Wednesday January 31 | 2018
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Cottage Hospital ward closed for 48 hours after outbreak of flu THE Cottage Hospital was forced to close one of its wards at the weekend over concerns about the spread of flu. The 14-bed nursing ward was closed on Saturday (January 27) and reopened 48 hours later. The therapy ward was not affected. The Cottage Hospital on Vauxhall Lane acts as a halfway house for patients coming out of hospital and those who require more care than can be provided in their homes but do not need to be admitted for acute treatment.
Safety Rowena Chilvers, Deputy Head of Infection Prevention and Control for Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Patient safety is always our absolute priority. We closed Goldsmid ward after five patients became unwell on Saturday showing signs of respiratory illness.” She added: “We acted swiftly, following national guidance, to isolate the five patients showing symptoms and they were swabbed to detect for signs of infection. “One patient was confirmed as having influenza and two patients were diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus. The other two patients tested negative for any viral infection.” The ward reopened to admissions on Monday (January 29) and it was then ‘business as usual’. Ms Chilvers praised the staff, saying: “The nursing team worked tirelessly to support all patients and stop any signs of infection in its tracks by completing an enhanced clean of the ward.”
‘I was biting the rope to hold on’ INSIDE – rower recalls dramatic rescue CLASS OF ITS OWN
Town’s grammar heads list of secondary schools Pages 4-5
By Andy Tong andy@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk ONE of the survivors of a desperate transatlantic rescue has spoken of his horror at the ‘huge waves of water coming at us all day long’. Chris Williams and Max Thorpe, both
25, had to be picked up by an oil tanker after their boat caught fire during the 3,000-mile Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge race three days before Christmas. Their Team Tenzing craft had been at sea for nine days and they had rowed 700 miles non-stop when it was caught in a severe storm and capsized under the impact of immense waves. HOME AND DRY Max Thorpe (left) and Chris Williams arrive back at Heathrow after their ordeal
The pair, who both went to Judd School, were left to fend for themselves for more than 16 hours in a Force Nine gale while awaiting a rescue ship. And when the tanker arrived, they had to cling on to ropes dangled down the side of the massive vessel. Chris lost two teeth as he bit into the cord when he felt his hands slipping. After spending 18 days aboard the ship they reached Brazil and then flew home to their relieved families and friends. “It’s one of those funny things,” said Chris, “it feels like a distant memory when I’m walking out my front door on to the St John’s Road in Tunbridge Wells.” The boys were taking part in the gruelling challenge to raise money for Cardiac Risk in the Young, which provides free screenings to identify heart defects.
‘Max fell off into the sea and for about 10 seconds was swimming for dear life’ They were aiming to break the record for rowing pairs despite having no experience of such endurance events. “We had one extreme row on the Channel, a couple of days and a night, but you can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times we were at sea training,” admitted Chris, who captains Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club’s 1st XI. “We were on pace to crush the record. We were doing 80 miles a day and after nine days we were leading the pairs’ race. “We were getting a lot more accomplished and going from strength to strength. We were in good spirits.” The weather deteriorated after they left the Canary Islands heading for Antigua, but they remained confident. “For four or five days the conditions
Continued on page 2
GROUND-BREAKING
Tributes to man who found football club a home Page 6
LIVE THE DREAM
We have 100 tickets to win for Build it Live Pages 46-47
RED-FACED ANGELS
Manager sent off amid fracas over dive simulation Page 71
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Local News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
‘We couldn’t believe the size of the waves, like our worst nightmares’ Continued from page 1
REACHING OUT: (L-R) Peggy and Gordon Hill, the Lions President, Tonbridge Daily’s Suzannah Niklas, Jenny McDougall of AgeUK’s Tonbridge office and Befriending Co-ordinator John Sydney
Tonbridge Daily calendar helps Befriending Service THE first proceeds of the Tonbridge Daily Calendar have been released to a local worthy cause. Suzannah Niklas, who writes the popular town blog, has personally chosen AgeUK’s Community Befriending Service to receive £2,000 in funding. Money raised by the calendar is donated to the Tonbridge Lions Club Charity Fund to be distributed to local charities and causes. “This was my personal choice of charity,” says Suzannah, whose www.tonbridgedaily.com site is in the running for the SO Lifestyle awards in the Best Blogger category on February 8. “I believe that no elderly person should be lonely.
Loneliness “Through the loss of a spouse, disability or simply that friends have died or are no longer in a position to get out and about, some elderly people do not communicate with another person for days, and sometimes weeks on end. “With the recent media focus on loneliness, and a Minister of Loneliness being appointed by the Government, this was a timely donation.” Around 960 calendars have been sold in retail outlets across the town, which have raised £6,750. This year’s print run has sold out, with copies being sent as far afield as Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai and the United States. Suzannah added: “I’m thrilled at the success of the calendar and thank the Tonbridge community who worked as a team to help raise money for those locally in need. Tonbridge has a big heart.” AgeUK’s Community Befriending Service is offered free of charge. For more information go to www.ageuk.org.uk/sevenoaksandtonbridge
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 sales@onemedia.co.uk | 01892 779650
were really rough, with unusually high winds. But we were comfortable, it was becoming normal. “We felt at home out at sea with nothing but water around us. We were very isolated, there had been just one passing ship on the horizon. “The dolphins paid us a visit on a couple of occasions. You realise how small you are when you are out there on your own.” But the oceans remain an unconquerable realm and although the boys were trained to deal with a capsize, they could not have been prepared for the storm that was about to strike.
Toxic “We couldn’t believe the size of the waves, it was like our worst nightmares,” said Chris. “They were 10 to 15 metres high when coupled with the swell. Huge walls of water coming at us all day long. “You can’t really practise a capsize situation, but it unfolded as we hoped. We were harnessed on to the safety line, and the boat went back the right way up, as it’s supposed to do. “We went back to the cabin to use the sat-phone to call and say we were okay and could carry on because the emergency beacon had gone off. “We opened the door and were faced with thick smoke. The batteries were exposed but we put out the fire and stop the immediate danger.” Despite their inexperience they showed remarkable calm. “We assessed the situation and we had no power. We couldn’t get in the cabin because of all the toxic smoke. “In the heat of the moment we followed what we thought was the right way to deal with it. If we had started to panic it might have had a negative
impact. We dealt with the situation well mentally.” They set off the emergency beacon again, which sent a message to the UK coastguard. They contacted their Spanish counterparts, who triangulated the boat’s position and sent out an alert for any craft in the vicinity. “This was at about midday. We were just trying to avoid capsizing again. We would stand in the centre of the eight-metre boat and throw our bodyweight into the stern to stay upright when the waves hit. We did that for about seven hours. “Then we received info that we wouldn’t be rescued until midnight. We climbed into the storage hatch – not the cabin, this was smaller, about 1.4m long. It was a tiny area for two big guys and we were being thrown around and upside down. “We were having contact from the race officials at two-hourly intervals and they eventually told us we would be rescued at 3am. “At 4am we could see a light on the horizon. But the sea was still horrendous. These were Force 9 conditions – Force 10 is a hurricane.” The full extent of the danger they faced was now brought into stark focus. “We were faced ALL AT SEA The pair saw only one ship over nine days
Woman jailed for racist assault
PERSISTENT OFFENDER Chloe Glew
A WOMAN from Tonbridge has been sent to prison for a violent assault in the town last year when she also used racist abuse. Chloe Glew punched a woman to the ground close to Scott Road on July 8. The victim had been walking through an alleyway when she saw Glew get out of a
car and threaten her with violence before striking her on the side of the head. Glew kept hitting her as she lay on the ground, while shouting racist abuse. Police found the victim in a distressed state, sitting at a bus stop.
Prejudice Glew was arrested nearby but denied any wrongdoing. She claimed a fight had been instigated by the victim and that all she had done was push her in self-defence. At Maidstone Crown Court Glew, aged 20 and
Top marks for Littleview nursery – where teachers send their children SUCCESS STORY Activities at Littleview are meticulously planned by staff
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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
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formerly of Hamble Road, pleaded guilty to a charge of racially aggravated assault by beating. She was sentenced to one year and four months. She also received a Criminal Behaviour Order prohibiting her from visiting certain locations and drinking alcohol in public places for three years. Police Constable Becky Ballard said: “Glew is a persistent offender in Tonbridge who has caused a number of repeated issues in the town centre, often related to anti-social behaviour and violence. “On this occasion a prison sentence is entirely appropriate. There can never be any excuse for racist abuse and Kent Police takes all matters of prejudice extremely seriously and will always employ a zero tolerance towards anyone demonstrating this sort of behaviour.” The nursery is run by a small team of six staff, four of whom have been working there for more than 12 years. Hilary Burkett, Headteacher of Hillview and a member of the nursery committee, said: “I am absolutely delighted with the outcome from the Ofsted inspection. “The nursery team work diligently for the children in their care and the outstanding grading is testament to their dedication, commitment and passion.”
Dedication
16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU
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with this wall of an oil tanker, it was 250m long and smashing into our boat,” says Chris. “All they did was throw down ropes for us to attach to it. But we couldn’t hook the ropes onto anything. Max managed to cling on to the rope but I was really struggling. “It was incredibly hard to hold on. I was biting the rope to keep hold and ripped a couple of teeth out of my mouth. “Then Max fell off into the sea. He was being hit by the waves but for about 10 seconds he was swimming for dear life. “They finally sent down a rope ladder and he was able to pull himself back up. It was the most dangerous part of the whole episode.” Once they had been hauled aboard, the boys had to wait until the tanker reached Rio before flying back to Britain. “It was one of those incredible experiences,” reflected Chris. “It’s something for us to tell our kids. We will always cherish the memory. We are better for having had it. For the time being Chris and Max have no plans to have another crack at it. “For the sake of having a girlfriend who loves me, I had better take a step back,” said Chris. “I’m just looking forward to playing some cricket. But never say never.”
LITTLEVIEW, the day nursery on the premises of Hillview School for Girls in Tonbridge, has received an ‘outstanding’ report following its Ofsted inspection. The nursery, which is open in term time for the children of local teachers, caters for up to 26 children from eight months to four years old.
The report said: “Teaching is outstanding. Staff meticulously plan exceptional activities and experiences that are tailored to the needs of all children. For example, as children retell a favourite story, using natural materials and homemade mud, staff very skilfully encourage them to use expressive language.”
She added: “They understand the needs of each and every child and actively promote opportunities to support educational and social development, providing a truly outstanding provision.” Ofsted said of the Manager, Rachel Carlow: “Her total dedication and devotion to the needs of young children and their families make her a truly inspirational leader.” Becky Prior, a parent, said: “From musical bumps to painting, playing in the tree zone to dressing up as a pirate, watching chicks hatch and making seasonal crafts – as well as incorporating several traditional national holidays – the list of activities to stimulate and fulfil, are endless.” For more information about the nursery, email carlowr@hillview.kent.sch.uk
Local News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
NEWS IN BRIEF
Government urged to give more road money Kent County Council is pressing the Government for extra money to fix and maintain roads as it faces a reported backlog of £630million in repairs. County hall claims that unless there are changes to funding then Kent’s network of roads risks a ‘rapid spiral of asset deterioration’. As the gateway to Europe the county roads carry a disproportionate amount of traffic that is not taken into account when funding is calculated. Cabinet Member for Transport Cllr Mike Whiting said: “This is something we are determined to tackle.”
Paloma will keep faith with her fans as she joins line up for Bedgebury
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THE ARCHITECT Paloma Faith to appear at Forest Live
By Phil Spacey With her acclaimed Number 1 album ‘The Architect’ riding high in the charts and a BRIT nomination for Best British Female, Paloma Faith has announced that she’ll be appearing at Bedgebury this summer on June 15. The singer known for her retro and eccentric style will be part of Forest Live, the concert series organised by the Forestry Commission.
Staff in Argos transfer
Platinum
RETAILER Argos has pledged that staff employed at their Calverley Road branch will transfer when it closes. Last week the firm announced plans to open an Argos Digital pop-up inside Sainsbury’s, near to Tunbridge Wells West railway station. All staff will be redeployed when the move is made in March. Argos has not confirmed how many personnel could be affected.
So far ‘The Architect’ has spent eight weeks in the top ten, propelled by the single ‘Crybaby’, the stunning ‘Guilty’ and latest ‘Til I’m Done’. The new album is currently on course to become her fourth double platinum in a row – which would make her the first British woman in chart history to achieve this incredible feat. Forest Live is a major live music series,
managed by the Forestry Commission. Held every year in beautiful forest locations across the country, over 1.5 million people have attended a gig in the programme’s seventeen-year history. Income generated from ticket sales helps to look after the nation’s forests sustainably, for people to enjoy and wildlife to thrive.
When is it happening? Friday June 15 Bedgebury Pinetum, near Tunbridge Wells. Tickets £43.00 (plus £4.80 booking fee) available from 9am Friday 2 February from the Forestry Commission box office: 03000 680400 or buy online: forestry.gov.uk/music
Mental health charity hails court ruling as ‘huge victory’
MP making history WEALDEN MP Nus Ghani has made Parliamentary history by becoming the first female Muslim minister to speak from the House of Commons despatch box. As a Minister for Transport, the Conservative was cheered as she answered a question about disabled access to train stations. The 45-year-old, who was born in Kashmir, later tweeted her thanks to MP colleagues Jo Johnson and Jesse Norman.
CROSSWAYS Community in Tunbridge Wells said yesterday [Tuesday] it was ‘delighted’ with the news that the Government will not be appealing a High Court ruling that deemed Personal Independence Payment (PIP) regulations to be ‘blatantly discriminatory’.
Mobility
Fitness challenge RESIDENTS are encouraged to walk for ten minutes a day or aim to run 5k [3.1 miles] in a Tunbridge Wells Borough Council-backed scheme. One You West Kent Challenge, which launched last week, offers interactive resources and information on how people can get fit in 2018. Anyone can download apps for Couch to 5k and Active 10, which challenges smartphone users to get walking. There is also information available at gyms in the borough. Visit www.oneyoukent.org.uk
NEWS
SUPPORT CEO Christopher Munday says ruling will help 160,000 people
Crossways CEO Christopher Munday said: “This is a huge victory for people with mental health problems. “Our residents will benefit from this ruling and we will ensure they get the support they need to travel to appointments, see friends and family and manage to live as independently as possible.” Regulations introduced in March prevented an award of the higher PIP mobility rate if someone could not take a familiar journey on their own
unless it was ‘for reasons other than psychological distress’. In a case brought by Public Law Project the Judge ruled the regulations were unlawful. “More than 160,000 people will now be able to access support they should have been entitled to all along,” said Mr Munday. Disabilities Minister Sarah Newton said: “We are working to change the PIP assessment guide so that we can implement the judgement. “Once we have completed this exercise we will be carrying out an administrative exercise to review cases that may be eligible and ensure that claimants receive the correct award.” Crossways Community is a Christian charity that provides residential care and support for adults aged 18-65 with acute mental health issues. www.crosswayscommunity.co.uk
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Wednesday January 31 | 2018
School performance figures come under fire after goalposts moved By Beth Stephens NEW figures released by the Department of Education show the performance of secondary schools should be treated with ‘considerable scepticism’. That’s the view of the Headteacher at The Skinners’ School in Tunbridge Wells, following the publication of league table data last week. Mr Wesson told the Times: “They are never a reliable judge of school performance and this year they are an even weaker indicator, as they are not including what is best for the pupils CRITICAL Skinners’ Head Edward Wesson
involved”. The Headteacher defended The Skinners’ School, a top performing grammar in Kent, whose academic standing was apparently misrepresented in the league tables.
Inaccurate “In Skinners’ case, it appears that 27 boys failed Maths GCSE, when in reality they all achieved the top grade [9] in the previous academic year and have completed an advanced qualification in year 11– neither counting
towards the league tables.” The 2017 league tables failed to recognise advanced GCSE qualifications as new grading measures were also overlooked. The lack of confidence in this year’s figures is shared by Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders [ASCL] who believes they inaccurately reflect student achievement at Key Stage 4 (GCSE level). “The secondary school performance tables cannot be compared with previous years because the government has once again moved the goalposts. “It is particularly frustrating that the bar for achievement in English and Maths has been raised arbitrarily to a grade 5 under the new system.” League table data recorded an increase in under-performing schools across the UK, with many failing to reach the raised standards set for achievement at Key Stage 4. Kent’s county averages fell below national standards, although Tonbridge G r a m m a r School, Bennett Memorial Dioc-
SCHOOL NAME
PROGRESS 8 SCORE & DESCRIPTION
ATTAINMENT 8 SCORE
GRADE 5 OR ABOVE IN ENGLISH AND MATHS GCSES
0.89
77.9
99%
72.1
96%
57.3
65%
76.6
98%
67.9
95%
49.8
55%
71.5
76%
(Average)
63.3
90%
0.11
44.6
43%
39.8
31%
47.9
31%
45.6
39%
(Average)
43.8
39%
[LOWCOV]*
63.1
67%
Tonbridge Grammar School
(Well above average)
Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School
(Well above average)
Bennett Memorial Diocesan School
(Well above average)
The Judd School
0.89 0.76 0.52 (Well above average)
Weald of Kent Grammar School St Gregory’s Catholic School The Skinners’ School
0.52 (Well above average)
0.4 (Above average)
0.32 (Above average)
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
0.18
Hillview School for Girls
(Average)
Skinners’ Kent Academy
(Average)
Uplands Community College
(Average)
Mascalls Academy
0.11 0.08 0.07 (Average)
The Hayesbrook School Cranbrook School
-0.12
Local News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
esan and Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School are in the top category for achievement. Commenting on the recently published school league tables, Roger Gough, KCC’s cabinet member for children, young people and education, said: “All secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells town were well above Kent and national averages in terms of the core Progress 8 performance areas. This includes some of the strongest individual school outcomes in the county.”
