Times of Tunbridge Wells 11th October 2017

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

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PAPER

Mayor back in the frame after deselection debacle

INSIDE ONE IN A MILLION

Youngest TEDx speaker is a YouTube sensation Page 5

Tory u-turn as Julia Soyke is given green light

By Jonathan Banks

‘I’m just a local girl that happened to have a talent, then a dream and fulfilled it and brought a bit of sparkle to the area and the community got behind that.’

Dame Kelly Holmes

THE MAYOR Julia Soyke has been welcomed back into the ranks of the Conservative Party just weeks after being told she could not stand in the next election as a Tory candidate.

The move comes after the local Conservative Association was plunged into a behind the scenes row when the popular councillor for Speldhurst and Bidborough was rejected as a potential candidate by a five member selection committee that met behind closed doors.

‘Delighted’ She was not allowed to appeal and was given no reason for the decision on who should stand in local elections in May. Cllr Soyke said at the time that she was ‘puzzled’ but kept her own counsel on whether she might fight the seat as an independent.

This week it emerged she is now back on the official list of Conservative candidates and is the only member of the party put forward to represent the solid Tory ward of Speldhurst and Bidborough.

She told the Times: “I am delighted to

COMMENT

EMERGENCY ACTION

Kent Police report huge rise in number of 999 calls Page 2

A COMPLEX PROBLEM

Another referendum comes out against the Civic Centre Page 3

AT WORK: Julia Soyke with husband Peter during an earlier visit to St George’s nursery

deserve to be put through such an embarrassing charade.

There is a suggestion that Common sense has prevailed with the move comes after it was the news that Mayor Julia Soyke discovered ‘proper will remain as the member for procedures’ had not been Speldhurst and Bidborough if voters follow their normal pattern. followed during the selection process. Whatever the reason She is a fine example of a councillor passionate about her for the volte-face it is the community and town and did not right and proper thing to do.

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Slade Primary School student Chloe French, aged 9, joined Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes when a new statue for the double gold medal winner was unveiled yesterday.

It has been created by Tunbridge Wells sculptor Guy Portelli. Full story page 2

be back on the list. I did ask the selection committee to offer a public explanation as to why I had been deselected but so far nothing has been forthcoming.

“I have now moved on and will continue to have a major interest in the future of Tunbridge Wells which has always been my main focus.”

Council Leader David Jukes, who played no part in the selection process, said yesterday: “She’s a brilliant Mayor, is really enjoying the role and I am really pleased she is back on the list.”

Conservative Cllr Don Sloan of Culverden ward, who was also deselected by the party, declined an invite to be re-interviewed as a potential candidate. He said the original decision had been ‘a slap in the face’.

When this newspaper broke the story last month we posed the question: ‘Is the Conservative hierarchy really so out of touch?’ The jury is still out on that one.

What we do know is that it appears there are enough wise heads amongst the rank and file members to keep them in check.

DARK MATTERS

The Crucible at Trinity is a must-see production Page 74

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NEWS

Local News

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Builder used a dead squirrel to trick people into repairs

Police urge people to report lesser crimes online after surge in 999 calls

A Tunbridge Wells builder who used a dead squirrel to trick householders into thinking they needed to do repair work was yesterday (Tuesday) sentenced to 360 days in jail.

George Johnston, 34, of Sandhurst Road appeared in custody at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation.

He was arrested after reports a man had been knocking on doors in Tunbridge Wells offering unnecessary roof repairs, producing a dead squirrel and demanding money to clear a pest infestation. The incidents happened in areas including Sandhurst Road and Ferndale.

Defence lawyer Andrew Main said Johnston made £2,130 from the scheme which involved him cold-calling in neighbourhoods and offering to do roofing work.

He described Johnston as “an over-enthusiastic jobbing builder who has taken his chances and fallen foul of the law”.

Mr Main said: “There was an element of genuine work that needed to be done but he acknowledges there was an element of exaggeration and he pleads guilty to the frauds.”

Chairman of the magistrate’s bench Beverley Charman said he had targeted “older” victims.

He was ordered to pay a total of £2,330 in compensation to three of his victims, £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Dunorlan Park has received a Gold Award at the South & South East’s In Bloom annual competition. As well as the special accolade, the park also won the People’s Choice Park Award at the prestigious regional ceremony which was held in Copthorne.

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KENT Police have recorded their slowest response times in years under the weight of unprecedented calls for help to the 999 and 101 numbers.

Last year the force, that has faced budget cuts, received more than 300,000 calls to 999 and took an average five minutes longer to arrive at the scene of any incident than in 2013-14, a Freedom of Information request has shown.

‘We have an issue with lower resources, we have 500 fewer officers than in 2010’ Police say 44 per cent of calls do not classify as an emergency and are now encouraging people to report crime online with nearly one-in-five calls to the 101 non-emergency number not being answered.

Matthew Scott, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, said yesterday (Tuesday) the figures are “disappointing but unsurprising.”

He added: “We have an issue with lower resources, we have 500 fewer officers than in 2010. People are phoning the police when it is inappropriate.

“I would like to see if I can again increase the budget.”

He said the recently introduced online service for reporting crime will be “complimentary,” rather than a replacement of the phone lines and said there are no plans for police stations to close.

From April to August this year it took Kent Police an average of 16.29 minutes for an immediate priority call to be attended between 6am and 11pm, compared to an average of 11.07 minutes in 2013-14.

Between 11pm and 6am, Kent residents would have waited ten minutes four years ago, but now wait an average of 13.07 minutes.

A force spokesman said: “Kent Police has managed an unprecedented demand under significant pressures.

“Handlers prioritise calls where there is the greatest risk of threat or harm.”

The police received 306,714 calls to 999 in the 2016-17 tax year, compared to 259,377 in 2013-14.

Since 2010 nationally the police have seen a real-terms budget cut of 18 percent with a decline of nearly 19,000 officers, according to Home Office data.

106,000 calls unanswered…  People are being encouraged to report

crime online after a near 20 per cent increase of 999 calls. Kent Police are trialling the service through their website.  In addition to the 18 per cent rise in 999

calls from 2013-14 to 2016-17, there has been a 16 per cent rise in 101 calls, with 584,364 made last year.  A spokesman said: “We are currently

trialling online crime reporting and inviting feedback with a view to shifting some demand from the 101 service.”  Last year it took call handlers an average

2.58 minutes to answer the call, with 105,690 going unanswered. In 2013-14 it took 45 seconds with 20,000 unanswered.  Data collected since April suggests this

financial year could be the worst yet with 52,408 calls so far unanswered and an average call answering time of 3.38 minutes.

Think twice before dialling…

AFTER figures revealed the increased volume of 999 calls being made, police have warned of inappropriate incidents being reported. A study found 44 per cent of calls to emergency services could have either been reported online, to 101 or not at all.

A Kent Police spokesman said: “We would urge people to think first whether their call does constitute a real emergency.”

Dame Kelly’s sculptor designed to inspire the next generation

By Andy Tong and Katie Harris A STATUE of Dame Kelly Holmes was unveiled yesterday (October 10) to honour the ‘Golden Girl’ from Hildenborough.

The 14ft high aluminium structure stands outside St Stephen’s Church at the bottom of Quarry Hill, one of the main routes into Tonbridge, and is meant to inspire residents and visitors alike.

It is coated, fittingly, in gold leaf and sits on a plinth decorated with a collage of artwork from more than 100 local schoolchildren at primaries around the town.

Montage The statue of the former athlete who won double gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004, was created by Tunbridge Wells sculptor Guy Portelli. “It’s very much in the tradition of a Greek Olympic statue, a figure on a column,” he said.

“We got local schoolkids involved with their thoughts and ideas to put on the plinth. We wanted them to create art inspired by Tonbridge – the town they live in and how they identify with it.

“We had more than 100 commissions, and

rather than choosing five or six we took elements of lots of different ones as a montage.”

Mr Portelli added that it was important to reach out to the younger generation. “If you engage them at an early age, they grow up interested in art and what it can do.

“It’s part of the entertainment industry, but a lot of art these days tries to be too clever, it lacks passion and accessibility.

The artist gave Dame Kelly a sneak preview, and she was impressed – though she did insist on one important amendment.

“She was very excited,” he said. “I only put one gold medal on but she insisted on two.

She’s the Golden Girl of Tonbridge, and that’s going to be the statue’s nickname.”

The piece had been standing in Mr Portelli’s garden for several years. He explains: “For London 2012 local schools were given budgets to come up with ideas around the Olympics.

“It became obsolete after the Games and sat in my garden. Then I was approached by businesses on Quarry Hill Parade to come up with ideas for the roundabout in south Tonbridge.

“When I spoke to Kelly she said she had strong memories of going round the roundabout on her open-top bus parade [after she won the medals in 2004], plus it’s the entrance into the town so I wanted something uplifting.”

Mr Portelli is definitely a fan of his subject.

“What’s impressed me is her determination and to come through twice against all the odds.”

The artwork stands in an ‘Olympic-themed’ garden with a black, white and gold motif – reflecting the title of Dame Kelly’s autobiography.

The back of the piece features the little-known Tonbridge flag – red chevrons on a yellow background, pertaining to the ancient De Clare.

SCULPTOR Guy Portelli

Local News

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

PCSOs handed powers to disperse groups COMMUNITY support officers in Kent have been granted new powers to deal with antisocial behaviour, alcohol and truancy.

They can now close licensed premises that consistently sell alcohol to children and have greater powers of dispersal to tackle pupil truancy. PCSOs are considered ‘an invaluable resource in providing real benefits to the communities they serve’.

Leaf train times arrive A modified rail timetable is now in force for Southeastern due to falls of autumn leaves.

Thousands of tonnes of falling leaves onto the tracks forces trains to run at a slower pace which means adjusting train times by a few minutes.

Visit www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/ timetables for more details.

Proposals for 31 homes TRAVIS Perkins’ industrial site could be transformed into 31 homes. Tunbridge Wells councillors will decide tonight (Wednesday October 11) whether or not to allow plans for the three-block site in Belgrave Road. The builders’ merchant yard is one of the last sites of its kind in town.

Choir seeks new voices THE Philomel Singers in Tonbridge are keen to recruit new voices as they prepare for their annual Christmas Concert on Saturday December 9 at the Methodist Church, under their Director of Music, Tim Daniell. The choir meets every Wednesday from 2-4 pm at Tonbridge Parish Church. Contact Secretary Sheila Burrow on (01732) 351651 or Mr Daniell on 07775 581725.

Town centre gym plan A GYM with exercise bikes and a pilates studio could be built at the Dilly Deli and Chill site in Tunbridge Wells. Planning permission is being sought to convert the basement and first floor of the Camden Road unit. The ground floor would continue to be used for café and retail purposes.

NEWS

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Residents vote against planned Civic Complex in unofficial referendums William Mata

will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk PLANS for the £72million Civic Complex have been given the thumbs down by people who took part in two polls organised by local councillors.

Participating Sherwood residents voted four to one against the controversial project to build new council offices and a theatre bordering Calverley Grounds.

Councillor Frank Williams (pictured) followed the lead of Southborough North councillor Joe Simmons in holding a localised vote to put pressure on their own Conservative-ruled authority.

Southborough North’s earlier referendum saw residents oppose the plans by 342 votes to 86, leading Councillor Simmons to comment: “There is a feeling that politicians are just going to do it.”

Councillor Williams said a new theatre would be of ‘little benefit’ to the people of Sherwood.

“There is so much propaganda about the plan being supported but that is not what I have been hearing on the street.”

His referendum, carried out over three weeks, saw 113 voting in favour and 452 voting against with a turnout of 11.4 per cent.

Both referendums were undertaken without the blessing of the

Town Hall and the result will not necessarily sway the council’s decision.

Councillor Williams believes that the ‘astonishing’ result gives council leaders a “moral” obligation to reject the project.

Councillor Simmons said Southborough North residents were frequently unaware of the issue and that 13 per cent participated.

“It’s not a massive response but is adequate for a sample. There might be a disenchantment generally.”

He added that he was undecided about the issue, but will now vote in accordance with the wishes of the majority of voters.

“Twenty five councillors voted against doing so, eight voted in favour.”

Both referendums asked residents ‘Do you support the Civic Complex?’ and were paid for by the councillors themselves.

A Borough Council spokesperson said: “Councillors voted in July against holding a town-wide referendum,” which would cost an estimated £40,000.

University centre hailed as a vital health investment COMEDIENNE Jo Brand spoke of the importance of acknowledging mental health issues when she officially opened Canterbury Christ Church’s Applied Psychology Building at Salomon’s Centre in Tunbridge Wells last week.

The former psychiatric nurse, who attended Tunbridge Wells Grammar School For Girls, said: “For years mental health wasn’t acknowledged but there is no denying how important it is. Centres such as this are a real investment.” The centre, on Meadow Road, offers post graduate courses in applied psychology and cognitive behaviourable therapy along with doctoral training.

Brand, who has an honorary degree at Christ Church, was joined by vice-chancellor Professor Rama Thirunamachandran for the launch.

He said: “Opening this building is vitally important to train the next generation of professionals.

“They will make a significant contribution to the development and delivery of health and social care services through the use of psychology for the health and wellbeing of our society.”

INVESTMENT Vice-chancellor Professor Rama Thirunamachandran with Jo Brand

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NEWS

Local News

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Road closes as work starts on cycle path final phases

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A MILESTONE cycle path connecting Tunbridge Wells with Tonbridge moved a step closer this week as work got underway on the final phases.

The shared pedestrian and cycle route will link Tunbridge Wells Hospital with the A21 Longfield Road junction at North Farm. Construction began on Monday (October 9).

