the Labour leader in 2013, which only recently came to light, in which he said British Zionists ‘don’t understand English irony’. Lord Sacks called the speech ‘divisive’ and ‘hateful’, adding: “When he implies that, however long they have lived here, Jews are not fully British, he is using the language of classic pre-war European anti-Semitism.”

Lifesaving lances FIREFIGHTERS will be able to tackle fires from outside a burning building using new technology that can blast water through concrete and steel. The Ultra High Pressure Lances, branded Coldcut Cobra, will enable crews to tackle the fire quickly from outside by injecting water through walls and doors. The new technology will be carried on a £7.6million fleet of 40 bespoke fire engines and initially will be rolled out mainly in rural areas.

Sikh temple attack POLICE investigating a ‘petrol bomb’ attack on a Sikh temple in Edinburgh say it is not known if it was random or targeted. The doors to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Sheriff Brae were set alight around 5am yesterday [August 28]. No one was injured but there is said to be significant smoke damage.

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World News

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

German government offers police extra help

Gun deaths hit 250,000 with USA among top six

THE interior minister of Germany has offered to send federal assistance to the eastern state of Saxony after violence at a far-right protest in the city of Chemnitz left at least 18 people injured on Monday [August 27]. The protest late on Monday was sparked by the killing of a 35-year-old German man in an altercation with migrants over the weekend. About 1,000 left-wing protesters yelled slogans like ‘Nazis out’ at a larger group of right-wing demonstrators that retorted with ‘We are louder, we are more’. “The police in Saxony are in a difficult situation,” Horst Seehofer said. “If requested, the federal government will provide support.”

GUN deaths worldwide total about 250,000 yearly and the United States is among six countries that make up half of those fatalities, a study has found. Two-thirds of the deaths in 2016 were homicides, although the US is among wealthy countries where suicides by gun outnumber gun killings, accounting for 19,700 of the 37,000 deaths, the study found. Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela are the countries that with the US contributed to half the study deaths. El Salvador had the highest global gun death rate, nearly 40 per 100,000 people. Singapore had the lowest, with 0.1 death per 100,000.

BAD ENVIRONMENT Nicolas Hulot resigned live on air

Radio resignation for French minister FRANCE’S high-profile environment minister has unexpectedly announced his resignation live on national radio, lamenting the government’s lack of decisive action on green issues. The move by Nicolas Hulot deals a stinging blow to the environmental credibility of President Emmanuel Macron.

Illusion Clearly emotional, he said he had not even told his wife, let alone Mr Macron or his prime minister, of his decision to stand down. The long-time environmental advocate lamented France’s slow pace of progress on green issues and his own lack of power to force change. His on-air resignation on France Inter radio was so out of the blue that the first reaction from an interviewer was: “Are you serious?” “I no longer want to lie to myself,” Mr Hulot said. “I don’t want to create the illusion that my

presence in government means that we’re up to standard on these issues, and so I am deciding to quit the government.” Recruiting him as a minister had been a coup for Mr Macron, who has sought to position France as a champion in the fight against environmental degradation and as a counterweight to the climate change attitudes of US President Donald Trump. Losing Mr Hulot so suddenly will force a ministerial reshuffle and casts doubt on the strength of Mr Macron’s commitment to ‘make our planet great again’. The president’s office confirmed there will be a reshuffle but said it will not happen while the French leader is visiting Denmark and Finland this week. Speaking in Denmark, Mr Macron defended his government as having ‘done more than any other on this subject’. He urged patience, saying: “It’s a fight that isn’t won from one day to the next.”

BUSINESS

National Business News

NEWS IN BRIEF

Costs put pressure on Britain’s service sector COSTS for business and professional services firms, including lawyers, accountants and marketers, grew at the fastest pace since before the financial crisis during the last three months, a new survey has found. The study by the Confederation of British Industry found the balance of business and professional services firms who said expenses have increased rose to 45 per cent, the highest since August 2008. This is damaging profitability, despite higher trading volumes, according to the study. Part of the pressure comes from a tight labour market pushing up wages, and weaker sterling raises the cost of imports.

Sterling slips back THE pound fell to its lowest level against the euro in almost a year yesterday [August 28] after Theresa May refused to rule out a no-deal Brexit. On her visit to South Africa the Prime Minister said no-deal Brexit ‘wouldn’t be the end of the world’, prompting sterling to fall as low as €1.1021 in early trading before recovering slightly.

Lloyds Bank buyback LLOYDS BANKING GROUP completed its buyback of £1billion of shares yesterday, ending a process which began in March. The bank kicked off the buyback to reduce its ordinary share capital, valuing shares at 1.4p, after opting against issuing a special dividend earlier this year in order to enact the buyback.

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

City brushes off Brexit with bumper IPO year THE number of companies choosing to list in London shows ‘no sign of slowing’ as the amount of flotations in 2018 looks set to beat the past two years despite Brexit fears. According to share services firm Equiniti, IPOs on London stock exchanges so far in 2018 had already equalled the total for 2017 and were on course for a record year thanks to a ‘healthy IPO pipeline’. Stock market flotations this year include the £2.3billion flotation of cyber security firm Avast and the £100 million list-

ing of high street retailer theWorks.co.uk. Equiniti, which has acted as registrar for 70 per cent of IPOs so far in 2018, said the LSE was attracting around 70 per cent of new capital, with the remaining 30 per cent split between London’s junior Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and other exchanges.

Significant Paul Matthews, Chief Executive for boardroom business at Equiniti, said: “These figures show that London continues to

attract significant investor capital and that shows no sign of slowing as we head toward Brexit next year. “We have already worked on more IPOs this year than last and, with several more expected before the end of the year, we could see the 2017 total for floats well beaten.” Last year was the biggest for flotations since 2014, with Equiniti welcoming 17 London listings worth more than £7billion, including the £1.7billion IPO in the UK of US energy group ContourGlobal.

Treasury denies asking Carney to stay at Bank REPORTS that Treasury officials have been seeking to retain Mark Carney as Governor of the Bank of England have been denied by the government. The Canadian is currently due to stay on until June 2019, ending six years as head of the UK’s central bank. But the Evening Standard suggested the Government quietly approached Mr Carney to remain in his post for another year as it struggles to find a strong enough candidate to replace him. However, Treasury sources said the department does not recognise the London newspaper’s report and expects to start hunting for a successor in the coming months. A Treasury spokesman said: “We will begin recruitment for the next Governor of the Bank of England in due course.” Mr Carney announced in late 2016 that he would stay in his role until the end of June 2019, opting against a full eight-year term. It means he will stay on for three months after Britain formally leaves the European Union in March next year, leaving his successor to navigate the aftermath of the EU divorce. The Bank of England declined to comment.

Mark Carney

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

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Letters

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Wednesday August 29 | 2018

And another thing… This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU A spa town with blocked drains leaves a nasty taste in the mouth

resources’ – something the current team will continue to do for all our residents. Michael Base Chair, Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

SOFT TOUCH Foxes have been stealing cuddly toys

Council chopping Town Hall for a snip

GRATE EXPECTATIONS The Pantiles drains are cleaned every six months After so many abortive schemes, is the flooding at The Pantiles finally to be resolved? Before the last flood, the storm that caused it was described as the worst in 50 years. Well it happened again, and once again the ‘usual suspects’ began their blame game. Kent County Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Southern Water et al all looked at each other for direction. No doubt many meetings were held, great statements made, reports written and then filed away in the nearest dustbin. So it’s surprising that we actually have some work being undertaken. How will all this impact on the Chalybeate Spring? We have been told that builders’ rubble

caused it to stop in 2014, although it came to life seven months later. The drains are only cleaned every six months – something which, for that area, should be considered at least once a month. It just makes one wonder exactly what the ‘spa waters’ now consist of? Will the redirecting of the drains into the River Grom also take away the spring waters? Time will show. With parking restrictions, closure of shops and difficult access, tourism has fallen away and sadly the historic town looks sad and empty. Time the council woke up and tasted the water? John Pearce Tunbridge Wells

There’s really no need to go loco…

On balance we’re doing right thing

I was really saddened to read John Humphrey’s discouraging and uncalled-for remarks about the Spa Valley Railway and its heritage diesel locos as well as steam [August 15]. I support the railway in a modest way with a joint annual subscription with my wife to the Preservation Society, and also enjoy the trains running behind our garden. I wonder if Mr Humphrey took the trouble to look at the timetable in advance of visiting? The norm is for steam and diesel services to alternate, except on clearly marked special days. Admittedly, the public would not be expected to know that Southern Region Heritage Train or 3CIG & 73140 represent diesel, rather than steam-powered trains, and may not fully explore the superbly produced brochure to discover that. Spa Valley’s steam locomotive of choice at the moment is actually 120 years old, and it is a great tribute to its owners and the volunteers that it is still in operational use. But of course, old locos sometimes develop faults and the railway has to make substitutions. If you desire to only ride behind a steam train, one can always phone ahead to check. Mr Humphrey must have very superior knowledge compared to we ‘Spa Valley people’, with our incorrect and silly answers! How mean-spirited can one get? Tony Burgess Tunbridge Wells

Mark Hood is just plain wrong when he states that Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council is ‘incapable of balancing its budgets’ [August 22]. All budgets are balanced each and every year, for to do otherwise would be illegal. Perhaps he has confused this legal requirement with the necessity of any good council to adapt, so that we continue to become more efficient and effective in the way we deliver services. The focus on value for money has resulted in the council delivering savings in excess of £1.8million over the last three years. We also seek to focus our services towards those in greatest need. So yes, we are now using social media to promote events rather than taxpayer-funded paid advertising and endless leaflet printing; whilst making use of developer contributions to purchase six emergency accommodation flats in Tonbridge. This provides a way of using resources that the council had properly accrued from development in the borough to provide suitable, fit-for-purpose homes for those requiring urgent help; and at a cost to developers rather than taxpayers. I make no apology for prioritising services in this manner. Perhaps a more reliable opinion than Mr Hood’s is that of the external auditor, Grant Thornton. In their most recent report for the year to March 2018, they concluded that the borough council ‘delivered value for money in its use of

