Times of Tunbridge Wells October 25 2023

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House prices go through the roof with a £36k hike

But Tunbridge Wells growth flatlines as uncertainty hits market

By Richard Williams HOMEOWNERS in Tunbridge Wells made an average of £36,000 on their properties last year, although increases in house prices have now stopped, industry figures show.

According to one of the country’s biggest lenders, prices across Tunbridge Wells shot up by 8.3 per cent in September compared to 12 months earlier.

This meansFOURSOME: the average house in thegymnasts (L-R) Harry Hole, William Clark, Hector Kinghorn and Harley Curtis-Lawrence from AWESOME Four local town and wider borough is now Wells fetching Tigers Gymnastics, Tunbridge were crowned European Balance Champions last week at the 31st Acrobatic Gymnastics £36,163 more than it was thisintime lastBulgaria. year.

European Championships Varna, They are pictured with their coach Chris Rogers.

By contrast, the average wage in Tunbridge Wells is just £35,500 per annum, meaning the average homeowner made more money from their house than market pauses while it sorts itself out.”

Despite this massive year-on-year hike from their salary last year.

Meanwhile, Tom Snowdon from Kings in average house prices, the property Estates said: “Over the last two years, market has now stopped growing.

Snapshot we have seen unprecedented house Property values recorded 0.0 per cent price growth the town.”from growth in September The most recent and finally in in The Pantiles town as month-on-month a must-visit destination.

By Lauren Brook snapshot of the But he added: compared August, following 0.7the per housing market by the Nationwide November 16-18.“Everyone knew the Events forto2023 include the ‘Joya to house its price growth had stop at in cent increase last month, the mortgage building society shows acrossfrom the a Following investment thistosummer Wells’ festive countdown, publication rapid TUNBRIDGE Wells is setthat to benefit some point andand thepromotional catalyst for this was provider has said.

UK, house prices rose by 9.5 this per cent in big marketing activities of a new What’s On guide to local surge in footfall and tourism the energy price hike,and which was in Septemberwith compared to the in London, Brighton Maidstone hospitality and gifting, plus ‘The Big Christmas the launch ofsame RTW time reported over the Tunbridge summer. Wells as a last year. Christmas Campaign which order to promote Together’s ‘The average homeowner “The government’s mini-budget week But the mortgage lender tourism destination, RTW Togethera BID begins today, October 25. says that ‘Christmas is amoney vital time for ago and the interest that rate house pricesto have stopped growing Director Alexsubsequent Green is confident made more from In addition this,now residents and hasWells madewill it more month on andaahost stronger businessesbyinlenders, Tunbridge visitors willmonth also have of other local their our local businesses and we increases house than from their expensive buyersfrom to borrow money, so slowdown is expected inthe theborough. coming continue tofor benefit increased festive events to enjoy in hope lots of people come out this salary last year’ hasand certainly a dampening weeksinclude as surging and mortgage footfall spendhad going into the effect These the inflation hugely popular SKATE for The Big Reveal events’ on buyers.”period. rates take their toll. Grounds and also the Christmas ice rink in Calverley Deborah from Maddisons Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief According to at Nationwide. average “Many ofRichards our levy members reported an new Christmas Bewl Waterthe experience on The Pantiles added: economist, said: “Prices were unchanged Residential home has in Tunbridge Wells now costs increase in footfall this summer just after which already started selling tickets “Overall do feel price is slowing, over thewhich monthhas from August, after £435,709, which is up from from all £399,546 in the mainIcampaign hit,growth and anecdotally Reveal’ tripled in size fortaking this and attracting visitors over the due mainly toreported the risingmore mortgage account of with seasonal effects.festive This isthemed the September our members local tourists Christmas, a different South East. 2021. rateLondon, environment which is first happening month not to a sequential rise interest But organisers other vendors say year’s average house from South Sussex and East trail in record three different The of this RTW affecting buyer’s affordability. However, since Julyin 2021.” prices are higher, withtold Rightmove saying Kent. locations Tunbridge Wells. These will Together’s Christmas the Times that David Johnson, from KMJ average home in Tunbridge place in the upper townProperty and Camden it will be interesting to see whether this itthe will be ‘bigger and better thanWells ever’now and take Continued on page 2 which due to its affects Tunbridge Wells, confirmed that Street houseand prices haven’t sellsitfor £499,208, while Zoopla says Road, the High Chapel Place that hopes to further galvanise the it is excellent transport links and schooling grown in Tunbridge Wells in September £518,385, which means the average house options, but added: is political – page in the area could have increased by as INSIDE: Kent Test“Whenever resultsthere announced 3 plus beautiful architecture and green spaces, can often sit in a bubble.” or financial uncertainty, the housing much as £40,000 over the last 12 months.

Town’s hospitality and retailers set to benefit from festive bonanza

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Wednesday October 25 | 2023

This week… Town to benefit from Christmas events IT’S A KNOCKOUT: Frank Bruno MBE is guest of honour at Best of British Events charity lunch in aid of Taylor-Made Dreams P5

LEGAL EAGLES: Loch Associates Group, the multiservice law and HR business, ranks highly in prestigious legal directories P6

SWEET CHARITY: Mental Health Resource charity hosts its annual Autumn Ball at The High Rocks and raises thousands P10

AT ONE WITH NATURE: Local artist Lucy Homer Jones tells the Times all about her new exhibition launching at Kingdom P24 CONTACTS EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen.leahy@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 576037 NEWS REPORTER GRACE CORCORAN | 01892 240626 newsdesk@onemediauk.co.uk SUB EDITOR SIMON MUGFORD simon.mugford@onemediauk.co.uk DESIGN/PRODUCTION JASON STUBBS jason.stubbs@onemediauk.co.uk ADVERTISING 07557 847841 robin.singer@onemediauk.co.uk facebook.com/timeslocalnews www.timeslocalnews.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews

Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0TF Salomons Estate, One Warwick Park Hotel and Bewl Events & Waterpark are owned by the Elite Leisure Collection, which also owns One Media, publisher of the Times.

CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS HERE at the Times Local News 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.

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

Continued from front page

“Some told retailers they were coming back to Tunbridge Wells for the first time in a while, and more critically that they enjoyed the experience,” he said.

Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark also welcomes the BID’s plans to support local businesses during the Christmas period.

He told the Times: “I’m very excited to see the BID’s plan for the town this Christmas that will encourage people to stay and shop locally.

“I hope that everyone will get in the Christmas spirit and enjoy what is on offer. I wish all our fabulous retailers and businesses all the best for the festive season.”

Cllr Justine Rutland, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, and the Council’s appointed board member on the BID, said of the campaign: “We are really lucky to have the BID and so many local businesses running free events and making the town look festive and beautiful this Christmas. This year will be extra special as there are three family-friendly evenings for residents and visitors to enjoy.

“Christmas is a vital time for our local businesses and we hope lots of people come out for The Big Reveal events, vote for their favourite shop window, enjoy the Christmas lights and carol singing and, if they can, support our local shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.”

Springboard Footfall Monitoring data, which collected over 27 weeks of footfall counts, reports that as of August 2023, the town saw an average of 192,000 visitors every week, projecting a total of 10 million visitors to Tunbridge Wells annually.

According to Alex Green, more than 25 million people saw the BID’s Rediscover Tunbridge Wells campaign on public transport in London, East Sussex and elsewhere in Kent, and on Heart and Smooth FM, while more than 275,000

overseas tour operators in Europe and the USA were targeted with promotional activities to encourage them to book visits here.

Going into the important Christmas period, RTW Together is capitalising on the success of its summer publicity activities with a festive campaign to position Royal Tunbridge Wells as a destination for leisure during this period.

The free RTW Guide Christmas Special will play a pivotal role in signposting visitors and residents to what’s on in Tunbridge Wells, with 10,000 copies being printed and distributed to 8,000 households as well as in leaflet dispensers, local tourist destinations and shops and hospitality venues across the town centre.

Promotion Local attractions will include the SKATE ice rink in Calverley Grounds, back for its 13th year, which attracted 40,000 visitors last year. For 2023 the event will see a brand-new Ferris Wheel ride which has recently been granted planning permission.

Alongside SKATE, the town will host two pantomime productions at The Assembly Hall and Trinity Theatre as well as the aforementioned RTW Together’s Big Reveal Christmas trail.

In addition to this, both residents and visitors will have the chance to experience Santa’s Grotto at Royal Victoria Place and also the new Bewl Water Christmas Experience.

The latter venue’s Events Marketing Manager Sunisa Avery told the Times: “Meeting Santa Claus is the highlight of many families’ Christmas celebrations, and we're thrilled to introduce a brand-new experience.

“Along with special meet-and-greets with Father Christmas and his storytelling elves, we've got lots of interactive festive activities to make your Christmas celebrations truly

Crunch meeting triggered by Greg Clark’s call to stop Anti-Social Behaviour wave

By Archie Lawrence A CRUNCH meeting has been held to halt the wave of anti-social behaviour that has hit Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas this year.

The summit took place in the Town Hall on Friday October 20. It was triggered by local MP Greg Clark exercising powers under the AntiSocial Behaviour Act 2014.

The organisations that met were Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Community Safety Unit, Kent Police, the Safer Town Partnership, Town & Country Housing, the CCTV Partnership, Kent Youth Justice and Kent County Council Education Department.

Action The meeting endorsed the MP’s contention that the Borough had been suffering from an unusually high level of anti-social behaviour. It identified the cause as being a number of groups of young people who in combination had committed acts of intimidation, criminal damage, theft and assaults throughout the last 6 months – which was the period of Mr Clark’s complaint. What is notable about this outbreak is that the perpetrators are younger than typical offenders – mostly 12 to 16 year olds - and include girls as well as boys, and operate during daytime hours more than at night.

The meeting heard from Kent Police representatives that more officers are in the process of being recruited and deployed on beat duty in Tunbridge Wells, with a beat team of 12 officers expected to be on duty by September 2024. In addition, a Child-Centred Policing team consisting of 2 PCs and 2 PCSOs will from December have direct contact with named schools, and particular children and their families who are at risk of being drawn into crime.

Participants agreed that an action plan would

VIGILANCE: Read more from Greg Clark on this issue on page 18 be jointly produced including consideration by the Borough Council of uses of its powers such as allowing Enforcement Officers to gather evidence from body-worn cameras and to issue fixed penalty notices for anti-social behaviour. A further session with Social Services will be held to improve the co-ordination between agencies about children engaging in anti-social behaviour.

The group will be reconvened in January to assess progress.

Speaking after the meeting Greg Clark MP said: “I was pleased that my use of the Community Trigger has had a galvanising effect. All the agencies agreed that the problem of anti-social behaviour has surged and needs to be gripped.

Some immediate actions are already underway – such as the increase in police numbers. But it was accepted by all that many more measures can be taken to stop this wave of disorder, to turn the situation around and to make sure it does not happen again.”

spectacular.”

With more than 570 creative businesses operating from Tunbridge Wells, ranking it above all other locations for these services in Kent as of end 2022, the BID’s TW Works campaign is also working hard to promote the town as a business destination.

Co-working spaces such as Office Tribe and Hive are becoming a key part of the BID’s strategy to encourage professionals to work and spend their leisure time in Tunbridge Wells, rather than staying in the capital.

Looking ahead to 2024, Alex Green says he is keen to invest further in supporting local events and attractions, should the BID be re-elected by levy-payers for a second five-year term.

“Once the re-ballot is complete, we will be investing further in the core pillars of our BID services: promotions, street scene, retention of businesses and investing in their staff, events and activities.

“We know that it is not enough to simply be a shopping centre. To be chosen as the destination for a night out, or weekend, we have to offer a breadth of retailers, hospitality and a diverse and exciting calendar of events. Our grants for events and attractions will help to invest in the range of activities we can offer,” he said.

WHAT IS THE BID? The Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District (BID) is an organisation funded by local businesses in a specific geographical area, called levy-payers, that pay an annual levy in exchange for the projects and services that the BID team provides. Having been established in 2019, the BID will be up for re-ballot in 2024, when the businesses in the BID area will be required to vote on whether they want the BID to operate for another five-year term.

The Times needs you…

THE TIMES of Tunbridge Wells would like to hear from readers across the borough as we launch a new section in the newspaper. This is an opportunity to share with us any local events happening in your community. We’re keen to share information on anything exciting going on in your village or town…

Whether you sing in a church choir, play a sport, volunteer for a charity or organise a local coffee morning or a community cinema night, we want to hear about it. Perhaps your town or village holds a weekly farmers’ market, or your church hall plays host to an amateur dramatics society or dance troupe. If so, it’s about time you had the spotlight and we are to help.

Community From theatre, dance and live music showcasing the breadth of local talent available to us across the borough, to food larders and charity events that demonstrate our community spirit, there’s lots to promote and also celebrate - including the local heroes who make it all happen behind the scenes.

We are so fortunate that the Tunbridge Wells Borough is made up of a great many small but mighty communities with larger-than-life social calendars. No matter how big or small your event might be, please get in touch and we will endeavour to include it in a borough-wide round-up of what’s on in and around Tunbridge Wells.

To tell us about your event or initiative, please email us at communitynews@ timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk with your full name, the name, date and time of the event you would like to tell us about and we will try our best to include them all.

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

NEWS IN BRIEF

Mount Pleasant car park in town for sale

MOUNT Pleasant Avenue Car Park is for sale.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) own the car park, which has been listed as surplus to requirements in the Council’s approved Asset Management Plan.

The 60 space car park is only available to the public at weekends. Until recently the car park was leased on weekdays by Axa but their planned relocation means they no longer use the site.

Pantiles Christmas Markets return

THE Pantiles Christmas Markets will begin on November 18, with gifts, decorations and themed stalls to get residents in the spirit.

Leading up to the festive period, each weekend, The Pantiles hosts market stalls where you can find a wide variety of local produce, designer clothes, artisan crafts and homemade bakes from regular and guest traders. The market takes place from 10am to 4pm, Saturdays and Sundays.

Crowborough fireworks display

LIGHTING up the sky this November will Crowborough’s annual firework display. On Saturday November 4 at Goldsmiths Recreation Ground, Eridge Road, head down for a Lion King theme display starting at 7:30pm. There will also be a variety of hot food and drinks.

Visitors are advised to use the free car parking in the town centre. Free entrance, local charities will be taking donations.

Solar panel buying scheme ends soon

REGISTRATION for residents to sign up for the Solar Together group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage closes Friday October 27. The scheme offers solar panels with as well as retrofit battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels.

It is free to register and there is no obligation to go ahead with installation. All the information about registration is on the Council’s website or solartogether.co.uk/ tunbridge-wells/home

Michael Morpurgo visits local school

SIR Michael Morpurgo is to make a special guest appearance at a Candlelit Carols service. The acclaimed writer will be reading his Grandpa Christmas in Tonbridge School’s iconic St Augustine’s Chapel. All the funds raised from ticket sales will enable Kentbased charity Dandelion Time to help families struggling with the effects of trauma, abuse and neglect.