‘I have always been supportive of increasing the facilities for safer cycling’ Cyclists can benefit from the four-mile route, linking Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge town centres, when the link is completed around April time.

Tonbridge Road will be closed to northbound traffic towards the junction for

three weeks although Kent County Council has stressed that access to the hospital from Pembury Road will not be compromised.

Roadworks will then be suspended from Monday, November 13 to Sunday, January 7, to allow for Christmas shopping traffic, before recommencing.

Highways England and Kent County Council promised a combined £900,000 to improve roads around the A21, which will include funding for the cycle path.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillor Paul Barrington-King, who represents Pembury ward, said the development of the A21 carriageway presented an “ideal,” opportunity to install the track.

He added: “I have made it clear for a long time that this road is dangerous for cyclists and have always been supportive of increasing the facilities for safer cycling. It’s a milestone achievement that shows councillors working together. It is brilliant that people can now cycle to Tonbridge safely.”

The county council completed consulta-

tions in the summer and received “support,” for the proposal which will join two existing cycle paths along Tonbridge Road.

The complete cycle path is expected to begin at one end at Vauxhall Roundabout in Tonbridge, where an existing route leads to the railway station, and follow alongside the A21.

The track will be constructed on the road’s west verge. New streetlights will be installed along the stretch while the surface of Blackhurst Lane will be improved to provide a link to the new footbridge under construction over the A21.

The road closure will force motorists travelling northbound from the hospital or Notcutts Garden Centre to head south towards the Pembury junction near Tesco before joining the A21.

Councillor Barrington-King said road works would only be for “a short period of time”.

He continued: “One must look at the greater benefit of all this. This is going to be great and I would encourage people to use it.”

SUPPORTING ROLE Cllr Paul Barrington-King near the start of the cycle path

Police fund café to support mental health charity

CHEERS TO GOOD HEALTH: Serenity Café staff (l-r) Mark Holden, Tina Pearmine, Romy Rook and Pauline Slater A CAFÉ for adults with mental health problems has been opened in Tunbridge Wells in a bid to help ease the pressure on police. It is estimated that 30 per cent of police time is

taken up dealing with people facing mental health issues.

Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource (MHR) has seen a significant demand for the free twice-week-

ly sessions which provide a safe space for adults to socialise.

Serenity Café has been operating for three weeks at the charity’s base at 2a Grosvenor Park.

The idea is to give sufferers of mental illnesses the chance to talk openly about their problem.

Len Horwood, chairman of MHR, explained the café is open on Fridays at 6pm and Sundays at 3pm because these are ‘difficult times’ for people with mental health problems.

“It is a place for people with problems to go where they can have one-to-one conversations with members of staff,” he said.

“We try to alleviate their problems in a way that prevents them going

into the NHS system.”

Mr Horwood added that he would eventually like to see the café open on Saturdays too.

Serenity Café offers users a bite to eat, a cup of tea, a choice of games and, most importantly, the chance to socialise. It costs £470 a week to run.

MHR works around the west Kent region and also offers an advocacy service and drop in centre.

Romy Rook, community fundraising and engagement lead for MHR, said people “have been coming back time and again”.

She added: “It is a new project.

Crisis cafes are opening around the country and have been successful.”

Local News

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Hard work pays off for award-winning estate agents AN ESTATE agent said his firm’s hard work is behind their British Property Awards triumph.

Southborough-based LeGrys was named Best in Tunbridge Wells for the second time and Best in Kent, also for the second time, at the ceremony in London.

After collecting the prize from Homes Under the Hammer host Martin Roberts, company founder William LeGrys said he felt proud to win the award for the second time.

Competition He said: “Competition in Tunbridge Wells is really tough and to receive such a prestigious accolade is truly humbling.

“I’m proud to be able to say all the staff at LeGrys understand the steps that need to be taken in order to meet service expectations and we are always working towards continued improvement.

“This industry is all about people and we pride ourselves on delivering the highest levels of customer service to all our customers 100 per cent of the time.”

British Property Awards are decided by mystery shoppers judging estate agents by 25 criteria to obtain a balanced overview.

LeGrys is based locally in London Road, Southborough, and also has branches in Edenbridge, Lewes and London.

NEWS

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School boy’s inspiring talk turns him into a YouTube hit

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A TEN-year-old boy’s inspiring talk at TEDxRoyalTunbridgeWells, which is designed to profile ‘ideas worth spreading’, has been watched more than one million times.

Edward Foreman, of Tunbridge Wells, spoke at the event last year at the Assembly Hall, recalling how he persuaded his family to let him have a facial mole removed.

This week the talk titled ‘If You’re Unhappy, Change Yourself’ became the first TED talk given in Tunbridge Wells to top one million views on YouTube, attracting shares and widespread acclaim.

Edward, who at the time attended St James Church of England Junior School, opened by saying: “You might be wondering ‘why is a ten-year-old on stage?’ but I have done something brave in my life.”

Change yourself The local grammar school student explained how his compound nevus mole led to remarks about ‘having mud on his face,’ when he started playing for Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club.

“I feel great now,” he said, on having the medical procedure in October 2015, which required a “scary,” general anaesthetic.

“My final words are to you: If you don’t like something about yourself, change it.

NO SMALL TALK Edward Foreman at TEDxRoyalTunbridge Wells 2016 “Be brave. You have the courage.”

Edward was one of several speakers at the conference.

He added: “I am really pleased the talk has been watched so many times. I never expected it to do so well.

“The whole experience of TEDx has been amazing and I encourage anybody who has an idea worth spreading to be brave and take that step” Lizzie Bentley-Bowers, event chairman, said: “The whole team is delighted to have reached this milestone, for Edward and as a testament

to an event which we hope will continue to inspire our town.

“We are excited to now be in the throes of planning our 2018 event where we look forward to sharing more incredible stories and ideas.

“We’d love to hear from anyone who’d like to volunteer and be part of the team that makes it happen.”

TED is working with town schools ahead of their next event in 2018, with details to be announced later this year.

To watch Edward’s talk visit www.youtube.com and search ‘Edward Foreman’.

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NEWS

Local News

Council takes to road as it sets out its stall on the Civic Complex LATER this month sees the Borough Council taking to the road with a series of drop-in events aimed at getting its message across about the benefits of the planned £72million Civic Complex.

Members of the public in Cranbrook, Paddock Wood, Southborough and Tunbridge Wells will have the chance to see images and information on the proposed development and then question council members.

The opening event was held at the Calverley Grounds café last month and attracted 50 people.

Councillor Tracy Moore, portfolio holder for Civic Development Communications, said: “It was good to have this first event, of a series of events this autumn, to communicate the council’s ambitious plans for a new theatre and Civic Complex in Tunbridge Wells.

“The drop-in session was an opportunity for councillors and officers to listen to members of the public and to share ways they can learn more about the plans.”

Further events will take place…

The four meetings will be held at:  Cranbrook Farmers’ Market, Vestry Hall, on

Saturday, October 28, from 9.30am to 1pm.  Southborough Library, on Saturday,

November 4, from 10am to 12pm.  Paddock Wood Library, on Tuesday,

November 7, from 10am to 12pm.  Royal Victoria Place, on Saturday,

November 11, from 9am to 6pm.

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Scarcity of town office space likely to continue for ‘the foreseeable future’

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk PROPERTY experts have voiced concerns at the lack of office space in Tunbridge Wells after stockbroker AJ Bell announced plans to move.

Commercial property agency Broadlands said “nothing of substance,” is available to the business community with an increasing number of office buildings becoming residential.

Chartered surveyor Durlings has also raised concerns about the Government’s ‘permitted development’ rules and said the firm currently only has two vacant offices on offer.

Residential Last week AJ Bell, which employs more than 100 people, admitted it is planning to move to Manchester or London after their landlord at Calverley House applied to convert the town centre block into residential apartments.

Spokesman Charlie Musson said: “We have been looking for more office space in town but we have not found anything suitable.”

With the Borough Council powerless to stop landlords making such conversions, some are now calling for the local planning authority to have greater protective powers.

Josh Olney, of Durlings, said: “Due to the scarcity of office stock in Tunbridge Wells, and the removal from the market of large office buildings such as Calverley House, demand is extremely strong for the stock that does become available.

TALKING POINT The soon to be residential Calverley House “We anticipate this predicament to continue for the foreseeable future.

“Supply is at low levels, mainly due to the significant amount of offices being converted to residential use under permitted development rights.”

Mr Olney said the two vacant offices currently on offer are the ground floor of Dowding House in Paddock Wood and Bayham House in Grosvenor Road.

Shane Raggett, director of Broadlands Commercial Property Agents, said: “There is not anything of any substance available.

“There are no single floors, just bits and pieces dotted around. There are a couple of places and they are under offer.”

Data from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA),

the department responsible for collecting business rates, reveals that in Tunbridge Wells the 163,000sqm of floor space available in the 2000/1 financial year fell to 143,000sqm by 2015/16.

IN THE KNOW Shane Raggett, Director of Broadlands Commercial Property Agents

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BUSINESS

Local Business News

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

NHS green light boosts the sale of e-cigarettes

By William Mata SMOOTH SERVICE The driverless CargoPod

Firm gets first driverless van up and running THE UK’s first driverless grocery delivery van is now in action thanks to a Kent manufacturer’s helping hand.

Edenbridge firm Convert Ltd supplied the key cable harness to a CargoPod vehicle which has been successfully trialled by delivery giant Ocado on a test run in Greenwich.

Convert’s Managing Director, Dave Lord, said: “We’re very excited CargoPod has successfully completed its trials. This was a great bespoke project to work on. With four doors on each side, each with their own LEDs, door locks, sensors and internal lights, CargoPod was a challenge.

“It required a complex loom in order to connect all the different components to a power source and control unit.”

Similar in size to a small milk float, CargoPod is equipped with eight compartments designed to carry small amounts of shopping. Once the CargoPod arrives at a customer’s home, the compartment with their groceries lights up.

will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk E-CIGARETTE shops are enjoying a boost in trade after the NHS endorsed the devices as ‘definitely safer than smoking’.

Mike Cameron, who founded Tunbridge Wells shop SMOKO with his wife, Daisy Hicks, said business is booming with greater general acknowledgement that e-cigarettes offer smokers an effective way to quit.

Stoptober The Camden Road outlet is now one of four shops selling electronic cigarettes around town.

Their trade is also set to pick up this month with many smokers signing up to the national Stoptober campaign encouraging people to quit the habit.

Mr Cameron said: “We are expecting a rise in trade as October is always a big month. There is a lot of awareness and people are looking to make a change in their lives. Every bit of news about e-cigarettes is good for us.”

Last month a spokesman from NHS Health Scotland described the devices, which are now used by three million people nationally, as ‘a lot safer than cigarettes’.

Electronic cigarettes are typically charged by a small battery and

contain flavouring, nicotine and water.

SMOKO has been a presence in Tunbridge Wells for more than five years, but the business also successfully trades online to several countries.

Mr Cameron warned the product is addictive and said they would not sell it to anyone aged under 18 or anyone who had not smoked regular cigarettes before.

Talking of Stoptober, he continued: “For people still smoking cigarettes, it makes them question what they are doing. We also saw more people come through the door when cigarettes went up in price recently. It is £10 for a pack or even more.

“I now see a lot of people walking around Tunbridge Wells using e-cigarettes.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Battle for best shop front this Christmas TRADERS are invited to compete for the honour of having the best Christmas shop window display in Tunbridge Wells.

Business group Royal Tunbridge Wells Together (RTWT) is holding the competition to encourage shopkeepers to get decorating and will give prizes to the winners.

RTWT is also inviting businesses to get involved with their online festive gift guide, which will promote a selection of local products.

For more information on how to get involved, visit www.tunbridgewellstogether. co.uk or call (01892) 531985.

Golf day raises £5,000 BUSINESSES recently teed-off at Nevill Golf Club in Benhall Mill Road to raise £5,000 for charity.

Tunbridge Wells web design agency Larrytech organised the event at the end of last month, which also included a two-course evening meal, raffle and auction.

All proceeds will go to the Kent charity ellenor, which provides support for all families facing terminal illness.

SELLING WELL Mike Cameron and Daisy Hicks, founders of Tunbridge Wells shop SMOKO

County News

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

VISION An artist’s impression of how the garden town could look

PLANS for a controversial garden town in Shepway have been boosted by government funding.

The 12,000-home Otterpool Park project would border East Kent towns Lympne, Westenhanger, Stanford and Sellindge.

Communities secretary Sajid Javid announced this week he was releasing £2.5million to speed up building for 155,000 homes in nine similar projects nationwide.

Shepway District Council will be awarded £155,000 to continue working on proposals.

Opponents say the local countryside, which is close to Folkestone Racecourse, will be devastated and the project will put a huge strain on roads and services.

Developers are in midst of carrying out public consultations before a formal planning application is submitted to the council.

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Further pothole blitz to help drivers and cyclists POOR road surfaces in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge are set to be repaired as part of a £5.2million pothole blitz being carried out by Kent County Council [KCC].

Starting this month and running up to Christmas, highways teams are set to patch up roads in a move which has been welcomed by the AA and Cycling UK. The County Hall Cabinet member for highways, Malcolm Balfour, said: “Potholes are one of the biggest bugbears for our residents and remain one of our top priorities each year.

“We’ve got local crews working on

Garden town project wins more funding

NEWS

filling potholes who know their areas, and this year we’ve extended the scheme up until Christmas to ensure our roads are ready for the winter months ahead.”

Compensation The additional investment comes after KCC spending of £2.7million to fill an estimated 133,600 potholes already this year.

AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said: “It is a good idea to tackle potholes at the beginning of winter.

“If a pothole damages a car, the owners

can claim compensation. It can cost £40 to repair a pothole but car repairs can cost hundreds of pounds, so they know it makes sense.”