Richard Forth asks how much the sale of the existing Town Hall complex will yield [August 22], and speculates a sum that will be in excess of the cost of the new one. Mr Forth needs to scale down considerably his expectations: You can get the former for a snip – the council is flogging it off for about £9million – whereas the latter will cost £90million. But that was the last informed guess; think in terms of, say, £150million, but don’t hold your breath. Ben Hardy Tunbridge Wells

Cautionary tale from Northampton Shouldn’t Tunbridge Wells Borough Council mark and learn from the situation Northampton Council finds itself in? After a £52million project to build itself new offices, it finds now that it has a deficit of some £70million, and has to cut most essential services that so many rely on totally. Is that what we have to look forward to after the grand theatre and council offices are built in Calverley Grounds? Judi Best Tunbridge Wells

Think of a number, then double it… What does the proposed charge for garden waste collection and the cost of the new civic centre have in common? It seems that those who purport to represent us start with a number – any one will do – and then incrementally raise it to the figure they want, or something that approximates to what can be prised out of the unyielding pockets of the electorate. All we need now is for Cllr Tracy Moore to step forward and put her spin on it. Ralph Steerpike Tunbridge Wells

Thanks for bringing history to life May I thank all those who attended our Tonbridge 100 living history event at Tonbridge Castle last weekend? Each day brought education, commemoration and entertainment to so many people, and I very much hope that everybody, young and old alike, took home a new understanding and appreciation of what life was like a century ago. I would also like to thank all the local businesses and organisations that helped us with the planning and implementation of the Great War event. I feel fortunate that we live in an area that has so many supportive groups, willing to make our town better and better. Thanks also to my colleagues in our working party, especially lead organiser Pam Mills, whose gusto and determination made this event the success it was. Carl Lewis Poppy Appeal Organiser, Tonbridge

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INQUISITIVE animals, those foxes, with a natural curiosity. A note dropped through the letterbox of Calverley Mansions last week was from a neighbour, and read: “Sadly, I have had some very sentimental soft toys stolen by foxes from our garden. We have managed to recover one from the road. If you could kindly keep your eyes peeled & return, I’d be ever so grateful. In particular, a small brown bear.” Obviously Calverley fired up one of the quads and immediately scoured the estate, but to no avail. Question is: Would you want them back in your home even if you found them? SMOKING in public spaces these days is very much a thing of the past. Thank goodness. Himself, however, had occasion recently to recall one flight on an American airline, before the smoking ban, where a member of the crew went on the tannoy and said: “Please put your tables away and your seats in the upright position. Please also distinguish your cigarettes.” She should, of course, have said ‘extinguish’. No Woodbines then. (For younger readers, they’re an old brand.) RENOVATING old cars seems to be very much in vogue, with some people devoting considerable amounts of time to the hobby. Take the case of Michael (not his real name), who has been restoring an old Citroën 2CV for the last two years. At least one night during the week, and sometimes at weekends, he disappears into his workshop next to the house for hours at a time. His wife, it appears, is very understanding. She might not be quite so relaxed, though, if she knew he actually finished the project six months ago, but uses it as an excuse for some ‘me time’. Surely nothing good will come from such subterfuge?

WHAT a lovely boss. Calverley has to raise his hat to the chap who can’t stand to fire senior people who’ve been with him a little while. Instead, he pays a headhunter to find them another job and then ‘lure them away’. Apparently, staff actually feel guilty when they hand him their notice. Not sure it’s the best way to run a business, but sometimes there’s more to life than the bottom line… Chin Chin, readers

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THE SKINNERS’ SCHOOL

ST GREGORY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL ST GREGORY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Tears of joy and disappointment for hundreds THE wait was over for hundreds of students in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge last week as GCSE results were released. The 15 and 16 year olds collected their grades which, for the first time, were mostly comprised of a new grading system of 9 to 1, rather than A* to G. Here are more of the best pictures from an emotional day for many. For other GCSE pictures and reaction, turn to pages 6, 8-9.

BENNETT MEMORIAL DIOCESAN SCHOOL

TUNBRIDGE WELLS GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL

BENNETT MEMORIAL DIOCESAN SCHOOL

THE SKINNERS’ SCHOOL

WEALD OF KENT GRAMMAR SCHOOL

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Weekly Comment

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Cllr Pam Bates

Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling and Conservative councillor

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Cllr Pam Bates is a Conservative councillor for Trench ward in Tonbridge. She is also Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling for 2018/19. Now retired, she spends much of her time supporting friends, family and the local community. She has chosen to support the charity Tree of Hope during her year as Mayor

It has been a magical summer as Mayor LAST year, when I was invited to be Deputy Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling, I felt honoured my councillor colleagues felt that I could do the position justice. After 12 months as Deputy, I felt ready to take on the role of Mayor. I began my mayoral duties in May with a presentation of the Divisional Commander’s Certificate of Merit Awards for West Kent Police. Since then I’ve been privileged to attend many other exciting events, including several college and school presentations, especially for Year 6 students as they move on to secondary schools. Witnessing first-hand the breathtaking talent in our schools has been one of the highlights of my year so far – I’ve attended fashion shows, art exhibitions and some great school stage productions, all showcasing the skills and hard work of students and staff alike. I’ve also opened several offices for new businesses. It is always a pleasure to support development and investment in the borough and discover more about the enterprising people working in Tonbridge & Malling. Both Tonbridge and Snodland Carnivals were a delight to attend this summer, and the floats that entered each competition were very hard to judge.

My thanks go to Tonbridge Lions and Snodland Town Council for organising these events, and to all the participants. Other highlights have included the Aylesford Friars Summer Fayre, a visit to the charity Spadework in Offham, and presenting trophies to the winners of this year’s Kwik Cricket Festival at Kings Hill Sports Park.

Volunteers I continue to be impressed by the extraordinary work carried out by the many volunteers who help and support people across the borough. Without these dedicated volunteers, many people would have no contact outside their own homes. My own experience of working with volunteers at the Trench Partnership has made me realise just how much effort volunteers make to improve the lives of others. The Trench Partnership holds coffee mornings, afternoon teas and runs a drop-in centre called The Listening Ear (based at the Six in One Club in Tonbridge), which encourages residents to come and mix with others so they don’t feel so alone. A community allotment gives people the opportunity to grow their own vegetables, and anything grown in the community section

Ben Chapelard Liberal Democrat councillor for St James’

I am hoping to raise muchneeded funds to help them to carry on their good works within the community. You can find out more about this wonderful charity, which is based in Tonbridge, online at treeofhope.org.uk Recently, I was tested for diabetes at a free diabetes screening public event run annually by Tonbridge Lions. Regular health checks can help identify whether you might be at risk of developing diabetes. Find out more at nhs.uk/conditions/nhshealth-check/ Of course, I must mention the Royal Garden Party held at Buckingham Palace and the WWI Centenary Celebrations at Capel-Le-Ferne, both of which were super afternoons with the weather being kind to us. It’s been a busy, magical year so far, and I’m really looking forward to visiting as many schools, businesses, clubs and charities as possible in the coming months.

SCREEN TIME: Mayor Pam Bates takes part in a diabetes test

is donated back to local residents. Find The Listening Ear on Facebook for more details. This year, I’m supporting the amazing charity Tree of Hope, which helps children and young people with a disability or illness by supporting their families to raise the funds they need to pay for specialist care and equipment that is not freely available through the UK health system.

Liberal Democrat councillor Ben Chapelard has represented St James’ ward since 2010. He is the Leader of the Opposition on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Last month he was the ﬁrst to announce he will be standing at the next general election in 2022.

Brown bin tax to fund council’s spending spree IN 2016, the Liberal Democrats started a local campaign to get glass added to your normal recycling bin service. Our borough is one of the few places in the country where there is no kerbside glass collection. First the good news: Glass will be collected from your doorstep from next year onwards as part of the council’s new waste contract. This is a popular measure, and more than 90 per cent of the residents we spoke to signed our Lib Dem petition. We would like to thank the thousands of people who backed our campaign to make this long-awaited improvement happen. The bad news, however, is that the Conservative-run borough council has decided to start charging for brown bin collection. The Lib Dems opposed this measure, but, unfortunately, from 2019 if you want your garden waste collected you will have to pay a whopping £52 per year per bin! The service you currently have and pay for will be withdrawn and you will have to opt-in to have your bin collected. The £52 charge equates to a 30 per cent increase in your borough council tax. To get round the government’s 3 per cent council tax cap, the council is charging fees. It is plainly and simply a stealth tax. Contrary to statements made by both the media and the council, our current garden waste bin collection is not a free service. Residents pay for this via their general council tax. In fact, we

are about to pay twice for the same service! The garden waste charge is being brought in to fund the council’s Calverley Square– not to protect existing council services. This announcement is all about part-funding a £93million spending spree for a new town hall, council offices, underground car park and theatre.

