Times of Tonbridge 11th January 2017

Local, National and International Tonbridge Castle

OF TONBRIDGE

2017

business awards

r ur Yo EE pe a FRwsp

All the news that matters

Ne

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL BUSINESSES Ten categories… ten chances to win… which award do you deserve?

For details visit www.timesbusinessawards.co.uk

Commuters pay one of highest prices per mile in the country

LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

INSIDE ANGELS’ DELIGHT Victory revives hopes of a play-off place. Page 70

Season tickets push up the cost of living in Tonbridge for London-bound workers HIGH PRICE Commuters pay out thousands on travel

MAKING THE GRADE Hillview School named as one of the UK’s best. Page 19

BREWING UP

Much-loved coffee seller returns thanks to local support. Page 5

By Murray Jones

newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk TONBRIDGE to London has been named as the sixth most expensive commute in the country, after the latest rise in annual rail season tickets.

The price of a 12-month ticket on the standard route will now set passengers back £4,088 – a £72 (1.8 per cent) increase from last year.

Since 2008, the cost of an annual fare on the Southeastern service has increased by £1,308, a 47 per cent rise.

This means that a commuter who makes a return journey five days a week,

excluding 25 days annual leave and bank holidays, will spend 33 pence per mile travelled – the sixth highest rate in England, according to a BBC analysis.

‘Passengers are a captive market and have very little choice’ Kent features prominently in the top ten, with Sevenoaks the second dearest at 38 pence per mile and Tunbridge Wells eighth (31 pence per mile).

The latest rise has been condemned by Tonbridge Line Commuters [TLC] ViceChair John Reynolds, who also argues

that the nature of franchise ownership means that passengers are powerless against the fare rises.

He said: “Fares from Tonbridge to London are still among the highest in the country, and indeed among the highest in Europe.

“Passengers are a captive market and have very little choice but to use often overcrowded trains to London, given that the roads are so congested. It is a shame that they are treated in this way.”

It is the first year that rises have been capped according to the Retail Price Index [RPI] measure of inflation, which this year was 1.9 per cent.

But TLC have called for a limit based on

the consumer price index [CPI], which this year was 0.6 per cent.

Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat said: “Our rail service to London needs improvement.

Frequent delays and short-formed services cause problems for many commuters.

“Our excellent connections to London Bridge, Charing Cross and Cannon Street mean that our town is fast becoming a prime destination for people wanting to commute.”

The latest increase comes as Southeastern looks set to secure a six month extension on its franchise, taking it to December 2018. It is intended to avoid the busy summer next year, when key timetable changes are due to come in.

HAVING A LAUGH

Comedy season kicks off at EM Forster Theatre. Page 68

4

NEWS

Local News

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

CASH FLOW Haysden volunteers at the park

Jailed Tonbridge drugs dealer among criminals ordered to pay back money

By Phil Spacey newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk KENT POLICE claimed back more than £4million of criminal money in 2016, and part of this was from a convicted Tonbridge drug dealer.

Using Proceeds of Crime legislation, the county force secured 159 successful confiscation orders, with over £3million being recouped in the process. A further £1.1million was seized in cash forfeiture orders.

Police can apply for a confiscation order following a conviction to deprive criminals of benefits resulting from their crimes. The money goes towards reimbursing victims of crime, central government, the Courts Ser-

Haysden parks team get funds for landscaping A GROUP of Tonbridge volunteers have received £340 from the town’s branch of Waitrose.

Haysden Country Park Volunteers were selected as one of the causes to be supported by the supermarket’s Community Matters scheme.

The Chairman of the park group, Kevin Lavender, said the team were really pleased with the donation. “We will put the money towards planting and landscaping of the revetment work at Barden Lake. It will help us to continue making it an attractive focal point for visitors to enjoy whilst walking around the lake.”

The 165-acre park is set in the Medway Valley to the west of Tonbridge and encompasses a range of habitats, including river, grassland, freshwater lakes, marshland and woodland.

Featuring Barden Lake at its eastern end, Haysden Water to the west, and the River Medway running along the northern extremes of the site, the park is also host to a flood relief barrier that plays a central role in the protection of Tonbridge from excessive water.

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 EDITOR AT LARGE FRANK BALDWIN fbaldwin@markerstudy.com DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES GEMMA HAK ghak@markerstudy.com | 01892 779580 GENERAL INQUIRIES newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews IF YOU HAVE A STORY WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU Contact details above

16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU

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

If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU, or email newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Markerstudy Leisure is a trading name of One Media and Creative UK Limited registered in England and Wales under company number 5398960 with registered office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB.

PRINTED BY NEWBURY NEWS LTD

Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2DW

vice, the Crown Prosecution Service and Kent Police.

The legislation was used to order the drug dealer from Tonbridge to pay back £5,234 of unlawful earnings.

Gareth Bourne, 35, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on February 2, 2016, and was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

It was determined that Bourne had benefitted from his crimes by £8,025. His current available assets were valued at £5,234, consisting of £4,000 in seized cash and a Mercedes he owned. Bourne had three months to pay or face an additional prison sentence.

The police power extends to those who have

not been charged with a crime, but are believed to have benefitted from unlawful activity. These are known as forfeiture orders.

Financial investigators will look at bank accounts, houses, vehicles and valuables, even if legally held, to determine if they could be used to pay back the amount they benefitted from the crime. Once an order is issued it must be paid, even if a prison sentence has been served for the crime.

Detective Kevin Barton, of Kent Police’s Serious Economic Crime Unit, said: “No one should be allowed to benefit financially from committing crime, and we have again used this legislation to ensure criminals like Bourne are made to pay back money they have made through illegal activities.”

Big brands eye up Cannon Lane

BRAND NEW: The site will host up to five businesses FOUR national retailers are interested in moving into sites in Cannon Lane, Tonbridge.

Applications have been put in by Go Outdoors, Home Bargains and Costa Coffee to move into the former B&Q site. And planning documents suggest that chains Aldi and Pets At Home are expecting to open in the old Homebase store.

The news comes shortly after a Marks and Spencer Foodhall and McDonalds have opened in the area.

The planning application propose that the vacant B&Q warehouse will be divided into four new independent retail units, with a new smaller extension to be added.

Go Outdoors, which sells camping, cycling and hiking equipment is hoping to move in to one of the larger units. Home Bargains, a discount store with over 400 locations in the UK has its sights set on one of the other larger units.

Costa Coffee is expected to move into the new smaller building which has yet to be constructed. It is not yet known who will take the remaining two units.

Construction workers were spotted on the site last week, possibly to examine the area in preparation for the conversion.

Speculation of German supermarket Aldi’s arrival into the town was reignited after their

symbol, as well as the pet store’s, was used in a document demonstrating the new signage outside the former Homebase store.

Steve Humphrey, Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, said: “Tonbridge’s reputation as an excellent place to do business is building steadily; not only do we have a great range of independent shops and businesses in the town centre but we also have a host of well-known brands such as M&S Food Store, Go Outdoors, Home Bargains and Costa Coffee choosing to make new investments. This is great news for Tonbridge residents and visitors.”

Lack of venue claims are unfounded says Leader THE Leader of the borough council has defended the closure of the Teen and Twenty Club in Tonbridge following a complaint that it means the loss of another venue which could be hired for social events.

The Chair of the Barden Residents Association, Mark Hood, highlighted the decline of live music venues in the town, claiming that it is ‘impossible to hire a hall in Tonbridge for a licensed weekend’.

Mr Hood said: “In the past few years we have lost the Wharf to development, Mojo’s will no longer be a Cllr venue either, and the Heslop Nelson Arms [set to

close in March] held gigs and a comedy club.

The Teen and Twenty stopped hiring their hall for events over the last few years, and the Angel Centre has removed the bar from the Riverside Room to stop it being used for social events.”

He pointed to the number of venues in nearby Tunbridge Wells, arguing: “It cannot be right that anyone wanting to attend a gig or go dancing has to get on a train.”

‘I do not agree that there is no provision for community-focused events in the town’ When the Times put this view to Cllr Nicolas Heslop, who has led Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council [TMBC] since 2012, he

rejected the picture that Mr Hood had painted.

He said that as the Teen and Twenty does not currently hire its facilities for events, its loss will not impact on the number of venues, adding: “I do not agree that there is no provision for community-focused events in the town. The Angel Centre is available for hire, and does offer community rates for special events both in the Riverside and the Medway Hall.

“Other facilities provided by community clubs are also available for hire. Most notable examples include the Angels Football Club and Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Club.

“The Castle grounds are a recognised venue for outdoor concerts, and the annual music festival regularly includes community bands.

There is also West Kent College, as well as a number of schools and church halls available for hire.”

6

NEWS

Local News

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Hospitals raise £2million from car parking charges

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells (MTW) NHS Trust more than doubled the profits it makes from hospital car parking over last year.

After taking in more than £2million from its two hospitals at Pembury and Maidstone, the Trust made a year-on-year profit of 24 per cent on its parking facilities.

The news comes on the heels of the cash-strapped Trust being placed in special financial measures in July because of a £23million budget deficit.

It is now ranked in the top 20 of NHS Trusts for parking revenue across the country. The two hospitals accrued £2,070,045 in parking charges, putting it in 14th place out of 89 Trusts that responded to a Freedom of Information request by the Press Association.

This constitutes an increase of £401,265 over 12 months – compared to rises of £153,949 for the previous year and £200,000 for the two years before that.

The day-to-day running of the two car parks is

carried out by a private company, Car Parking Management, but it does not make any profit.

“All revenue from hourly parking charges is retained by MTW NHS,” the Trust said. “Any net surplus from the income received from car parks is paid into the Trust’s general account and then used to support the activity of the Trust, across the full range of services that the Trust provides.”

Running costs are deducted from the total, consisting of security, maintenance and lighting, and the provision of green travel initiatives including staff and public bus services.

Demand The Trust did not specify why the annual increase had doubled over the previous 12 months.

It said: “Since 2011, when the new Tunbridge Wells Hospital opened, a number of changes have taken place which would account for the increase in car parking revenue that the Trust has seen.”

“Demand and patient numbers have risen consistently year on year and services are now also being offered over longer periods of time

and at weekends.” It added that charges have remained static for over three years since MTW removed a one-hour £1.50 tariff, which left the charge at £2 for up to two hours – though the first half-hour remains free of charge.

In 2015, Maidstone Hospital created 180 further car parking spaces, and there were increased charges for staff parking.

One of the main grievances relating to the £120million made by the NHS on parking nationwide is that the Trusts do not offer reduced parking for the disabled and regular visitors such as cancer patients and those on dialysis.

MTW admits: “Disabled drivers pay the same tariffs as all other car park users and park in the same car parks using designated spaces.

“The Trust is unable to separate the income received from disabled drivers.”

However, the Trust does offer significant concessions for cancer patients for radiotherapy and chemotherapy, those on dialysis and visitors to intensive care, maternity and children’s departments. After 10 days, all parking charges can be claimed back for any visitor.

One man’s dream turned Hug-Many into tradition that benefits charities

By Jonathan Banks newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE third celebration of Hug-Many on The Pantiles on New Year’s Eve raised almost £20,000 for two local charities.

The event has so far made a profit of £18,780 from party-goers who bought tickets in advance, those who paid on the night and the sponsors.

The guest charities who benefited were the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre, which received £12,500, and ellenor, a charity which helps families who are facing terminal illness, which has been given £6,280.

The evening was the brainchild of Ian Andrew, a partner at Michael James Insurance and Property Services who started Hug-Many in 2014.

“This year was a real success,” he said. “I wanted this to become an annual event for the town where everyone can look forward to having great fun on New Year’s Eve. I think it probably has.”

Mr Andrew added: “A few years ago I walked out on to The Pantiles one New Year’s Eve and it was absolutely empty at midnight.

“I thought how wonderful it would be if we could have a family-friendly party for the town, for people of all ages to celebrate together and at the same time raise as much money as we could for some local cancer support charities.

“I thought of the name ‘Hugmany’, a play on the Scottish word Hogmanay, as the event was for everyone and to help those in need.”

He said he had received an email which ‘summed up’ what the organisers had achieved. “A lady called Vicki said: ‘As a last-minute decision we decided to come into Tunbridge

Wells. I can honestly say it was one of the best, if not the best, New Year’s Eve I have had – great fun, a lot of good-humoured people around...and I did hug many people.

“They had little choice when faced with a 57-year-old slightly tipsy female...”

Mr Andrew’s company was one of the sponsors of Hug-Many and the commercial insurance broker is looking for more local firms to help support the event financially this year.

“Our support has been helpful in that it has encouraged some of our clients to get involved too. All the sponsors can have their names up on our screens on the night.”

NEW YEAR IDEA Founder Ian Andrew

NEWS IN BRIEF

Prescription scheme is tested in Southborough HEALTH chiefs in the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are piloting a new prescription scheme aimed at cutting waste and saving money.

The CCG, which buys healthcare for residents of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks, started testing a new scheme at the St Andrews Medical Centre in Southborough on Monday (January 9).

Instead of ordering repeat prescriptions directly from the pharmacy, patients will now order through the GP surgery or via a direct phone service. Each time there is a reorder, a member of the service will review the patient’s medicines and discuss their current stock levels to ensure orders are only placed for items the patient genuinely needs.

It is believed this will save thousands of pounds in wasted medicines each year. If the trial is deemed a success it will be rolled out across the CCG’s West Kent region.

More money for firms AN ADDITIONAL £5million of loans to support Kent’s businesses has been made available by the county council in a bid to boost economic growth and job creation.

The money will come via the Kent and Medway Business Fund in the form of zero per cent interest loans of between £50,000 and £500,000.

Money is to be targeted at small and medium-sized businesses.

Mother’s mission A WOMAN who set herself 12 challenges to complete over a year in order to raise money for a new piece of equipment at Tunbridge Wells hospital has completed her task.

Rachel Burns, from Kings Hill, exceeded her fundraising target by £1,000, raising a total of £7,000 to be spent on a Vapotherm respiratory machine for the hospital’s neonatal unit.

Mrs Burns wanted to get the equipment after her daughter, Ava, required the use of a ventilator when she was born at the hospital four years ago. The old-fashioned ventilator meant she was unable to hold her newborn baby for several days.

Local News

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Family ‘overwhelmed’ after an online appeal raises £20,000 in just 24 hours for Frankie

THUMBS UP Frankie Cheek with his father, Andrew, in the US medical centre

Murray Jones newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A SOCIAL media appeal to fund a potentially lifesaving drug for a Crowborough boy has left his parents ‘overwhelmed’ after more than £20,000 was raised within 24 hours.

Frankie Cheek, aged three, has been able to ‘enjoy a normal life’ since taking Neulasta, as part of his specialised cancer treatment in the US. The drug helps his body fight infection, something he is particularly vulnerable to while undergoing chemotherapy.

It means he can now go into public places, as the risk of contracting a life-threatening bug is significantly reduced.

He first received the drug in October while being treated in the US on a trip that was paid for by the NHS, and included travel and treatment. The drug Neulasta is not available on the NHS in the UK. Additionally, his treatment involved proton radiation therapy, which is also unavailable in the UK.

NORMAL LIFE The drug means Frankie can safely go to public places Since taking the medication, he has ‘never been so well’, according to his mother, Catherine Cheek.

Seeing the huge impact the drug had on Frankie’s quality of life, the family decided to turn to social media in November to help fund it once they returned to the UK in December.

The reaction they received went far beyond their expectations.

“We are totally overwhelmed by the amount of money that has been raised, and in such a short space of time,” said Mrs Cheek. “We set the page up late at night, not expecting much to happen straight away, but when we woke in the morning it was already up to £6,000.”

And after the initial flood of activity, with the £20,000 target being broken in the space of a day, the contributions have kept on coming. Currently, a total of £32,705 has been raised from nearly a thousand donors.

Frankie entered into his penultimate round of chemotherapy last week, taking his first dose of community-funded Neulasta on Friday [January 6].

His last cycle is expected at the end of the month.

NEWS

Frankie’s story…

IN JULY 2016, at the age of two, Frankie was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer of the muscle. Fewer than 60 children are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year. It resulted in the growth of a large tumour in his nasal cavity and behind his eye. The growth is inoperable and has resulted in the loss of vision behind his right eye.

Parents Catherine and Andrew were told the cure rate is 60 to 70 per cent.

After continual cycles of chemotherapy every three weeks over the summer in London, they took a bold decision.

