Times of Tunbridge Wells April 5 2023

“Extremely

“A

“Exemplary

winners celebrate on stage last Thursday night

Times Business Awards gala evening hailed as the ‘biggest and best ever’

By Victoria Roberts

THE biggest ever Times Business Awards ceremony saw over 200 attendees pour into the Victorian Science Theatre at Salomons Estate on March 30 to celebrate achievement and ambition.

Shortlisted businesses, charities, entrepreneurs and judges dressed up in their sparkling, black-tie best to network, reconnect and await the outcome of the judges’ deliberations – before the celebrations began.

Addressing the audience after dinner, LBC presenter and political interviewer

Nick Ferrari presented his Kent credentials, before fishing for a laugh about having lived in Farningham, near Brands Hatch.

Once he got the laugh, he quipped: “Well, there’s no need to laugh, is there? We can’t all afford Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells. We do our best!”

Turning more serious, he praised the dynamism of the organisations, charities and entrepreneurs gathered for the award presentations.

of some appalling government legislation and taxation.

“You owe yourself a round of applause, because you are the spirit of Britain and the best of British luck to you. I mean it, I am so impressed.”

Shortlisted businesses, charities, entrepreneurs and judges dressed up in their sparkling, black-tie best

“If the politicians, whether they are Rishi Sunak or the Home Secretary or the Leader of the Opposition – if they could tap into the endeavour, the drive that I seen today – they would learn so much.

“You have already come through the pandemic,” he stressed.

“You are going to come through a cost-of-living crisis, with the determination you show.

“You grow your businesses in the face

Preparing for the event had been difficult, Mr Ferrari said. He had asked the organisers: “What do you want me to talk about? These are people who run fantastic businesses.

“They’re growing businesses, they’re hiring people…what the hell is some washed-up, old, fat radio DJ from London going to tell these people in Kent?”

Co-host, Deborah Richards, founder of Maddisons Residential, welcomed the guests and mentioned all of the finalists.

“You are all winners,” she said. “There was a whisper’s breath between some of the applications.”

Pictures and more details – Page 8

Sir Michael Parkinson

Niall McDiarmid Russell Tovey Carrie & David Grant Rebecca Humphries

Picture: David Bartholomew

WINNERS: The awards

this week…

Levelling Up chief strikes ‘remediation’ deal with most developers – but not all

By Victoria Roberts

A CAMPAIGN by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

(DLUHC) has seen 44 developers sign a binding government contract to pay for remediation works required after the Grenfell fire. However, not all local developers have signed on, including three with developments in and around Tunbridge Wells: Dandara, Galliard Homes and Rydon Homes.

DLUHC said developers would be legally bound to pay sums of £11million or more to fix unsafe buildings, instead of leaseholders.

Contract

However, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove made clear that all of the developers’ activities could be threatened by non-compliance with the contract.

He said: “To those developers that have failed to sign the contract without good reason, let me be very clear – we are coming after you.

The

“If you do not sign, you will not be able to operate freely in the housing market.”

Yet Dandara, whose 1887 The Pantiles development opened last year, told the Times it had not been consulted.

“Dandara was not invited into any of the original consultations between Government, the Home Builders Federation and the UK’s 50 biggest housebuilding and development companies. This has delayed the process,” said the company.

“As a responsible developer, we have signed the Developer Pledge Letter. We have also proactively engaged with owners and management companies to investigate and undertake any enhancements that may be required in respect of fire safety matters.

“We expect to sign the Developer Remediation contract imminently.”

Dandara’s other local developments are Pearmain Place and Braeburn Fields in Crowborough.

Galliard Homes’ developments include Calverley Park Gardens in Tunbridge Wells.

A spokesperson for the firm told the Times: “Galliard Homes are committed to upholding the principle that leaseholders should not have to pay for remediation of life critical building fire safety defects.

“We are currently working through the procedural matters with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) so we can sign the contract.

“We have been remediating our buildings in line with government guidance for some time. We remain in constant dialogue with DLUHC during this period in an effort to get this matter concluded as quickly as possible.”

Rydon Homes was blocked from the government’s Help to Buy scheme in December 2021 owing to its corporate connection with Rydon Maintenance, a company responsible for

New Tunbridge Wells Deputy Mayor set to be appointed

By Lilly Croucher

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THE NEW Deputy Mayor of Tunbridge Wells is to be appointed his fellow councillors at the Full Council meeting tonight (April 5), with Cllr Nicholas Pope poised to take up the prestigious post.

The group leaders of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) recommended that Cllr Nicholas Pope be appointed to the position, to serve for the next municipal year.

On his potential appointment, Cllr Pope, (Alliance) Park ward told the Times: “Being considered for the role of Deputy Mayor for Tunbridge Wells is a privilege in itself and is not a position I had ever imagined taking on.

“If councillors decide to approve the recommendation going to Full Council today, Wednesday April 5, I will endeavour to undertake the wide range of responsibilities to my utmost abilities, and look forward to supporting the Mayor in the next municipal year.”

Cllr Pope was elected in 2018 and is in his second term on the Borough Council. serving on as Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee, Vice-Chair on two Cabinet Advisory Boards, and sitting on several other council committees.

Having grown up in Lamberhurst, Cllr Pope has worked to save local bus routes and support several community initiatives and independent businesses.

Each year the Council is required to appoint a Deputy Mayor for the follow year, to deputise for the Mayor as necessary, and to fulfil their

responsibilities, as set out in the constitution. The Deputy Mayor is expected to preside over Full Council meetings with the Mayor, upholding the constitution and maintaining fairness during debate.

They must also promote public involvement in the Council’s activities, be the conscience of the Council, and attend civil and ceremonial functions.

If appointed, Cllr Pope will succeed Cllr Hugh Patterson as Deputy Mayor after the local elections on May 4 if he wins his seat.

Elections

As it is custom that the previous deputy mayor serves as mayor the following year, it is expected that Cllr Patterson will become Mayor of Tunbridge Wells.

Speaking to the Times on his expected appointment, Cllr Patterson said: “Yes, it is the case. I don’t want to make any assumptions, but it is expected that I take up the role as mayor at the Annual Meeting in May.

“My June and July is already looking very busy with the Paddock Wood Carnival and Capel Fate. I am also looking forward to leading the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in November, attending school speech days, working with the people of Tunbridge Wells, and representing the Council.

Both councillors will formally take up their new mayoral positions during the Annual Meeting of the Council on May 24, 2023, after the local elections.

the refurbishment of the Grenfell Tower. However, Rydon has said it was too small to come under the contract.

The Times has reached out to Rydon Homes, but has yet to receive comment. However, a spokesperson told the Guardian: “Rydon Homes develops an average of 16 family homes per year, which confirms our belief that Rydon Homes falls into the category of a small housebuilder. We have made this point to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) but have had no response.”

Rydon Homes developments include Marchants Lea in Matfield and Waters Reach in Wadhurst.

Meanwhile, a number of the developers that have developed projects in and around Tunbridge Wells did sign the contract.

This includes Barratt Developments (Connaught Park), Berkeley Homes (Foal Hurst Green in Paddock Wood, Hollyfields in Hawkenbury), Churchill Retirement (Paddock Lodge, Paddock Wood), Hill Holdings (the regeneration of Lakewood), McCarthy & Stone (The Dairy, St John’s Road), Sorbon Group (parent company of Shanly Homes, which developed Trotting Hill Gardens,) and the Vistry Group (parent company of Linden Homes, which developed Ashdown Gardens and Meadow View in Crowborough).

Another signatory, British Land, did not build Royal Victoria Place, but acquired it in 2018.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

Each week the Times will run a series of social media polls that ask our readers for their opinions on the Borough’s biggest stories. To participate in the polls, simply follow the Times on Instagram or Twitter using the handle @timeslocalnews

DRIVERS RISK A £70 FINE FOR DRIVING ALONG MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD BUT MOTORISTS CLAIM THE NEW SIGNAGE IS CONFUSING. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNS?

YES (77% ) It is confusing NO (23%) I haven’t had any problems

TO VOTE IN THE MAY 4 LOCAL ELECTIONS, EVERYONE WILL NEED TO HAVE ID. BUT WITH THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER (APRIL 17) FAST APPROACHING WE WANT TO KNOW… DO YOU HAVE YOUR PHOTO ID READY?

YES (69%) I’m ready NO (12%) I’ve applied but I’m still waiting NO (19%) I don’t plan to vote

Salomons

, One Warwick Park Hotel and Bewl Events & Waterpark are owned by the Elite Leisure Collection, which also owns One Media, publisher of the Times

MICHAEL GOVE

Local hospitality businesses for sale

SANKEY’S Bar & Kitchen, on Mt Ephraim Rd, Tunbridge Wells, is up for sale. According to a listing on fleurets.com “The property is being offered for sale to allow our client to concentrate on the other businesses and will be available as a going concern but with all branding etc removed.”

However, when approached for comment, owner Matthew Sankey said: “We have always had a listing in some way or another as we own the property… I simply moved my agreement to Fleurets who now manage the offers we receive very regularly. They are on retention to deal with such interest.

“Should one of these offers exceed my expectations one day, we might sell, but without having an agent on retention we would never know. But as it stands, no such offers have come our way… It’s business as usual here.”

Other local businesses listed for sale include the Tunbridge Wells Hotel, The Wine Room and Thackerays.

Police release image of ‘suspicious’ man

A COMPUTER-generated image has been released by detectives investigating a man acting suspiciously outside two schools in Tunbridge Wells.

On Wednesday March 1, 2023, a member of the public reported an unknown man talking to a number of unaccompanied schoolgirls on Linden Park Road. Two days later, a parent reported a similar incident on Saunders Road.

The suspect is described as white and over 6ft tall, with dark blonde hair. He spoke with a British accent and is believed to be between 30 and 40 years old.

Investigating officer PC Jack Kinkade, of west Kent’s Vulnerability Investigation Team, said: “The victim has now been able to assist in the creation of a computer-generated image.”

Anyone with information should call the west Kent appeal line on 01622 604100, quoting crime reference 46/40276/23, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or by using the online form on their website.

Groombridge Place sold to hotel group

A 17TH century, listed home and local tourist attraction has been sold to luxury hotel group, The Pig.

The boutique hotel chain refers to itself as “restaurants with rooms”, with their focus on high-quality locally-sourced menus.

They currently have eight sites across the country in the New Forest, Southampton, Combe in Devon, Padstow, Canterbury, Studland in Dorset, Bath and the South Downs.

Groombridge Place was first granted permission to open to the public in 1992, and in 2001 it was bought by television producer Justin Bodle.

In 2007, it was granted permission to hold events, but only on a temporary basis.

Following Mr Bodle’s death in 2019, a company called Restoration Groombridge reopened the estate to the public in March 2022, and in May 2022 filed an application to use the house for holiday lets.

In the application, the owners acknowledged that a steady income was needed to “provide essential revenue to the wider works on the estate and ongoing repair and restoration works to the house itself”.

New CEO announced for Royal Tunbridge Wells Together BID

ROYAL Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District (BID) have announced the appointment of Alex Green as the new BID CEO.

Alex Green was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of local cultural destination Trinity Theatre and had previously been involved in a voluntary capacity within the BID for a number of years. He then stepped in to act as Interim BID Director following the departure of Sarah-Jane Adams.

Mr Green will take responsibility for delivering the RTW Together BID objectives set out in the organisation’s plan to “support Royal Tunbridge Wells businesses to thrive”.

Campaigns

Of his appointment, he said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed the new BID CEO and look forward to working with our levy-payers to ensure they feel invested in, to support their working environment and to increase our activities and campaigns to generate them more business.”

The BID Board has also recently welcomed the appointment of four new voluntary Board members to the team: Clare Waller, co-Owner of Jeremy’s Home Store; Nicola Paffard, Partner and Head of Legal Support Services at Cripps; Alexia Taylor of Walsh Bros; and Justine Rutland, Cabinet Member for Tunbridge Wells Town and Local Areas. Alex Greig, Owner of Fuggles Beer Café, who has served on the board since its inception and recently led the Board as Acting Chair, has taken up the role of Chair.

RTW Together BID was formed in 2019 after a

‘Yes’ vote from local businesses to create a Business Improvement District. It will currently run until March 2024, at which point there will be a new opportunity to vote on the future of the BID for Royal Tunbridge Wells. The RTW BID is a not-for-profit organisation that is funded by and

represents businesses in Tunbridge Wells town centre within the defined BID area. These businesses within the BID footprint contribute an annual levy based on the rateable value of the premises.

RTW Together is then tasked with utilising the funds to deliver projects and activities that are designed to support the business community and improve the trading environment. Their aim is to promote the area and increase footfall through events and marketing campaigns, and to provide services, such as business training, street scene improvements and safety support.

Key upcoming initiatives include a town-wide celebration to mark the Coronation of King Charles III on May 6; extensive new promotional and advertising campaigns; a new unlimited online training scheme for levy payers; an upcoming relaunch of the BID grant schemes; new street scene initiatives, and much more.

Businesses who wish to get in touch with RTW Together and can email: biddirector@ rtwtogether.com

Deadline time as nominations go out and voter ID comes in

By Victoria Roberts

THE official registration period for candidates in the local elections in May closed yesterday (April 4) as the Times went to press, with nominations expected to be published this morning, online and at Town Hall.

With a new nationwide requirement to present photo ID at polling stations, these elections will be the first test of the new policy.

Publicity

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC), parties and civic organisations alike have been mobilising to get the word out to voters and ensure no-one is turned away from a polling station.

In its latest publicity campaign, TWBC has taken out advertising on petrol pumps at Sainsbury’s in Linden Park Road, Esso in Pembury High Street and Esso in Paddock Wood’s Commercial Road.

TWBC confirmed that the campaign was being

Benenden and Cranbrook

Councillor Nancy Warne, Alliance

Culverden

James Rands, Independent (stepping down)

Frittenden and Sissinghurst

Andy Fairweather, Conservative

Goudhurst and Lamberhurst

Dr Linda Hall, Conservative

Hawkhurst and Sandhurst

Godfrey Bland, Conservative (Mayor)

Paddock Wood East

Rodney Atkins, Independent

funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities rather than the Council.

Meanwhile, the results of a Local Government Boundary Commission consultation last year have not yet been announced, but if implemented, the proposals could turn the 48-seat council with 20 wards into a 39-seat council with 13 wards.

However, this year, 16 wards will be contested on May 4: four Conservative; four Independent; three Liberal Democrat; three Alliance and two Labour.

Two party leaders are up for re-election – Cllr David Hayward (Alliance) in Pembury and Cllr Hugo Pound (Labour) in Sherwood. The likely new mayoral team are not up for re-election.

Subject to confirmation, the current Deputy Mayor Cllr Hugh Patterson (Capel, Lib Dem) will become Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, while Cllr Nicholas Pope (Park, Alliance) will become Deputy Mayor.

For the first time, the Greens are contesting every one of the 16 Borough Council wards

COUNCILLORS AND WARDS

Paddock Wood West

Matthew Bailey, Independent

Pantiles and St Mark’s

Andrew Hickey, Independent Park

Christian Atwood, Conservative

Pembury

David Hayward, Alliance (Leader)

Rusthall

Dave Funnell, Liberal Democrat Sherwood

Hugo Pound, Labour Leader)

being voted on, a move that also means none of the incumbent candidates will go through unopposed.

In Culverden, former Lib Dem James Rands (Independent) has already indicated he will stand down to give new Lib Dem David Osborne

UPCOMING DEADLINES

Deadlines coming up include registering to vote by 11.59pm on Monday April 17 at: gov.uk/register-to-vote

If you are on the register, you can apply for a postal vote by 5pm on Tuesday April 18 at: electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/ apply-vote-post

You can also apply for a proxy vote by 5pm on Tuesday April 25 at: electoralcommission. org.uk/i-am-a/voter/apply-vote-proxy

If you do not have photo ID, you are able to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm on Tuesday April 25 at: gov.uk/apply-forphoto-id-voter-authority-certificate

Southborough and High Brooms

Luke Everitt, Labour

Southborough North

Trevor Poile, Liberal Democrat

Speldhurst and Bidborough

Lucy Willis, Alliance

St John’s

Marguerita Morton, Liberal Democrat

There will also be town and parish council elections taking place on the same day.