ENVIRONMENTAL MAN ABOUT TOWN Cllr Ben Chapelard in Tunbridge Wells

Fly-tipping Indeed the council’s own papers – despite a council spokesman’s denials – show that this move is linked to the civic development. It is expected to raise £700,000 annually towards the yearly £2.3million repayment of the loan for the mammoth project in Calverley Grounds. Our environment is the big loser in all this. Charging residents for their garden waste is hardly encouraging people to do the right thing by the environment. In reality, it penalises residents who want to recycle. This stealth tax will lead to more flytipping, more bonfires and more journeys to the tip as people try to avoid paying the charge. These consequences are detrimental to protecting and improving our local environment. Can you imagine more bonfires adding to the already illegal air pollution levels in Tunbridge Wells? How about more needless car journeys across town? When the Conservatives flaunt their green

credentials, this brown bin tax shows that they are only in it for the money and not genuinely interested in making a positive impact on the local environment.

Rest assured, the Liberal Democrat councillors and I will continue to make the case for a greener, healthier and more sustainable Tunbridge Wells.

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

yourh me INSPIRATION FOR MOVING

AND IMPROVING

How to convert your basement

AVAILABLE EVER Y WEDNESDAY – A MUST-READ

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PROPERTY, IN TERIORS, HOME IMPROV EMENTS & GARDENING

for valuable space Page 43

UPDATED TO OFFER CHALET CHIC

STYLISH VICTORIAN APARTMENT

CLASSY COTTAGE IN RURAL IDYLL

Light up your life When eating al fresco Page 39

THE WICKED WASP – FRIEND OR FOE?

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To Suit Your Budget

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Your at-a-glance guide to

LAKE COURT MEDWAY DRIVE TUNBRIDGE WELLS GUIDE PRICE

£235,000

UNDER £400,000

n Reception room with open fire

UNDER £500,000

n Modern kitchen/breakfast room

STONE ROW FORDCOMBE

n Kitchen with door to garden and understairs recess offering space for small table and chairs

BROADWATER DOWN TUNBRIDGE WELLS

n 2/3 bedrooms (one also with vaulted ceiling)

GUIDE PRICE

n Double bedroom

£399,950

n Private garden

£375,000 n Charming Grade II-listed stone cottage with character features, including leaded light windows n Located in village centre, overlooking village green

n Bathroom n Gardens and patio n Summerhouse CONTACT Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 bracketts.co.uk

n Family bathroom

n Beautifully presented Victorian apartment

n Allocated parking space

n Living room with cast iron fireplace

n No chain

n Dining room with vaulted ceiling n Study area

n External storeroom CONTACT Hunni Homes Tunbridge Wells 01892 888 333 hunnihomes.co.uk

To Suit Your Budget

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

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great properties by price range… UNDER £600,000 SHIRLEY GARDENS, RUSTHALL

£550,000 ■ Well presented family home ■ Lounge with feature fireplace and rear sliding doors ■ Dining room with doors to conservatory ■ Kitchen with door to garden ■ Conservatory ■ Downstairs shower room and WC ■ 4 bedrooms ■ Upstairs family bathroom ■ Driveway, garage & garden with patio CONTACT KMJ Property Rusthall 01892 515188 kmjproperty.co.uk

UNDER £650,000 HESKETT PARK, PEMBURY

GUIDE PRICE

£575,000-£600,000 ■ Well presented property with character features ■ Sitting room with feature fireplace and patio doors ■ Dining room ■ Kitchen with door to garden ■ Master bedroom with vaulted ceiling and en suite ■ 3 further bedrooms ■ Family bathroom ■ Separate cloakroom ■ Driveway, garage & garden with patio CONTACT Wood & Pilcher Tunbridge Wells 01892 511211 woodandpilcher.co.uk

UNDER £700,000 UNDER £250,000 LAKE COURT MEDWAY DRIVE TUNBRIDGE WELLS

GUIDE PRICE

£235,000 ■ Spacious ground floor apartment ■ Located beside Grosvenor & Hilbert Park ■ Entrance hall ■ Through reception room/kitchen with full-height window and door to terrace

■ Main bedroom with en-suite shower room ■ Further double bedroom ■ Bathroom ■ Terrace with pleasant outlook

EVERGREEN, GREAT COURTLANDS LANGTON GREEN

£675,000 ■ Refurbished chalet-style home ■ Living room with open fireplace

■ Parking behind electric gates

■ Open-plan dining area with patio doors to garden

■ No onward chain

■ New kitchen with doors to garden ■ Downstairs shower room

CONTACT Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 bracketts.co.uk

■ Bedroom with part-vaulted ceiling ■ 2 further bedrooms ■ Family bathroomr ■ Garden, outside studio, drive & garage CONTACT Wood & Pilcher Tunbridge Wells 01892 511211 woodandpilcher.co.uk

yourh me

Argyle House

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

AT A GLANCE

ARGYLE HOUSE ARGYLE ROAD, SOUTHBOROUGH n Spacious 2-bedroom apartment with period detail, including arched windows, in detached Victorian house n Private front door n Elegant living room with excellent views n Dining room n Stylish kitchen/breakfast room with Rangemaster double oven and 5-ring gas hob and large larder n Master bedroom with en suite shower and views over the Weald n 2 double bedrooms, 1 en suite n Shower room n Garage and off-road parking for 2 cars n Pretty rear garden with shed and pebbled seating area n Share of freehold

Immaculate apartment graced with elegance and superb rural outlooks

GUIDE PRICE ÂŁ550,000 Available for sale through Flying Fish Properties Southborough, 01892 514 189 flyingfishproperties.co.uk

thekn w.guide

Bramble Cottage

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

AT A GLANCE BRAMBLE COTTAGE CHURCH STREET, SEAL NR SEVENOAKS n Charming terraced house n Stunning open-plan living/dining room with steps to kitchen/breakfast room, gas-fired Aga and doors to garden n Second reception room/bedroom 4 n Cloakroom n Two staircases n Principal bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom, which has a separate shower n 2 further bedrooms, both en suite n Private garden with terrace and pergola n Duck pond n Parking area for 3 vehicles n 15 acres of communal gardens, including 2 fields and further ponds

ÂŁ1,299,500 Available for sale through Hamptons International Sevenoaks 01732 280801 hamptons.co.uk

Character country home with stylish modern trimmings and a duck pond

Interiors

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

thekn w.guide

5 top tips for throwing the perfect garden party As we celebrate the last weeks of summer, wellbeing guru Liz Earle reveals her favourite party finishing touches to Sam Wylie-Harris

A SPLASH OF COLOUR Liz Earle’s garden party

HIS week we’re going more exterior than interior. Liz Earle adores a summer social, and has plenty of ideas for making it special. “I love garden parties, and have had more than usual this year to make the most of all the balmy summer evenings we’ve had over the last few months,” she says. “Simple ideas can really transform a plain tabletop, such as creating beach lanterns using tea lights in jam jars filled with sand and shells.” Spending time outside also makes us so much more aware of the ‘seasonality of life’, she adds. Here are her favourite tips for the perfect garden get-together – some of them simple yet hugely effective… 1: HAVE A THEME “A theme is always fun when throwing an outdoor party, as it creates a focus and helps you add clever details through simple twists – such as creating fan garlands by cutting and folding brightly coloured paper or old maps, and hollowing out pineapples and filling them with vibrant flowers,” says Earle. The contents of the fruit can be put to good use, too: “I like to use the pineapple pulp to make up a delicious fruity punch for guests.” Colourful products from John Lewis include Poolside Vibes Melamine Plates, £9 for set of four, mats and cooler bag. Plus a Sunny Life Tropical Cocktail Kit, £12 and Talking Tables Plastic Food Baskets, £6 for a pack of 6 six (johnlewis.com) 2: SERVE MOOD-BOOSTING FOOD “What we put into our bodies affects

us both physically and mentally, so consider serving feasts for the senses that not only look amazing but taste incredible too,” suggests Earle, a passionate advocate of healthy, balanced living. “Some of my favourite summer party dishes can be found in the latest edition of my Liz Earle Wellbeing Yearbook (£25, lizearlewellbeing.com), and include buckwheat seafood paella, grilled sardines with capers and anchovies, and frozen pineapple rings and watermelon slices – all served in beautiful bright dishes to bring colour to the party table.” Beetroot Tableware, from £15 per item, Amara Alternatively, if you don’t eat meat or aren’t too keen on shellfish, Beetroot Tableware from Emily Bond plated with fresh veggies will look just as well dressed for dinner.

3: PERSONALISE PLACE SETTINGS “Adding a personalised touch to your party, through personalised place settings, is a great way of making sure everyone feels included and welcome, and an easy way to place your guests around the table as you wish,” says Earle. “I like to paint my guests’ initials on water glasses, using a water-based paint so I can reuse the glasses time and time again.” Otherwise, sweet treats with personal messages to celebrate special occasions will bring charm and fun to the table. You can try Personalised Sweet Trees – Haribo, from £23.99 (gettingPersonal. co.uk)

4: INTRODUCE CREATIVE LIGHTING “If you’re hosting an evening party, then create some simple soft lighting with tea lights and candles once the sun goes down – a great way of setting the evening party mood,” notes Earle. You can buy Garden Trading Festoon String Lights with ten Bulbs for £50 from Amara (amara.com) 5: KEEP EVERYONE HYDRATED “There are a host of wellbeing benefits to staying hydrated at summer events, and I keep guests cool by making a thirst-quenching selection of chilled hydrating treats, such as fragrant Earl Grey iced tea and cucumber, ginger and mint-flavoured water – alongside

my renowned, gut-friendly kombucha cocktails! “Frozen fruity treats are also great for children – my own family loves feasting on frozen strawberries and blueberries served from a botanical ice bowl to keep them cold,” she adds. For more sophisticated soirées and grown-up Prosecco parties, Italian designers Alessi have introduced a new range of stemware to celebrate ‘Aperol Hour with Alessi’ – and help you to serve the perfect Aperol Spritz. Cheers! For more ideas, visit lizearlewellbeing.com

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

NEW HOMES SPECIAL

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Gardening

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Wasps: A total nuisance or horticultural heroes?