The pair left their jobs and uprooted their family, including six-year-old daughter Layla, to fly to Oklahoma City in October to enrol Frankie in a treatment programme that is unavailable in the UK. Andrew owns his own painting and decorating company while Catherine works as a sales assistant at a Jarvis Brook electronics firm.

Unlike conventional radiotherapy, which uses X-rays to destroy cancer cells, proton radiation therapy stops once the rays hit the targeted cell, meaning much less damage to the

significant tissue.

During their nine weeks in the US, Frankie was given Neulasta as part of his treatment, and according to his mother it has had a transformative impact.

“It has enabled Frank to be in public places he hasn’t been in: Shops, supermarkets, on the school run, parks, nursery school – in fact anywhere public.

With this superdrug, he has never been so well. He has enjoyed the normal life of any other three year old,” she said.

Despite undergoing intense medical therapy, the children apparently treated the US visit as ‘one big holiday’. The therapy centre organised outings for the family, including Frankie’s ‘dream trip’ of riding on a fire engine.

Frankie will face challenges in the future, but the generosity of the community has ensured his family will have the funds to help him, with money already being set aside for regaining Frankie’s sight and counteracting some of the side effects on his development from the proton therapy.  To donate and read updates on Frankie’s progress, visit: www.gofundme.com/thumbsup-for-frankie

7

8

BUSINESS

Local Business News

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Jamie axes High Street Italian restaurant

By Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

TUNBRIDGE WELLS has been listed as one of six locations set to lose its Jamie’s Italian restaurant by spring, less than two years after it opened.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who is worth £240million, announced he would be opening his Tunbridge Wells Trattoria on the High Street at the start of 2015, stating that he was ‘ridiculously excited’ about the project.

Simon Blagden, Chief Executive of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant group, has since blamed Brexit for adding further pressures and ‘unknowns’ to an ‘already tough market’ for the decision, which will result in the loss of 120 staff across the board.

He said each restaurant in the chain needed to attract 3,000 diners a week to be profitable.

The latest accounts for Jamie’s Italian Ltd show that turnover increased 9 per cent to £116million in 2015, although pre-tax profits slipped 38 per cent to £2.4million.

Other restaurants listed to close are located in Exeter, Aberdeen, Cheltenham, Ludgate and Richmond upon Thames.

The closures have not stopped Jamie Oliver’s chain from expanding overseas, with his company planning on opening a further 22 restaurants outside the UK.

make light of what the venue’s owners believe was a massive oversight in planning.

It states: “Thanks to a failure by the developer and local council to do anything to protect future occupants from noise, we have this unique opportunity to live in a flat in close proximity to Royal Tunbridge Wells’ beloved grassroots music venue.

Southeastern wins a six-month extension COMMUTERS railing against yet another increase in train fares may be unsympathetic to learn that Southeastern is set to see its franchise extended for another six months.

The current contract, which the railway operator secured in 2014, was scheduled to end in June 2018, but has instead been pushed back until December.

It is understood the Department for Transport has taken the decision to extend the franchise in order to minimise disruption.

The termination date of June 2018 would have coincided with key timetable changes, and ongoing improvement works at London Bridge and on the Thameslink line.

An extension will also allow potential bidders to design a package to benefit more passengers.

PASTA LA VISTA Jamie Oliver (left) says goodbye to Tunbridge Wells

Want round the clock heavy metal? That will be £775,000

THE sale of newly built luxury flats worth up to £775,000 adjacent to the Tunbridge Wells Forum has been mocked with a spoof advertisement posted on social media by the music venue’s owners.

Headed: ‘For Sale; Luxury Flat with bonus live music available in all rooms five nights a week’, the humorous advert seeks to

BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF

“We guarantee you will be able to enjoy the sounds of live music at least four times a week without leaving your home.”

They claim the dwellings would ideally suit someone with ‘lots of money’ and who has a fondness for loud rock music, hardcore punk, heavy metal and ‘David Bowie celebration nights’. As a bonus, volumes can

be increased by simply opening windows, they add.

For those who are not into ‘really loud music’ the advert suggests they still spend a ‘massive amount of money’ on this residency and make a complaint instead, with the added bonus that: ‘You could quickly become a local pariah and a national laughing stock’ for doing so.

It concludes by sarcastically congratulating the borough council for allowing the vital ‘affordable housing’ to be built, saying it was ‘well worth’ sacrificing established local culture and creativity for the development.

Although well received online, with

over 800 people giving it their support, the threat of noise has done little to dampen appetite for the dwellings.

Since being listed by developer Amberley Homes just over a week ago, the ‘Royal Springs’ development has seen two thirds of its residences sold – with three of the nine apartments snapped up on Friday [January 6] alone, including the £775,000 penthouse.

A spokesman for the company played down the issue of noise. He said: “I do not know why anyone would worry about it. The soundproofing inside is absolutely amazing, you can barely hear the traffic, which itself is more of an issue than The Forum.”

Food production threat RURAL industries in Kent will suffer unless the government makes access to foreign fruit pickers a priority in Brexit negotiations, the Chairman of the county branch of the Country Land and Business Association has warned.

Professor Allan Buckwell has called on the government to commit to creating ‘sectorbased schemes’ post Brexit, to allow certain industries flexibility over the hiring of foreign workers. He said this would help to ‘enormously reduce uncertainty’ for the agricultural sector.

A million-pound return A YALDING-based company specialising in the supply of lentils, chickpeas and beans was approached in a takeover bid last week.

Maviga, which employs 100 people in over 15 countries, looks set to be taken over by commodities trader and financial services firm ED&F Man. Although the takeover price has not been disclosed, it is thought it will net the privatelyowned company’s Chief Executive Marcus Coles several million pounds. It will be a remarkable achievement for Mr Coles, who bought the company from US firm ConAgra for just £1 in 1994. Last year, the firm recorded sales of £243million and saw a 62 per cent increase in profits to £6.5million.

10

BUSINESS

Local Business News

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Living the high life

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk WHAT does someone with an adventurous spirit, a large garden and a fair amount of disposable income buy themselves when there is nothing left to buy?

Perhaps the answer is a luxury tree house? At least that is what the owners of Blue Forest will be hoping.

Founded 14 years ago by brothers Andy and Simon Payne, the Wadhurst-based luxury tree house company takes tree-top living to a level that surpasses anything dreamt up by the Swiss Family Robinson.

“When I tell people at social events such as weddings that I build tree houses, I often get people looking at me in a way that says ‘Oh poor you’ because they think I’m talking of just nailing a few pallets to branches,” said Simon, adding their attitude rapidly changes when he shows them pictures of their projects.

The brothers took much of their design inspiration from their early childhood days living in Kenya, and the way the safari lodges there were built to accommodate their surroundings, rather than simply clearing the land a placing a building on it.

Since its foundation, Blue Forest has grown from a two-man band to a team of 15 people, including 3D graphic designers, architects and engineers.

The growth of the business goes hand

in hand with the increasingly ambitious projects that clients call upon the firm to deliver, with commercial projects becoming more and more integral to the company.

“We have just completed a project at Alton Towers and are currently consulting Merlin – the theme park’s parent company – about other things they want doing,” explained Simon.

But the core of the company is still catering for the tastes of those who are lucky enough to afford a tree house of their own.

‘We have had clients spend hundreds of thousands of pounds…

Sometimes there is no budget’ “Most of our non-commercial clients are fairly high net worth individuals because, to be honest, these things are luxuries for most rather than necessities.

“But we do get a few people who see it as an investment, and so borrow money to build one. These are often for people setting up a B&B. We even have people working from home who want one for office space. They calculate it would cost just as much for a house extension and think it would be nicer to have a tree house,” said Simon.

A ‘basic model’ would set the buyer back around £35,000, including VAT, but there is no upper limit.

“We have had clients spend hundreds of thousands of pounds and these people have a real purpose in mind.

“Sometimes we are fortunate enough to have someone say there is no budget because then we can have real fun.”

By ‘real fun’ he means adding features such as waterslides, hot tubs, trampolines and hidden rooms accessible through rotating bookshelves.

However, he admitted sometimes they suggest things before they think about how to deliver them.

“We often pitch ideas and then worry about delivery afterwards.

For example, we suggested a waterslide for one client and found the solution to actually giving him one was to use the inflatable chutes found on luxury yachts and pump water on to it.”

Part of what makes their business unique is the fact it is so customisable and ever-changing, with each job being totally different – although Simon stated this was also an ‘Achilles heel’ of the business model.

“We can’t do an off-theshelf product,” he added, explaining that creating a luxury tree house is a complex process that includes an application for planning

VISIONARIES Co-founder Simon Payne (left) and director Will Hardy (right)

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Local Business News

BUSINESS

11

Chapel Down wins boat race accolade

permission, the sourcing of materials and the detailed design. Sometimes, outside contractors from across Europe are bought in if the project is sufficiently large, or there are some particularly niche requirements.

Originally, Blue Forest had focused on the mid-market for tree houses but, perhaps ironically, it was the recession which led them to focus on the elite market.

“When the recession hit, we found those who had good incomes but are not ‘high net worth’, such as doctors and lawyers, stopped wanting tree houses,” said Simon.

“When it came to prioritising continuing to send their children to private school or have a tree house, it’s not surprising what they opted for.

“So we ended up pitching to those who were not too affected and would have disposable income regardless. Now we have grown, we couldn’t compete at the lower end of the market anyway because of our overheads.”

Although 90 per cent of their work is still within the UK, some of the projects have taken the team as far afield as America, Borneo and Malawi.

One recent enquiry has come from the United Arab Emirates, but it is too early to see if anything will come of it as there is an extremely large gap between those who express an interest and those who follow through.

“People email from all over the world, but probably only about one per cent of them ever come to something,” added Simon.

“I have become pretty good at recognising quickly who are the dreamers and who are committed.”

ENGLISH sparkling wine won yet another battle against its Champagne rival last week when the Kent-based vineyard Chapel Down was chosen as the official partner to The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race for the next four years.

It is the latest success for the Tenterden business, which will now have its increasingly renowned tipple served to the victorious crew at the Mortlake finish line in April – an honour previously reserved for Bollinger Champagne.

Frazer Thompson, CEO at Chapel Down, commented: “We are thrilled to be partnering The Boat Race, an iconic moment in the British sporting calendar.

“This great rivalry inspires mutual respect but an iron will to outperform. This is a sentiment that I relate to as we compete with sparkling wines from ‘the other place’.”

Iconic David Searle, Executive Director of The Boat Race Company Ltd, said: “We are delighted to welcome Chapel Down as an Official Partner of The Boat Races.

“Chapel Down will be joining a host of other great British brands partnering The Boat Races, and it will be fantastic to see the iconic celebration moment after the race being fêted with English sparkling wine.

“As a forward-thinking and ambitious business, Chapel Down brings a new dimension to The Boat Races reflecting our desire to evolve as a thoroughly modern British event, and we are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together over the next four years.”

The 163rd Boat Race and 72nd Women’s Boat Race will take place on Sunday April 2, 2017.

12

NEWS

Community

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Wooden Spoon are the winners TUNBRIDGE WELLS RFC raised £700 at their annual Boxing Day match in support of Wooden Spoon, rugby’s largest children’s charity.

The club held a prize draw and sold the charity’s socks. It also raised funds for the club’s Wooden Spoon ambassador, James Gwinnett, who is running the London Marathon on behalf of the charity.

The proceeds help local projects such as sensory rooms, specialist playgrounds and sports activity areas along with respite and medical care. Wooden Spoon works to transform the lives of children with disabilities or facing disadvantage in the UK and Ireland, funding 70 projects each year.

Founded after England’s dire Five Nations campaign in 1983, it has distributed more than £24million, helping over a million young people.

A large crowd at St Mark’s saw the Club XV defeat the Chairman’s invitation side 27-21. Club and international legend Martin Corry drew the raffle.

Martin, who learned his game at Tunbridge Wells and made his senior debut for them aged 17, went on to captain England and the British Lions, winning 71 caps in total.

CUP OF CHEER: (L-R) Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club Chairman Graham Withers with Wooden Spoon ambassador James Gwinnett, former England captain Martin Corry and Alan Skinner

Trinity musical proves smash hit with children were given free tickets by the Tunbridge Wells cultural centre to see the musical.

The group, which meets once a month, was set up to support local families where the children are TWENTY-FIVE children and their grandparents or no longer being cared for by their parents. carers were invited to the Trinity Theatre to watch Bethany, aged 16, commented on the show: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella as a treat.

“I liked how the animals were created and moved The Grandparents and Carers Support Group realistically. It reminded me of the Lion King’s puppetry.” While 13-year-old Terry said it was ‘thrilling SHOW TIME and packed full of The support group entertainment’. meets at Trinity Stephanie Salter, a member of the Early Help team for Kent County Council, founded the support organisation seven years ago.

“I saw a real need to support carers who were unexpectedly raising children that were not necessarily their own,” she said.

“Predominantly, these children are vulnerable as a

Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

result of the various experiences they’ve had at an early stage in life.

“Many carers in the group are grandparents who have become carers after retiring or at an older age. Many become ‘parents’ again unexpectedly, almost overnight.”

She added: “As a result, activities like these are not feasible financially for these families, especially around Christmas.

“Experiences like this are really important for them and they are very grateful for it. It is something that these families really relish and appreciate.

“Time like this, where they can spend time with their families and with other families in similar positions, is really important for them.

“It’s lovely to see how these activities bring the family together and allow the children to grow in confidence.

“The group is somewhere they can feel safe and understood. It’s mainly for social support, but these experiences really embellish their quality of life outside of the group, too.”

Some 35 families are members of the group, which use the Little Forest Children’s Centre in Tunbridge Wells as their regular meeting spot.

There is also a ‘rural session’ in Cranbrook.

Lions take pride in festive collections THE Southborough & District Lions Club raised £4,232 during their annual door-to-door Christmas collection, which was in its 35th year.

The funds went towards providing 84 Christmas food hampers for elderly residents and others who were considered to be deserving.

The Lions visited Southborough, High Brooms, Bidborough, Langton Green and Tunbridge Wells over eight evenings during the festive period.

There were also three static collection points at Sainsbury’s and Tesco on St John’s Road, and the Millennium Clock at Fiveways in the town centre.

The Lions’ Fundraising Chairman Peter Mersh said: “We very much appreciate the wonderful support the public give us at this time of the year.

“Having distributed the hampers already, it is of the utmost importance that we use the public’s contributions fairly and wisely throughout the coming year. This we shall endeavour to do.”

The Lions’ next fundraising venture will be a sponsored darts tournament to be held at pubs and clubs during April and May.

Baxall and BDHL show kind heart of business ELLENOR’S Accumulator Challenge, a competition for businesses, raised £7,171 for the hospice charity with Baxall Construction as last year’s winner.

The charity helps families who are facing terminal illness. This sum will help to pay for 233 hours of play therapy for ellenor’s young patients and their siblings.

Twelve companies took part in ellenor’s first Accumulator Challenge. Each was handed a £50 note and given three months to make it grow.

The Paddock Wood builders raised £3,684 by making birthday cakes and running a football team scratch card competition and raffle.

BDHL, a health insurance company based at Lamberhurst Vineyard, received the Community Engagement Award after undertaking a 100,000mile bench rowing challenge, a bake sale and raffle and raising £1,503.93.

“We really appreciate all the hard work which companies put into supporting our very first Accumulator Challenge,” said Kate Barnes, ellenor’s Area Fundraising Manager.

If your business would like to take part in the Accumulator Challenge, call Kate Barnes on 01474 320007 or email kate.barnes@ellenor.org

National News

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

Facebook helps give war veteran proper send-off WHEN the Rev Mandy Bishop of St Margaret’s Church in Ormesby learned that Second World War veteran Reginald Watson had no surviving relatives and faced a pauper’s funeral and burial in an unmarked grave, she posted the details on Facebook.

It led to more than 100 people turning out for the service on Tuesday. Mr Watson, who died on November 23 aged 90, had lived in the same house in Ormesby, near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, nearly all of his life.

Cold weather warning YELLOW warnings for wind and snow have been issued by the Met Office.

Freezing conditions are expected to bring 2 to 5cm of snow at lower levels and 10 to 20cm on ground above 200m.

The weather conditions will affect Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of the north-west from Wednesday.

The warning then expands to include Wales and eastern England by Thursday and into Friday.

Butterfly charges denied A MAN has appeared in Bristol Magistrates’ Court charged with capturing, killing and possessing the UK’s rarest butterfly.