The service takes place on Monday December 18, 2023, doors open at 6pm.

Tickets are £18 for adults and £12 for children, available from dandeliontime.org.uk

West Kent radio turns two years old

WEST Kent Radio is celebrating providing improved coverage across West Kent with a new frequency: 107.2 FM, adding to the already existing 95.5FM and 106.7 FM frequencies. The new FM frequency coincides with the station celebrating its second birthday on October 28.

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Half of local school children aiming for a grammar school place pass test

By Grace Corcoran FOLLOWING last week’s Kent Test results, more than half of children from Tunbridge Wells schools who sat the test passed, deeming them suitable for a grammar school place.

According to Kent County Council (KCC) 950 pupils took the test, formerly known as the 11 plus, in local schools, with 559 of those passing the exam. This year, the pass mark is 332 with no individual score in each test lower than 107.

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School was the school in Tunbridge Wells with the highest number of children (60) sitting the exam, which took place on September 7, 2023.

Selective Children are tested in English, maths and reasoning – with verbal and non-verbal sections.

Many children who sit the exam receive private tutoring, which especially benefits pupils with skills like non-verbal reasoning, which are not taught in state schools.

There are three selective schools in Tunbridge Wells – Skinners’, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (TWGSB) and Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School (TWGGS) – and three in Tonbridge. They are Tonbridge Grammar School (TGS), The Judd and Weald of Kent (WOK). Both WOK and TWGSB have satellite sites in Sevenoaks.

Joanne Bartley, Campaign Officer for Comprehensive Futures, an organisation who want to see an end to the Kent Test, told the Times: “The Kent Test results bring mixed emotions for all involved. It is worth reflecting on the fact that most areas of the country achieve secondary school results on a par with Kent, or actually better, without putting primary school pupils through a test like this.

“It is sadly the case that the results are biased towards wealthier families, who can hire tutors

or use prep schools to prepare their children.

While no one can blame parents for gaming the system in this way, evidence shows that disadvantaged pupils are underrepresented in Kent grammar schools.”

One local charity which has been working for over eight years to bridge this gap is AIM. The organisation wants to make the test fairer for children from less privileged backgrounds.

Set up in 2014, AIM works with The Right Tuition company, offering free tutoring every week and during school holidays for disadvantaged children, alongside an enrichment programme and free mock exam practice.

The Times spoke to Zoe Cantania from AIM, who believes there is still a lot of work to be done. She believes primary schools and grammar schools have a ‘responsibility to demystify the system’ and show parents that grammar schools are for children from all backgrounds.

Grammar schools offer a limited number of spaces to children who receive ‘Pupil Premium’, these are children who are eligible for free school meals (Pupil Premium is also for children

in or previously in local authority care but these children are prioritise in the main allocation of places).

For example, The Skinners School, in Tunbridge Wells allocates 14 spaces for children in receipt of Pupil Premium and The Judd School, in Tonbridge offers five spaces.

Zoe believes more should be done to support these children and show parents there are alternative options, like AIM, in order to help gain access to these schools.

KCC said that those Kent children who have sat the Kent Test and passed, will in most cases have priority over pupils from other local authorities for the 5,801 grammar school places available in the county.

KCC’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Rory Love, said: “Kent has a wide range of successful secondary schools – both selective and non-selective - and I would urge families whose children did not achieve the Kent Test results to consider all options available to them before applying for a secondary school place.”

Secondary school applications for Kent residents are open now and close on Tuesday, 31 October.

artists tells us. “I loved looking at the array of architectural buildings in the town, and was even happy when the traffic slowed down, to be able to take it all in!”

“I was invited to join Sarah-Louise Koessler and the team at Visit Tunbridge Wells to design an illustrated map celebrating our beautiful borough,” Elaine continues. “We worked together, highlighting places of interest, visitor attractions and features. We have many beautiful village signs here in Kent that tell the story and

history of our villages, which were so interesting to research and of course draw. A sketch was drawn, tweaks were made, and once the team were happy, I drew the map in pen and painted it in watercolour.”

“I loved drawing the Visit Tunbridge Wells map; I hope it sparks happy memories, brings a smile and most of all, reminds us how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world.”

To view the map, visit The Amelia Scott on Civic Way, Tunbridge Wells.

Hand-drawn map of Borough now on display at The Amelia Scott

By Lauren Brook VISIT Tunbridge Wells has commissioned a hand-drawn, designed and illustrated map of the Borough by local artist Elaine Gill, which is now on display in the entrance hall at The Amelia Scott Cultural Hub. Local artist Elaine Gill, whose previous works include the Platform 2 mural at Tunbridge Wells Railway Station, in collaboration with fellow artist Christopher Burke, and RTW Together’s Welcome to Tunbridge Wells map, worked closely with the Visit Tunbridge Wells team to identify local points of interest for the intricate artwork.

“We’re so very pleased with the artwork Elaine has produced for Visit Tunbridge Wells,” said Cllr Justine Rutland, Cabinet Member for Economic Development. “She is a member of the local creative community and her work is very distinctive; people may already be familiar with other maps she’s created. The map is on display in The Amelia Scott for visitors to see and it’s a great reminder to residents of just how many interesting places there are in the borough. We are updating our website and will be featuring the map there too.”

Elaine Gill has lived in Tunbridge Wells for more than twenty years and was thrilled to be asked to capture the Borough in her unique artistic style. “I have always loved Tunbridge Wells; my grandmother was born and brought up in Little Mount Zion before moving away,” the

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Next phase of new co-working space begins at the Town Hall

Mandy Weston, Chief Operating Officer at TownSq met Lee Colyer, TWBC Director of Finance to jointly sign the final documents

By Elena Percy THE next phase of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s (TWBC) partnership with Town Square Spaces Ltd (TownSq) can begin following the completion of legal agreements.

As previously reported by the Times, TownSq will be working with the Council to create a coworking space in Town Hall, with over 60 offices, meeting rooms and an event space, as well as business and startup support. The Council will remain in situ in the town hall but on a reduced floorplate.

Mandy Weston, Chief Operating Officer at TownSq met Lee Colyer, TWBC Director of Finance to jointly sign the final documents.

Exciting Now that the legal formalities are complete the next phase of the project can move forward.

The next steps will see interior refurbishment of the coworking area undertaken and a show-space created for earlier occupiers which will also be used for prospective users to see how they could benefit from becoming part of this exciting project.

Councillor Christopher Hall, TWBC Cabinet member for Finance & Performance said: “I am delighted that Town Square are on board. The repurposing of council offices for coworking will be a welcome addition of new office space for local businesses and supports our strategy to grow the local economy and utilize council assets for the benefit of the public. It will also make a significant saving to the Council in running costs which is welcome news as we work through the budget for the next financial year.”

Mandy Weston, Chief Operating Officer at TownSq, said: “We’re pleased to have concluded the formalities and are excited to get the next phase of this project underway. The Town Hall is an incredible building and we’ve already had a

lot of interest in the workspaces.

“Having modern and vibrant places to work on the high street is a vital part of any revitalisation, as when people work local, they shop local. With the cost of living so high at the moment, having somewhere to work closer to home and other amenities without huge commuting or office costs is a crucial step towards economic sustainability.

“However, our spaces are not just places to work. The support that we offer freelancers and small businesses can help them take that next step. Whether they are looking to get started or get on and grow – we’ve got the programmes and the experts to make it happen. We’ve built these communities across the country, and we’re excited to bring that same success to the heart of Tunbridge Wells.”

Lee Colyer, TWBC Director of Finance said: ‘The freeing up of space within the Town Hall provides an excellent opportunity for small businesses to co-locate in a prime location. The economic boost will ripple throughout the business community as greater use is made of the Town Hall from a more diverse range of activities.”

This exciting development provides the Council with an opportunity for cost savings and increased income. Additionally, there are benefits for the wider town community with the increased footfall that will come from businesses locating in this important site in the centre of the town.

Coworking and small business experts, TownSq also operate spaces in London, North and South Wales, West Sussex, Oxfordshire and Devon. The founders have more than 10 years experience in coworking and small business support, and can take people from an idea right through to founding, investment and growth.

Anyone who would like to learn more about the space, or the business support available, can contact TownSq by heading to twtownhall.co.uk, email Tunbridgewells@townsq.co.uk

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If you have any questions you'd like to ask Darren he can be contacted on 01892 772960 | www.synergee.org.uk

Liberal Democrats open new town HQ

TUNBRIDGE Wells Liberal Democrats have opened a new hub in Tunbridge Wells.

The idea behind having a visible HQ in town is that people can drop in and ask questions and also attend the weekly surgeries that are now taking place at the offices at 8a Chapel Place.

Mike Martin, the prospective Lib Dem MP for Tunbridge Wells, will be there every Tuesday from 1pm to 4pm while the offices will be open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 4pm on Fridays.

Drive Since opening the hub in August, the local branch of the Lib Dems has been congratulated by its national Party President, Dr Mark Pack, for having recruited over 250 volunteers in the first few months of their general election campaign.

Speaking on a recent visit to the new Chapel Place hub on Monday October 16, Dr Pack said local Lib Dems’ recent progress had been ‘extraordinary’.

“Tunbridge Wells has a niche and iconic role in our traditional true-blue landscape,” said Dr Pack, citing changing demographics, with families moving in and more people working from home.

“And the politics are changing,” he told councillors and activists. “But fun though it is to be elected, the reason for it is to make a

difference to people’s lives.

“Ed Davey as (Lib Dem) Leader doesn’t have as much power to change people’s lives as Ben Chapelard as Leader of the Council, and as you, as councillors. Everything is rooted in the work of local councillors.”

And according to a party spokesperson some of the new volunteers are former Conservative voters.

“These include Ann - who is a Volunteer Field Team Leader - and Zoe - a regular canvasser,” they explained to the Times.

“They told us why they had joined. Ann said she had voted Conservative in the past but that ‘the party has now left me’.

“She went on to add that ‘Mike (Martin) is a very impressive candidate and I’m very happy to help him and the team win Tunbridge Wells’.”

The Lib Dem spokesperson said that Zoe had previously been a sitting Conservative councillor in another Borough.

“Zoe told us that: ‘The Conservative Party is not the party that I joined and served for many years. After meeting the local Lib Dems, I was impressed by their energy and drive to get things done. I wanted to help out and use my skills.’”

Commenting on the swell of support the party is getting in Tunbridge Wells, Mike Martin said: “I’m delighted to welcome all the new volunteers to what is a friendly, happy team.”

In place of the usual Q&A, the following are some of the support packages that have beenWhilst made available helpabout businesses the Coronavirus: In addition to the above, the provision of fuel for there is still someto doubt the green deal with credentials of Retention electric cars, there is HMRC no doubtwill that Coronavirus Job Scheme: they are currently very tax to efficient when provided reimburse 80% of wages paid workers who have be as a company car, compared to an equivalent priced laid off due to the coronavirus crisis. This is capped at petrol or diesel vehicle. The amount a recipient of a £2.5k per employee per month. company car is taxed on annually is a percentage of

VATthe Deferral: The deferral willwhen applynew. fromWith 20 March manufacturers list price an car, this is currently If a director to 30electric June 2020.

There is a lack 2%. of clarity on theorGov. employee provided with an electric costing uk website andiswe are interpreting this ascar payments £50k, they will be taxed on £1k per year.

If 40% due by 30 June rather than quarters ended 30a June. taxpayer, this will equate to £400 income tax.

This means that May quarter VAT Returns, where Compare this to a petrol car, which could have a payment is due by 7 July, will still be payable as percentage of say 30%, and the taxable benefit normal.

Any will become payable would bepayments £15k (£50Kdeferred x 30%) which would be a tax by the end of the tax year (31/3/21 Company 5/4/21 bill of £6K for a 40% taxpayer. The companyor will also receive tax relief on the cost of the electric car, Unincorporated) either upfront if purchased new, or over the life of Income Tax Deferral: The self-assessment second the lease if rented. payment on account, due by 31 July 2020, will be deferred to 31 January 2021. No penalties or interest will be charged.

petrol/diesel leadsofto£10k an additional taxable be Cash Grants:cars A grant will automatically benefit if it for personal mileage.

Electric provided toisallused businesses currently entitled to Small cars are different as they are charged, quite often at Business Rates Relief. A grant of £25k can be claimed home. HMRC previously took the view that for businesses in the retail, hospitality or leisure industry reimbursing home charging costs, unless the car ifwas their rateable is between £15k and £51K. used solely value for business, led to a taxable benefit.

However, Rates whilst Holiday: this was their view, was not in business Business There is ait12-month line with the underlying legislation (S149(4) rates holiday (April 20 to March 21) for allITEPA retail, 2003) whichand specifically states: ‘References in this hospitality leisure businesses in England. section to fuel do not include any facility or means

Time to Pay Arrangements: additionato the for supplying electrical energy’.In Following deferral schemes noted above, younow haveaccepted outstanding campaign by the ICAEW, HMRCifhave tax Tax, VAT ortheir Income Tax) thatliabilities they were(Corporation wrong and have updated guidance.

As long as you the electricity reimbursed due to coronavirus, may be able to agree to a time thepay employee solely relates to the charging the to arrangement.

Arrangements will beofagreed on car, it is tax free in the hands of the acompany case by case basis. To discuss your options, contact employee and obtains tax relief in the company.

HMRC on 0800 0159 559.

Further info and updates can be found here: https:// www.synergee.org.uk/press-releases/coronavirus-update

Local News

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

NEWS

Charity lunch packs a power punch...

THE Spa Hotel was the venue for a fantastic Best of British Events event which saw boxing legend Frank Bruno MBE as the guest of honour.

Over 200 business leaders were present for the lunch on October 13. They included representatives from TN Recruits, Loch Associates Group, Handelsbanken, Brilliant Businesses UK and the Times.

Success The event’s headline sponsor was telecoms company RubixVT. Commenting afterwards on the success of the event, its founder Nick Poyner said: “It's safe to say that the inaugural Tunbridge Wells Best of British lunch was a huge success.

“The guests at The Spa Hotel enjoyed hearing the recollections of former heavyweight World Champion Frank Bruno. He is a British sporting legend and now dedicates his time to campaigning on mental health issues.”

Frank talked about his work doing this as well as his career and also took the time to meet

many guests. He even personally signed memorabilia to support the event’s chosen charity, Taylor-Made Dreams.

After the lunch an auction was held in aid of this local charity which supports children with life limiting illnesses.

Suzi Mitchell, CEO and founder of Taylor-Made Dreams said: “We were beyond delighted to have been selected as the beneficiary of the auction at this wonderful event.

“Overall, the fundraising brought in around £16,000, so we would like to express our sincere appreciation to Ryan and the team at Best of British, and of course the generous business community who supported this fabulous day.”