They may be the biggest nuisance at summer barbecues, but wasps are also of great benefit to the garden. How so? A top entomologist reveals all… SWATTING WON’T HELP “Wasps can release alarm pheromones when they think they are being attacked, so flapping about or swatting will cause this. “It will induce defensive behaviour and makes them likely to sting.”

FLOWER POWER Wasps protect against pests

THERE ARE GOOD WASPS AND BAD WASPS There are seven species of social wasps common to the UK. Some make their nests underground or in dark cavities, such as roof spaces. Others make their nests in open-air locations, such as the branches of a tree or shrub. You may be alarmed by the size of the hornet (Vespa crabro), Britain’s largest social wasp, yet it is much less aggressive than other species of wasp. It is a useful garden predator and will predate on other species of wasp. It nests in rot holes in trees and other dark cavities. The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), however, is an invasive, non-native species which arrived in France in 2004, where it spread rapidly. According to the Great British Non-Native

HE warm summer has led to a rise in wasp numbers, according to pest controllers, while the heat has caused fruit – the wasp’s favourite sugary meal – to ripen much faster than usual. We are all painfully aware of how much of a nuisance these yellow and black critters are – when we’re trying to have a civilised summer barbecue, we attempt to swat them away and send drinks and food flying in the process. But don’t criticise the wasp too much, says RHS principal entomologist Dr Andrew Salisbury, because: WASPS ARE GOOD FOR THE GARDEN “The social wasps are hugely important beneficial predators – the grubs in the nest need to be fed a protein diet, and that is other insects. Caterpillars are a favourite. “I have watched them remove every single cabbage white caterpillar from a patch of nasturtiums, and we have had reports of them feeding on box tree moth caterpillars. “They come in, sting the caterpillar, remove

the head, and fly off with the body to feed the grubs.” THEY ARE ECO-FRIENDLY Not only do wasps play a vital ecological role in that they control the numbers of potential pests, such as greenfly and many caterpillars, they are also valuable pollinators. TRAPS CAN MAKE THINGS WORSE There are so many traps on the market which capture wasps, but they can make things worse, says Salisbury. The signals the insects give off when trapped can attract even more waps to the same site. “Like most insects, wasps rely heavily on volatile chemicals (odour). “They are individually able to detect (smell) food without necessarily needing to communicate with each other to indicate where it is. “Visual cues are also likely to be used, as is contact chemotaxis (tasting). Wasps will also release volatile chemicals (pheromones) which can signal to others.”

Species Secretariat (nonnativespecies.org), which is affiliated with Defra, it’s a highly effective predator of insects, including honey bees and other beneficial species, and can cause significant losses to bee colonies. It has only one yellow stripe on its abdomen, whereas the native hornet has several yellow stripes. Although sightings are rare, and have so far been confined to Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Lancashire, anyone who believes they have found a nest should not go near it, but report it to the Non-Native Species Secretariat at: alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk NON-CHEMICAL CONTROL If wasps are damaging your fruit, reduce the risk by enclosing some of the fruit trusses in bags made from muslin or nylon tights. Fix wasp-proof screens over greenhouse doors to protect grapes, and if you’re going down the trap route, half fill a jam jar with water and jam, put a sheet of paper over the top of the jar, secured with an elastic band, and punch a hole in it with a pencil to allow the wasps to enter – but not escape. The RHS notes: “A wide variety of wasp traps are also available from garden centres and hardware stores, although it is not clear if these traps reduce wasp numbers locally or attract more wasps from further afield.” WASP WATCH Help scientists find out more about wasp species, diversity and distribution by taking part in the Big Wasp Survey up until September 8. For details go to bigwaspsurvey.org And if the worst comes to the worst, eat your barbecued food indoors!

HAVING A VINE TIME A wasp feasting on a grape

Architectural Advice

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

John Bullock

Architectural services

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

Are you sitting on top of a goldmine?

ASEMENT conversions are taking the UK by storm as the solution to the common problem of a shortage of family living space. Many people around the country are utilising this often-underused area to create that muchneeded space while potentially adding 15 to 20 per cent to the value of their property. Victorian houses, ever popular in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding towns and villages, present the ideal property for this type of project. This housing stock was very well built, and many homes still boast the original fine plasterwork, joinery and fireplaces so sought after by today’s property owners. Plus, the traditional layout of these terraced properties works very well for families. The criterion always at the top of a client’s wish list is an eat-in kitchen/diner, as modern family living is focused around the kitchen. More and more we’re seeing that a formal dining room is rarely used in modern homes, with this space often given over to an office or playroom. As house prices continue to rise, it often makes more sense to renovate the basement rather than move. With property space at a premium, and the expense involved with moving, the owners of many terraced properties across the country are embarking on basement work. A basement kitchen/diner is a fantastic and popular choice of conversion, creating a feeling of light and space by removing as many permissable walls as possible. Then decorate with stark white walls and light wood or large tiled flooring and a kitchen island. Leaving the chimney in place acts as a defining point to the room, where a snug/tv area could be created to one side of the kitchen/dining area. Liberating the space here would create a free-flowing family ‘hub’ to the house, with a mid-century style sofa and leather armchair for chilling out and reading the Sunday papers.

SUBTERRANEAN TERRACE An attractive way to lead out from the basement and up into the main garden

Modern fireplaces are the perfect centrepiece in contemporary homes, and among all types of fireplaces double-sided designs are one of the most popular. Apart from being an eye-catching design feature, double-sided fireplaces are also a great way to break up space while sustaining visual and light flow between two areas. Connecting to the garden is also in important aspect. Extend the small light well to create an outside ‘sunken’ terrace area leading from the new family space. This creates the feel of a Mediterranean garden, with two sets of French

doors linking the inside and outside. With floor-to-ceiling doors, the room appears to flow endlessly into the subterranean garden. It also pours light into this newly converted basement, which would otherwise be difficult to luminate. The planning process for this type of work is fairly straightforward. A householder planning application will be required for the external alterations and engineering works for both the interior and associated exterior works for the sunken garden. SHINING EXAMPLE Opening up a terrace has the added benefit of adding light to a basement

PROS AND CONS OF BASEMENT CONVERSION Pros:

■ The obvious benefit to converting your basement is you are creating more living space, an extra room that can be used for anything you choose, or even a playroom for your children, or a room where teenage children can move into and play their version of music. ■ Having a basement converted into living space will be a great benefit when you decide to sell. Prospective buyers will find this extra space an attractive feature, making your property more profitable and saleable. As stated at the beginning, a converted basement can add up to 15 to 20 per cent to the value of your property. Cons:

■ Although you may be converting an existing basement or cellar, some of the work will be done outside, especially if you create a subterranean garden. This may cause some disruption for your neighbours. ■ You could also face objections from a neighbour if you share a party wall. This can easily be avoided if you take professional advice from a party wall expert. ■ As basements and cellars are usually below ground level, there could be a problem with the lighting. ■ But the main consideration with basement conversions is making sure the job is done well. The task of converting the basement can be expensive, and you’ll want to know that the added value to the property, should you sell it, will be worth it. John Bullock Design is a multi-award winning, Tunbridge Wells based, architectural design consultants, and proud winner of the Times of Tunbridge Wells 2018 ‘Best Business 1-25 Employees’ Award. For further advice, please contact them on 01892 525732.

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

thekn w.guide IN PRINT AND ONLINE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

ARTS & CULTURE | LIFE & STYLE |

FOOD & DRINK | MOTORING

Beatles cars go up for auction Including an iconic Mini Page 58

46 THE BARD AND THE BIKES

Cruise through the Med

On the ideal autumn break Page 56

50 TOM KITCHIN’S FABULOUS FISH

Strike the right note

54 HERE COMES THE BRIDESMAID…

Festival looks back at music after Armistice Page 48

ANGELS ARE FLYING HIGH

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Going Out

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

going ut Seven days of activities at a glance

By Holly Stafford

PLENTIFUL PANTILES The market is on again this weekend, and you can spot remarkable characters, too

WEDNESDAY Take a trip to the Library Gardens at Tonbridge School for a ‘bicycle-powered production’ of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night performed by the environmentally-sustainable HandleBards group – the world’s first cycling theatre company, who pedal everything from venue to venue. The group will tell the tale of how Lady Olivia falls in love with the disguised Viola, as she believes she is a boy. And Viola falls for her employer, Duke Orsino, who is in love with Olivia. All is shaken up further when Viola’s twin Sebastian turns up. For

more details and tickets, visit emftheatre.com Today is the last chance to live life on the wild side this summer with Camp Wilderness’s three-day camps at Penshurst Place. Take part in campfire cooking, shelter building and forest fun – all before enjoying a homemade stoned-baked pizza and falling asleep under the stars in a traditional canopy bell tent. For more information, and to book, visit campwilderness.co.uk

THURSDAY

For a value outing, the Spa Valley Railway’s Kids

for a Quid deal is a great way for children to experience heritage trains and see the countryside. You can also book online, at spavalleyrailway.co.uk

LOVE WHEELS TURN FULL CYCLE Bicycle theatre group The HandleBards stage Twelfth Night in Tonbridge

FRIDAY If you are into all things handcrafted, then Hever Castle’s Handmade & Homegrown Festival is perfect. Running from today until Sunday, it has more than 50 stalls exhibiting goods from clothing to glassware, plus pottery demonstrations, the annual Patchwork and Quilting Exhibition (with workshops), and local food and drink. An event not to be missed. For more information, visit hevercastle.co.uk An outdoor event for a late summer’s evening takes place at Knole Park in Sevenoaks, where all are invited to a Bat Walk from 7.30pm. An ecologist will lead a group around the grounds in search of the mammals. Bat detectors are provided, but visitors are asked to bring a torch. The walk costs £10 per person. For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk

SATURDAY In Tonbridge, St Peter & St Paul’s Church is hosting Caring Concerns, a free seminar for Christians to learn skills in listening, spiritual care and coping with stress. It runs from 10am to 4.30pm. To find out more, contact Wendy Carr on 01732 355200 or email: wendy@tonbridgeparishchurch.org.uk Bookworms have the chance to visit the Tunbridge Wells Book Fair at King Charles the Martyr Church Hall in Warwick Park from 9am to 3pm. For more information, visit tunbridgewellsbookfair.wordpress.com

Fans of indie band the Arctic Monkeys should be sure to check out tribute band Antarctic Monkeys [see what they did there?], who play at the Tunbridge Wells Forum from 7.30pm, with support from Five Kites.