Phillip Cullen, 57, who is accused of six offences relating to Large Blue (maculinea arion) butterflies, which are endangered globally, denies the charges and will stand trial at the court on March 16.

13

Nuclear power station plan set for South-East

CLOSED Investigators on the M1

Police try to solve mystery of man found dead on motorway MOTORISTS who struck a man’s body on an unlit stretch of the M1 may have thought they had hit an animal, traffic police have said.

The unidentified victim suffered ‘catastrophic’ injuries after being run over by several vehicles on a 50mph stretch of the M1 motorway near Daventry in Northamptonshire in the early hours of yesterday [Tuesday].

The northbound M1 was closed between junctions 16 and 17, and Detective Sergeant Tony Hopkins said: “Unfortunately at the moment we cannot confirm the identity of the male as we still try to establish next-of-kin.

“It may be a fail-to-stop collision, or it may be that a motorist believed they hit an animal.

“There is no nearby bridge or obvious footpath that would indicate where he may have come from. It may be an innocent accident or something more serious.”

Fingerprint records are being used in an attempt to identify the man and officers are said to be following several lines of inquiry as to how he

NEWS

came to be on the motorway before his body was found in the inside lane at 2.09am on Tuesday.

Mr Hopkins said: “It’s too early to say whether or not we can treat this as suspicious.

“We believe the body may have come into contact with several vehicles on the M1 at that time,” he added.

“We are encouraging any driver that believes they saw a pedestrian on the carriageway at that time, anything suspicious involving vehicles, or believe that they may have inadvertently had contact with this male, to please contact us.

“We are quite aware that this is a stretch of motorway that is unlit. No one would be expecting there to be any pedestrian on that section.”

The scene of the accident, south of Watford Gap Services, is currently restricted to a 50mph speed limit due to roadworks and has no access to the hard shoulder.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, can contact police on 101 or 03000 111222 if outside Northamptonshire.

A NEW nuclear power station will be built in Bradwell, Essex, if regulators approve the ­Chinese-designed plant.

The regulators have been asked to begin the process of giving the green light to the proposal which has been put forward by General Nuclear Services (GNS), a partnership between French energy giant EDF and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN).

Zhu Minhong, General Manager of CGN UK, said: “The robust independence of the UK’s regulators is seen across the world as a key strength for nuclear in Britain.

“This is a quality which we value and respect.

CGN and EDF will bring to this enterprise their joint experience in China, Britain and France over many years.”

Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson, EDF Energy’s nuclear new build Managing Director, said: “EDF will bring invaluable experience gained from the approval process for Hinkley Point C’s EPR reactors and from our continuing work with the UK’s ­independent regulators.

“Both EDF and CGN will also be listening c­ arefully to the community around Bradwell before we draw up detailed proposals for the development of the new power station.”

The assessment will take a number of years to complete. The move follows the Government go-ahead last year for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley in Somerset, to be built by EDF with backing from CGN.

14

NEWS

National News

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Police name the seven year old girl found injured on a playing field…

THE mother of a seven-year-old girl who died after she was found seriously injured on a playing field was seen crying on her knees in the street and pleading for help, according to witnesses. A 15-year-old girl was arrested after police were called to an address in the Woodthorpe area of York and found the young girl with life-threatening injuries. She died in hospital a short time later.

Witnesses said the mother of the little girl, who was named as Katie Rough, arrived at the scene in Alness Drive on Monday afternoon.

Rob McCartney, who lives next to a grass track leading from the cul-de-sac to the playing field, said he saw the girl lying there.

He said the mother was distraught, shouting for help and saying her daughter had been killed.

He said: “The mother came running up the street shouting for help and saying ‘Get an ambulance’.

“I could see a young girl lying in the field.

Police were already attending to her.”

A man and a woman, believed to be the girl’s grandparents, later arrived in the quiet residential street and left a bunch of flowers by the police cordon. The card read: “Night night my darling princess Katie, love Nana and Grandad.”

Quiet street A woman living next to the track said: “The mother was on her knees in the middle of the road, crying. It was quite distressing.”

Alness Drive is a quiet street lined with redbrick detached homes, lying to the south-east of the city centre. The grass track was still cordoned off yesterday [Tuesday] and police had erected a white tent over the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Ellis said: “Officers attended and, upon visiting a scene nearby, they found a seven-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries. An ambulance attended and the girl was taken to York District Hospital, where she sadly died a short time later.”

row over a green energy scandal at Stormont forced the Democratic Unionist First Minister Arlene Foster from office as well.

The parties have seven days to resolve their differences before Mr Brokenshire calls a poll.

Mr Brokenshire expressed concern about the consequences of an election, raising the spectre of a return to direct rule. He urged the leaders to

Teams in World Cup will increase to 48 THE FIFA Council has rubber-stamped plans to expand football’s World Cup from 32 teams to 48 teams from 2026 onwards.

This is the first time since the 1998 World Cup that changes have been made to the make-up of the tournament, with the 2026 competition set to feature 16 groups of three.

Furyk is front runner GOLFER Jim Furyk is expected to be named as Ryder Cup captain for the United States’ defence of the trophy in France in 2018.

Course faces closure THE FAMOUS horseracing venue, Kempton Park in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, could be closed in 2021 to make way for a £500million housing redevelopment, its owner the Jockey Club has announced.

VICTIM Katie Rough

Northern Ireland could face return to direct rule THE UK Government has appealed to Northern Ireland’s political leaders to step back from the brink of the current political crisis.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire told the Commons that the situation after Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness’s resignation was ‘grave’ and a snap election was highly likely.

The departure of the Sinn Fein veteran amid a

SPORT IN BRIEF

work together to find a resolution and safeguard the progress made under the peace process.

“We must not put all of this at risk without every effort to resolve differences,” he said. “We must continue to do all we can to continue to build a brighter, more secure Northern Ireland that works for everyone.

“We do have to be realistic – the clock is ticking.”

Sams reunite at Palace FORMER Liverpool footballer Sammy Lee has been appointed assistant at Crystal Palace under new boss Sam Allardyce, with whom he worked at Bolton from 2005-07.

Sharapova sets return MARIA SHARAPOVA has said she will make her comeback following her doping ban at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart in April. * For your local sport turn to pages 68-71

National Business News

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Snapchat is backing Britain after Brexit MESSAGING app Snapchat has chosen London for its international headquarters in a vote of confidence in the UK following the Brexit decision.

The announcement comes after Facebook, Apple, Google and IBM all committed to Britain in recent months.

Snap Inc said the UK’s strong creative industries made it ‘a great place to build a global business’.

Sir David in the frame SIR DAVID CLEMENTI, who recommended to the government that the BBC Trust should be replaced by one board of mostly nonexecutive directors, has been named as the broadcaster’s new chairman.

Cap wages says Corbyn LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn has called for a cap on pay for top earners in order to create a more equal society, claiming the action is needed to counter the growing levels of income disparity.

Mirror talks to Express THE Daily Mirror has confirmed that talks are under way to acquire a minority stake in Daily Express publisher Northern & Shell.

However, a statement issued by the newspaper’s owners Trinity Mirror said: “There is no certainty that any agreement will be reached.”

Consumers keep festive tills ringing SHOPPERS buying last-minute gifts in the week leading up to Christmas boosted sales in December despite a weaker performance from online retailers, according to a British Retail Consortium-KPMG survey.

Supermarket chain Morrisons also announced its strongest festive sales growth for seven years after it tempted shoppers to ‘splash out’ on its revamped premium range.

Chief Executive David Potts said the group had ‘found our mojo’ as it posted a 2.9 per cent

hike in like-for-like sales excluding fuel for the nine weeks to January 1, meaning full-year profits are set to beat City expectations.

Morrisons shares leapt more than 4 per cent higher, with the festive sales cheer also sending listed rivals sharply higher.

Sainsbury’s shares rose 2 per cent and Tesco leapt 4 per cent.

Majestic Wine also showed its best Christmas figures as Rowan Gormley presses ahead with a transformation plan following a difficult six months.

The warehouse wine retailer said like-for-like sales rose 7.5 per cent in the 10 weeks to January 2, an increase on its 7.3 per cent increase last year.

Total sales were up 12.4 per cent during the period, with Majestic saying it is on track to meet full-year expectations.

The company has embarked on a three-year turnaround plan aimed at expanding and retaining its customer base, slowing down branch network expansion and acquiring new customers for Naked Wines.

Theft of hard drive costs Royal and Sun £150,000 ROYAL AND SUN ALLIANCE (RSA) has been dates were not affected. ICO enforcement fined £150,000 after the loss of personal officers found that RSA did not have appropriinformation of nearly 60,000 clients. ate measures in place to protect financial inforThe Information Commissioner’s Office mation by preventing the theft.

(ICO) said the fine followed its investigation It said the device had been stolen either by a into the theft of a hard drive from member of staff or a contractor, and the insurer’s offices in West Susthat the information on it was not sex containing 59,592 customencrypted and the hard drive has ers’ names, addresses and bank never been recovered.

ICO’s Head of Enforcement, Steve details including account Eckersley, said: “When we looked numbers and sort codes.

The device also held limat this case we discovered an organisation that simply didn’t ited credit card details of take adequate precautions to 20,000 customers, although CVC numbers and expiry ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: Steve Eckersley protect customer information.”

BUSINESS

15

Stock Exchange chief warns of a potential financial sector exodus THE UK’s powerhouse financial sector would face heightened risk and an exodus of well over 10,000 jobs without certainty over Britain’s Brexit deal, MPs have been told.

Speaking to the Treasury Select Committee, Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange, said his customers ‘simply would not wait’ and would move operations if the LSE did not have a clear path for continuing its global operation.

His comments came as Douglas Flint, Group Chairman of HSBC, said the bank would take ‘pre-emptive action’ to move jobs to France, the Netherlands or Ireland before the Article 50 process is complete.

Resilience He said the lender’s heavyweight clients expected the financial industry to adjust to meet their needs post-Brexit, but warned smaller firms were more likely to suffer from uncertainty.

Banks have issued stark warnings since the Brexit vote, claiming thousands of jobs would shift to rival financial centres across Europe and the United States if Britain loses the right to sell financial services to the EU. However, the resilience of the UK economy since the EU referendum result has cast doubt over doom-laden economic reports suggesting Britain would suffer a sharp slowdown.

Andy Haldane, the Bank of England’s Chief Economist, has admitted that economists had become embroiled in a forecasting crisis, calling warnings of a swift and deep downturn after the Brexit vote as a ‘Michael Fish moment’.

16

NEWS

World News

Ivorian jailed for killing Meredith Kercher fails in appeal for acquittal AN APPEALS court in Florence has rejected an acquittal bid by the only defendant ultimately convicted of the 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher.

Rudy Hermann Guede, from the Ivory Coast, is serving a 16-year sentence for the murder of Ms Kercher, who was found stabbed in her bedroom in a house which she shared with American student Amanda Knox in Perugia.

After a series of convictions and acquittals, Ms Knox and her former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were ultimately exonerated of the murder

by Italy’s top criminal court.

When the court had upheld Guede’s conviction, it ruled that he did not act alone, but did not name any accomplices.

His lawyers argued that this ruling conflicted with the acquittals of Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito.

Revising final verdicts is an extremely rare occurrence in Italy.

Tourists fall into gorge after bridge collapses AT LEAST seven people have died and 14 are seriously injured after a suspension bridge popular with tourists in rural Colombia overturned, hurling victims more than 260 feet into a gorge.

The structure near Villavicencio is a major tourist attraction and authorities say the accident on Monday may have been caused by overloading during a busy three-day holiday weekend.

Officials say they fear the death toll could rise because many people are severely injured.

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Protesters in Ku Klux Klan costumes disrupt hearing PROTESTERS disrupted Senator Jeff Sessions’ confirmation hearing as United States Attorney General, including two men in Ku Klux Klan costumes and a woman wearing a pink crown.

The conservative Alabama senator, who is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for the post of America’s top law enforcement official, faces concerns over how committed he would be to civil rights.

The disruptions occurred during the morning session of his hearing yesterday [Tuesday].

As Capitol Police took the men wearing white hoods and sheets out of the Senate hearing room, they shouted, ‘you can’t arrest me, I am white’ and ‘white people own this government’. They held up hand signs saying ‘Go Jeffie Boy’ and ‘KKK’.

Also removed was at least one protester from the liberal group Code Pink, who held a sign that said ‘Support civil rights, stop Sessions’.

Wearing a pink crown modelled on the Statue

of Liberty, she shouted: “His voting record is evil.”

Civil liberties advocates have expressed concerns about Mr Sessions’ voting record and his appearances before groups that espouse harsh views on M ­ uslims and immigrants.

The Republican was rejected for a federal judgeship by the Senate Judiciary Committee 30 years ago amid accusations of racial insensitivity.

Seeking to address those concerns, Mr Sessions said in a prepared opening statement that

he ‘understands the history of civil rights and the horrendous impact that relentless and systemic discrimination and the denial of voting rights has had on our African-American brothers and sisters’.

Mr Sessions also said he would ‘recuse’ himself from investigations relating to the Democratic candidate Presidential Hillary Clinton’s email server.

He admitted he would excuse himself for a lack of impartiality because of comments he made during the election campaign.

LEGAL ISSUES Jeff Sessions (left) with Donald Trump

NEWS IN BRIEF

Court reviews treatment of mass murderer in jail A SIX-DAY court hearing began yesterday [Tuesday] to review whether the Norwegian government has breached the European Convention on Human Rights by placing mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik in solitary confinement and restricting his movements.

The 37-year-old right-wing extremist killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage in 2011.

The government maintains that Breivik, who is serving a 21-year prison sentence, is treated humanely despite the severity of his crimes and that he must be separated from other inmates for safety reasons.

Divorce is private affair ACTORS Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are to conduct their divorce in private and work to reunify their family by utilising a private judge, the former couple have announced in a joint statement.

Pitt, 53, and Jolie, 41, were together for 12 years and married for two years before Jolie filed for divorce in September.

Troops kill Palestinian ISRAELI troops have shot dead a Palestinian who allegedly tried to stab soldiers in the West Bank. The Israeli military said forces were on an arrest raid in the Fara refugee camp yesterday [Tuesday] when 32-year-old Mohammed al-Salhi charged towards them with a knife. The troops shot him after he ignored warnings to halt, the military said.

18

NEWS

Letters

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

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 Last week, we carried a story about councillors receiving an attendance allowance of at least £5,500 a year regardless of how many meetings they attend. This followed the councillors’ vote not to accept a pay cut as recommended by an independent panel. These two letters reflect opposing views on the issue.

The entire system needs a shake-up I do not understand why there are government rules which mean those setting the allowances for councillors are not allowed to tie them to attendance.

It seems there is a huge disconnect between what different councillors are expected to do and how they are rewarded for it.

I think those who are prepared to set aside much of their time to sit on various committees should be recognised with a higher remuneration than those who just do the bare minimum.

The likes of Cllrs Soyke and Nuttall should have an allowance at least the equivalent of a Cabinet member, as each attended over 30 meetings a year with a 100 per cent record.

Likewise, Cllrs Dawlings and Backhouse appear to have done a great service to the borough in 2016, with each of them attending over 40 meetings.

On the other hand, there are Cabinet members who are only expected at half the number of meetings and yet get paid more, or still fail to attend all of them.

Also, even if it is true that a lot of a borough councillor’s work is in the local community and doesn’t necessary entail meetings at the Town Hall, are we expected to believe that those whose attendance records are relatively poor are simply missing their council duties to attend local functions?

The entire allowance system at town halls needs a shake-up, as the current one just seems arbitrary and rewards the wrong sort of people.

Paul Batchelor Via email

Bravo hospital radio team and Sir Cliff How interesting to hear that Sir Cliff Richard has waded into the Tunbridge Wells hospital radio debate. I had no idea that the service still existed, so it just goes to show the power certain celebrities have when it comes to getting publicity for various campaigns.

It was also fascinating to learn that it was, indeed, Sir Cliff who organised for the station’s first transmission line to be put in when he performed at the Assembly Hall all those years ago.

Bravo to all the team at our local hospital radio for staging a marathon broadcasting weekend which will hopefully go some way to plugging the

Most councillors well intentioned There seems to be an assumption out there that every public servant is cynically robbing the public purse while merely pretending to care about the concerns of the general population.

This image isn’t helped when you have local councillors in Tunbridge Wells borough attending less than two thirds of their required meetings, while still picking up 100 per cent of their money.