Ryan Heal, CEO of Best of British Events added: “Best of British Events is dedicated to using our platform to promote worthy causes and providing businesses with the opportunity to give back.”

The event’s co-sponsors included Webtrends Optimize, DevAssist, Loch Associates Group, TN Recruits Ltd, Handelsbanken and Brilliant Businesses of Tunbridge Wells.

5

BEST IN THE BUSINESS: Frank Bruno MBE pictured with Nick Poyner of RubixVT.

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BUSINESS

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Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Loch Associates Group recognised as one of the UK’s best law firms

By Elena Percy

Pam Loch, Solicitor and Managing Director at Loch Associates Group, said: “The feedback we have received in both the Legal 500 and Chambers is testament to the hard work, talent and dedication of all within our business. We are, and always will be, dedicated to delivering the best possible service and solutions for our clients.”

Loch Associates Group, with offices in Kent, Sussex and London, has grown significantly over the past two years, doubling turnover and headcount. The Group recently acquired Sightscreen HR and bolstered the team with a new Partner at Loch Law. In the Legal 500 2024 edition, Loch Law retained its Band 2 ranking, and the team were praised for their 'overall pragmatic and commercial approach' and 'exceptional accessibility of partners and staff with swift response times.’ Pam Loch retained the accolade of being a Leading Individual in employment law.

In the Chambers UK 2024 edition, Loch

Associates Group retained a ranking for the 13th consecutive year, achieving a Band 3 for Employment Law and Pam Loch retained being ranked for 13 years in a row, achieving a Band 2.

Chambers UK 2024 praised Loch Associates Group for its strong track record in handling the full spectrum of employment matters for both employees and employers, including senior executives and SMEs. Pam Loch was recognised for advising on senior exits, transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) and HR strategies as well as employee disputes and union issues.

Pam added: “We are of course incredibly proud to have once again been recognised as a firm for the work that we do in the employment law arena and our areas of expertise, including investigations, employee management, equality and discrimination claims, restructuring and advising on strategic exits.

“As ever, this continued recognition highlights the efforts of our employment and business law teams who are supported day-to-day by all of our dedicated and hard-working staff.”

A-Plan Insurance joins the Howden Group

By Lauren Brook THE former A-Plan Insurance business has undergone a name change and rebrand after joining global insurance group Howden Group two years ago.

Trusted The Tunbridge Wells branch, located on Mount Pleasant Road, is sporting a brand-new exterior to announce its new name and branding. The company has been quick to reassure its existing customers that, despite the new look, their experience in-branch and online will remain the same.

Howden has confirmed that local branches such as Tunbridge Wells won’t undergo any changes in staffing, community activity or sponsorships, with

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LOCH Associates Group, the Tunbridge Wells based multi-service law and HR business, has once again been ranked highly in the UK’s most prestigious legal directories.

The Group has been listed in the Legal 500 2024 edition and The Chambers 2024 edition.

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many of its branches committed to supporting local sports teams before the rebrand. Existing insurance policies will also remain the same.

Going forward, clients can expect to see the new Howden name on their direct debit, credit card and monthly payment records, while email addresses and phone numbers for the company and its team members will be automatically updated with no action required from customers.

As trusted providers of a diverse range of personal and corporate insurance products to suit a variety of needs, the former A-Plan currently operates more than 100 branches on high streets across the UK, including neighbouring Kent branches in Maidstone and Sevenoaks. Howden is also expanding its portfolio of local branches and commercial offices to increase its presence in local communities, with a new high street branch opening soon in Canterbury.

8

BUSINESS

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Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Female entrepreneurs collaborate to Dental practice shortlisted in discuss common business challenges Dentistry Awards

LEADING business women from across Tunbridge Wells gathered together for the latest Make It Your Business: Continuing the Conversations event which was held at Salomon’s Estate last Wednesday, October 18.

The networking and masterminding group, which meets twice a year, is open to former panellists of Make It Your Business Tunbridge Wells, which aims to inspire female entrepreneurs and those thinking of setting up their own business.

Continuing the Conversations is the initiative of the Tunbridge Wells Make It Your Business champion, Siobhan Stirling, who is the Founder and Managing Director of marketing and PR agency, Sharp Minds Communications.

“The most common challenge facing the members was time pressures, followed by managing staff, implementing change successfully and evolving business models” “The energy from Make It Your Business events is phenomenal. I wanted to find a way to enable these amazing female entrepreneurs to extend their network with like-minded, successful, ambitious female business owners by introducing panellists from the different events to one another,” explained Siobhan.

“Although all our businesses are different, there are common themes that women in business face as we take on more clients and staff and expand our services, often while

juggling a lot of other commitments. The collective knowledge of all our panellists is phenomenal. Continuing the Conversations is a way of bringing this expertise together to enable the different female business owners to benefit from each other's experiences and expertise,” she added.

“It’s fantastic to see the huge success of Make It Your Business Tunbridge Wells – and great that Siobhan has developed a way to maintain the momentum generated by the individual events to strengthen the relationships started in the room, offering a forum for our panellists to collaborate in exploring solutions to common business challenges,” commended Alison Cork, the founder of Make It Your Business, which is the fastest growing network for female entrepreneurs in the UK. The most common challenge facing the members was time pressures, followed by managing staff, implementing change successfully and evolving business models.

“There are times when you can feel incredibly alone in the world of business, and events like this remind you that you are not as alone as you

maybe first thought,” said Maddy Bishop of Green Planet Living.

Jess Gibson from the TN Card added: “MIYB is an invaluable series for women in all stages of their careers, from those just starting out and owners of small start-ups to serial entrepreneurs and CEOs. I have attended MIYB both as a panel speaker and also as a guest, learning from women further ahead in their career path.

“Not only are Sharp Minds investing their time in growing and developing this free event series they are allowing its panel speakers to continue to meet, network and advise each other through their Continuing the Conversations forum. Its value can't be exaggerated.”

Other attendees at the Continuing the Conversations event included Gillian Palmer of The Finance Hub, Deborah Richards from Maddisons, Lynne Gadsen from Grovewood Wealth and Wendy Read from HR Solutions.

The next Make It Your Business Tunbridge Wells event is on Friday 19 January, 10:30am to 12:30pm at The Finance Hub on The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells. Tickets will be released through EventBrite.

The Dental Box, a private dental practice located on London Road in Southborough, has been shortlisted in four categories in this year’s Private Dentistry Awards.

Dedication They are nominated in the New Practice, Website of the Year, Digital Practice and Practice Brand & Design categories. The Dental Box’s founder Jodie Claridge and her team will be heading to the awards ceremony at Grosvenor House in London in December with hopes of securing a win.

Jodie, who opened The Dental Box in October 2022, is thrilled that her practice has been nominated for the second year running.

“Being nominated in four categories in these prestigious industry awards for the second consecutive year is a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing outstanding clinical care. We are proud to be recognised for our dedication, innovation, and exceptional service and we look forward to continuing to raise the bar for our patients."

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How Credit Management Can Boost Your Business Profits and Growth Navigating today’s geopolitical and economic environment has never been more challenging for businesses. Hannah Lyon-Wall BA(Hons) ACII Chartered Insurer from FinCred explains how taking control of your credit management strategy can drive your company towards success.

Access New Funding Growing your business can be a tricky and costly exercise. Outside funding can provide the capital you need for marketing, equipment, staff, premises or inventory but sometimes a sound business plan alone may not be enough to secure the investment.

Lenders are offered reassurance by the protection a robust credit risk management strategy provides. Put simply, businesses trading on credit terms, with trade credit insurance in place, are more stable. As a result, banks not only view such businesses more favourably, it also opens the door to new finance options and terms.

This is an era of compound obstacles like no other. Against a background of pandemic recovery, businesses are travelling a road lined with rising energy prices, volatile levels of inflation and war, all of which contribute to a perfect storm casting a long shadow over the prospects of trade worldwide.

Credit risk is widely viewed as a factor that needs to be controlled. But where a business has robust credit risk management in place, trading on credit terms can offer myriad competitive advantages. What’s more, it can clear your path to growth and part the clouds ahead.

Expand Your Business Expanding the profitability of your business is not simple, and comes with numerous considerations and complexities attached.

When combined with robust credit management, providing goods or services on credit terms opens routes to growing your business that may have been previously obscured or closed. You may be able to increase trade by offering enhanced credit lines to existing customers, and by offering advantageous credit terms to new customers, with full knowledge any inherent risk is addressed and managed by your credit risk strategy.

Credit insurance in particular is an invaluable tool to clear the landscape of any uncertainties when trading with any customer on credit terms or moving into new markets.

Improve Cash Flow Your cash flow is the fuel that keeps you moving through the landscape of trade. Every business, regardless of sector, is likely to experience fluctuations at some time in their journey. Such ebbs and flows present at best an unnecessary

source of concern, and at worst a realistic threat to solvency. As a result, particularly in the current economic environment, protecting and enhancing your cash flow has never been more vital.

Whether it’s through gaining valuable insights into the history and outlook of your customers, or through transferring any potential risk to an insurer, a robust credit risk management strategy has the power to sustain your cash flow, protect your cash reserves and ensure your continued trading, providing the solid ground your business needs to move towards a profitable future.

Gain Vital Insight Whether you’re trading with a new customer, or working with an established client, it’s important to set credit limits which are justifiable and reflective of their size and creditworthiness.

In-depth information of your markets and customers supports your credit management and enables you to make informed business decisions.

Credit status agencies can offer a snapshot of the financial health of a customer, but can be limited in scope. If your business requires a more detailed picture, credit insurers hold data on companies not in the public domain such as management accounts, business forecasts and payment experience, providing you with the map you need to navigate through the tricky terrain.

Create a Competitive Advantage Just as credit risk management is a finely tuned machine with countless parts all working in conjunction, so too are the advantages that come with it. With the ability to trade at higher volumes, your business gains the extra gear you need to attract and retain new customers.

This competitive edge is also passed on to your clients, freeing up working capital that may not be available to their competitors that trade pro forma, giving them the manoeuvrability to adapt to market demands and seasonal variations.

What Lies Ahead For Your Business?

Following their annual poll of businesses in the UK, Atradius recently reported that around half of all B2B invoices are settled late. With the expectation of low domestic growth on the horizon for 2023, and insolvencies expected to surge by 23%, a robust credit risk management strategy is essential for business success.

But what is credit risk, and how do you know if your business is exposed to it? What’s the best way to carry out a credit risk assessment? How do you spot the red flags? What can you do to avoid late payments?

Join Hannah Lyon-Wall of FinCred and Tracey Westell of Pecunia 2016 at The Finance Hub on November 7th as they use their unique expertise to guide you through every aspect of credit management, and how to maximise it for your business.

This 2-hour masterclass is ideal for business owners, accountants, financial managers, lawyers, advisors on credit systems for businesses and more.

Visit thefinancehub.money to book your seat.

Credit Management 101 Event 7th November 10:30am - 12:30pm The Finance Hub, Unit B, The Potteries, Linden Park Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5FQ

10

COMMUNITY

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Wednesday October 25 | 2023

It’s gold for Tunbridge Wells at 2023 European Acrobatic Championships

By Archie Lawrence FOUR local gymnasts representing Great Britain have taken gold at European Championships.

Last week, four gymnasts from Tigers Acrobatic Gymnastics, Chapman Way in Tunbridge Wells represented Great Britain at the 2023 European Acrobatic Championships in Varna, Bulgaria and were crowned European Champions in the Senior Men’s Balance competition.

The competition took place from 18 – 22 October and saw Acrobatic gymnasts from across Europe take to the competition floor to battle it out to be crowned a European Champion.

Making up the winning group was Hector Kinghorn (19), William Clark (18), Harley Curtis-Lawrence (16) and Harry Hole (20) who took the top spot on the podium after scoring 29.970 in their winning routine.

This was the team’s fourth World Cup this year, with the boys travelling to Poland, Portugal and

Belgium earlier this year to compete.

Commenting on being crowned European Champions, the boys said: “It’s a great feeling to be the European Champions and come out of the Balance finals with a gold medal. We have worked really hard in the gym, and it is always amazing to see our hard work pay off. Getting gold has been a goal of ours since we first began gymnastics.”

The boys also took to the podium a further two times across the weekend, getting a silver medal in the Senior Men’s Group Combined competition and securing bronze in the Senior Men’s Group Dynamic competition.

Talking about their highlights of the 31st European Acro Championship, the squad of four added: “The best part of the championships for us was when we were on the floor doing our routines – it’s the best feeling! We also really enjoy interacting with the other nations throughout the competition.”

Dressed to impress at local mental health charity fundraiser

By Elena Percy OVER 140 guests got suited and booted for Tunbridge Wells based mental health charity’s Autumn Ball at the High Rocks Hotel.

The fundraiser, which was held on Saturday October 14 to coincide with World Mental Health day earlier that week, raised over £9,000 for Mental Health Resource, an award-winning charity that supports over 900 people each year with their mental health.

Meaningful The event, organised by Hannah Stevens, 28, from Tunbridge Wells, was put on in memory of loved ones lost to suicide. She said: “Having faced my own mental health challenges, supported friends through theirs, and sadly lost friends to their own mental battles, I really wanted to support this amazing charity as I'm dedicated to making a meaningful difference in our community's journey to better mental health.”

Guests enjoyed a three course meal and dancing, and took part in a raffle and auction with prizes donated from local companies including Sankeys, Love and Ink Skin and The Warren. Auction prizes included a week’s stay at a villa in the Algarve and signed Jurgen Klopp

football merchandise.

Jen Williams, Fundraising and Marketing Manager at Mental Health Resource and who spoke about the charity’s work on the evening, said: “Mental illness affects us all, whether we’re the ones with a diagnosis, or the family member supporting a loved one.

“We’re so grateful to Hannah and her dad, Paul, for raising such an incredible amount tonight as community fundraising is crucial to a small charity such as ours.”

This follows news that Hannah Turvey has joined the Reachout Youth Team. The Youth Team put on free sessions every Thursday at 4.30pm for 13-19 year olds. She said: “I’ve just graduated with a social work degree & spent a lot of time on placement working with young people struggling with their mental health and wellbeing.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to support young people through facilitating group sessions centered around their interests!”

The local charity, which has a wellbeing centre on Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells provides free and supportive projects including outreach groups for adults and teenagers. The money raised on the night will help the charity continue supporting people with conditions including anxiety, depression, PTSD, bi-polar and others.

To make a donation or to access the charity’s free services, visit mentalhealthresource.org.uk

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Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Local ballet dancers participate in national youth production...

Renowned authors make literary festival best yet ORGANISERS of the recent Cranbrook Literary Festival, which took place on October 13 and 14, have announced they hope it will now be an annual event instead of happening every other year thanks to its ongoing success.