‘I am thrilled to have been appointed the new BID CEO and look forward to working with our levy-payers.’

ALEX GREEN

‘Someone must be held accountable for dogs being killed’: Railway track deaths spark debate over fence maintenance

By Lilly Croucher

DISPUTES have been lodged over the responsibility to maintain a fence in a Tunbridge Wells park after two dogs were killed in the last two weeks and one was injured on the surrounding train tracks.

Two of the three dogs who ended up on railway lines were reported missing near the Grosvenor & Hilbert Park area, where dog walkers have discovered a hole in the fence that separates the park and the train tracks. The metal fence divides the spaces by only a few metres.

Shocked

Reports of family pets being harmed on the railway tracks has shocked people online who have called for the hole to be covered, and questioned why this hadn’t been done sooner.

In a post on a local Facebook group, dog owner Emily Woolley said: “I do not normally post, however, I feel compelled to when yet another dog has been killed on the train tracks. Maybe it’s an assumption, but there is a huge hole in Hilbert and Grosvenor rec park that leads directly on to the train tracks that no one seems to be fixing.”

Speaking to the Times, Ms Woolley said: “Before there was mesh covering the hole but now that has gone, something needs to be done now. We can’t wait for another lost pet to be found. The hole is big enough for a child to get through.”

The hole has been created by the mud being dug away from the fence, but accountability over whose responsibility it is to fix the hole has caused some confusion.

While the fence is owned by Network Rail, the park is maintained by the Council, but neither say it’s their responsibility to close the gap.

However both would welcome a permanent solution to the issue.

Friends of Grosvenor and Hilbert Park have acknowledged concern over the mention of the hole, but as a voluntary organisation, they are not responsible for park maintenance. However, a representative said that someone had mentioned a hole about a year ago, but as far as they were aware, it had been fixed and they had not heard of any dogs ending up on the train tracks.

The representative said they had passed the information on to the Council Parks Department.

A Network Rail spokesperson told the Times: “Following reports of a hole in the fence in Grosvenor and Hilbert Park, we have reviewed the fence line and have found no holes or faults.

“We can see however the mud bank

Florist shop to close and move online

By Lilly Croucher

A POPULAR floristry shop in Tunbridge Wells has announced it will be closing and moving business online after the changes in the High Street bring less footfall.

The Bloom Foundry confirmed on Instagram last weekend that they would be closing the shop on St John’s Road at the end of June after four years of trading, and will be moving solely online.

Of the business transformation, owner Lucie Merkl told the Times: “It was a difficult decision to make but it is the right thing for me, my business, and my family.

“Moving my business exclusively online is a pivot that will allow me to build on what I created during the pandemic and concentrate more on the expansion of my business whilst delivering the best quality bouquets and service.

“I love using the most premium flowers in my bouquets, creating beautiful and unique designs for the interior designers, restaurants, private residences and weddings I work with.

“It was a very hard call to make because I love the shop, but I had been considering closing for a while because of the reduction in footfall.

“There are a lot of shops that have closed in St Johns with many turning into services like cafes meaning there are less ‘shoppers’ walking through the area who may want to pop in and buy some flowers.

“I am feeling positive about the move, and I am looking forward to having a better work life balance where I get more time with my children.

“I will still be running my workshops this

Christmas at venues across the town and have already been contacted about new opportunities and collaborations so I’m feeling good about the future.”

Ms Merkl said all future bookings with her will be going ahead and she will still be running her

immediately below the fence has worn away creating a small gap.

“This land is not the responsibility of Network Rail but we are committed to ensuring dogs are not able to get onto the railway so our engineers will be making a temporary repair to block up this gap while we work with the landowner on a permanent repair solution.

“We would encourage all dog owners however to please keep their pets on a lead at all times when near the railway.”

As the park is public property, residents believe it is the Council’s responsibility to fix the fence and maintain the area.

The Parks Department at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council told the Times: “We have made attempts to cover up the hole in the past with mesh, even though it is Network Rail’s fence.

“We think its wild animals burrowing under the fence that are causing the hole. We had a contractor come out on Monday, and we hope that something more permanent will be put there to prevent something like this happening again.”

Missing

In February, it was reported that a two-year old beagle named Ronnie went missing from his garden in Tunbridge Wells for 10 days.

The pup was feared dead after a train driver reported that Ronnie was hit by a train near High Brooms Station. Miraculously, he was found alive near the park and was taken to the vets with a broken leg.

Jo Wackett, Ronnie’s owner, commented on Ms Woolley’s post: “Yes, 100% agree with this Emily Woolley. Two poor babies found dead on the tracks in the last fortnight after going missing.

“We live right by the park and our dog ended up on the tracks (thankfully, with a positive outcome!) back in November after a firework spooked him, and he jumped our high garden fence, so it’s definitely not just dogs with no recall on walks in the park that are suffering.”

Grosvenor and Hilbert Park is not covered by the Public Spaces Protection Order that requires dogs to be kept on leads, but owners are asked to keep their pets under control, which might include using a lead.

Sue Culmer, a volunteer for Dog Lost, Kent and Sussex, told the Times: “Lost dogs being hit by a train are becoming more and more common due to the disrepair of the fences in many areas.

“Dogs go into survival mode quickly once they get lost. Train tracks are usually level and provide the dog with an easy walking path where they can avoid humans. I think that’s why they often choose that route. Obviously, they are totally unaware of the dangers and sadly, are frequently hit by trains.”

workshops, creating her faux flower displays for business and providing her wedding and events services.

In her Instagram post, Ms Merkl said: “Thank you so much to everyone who has supported my shop over the last four years. I appreciate each and everyone of you and will miss chatting to all my lovely local customers who pop in regularly.”

One commenter on the post said: “Even though your gorgeous atelier shop will be a huge loss to Tunbridge Wells, you created something so special. Long may it continue online.”

Another said: “Your shop front is always a joy – St John’s will be a sadder place without it, but it makes sense.”

‘There are a lot of shops that have closed in St John’s with many turning into services like cafes meaning there are less ‘shoppers’ walking through the area who may want to pop in and buy some flowers’

LUCIE MERKL

MIND THE GAP: The fence in Grosvenor & Hilbert Park

Investors claim to have lost huge sums to JVIP Group

POLICE are investigating complaints from dozens of people who lost hundreds of thousands of pounds in investments that were made into a number of companies styled as JVIP Group, or Joint Ventures in Property, based in Tunbridge Wells.

Those companies were run by businessman Peter Dabner, who denies any wrongdoing. JVIP had promised investors that they would see a 10% return on their money, which would be used to purchase or develop properties.

Losses

Many of the associated companies collapsed at the beginning of 2022 and are now in the hands of administrators. Peter Dabner’s father, Dick Dabner, was also involved in running the business.

Pickering pays tribute to Michèle Roszak

Victoria Roberts

LOCAL charity the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre has paid tribute to a dear friend and “songbird” who brought in thousands of pounds in donations to the charity before she ever needed it herself.

Singer, musician and teacher Michèle Roszak made contact with Pickering to help, years before she developed cancer, motivated only by a selfless desire to help, said the charity’s co-founder Polly Taylor.

Describing Michèle as “Little Miss Dynamite, because she was tiny but had got a powerful

voice”, Polly told the Times: “I can’t remember how long I’ve known her.

“She just came and said she wanted to do something for Pickering. It all started with that.”

Traditions

Over the years, Michèle put on numerous concerts in aid of the charity, and her very first project – carols in the weeks before Christmas –will remain part of the calendar and traditions, said Polly.

“I said, “I’d like to continue the Christmas carols each year in your name”, and she agreed.”

Having contributed so much to the charity before she herself was diagnosed with cancer, Michèle found herself among dear friends, said Polly.

“She became even more a part of Pickering, and we were able to look after her and spoil her.

“She’s one of our success stories who found out and realised how important it was to live the life she had left.

“In that, she was an inspiration to a lot of others.

“That’s what we’d like everyone to be like –value the time they’re got left.”

In a report by administrators on a company linked to the group, JVIP Group Limited, the administrator said economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic had impaired the group's finances.

“Quite often, rather than funding specific projects, it appears that monies borrowed (from investors) have been used to fund overheads, interest payments and redemptions across the associated companies.”

The report, which was filed with Companies House in April 2022, continued: “Investor money may have been funding substantial losses over a considerable period of time.”

Much of the cash that was invested has been difficult to trace, as many JVIP companies did not file accounts for the final two years they were trading for.”

TW hockey player to represent in GB in Special Olympics

By Alice Reece

TUNBRIDGE WELLS Hockey Club

(TWHC) player Ellen Greenall has been chosen to join the Great Britain Hockey team at this summer’s Special Olympic World Games in Berlin in June. This will be the first year that field hockey, played in a 6v6 mixed format, will be appearing on the Special Olympic Games programme.

Ms Greenall has been selected to join the 80-strong delegation of athletes who will be representing Great Britain across a number of sports at the world’s biggest inclusive sporting event of 2023. As many as 7,000 athletes are expected to compete.

Programme

In October, England Hockey invited players with intellectual disabilities from across England, Scotland and Wales to take part in an open trial day at its national training centre at Bisham Abbey, Berkshire.

Following this, seven male and three female players were named in the inaugural Team Special Olympics World Games squad. Field Hockey is one of 26 sports in the programme for the Berlin 2023 Special Olympics World Games, with 13 teams set to compete, including the Netherlands, Germany, Argentina and Egypt.

MEMBERS OF THE TEAM SPECIAL OLYMPICS GB FIELD HOCKEY TEAM: (left to right): Lochlan Kaye (coach), Rob Crosse, Tom Shaw, Kath Hyslop, Jason Nicholls, Ellen Greenall, Jordan Chandler, Brooke Lammas, Craig Williamson, Steven Bradley (head coach), Jayne Crosse (coach).

ELLEN GREENALL

MICHÈLE ROSZAK

Baby 2 Baby grows to help families in need

By Victoria Roberts

A CROWBOROUGH-based charity that supplies baby clothing and essentials to children in need across East Sussex and the surrounding areas has come a long way since its own birth in 2018.

The charity has “grown up” and extended its offers of help to children beyond the age of two, co-founder Hannah Powell told the Times “A couple of years after we were founded, we expanded our range up to age 16. We were getting lots of referrals, and at that point we did have the storage.

“The thing is that if there are many children in a family, it is the older ones who are likely to go without,” she explained.

Quality

The charity takes referrals from professionals at a range of organisations, from local authorities, social workers and women’s refuges, to the likes of Citizens’ Advice and Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees. They accept donations of excellent quality clothes and safe equipment for babies and children. The bundles of donations are parceled up in special, recyclable wrapping or bags with a gift tag, so they feel like a present from the community rather than a hand-out.

Challenges facing the families range from low income to mental health issues, domestic abuse and homelessness (or risk thereof), and recipients can be care leavers, young parents, asylum seekers or even women who have been trafficked.

In order to donate the best items and to avoid being overwhelmed by goods, the charity is very careful about what it accepts. However as the charity has grown, so has the need to find more storage space, Hannah explained.

Crowborough, so we can now advertise that we are taking donations again,” said Hannah. The donation process involves checking what goods someone has to donate, ensuring they are safe and then making an appointment to accept the donation.

“We avoid what happens to charity shops,” she added, making reference to bags of donations left outside shops, which charities might need to pay to dispose of.

However, she stressed, the flip side of the screening process is ensuring that the professionals who made the referral can get all items into a car for delivery. For example, the charity accepts bedding for all ages, but only

The arms-length arrangement ensures that each referring agency knows what it is bringing and preserves families’ privacy.

There have been growing pains, Hannah acknowledged. The charity’s running costs are relatively low, but it has become “more difficult to get funding”.

“We are no longer a new project,” she said. And the pandemic has hit charities’ ability to fundraise, so more of them have turned to grants for help.

“We have found that since Covid, a lot of funding pots are over-subscribed. Need has risen, too.” she said.

As a result, Baby 2 Baby is returning to

fundraising to put it on a more financially sustainable footing. The charity is seeking sponsors for a gala dinner dance and auction this September, to help raise money and awareness about the charity.

Stability

“We are not a business, but we need to ensure we have got financial stability,” said Hannah. The dinner dance is to be held on September 16 at the Buxted Park Hotel, Uckfield. Auction and raffle lots already received include a framed, signed picture of DJ Fatboy Slim, England Rugby tickets, a styling session with Victoria Genevieve and tickets for Sussex Cricket.

“We decided to go big!” said Hannah. Donors and potential sponsors can find out more about the charity by emailing hello@ baby2baby.co.uk or at: baby2baby.co.uk

SPACE TO GROW: Baby 2 Baby’s storage facility in Crowborough

HANNAH POWELL

Rusthall parents’ chair design gives hospital babies a boost

By Victoria Roberts

A SPECIAL chair for paediatric hospital beds is to give tiny children in intensive care the opportunity to sit up and play, thereby improving their quality of life and boosting chances of rehabilitation.

The Connie Medical Chair was designed by Rusthall-based parents Russ and Vikki Banner, whose daughter, Connie, was born in 2019 with a congenital heart defect. She spent the first and the last part of her short life in hospital, where it was a great challenge to play, develop and interact.

Surgery

At three weeks of age, she had surgery that was initially successful. However, in 2020, there were complications following a second planned surgery, and they lost her that November, at the age of 20 months.

Connie spent three months in the Evelina Hospital in London, and her father, Russ, said: “We soon realised there wasn’t really any decent chair that would go into the cot bed that would provide her with some sit-up-and-play time.

“She would have pillows, or an external chair, which would take a lot of time and effort to get into, so I began to ask questions of the nurses, physios and doctors.”

Research has shown that early “mobilisation” of a child after surgery can significantly benefit their physical and psychological wellbeing. But moving

a tiny intensive care patient to a “high chair” also means moving cables and tubes, which requires time and effort by a number of adults.

The new chair, created by Russ and Vikki in conjunction with a team of designers, physios, occupational therapists and play experts, sits in a cot bed and gives a patient much longer time to sit up and play or interact with family.

“Connie, whilst not walking, was able to develop great fine motor skills,” Russ told the Times She enjoyed colouring, using stickers, playing at tea parties, and messy play.

“The Connie Medical Chair would have helped with this and given her extra play time when she wasn’t tired,” he said.

“Unfortunately, it didn't exist at the time of her life, so our legacy is to do just that for other children in hospital or hospice care.”

Russ and Vikki registered their charity earlier in March, and are hoping to raise £200,000 to manufacture and install the chairs in the 22 children’s hospitals up and down the country, as well as 55 children’s hospices.

The unit is designed for children from about eight months to four years old, both post-surgery or in palliative care, Russ explained.

“However, those age ranges are for children who are of normal age and size. Often, like Connie, children with life-limiting conditions don’t grow that quickly, so the design could aid slightly older children.”

Connie Medical Chair is a registered charity. Find out more or donate at: conniemedicalchair.org

Stationmaster is chuffed to be named tourism superstar

By Sarah Carter

A LOCAL heritage railway stationmaster has been named as a tourism superstar by the English national tourist board, winning one-third of the final vote.

Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) Chief Stationmaster Geoff Colvin overtook eight rivals from across the country to win VisitEngland’s ‘Tourism Superstar Award 2023’, the heritage attraction said last week.

Promoted

“Geoff is the first representative from a heritage railway to not only be shortlisted, but to ultimately win the coveted award in its 11-year history,” added K&ESR.

Having only joined the volunteer-run railway in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, Mr Colvin was promoted rapidly, becoming Chief Stationmaster last year.

Stationmasters greet passengers as they start their journey on the 10½-mile heritage route, pulled by steam and diesel engines.

K&ESR General Manager Robin Coombes said: “Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our railway and we couldn't be more proud of Geoff.

“This is not only an accolade for him, but an important recognition for the countless contributions of the hundreds of volunteers who selflessly give their time to the railway to keep its history alive and accessible to all.”