‘All secondary schools in Tunbridge Wells town were well above Kent and national averages’ Rosemary Joyce, Head Teacher of Tonbridge Grammar School (TGS), which topped this year’s schools league table for Kent told the Times: “We are proud of the performance of our students reflected in the GCSE performance measures that
HERE’S HOW THE GRADING WORKS… A numerical scale has replaced the old grading system, with scores from 1 to 9 substituting grades G to A*. In the new order, a score of 5 is a ‘similar level of achievement to a high grade C or a low B’ according to The Department of Education [DfE]. Progress 8 scores are based on the results of eight qualifications achieved at GCSE level.
validate Tonbridge Grammar School as the top performing secondary school in Kent.” She added: “Our Attainment 8 figure of 77.9 shows our students achieve the highest grades across the county. Academic success is reflected not just in overall attainment but also in recognising the progress of students from their start points. “TGS tops the charts on progress from Primary School (KS2) to GCSE with a Progress 8 figure of 0.89 reflecting the positive learning environment and quality of support for learning in the school.” St Gregory’s Catholic School in Tunbridge Wells also retained its academic reputation. Headteacher Sean McQuillan said: “Last year’s GCSE examinations in English and Mathematics were particularly challenging with the first of the newly reformed GCSEs and we are proud of how our students and teaching staff prepared them and succeeded in securing good grades.” School League table information courtesy of the Department of Education PROUD St Gregory’s Head Sean McQuillan
Charities invited to apply for funding from fireworks By Phil Spacey newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk JUST two more weeks remain during which charities can apply for a share of the £30,000 raised at the Dunorlan Park fireworks display. Tunbridge Wells Round Table [TWRT] is to consider requests from organisations, who are making specific bids for funding, before Thursday, February 15.
Delighted Applicants will be notified on whether or not they have been successful before March 4 when Mayor Julia Soyke leads a presentation event at the Royal Wells Hotel. Already £1,000 has been donated to Tunbridge GIVING BACK Members of Tunbridge Wells Round Table
Wells-based domestic abuse charity DAVVS and £500 was given to the children’s ward of the hospital at Pembury before Christmas. TWRT member Andrew Mockford told the Times that he was delighted with the £30,000 raised at the 2017 fireworks night, despite the occasion being impacted by rain. He said: “As organisers of the display, we’re in the privileged position of being able to give something back to the local community. “All proceeds from our Dunorlan fireworks event are distributed to various causes. “We would urge anyone in need of funding within our community to apply, whether you’re an individual or part of a larger organisation. The more worthy causes we can support, the better.” Mr Mockford asked anyone interested in applying to visit www.rtwrt.org
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Local News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Football mourns death of the ground-breaking Angels chief By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk TRIBUTES have been paid to former Tonbridge Angels Football Club Chairman Billy Wheeler, who has died at the age of 81. His funeral took place at Vinters Park Crematorium in Maidstone on Monday (January 29). Mr Wheeler was a pivotal figure in the history of the club and was instrumental in finding a new home for the team when it was turfed off the Angel Ground. He took over the chairmanship of Tonbridge FC in 1976, after the club had experienced financial difficulties and went into voluntary liquidation. It was reformed as Tonbridge Angels FC but
more bad news was to follow when the council decided shortly afterwards that it would end the lease on the ground. Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council wanted to develop the Angel into a shopping complex – it is now occupied by the Sainsbury’s superstore and car park. The club was to play its final game at the old ground in 1980 with the last goal there being scored, appropriately, by Micky Angel. The council was unwilling to help the Angels find an alternative stadium, at which point the newly remodelled club could easily have folded. Legend has it that Mr Wheeler, a passionate football man, threatened to chain himself to the railings of the council building at Kings Hill.
PASS AND MOVE: (L-R) Billy Wheeler with fellow Angels officials Tony Westguard, Ernie Sillitoe, Pat Westguard, Frank Davis and Austin Verini on the night before the last game at the Angel
The club issued a statement saying: “Bill Wheeler and fellow director Frank Davis courageously took the local authority to the High Court and won. “One might describe it as the biggest victory the Angels have ever had. Out of the legal proceedings came the current ground at Longmead.” The council offered a lease on a field near where housing estates and the Baptist Church were being constructed.
He threatened to chain himself to the railings of the council building at Kings Hill The existing floodlights at the Angel Ground were relocated, as was the main terraced stand, which remains in use to this day. Steve Churcher, who stood down as Chairman last month, said: “At the time, relations between the council and the club were not good. There was no compulsion to find any other land. “The council suggested the team played on the sportsground and put a rope up around the pitch. “They didn’t understand the level the club played at in the Southern League.” He added: “Without Bill Wheeler it’s fair to say there would not be a club at Longmead that we have today.
The council has commented on the High Court Action: “Tonbridge Urban District Council took ownership of the Angel Ground in 1947. “The football club had been granted a licence to use the Angel Ground by the council. Sometime later, the council sought possession of the ground to develop. “The club then claimed tenant’s rights under Landlord and Tenant law. The matter was taken to the High Court where judgement was given for possession but a right of appeal was granted to the club, which they then took. “Both sides subsequently agreed that, rather than taking the matter any further through the courts, the council would offer the club an alternative site at Tonbridge Farm, which they owned.” The club paid homage to its outspoken hero from the North-east, saying: “We all tend to moan when the team has a disappointing afternoon on the pitch. “But perhaps at those moments we should remember that without people like William Wheeler we might not have a club to enjoy today.” Mr Wheeler, whose younger sister was called Angel, originally came from Newcastle and played football for Northumberland County. He was also on the books at Middlesbrough. He was conscripted into the 9th Parachute Regiment which reinforced troops during the Suez crisis in 1956. After leaving the army he worked in sales for Thompson newspapers and was head-hunted to join the Kent Messenger Group, so he moved south with his wife Maureen. The group owned Maidstone FC and he worked there for six years as Vice Chairman and General Manager. Then he and Maureen ran the Eagle pub in Maidstone from 1976 to 1993 when they retired. He leaves his wife, two sons, Carl and Jason, and four grandchildren. LOCAL HERO Billy Wheeler
Turn to page 13 to read more on Frank Davis
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Local News
Bus service returns with ‘use it or lose it’ warning to community By Jonathan Banks
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Cinema site developers pay £500,000 for permission to rid town of eyesore
THE extension of a key bus route from Tunbridge Wells to Maidstone could lead to significant future improvements. Arriva has confirmed their 6 and 6A service, which pass through Paddock Wood, will be enhanced from March 11. This is one year after the operator reduced the service, which currently runs on half hour intervals to East Peckham. Only occasional buses continue to the county town. The company announced last week that the hourly 6 will continue to Maidstone and the hourly 6A route will be modified to include Five Oak Green.
SLOW PROGRESS Work could now start in 2019
Important Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] member for Capel Cllr Carol Mackonochie said the developments were possible thanks in part to residents lobbying Arriva. “It has been a long wait with much work to persuade Arriva. We are very pleased and thank Arriva for listening, working together and making this decision. “It is very important the services are used so that they remain viable. There may now be future improvements.” TWBC and Kent County Councillor Sarah Hamilton said Arriva’s decision to reduce the service last year was a financial one, and encouraged all to use the 6 and 6A. She said: “It is important the service continues as it stops a community from being isolated. “We have a responsibility to use the bus when we can (as opposed to driving). This is not a subsidised service and we have been saying it is a case of use it or lose it.” www.arrivabus.co.uk/kent-and-surrey/
example through an extension to a local school.” According to agreements, contained in TWBC planning documents, St Gregory’s Catholic School will receive around £45,000 for an ‘enhancement’. Broadwater Down Primary School stands to take around £60,000 towards an expansion. On top of the 99 homes, The Belvedere will comprise either an additional ten properties or a medical centre. Altitude is yet to confirm which. Members of TWBC’s planning committee voted to pass the plans through to the next stage in a meeting in October. The original cinema closed in 2000 and has become a grot-spot on Mount Pleasant.
Permission
By William Mata
will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE start of work on the old cinema site in Tunbridge Wells might drag over into next year, as reported in the Times last week, while developers finalise ‘the 106 agreement’. This is an arrangement that would developers Altitude hand over more than £500,000 as part of the package to be granted planning permission for The Belvedere project. Altitude is already spending a reported £80million on delivering the plan for a boutique cinema, shops and at least 99 homes on the former ABC
cinema site in the heart of the town. But they will also pay upwards of £500,000 in a Section 106 agreement, a planning contribution sometimes referred to as a sweetener. This has been decided with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC]. A TWBC spokesman said: “A Section 106 agreement or planning obligation/planning contribution helps to mitigate the impact of an unacceptable development to make it acceptable in planning terms. “This can be illustrated in relation to primary school places. Additional homes can result in a need for additional school places. A contribution can fund these additional school places, for
Detailed plans, which TWBC members voted to grant permission for in October, showed that Altitude would pay £601,035 if the extra housing is chosen as the preferred option, or £501,693.41 if the medical centre gets the nod. Proposals state a number of beneficiaries, which also include community groups and green space projects (see table opposite). Stephen Tillman, Director of Altitude, told the Times last week that work on the project would begin either late in 2018 or at the beginning of next year. He said: “We are currently finalising the section 106 agreement so formal permission can be issued before we start to commence on the detailed design.” To this, TWBC responded: “Our understanding is that work on the site was due to commence at the end of this year and we are not aware of any changes to this.”
Local News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
NEGOTIATIONS WITH NATIONAL RAIL CONTINUE As well as section 106 agreements, a key part of planning documentation for any developer taking on the former ABC cinema site is negotiations with Network Rail. The Wells Tunnel runs directly underneath the site between Tunbridge Wells and High Brooms railway stations. Large scale planning applications, such as The Belvedere, would need to take this into consideration. The Times understands that developer Altitude is in discussions with Network Rail. Last week this newspaper reported that work was due to begin on The Belvedere later than originally stated. When asked if this was due to discussions over the tunnel, Altitude Director Stephen Tillman said talks would not delay the start of works.
The Belvedere met a number of reservations, including concerns about the absence of affordable housing in the plan. TWBC said the amount of money pledged in a section 106 agreement would not be an incentive for councillors to pass a contentious planning application. The spokesman said: “Each and every contribution must pass the national policy and legislative tests. “Officers have provided training to the Planning Committee so that the Members understand that contributions can only be secured to mitigate the impact of development, and must pass the relevant tests. “The Committee and Delegated reports on planning applications also reflect this.” TWBC will vote later this year on whether to grant full planning permission for the Civic Complex and theatre, which will cost a gross £90million. On whether this could attract section 106 monies, the TWBC spokesman said: “It will be dependant on the impact of the proposal. “This assessment will take place if a planning application is submitted.” A NEW VIEW Altitude’s proposed redevelopment
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Here’s where the money is going… The development at the former ABC cinema site includes two options, and it is for the developer to decide which to implement. One option includes the provision of a medical centre. The other includes a further nine apartments and office provision, in place of the medical centre. As the proposals will have some differing impacts, so the levels of contributions secured differs between the two options. This is shown in the attached table below: CONTRIBUTION
MEDICAL CENTRE
OFFICE PLUS TO BE USED TOWARDS FURTHER 9 UNITS
Primary school
£59,832
£65,649
Expansion of Broadwater Down Primary School
Secondary school
£42,476.40
£46,606.05
Enhancement of St Gregory’s Secondary School
NHS contribution
None, as medical centre being provided
£76,392
Lonsdale Medical Centre, Kingswood Surgery, Grosvenor Medical Centre and / or St James Medical Centre
Cultural Hub
£34,797.51
£37,960.92
Provision of space within the Cultural Hub and library stock
Youth & adult recreation contribution
£184,915
£194,328
Calverley Grounds and/or Rusthall playing fields expansion
Public realm contribution
£100,000
£100,000
Works at and to the north of the Church Road/Mount Pleasant Road junction. In line with Site Allocations Local Plan Policy RTW1
Town centre parking / £50,000 sustainable transport contribution
£50,000
Exploration of and implementation of measures to deter private car use and manage public parking in Tunbridge Wells town centre, including implementing improved intelligent signing to direct drivers to parking spaces nearest to their route into the town
Parking restrictions contribution
£2,000
£2,000
On-street parking management to ensure residents are not eligible for residents parking passes
Local Wildlife site (the Common)
£7,672.50
£8,370
Mitigating the recreational pressures on the Common
Car club
£20,000
£20,000
To provide 1 x Co-wheels car club car
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BUSINESS
Local Business News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Firms warned after millions lost in fraud around county OFFICE SPACE: RSM’s Tunbridge Wells branch
debits, standing orders or account transfer details and amend them to transfer monies to other accounts. The highest number of reports concerned ‘retail fraud’ committed against shops and restaurants. Such crimes would include attempting to obtain a refund for stolen goods, switching labels on clothes to obtain a cheaper price or ordering food in a restaurant and leaving without paying.
‘Businesses across the region are collectively losing tens of millions of pounds through fraud every year’ BUSINESSES in Kent lost more than £5million in fraud last year, a Freedom of Information request has shown. RSM, a leading audit, tax and consulting firm with an office in Tunbridge Wells, has warned firms to be vigilant after obtaining the statistics. Akhlaq Ahmed, forensic partner at RSM, said: “Frauds against businesses can range from the very simple to the very sophisticated. “Businesses across the region are collectively losing tens of millions of pounds through fraud every year, much of which can be prevented by simple controls.” RSM, locally based on Mount Ephraim Road, obtained the data from ActionFraud, the UK’s national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre.
In the 2016-17 tax year, nearly £42million was lost through fraud in the South East with more than 6,000 reports to the police. Nationally, the highest losses sustained by businesses resulted from incidents of cheque, plastic card and online bank fraud. This was followed by corporate employee fraud and mandate WARNING fraud, where Akhlaq Ahmed, criminals forensic partner obtain details at RSM. of direct
Mr Ahmed continued: “Companies should be much more proactive in ensuring their defences, both online and offline, are fit for purpose. “Those that don’t take action could find themselves very exposed.” Of the five authorities analysed, Kent had the third highest amount of loss with £5.3million from 1,777 reports. This ranked the authority behind Sussex (£23.8million) and Thames Valley (£5.8million) but ahead of Surrey (£3.9million) and Hampshire (£2.6million).
NEWS IN BRIEF
Apartments on offer next to town station FIRST time buyers and commuters are a developer’s target market for new flats opening near Tunbridge Wells railway station. Regalpoint Homes is applying the finishing touches to one, two-bed and three one-bed apartments at Regal Gate, in the High Street, which will go on sale in February. Properties are priced from £235,000. Tony Porter, Regalpoint Director, said: “This collection will be attractive to an array of purchasers, including first time buyers, investors and commuters.”
New President named A NEW President has been chosen to lead Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and District Law Society. Daleep Jaswal, Partner of Commercial Property at Buss Murton Law, has been elected to the head of the group with aims to discuss issues and build relationships between its members. He said: “I am honoured to take up the position. The society has a long history of representing the views of membership and encouraging communication.”
Invitation for firms BUSINESSES are invited to attend or exhibit at West Kent Conference in Tunbridge Wells on February 28. The event takes place from 8.30am to 2.50pm at Mecure Hotel in Pembury. Tonbridge & Malling Council Leader Nicolas Heslop will chair a panel session and introduce the West Kent Enterprise Adviser Network. For more information, visit www.growkent.co.uk
Local Business News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Radio star Murray honours staff car By Beth Stephens BBC Radio anchor Colin Murray honoured staff from a Tunbridge Wells Ford dealership at an awards ceremony. The Hendy Group Awards, held earlier this month at the Hilton Hotel AGEAS in Hampshire, saw staff from across the chain’s 12 branches honoured within 19 prize categories. Zoe Edwards was named Ford Sales Executive of the Year for her work at the branch on Mount Ephraim.
Proud Her colleague Will Ludford was named Used Car Executive of the Year. Paul Hendy, Group Chief Executive, said: “I am extremely proud of the whole Hendy team and the contribution everyone makes to the success of the company.” Murray, well known for his work on BBC Radio 1, Radio 5 Live and Match of the Day, handed out prizes to all winners.
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Therapy could set trend as more experiences float into the area By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A new float therapy centre in Tunbridge Wells is a part of an emerging trend of businesses offering ‘experiences’ in town centres. Simply Float, in Monson Road, provides physical and mental relief to customers who relax in water inside designated pods in one hour sessions. Tom Snow opened the shop with partner Jess Sanchez on January 5 with no previous experience. He said: “We have not done too much publicity, but we have had a good response and everyone has been really positive.” Water inside the pod matches the customer’s body temperature. Throughout the session, cortisol drops into the water, which stimulates a calm and happy feeling.
Sensation
DRIVING FORCE: Presenter Colin Murray (right) with (L-R) Hendy’s Simon Palmer and Will Ludford and Neil Bowery from Black Horse.
BUSINESS
Mr Snow advises customers try two or three sessions to get used to the sensation of floating and having nothing to stimulate thought for an hour. “I lost my leg in a motorbike accident,” continued Mr Snow, “and I discovered the benefits of floating 18 months ago. “I really struggled with work and floating helped me cope with the muscular pain. I discovered it when I was living in New Zealand, and coming back I found the nearest centres are in Brighton and London. “I thought there was a gap in the market.” A range of customers have come into the shop since it opened, with some suffering from broken
limbs and others finding it useful to treat anxiety or a ‘cheat’ way to meditate. After trialling the treatment, customers are then encouraged to come once a week. Lights and music are also used for effect. Simply Float is a good example of an activity based business opening in Tunbridge Wells as traditional shops close. Mr Snow added: “I know from personal experi-
ence how fantastic online shopping is and unless it’s something people need to look at, it is easier to complete it online. “But you can’t buy experiences online. Floating seems really popular and it has been growing rapidly in the US in the past five years.” A single session at Simply Float costs £60 and the centre takes bookings from 7.30am until 8pm. OWNERS Jess Sanchez and Tom Snow outside the shop
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Community News
ellenor’s guru of fundraising is moving on THE force behind ellenor’s fundraising, Rachel Holweger, is to leave the Kent hospice charity after five years. Rachel, ellenor’s Director of Income Generation, is moving to the United States. She has led fundraising, marketing and retail teams in raising awareness and funds. The charity provides vital care and support to individuals and their families facing terminal illness across the county. She oversaw a successful rebrand in 2015, and introduced a range of initiatives including the Twilight Walk – which saw a record 800 walkers taking part last year – and the glamorous Orange Ball, which has been well supported by celebrities and patrons. ellenor’s Chief Executive, Claire Cardy, says: “We are enormously grateful for her commitment and passion for ellenor and its work.