“The events were all so well attended we hope to make this an annual event if we can find support from sponsors to enable us to put our school's programme in place too,” its organiser Christine Newman told the Times.

Inspiring This year visiting authors included Alex Preston (Winchelsea) and Christy Lefteri (Beekeeper of Aleppo and The Book of Fire) and also writer William Shaw (The Birdwatcher).

Actor and children’s author Ben Miller also

participated in the event visiting local pupils alongside fellow authors Natasha Farrant and Joshua Seigal.

“They all worked brilliantly with many pupils from the schools in and around the Cranbrook area enjoying listening to the authors talk,” Christine continued.

"The festival was a massive success and the literary genres covered by the programme meant that there was something of interest for the most avid of readers. Over 100 people listened to the inspirational conversation between myself and author Christy Lefteri who writes so passionately about the major humanitarian events that affect the world today.

“All other events covering romantic fiction, historical fiction, crime and psychological thrillers were also well attended,” she added.

IN STEP: (from left to right): Catherine Bellinger students Aliya, Isobel and Jeanne THREE young ballet dancers from the Catherine Bellinger School of Dance (CBSOD) in Tunbridge Wells are set to take to the stage for the English Youth Ballet (EYB).

The dancers, Aliya (14), Isobel (10) and Jeanne (15), were picked after auditioning for EYB in July for the 100 strong cast.

They will be starring in the EYB’s production of Coppélia at The Hawth theatre in Crawley on Friday November 3 and Saturday November 4.

Commenting on the girls’ impressive achievement, their ballet teacher and CBSOD founder Catherine Bellinger told the Times:

THE IMPORTANCE OF UPDATING YOUR WILL. Your Will is one of the most important legal documents that you will create during your lifetime. However, it is a common oversight to not review and update your Will consistently, whether this be by an entirely new Will or a Codicil.

It is important that you update your Will as certain changes occur in your lifetime. Your Will should reflect such changes which take place. It is advised to review your Will every 5 years, albeit this can be done when any of the following life events take place: Getting married: this automatically revokes any previous Will that you may have previously made and a new Will is needed.

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Having children or grandchildren: you will most likely wish to now include this class of beneficiaries in your Will.

If an Executor or Beneficiary in your Will dies or gets so elderly/unwell that it is unreasonable to expect them to act: you will need to update your Will to reflect the new Executor or Beneficiary.

Getting separated or getting divorced: you may wish for your ex-spouse to be removed from your current wishes under your Will if you have left a significant amount of your estate with them as soon as you have made the decision to separate to guard against the risk of you dying before the Final Order of the divorce comes through. Legally on divorce the Will reads as though the ex-spouse had predeceased so any gift to your now ex-spouse will not take effect.

Moving house or owning another property: if you have specifically bequeathed a certain property and no longer own that property then this gift will fail.

Your financial situation has significantly changed since your previous Will: whereby the value of your assets has grown or diminished – this can relate to an intended gift or to your value of shares etc.

A gift has changed in your Will: if your financial situation has changed since you wrote your Will or you intend to make an additional gift under your Will, you may wish to update your Will to reflect this to scale back or remove a legacy.

How to update your Will: There are two common ways in which you can update our Will, these will usually depend on whether the change(s) to your Will are small and insignificant or significant. It is also imperative that any updates to your Will do not invalidate the Will, so a professional should be used.

1.

If the former is applicable and the change is small and insignificant, it is advised that you can change your Will by way of a Codicil, which is a supplementary document to your existing Will.

With which you can make minor modifications, with reference to your current Will, or potentially revoke an aspect of it. Examples of minor amendments include (but are not limited to): appointing a new Executor or Trustee, changing the monetary value of a set sum gift, or changing a person’s name or address.

“We are delighted to see three of our talented dancers perform as part of this year's English Youth Ballet. We wish them the best of luck and are very proud of them.”

An EYB spokesperson added: “The girls and all the cast were selected in competitive auditions. The young cast are currently experiencing the life of a professional dancer in rehearsals and are super excited as they will perform alongside international professional dancers in this year’s production of Coppélia alongside our principals Lyndsey Fraser and Joshua Webb.”

2.

If the latter is applicable and there are various major changes that you wish to make to your Will, it is advised that you make an entirely new Will. Your new Will should revoke any previous Will or Codicil which you have made, which is usually found in one of the first clauses in your new Will.

Both of these legal documents must still be signed and witnessed again similarly to how your previous Will was signed and witnessed, to maintain the formal validity of your Will.

For any updates you may require to your existing Will or for any general questions you may have, please contact one of our Private Client departments in: Tunbridge Wells: 01892 510 222 Cranbrook: 01580 712 215 East Grinstead: 01342 328 000 Please feel free to update us of any changes to your own address or the contact address details of others, such as Executors, if we are currently storing your Will.

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Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Israel increases strikes on Gaza Bankers bonus cap to be scrapped as two more hostages freed NEWS IN BRIEF

ISRAEL has escalated its bombardment of targets in the Gaza Strip, the military said yesterday (October 24), ahead of an expected ground invasion against Hamas militants that the US fears could spark a wider conflict in the region.

The stepped-up attacks, and the rapidly rising death toll in Gaza, came as Hamas released two elderly Israeli women who were among the hundreds of hostages it captured during its devastating attack on towns in southern Israel on October 7.

Nearly two-thirds of Gaza’s health facilities have ceased functioning amid the increase in Israeli air strikes in the territory, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday.

A total of 46 out of 72 healthcare facilities – including 12 out of 35 hospitals – have stopped functioning across Gaza, the WHO said.

Palestinian health officials said the lack of electricity and fuel to power generators from an Israeli blockade, as well as damage from air strikes, has forced many of the facilities to close.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza claimed on Tuesday that Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip had killed more than 700 people in the past day.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, meeting the families of

British-Israeli Ofri Bibas Levy, speaking during a press conference for the families of British-Israeli kidnap victims of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

French citizens who were killed or held hostage before heading to talks with top Israeli officials.

He told them that he came “to express our support and solidarity and share your pain” as well as to assure Israel it is “not left alone in the war against terrorism”.

In a joint news conference with Mr Macron, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would make every effort to fight the war quickly “but it could be a long war”.

Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been running out of food, water and medicine since Israel sealed off the territory following the attack.

A third small aid convoy entered Gaza on

Monday carrying only a tiny fraction of the cargo aid groups say is necessary.

Tamira Alrifai, spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said the 54 trucks that entered Gaza over the last several days was a “trickle” compared with the 500 trucks a day that entered before the war.

She said UN negotiators were “very, very far away” from getting an agreement to send the sustained aid into Gaza that

is needed.

With Israel still barring the entry of fuel, the United Nations said aid distribution would soon grind to a halt when it can no longer fuel trucks inside Gaza.

Hospitals overwhelmed by the wounded are struggling to keep generators running to power lifesaving medical equipment and incubators for premature babies.

On Tuesday, Israel said it had launched 400 air strikes over the past day, killing Hamas commanders, hitting militants e preparing to launch rockets into Israel and striking command centres and a Hamas tunnelshaft.

One dead and four missing after a British cargo ship sinks in North Sea ONE sailor has died and four others are missing after a British cargo ship sank following a collision with a vessel in the North Sea. Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said two sailors have been rescued but the body of one man has been recovered following the incident.

A search and rescue operation began after the British-flagged Verity hit a larger cargo ship, Polesie, about 14 miles (22.5km) south-west of the German island of Heligoland at around 5am on Tuesday.

While the larger, Bahamas-flagged Polesie stayed afloat, the Verity, which had departed from Bremen, Germany, and was destined for the port of Immingham on the east coast of England carrying steel coils, became submerged.

A searchlight scans the water Shortly afterwards a signal from the ship was lost, German authorities said, and wreckage was found.

At the time Times went to press, searches were continuing involving several ships, aircraft, and a P&O cruise ship, with rescuers preparing to dive 98ft (30m) to the wreckage.

Robby Renner, Germany’s head of Central

Command for Maritime Emergencies, told a news conference in Cuxhaven it is possible the remaining crew are still alive inside the sunken vessel and that his team is doing “everything humanly possible” to rescue them.

Michael Ippich, of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service, said the water temperature at the time of collision was 12C (54F), which people can survive for about 20 hours.

Mr Ippich told reporters: “The conditions on the spot are extremely difficult.

“Because of the weather and visibility, it’s incredibly difficult to conduct such an operation.”

A spokesman for P&O Cruises commented: “P&O Cruises’ Iona is currently involved in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Germany.

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THE cap on bankers’ bonuses is to be removed next week as part of a shake up of City remuneration rules, finance regulators have announced.

It comes around a year after former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng first revealed plans to change the bonus rules, scrapping regulations which were inherited from the European Union.

Current rules limit bonuses to twice the base rate of pay for employees of banks and building societies.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Bank of England’s Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) confirmed that the current bonus cap will be lifted on October 31.

UK Space Agency plans for human space mission UK astronauts could take part in the first all-UK mission to space after the UK Space Agency (UKSA) signed an agreement with an America-based space company.

The deal between the agency and Axiom Space sets out plans for the two organisations to work together.

The mission would see UK astronauts launched into space, spending up to two weeks in orbit to carry out scientific research, demonstrate new technologies and participate in education and outreach activities.

Schools transgender guidance refined

TRANSGENDER guidance for schools is being refined and will come soon, the Education Secretary said, as she acknowledged it has taken longer than expected to be published.

Gillian Keegan said the subject is “quite a contentious area” which has prompted much debate and said the Government wants to make sure it gets the right balance.

Education unions have described delays to the long-awaited guidance as frustrating as they leave schools in a difficult position, while England’s Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said teachers, families and pupils are “crying out for” it so there is “clarity” in the approach across the country.

16

NEWS

National News

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Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Sunak makes it to one year as PM but No 10 celebrations will be muted A YEAR has come to be a long and treacherous road in politics, as witnessed by the turbulence of late. But Rishi Sunak has survived his first as Prime Minister.

Mr Sunak will have lasted more than seven times as long as Liz Truss’s fleeting tenure when he marks his first anniversary in No 10 on Wednesday.

But No 10 is eager to dispel suggestions that there will be celebrations of any kind as he faces entrenched unease among Tories, a stuttering economy and crises abroad.

Mr Sunak may have steadied the ship after his predecessor’s chaotic 49-day spell as prime minister, but he remains lagging a distant second behind Labour in the polls.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Mr Sunak “is more focused on the continual delivery for the public rather than marking an anniversary”.

Pressure He will face Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions as Westminster remains largely occupied by the unfolding horrors in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The Commons’ green benches are expected to feature two new Labour faces however, after the party overturned two huge Conservative majorities, in Tamworth and in Mid Bedfordshire.

The losses of two seats last won on majorities of more than 19,000 means many Conservative MPs are worried about their own prospects in the general election expected next year.

An increasingly perilous international picture is adding to Mr Sunak’s challenges, as war grinds on in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict creates a powder keg in the Middle East.

Mr Sunak’s own five priorities –

Rise in early pension pot withdrawals reveals growing threat to UK retirement plans; other options should be considered first warns Financial Planner

halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing the national debt, cutting hospital waiting lists, and stopping the boats bringing migrants across the English Channel – are all proving difficult to meet.

He may be on course to bring inflation down to around 5.3 per cent by the end of the year, with September’s figure holding steady at 6.7per cent.

But the economy is growing weakly and the national debt has hit almost £2.6 trillion, around 97.8 per cent of GDP, a measure of national income.

More than 26,500 people have been detected crossing the Channel in small boats this year, meaning Mr Sunak is a long way from being able to say he has stopped them.

The failure to end the strikes by NHS doctors has hampered Mr Sunak’s plan to cut waiting lists.

There have been reports of letters of no confidence in Mr Sunak being submitted, though there is no chosen successor even if Tory MPs did take the unlikely, nuclear option.

He is coming under growing pressure to issue a tax cut, with speculation Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is considering action in the spring Budget.

Whether he survives until that point is not guaranteed, however, amid rumours a reshuffle so Mr Sunak can build his election-fighting team is on the horizon.

Some Conservative MPs would like to see a colleague more eager to reduce the burden on the public leading the Treasury.

Labour’s shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth gave his own assessment of “inaction man” Mr Sunak not being “strong enough to turn Britain’s fortunes around”.

He said: “The past year has seen weak Rishi Sunak pushed around by a chaotic and divided Conservative Party, allowed Liz Truss to dictate government policy, and hopelessly failed to deliver for struggling working families paying more on their mortgage thanks to the Tories.”

For the Liberal Democrats, shadow Cabinet Office spokeswoman Christine Jardine said: “Rishi Sunak should call a general election now so voters can put this Government out of its misery.

“The British public deserve better than another year of absolute chaos.”

Recent data has revealed that cash withdrawals from UK pension pots have risen by nearly one-fifth between April and June compared to the same period last year1, sparking concerns that the cost-ofliving crisis is not just impacting savings now – but also longer-term retirement plans.

Despite inflation showing signs of slowing, universally high costs are still eating into household budgets, forcing those without expendable funds to access their long-term investments early. Amanda Redman, Chartered Financial Planner and founder of Amanda Redman Financial Planning, explains why this may come with a high price for pensioners if a different approach is not taken.

“Even if you have already cut back on this year’s holiday, everyday costs for necessities like household bills, mortgage or rent and food shopping, are still high. This is putting pressure on many people’s wallets as more look to their savings to cover costs — but it’s vital that you don’t put your later life financial position in jeopardy, when there may be alternative approaches to help you during the current economic challenge,” said Amanda. £4 billion of taxable pension payments were withdrawn across the second quarter, at an average sum of £7,100 per individual. ONS reports the average UK pension pot to be £37,6002, making the increase in withdrawals particularly significant, as this effectively accounts for an estimated fifth of the value of people’s retirement savings.

“There are a few different ways that you can look to reduce the impact of meeting higher costs now that can avoid having a lasting impact on your pension,” said Amanda.

“The first is to use your cash savings wherever possible but leave yourself enough to act as an ‘emergency fund’ — which is ideally around three to six months’ expenditure.

This could help to mitigate some of the cost pressures, whilst still having a fall-back option in the event of an unexpected financial challenge, such as job loss or ill health.

“Secondly, for those who have them, consider selling shares or withdrawing from non-pension investments instead. This could be from an ISA, Unit Trust or an Investment Bond, being mindful of the tax implications of these options and how it may affect your wealth down the line,” added Amanda.

For some, releasing money from retirement savings may be the only financial option available to them. However, if this is a necessity, Amanda advised that there are ways to draw on your pension pot smartly.

“If you must withdraw from your pension, take only what you need right now – and nothing more. It can be tempting to withdraw a large sum to create a greater financial buffer, but being conservative with the sums you release will minimise the pressure on your pension investment, which is probably still trying to recover its value after 2022’s global market declines.