A spokesman for Cycling UK added: “Potholes remain a very serious issue on UK roads.

“While potholes can cause damage to vehicles, a collision with a pothole while on a bike can result in serious injury or even death.

“It is great to see Kent County Council proactively addressing the pothole problem.”

Move on illegally parked lorries is UK first

By William Mata will@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A CLAMPDOWN on illegally parked lorries that is the first of its kind will start this month in Ashford.

Kent County Council [KCC] and Ashford Borough Council have teamed up in a scheme which will see first-time offenders clamped, while drivers could also be fined.

The Department for Transport has changed its clamping policy to allow the authorities to act.

Councillor Matthew Balfour, the KCC cabinet member for transport, said: “Under this new scheme, we can clamp lorries that

are flouting the ban, fine them and charge them to remove the clamp.

“I’m delighted that we have been able to work together to get this scheme up and running and help stamp out an issue that is affecting residents’ lives.

“The order will not allow any overnight parking of HGVs along the A20 between and including Charing and the Drovers Roundabout, and this will extend for some distance along adjoining roads to stop HGVs simply moving further on.”

DELIGHTED: Matthew Balfour, KCC cabinet member for transport

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Community News

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Denny’s and neighbours join forces to support Pickering

SWEET SUCCESS M&S staff dress up for their coffee morning

BUSINESSES in Grosvenor Road laid on a charity event last month to raise money for the Pickering Cancer Dropin Centre in Tunbridge Wells.

Denny’s Place barbers, 14 Arrows tattoo parlour and The Beauty Rooms salon joined forces to raise £3,680 for the centre, which provides counselling and therapies for people with cancer and their families.

Denny’s offered haircuts for £5, the tattooists in the basement created

designs for £30, and there were cakes and children’s games at The Beauty Rooms.

The event lasted 13 hours and featured live music, a bar and barbecue.

At the age of 72, Pickering co-founder Polly Taylor had her first ever tattoo.

She said: “I had it done to show my love for all the guys there for what they had done for Pickering, and also for the people who have helped us over the years.”

MAKING HER MARK Pickering’s Polly Taylor gets her first tattoo

M&S meets Macmillan Pepenbury film aims to stop fundraising challenge bullies targeting the disabled THE branch of Marks & Spencer at Tunbridge Wells Fountains Retail Park has raised more than £4,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The sum was the result of a month of fundraising events, culminating in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in the store’s café on September 29.

One team member, Chloe Vincent, agreed to the ‘brave the shave’ hair challenge, and several others took on ‘The Thames Row’, covering a 100mile distance on a static rowing machine in the store.

M&S has partnered with Macmillan Cancer Support for eight years, and in 2016 they raised £3.2million – enough to fund 66 Macmillan

healthcare professionals for a year.

The store donated ten per cent from sales of a variety of tasty treats from the M&S Foodhall, 5p from all hot drinks and cakes in the café, and all profits from a range of bag accessories designed by artist Rob Ryan.

Store Manager James Smith said: “I want to thank both our loyal customers and my M&S colleagues for pulling out all of the stops on Friday to help make our Coffee Morning such a huge success.

“It was great to see the local Tunbridge Wells community joining in the fun.”

For more information, visit coffee.macmillan.org.uk

A LOCAL charity supporting people with learning disabilities has launched an anti-bullying campaign after clients said they are badly treated in the community.

Pepenbury has produced a short film interviewing several people who have experienced bullying in schools, on the roads, and on public transport.

The charity, which is based near Pembury, will show it in local schools and the wider community in order to raise awareness of the issue.

Janine Jacquin, who works with people affected by bullying, said: “We think a lot of this happens because people don’t always understand why someone acts a bit differently.

“A disability isn’t always visual, so when someone is a bit slower or doesn’t speak clearly they think it’s OK to make fun of them.”

Injuries Josh, who suffered lifelong injuries as a result of bullying in school, said: “They saw me as an easy target really, they thought ‘let’s pick on the weaker one’.

“They came up behind me. One of them pushed me over and decided to kick me in the back.

“It made me feel sad, angry and worried. I was really frustrated. What those two bullies did was a bad thing.

“I now use a walking stick and a walker.”

Ms Jacquin added: “It’s just awful what bullied people have been through. It’s taken a lot of time and support to help build their confidence back up.

“We are working closely with the people we support to make sure they don’t become isolated and scared to go out as a result of this.

“We organise social groups and help support them into training or work so they can lead a normal life just like everyone else. They don’t want to be treated any differently.”

The film can be seen at youtube.com by searching for: Pepenbury Anti Bullying

Community News

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Great Storm of ’87 was a ‘battle zone’ – but it has benefited our landscape TO MARK the 30th anniversary of the Great Storm of 1987, The National Trust is providing a raft of information about the hurricane that struck the South-East on that fateful night.

Winds reached up to 110mph between 2-6am on October 16, 1987. The storm claimed 20 lives, felled 15 million trees and caused £1.5billion of damage.

Weather presenter Michael Fish infamously said: “Apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way. Well, if you’re watching, don’t worry, there isn’t.”

Some 350,000 trees were lost on 58 of the Trust’s properties across 3,000 acres of land. Winston Churchill’s home, Chartwell, and Emmetts Garden near Sevenoaks were among the worst affected.

FRESH OUTLOOK New views opened up at Chartwell

“It was a battle zone,” said gardener Alan Comb, who started work at Emmetts Garden a week after it lost 95 per cent of its woodland. “There were trees sticking up like totem poles.”

Toys Hill, former home of National Trust founder Octavia Hill, near Emmetts Garden, lost 98 per cent of its trees, with fallen timber piled 40 feet high.

Chaos Tom Hill, the National Trust Trees and Woodland Officer in the South East, said: “It’s hard to comprehend the scale of the damage. The statistics, though stark, can’t do justice to the heartache of our rangers, gardeners, volunteers and local communities as they woke up to a scene of chaos.”

But Mr Hill stressed that because it was an entirely natural occurrence, it proved highly significant in how the landscape has recovered.

“We’ve witnessed the natural response to this kind of phenomenon in the way that nature has healed and restored itself, alongside the extensive conservation carried out by our teams,” he said.

The Great Storm and its aftermath was a chance for the Trust to re-evaluate the way it works in the outdoors and manages its woodlands.

At Toys Hill, the highest point in Kent, some of the devastated areas were cleared, others were replanted, and a non-intervention zone was left alone to regenerate naturally. In the areas that were left untouched, trees that seeded naturally are developing faster than those that were planted.

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DEVASTATION At Emmetts Garden, 95 per cent of the woodland was destroyed

PHOTOS: National Trust

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

NEWS

Light allowed in by the removal of so much of the canopy caused dormant seeds to burst into life, including native clematis, honeysuckle and heather – unseen in the area for more than a century.

‘It’s vital that we continue to evolve our approach to woodland management to help it to thrive’ Wildlife also benefitted in the aftermath. The woodlark and nightjar population increased, and little owls, tawny owls, buzzards, hobbies and sparrow hawks exploited the open woodland.

More than a third of the Trust’s 62,000 acres of woodland nationwide lies in London and the South East. Mr Hill added: “Today we work more closely with natural ecological processes and,

where possible, will allow damaged woodland to regenerate naturally. It’s vital that we continue to evolve our approach to woodland management to help it to thrive.”

There have been other benefits reaped from the ravages of the Great Storm. New views were opened up in backdrops at venues like Chartwell and Scotney Castle.

Fallen trees exposed tree rings hidden for centuries, enabling the Trust to date them and reveal more about the history of its estates.

At Emmetts Garden, the thinning-out of flower beds which were over-planted after the storm has provided around 1,200 cuttings for the Trust’s Plant Conservation Centre.

“It’s the first time in 24 years anything’s gone from us to the centre” said Mr Comb. “Should we lose a plant at Emmetts we’ll always have the original.”

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National News

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

NHS cap scrapped but deals linked to productivity JEREMY HUNT has told MPs the NHS pay cap has been scrapped, but added that he was unable to rule out cutting health services to fund rises above 1 per cent.

The Health Secretary said it was recognised the cap ‘wasn’t sustainable’ for the future, adding he was hoping for a ‘win-win’ result after confirming he has been given the leeway to conduct ‘more flexible negotiations’ next year.

But Mr Hunt said the ‘latitude’ provided to him by Chancellor Philip Hammond was partly linked to ‘productivity improvements’ which will be negotiated at the same time.

Labour successfully moved a non-binding motion last month calling for the scrapping of the pay cap for NHS workers.

Farm income to fall by over 50 per cent FARM incomes could be slashed by more than half if Britain leaves the EU without a free trade deal.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, a statutory body, has predicted that average annual farm incomes could fall from £38,000 to £15,000 if the UK unilaterally opened its doors to cheap food imports while removing EU subsidies following Brexit.

Even if Britain were to impose protectionist tariffs on imports under World Trade Organisation rules, the board predicts that average incomes could still drop to £20,000.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Delays to Tube upgrade will worsen overcrowding

PERSONAL PRIORITY Theresa May addresses a diversity meeting at No 10

May insists ‘explain or change’ after audit of racial inequality THERESA MAY has warned public services there is nowhere to hide if they treat black and ethnic minorities worse than white people as the findings of a racial disparity audit were released.

Britain has ‘a way to go’ to create an equal society but tackling ethnic injustice is a ‘personal priority’, the Prime Minister said.

Uncomfortable The findings on a new Ethnicity Facts and Figures website show how people of different races are treated in areas such as health, education, employment and the criminal justice system.

Mrs May said much of the information ‘has existed for years’ but it had not been ‘looked at through this particular prism’.

Adding that the ‘findings will be uncomfortable’, she told a diversity meeting at No 10: “What this audit shows is there isn’t anywhere to hide. That’s not just for Government, it’s for society as a whole.

“Britain has come a long way in promoting equality and opportunity but what the data we’ve published today shows is that we still have a way to go if we are going to truly have a country that works for everyone.”

Mrs May said organisations will be challenged to ‘explain or change’, and revealed: “It’s personal priority for me because I absolutely passionately believe that how far you go in life should be about your talents and your hard work and nothing else.”

The report’s findings included: n State-educated white Britons had the lowest rate for going to university but were also less likely to be unemployed than ethnic minorities and were more likely to own their own home. n Asian, black and other ethnic groups were disproportionately likely to be on a low income, with almost half of households in the bottom 40 per cent before housing costs were taken into account. n White people were among the least likely to be a victim of crime or to fear becoming a victim.

OVERCROWDING on London Underground will get worse because of plans to pause upgrade work, it has been warned.

The drivers’ union Aslef said putting on hold new trains for the Northern and Jubilee lines made ‘outright cancellation’ more likely.

London Underground said its plans were being temporarily paused in order to buy more trains for the two lines.

Fewer holidays for young YOUNG people are taking fewer holidays because they are ‘feeling the pinch’, according to travel trade organisation Abta.

It found 18-24-year-olds went on an average of 3.6 holidays in the year to August, compared with 4.6 during the same period in 2014-15.

Recent reports suggest young people are struggling with rising rents and less disposable income.

The UK as a whole typically took 3.8 holidays last year, the most since 2011.

Fine for water supplier WATER firm United Utilities has been fined £300,000 for supplying water that was unfit for human consumption.

More than 700,000 people in Lancashire had to boil their water in the summer of 2015 when microbial parasite cryptosporidium was found in the Franklaw water treatment works in Preston.

Utilities Water Ltd spent £18.3million in voluntary compensation payments.

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National News

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

‘Spectre of collusion’ haunts Smith claims at child abuse inquiry

Concern about toddlers slow to take first steps

MI5’S intelligence on allegations of paedophilia by the late politician Cyril Smith ‘raises a spectre of ­collusion’ which could explain why he escaped justice, a lawyer has told the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

A dossier of information on the Liberal MP was held by the security services and has been disclosed to the inquiry for examination.

CHILDREN who are not walking by the age of one and a half should be referred to specialist services to see whether they have cerebral palsy, health officials have suggested.

Youngsters who are not sitting by eight months also need to be referred to a local child ­development service, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE].

New information released by NICE suggests: “Children with unusual signs that suggest possible ­cerebral palsy are referred to a ­specialist team at the local child development service for more checks to find out whether they have cerebral palsy.

“Examples of unusual signs are not sitting by eight months, not walking by 18 months, or using one hand more than the other before 12 months.”

Pressure Laura Hoyano, representing seven alleged victims of Smith, asked in her opening statement: “Why was MI5 involved at all?”

It came as the Crown Prosecution Service criticised ‘some elements’ of a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions not to press sexual abuse charges against Smith in 1970.

Despite allegations and police investigations following the 29-stone politician throughout his career, he was never prosecuted.

The inquiry had heard during the first day of evidence regarding child abuse in Rochdale, where Smith was a prominent councillor and later an MP, that journalists had been lied to regarding the collapsed 1970 investigation into Smith.

MI5 was told by Sir Thomas Hetherington, then the DPP, in 1979 that his office falsely told the press that they had no record of a police file of evidence against the politician.

In reality, prosecutors had been handed a file in 1970 saying that the allegations against Smith – made by eight boys associated with the Cambridge House hostel in Rochdale – did ‘stand up’, but chose not to take him to trial.

Ms Hoyano asked the second day of hearings: “Was political pressure brought to bear upon the DPP from politicians and members of the Liberal Party from 1969 to 1970?”

She added: “Why would Sir Thomas Hetherington decide he should lie to journalists, stating that he had not submitted a prosecution file?

“Why would the DPP contact MI5 about this at all? Why was an ­apparent South African connection suspected?