SUNDAY

This weekend, have a browse of The Pantiles’ Market. With hot and cold food available as well as a large selection of seasonal produce, it is a great opportunity to see what is on offer locally as well as having a stroll around one of Tunbridge Wells’ historical hotspots. While you are on The Pantiles , you can also catch the inspirational exhibition of Remarkable Characters of Tunbridge Wells, which continues untilSeptember 9 at Woods Restaurant. Photographer Mark Wilkinson and writer Anne Wagstaff have crafted this exhibition to acknowledge the remarkable stories and photographs of people currently living in and around the town. The exhibition and book sale proceeds will raise funds for local children’s

Going Out

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

GO BATTY! With a Bat Walk through Knole Park charity Fegans. For more information, visit remarkablecharacterstw.com

MONDAY At the Sussex Arms pub, behind The Pantiles, hear new music from Farr, a duo who have been developing their electronic sound. Tickets are £6 and the band play at 7.30pm. Visit twforum.co.uk

TUESDAY

From today, More Rare Skills returns to exhibit the work of exceptional Kent and Sussex artists until Septembe 16. There’ll be landscapes, seascapes, wildlife and local landmarks as well as a pictorial celebration of 100 years of the RAF. The exhibition is free and the Gallery opens at 10am each day. See trinitytheatre.net

PICK OF THE WEEK: Carmen Wednesday, August 29, 7.30pm The Assembly Hall Theatre

The Russian State Opera return to Tunbridge Wells to perform a new production of the classic Carmen, which tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier who is seduced by a seductive, free-spirited femme fatale. The tale of passion and betrayal is on for one night only. Tickets start from £33, with concessions available. For more information and to book, visit assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

thekn w.guide

arts

Arts & Culture

After the horror,

September 22, one of the showcase events will see Chamber Domaine and the renowned Tippett Quartet play works by Elgar, Bridge, Delius, Walton, Britten and Vaughan Williams. Actor Charles Dance will also give readings from Siegfried Sassoon and his rediscovered correspondence with leading figures of the early 20th century. The following day will see the Tenebrae Choir, conducted by Nigel Short, sing works by Elgar, Parry, Stanford, Parry, Vaughan Williams and Taverner in the Chapel at Tonbridge School. The advent of war and its aftermath resonated through the music of the era, though it affected composers in different ways. “Some of those who were fighting were much HIS year’s Music@Malling fes- soon, who will also be featured, grew up less prolific because of being in the army or away from home,” said Mr Kemp. tival will feature a special focus in the village of Matfield. A programme of British string classics, “Ralph Vaughan Williams was an ambulance on the commemoration of the Armistice which brought an end all connected to the Great War, will be driver and later joined the Royal Artillery, and Arshowcased by Chamber Domaine under thur Bliss was a major in the Royal Fusiliers and to World War I a century ago. Grenadiers. But a lot of their music is completely Music@Malling, now in its eighth sea- the baton of Mr Kemp. The chamber music ensemble will also divorced from their lives on the front line.” son, will stage 28 events over the fortAn exception was Claude Debussy, who feanight of September 16-29 in historic ven- perform three sonatas written by Claude Debussy during World War I dedicated to tures in four concerts at the festival. ues around Tonbridge & Malling. “Between 1915 and 1918, Debussy wrote three Conductor Thomas Kemp, who is the those fighting at the front. At St Mary’s Church in West Malling on sonatas which are very patriotic, looking back to festival’s founder and Artistic Director, more positive times. said ‘it promises to be our “Edward Elgar wrote three biggest festival yet’. great chamber pieces and a cello “A hundred years since the concerto in 1918. He was living in end of the First World War, a cottage in Sussex while he was the resonances are still bewriting them, and he could hear ing felt,” he added. the bombs in northern France. “Many of our programmes They are very elegiac pieces. explore the music, literaMr Kemp added: “But the most ture and characters of this profound changes came after the time, including works by war, when they had a chance to Debussy, Elgar, Vaughan reflect what they witnessed. Williams, Stanford, Parry, “Frank Ridge was a pacifist Bridge, Ysaÿe, Walton and and he taught Benjamin BritDelius.” ten, whose war requiem is a very A rich array of composers anti-war piece, written for the lived locally during that era, opening of Coventry Cathedral including Peter Warlock, [in 1962, after the original had William Walton, Constant been destroyed by bombing in Lambert and Ivor Gurney, THE ART OF WAR: Composer and conductor Arthur Bliss (left) served on World War II]. while the poet Siegfried Sas- the front line; Poet and soldier Siegfried Sassoon grew up in Matfield

a feeling of peace

Music@Malling looks back at the classical work composed around the end of World War I and its fusion with jazz and hopes for the future. By Andy Tong

HEARTSTRINGS Thomas Kemp, who now lives in Tunbridge Wells, learned violin in the kitchen of West Malling Primary School

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Arts & Culture

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

thekn w.guide

the local community. It’s an area where there are no professional concerts, and we have set up a major outreach programme to encourage children aged five all the way up to 21 in a variety of creative activities.” The two main Armistice commemorations will also give young musicians a chance to perform with the professionals. Choirs from a host of secondary schools across Kent will sing with Tenebrae, while young string players will accompany Chamber Domaine and the Tippett Quartet. “The side-by-side events will allow young people to sit next to the professionals and learn from them, and also to play in a concert rather than just rehearse. “It’s a game-changer, you’re not going to get that in a school in the same way. The one-on-one is an amazing opportunity.” Mr Kemp added: “Arts subjects are on the decline at GCSE and A level, and these days they are largely the preserve of private schools. I’m really keen to get the secondary schools involved.” Season tickets for the fortnight cost £85, though not all events are included. For details of the full programme of concerts, visit timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk For more information, visit musicatmalling.com or see Twitter and Facebook @musicatmalling

EVENTS IN THE CHAGALL CHURCH

SAFELY HOME: Troops return to West Malling High Street after the Armistice of 1918 “Warlock’s music was very pastoral. In the 1920s he went to back Elizabethan times, a great flowering of English culture in the 16th century, so that’s nationalistic but also escapist.” Music offered a means to get away from the horrors of the conflict. “A lot of composers like Ravel, Stravinski, Bliss, Walton incorporated jazz into their music,” commented Mr Kemp. “This brought to mind the flappers of the postwar era dancing the night away, so that was a form of escapism from what went on before, as well as representing a shift in culture.”

Jazz features strongly in the festival, with James Pearson, the pianist and Artistic Director at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, bringing his trio and reworking Bach and Debussy, while also offering a tribute to Stéphane Grappelli. Mr Kemp started the festival in 2011, and said turning Bach into jazz is all part of what he wants to achieve. “I’m trying to show the crossover between different musical types,” he explained. “It’s a different way of looking at classical music, which too often is regarded as still and formal where it should sound like it’s improvised.

“It’s important for building audiences that you don’t get stuck in a musical cul-de-sac. I want to take them on a musical journey, to see how one piece of music fits with other music.” Another crucial part of the ethos behind Music@Malling is encouraging young people to become involved in music. “I grew up in West Malling, and actually started learning the violin in the kitchen of the primary school, aged 11,” said Mr Kemp, who went on to study at The Judd School in Tonbridge and now lives in Tunbridge Wells. “I set the festival up to put something back into

Music@Malling will also feature a special concert at All Saints’ Church in Tudeley. The violin and vocals of Lizzie Ball and guitarist Morgan Szymanski will celebrate the life and art of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and her association with Marc Chagall, who created All Saints’ exquisite stained glass windows. Another important figure at the festival is Judith Weir, Master of the Queen’s Music and a leading contemporary composer, who is featured across five programmes and will be giving a talk about her music and how it connects with the past.