“Withdrawing smaller amounts from your pension monthly over a period of time may also help control the impact on your pot, compared to withdrawing a lump sum,” Amanda concluded.

To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact Amanda at amanda.redman@sjpp.co.uk.

Sources 1. Financial Times, with data provided by HM Revenue & Customs.

Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/1b678734-cbc2-47ec-990cd5fb88c6a143

Mrs Inna Hryhorovych, from Amersham, Head Teacher, St Mary's Ukrainian School, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.

The honour recognises services to education and to the Ukrainian community in the UK.

2. Saving for retirement in Great Britain: April 2018 to March 2020, Office for National Statistics. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/ peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/ incomeandwealth/bulletins/pensionwealthingreatbritain/april2018tomarch2020

18

COMMENT

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Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Greg Clark was first elected MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005. He has held a number of positions in Government, including Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. He is currently Chairman of the Commons’ Science and Technology Committee

Greg Clark Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells

Enough is enough: action on anti social behaviour ON 12 September I deployed the ‘Community Trigger’ under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2014 to halt the wave of disorder that has plagued Tunbridge Wells, Southborough and Paddock Wood this year. I took this action because residents, shopkeepers, head teachers, parents and young people have had enough of the wave of intimidation, criminal damage, theft, robbery and violence that has been surging. Everyone says: enough is enough.

The power that I exercised required Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, the Police and other agencies including the Youth Justice Team, Social Services and the CCTV operator to come together to review what has been happening and to formulate a plan to stop it. Last Friday a meeting of all these organisations took place to do this.

I was pleased that progress is being made. The first important breakthrough is an acceptance by all these authorities that there has indeed been an exceptional wave of disorder. It has been perpetrated by a group of, sadly, quite young people – mostly 12- to 16-year-olds rather than late teen and young adult offenders. The group includes many girls, whose violence has matched that of boys. The disorder has often been during daylight hours, rather than mostly at night time. Although there are small core groups of offenders, they have attracted what

one agency described as a “pack mentality”.

CCTV has captured 324 incidents over the past 6 months. One young person alone had been identified in 17 separate offences.

It is important to say that the people involved are a small number relative to the vast majority of young people of that age in our area, whose behaviour is more associated with kindness and courteousness. Indeed, many of the victims of these groups of youths have been young people of their own age. They need our protection from violence and intimidation.

Safe The second important outcome of this summit was a determination to turn the situation round.

All the authorities there committed to work together to grip the problem and to stop its recurrence. There are some specific changes that I and others put forward.

On policing, our local police officers have a deep knowledge of our community and a commitment to keep it safe. It is good that the number of beat officers in Tunbridge Wells will double from 6 to 12 over the next year. But I and others were concerned that the new ward model did away with the Town Centre policing team earlier this year. There is something particular about town centres – they tend to be the highest

crime areas with shops and bars, and a concentration of people day and night. I think there is a strong case for a police presence specialised in the needs of the town centre – broadly defined in our linear town.

The Borough Council has a legal duty to work to prevent crime and disorder. The council has some excellent and effective officers who do good work in this area. But it is not one of the Borough Council’s chosen strategic priorities,

and I think it should be. And that needs further action too. For example, the council’s street scene officers have powers to issue fixed penalty notices for anti-social behaviour. But the Council has chosen to restrict them to adults, making them impotent with this problem. Other councils issue them to youths, with the parents liable to pay. That may concentrate the minds of some parents as to the consequences of their children’s actions on others. And the use of Council enforcement officers – with body worn cameras for evidence – would significantly enhance the patrols the Police can mount.

Some of the perpetrators of these crimes have troubled – and sometimes tragic – home lives.

That requires a humane approach. No-one wants a young person to be criminalised when they need help. But it doesn’t help any offender to think they can act with impunity – it draws them into worse crime and attracts followers who fall into bad ways. There is a wide range of interventions and sanctions available to ensure that every such act leads to action.

I am encouraged by this initial response to my use of the Community Trigger. I agreed to meet again in a few weeks’ time with the agencies who are working together to discuss an agreed action plan and to examine what progress has been made. I am determined to do everything possible to return civility to our streets.

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Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Half term fun at Bewl Water Get ready for a fantastic time at Bewl Water this October half term. Nestled on the border of Kent and Sussex in Lamberhurst, Bewl Water is the largest reservoir in the southeast of England and the perfect place to enjoy a mix of spooktacular adventures during the school break Zombie Laser Tag Calling all zombie hunters! Join in for a spine-tingling game of Zombie laser tag in the mysterious woods of Bewl Water. Be on the lookout for a lurking zombie and test your survival skills.

Will you be the last one standing, or will you join the ranks of the undead, complete with your very own zombie mask? The ultimate survivor will win a free activity pass for next summer, valid for them and three friends or family.

Choose from options like bike hire, laser tag, Aqua Park sessions, paddleboard, or pedalo hire.

Laser tag at Bewl Water lasts 50 minutes and costs £20, with sessions scheduled for Saturday, 28 October from 1.00pm to 2.30pm and 3.00pm to 4.30pm, as well as Sunday 29 October from 1.00pm to 2.30pm.

Halloween Trail Head down to the Waterfront Café this October half term to grab your map and sticker pack for Ranger Bear’s newest woodland adventure. Navigate Bewl Water’s enchanting forest where six Halloween pumpkins have been hidden alongside Ranger Bear’s woodland

friends – can you uncover them all?

Stick the matching sticker on your map each time you find one before heading back to the café to claim your sweet and spooky prize.

Explore the Halloween Trail from October 20 – 31 for just £3.50 per map.

Spooky Soft Play Bewl Water's soft play area has fully embraced the spooky spirit this half term, providing the perfect place for kids to burn off that extra energy they accumulate from Halloween treats. Kids

can climb, slide, run around, and navigate through two levels of soft play fun. Plus, for the adults, there's a brand-new café offering a variety of seasonal snacks and hot drinks. The cost is just £5 per session, lasting for one hour, and both adults and under-1s gain free entry.

Autumn Walks Explore a world of family-friendly outdoor adventures at Bewl Water.

With 12 ½ miles of woodland trails to explore, there are plenty of routes suitable for prams, young explorers, and even your fourlegged friends. You can head over

to the shipwreck-themed playground for endless fun or spot wildlife at the bug hotel!

Seasonal Treats For those seeking refreshment after an action-packed day, pay a visit to the Waterfront Café. The menu boasts a delightful selection of autumn-inspired treats, including pumpkin spiced lattes and delicious hot chocolate, along with hearty hot meals and sweet and savoury snacks.

All bookings for half term activities can be made online at bewlwater.co.uk

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Wednesday October 25 | 2023

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 you can write to the Editor, Times of Tunbridge Wells, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG

‘Public safety is paramount to us’ As Chair of TWBC's Licensing Committee I feel I must respond to Lauren Brook’s (Co-founder Reclaim the Night) comment piece in the 18 October 2023 edition.

I am sure that local taxi drivers reading it would feel her views were uninformed given the requirements imposed on them by the Council as a condition of their licence.

Public safety is paramount and taxi drivers have a duty of care and therefore as part of the TWBC licensing process, applicants and existing drivers are subject to the following rigorous checks before a new licence or renewal licence is issued: • Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check • (DBS), and applicants and drivers are • required to sign up to the DBS Update • Service, this enables licensing officers to • undertake online spot checks throughout • the term of the licence • Additional safeguarding checks with Kent • Police • Additional checks against the National • Register of Taxi Licence Refusals, • Suspensions and Revocations (NR3) • Training via an external provider on • safeguarding, disability and county lines • drug trafficking • Driving standards assessment • Driving licence check; and • Private hire operators must produce a basic • DBS (including overseas convictions) • check(s) for all ancillary staff.

If a passenger feels that something has happened in a taxi that they are unhappy with (that might not be a criminal matter), the passenger is well within their rights to complain to the Council as the licensing

‘Hostile environment’

I’ve been following your paper’s coverage of the Borough Council’s purchase of the Royal Victoria Place (RVP) shopping centre.

It’s worrying that British Land, one of the most prestigious property companies in the country, is selling up and leaving town. I’m sure the decision is driven mainly by retail trends, but it’s also fair to ask whether TWBC’s own policies have been a factor.

TWBC recently fined tens of thousands of motorists for driving through the town centre. It also raised parking charges by up to 75 per cent and unveiled plans to sell up to five town-centre car parks, including the Meadow Road car park right next to RVP. Over 18 months, TWBC has created a hostile environment for local business and for towncentre retailers in particular. Firms are free to choose where they invest or operate, and British Land has chosen to focus elsewhere.

As a result, local taxpayers now own a large shopping centre. The price we’ve paid is a secret, but we’ve bought the same lease that British Land paid £96 million for in 2018.

Matt Bailey Former TWBC Councillor

LETTERS

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x

Dear Editor...

Thanks but no thanks...

Dear Mr Lidstone, thank you for your invite We’d like to thank Mr Lidstone, the Lib Dem councillor, for his invitation to a surgery but I’m afraid we must decline as we are affirmed Marxists, like many in the town I suspect: Groucho of course. Steerpike is just a grouch, an affirmed misanthrope. His day starts with a grump, today’s was the use of the word surgery, and is not complete without a rant at some fool or other on the TV; you wouldn’t get him within a hundred miles of a political gathering.

Charlotte Steerpike Tunbridge Wells

RVP debate continued… authority. I would strongly urge passengers to do this as officers will investigate as the Council takes safety very seriously. Where evidence is provided, the Licensing SubCommittee will take appropriate action, this could include suspension or revocation of the licence or the offending driver may be prosecuted.

Inappropriate or aggressive behaviour should be reported to the police immediately. The licensing authority takes any complaint about a taxi driver seriously and alicence may be suspended or revoked where information received raises grave doubts as to the fitness of a driver, regardless of whether criminal charges are brought.

The Licensing Sub-Committee is in agreement with Ms Brook in that we too do not accept intimidation, harassment, assault or any form of misogynistic behaviour.

Councillor Rodney Atkins, Chair of Licensing Committee, Independent for Paddock Wood East.

David Scott’s ‘nonsense’ letter

As if losing us all £12m+ wasn’t enough, David Scott’s letter about RVP, which lacks proper research, is nonsense. The marriage of the lease and freehold of RVP is a massive step in the new reduction of service charges to tenants. The company managing the centre, Rivington Hark, are already delivering and in discussion with many new tenants, including some much vaunted names. Any suggestion that the Council would ever consider running it is ridiculous. The aims are for a night-time economy, competitive leisure will be part of that.

It was the Officers at TWBC who, thanks to an incredibly lucky, and critically timed observation, put the case for the RVP acquisition forward to the Council.

An absolute no-brainer which, in a few weeks, will be hailed as a fantastic result for the town and wider Borough. No politics or political input was involved, other than for members to vote for it. Unfortunately the Members and Officers of the Council are bound by contract not to disclose the details of the acquisition, until at least a few weeks time.

Cllr David Hayward Genuine Independent for Tunbridge Wells

I read David Scott’s letter about risk and reward associated with the Royal Victoria Place (RVP) with a degree of concern. Does Mister Scott believe he is still a councillor? He hasn’t been one for some time and not at all whilst the purchase of the RVP was being debated.

Those councillors who were present (myself included) were sworn to secrecy as part of the contract. Two possibilities exist: 1. Mister Scott knows no more about this matter than any member of the public 2. Mister Scott knows more than other members of the public If it is the latter then TWBC now need to investigate why someone who is not and was not at the relevant point in time a member of the council has access to privileged information.

I rather hope (and suspect given his false assumptions) it is the former; in which case he really ought to recognise that he is not a font of knowledge on this subject and his conjecture is at best unhelpful if not actively dangerous.

James Rands

TWBC Finances

I was pleased you reported last week on the performance of TWBC’s Finance Department, noting that TWBC was one of a very few Councils in England which had had accounts for the year to 31st March 2023 audited by the Government’s target date of end-September. Having held the finance portfolio for three years up to May 2022 I am well aware TWBC has an exceptionally good Finance Department.

In the course of the year to 31st March 2023, the Lib Dem led coalition frequently described TWBC’s finances as a shambles. That was undermining of the Finance Department which they now (very correctly) seem ready to praise.

Rather than just comment on the performance in the last year, however, it would have been even more appropriate to have commented on the Council’s track record. The year to 31st March 2023 was the 14th consecutive year in which the Council’s accounts have been audited by the target date set by Government and where the auditors have given the Council a clean audit opinion. That underscores the quality of the Finance Department and, almost certainly, is an achievement unmatched by any other Local Authority.

Tom Dawlings Leader of the Conservative Group

Letters printed on this page do not reflect the views of the Times of Tunbridge Wells. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter if too long.

21

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

TAXING TIME: Calverley had to call HMRC last week (oh yes he does pay all his taxes).

Anyway there was a disagreement when the taxman point blank refused to confirm if a coding notice had been sent as promised by one of his colleagues three weeks earlier. It became interesting when the chap accused Calverley of calling him names. Calverley was naturally stunned (he knows everything is recorded and is careful with his comments).

Naturally he pressed the official to spell out precisely what names he had been called.

Eventually the man said: “You called me unreasonable.” And he was serious! Since when has suggesting someone is ‘unreasonable’ been unreasonable. Everyone today wants to be a victim!

GAME GUYS: Sitting on the bar stool Calverley could not but help overhear four young lads playing a weird soccer game. Each was staring intently at their mobile. It was a Saturday and they were waiting to see the newsflash of the first goal scored by any team in the football league. English football league, of course.

Each had agreed to then immediately drive to the hometown/city of that team, book into a local hotel and stay for the weekend. No arguments. No discussion. Each player had to go. And they did. Imagine where a person might end up. This time round Gillingham scored first. Calverley felt deeply sorry for the chaps. He once visited Gillingham after getting lost. He never did return.

WRONG NUMBERS: According to a new survey more than half of young people (57%) refuse to answer their phone when it rings with an incoming call. Interesting. When Calverley conducted his own family wide survey it showed that every single young person declined to ‘pick up’. (That’s 100 %.)

Now, let’s think why that might be? (Letters only please.)

NHS CHALLENGE: Nurses, doctors and support staff today all say they are overworked, undervalued and are totally exhausted. But help is at hand. Enter the knight in shining armour Sir Flip Flop Keir with the solution. Yippee! What is it? The Labour Leader says if they win the next election they’ll pay NHS staff to work overtime. So, even more work and longer hours.

FINAL THOUGHT: Calverley has to believe the Tory MP for TW Greg Clark is scanning the job vacancy columns as he considers his future.

He is sitting on a majority of around 14,000 in what used to be a safe blue seat. Last week voters in Mid Beds by-election overturned a Tory majority of 24,000. No matter how the pundits play around with the voting data it don’t look good for Mr Clark. Also some nail biting in Tonbridge where Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat has a 27,000 majority while the Tory member for Wealden Nus Ghani has a 25,000 lead. Time to start sharing an ale with the comrades.