Mr Colvin said: “The outcome, and especially

the proportion of people that voted for me, was a huge surprise, given how impressive all the other finalists were.

“I am particularly honoured to be the first representative from a heritage railway to win. It’s a real recognition of how the preservation movement has grown to be a vital part of local tourism, bringing value to the communities it serves and to those who give their time.”

Calling Mr Colvin a “standout example” of the ‘Superstars’ promoted by the tourist board, VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “He gives every passenger, young and old, unforgettable experiences with his passion for our wonderful railway heritage.”

Chief Stationmaster Colvin works across the K&ESR line, at both Tenterden and Bodiam stations.

The spring season starts on April 1, with tickets and timetables available at: kesr.org.uk

GEOFF COLVIN

PLAY SEAT: The Connie Medical Chair CONNIE BANNER

Boss of law firm to retire after lifetime of service

By Lilly Croucher

THE MANAGING partner of one of Tunbridge Wells’ top law firms, Cripps, will be retiring at the end of next month after nearly 40 years at the company.

Gavin Tyler will be taking his well-deserved retirement after directing the firm through several relocations and merging with other firms while maintaining the growth of the multi-million-pound business.

Disputes

Mr Tyler joined the company back in 1984, where he qualified as a solicitor and specialised in disputes and later employment law.

In 2005 he headed the Corporate Division, eventually becoming managing partner in 2013, directing 435 people and 70 partners across the Tunbridge Wells and London offices.

Since then, Mr Tyler has overseen the companies’ relocations in Tunbridge Wells and London, the mergers with Vertex Law in 2013 and Pemberton Greenish in 2018, and a more than doubling of revenue from £18million in 2018 to £46million in 2023.

Mr Tyler told the Times: “I have come to the end of my second five-year term as managing partner and feel that it is the time for me to move on.

“This is not a job for life, as leadership must evolve and different approaches are needed for the company to continue. I always wanted to leave on my terms as soon as I could afford to do so.

“I look forward to getting out to enjoy life, and to spending more time with my wife who has been an enormous support to me over the years.

New electric vehicle charging site in Pembury

By Alice Reece

“I joined this firm in 1984 as an article clerk, which today would be a trainee solicitor, but I have known this company since I was nineyears-old. My father was also a partner in the firm.

“I never expected to stay in Tunbridge Wells but after working in London, I preferred the work down here and ended up living in Crowborough for 30 years.

“We are a full-on business that happens to do law, so when I took over, I had to start thinking differently towards making decisions and assessing risk, now nearly 10 years later, it’s second nature to me.

“I am looking forward to having lots of lunches in my last month, saying goodbye to clients and colleagues. There is also a retirement dinner planned for the end of April.

“I’ll miss the place and the people a lot, I have a great team behind me, but all good things must come to an end.”

Mr Tyler will be succeeded by James Beatton as Managing Partner in May 2023.

A NEW public electric Vehicle (EV) charging site has opened at a hotel in Pembury to help the expansion of the limited local EV infrastructure.

The Camden Arms Hotel and restaurant has installed two high-powered EV chargers compatible with every electric vehicle.

The 75kW chargers will be able to add up to 100 miles of range in around 35 minutes of charge, depending on the vehicle’s battery, providing super-fast, reliable charging to residents, local businesses and visitors.

With the Government’s plans to ban petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, more EV charging points will be needed across large towns like Tunbridge Wells. The current lack of charging points means people are reluctant to make the change to electric vehicles.

The new site is run by Osprey, who hope to encourage EV uptake in the area, increase the local EV infrastructure, improve local air quality, reduce noise pollution and help with decarbonisation emission plans.

Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging, said: “The electric transition is well underway and

we’re here to provide a reliable and rapid public charging service for drivers, from Cornwall to Scottish Highlands.

“Each of our new locations is carefully designed to maximise space, accessibility, and availability of chargers, working to the latest and highest standards.

Network

“This new charging site at the Camden Arms hotel and restaurant in Pembury is a vital part of the re-charging network that will enable the decarbonisation of transport in the UK.”

Located in an ideal place next to a hotel and restaurant, EV drivers can charge their cars during their over-night stay or while having a meal.

James Cunningham, owner of the Camden Arms hotel told the Times: “The site has already been very popular. It is great for my customers to have somewhere to charge their cars.”

The chargers take all forms of payment including contactless bank cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, the Osprey app, RFID Card payments and call other major third party payment methods such as fleet cards.

GAVIN TYLER

Your Times Business Award Winners

Honoured at a glittering gala awards ceremony at Salomons Estate on the evening of March 30, here are the winners in each business category…

START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

CREATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Kumquat

A modern, Asian fusion restaurant that focuses on Asian flavours cooked in a modern way. Kumquat also hosts private events and offers a selection of cooked food delivered to one’s home.

Award sponsor: Cornerstone FS

finalists:

Sharp Minds Communications

For many clients, Sharp Minds is their one-stop marketing department, working alongside companies, helping them to grow their business by devising bespoke marketing and PR strategies.

Award sponsor: Integra Property Management

‘The award will end up in pride of place!’

Other finalists: Colley Raine & Associates, The TN card

Siobhan Sterling

‘I didn’t expect this! We were the first ones up on stage – the first award up as well. I feel good!’

Virginia Boyd

Alex and Virginia Boyd receive their award from Deborah Richards (left) and Nick Ferrari (right)

Other

Claire Douglas Styling, TN Lettings

The team at Sharp Minds Communications

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

GREEN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

A business, personal finance and property specialist, Gillian is the founder of Lending Made Simple, the Finance Hub and the Property Hub.

Award sponsor: Charles Stanley

Other finalists: Denise Airey, Maryna Cole, Matt Elesmore

Goupie

Palmer

This company makes a chocolate confectionery product to an old recipe, supplying retailers, national distributors and direct to the consumer. With sustainability central to the business, all products are vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and sustainably packaged.

Award sponsor: Clarity Homes & Commercial

‘I’m surprised, but it’s amazing – it’s awesome!’

Other finalists: : Denton’s Art of Hair, Emily Brown Photography

Gillian Palmer

‘I thought they had sat me right at the back because I hadn’t won!’

Gillian

Gillian Palmer, pictured with her award

Grace Simpson

Grace Simpson (holding her award) with sponsor Andrew Mann of Clarity Homes & Construction

Nourish Community

Nourish delivers emergency food parcels and support to people in crisis across the whole borough of Tunbridge Wells and South Tonbridge.

Award sponsor: Lexus

‘Honestly, in this category, any one of us three could have won. They are all amazing. I am so very, very thankful.’

This spacious restaurant and lively bar offer a fusion of world cuisine. It is open seven days a week for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. They also host live music three nights a week.

Award sponsor: NFU Mutual

‘We are really excited the judges came to this decision. We would also like to say a huge thank-you to all of our customers.’

Lukas Barauskas

Other

Dawn Stanford

The team from Nourish Community Foodbank

TN1 Bar & Kitchen’s team accept their award

finalists: The Blue Anchor (Crowborough), The George & Dragon (Speldhurst), Pig & Porter

Other finalists: Age UK Tunbridge Wells, Taylor Made Dreams

Grovewood Wealth

Management

With the motto: ‘Our family looking after your family’, Lynne and Michael Gadsden have run this chartered financial planning practice for 21 years, specialising in providing high-quality, bespoke advice to individuals, their families and their businesses.

Award sponsor: Childrensalon

‘Ours is a proper family business. Our motto is ‘our family looking after your family’, and our son and niece are now involved – the next generation.’

Lynne Gadsden

BEST BUSINESS WITH 1-25 EMPLOYEES

Brittens Music

This

‘We’re quite excited! Maybe it will go on display in the shop, or maybe up in the music school, but it will certainly be on display.’

Andrew Collins

Award sponsor: TN Recruits

The Grovewood team with Lynne Gadsden

Other finalists: Fashion Carpets, KMJ Property, Kumquat

Andrew Collins and the Brittens Music team, with sponsor Neil Simmons

Other finalists: The Green Duck Emporium, HR Revolution, Welham Jones Funerals & Memorials

BEST BUSINESS WITH 26+ EMPLOYEES

OUTSTANDING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

CooperBurnett Solicitors

Since 1981, this solicitors’ firm has built a reputation across Tunbridge Wells and the Southeast for knowledge and expertise, providing high levels of service to their clients.

Award sponsor: Finance Hub

Sharp Minds Communications

For many clients, Sharp Minds is their one-stop marketing department, working alongside companies helping them to grow their business by devising bespoke marketing and PR strategies.

Award sponsor: Thomson Snell & Passmore

Other finalists: NFU Mutual,

‘I genuinely was not expecting this. It’s extraordinary and humbling.’

Siobhan Sterling

‘Jo and I have been leading the team, but it’s mainly the team we’re really proud of. I’m so, so happy.’

Victoria Sampson

Victoria Sampson, Joseph Oates (centre) with sponsor Gillian Palmer

Other finalists: Cornerstone FS PLC, Loch Associates Group

Siobhan Stirling (centre) with her award

Thomas Mansfield, Welham Jones Funerals & Memorials

Trump charged in New York court

FORMER president Donald Trump yesterday (April 5) appeared in court in New York for a historic booking and arraignment on criminal charges, after the Times went to press.

Mr Trump flew from Florida to New York on Monday to face criminal charges stemming from hush money payments in 2016, as the nation’s largest city bolstered security and warned potential protesters that it was ‘not a playground for your misplaced anger’.

Investigations

Mr Trump, who faces multiple election-related investigations, is already months into a third campaign to reclaim the White House he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020.

US cable networks followed his plane at airports in Florida and New York with video from the air, and Mr Trump was joined aboard by a small group of senior campaign aides, as well as his son, Eric Trump, who eagerly posted photos of the

wall-to-wall TV coverage from his seat.

Mr Trump faces multiple charges of falsifying business records, including at least one felony offence, in the indictment handed down by a Manhattan grand jury last week.

The investigation is scrutinising six-figure payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Both say they had sexual encounters with the married Mr Trump years before he got into politics. Mr Trump denies having sexual liaisons with either woman and has denied any wrongdoing involving payments.

It is an unprecedented chapter in American history, with Mr Trump the first former president to face criminal charges.

Repeating his frequent denunciation, Mr Trump posted: “WITCH HUNT” on his social media network.

He also bolstered his legal team on Monday, adding a third high-profile lawyer, Todd Blanche, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Finland becomes 31st NATO member in historic ceremony

FINLAND yesterday (April 4) joined NATO in a historic realignment triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the head of the military alliance said no more troops would be sent to the Nordic country unless it asked for help.

Russia has already warned that it would bolster defences along its border with NATO if the alliance deployed additional troops or equipment to its new member.

“There will be no NATO troops in Finland without the consent of Finland,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.

But he refused to rule out the possibility of holding more military exercises there and said that NATO would not allow Russia’s demands to dictate the organisation’s decisions.

Finland became the 31st member of NATO, taking its place among the ranks of the world’s biggest security alliance.

Finland shares a 832-mile border with Russia, so its entry more than doubles the size of NATO’s border with Russia. The move is a strategic and political blow to President Vladimir Putin, who has long complained about NATO’s expansion toward Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Finland’s

membership reflected the alliance’s anti-Russian course and warned that Moscow would respond, depending on what weapons Nato allies placed there.

Monitor

“We will closely monitor what will be going on in Finland and how NATO will use the territory of Finland for the deployment of weapons, equipment and infrastructure next to our border that would potentially threaten us. Measures will be taken dependent on that,” Mr Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.

Mr Peskov also sought to play down the impact, noting that Russia has no territorial disputes with Finland.

It is not clear what additional military resources Russia could send to the Finnish border.

At Thomson Snell & Passmore, we understand that buying a new home can be a confusing and sometimes stressful process. Our Residential Conveyancing experts have put together the below to help de-mystify the conveyancing journey.

FLYING THE FLAG: NATO headquarters in Brussels

FACING CHARGES: Donald Trump

Just Stop Oil activists guilty of public nuisance over Dartford Crossing protest

TWO Just Stop Oil protesters who scaled a bridge on the Dartford Crossing, causing a gridlock when police closed the bridge to traffic, have been found guilty of causing a public nuisance. The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links the M25 in Essex and Kent, was closed from 4am on October 17 last year to 9pm the following day by the protest.

Morgan Trowland, 40, and Marcus Decker, 34, who denied the charges, were found guilty by a

Drivers warned of Easter jams with up to 17m getaway trips planned

DRIVERS are being warned to expect severe queues on the roads with up to 17million leisure trips by car predicted to be made over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Major roads in south-west England and some in the Home Counties are likely to experience the worst congestion on Good Friday, according to the RAC and transport analytics company Inrix.

Traffic

More than double the normal traffic levels are predicted for the A303 westbound near Stonehenge in Wiltshire, the M5 south between Bristol and Bridgwater, and the M25 anticlockwise between Hertfordshire and Surrey. Queues are likely to be increased by engineering work on the railways.

A survey of 2,400 UK drivers commissioned by the RAC suggested 2.7 million car journeys have been planned for Good Friday and Easter Sunday by drivers embarking on day trips

or overnight stays.

Saturday and Easter Monday are expected to be slightly less busy, with 2.3 million separate getaway trips on each day.

National Highways will temporarily remove more than 1,400 miles of roadworks on England’s motorways and major A-roads by 6am on Thursday until Tuesday April 11.

That means more than 98% of its road network will be free from roadworks.

Network Rail is carrying out more than 600 engineering projects on Britain’s railways over the Easter weekend.

Track and signalling modernisation work on some lines into London Victoria means Southern and Gatwick Express services will not call at the station during the bank holiday weekend.

Some trains will be diverted to London Bridge. Network Rail said it often schedules major engineering work for bank holidays to minimise disruption for passengers as fewer people travel during those periods.

jury by unanimous verdicts following more than two hours of deliberations.

Judge Shane Collery KC remanded them in custody to be sentenced on April 13, and said the court was considering custodial sentences. Separately, the trial of six Just Stop Oil protesters, over road-blocking demonstrations in 2022, started yesterday (April 4) at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The trial is expected to end today.

PROTESTS:

The activists on the QEII Bridge

Hugo

Pound

Labour Councillor for Sherwood

Vote Labour for a fair and g reener Borough

LAST week Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, launched Labour’s local election campaign. With UK households facing the biggest drop in living standards since the 1950s, tax at the highest for 70 years, and an inflationdriven cost of living crisis, he called for voters to send a clear message to the government by voting Labour at this election.

Labour locally is a member of the Borough Partnership, the cross-party grouping now running our local Council. Two Labour councillors hold Cabinet posts. I hold the Housing and Planning post and Luke Everitt holds Environment, Carbon Reduction and Sustainability.

Issues

Housing and the environment are two of the most important issues that young people, and families wanting to make their homes here, are concerned about.

Since the Partnership was set up in May 2022, Labour councillors have been helping to shape Council policy and action. The £100,000 Community Support Fund was a Labour response to Conservative barriers to reducing the Council Tax for the poorest in the Borough. The fund is designed to help those hit most by the cost-of-living crisis.

I have steered through the Council’s acquisition of 15 properties, in partnership with central Government, to house Afghan and Ukrainian refugees. These properties will eventually become part of the Council’s housing stock. I have also helped to set up a new, fairer housing allocation policy and process, and a project to help homeless people back into work with secure tenancies.

Luke has steered through the conversion to green, clean energy to heat the leisure centre in Cranbrook, a new policy on the use of pesticides and herbicides in our green spaces, and he has initiated the development of a Borough-wide carbon reduction strategy. He has secured improvements to the refuse collection fleet that,

Joe Dore The Alliance

when implemented later in the year, will create a more reliable and efficient bin collection service than that left by the last administration.

Labour is helping to shape our Council’s plans. We are serious about finding ways to develop more genuinely affordable homes to buy and social housing for rent. We are driving the climate emergency agenda and we’re focused on ensuring that the Council actually meets its ‘net zero’ target.

We are fully engaged in the Town Centre Area Plan for Tunbridge Wells and in the Local Plan we want to see adopted this year. And at ward and Council level, we are engaged with the police to address anti-social behaviour, graffiti and safety on our streets.