“There is also a reference in the covering letter to another child sexual abuse investigation into Cyril Smith by the Metropolitan Police Service in the mid-1970s. Again, why would MI5 hold that information?

Why was MI5 involved at all?

“We say this dossier from MI5 raises a spectre of collusion.”

THE helmet of Edward of Woodstock – popularly known as The Black Prince – is analysed by conservation experts hoping to discover more about him.

The Black Prince, who died before he could inherit the throne, is said to have been given his name after he led the slaughter of 3,000 men, women and children in the French town of Limoges in 1370 during the Hundred Years’ War. Yet doubt has been cast on this historical stain on his reputation.

One million illegal immigrants here to stay MORE than a million illegal immigrants are unlikely to ever be removed from Britain, MPs have heard.

The claim was issued by a former senior official, who also suggested the Home Office will struggle to meet the challenge of Brexit without a boost to resources.

David Wood, an ex-director general of immigration enforcement, told the Commons Home Affairs Committee there are ‘enormous difficulties’ in removing overseas nationals who are in the country unlawfully.

He said: “There’s probably over a million foreigners here illegally at the moment. There’s a large number, so no one could ever remove those really.

“But what there needs to be is a consequence, there needs to be seen that there is a risk that if you don’t abide by the immigration rules and you overstay or you commit crimes, there is a consequence and a real risk of being removed.”

Official statisticians have said it is impossible to accurately quantify the

number of people in the country ­ nlawfully. A report published earlier this u year by think-tank Civitas suggested that illegal immigration is running at a minimum of 150,000 a year.

The main count used to track trends in regular immigration is net migration, which measures the difference between the numbers arriving in and leaving the country for at least a year.

Net long-term international migration was running at an estimated 246,000 in the year ending March 2017.

National Business News

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

BAE to cut almost 2,000 jobs for ‘sharper competitive edge’ BAE Systems is planning to cut 1,915 jobs in its military, maritime and intelligence services under moves to streamline its business and have a ‘sharper’ competitive edge.

The biggest cutback will be in the military air business, with 1,400 jobs set to be axed across five sites over the next three years, including Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire, where the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft assembly takes place.

Jobs will also be cut at Brough in East Yorkshire and at RAF bases in Marham, Norfolk, and Leeming in North Yorkshire.

Streamlined Around 375 proposed redundancies were announced in BAE’s maritime servicing and support business, mainly affecting Portsmouth.

And approximately 150 posts will also be lost from the company’s cyber intelligence business in London and Guildford.

Chief Executive Charles Woodburn said: “The

organisational changes we are announcing today accelerate our evolution to a more streamlined, delayered organisation, with a sharper competitive edge and a renewed focus on technology.

“These actions will further strengthen our company as we deliver our strategy in a changing environment.”

BAE is facing an order gap for the Typhoon so production is being slowed ahead of an expected order from Qatar, while assembly of the Hawk jet – which are flown by the Red Arrows – is set to end in the next few years.

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “These planned job cuts will not only undermine Britain’s sovereign defence capability, but devastate communities across the UK who rely on these skilled jobs and the hope of a decent future they give to future generations.

“These devastatingly short-sighted cuts will harm communities, jobs and skills. These are world class workers with years of training and expertise on which additional jobs rely upon in the supply chain.”

BOMBSHELL A Eurofighter Typhoon at Warton

Watchdog describes Fox News conduct as ‘extremely disturbing’ BROADCASTING regulators have told MPs they found ‘extremely disturbing’ behaviour at Fox News when looking at an £11.7billion bid by the channel’s owners to take full control of Sky. Giving evidence to the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Ofcom’s Chief Executive Sharon White said the body found ‘significant corporate governance failures’ at Fox News.

However, Ms White said Ofcom decided Sky would continue to be a fit and proper broadcaster

despite the situation at Fox News.

She said: “Our judgment was that the behaviour, as I say, particularly at this time we were looking at Fox News, was extremely serious and disturbing.

“We found significant corporate governance failures. But, it was also our judgment that you could not, within a broadcasting arena, on a reasonable basis, take the view that Sky would not continue to be a fit and proper broadcaster.”

Ms White was speaking following Culture Secretary Karen Bradley’s decision to refer Rupert Murdoch’s bid to take full control of Sky to the Competition and Markets Authority [CMA].

The CMA said yesterday it will look into the Murdoch family’s ability to control editorial and commercial decisions at Sky News and their ability to ‘influence the political agenda’.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Trade deficit rise Blow for Budget Winds of change BRITAIN’S trade deficit in goods ballooned to a record high in August as official data again failed to signal any significant benefit to exporters from the Brexit-induced collapse in the pound.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that Britain’s trade deficit in goods rose by £1.4billion to £14.2billion as the country imported more chemicals, machinery and textiles.

In the three months to August, exports fell 2.7 per cent while imports rose 3.9 per cent, while Britain’s import of goods from the EU hit a record high in September.

CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond was dealt a blow ahead of next month’s Budget after the economic watchdog warned about overly optimistic productivity forecasts.

The Office for Budget Responsibility – whose forecasts form the basis of the chancellor’s Budget decisions – has admitted it is set to ‘significantly’ lower its predictions over the next five years in next month’s forecasts, decimate the £26billion of headroom Mr Hammond had put faith in to ease the economy through Brexit.

FURNITURE GIANT Ikea has posted rising full year sales and revealed that it now owns more wind turbines than stores as it moves a step closer to becoming ‘energy independent’.

The Swedish retailer said group sales for the year to August grew 3.8 per cent to 34.1billion euro [£30billion] as 817 million customers visited its stores.

Ikea also saw 2.1 billion visits to its website. The news comes after the firm unveiled proposals to sell its wares on ecommerce websites such as Amazon to mitigate a decline in store visits.

BUSINESS

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World News

Nuclear operator pays out millions to tsunami victims

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

SPORT IN BRIEF

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER Pyongyang may have the South’s plans

Early Christmas Eve kick-off still possible PREMIER LEAGUE Chief Executive Richard Scudamore has confirmed there will be no 4pm kick-off on Christmas Eve. He met members from 20 fan groups and representatives from the Football Supporters’ Federation to relay the news.

But it is understood that he has not ruled out earlier kick-offs on that day with Sky Sports considering moving Arsenal v Liverpool from Saturday December 23.

A COURT in Japan has ordered the government and the operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant to pay 500 million yen (£3.4million) to thousands of former residents who demanded damages for their livelihoods lost in the 2011 nuclear crisis.

Fukushima District Court said the government had failed to order Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) to improve safety measures despite knowing as early as 2002 of a risk of a massive tsunami in the region.

Risk The court upheld the plaintiffs’ argument that the disaster could have been prevented if the economy and industry ministry had ordered Tepco to move emergency diesel generators from the basement to higher ground and make the reactor buildings water-tight based on 2002 data which suggested there was a risk of a tsunami as high as 51ft (15.7m).

SIGNED AND SEALED Lawyers show banners saying ‘victory’

North Korea stole plans for US-led ‘decapitation strike’ NORTH KOREAN hackers may have stolen highly classified military documents, including US-South Korean wartime ‘decapitation strike’ plans against the North, a South Korean legislator has been quoted as saying.

Democratic Party representative Lee Cheol-hee reportedly cited unidentified defence officials as saying the hackers stole the plans last year.

If confirmed, such a hack would be a major blow for Seoul at a time when its relations with Pyongyang are at a low point.

The South has taken an increasingly aggressive stance towards the North’s belligerence amid back-and-forth threats of war between North Korea and Washington.

Blueprints Mr Lee was quoted as saying the plans included blueprints for attacks to eliminate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The South’s Yonhap news agency quoted Mr Lee as saying 235 gigabytes of military documents were taken.

While nearly 80 per cent of the

documents have not yet been identified, they reportedly included contingency plans for South Korean special forces and information on military facilities and power plants.

Yonhap claim the country’s defence officials said in May that North Korea may have hacked a crucial South Korean military online network but did not say what was stolen.

Seoul says North Korea has repeatedly staged cyberattacks on South Korean business and government websites. North Korea routinely denies responsibility.

Mane out for six weeks LIVERPOOL have been dealt a huge blow ahead of the visit of arch-rivals Manchester United on Saturday after Sadio Mane was ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.

The striker was injured on international duty with Senegal. He began the Premier League campaign with three goals in his first four games before a red card at Manchester City last month resulted in a three-match ban.

Kyrgios walks off court NICK KYRGIOS courted controversy again at the Shanghai Masters by retiring after losing the first set of his opening-round match against Steve Johnson.

The Australian did not appear injured and did not seek medical help as he abruptly left the court after losing a tie-break 7-5.

Both the American and umpire Fergus Murphy were left bemused, though Kyrgios later blamed his departure on a stomach bug.

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Letters

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU Old cinema site should fit in with neighbouring buildings Regarding the latest proposals to develop the old cinema site, surely – knowing our town’s history, heritage and fine buildings – the design should respect and complement our town’s architecture, especially standing adjacent to Decimus Burton’s Trinity Church?

On the cinema site, the new developers needed a viable and safe profitable scheme and opted to build 108 flats plus 60,000 sq ft of retail space: Not necessarily accommodation to facilitate the needs of our town.

We also have Hermes Real Estate extending Royal Victoria Place with another 120,000 sq ft of retail and 22,000 sq ft of food and restaurant space. However, with no income from a quarter of the shopping centre’s units being empty, they are having to delay work on the centre.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council had a great opportunity to buy the cinema site so that this – together with the Civic Centre, Trinity Theatre

Council must invest, not sell River Lawn It is interesting to see Cllr Base, representing a different ward [Aylesford North and Walderslade], making sweeping judgements about a communitymotivated campaign to preserve publicly-owned open space [River Lawn, October 4].

This simply isn’t land that is ‘underused’. A recent tally by a former councillor counted 96 people in 15 minutes on one occasion and 75 in 15 minutes on another.

Both times, all benches were in use – though we would love to see more benches!

In addition to being an entrance to the park, it also features two footpaths and a well-used cycle path – it is a popular way to avoid the polluted and busy Tonbridge High Street.

The new Fair Charging precept introduced by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council [TMBC] is specifically for paying for open spaces and community buildings. In the year it came in, two public buildings and an area of recreation land are being sold. Is this value for money? We are getting less for paying more.

TMBC is completely out of step with other councils; it needs to acquire property development expertise as a matter of urgency instead of paying outside agencies like Taylor Hartnell Cook £23,000 to conduct a survey of its property and then paying it again to handle the sale of that land. Is this ethical?

Sevenoaks Council have won awards for a financial strategy that involves investing in local public properties (as opposed to a real estate ‘fund’), which is what we’re effectively asking TMBC to consider as their strategy.

We are not just dreamers with no viable alternative plan for how to meet the financial needs of the council in future. We are legitimately

Calverley

and the old Opera House – could have become a cluster of easily accessible buildings supporting a superb ‘Arts and Entertainment’ centre for our town.

By purchasing the site, a theatre’s auditorium and fly tower could have been designed using the natural contours of the site – a sensible location and a huge saving compared to building a theatre beside Calverley Grounds.

Each new development has to accommodate a required number of parking spaces, estimated at a total of about 1,500, which will exacerbate traffic movements.

Bizarrely, it has been reported that fewer cars are using the car parks and there is a relative decline in footfall figures.

This is probably due to the town centre’s worsening congestion problems, the increase in parking charges, a demise in the quality of retailers and the huge number of vacant shops.

John Albiston Tunbridge Wells asking why TMBC are pursuing this particular financial strategy of selling public property when it appears no other strategy has even been considered, even one proven highly successful by a neighbouring Conservative council?

Lucy Athey Keep River Lawn Green

Mr Toad rides roughshod over us I was absolutely appalled by the views of Cllr Michael Base [October 4]. If anyone has a ‘Wind in the Willows’ attitude to the River Lawn protests it is he, by exhibiting the worst attributes of Mr Toad in denigrating and riding roughshod over the views of several hundred people who had the courage to march in protest against Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s scheme.

From the opinions I have heard, those marchers represent only the tip of the iceberg of local feeling against this scheme.

I think if Cllr Base were to seek the opinion of people who live in Tonbridge, he would be hard pressed to find many who are in favour of building on this open space.

It is extremely disappointing to see someone who sets himself up to represent the people of this borough taking such an attitude to genuine and strongly held views by dismissing them in terms of a classic and much loved children’s story. This may well be remembered when he stands for re-election.

Too much of the character and amenity of Tonbridge has been lost over the years to short-term financial gain, and the council should be trying to balance its books by means other than permanently destroying local amenity.

Rod Mackay Tonbridge

Observations on life and more important things

APPY hour in pubs has taken on a whole new meaning. Out with (much) younger friends, Himself was about to leave the table to order another round when a young lady told him to sit tight. She sent, via an app, an order to the bar for more drinks along with the table number.

Minutes later, the booze appeared, much to the chagrin of those still queuing at the bar.

And where did all this happen? Wetherspoons.

MYSTERY SOLVED Two views showing glimpses of the former Bridgewater House

Tracking down a hero of Trafalgar In response to James Grierson from Dumfries [September 20] about Henry Abergavenny Wootton, Bridgewater House was at 18 St John’s Road, currently the site occupied by Richer Sounds next to the Culverden Hall.

In 1867, this was London Road; by 1882, it was St John’s Road, and the house had been numbered by 1893. It appears in the Kelly’s directory for 1867, 1886, 1893 and 1939.

The photograph [above top] shows a bit of the house to the right of the chapel – the only photo in existence in the public realm, as far as I can ascertain – while the bottom photo shows the house in the far distance and general area, both taken in the early part of the 20th century.