Chin, chin dear reader...

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Local News

EDUCATION

23

Teaming up for an all-round excellent start to your child’s educational journey Kent College Prep is now a co-educational school. Here a spokesperson for the independent educational establishment tells the Times what benefits this offers to both pupils and staff…

IN 2020 Kent College Prep School began a gradual transition to become a co-educational school as it welcomed boys into its Nursery. In making this decision the school was conscious that, for a variety of reasons, families would often prefer siblings to attend the same primary school and the benefits of one commute, one calendar and one community were self-evident.

The transition to become a co-educational school allowed boys to join Nursery in 2020, moving into Reception in 2021, Year 1 in 2022

“Kent College Prep provides opportunities to explore all possibilities for boys and girls in a perfect setting with wonderful facilities” and boys are now currently in all years up to Year 2. At each point boys have either moved up or joined the year group. In September 2024 Kent College Prep will welcome boys into Key Stage 2 (Year 3).

The special blend of individual attention and high aspirations in a nurturing community, where success is achieved without stress, makes Kent College Prep a perfect setting for co-educational provision.

The space, grounds and facilities lend themselves perfectly to providing opportunities

TEAMWORK: One of Kent College’s Prep PE teachers, and Raw Skills Hockey Academy owner, Sam George, with some of the school’s Forest Explorers Nursery children to explore all possibilities for boys and girls.

Finding the ‘thing’ they love and pursuing it with the encouragement and expertise of highly trained specialist staff to support that pursuit, is a huge strength and benefit.

Sport is often a topic of conversation with families – what will you provide for our sons?

The range of sport available, first-class facilities and level of expertise to teach it is excellent.

Multi-skills from Nursery to Year 2 include tag rugby, football, cricket, trampolining, hockey, netball, gymnastics and swimming.

By Year 3 the children have developed sufficient skills to begin competitive fixtures and, as a small school, all children play competitively. Similarly, all children take on significant roles in productions and concerts.

If you would like to find out more, Kent

College Prep are running a Super Sport Saturday on 18th November, 8.45am-11.00am.

Families and children can take part in the range of sports on offer, meet the Prep PE team and see the fantastic facilities Prep pupils use at Kent College.

To book head to www.kent-college.co.uk/prep or call 01892 820218.

Women and Wellness Conference 8 November 2023, Benenden School Come and join a host of expert speakers, including Davina McCall, to discuss a range of topics focused on women’s wellbeing.

Scan the QR Code to sign up (spaces are limited)

For more details contact: schooloffice@benenden.school

24

Arts

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

“I want to celebrate the joy of the natural world”

“I AIM to bring joy to the viewer and share a deep love of the landscape through my paintings,” declares artist Lucy Homer Jones.

The former architect-turned-artist is telling me all about her work ahead of her solo show at Kingdom, an ancient woodland in Penshurst, which starts next Friday, November 3 and runs until November 16.

“I believe I was born an artist, it has always been there, I always loved being creative,” she continues. “I always wanted to be an artist but life took me in a different direction, into architecture and the property industry but I always knew I would come back to it.”

Residency Lucy reveals it was actually the pandemic that gave her the opportunity to make the leap to painting full-time.

“I had a very full-on career and Covid afforded me the time to pursue painting more seriously.

Six months ago I took the decision to become a full-time artist.”

Lucy says that her work is anchored in capturing the beauty and energy of the natural world around us. Her aesthetic aim she says is to create ‘uplifting and joyous abstract paintings’.

It is, she says, an invitation for people to see the landscape through the painter’s eyes.

“I want to celebrate the joy of the natural world. I believe that if I can inspire people to see the beauty that surrounds them then we will all want to look after our earth.

KINGDOM: Lucy spent six months capturing the beauty of nature “I always start with figurative ‘en plein air’ sketches, which develop in the studio into more lyrical works.”

Lucy explains that she usually works both outside and inside as it allows her to balance between the figurative and abstract. Her paintings are characterised by the purest of colours on untreated white surfaces: red,

orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet; the colours of light and the basis of everything we see.

The artist’s new exhibition Seven will present a fresh body of work, which is the culmination of a six-month residency at Kingdom.

“Seven is a reference to the heritage of the site and the Seven Kingdoms of England which

Hurray!

We’ve been open 1 year

Great News in November we will be celebrating our First Anniversary at RVP. find us behind M&S Food Hall If you haven’t found us yet we are on the Main Concourse just behind M&S Food-hall. We’ve had such a warm welcome from all our customers who are so pleased to see a Fine Wine Shop in the centre of Tunbridge Wells! Come and explore what we have to offer and to whet your appetite here’s a short list of the great things you’ll find at our shop. ● WineEmotion Tasting Machines ● Great Offers ● A selection of 700 fine wines ● Several Gins and other Liqueurs always on taste ● Helpful Staff and great Wine Advice ● Free Delivery ● Large formats - come and see our 9 Litre bottle of Whispering Angel or 6 ● Litre Bordeaux, great for any sort of party of event. ● Corporate Accounts welcome, ● Great Gift Ideas ● Wine Tasting events and Wine Tasting Dinners Talking of great offers, bring this advert in and get 10% off purchases of £100 or more. Offer valid 25th October to November 1st 2023. 1 discount per person, you must sign-up to our mailing list. See in Store for full details of our discounts.

Picture: Little Olives Photography

Lucy Homer Jones is a landscape painter, focused on capturing the vitality of the natural world around her. Next Friday, November 3, her new show Seven, will be on at Kingdom, near Penshurst.

Here she tells Eileen Leahy all about it and how this beautiful scenic spot has inspired her latest canon of creative work which will be on display to the general public until November 16…

existed during the Dark Ages including Kent.

Paying homage to the Seven Sisters tree at Kingdom, it also references the seven colours which I painted with,” states Lucy.

“The exhibition aims to capture some of the magical nature of Kingdom, documenting the trees and observing the changing landscape.

“It evokes the different atmospheres

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

throughout the day, from intense activity in daylight to the calmness and still of the night.

“The work focuses on three elements at Kingdom. Firstly the Seven Sisters Tree, which is the largest living tree in the UK. “I wanted to explore its history and current use as a wedding venue. The tree is very powerful, and the perspective of looking up reminds me of cathedrals which were designed to feel as if they were rising up to meet the heavens. I think this is what the tree would feel like in its natural state, a spiritual place rising upwards into another world.’’

Lucy says that the second element of her work

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: Lucy Homer Jones in the studio with some of her work inspired by her Kingdom residency

“The exhibition takes its name from the seven colours of light I paint with. It aims to capture some of the magical nature of Kingdom, documenting the trees and observing the changing landscape” for this show is ‘the panoramic view from the rooftop of the Kingdom clubhouse observed over the course of one single day from sunrise to sunset’.

“The final element is the view directly up from Penshurst valley observing the sunset over Kingdom.”

During her residency, Lucy Homer Jones looked at the landscape every hour of the day from sunrise to sunset, noticing the changes of her surroundings, resulting in a series of monochrome watercolours. ‘‘The reason for doing the same view at different times of the day was to observe how much the landscape changes throughout the day. It is something we inherently know but how often are we able to take the time to observe? ‘‘At 8am, as the sun rises higher in the sky the landscape becomes more visible. The hills and

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trees can be distinguished… the sky loses its cloud and becomes one. The form is the same, but there is more detail in focus.’’

And how did the collaboration with Kingdom, which forms part of ancient woodland come about?

“As soon as I set foot in Kingdom I knew that I wanted to paint there,” states Lucy.

“I approached the owners with the idea and they were very welcoming and accommodating.

In terms of my career transition it has provided me with a much-needed focus.”

Lucy reveals that Kingdom is special to her for many reasons – many of which she hopes to explore in her forthcoming exhibition.

“For me personally when I moved to the area two years ago, Kingdom made me feel at home right away. It is, in my eyes, like a modern-day village hall or meeting place, with something for everyone.”

Finally, what does Lucy think visitors to the Seven exhibition will enjoy most about it?

“My work is all about uplifting people and I hope that this is the feeling that people leave with and therefore enjoy the most.”

The Seven exhibition runs from November 3 – 16. In conjunction with the exhibition will be a series of ‘Meet the Artist’ events, taking place on Saturday 4 November 2pm to 4pm, Friday 10 November 12noon to 2pm, and Sunday 12 November from 10am to 12noon.

The exhibition will open from Friday 3 November and run until Thursday 16 November 2023, at Kingdom, Grove Road, Near Tonbridge, England, TN11 8DU. There are 35 paintings in the exhibition and all will be available to buy either at the exhibition or online on Lucy’s website lucyhomerjones.com For other enquiries, please contact Lucy Homer Jones: Website: www.lucyhomerjones.com Email: info@lucyhomerjones.com Instagram: @lucyhomerjones

The Sienna Collection G. COLLINS & SONS are a jeweller based in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent that provide the highest standard of quintessentially British jewellery making, repair work and commissions.

The latest collection from G. Collins & Sons, designed by Josh Collins' wife, Julia, is named after their daughter Sienna. The Sienna Collection is comprised of pendants, bracelets and earrings — they are modern heirlooms of the future, suiting all ages and tastes.

The collection reinterprets the stars who inhabit the night skies, introducing a modern

Arts

and feminine design with a striking vision of the universe. It embodies the essence of familial love and the enduring connection between generations. These pieces become heirlooms, passing through time, carrying stories and emotions, and connecting family members across the years. It is a tribute to the enduring value of fine craftsmanship and the timeless beauty of jewellery that transcends generations.

Contact our sales team on +44 7951 426007 or sales@gcollinsandsons.com for more information on The Sienna Collection.

26

Books

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Times reporter Archie Lawrence picks three reads for your week

On the bookshelf this week, readers are treated to Light Over Liskeard, the latest novel by Louis de Bernières, Neil Gaiman’s new children’s poetic adventure and an academic essay by Emma Dabiri on beauty...

Light Over Liskeard

by Louis de Bernières

What You Need To Be Warm

by Neil Gaiman

A monstrous net fail threatens to send the world back to the Dark Ages, while the selfabsorbed effete population is glued to devices, oblivious to the impending doom. All but middle-aged Roman toga-wearing Q – who as the Government’s last line of defence against capricious online anarchists can see apocalypse on the horizon, and sets about preparing for it in a remote Cornish farmhouse. As Q ponders the meaning of life and reconnects with his pale, withering body, he meets a cast of oddball characters, including the young, beautiful and mysterious Eva. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin author Louis de Bernières has an undeniable talent for creating an achingly romantic affair from what may, at first glance, appear to be a mundane midlife crisis. However, his remorseless fun-poking at modern society may be a little more divisive and elicit a range of responses, from hearty chuckles and a wry smile to the odd sore arm.

What does the concept of warmth truly signify to you? This thought-provoking question was posed by Neil Gaiman on Twitter, and from the diverse array of responses he received, he crafted a poignant poem, brought to life by a team of illustrators.

The proceeds from this project are dedicated to UNHCR, providing vital aid to those who have been displaced. This book serves as a strong reminder of the overlooked significance of warmth, a comfort we often take for granted until it’s unexpectedly taken from us – a reality which sadly is far too common for many. The illustrations, interweaved with the poem, are strikingly powerful. As we move into the cool embrace of autumn, they compel us to pause and take a moment to truly appreciate that warmth is a physical and essential requirement for us all..

Published in hardback by Harvill Secker, priced £20

Review by Emily Pennick

Published in hardback by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, priced £12.99

Review by Jacqueline Ling

Disobedient Bodies: Reclaim Your Unruly Beauty by Emma Dabiri Published in hardback by Profile Books x Wellcome Collection, priced £7.99

In this long essay, academic Emma Dabiri puts her focus on the relationship between beauty and the patriarchy. Dabiri – author of Don’t Touch My Hair – gives a whistlestop tour of Western beauty standards and how they can be weaponised against women. It’s engagingly written and well researched – she compares Western beauty standards with traditions in other cultures – interweaved with deeply personal anecdotes. Dabiri expands on what it was like growing up as a black person in Dublin and how that impacted the way she saw herself, while also outlining her efforts as an adult to break free from typical beauty standards – and therefore embracing her ‘disobedient body’. It’s a slim tome, but a powerful read.

Review by Prudence Wade

Restore your oven to its former glory!

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Our seminar to assist family conversations about Inheritance Tax 10am, 9th November at the Hotel du Vin, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells Panoramic Wealth are hosting an event to help you protect your family’s legacy, reduce any Inheritance Tax liability and approach one of life’s trickiest conversations.

Sometimes the hardest questions to ask are the most important. For many families, the topic of how the next generations will inherit wealth is often a taboo subject.

The conversation is usually deferred to a time where it may be too late to act or potentially never addressed at all. The conversation to be had is typically between parents and children but has equal importance for couples who are unmarried or those not in a Civil Partnership.

Where are you with your conversations?

A typical reaction is that Inheritance Tax (IHT) won’t affect me or my family. In reality, the largest single beneficiary of an Estate is often not your family, or your favoured charity but HMRC. Traditionally speaking, people find it quite difficult to speak about money. However, by engaging in conversation and forward planning this could avoid beneficiaries losing out on hundreds of thousands of pounds.

At our seminar (see details below), we will be looking to help you start that all important conversation. As such, our day would be suitable for all family members, be they grandparents, parents or adult children. We will be aiming to give you an idea on what is practically possible in IHT mitigation.

Make sure you are not sleepwalking into leaving an Inheritance Tax Liability that could have been avoided.

What is the extent of the problem?

Currently, married couples or civil partners can, in the right circumstances, pass on assets of up to £1 million to the next generation. However, with property values the

Venue: Hotel du Vin, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2LY. Date: 9th November.

Who should attend: Individuals, couples and families.

way they are, the value of a house alone can absorb this £1 million “threshold”. So, the family of a couple with an estate of £2 million could be faced with an IHT bill of £400,000.

Remember that passing on assets is not just about money. Much of these will be treasured assets or heirlooms that make up part of your family history. Most of these items will not be exempt from IHT and their values will therefore increase the overall IHT liability on your death, potentially needing to be sold to fund the liability.

So, what questions should you be addressing? ● How much IHT is your Estate likely to suffer? ● Have I left it too late to do any IHT Planning? (It is never too late to consider IHT planning.) ● What action can be taken now to increase the amount my heirs inherit? ● How long do I have to live for funds to be out of my estate? ● What issues should I consider before making lifetime gifts to the family?

● Can I leave funds to charities and also benefit my other beneficiaries? ● Should I even think about giving money away if I might require later life care?

The seminar will be provided on a no charge basis. Its main objective is to provide you with relevant information on which you can make decisions. It will be hosted by Gary Jefferies, Chartered Financial Planner, and MD of his family-owned financial planning firm; Panoramic Wealth based in Tunbridge Wells. He will be alongside John Woolley, a consultant who has a number of legal and tax qualifications including being a qualified TEP, a barrister, a fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Together, they will not only explain how it all works but highlight planning opportunities through a real-life case study. In addition to this, they will be able answer any questions you may have.