Strong “Rachel has built strong, much-needed relationships across the county and has laid a strong foundation for the work to come”. Rachel said: “It has been a huge privilege to hold this role for the last five years and to see our fundraising and communications transformed, but also to work with such a fantastic team of people all committed to working together – staff and volunteers – to make a very real difference to the lives of families facing terminal illness.” MOVING ON Rachel Holweger
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
VITAL ROLE One in nine adults in Kent acts as a carer
Carers need support too – and here is how to help… A CAMPAIGN called Kent Carers Matter has been launched to raise the profile of carers across the county and increase access to support services. More than 150,000 adults in Kent – one in nine people – act as carers looking after a family member, partner, friend or neighbour. That’s one out of every nine adults – and 60 per cent of people in the county will be a carer at some point in their lives. According to Carers UK, their work saves the public purse around £3billion a year.
The organisers say: “Being a carer can be a positive experience, but it can also be challenging and exhausting, which can impact on a carer’s mental and physical health or well-being.” Kent Carers Matter has been developed by five organisations in Kent to support health and social care professionals to identify and refer carers to services earlier. It also provides more opportunities for them to have their say about local and national issues
that affect them. Under the scheme they can access a Carer’s Assessment, get information about rights, talk to experts who understand the role, join a support group, participate in training or organise a break.
Stress Kent Carers Matter is encouraging carers to tell their GP about their responsibilities and how they are impacting on physical and mental health. It is also seeking to relieve the stress of combining care with other demands such as work by calling on carers to speak to employers, family and friends. For more information and to find out about support, visit www.kentcarersmatter.co.uk
Compaid’s driving force benefits from money raised by runners THE local transport charity Compaid has been chosen by Tonbridge Lions as its headline beneficiary for money raised by the Tonbridge Half Marathon last October. The Paddock Wood organisation helps vulnerable people to ‘get more out of life and so fitted perfectly with the charitable aims of Tonbridge Lions’.
Exclusion Staff and around 40 volunteers take clients to hospitals and doctor’s surgeries as well as shopping and leisure activities such as theatre visits. For many disabled and older people in rural areas, a lack of transport services leads to exclusion from local amenities and community life.
Many villages have seen a significant withdrawal in public bus services, so Compaid’s adapted vehicles are becoming increasingly vital. During 2016-17, they made 35,000 journeys covering almost 350,000 miles. The Lions president, Gordon Hill, visited Compaid’s training centre in Paddock Wood and presented a cheque for £1,610. The funds will go towards the costs associated with helping those with physical disabilities and sensory impairments, others with learning disabilities, autism and acquired brain injuries. THE WHEEL DEAL (L-R) Lion Lofty Bunyon, Compaid’s Diane Bradley and Jonathan Sargant, President Gordon Hill and his wife Peggy
Community News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Mother goes straight to the top to access help for son By Andy Tong
DETERMINED Lucy Frost with her son George
andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk A MOTHER from Tunbridge Wells has taken her fight to secure life-changing treatment for her young son to the Houses of Parliament. Six-year-old George Frost suffers from the muscle wasting condition spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type 2. His mum Lucy went to Parliament earlier this month to attend Muscular Dystrophy UK’s inaugural Fast Track event. This brought together people with muscular dystrophy, their MPs, representatives from the pharmaceutical industry and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
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Former Angel chief rewarded with a signed shirt from team BIRKIN LODGE Care Home in Hawkenbury, Tunbridge Wells, made resident Frank Davis’s wish come true by presenting him with a framed Tonbridge Angels Football Club shirt which was signed by all the first-team players and manager Steve McKimm. Frank is a former Chairman of the club and played an important role after its eviction from the Angel Ground during the mid-1970s. He and Billy Wheeler took on Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council in the High Court and won the right to have access to a new councilowned ground, which became Longmead.
Heart
‘SMA is a cruel condition that takes away your ability to do the things we all take for granted’ Lucy and other families heard how lengthy and unnecessary delays to the UK’s drug approval process is putting lives at risk. Many muscle-wasting conditions progress quickly, and the Fast Track campaign is calling for early-access schemes to bring treatments to patients sooner. It is also calling for the NHS to be given more powers to negotiate deals with pharmaceutical companies in order to streamline the availability of treatments. And Fast Track wants a more efficient NICE
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approval process for rare disease drugs such as Spinraza, the first and only treatment for SMA. Under the scheme Spinraza could be made available to George and other families while NICE is assessing it for funding on the NHS. For babies with the most severe SMA type, life
expectancy without access to the drug is rarely more than two years. Lucy said: “SMA is a cruel condition that takes away your ability to do the things we all take for granted. “Knowing there is a treatment out there that could make life a little easier for George has given me renewed hope. “Getting access to Spinraza could be lifechanging for him. My fight won’t stop until I secure a brighter future for my son.” Nic Bungay, Director of Campaigns, Care and Information at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “For families like Lucy’s, who live with the effects of muscle-wasting conditions, every day counts. “Time and again we’ve seen how the UK lags behind other countries in Europe when it comes to getting life-saving treatments to patients as quickly as possible. “With new treatments for muscular dystrophy on the horizon, we must tackle the barriers that prevent them getting to patients like George.” For more information on the campaign, visit www.musculardystrophyuk.org/fast-track
Birkin Lodge’s Activities Coordinator, Alberto Grima-Carmona, decided to get the club involved as an opportunity for them to thank Frank for all the work he had done for them. He said: “I do everything I can to see our residents happy, it is why I love my job so much. We are not only carers, we are part of our residents’ lives so we do everything from the heart, no matter how small or big, and try to make every moment matter. “It is not only me that tries to fulfil residents’ wishes but the whole team here at Birkin Lodge, which is what makes this home great. This was a great day!” Frank’s daughter, who lives in the United States, sent the team an email thanking them for giving her father such a heartfelt gift.
TRUE BLUE Frank Davis is presented with his signed shirt from the Angels 1st XI
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County News
WORK SHOP The Job Centre Plus in Tunbridge Wells
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Unemployment figures revealed for key towns across the county By Beth Stephens newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk TUNBRIDGE Wells has bucked a countywide trend by recording a rise in the number of people in work. Latest Department for Work and Pensions [DWP] statistics show there are less jobseekers in the town at the last count [630] than in November [645]. Tonbridge & Malling saw a rise of 15 to 750 while Sevenoaks recorded an extra 20 people signing on, bringing the figure to 530. Maidstone, Ashford, Canterbury and Dover also all saw a rise in the number of people considered unemployed. Mandi Speed, a spokesperson for the
DWP, commented that unemployment rates in Tunbridge Wells have lowered significantly over the years. “The figures are down 33 per cent from five years ago and 38 per cent from ten years ago,” she told the Times upon the release of the figures last week.
Insecurity Job insecurity in the town centre, which has recently seen many businesses move in and out, appears not to be reflected by the drop in people out of work. The situation is expected to be helped further if, as expected, supermarket giant Aldi opens a store in Eridge Road. The German firm said this could create
50 jobs for ‘local people’. Ms Speed added that unemployment had fallen by 53 per cent in Tonbridge and Sevenoaks in the past five years. Nationally, the figures were celebrated by the Government with the employment rate reaching 75.3 per cent, the highest rate since 1975. Esther McVey, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “I am delighted to see this trend continue after a record breaking 2017. “The number of people in work is at an alltime high and the unemployment rate has not been this low for over 40 years. At this time of year people might be feeling a squeeze on their finances. We’re determined to help them keep more of what they earn.”
Duchess supports Kent charity THE Duchess of Cambridge met Kent youngsters at national mental health conference: Learning from HeadStart. Three teenagers, who were invited by Kent County Council’s initiative HeadStart Kent, spoke at the event in London earlier this month before meeting Catherine. The conference was designed to raise awareness of mental health problems in young people, a cause championed by the Duchess. HeadStart Kent is a countywide programme which supplies materials and resources to help young people ‘build resilience’ and
develop ‘mental wellbeing’. With a recent study showing girls are more than twice as likely to experience emotional difficulties, while boys are significantly more likely to experience behavioural problems, their work is considered vital. Charlotte Swaine, 16, from Ashford, Millie May, 13, from the Isle of Sheppey, and Lizzy Parker, 13, from Gravesend, all shared their experiences. HeadStart Kent is currently operating in Swale, Gravesham, Ashford, Canterbury and Shepway
with plans to roll out the programme into Maidstone and Tonbridge & Malling from this year. Angela Ford, HeadStart Kent programme manager, said: “Lizzy, Millie and Charlie described how we can get young people and families involved in the design and delivery of any services which aims to benefit them through ensuring every conversation counts. “We need to ensure that young people and families are supported to do this practically in a creative and enjoyable way, which means they want to spend their time with us.”
MEET AND GREAT: The Duchess of Cambridge is welcomed to the HeadStart event
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County News
NEWS IN BRIEF
Open your home and heart in care scheme COUNTY Hall is offering residents the chance to get paid to support people with some health conditions. Kent County Council’s Shared Lives programme seeks ‘homes and hearts’ to look after adults with learning disabilities, mental health conditions, autism, sensory impairment or dementia. Hosts can choose to offer three different types of support. Day placements of up to five hours, short breaks and long-term placements. To find out more call 03000 41 24 00 or email sharedlives@kent.gov.uk
Police station support THREE years after safety netting was placed around Ashford Police Station, the building could yet be saved. Concerns have long-since been raised about the state of the building, sparking fears the town could lose its police presence. Matthew Scott, Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, revealed a multimillion pound plan to secure its future. “The investment will be funded by reserves. This represents a positive investment in a fast growing part of our county.”
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Kent PCC says ‘prevention better than cure’ in CSP funding boost By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk COMMUNITY Safety Partnerships [CSPs] in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling will benefit from a funding boost from Kent Police. Kent Police and Crime Commissioner [PCC] Mathew Scott announced last week that 13 local councils would get an additional 10 per cent of funding, around £47,000. CSPs are multi-agency strategic groups formed of councillors, police, fire service, health and probation officers.
Bold Decisions made under their leadership seek to boost community safety, reduce crime, tackle antisocial behaviour and provide reassurance. Having a larger budget will allow CSPs to potentially implement more effective devices, such as installing CCTV cameras and disrupting antisocial behaviour with Criminal Behaviour Orders.
Mr Scott made the announcement at an event in Maidstone alongside Victims’ Commissioner Baroness Helen Newlove; Chief Crown Prosecutor Jaswant Narwal and Kent Police Chief Constable Alan Pughsley. The PCC said: “I believe this is a very bold step. “I have protected CSPs funding for the last two years but I’m pleased to say I’m increasing the amount of money I give them this year, to enable even more effective crime prevention work to take place in our county. “Prevention is better than cure.” Dr Patrick Tierney from Juvenile Justice International also attended, and praised the funding boost. He said: ‘It was a great pleasure to attend the event and to meet Baroness Newlove who was passionate, sincere and inspirational. “It was a pleasure to see that she showed a great interest in the work done by organisations such as ours at the forefront of supporting some of the county’s most vulnerable victims, thanks to the funding provided by the PCC Matthew Scott.”
Investment for future of station RAIL links from West Kent to the continent will be boosted with upgrades to Ashford International. Beginning this month, £10.5million in upgrade work will see platforms and signalling modified at the railway station to accommodate the latest Eurostar e320 train. Network Rail say this future-proofing operation will accommodate most European trains and any operator’s next generation specification models.
Secure
Plan to boost estate IDEAS are being sought by Edenbridge Town Council on how to improve the 1950s-designed Stangrove Estate. Residents have complained about the poor access and lack of parking available. Overarching authority Sevenoaks District Council is proposing the provision of 47 off-road car parking spaces.
TUNNEL VISION Ashford International is being upgraded
THE FORCE: (L-R) PCC Matthew Scott with Victims’ Commissioner Baroness Helen Newlove, Chief Crown Prosecutor Jaswant Narwal and Kent Police Chief Constable Alan Pughsley in Maidstone last week
Kent County Council, Ashford Borough Council and South East Local Enterprise Partnership have backed the plans to keep Ashford serving Paris and Calais. Cllr Gerry Clarkson, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “This multi-million pound investment in state-of-the-art signalling equipment at Ashford International will secure the long-term future of Ashford’s place on the European rail map.”
National News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
NEWS IN BRIEF
Parenting dominates latest dictionary words MAINSPLAINING, ransomware and snowflake (person with liberal tendencies) are among the latest words to be entered into the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) – along with more than 100 parenting terms. The list of more than 1,000 additions also includes the term ‘me time’, when an individual devotes time to doing what they want in order to relax, and ‘hangry’, used when someone is ‘bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger’. Parenting initialisms were prolific, such as TTC (trying to conceive) and BFN (big fat ‘no’ when taking a pregnancy test.
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Night Watcher hits Sevenoaks: ‘I was terrified for my daughter’ THE Sevenoaks victim of the ‘Night Watcher’ burglar has described how she was desperate to stop the attacker from knowing that her daughter was in the house. The break-in took place on November 22, 2016. Afterwards police noticed a pattern emerging with three other burglaries across the South-east. The string of crimes – also in Maidstone, Kingswood and Virginia Water in Surrey, Maidenhead in Berkshire and Goodwood in West Sussex – are being investigated by Surrey Police as part of Operation Prometheus.
INTRUDER CCTV footage believed to be the Night Watcher
daughter and myself had just finished having something to eat and she went upstairs to do her homework. “I came into the study to just finish some emails for the day. Then suddenly I became aware of the dog barking quite aggressively, which was unusual so I went out to see what was alarming him. “Didn’t see anything, poked my head out the back door, nothing there. Came back in, came into the study, was just finishing some emails. “I made a note of the time because I was just about to start watching Eastenders. I turned round in my chair and there was a guy in a balaclava, dressed in dark clothing pointing a shotgun at my head.” Detective Inspector Dee Fielding said the culprit has ‘specialist knowledge and skills’ and may have served in the armed forces. He is described as ruthless, highly organised, well-spoken, and may have staked out his targets in advance.
Tennant’s hack payout
Calm
ACTOR David Tennant has received substantial damages and an apology from News Group Newspapers at London’s High Court over phone-hacking activity at the News of the World. Five others who were awarded compensation were Olympic medallist Colin Jackson, actor Sophia Myles, party planner Fran Cutler, fashion designer Jess Morris and Tanya Frayne, ex-wife of footballer David James.
The Sevenoaks victim, who had a shotgun held to her head, said: “I was absolutely terrified because my daughter was in the house and I had no way of controlling that she might come in, she might call for me. I wouldn’t be able to answer. “I really, really didn’t want her to be involved in it at all and that was the motivation for trying to keep very calm and make sure this man left my house as soon as possible.” She also spoke of her anger that the thief took personal items which were not worth much.
BP tries electric charger
Two out of three say train journeys do not offer value for money
BP WILL install mobile charging points for electric vehicles at its UK forecourts this year on a trial basis after investing $5million (£3.6million) in US-based firm FreeWire Technologies. BP will roll out FreeWire’s rapid chargers across a number of petrol stations in the UK and Europe as it looks to tap into the growing demand for electric-powered cars.
ONLY one third of commuters are satisfied with the value for money of their train journey, according to the watchdog Transport Focus. One in three is satisfied with how train companies deal with delays, and 57 per cent are content with the level of crowding. Some 27,000 passengers were surveyed last autumn so the responses do not take into account
“How dare they take things of great sentimental value to me?,” she asked. “Not necessarily particularly worth a lot of money but things that symbolise points in my life. “You can’t recreate being proposed to again. You can’t recreate being given a gift when your children are born or your wedding anniversary.” The victim recalled the night of the incident: “It was a very ordinary Tuesday evening, my
this month’s 3.4 per cent average fare rise. Four out of five of all travellers are satisfied with their trip, unchanged from the previous autumn. Southern was the lowest-ranked operator with a score of 72 per cent, although this is up seven percentage points from a year earlier. Transport Focus Chief Executive Anthony Smith said: “It’s all about performance. These value-for-
money scores reflect patchy reliability.” But he added: “In London and the South-east, Southern, Thameslink and Southeastern passengers have felt performance pick up.” “Train companies and Network Rail need to keep to their basic promises and deliver a relentless focus on day-to-day performance and better information during disruption.”
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National News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Boys spend quarter of an hour more per day playing sports
Homeless ‘hero’ of Manchester jailed for robbing victims
Chris Parker A HOMELESS ‘common thief’ who stole from victims of the Manchester bombing has been sent to prison. Chris Parker claimed to have helped some of those injured in the attack and was initially hailed a hero, with more than £50,000 being raised by the public to help the rough sleeper. But CCTV recovered by police showed him wandering the foyer of Manchester Arena amid the dying and injured, stealing from victims. The 33-year-old admitted at a hearing at Manchester Crown Court last month to stealing a purse and a mobile phone from two victims. On Tuesday he was jailed at the same court for four years and three
months for two counts of theft and one count of fraud. Judge David Hernandez told Parker: “You were not the hero you pretended to be, you were just a common thief. It is hard to contemplate a more reprehensible set of circumstances.” Salman Abedi’s suicide bombing killed 22 people and left scores injured on May 22 last year. Parker was caught on camera leaning over the body of injured survivor Pauline Healey to steal her purse as her 14-year-old granddaughter Sorrell Leczkowski lay dying nearby. He also snatched the mobile phone of a teenager and within hours was using Mrs Healey’s bank cards at a local McDonald’s. Prosecutors said the defendant provided ‘some limited assistance’ but that he also took the opportunity to commit the thefts immediately after the atrocity. Following sentencing, Supt Chris Hill from Greater Manchester Police said: “No matter what personal circumstances you might find yourself in, to steal from injured and terrified innocent people is deplorable.” He will not receive the money raised for him through the public appeal on GoFundMe. It will instead go back to the donors.
BREAK DOWN BARRIERS Tributes are left at the gates of The Hawthorns
BOYS spend more time than girls on sporting activities, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has found that young people aged between eight to 15 spend 68 minutes of their free time a day taking part in an outdoor activity, sports-related activity or actively travelling on foot or by bicycle.