But let’s be serious for a minute. Firstly, if you really did have a cynical Machiavellian figure who wanted to fill their pockets with cash, do you really think they would be sitting on a local borough council in West Kent? Talk about lack of ambition.

Secondly, as someone who has attended a number of council meetings in my life (I take a keen interest in local politics, no matter where I live), I can assure people that they are an absolute chore and by no means the nefarious pulpit of backhand deals and cronyism that it seems some people imagine.

In the end, I think perhaps we need to drop the hyperbole and realise that the majority of our councillors are well-intentioned local citizens who we all chip in a few quid a year to look after all that slightly dull and dry stuff that we’d rather not have to think about.

Derek Smalley Via email WHAT A TURN UP at the Town Hall

gap of £3,000 which is still needed in order to keep the vital service for patients and their family and friends going. I for one will certainly be donating to this worthy cause.

Thank you for reporting on this story and for making Sir Cliff front page news again – this time for all the right reasons.

Marion Hardcastle Via email

Taxi driver’s favourite passengers Having just retired from 50 years of taxi driving, I have been reminiscing over those days in 1966 when I first drove for Ashline outside the central

station, and the minimum fare was two shillings and sixpence [12.5p].

I think, over the years, amongst my favourite customers were the late Lady Dowding, widow of one of our war heroes, from Calverley Park, the late and great Henry Cooper, who was living in North Tonbridge when I took him to Crawley to open a supermarket, and finally another old dear from Mount Ephraim whose name escapes me.

She always wanted to go to ‘Dustbins’ and I had to ask her to elucidate on the first occasion. Older readers will surely remember when The Pantiles had Dusts at one end and Binns at the other?

Dave Brennan Via email

And it’s hey ho Hi-De-Hi! to all of you Should we be worried? Should our nobbly knees be shaking? The surviving cast of Hi-De-Hi! seems to be descending on Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge en masse.

First we had the excitable Sue Pollard, who played Peggy the maid in the classic 80s sitcom, now playing the Wicked Queen in Snow White at the Assembly Hall. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Holland, the actor formerly known as Spike, is shortly to play homage to Stan Laurel at the EM Forster Theatre. And now we hear that Ruth Madoc, the estimable Gladys Pugh, will be coming to the Assembly Hall this year for The Wedding Singer.

Anyone else would think living around here is like being at one big holiday camp!

Martyn Bellman Via Email

We mustn’t be complacent about homeless It’s great to hear the Tunbridge Wells Churches are hosting their Winter Shelters for another year during the coldest two months of the calendar.

It’s all too easy to think that no one can be sleeping rough on the streets of Tunbridge Wells.

It’s worth pointing out that the Bridge Trust offers help for the homeless in Tonbridge, and there is also a hostel in Colebrook Road, High Brooms. Meanwhile, the Street Scene crew help out in the Crescent Road car park, supplying hot food during the rest of the year.

We must not become complacent simply because of the relative wealth of our region. The fact is that it is all too easy for the affluent to be afflicted by a sudden fall in fortunes – especially if they have ‘maxed out’ their financial dependency – which can see them fall between the cracks.

And Nourish Foodbank has highlighted the fact that the rich and comfortable can also fall foul of domestic abuse, which can lead to them having nowhere to go. So let us not congratulate ourselves too soon that we are doing what needs to be done. We must always remain vigilant.

Sarah Bonham Via Email

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

2017

business awards

Calverley ‘Lord’ Lionel

ARISE Lord Lionel of The Pantiles. That was the message that went out on New Year’s Eve when details of the honours list were released. It referred to that colourful local character Lionel Shell, renowned hairdresser and Jazz On The Pantiles promoter. Sadly, the announcement did not come from Buck House. It was posted on Facebook by the man himself as a spoof that resulted in numerous messages of congratulations which, in turn, required ‘Lord Lionel’ to issue an urgent correction. We think you deserve a real title, Lionel.

TO The Gatehouse on Tonbridge High Street to see in the New Year. Much excitement at the idea of a splendid meal with friends (sort of splendid) and a view of the fireworks across the river by the castle at midnight. What a let-down. No fireworks (unlike TW), and at 11.30pm pub staff ordered everybody out into the cold. Surely that would not have happened when it was the old Slug & Lettuce?

OVERHEARD in TW restaurant at dinner of local businessmen. Bearded man to table: “I’m arranging a ski trip to Solden [top European winter resort in Austria]. Anyone interested in joining us?” Man in glasses: “Not much of a skier, really, what else goes on?” Bearded: “Oh, it’s got loads of strip clubs.” Glasses: “What dates are we looking at?”

WHEN it comes to things like smartphones, Calverley is ready to admit he is not the best informed and is constantly surprised at the rate of technical progress. Even so, Himself was taken aback last week when a mobile went off during a business meeting. It was in the coat of a woman who simply reached into her pocket and turned it off. How did she know who it was? Seems each of her four children has their own ringtone. “That was my teenage son, Eden, who can be loud and vibrant hence the ringtone to match,” she explained. Amazing.

Chin, chin readers

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL BUSINESSES Ten categories… ten chances to win… which award do you deserve?

For details on how to enter visit www.timesbusinessawards.co.uk

LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

Education

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

NEWS

19

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

NEWS IN EDUCATION

New Head appointed THE Judd School have announced that Jon Wood will succeed Robert Masters as Headmaster on September 1, 2017.

Mr Wood is currently the school’s Deputy Headmaster, and was awarded the new role by Judd’s governing body, who cited his enthusiasm, vision, knowledge and experience of the school as the deciding factors in his appointment.

They also commented that he would ‘honour the culture and ethos of the school’.

Top marks from Tatler ONE of the UK’s most prestigious lifestyle magazines, Tatler, has selected Hillview School for Girls in Tonbridge as one of the UK’s Best Secondary State Schools for 2017.

Headmistress Hilary Burkett told the Times: “Our inclusion in the top state schools review is a clear recognition of the hard work and talents of our staff and students.

Hillview is a unique, incredible school, it’s wonderful for all members of the Hillview community to be acknowledged in this way.”

Tatler stated: “These sparky girls are infused with confidence by the time they leave and A-level results are looking good.”

Why volunteering in schools brings benefits to both parents and pupils THIS year, it may be good to make a resolution you can actually keep by giving a little of your time and talents to your child’s school. Here, Michelle Doyle Wildman, Policy and Communications Director at Tonbridge-based national charity PTA UK, which supports parent teacher associations around the country, explains how you can get involved: Volunteering in schools brings more benefits than is immediately apparent. PTA UK can see first-hand the positive impact of parental involvement in their child’s education.

From volunteering to reading in the classroom, telling the class about your career, or accompanying children on school trips to being an active member of the parents’ association, or contributing to discussions about policy, parents have a vital role to play.

A recent survey of our members found that individuals are spending around three million

hours a year volunteering in schools nationwide.

This is roughly equivalent to £20m worth of time invested in our children’s education that simply wouldn’t be provided in any other way.

Our research also revealed that parents are active in supporting teaching, building the school community, raising money, enhancing communications, and improving the learning environment. It

How to get invoved  Read (and talk) with your child: One of the

most effective ways to help improve the attainment of younger children is through reading.

If you can devote more time, why not offer to read with other children at school?

found the average funds an individual PTA raises is £7,000 each year, with 26 per cent of PTAs raising more than £10,000. We also found that parents are engaging with their children’s schools because they enjoy the social aspects, too. And while three quarters of respondents volunteered while in employment, others found that it helped them regain confidence to re-enter the workplace.  Consider joining your school PTA, parent

forum or Board of Governors: Don’t be put off by thinking you don’t have the time and skills – everyone has something to offer.  Be a virtual supporter: Could you help set up

the class or PTA’s Facebook page? Can you find the time to respond to e-consultations or surveys? Can you help the school apply for funds?

 Attend school information

sessions and parents evenings so you can help your child outside the classroom.

 Sign-up to the PTA UK parent e-bulletin at:

www.pta.org.uk/signup – or follow them on twitter @PTAUK and Facebook: PTA UK

20

NEWS

Weekly Comment

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Greg Clark

MP for Tunbridge Wells

Why life on the run can be a good thing THE beginning of a New Year is a time of firmly meant resolutions. Quite often they involve optimistic plans to get fit. As we all know, not many of these vows make it to the end of the month, let alone the end of the year.

So, for my first column of 2017, I want to celebrate a promise that has stood the test of time, and has become something of a local institution.

On April 22, 2014, a group of local residents committed to organising a weekly run at 9am every Saturday morning round Dunorlan Park in Tunbridge Wells – 179 people turned up to run a 5km route around our beautiful park.

Every week since then, the Royal Tunbridge Wells parkrun has become a Saturday morning fixture with more than 3,300 people having taken part since the inaugural run.

In sometimes turbulent times, it is a remarkable story of what public-spirited people can do when they throw themselves into a project with enthusiasm and commitment.

It is completely free of charge. The run is bril-

liantly organised by our fellow local residents taking their turn at volunteering – led by the event director, Joe Watts.

Since 2014, 236 people have served as volunteers – including stars like Judy Guest, Steve Barnfield, Louise Fitzgerald and Joe himself, who have all volunteered over 100 times out of the 137 times the run has taken place. Some are not even runners themselves.

‘Thank you to everyone – especially the volunteers – who have created such a great community event’ Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, which runs Dunorlan Park, has been supportive from the outset, and its Chief Executive, William Benson, and several councillors and staff have been spotted taking part.

The run is open to everyone of all abilities – it’s not a race, there are no prizes for the fastest, and

Greg Clark was elected to Parliament as a representative of Tunbridge Wells in 2005. The Conservative MP has since held a number of positions in Government and currently sits as a member of the Cabinet in his capacity as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

while the course record is 16 minutes, 20 seconds, others complete it in 45 minutes.

The ages range from the under-tens (with a responsible adult) to the over-80s. Every run is professionally timed and when you’re finished you get a text or an email so that you can see if you’re getting fitter or – alternatively – how the Christmas overindulgence has had its toll. All you need is to print out, free of charge, a barcode before your first run at: www.parkrun.org.uk There are so many good things about our parkrun. The changing seasons in a particularly beautiful park. The warmth of the atmosphere – even on the chilliest mornings. The encouragement and motivation from the marshalls and fellow runners. The welcome to new runners and visitors – ‘parkrun tourists’ from all over the country, and sometimes the world.

As many readers will know, our local Royal Tunbridge Wells parkrun is part of the national, and now international, network of runs taking place at the same time on a Saturday morning.

Since the first event in Teddington in 2004, there are now 545 runs once a week across the UK, and over 1,000 worldwide – with nearly two million people having taken part.

As well as Dunorlan in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge has its own run from Castle Road behind the swimming pool, which began six months earlier than Tunbridge Wells, and last Saturday attracted a record 542 runners. Dame Kelly Holmes

has been a regular – and motivating – participant in both the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells events.

I completed my 37th run at Dunorlan last Saturday, and I’ve enjoyed every one.

So a big thank you to everyone – especially the volunteers – who have created such a great community event, and whatever else 2017 has in store, I know that this particular team will go from strength to strength.

MARATHON MAN Greg Clark

22

NEWS

Pantiles News

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

PANTILESNews

The

Getting connected for a brighter future PHOTO: Craig Matthews

Last month one of the area’s most popular shopping promenades welcomed the introduction of free Wi-Fi which was brought in to improve visitors’ retail experience, ensuring they can scroll on the go or sit and surf in one of the cafés

HOT SPOT Free Wi-Fi is now on offer

A piece of

PANTILES Celebrating a history

special delivery

In an occasional series the Times looks at the history of The Pantiles. In this issue we focus on its famous post box One of the most charming features on The Pantiles is its red post box.

Dating back to Victorian times it is thought to have been specially designed for this specific area of town and boasts a number of ornate hallmarks including a filial top and decorative mouldings.

It bears the letters VR which stands for Victoria Reigna. Post boxes made during the time of any monarch on the throne boast their initials so these obviously signify they were made during the time Queen Victoria ruled.

The inscription, along with the box itself, was recently redecorated as part of the Royal Mail’s heritage programme which regularly repaints any historical letter boxes dotted around the country in order to preserve them for future generations of letter writers.

Royal Mail has more than 115,000 post boxes across the country bearing many different designs and sizes including the ‘Lamp’, which is usually found on gate posts and the space saving ‘Ludlow’ which is cleverly integrated into brick walls.

W

hen it comes to sourcing unique gifts, delicious gastronomic delights and beautiful embellishments for the home The Pantiles is the obvious choice for discerning shoppers. And they have always come from far and wide to soak up the alluring ambience this historical part of Tunbridge Wells has to offer.

As well as boasting a wealth of independent retailers, tempting cafés and cool bars, its specialist markets are always a popular draw but patchy reception had always plagued the historic walkway and frustrated its retailers.

Now that has all changed thanks to the introduction of a new Wi-Fi service that will ensure visitors and café and shop owners receive the best possible internet service. The free Pantiles Wi-Fi service means you can scroll on the go or sit and surf while

you enjoy a cup of coffee or a spot of lunch.

It’s even been ‘future proofed’ to ensure the service can meet demand as technology evolves. According to The Pantiles’ management company Targetfollow, the complementary Wi-Fi will provide visitors with a smooth, fast browsing experience and easy media uploads. And at present, The Pantiles Wi-Fi is one of the only free area wide Wi-Fi Hotspots in Tunbridge Wells.

Targetfollow’s CEO, Corin Thoday said: “It is with great pleasure that we introduce another service at The Pantiles for visitors to enjoy. We think that The Pantiles is a wonderful place to spend time and we recognise that a big part of people’s leisure time is surfing the web and getting connected through social media. Our visitors will now be able to do this at The Pantiles without using their own personal data allowance.”

WEST KENT’S ULTIMATE PROPERTY GUIDE – FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY A MUST READ FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BUY, LET OR SELL

The Times is proud to work with:

WITH THE

Available in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks

bracketts

est. 1828

Seeing the light A roof window is just one of the features of this home

24

PROPERTY

To suit your budget

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

In my view…

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Your at-a-glance guide to

Robert Gordon-James Director Martin & Co Tonbridge

Why are more people moving to Tonbridge?

I had an interesting lunchtime last week – whilst strolling down the High Street in Tonbridge, enjoying some winter sun and taking a break from the frenetic pace of estate agency, it dawned on me that Tonbridge was a job seeker’s paradise! No fewer than 20 high street traders had job vacancies advertised in their windows. And this wasn’t to take account of the seasonal pressures of Christmas and the New Year Sales – these were proper jobs. Shop Manager wanted, full and part-time team members, sales assistant, join our winning team, and more…

No wonder lots of people are choosing to move to Tonbridge, helping to create a buoyant housing market. Low levels of unemployment; recent improvements in the High Street making it a much more pleasant pedestrian experience; more shops opening; and the town gaining a reputation as a gastronomic centre of choice.

WHITE FRIAR’S CHAPEL COUSLEY WOOD, NR WADHURST

£599,000

What with its superior rail links and high-achieving schools (six of the town’s schools are currently rated Outstanding), and a new medical centre planned for River Lawn Road – it’s easy to see demand for homes being sustained throughout 2017.

Come to Tonbridge. The 14th best place to live in the UK! Martin & Co 126 High Street Tonbridge TN9 1AS 01732 602602 www.tonbridge.martinco.com

UNDER £250,000 VICTORIA ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

£240,000

DO YOU HAVE A STORY?

Located right in the town centre, behind Royal Victoria Place, this house includes a through reception room divided into distinct living and dining areas by an open tread staircase. The kitchen is to the rear

of the property with views out across the enclosed rear garden, and upstairs there are two bedrooms and a modern bathroom with shower bath and power shower.

CONTACT Andrews 01892 515144 www.andrewsonline.co.uk

UNDER £350,000 BEAGLES WOOD ROAD, PEMBURY

£335,000

With a large feature laminate wood-floored kitchen/dining room, this spacious home also includes a sitting room with a fireplace housing a gas fire. Upstairs there are two double bedrooms and one single

bedroom. Outside, the rear garden is on two levels, with an entertaining space and a small grass area. There is a garage en bloc close to the property as well as an additional parking space.

CONTACT Barnes Kingsnorth 01892 822880 www.bkestateagents.com

To suit your budget

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

PROPERTY

25

great properties by price range…

Under £450,000 WELLAND ROAD, TONBRIDGE

£405,000

This semi-detached house with extended family accommodation includes a double-aspect, contemporary-style fitted kitchen, an annexed area that could provide either a fourth bedroom or a study, and a luxury downstairs shower room and separate utility/storeroom. The property is set back from the road with its own drive and parking for several cars. The garden includes a large patio area and a workshop/garden shed.