As Labour councillors we would argue that we bring a ‘heart’ to the Council. We would also say we bring our ‘head’. We are working together with our Borough Partnership colleagues on some of the tough decisions to reduce the Council’s £1million financial deficit and fall-out from the £10.8million failed theatre project legacy left by the previous Tory council.

Consultation

We want the Council to do a better job of public consultation, to be more transparent about its decision making, and more accessible to the public. We should listen, explain and communicate well. In this, there is still a lot to learn and get right.

We will support any well thought-out and cost-effective initiatives that are good for the Borough’s residents and businesses. We want towns and villages across the Borough to thrive and prosper.

We believe that Labour has a good local track record and we have energetic candidates who will bring new impetus and a brighter future for everyone in the Borough. Together we are on your side, and ask you to vote Labour on May 4 2023.

(Don’t forget you will need photo ID to vote. Better still get a postal vote!)

We achieve more by working together

I’VE noticed that local politicians are always criticised for spending most of their time taking aim at each other, and there is a risk that the good stuff goes unnoticed. I want to use this space to show you some of the good work that The Alliance and the Borough Partnership have delivered.

The Community Support Fund – real money for people who really need it

We successfully raised and delivered £100,000 for those most in need. The fund, headed up by Cllr Nancy Warne (Alliance) issued money to six causes: Charlie’s Angels Kitchen – £15,000; Nourish – £20,000; Number One Community Trust: – £15,000; Community Car Service (Tunbridge Wells Volunteer Bureau) – £10,000; Parish Larders – £15,000 (£2,500 for each Larder) and West Kent Mind – £25,000.

Delivered a budget that works

Council budgets are strange and complex things, and people twist them to mean all sorts of different things. The fact of the matter is, prior to last May, we were headed for a £900k+ deficit. We are now headed for a surplus of revenue overspend of £350k. This is good news and has happened under the

Borough Partnership’s watch, specifically Cllr Christopher Hall (Lib Dem).

Increased our social housing stock

It is under the watchful eye of Cllr Hugo Pound (Lab), that the Council will embark on a £5million project to purchase homes that will initially be occupied by Ukrainian and Afghan families fleeing conflict. The cost is funded by a combination of a Government grant and developer contributions. The houses will become part of the Council’s social housing stock.

Transparency

Everything the Council has done has been carried out in plain sight for once. This has allowed the opposition greater insight into the unfinished work and to pick holes, but this won’t stop us continuing to work like this. We want everyone to see what we are doing. We want to be more transparent than before and Cllr David Hayward (Alliance) is hellbent on keeping it so.

From these few examples you can see clearly that councillors in the Borough Partnership are working together, collaboratively, for a better Borough. In our first year, we have changed the way the Council operates and, with your

blessing, we will continue with this work.

On May 4, or sooner if you vote by post, take a look at the ballot paper, forget your traditional party allegiances, decide which candidate you think will best serve you, and cast your vote for them.

By then, you should have received a leaflet, and you may also have received a letter and, possibly, a knock on your door.

While I’ve got your attention, I’ve been assured that car parks are not for sale – they are under review, but not for sale. TWBC simply needs to review car park usage and revenue to make sure that the Council’s assets are performing well and are not a drain on your money.

Don’t hesitate to tell us what you think of this first year at: info@twalliance.com

Hugo Pound is the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning as well as the Leader of the Labour Group of Councillors on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Joe Doré is The Alliance candidate for Sherwood ward in Tunbridge Wells.

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

Ancient and enjoyable game

Bowls has a long history, perhaps the longest of any sport in England, and the sight of players in whites, playing bowls on a village green is one of the emblematic country scenes. Yet the game is far older than that.

The Egyptians played with stones, weighted to swerve one way or the other as they aimed at a stick in the ground.

The Romans also took to it, formalising it, a move which saw the game sweep Europe, called boules in France and bowls in England. Various kings and queens restricted the game, as they feared young men were neglecting their archery practice. Indeed, Henry VIII decreed that the game could only be played on Christmas Day.

But bowls is now in trouble. Many village clubs are finding it hard to attract players, and some are having to close down as older members pass, making it impossible to field competitive teams or maintain the playing green.

Tunbridge Wells used to boast five clubs, but now I believe it only has two.

Image seems to be the big recruitment problem, the game seen as one for the old and doddery.

Yet the game is a competitive one. The idea is for a player to bowl closer to a small white target ball than his or her competitor.

Gridlocks the other side of Wadhurst

Wadhurst may be the best place to live in the UK but Peppy’s cartoon last week of a gridlocked High Street absolutely nailed it.

It’s bad enough trying to drive through the town at any time, but when the schools empty out the waiting buses and coaches make it near impossible.

I think the burghers prefer it this way.

Sam Goodenough

Tunbridge Wells

Let’s not silence democracy

Once again, we are entering that time period where parties announce their candidates, and healthy debate commences.

Unfortunately, that does not appear to reach Twitter, where multiple people attack those who dare to utter the word ‘Conservative’, for it now appears a banned word.

Many froth at the mouth at the lack of democracy, with some people choosing to not allow responses, for fear of abuse.

How ironic then, that those stalwarts of democracy silence anyone who disagrees with them, while hiding behind anonymous profile pictures and fake screen names.

Perhaps if everyone were to be honest and politer on social media, then we could see some good debates taking place.

Richard Harrington Town Centre

The bowls – players call them woods – are weighted to give them a bias: they swing from left or right depending on how they’re delivered, allowing them to avoid earlier deliveries.

Most local clubs need new members if they are to survive, and warmly welcome men and women who want to give this ancient and enjoyable game a go.

This year, Rotherfield is running a major new member campaign, offering equipment, instruction and three months subs free.

It’s not just the game but a social event, and the chat and friendship in the club bar are as enjoyable as the game itself.

Jerry Gosney

while he once adopted a little lamb Winston from us who had been rescued from a wheelie bin.

The thoughts of all at the RSPCA are with his loved ones and our friends at Battersea at this difficult and sad time.

Chris Sherwood

Chief

executive

of the RSPCA

Help end puppy smuggling

For more than a decade, Dogs Trust has been campaigning to end the cruel puppy smuggling trade to protect countless dogs from the horrific mistreatment of being illegally transported into the UK.

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill is essential to tackling puppy smuggling, and future legislation under it would close legal loopholes that allow unscrupulous traders to import puppies, pregnant dogs, and dogs with mutilations, like cropped ears.

However, despite pledging to tackle puppy smuggling, the Government is dragging its heels and has not progressed this crucial legislation since November 2021.

I am incredibly disappointed that the Government continues to sideline these critical improvements to dog welfare, which could help to stop the needless suffering of animals. We are calling for the Bill to return to Parliament as a matter of urgency. This is a view shared by the 40,000-plus people around the UK who have supported the Dogs Trust’s campaign and emailed the Prime Minister to ask him to progress the Kept Animals Bill.

Serving up the truth

There has been a game of tennis going on in your paper (letters, comments and interviews) regarding the local Council and their finances, by Councillors past and present.

Last week was a serve from a former Conservative and probably a serve from the Lib Dems this week. I realise people can twist figures to fit what they want to prove, but could your paper hold a final, and decide who is telling the truth, it would be good to know who is fibbing before the next election in May, so as to help people decide which way to vote. Maybe the next election will upset the present balance of power and they could start all over again.

Richard Bell Culverden Park Road

Editor’s note:

We at the Times believe it is our role to provide you with the facts and arguments to allow you, dear reader, to make up your own minds on what the truth may be. Hopefully you may then go to the polls fully armed with all the facts to cast your vote accordingly.

O’Grady a tireless campaigner

Paul O’Grady’s love for animals and the incredible way he told their stories inspired countless families to re-home rescue pets and give them a second chance of happiness. His tireless campaigning saw Paul recognised with an RSPCA Animal Hero Award for his outstanding contribution to animal welfare,

I recently chaired a parliamentary roundtable on the issue of puppy smuggling. We were joined by 17 organisations who are on the front line of the problem, including major transport carriers, Trading Standards, veterinary professionals as well as Members of Parliament. We all have a shared goal – to tackle the abhorrent illegal trade and do all we can to bring this Bill back to Parliament. The meeting allowed us to discuss how we can work together to tackle the cruel trade, and it was encouraging to see that other organisations are also committed to this crucial cause.

SAYS...

While I am pleased that we have such a weight of backing on this issue, it’s frustrating that the Government will not recognise the urgent need to progress the Kept Animals Bill. Dogs Trust remains committed to working with other organisations, and will continue to rally the public for support, until the Government makes good on its election promise to crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies. We will not give up.

To show your support for our campaign, visit: action.dogstrust.org.uk

Owen Sharp CEO, Dogs Trust

Mental health needs greater consideration in the workplace

As World Health Day (April 7) approaches this year, its focus topic is ‘health for all’. As a ‘first world’ country, we are highly privileged, with access to healthcare through the NHS. It is worth recognising how fortunate we are compared to other parts of the world. But we mustn’t forget the importance of both mental and emotional health – as well as the physical. Mental health being the way we ‘think’ and emotional health being the way we ‘feel’. The two, are intrinsically linked.

In the UK, mental health first aiders are still not compulsory in the workplace. They are merely recommendations, not legislation. These trained individuals can help people experiencing varying degrees of worsening mental health issues and create a safe space for them. They are equipped to signpost them on to further relevant support.

Few organisations promote the right of employees to take a ‘mental health day’ as equally as they might a sick day – even though this is, in fact, law. Every so often, we can find accumulated stresses have reached a point where we feel, if not dealt with immediately, will tip us over the edge. We risk lashing out at those around us, or of falling apart into burnout.

Vanessa Louise Moore Emotional Health Coach, Wellbeing and Self-Care Expert

Marlborough House School given ‘Excellent’ rating by Independent Schools Inspectorate

Following a rigorous three-day Ofsted inspection, staff and governors at Marlborough House School in Hawkhurst, Kent, were delighted to be awarded with the highest rating of ‘Excellent’ in all areas in their Inspection Report, which was published in March 2023.

The Prep School, which takes pupils from 2½-13 years, was praised for the pupils’

“excellent academic achievements”, in addition to their “excellent personal development”. Feedback on the school’s individual approach was glowing, with inspectors noting that: “Pupils of all abilities make fast progress from their individual starting points and achieve “high academic standards”, with pupils acquiring “excellent knowledge, skills and understanding across the curriculum”.

Values

The school’s modern, skills-based approach to the curriculum was also commended for enabling pupils to “develop effective skills for learning and for life”.

As a school with a strong set of values at its core and a robust personal development programme, it is no surprise that inspectors found that: “Pupils of all ages show high levels of self-knowledge, self-confidence, determination and resilience. Marlborough House’s ethos centres around ‘Valuing Self and Others’, and the school was delighted that the report repeatedly identified pupils as a wonderful combination of “confident” and

“respectful”. Indeed, in interviews with inspectors, children themselves described the pupil body as “incredibly friendly, kind and respectful”.

Mr Newton, Head of Marlborough House, thanked the school community for their support: “We are very proud of our pupils

and the remarkable recognition that they have received. A huge thank you goes to our talented and committed staff and the whole school community.

“Next year, the school will mark its 150th anniversary, and this exceptional, independent review of MHS is a wonderful starting point for our celebrations,” Mr Newton added.

‘We are very proud of our pupils and the remarkable recognition that they have received’

RATED EXCELLENT: Marlborough House School

Life &Times

Mercurial talent

Magic Queen rock the Assembly Hall… Arts P22

It’s a kind of magic that rocked the Assembly Hall For moments in this show, the audience might have felt themselves transported to Wembley Stadium as they were immersed in this fabulous tribute to

Queen…

By Michelle Wood

Magic Queen, one of Europe’s top Queen tribute bands, took to the stage at the Assembly Hall on Saturday night (April 1) in a show that certainly did not disappoint die-hard fans of the iconic band.

What’s so particularly special about this type of tribute show is the dedicated fandom, which turned out to not only watch, but to take part, too. Audience members had travelled from far and wide to witness the band breathe life into their rock idols.

Glam

A diverse audience of Queen fans of all ages donned their Freddie Mercury T-shirts, leather jackets and trousers, and there were even the occasional septuagenarians kitted out in leather miniskirts, leather jackets, chains and boots.

A Freddie Mercury lookalike, probably about six years old, and sporting a trademark white, Freddie vest and gelled hair, wiggled his way through the show from the front row, exhorting other audience members to get to their feet.

This was an audience determined to relive the glam of the 70s and 80s, and no one was going to be tied to their chairs.

And Magic Queen certainly did not disappoint them. With Eugi Bartolo as Roger Taylor on drums, Chris Gilbertson as John Deacon on bass guitar, Connor McGovern as Freddie Mercury, and Rafa Diaz embodying a young Brian May, the music was truly extraordinary. Concentrating on sounding like the original artists, the band took to the stage in a

ROCK ROYALTY: Connor McGovern as Freddie Mercury and Rafa Diaz as Brian May

two-and-half-hour show of high-energy numbers, kicking off with Under Pressure –an all-time crowd favourite.

At this point, one must state the obvious: there is and will only ever be one Freddie Mercury, who managed to blend his extraordinary vocals with a campness and showmanship that remains unrivalled – even by the exceptionally talented Adam Lambert, his successor. However, Connor McGovern does an incredible job in sounding like Freddie from the outset. And, as he and the crowd warmed up, supported by the supremely talented band, he embodied the great Freddie more and more with each song. At times, even those of us who saw Mercury live could be

forgiven for forgetting that we were not part of a Wembley crowd, as we swayed to the music, our mobile phone lights above our heads (lighters, nowadays, being considered too great a health and safety hazard).

This band is indeed multi-talented, as each is not only proficient on their instruments, but vocals, too. McGovern takes up both vocals and piano on numbers such as Killer Queen, Somebody to Love, Don’t Stop me Now and We are The Champions. Guitar-led favourites, like Tie Your Mother Down, Hammer to Fall, One Vision, I Want it All and We Will Rock You, are more than ably led by Chris Gilbertson as John Deacon and Rafa Diaz as Brian May. McGovern, aka Freddie, even takes up axe duties himself on occasion.

Highlights of the show included a roof-raising rendition of The Show must Go On, which showcased the mighty power of McGovern’s

voice, and then Diaz on guitar, whose smooth solos, insane riffs and quirky, almost introverted movements were the embodiment of Brian May. Looking at him, it was hard to believe that one was not in the presence of a younger version of the great man himself.

For the pre-interval number, McGovern re-emerged on to the stage decked out in a wig, leather miniskirt, stockings and tank top, with a vacuum cleaner in hand, for I Want To Break Free. He had the audience eating out of his hand. Screams of “Freddie!” rang out across the auditorium as the dancing crowd tried to swarm the stage.

The second half of the show passed in a delicious, high-energy wave of perennial

favourites, like It’s a kind of Magic, Fat Bottomed Girls, Don’t Stop me Now and Crazy Little Thing Called Love, as McGovern mingled with the crowd, and audience members sashayed from their seats to both the front and into the aisles to dance to Queen as if it were their last performance ever.

Crescendo

Not for a minute did the band take their foot off the gas as they built up to a spectacular crescendo with Bohemian Rhapsody, followed by a standing ovation with Radio Gaga, We Will Rock You (recreating the iconic image of Freddie draped in the Union Jack) and

We are the Champions.

Magic Queen are to be applauded. They succeeded in blending the trademark vocal layering and studio precision of Queen with the energy of a live stage production, while meticulously recreating moments from legendary shows, like their iconic Wembley appearance for Live Aid. All of which made for a truly magical and fun night out.

Sadly, this was a one-night-only show at the Assembly Hall but do look out for them. You won’t regret it.

Magic Queen epitomised the quality of the offerings on show at the Assembly Hall. To see their full line-up for the coming months, visit: assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

‘Highlights of the show include a roof-raising rendition of The Show must Go On, which showcased the mighty power of McGovern’s voice’

Easter holiday fun for all the family

Bewl Water, Kent/Sussex

Keep the kids busy for less this Easter at southeast England’s largest reservoir, Bewl Water. From April 1-16, the 800-acre site will be pulling out all the stops to help parents keep children entertained for under £15. Car parking costs £7 for the day and Easter activities are mostly free to enjoy.