Health
Emotional farewell to football pioneer Regis at West Brom MORE than 1,800 West Bromwich Albion fans, along with players and former greats, turned out at the club’s stadium to bid a fond farewell to the club’s former striker Cyrille Regis.
Cool An emotional public service was held at The Hawthorns for the England international, who died suddenly aged 59. Bring Him Home from Les Miserables was sung by Chris Love
to open the service for Regis, who is recognised as a pioneering figure for all black players. Former team-mate Brendon Batson addressed the memorial, saying: “We played at a time when black players endured vile abuse but Cyrille never lost his cool, nor was he ever intimidated. It motivated him to play even better. “How could anyone think they could intimidate the big man? You couldn’t. We are blessed to have known him. Nice one Cyrille, nice one son.”
It is the first time the ONS has analysed how children spend their free time on activities that promote physical health, mental health and individual development. According to the report from 2014-15, boys spent an average of 40 minutes per day on sports activities, compared with 25 minutes a day for girls. Boys were also found to be more likely to participate in sports activities than girls – 39 per cent
compared with 26 per cent for girls. The finding is consistent with other studies showing a gender imbalance in sports and physical activity, which becomes greater over time, the report said. Dawn Snape of the ONS, said: “ Of their outdoor leisure activities, taking part in sport is by far the most popular among eight to 15 year olds. “Boys spend significantly longer than girls on sport but interestingly, boys and girls who do participate in sport, enjoy it equally.” Children spent three times longer on sports and exercise activities (33 minutes) – such as walking, biking, swimming, water sports, picking berries or gymnastics – than entertainment and culture activities (11 minutes) which include visiting historical, and wildlife sites, parks and urban playgrounds.
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BUSINESS
National Business News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Interest-only mortgage borrowers are ‘at risk of losing their homes’ HOME owners with interest-only mortgages are being urged to act now and talk to their bank or building society after the City regulator found many people are yet to discuss repayment options with their lender. Nearly one in five mortgage customers have an interest-only home loan, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said – and it is concerned that shortfalls in repayment plans could lead to people losing their homes.
Engagement The FCA said that although mortgage lenders are writing to customers before their mortgage matures, engagement rates with firms are low. A review by the FCA covered lenders representing around 60 per cent of the interest-only residential mortgage market. Interest-only deals allow borrowers to pay off the capital only when the mortgage term ends but concerns have been raised in recent years that many may not have adequate plans in place to eventually clear their debts.
Some could end up having to sell TAKE CONTROL their home to pay the loan back if Some people may have they do not take stronger control of to sell their homes to their repayment planning. pay the loan back The FCA said there are 1.67 million full interest-only and part capital repayment mortgage accounts outstanding in the UK. It said these represent 17.6 per cent of all outstanding mortgage accounts and over the next few years increasing numbers will require repayment. Jonathan Davidson, Executive Director of Supervision – Retail and Authorisations at the FCA, said good progress has been made in reducing the number of people holding interestMr Davidson said the FCA is encouraged to see only mortgages. that lenders have taken positive steps to engage He continued: “However, we are very con- with and help their interest-only customers. He continued: “However, as the number of cerned that a significant number of interest-only customers may not be able to repay the capital at maturities start to increase towards 2032, it is the end of the mortgage and be at risk of losing important that lenders take time to review and, where possible, improve, their own strategies.” their homes.”
Eurozone economy has highest growth in a decade The eurozone economy has enjoyed its best year in a decade, in the first clear evidence that it has broken out of the prolonged debt crisis that raised fears about the survival of the euro currency itself. In its first estimate for the fourth quarter, Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics agency, said the
eurozone had expanded by 0.6 per cent in the September to December period from the three months before. That healthy level of growth means that for the whole of 2017, the eurozone economy expanded by 2.5 per cent, its best performance since 2007, when it grew 3 per cent. In the decade since then, the
eurozone has had to grapple with one crisis after another, starting with the financial crash of 2008 that prompted the deepest worldwide recession since World War Two. That exposed the weak underbelly of the eurozone – the state of the public finances in a number of member economies.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Ryanair agrees deal with pilots’ union A ‘HISTORIC’ recognition deal has been agreed between Ryanair and the trade union representing pilots. The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said it had signed a voluntary trade union recognition agreement, with its reps involved in future negotiations on pay, hours, rostering and holidays. Balpa said the move followed Ryanair’s announcement before Christmas that it was willing to enter into discussions about recognising pilots’ unions in a number of European countries, including the UK.
Domino’s profit boost DOMINO’S Pizza expects to serve up higher than expected profits after The X Factor helped it post tasty fourth-quarter sales. The chain reported an 18.2 per cent rise in sales to £321.8million in the 13 weeks to December 24, while in the UK revenue increased 10.1 per cent to £294.7million. UK like-for-like sales were up 6.1 per cent. Domino’s said the start of The X Factor final on December 2 acted as the ‘catalyst’ for its biggest day of sales for the year.
B&Q cuts 200 jobs B&Q is to axe 200 head office jobs as part of a cost-cutting drive at the DIY retailer. The company said yesterday (January 30) that the cull will ‘improve efficiency and simplify ways of working’. Helena Feltham, the group’s HR Director, said: “The new structure will improve efficiency, simplify ways of working, and reflect recent changes in the market and the number of B&Q stores.”
World News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
SPORT IN BRIEF
NOT ON THE LIST Putin joked he was upset not to be included
Laporte joins City but Aubameyang must wait MANCHESTER CITY have confirmed the signing of 23-year-old France defender Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao in a reported £57million deal, which is a club record transfer fee. Arsenal are still pursuing the striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but Borussia Dortmund want to land a replacement before allowing the striker to leave. The German club have been linked with Gunners forward Olivier Giroud and Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi as possible replacements for the Gabon international.
GB’s women in Tokyo WOMEN footballers from all the home countries will compete for Olympic gold for only the second time in history at the Tokyo Games in 2020. While the British Olympic Association and Football Association have been keen to enter Olympic tournaments in the past, the FAs of the other three home nations have objected because of fears about their independent status.
Trio fit for Rome opener ENGLAND have received a significant injury boost ahead of their Rugby Union Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome after three players rated as doubtful were passed fit. Flanker Chris Robshaw (who was suffering back problems), lock Maro Itoje (hip) and full-back Mike Brown (blurred vision) have returned to training and have been given the all-clear for Sunday’s Stadio Olimpico showdown.
NEWS
21
Glee actor Salling found dead after facing child pornography charges Former Glee actor Mark Salling has died aged 35, weeks before he was due to be sentenced in court over child pornography charges. Salling’s lawyer Michael J Proctor said in a statement last night [Tuesday]: “I can confirm that Mark Salling passed away early this morning. “Mark was a gentle and loving person, a person of great creativity, who was doing his best to atone for some serious mistakes and errors of judgment.
US government’s so-called Putin List is ‘hostile step’ RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has called a long-awaited US list of Russian businessmen and officials who have flourished under his presidency a ‘hostile step’ that harms relations between Moscow and Washington. The Trump administration’s so-called Putin List featured 114 Russian politicians and 96 ‘oligarchs’, fulfilling a demand by Congress that the US should punish Moscow for interfering in the 2016 US election.
Slighted The section on political leaders includes the entire Kremlin administration and the cabinet, as well as other top officials. Speaking in Moscow, Mr Putin, who is running for President at the March election, joked that he felt ‘slighted’ that he himself was not on the list. Despite calling it a ‘hostile step’, Mr Putin said
Moscow does not want to make the situation worse, and is eager to ‘develop the relations as much as our American counterparts are willing to’. The list had led to fears among rich Russians that it could lead to US sanctions, or being informally blacklisted in the global financial system. However, the US surprised observers by announcing that it had decided not to punish anyone under the new sanctions, at least for now. Some US representatives have accused President Donald Trump of giving Russia a free pass, fuelling further questions about whether the president is unwilling to confront Moscow. The idea of the seven-page unclassified document, as envisioned by Congress, was to nameand-shame those believed to be benefiting from Mr Putin’s tenure, as the United States works to isolate his government diplomatically and economically.
Guilty “He is survived by his mother and father, and his brother. The Salling family appreciates the support they have been receiving and asks for their privacy to be respected.” In December, Salling pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Prosecutors said he had more than 50,000 images of child porn on his computer and on a USB drive. He was scheduled to be sentenced on March 7. Salling was best known for his long-running role as bad boy Noah “Puck” Puckerman in musical comedy series Glee, which was shown from 2009 until 2015. In 2010, he released a solo album called Pipe Dreams. He shared a Screen Actors Guild award with the Glee cast in 2010 when the show was given an outstanding TV comedy ensemble award.
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NEWS
Letters
Wednesday January 31 | 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 TAKE CARE The hospital at Pembury is failing to meet targets
Do we abandon the world’s poor to treat the obese and smokers? With respect to the esteemed editor of the Times, I disagree fundamentally with his proposed treatments for the NHS (January 17). He is right to point out that our NHS is underfunded. The NHS budget is 8.5 per cent of the UK GDP, ranking us 13th out of the 15 founding members of the EU, and below countries such as Greece, Italy and Slovenia. But the £2billion cost he quotes for ‘health tourism’ is for all non-UK residents, including tourists who will often be insured. The true cost of deliberate health tourism is far lower, estimated at around £300million.
Waiting times in the car park I rarely use exclamation marks, but in what follows I’ll make an exception – it says more than I ever can. Since last November I have been waiting for a hospital appointment at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury; a February appointment has now come through – a wait of almost four months. I accept the delay with stoicism. However, the appointment letter states: “If you are more than ten minutes late you will not be seen.” Four months wait, ten minutes late! Perhaps the clerical twonk who wrote that can take over the management of the car park where his/her time and efforts could be better spent. Joseph Howard Tunbridge Wells
Let’s hope Trust bears fruit One can only wish the best of luck to the incoming Chief Executive of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospital Trust, he’s going to need it and he’s set himself some lofty goals (January 17). Perhaps he should go for some low-hanging fruit first and sort out the parking. Sam Goodenough Tunbridge Wells
Don’t fall into the speed trap Whilst never denying the devastating effect that road accidents have on families, we should acknowledge the real reason why speed cameras are installed. Greg Clark is wrong to perpetuate the myth that they are there to save lives (January 17): They are there to generate revenue.
I agree with him that our society should be encouraging personal responsibility, but if drunks are given different treatment due to self-inflicted harm, should the same apply to smokers or overweight people? Or those injured playing sport? And raiding the foreign aid budget to cover NHS underfunding is taking money that mostly goes to help the poorest in our world – starving children, people driven from their homes by war – to treat domestic issues such as our ‘obesity epidemic’. The Britain I want to live in is better than that. Peter Lidstone Lib Dem Councillor for St John’s There are several such cameras on the near approaches to the town: One at the bottom of the hill on Frant Road – where cars are bound to have gathered speed; another on the stretch of the Eridge Road by Ramslye, again on the downside of a hill; along with one on a long straight stretch of the A264 Pembury Road outside Dunorlan Park. All these smack of opportunism; these sites all offer the possibility of drifting above the limit, none meets Greg Clark’s stated criterion for their installation: “The number of fatal or serious accidents on a particular stretch of road.” The police, for their part, now participate in this cynical practice. Rather than issuing fines, they offer ‘speed awareness courses’ at £92 a pop, because the revenue flows into their coffers rather than going to the Treasury. Peter Casson Tunbridge Wells
As shops leave, I can’t get in In the article ‘Town needs a shopping centre that will draw customers in’ (January 17), Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said ‘they were not concerned about the situation’. This is a typical response from them, heads in the sand. TWBC have a record of not listening to well-meant advice and criticism, especially with regard to planning decisions like the theatre and civic complex. If that project goes ahead, the town could be in danger of losing more stores. TWBC recently held a special public meeting to hear and discuss criticism regarding inappropriate and unsound planning decisions they had made. Judging by their comments they,
but a few councillors, took not the slightest notice of anything that was said. When they come up for election, the answer is in our hands. One of the many reasons there is a reduction in shoppers visiting Royal Victoria Place is the difficulty people encounter getting to the town in the first place. Pembury Road, together with most main roads leading to the town, are gridlocked at peak times. I live in Paddock Wood, the journey takes me from 25 to 70 minutes depending on traffic jams and then there is the parking charge when you do get there. Why bother to go in the first place? C A Godsave Paddock Wood
Cinema site: No happy ending? I read with incredulity that the cinema site in Tunbridge Wells will not see a start to its redevelopment until 2019; that’s a pity on a number of fronts, not least of which is that I may not be around to see it finished. Reading your article (January 24) one may forgiven for reading between the lines: Is this inept council of ours playing fast and loose, and too dangerous a game of wringing out of the developer as big a pot of money as it can under Section 106? Altitude, the developer, will not be the ones paying the £500,000 to £600,000 the council wants. Ultimately it will be the buyers, the users. Or they could decide to chuck it all in and go elsewhere – another black eye for the council. John Ward Moorhouse Tunbridge Wells
U-turns make the head spin I was pleased to hear that Kent County Council has done a ‘U-turn’ (January 17) and doesn’t have to make any cuts to bus services, as feared, after it found that it would receive more money from central government. But I am not surprised. OK so it does come as something of a shock to learn that the coffers are opening, but then as we all know now, apparently, austerity was a bad idea and should never have happened. That in itself must be one of the biggest U-turns in the history of British politics. But Theresa May’s government doesn’t really seem to know what it’s doing at all. It’s like the local plan for housing in Tonbridge & Malling, along with all other local authorities, having to be changed almost before it’s begun because the government has decided to move the goalposts and increase housing targets once again. So after doing all the research into available sites, the council can now start looking again. Surely that’s a big waste of public money. There are so many U-turns, it makes the head spin. A wise commentator remarked that the Tories keep coming up with mean and nasty policies, so that when they do decide to bin them, they look kind and caring. Not much chance of that happening for Brexit. One can only hope it doesn’t have an impact on local services. But I feel for our councils, who are caught in the middle of all this nonsense. Ryan Price Leigh
We do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words
Calverley
Observations on life and more important things
TUNBRIDGE WELLS council is fully committed to supporting local businesses, as Calverley discovered the other Thursday. He popped in to the Creative Hub on Monson Road to hear talks on building and hosting websites. During the break ten pizzas were delivered from the nearby Ask restaurant. Big smiles on the faces of business people as they tucked in. There were even beers in the fridge. Calverley was about to get out his purse and part with some cash when advised: “No need for that… it’s all paid for by the council.” Guess where he’s off to again this Thursday?
PICTURE this. A young woman aboard a small yacht out on the Mediterranean decides to take advantage of the solitude and stand at the bows catching the sun’s rays, in her birthday suit [for younger readers that means nude]. Suddenly she spots what she describes as a ‘pole’ sticking out from the waves. Hubby rushes forward, blinks in disbelief and tells her it’s the periscope from a submarine. What cheeky chappies, those sailors. You couldn’t make it up. And Calverley did not. THERE are some strange parents out there. Take the ones Calverley heard about last week. Apparently, for some reason, they have a fondness for moles – the ones in the garden, not on your body. They believe everyone should share their love of the wee things so when they found one lying dead in the garden they had it stuffed and mounted. That was bad enough. Worse to come, though. They then presented it to their daughter on her 10th birthday. What a present. What a surprise.
INTO the Waitrose in Heathfield. Well, we all know they don’t exist in Tunbridge Wells and the one in Tonbridge was the wrong direction on this particular day. Anyway, when cardholders spend more than £1.50 or whatever, one gets a free coffee. Calverley’s four bottles of Scotch entitled him to a free cup of coffee from the self-serve counter. As He approaches the counter some chap breezes in from outside, walks straight in front of him, pulls a large mug out of his carrier bag, fills it up and – calm as you like – saunters out. Calverley is dumbfounded and has to take a quick swig from one of his bottles. The nerve. Chin Chin, readers
Education News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
NEWS
23
EDUCATION Times WITH THE
EDUCATION IN BRIEF
Cast your vote for your outstanding school THE University of Kent is asking local school pupils to vote for their ‘School Star’ as part of this year’s 2018 Kent Teacher of the Year Awards. But it isn’t exclusively just for teachers, pupils can vote for anyone in their school who inspires them such as a reading volunteer, caretaker or teaching assistant. The deadline to submit votes is March 1 and more information can be found at www.kentteacheroftheyear.co.uk
New support group THE Kent Autistic Trust has set up a Tunbridge Wells support group for the parents and carers of children and young people with Asperger Syndrome or Autism. Your child does not need a diagnosis for you to attend and it is an opportunity for parents and carers to talk and listen to others with similar experiences, to exchange ideas and information and discuss concerns. The talks will start in March and run on Tuesdays from 7pm until 8.45pm. For more information please contact: Jo Blamires (Family Support Officer) (01634) 405168 or jo@kentautistic.com If you have any education news from your school please contact eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk
A pitch perfect launch for new all-weather sports field
Tracey Crouch MP visited Bennett Memorial to officially declare its 3G pitch open PUPILS, staff and governors at Bennett Memorial School turned up in the drizzle last Friday [January 26] in order to see Tracey Crouch MP officially open their new 3G pitch. The Parliamentary Under Secretary for Sport and Civil Society, cut the ribbon on the Ofsted outstanding school’s new sportsfield and within seconds pupils were running onto the state-ofthe-art all-weather pitch in order to try it out. Commanding a perfect position in the grounds of Bennett Memorial it provides a spectacular setting for team sports at the school.
Delighted Headteacher Jon Sparke told the Times: “We are very proud of the collective effort that has brought us to the position where we are able to offer our students such outstanding facilities. “This is the product of the generosity of Bennett parents, combined with the fundraising efforts of our students. We are delighted that the Minister for Sport has joined us to declare the pitch open. “The pitch has already furthered the quality of what we can offer in terms of sport and we are looking forward to still greater success in this area.”