This will leave you in a position to understand how IHT works and, where appropriate, protect your Estate and greatly reduce the IHT your family will need to pay on your death.

● Can I give money away but still retain control and decide who benefits? ● Can I give away assets yet still enjoy access or income from them? ● Why is there likely to be a dramatic increase in IHT if you sell a private business? ● How are pensions treated for IHT purposes and how can they effectively be passed on to the next generation?

Timings: 10.00 am 10.30 am 11.45 am 12.30 pm

Registration Start Refreshments & Questions Close

Gary Jefferies

John Woolley

To register, please email us on journey@panoramicwealth.co.uk, phone us on 01892 559555, or alternatively scan the QR code.

www.panoramicwealth.co.uk Panoramic Wealth Management Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA No: 705785.-The Financial Conduct Authority do not regulate tax or Estate planning.

28

Travel

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

It’s never too late to try something new in family favourite holiday hotspot Cornwall

Claire Spreadbury and her family head to the coast for time out, treats and togetherness

I

’m laying belly down on a board bigger than me, catching a wave all the way back to the shore with a Cheshire-cat grin spread across my face. It’s taken me 44 years to have a go at surfing, and I can’t believe how much I like it.

Polzeath beach, on the north coast of Cornwall, is abuzz with cafes, galleries, dog walkers and sandcastle builders, as we arrive for our two-hour surf lesson (from £45, wavehunters.co. uk).

I’m here with my family – seasonal surfer husband James, and my two daughters, Rosie, 14 and Poppy, 11. We squeeze our bodies into delightfully damp and sandy wetsuits, ace our instruction from surf bum Grace (at least whilst we’re on the sand) and then head into the water, where all the tips and tricks disappear from my brain. I do get better the more I try, but even by the end of the session, I get as close to standing up as the Atlantic is from the Tasman Sea. But I’m having a ball, am not remotely cold and I’m loving watching my kids catch waves and almost master riding them in. I’m only a bit sad it’s taken me until now to do it with them.

We don dry-robes and pootle back to our base for the week – Glynn Barton holiday cottages in Bodmin – a 45-minute drive away.

Surrounded by 13 acres of forest, Glynn Barton is a hit with families. Pippa and Jim, who run this giant operation almost single-handedly, bar a few cleaners and one member of staff who now works 16 hours a week, met at school.

“I used to work in luxury fashion, as you can tell,” Pippa jokes, gesturing towards her green

welcome return to the Eighties, as our girls leave their phones behind and disappear to wherever they want, only checking what time they need to be back.

The animals here have excellent names – Shane the wallaby after late cricketer Shane Warne and Alan the black and white goat after former Newcastle footballer Alan Shearer. Bert and Ernie, the alpacas, bask in the sunshine,

‘There’s so much to do in Cornwall and although riding a bike in the rain is rarely on my holiday hit list, here I am, telling my kids (and myself) to try and have fun anyway’

Hangloose Adventure's fastest zipwire in England wellies, mud-stained denim shorts and an old hoody. They both worked out in the Middle East and loved it, but when kids came along, something had to change.

They seem to have thought of everything, from a ride-on area for toddlers, mini soft play and

morning animal feeds, to an adventure playground, games room, and secret passageways to mud kitchens and hidey holes.

Kids of all ages – including moody teenagers – will have a ball here, because it feels safe enough to let them roam free. It feels like a

watching on as Rosie and Poppy give Flo Jo and Heggy – the Shetland ponies – a good brush.

We’re staying in three-bedroom self-catering cottage, Hayloft – a cosy and quaint upsidedown house. There are eight cottages and four ‘glamps’ here – the whole site sleeps up to 60, but it can often feel like you’re on your own.

To relax into the holiday, I book a massage in our cottage (from £50 an hour) and boot out the family to buy supplies and have a dip in the pool (anyone can swim between 4-7pm and you can book a private slot at all other times, completely free of charge).

My therapist Carole sets everything up – spa music and electric diffuser included – and gets

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

POLZEATH BEACH to work kneading out my stiff back and knotty shoulders, even doing some reflexology as I drift in and out of consciousness.

There’s so much to do in Cornwall and although riding a bike in the rain is rarely on my holiday hit list, here I am, telling my kids (and myself) to try and have fun anyway. Martin from Explore by Bike (explorebybike.co.uk) has a hut near the Camel Trail in Bodmin, and advises us on the various routes we can take – as well as the all-important cafe pit stops en route.

We hire bikes (£14 for a half day) and pedal off to Poley’s Bridge – a 12-mile round trip with plenty of tree cover to hide us from the rain.

Nature envelopes the trail in all directions as the whoosh of the weir blocks out any sounds in my head, and gravel crunches beneath me as my wheels whirl over it. Droplets of rain patter on my helmet, but I really don’t have a care in the world. There is lush greenery everywhere I look, and the kids keep me entertained with chants of, ‘Look, I’ve mastered my one-handed bum clench!’

More rainy-day fun awaits on a Wavehunters Sea Safari (£42.50pp), where we board a rib boat and splash and splatter our way across the ocean. The wildlife watching is in short supply,

no matter how hard we pray to the sea gods for dolphins. It’s just the birds manning the waves today, with cormorants drying their wings in the breeze like old men in flasher macs, gannets circling above our heads hoping for a catch and three very rare Manx shearwaters skimming the surf. But two hours ogling utterly stunning rock faces, secret sea caves and every shade of green the earth can create, all the while squealing and laughing as we lose our stomachs crash landing into white water, is time thoroughly well spent.

For food and drink, we mainly cook in the cottage, but one night, we take a four-minute drive to the flashy location of Bodmin Flooring & Carpet Centre car park. Wild Bake pizza trailer (wildbake.co.uk) sets up here every Tuesday night (and comes highly recommended by the locals, who all turn up to collect their preorders). We pick a pizza each (prices from £9) and indulge in a cheeky Snickers and banana calzone for £7.

As a holiday treat, we eat at the delectable Duchy of Cornwall Nursery café (duchyofcornwallnursery.co.uk) in Lostwithiel – a 15-minute drive away. Beautifully decorated in earthy shades, with square wooden tables and wood-trimmed archway windows, baskets hang

from the ceiling and glass cloches spill over with delicious cakes. One wall is hand-painted with bountiful botanicals by Florence Super, who has also painted murals for chefs Rick Stein and Nathan Outlaw.

We feast on giant, flavoursome salads (around £15), salty skinny fries (£4), homemade lemonade (£4) and garden spritzes (£5).

Steaming cups of coffee and Earl Grey tea are served in striped crockery, with enormous slabs of cake (£5) and a chocolate and peanut sundae (£7.50) that is so rich and flavoursome, two spoons might have been a better option.

Outside, tables and chairs come with cosy blankets to wrap up in, and the garden centre is bursting with homeware, plants and information.

I decide to finish our trip to Cornwall in a similar way to how it started – facing fears and embracing adventure. After a morning learning about sustainability, exploring biomes and

Travel

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building dens at the Eden Project (adult tickets from £33, children from £11), we head next door to Hangloose Adventure, where we throw ourselves across the forest on England’s fastest zipwire (£42pp). Afraid of heights, speed and plummeting to the ground, I gingerly spread my arms out like Superman and squeal uncontrollably as I launch my shaking body into the sky.

Cornwall has so much adventure to offer families, and you’re never too old to get started.

How to plan your trip Glynn Barton in Cornwall comprises eight cottages and four luxury glamping tents, sleeping two to six per unit. Prices start at £800 per week. To book, visit farmstay.co.uk or call 01208 821 104. Farm Stay UK is a not for profit, promoting farm and rural holidays. Bookings go direct to the farm owner, providing a better deal for holidaymakers and farmers alike.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Licensing Act 2003 -

Application for the grant of a Premises Licence

Road trip by Sam & Jessie.

An application for a Premises Licence at has been made by: Zendbox Limited

Car Insurance that went the extra mile by Mitesh and his team.

For the premises: Unit U And R, Paddock Wood Distribution Centre, Transfesa Road, Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6UU A summary of the proposed licensable activities and the proposed hours of opening: Sale of alcohol: Every day – Midnight to Midnight (Off Sales only) Opening hours: Every day – Midnight to Midnight Any person wishing to view details of an application can contact the licensing team on 01732 227004.

Any person wishing to make representation about the proposals should make them in writing by 14.11.2023 to: Licensing Partnership, Council Offices, PO Box 182, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. TN13 1GP licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk www.sevenoaks.gov.uk It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary of conviction for the offence is Unlimited.

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30

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Drench your life in meaning and purpose In her new regular column, Times well-being guide, Lucy Parker, from Flow Tunbridge Wells, discusses the importance of living your life based on your unique set of values

A

re you living a value-led life?

If you’re curious or confused about this question, chances are you might not be. Or at least you might not be aware of the benefits of living a life based on your unique set of values. Let’s get this straight from the start, values are not the same as beliefs. Beliefs can be handed down or adopted anew. They’re subjective ideas we accept regardless of any need for evidence of their truth. Values on the other hand are the core principles that govern who we are and how we choose to lead our lives. Being consciously aware of your values gives you the upper hand both at work and at home guaranteeing you make decisions that enhance your sense of

“I have learned that as long as I hold fast to my beliefs and values, and follow my own moral compass, then the only expectations I need to live up to are my own” - Michelle Obama meaning and purpose.

Some values we consider to be universal, such as honesty, integrity, and community. However, values can also be hugely personal and nuanced to be specific to you. Honestly, for example, could also imply genuineness or openness with each value having subtle differences.

Recognising and refining your values is important, to distil them into ones that feel most

appropriate to you.

So, why is this important? Because if you’re value-led your decisions are based on those values, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. Take respect for example. If you value respect, you’ll both seek it and give it. You’ll be a respect magnet at work and home. You’ll choose to respect others, not because you think you must, or should, but because you want to. Deep down, if respect is important to you, it’s a value and when you see someone disrespected, you’re more likely to stand up and have something to say about it. Whatever the outcome, it’s likely to make you feel good, because you honoured your value and acted accordingly.

Now, take another universally shared value, such as family. Let’s say you’re a highflyer and work takes you away from that value. You justify

it to yourself based on other needs or self-driven ‘beliefs’ such as you’ll not have enough money if you don’t work 24 / 7, or your boss won’t respect you if you clock off at 5.30 pm. Now you’re conflicted, which is fine occasionally, but with regular wear and tear that core value is going to keep coming back to ask for attention. When you’re not living in line with your values, somewhere down the line you’re not leading the life you choose and you’re going to resent it.

How can you know what your values are?

How about practising this short exercise?

Think of a time when you felt most happy, proud, or fulfilled. Take yourself back to that time in your mind and look around. Explore the details and find the pattern, what made you feel like that and how exactly did it feel? Discover everything you can about that time, who were

you with, what were you doing?

This exercise can help you begin to discover your values, noticing that some can be surprising, such as fun, beauty or thrift. You’ll want to select around 8 – 10 values that you hold dear and live by day to day. Remember, these can be assessed and refined annually to check they’re still relevant and serving you. It’s quite an art and a hugely rewarding way to navigate your life. If you feel you’d like help finding your top deck of values you can always get in touch with a qualified coach, like me and together we can ensure your life is positively drenched in meaning and purpose.

Lucy Parker, Coach, Counsellor, and Senior Yoga Teacher Flow Tunbridge Wells flowtunbridgewells.com

performances from the elves, marshmallow toasting, and a grotto where children can meet Santa and receive an early Christmas gift.

The sneak peek event on November 18 is an opportunity for Tunbridge Wells charities to get a glimpse of what Bewl Water has in store for the holiday season. Tickets are on a first come, first served basis.

Sunisa added: “We want to make Christmas a little brighter for those who work tirelessly for

others, and we warmly extend our invitation to charities we may not have connected with yet.”

Charities can confirm their attendance by obtaining a unique code through an email sent to christmas@bewlwater.co.uk, which they will then use to access the online booking portal.

Trustees will need to verify details about their organisation before booking their free tickets.

More information can be found online at christmas.bewlwater.co.uk

Giving back at Christmas If you’re a charity then read on to discover how you and your volunteers can enjoy a complementary festive day out at Bewl Water – just before it opens its new holiday experience…

IN the spirit of giving, Bewl Water in Lamberhurst is set to kickstart the festive season with a heart-warming gesture. On the cusp of its newest attraction, ‘Christmas at Bewl Water’ which is set to run from November 19 – December 24, the reservoir has decided to open its doors a day early for special sessions dedicated to charities, their friends, and families all free of charge.

Sunisa Avery, Events Marketing Manager said: “We are thrilled to open our doors a day early for this special event. Christmas is a time for giving

and sharing, and we wanted to show our appreciation for the incredible work that charities do year-round.”

Bewl Water will be transformed into a winter wonderland, featuring a spectacular, immersive experience fit for families with young children.

The attraction is mostly under marquees, providing a completely weatherproof space in which visitors can get into the Christmas spirit.

There will be enchanted wonderlands to explore, a light tunnel, traditional festive treat stands, workshops and activities, live

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Food & Drink

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Rioja and roll...

In his first column for the Times, Paul Adams from Paul Adams Fine Wines tells us about his recent trip to Rioja, looking specifically at one of the more highly regarded bodegas in this Spanish wine growing region: Ramon Bilbao.

A brief history of Rioja Although the history of Rioja’s wine began many centuries earlier, in 1863 the arrival of the phylloxera in Europe (an insect pest of grapevines) would highlight this wine-growing region forever.

Ruined by this plague, dozens of French producers, mainly from Bordeaux, looked to Haro, Spain in search of wine areas that were still able to grow grapes. This brought success, prosperity and transformative wine-growing knowledge to the area. The 1880s and 1890s were decades of great growth which saw the emergence of what are now the region’s centenary wineries.

The French producers gradually returned to Bordeaux as the Phylloxera was beaten,

principally by the process of grafting old European vines onto American root stock which were resistant to Phylloxera.

Ramón Bilbao was established way back in 1924, when Don Ramón Bilbao Murga set up his home in the heart of Rioja’s wine region, Haro.

Ramón Bilbao was a man ahead of his time who sought to travel the whole world with wine as his only travelling companion. This notion of the brave adventurer is still strongly ingrained into the essence of the estate and is reflected in everything they do.

In 1926, Rioja’s Designation of Origin and Regulatory Council were established.

Additionally, Alfonso XIII visited Logroño and astonished by the richness of the Riojan capital and the quality of their wines, replaced the French wines of the Royal Household with Riojan wines.

Labelling in Rioja Crianza, a high quality drinking wine, must spend one year in barrel and one year in bottle.