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food

Food & Drink

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

You can’t beat fresh mackerel you’ve caught yourself, says chef Tom Kitchin The Scottish foodie tells Ella Walker about the joys of fishing for his own food, especially with his four boys…

HE way to get anyone, particularly children, into fish, is to show them the whole cycle of eating it, from catching to plating, says Tom Kitchin. The chef, whose Scottish restaurant The Kitchin has one coveted Michelin star, goes fishing five or six times a year, ‘whether it’s sea fishing or trout or salmon fishing’ – but it’s mackerel fishing that he’s a real sucker for. “I love to do that with the kids [he has four boys with wife Michaela]. It’s great fun because quite often you catch something,” says the Edinburgh-born restaurateur. “The one thing about fishing is you have to have a bit of patience, and it’s not something that children have a lot of…”

‘A real celebration of seafood, a real passion of mine. Such a quick way to cook, such a healthy way to eat’

KITCHIN TALK Tom gives his top tips

But if you do snag a few muscular, iridescent mackerel, silver-bellied and eyes bright, follow the process all the way through with kids if you can, he adds, because ‘more often than not, that’s how you’ll get them to eat it’. “If they’ve caught it, they’ve gone through the gutting and the barbecuing, and then they taste it – that’s a very satisfying day.” This enthusiasm for fish – an enthusiasm Kitchin hopes to share – is the backbone of his latest cookbook, Tom Kitchin’s Fish & Shellfish. He calls the recipe collection ‘a real celebration’ of seafood and ‘a real passion of mine’, that shows how seafood offers ‘such a quick way to cook, such a healthy way to eat’. The book is also underlined by a desire to help people quash their fish fears and get away from the belief that ‘Oh, I just like salmon, I just like haddock’, explains Kitchin, with a knowing touch of exasperation. Being based in Scotland, though, the 41 year

old is well aware that he has incredible access to the joys of edible sea creatures not shared by all. But he’s adamant it is possible to get your hands on decent seafood, no matter how landlocked you might be (although, obviously, anything scaly is better fresh out of the ocean). “First and foremost, you’ve got to build your relationship with a fishmonger,” advises Kitchin. “Fishmongers in general are great banter, proper old school, love a regular customer, and will go out of their way. “So if you find a recipe and say to yourself, ‘I’d really like to try that, it’s got scallops or prawns or mackerel’, then go and speak to your fishmonger, because they will be able to source these ingredients for you. “If it’s for the weekend, then try and get there Wednesday or Thursday to pre-order it.” FISH TO DISH Halibut with peppers

Food & Drink

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

IF YOU’RE IN A PICKLE… Try mackerel pâté with pickled cucumbers for tasty nibbles It’ll certainly be more of a learning experience than taking cod fillets out of vacuum-packed plastic sheaths from the supermarket. “I think some people have really bad childhood memories, they think about fish with bones in it. It’s a bit like offal,” muses Kitchin. “People think about liver and onion at school – ‘I’m never having that again’ – but like most things, if it’s done properly it’s really, really good.” Cost, particularly if you don’t entirely rate you fish cookery skills, can also be a concern. After all, the trendiest fish of the

moment, turbot (‘The king of fish’), is stunningly pricey, especially if wild caught. But for Kitchin, the wonderful thing about fish is that there’s so much variety – in flavour, size and cost. “As long as it’s fresh, it’s good. So if you’re really pushing the boat out, you’re talking lobster, turbot, langoustines, scallops, but underneath that you’ve got some wonderful fish; hake, cod, haddock, mussels, plaice which are great value for money. “It can certainly be done on a budget – and just think of how good it is for you.” Still hesitant? You definitely don’t have to start with oysters. Even Kitchin, who, at 29, became the youngest chef at the time to win a Michelin star, didn’t knock back his first oyster until he was 16 or 17 (‘which for a chef is quite old’). “I don’t think it was love at the first taste, but I tell you what, I love them now,” he buzzes. “If you’re gonna try them for the first time, maybe don’t go for a big massive one, and go somewhere they really know what they’re doing. Just try and embrace them. They’ll grow on you. “I have mine with shallots in red wine vinegar, a little bit of lemon juice, and off we go.” As a child, Kitchin reckons he was ‘pretty adventurous’, but wasn’t elegantly scoffing snails or anything like that. “My kids are eating much better now than I was at their age,” he says. And if his boys were faced with a snail? “They’ll try it, I don’t know if they’ll fully enjoy it, but they’ll try it,” he laughs. And with seafood, just trying it is a rule you really can’t argue with. Tom Kitchin’s Fish & Shellfish, photography by Marc Miller, is published by Absolute Press, priced £26. Available now

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yourh me Cornish Cock Crab Salad

Food & Drink

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Seabass Tagine, couscous, preserved lemon, pistachios

House Fruits de Mer – with Cock Crab, Crab Claws, Whole Cornish Lobster, Pair of Colchester Rocks

The Po’ Boy Bap – king prawns, chipotle mayo, shredded baby gem, house-baked burger bun

½ Cornish Lobster & Fries

Fish & Chips, mushy peas, house curry sauce, tartar sauce

Sankey’s Seafood Paella Surf & Turf – Fuller’s dry aged ribeye & garlic

On The Menu…

Seafood Linguine

SANKEY’S SEAFOOD KITCHEN & BAR 39 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8AA Tel: 01892 511422 • Web: sankeys.co.uk

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7 A

Look Good, Feel Good

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

High-street bridesmaids’ dresses you’ll actually want to wear again…

S WE head into September, many thoughts will be turning to Christmas and next year’s events, including weddings. And if you’ve been honoured with the role of bridesmaid for a newly-betrothed friend or family member, you’ll be thinking ahead to the nuptials and, more specifically, to what you will wear. Most brides-to-be don’t insist that all their maids are matching these days, so you’ll probably be given a theme or colour brief. But with wedding costs spiralling (the average couple spent £30,000 on their big day in 2018, up from £27,000 last year, according to bridebook.co.uk), the chances are you’re going to be on a strict budget. That means you need to find a dress that: a) is appropriate for the venue b) is the right colour c) meets the bride’s approval d) isn’t too expensive e) that you actually like An impossible task? That might seem to be the case – especially if you’ve got a bridezilla on your hands – but it’s really not if you know where to look.

The high street is full of gorgeous gowns that are dramatic enough for a walk down the aisle of a grand church – just look for special bridesmaid ranges and seasonal collections. Little Mistress and Chi Chi both have extensive ranges for under £100, while Oasis has launched a new bridesmaids line with all gowns priced at £150 or less. If you don’t need a floorlengther, look to brands that excel in elegant occasionwear, like Monsoon and Very. Here you can find knee-length and midi dresses that are chic and modern (after all, nobody wants to end up looking like an 80s throwback a la Bridesmaids the movie, do they?) From lace-covered pastel numbers to sparkly and silky gowns, these are the kind of dresses you’ll be dying to wear again – for a black tie do, or when you’re the guest at another wedding – but they’re not so sexy that they’ll pull focus from the blushing bride. And they certainly won’t break the bank. Here, we’ve found seven beautiful bridesmaid options for under £100…

DOROTHY PERKINS Showcase Gunmetal Grey ‘Ava’ Sequined Maxi Dress, £95 V BY VERY Blush Lace Pencil Dress, £45

LITTLE MISTRESS Nude Pleated Midi Dress, £55

ELVI Orla Lace Dress With Pleats, currently reduced to £27 from £75

Look Good, Feel Good

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

As we enter a new season, and wedding fever looms again, Katie Wright shows you where to find fabulous frocks – even on a shoestring

MONSOON Gwyneth Lace Maxi Dress, £99

QUIZ Red Crepe Embellished Bandeau Maxi Dress, £69.99

LITTLE MISTRESS Paper Dolls Melbourne One-Shoulder Lace Maxi Dress, £95 (from September)

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travel

Travel

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Cruise into a warmer autumn by lapping up Mediterranean hot-spots

PRIL to September are an obvious choice for a holiday in the Mediterranean. But with the beaches crammed, restaurants fully booked and prices sky-high, it’s also worth considering going ‘out of season’, such as in November. With gentle warmth and calmer ambience, it’s the perfect climate to sightsee without the searing heat. Also, with fewer tourists and shorter queues, you can walk straight into museums, historic monuments and other tourist attractions. The challenge is: How can you experience

the best of everything these shore-hugging Mediterranean countries offer? From Spain’s Costa del Sol to the earthy richness of Tuscany, it takes considerable planning to visit more than one country in one holiday. This is where cruising comes into its own. There are few holidays that are as versatile. Land-based hotels can’t move effortlessly from one destination to the next in the same way a ship can – and you’ll only unpack once! You also don’t need to worry about passport control between borders. All

PENTHOUSE PERFECTION To keep you ship-shape

of this is helpfully organised for you, so all you need to do is experience the iconic Mediterranean destinations in one amazing holiday. So, even if you’ve already had a holiday or two this year, or perhaps you will be a first-time cruiser, there’s still time to enjoy the best of the Mediterranean. There is always more explore than you think, and with organised shore

Yet the old world shines through in its art and architecture. Palaces, cathedrals and museums dot this small municipality in an old town full of rich history, and there is always something new to discover. FLORENCE, PISA AND PIAZZAS Livorno, which is located in the centre of Tuscany, is the gateway to the glory of Renaissance Florence and Pisa. Elegant Florence offers the Galleria dell’Accademia with its iconic masterpiece, Michelangelo’s David. And with many famous artists having called it home, The Uffizi is the most renowned art gallery in Italy. Visit out of season and you can take the time to see it all without the added crowds. Meanwhile, nearby Siena captures the spirit of medieval Italy, and Lucca offers the memorable chance to bicycle through the fragrant Tuscan countryside.

‘Land-based hotels can’t move eﬀortlessly from one destination to the next in the same way a ship can – and you’ll only unpack once!’ excursions, you can fully immerse in this much-loved region with extremely knowledgeable guides.

TOUR SEVERAL STUNNING CITIES All in one trip

VIEW FABULOUS FLORENCE Rich with works of the Italian Renaissance

TRY MORE OF MONTE CARLO Tiny, but packed with fun, Monte Carlo offers a wonderful combination of history, beauty, entertainment and leisure. The wealthiest spot in Monaco, Monte Carlo, is an enchanting place, known as the international capital of luxury and for celebrity sightings, casinos and nightlife.