SMILE FOR THE CAMERA Tracey Crouch with Bennett Memorial pupils
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NEWS
Weekly Comment
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Tom Tugendhat MP for Tonbridge & Malling
Train time keeping would have left Swiss red-faced EVERY commuter from Tonbridge knows that the past month has not been a good one. Trains have been using the timetable as a suggestion rather than a guide and the timekeeping would have left the Swiss red-faced. After our timetable was severely disrupted at Christmas, we looked forward to better, more reliable services as the London Bridge works came to an end. This definitely hasn’t happened so far. Almost every day this year has seen some sort of disruption on the network.
Busiest So why have these improvements made reliability worse? Southeastern say that it’s the signallers getting used to the new track at London Bridge. This may be true but it doesn’t account for all delays. Often it’s train crew being in the wrong place, delays at stations or mechanical issues on the train. While Network Rail must be held to account for their performance at London Bridge, I’ve made it clear to Southeastern that they must up their game too. But why does rail matter to us so much? The answer is simple – the number of people using
Tonbridge station is increasing. It is the busiest in Kent and has millions of passenger movements each year. People are rightly attracted to live here because of the rail network, which allows us to get to work and home again easily and safely. That’s why I hope everyone who uses our network often joins the excellent Tonbridge Line Commuters. They are an example of a group of people who look towards doing all they can to improve connectivity from Tonbridge, Hildenborough and along the line. We’ve fought battles together and are looking at long-term improvements, as well as sorting out the shortterm issues. But the remit of Tonbridge Line Commuters doesn’t just look at what happens on the track. What happens at the station is just as important. And at the moment Kent County Council has an exciting consultation about improving access at Tonbridge Station. This will create a larger pedestrian area at the front of the station, and make it much easier for pedestrians to cross Quarry Hill Road coming from the centre of town. It will also have an impact on through traffic from the south, with the right turn into Priory Road stopped so that some
Tom Tugendhat, MBE, left the British Army in July 2013 after a career in which he served on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and as the military assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff. As a Territorial Army officer, he worked on everything from those ops to establishing the Armed Forces Muslim Association. He also worked for the Foreign Office. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2015. He was elected as Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee in July 2017
IMPROVING ACCESS Tonbridge Station must keep pace with demand
short stay parking bays can be added. It’s certainly an interesting proposal which will, I’m sure, provoke much discussion. The consultation ends on February 12, so there’s only a little time left. There’s also an event being held on the proposals on Thursday, February 8 at Tonbridge Castle from 3-7pm. Please go along to
make your views heard! I’m pleased that access will improve, whatever the final design. It is much needed to cope with the rising demand. Let’s hope that what happens on the track can improve as much as access to the track will, and that next month sees a significant improvement in our rail services.
WEST KENT’S ULTIMATE PROPERTY GUIDE – FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY A MUST-READ FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BUY, LET OR SELL
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PROPERTY
To suit your budget
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Your at-a-glance guide to
In my view… Ed Treliving BEng MBA MRICS MFPWS Director at Sheffords Chartered Surveyors
West Kent Property – Three Hot Topics! Market Comment During the course of 2017, the commercial property market in West Kent showed a vibrancy that is perhaps surprising in view of the wider economic and political context and 2018 has started very much in the same vein. Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells in particular have not experienced the same widely reported ‘flat lining’ of the London residential markets with moderate growth noted across West Kent with ‘station postcodes’ particularly active in late 2017 / early 2018. Property with lower capital values within the Limit of Built Development (LBD) continues to present opportunities for smaller developers / investors with resultant higher yields albeit taxation and revision of ‘stamp duty’ has reduced the appeal of residential ‘buy-to-lets’. Is your investment property complaint with the Energy Act? From 1 April 2018, it will become unlawful to let a commercial or residential property in England & Wales with an Energy Efficiency Rating of ‘F’ or ‘G’ unless an exemption applies. For existing tenancies the deadline is 1 April 2020. If you are a landlord you need to ensure the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) of your property is above the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) and you need to act now. Are you planning building work? Despite its title, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is not solely concerned with party walls. It regulates the relationship between neighbouring owners in the context of a number of specified types of construction work on, or in close proximity to, the boundary between two adjoining premises.
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increasing number of cases of failure to comply with the legislation. If you are planning building works you should consider whether the Act applies.
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To suit your budget
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
PROPERTY
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great properties by price range… STRATFORD STREET TUNBRIDGE WELLS
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£395,000-£425,000
UNDER £700,000 LIME TREE HOUSE, HADLOW
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£699,500 n Grade II listed n Sitting/dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Bedroom suite n Shower room n 2 further double bedrooms n Second floor with master bedroom en-suite bathroom
n Courtyard garden CONTACT Barnes Kingsnorth Tonbridge 01732 771616 www.bkestateagents.com
UNDER £850,000 COLLEGE DRIVE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
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UNDER £450,000 STRATFORD STREET, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
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n Utility room n Master bedroom with en suite n Good-sized rear garden n Large driveway n Detached double garage CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk
Forest Road, Tunbridge Wells A substantial detached family house on the sought-after southern side of town 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 5 reception rooms. Indoor swimming pool complex with steam room, plant room and shower. Garage
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and car port. Gardens and grounds. In all about 0.46 acres. EPC: D. Guide price: ÂŁ2,250,000 KnightFrank.co.uk/TNW170358
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A detached family home in sought-after Camden Park 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms. Integral double garage. Established rear garden. EPC: D.
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Mayfield An executive detached family home with expansive views 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms. Quadruple garaging and purpose built studio. Gardens and grounds including fully fenced pond and decked areas. Far-reaching views across to Broad Oak. EPC: C.
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
‘The elegant sitting room has a beautiful ornamented Georgian fireplace and surround’
5 Kentish Mansions
PROPERTY
33
AT A GLANCE
5 KENTISH MANSIONS LONDON ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Private entrance hallway n Sitting room with balcony n Kitchen dining room n 2 generous bedrooms n 1 en-suite n Bathroom n No pets permitted n Long let preferred n Permit Parking
£1,850 pcm + fees Available from 14/02/2018 Available TO LET through Batcheller Monkhouse Tunbridge Wells 01892 502840 www.batchellermonkhouse.com
Beautiful second floor apartment packed full of period features in the centre of town
40
PROPERTY
Atwell House
‘The property is offered with the benefit of no forward chain’
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
AT A GLANCE ATWELL HOUSE SOUTHFIELD ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Detached n Unique and contemporary n Open plan living space n Kitchen n Fitted electric oven and ceramic hob n 2 double bedrooms n Study/bedroom 3 n Family bathroom suite n Cloakroom with skylights n Bi-folding patio doors n Multi-room sound system n Dual aspect flooring n Driveway parking n Patio area n No onward chain n 10 year guarantee
GUIDE PRICE
£475,000
Available for sale through Hunni Homes 01892 888333 www.hunnihomes.co.uk
Unique and impressive bespoke detached home with striking two tone brickwork
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Advertising Feature
PROPERTY
41
Making the dream of finding an affordable home a perfect reality Local firm SJD are committed to sourcing sites which deliver housing that everyone can afford THE current housing crisis is a result of the supply/demand imbalance that has been present in the in the UK housing market since the 1970s. Last year, it was reported that the crisis affects around eight in ten families across the UK. These alarming statistics, combined with the uncertainty posed by Brexit, has led many to question the future of the UK housing market. While figures show that the home building industry is on track to hit the government’s target of creating 1 million new homes by 2020, it appears that current efforts are falling short in some regions of the UK. Typical sites SJD focus on include those close to good infrastructure and facilities, rural locations where prices can be prohibitive for young local people, and large sites where the registered provider will build private homes to fund the cost of affordable homes on the site. SJD have recently appointed Marie Coleman to head up the affordable housing division of the
company. Marie brings with her extensive experience in this sector, having worked in the industry for many years. Formally of Genesis Housing, Marie will be looking to provide affordable housing sites throughout the South East and the Midlands. Concentrating on ‘off market’ opportunities and 106 provisions, Marie will be focusing on delivering suitable sites in order to meet the requirements of the registered providers (housing associations) on behalf of SJD. This market sector is an important component in delivering quality housing for everyone. SJD are committed to sourcing and selling sites that will provide everyone with a wonderful home and lifestyle. If you are looking to acquire land or property for affordable housing or have sites that may be suitable for a registered provider, please contact us on 01892 579937 or email Marie on marie@sjd-projects.com
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FEATURES
Build it Live
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
How to create your ideal home
Are you undertaking a self-build, renovation or extension? Then make sure you visit next month’s Build It Live South East show, says Eileen Leahy DREAM HOME This build is by Oakwrights, who are available to do selfbuilds in Kent
O
VER the first weekend in February, the Kent Centre in Maidstone will be a hive of activity courtesy of the fact it is hosting the Build It Live South East, the UK’s dedicated self-build and renovation show. So whether you’re thinking of building the house of your dreams, wanting to incorporate an extension on to your existing propert, or simply fancy seeing what property possibilities are out there for a future project, then ensure you have this event firmly in your diary. As well as bringing you details of a couple who decided to embrace their dream of building their
own home, and details of how you can do it, too, we speak to industry expert Chris Bates from Build-It magazine about the various options that are available out there.
Checklist With a chance to win some tickets to the show, which takes place on February 4 and 5 – we have 100 to give away – and a brief checklist of all you’ll see there, all that’s left to say is we hope you enjoy reading our guide to Build It Live South East and that it helps you to pursue and achieve the perfect property…
TOP TEN REASONS WHY YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO MISS BUILD IT LIVE 1. Discover new suppliers Meet specialist suppliers and talk to the people behind the products and services 2. Learn in FREE seminars From finding the right build method to adding more space and sustainable building, you’re sure to come away with plenty of essential information for your project 3. Build your knowledge Discover how to tackle a variety of common challenges faced by many self-builders and renovators in the 16 free informative workshops. There are eight workshops each day led by product experts 4. Gain practical guidance Attend live taster sessions of Potton’s SelfBuild Academy courses, and take the opportunity to glean practical advice for your self-build scheme 5. Find a builder The Federation of Master Builders are on hand to help you build the best you can! They’ll advise you how to ensure you pick a trusted builder for your scheme 6. Be inspired by other self-builders Be inspired by real self-builders’ stories, like Jon and Angela (pictured right), as they talk you through the ins and outs of their projects, and how they realised their dreams 7. Receive FREE 1-to-1 advice Ask the Build It experts anything about your project
and receive bespoke advice – bring your plans to help illustrate your questions. This is free one-to-one advice from leading experts in their fields 8. See a house at first fix Visit the Naked House to see a property at first fix build stage. A section of a new build will be constructed in the exhibition hall to give you a clear understanding of how the products work together 9. Find a plot of land Talk to the experts in the PlotSearch Zone about finding a plot for your build and learn how to source and secure them 10. Experience an automated home Immerse yourself in a fully working smart home environment at the Infinity Smart Home Zone and see the benefits of an automated home. Plus talk to CEDIA in the Smart Home Advice Clinic if you’re not sure where to begin with home technology! To book tickets, which start from £12, visit www.builditlive.co.uk
LIVING THE GOOD LIFE After visiting Build it Live, maybe you’ll be inspired to do your own self-build, just like Jon and Angela did…
Seeking a change in lifestyle, Jon and Angela Thompson traded their house in the suburbs for a bungalow in rural Kent. Katy Donaldson finds out more… In the tiny Kent village of Grafty Green is what at first glance appears to be a modest bungalow. The front of the property is smart and immaculately presented, but gives no clue to the contemporary house that lies behind the walls. The couple that took on the challenge of transforming this once rundown dwelling into a stylish, light-filled home had no previous experience of major building projects – but that didn’t deter them. Jon and Angela Thompson spent 20 years living happily in suburbia, in Bromley to be precise. When their children had grown up and left home they started to think about a change of lifestyle – Angela had long wanted to keep alpacas. However, the pair didn’t think they could fit the creatures into their suburban garden, and weren’t sure the neighbours would appreciate them suddenly adopting ‘The Good Life’ either. The couple eventually decided to sell their five-bedroom family home, and in November 2014 they found a tired 1970s bungalow that was ripe for renovation. The property came with several acres of pasture that was perfect for all the animals they wanted to keep; so far eight alpacas, five rescue goats, one sheep called Doris and a one-eyed Shetland pony named Ollie. The existing abode was in a sorry state, having suffered years of neglect. Plus there was no insulation. While Jon and Angela knew they wanted to alter the dwelling quite radically, they’d never carried out any major structural projects before, and were unsure about what options were open to them. Given their inexperience, the Thompsons quickly realised they’d need professional help to take things forward. They soon teamed up with Barry Stott-Brookes from The Architects Atelier, who gave them lots of interesting ideas. With Barry’s help, the couple decided to reconfigure the bungalow’s layout and add a dramatic vaulted extension with a semi open-plan layout. The kitchen and sitting room would both lead out on to a spacious deck running the full width of property’s rear, taking full advantage of the lovely views over the pasture. The existing roofline dictated the proportions of the addition,
which was to feature full-height glazing to bring light, drama and create the feeling of airiness and space Jon and Angela craved.
Cladding Once the Thompsons had submitted their project to the council, the planning process went fairly smoothly. Jon partly puts this down to the fact that they used the pre-application service. “The officer in charge of our case provided good indications about what might or might not be acceptable to the local authority, and was very helpful,” he says. “For example, he queried the colour of the cladding we had chosen and asked to see a sample. After that, he was satisfied that the shade wasn’t going to be too garish or out of place.” The couple also consulted their neighbours before submitting their plans. “They were very supportive and pleased we were going to smarten up the place,” says Angela. “Certainly there were no objections.” The Thompsons financed the project with the proceeds of the sale from their previous house, plus the addition of a £25,000 mortgage. In an attempt to keep costs to a minimum, they initially took on the role of project managers. However, they handed that responsibility over to the architect pretty quickly when they struggled to keep the builder on track in terms of the work
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Wednesday January 31 | 2018
schedule and interim payments. The original budget for the builder’s contract was £100,000, although this eventually rose to £120,000. “To be fair to our contractor, we did change the design of the main doors and windows in the extension, so there were cost implications for that,” says Jon. The project fund for the whole house and surrounding landscaping was £250,000, and in the end, the Thompsons succeeded in completing the entire scheme for £242,500. Looking back on their scheme, Jon
and Angela believe the most stressful part was moving out of the house and then back in again. The design process turned out to be one of the highlights of the process for them, thanks to the excitement of seeing their ideas realised. It’s a sociable dwelling that works well when family are staying over, as there’s generous living space and easy access to the outside. Jon and Angela have ended up with a unique, bright home that they love.
JON & ANGELA THOMPSON’S PROJECT OCCUPATIONS: Financial advisor
PLOT SIZE: Six acres
& teacher
BOUGHT: 2014
LOCATION: Grafty Green, Kent
HOUSE SIZE: 195m2
TYPE OF PROJECT: Renovation &
PROJECT COST: £242,500
extension STYLE: 1970s bungalow PROJECT ROUTE: Architect
designed & project managed, contractor hired for construction CONSTRUCTION METHOD: Steel &
timber frame extension PROPERTY COST: £550,000
PROJECT COST PER M2: £1,244 TOTAL COST: £792,500 BUILDING WORK COMMENCED:
April 2016 BUILDING WORK TOOK: Nine
months CURRENT VALUE: £800,000
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Choosing the best self-build package Whether you’re keen to get hands-on with your project or would rather leave it in the hands of the pros, there’s a house package route to suit you, says Build-It magazine’s Chris Bates
THE basic rule of running a self-build is that the more work you take on yourself, the more time you’ll have to put in – but the more money you can potentially save (or redirect into other parts of the scheme). The caveat to this is that, should you be taking on responsibility for driving the delivery of your project, the buck stops with you when things go wrong. So it’ll be your time and money that has to go into fixing them. Working with a package company is all about taking that stress and risk out of your hands. With a vast array of service levels to choose from, your build can be as handson or hassle-free as you want it to be. Fancy being in control every step of the way? Then a materials-supply or shell build solution could give you the right footing from which to push ahead. Don’t
feel like you’ve got enough skill or time to put into running the scheme yourself? Then you may be best off signing up to a professionally-managed or turnkey arrangement. Of course, the more elements you sign over to the experts, the more you’ll pay for the privilege – but you get the security of working with someone who knows how to successfully deliver a self-build. There are countless nuanced options when it comes to picking out the perfect route for your project. The four key type of self-build packages are the entry level Shell Builds, popular Design and Shell builds, the specialist Project Managed build and finally the Turnkey Design and Build where an expert takes care of the
whole process for an agreed timescale and price. You can find out more about each option at the Build It Live South East show on February 3 and 4 at Kent Centre in Maidstone. WIN TICKETS TO BUILD IT LIVE The Times of Tunbridge Wells has teamed up with Build It Live to offer our readers 100 free tickets. To be in with a chance of winning, simply go to the following web link and enter the promotional code below. Good luck! www.builditlive.co.uk/timestw100 Promo code: TIMESTW100
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Food & Drink
CLEVER COOK Tom Kerridge has the perfect recipe for festival success
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Experience Michelin star food and funky grooves at Tom’s Pub in the Park This summer Tunbridge Wells will be treated to a three-day festival of gastro goodies, live music and appearances from some of the country’s finest chefs and musicians courtesy of Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park. Eileen Leahy caught up with the TV chef to find out about this exciting extravaganza
T
OM KERRIDGE is running late. Only twenty minutes or so, but given just how much he has on his plate right now it’s totally understandable. The Michelin star chef, TV personality and best-selling author is currently juggling the promotion of Pub in the Park, a type of gastro and grooves event happening in Dunorlan Park this July, alongside the running of his two Michelin star pub The Hand and Flowers and also The Coach, both in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Add to the mix the fact he’s promoting his phenomenally successful BBC2 series Lose Weight For Good as well as the book that accompanies it and most would be flagging from fatigue at this point but not Tom. In fact, he is positively beaming and utterly charming when we meet at Sankey’s Brasserie on Camden Road to discuss his Pub in the Park event coming to Tunbridge Wells. Oh and the reason he was late I discover wasn’t for any of the above but because he and his promotions team got lost in a very busy, traffic heavy Tunbridge Wells! Despite this the chef has not
been discouraged from bringing his food festival to the town. “We’re so excited about it,” he says. “We kicked it off last year in Marlow and the idea behind it was to celebrate ten years of The Hand and Flowers. But it took so long to organise the pub ended up being almost 13 years old!” The slightly tardy timing didn’t matter a jot to the chef, who has lost a staggering 12 stone over the past couple of years, as the three day food festival ended up being an ‘utterly amazing’ success. “We sold all 18,000 tickets within 24 hours of them going on sale,” explains Tom. “The original idea was to get ten of my mates, lots of them with Michelin stars, some without, to come along and cook some really tasty food for around a fiver a dish.” This way he says the public could experience a taste of these famous culinary offerings without having to pay a fortune or sit on a long, often exclusive waiting list. The likes of Benares’ Atul Kochhar, Paul Ainsworth from No 6 in Padstow
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Wednesday January 31 | 2018
FEATURES
PARK LIFE An aerial shot of Dunorlan
and Chris and Jeff Galvin who run a number of prestigious eateries in London were all present last year. “We had more Michelin stars at that event than at anything similar anywhere else in the country. The vibe was amazing; it felt like a big national event that was happening in your back garden.” The success of Pub in the Park Marlow, which also showcased the delicious wares of local artisan producers as well as independent pubs and restaurants, gave Tom the inspiration to roll it out across the country this year. “We didn’t want to make the Marlow one any bigger so we looked around the country and found some places that we thought had a similar feel.” They chose
Knutsford, Bath and of course Tunbridge Wells. What made our town a good choice? “It’s a beautiful place but it also supports its community’s local businesses and independent restaurants and producers - and Kent is amazing! We call it the Garden of England for good reason but there is its incredible coastline too so it seemed like the perfect option. “We can’t wait to come here and we know Tunbridge Wells will love it. I’ve got some great
Continued on page 52
Melanie C
Scouting For Girls
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Food & Drink
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
themselves to the general public.” Tom, who would love the event to become an annual one, is clearly passionate about the exposure it gives people not to mention the good time enjoyed by the visitors.