Next is Reserva, which should spend one year in barrel and two years in bottle. Gran Reserva should be two years in barrel and three years in bottle. There are many more differences between each category of wine - for example, the vineyards where the grapes are grown - but most striking when you visit at harvest time is that

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“Ramón Bilbao was established way back in 1924, when Don Ramón Bilbao Murga set up his home in the heart of Rioja’s wine region, Haro” grapes headed for Crianza are dropped into vats by the lorry load and pressed. Whereas Gran Reserva grapes are more carefully unloaded, and then separated from their stems and individually inspected, albeit by a machine, before heading towards the pressing.

Ramon Bilbao Bodega today The Ramon Bilbao Bodega boasts 180 hectares of vineyards, planted between 450m and 720m, in unique settings throughout the region, which stand out due to their altitude and the proximity to mountainside areas. They use grape varieties typical of the area including Tempranillo and

Garnacha, as well as small quantities of Mazuelo and Graciano.

As part of the Zamora Group, Ramon Bilbao have holdings in many parts of Spain and it is from amongst these areas that we have chosen some great wines to try. These include: Lalomba, Finca Lalinde, Rose Edición Limitada Verdejo, Rueda, 2019 Albariño Brut, Mar de Frades, NV Crianza Organic, Cruz de Alba, Ribera Del Douro, 2019 Ramon Bilbao, Gran Reserva All these wines are on free tasting in our shop and are on offer with 10% off a mixed case of 6 and 15% off a mixed case of 12.

Come in and try them and find out more…

VISIT: Paul Adams Fine Wines Ground floor Royal Victoria Place Tunbridge Wells www.pauladamsfinewines.co.uk

Food & Drink

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

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Celebrating an impressive farming legacy The Times reveals why a centuries’ old pure-bred cattle herd in Withyham impressed TV chef Marcus Wareing so much when he visited the local estate for a recent BBC show

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his summer celebrity chef Marcus Wareing paid a visit to Buckhurst Park in Withyham, East Sussex in order to savour a taste of the delicious beef that is produced from a world-famous herd of pure-bred traditional Sussex cattle.

“It’s so tender – absolutely outstanding in every way,” said the MasterChef Professionals presenter, who also lives in the county, as he cooked sirloin and rib-eye steaks alfresco at the beautiful estate which has been in the De La Warr family for over 900 years.

Its current custodian is Lord De La Warr, the 11th Earl William Sackville, who has been farming the pedigree line of grass-fed cattle, which he says is one of the country’s oldest breeds, for the past two decades.

Marcus was filming for his TV series Tales from a Kitchen Garden which recently aired on BBC2.

He also described the beef from Buckhurst Park as tasting ‘incredible’.

“I’ve cooked in some amazing locations and hotels but I’ve never cooked with a backdrop quite like that,” declared Marcus, pointing to the stunning surroundings of the Buckhurst Park Estate. “This really is quite special.”

As he drove out of Buckhurst Park, Marcus also revealed that he would be keen to add the Sussex variety of cattle to his own small herd next year.

But as if celebrity culinary endorsement wasn’t enough, Lord De La Warr, has recently launched an online delivery service of the Sussex cattle he rears on his estate.

A spokesperson for Lord De La Warr told the Times how the idea came about: “Building on the success of Buckhurst Park Pork Sausages, the beef is vacuum packed and frozen. After the

system. They are hardy beasts, phenomenal at converting grass into meat and largely selfsufficient. With their small feet, they are particularly suited to the wet clay soil which is found in the Weald. The animals are lovely to keep, too – they’re so calm. I can’t imagine this estate without Sussex cattle grazing. They are very special.”

Fearing the pure lines could be lost as more animals are crossed with other breeds, Lord De

“Famous for its marbling and flavour, meat from this herd has always been destined for plates both at home, in top-quality restaurants and by diners at The Dorset Arms”

COUNTRY LIVING: Lord De La Warr customer has selected their cuts, it is packed and sent out by courier with free delivery on orders over £50.”

They added that it can also be collected from the Estate’s pub, The Dorset Arms in Withyham.

“Many people, myself included, believe frozen beef is more tender than fresh beef so whenever I eat my own it’s always been deep frozen,” said Lord De La Warr.

The animals, which are given a special capital ‘T’ after their tag number, are distinctive in that they are not crossed with other breeds, making them the largest ‘Traditional’ Sussex herd in the country.

Famous for its marbling and flavour, meat from the herd has always been destined for plates both at home and in top-quality restaurants. It is also enjoyed by diners at The

Marcus Wareing (Right) Dorset Arms.

Now, for the very first time the highly sought-after meat is being sold online, having been hung and matured on the bone for 28 days.

In time, wild venison from the Estate will also be added.

“We’ve worked hard to promote the pure Sussex line and are proud to have animals with a reputation for producing a flavoursome and quality meat,” says Lord De La Warr.

“We keep them on an entirely grass-fed

La Warr is also spearheading efforts to promote the traditional line far beyond the South East of England.

He has launched the Traditional Sussex Breeders Club, which will act as a network for buying and selling animals, improving the gene bank, sharing best practice, exploring marketing opportunities, as well as potentially performance measuring and benchmarking.

“The Traditional Sussex breed isn’t currently recognised by the Rare Breed Survival Trust, but we think there are well under 200 Traditional breeding cattle left,” he added.

“This is one of the oldest breeds of cattle in the country. When the Normans arrived in 1066, they encountered red cattle in the Weald of Sussex and Kent, which were the direct forebears of the pure line we see today."

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Antiques

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Current trends in auctioning art

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I remember when they were under £150 at auction, but that was 25 years ago!

Finally the high point of the sale was a group of three works by Mary Fedden (1915-2012).

These were all early works, painted for an admirer of the artist and friend of her husband to be, Julian Trevelyan.

Fedden is very much in vogue but these early works had less of her later more cubist inspired style.

Collectors appreciated the chance to acquire something more exclusive with the three works selling for a combined sum of £55,000.

So the era of your art is really quite relevant in determining whether it finds favour with today’s buyers.

orringe’s recent sale of Fine Art this October proved a clear illustration of what is happening in the salerooms of Kent, Sussex and beyond.

Demand has moved in line with 21st century taste which leaves much Victorian art in the doldrums along with some of the more traditional furnishing pictures.

Broadly speaking anything 18th century and earlier remains popular. Our sale included a number of portraits, many of which came from a property in Tunbridge Wells. These ranged from a portrait of an English army officer painted by an Indian artist to a grandiose full size portrait of Gilbert, 4th Earl of Coventry. The modestly sized portrait of a major Bellingham Smith was

If you are wondering what’s hanging on your wall do give us a call on 01892 556860.

painted by Raja Jivan Ram who worked in the early 19th century and specialised in portraits of the English soldiers and merchants posted to India. Attracting interest from the UK and from India it sold for £3,600 despite a hole knocked in the canvas above his forehead. The portrait of Gilbert was in fine restored condition but lacked a frame. It was so big that there was no room for a frame in the Lodge house where it was displayed.

A local collector, perhaps with higher ceilings, bought it for £4,000.

19th century paintings were harder to find buyers for unless they featured special interest subject matter that appealing to collectors. Such works

varied from a collection of satirical engravings

by James Gilray at prices ranging from a few hundred pounds to several thousand to a beautiful view of the Gulf of Pozzuoli that is returning back to its country of origin after a bidding battle between Italian collectors.

Once into the 20th century interest begins to pick up. Star lots included an unfinished sketch of a hose auction at Tattersall’s by Robert Bevan (1865-1925).

This combined race horses with a stylish hand and resulted in a winning bid of £18,000.

Dating from the 1950’s to 70’s eleven works by Cecil Rochfort D’Oyly John (1906-1993) saw the expected high level of interest, with his distinctive colourful mostly Mediterranean views selling between £500 and £2,800.

HOUSE CALLS

FOR OCTOBER IN YOUR AREA There is no obligation to sell, so call Clive Today to arrange a home visit at no charge and at your convenience. He will advise you personally on your items and absolute discretion is guaranteed.

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Antiques

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

Why jewellery boxes are a keepsake to cherish...

Rudolph Hamilton of Pushkin Antiques reveals the history of jewellery storage and tells Times readers why they are so important when it comes to preserving our precious gems found on the inner surface of shells, most notably in oysters and abalones. Its ethereal beauty is due to the way it refracts light, creating a stunning play of colours that shimmer and change as the viewing angle shifts. This natural wonder made it a highly sought-after material for jewellery and decorative items during the late 19th century.

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RUDOLPH HAMILTON

he grandeur and value of exquisite jewellery pieces demand an equally grand display and storage. Jewellery boxes from renowned jewellers are designed with this in mind. They are more than just functional; they are pieces of art that enhance the overall experience of owning and wearing fine jewellery.

Solid silver jewellery boxes from the mid 1800s are precious artifacts that encapsulate the grace and craftsmanship of the era. Crafted during a time of extraordinary attention to detail and artistry, these boxes often feature intricate designs, exquisite engravings, and sometimes even enamel or gemstone embellishments, reflecting the opulence and sophistication of the 19th century.

As the years moved on, other materials were used to craft these boxes. Mother of pearl, also known as nacre, is an iridescent substance

ON-LINE LIVE BIDDING

Crocodile leather jewellery boxes from the turn of the 20th century are a testament to the luxurious craftsmanship and exotic aesthetics of that era. Crafted during a time when exotic materials were in vogue, these boxes were characterized by their sleek, glossy crocodile skin exteriors. The inherent durability and unique texture of crocodile leather made them an ideal choice for protecting and displaying valuable jewellery pieces.

Often lined with sumptuous fabrics like silk or velvet and fitted with secure clasps.

As times changed and leather goods became more popular, jewellery boxes from the 1920s epitomise the Art Deco era's fusion of elegance and modernity.

Crafted during a time of bold design and exuberant creativity, these boxes often featured geometric patterns, embossing, or inlays that reflected the Art Deco movement's characteristic sleek and streamlined aesthetic. The supple leather exteriors offered a sophisticated contrast to the ornate and delicate jewellery they held within. As artifacts of the Roaring Twenties, they evoke the spirit of an era

‘Solid silver jewellery boxes from the mid 1800s are precious artifacts that encapsulate the grace and craftsmanship of the era’ known for its social dynamism and a shift towards a more cosmopolitan and refined style.

These boxes become cherished keepsakes in their own right. They are not just for storing jewellery; they are items to be displayed, admired, and passed down through generations, much like the jewellery they hold. In this sense, a jewellery box from a renowned maker is more than a container; it's a precious heirloom that adds to the story and legacy of the jewellery it houses.

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ON-LINE LIVE BIDDING

ANTIQUES & FINE ART AUCTIONEERS

SATURDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 10AM (Please note earlier starting time 10am for Smalls & 11am for Furniture) Full Catalogue & Images Available Online Friday 27th October

Viewing: Thursday 2nd November 9.30am – 5.30pm. Friday 3rd November 9.30am-5.30pm. Saturday 4th November 9.00am-10.00am (10am Sale Starts)

PAIR 19TH CENTURY CONTINENTAL PORTRAIT OIL PAINTINGS INSET CARVED GILTWOOD FLORENTINE FRAMES EST: £500-£1000 GOOD QUALITY QUEEN ANNE WALNUT BUREAU, C. 1710 EST: £300-£500

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HU YONGKAI (CHINESE, B. 1945) – ‘ECHOES’, MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER, 102CM X 51CM, WITH PROVENANCE FROM A SINGAPORE GALLERY SELLING EXHIBITION EST: £1000-£2000

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Motors

Wednesday October 25 | 2023

F-Type ZP Edition to be the last Jaguar petrol sports car

JAGUAR has unveiled the final version of its F-Type – the ZP Edition – as it marks the end of petrol sports cars for the firm.

The British marque has a long-running history of making sports cars, but is soon set to switch to only producing EVs as it becomes a ‘modern luxury all-electric brand’. To mark the end, Jaguar has revealed the F-Type ZP Edition – a limited last-of-the-line model.

Iconic Inspired by two of Jaguar’s iconic E-Type racing cars from the 1960s, the ZP Edition has been created by the firm’s Special Vehicle (SV) team. Available in two new colours of Oulton Blue with a red leather interior and Crystal Grey with a navy interior, they also feature handpainted racing roundels on the doors – a feature seen on racing Jaguars in period.

The colours perfectly mirror the ‘E-Type ZP Collection’, revealed earlier this year, which is a collection of seven pairs of restored E-Types made by Jaguar Classic. Inside, the ZP Edition features a unique interior with bespoke seat fluting, while 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels and various black detailing elements complete the look.

Though Jaguar also sells its F-Type with four-cylinder engines too, it’s the brand’s legendary 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine that powers the ZP Edition, producing 567bhp and 700Nm of torque. This allows the F-Type to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 3.5 seconds and onto an electronically-limited top speed of 186mph.

Rawdon Glover, managing director of Jaguar, said: “As Jaguar embarks on the boldest transformation in its history, to become a modern luxury all-electric brand from 2025, this is an unrepeatable celebration of Jaguar’s internal combustion sports car provenance.

“The F-Type has captivated sports car drivers for more than a decade, just as the E-Type did five decades before it. The ZP Edition is the ultimate celebration of that lineage, joining an illustrious roster of heritage-inspired collector’s editions including the 2015 Project 7 and 2020 Heritage 60 Edition.”

Jaguar will offer the F-Type ZP Edition in both coupe and convertible bodystyles, with just 150 examples being created globally. Just 10 of these models will come to the UK, and will be priced from £134,925 for the coupe and £138,390 for the convertible. They will be built during the F-Type’s final year of production in 2024.

Updated Tesla Model 3 goes on sale in the UK TESLA’S updated Model 3 has gone on sale in the UK, bringing a new look and more technology but at a significantly reduced price.

Previously costing from £42,995, Tesla has reduced the starting price of this new car to £39,995. This follows a price cut to the EV earlier in the year when it originally started from more than £50,000.

This is the most major revision for the Model 3 since its initial reveal in 2017, with key changes including a smoother front bumper to maximise aero, as well as thinner LED headlights. Around the rear, there are brighter lights, which are better integrated into the boot. Two new colours, Ultra Red and Stealth Grey, are also available.

Tesla has also worked to improve the interior quality, one of the main pitfalls of its predecessor. There are new textiles and ‘real aluminium’ used for the cabin, while rear

passengers get their own touchscreen to control the climate settings.

Range From launch, Tesla will not offer the ‘Performance’ model, but instead the standard car and a Long Range version.

The standard car is priced from £39,990 and brings a 318-mile range, while also being able to accelerate from 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds.

Above this sits the Long Range model, which packs a bigger battery that allows for a claimed range of 390 miles. It also features a more powerful motor that reduces the 0-60mph time to 4.2 seconds. This is priced from £49,990.

Both Tesla Model 3 versions can be ordered now, with first deliveries expected in January 2024.

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