ROMAN HOLIDAY Whether enjoying the street performers at the Spanish Steps, people-watching over a fine glass of wine in colourful Trastevere, or taking in the historical and architectural glory that is Rome, visitors are spoiled for choice in this truly Eternal City. St Peter’s Basilica is a full-day outing featuring the Sistine Chapel and panoramic city vistas for those willing to make the climb to the top of the dome. Other landmarks not to miss include

Travel

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

the renowned Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and Aventine Hill, which provides a grand view of the imposing remains of the Imperial Palaces and the Circus Maximus of Ben-Hur film fame. NAPLES: AN UNLIKELY MASTERPIECE Spend a day exploring the fabulous ruins of ancient Pompeii and Herculaneum, with their stunning temples, frescoes and mosaics. Explore fascinating Naples and its famed museums, visit charming Sorrento or take a boat trip to the beautiful Isle of Capri. BUSY MARSEILLE IS READY TO BE REDISCOVERED Located in south-eastern France, today’s Marseille is a far cry from the sleepy villages that once inspired Cézanne’s paintings. With more than a million people, the city remains the cosmopolitan and exuberant capital of southern Europe. Its picturesque Old Quarter, lively sidewalk cafés and shops, and RomanesqueByzantine Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica overlook the steep cliffs offer a bird’s-eye view CAPTURE THE MAGIC OF CATALONIA In its beautiful capital, Barcelona

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of the city’s colourful ‘quartiers’ stretching down towards the sea. PEARLS AND PALACES IN PALMA Mallorca is an island of contrasts. In the south, Palma offers a bustling resort-style experience with hotels, bars, restaurants, shopping and dazzling nightlife. Visit its landmark Gothic cathedral, or sample some wine tasting and Spanish tapas. To the north are rocky valleys, sleepy villages shrouded in bougainvillea, and breathtaking views. It’s out here in small villages where you can see how the Majorcan pearls are uniquely created. BOUNDLESS CULTURE IN BARCELONA One of Europe’s most visually stunning cities, Barcelona balances medieval intimacy with the grace and distinction of the wide boulevards of the Moderniste Eixample area. Home of the famed architect Antoni Gaudí, you will find Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Park Güell and Casa Milà are the most profound

DIVE IN! A trip to the ship’s pool will be refreshing after a day of sightseeing statements of Modernisme and an absolute must. View exceptional works at the Picasso Museum and the Miro Foundation, or simply window-shop cosmopolitan fashion in its Gothic Quarter. MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE IN MALAGA Situated on Spain’s Costa del Sol, Malaga is the renowned as the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, whose works can be seen in the new Museo Picasso. Connoisseurs can imbibe the sweet Malaga dessert wines that come from the nearby hilly vineyards. This is a pleasant town to explore, and also serves as a popular starting point for excursions to Granada and the famed Alhambra, located inland at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. INTIMATE AND INTOXICATING SEVILLE Cádiz, Andalusia’s world-renowned capital, has undergone major restoration in recent years.

Palm trees, gracious squares, flower-filled parks and bustling street markets make this a most delightful port. It’s also a good starting point for a day trip to nearby Seville, where you can visit the Alcázar, a beautiful medieval Islamic palace showcasing a unique fusion of Christian and Moorish architecture surrounded by lovely gardens. Plus the majestic Catedral de Sevilla and La Giralda. GOTHIC GRIT IN GLAMOUROUS LISBON One of Europe’s most fascinating destinations, the elegant ‘City of Explorers’ overlooks the River Tagus and offers a number of distinctive neighbourhoods to discover. Stroll to Bairro Alto and hear the melodious sounds of Portugal’s Fado music. Nearby excursions transport you to the lavish 18th-century palace of Queluz and Sintra’s Royal Palace.

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Motoring

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Motoring News

A look at what’s happening in and around the world of motoring

Lennon & McCartney cars head to auction

Refreshed Jeep Renegade about to arrive in the UK JEEP has confirmed UK pricing and specs for the refreshed Renegade, set to arrive in September. Starting from £19,200, the Italianbuilt compact SUV gets a revised look, more equipment and improved safety, along with a new engine line-up. A new look comes thanks to a redesigned front fascia, though Jeep’s iconic seven-slot grille is still present. Meanwhile, new LED headlights are available as optional extras on all models and as standard on highspec Limited and Trailhawk models. Seven new alloy wheel options range from 16 to 19 inches in size. Entry-level Renegades are powered by a new three-cylinder 1.0-litre

turbocharged unit, delivering 118bhp and 190Nm of torque. Another petrol option is offered in the form of a 148bhp or 178bhp four-cylinder turbocharged 1.3-litre engine. Both deliver 270Nm of torque. The two diesel engines are revised versions of those offered on the outgoing model. Full specifications have yet to be confirmed. There are three gearbox options. There’s also the option of front or all-wheel drive, and an updated Uconnect infotainment system. The new safety features see lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition now available across the range as standard.

TWO iconic cars formerly owned by Beatles members are heading for sale in America at Worldwide Auctioneers in Auburn, Indiana on Saturday [September 1]. The first counts Sir Paul McCartney among its previous owners. It’s a 1965 Morris Mini Cooper S De Ville – one of only four built for the Beatles and customised by famed coachbuilder Radford. Radford Minis are particularly coveted, with the firm notoriously fitting one with a full-length rear tailgate to enable drummer Ringo Starr to fit his drums in the back. McCartney’s is slightly more original, presented in California Sage Green with luxury leather bucket seats and wooden interior accents. It’s based on the hot Cooper S, which means it packs the 1,275cc twincarb engine with a fourspeed manual gearbox.

Radford additions also include twin driving lamps, a Webasto sunroof, Aston Martin taillights, power windows and custom wheels. It was owned by McCartney in the UK before being exported to the US in the 1970s. The new owner will receive the car along with a folder of documents including many photos of McCartney inside the car. It’s offered without a reserve. Also on offer is a Mercedes W123 Estate in 300TD form, formerly owned by the late John Lennon. It’s well documented as the last car he ever drove and is believed to be the first diesel Mercedes estate imported to the US. The 1979 model has been resprayed and features upgraded wheels with whitewall tyres. It’s less immaculate than McCartney’s Mini, but is somehow almost as cool, and will also be auctioned without a reserve.

Used car market held on to 2 million sales BRITAIN’S used car market held strong in 2018’s second quarter, with sales down by a marginal 0.4%, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders [SMMT]. A total of 2,093,429 vehicles changed hands, just 8,725 fewer than the same three months in 2017. Superminis remained the most popular segment, despite a 2.6% decline. They accounted for a third of the market (32.6%) and were followed by small and mediumsized family cars. SUVs and executive models saw the biggest growth, with demand up 10.7% and 3.9% respectively. The popularity of diesel cars grew 3.2%, with some 868,573 used buyers driving one home, while transactions involving petrol-powered vehicles fell by 3.3%. But demand for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles grew by more than a quarter, with some 26,832 changing hands; 5,417 more than a year ago. Elsewhere, trends closely followed the new car market, with black the UK’s most popular used car colour for a second consecutive quarter, and silver and blue taking second and third places. Demand for white cars grew fastest, up 9.8%, followed by orange, up 9.1%. Green and maroon lost most favour among buyers, falling 14.6% and 9.6% respectively. SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “It’s great to see the used car sector remain in robust health as motorists take advantage of the exciting high-tech models filtering down from the new sector – including some of the latest low-emission diesel and alternatively-fuelled vehicles… Fleet renewal is the fastest way to improve air quality.”

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Recruitment

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

WITH THE

FIND YOUR PERFECT JOB TODAY â€“ A MUST-READ FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK LOCALLY

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

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CODEWORD 4

U Z

A B C D E F G H I J K L MNO P Q R S T U VWX Y Z 10

6 14

21 6

9 24

12 22

21 8

5 5

6 24

4 14

25 24

4 19

21 14

26 21

6 6

8 11

19 24

11 24

16 13

23 2

6 8

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.

6 7 3

5 9

7 4

5 6

Codeword:

7 6 2

1 2

5 7

4 6

5 3 4

DIFFICULTY RATING:★★★I

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

2 1 6 3 7 7 1 8 3

7 8

2 9 2 3 9 6 5

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★★

CLASSIFIEDS

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

J O B L E S S J E S S E

A CO B B A I A R A V A R I A I Z X C R E T I O Q L P R O U T M E I E EW T E M P I A A H R U B I N E L L N D L E S S

B I L I N G U A L

Y S U OC C U M M B

A T E F U S U C R OO

I T Y U S O R N A I N E S I E D E K S

Sudoku:

1 8 2 9 5 3 7 4 6

6 9 5 7 4 8 3 2 1

3 7 4 2 6 1 9 8 5

7 3 8 6 1 2 5 9 4

5 2 9 8 7 4 1 6 3

4 1 6 3 9 5 2 7 8

2 4 7 1 3 6 8 5 9

4 3 1 2 7 9 8 5 6

1 9 6 4 3 5 2 7 8

7 5 8 3 4 6 1 9 2

8 5 1 4 2 9 6 3 7

9 6 3 5 8 7 4 1 2

Jigsaw Sudoku:

8 7 3 9 6 2 5 1 4

6 4 2 5 8 1 9 3 7

5 1 9 7 2 4 6 8 3

2 8 5 6 9 7 3 4 1

9 6 4 8 1 3 7 2 5

3 2 7 1 5 8 4 6 9

Puzzles

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

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Sport

Please send sports stories to: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

Couchman and Jenkins lead the way in 100-mile time trial By Julian Fussell CYCLING: THE Southborough & District Wheelers [SDW] raised £600 for the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance with a 110-mile ride to Lydd and back. More than 40 riders battled windy conditions through the Weald of Kent and across Romney Marsh to complete the course and help a charity that benefits cyclists and all road users. Competing in the San Fairy Ann 10-mile time trial on the A21 Tonbridge by-pass, Matt Kuwertz was first home for the club in a time of 21min 2sec. Rob Stephenson (21.06), David Rumm (21.39), Doug Bentall (21.00), Natasha Jarman (25.27) and Mike Daniels (29.40) were also well placed. The event was won by Chris Fennell (The Independent Pedaler) in a course record time of 18.44.