COOKING UP A FEAST Tom entertains with a demonstration
Provenance
Continued from page 51 friends down here.” These include the Tanner brothers of the Kentish Hare in Bidborough, Steve Harris of The Sportsman in Whistable and Mark Sergeant who runs The Wife of Bath in Wye. “They’ll all be cooking, doing demos and Q&As alongside small independents and that’s just perfect. It’s a way of putting locals on a national scale.” Tom and his team will be bringing pop-up versions of The Coach and The Hand and Flowers, the only pub in the UK to have two Michelin stars, to the event which runs from July 6 to to 8. “We’ll be doing demos, Q&A sessions with the audience, cooking and introducing bands.” These, he reveals during our chat, will be Tom Odell (who played at last year’s event) Mel C,
Razorlight, The Christians, Scouting for Girls and Sophie Ellis Bextor. In addition to this there will also be guest appearances from the likes of top chef Angela Hartnett MBE and former Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown. But as well as bringing out the big gastro guns Tom also wants to ensure they attract the area’s best pubs, restaurants and suppliers to exhibit, too. “They’re another key reason as to why we are doing this. It’s not just about having a party with all my chef mates in the park and cooking up some great food and listening to music, we also want to shine the spotlight on smaller enterprises and independents to help them get a foothold and show what they do. Pub in the Park is an Tom Odell opportunity for them to showcase
“From our point of view everything about the festival has to feel like it’s from the heart and is real. Ninety per cent of those who did Marlow last year signed up to do it again that weekend. The feedback from those who exhibited and attended was great. People were able to walk around, sample first class food and directly ask questions about the products’ provenance from the people who make them. The key thing with showing locally is you can create a buzz around something and people then become passionate about it so that when it gets to a wider audience its reputation precedes it.”
Tom does have a word of warning for any chefs wanting to take part: “It is hard to replicate dishes when you’re not in your own kitchen but as long as they have the heart and soul of what you do it’ll be fine. My advice would be to concentrate on the flavour and not the presentation. As every chef knows, the technicality of the mise en place takes time but here the pressure is off.” So how would Tom sum up the essence of his Pub in the Park? “It’s about having a good time, tasting some great food and listening to some amazing bands. The sun will shine all three days and it’ll be around 24°C so just come in flip flops, shorts and a T shirt, that’s all you’ll need!” Roll on summer… Tickets to Pub in the Park go on general sale on Friday February 2. For visitor information and priority booking on Thursday February 1, sign up to the Pub Club at www. pubintheparkuk.com where you’ll also find details on how to apply to exhibit at the event
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Food & Drink
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Aussie rules
3) 2014 Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Victoria (£12.50, The Wine Society) The land of the comparatively small grower, Victoria possesses the highest number of wineries of any state. Situated 120km north of Melbourne, Tahbilk is a winery invested in tradition with National
W
FRESH, LIGHT AND TAUT HIGH-STREET CHARDONNAY
1) 2016 Irresistible Chardonnay, Western Australia (£6.99, Co-Op) You really must taste this medium-bodied gem from the Co-op – there’s no betterquality Aussie ‘Chardy’ under the critical £7 mark in the UK. With a flourish of Nashi pear, melon and nectarine boosted by a whisper of honeysuckle and cashew, this is a cultured wine for a highly competitive price tag. Spot on for Fettuccine Alfredo, seafood risotto or a chicken and leek pie. Made for the Co-op by the gifted Larry Cherubino. The sweet mystery is the price: it’s one of the steals of the year. Alc 12.5%
Trust classification. It was a founding member of Australia’s ‘First Families of Wine’ and still produces an icon Shiraz from vines planted in 1860 and a white from reputedly the world’s oldest Marsanne vines. This delicious Cabernet from a winery on song meanwhile punches well above its price point. The texture and flavour are nothing more or less than
perfect, juicy cassis and dark berry fruits with a garland of cedary French oak, supported by touches of dried herbs, black olives, mocha and ripe tannins on the seamless palate. Drink it with venison or a beef rib roast and you will be in dreamland. A big-time bargain, whether enjoyed tonight or in a decade. Alc 13.5%
Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine
MAGNIFICENTLY CRAFTED, INCISIVE ‘MÉTHODE TASMANOISE’ FIZZ 2) 2011 Jansz Tasmania Vintage Cuvée, Pipers River (£18.95-£26, WineDirect/Dulwich Vintners/ Oddbins) Tasmania has Australia’s coolest climate and boasts some of the world’s best seafood. Jansz made its first traditional method fizz and is the only winery there devoted entirely to sparkling wine. A blend of 56% Chardonnay 44% and Pinot Noir, this is fulsome fizz with gorgeous echoes of white flowers, honey nougat, lemon curd and lots of biscuity/nutty/buttery brioche nuances. Extended lees age has built a gloriously creamy texture, perfect line, dainty bubbles and marked persistence. Dry, complex, elegant and tailor-made for light seafood dishes (and a good all-rounder for Indian and Cantonese dishes), this is a beauty in a bottle. Alc 12%
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Following a superlative trade tasting which showcased nearly 1,100 wines from 41 different regions for Australia Day 2018 in London last week, Times wine expert James Viner reveals what’s going on down under… COME TO THE CLASSY CABERNET
ITH a geographical size similar to Europe and with equally distinct climates, soils and terroirs, it’s no surprise that Australia has a diverse portfolio of wines and wine styles. With a 23% market share, it also continues to be the most popular country of origin in the UK’s off-trade. Here are three brilliant bottles that will perk up your palate and give you more bang for your buck...
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FEATURES
Travel
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
‘ Cruise ships are like floating cities with everything you could possibly want on board’
How to broaden your horizons Knowing where to start on booking your summer adventure isn’t always simple as the world has never been smaller and easier to travel around. So, if you’ve reached the end of your tether, here are nine reasons why a cruise is a great way to explore… VALUE FOR MONEY Cruises offer great value - your fare includes nearly everything you’ll need for a fantastic trip: accommodation, food, plenty of daytime and evening entertainment and your travel between a range of destinations. Fares on mainstream cruise lines can vary from under £100 per person, per night - cheaper than bed and breakfast in many a hotel in the UK. On some lines, kids even sail free or at discounted rates when sharing a cabin with two adults. If you have a larger budget and are looking for luxury then there are plenty of upscale alternatives which are even more inclusive, with alcohol and soft drinks, gratuities, shore tours, on board spending credits, and even flights bundled into the fare.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT SUIT ALL There is a myriad cruise lines with equally diverse fleets of varying sizes; from massive ships that accommodate in excess of 7,000 passengers to smaller boutique style ships carrying mere hundreds. Whether you are looking for a resort style
holiday with rock-climbing walls, flow riders, outdoor movie theatres, or a more authentic, traditional type of cruise experience there is cruise ship for everyone.
EASY TO ORGANISE While most cruise lines offer on board booking, it is far easier to book through your local travel agent. Their wealth of experience and knowledge will help ensure that you pick the most appropriate holiday based on your preferences. Because cruise holidays package together transportation and accommodation, they’re very easy to plan. Pick your destination and itinerary, pick your ship then your cabin, and away you go - no searching for hotels in your price range, no coordinating travel between cities. You can even get your travel agent to arrange your flights for you although there are plenty of departure ports in the UK within driving distance to eliminate that extra planning step – Southampton, Dover, Newcastle, Edinburgh (Rosyth), Liverpool, Cardiff, Bristol. And if you time it well, you can book your
holiday to coincide with national and international events – Monaco Grand Prix, Tallinn Medieval Festival, International Film Festival in Cannes, or perhaps the tulip season in Amsterdam
CABIN CONFIDENTIAL If price is a key factor then ‘inside’ cabins are generally the cheapest. Perhaps not ideal if you are claustrophobic, these cabins, as the name suggests, are inside and therefore have no natural light. Some argue that this is an advantage and they sleep much better as a result. But most will prefer an ‘outside’ or ocean view cabin at the very least. You can still get bargains on these cabins, especially if they have ‘obstructed views’, ie the view is inhibited by a lifeboat or part of the ship’s infrastructure. If your only need is for natural daylight, then these are perfect for you. If budget is less of an issue, then a balcony cabin is the next level up – here you can sit outside with a drink, or maybe room service, and watch the world go by from the privacy of your own room. There is an adage that goes ‘the more you pay, the more you sway’ and it is not far off the truth! Many of the most luxurious cabins are at the top (think Pretty Woman). If you are worried about getting seasick, then the lower and more central on the ship your cabin is, the more stable the ship will feel. You can buy plenty of anti-sea sickness remedies from most pharmacists, but if those are not working than an injection from the
on board doctor can be money well spent offering almost instant relief.
MULTIPLE DESTINATIONS BUT UNPACK ONCE On a cruise, you unpack once and your floating hotel takes you from city to city or from island to island; there’s no need to mess with train or ferry schedules, or lug your suitcase along cobblestone streets. Most mornings, you’ll wake up in a new place. Can’t decide between St. Lucia and Barbados, or Italy or Spain? Why choose? Pick an itinerary that visits all the cities on your wish list. Whether you want to experience the glitz, glamour, style and sophistication of the sunkissed Côte d’Azur, marvel at the breathtakingly beautiful fjords of Norway, or sail amongst icebergs, go whale watching and uncover the dramatic scenery of eastern Greenland, there is no end of possibilities.
FROM SHIP TO SHORE If you are worried about being bored, then don’t be; today’s cruise ships offer a choice of activities throughout the day and a range of facilities to keep everyone happy. Whether you want to pamper yourself in the spa, pump some iron in the gym or lounge in the sun reading a book while your family plays basketball, there is something for everyone. On sea days there are kids’ clubs; educational lectures; wine tasting, theatre and dance workshops; art classes, bridge lessons; language classes; Pilates or yoga. You will be spoiled for choice. But if all you want to do is nothing while the ship sails from port to
Travel
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
FAMILY FRIENDLY
SEE THE SIGHTS Cruising isn’t just for the high seas
port you can do that, too. On the port days, there is always a host of tour excursions from which to choose that explore the town and local areas, or possibly the local beaches, to ensure that you have a chance to fulfil the ‘must sees’ while you are there. On the other hand, you may prefer to explore the destinations under your own steam and at your
own pace. This is your holiday so you get to choose how to spend your time. When you return to the ship, then you have a choice of dining options from a casual buffet, a fancy sit-down restaurant, a sushi bar, a diner or a steakhouse; and after dinner watch a movie, a comedy routine, a song-and-dance show or live music performance.
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swimming pools, theatres and discos. And in the rare emergency, you will be relieved to know From tots to teens, grandparents to there are always enough lifeboats for everyone grandchildren, cruises are fun for all ages; on board. cruising has become multi-generational. If you’re struggling to find a holiday that all of your kids will enjoy but that has adult activities TRAVELLING ALONE too, then many of the larger ships have Cruising is a really great way to make new extensive kids’ facilities and clubs, split by age. friends – whether you are travelling alone, with Teens have their own cool hangouts, far a friend or partner, or in a group, ships are away from the play areas for the very sociable, not least because you little ones (and certainly a all have a common interest to BREAK THE ICE nice distance from travel and to see the world. Try a cruising holiday with parent-friendly pools That said, if you also a difference and bars). How can value your own peace, you not love a trip there are always that features places where you video games and can enjoy a quiet swimming drink and read pools, while your book. offering time On board, for families to you’ll meet be together at people all the dinner or on time - at your shoreside dinner table, in excursions? the bar or by the And parents can pool. Or perhaps even sneak in a on one of the shore romantic dinner excursions where alone, by taking you will be meeting advantage of late-night new people and making hours in the kids’ club. friends without the pressure of buying a round or trying to think of something to talk ALL MOD CONS about! Most ships also have daily get There is no need to be concerned about togethers specifically for those cruising alone, being stranded in the middle of the ocean. and on some you can request to be on a dining Cruise ships are like floating cities with table with fellow solo travellers, which your everything you could possibly want on board. travel agent can organise for you. Today’s vessels have Wi-Fi and satellite TV so There are countless stories of lifelong you can stay in touch with the real world during friendships that have been struck up at sea, your cruise (assuming you even want to) and even marriages so you never know! You might even watch your favourite soaps. There are even meet Mr or Mrs Right! shops that sell the toiletries you forgot to pack, So, don’t let popular cruising myths like “I’ll designer shops for fashion, leather goods and jewellery, medical centres, laundry facilities, etc. get seasick” and “I’ll feel claustrophobic on a ship” – try it for yourself and see what all the And of course, there’s also the fun stuff like gyms, multiple restaurants, movie screens, spas, hype is about.
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Valentine’s Special
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Five great restaurants to choose to dine out in this Valentine’s Day Choosing where to dine on a date is tricky enough so if you’re looking to go all out and impress on the most romantic day of the year, then take a look at some of our favourite restaurants around Tunbridge Wells for you and your partner to make the most of this special day. Whether the occasion calls for white tablecloths and gourmet plates, quirky cocktails and contemporary cuisine or a relaxed dinner by candlelight with an exceptional view, the Times has got it covered for you Vittle and Swig
Vittle and Swig offer a contemporary British menu in the heart of Tunbridge Wells. Located on Camden Road it has a delightful selection of imaginatively named and quirky cocktails including lychee martinis, the signature Smoke and Swig and of course all of the classic cocktails you’d expect including fruity cosmopolitans and minty mojitos. The varied and
sophisticated food offers innovative flavours and modern cooking and presentation techniques designed to wow you and your partner. Roasted artichokes with a chestnut and sage salsa topped with a fried duck egg is our choice for a starter followed by the pork belly with root vegetable dauphinoise, celeriac, apple, crackling and grain mustard. www.vittleandswig.co.uk
Rendezvous
Be transported to the streets of Paris and enjoy a cosy, relaxed and romantic Valentine’s Day meal with the person you love at the family-run Rendezvous. This chic eatery provides diners with the ultimate French-inspired brasserie experience courtesy of its classically trained chef and traditional decor. Situated on Camden Road, the restaurant is split over three floors offering a choice of ambiance, perfect for couples old and new with dinner by candlelight. The restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients from around Kent and also has a specials menu that changes daily and throughout the seasons. There is also a concise but excellent wine menu. www.rendezvoustw.co.uk
The Warren
A refined dining experience with ingredients sourced from the Warren Estate in Crowborough which is home to Sussex cattle, sheep and game. The Warren has a local, free range and a ‘from farm to table’ ethos. The 60 plus cover restaurant has three adjoining dining rooms as well as a bar area and is surrounded by stunning orangery windows that overlook Tunbridge Wells high street. The restaurant’s decadent Valentine’s Day menu for £99 per couple includes the ultimate aphrodisiac of oysters with a shallot vinaigrette to start, a venison wellington for two to share as well as a selection of Kentish cheeses to finish. www.thewarren.restaurant
Coco Retro SEVENTEEN at One Warwick Park Located in the charming Chapel Place area of Tunbridge Wells near to The Pantiles, SEVENTEEN at One Warwick Park has a warm and inviting interior that features a stunning double height glass atrium and is perfect for wining and dining your Valentine. They source their seasonal menu locally
This is a friendly and relaxed eatery serving up authentic French food which is based on Vale Road with eye-catching art deco interiors. Whether you choose between the bistro downstairs which is a great spot to watch the world go by, or head upstairs for a more intimate fine dining experience you’re sure have an evening to remember. Enjoy an aperitif at the decadent gold and glass bar and then start your evening with a classic baked camembert served with a salad and crusty bread, and for the main course why not share a Chateaubriand? www.cocoretro.com
which changes weekly and only use the freshest ingredients alongside modern cooking and impressive presentation techniques. Start off with the seared king scallops with cauliflower purée and chorizo jam and for the main we recommend the slow cooked lamb shank with sweet potato mash, purple sprouting broccoli and a rosemary jus.
Warm date and chocolate Valentine pots
It’s time to get busy in the kitchen and serve the person you love your heart on a plate this Valentine’s Day. But there’s absolutely no need to slave away over a three-course meal. All you need to do is simply head to the kitchen, roll up your sleeves and make something that’s sweet, sugary and made with a special ingredient called love…making this dish an ultimate ‘work of heart’
Ingredients
100g chopped dates 50g white chocolate, broken into pieces 40g toasted chopped mixed nuts 75g dark chocolate, broken into pieces 75g unsalted butter
75ml semi-skimmed milk 60g caster sugar 2 medium eggs, whisked 1tsp vanilla extract 1/4tsp baking powder A pinch of cream of tartar 50g ground almonds
Method
until the chocolate has melted. Transfer to a mixing bowl and stir until smooth.