Melanie Machin Via email

SCORE one for the men. Sorry ladies, but when it comes to shoes it seems shop assistants much prefer dealing with chaps. Calverley heard feedback last week from some High Street shops that revealed (as if we didn’t know) that women can spend a couple of hours browsing in shops and then leave empty-handed. Men, on the other hand, pop in, pick out a pair of shoes, and if they don’t fit they’ll willingly settle for an alternative pair. One woman spent an hour sending pictures of shoes via Instagram to friends before deciding, by popular vote, which pair to buy.

WANT to embarrass your teenage kid on their birthday? Just do what this couple did and turn up outside their school with pretty coloured balloons tied to the roof rack. First thing the birthday boy did when he saw them was run up and burst them before his friends spotted them. The parents meant well, they really did.

School governor: An education in itself May I suggest that John Eaton [October 4] becomes a school governor to help put his opinions in a real world context?

As well as providing a valuable service to his community, he can spend a year attending governors’ board meetings and carrying out governor monitoring visits to understand how schools are run, and then share his views again with the readership in a year’s time.

Hopefully he will have been educated!

Trevor Brittain Tonbridge

We do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words

CALVERLEY is not alone in talking in the third person. An interesting chap turned up on the doorstep of Times Tower just the other day and introduced himself as Brian Bissell: “You probably know who I am?” “Er, sorry no.” “Well here’s one of Brian’s business cards.” “But you’re Brian, why are you talking in the third person?” “Because he’s Brian.” Never did find out exactly what he wanted. His card suggests he’s an ‘Associate of BAFTA’ who won the Eternal Optimism Award in 2010. There you go.

Chin, chin readers

Education

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

Students put their best feet forward to raise vital funds This year, the challenging Beacon Academy 10km sponsored walk has generated more money than ever before for pupil-nominated charities BEACON ACADEMY in Crowborough has broken all of its previous fundraising records by collecting over £19,000 in sponsorship for charities both locally and abroad after its annual sponsored 10k walk.

Over 1,000 pupils from Year 7 to 13 set off along the route around the East Sussex town on September 29 in order to raise money for numerous charities nominated by the pupils, and also the school itself.

Despite inclement weather, which created some challenging conditions on parts of the route, the young walkers were not deterred.

“Our extremely resilient students were, as ever, a credit to themselves and to our school,” a spokesperson for the academy told the Times.

“Throughout the event, our students demonstrated real character and should be congratulated on this tremendous achievement.”

The spokesperson went on to say that fundraising this year has ‘surpassed all expectations’, with the record-breaking total of £19,000 set to increase further with Gift Aid. Student Council members from the academy will soon distribute the funds raised towards a number of WE DID IT! Smiles all round from some of those who took part in the 10k walk charities, including Clued Up, a local support organisation for young people and their families, as well as for community projects in The Gambia.

A proportion of the funds raised by members of the Sixth Form will be taken to the West African country during the school’s annual trip there in December.

Money pledged will also be allocated to school resources, and towards ‘enhancing the education’ of all students at Beacon Academy.

Headteacher Anna Robinson congratulated all students and staff on their ‘monumental achievement’, commenting: “I would like to say a huge thank you and well done to the PE department for the sheer belief, determination, coordination, organisation and leadership.”

She added: “Our sincere thanks also go to the families and friends of Beacon students and community members for their donations and support of the event.”

school awarded All the world’s a stage for Faith top accolade after its victorious drama student recent inspection A YOUNG girl’s dream of becoming an actress came much closer to reality after she won a year’s scholarship at a very successful local theatre school courtesy of The Stage newspaper.

Celebrating The revered industry bible is the oldest specialist performing arts publication in the UK, and earlier in the year had asked budding dancers and keen actors to send in a twominute video of themselves highlighting how they would benefit from the curriculum at the theatre school of their choice.

Eight-year-old Ellie Machin from Tonbridge won, and chose the local Razzamataz Theatre School, where

she has studied for the past four years.

The young performer is now celebrating, having managed to convince the judges that she would benefit from the year’s free tuition, which equates to more than 100 hours of performing arts training worth up to £800.

Ellie, who also plays piano and cello, said she was ‘thrilled to bits’ when she found out she had won the prestigious prize.

She will have the opportunity to participate in a number of performing activities, as well as take part in masterclasses with industry experts. Ellie will also enjoy the chance to audition for a leading talent agent.

WINNING SMILE Ellie Machin

A SPECIALIST report has just declared Bennett Memorial Diocesan School ‘Oustanding’ after a Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools [SIAMS].

The Tunbridge Wells secondary school, which is based in Culverden Down, was visited by the influential monitoring body last month.

Vision In awarding the school its top accolade, the SIAMS report noted Bennett’s ‘distinctiveness and effectiveness as a Church of England school’ thanks to its Christian vision.

It added that this ‘impacts positively on students’ high academic attainment and progress and on their strong personal development’.

The report also stated that students of different prior attainment levels and backgrounds go on to ‘thrive within this caring and inclusive Christian community’.

NEWS

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NEWS

Weekly Comment

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Tom Tugendhat

MP for Tonbridge & Malling

Tom Tugendhat, MBE, left the British Army in July 2013 after a career in which he served on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and as the military assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff.

As a Territorial Army officer, he worked on everything from those ops to establishing the Armed Forces Muslim Association. He also worked for the Foreign Office. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2015. He was elected as Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee in July 2017

No child should suffer miserable bus trips to school SCHOOLS have now been back for around a month, and for all of us this should be a chance to hear from our children about their exciting days learning and playing with friends.

But for too many this is not happening. Instead, parents are being told about miserable bus trips to and from school.

Having spent the past year talking to Arriva about the quality of buses in our area, I am particularly disappointed to hear that their service continues to be unreliable, unsafe and unpleasant.

I have heard from parents across our community who have told me that their children have had to stand on an incredibly overcrowded bus, or that their bus has been so full it has driven straight past them and they have had to walk.

So far I have received just under 600 replies to my bus survey. It’s a fantastic response, and I am very grateful to everyone who has contributed.

Of those, 85 per cent of people said that their child’s bus journey was overcrowded, 54 per cent of people said that the bus was late, and 43 per cent said that the bus failed to stop at certain stops.

This is not good enough. Children should not be having to endure delays because the bus companies cannot cope with the demand.

I have previously raised the matter with Arriva

and Kent County Council [KCC], but little has changed, and this is too serious to be overlooked.

That’s why I’m working with KCC to get Arriva and other local bus companies to meet with me urgently and tell me what they are doing to fix the problems we’re facing.

I have now met with the vast majority of local

‘One of the successes that has come since I started my campaign is the introduction of the 502 bus’ bus companies that were flagged up as having problems in my bus survey.

All of them agreed with me that something needs to change to ensure the well-being and safety of our children.

I have also spoken to County Hall, who issue tenures to many school transport companies, and have urged them to commission more buses to spread the distribution of pupils.

A variety of ideas have been put forward to help tackle these problems, and I look forward to working with both the schools and the bus companies, as well as KCC, to ensure that these

COULD DO (MUCH) BETTER Local school bus services changes happen – and as soon as possible.

One of the successes that has come since I started my campaign is the introduction of the 502 bus, which leaves St Philip’s Church in Hildenborough at 07:18 and travels through Tonbridge to St John’s in Tunbridge Wells.

I have heard great feedback since this service

started, and am pleased it is making a difference.

Over the coming few days and weeks, please continue to let me know if you have been affected by the poor service as I will be updating these details to carry on putting pressure on Arriva and the other local bus companies to provide a much better network with more buses.

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

The Times is proud to work with:

WITH THE

Available in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks

bracketts

est. 1828

A rural star

This dream cottage featured on TV’s Escape to the Country

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PROPERTY

To suit your budget

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Your at-a-glance guide to WITH THE

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Pick up your edition at the following stations Tunbridge Wells Tonbridge Wadhurst Hildenborough Paddock Wood High Brooms

BRATTLES GRANGE COTTAGES, BRENCHLEY GUIDE PRICE £775,000

To feature a property or to place an advert please call: Jemma Rose 01892 774 781

Alternatively you can contact the Times of Tunbridge Wells in the following ways 01892 779 624 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1NU newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

f facebook.com/timeslocalnews k twitter.com/timeslocalnews L timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

UNDER £250,000 HIGH STREET, TONBRIDGE

GUIDE PRICE

£175,000-£182,500 A well-presented first floor apartment situated in the centre of Tonbridge, close the station. The property has a communal entrance, its own entrance hall, and an open-plan living room/kitchen with views over a tributary of the River

Medway. The property has a fitted kitchen, and there is also a double bedroom and family bathroom. The outside area includes a communal courtyard to the rear. An added benefit is the fact the apartment also comes with a brand new 125-year lease.

CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

UNDER £350,000 NELSON AVENUE, TONBRIDGE

£330,000 An attractive, good-sized terraced cottage in a popular residential area within easy reach of Tonbridge mainline station. There is an entrance hall, a through lounge/ diner and a kitchen with a range of storage units and appliances and a useful understairs cupboard.

Upstairs, the landing has a hatch to the loft and there are two bedrooms with wardrobe cupboards as well as a spacious bathroom. One bedroom has views across the garden. Outside, the garden includes a patio, lawn, further seating area and a shed.

CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

To suit your budget

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

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great properties by price range…

UNDER £500,000 HIGHFIELD ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

GUIDE PRICE

£395,000-£410,000 Close to High Brooms mainline station, this 1930s three-bedroom semi-detached home has undergone extensive modernisation and refurbishment to now include a new fitted kitchen with appliances, bathroom with white suite and new carpets throughout. There is also a new gas central heating system.

Outside is a brick-paved driveway for off-road parking and a landscaped rear garden with a decked seating area.

CONTACT Wood & Pilcher Tunbridge Wells 01892 511211 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

UNDER £600,000 ADDISON ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£400,000-£425,000

A four bedroom mid-terrace townhouse with a recent garage conversion. There is a reception room, playroom, TV room, study and dining room in addition to a large kitchen/diner, conservatory and upstairs living room with a Juliette balcony. There are four bedrooms over the top two floors with an en suite to the master bedroom and further shower room on the first floor.

Externally, there is off-road parking and a low maintenance garden. No chain.

CONTACT Wood & Pilcher Tunbridge Wells 01892 511211 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

UNDER £850,000

UNDER £800,000

BRATTLES GRANGE COTTAGES, BRENCHLEY

MAYCOTTS LODGE, MATFIELD

£775,000 GUIDE PRICE A semi-detached cottage in a semi-rural position about a mile from this pretty village. The accommodation includes an entrance hall, a family room with wood-burning stove, a sitting room also with a feature fireplace, a kitchen/dining room with French doors to the garden, a utility room,

GUIDE PRICE a cloakroom, three first floor bedrooms (one en suite), a family bathroom and a second floor bedroom. Externally, there is a garden with a wood store and shed.

CONTACT Savills Tunbridge Wells 01892 507000 www.savills.co.uk

£750,000 Set to the rear of Matfield village green, this period home dates back to 1850 and has many character features as well as a garden to the side, a walled courtyard to the rear with large patio area and a garage. Inside is an entrance hall, cloakroom/shower room, kitchen, 30ft sitting/dining room, two double bedrooms, a study/ bedroom three and a bathroom.

CONTACT Firefly Properties Tunbridge Wells 01892 838363 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

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PROPERTY

Wellington Gardens

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

AT A GLANCE WELLINGTON GARDENS LONDON ROAD SOUTHBOROUGH n Entrance hall n Cloakroom n Sitting room n Kitchen/diner with bifold doors to the garden n Cinema room/family room/bedroom n Master bedroom with en suite & dressing room n Bathroom n 3 further bedrooms (one en suite) n Utility room n Boot room n Landscaped garden with patio/ terrace area n Secure underground parking for 2 vehicles and bicycle storage n Alarm system

ÂŁ775,000 Available for sale through Wood & Pilcher Southborough 01892 511311 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

Four-storey contemporary home offers character and flexible accommodation Built in Victorian style with double-glazed timber sash windows and oak flooring

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

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PROPERTY

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Wednesday October 11 | 2017

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PROPERTY

43

Hamilton House

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

PROPERTY

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AT A GLANCE HAMILTON HOUSE ERIDGE GREEN n Entrance hall n 21ft double aspect sitting room with wood-burning stove and French doors to the terrace n Study/garden room n Kitchen part open to the dining room with three Velux windows and bifold doors to the terrace n Dining room n Utility room n Cloakroom n Principal bedroom with en suite n Guest bedroom with en suite and Juliette balcony n 2 further bedrooms n Family bathroom n Detached barn-style double garage with wood store n Established garden and grounds n About 0.5 of an acre

ÂŁ895,000 Available for sale through Hamptons International Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

A house in an enviable tucked-away location which boasts all-round views over farmland Close to The Huntsman pub, the property is less than a 500m walk to Eridge Station with direct trains to London

Interiors

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

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AUTUMN MUST-BUYS to cosy up your home

10

CREATURE OF THE NIGHT LIGHT Capri Rustic Owl Table Lamp

Fancy an autumn update?

Welcome the change of season with these plush decos and furnishings.

Feeling the chill? The temperatures might have dropped outdoors – but that doesn’t mean things have to be cold and dreary indoors.

Whether you’re styling up a snug room, or just want to something comfy to curl up in as the nights draw in, now is the perfect time to ‘fall’ into something luxuriously soft and snuggly. Or you could tap into an Alpine theme and add a touch of cosy-cabin chic.

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE FINDS… 1. Mary Velvet Chair, £899; Montserrat Ceiling Light, Gold, £450; West Elm Martini Side Table, £159, John Lewis Why take the trouble to kit out a drinks cabinet when you can make a classic martini like a pro – and then sip in splendour with this glamorous cocktail table and swivel chair? Cheers!