The range of free activities include: giant garden games, Ranger Bears’ Spring Trail; the Rabbit Colouring Competition; the Adventure Pirate Ship and the Big Easter Fun Day. Children under one year of age enter free into the soft play. Other activities include some with minimal cost, like an Easter egg hunt for £2, soft play for £5 and bike hire for £7.50.

For more information: visit bewlwater.co.uk

Hever Castle

Make family memories with an Easter quest and craft egg decorating workshop at Hever Castle.

Celebrate spring by helping the Easter Bunny find their sweet treats, and spell a special word as part of an Easter egg hunt around the grounds. Once you’ve worked out the word, head to the Information Hut to receive a chocolate treat.

There will also be free craft workshops where your little ones can take part in egg decorating workshops.

On Easter weekend (April 7-10), have a go at the egg and spoon race, and egg rolling on Half Moon Lawn, and get your face painted (for an additional charge).

For more information, visit: hevercastle.co.uk

Scotney Castle, near Lamberhurst, Kent

Find out what snakes, butterflies, crocodiles, birds, platypuses and dragons have in common at the Great Scotney Egg-stravaganza. Follow the trail around the stunning gardens down to the fairytale, moated castle, taking in the azaleas, magnolia stellata and cherry blossom along the way. Complete the family friendly activities to win your Easter egg. There will be plenty to keep everyone entertained, including games, face painting, play areas, and a giant bird’s nest into which the whole family can climb.

Activities are on from April 1-16. Car park booking essential. The trail costs £3; face painting costs £2 and the normal admission f ee applies.

Visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/ scotney-castle

BEWL WATER

Chartwell, Westerham, Kent

Join Chartwell’s Easter adventure trail, ‘Being Winston’, and explore elements of Churchill’s life at his former home. Little ones will love the officer training obstacle course, and there’s Easter-themed painting, story stones to inspire your imagination, and you can try your hand at a game of croquet.

While you enjoy your egg, there are plenty of places to run, play and explore in the wider estate including the Marycot, bomb crater and treehouse – or have a wander through the Orchard and find the chickens in the Walled Garden.

The trail takes place from April 1-16 and costs £3. Normal admission applies.

Visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/ chartwell

Penshurst Place and Gardens

The Easter Bunny has visited Penshurst Place and left his photo album containing his favourite snaps behind. Youngsters are invited to follow his trail and identify where he took the images, finding clues along the way. Running from April 1-16, the trail promises to keep children entertained throughout the Easter period and school break.

The trail is included free in the cost of admission to Penshurst Place and runs daily between 10am and 5pm.

Penshurst will also host Camp Wilderness Bushcraft Activities from 10.00am to 4.30pm on Good Friday April 7, and also on Easter Sunday April 10. Recommended for children aged 8 and above, activities include axe-throwing, archery, and bushfire cooking.

These activities are also included in the admission price.

On Easter Sunday, April 10, from 11.15am to 3.15pm, Penshurst Place and Gardens will feature an Easter storytelling event. Settle in for some Easter stories performed in the gardens by a collection of hoppy characters! Ideal for children of all ages.

For information on activities, dates and admission visit penshurstplace.com/ whats-on/events-and-activities/2023-04/

Aspens, Pembury

Take part in the Aspens Easter trail from April 3-15. There’s a treat for those who complete it! Visit the animals and burn off energy in the woodlands, or make music on the giant woodchimes. To take part in the trail, collect a

card from our Bluebell Café. Once you have completed it, return it to the café to receive a treat Then enjoy a delicious meal, snack or drink in the Bluebell Café.

Although no entrance fee is charged, Aspens ask visitors to consider leaving a donation to help maintain the site, care for our animals and to support their work empowering people on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities.

To find out more, visit: aspens.org.uk/ bluebell-cafe

Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest

Go on an adventure this Easter to discover some of our amazing trees in the National Pinetum.

Complete the Code Cracking Quest trail by answering a question at each box location. A letter in each answer will be converted to a number to form a code.

Return to the visitor centre to crack the code and receive a chocolate prize by unlocking the Easter hamper!

The quest will take approximately an hour to complete and costs £2 an activity sheet.

More details at: forestryengland.uk/ bedgebury/events

Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Wells West

Join Little Red Riding Hood over the four-day Easter break as she tries to find the perfect Easter egg for Granny.

The fun begins at Tunbridge Wells West Station before boarding the train, where Little Red and her friends encounter the very hungry, Big Bad Wolf. But don’t worry, she will outsmart him before everyone boards the steam train and embarks on an exciting Easter egg hunt. Along the way, Little Red will hand out activity packs and colouring pencils to all her friends onboard.

Upon arrival at Eridge Station, everybody will make their way on to the platform where Little Red and her friends will seek out the Easter Bunny and ask her for a special Easter Egg for Granny.

With a basket full of chocolate, everyone will board the train once again to travel back to Tunbridge Wells West, with Little Red giving out eggs to everybody along the way.

For more information, visit spavalleyrailway. co.uk

Feed your curiosity on Discovery Days

The Amelia Scott Centre will be holding Spring Discovery Days on April 1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 14, 15, 16, from 10-4pm.

Explore the beautiful courtyard and play a nature-themed bingo. There is also a digital forest for you to explore in the temporary exhibition space next door.

Get creative and plant your own seed bombs on

April 1, 2, 3, and 5; or join in and make a wild bee hotel on April 12, 14, 15, and 16.

For more information, visit: theamelia.co.uk/ whats-on/

Hop Farm, Paddock Wood

From the March 30, take the family to The Hop Farm Family Park for some super egg-citing fun! Highlights include indoor and outdoor live entertainment and a chance to win a huge chocolate Hopper the Rabbit on an Easter egg hunt on the bank holiday weekend. Also get up and close with gorgeous lambs, chicks and bunnies before enjoying new rides and attractions.

Entry to the Family Park is only £3 and includes all day entry into the Animal Farm and activities, Indoor Soft Play Centre, Outdoor Adventure Play Park and Crazy Golf.

Salomons

Estate, Southborough

The Easter Bunny will leave a special treat behind at Salomons Estate this year. This estate’s 36 acres of picturesque gardens make the perfect backdrop for an idyllic Easter Sunday. Enjoy a traditional Easter Sunday lunch on April 9, in the manor house, before heading outside where a chocolate treat awaits the children at the end of a magical Easter egg hunt.

Salomons Estate is also offering perfect weekend accommodation in countryside cottages, each beautifully restored and with its own unique charm.

Sleeping 1-12 guests, the cottages are dog friendly, and guests will also enjoy a complimentary hamper of treats, including chocolate and hot cross buns.

Adult Sunday lunch costs £27.50 for two courses, or £31.50 for three. Children’s Sunday lunch costs for £10 for two courses, or for £15 for three.

To make a reservation for Sunday lunch, email reception@salomons-estate.com To book an Easter getaway, visit https://www. salomons-estate.com

One

Warwick Park, Tunbridge Wells

Throughout the long weekend (April 7-9) guests at One Warwick Park Hotel can reconnect with the most magical of childhood memories and discover a weekend filled with family fun.

Running four, two-hour sessions, young children can enjoy a range of activities including cookie-making workshops, puppetry, live music, and a special meet and greet with the Easter Bunny, while parents can sit back and sample the complimentary canapés, tea and coffee.

Tickets cost £18 for children, with a sibling discount of £10 per child.

Visit onewarwickpark.co.uk

HEVER CASTLE

On Easter Sunday, One Warwick Park Hotel will also serve an Easter feast in The Brasserie. During the three-course lunch, guests can choose starters such as cuttlefish calamari, followed by a classic leg of lamb or roasted chicken with all the trimmings, followed by a delicious selection of patisserie creations, such as white chocolate and raspberry blondie and caramelised apple tart tatin. Two courses cost £27.50, or three courses for £32.50.

To make a reservation for Sunday lunch, email: reception@onewarwickpark.co.uk

Holiday Activity Camps

Ultimate Activity Camps

Children can enjoy a range of over 40 sports, games, and craft activities each week, from Monday April 3 to Friday April 14, at Rose Hill School, Coniston Avenue. Staff, safeguarding practices, facilities and activities meet Ofsted’s rigorous standards.

Drop off by 8.30am until 9.30am and pick up at 4.30pm until 5.15pm.

Visit: ultimateactivity.co.uk

Mega Camps

Ofsted-registered and catering for children aged 4-14, this camp offers a range of sports and activity days out for both boys and girls.

It is held at St Mark’s Primary School on Ramslye Road, and the hours are 9am to 4pm, or extended hours of 8am to 9pm.

For more details: Call 01892 525402

Southeast Kids Camps

Taking place at Pembury Primary School, this camp is open to all children around the area, every day during the holidays, from Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, excluding Bank holidays. Open for all the children around the area. Our Camps are open during the school holidays Monday to Friday from 8am till 6pm. Please note that we do not run on bank holidays. An Ofsted-registered childcare provider, the camp offers 50 fun gaming and sporting activities.

Call Pembury Club Directly: 07534 361181

Camp Beaumont

Held at Kent College Junior School in Pembury, the rural backdrop is complimented by a range of top facilities that facilitate a range of inspiring adventures throughout the school holidays, including sports, arts, crafts, and games. The camp is open to 3-14-year-olds.

For more information, visit campbeaumont. co.uk/our-camps/kent-college

Holmewood House camp

Set in 30 acres of beautiful grounds at Holmewood School in Barrow Lane, Langton Green, the camp offers a wide variety of activities to children aged 5-12. These includes Disney inspired art, baking, crafts, basketball, cheerleading, cricket, football, handball, hockey, multisports, tennis and bikeability. For more information, contact Course Director Claire Masterson: cmasterson@ holmewoodhouse.co.uk

Tigers Gymnastics Club

Join the Easter holiday club for gymnasts of all

abilities for April 10 to April 14. Half-day or full-day options are available. All activities take place at Tigers, Unit 5, Chapman Way. For more information, visit: tigersgymnastics. com/holiday-club

The Weald Gymnastics

Gymnastics holiday club sessions will be held from April 11-April 14, at the club at 6aSovereign Way, Tonbridge.

For more information, email info@ wealdgymnastics.com

Firstclass Football Soccer School & Multisports Camp

Soccer School & Multi-Sports Camp is open to children of all abilities in years 1-9. Sessions are progressive and content is devised to enable children to develop and advance. Camp takes place from Monday, April 13-Wednesday, April 15 at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 3G and Sports Hall, from 9am to 3pm. Early drop off and late collections available. To book, visit firstclassfootball.com

PENSHURST PLACE

ONE WARWICK PARK

Egg-cellent family time in Tunbridge Wells at Easter

By Molly Miller

THERE is plenty going on in Tunbridge Wells over the Easter break, with a programme of events planned at Salomons Estate, One Warwick Park Hotel and Bewl Water that are mostly low-cost or free of charge.

Big Easter Family Fun Day

Little bunnies and their families can hop along to southeast England’s largest reservoir, Bewl Water, in Lamberhurst this Saturday April 8, for Big Easter Family Fun Day.

Free to attend, the day promises plenty to do for kids and grown-ups alike and is dog-friendly, too. For only £3, you can take part in an Easter egg hunt and win an egg-stra special chocolate prize. Available throughout the holiday, you can also keep the children entertained with giant garden games and colouring.

Families can also enjoy a haybale maze and bouncy castle and meet Bewl Water’s mascot, Ranger Bear, before completing his springtime trail, which is free of charge and also available

all holiday. No tickets are needed for the Big Easter Family Fun Day and visitors can drop in any time from 10.00 am.

While you’re at Bewl Water, why not attempt the inflatable obstacle course, go head-to-head in a game of laser tag, (£15 per player) or head over to soft play where sessions are free for babies under one, or just £5 for toddlers and young children.

Light bites, tasty snacks and hearty lunch items will be available all day from the dog-friendly Waterfront Cafe, where you can also sit back with a hot coffee or treat the kids to ice cream.

Meet the Easter Bunny

If you’re in the town centre, why not join the Easter Bunny meet-and-greet at One Warwick Park Hotel? Running three sessions on April 7-9, families can make some special memories with the Easter Bunny before taking part in a cookie-making workshop and enjoying a puppet show with live music.

Tickets can be purchased at: onewarwickpark. co.uk and cost £18 for children or just £10 when accompanied by a sibling. And while there is a small £5 fee for adults, complimentary tea, coffee, and sweet treats will be available throughout each session.

If you miss this event, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy some quality family time at the boutique, four-star hotel, where kids stay free throughout the Easter half-term. The discount is applicable across all bedrooms and self-catered options by booking directly through email at: reception@onewarwickpark.co.uk.

The hotel is also home to fine dining restaurant The Brasserie, where you can book Sunday lunch on April 9 for just £27.50 for two courses, or £32.50 for three. Children eat for half price. Start things off with a delicious choice of

starters, including roasted beet tartare, a charcuterie and cheese board, and calamari, before enjoying a roast leg of lamb, or roast chicken and stuffing. Pan-fried sea bass is also on offer, alongside courgette and butternut squash tagliatelle, and a mouth-watering dessert menu.

Hunt for eggs in the countryside

Sister venue Salomons Estate is a hidden gem in the heart of the Tunbridge Wells countryside. The Victorian mansion is surrounded by 36 acres of rolling gardens where an Easter egg hunt and Sunday lunch will take place on April 9. All children participating in the hunt will receive a chocolate treat.

Head over to the pub-inspired restaurant with the kids and any well-behaved dog in tow and choose between two or three courses of traditional Sunday lunch favourites. Think roast leg of lamb, fluffy Yorkshire puds and plenty of seasonal veggies.

Bookings can be made on OpenTable, and two courses will cost just £27.50, or pay an extra £4 for three. Children pay half-price.

A sweet stay

For those wishing to maximise family enjoyment during their visit, Salomons Estate has six countryside cottages. Each one has been beautifully restored and has its own unique charm.

They sleep 1-12 guests, are dog friendly and come complete with luxury home comforts. This Easter, guests can enjoy a complimentary hamper of treats including chocolate and hot cross buns, perfect for a sweet escape.

For enquiries contact Robin Fletcher: rfletcher@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk

Pantiles Arcade, 49 The Lower Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TE

BEWL WATER

SALOMONS ESTATE

ONE WARWICK PARK

Have more fun for half the price at Bewl

Bewl Aqua Park returns with 50% off deal

THRILL-SEEKERS across Kent and Sussex can now add a giant, inflatable obstacle course to their list of summer attractions, as Bewl Water’s Aqua Park in Lamberhurst returns to the reservoir this April, offering discounted rates for its opening weekend.

The giant ‘Total Wipeout’-style water park has taken nearly 2,000 pre-bookings so far, after a record-breaking summer last year, when temperatures hit 40 degrees celsius. Installation and preseason checks are currently in full swing, and the reservoir has announced that tickets will be half-price on April 29 and 30.

Housed at southeast England’s largest stretch of open water, the water park comprises an ice tower, springboard, balance bar, flip mattress, monkey bars, aqua slide, and lots more, promising to offer exhilarating and rewarding summer fun for all the family.

According to Operations Manager Kevin Parker, the park is extremely popular to adventure

seekers, as well as sports enthusiasts and wild swimmers.

“There really isn’t just one kind of person taking part,” he said. “It’s not just for children. We get rugby clubs, groups of friends and team

days out. We’ve even had hen parties.”

Tickets can be bought easily online 24/7 by visiting bewlwateraquapark.co.uk, where they can be purchased at discounted rates.

Usually £23 per person for a 50-minute session, if booked before April 15, watersports fans can enjoy 50% off when booking tickets for

Saturday 29 April or Sunday 30.

“We can’t wait to bring Aqua Park back to Bewl Water. Over 34,000 of you joined us last year and tickets are already selling fast for this season,” Mr Parker told the Times.