Pre-heat the oven to 200C/Fan
180C/Gas Mark 6. Lightly grease six ramekins or ovenproof espresso cups with a little butter (unless you’re incredibly hungry, you can save some for another night).
Whisk the eggs, vanilla extract, baking powder and the cream of tartar into the dark chocolate mixture until evenly combined.
Divide the chopped dates
and divide the mixture evenly between the ramekins or cups.
(Whitworths work well) equally between the ramekins or cups and sprinkle the white chocolate and the chopped nuts over the top of the dates, again equally dividing between the ramekins or cups. Place the dark chocolate, butter,
milk and caster sugar in a heavybased saucepan and gently heat
Gently fold in the ground almonds
Bake in the centre of the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the surface is cooked but soft and fudge-like in the centre. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or clotted cream.
Recipe courtesy of Whitworths
Valentine’s Special
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
FOR HIM
Spoil that special man in your life with one of these innovative gift ideas BREWDOG Punk India Pale Ale craft beer making kit, £40 www.brewdog.com
MY BURBERRY BLUSH Eau de parfum 50ml, £70 www.burberry.com
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LOUIS VUITTON Connected tambour horizon graphite 42 watch, £2,275 www.louisvuitton.com
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FEATURES
Drive
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
FIRST DRIVE:
Nissan Leaf WHAT IS IT? This is the new Nissan Leaf, the second generation of the bestselling electric vehicle, which accounted for nearly half of all pure electric car sales in the UK last year. It’s loaded with advanced technology, has a new look and a longer range. Nissan says 12,000 orders have been taken since it was revealed three months ago, with 7,000 of those being from previous Leaf owners. It’s also the poster child for Nissan’s ‘Intelligent Mobility’ ecosystem. The Japanese firm is branching out to promote a more sustainable society, using renewable energy and allowing owners to plug their vehicles into the grid to support the national network.
WHAT’S NEW? Pretty much everything is new, from the uprated battery and motor system underneath, to the styling of the exterior and interior. There’s also Nissan’s ProPilot semi-autonomous driving assistance features, which appear in the UK for the first time here on top-spec cars - one of these is essentially adaptive cruise control and the other parks the car itself. The other standout feature is e-Pedal. It’s a glorified version of the driving mode found in many electric vehicles that ramps up the regenerative braking effect, but here it’s tuned so that 90% of driving can be done without using the brakes. It’s really easy to use and really helps to extend range.
WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? The second generation Leaf debuts the fourth generation of Nissan’s electric powertrain. With a 40kWh battery, up from 30kWh, the system
makes 148bhp and 320Nm of torque, and is plenty punchy out on the road. What’s more important though, is the fact that range has now increased to 235 miles on the standard NEDC cycle (though Nissan prefers to tout the 177-mile figure, which comes from the new, more realistic WLTP combined cycle testing). Coupled with the e-Pedal, this is entirely achievable, particularly if you resist the urge to really make the most of the high-torque acceleration the motor offers.
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? Few C-segment rivals - at least those that promote low running costs - could keep pace with the Leaf off the line. The instant torque from the electric motor is incredibly satisfying, and useful when darting into gaps in traffic or making an overtake. Attack a winding back road and the weight of the batteries quickly overcomes the low-grip economy tyres making swift progress hair raising. But around town, where the vast majority of these cars will be driven, it’s quiet and stress-free. In fact, wind and tyre noise are kept to a minimum even at motorway speeds, which is admirable with no internal combustion engine to mask the sound.
HOW DOES IT LOOK? To put it politely, the old Leaf had a polarising design; the awkward, bulbous styling did nothing to fight the mainstream buyer’s perception that
Having dominated the electric vehicle market since its initial release, the Nissan Leaf is back - but can it pick up where it left off? Darren Cassey finds out
electric vehicles aren’t to be taken seriously - though it didn’t harm sales among EV buyers. The second generation car moves the game on substantially. It’s a handsome looking vehicle, with a sharply styled front end that works better in front of you than it does in pictures. What’s perhaps more important is that now it looks like a serious car that ordinary people could buy, not an oddball EV that takes some explaining.
WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE? The interior’s vaguely similar to that of the old Leaf, but it’s been improved in just about every way. The central tablet-like display embedded into the dashboard features a larger screen at seven inches and menus are easy enough to navigate, though the graphics are a bit outdated. Elsewhere, the new flat-bottomed steering wheel, with a slim central hub, adds a more premium feel, and the dashboard plastics have a more expensive look to them, even if they are still quite hard to the touch. One negative is the
large pillars in the corners of the car - they impinge on front and rear visibility quite considerably, which isn’t ideal for a city car.
WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE? Electric vehicles are notoriously more expensive than petrol and diesel models, but that’s beginning to change, with the new Leaf’s starting price £1,500 cheaper than before. There are four trim levels - Visia, Acenta, N-Connecta and Tekna. Entry-level models start at £21,990 after the government’s green car grant, and get LED rear lights, seven-inch infotainment system, fabric seats and automatic headlights. ProPilot is only standard on top-spec Tekna vehicles, which start at £27,490, but there is a traditional cruise control system standard across the rest of the range. Top-spec models also get full LED headlights, leather heated seats and steering wheel, and a seven-speaker audio system by Bose.
VERDICT In the face of increased competition, Nissan has really stepped up to the plate with the new Leaf. On the face of it, it looks better, goes further and provides better value, but the improvements go further than that. The ride is composed and there’s a real sense of refinement from a decent interior and lack of noise intrusion from outside. It steers well enough and the electric motor provides enjoyably punchy acceleration. As an overall package the new Leaf is impressive - expect its domination of the pure EV market to continue for some time.
FACTS AT A GLANCE: MODEL: Nissan Leaf BATTERY: 40kWh POWER: 148bhp TORQUE: 320Nm MAX SPEED: 89mph 0-60MPH: 7.7 seconds RANGE: 177 miles EMISSIONS: 0g/km PRICE AS TESTED: £21,990
Nissan has really stepped up to the plate with the new Leaf...the overall package is impressive
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Drive News
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Momentous
electric power alone but has an overall range of about 400 miles because of the petrol generator. There’s also an air filter that can detect increased levels of pollution outside and shut off external vents to keep the cabin fresh. Other features include improved wheelchair access, on-board wi-fi, phone charging points, space for six passengers, induction loops for hearing aids and autonomous emergency braking. Chris Gubbey, the chief executive of LEVC, said: “It’s a momentous day for LEVC and the TX. It’s the first of many clean-air, zero-emission taxis that will be hitting the streets of London, and we are just as excited as David is. Hearing how this vehicle will impact on his life, and the vast savings he will make month after month, is just fantastic. We can’t wait to see and hear the reaction from passengers as they experience the new TX for the first time.”
David can’t top up the battery at home, because he doesn’t have access there to charging, so instead plans to use rapid charging points during his daily trips to Heathrow Airport. The TX can travel up to 80 miles on
The LEVC TX costs £177 per week over five years, or £55,599 on the road, compared with £166 per week or £45,945 on the road for the old diesel cab.
First London taxi driver takes delivery of new electrified black cab THE first electrified London black cab has been delivered to a taxi driver in the capital. Cabbie David Harris has been given the keys to his all-new London EV Company (LEVC) TX, which has a battery-electric powertrain that uses a small petrol-fuelled generator as back-up. Harris, 46, has been a London taxi driver for 21 years, and said the new vehicle would save him £500 to £600 per month, compared with running his former diesel cab. One of the first to put down a deposit on the electrified model, he said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get the keys to my new TX electric
taxi. There are two reasons I bought the cab. First, I can’t wait to see the response from passengers - I know that they’re going to love it. And second, I’m going to see some significant savings on running the electric taxi.”
RECORD BREAKING Drivers warned as insurance prices rise
Car insurance prices are set to hit record high MOTORISTS will pay record-breaking insurance prices by the end of 2018, a new study has revealed. UK drivers are currently shelling out an average sum of £827 for cover, but this is expected to rise to more than £900, according to Confused.com’s Car Insurance Price Index. The index, which tracks insurance prices, reveals that costs have risen by £60 (8%) since 2016.
Difficult
SHES’ ELECTRIC David Harris with his new electric cab
Male motorists are also paying more than women, the index notes, with premiums £114 higher. The news comes close to the five-year anniversary of the EU Gender Directive, which prohibits insurers from assessing a driver’s risk based on what sex they are. But the comparison website says that while insurers are unable to assess a driver based on their gender, there are other risk factors that lead to higher premiums for men, including the tendency to drive more expensive cars with larger engines. Males also tend to have significantly more motoring convictions than women. Louise O’Shea, chief executive at Confused. com, said: “It looks like the average cost of car insurance is going to be over £900 in 2018 - the highest ever. January is always a difficult month after the excess of Christmas, and that is true for drivers’ wallets too.”
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
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Puzzles
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
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Numbers are substituted for letters in the crossword grid. Above the grid is the key with two letters solved. Try to complete the first few words to give you more letters, or look for a frequent number that might reveal a common letter. As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.
9 6
8 8 6 1
4 1
6
3
7
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6 4
To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.
1 9
3 7 9
2 9
1
4 6
6 3 8
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CLASSIFIEDS
Codeword:
6 4 2
5 3 7 1 5 1 3
7
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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.
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DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★I
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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles
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DIFFICULTY RATING: ★III
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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS
SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU
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 next week
COM B I N L A R I N S T A L M A Q B E I J I N E D S WA G R W U E V E N S S E T A S O P R U U I P A P U A
E
A C H E S S A P L K N I L E R A D A G N I F T Y O C U E Z E A L D P X U N V E I L S N O N A T R I P P E D C U L S WE E T L Y
Sudoku:
8 1 2 7 3 5 9 4 6
7 3 5 4 6 9 8 2 1
9 6 4 8 1 2 5 7 3
2 7 9 6 5 3 4 1 8
1 8 6 2 7 4 3 5 9
5 4 3 9 8 1 7 6 2
6 5 1 3 9 7 2 8 4
8 7 2 5 3 9 6 1 4
7 9 6 8 2 1 5 4 3
5 6 8 3 4 2 9 7 1
3 2 8 5 4 6 1 9 7
4 9 7 1 2 8 6 3 5
Jigsaw Sudoku:
9 2 5 7 1 6 4 3 8
1 4 3 2 6 8 7 5 9
3 5 9 1 7 4 8 6 2
6 1 4 9 8 5 3 2 7
2 8 7 4 5 3 1 9 6
4 3 1 6 9 7 2 8 5
© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles
CODEWORD
FEATURES
63
Recruitment
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
NEWS
65
WITH THE
FIND YOUR PERFECT JOB TODAY – A MUST READ FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK LOCALLY
OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE
Fill your vacancy now in print or online For more information contact our commercial team on 01892 779 650
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Arts & Culture
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
All in the mind?
DRAMATIC TENSION Michael Sherwin (right) with Andrew Ryan
The Assembly Hall welcomes a theatrical production of Anthony Horowitz’s book Mindgame all this week. Eileen Leahy talks to one of the play’s three principal actors Michael Sherwin, who unlocks the key to this criminal mystery... So Michael, please can you give us a brief synopsis of Mindgame… It is set inside Fairfields, a maximum-security hospital for the criminally insane. A writer of true crime, Mark Styler, wants to interview Easterman, a serial killer inmate who has been a patient at the hospital for 30 years. In order to get to talk to Easterman, he must get the permission of Dr Farquhar, who runs the institution. As the play begins Mark Styler has been waiting in Dr Farquhar’s office for almost two hours and is getting restless... How does the original thriller translate to stage? For me, it’s the challenge of working with a small cast and a single room set to grab the audience’s attention from the very beginning and hold their interest throughout the twists and turns of the plot. This is helped enormously by a
brilliant script by Anthony Horowitz – with his excellent use of language he takes us through a maze of psychological entanglements that keep you interested right to the end. Tell us about the actors in the cast… There are three of us in the cast. I play Dr Farquhar, Andrew Ryan plays Mark Styler and Sarah Wynn Kordas plays Nurse Paisley. How long have you been touring and how do you find it? We first did the show as part of the Theatre Royal Nottingham’s Rep Thriller Season in 2016, where we did four plays in four weeks! Mindgame was the last one in that season and we only had a week to rehearse it, although we were very pleased with the reaction we got from audiences and critics. But we all felt we could DOCTOR IN THE improve the play and get more from it HOUSE with a longer run. Michael Sherwin plays Dr Farquhar
So where have you travelled to on your tour? Quite a few places,ranging from the Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield and Middlesbrough Theatre, to the Theatre Royal Windsor, the New Theatre Royal Lincoln and the
‘The challenge is to grab the audience’s attention from the very beginning and hold their interest throughout the twists and turns of the plot’ Swansea Grand. This week we are at the Assembly Hall and then we’ll be going to High Wycombe, Coventry and the Isle of Wight. We all love touring – it’s great to visit different parts of the country and go back to theatres we have visited in the past. The show gets more
interesting the more we do it, surprising us still as we find more detail and subtlety in the writing and in the characters. What is the general audience’s reaction to the show? Without exception, in every theatre we have been to, the audience reaction has been brilliant, with people asking us afterwards about all the twists and turns. There are so many that it’s easy to miss something - one couple were overheard having a heated argument walking back to their car! Are you excited about it coming to Tunbridge Wells? This will be my first visit to the town and I am very much looking forward to it. As actors we are so lucky to visit lovely theatres in all sorts of different places up and down the country – and now I’ll be able to add the Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells to the list!
Arts & Culture
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
What do you think is the secret behind a successful stage show? A well-written script is essential, with a story that grabs your attention in the first few minutes and keeps your interest until the end. The characters have to be believable and real, involved in situations that an audience understands and are able to suspend disbelief for a few hours. An inventive design team with vision, a technical team that can bring it all to life, a talented director – and of course a great cast who can take the characters and make them their own and work together well.
THREE’S COMPANY
Sarah Wynn Kordas with Andrew and Michael
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Putting a curious spin on Alice in Wonderland KEY ROLE Alice has a complex personality
What will the audiences at the Assembly Hall take away with them after seeing Mindgame? Hopefully, the memory of an enjoyable evening from a master of the thriller genre, and a story that keeps them guessing until the very end… Mindgame is on at the Assembly Hall all this week until Saturday. Tickets start from £15 and there will be a matinee on Wednesday and Saturday. For more information visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
FEATURES
This weekend Trinity Youth Theatre are putting on a reworking of Lewis Caroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland, but all is not as it would seem with this version. The theatre group’s youth and learning officer Jess Horsley reveals what audiences can expect to enjoy about ‘Alice’
O
N Saturday and Sunday we are putting on an adaptation of Lewis Caroll’s classic tale Alice in Wonderland. Entitled Alice and penned by Laura Wade it is a kind of wonderland – but not as you would traditionally expect. The caterpillar appears as a border control officer; the Cheshire cat an embarrassing shadow of Austin Powers; and Humpty Dumpty’s your least-favourite teacher at school. This is Trinity Youth Theatre’s first
big show, and cast members and production team alike are putting their all into rehearsals, set design, prop making and preparations. Kate, who is playing the eccentric Duchess, comments, “I’m really enjoying working with so many talented individuals. Rehearsals are so much fun and I feel like my acting has definitely improved.” Young people are involved in every aspect of the play. From stage managing to acting, and lighting to costume, this really is a Youth
Theatre production. Assistant Director Ellie says, “it’s great to see everyone getting involved. It’s such good experience to put on a show of your own!” Growing the Youth Theatre’s audience is a key aim for this production. Whilst parents, family and friends will be attending, the goal is to appeal to the general public. “Youth theatre productions are often as professional and entertaining as professional ones” says director, Jason Lower, “…and it’s a great opportunity for young people to perform in front of people who aren’t just friends and family.” This modern version of Alice may give Caroll’s characters a more comedic twist; however, Wade has given the title character more of a complex personality, and, as a result, a deeper reason for escaping to Wonderland. Belle, who plays Alice, explains, “this version of Alice has been through a lot, and she grows as a person throughout the play. I’ve really enjoyed rehearsals and I can’t wait to start performances.” Trinity Youth Theatre isn’t slowing down after Alice, however. Their next production will be part of the National Theatre Connections festival. When They Go Low is a more naturalistic play which focuses on the struggle to define feminism,
looking at all types of female and male perspectives. Trinity Youth Theatre’s production of When They Go Low premieres at the Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks as part of the town’s District Drama Festival on Sunday March 4, and its home performances at Trinity Theatre will take place on Monday March 26 and Wednesday March 28 so do watch this space!
MUSICAL YOUTH: Belle plays the lead role in Trinity Youth Theatre’s Alice production at the weekend
TO BOOK TICKETS: To book tickets for Alice, call the Trinity Box Office on 01892 678678 or visit www.trinityyouththeatre.co.uk/alice
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What’s On
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
SEVEN DAYS OF ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE
WHATS ON
Eileen Leahy
WITH THE
If you would like to see your events featured in our weekly What’s On pages, please email: eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk
Local events
Starring Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Mathieu Kassovitz and Toby Jones, tickets cost £11 and the film starts at 8pm. See www. trinitytheatre.net for more details.
>> THURSDAY Artspring Gallery will be welcoming two new artists at the First Thursday late night opening and Private View tonight. On from 5.30-8pm visitors can meet some of the artists and enjoy a glass of prosecco. www. artspringgallery.co.uk
STRIKE IT LUCKY At the Angel Bowles Centre
>> WEDNESDAY The Assembly Hall is currently hosting a production of Mindgame, a psychological thriller written by Anthony Horowitz. On every day until Saturday you can read more about this chilling adaptation on pages 66-67. Tickets cost from £15 and can be purchased from www. assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Every Wednesday from 7 until 9pm the Angel Indoor Bowles Centre in Tonbridge welcomes beginners to their ‘Have a go at bowling’ evening. There’s even a free drink on offer at the bar afterwards! For more information visit www. angelibc.co.uk If you enjoy French cinema then pop along to Trinity theatre this evening to see a screening of Happy End. This French film is a deeply satirical drama about a well-off French family living in a ‘bourgeois bubble’ in northern France, oblivious to the human misery that’s unfolding in the migrant camps, a few miles from their home.