CONTACT Barnes Kingsnorth 01732 771616 www.bkestateagents.com

UNDER £800,000 WOODFIELD ROAD, TONBRIDGE

£680,000

Substantial and well presented, this four-bedroom semi-detached property is conveniently located within walking distance of the station, high street and schools and retains many Edwardian period features. With high ceilings, fireplaces and picture rails, the house has also been extended to provide a modern fitted kitchen/breakfast room and a shower room on the ground floor.

The garden is well maintained and includes an outside seating area and off-road parking.

CONTACT Ellis & Co 01732 770077 www.elllisandco.co.uk

UNDER £600,000

UNDER 1 MILLION

WHITE FRIAR’S CHAPEL, MONKS LANE, COUSLEY WOOD

THE FARM HOUSE, PARK FARM, TUDELEY

£995,000

£599,000

Constructed in 1892 as Cousley Wood Free Church, this house was completely rebuilt as a contemporary home in 2010.

In a semi-rural location, the accommodation comprises an open-plan living area, modern kitchen, laundry area, two double bedrooms with en suites and a third bedroom with an en suite. An oak bridge joins the property to its secluded garden and new oak

framed open-bay garage. There is also further off-road parking.

CONTACT Country Property Group 01580 211888 www.countrypropertygroup.com

Set within the hamlet of Tudeley, near Tonbridge, this period family home is approached via a country lane and situated in a rural spot with expansive views. Believed to date back to the 1830s, the property is Grade II listed and comprises an open entrance porch, sitting room, family room, reception hall, utility room and kitchen/breakfast room. The master bedroom offers views across the large wrap-around garden and there are three further bedrooms.

CONTACT Bracketts 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk

28

PROPERTY

Park Farm Barn East

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Two barn conversions that are positively beaming with charm

‘The open-plan reception space allows plenty of room to breathe’ AT A GLANCE PARK FARM BARN EAST HORSMONDEN ■ Triple-aspect, open-plan reception ■ Oak staircase ■ Study ■ Shower room ■ Kitchen/breakfast room ■ Utility room ■ Cloakroom/WC ■ Galleried landing ■ Principal bedroom with en-suite shower room ■ 2 further bedrooms ■ Family bathroom ■ Large garden area ■ Stone patio ■ Cart barn

GUIDE PRICE

£845,000 Available for sale through Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Park Farm Barn West

PROPERTY

AT A GLANCE PARK FARM BARN WEST HORSMONDEN n 50ft open-plan reception n Kitchen/breakfast room n Utility room & cloakroom/WC n Study n Galleried landing n Principal bedroom n 3 further bedrooms n 2 en-suite shower rooms n Family bathroom n Sweeping driveway n Large garden area n Stone patio n Cart barn

GUIDE PRICE

£935,000 Available for sale through Bracketts Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 www.bracketts.co.uk

‘An unrivalled location within the Cranbrook School catchment area’

29

36

PROPERTY

Kingsbury House

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

It’s the rural life in a 1930s house with sprawling gardens and glorious views AT A GLANCE KINGSBURY HOUSE FIVE ASHES ROAD, ROTHERFIELD n Coved entrance n Reception hall n Cloakroom n Study n Double-aspect drawing room with open fireplace n Dining room with parquet flooring n Brick and tile fireplace n Kitchen/breakfast room n Utility room n Sitting room n Sun room n Double-aspect master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe & en-suite bathroom n 3 further double bedrooms n Long private driveway n Substantial parking area n Detached double garage and covered walkway n Extensive grounds

£1,500,000 Available for sale through Mansell McTaggart Crowborough 01892 662668 www.mansellmctaggart.co.uk

38

PROPERTY

Burnham Brae

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

AT A GLANCE BURNHAM BRAE OLD LANE, CROWBOROUGH n Wide gabled entrance n Double-height reception n Ground floor wet room n Study n Separate dining room n Triple-aspect sitting room with open fireplace and double doors to terrace n Large family/games room n Kitchen/breakfast room with integrated double ovens n Oak staircase n Master bedroom with built-in wardrobes and en-suite shower room n Guest bedroom with private balcony and en-suite shower room n 2 further double bedrooms and a family bathroom n Driveway & substantial parking area n Detached pitched roof double garage n Gardens of about 1.5 acres

ÂŁ985,000 Available for sale through Mansell Mctaggart Crowborough 01892 662668 www.mansellmctaggart.co.uk

In the heart of Christopher Robin country sits a spacious home with a lovely leafy outlook

40

PROPERTY

Prospect Road

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

AT A GLANCE PROSPECT ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Entrance hall n Cloakroom n Sitting room n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Master bedroom n 3 further bedrooms n Family bathroom n South-East facing rear garden

‘Features include high ceilings and large windows providing plenty of light’ GUIDE PRICE

£600,000 Available for sale through Knight Frank 01892 525121 www.knightfrank.co.uk

Ideal dwelling within a stone’s throw of train station, town centre and neighbouring parks

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Advertising

PROPERTY

41

42

PROPERTY

Advertising

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

44

PROPERTY

Glendale House

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

AT A GLANCE

GLENDALE HOUSE BOYNE PARK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS n Entrance hall n Drawing room n Sitting room n Kitchen/dining room n Utility room n Boot room n Cloakroom n Playroom n Games room n Study n Master bedroom with dressing room and en suite n 6 further bedrooms n 4 further en suites n Family bathroom n Cellar n Lift serving all floors

Newly refurbished Edwardian property boasts impressive proportions and a lift

n Established rear garden n Off-street parking

GUIDE PRICE

£2,250,000 Available for sale through Knight Frank 01892 525121 www.knightfrank.co.uk

52

FEATURES

Food & Drink

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

They’re only here for the beer Sophie Atherton tells us what to look for in the perfect beer…

JUDGMENT DAY Sophie heads up the tables of testers at CAMRA’s Real Ale Festival

n The four basic beer ingredients are water,

barley, hops and yeast, and each of them has an impact on how a beer tastes. Hard water is great for bitters and pale ales, while softer water is best for making lager. n Beers differ by recipe, brewing method,

colour, aroma, alcoholic strength and even the type of glass it they are served in. There really is a beer for everyone, whatever their tastes. n I personally like everything from a pint

of traditional British bitter, with earthy, peppery Kentish hops, to modern, Americanstyle IPAs packed full of tropical fruit bitterness. I’m also keen on imperial stouts which might be 10 per cent alcohol by volume but are made for sipping slowly. The key to all my favourites is balance, so none of the ingredients overwhelm the flavour.

As one of the country’s only accredited beer sommeliers, Sophie Atherton is enjoying a fledgling career, and the fact she’s a woman makes her role even more unusual. Eileen Leahy caught up with her to find out what life is like for someone who savours beer for a living – and what Sophie thinks of our local offerings…

W

HEN daydreaming about what we’d really like to do in order to earn a living, getting paid to drink beer would certainly be up there for quite a few of us. Yet for a handful of people this ‘dream’ job is actually a reality, as the profession of being a beer sommelier is now recognised as a bona fide career choice with proper qualifications and accreditation now in place.

Then there’s the growing number of beer award ceremonies, one of the most recent being the Campaign for Real Ale [CAMRA] held at Tunbridge Wells West station towards the end of last year.

One of the judges present at that event, who is now earning a living of out sipping and sampling ales and lagers courtesy of her status as a qualified beer sommelier, is Sophie Atherton – although she says she prefers a different job title.

“In some ways, it’s best to think of us as beer ambassadors,” she explains. “We fly the flag about what a delicious and versatile drink beer is by writing about it and hosting tastings.”

Industry insiders say there are approximately 100 or so qualified beer sommeliers currently operating in the UK, but only a dozen or so women are included in that group, so Sophie is a rarity in the industry. Some work for breweries while others, like Sophie, are self-employed. But she’s quick to point out that she doesn’t just imbibe for a living, there’s actually a lot of organisation that goes on behind all that supping, she says.

“My work is a mix of writing about beer for consumers and the trade. Then there’s consultancy work, training, hosting talks and tastings and promoting breweries or beer-related events. I also put together beer lists, write tasting notes and suggest beer and food matches.”

So there’s definitely much more to her job than just drinking?

“Yes, and I think all my clients like the fact I am both a professional journalist and an accredited beer sommelier, as it means I have two areas of expertise they can make use of.”

Sophie says she’s loved beer as long as she’s been

a drinker, but has always been fairly particular about what she’ll let past her lips. The reason she took a qualification in her appreciation of beer came from going back to freelance journalism after having a staff job for many years.

“I needed a specialist subject and beer seemed a good idea,” she reveals. “I began taking courses with the Beer Academy to make sure I knew my stuff, and then found out about the beer sommelier accreditation – from a bloke down the pub, naturally. At that time, no women had TASTE SENSATION Sophie samples a new brew

‘Be open-minded about beer, try anything and everything.

Learn what makes a good beer and a bad one’ qualified and I thought being the first might help me get my freelancing off the ground.”

One of the numerous upsides of being a professional beer sommelier is having the chance to travel, and although Sophie usually works around the UK she has been invited a few times over to America to judge the World Beer Cup. “It’s a huge competition with more than 200 judges and thousands of beers are entered. It’s always a fascinating experience,” she comments.

“With beer judging, I will always keep my hand in because it’s a great way to keep one’s

tasting skills up to date, and you always meet interesting people.”

When Sophie sat on the judging panel for the recent CAMRA awards she says she was impressed with the local offerings.

“Tunbridge Wells has quite a notable beer scene, and is perhaps even a bit of a leader for other similar towns in the UK. Fuggles Beer Café is one of the standout places to drink, and Alex, who runs the place, really knows beer and takes pride in what he does.”

She also admits that Tunbridge Wells is extremely lucky to have the ‘marvellous’ Pig & Porter brewery, headed up by Sean Ayling and Robin Wright.

“They make great beer and really care about what they do,” she says. “They are also both keen foodies, so have an eye on brewing things that work well with food, and they have a range of different tastes to engage all sorts of drinkers.

“Nearby Tonbridge Brewery are also worth checking out,” she continues.

If Sophie had to pick out a particular favourite beer, which one would she choose?

“I still love a pint of British bitter, and Westerham Brewery make some good ones. Shepherd Neame Mastebrew can be rather nice when it’s served well, and I also think stout and porter are underrated. They are likely to appeal to chocolate and coffee lovers and can even convert red wine drinkers to beer. Pig & Porter make a very drinkable stout called Dance First.”

So what would be Sophie’s key piece of advice for anyone wanting to get into a similar line of work?

“Be open-minded about beer, try anything and everything. Learn what makes a good beer and a bad one. Work on your communication and writing skills as well as your beer knowledge.

“A wide flavour vocabulary is vital: You can’t be a beer sommelier or writer without being able to describe beer in ways people can easily understand – and, most importantly, that make beer sound delicious!”

Ales

The term ‘ale’ encompasses dozens of beer styles, but comes back to how they are made, specifically their yeast and fermentation.

As a rule, ale yeast likes a quick, warm fermentation, whereas lagers take longer and ferment at cooler temperatures.

Ales should smell appealing, aroma is a big part of taste and the smell of a beer is just as important as a wine’s bouquet.

It should be clear so you can see through it and should taste so good you immediately want another sip, but it should also leave a pleasant aftertaste. There are so many types of real ale you could sample a different one every day for a year and still have something different to try next year!

Lager

I’ve little interest in the mass-produced big name brands which are often served so cold there’s not much to taste anyway. Instead, I prefer something traditional and well made, such as a genuine Czech pilsner – which can be quite hoppy – or a good British lager, of which there is a growing number. I want it to be clean tasting, refreshing but not bland or overly taste of cereals.

Craft Beer

The poster boy of craft beer is IPA – which stands for India Pale Ale. It was invented in Burton-upon-Trent and was strong and hoppy enough to be transported by ship to colonial India. The Americans reinvented the style in the 21st century by using very different hops.

The strong tropical fruit bitterness of US-style IPAs caught on in such a big way that nearly every craft brewer in the UK now makes one.

APAs – or American Pale Ales – are less bitter and usually not as strong as IPAs, but still have that lovely tropical fruit flavour.

Hops

We grow around 26 different types here in the UK, but we also import lots from the USA, Europe and the Southern Hemisphere. They all taste different, and their flavour can vary depending on a beer’s recipe – if you start thinking of them as being like the herbs and spices of beer you’ll be on the right track.

On The Menu

Vittle and Swig • 26-28 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2PT 01892 544522 • vittleandswig.co.uk

On The Menu…

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Braised beef shin with horseradish mash potato, Roscoff onions, roasted carrots

Salt baked beetroot with smoked lebneh, carrot dressing and walnuts

Beetroot bread

FEATURES

Spiced lamb neck fillet with couscous, flatbread and pomegranate yoghurt

Miso roasted squash with ricotta dumplings, pomegranate molasses and pearl barley

Blackberry parfait with apple, pistachio and yoghurt sorbet

Salmon rillettes with avocado and wasabi, granny smith apple and pancetta and blue taco

53

54

FEATURES

Travel

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

GET AWAY FROM IT ALL in Finland’s peaceful national parks

Where to go in 2017

By Sarah Marshall BEST FOR… SHORT HAUL FINLAND Next December, Finland celebrates 100 years of independence from the Russian Republic, with events and new openings throughout 2017.

The most exciting project is the designation of new national park Hossa, in eastern Finland’s Kainuu region, which will become the outdoorloving nation’s largest protected nature area.

Visitors can enjoy hike trails and canoe waterways or seek out Stone Age rock paintings, and either stay overnight in a cabin or embrace the wilderness by camping. Bookings can be made at the Hossa Visitor Centre: www.nationalparks.fi/en/hossavisitorcentre Although the woodland setting perfectly matches author Tove Jansson’s whimsical imagination, you won’t bump into any Moomins in Hossa. Instead, head to Tampere in June when the newly renovated Moomin Museum opens, showcasing more than 2,000 pieces of memorabilia. See www.muumilaakso.tampere.fi/en And everyone is invited to the party from August 25-27, when outdoor tables will be laid across the country for Finland’s ambitious ‘Let’s eat together’ festival. See: www.syodaanyhdessa.fi/in-english

from the 6th century – pre-dating the Incas by hundreds of years. The 25-minute scenic ride replaces a winding journey along treacherous hairpin roads to reach temples and conical houses peeping through a misty forest.

Plans are also afoot to build a cable car to remote Inca settlement Choquequirao, packaging a two-day trek into a 15-minute journey, prompting Lonely Planet to vote the Sacred Valley site a top place to visit before the car launches in 2018.

Further south, the city of Arequipa, home to mummified Inca princess Juanita, will have greater exposure from May when Belmond launch a new luxury train journey ending in Cusco.

The two-night trip on the Andean Explorer sleeper train incorporates a stop at the dizzying 3,800m-high Lake Titicaca, where indigenous Uros people still live on floating islands made from reeds. Visit www.belmond.com

MADAGASCAR Revered for its endemic wildlife, most notably the charismatic lemur, this African island, lapped by the Indian Ocean, is benefitting from improved infrastructure and accommodation options.

The new Miavana resort is managed by Norman Carr Safaris and sits on Nosy Ankao, part of a private five-island archipelago off the north-east tip of the mainland. Dissected by lagoons and fringed with reefs, it’s ideally located for observing the marine bio-diversity. Visit between June and November to spot migrating humpback whales.

The property is due to open early this year. For more, see: www.timeandtideafrica.com/miavana

A more economical option for exploring Madagascar is G Adventures’ new eight-day Baobab & Tsingy Explorer trip, focusing on the central region and its famous spiky rock formations. The trip costs from £999pp, excluding flights; visit: www.gadventures.com

BEST FOR… HISTORY PERU Machu Picchu has long been Peru’s greatest tourist attraction, but the country’s jungle-swathed mountains conceal many more lost cities.

A new cable car in the north will improve access to Kuelap, a sacred site built by the Chachapoyas

BEST FOR… WILDLIFE

BEST FOR… LONG HAUL DIGGING A SPOT OF HISTORY Peru’s Keulap archaeological site.