Lifeguards

Children must be aged six and over, and visitors are advised to arrive 45 minutes before their time to undergo a safety briefing and change into their wetsuit and buoyancy vest –both of which are included in the ticket price.

“Our experienced lifeguards will be on hand to ensure everyone’s safety,” explained Aqua Park Manager Simon Anthony.

“Our current staff are completing refresher training days, and all lifeguards will complete a

three-day Open Water Lifeguard course with the Royal Lifesaving Society.

“Lifeguard training then takes place once a month. This is ongoing throughout the season,” he continued.

For those looking to refuel after their 50 minutes of inflatable fun, Bewl Water has introduced a brand-new menu to its onsite restaurant. Visit the dog-friendly Waterfront Café, open every day, to enjoy ice cream, light bites, and tasty snacks, plus more hearty dishes like butcher sausages and mash and beef steak burgers.

The Aqua Park will return on April 29 for weekends, before opening for weekdays during the summer, with sessions running from 11.00am-3.00pm.

Visit: bewlwateraquapark.co.uk

‘It’s not just for children. We get rugby clubs, groups of friends and team days out. We’ve even had hen parties’

Beware of the home trends that devalue your property

HOW LANDLORDS CAN CREATE ATTRACTIVE PROPERTIES FOR TENANTS

If you rent a property, you’ll be looking to achieve the best rental possible and in order to do so, you’ll need to draw tenants to your property. Towards the top of the list of boxes to tick must be to ensure that your rental property meets the Decent Home Standards, which the government is planning to extend later this year to the private rental sector. James Richards, Partner of award-winning Sales and Lettings Agent, Maddisons Residential, takes a closer look at the assessment criteria, and what prospective and existing tenants will be looking for.

Should the Decent Homes Standards (DHS), which forms part of the proposed Renters Reform Bill (RRB), be passed when voted on later this year, private tenants will be assured the same guarantees of decent housing that public sector tenants already have.

PROPERTY and construction expert Thomas Goodman has identified some common home trends that can devalue your home.

Converting a garage

Converting this building into a liveable room, such as a gym, office, or living room, will increase the amount of space in the home and is a very popular improvement to make. However, this type of home improvement won’t have much of an impact on the value of your home. In some cases, it could lower the value. Many home hunters search for homes with a garage, as this is a great place to store things, or a great place to park the car and keep it safe.

Adding a Home Cinema

Adding a home cinema to your property can be extremely pricey, especially if you’re looking to install all of the state-of-the-art equipment needed to replicate a real cinema at home. While home cinemas are great for people who watch movies on a regular basis and enjoy the thrill of being at the cinema, for most people, a home cinema is not really something you look for when buying a property. For this reason, installing a home cinema can actually decrease the value of your home quite significantly.

Installing a swimming pool

While to some people, owning a swimming pool at home sounds like an extremely exciting and fun thing to have. However, in reality, a swimming pool takes a lot of upkeep and maintenance and can cost a lot to keep it in its best condition. Plus, there’s not to mention, the British weather doesn’t really provide enough of sunny days to make a pool worth it. Most people who are looking to buy a property will see a swimming pool as more of a burden than something they want to enjoy.

Converting your home to open plan

Open-plan living spaces are very popular as they can help to increase natural light and enhance the space. However, this type of job involves a lot of work as you’ll need to have a few walls knocked down in the process. This kind of work is also quite expensive. With more people working from home now, open-plan living is becoming less appealing and people are preferring to have separate spaces for areas such as the living room and home office.

Installing high-end appliances

If you are someone who likes to cook, you may be interested in purchasing the best appliances on the market. However, if you’re planning to move home in a few years’ time, it would be best to hold off on hese purchases and choose something less expensive. Many high-end appliances cost significantly more than average appliances, despite having the same

functions and features. So, if you’re not planning on staying put for too long, you may want to think about choosing less costly built-in appliances as they won’t have any effect on the overall value of your home.

Adding solar panels

Solar panels are a great investment if you’re planning to stay in your home for many years. However, if you are planning to move in a few years’ time, adding solar panels is not going to be a cost-effective option for you. The initial investment of adding solar panels can be quite expensive. Although you’ll save money in the long run, if you’re not planning to stay in your home for many years, the investment won’t pay for itself. Plus, adding solar panels won’t affect your home’s value much so it’s not something you should consider doing if you’re looking to move soon.

Certain colours for the front door

Although designers like to encourage homeowners to be creative and show off their personalities in their home décor, there are certain circumstances in which this can result in your home looking cheaper, causing the value to drop. Bright colours for the front door can often be a big turn off to people coming to view your home. Some examples of colours that you should steer clear of are bright pink, bright yellow, and orange. Certain colours could even have some damaging effects to the value of your home. Instead, choose more common, neutral colours for the front door. Be sure to choose a door colour that fits in well with the overall style of your property.

Chevron patterns

Chevron patterns became very popular in UK homes around five years ago. While this design works brilliantly in small doses, it can easily become very overwhelming and can shift the focus from other beautiful accents in a room. Although it was once popular, it’s time to think about ditching this design if it’s present anywhere in your home. Instead, choose some less distracting patterns and designs as these will be more appealing to potential home buyers.

All white

Although white can make the home look very bright and airy, and all white décor was once the 'in thing', in 2023, it’s time to avoid this trend. All white trends are now being completely replaced by warmer, earthy tones that make the home seem much more cosy and homely. People are now more drawn to soft and warmer colours as well as cosier furniture and décor items. Many people are now looking to bring nature inside, so earthy tones are a great way to do this rather than all white décor. All white décor can appear cold and clinical, so it may be worth opting for more earthy tones if you’re looking to sell your home in the near future.

This means that tenants will expect a property that meets the standards as set out by Government criteria. If not, they could alert your local authority, who will have the power to run a Decent Homes Assessment, which will examine:

• The state of repair – the condition of the property’s structure, roof, walls, floors, windows and doors. Plus, any defects, such as damage, leaks or dampness.

• Safety – that the property meets the minimum safety standards for fire, gas and electrical safety and carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Facilities – that it has correctly located kitchen and bathrooms, there is adequate noise insulation and heating systems, and that the property is warm and dry, meeting the minimum energy efficiency standards. They will also assess the age of the facilities – avocado bathrooms will be assessed!

• Amenities – whether there is a garden, garage or parking space.

If your property meets all the DHS criteria, then it will deemed to be decent. A classification of non-decent would mean it fails to meet one or more criteria. If your property fails on any of these criteria, you need to act promptly to bring it up to scratch to avoid a negative assessment.

If you’re one of the majority of landlords whose properties already meet these requirements, you will have nothing to do. If you’re thinking about entering the lettings market, getting ahead of the game by ensuring your investment(s) meet the new requirements will put you in a great position to giving tenants a comfortable home and you an enjoyable and successful property investment.

As exciting as the prospect of home renovations may be, there are some home trends that could negatively impact on the value of your home, so think carefully before you jump in without doing your homework…

Have an Attenborough experience on your doorstep at these locations

The spectacular natural environment featured in the new BBC One wildlife series

Wild Isles can be witnessed first hand, says Sarah Marshall

Standing, windswept, on the edge of Old Harry Rocks on Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck, Sir David Attenborough gazes at the landscape below him.

“In my long life, I’ve been lucky enough to travel to almost every part of the globe and gaze upon some of its most beautiful and dramatic sights,” he muses. “But I can assure you that nature in these islands – if you know where to look – can be just as dramatic and spectacular as anything that I’ve seen elsewhere.”

A rare outing for the 96-year-old veteran wildlife presenter, who’s made the decision to cease travelling, the scene opens new five-part BBC One landmark series Wild Isles, which started on March 12. Billed as the most ambitious and epic documentary series about wildlife on our doorstep, it features scenes of orcas stalking seals in kelp channels, bluefin tuna chasing baitballs and 15cm-long leeches hunting toadlets – a scene series producer Alastair Fothergill predicts will shock viewers as much as the famous racer snakes scene in Planet Earth II.

“There are lots of big spectacles in our country that people don’t know about,” says Fothergill. “We have extraordinary slugs with penises the length of their own body, and an amazing bee that lays its eggs in a snail shell and makes a wigwam from twigs to protect it.”

Along with showcasing our diverse geology and “amazing variety of landscapes”, Fothergill hopes the series will inspire people to protect what’s in their own backyard.

“I think we’re all a little bit depressed about the UK at the moment,” he admits. “Everything seems to be going to go wrong. But I genuinely believe this series will be a tonic for people.”

Here’s how to see some of the wildlife featured in the series…

Orcas in the Shetlands

Regarded as one of the best places in the British Isles to spot wildlife, the Shetlands – an archipelago lying between Orkney, the Faroe Islands and Norway – is annually visited by killer whales. Join a cruise to track their movements and perhaps even catch them hunting seals. Northern Light Cruising offers nine-night cruises between Inverness and Shetland, joined by wildlife photographer Chris

Gomersall and ecologist David Lambie. Along with observing wildlife on the water, there are also land-based activities.

How: A nine-night Northern Isles cruise costs from £2,880pp, excluding flights. Departs June 30 from Inverness, or July 10 from Shetland.

Seals in the Isles of Scilly

On land, they look like blubbery sausages, but once in the water, seals move with balletic grace. See them in action offshore from the Isles of Scilly, off England’s southwest coast. The uninhabited Eastern Isles have some of the most active populations of Atlantic grey seals, along with a variety of seabirds. As part of a tailormade five-day Isles of Scilly Discovery trip, Wexas can arrange short half-day cruises, operated locally, to access hidden coves and unspoilt coastlines.

How: From £865pp, Wexas offers B&B accommodation and ferry travel from Penzance.

Red squirrels in Scotland

Like something straight out of a Disney movie, our native red squirrels are endearingly cute. While numbers have dropped significantly in many parts of the country, there’s still a healthy population in Scotland. See them at Abernethy National Nature Reserve as part of the small group Wildlife Of The Scottish Highlands & Coast tour with Gane and Marshall. Other highlights include spotting golden eagles on the Isle of Mull; kayaking among seals and sea otters in the Sound of Arisaig; and watching dolphins and porpoises in the Moray Firth.

How: Gane and Marshall offers six-night escorted tours from £1,995pp, including full-board accommodation and transport to and from Inverness. Departures from April 29.

Red deer in Killarney National Park, Ireland Fiery by both name and nature, red deer have a temper during rutting season. Stags can be seen battling from late September until early

November in Killarney National Park in County Kerry, where Ireland’s last surviving indigenous herd has resided since Neolithic times. Beyond the fierce battles, however, the scenery is even more dramatic. The Emerald Isle’s oldest protected wilderness features several walking trails winding through lakes, glens, waterfalls, and forests, against a mountain backdrop.

How: Macs Adventure offers a five-day Kerry Way short break from £455pp, including B&B accommodation, baggage transfers and GPS navigation map. Transport to and from the start point is extra.

Red knots at Snettisham, Norfolk

Seeing any animal in large numbers is heart-stopping. Every summer and autumn, 100,000 knots gather on the mudflats at The Wash in Norfolk, proof spectacles on this scale do happen in the UK. Spring tides send them skyward, where they create patterns similar to the murmurations performed by starlings.

Wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein arranges short weekend breaks timed to coincide with the phenomenon, with accommodation in a family-run riverside farmhouse.

How: Exodus offers three days half-board from £579pp, own car required. Various departures in October.

STAG DO: Red deer in Ireland

Photo: PA Photo/Alamy

GOING NUTS: Red Squirrels in Scotland

Photo: PA Photo/Alamy

EYE SPY:

Seals off the Isles of Scilly

Photo: PA Photo/Alamy

Spills and thrills for final chapter Also showing:

Matthew Dann bids farewell to the John Wick movie series…

The latest – and final –John Wick film has hit cinema screens, bringing this much-loved move franchise to an end. It’s particularly poignant since Lance Reddick, who played Wick’s friend Charon passed away recently. Many people will remember Reddick from The Wire, while the younger generation will recognise his voice work on the popular video games, Destiny and Destiny 2.

This time, we see John Wick pitted once more against the High Table –the shadowy cabal of global crime lords trying to control the world. He must find a way to defeat the High Table and earn his freedom. However, Wick must battle his way past both new enemies and some old foes to reach his goal. In previous outings, the franchise has rightfully been praised for its action scenes and technical precision, but somehow, this film feels less fluid. You notice that Keanu Reeves is getting older and slower, and parts of the film feel slightly clunky. Still, it remains very entertaining.

Some scenes felt way too long and drawn out, and the film could have benefitted from tighter editing. Overall, though, it remains very much a ‘John Wick’ movie.

So if you like action films with a simple storyline, lots of running, driving, jumping and falling, then this film is perfect for you. The actors are all great, too.

Future

I don’t think there was a performance that was below par, Keanu Reeves was typically reliable in his acting. Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård was equally as good as Marquis, but for me, it was the supporting cast that stole the show. Donnie Yen and Hiroyuki Sanada were great in their roles as ageing veterans of the High Table. However, I was most impressed with Rina Sawayama. To me, she stole the show and I think she is one to watch in the future.

Overall, I was satisfied with the film, in the sense that it completed the story. Although it would not make my top 100 by any stretch, it does have charm. I think there is a great opportunity for new characters to emerge, and a new universe of storytelling is sure to come from this.

I saw this film at the Odeon in Tunbridge Wells. Various times are available.

The Odeon, Tunbridge Wells: Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves

Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, René-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis and Hugh Grant.

As the first proper Dungeons & Dragons film in more than 20 years, Honour Among Thieves is a comedic adventure set within the world of Wizard of the Coast’s tabletop role-playing game. In this film, a charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go seriously awry when they run foul of the wrong people. This film brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary role-playing game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-adventure.

Rusthall Community Cinema: Brian and Charles

Directed by Jim Archer. Starring David Earl, Chris Hayward and Louise Brealey. This film follows Brian, a lonely inventor in rural Wales who spends his days building quirky, unconventional contraptions that seldom work.

Undeterred by his lack of success, Brian attempts his biggest project yet. Three days and various spare parts later, he’s invented Charles, an artificially intelligent robot who learns English from a dictionary and has an obsession with cabbages.

What follows is a humorous and entirely heartwarming story about friendship, family, finding love and letting go.

Showing on Saturday April 15 at 6.30pm. Details at: rusthallcinema.club

Clockwise from top: Fred Yates, Figures on a woodland path – £3,600 + fees. Cressida Campbell, Jacaranda in full blossom – £110,000 + fees. Platinum and seven stone diamond ring – £1,800 + fees. After Lord Frederick Leighton, bronze, The Sluggard – £10,000 + fees. Chinese Imperial blue glazed ritual offering vessel and cover– £11,500 + fees.

FINAL GOODBYE Keanu Reeves as John Wick

‘A new universe of storytelling is sure to come from this’

A taste of the Mediterranean

Molly Miller swung by The Brasserie to sample its new lunch and evening menu which is inspired by the traditional flavours of the Mediterranean…

It was a typical drizzly day as I made my way up the walk to The Brasserie. The restaurant stands proud on the corner of Chapel Place and I was immediately welcomed with a feeling of warmth and relaxation that transported me away the mournfulness of a wet and windy Monday afternoon.

Part of One Warwick Park Hotel, the establishment’s interior is elegant and chic, combining a marbled bar, racing green walls, and statement wood panelling, which seamlessly leads you into the main restaurant.

Upon entering, my guest, Georgie, and I were greeted with a smile and shown to our table, which overlooked a charming row of neighbouring shops.

The waiters are well versed in hospitality and immediately made us feel like we were in good hands for the afternoon. Upon being handed the wine list, we chose a smooth, elegantly balanced Pinot Grigio rosé and a light and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. Headed up by up-and-coming chef Ollie Funnell, The Brasserie’s menu seemed

refreshingly unique. There’s plenty of choice for meat lovers, vegans, and vegetarians alike, and dishes take inspiration from Spain, Italy, and France.

Highlights that caught my eye included butterfly king tiger prawns in garlic red pepper butter and lobster ravioli with saffron and seafood bisque.