HARSH IN THE MARSH The club rode to Lydd and back for charity In the East Sussex Cycling Association’s 100-mile time trial on a course near Maresfield, Neil Couchman finished in 4hr 6min 9sec to record a personal best time.

He was followed by Stephenson (4.07.59) and Kuwertz (4.12.23) to set new club records for the men’s team and veteran 100-mile events. In the women’s event Pip Jenkins

kept up her brilliant season, improving her own 100-mile club record by over three minutes in a time of 4:13.02. Competing in the Beastway cross country series, Glen Whittington

currently sits in first place in the expert/elite category, and an impressive 15th overall in the HSBC national points series with three races remaining.

Williams fires Wells to fourth straight win over Vine Tunbridge Wells 287-8 beat Sevenoaks Vine 190 by 97 runs By Alan Cutts CRICKET: TUNBRIDGE WELLS returned to form for the A21 derby at the Nevill, securing their fourth win in a row against Sevenoaks Vine to secure the local bragging rights. The hosts won the toss and chose to bat, and captain Chris Williams and Marcus O’Riordan set off at pace. The former raced to a half-century from 38 deliveries as the first-wicket stand put up 99 from 18 overs.

O’Riordan (30) was the first to fall, but James Madgwick then settled in to play a major innings, having been brought in as a late replacement for Christian Davis. Williams holed out for 70 from 59 balls with four fours and four sixes, but his brother Alex Williams (37) kept up the tempo while Madgwick reached an untroubled half-century. He was finally dislodged for 61 from 83 balls with six boundaries but Graeme Francis (26) and Ari Karvelas

(22) enjoyed a merry interlude, adding 49 in five overs. Then three wickets fell with the score on 281 and Wells closed on 287 for 8. Veteran John Bowden was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 53 while Alex Christie picked up 3 for 48. Early in the reply, Zak Crawley was well taken at slip by Marcus O’Riordan off the fiery Karvelas, and Bowden fell to a brilliant one-handed catch by the keeper Francis. Evert Bekker and Adam Rouse

painstakingly repaired the innings, but Paddy Sadler (2 for 31) broke through in a sharp spell that brought him two wickets as the visitors stuttered to 74 for 4. Rouse and Michael Cowdrey (28) put on 47 for the fifth wicket but the pressure was building and Alex Williams (2 for 17) intervened to remove Rouse for 60 scored at a run a ball - featuring one massive six. Marcus O’Riordan has been told not to bowl by Kent because of a side strain but Michael Churchill (3 for 46) and Michael Waller turned the screw.

Left-armer Churchill’s second spell of three wickets for no runs in four balls settled the outcome clinically and the Vine collapsed to 190 all out. The win raised Wells into third place in the Kent League Premier Division, and they retain a mathematical chance of winning the title. But the honours will be contested by Blackheath, the leaders who were surprisingly bundled out for 97 by Bexley, and second-placed Lordswood who are now just one point behind. Wells’ final league match is at Bickley Park on Saturday [September 1].

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Sport

Angels rise to top with twin victories

By Max Meads FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS are

PHOTO: David Couldridge

READ ALL ABOUT IT The Angels celebrate Alex Read’s goal at Margate

standing firm on top of the Bostik League Premier table after a double victory and now boast clean sheets in the first five games of the season. The Bank Holiday weekend began with an impressive 2-0 victory at Margate. Tom Beere opened the scoring after 27 minutes, robbing a defender to beat goalkeeper Henry Newcombe from 15 yards. The visitors came out strongly after the interval and Alex Read scored their second in the 48th minute, running on to a header and slotting the ball past Newcombe. There followed a flurry of chances for a frustrated Margate, but the Angels’ impressive defence remained resolute and held out. Returning to the coast on Monday, Tonbridge kept another clean sheet in beating Folkestone Invicta 1-0. The only goal came in the 14th minute. A corner from Joe Turner ran through to Sonny Miles, whose shot went in through a forest of legs.

Webster looks promising for new back line

Folkestone’s Sam Hasler was sent off for what appeared to be an intentional elbow on Beere. Manager Steve McKimm said: “I’m very pleased and proud of the lads. “We have a really tough couple of matches this weekend and Margate are a very good side, so I’m over the moon with the results.” “We were strong, organised and passed the ball around well, and we got some quality goals as a result.”

Westcombe Park 12 Tunbridge Wells 14 IN THE LEAD Captain Ryan Taylor-Dennehy sets up a scoring break

PREMIER LEAGUE CHANCE

Tonbridge Angels’ Academy captain Josh Stirman (pictured) has been invited to attend a trial at Premier League side Leicester City this week. The 17-year-old is currently on loan at Hythe Town.

Referee hands out nine bookings as Rusthall display defensive strength FOOTBALL: RUSTHALL had to battle hard to keep Cray Wanderers at bay in the FA Cup Preliminary Round at Hayes Lane, picking up nine yellow cards in the process. They were helped by an excellent defensive display and a fine performance in goal from Callum Christie, who made three vital saves. The Isthmian League South East Division side began the game on the front foot and put Rusthall under intense pressure, forcing a succession of corners. Karl Dent was denied when his effort from seven yards was pushed away by the keeper.

By Roger Clarke

down the left. Dent’s ball into the area was diverted into the net by the head of Waterman. It could have gone from bad to worse for the Rustics as Robbie Bissett almost scored another own goal but the ball skewed across the goal. In the 81st minute Cray almost found the winner as Michael Power turned two defenders but his shot was saved one-handed by Christie. Rusthall were defending well but they continued to incur the wrath of the referee, with two substitutes going into his notebook. The Rustics will now host Cray Wanderers in the replay in their first home game of the season at the Jockey Stadium on Wednesday September 6 [kick-off 7.45pm].

The visitors saw four players booked in the first 20 minutes as they struggled to stem the tide but then they found a foothold in the game. Dan Kommu popped up in the box from a pass from Alex Carey and his attempt for a shot was denied by a timely tackle. But it was against the run of play that Rusthall scored in the 39th minute. Ryan Waterman sent a fine ball through to Sam Murray, who finished with aplomb from 16 yards. In the second half Cray once again dominated possession, although from a rare break Joe Fuller set up Murray, who fired wide. In the 56th minute, the Wands were fortuitously back on level terms from a free kick

FINISHING TOUCH Sam Murray opens the scoring

PHOTO: Alan Coomes

Cray Wanderers 1 Rusthall 1

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

Wednesday August 29 | 2018

RUGBY: AHEAD of their first game in the new London & South-East Premier season, Tunbridge Wells looked ambitious and sharp on the counterattack at Goddington Dene. On seven minutes Mike Doherty got the ball away to Richard Webster 50 metres out and he made no mistake with the finish, Frank Taylor adding the extra points. Despite demonstrating a tight defence Wells failed to secure their lineout ball and Westcombe Park drew level after a long pass to the right wing. Jake Smith put in a 40-metre gain on the left before Combe took advantage of possession to roll a maul close to the line and score, but importantly the try was not converted. The Wells backs were putting in some big tackles and it was from the counter-attack that they went ahead on 29 minutes. The ball was moved left by Nick Doherty to Ryan Taylor-Dennehy and he made 40 metres before switching the ball inside to Mike Doherty, who scored near the posts for Taylor to convert. So Wells went in at the interval 14-12 ahead. As heavy rain made conditions difficult Wells piled pressure on the home line, earning a series of penalties as they dominated in the scrum. In league action they would have opted for the three points but here they chose to run them, to no avail as conditions became very slippery. The visitors’ new-look back line worked well with Charlie Rigby setting them in motion at No 9 and with fellow Academy products Webster, Jake Smith and James Potter blending in well. Wells’ opening game game of the season is against Hertford at St Marks on Saturday [September 1, kick-off 3pm].

Ladies show spirit in cup debut FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS Ladies prepared for their new campaign after being promoted by making their debut in the FA Women’s Cup at the senior Dartford stadium, Princes Park. The home side play two divisions higher but the Angels’ centre-backs Samantha Burton and Courtney Smith were equal to everything Dartford threw at them in the opening quarter of an hour. Fellow defender Helena Fothergill had to play in goal and she made a bright start, keeping out a close range shot after just three minutes. Tonbridge were starting to put some moves together amd Megan Akehurst shot just past the right-hand post on 10 minutes. But after Dartford broke through, the floodgates opened and the Angels lost confidence. They struggled to keep possession, particularly just outside their own penalty area, and within 10

minutes found themselves 5-0 down. Tonbridge improved for the rest of the first half. Maisie Gibb shot wide after good work by Becky Janes, and Kelly Moran curled a free kick wide. However, they conceded again within two minutes of the restart and Dartford then found the net another three times in eight minutes. Janes tried an ambitious lob over the keeper and substitute Becky Jarvis forced a good save but the Angels could not find a way through. Manager Dan Couldridge said: “It was very tough, but everyone keeps going. We have a lot of players missing, we had to make the best of what we can. The season starts properly in two weeks, this is part of pre-season for us.” Midfielder Alex Weston added: “It was a really good experience, we were up for the challenge, and you can’t deny our spirit.”

PHOTO: David Couldridge

Dartford Ladies 11 Tonbridge Angels Ladies 0

HEADING FOR DANGER The Angels defence comes under pressure at Princes Park