(Right) A chameleon enjoys the karma of Madagascar

SANTIAGO, CHILE This month saw British Airways launch their longest flight – a 14-hour, 40-minute direct route from London Heathrow to the Chilean capital,

Travel

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

BEST FOR… CULTURE PAPHOS, CYPRUS Offset the hours spent snoozing on a sunlounger by soaking up cultural pursuits in 2017’s balmy European Capital of Culture. Throughout the year, 300 events will be staged against a backdrop of Hellenistic tombs and Roman fortresses in the birthplace of ancient goddess Aphrodite on the island’s south-west coast.

A varied programme will include open-air concerts in the medieval Castle Square, cinema

FEATURES

55

screenings on the beach, dance shows in the street and an art exhibition along the Akamas Peninsula. For more details, visit: www.pafos2017.eu The mosaics of Nea Paphos (Aphrodite’s Sacred City) are rated among the most beautiful in the world and have earned UNESCO World Heritage status.

In October, British Museum archaeologist Sharon Walker will host a series of workshops about the mosaics at Paphos’ sophisticated beachside Almyra hotel. Rooms cost from £86 per night with breakfast; www.thanoshotels.com MONUMENT TO THE PAST Visit the ancient city ruins in Paphos

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD The floating Uros islands of Lake Titicaca, Peru Santiago. Flights cost from £680 return if booked in March. See: www.britishairways.com This would also be a great chance to delve into the life of Nobel Prize-winning poet and political activist Pablo Neruda – the subject of acclaimed new arthouse film Neruda, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, which comes to UK cinemas in April.

Neruda’s three eccentric houses have been transformed into museums; two along the coast in Valparaiso and Isla Negra, and one in Santiago’s

Bellavista district. For opening times and prices, visit: www.fundacionneruda.org/en A ten-minute walk away, across the capital’s fast-flowing Mapocho River, lies the trendy area Lastarria, home to new boutique hotel Magnolia.

Built in 1929, the former family home has been restored to its former Neo-Gothic glory, with an elegant bar and reading library. Rooms cost from £145 with breakfast. For more information, visit hotelmagnolia.cl

NOW WITHIN EASY REACH A statue of the Virgin Mary in Santiago’s Metropolitan Park

‘Events will be staged against a backdrop of Hellenistic tombs and Roman fortresses in the birthplace of goddess Aphrodite’

Motoring

WITH THE

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

FEATURES

57

THE TOWN’S TOP MOTORING GUIDE FROM E V E R Y D AY D R I V E S T O LU XU RY SU P E R C A R S

FIRST DRIVE

Dacia Sandero 2017

By Andrew Evans WHAT’S NEW?

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Alongside a lightly reworked exterior facelift, the new Sandero brings with it a new engine. This three-cylinder unit, known as the SCe 75, becomes the entry point to the Dacia range at £5,995 in basic Access trim, but is also available in the far more popular Ambiance specification (Dacia claims these form around 70 per cent of sales of Sandero) as well as the Laureate range-topping model we tested – although this latter combination won’t be coming to the UK.

MODEL: Dacia Sandero ENGINE: Three-cylinder petrol (72bhp, 97Nm) TRANSMISSION: Five-speed manual PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph in 14 seconds, top speed 98mph ECONOMY: 54.3mpg (combined)

LOOKS AND IMAGE Dacia is not a particularly stirring brand. Despite some free, and partly tongue-in-cheek, advertising for the Sandero on the world’s most popular motoring television show, ultimately it’s a little-known Romanian brand that builds cars based on older Renault platforms (this one used to be a Clio) and sells them cheaply on a no-frills promise.

It’s endearing to an extent, and the brand has its admirers and fans, but it’s not going to make many car enthusiasts take too much notice – for now.

‘The Sandero ticks one box for value right away…’

EMISSIONS: 117g/km CO2

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY The Sandero is a roomy car. It’s a B-segment hatchback, sitting in the same class as the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa, but with a 320L boot (expanding to 1,200L with the rear seats down) that makes it the roomiest vehicle in the sector.

There’s decent space in the cabin, too, so it comes with some pretty solid family credentials, and even the EuroNCAP

rating (at 4 stars) is a decent effort that rivals many in the sector.

BEHIND THE WHEEL There are few things to grumble about in the Sandero’s driving manners if you temper your expectations somewhat.

The older Clio underpinnings actually do translate to some modicum of handling performance, but it’s a little

PRICE (ENTRY LEVEL): From £5,995

outdated and – while you can coax some fun out of it – distinctly average.

The main focus is on the comfort of the drive, and it scores reasonably well, even on dismal roads out in the Croatian hills.

The size – and cameras in this Laureate specification – mean it’s a doddle around town, too.

VALUE FOR MONEY The Sandero ticks one box for value right away: It’s the cheapest car you can buy in the UK. However, in the very cheapest Access trim, it’s almost a false economy as there’s so little equipment that it draws too much attention to the car’s shortcomings and detracts from the experience.

Ambiance buyers get air conditioning, DAB radio, Bluetooth for your phone and Aux and USB inputs – and for £6,995. that’s a pretty solid equipment list.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? The Sandero is very much a car for those who are budgeting for two or three-year old examples of more expensive hatchbacks but still want all of the benefits of a new car.

58

FEATURES

Motoring

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Two-door four-wheel drive tops Mercedes’ E-Class coupe range THE pricing and specifications for MercedesBenz’s new E-Class Coupe have been announced.

The two-door coupe will cost £40,135 in its most basic E 220d guise, with prices rising above £50,775 for the more powerful, four-wheel drive E 400.

The basic diesel engine is the same 2.0-litre unit used in the saloon, and its 192bhp output is enough to take the E-Class Coupe from a standstill to 60mph in 7.2 seconds. It is also capable of returning up to 61.4mpg and emitting carbon dioxide at a rate of 119g/km.

PLENTY OF OPTIONS The E-Class coupe

Paying an extra £890 will buy you the 2.0-litre petrol-engined E 300.

A turbocharger allows this variant to boast 241bhp and a 6.2-second 0-60mph sprint. It also has returns of 40.4mpg and 160g/km CO2 emissions on the combined cycle.

Crowning the range, however, is the E 400.

A 3.0-litre, twin-turbo V6 petrol engine sends 329bhp to all four wheels, permitting a 5.1-second 0-60mph time.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the E 400 is less frugal than its stablemates, returning just 33.6mpg and 189g/km CO2 emissions.

No matter which powerplant you go for,

though, it will be paired with the same ninespeed automatic transmission.

There’s just one trim level available, too: AMG Line.

As standard, all variants will get 19-inch alloy wheels, half-leather upholstery, satellite navigation, parking sensors and a reversing camera.

The entry level petrol model – the £41,025 E 300 – will also come with a sports exhaust, while the range-topping E 400 will upgrade the lesser models’ 8.4-inch infotainment screen with a 12.3-inch unit.

Other variants can be upgraded to the larger size of screen, too, and they can also be fitted with a £495 digital instrument binnacle, which creates a digital swathe across the driver’s side of the dashboard.

Other options include the £2,795 Premium Package, which incorporates memory seats, a panoramic sunroof and other goodies, while the £3,895 Premium Plus package adds ‘intelligent’ lights and a Burmeister sound system to that list.

There’s also a Driving Assistance package available for £1,695, which provides autonomous emergency braking and radar-guided cruise control as part of an extensive suite of safety assistance equipment.

The E-Class Coupe is available to order now, with the first customer deliveries expected in April 2017.

BMW goes large on driverless cars BMW is starting a new development centre for autonomous driving technology ahead of the brand’s first autonomous car arriving in 2021.

The Unterschleissheim campus, situated just north of Munich, will be the base for more than 2,000 BMW employees, who will work on developing and road-testing driverless cars.

BMW has confirmed it will introduce its first fully autonomous vehicle – the iNext – in 2021, and the move represents an even greater commitment to the technology.

Andre Muller, a software developer in the autonomous driving team, confirmed that the brand would be developing the iNext’s software entirely in-house.

“We do our own programming here and are

Motoring

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

FEATURES

59

Skoda’s new power boost SKODA has revealed the new Octavia vRS – the most powerful Octavia ever made.

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, it produces 227bhp, which allows it to reach 60mph in 6.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 155mph.

Power is sent to the road via a six-speed manual gearbox, though a six-speed dual-clutch automatic can also be specified for additional cost.

Sports suspension has also been fitted, lowering the car by 15mm. The car’s rear track is also 30mm wider than the model it replaces, and it sits on

responsible for implementing our own ideas,” he explained.

“We use the latest technologies, such as ROS (Robot Operating System), and are able to see the results quickly and directly in the vehicle.

“It is extremely exciting to be working on such an important area for the future.”

The new centre, which will open in the summer of 2017, will apparently act as a pool for BMW’s autonomous driving expertise, allowing the company to be more responsive.

“The road to fully-automated driving is an opportunity for Germany’s automobile manufacturing base,” said Klaus Frohlich, who is a member of the board of management responsible for development at BMW. “In order to succeed, we are establishing new forms of collaboration, with small teams of specialists for rapid response and collaboration across the company, as well as a high level of individual decision-making authority,” he claimed.

18-inch wheels as standard, while 19-inch units can be fitted as an optional extra.

Despite the Octavia vRS’s impressive performance, it still manages to achieve 43.4mpg combined and emit 149g/km CO2.

A diesel version of the vRS is also available.

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, it produces 184bhp, allowing it to reach 60mph in 7.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 144mph.

The diesel version’s fuel consumption figures are impressive, returning 62.8mpg

combined and emitting just 119g/km CO2.

The exteriors of both cars have also been changed, with a wider grille fitted to the front of the car, along with large air intakes. Full LED headlights are also included as standard, which incorporate an adaptive front lighting system.

All versions get excellent levels of standard equipment, with all cars benefitting from the latest generation infotainment systems.

The Octavia vRS is available in either hatchback or estate layouts.

THE NEED FOR SPEED The Octavia vRS

60

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Births, Marriages and Bereavements

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Do you have an announcement?

Times of Tunbridge Wells and Times of Tonbridge are pleased to receive announcements from readers for publication in the newspaper.

To help you provide the information required please email info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or call 01892 779650.

We try to publish reports as quickly as possible after receipt and when space allows.

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Puzzles

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

14

15

16

17

N

5

6

7

8

9

18

19

20

21

22

X

10

11

12

13

23

24

25

26

A B C D E F G H I J K L MNO P Q R S T U VWX Y Z 15

3

9 25

N

13

3

24

25

25

26

10

1

9

3

8

14

17

3

23

26

9 10

12 17

8

1

16

17

N

18

N

3

8

26

8

12

20

12 26

26 1

3 16

9

8

17

N

8

10 3

24

7

10 26

25

12

12

16 15

1

10

16

3

8

7

N

11

26

18

17

N

12

15

4 1

15

2

3

10

19

21

11

26

12

3

3

1

X

18

19

1

5 16

12

24

9 6

6 4 2

8 8 6 1

7

5 3 7 1 5 1 3 4 1

6

3

Codeword:

9

6 4

18

3

8

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

1

4 6

5

9 3

6 12

9

G R E E C E A L H Z E A L O T E P R B A S Q U E O E S N I J T P R O B H A R L E Y R E L A F F A I R S I V H U X L E Y

N

12

3 10

8

12

17

22

10

18

7

12

2

20 10

11

5

17

12 18

3

8

7

4

3

26

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.

2 9

6 3 8

5

6

4 1 4 7

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

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

Puzzle solutions will be published in next week’s paper

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

E R U A D O A L F F O O T T A X E M A I N

R A N D N E ON I S E I E X I S E T A A L L OW K A B A R K L E D I A N

Jigsaw Sudoku:

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

3 2 8 5 4 6 1 9 7

4 9 7 1 2 8 6 3 5

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

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

2 8 7 4 5 3 1 9 6

4 3 1 6 9 7 2 8 5

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

4

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★II

3

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

2

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★★

1

SOLUTIONS (FROM LAST WEEK)

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

CODEWORD

61

FEATURES

NEWS

Recruitment

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

FIND YOUR PERFECT JOB TODAY – A MUST READ FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK LOCALLY WITH THE

62

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Recruitment

NEWS

63

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO PLACE AN ADVERT CONTACT OUR SALES DEPARTMENT ON 01892 779624

64

FEATURES

Arts & Culture

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Happy Birthday to a legendary musical venue that’s got its roots in rock and roll and a heart of pure soul The Forum is celebrating its 24th birthday this weekend and it’s going to be one big party.

Eileen Leahy chats to co-owner Jason Dormon about the history of this legendary club, and to the musicians, including Don Letts and the Rotten Hill Gang, who’ll be performing

MUSIC MAN The Forum’s Jason Dormon

T

O CELEBRATE the fabled Forum entering into its 25th year of business, the awardwinning venue is welcoming a slew of musicians to play over its birthday weekend. Much respected, and once a public toilet, it maybe diminutive in size but it’s actually a pretty big deal in the world of music thanks to the fact it has helped launch the careers of Coldplay, Adele, The Libertines and Slaves, to name just a few over the past two decades.

The Forum has always been a place to namecheck, saying ‘I was there’ – whether it’s when Oasis played in 1994 and there were only 50 people present, or when Keane’s Tom Chaplin played his first top secret gig as a solo artist there.

Everyone from Wilko Johnson and The Wedding Present to Everything Everything and John Cooper Clarke have performed at The Forum, such is its magnetic musical draw.

So the fact it’s about to chalk up being nearly a quarter of a century old means there’s some serious partying about to happen.

“I can’t believe it’s been 24 years,” says Forum co-owner Jason Dormon. “We were just happy to make the first year, so you can imagine how we feel now. We were originally in the basement of the Winchester Club (which became Thorins and is now No 9 The Smokehouse) on Nevill Street and were putting on bands like Suede, Boo Radleys and Green Day, but we got booted out of there and the first place we saw was the space that was to become The Forum. It was being used as a brass rubbing centre then, so we went to the council and arranged a short-term lease.”

The first bands to play on the opening night were Joeyfat (Jason’s band) and Four Heads in a Fish Tank, a London group. Twenty four years on, the venue has hosted a staggering 25,000plus concerts, so understandably picking one out as an ultimate highlight is, Jason says, a nigh-on impossible task.

“Sometimes my favourite nights are the ones when it feels like you and just a few other people are enjoying the performance. Others include when we did a benefit night for the refugees in Calais – half the town turned out for that, and it was really quite moving.

“When we first started, vinyl was in, then it was CDs and downloads and now it’s streaming, but the one thing that has stayed the same all these years is the live music element.

The way people purchase music has changed, but the way we engage with it hasn’t and I don’t think that format will ever change.”

What does he think is The Forum’s magic ingredient?

“There’s no one particular thing.

I think it’s a combination of the people who work there, those who visit it, and of course all the acts who have come to play.”

Kicking off proceedings this Friday night are a clutch of local bands, including The Breretons, Higgs and The Bosons and Ukelear Fallout.

They’ll be performing in aid of Beat, the UK’s leading eating disorder charity, which is Mayor of Tunbridge Wells David Neve’s charity of the year.

Then on Saturday night, the venue welcomes the Rotten Hill Gang, an edgy collective made up of musicians from West London who’ll be supported by legendary musician and DJ Don Letts.

Ahead of their performance, the Rotten Hill Gang’s bassist and sometime vocalist Gary McPherson (AKA Dirty White) told the Times what audiences can expect from their eclectic set.

Citing themselves as a ‘heartbeat amongst the cracks, back alleys and public houses of Ladbroke Grove and Portobello Road’, they’ve been hugely influenced by a lot of the punk bands who also hail from that area, including The Clash and The Sex Pistols. Two of the latter’s members, Glen Matlock and Paul Cook, just played with the Rotten Hill Gang in London last week when they launched their latest single, Submission.

“We’re not a band, but rather a collective of who’s around at the time,” Gary insists when we chat about their upcoming gig. “We are a perfect example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. We’re a group of street poets, buskers, actors and classically-trained musicians who got together in an attempt to make music and TV exciting again – with a no fear attitude of achievement is the belief of the imagination.”

Describing their music as ‘Rap and Roll’ – a mix of hip-hop and rock ’n’ roll via a splash of reggae – Gary says their main core audience ‘ranges from young kids of 14 and 15 to old men in their 50s.

IN A SPIN: DJ Don Letts

“It’s people who want to hear what we are saying, I suppose.”

On Saturday night the West London collective will be joined by vocalist Annie Bea, along with Fjokra Mac, a ‘multi instrumentalist’ who also doubles up as their official keyboard player.