Value-for-money

But it was the set menu of two courses for under £25 that won us over. What with spiralling living costs, it’s not like any of us can eat out as much as we’d like to, making this a great option for value-for-money dining.

For starters, I chose the garlic and chilli chicken skewers, which were served on a bed of baby gem lettuce, spring onions and toasted sesame seeds with a side of homemade tzatziki. The portion size was generous, and the chicken was tender and full of flavour.

Georgie had the cuttlefish calamari. Unlike squid, the fresh cuttlefish had a texture and taste far superior and was light and crispy,

thanks to its cornflour batter. It came served with a wedge of lemon, fresh chilli, and dill mayonnaise.

Dining here – whatever time of day you choose – is a stylish experience. Large, smoked mirrors line the back of the restaurant, the walls are dressed in vintage art and the banquettestyle seats are furnished with soft velvet cushions that are perfect for sinking into and staying a while.

When it came to choosing our mains, we were both pleasantly surprised with the hearty options on offer, given it was a lunchtime set menu. Having always been partial to a burger, I had high hopes when I saw one on the menu –and it didn’t disappoint.

The Brasserie burger arrived stacked high with 100% British beef layered with Applewood smoked cheddar and baby gem leaves all sandwiched between a fresh pretzel bun.

But the star of the show had to be the lashings of bacon jam. Aside from it being absolutely delicious, it added a unique flavour to my burger

that was more sweet than savoury. On the side was a whopping pile of fries, and a fresh, mixed salad.

Georgie chose the spiced chicken thigh orzo, which equally was met with plenty of satisfactory noises from across the table. The dish combines tender, juicy, and flavourful chicken thighs with goats’ cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, spring onion and red pepper and comes plated on a bed of orzo – a light alternative to pasta.

As it was only lunchtime, we left the dessert menu to one side, but if you are feeling indulgent there’s a mouth-watering selection to choose from.

The set menu offers white chocolate and raspberry blondie, pistachio fondant, and apple tarte tatin. And if you’re dining from the main menu, you’ll be spoilt with chocolate fondant, passion fruit sponge pudding and baked Alaska. Of course, any restaurant experience is about more than just the food, and The Brasserie is running a slick operation. The service is efficient but friendly and the restaurant was buzzing with hungry lunchtime diners . After speaking to Head Chef Ollie, the involvement of The Brasserie in the local community is clear, too. Ollie continued to explain that the new menu sources the freshest, most seasonal ingredients from local suppliers in Kent.

We greatly enjoyed the high-quality produce and authentic food. Spring dining doesn’t get much better than this.

‘When it came to choosing our mains, we were both pleasantly surprised with the hearty options on offer, given it was a lunchtime set menu’

A winning combination

It’s not every day you get to meet a talented local chef whose culinary CV boasts the names of some of London’s top restaurants, including L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon and Scott’s of Mayfair. Or who has cooked for members of the Royal Family and numerous A-list celebrities. But over the past 28 years of his career, that’s exactly what Alex Boyd of Kumquat on The Pantiles has done –and quite rightly he’s very proud of it.

“I’ve had a privileged career,” he smiles as we sit down to chat over a coffee in the restaurant he and his wife, Virginia, who hails from Hong Kong, opened last April.

Kumquat has certainly started to make a name for itself in that short time, thanks to building up a loyal clientele and launching a series of sell-out special dining events. And being named Start Up Business of the Year at last week’s Times Business Awards has been the icing on the cake.

“We didn’t expect to win at all but wow – we were so pleased,” said Virginia on the night of the gala dinner at Salomons Estate on Thursday, March 30.

Alex goes on to tell me all about how his dedication to cooking has always been a constant in his life.

“I knew from a very young age I wanted to be a chef. That passion led to me training at the prestigious Westminster Catering College, whose alumni includes Jamie Oliver, Ainsley Harriott and Antony Worrall Thompson.

“I had a classic French training there, which was further enhanced with placements such as at Scott’s of Mayfair. The hours were long but it was an amazing experience.”

This was in the mid-1990s, when chefs such as Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay and the late Gary Rhodes were becoming superstars in their own right thanks to their revolutionary cooking and new-found celebrity status.

Another top chef of the time was Pierre Koffmann of La Tante Claire, a multi Michelin-

There, he was still able to indulge in his passion for Asian cuisine, thanks to Robuchon’s style of cooking.

“He had a lot of Japanese influence in his cooking so there was a teppanyaki grill to work on and no pans, or butter! As a classically trained chef, I managed to acquire lots of new skills and knowledge thanks to him.”

Alex admits the hours were long and so he started looking for a more 9 to 5 role as he and Virginia had just had their first child.

He eventually secured the role of running the catering arm of the National Tennis Centre for the Lawn Tennis Association in Roehampton and did lots more events.

thought Tunbridge Wells would be the perfect place to open a restaurant as people would appreciate what we wanted to do.”

Alex explains that was to fuse Virginia’s Hong Kong foodie heritage with his classic training in order to develop a really exciting menu.

They got the keys to their Pantiles establishment in January 2022, and opened the following April as an all-day dining destination serving breakfast, brunch and lunch.

starred restaurant in Chelsea, where Alex started working after he graduated from Westminster.

Alex bolstered his chef’s CV by working in other prestigious kitchens in the capital, including The Montcalm Hotel, where he was sous chef under the late Steve Whitney. Steve was known in the restaurant world as the right-hand man for Anton Mosimann at The Dorchester.

Fast forward a few years later though and Alex found himself wanting a change, so he took up the offer of going to work in Hong Kong, which is where he met his wife, Virginia.

“I went out on a whim in 2003 and absolutely loved it. They love food in Hong Kong and it’s not just Chinese cooking. There’s all sorts of Asian cuisine – Thai, Korean and Vietnamese – to enjoy, too.”

On returning to London in 2006 with Virginia, Alex got a job at the two Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon in the West End.

“That’s where I met The Queen,” Alex confides before saying that he’s been “fortunate enough to cook for most members of the Royal Family”.

“I even did Prince William’s 18th birthday party in Chelsea,” he says. “I’ve been lucky to work for some really big names and been in the right place at the right time. When I was at Mansion House in 2014 I was doing purely banqueting which was a fabulous experience. I cooked for the likes of Bill Clinton, the King of Spain, the Premier of China. I’ve also cooked for lots of celebrities over the years too, like Sir Richard Branson and Robbie Williams.”

After then being appointed Executive Chef at St Ermin’s Hotel in St James’s, where he gained two AA rosettes, things all changed again when Covid hit. But Alex saw it as a chance for change.

“Virginia and I had always toyed with the idea of opening something ourselves over the years but nothing was ever quite right. But this time it was like Covid forced our hand. We always

“The plan wasn’t for me to be here full-time, but as we couldn’t find any chefs we realised I would have to be! And that’s when we decided to make Kumquat more of a restaurant. We’re now open from Tuesday to Saturday evening and we’re working on making the menu more ‘Modern Asian’.

“This means that there will be influences from Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea and China. I want to take traditional Asian dishes people already know and give them a modern twist. We did this with our recent Chinese New Year and Blind Tasting menus and we hope to do more of these events.

“We want to offer something different to everywhere else, and our goal for 2023 is to become a destination restaurant. And after our Times Business Awards win, hopefully things are going in the right direction already!”

More details, including menus and bookings at: kumquat.fusion and @kumquatrestaurant

‘We want to bring Virginia’s Hong Kong foodie heritage and fuse it with my classic training to develop a really exciting menu’

‘Our aim this year is to become a destination restaurant’

Alex and Virginia Boyd opened Kumquat on The Pantiles exactly a year ago. Since then they have seen their establishment – which specialises in Asian fusion food – thrive. Last week the pair’s hard work paid off when they won Start-Up Business of the Year at the Times Business Awards. Alex reveals the recipe of their success to Eileen Leahy…

ALEX AND VIRGINIA BOYD

Seven cracking wines to raise a glass to at Easter

With the bank holiday weekend just a hop away, this week our Drinks Editor, James Viner, has the sweetest selection of drinks to pair with a classic roast lamb, Good Friday fish and even Easter eggs – or to just simply enjoy with friends and family

1. Last-minute Easter bubbly

Marks & Spencer Found Blanquette de Limoux, France (£8, Marks & Spencer)

Add some fizz to Easter with a crunchy, bargainous traditional method distinctive sparkler from a craggy cool-climate territory high up in the hills of Limoux – a southern French region with a longer history of bottlefermented sparkling wine than Champagne. The blend of grapes from these vineyards is 90 per cent Mauzac, topped up with a bit of Chenin blanc and Chardonnay. A very appetising sparkling wine made for M&S by Domaine Rosier that is reminiscent of citrus, orchard fruit and hawthorn. Crisp, mouth-filling and characteristically appley with tangy acid, drive and patent pourmeanotherglassness. Alc 12%

2. Must-try Italian Rosato from Basilicata Basilicata Rosato Le Ralle 2022, Alovini, Italy (£9.95, The Wine Society)

The ancient Greeks called Italy ‘Oenotria’ – the land of wine. From Basilicata, sitting between southern Italy’s most mountainous region between Campania and Puglia, Oronzo Alò’s stylish, savoury, rosehip-, cherry-, and cranberrystashed, deep cerise-coloured pink is a 100% Aglianico (very late ripening) winner. A standout at last month’s Wine Society press tasting, it has crisp acidity and tastes of red fruits with a twist of rosehip and liquorice root. Fills the mouth and the senses and has enough substance to pair with grilled lamb cutlets, lamb chops and Good Friday fish (and chips), too. Quite a joyous and unusual little number. Get cracking! Alc 13%

3. Californian white from Monterey County Estancia Chardonnay 2019, Monterey County, California, United States (£14, Tesco)

Celebrate Easter with a taste of (affordable) California. Around two hours’ drive south of San Francisco is the vast arc of Monterey Bay. The bay gives its name to Monterey County, the biggest appellation in the northern part of the Central Coast. This is a surprisingly classy Californian Chardonnay for the money. If primary peach, pineapple, lime and deftly-integrated creamy oak are your thing, you will love this. Try it with seared scallops, shellfish, or roast chicken. What a delight! Alc 13.5%

4. Brandy from Jerez, Spain

Soberano 5 Reserva Brandy, Spain (£14-£16.99, Amazon, Asda, Morrisons, Master of Malt)

Pay chocolate the compliment of firewater with this rich, smooth, dark, golden brandy from Jerez,

Spain, which tastes of toffee, caramel, spice and nuts. It was distilled from wine made from fermented Airén grapes, then aged for around five years in American oak casks that had previously contained sherry wine in González Byass’ cellars in Andalusia. One for chocolate soufflé, Easter eggs and a chunk of milk/dark chocolate. Quite the bargain at the bigger supermarkets. Sainsbury’s soon, too. Alc 36%

5. A wood-matured port for Easter chocolate

Fonseca 10-Year-Old Tawny Port, Portugal (£16.42-£17.99, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt, Virgin Wines, 50cl)

Sweet treats and chocolate should be matched only with wines that are even sweeter than themselves. This smooth, silky, complex, russet-coloured, wood-aged tawny port caresses the palate and offers fresh acidity with notes of fruit cake alongside hints of almonds and spice. There is a confident brightness, too with a tang that belies all the alcohol and sweetness (but serve it chilled, or ‘cellar cool’ at around 10°C).

A treat with any Easter chocolate treat or traditional simnel cake. Drink over the course of a week, or so, once opened. As with any wine, cool storage extends active life. Alc 20%

6. A heavenly digestif that’s great for chocoholics

Henriques & Henriques 10-Year-Old Malvasia/ Malmsey (£19.99-£22.50, Majestic, The Wine Society, Tanners Wines, 50cl)

Pour this deep amber-coloured, tangy, slightly smoky, full-bodied Madeira with light chocolate desserts, simnel/Madeira cake, chocolate coffee truffles and hot cross buns. It’s an amazing fusion of caramel, espresso, orange marmalade, plum pudding, figs, walnuts, toffee and spice.

As a bonus, it will keep fresh for many months so you can retry an opened bottle at Christmas (be sure to keep the bottle cool and stoppered). Serve as an aperitif at around 10°C or as a dessert wine at 16°C. Sweet surrender. Alc 20%

7. Top traditionalist's claret Chateau Beau-Site 2015, St. Estèphe, Bordeaux, France (£24, Co-op)

For a last-minute Easter treat head to Co-op and nab this gloriously stately, fragrant, long, finely sculpted and polished claret, which brims with cassis, mulberry, bramble and spice. Bring out the lamb. Well-melded, comforting, textbook and classically composed Cabernet-led drinking. Looking very good now. Alc 13.5% Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine

Monday

Cranbrook Cranbrook Rugby Cricket Club

Angley Road

Cranbrook, TN17 2PN

Monday 5.30pm & 7pm Call Debbie 07789776887

Tuesday

Tunbridge Wells St Peters Church Hall Bayhall Road, TN2 4UX

Tuesday 9.30am Call Susie 07717177892

Cranbrook Cranbrook Rugby Cricket Club

Anglet Road Cranbrook, TN17 2PN

Tuesday 9.15am & 11am Call Debbie 07789776887

Rusthall St Pauls Primary School Entrace Via Gladstone Road, TN4 8RZ

Tuesday 5.30pm & 7pm Call Jesse 07710549334

We are currently recruiting a new consultant for this Group. Contact Jesse to find out more about this exciting Opporutinity 07710 549334

Crowborough

Crowborough Community Centre

Pine Grove, TN6 1FE

Tuesday 5.30pm & 7.30pm Call Beckie 07948352691

Wednesday

High Brooms St Lukes Church Hall Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9JH

Wednesday 5.30pm & 7pm Call Jesse 07710549334

Ramslye St Marks C of E Primary School Ramslye Road, TN4 8LN

Wednesday 7pm Call Susie 07717177892

Thursday

Crowborough All Saints Church Hall Church Road, TN6 1ED

Thursday 9.30am, 11am, 5.30pm & 7pm Call Mary 07738014528

Friday

Crowborough All Saints Church Hall Church Road, TN6 1ED

Friday 9.30am & 11am Call Mary 07738014528

Saturday

Tunbridge Wells St Barnabas Primary School Quarry Road, TN1 2EY

Saturday 8am & 9.30am Call Jesse 07710549334

Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival

The Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival is back for its second year of events for book lovers this May.

Last year saw 1,600 visitors to the first literary festival in the town, with this year promising to be even bigger than before.

The festival is supported by Arts Council England, Brewin Dolphin, and Berry & Lamberts solicitors.

There is something for everyone at the festival on the bank holiday weekend of May 11-14 with best-selling authors, illustrators, performers and potentially some famous faces.

Prepare to meet leading figures from the literary world, such as Sir Michael Parkinson (‘My Sporting Life’), and Dorothy Koomson (‘The Ice Cream Girls’, ‘My Other Husband’), as well as ‘Ghost Stories’ writers’ Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman.

Expect to find contemporary non-fiction from Carrie and David Grant (‘A Very Modern Family: Stories and Guidance to Nurture Your Relationships’) and John Higgs’s fascinating look at the defining moments of the 60s in ‘Love And Let Die’.

Families will find lots to enjoy at the festival, too, including beloved children’s author Michael Rosen, who will be reading from his book ‘Goldilocks and the Three Crocodiles’.

Rebecca Humphries, Why Did You Stay?

A Sunday Times Bestseller, ‘Why Did You Stay?’ is the much-anticipated memoir from actor and writer, Rebecca Humphries as she deals with the trials of being in a toxic

Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC

Unlawful Killings

Become a witness to the unfolding of highprofile murder cases as Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC takes us into the UK’s most famous courtroom and reveals what it takes to be a murder trial judge.

In her behind-the-scenes twist on the true crime genre, the author takes us into the mind of a criminal judge and unearths the stories of unlawful killings inside the UK’s most infamous Crown Court.

See Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC discuss her new book, ‘Unlawful Killings: Life, Love, Murder Trials’ at the Old Bailey in the Green Room at The Amelia Scott on Saturday May 13 at 2pm.