>> FRIDAY Hever Castle has opened the doors to some of its fascinating private spaces. The Hidden Hever tour can accommodate up to 15 people and will take in William Waldorf Astor’s study (with its secret panel) and Lady Irene Astor’s striking pink bathroom to name but a few. Guests will be treated to stories and anecdotes relating to the rooms they visit and discover more about the social history of Hever Castle. Tickets cost £45 per person and can be booked via www. hevercastle.co.uk Award winning comedian and TV regular John Robins
IN STEP Dancers from The Lady of The Camellias ballet
COMEDY VALUE See John Robins at Trinity
appears at Trinity Theatre tonight with his show The Darkness of Robins which promises ‘powerful, angst-ridden comedy at its finest’. Suitable for those aged over 16 it’s your chance to see one of the circuit’s brightest stars locally. Tickets cost £18. www.trinitytheatre. net
FRENCH LESSONS Little ones will love Les Puces
>> SATURDAY Keep your New Year resolutions going well beyond January by joining the weekly park runs which happen at both Dunorlan park and the Castle Street recreation ground in Tonbridge. They’re free to enter, all you have to do is register your details before hand so you can participate in the 5k circuits which start at 9am. For more information see www.parkrun.org.uk Tree of Hope are hosting a fundraising ceilidh tonight at One Warwick Park. For ticket details and timings see www.treeofhope.org.uk Alternatively how about learning a new skill this year? Over at Grosvenor and Hilbert Park this weekend there will be a willow workshop running today (for beginners) and tomorrow (for improvers) from 9.30am until 4.30pm. Expert John Waller will be on hand to deliver both willow basket classes which cost £30 and £25 per adult respectively. Spaces are limited so to book yours email steff.dagorne@ tunbridgewells.gov Trinity Youth Theatre’s production of Alice is on today and tomorrow. For tickets and timing see www.trinitytheatre.net or read our exclusive interview with them on page 67.
>> SUNDAY
Flow is currently showing at Tonbridge School’s OBS gallery. It is a wonderfully rich selection of ceramics, paintings, installations and photographs which according to the show’s curator Emily Glass all boast a
common theme: that of matter ‘oozing, pouring, cracking or sagging’ which in turn influences the final work’s form and scale. Six artists including Harriet Hill and Solveig Settemsdal are exhibiting. Entrance is free and the show can be viewed every weekend from 12 until 4pm until March 4. For more information visit www.tonbridge-school.co.uk/ obsg Bolshoi’s The Lady of the Camellias ballet is on this afternoon at the Odeon at 2pm. Based on Alexandre Dumas’ novel it brings to life the story of young Armand who arrives in Paris for the first time and is utterly captivated by courtesan Marguerite Gautier. Beautiful, powerful and poignant. Tickets cost £23.25 for adults, see www.odeon.co.uk for other ticket deals.
>> MONDAY There’s a new exhibition now running at Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery until April. Entitled Shelved it’s a collaborative project between bookbinder Tracey Rowledge and silversmith David Clarke. Funded by Arts Council England as part of the second development stage of the Cultural & Learning Hub in Tunbridge Wells, the artists have spent time going through the museum’s collections and library archives as well as various items sourced from charity shops and townsfolk reworking them to give a new aesthetic value. For more details see www. tunbridgewellsmuseum.org
What’s On
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
>> TUESDAY Every Tuesday at Christ Church on Tonbridge High Street Les Puces French speaking classes take place. Aimed at pre-schoolers and primary pupils, the lessons are an hour long and are held at 9.30am and 4pm. Fees for half a term cost £60 per child. For more information visit www. lespuces.co.uk
PICK OF THE WEEK: Yesterday Once More: The Karen Carpenter Story
Trinity Theatre Thursday February 1st, 8pm Kent-based soprano Rebecca Robinson and pianist Mark Heller are currently touring the UK with a production that charts the meteoric rise of Karen and Richard Carpenter, the famous brother and sister duo who were catapulted to huge fame during the 1970s. Yesterday Once More sees their story put to the words of their classic hits and also through video footage. Tickets are priced at £18 and are available from www. trinitytheatre.ticketsolve.com
FEATURES
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THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE
Paul Dunton Live music
The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… www.paulduntonandguests.com
SCALLYWAG CAFÉ
THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE
THE SUSSEX ARMS
The Pantiles, doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk WEDNESDAY Steffan James, Cyrano, Harley & Woods FRIDAY The Grey Lady Jazz Club SATURDAY Soul Avenue SUNDAY Paul Crisp, Mark Morriss, The Gallerys TUESDAY Teddy Trenowden, Harry Whitty
The Sussex Mews, open all day, entry charge may apply, music from 8.30pm more details at www. twforum.co.uk MONDAY Meat Wave
THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM
Event information at www.twforum.co.uk FRIDAY The Wedding Present + Dexy SATURDAY Tom Dibb + Paul Cheese TUESDAY The Stable: Code: Marla + Japes x Murrain + Pezzhead + Studio 32 OKE TRINITY THEATRE
Crescent Road, details of all events and tickets available at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk SUNDAY RTWSO: Martin James Bartlett (Pianist) 3pm MONDAY Jive Talkin’
Cyrano
45 Mount Ephraim Rd, open all day, entry charge may apply, music from 8.30pm FRIDAY Benoit Viellefon Hot Club TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB
The Flying Dutchman, Hildenborough Hat collection with a contribution of £7 (£5 concessions) is suggested Music from 8pm, all welcome more information at www.tonbridgefolkclub.org MONDAY Fiddle & Faff THE PUNCH & JUDY
11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge Open all day, entry charge may apply, music from 8.30pm TUESDAY Dave & Sophie
Church Road, doors open 7pm, Music from 8pm event details and tickets available from www. trinitytheatre.net THURSDAY The Karen Carpenter Story featuring Rebecca Robinson and Mark Heller THE BEAU NASH TAVERN
Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late MONDAY Open Mic Night THE MASONIC CENTRE
St John’s Road, music from 8pm more details and ticket information at www.twjazzclub.co.uk FRIDAY Bob Dwywer’s Bix & Pieces
The Gallerys
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NEWS
Sporting Times
CONTACT US: Please send your sports stories to newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
Cross country experts boycott showpiece in protest Palace last September, when his team turned up to find that none of the runners had been entered into the races. “The road relays were run extremely well by the Aldershot club at Rushmore Arena, but then the SEAA took them over,” says Mr Hookway. “At Crystal Palace they lost all our entries, the results were inaccurate, and the Under-17s runners were sent off course by a marshall.” The final straw came with the choice of venue near the University of Sussex at Falmer on the south coast last weekend. “Then they announced that there would be no parking at all at Stanmer Park. There are major works being done on the railways so there are replacement bus services. “We were probably going to send 130 athletes to the event – we took 180 to the National Cross County Championships. “It costs £7 a head, which doesn’t seem like
By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk ATHLETICS: TONBRIDGE Athletic Club decided to boycott the South of England Cross Country Championships at Stanmer Park last weekend. The decision comes because the members feel they have been let down by the organisers, the South of England Athletics Association (SEAA). The club, which prides itself on its crosscountry achievements, consistently takes up to 180 runners to such events. But coaches claim their athletes are not being properly valued despite all the hard work, time and commitment they put into their training. “Over the last two or three years it has been difficult,” admitted Mark Hookway, Team Manager and cross-country coach at Tonbridge. He cites the road relay event held at Crystal
much but it all adds up. We just said we wouldn’t go. I have not even had an acknowledgement from the SEAA.” Bo James of Leftspike fanzine says: “Club runners don’t seem to be treated with the same fairness or regard as the mass participation market, where extortionate prices are paid and justified by the bells and whistles they provide.
Loyalty “The loyalty, heritage and blind optimism of the grassroots runner is taken for granted time and again. While regional competition is essential to the make-up of grassroots athletics, Tonbridge’s actions prove patience is starting to run very thin among a loyal fan base.” Mr Hookway agrees. “We are in a competitive market, and I spend a lot of time getting people enthused, getting parents to back us,” he said.
Reynolds finds his range as Wells chalk up half-century Tunbridge Wells 50 Sutton & Epsom 10
READY TO RUMBLE Prop Brendan Crosilla (right) prepares to charge down the full-back
RUGBY: ONLY five points divided these two sides prior to kick-off with Wells having won the away fixture earlier in the season by just a point. But there was a sizeable gulf between the teams by the end of the match at St Marks. Wells started at a good tempo and scored twice in the first 10 minutes through Mike Doherty and Ryan Taylor-Dennehy, who went over after Nick Doherty’s chip forward. The home side handled well in poor conditions and more tries followed at regular intervals. Gus O’Grady scored after a patient pick and drive and Mike Hathaway dotted down from a pushover to register a try bonus after just half an hour. The try of the game came on 38 minutes as Blaise Salle burst up the right and handed the ball on to Matt Spicer whose pace took him the remaining 35 metres and in under the posts. Frank Reynolds kicked the extras from the touchline to make it four out of five conversions, giving the hosts a half-time lead of 36-0.
PHOTO: Bruce Elliott
By Roger Clarke
The pace slowed as Wells faced the wind but they added further tries through Reynolds after a kick ahead on the counter from Taylor-Dennehy on 49 mins and from Mike Hathaway, who added his second after a 50-metre pick and drive. Reynolds converted both to take his personal
tally to 20 points and chalk up the half-century. Sutton & Epsom scored two tries in injury time, through Joe Ridgly and skipper Steve Munford. Wells, who are sixth in the London and South-East Premier, visit nearby Westcombe Park on Saturday (February 3, kick-off 2.30pm).
New recruit Atiola slides in to level scores
Redingensians Rams 12 Tonbridge Juddians 12 By Adam Hookway RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS travelled to third-placed Rams and came away with a draw in the first of three games on the bounce against the top three sides in National Two South. While TJs were on a winning run, the Reading side
PHOTO: Adam Hookway
FINE LINE Rory McHugh sneaks in for a try
had lost their last two, albeit to the top two teams. The Rams started well and TJs could not get the ball – they were almost literally stuck in their own muddy half. But a rock solid line stood firm for the visitors and the Rams could find no way through until the 15th minute. A poor TJs clearance found the Rams full-back who created space in midfield to send right wing Jak Rossiter in for the first try, which was not converted. The Rams were also strong in defence but from a lineout Rory McHugh popped up in the ruck to sneak over for a try, Liam Prescott converting. The restart put Rams back on the front foot and
after a yellow card for McHugh they took immediate advantage, taking the lead in clinical fashion through Tom Vooght to go in at half-time 12-7 ahead. The second half started the same as the first with Rams having all of the ball. Their scrum was in the ascendancy but TJs’ tackling meant there was still no way through.
Intense Then a penalty took the visitors into the right corner and the ball was spun left for new recruit Sammy Atiola to finish with a slide. The conversion was missed to leave the sides with 12 points apiece with 10 minutes left. TJs put the hosts under intense pressure in the closing exchanges and had a couple of chances which were not taken. So the points were shared in what had been another determined Tonbridge performance despite their five-game winning streak having come to an end, and they remain in eighth place in National Two South. Second-placed Chinnor now visit The Slade on Saturday (February 3, kick-off 2.30pm).
“You are up against triathlons, half marathons. There are so many choices for people, with parkruns and indoor events too.” He suggests that it might be worth increasing the cost of registering for races in order to improve the organisation behind the events. “You expect slick organisation,” he says. “I would be happy to pay a little more to have that. You have got to be guaranteed that there isn’t going to be a lot of hassle. “Our athletes just want a bit of recognition – a pat on the back makes a difference for their motivation. All they want is a good experience. “It’s nothing like when our athletes go to the States to compete, they are all over social media, they are meeting the public and signing autographs. It’s a different world.” Last month the SEAA was also criticised for voting against amendments that would introduce gender parity to competitions in the region.
Harris’s saves ensure victory Tunbridge Wells Men 3 Blackheath & OE 2 By Francis Bridgeman HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS knew it would be a tough battle at home to Blackheath & Old Elthamians to retain their three-point lead at the top of South Premier League Division Two, and so it proved at Kent College. Wells got off to the perfect start, with a long aerial ball being intercepted by Blackheath, only for Harry Roberts to steal it and beat a defender before calmly slotting home in the first minute. Then Ben Allberry picked out Sam George who found himself one on one with the keeper and, after dragging the ball to his left, fired into the bottom corner on his reverse stick. Blackheath finally came into the game and pulled back one goal before half-time. But in the second half Wells always looked dangerous on the break, despite Blackheath having the majority of possession and territory. From one counterattack, quick movement saw it the ball fired to the far post where Kyle Mathieson ghosted in to score. James Harris produced a series of fine saves in the Wells goal so that Blackheath could only reduce the deficit to 3-2. Having retained their lead at the top against the second-bottom side, Wells now travel to Trojans on Saturday (February 3, 1.30pm start). Meanwhile Tunbridge Wells Ladies ground out a victory at Bishops Stortford with Ana Glubb scoring two goals to ensure the visitors stayed in third place in East Region Division One South. Next the Ladies host Old Loughtonians at Hawkenbury on Saturday (February 3, 1pm start).
CLOSE CONTROL Alex Sacker on the ball at Bishops Stortford
Sporting Times
Wednesday January 31 | 2018
NEWS
71
McKimm sent off in fracas as Angels crash again Tonbridge Angels 0 Burgess Hill Town 1 FOOTBALL: A DEFEAT at the hands of play-off chasing Metropolitan Police in midweek was followed by a far less acceptable reverse at home to basement side Burgess Hill Town. There was further bad news when manager Steve McKimm was sent off after a fracas between the teams and their staff in injury time at the end. The management insist there is no crisis, however, and the hosts just did not have their shooting boots on despite dominating possession. It was the second time in four days that Burgess Hill had claimed a precious three points in their fight to escape relegation. The Hillians took the lead at Longmead after just seven minutes when Aaron Smith-Joseph ran through unchallenged and unleashed his shot past Angels keeper Jonny Henly. This early setback forced the home
side into action and chances were created for Nathan Elder, Xavier Vidal from a free kick and Alex Akrofi. The visitors’ impressive Stephane Ngamvoulou forced a good save out of Henly and then set up Ibrahim Forfana who shot just wide. The first half ended with Akrofi going just wide with a header from Joe Turner’s cross. The Angels started the second period applying pressure and more chances fell to Elder, Ryan Worrall, Turner and Sam Bantick.
Fade However, their challenge started to fade after the hour-mark and it was Burgess Hill who looked likely to add to their score. Angels substitutes Dan Bennett and Dan Thompson both contrived to miss glaring opportunities to restore parity towards the end.
PHOTO: David Couldridge
By James Rowe
DANCING FEET Craig Stone (right) battles for the ball
Deep in stoppage time there was a melee involving most of the players and both benches in front of the dugouts after one of the visiting players was accused of simulation. McKimm was given his marching orders in what was a miserable end to a depressing afternoon for the Angels supporters. Meanwhile Ryan Worrall has returned to Longmead to strengthen the heart of midfield in a last-ditch bid to reach the play-offs. Worrall came to the Angels on loan from Eastbourne Borough during the autumn and impressed McKimm with his authoritative displays. McKimm said: “I’m very pleased to have got Ryan back with us. He significantly increases my options as to how we set up in midfeld and will ease the long-term injury situation.” Angels, who now languish in 11th place in the Bostik League Premier, will hope to revive their fortunes against another struggling side, Needham Market, away on Saturday (February 3, kick-off 3pm).
New Chairman Maddams stands Rusthall look rusty down after just 20 days at helm ahead of big derby are very sorry to see a person of Roger’s ability having to stand down but fully understand and accept his reasons for so doing. “Although only on the board for a few months he had already shown great aptitude in commercial and event planning and hopefully we will be able to continue to make use of his skills.”
Vigour
ROGER AND OUT Mr Maddams was appointed unanimously on January 1
PHOTO: David Couldridge
FOOTBALL: THE newly appointed Chairman of Tonbridge Angels, Roger Maddams, has had to step down after just 20 days in the post. After being elected unanimously by the board last month, the chartered accountant, who works in the housing sector, has undertaken a workload that involves substantial travelling. Mr Maddams has decided he would not be able to devote the time necessary to carry out the many duties and responsibilities of the position. He said: “Since New Year my workload has increased to the extent that to try and juggle the multiple responsibilities at the club with my own occupation as it now stands, quite simply would not work and it is with great regret that I have no alternative but to step aside.” Outgoing Chairman Steve Churcher returns on an interim basis. Vice Chairman Chris Drew said: “We
A club spokesman added: “Owners and supporters at the club should rest assured that the various initiatives outlined at the owners’ AGM will continue to be driven forward with vigour by the directors, including celebrations for the Platinum Season, the three-year business plan with its blueprint to increase attendances, and a programme of exciting events drawing the club closer to the community it serves.”
By Richard Smith FOOTBALL: RUSTHALL’S home game with Cray Valley PM had to be called off due to a waterlogged pitch last weekend. The abandonment was the second in a row at Jockey Farm Stadium. It allowed local rivals Tunbridge Wells to sneak ahead of Rusthall in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division. The proximity of the neighbours in the table sets up Saturday’s local derby at the Culverden Stadium as a massive encounter. Tunbridge Wells beat Deal 4-3 at home on Saturday to climb into 17th place, two points ahead of the Rustics in 18th spot. Rusthall will be looking to end a poor run of results and increase the gap between them and the bottom
two, Rochester United – who are 12 points behind – and rock bottom Hollands & Blair in order to stave off the spectre of relegation. The Rustics had suffered a run of four defeats before the weather intervened.
Drainage The waterlogging is a problem that the club hope will be cured when the second stage of drainage work is done in May. When the pitch was levelled last summer the main drain was installed but the sand slitting that feeds it was delayed. If both jobs had been done at the same time the pitch would have been out of use for this season, which the club did not want having achieved promotion last season.