2. Super Soft Warm Fleece Throw, currently reduced to £10 from £35, Julian Charles Our favourite shade of grey is this elegant dove grey – and this super-soft (and utterly bargain-priced) throw would work as a spread for the bed, or look fabulous draped over an armchair.

3. Abstract Fur Cushion, £29.50, M&S M&S have it nailed with this graphic faux fur cushion, which stands out with a shot of emerald green to add texture and richness. A real winner!

4. Linea Natural Sheepskin, £45, House of Fraser If you love the idea of padding around in bare feet and then massaging your toes into a comfy sheepskin rug, the natural beauty of this Nordic-style floor covering is simply irresistible – especially at this price.

Seasonal look

5. George Home Small Bark Tealight Holder, £3, direct.asda.com Driftwood and bark always add warmth to interiors, and with a wick to add a warming glow, you can’t wrong with this rustic tealight.

4

6. Wilko Heart Clock, £5 It’s not long before the clocks go back, so why not make time for a small hanging wall deco, such as this romantic design in natural wood?

7. Lyla Petite Sofa, £550, Next Available in a host of colours (we love this matt velvet mustard version), and with its deep cosy seat and buttoned upholstery, this two-seater sofa is a sound investment. Not only will it glam up your favourite space, but what could be better than being firmly cushioned in velvet?

5

8. Pumpkin Pie Dish, currently reduced to £38.50 from £55, Laura Ashley Pumpkins are coming into season, and with Halloween just around the corner, this decorative dish would make a tasty-looking addition to any kitchen.

9. Lantern with LED Candles, £49.95, House of Bath No need to worry about having to snuff out those pillar candles, with this statement LED lantern. Place it by the fireside, and the loop holder could even be accessorised with a tartan ribbon or sprig of Holly at Christmas.

10. Capri Rustic Owl Table Lamp, Burgundy, £42, Dunelm This wise old bird lamp base is a work of art, as well as a decorative accessory. Teamed with a burgundy lamp shade, it’s ideal for autumn and bound to steal the spotlight.

A RUG TO HUG Linea Natural Sheepskin

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Advertorial

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A true mark of excellence Local estate agent, Maddisons Residential, celebrate yet another prestigious award win

went one better by being ranked as one of the top 100 estate agents in the country.

Indeed, Maddisons Residential are ranked as the number 1 estate agent for sales in Tunbridge Wells.

The new guide, founded by The Property Academy and supported by Rightmove, wants to improve business performance and allow greater transparency for buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants, in assessing which agents deliver the highest levels of customer service and achieve the best results for their clients. Over 26,500 estate agents underwent a comprehensive mystery shopping exercise, in which they were covertly assessed on response times to viewings, the quality of their internet listings, staff knowledge on the properties that they were selling, the speed with which they sold a property and the number of properties that were withdrawn from sale. On all of these measures, Maddisons scored at the highest levels.

A

t the end of September, estate agents from around the country gathered to attend the inaugural Best Estate Agency Guide award ceremony at the O2 Intercontinental. Every estate agency branch had already been notified if they had made it into the top 20%, and all were now keen to hear whether their final ranking was either Highly Commended, Excellent or Exceptional. It turned out to be an absolutely fabulous result for Maddisons Residential, based on The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells, who received the top accolade of Exceptional, and then

‘At Maddisons, we go the extra mile for our clients in areas that we know really delight them’ Deborah Richards, Managing Partner and founder of Maddisons Residential, spoke of her delight in receiving this top honour: “For me, the measures of assessment are what every seller or landlord should feel their agent is delivering as a minimum. At Maddisons, we go the extra mile for our clients in areas that we know really delight them, for example, the quality of our viewings and the feedback we provide, the weekly updates that our clients receive on the progress of their property’s sale, the different strategies that we consider and debate when taking a property to the market, the tenacious and hungry nature of our negotiation process, and the depth of our sales progression, which ensures that as many offers as possible make it through to completion. It is this constant desire to do better that has resulted in most of our business coming from existing client referrals and resulting in the loveliest testimonials.

People often pop into our premises on The Pantiles and say how different we look to a traditional estate agent, and they are right. Quite simply, we look different because we are different.”

The future for Maddisons is looking very bright.

They have now fully launched their lettings’ proposition, in which they deliver the same levels of extreme customer care and focus to their tenants and landlords. Deborah continues, “next year, I expect Maddisons to be number 1 in Tunbridge Wells for sales and lettings! There’s no rest for myself and my fabulous team just yet!”

If you have a property to sell or let and want a fresh and passionate approach, then do give Maddisons a call on 01892 514100, or pop into their lovely premises on The Pantiles. The team will be delighted to help, and you’ll feel the difference immediately.

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PROPERTY

Drum & Monkey Cottage

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

AT A GLANCE

DRUM & MONKEY COTTAGE GROVEHURST LANE HORSMONDEN n Once part of a village pub n Entrance lobby and cloakroom n Dining room n Sitting room n Shaker kitchen/breakfast room n Master bedroom n 2 bathrooms n 3 further bedrooms (2 of which are attic rooms) n Double garage with room for storage n Garden stream, pond and patio area

£735,000 Available for sale through Firefly Properties Tunbridge Wells 01892 838363 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

Grade II listed former pub which once featured on TV’s Escape to the Country

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FEATURES

Food & Drink

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Celebrating the food ablaze with flavour

Now try this deliciously aromatic recipe for yourself at home…

It’s National Curry Week, so in search of inspiring recipes who better to ask than local restaurateur Habib Siddiq from Cinnamon Square? He tells Eileen Leahy his secrets when it comes to preparing, cooking and enjoying the perfect curry WHETHER it’s hot and fiery or creamy and aromatic, a bowl of curry holds a very special place in the hearts of most Brits. Deemed the nation’s favourite dish, it’s not surprising it has its own special week dedicated to celebrating the many flavoursome culinary guises it comes in.

Locally, we’re spoilt with an array of impressive curry houses, one of which is the much acclaimed Cinnamon Square in Hildenborough, which is run by Habib Siddiq.

What would he say is the most popular dish on his menu? “Chicken Tikka Masala. It is the nation’s favourite,” he says. And it would seem that it’s also the case with many of Habib’s customers, too.

“Although it looks like a very simple dish,” he explains, “in my restaurant we use the most number of spices to create its flavours.”

Jalfrezi is another popular dish according to Habib. “With its nice blend of fresh herbs and spices it has that appealing throat-warming heat thanks to our our homemade bags of chilli.

Then there’s our King Prawn Nawabi. Served with three large king prawns attached to the tail, it is stir-fried and added to a medium hot sauce,

which is cooked with garlic, tomato and fresh herbs and spices.”

It all sounds deliciously tempting, but what would Habib’s advice be if we wanted to prepare and enjoy a good quality curry dish at home?

“I would say to always use fresh, raw herbs and spices,” he advises. “Try and buy the ground spices and make your own mix curry powder.

“Grinding a variety of fresh herbs and adding that to the powder will give it a distinct and appealing aroma. I always recommend going medium hot and fragrant, which can easily be achieved via fresh herbs. If you can’t do your own mix, then a mixed curry powder that can be bought off the shelf is the next alternative. I would say to go for the high-end branded ones.”

And to drink? “Well, lager is always a great accompaniment, but more and more people are enjoying wine with their curry dishes, and at Cinnamon Square we now have a wide selection that have been sourced especially to perfectly blend and complement our curries.”

For more information on Cinnamon Square and its menu see www.thecinnamonsquare.co.uk

Recipes courtesy of My Modern Indian Kitchen by Nitisha Patel, published by Ryland Peters & Small, priced £16.99, available from all good bookshops

SEASONED OIL

TUVAAR/TOOR DHAL Toor Dhal is celebration of the humble lentil – a staple in Indian cuisine as they are so accessible, cheap and versatile. This dish is the ultimate comfort food and it goes well with rice, or on its own as a soup.

To boost the healthiness of the dish, include vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes and aubergines/eggplants. Take the dimension of the dhal to another level by introducing flavours such as palm sugar/jaggery for sweetness and fresh lime for a citrusy finish.

TUVAAR/TOOR DHAL Serves 6 ■ 100g/1/2 cup tuvaar/ toor lentils, soaked overnight ■ ½ carrot, grated ■ 2 tomatoes, cut into quarters ■ 1 small aubergine/eggplant, peeled and cut into 1-cm/3⁄8-inch chunks ■ 10 peanuts

■ 1 tablespoon grated fresh root ginger ■ 1 teaspoon Holy Trinity Paste ■ ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds ■ 2 teaspoons salt ■ ½ teaspoon ground turmeric ■ ½ teaspoon ground cumin ■ 1 teaspoon ground coriander

■ 5 tablespoons vegetable oil ■ ½ cassia bark or

cinnamon stick ■ 5 cloves ■ 1 teaspoon mustard seeds ■ 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds ■ 1 teaspoon cumin seeds ■ 6 cashew nut halves ■ 2 green chillies/chiles, slit ■ ½ teaspoon asafoetida ■ 10 fresh curry leaves

TO SERVE ■ 1 tablespoon palm sugar/ jaggery ■ 1 tablespoon freshly chopped coriander/ cilantro ■ freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 lemon Naan bread or cooked rice

Food & Drink

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

METHOD For the dhal, drain the soaked lentils and rinse well, then transfer them to a pressure cooker with all the other ingredients for the dhal and 750 ml/3 cups of water. Place the lid on and cook under pressure for 3 whistles – around 15 minutes, depending on your pressure cooker guidelines. (If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can boil them in a pan, but this can take up to 4 hours for the same result).

Once the dhal base is cooked, blitz everything together using a stick blender. The base will thicken considerably, so add some water to achieve your desired consistency.

Set aside while you prepare the seasoned oil.

Heat the oil in a small, heavybottomed pan over medium heat, add the cassia bark and cloves and fry to release the natural aromatic oils and fragrances. Add the mustard and fenugreek seeds and fry until they begin to sizzle. Add the cumin seeds and allow them to sizzle and pop, too.

Add the cashew nut halves and allow to brown slightly in the hot oil. Add the green chillies/chiles and toss in the oil. Stir in the asafoetida and curry leaves, give everything a really good mix and pour over the dhal base.

Mix the dhal well to bring all of the ingredients together.

Finish by adding in the palm sugar/ jaggery, coriander/cilantro and lime juice. Serve immediately with either fresh naan bread or rice.

Wines that are nice with spice When it comes to Britain’s most treasured national dishes, curry repeatedly tops the tables. Times wine writer James Viner has some hot recommendations for wines to perfectly partner these exotic dishes…

WHAT you need with curried food – and this is why an ice-cold beer can be so good – is a revitalising counterpoint to the inherent spice and fire of the dish.

Above all, avoid wines with very high alcohol, high tannins and lots of oak as this will only exacerbate the stinging heat factor. A soupçon of sweetness underwritten by a juicy lilt of acidity helps, as do any subtly spiced offerings, especially with fierier curries.

Best Curry All-Rounder: A Rocking Rosé from the Loire

2016 Rosé d’Anjou, Famille Bougrier, Loire, France (11%, £7.25 The Wine Society; £8.75, Oddbins) I find that lower alcohol, off-dry, fruity rosés make versatile partners for a range of curries and spicy dishes: They ease the fire (higher alcohol stokes the flames). Red cherries, strawberries and earthy notes sing out in this dazzling, off-dry,

light-bodied Grolleau-based rosé. This pretty pink is spot on with chicken dhansak, chicken jalfrezi and lamb madras and really hits bullseye when you pair it with a seafood/Goan fish curry.

Just the Ticket for Chicken Tikka Masala, Green Thai and Vegetable Curries

2017 Stoneburn Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (12%, £7.95, The Wine Society) This vinous gem from family producer Hunter’s has no shortage of flavour. Boasting a compilation of bright passion fruit, nectarine and ruby grapefruit, it’s also accompanied by nuances of green capsicum and grass.

Crack open for chicken tikka masala, Thai green curry with seafood or chicken, Thai crab cakes or prawn and veggie (especially tomato-based) curries.

This estate-bottled stunner delivers bags of flavour and is a bargain at the price.

Pair with Lightly Spiced Indian Curries, Thai and other South-East Asian Flavours 2016 Villa Maria Private Bin Gewürztraminer, East Coast, New Zealand (13%, £8.99-£9.99, New Zealand House of Wine & Majestic Wine) This exuberant, perfumed white has strongly varietal sweet grape, ginger and spicy rose petal/lychee aromas and flavours as the starting point. But it also has a very glossy texture and structure supporting its length, plus just a hint of sweetness on the protracted finish. It’s a supreme bottle to chill and tantalise with spicy south-east Asian cuisine, and a particularly good match with a duck or Thai red curry with either seafood or chicken. Showing appealing depth of flavour and a spicy complexity, it overdelivers colossally for

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under a tenner. This really is Kiwi excellence that you need to taste.

Lamb Rogan Josh with this Piquant Canny Curry Red Wine Champion 2016 Errazuriz Estate Series Carmenère, Aconcagua Valley, Chile (13.5%, £7.99, Majestic Wine) If you’re a confirmed red wine drinker, then you will relish this first-rate Chilean vino with a gourmet curry. In particular, it is lamb rogan josh and medium-hot beef/lamb curry’s new best friend. Carmenère is an old black grape variety from France’s Gironde that was abandoned by the Bordelais in the 1870s after the devastating phylloxera invasion, only to be given a new lease of life in Chile, where it has flourished thanks to the drier and warmer climate. This delicious wine shows just how good exciting Carmenère can be in the long Aconcagua ripening season. It’s full-bodied and delicately spicy with dense black cherry and smoky blackberry fruit, well-rounded tannins, and some cooler, leafy and herbaceous notes providing another dimension with curry.