Dorothy Koomson and Nadine Matheson

Meet bestselling crime fiction authors Dorothy Koomson and Nadine Matheson as they discuss their careers and new novels, ‘My Other Husband’ and ‘The Binding Room’.

relationship and reclaiming her power through social media.

After her boyfriend was caught kissing his Strictly Come Dancing partner by the paparazzi, Humphries was forced into the spotlight. But not wanting to become a victim, she started posting her thoughts online and giving advice to other women who had escaped oppressive relationships.

However, within floods of supportive messages, one question continued to be asked: “If he was so bad, why did you stay?”

In her memoir, Humphries tackles this head-on with unflinching humour and strength, drawing on her own experience and reflecting on toxicity in pop culture.

See Rebecca Humphries in conversation with Anna Wharton in the Work Room in The Amelia Scott on Sunday May 14 at 4pm, followed by a book signing.

Koomson’s novel, ‘My Other Husband’ finds a mystery writer in the middle of a divorce. Her life begins to fall apart when she is framed for a murder that mirrors the crimes she makes up.

In Nadine Matheson’s ‘The Binding Room’, a detective is called to investigate the murder of a preacher only to find a second victim has been

tortured with signs of a dark religious ritual.

Manjeet Mann and Amanda Quartey

Join awardwinning author Manjeet Mann and Illustrator Amanda Quartey as they discuss their newest collaboration, ‘Small’s Big Dream’. Younger readers can experience the lyrical ode to always dreaming big, no matter how small their world is.

Find out from Manjeet where their inspiration for the story came from, and how Amanda was able to bring the characters to life.

See Manjeet Mann and Amanda Quartey at Royal Victoria Place’s event space on Saturday May 13 at 10am.

Manjeet Mann will also be showcasing her new young adults novel, ‘The Crossing’, which follows the stories of two teens from opposite worlds fleeing their homes as part of the refugee crisis when a twist of fate brings them together.

An actor, activist and multi-award-winning children’s writer, Mann discusses how the human experience of trauma, grief and hope can bring us together and build compassion for one another.

See Manjeet Mann discuss ‘The Crossing’ at the Upper Atrium in The Amelia Scott on Saturday May 13 at 12pm.

Tunbridge Wells first Comicon

For the first time this year, Tunbridge Wells literary festival will be running TW ComiCon where comic and manga fans can come along to meet famed writer M.R. Carey, take photographs with their favourite characters, and participate in the cosplay competition.

Fans can expect plenty of art, collectable comics, and retro arcade games, as well as creative workshops with the experts.

Join David Hine, who reveals ‘How to Write and Publish a Graphic Novel’ (2.15pm), meet Matt Knight as he teaches the tricks of comic book writing (12.15pm), or see SuperBlackLines as he teaches how to draw original Japanese Manga (11.15am).

The convention will be taking over The Assembly Hall Theatre on Sunday May 14 from 11am-4pm.

See both Dorothy Koomson and Nadine Matheson in The Function Room at One Warwick Place on Sunday May 14 at 2.30pm.

MANJEET MANN

AMANDA QUARTEY

NADINE MATHESON

DOROTHY KOOMSON

WENDY JOSEPH QC

In his fortnightly gig guide, Times Music Editor Paul Dunton picks the area’s musical highlights for the next two weeks, including disco at the Assembly Hall, an Elton John tribute and a naked cockney knees-up at The Green Duck Emporium…

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE, THE PANTILES

All event information and tickets available at www.thegreylady.co.uk

14/04 The Grey Lady Sessions: Anna Howie + Hannah Richards

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

Event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

05/04 Word Up!

07/04 Fat Freddie & The Queens: A cuddly celebration of Queen

08/04 Back To The 80's

09/04 Slum Village

10/04 The Stable: Age Of Aquarius + Alter Rex + Civil Complex + Frank's Little Beauties

12/04 The Stable: Dead Deer +

Epsom Salts + Scroggin + Sir Robert Orange Peel

14/04 Karobela + Word of Nod +

Superzero

15/04 Another Day + Entropy + Little Suspicions + Smile You Son Of A Bitch

17/04 The Stable: Big Reference + The Steelworks + Theillusivefish + The Wot Nots

18/04 The Stable: Ned Holland + Sonny Palmer + Dan Sumner + Charlie J White

SQUERRYES WINERY RESTAURANT, WESTERHAM

Dining and live jazz music experience. Booking advised via 01959 562345

guidegig April 5 to April 4

SANKEYS BAR & RESTAURANT, MOUNT EPHRAIM

Details: www.sankeys.co.uk

Open all day, free entry, music from 7.30pm

06/04 The Managment Acoustic Duo

13/04 Johnny Gray

TYBER’S REGGAE BAR, 9 NEVILL STREET

All event information available at www.tybersreggaebar.com/events

07/04 DJ Rocksteady (free entry)

08/04 Suggs Tribute with Mick Chambers (tickets via website above)

09/04 All Day Easter Sunday Party (free entry)

14/04 2B40 – Tribute to UB40 (tickets via website above)

15/04 DJ Pablo (free entry)

or www.squerryes.co.uk

07/04 Gianna Duo (live music from 7.30pm)

14/04 Jennifer Maslin & John Harriman

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE, CRESCENT ROAD

All event information and tickets available from www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

13/04 Country Superstars – Dolly Parton & Friends Tribute Show

14/04 Frankie The Concert –

Celebrating the music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

15/04 Lost In Music – One Night at The Disco

16/04 Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society Presents: Karl Jenkins –The Peacemakers

TN1 BAR & KITCHEN, MONSON ROAD

Open all day, live music usually from 8pm. Booking advised Via 01892 513900 or visit www.tn1barkitchen.co.uk

06/04 Steffan James (7pm)

07/04 The Masqueraders Duo (7.30pm)

08/04 The Managment Acoustic Duo (8.30pm)

13/04 Julian Burdoch (7pm)

14/04 Steffan James Duo (8.30pm)

15/02 Acts Tbc

CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE, CHIDDINGSTONE

All event information and tickets available at www.chiddingstonecastle. org.uk/whats-on/

16/04 Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra – Live at the Orangery

THE GREEN DUCK EMPORIUM, 53 GROSVENOR ROAD

All event information, tickets and bookings at www.thegreenduckemporium.com/ events

14/04 Nothing On Cockney Sing-along in association with East Sussex Naturists.

THE FORUM BASEMENT, THE SUSSEX ARMS

All event information and tickets available at www.twforum.co.uk

06/04 The Stealers

07/04 God Alone

THE ROYAL OAK PUB, PROSPECT ROAD

Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm

07/04 First Friday Folk Night: Milton

Hyde + John & Di Cullen + The Harveys

08/04 Velvet Goldmine + Ukelear Fallout

09/04 Harry Whitty & Friends

THE BLACK HORSE PUB, CAMDEN ROAD

Open all day, music events – free entry (unless stated), music from 8pm. Live music every Friday night

06/04 Acoustic Jam Night

07/04 Ryan Weeks

14/04 Adele Tribute with Maria Herriot

If you are a venue local to Tunbridge Wells that hosts regular live music or even if it’s a one-off event, concert or festival, contact Paul at least six weeks in advance of your event date with the following details:

• Name and address of venue

• Date and time of event

THE RED LION PUB, RUSTHALL

Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm,. Booking advised. Call 01892 527000

05/04 Dinner & Jazz

08/04 David on The Piano –

The Music of Elton John

12/04 Jazz Jam

15/04 Ellerby Lourie Price

15/04 The Ashen Keys + Krow Tao

THE BEDFORD PUB, HIGH STREET

Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm

07/04 Double Denim

08/04 New Grove Band

14/04 U-Turn

THE MASONIC HALL, ST JOHN’S ROAD

All event information and tickets available at www.twjazzclub.co.uk

14/04 Doolally Tap

GEOGRAPHY WINE BAR, HIGH STREET

Open all day music from 3.30pm,. Free entry

09/04 Rob Picazo

16/04 Isabella Coustock

THE GUN & SPITROAST INN, HORSMONDEN

Open all day. Free entry, music from 8pm

05/04 Jam Session all welcome

12/04 Jam Session all welcome,

• Name of event and name of act(s)

• Ticket link and/or website (please state if free entry)

• 1 x high resolution (300 dpi) landscape jpeg (performer only, no posters)

• Please state photo credit if required

paul@paulduntonandguests.com

ANNA HOWIE

KAROBELA

JENNIFER MASLIN JOHN HARRIMAN

THE MASQUERADERS

It’s a Wadhurst thing.

“It’s beautiful. Little coffee shops, green space and lovely people always welcoming you.”

Davinder, Halifax colleague

Historic sports watch and child’s tapestry made 160 years ago are among finds set for Hansons

Atapestry created by a child 160 years ago is just one item among a host of fascinating finds set to go under the hammer at Hansons Royal Tunbridge Wells, as the new salesroom gears up for its inaugural auction on May 23. Interest is already strong, lots are flooding in, but there’s still time to enter your treasures into what promises to be a spectacular event.

In February, Hansons Auctioneers, a multisaleroom firm led by auctioneer and TV personality Charles Hanson, opened an office on The Pantilies Arcade, home to art and antiques in Tunbridge Wells.

Valuations

Antiques expert Robin Fletcher is at the helm, and he is currently sourcing and valuing items for auction. Hansons offers free valuations at The Pantiles office on Fridays and Saturdays, 10am-3pm. Valuations outside these hours or on home visits to assess large collections, are also available by appointment.

Robin said: “We have had a wonderful start. There has been lots of interest in Hansons’ arrival in Royal Tunbridge Wells. Sellers and buyers are excited by the prospect of regular auctions.

“Some fascinating finds have been made, including a William IV needlework sampler that was patiently created by Susanna Tribe at the age of 11, more than 160 years ago. It’s wonderful to think such skills were being honed at an early age. The colours are strong, given its age.” Other items set to entice bidders include a vibrant blue, early 1960s Bitossi bowl by Italian sculptor and ceramicist Aldo Londi (1911-2003); a

Hansons offers free valuations at The Pantiles office on Fridays and Saturdays, 10am-3pm

modernist silver gilt dish made in 1974 by sought-after designer Algernon Asprey, and a Paul Storr silver jug on a stand dated 1812. Meanwhile, artworks include a still life by Erik W. Gleave (1916-1995) one of a number of 20th century paintings set for auction.

Robin said: “I am seeing a wonderful mix of eclectic items, but one of my favourites is a historic sports watch. The 1970 Heuer Autavia Chronograph watch was awarded to privateer rally driver Doug Harris for finishing the

HOUSE CALLS FOR APRIL IN YOUR AREA

16,000-mile London to Mexico World Cup Rally back in 1970.

“Doug won Class 1 of the race in his Ford Escort 1300GT, the car with the smallest engine in the event. Motorsport fans will also be able to bid on Doug’s Class 1 trophy.”

The watch, engraved ‘World Cup Rally 1970. Mr D. Harris. Congratulations from Ford Britain’, has a guide price of £6,000-£8,000. The trophy carries an estimate of £600-£800. The items have come to auction from the Harris family

and provenance includes a photo of Doug Harris’s car, no 45, which was taken on a 12-month promotional tour of the UK by the Ford Motor Company.

Entries are invited until May 2 for Hansons Royal Tunbridge Wells, May 23 auction, and further sales are scheduled for August 31 and November 21.

Hansons Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd are at: The Pantiles Arcade, 49 The Lower Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TE. Call 01892 573540 or contact Robin Fletcher direct on 07876 457481 or email: rfletcher@hansonsauctioneers.co.ukWILLIAM

HANDS ON: Charles Hanson (left) with Robin Fletcher, Head of Hansons Royal Tunbridge Wells

PROVENANCE: Doug Harris in rally action

HEUER AUTAVIA WATCH

WILLIAM IV NEEDLEWORK

Motoring News

Alfa’s Tonale Edizione Bambini SUV is a concept designed for fashionista parents

ALFA ROMEO has developed a new concept version of its Tonale SUV, designed to make travelling with children easier.

Called the Tonale Edizione Bambini, it’s a model equipped with a range of accessories to help parents out, including a built-in, slide-out baby changing unit, an in-car baby monitor and a custom-made cleaning mat.

Organiser

When opening the Tonale’s electric tailgate, the changing unit slides out from the parcel shelf and, when no longer needed, slides back again to ensure that it doesn’t dent boot space whatsoever. There’s also an in-built boot organiser which, thanks to a concertina design, can be stowed away when not in use. A cleaning bag located in one of the compartments contains handy items, too, including a boot-cleaning brush, leather

cleaner, tissues and wipes.

In the cabin, Alfa has fitted custom-made seat organisers which are shaped against the contours of the driver and front passenger seats. These are also made from grey leather to match the rest of the cabin, and even get their embossed Alfa Romeo logo. It includes a drinks holder, a bento box for snacks and a rattle-free pen holder.

A survey by Alfa Romeo of 2,000 adults who drive with children between 0-11 years old, also found that 55 per cent of parents reported that children complaining of boredom caused them stress while driving. This is why the Edizione Bambini gets a number of entertainmentfocused features.

There are tablet holders fitted to the back of the front seats, for example, while a foldable central toy tidy helps to keep kids occupied. There’s a leather tablet holder for each rear-seat passenger, too.

Ford toughens up new Ranger with its Wildtrak X and Tremor versions

FORD has broadened its Ranger line-up with the introduction of two new off-road-focused models.

The creation of the Wildtrak X and Tremor means that the number of specifications available for the Ranger is now the broadest it has ever been, but they also bring toughened features and better load-carrying options.

Upgraded

Both models receive a substantially reworked chassis with upgraded suspension that incorporates Bilstein dampers as standard. Plus, a range of new off-road driver assistance systems means that heading off the beaten track is even easier than before.

Plus, both versions get a Flexible Rack System designed to help with loading longer items. Although fitted as standard to Wildtrak X and Tremor versions, this will be available as an option on other Ranger models.

Mini bids farewell to iconic Clubman with Final Edition

MINI is calling time on its Clubman with a ‘Final Edition’ model.

Reintroduced in 2007 – and taking inspiration from the 1970s ‘wagon’ in the process – the ‘modern’ Clubman brought a quirky rear-hinged door placed asymmetrically on the right side of the car.

Boosted

When the third generation car arrived in 2015, this was replaced with two full-size rear doors, while interior space was boosted thanks to an increased length.

Priced at £37,000 – with 100 examples heading to the UK – the Final Edition model gets a high level of standard equipment, including an 8.8-inch central display, Apple CarPlay and Harmon Kardon sound system, among other features.

Touches specific to the Final Edition include door sill trims finished with the ‘Final Edition’ lettering, while this is mirrored on the lower spoke of the steering wheel too. The dark maroon leather seats – which are heated –also get edition-specific badging.

A panoramic roof comes equipped as standard, while the dashboard gets green and coppercoloured decorative strips. On the passenger side, this section is also finished with a ‘1 of 1969’ badge, which is also found on the floor mats.

There are three exterior colours to choose from – Nanuq White, Enigmatic Black and Melting Silver – while special ‘Shimmer Copper’ accents are applied to the upper third of the radiator grille and the Cooper ‘S’ blade at the rear. All versions get 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels finished with a copper hue and there’s ‘Final Edition’ lettering on the rear, too.

The Wildtrak X goes above and beyond the

standard Wildtrak with a 26mm boost in ride height and a 30mm wider track, while an up-rated power steering system and protective steel bash plate ensure that the Ranger is even more capable off-road. Plus, a new Trail Turn Assist system – which uses the brakes to reduce the truck’s turning radius by 25 per cent – can make navigating tighter spots even easier.

The Tremor, meanwhile, builds on the more commercial-focused Ranger XLT but gets the Wildtrak X’s chassis and technology upgrades to help make it even more accomplished over difficult terrain. Inside, the seats are finished in a hard-wearing vinyl trim while Ford can also fit an overhead switch pack which allows for six inputs for winches, LED light bars or other systems.

All versions are powered by a 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine, linked to its full-time four-wheeldrive system by a 10-speed automatic gearbox.

Both the Wildtrak X and Tremor will be available to order from March 2023, with deliveries expected from August.

TWENTY~4 A UTOMATIC

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