Although their second female vocalist Hollie Cook, who is Paul Cook’s daughter, usually performs with them, she sadly won’t be able to make The Forum gig.

But given the fact the Gang has often welcomed famous faces to their live sets, including the aforementioned members of The Sex Pistols as well as musicians from Blondie, The Slits, Steel Pulse and The Clash, who knows whether a couple of their cool coterie of contacts might make an appearance on Saturday night?

VERY KEANE Tom Chaplin played his first solo gig here

Arts & Culture

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

Gary isn’t giving anything away, but what he does reveal is that because they rarely tour outside of their beloved West London enclave, catching them at The Forum this weekend will be ‘very special’.

“It’s so hard to get everyone together in the same place at the same time,” he admits. “That’s why it’s so special when we do go out on the road. We will be doing a lot more in 2017, especially with the new album Teach Peace coming out in early May.” In terms of Gary’s own musical influences, he comments: “I love all

types of music, there are too many to mention, but my all-time favourite musician is Ennio Morricone. Music is one of the only things that can stir your emotions and can take you on a fantastic journey through life – if you let it.”

Also on the bill on Saturday night is DJ Don Letts. He founded Big Audio Dynamite with The Clash’s Mick Jones and is now a regular presenter on BBC Six Music and a respected documentary maker. He’s also very much in demand as a DJ, thanks to his encyclopaedic knowledge of music and his ability

to ‘read’ a crowd. So what will he bring to the party?

“Well, I’ll be underscoring the Rotten Hill Gang’s mix of punk, hip-hop and funk with the history and legacy of Jamaica’s gift to the world: Bass!

“I want to bring some good cheer to the New Year before Trump becomes President and I’m looking forward to the musical exchange with the people of Tunbridge Wells.”  To buy tickets to the gigs on Friday and Saturday nights [January 13 and 14], visit: www.twforum.co.uk

COOL COLLECTIVE The Rotten Hill Gang includes Gary McPherson (far right)

FEATURES

65

Paying tribute to the life and work of Caroline Elliott This Saturday afternoon, Trinity Theatre will hold a memorial for one of its most beloved and prominent members, Caroline Elliott, who died suddenly at the age of 84 in May last year. Here, John Martin, the venue’s Artistic Director, explains how they will celebrate her life and work Caroline Elliott

OUR special tribute to Caroline Elliott happens this Saturday and will involve a number of people who knew and worked with her. They will be talking about her life – particularly at Trinity – and there will also be a series of video clips of the many performances she was involved with.

Caroline’s husband, Michael Elliott, will be one of those speaking at the event, not just because he was married to Caroline, but because he appeared with her in so many productions – they even directed one another in various roles.

Others sharing their memories of Caroline’s great contribution to Trinity, which she helped to set up in the 1980s, include Michael Stubbs, a previous Chairperson of Trinity, who will be focusing on Caroline’s early years at the theatre, Kim Begley who will sing, while Meg Nutt, former Chairperson of Trinity Theatre Club [TTC], will be talking about Caroline’s involvement in acting and directing for the group. There will also be a performance by current TTC members putting on a scene from God of Carnage, the play Caroline directed just a month before she died.

As well as being volunteer Box Office Manager for over 35 years, Caroline served on the board of directors and was a leading light of Trinity Theatre Club. In short, she is part of the building’s DNA and her legacy is simply that without her efforts we would not be here today.  The Caroline Elliott memorial event is on Saturday January 14 at 2.30pm, is free and open to anyone to attend, but booking is required. For more details, please go to: www.trinitytheatre.net

66

FEATURES

What’s On

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON WITH THE

Eileen Leahy

PHOTO: David Sellman

Local events

>> WEDNESDAY One of Shakespeare’s classic plays, The Tempest, is being streamed into the Odeon cinema in Tunbridge Wells this evening at 7pm. Performed live by the Royal Shakespeare Company [RSC] in Stratford, and starring Simon Russell Beale – who returns to the RSC after 20 years to play the pivotal role of Prospero – it promises to be a highly bewitching interpretation of this tale of betrayal, revenge and dark arts, thanks to Artistic Director Gregory Doran’s production. Go along to see why

CAPTURE THE CASTLE See Bodiam this winter

critics are calling it ‘groundbreaking’. For tickets, which cost £20 per person, visit www.odeon.co.uk >> THURSDAY Another live streaming happens today over at the Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks. This time it’s Harold Pinter’s classic play No Man’s Land, which stars Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart and is currently being performed at London’s Wyndham Theatre after a highly successful stint on Broadway. It charts the story of two men who meet in a

If you would like to see your events featured in our weekly What’s On pages please email eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

BEST IN SHOW: Comic Steve Best tops the bill at the EM Forster Theatre

Hampstead pub and engage in a battle of conversational one-upmanship – until things take a darker turn as the drink takes hold… Tickets are priced at £15 per person and are available from www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk >> FRIDAY When the wintry weather allows you to get outside and experience the great outdoors, there’s nothing quite like wandering around Bodiam Castle. Its views of the surrounding East Sussex countryside are simply spectacular, and it’s a great day out for the children, too, given the fantastic variety of historical artefacts, towers and turrets to explore. Each weekend throughout January there will also be tours by candlelight carried out by the castle’s medieval storytellers.

It may be Friday the 13th, but don’t let that put you off going out and having some fun tonight. If you fancy a bellyful of laughs, then head on over to the EM Forster Theatre in Tonbridge where they’re staging another one of their successful Comedy Nights. Tonight’s sees Steve Best headlining – who has supported the likes of Frank Skinner and Craig Charles on their national tours – with fledgling comedic talent Mark Simmons sharing the bill. For tickets, which cost £12, visit www.boxoffice.tonbridge-school.co.uk >> SATURDAY If you’re sticking to your New Year’s resolution of eating healthily, then one of the best places to seek culinary inspiration that goes beyond soups and salads is your local farmers’ market. Tunbridge Wells is hosting its top of the town market today from 9am until 2pm, so make sure you head over there to pick up some delicious ingredients to ensure you stay on track this January.

At 2.30pm, there will be an informal memorial to the life and achievements of Trinity Theatre’s inspirational Caroline Elliott, who died in 2016.

Friends and colleagues will gather in the main theatre to discuss her life and talk about their fond memories. There will be special guests and performances as well as video footage of some of Caroline’s performances on stage. The event is open to the public and free to attend, but seats must be pre-booked. If you’d like to go along, you can find out more information at www.trinitytheatre.net The Oast Theatre in Tonbridge kicks off its new theatrical season this evening with a stalwart offering: What The Butler Saw by Joe Orton. This fast-paced farce is set in the

consulting room of a psychiatric clinic and sees all manner of chaos ensue due to the clinic’s Dr Prentice trying to seduce his prospective secretary without anyone finding out… Running until January 21, tickets cost £10, or £7.50 for members.

To book, visit www.oastheatre.com >> SUNDAY The Assembly Hall welcomes The Simon & Garfunkel Story tonight from 7.30pm. Having enjoyed a very successful stint in the West End, a slew of awards and a national sell-out tour, this popular musical montage celebrates the lives and work of two of music’s greatest: Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. As well as being treated to plenty of their popular hits courtesy of a full live orchestra, audiences can marvel at the huge projections of photos and original film footage. Tickets cost £20 per person and can be purchased at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk If you’ve enjoyed the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman in the roles of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, then you must see the first feature-length special episode of Sherlock in the Series Four Finale, which is being streamed live into Trinity Theatre, the Odeon cinema and Uckfield Picture House. Promising to be bigger, bolder and better than watching it on TV, there will also be a few added extras exclusively for cinema audiences, so this really is a must-see for fans. Tickets cost £10.50, and although the screening is due to begin at 8pm, this may be subject to last-minute BBC scheduling changes. >> MONDAY Every Monday morning from 10am until 12noon, the

PINTER INTEREST Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart star in No Man’s Land

What’s On

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

FEATURES

67

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton

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

Live music

Tonbridge branch of the Knit & Natter group meets at the library. So if you’ve promised yourself you’re going to finish that baby blanket, or just fancy taking up a new hobby, why not pop along?

The Tonbridge Folk Club, which gathers together every first and third Monday of the month, meets again this evening from 8pm until 11pm at Ye Olde Chequers Inn on Tonbridge High Street. Musicians, singers and new audience members are always welcome to come along and join in the fun.

January is traditionally a little quiet across the local music scene, but there are still plenty of great live events to be enjoyed.

My top picks of the week include a clutch of local acts who’ll be performing at The Forum this Friday to celebrate its 24th birthday. They include The Breretons, Higgs and the Bosons, Ukelear Fallout and Joanne Louise Parker, who’ll all be playing in aid of Beat, the UK’s leading eating disorder charity and the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells’ charity of the year. Also on Friday, you can catch the Latininfluenced jazz/swing sounds of The Volare Trio at The Grey Lady.

There are lots of amazing acts performing on Saturday night, too, including Sophie Mullan at The Beau Nash Tavern, local blues and rock fivepiece Riff Raff will be at The Royal Oak pub, and T-Rex tribute band T.Rextasy will be at the Assembly Hall Theatre.

For fans of acoustic and folk music, I highly recommend The Watergrain Band at Tonbridge Folk Club at Ye Olde Chequers Inn this coming Monday evening.

STRINGS ATTACHED T.Rextasy

THE ROYAL OAK

Prospect Road, open all day, free entry, music from early evening onwards

SATURDAY Riff Raff MONDAY Open Mic Night THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

>> TUESDAY Little Men, a film that has been described as ‘moving’ and ‘exceptionally powerful’, is being screened at Trinity Theatre today at 2pm and 8pm.

Centring around a friendship that’s struck up between two boys, Jake and Tony, after their parents become involved in a financial dispute, it beautifully illustrates the genuine kindness of youth compared to the fickle and petty nature of the adults’ behaviour. Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Ehle star, and tickets cost £10.50.

Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

FRIDAY The Breretons + Higgs and the Bosons + Ukelear Fallout + Joanne Louise Parker SATURDAY Rotten Hill Gang, Don Letts [DJ Set] and Lady Bird

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT Joanne Louise Parker ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

PICK OF THE WEEK St John’s Winter Wonderland Awards Ceremony Glazy Daisy Saturday January 14, 3-5pm

Crescent Road, information on times and tickets at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

SATURDAY T.Rextasy SUNDAY The Simon & Garfunkel Story THE CROSS KEYS

St John’s Road, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk

MONDAY TWURPS: Ukulele Jam Session THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

The Pantiles, doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk and www.thegreylady.co.uk

FRIDAY The Volare Trio SATURDAY (Closed for a private party) YE OLDE CHEQUERS INN

Tonbridge Folk Club, 122 High Street, Tonbridge, free entry, music 8-11pm, hat collection (£7 recommended). Full details at www.tonbridgefolkclub.org

MONDAY The Watergrain Band

To celebrate the success of the first St John’s Winter Wonderland Christmas extravaganza, the organisers are hosting their awards ceremony on Saturday from 3 to 5pm.

Tickets to the event cost £10 per child and include a pottery making session, refreshments and a goody bag. Winners from the competition’s quiz, which has run for the past six weeks, will also be announced. To book tickets, please call 01892 519 719.

UKE PLAY IT, I’LL SING IT Ukelear Fallout

 (See pages 64-65 for our special feature on The Forum’s birthday weekend concerts) THE BEAU NASH TAVERN

Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

SATURDAY Sophie Mullan THE PUNCH & JUDY

11 St Stephen’s Street, Tonbridge Open all day, free entry Music from 8.30pm

TUESDAY Steve ‘Boltz’ Bolton

68

NEWS

Sporting Times

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

HALF-MARATHON: A feat of endurance but it’s so much more than a sporting event

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk PLANS are being finalised for next month’s Tunbridge Wells Half-Marathon, which attracts 2,000 runners, and there’s still time to enter.

The highly regarded 13.1-mile race, which has been contested for more than 30 years, will be held on Sunday February 19, starting at 9am.

It’s open to all runners from elite athletes to novices and runners of all ages take part, from the minimum age of 17 to octogenarians. There are prizes for men and women in various age group categories – including the over-80s.

The organisers, Tunbridge Wells Harriers Running Club, have this year recruited Nuffield Health to help stage the event, and the Times has joined the team as official media partner.

Nuffield will be providing expertise at the race HQ, the Fusion Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre on St John’s Road. Personal trainers from their gyms will be assisting with warm-ups and warm-downs as well as providing free massages after the race.

The course takes in the villages of Bidborough, Penshurst and Fordcombe, and features a testing 300ft climb up Spring Hill amid stunning scenery.

First held in 1983, the race has become the biggest single sporting event in Tunbridge Wells in terms of public participation.

It is estimated that some 30,000 runners have

ROAD CONGESTION Around 2,000 runners set off along St John’s Road

taken part down the years, raising in the region of £200,000 for local charities.

In 2017 the three main beneficiaries are The Bridge Trust in Tonbridge, which supports the homeless, the Counselling Centre in Tunbridge Wells and the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, which helps disadvantaged young people.

Other local voluntary bodies, such as Citizens Advice and the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre, also receive donations. In the past five years alone, fundraising has totalled £85,000.

Initially, participants numbered around 450, but over the last decade there have been, on average, 2,000 people taking part every year.

HAPPY HARRIERS Last year’s runners celebrate

Race organiser Mark Taylor, a member of the Harriers, says the popularity of the event is akin to a growing enthusiasm for endurance fitness tests generally.

“It’s like the rise of triathlons, and other competitions such as assault courses and mud runs,” says Mark, 63, who ran for the first time in 1988. “People are looking for a challenge.”

The race, which came second in a recent Runner’s World magazine Half-Marathon of the Year vote, attracts all-comers from around the UK and beyond.

Mark adds: “It is recognised by the running community as a very good half-marathon, run

Sporting Times

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

NEWS

69

COMMON PURSUIT The runners make their way past Southborough Common

‘It’s well managed and organised by runners for runners. Feedback is always very positive’

through some of the best Kent countryside. It’s well managed and organised by runners for runners. Feedback is always very positive.”

The influx of athletes to the town also helps the local economy. “It’s one of the yearly highlights in the Tunbridge Wells calendar,” says Mark.

“It brings many people into the town so local businesses benefit, too.”

Dame Kelly Holmes, from Hildenborough, competed last year for the first time as part of the double Olympic champion’s preparations for her inaugural London Marathon.

“No international athlete has given as much time and support to us as Dame Kelly,” says Mark.

“She has been with the race in some capacity for many years.”

Other notable supporters include Don Thompson, the 1960 Olympic gold medallist at the 50km racewalk.

The London Marathon winner and Commonwealth Games bronze

medallist Mike Gratton, of Invicta Athletic Club, has also been in the running and donated prizes.

In 1999, the Kenyan athlete Benson Masha decided to enter. He had previously held the world record time for a half-marathon and won the Great North Run on four occasions.

But according to Mark, ‘he did not have everything his own way’, and Masha found himself beaten by Barry Royden of Medway Athletic Club.

The race has become such a local institution over the last 33 years that a second generation of competitors are trying to outrun their parents’ efforts.

In 1985 the race was won by Cain Bradley; 30 years later, in 2015, his son Dan also came first – although Bradley Senior’s time was still superior.

Some 400 volunteers take part in the meticulous organisation of the Tunbridge Wells Half-Marathon, which has become the envy of the county’s running community. This year it will form part of the Kent Grand Prix and also the Kent Senior Championships.  Entry for the race on February 19 costs £24 (£22 for England Athletics affiliated club members). To enter, volunteer or find out more information, visit www.twharriers. org.uk or www.race-nation.com

THE TIME TO BEAT Dame Kelly Holmes with the Bloco Fogo drummers at the race

The run-in: Five weeks to get ready IF YOU haven’t already started training for the Half-Marathon, have you left it too late? With five and a half weeks until starter’s orders, it is possible to get race-ready – but not if you’re starting from scratch.

If running a half-marathon is on your bucket list but you haven’t yet started putting in the miles, entering the Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Half-Marathon is a goal to put on your agenda for 2018, not this year.

But if you already run two or three times a week and can do 10k, then stepping up to completing the Half-Marathon on February 19 is an achievable target.

“It’s all about the long runs,” explains Jane Dew (pictured right), a fitness instructor at Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing Gym on Knights Park Leisure Park and a run leader for Runtogether (formerly Runengland).

“If you can already do 10k, or six miles, you need to increase your long run by a mile each week for the next three weeks, so you do seven miles this weekend, eight next week and nine the week after.