Decant this beauty and pour lightly chilled with your favourite spicy takeaway, or make it the centrepiece for your next curry dinner party.

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Travel

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Discovering the Arctic Aurora The Northern Lights are a must-see phenomenon, and where better to experience them than the charming Norwegian coast? Katie Leigh sails with the Hurtigruten line to witness the enchantment first hand

ICE BLUE BEAUTY The tiny Trollfjord

LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ACTION…

They begin as a series of flickers in the sky, slowly strengthening, as if this is a carefully choreographed dance appearing in bursts and swaying strands of colours. It isn’t long before the Northern Lights are fully ablaze above us, twisting and filling the sky with brilliant greens and purples.

I am utterly transfixed. The colours are vibrant, the movement dynamic. I lose track of time as the lights wave across the Arctic sky, awe-inspiring and full of mystery and myth. It feels as though I am lost within the happiest of dreams.

I never imagined the Northern Lights were this sublime. As I stand there among my fellow passengers, the excitement is electric. They have caught us all in their spell and there is no doubt for any of us that this is the greatest show on Earth.

‘The snow-topped mountains and rippling sea provide the perfect backdrop for the magnificent displays’ I am sailing on MS Polarlys, one of 12 Hurtigruten ships that service the Norwegian coast. It is aptly named, as ‘polarlys’ is Norwegian for ‘Polar Light’ and refers to the Arctic phenomenon we’re seeing.

Far from any inhibiting artificial lights, the snow-topped mountains and rippling sea provide the perfect backdrop for the magnificent displays of colour and light. It feels as though there is nothing but me, the sea and the luminous sky.

I started my 12-day adventure in Bergen, and am travelling all the way up to Kirkenes and back, stopping at ports that range from quaint villages to bustling towns.

As one of the most picturesque countries in the world, Norway has a great deal to offer, even apart from the Northern Lights. From the stylish Art Nouveau town of Ålesund to Rørvik, a sleepy fishing village consisting of approximately 6,000

islands, each stop provides me with something different to experience and new to taste.

However, it is northern Norway that is perfectly situated within the Arctic Circle for the best chances of seeing the lights.

The region sits directly beneath the auroral zone, where the elusive lights find it hard to shy away, and as such visitors and locals alike are regular witnesses to energetic displays. Thanks to longer nights and darker skies, the Northern Lights season typically runs during Norway’s winter, from October to March.

With 125 years sailing under the displays, Hurtigruten have proved themselves the experts.

You can even opt to receive announcements of the lights direct to your cabin, meaning you’ll never miss an appearance, no matter the time.

It’s the late night/early morning calls I find the most exciting, as we wrap up warm to brave the winter chill out on deck, armed with hats, gloves and cameras. It’s a far cry from being shuffled on to a packed coach going in search of the lights.

Instead, they come to me, and I am free to roam the ship’s observation decks and panorama lounge, giving me multiple viewing points.

LIFE ON BOARD THE LINER

MS Polarlys and her counterparts in the fleet

remain a crucial part of a daily passenger, freight and postal service that Hurtigruten has been operating on the Norwegian coast since 1893.

Whether on board or ashore, I always felt fully immersed in the local culture, privileged even to be granted a truly authentic Norwegian experience of this historic route.

The ship’s size enabled us to dock in ports that the bigger white ships are unable to reach, calling at 34 in total, offering me a much more intimate view of the coast.

Many of the crew are local to the ports we visit and they always had handy tips on what to do at each one as well as endearing anecdotes to share.

LAND OF MYTH AND MYSTERY Sailing Norway’s coastal waters

Travel

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

SAVOURING THE SEAFOOD

With daily calls at multiple ports, we also had plenty of opportunities to stock up on delicious organic produce from a range of local, artisanal suppliers.

It impressed me to learn that the fish I was eating in the evening had been caught fresh that very morning.

The wide range of delectable coastal treats I was presented with at each meal were full of flavour.

Although I wasn’t a great lover of seafood before I boarded, with food this fresh I am now a convert.

MS Polarlys has four unique restaurants. Torget is the main dining area, where bountiful buffets are served during the day and three-course dinners in the evening.

One night, I treated myself to a meal at Kysten,

the fine dining à la carte restaurant, where I enjoyed a mouthwateringly succulent piece of reindeer tenderloin.

‘Coming down to dinner in my fleece and comfy jeans, I found the atmosphere on board completely relaxed and informal’ The Brygga Bistro was the place to go for good, hot, comfort food – just what I needed after an active day exploring the Norwegian countryside on a mountain hike in Lofoten.

Perhaps my favourite eaterie, though, was the Multe Bakery, where I delighted in freshly baked

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cinnamon buns topped with cloudberry jam.

Coming down to dinner in my fleece and comfy jeans, I found the atmosphere on board completely relaxed and informal, which is not the typical cruise experience.

After busy days dog sledding and snowmobiling under the Northern Lights, there was nothing better than to snuggle down in the panorama lounge soaking in the beautiful scenery outside, reflecting over the joys of the day with likeminded travellers.

MS Polarlys only holds a few hundred passengers, which gave the ship a feeling of community, allowing me to get to know other people on board. Some are visitors to Norway but many are local Norwegians, for whom Hurtigruten is a sort of national treasure.

GRIPPING The Northern Lights Although a lot of people opt to travel during the summer months to experience Norway’s famous fjords and the glorious Midnight Sun, nothing can quite compare to an endless twilight, caused by the sun hovering just below the horizon and, of course, those lights are simply unmissable.

In fact, Hurtigruten are so clear that the aurora is ‘unmissable’, and so confident that they’ll be able to show passengers this phenomenon, that they promise to give their guests a free six or seven-day voyage if the lights don’t occur during a full 12-day trip with them.

On my voyage, I counted six sightings, each different to one another, and with the best display being in the tiny Trollfjord, which went on for a good hour.

Even without Hurtigruten’s promise, I am bewitched by the lights. And I plan to be back here to experience the breathtaking wonder of Norway’s Arctic aurora over and over again.

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WEDDINGS

Advertising Feature

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Picturesque backdrop from proposal to marriage Bewl Water is the largest stretch of open water in the South East. The 800 acre site is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in the heart of the High Weald, making it the ideal spot for Daniel Peppiatt to ask his bride Rebecca to marry him, and hold their dream wedding reception

Where did you both first meet?

Sankey’s in Tunbridge Wells.

When did you meet?

September 2013.

Where did the proposal take place?

Daniel proposed on a dog walk at Bewl. We were sitting on a bench by the water’s edge - you can see that very bench in the background of some of our wedding pictures!

ON THE WATERFRONT The happy couple

What was the song for your first dance and why?

A cover of Unchained Melody by Lykke Li. It’s got a very different sound to the original, and we just really liked it.

PHOTOS: Sammy Taylor Wedding Photography

What made you choose Bewl Water as your venue?

It’s where we got engaged, so I rang Bewl to see if we could have our reception there.

Did you look at many venues in your search? If so, how did you narrow it down?

My heart was set on Bewl. I did contact a couple of other venues, but when Bewl said they would host our reception I knew that was the place!

Which part of your wedding did you most enjoy organising?

I really wanted to enjoy wedding

planning, so I tried to concentrate on things I like to do. I made jam and chutney for favours, and I made the bouquets and venue flowers with help from friends and family.

The staff also took dad and I out on a speed boat a couple of days before the wedding to choose a route for our boat trip and to find the best photo spots!

What was the most memorable event on your big day?

Daniel organised a vintage car to pick me up, which was a total surprise! The feeling of driving to Bewl in the classic car with the top down with my husband was just magical!

How would you describe the style of your wedding day?

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WEDDING BREAKFAST MENU:

I tried to keep it stress free and not to overthink it too much. I’m not usually an organised person, so I knew I wanted to keep it relaxed.

We wanted a fun party vibe! I tried to do as much as possible myself, or my friends and family helped out. My bridesmaid Lou made our wedding cake.

Where did you head off to on your honeymoon?

We went to Rhodes, Greece. We both love the Greek islands and it ticked all the boxes.

What piece of advice would you give to future bridge and grooms?

It sounds cliché, but I would say you need to enjoy every moment! It was so much fun spending time with friends and family on the lead up to the day. Don’t sweat the small stuff as nobody really notices if you’ve forgotten something or if something doesn’t quite match. It is very easy to get carried away with big ideas but don’t overthink it. Get a good notepad!

Starter

Main Course

n Chicken Liver Parfait - thyme & red onion relish, pecorino crostini n Duck Spring Rolls - pickled cucumber & carrot salad n Warm Corn Crusted Goats Cheese - tomato and basil tartare, sticky balsamic, extra virgin garlic oil (v)

n Corn Fed Chicken Breast filled with Spinach & Blue Cheese - wild mushroom cream sauce, fondant potato and seasonal vegetables n Slow Cooked Belly of Pork - fondant potato, roasted vegetables, cider jus n Seasonal Risotto - herb oil, parmesan crisp, micro leaf (v)

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Dessert n Dark Chocolate Delice cherry gel, honeycomb ice cream n Orchard Fruit & Berry Crumble - crème anglaise n Berry Crème Brulee shortbread biscuit Followed with Fairtrade coffee and mints

Meet Bewl Water’s wedding host A wedding planner will help make your dreams come true. We meet Vicki Melhuish Describe Bewl Water as a wedding venue in three words Picturesque, unique and modern.

What do you think most attracts wedding couples to Bewl Water?

The unique location appeals to those bride and grooms that want something a little different, and the refurbished Boat House provides stunning views for guests during the wedding breakfast.

How often do you contact future bride and grooms in the run up to their big day?

Every bride and groom are allocated

a designated wedding host who arranges the wedding taster along with two further meetings in the run up to the big day.

However, the host and events team are always contactable to answer any questions or offer any advice.

What is your key piece of advice to future bridges and grooms for their big day?

Relax, get creative with the planning process and enjoy the day with your loved ones. We are always on hand to help.

What special touches do you offer at Bewl for a wedding?

The unique experience on the Bewl Belle, which is a 45 minute trip around the reservoir. Ideal to host

your drinks reception and take some amazing group photos.

Do you offer accommodation or a private space for the couple to change and relax in?

We work in partnership with a luxury ‘Glamping’ Bell Tent company to offer unique accommodation for wedding guests, which includes a special bridal tent for the happy couple.

For those who do not wish to ‘Glamp’, we work with the hotel One Warwick Park Hotel located in the heart of Tunbridge Wells (20 minute drive). They offer 39 luxurious rooms, including a duplex suite. All couples are offered a complimentary club room (including breakfast) on the evening of their wedding.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

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As the pink ribbon turns 25, Breast Cancer Care highlights key events since its launch

Awareness and treatments have come a long way over the past two-and-a-half decades. Every ten minutes in the UK someone is diagnosed with breast cancer, which is why October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month is so important

W

HILE survival rates have significantly improved (in fact, they have doubled over the past 40 years), breast cancer still results in around 11,400 deaths a year. Even if treatment is successful, it can have a huge and ongoing impact on people’s lives.

This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Pink Ribbon campaign – so what better time to look back at some of the achievements, events and developments concerning breast cancer that have taken place since Pink Ribbon was born?

PINK RIBBON CREATOR Evelyn Lauder (left), daughter of Estée Lauder, with model Elizabeth Hurley

As the charity Breast Cancer Care notes, 25 years ago breast cancer was a taboo topic rarely talked about openly. One of their big aims was to change this – and Breast Cancer Care was the first UK charity to adopt the pink ribbon, which they say ‘represents hope and [the] charitable generosity of people.

Most importantly, the pink ribbon represents solidarity with those affected by breast cancer’.

Here, the charity shares a timeline highlighting some of the most important points during the past 25 years of breast cancer campaigning…

 1992 – US businesswoman and philanthropist Evelyn Lauder initiated the pink ribbon as the symbol of breast cancer in the USA.

provided with ideas and games for a pink night-in, bake sale at work, or event in the community.  2010 – Breast Cancer Care launched the first UK-wide Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day on October 13, raising the profile of people living with incurable secondary breast cancer.

 1994 – The Breast Care and Mastectomy

Association was renamed Breast Cancer Care. This reflected the general public’s growing acceptance of the word ‘cancer’, while ‘care’ emphasised its main focus, distinguishing it from research charities.  The charity’s Chief Executive, Samia al Qadhi, met with Evelyn in America. Breast Cancer Care brought the pink ribbon across the shores to the UK and was the first UK charity to adopt it, providing a much-needed shortcut to talking about breast cancer. In October, Breast Cancer Care launched the UK’s first Breast Cancer Awareness Month, putting breast cancer and the pink ribbon firmly on the map.  1994 – Nationwide started to sponsor Breast Cancer Care’s Helpline, which meant it became a Freephone number and the first breast care nurse was employed on the helpline.  1994 – Breast Cancer Care launched

the Someone Like Me service. The charity now has a bank of 200-plus trained volunteers, allowing people affected by breast cancer to talk freely and regularly with volunteers who understand their particular concerns.  1997 – Cherie Booth, QC, became Patron of Breast Cancer Care and hosted a reception at 10 Downing Street in honour of Breast Cancer Care.  1997 – 33,100 people were diagnosed with breast cancer.

 1998 – Breast Cancer Care launched its website.  1998 – 10 years after the NHS breast cancer screening programme was introduced in 1988, it was estimated the programme was directly responsible for about a third of the reduction in breast cancer deaths since 1990.