“You then need to aim for between 10 and 12 miles the first weekend in February, so you can taper in the fortnight leading up to the event so your legs aren’t too tired on race day.”

If pacing yourself for 10 or 12 miles seems a tall order, Jane has some good news for you: “Your long runs should be at a conversational pace. Most people do their long runs too fast – they don’t need to be.”

You also need to put in at least two other runs each week. “You want to be doing a 40 to 50-minute run at an easy pace, and then one at a more challenging tempo – faster than is ideally comfortable for you – but only about 30 to 40 minutes,” says Jane.

To feel really confident as you cover the 13.1 miles around the Kent Weald, you ideally want to fit in one other training session each week, but quite what that is will

KNUCKLE DOWN: Nuffield Health experts will be on hand to provide free massages after the race depend on what your ambitions are.

“If you are aiming for a challenging time, then you would benefit from some interval speedwork,” suggests Jane.

“One example is two minutes fast, two minutes’ recovery, 8-12 repeats.

“You can play around with the timing of the intervals, even building up to one-mile repeats if you dare,” she adds. “But if you just want to get round, your fourth training session can be any cardio workout you are used to doing.

“Outdoor cycling or a spin class are great at complementing a running programme – they give you a good cardiovascular workout without impacting on your joints.”

If you’re a gym bunny, you may be tempted to put in a last-minute application for the Half-Marathon, but Jane cautions against it.

“You may be very fit and strong, but running puts a lot of impact on your joints, and you have to build up to that. If you go straight from the gym to a half-marathon, you are likely to cause yourself an injury.”

70

NEWS

Sporting Times

CONTACT US:

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

Akrofi gives Angels a lift Tonbridge Angels 2 Metropolitan Police 1

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL:

AFTER four games without a win in the Ryman Premier, Tonbridge edged a close encounter that was in the balance right up to the final whistle.

Despite being the slightly better side during the first period they found themselves behind at the break and faced a stiff task to get their play-off hopes back on track. By contrast, Met Police were desperate for points to ease their relegation worries.

Although chances had fallen to the home side through Tom Phipp, Tom Parkinson and Alex Akrofi, the Met took the lead on 39 minutes.

Following good work on the left side from Roman Michael-Percil, Lloyd Macklin was able to bundle the ball past

Anthony Di Bernardo in the Angels goal.

The scoreline could have looked even better for the visitors three minutes later when Michael-Percil failed to achieve sufficient height on an attempted lob when he was through on goal.

It did not take the home side long to get back on level terms in the second half.

On 51 minutes Jack Parter’s exquisite cross from the left saw Akrofi jump highest in a crowded penalty area to head home past Billy Bishop.

‘We stuck at it’ The home side continued to press forward and on 66 minutes a fine move involving Akrofi, Nathan Elder and finally Luke Blewden saw the Tonbridge substitute fire home what would prove to be the winner.

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

New strike partnership ends the goal drought

The visitors made a valiant effort to get back on terms but the Angels held on for three vital points.

A relieved Angels Manager Steve McKimm, who had seen his side gain only one point from their last four fixtures, praised the players for their determination to put the campaign back on track.

He said: “Despite being the better team for the first half we’ve failed to break them down and with only three chances for them, they’ve scored from one.

“Credit to my players for coming out for the second half and, for 20 to 25 minutes, playing some of the best football this season. They’ve taken the game by the scruff of the neck and established a lead.

“The Met have made a huge effort for the last 20 minutes to try and get something from the game and perhaps we haven’t always looked after the ball as well as we should. But we stuck at it and we’ve taken the three points.”

Tunbridge Wells 3 Erith Town 1

By Scott Bartlett FOOTBALL: TUNBRIDGE WELLS produced a performance that Jason Bourne had demanded from his players with Josh Biddlecombe finding the net twice and James Pinnock scoring on debut.

The victory lifts them two places in the Southern Counties East Football League and six points clear of the relegation zone.

Manager Bourne welcomed new signing Pinnock and brought him in alongside Biddlecombe up front.

Wells have struggled to find the net in recent weeks and, despite the fresh strike partnership, it looked like this would continue.

But they eventually opened the scoring in the 42nd minute when Tom Mackelden’s through ball allowed Biddlecombe to beat the Erith keeper with a fine curling shot.

They doubled their lead just three minutes later on the stroke of

GREAT LEVELLER Alex Akrofi heads home Angels’ equaliser

half-time as Biddlecombe calmly rounded the keeper to slot home.

The second half opened with the home side looking to finish the game off and Pinnock was unlucky to see his shot come back off the post.

The visitors got themselves back into the game on 52 minutes when Lee Friend broke down the right wing before cutting in and sending his shot into the top left corner.

The Erith goal changed the flow of the game and after 63 minutes, Friend had a chance to level for the visitors but Lawrence in the Wells goal was equal to it.

Wells made sure of the three points in the 89th minute when Pinnock opened his account for the Wells.

This was a solid performance, built from a commanding central defensive partnership of Potter and Davy through to the strong running and persistence of the forward pairing.

Tunbridge Wells now travel to AFC Croydon hoping to build on this display and reach mid-table safety.

Constable keeps Rustics firing Kent Football 2 Rusthall 3

PHOTO: Wes Filtness

FOOTBALL:

Prolific Skilton breaks away hoodoo Anchorians Development 1 Tonbridge Angels Ladies 5

By Jim Rowe ANGELS Ladies banished their 2016 away hoodoo in style with their best performance of the season in a convincing 5-1 victory at Anchorians Development.

Tonbridge took the lead after 16 minutes when a through ball from Jodie Coombes released Abigail Skilton, who shot firmly past the goalkeeper.

Three minutes later the lead was doubled when skipper Beth Kemp scored a fine solo goal, curling a shot past the keeper from the edge of the area.

STRIKE ACTION Abigail Skilton scores again

PHOTO: David Couldridge

FOOTBALL:

A three-goal cushion was secured before half-time with Courtney Smith both starting an attacking move and completing it with a cool finish.

In the second half, substitute Megan Akehurst showed her prowess in front of goal, lashing a shot against the underside of the bar with the referee adjudicating that the ball had not crossed the line.

A shot from distance by the home side dipped into the top corner after 76 minutes. But Skilton grabbed her second of the match – and 19th goal of the season – with two minutes left to ensure victory.

In injury time, Becky Saxby hit a looping cross from wide on the right which sailed over everyone and dropped into the net.

TOP of the table Rusthall secured a valuable away victory in Dartford to keep up their surprise push for promotion in the Southern Counties East League First Division.

John Phillips produced a fine piece of skill on 29 minutes to give the visitors a surprise lead. He picked up the ball wide on the left and skipped past two players to score.

Two minutes later Antonio Gonella

equalised, and a classy finish by Stuart Zanone put them ahead.

In the second half the Rustics took control. The hard work paid off on 63 minutes when the hosts failed to clear and Andy Constable tapped in for his fourth goal in three games.

On 78 minutes a Rusthall corner from the left was flicked on by captain Joe Fuller and central defender Jon Lord headed home.

Title favourites Glebe now visit the Jockey Stadium for a crucial clash.

Graystone on target in friendly Tunbridge Wells Men’s 1st XI 1 Reigate Priory 1st XI 1

By Brandon Begg HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS held high hopes of overturning a 6-1 mauling they suffered in their pre-season match at Reigate when they met them again at Kent College in Pembury in a friendly ahead of the league’s resumption.

Midway through the first half, Will Graystone received the ball behind the high line of the Reigate defence, sent the keeper the wrong way and slipped it past his right-hand side to open the scoring.

Wells retained possession and won a couple of short corners through the excellent Jack Garwood, but were unable to convert them.

After half-time Reigate began to press higher up the pitch and Tunbridge Wells were unable to get the ball out of their half with any conviction.

With 10 minutes to go Reigate went on the attack down the left side and were able to feed the ball across goal for a tap-in.

The 1-1 draw was probably a fair result after a game of two very different halves.

Sporting Times

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

HIGH HOPES David Irvine is hoisted aloft to win a line0ut

NEWS

71

Watson doubles up to keep TJs ahead of nearest rivals Tonbridge Juddians 24 Westcliff 0 RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS were back at The Slade for their first game of the new year as leaders of National Three London & South-East and they wasted no time asserting their authority against visitors Westcliff.

Tom Nicoll pounced after less than 30 seconds as Westcliff tried to clear their lines from the kick-off. Liam Prescott added the extras before a number of supporters had even made it pitchside.

TJs were soon storming upfield again and after the forwards had bashed a bit, Jon McMahon capitalised on some space in the centre to go through and make it 12-0 in a bright and breezy start.

Westcliff got themselves into the game, however, and their big pack made life tricky for TJs at the breakdown. The hosts had the upper hand at the scrum and, to some extent, the lineout but the game became a

stop-start affair as heavy conditions made it difficult underfoot for all.

The second half continued in that vein and TJs were struggling to break down the visitors’ defence. It finally cracked, though, as Hugo Watson carved out a try wide on the right and then scythed through for another score on the left. His brace of tries secured the much needed bonus point win.

Coach Pete Dankert said: “It was great to secure another bonus point win against a Westcliff side that impressed yet again with their attitude and commitment.

“The whole squad had to dig deep and once again it showed there are no easy games in this league.”

TJs will look to cement their place at the top with an away game at bottom side Amersham & Chiltern.

Despite the bonus-point shutout, Wimbledon beat Hertford 26-14 and are just one point behind. They visit The Slade on January 21 for what looks to be a crucial encounter.

Spence burst pushes Wells past Tottonians Tunbridge Wells 31 Tottonians 29

By Graham Withers

WELL GROUNDED Jon McMahon dives over for his try

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

By Adam Hookway

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

MIND THE GAP Chaz Spence spies an opening

RUGBY: AN INDIVIDUAL piece of brilliance from 21-year-old captain Chaz Spence proved the difference in a clash between two teams with promotion ambitions in London One South.

They had met for the very first time back in September with Wells winning a tight game 27-15, and this encounter was to be even closer.

Josh Crickmay returned at tight-head prop and there was a warm welcome back for Mike Doherty, who played centre whilst on holiday from Australia.

After just three minutes the lively visitors had scored, a fine rolling maul deep into the Wells 22 allowing full-back Tommy Foster to cross over, converted by skipper Robbie Searle.

Wells were soon on the scoreboard when a Nick Doherty turnover earned a kick for Frank Reynolds, and it was from another penalty on 16 minutes that Crickmay crashed over under the posts for his first club try. Reynolds popped over the conversion.

Tottonians response was immediate

and impressive, their backs linking well to put centre Mike Searle in for the try, which was converted by his brother Robbie on 20 minutes.

He notched another penalty to stretch the lead to 17-10 at half-time. A back-line reshuffle saw Wells draw level three minutes after the break, though. A powerful surge by James Lineham helped force Nick Doherty over for a try that Reynolds converted.

Tottonians responded with a superb score on 46 minutes. An exquisite inside pop pass by the impressive Robbie Searle released pacy flanker Kevin Raqio, who raced in from 25 metres. It was followed by a fine touchline conversion from Searle.

The Hampshire side were having a purple patch of form, and their centres Mike Searle and Richard Buck linked

to create a second try for Raqio to put them 29-17 ahead.

The match could have got away from Wells at this stage. But showing patience in a series of drives featuring Goodyer, Mills and Uini eventually saw Mike Hathaway (pictured) force his way over on 71 minutes.

Another good conversion

by Reynolds brought the home team within one score at 24-29.

Then scrum-half Spence picked out of a Tottonian scrum 15 metres from his own line and showed explosive pace as he darted through a gap and went clear for his solo try. Reynolds converted and Wells took the lead just as the game moved into injury time.

It was a superb game of rugby between the sides placed third and fourth in London One South, and Wells will now look to build on it ahead of their crunch clash at second-placed Havant.

Local News

Wednesday January 11 | 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

Man admits injuring policeman with knife A HOMELESS man who was charged with seven offences has admitted to five of the crimes.

Sean Medhurst, 49, admitted to unlawfully wounding PC Michael Brown in an incident in Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge on December 2.

He also admitted to threatening another man with a blade, taking a car without consent, obstruction and failing to provide a specimen of breath.

However, he denied threatening PC Bowen with a blade and of harassing a woman in Willow Lea on the same day.

The plea and trial preparation was adjourned until January 23. Medhurst, who appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday 3 by video link with Highdown Prison in Banstead, Surrey, was remanded in custody.

Lending a listening ear A NEW drop-in support service is being launched at the Six in One Club in Northwood Road this Friday (January 13).

The Listening Ear Project aims to support people with their general well-being and who may feel isolated or lonely. It is free for anyone to attend and will run from 1pm to 4pm.

Further sessions will be held on the following Fridays at the Six in One Club: February 10, March 10, April 7 and at Tonbridge Angels FC: January 27, February 24 and March 24.

5

Coffee maker back in business but doubts remain over his vintage van

By Murray Jones newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk A POPULAR Tonbridge coffee maker says the generosity of the local community saved his business after his van was vandalised in October.

Jem Crick received a total of £1,730 from 232 contributors who wanted to support the much-loved barista, via an online crowdfunding page, after his ‘Mochafella Coffee’ van was attacked and broken into. His tyres were also slashed, and the coffee grinder inside the van was ‘completely destroyed’ during the attack.

Shortly afterwards, just to add to Mr Crick’s misery, the coffee machine in his other van broke, leaving him unable to provide any service to his regular customers and visitors to the area.

But the hundreds of online donors agreed to buy a ‘virtual coffee’ from Mr Crick, to replicate a normal period of trade for him.

And the support from donors has kept his business afloat. He explained that £1,000 of the contri-

butions ‘directly replaced’ the trade he lost during the October half-term, while £350 went to buying a replacement coffee machine for his other van and £300 went towards covering the salary of an employee, named Stefan.

He also received £400 from his church, Tonbridge Baptist Church, to help him through the difficult period.

Although he is yet to hear from his insurance company, he expects that the ‘unique nature’ of his Citroen HY Vintage 1967 van means he will just receive compensation rather than the vehicle being repaired. He had only bought the van in April last year.

Following a ‘period of downtime’ at end of the year, Mr Crick was back trading on Saturday near Tonbridge Park.

He said: “I’m feeling more positive now. I can’t let it keep me down.”

On Monday, Mr Crick was told by the police there has been a forensic match from the blood found in the van after the incident. The suspect is set to be interviewed next week.

MOVING ON: Jem Crick with his vintage van

New church primary school sets out timetable for the future

More rail strikes THIS week’s train drivers’ strike on Southern Rail, that affects some services from Tonbridge, was reduced from six days to three. The action by the Aslef union, which began yesterday, continues today (Wednesday) and will begin again on Friday.

Further strikes have been announced for January 24, 25 and 27.

In response, Hayesbrook School arranged their own ‘rail replacement service’ to ferry students from Edenbridge, Chiddingstone and Leigh at 8am, returning in the afternoon.

School Principal Daniel Hatley said: “I am pleased that we can offer this service and hope that it will ease parents’ concern about their sons’ travel on the affected days.”

NEWS

DEVELOPMENT The school will be next to the new Somerhill Green houses PUBLIC reaction to a new Church of England primary school in Tonbridge has been overwhelmingly positive, the school trust’s CEO has claimed.

It was announced last month that Bishop Chavasse Primary School has applied to open its doors to 60 pupils from September. A public consultation set up by the Tenax Schools Trust to gauge reaction to the

plans ends today [Wednesday].

While it was thought that proposals to offer a quarter of places each year to children from families with ‘commitment to the Christian faith’ may court controversy, this has not proven to be the case, according to the Trust’s CEO, Ian Bauckham, also Executive SCHOOL TIMETABLE CEO Ian Bauckham

Headteacher at Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells. He said that out of the 120 responses resulting from the public consultation, only a handful had been negative, with the majority of comments suggesting a ‘strong appetite’ for the town’s first C of E school.

The Tenax Schools Trust, which also runs Bennett Memorial, confirmed that the new primary school will be located next to the new Somerhill Green housing development. The first intake of 60 pupils will be housed in temporary classrooms.

Up to 15 of the places each year will be filled by children from families who attend church at least twice a month. If they are not filled, the remainder will be added to the pot of 45 ‘open places’.

A funding agreement with the Secretary of State for Education, as well as planning permission from Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, are expected to be confirmed by March.

The Trust is currently holding open events for prospective parents, with one this evening [Wednesday] from 7pm at St Stephen’s Church, Waterloo Road, Tonbridge.