 2013 – Angelina Jolie announced she had a risk-reducing double mastectomy after discovering she had the faulty BRCA1 gene.  2017 – Breast Cancer Care launched its one-of-a-kind app BECCA. Full of information, support and inspiration to help people move beyond breast cancer, presented on easy-to-use flashcards.  2017 – 62,000 people were

 2005 – Kylie Minogue went

public with her breast cancer after she was diagnosed aged 36, catapulting breast cancer discussions into the mainstream.  2005 – The first ever Breast Cancer Care Pink Ribbonwalk took place at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.

The walks see hundreds of people walking five, ten or 20 miles around the UK’s most beautiful countryside, stately homes and cities.  2005 – The Big Pink fundraising initiative was launched; fundraisers are

diagnosed with breast cancer. An estimated 691,000 are alive in the UK after a diagnosis of breast cancer. This is predicted to rise to 840,000 in 2020.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the Pink Ribbon, Breast Cancer Care are calling on people to hold a Big Pink to raise awareness and vital funds to help the charity be there for families facing the disease.

Get your free Big Pink kit today, including a pink ribbon at www.

Kylie breastcancercare.

Minogue org.uk/October

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FEATURES

Motoring

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

TEST DRIVE:

Hyundai i30 N WHAT IS IT? The i30 N is the first performance model ever produced by Hyundai. It introduces the ‘N’ branding that’s been on the South Korean car manufacturer’s motorsport models for a few years now into the road car market.

And it’s entering the fiercely contested hot hatch segment currently dominated by the likes of the everyday-usable Volkswagen Golf GTI and Seat Leon Cupra, which it is priced to tackle head-on. There’s an entry-level model as well as a Performance variant, which gets more power and extra kit – and, at £27,995, looks like a potential lowercost alternative to so-called mega hatches, such as the Honda Civic Type R.

WHAT’S NEW? Based on the i30 hatchback, the N has all the practicality of the standard car.

However, under the skin the changes are wholesale – in the words of Albert Biermann, Head of Hyundai’s Performance Division, they didn’t just ‘put a big engine in and be done with it’.

The chassis has been strengthened to improve handling, there are aerodynamic devices on the exterior and beneath the car to improve downforce and cooling, and the gearbox has been overhauled to offer a snappier response.

Talking us through all the changes took nearly two hours, so we’ll spare you too much detail…

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? In the top-spec Performance model, the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine makes a healthy 271bhp and 353Nm of

torque (which increases to 378Nm for up to eight seconds at full throttle). This puts it on a par with its rivals, but some way short of the £30,000-plus hot hatches for which 300bhp has become the norm.

Fortunately, thanks in part to that overboost system, you’re never left wanting for performance. Zero to 60mph comes in 5.9 seconds and, thanks to a launch control system, that’s totally achievable. On the road, particularly in the N driving mode, throttle response is sharp, with the engine pulling from low in the rev range.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? There are various drive modes controlled via a couple of switches on the wheel. Normal and eco feel rather pointless as sport is fine for most circumstances out on the road – the crumbling tarmac on our Italian test route highlighted a stiffly sprung car that quickly settled.

However, flick the switch to N and the car comes alive – throttle response is immediate and the needle charges through the tachometer at a ferocious pace. Pops and crackles from the exhaust add extra theatre here, too.

There’s also a ‘custom’ option that lets you fine-tune various aspects of the car’s set-up, but with 1,944 possible combinations, it feels like unnecessary complication in a supposedly ‘approachable’ car.

We also tested the car on track at Vallelunga near Rome, and it felt in its element. The limited-slip differential put power through the front wheels with little fuss, while hard braking

South Korean car maker Hyundai has never built a performance model before. Intrigued, Darren Cassey headed to Italy for its debut

brought out its playful side with a wiggle from the rear. Highly impressive stuff.

HOW DOES IT LOOK? Hyundai has spent a lot of research and development time on improving the aerodynamics of the i30 to give the N model more downforce.

To our eyes, it treads a fine balance between giving the standard car a more purposeful appearance and going wild with spoilers and wings everywhere.

Where it could perhaps be considered left wanting is the image the badge portrays. This being Hyundai’s first performance car, there’s little cache in the N branding outside of hardcore motorsport fans – though if this first effort is anything to go by, that won’t be true for long.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE? Hyundai has moved its game on dramatically through the latest iterations of its cars, meaning its interiors aren’t far behind more established European rivals. However, it’s not quite there yet, with some of the switchgear feeling old-school and the infotainment system – particularly the hopeless satellite navigation system – regularly frustrating.

However, N-specific extras such as the steering wheel and sports seats are welcome additions – the latter offering excellent lateral support at the hips and shoulders so you don’t move about too much in hard cornering.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE? FACTS AT A GLANCE: MODEL: Hyundai i30 N Performance ENGINE: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol POWER: 271bhp TORQUE: 353Nm

Whether you go for the Performance or the £24,995 entry-level model, there’s a decent level of standard equipment, such as an eight-inch touchscreen, LED lights all round and adaptive cruise control.

The Performance model starts from £27,995 and gets even more kit. Of particular interest is the electronically-controlled limited-slip differential, which helps the engine put its power through the front wheels, plus 19-inch alloy wheels with sticky Pirelli P-Zero tyres, and leather and suede upholstery.

MAX SPEED: 155mph 0-60MPH: 5.9 seconds MPG (COMBINED): 39.8 EMISSIONS: 163g/km PRICE AS TESTED: £27,995

VERDICT It’s very easy to underestimate the i30 N. Hyundai has totally transformed the character of the rather dull standard car to create a cracking, totally worthwhile entrant to the bloated hot hatch market.

The South Koreans clearly didn’t want to just make up the numbers here, and have instead created a fantastic car that’s pitched beautifully between the fast-but-dull Volkswagen Golf GTI and the riotous, extrovert Honda Civic Type R. All this, and it comes with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty. As far as debuts go, the Hyundai i30 N has played a blinder.

‘As far as debuts go, the i30 N has played a blinder’

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

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Recruitment

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

NEWS

WITH THE

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

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Fill your vacancy now in print or online For more information contact Jordanne Reville on 01892 576 049 jreville@markerstudy.com

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FEATURES

Arts & Culture

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Heart of darkness…

REACHING OUT Girls in the woods

The Crucible is being staged by Trinity Theatre Club from next Tuesday. Here, Director, Helen Thorpe, explains why she decided to take on this classic play by Arthur Miller What led to you staging The Crucible?

Well, for me this has been a project in the making for some years now, as the rather compelling true story of the Salem witch trials is terrific stuff for any fertile, creative mind. Once I had read the play, which I was totally gripped by, I then started the process of further research into the period and the trials. The dictionary defines a crucible as ‘a basin in which elements are subjected to high heat for the purpose of examination’.

PHOTOS: Symon Hamer

Can you tell us a little bit about the play’s storyline?

In the Puritan New England town of Salem, Massachusetts, 1692, a group of girls go dancing naked in the forest with a slave named Tituba.

While dancing, they are caught by the local minister, Reverend Parris. A couple of the girls, one being Parris’s own daughter Betty, fall into a coma-like state of stupor. In fear of sinister, supernatural involvement, key community members come together and send for witchcraft ‘experts’ to assist them, and so the catalyst for the famed Salem witch trials begins…

What is Salem like?

This is a small, tight-knit community

which smoulders with repression and resentment. Dominated by religion, pride and reputation, in which men and women hide their deepest desires, it’s a deadly mixture of lust, hatred and terror lurking beneath a tinder-dry surface.

Then there’s a spark of superstition which sets it alight, and long-held grudges rapidly turn to murderous violent disputes, and humiliating secrets are exposed.

‘It’s a devastating portrait of a flawed community and the cost of tyranny ’ So what are play’s main themes?

It’s a kind of parable, a morality play of power and envy plus a breathtaking drama of human love and weakness, and actually remains as relevant as ever. Miller’s 20thcentury masterpiece has been called ‘the most powerful central work of American drama’. In my opinion, it’s a devastating portrait of a flawed community and the cost of tyranny which also examines the overt dangers in mixing theology with government, the extreme suppression of society, the importance of being true to yourself and, ultimately, fear.

Why do you think its plot and message are still so relevant today?

It is a lasting testament to the power of human beings to cling on to what they believe and hold most dear, even in the face of certain death. Based on a specific historical moment when people were accused of being witches, and paid with their lives, it reverberates with universal themes that to this day continue to transcend time.

How many actors are in the production, and are they local?

There are a total of 21 cast members aged from 16 years to late 70s. They hail mainly from Kent and East Sussex and are from a variety of theatre groups. All are extraordinary performers, young and old, and have proven to be thoughtful, intelligent and committed actors throughout the process. They have brought this great play to life brilliantly. I frankly couldn’t have asked more from them.

What do you think audiences will enjoy most about the play?

They will really appreciate that it’s based on real people. Let’s face it, it could have been any one of us, and still can be – which packs a powerful punch.

Arts & Culture

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Also, this production will be completed in just over two and a half hours, which is tremendous because, traditionally, it’s a very long play.

With a bit of prudent editing, plus an energetic, pacey approach from the cast and just focusing on telling the story, I think the audiences will be moved to think about the larger issues of this production as they unfold. To quote a famous line from the play: “If we do not learn from our past mistakes, we are doomed to keep reliving them.”

As Director, what were your aims?

I wanted to illuminate this tight, highly dogmatic society falling apart when irrational fear replaces thoughtful reasoning.

It’s a destruction that is told and played brilliantly through the individual characters and their relationships, which then ripples out through the whole community.

This is why, in part, I decided to SINISTER The Salem witch trials

approach the staging of it in a nebulous way while making acknowledgements to the period both in costume and general design, thus removing any distractions from the actual storytelling.

What do you like about directing?

That’s a hard question to answer. At heart I’m an actor, so I love the fact I can relate to the performers on a very personal level, and yet I love the challenge of formulating a vision, creating the overall piece with my interpretation on the play, its staging, costumes, etc, and then seeing it realised – no matter how briefly.

Unlike film, I love the immediacy of live theatre, it’s very, very special and no other genre truly compares.

You have to be brave to do it. That or barking mad!

The Crucible is on at Trinity Theatre from October 17-21. For timings and tickets, see www.trinitytheatre.net

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Writer reveals true labour of love Playwright James Graham, whose ‘Labour of Love’ has opened to rave reviews in London, visits Mr Books in Tonbridge on Sunday.

Eileen Leahy talks to shop owner Phil Holden about this big event WRITER James Graham, whose latest play ‘Labour of Love’ has just opened at London’s Noël Coward Theatre, is swapping the West End for downtown Tonbridge when he comes to chat at the first in a Meet the Writer series being put on by the new owner of Mr Books, Phil Holden.

The independent bookshop will be hosting the acclaimed 35 year old at an exclusive event at Tonbridge’s Old Fire Station on Sunday [October 15] from 5.30pm and it promises to be an exciting evening.

“Getting James to visit Tonbridge is an amazing coup as he is an award-winning playwright and currently the hottest in Britain,” explains Phil.

“He has two plays on in the West End at the moment, and another just about to start in Chichester, with a fourth one starting a national tour next year.”

Since he began penning plays, James has enjoyed enormous critical success and has seen his work – which includes The Vote, The House and Monster Raving Loony – performed at some of the capital’s most illustrious venues, including The National, Donmar and Bush theatres.

Labour of Love only opened recently and is already being praised by critics.

It charts the prickly past 25 years of the Labour Party through a fictitious MP, David Lyons, played by Martin Freeman.

Tamsin Greig co-stars as his feisty

constituency agent, Jean Whittaker.

“I’ve tried to embrace all the contradictions,” James recently told The Observer. “The different forces at work are there: Those who want the party to be more electable, those interested in the grassroots, as well as those who want to increase the membership without having a Parliamentary majority.”

Murdoch While Labour of Love addresses some of the trials and tribulations of the party over the last two decades, James’s other current West End success, ‘Ink’, deals with the early career of Rupert Murdoch.

Currently playing at the Duke of York’s Theatre, it tells the story of Murdoch and his Editor Larry Lamb buying The Sun newspaper and inventing tabloid journalism – with some laugh-out-loud moments.

It was Ink that led to Phil persuading one of the country’s most

successful writers to come down to Tonbridge this weekend.

“Getting such a successful playwright along to my bookshop was actually down to a stroke of luck,” Phil reveals. “My son is an actor and currently performing in Ink, so he was able to ask James personally.

“James’s talk will be very enjoyable as he is such an engaging speaker, but also fascinating for anyone interested in writing or passionate about the theatre.

“We hope that this first of our Meet the Writer series will also reveal how such topical and award- winning plays are put together.”

The event will include a question and answer session and a book signing.

A limited number of tickets are still available from Mr Books Bookshop at 142 High Street, Tonbridge, or online at www.mrbooks.co.uk Future events at Mr Books include the novelist Ross Armstrong speaking in November, and the comedian and writer Adam Kay at a date to be announced.

MEET THE WRITER James Graham

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FEATURES

What’s On

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON WITH THE

Eileen Leahy Local events

books include The Island, The Return and The Sunrise, will be talking about her latest tome, Cartes Postales From Greece at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12 per person. See www.trinitytheatre.net TAKE AN AUTUMN STROLL At Penshurst Place >> WEDNESDAY Tonight and tomorrow are your final chances to see the thriller Mother! at the Moonlight Drive-in Cinema at The Hop Farm, at 7.30pm. Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, it tells how a couple’s relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home… Tickets cost £25 per vehicle. www.moonlightcinema.com >> THURSDAY This is the last day to catch the Tonbridge Art Group’s Autumn Exhibition in the Council Chamber at Tonbridge Castle. It’s open from 10am-4pm, admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Staying in Tonbridge, there will be a talk hosted by the town’s Historical Society this evening at 7.45pm in the Riverside Room at The Angel Centre.

Rod Shelton will present ‘Well I never knew that! A tour through the Darent villages from Westerham to Dartford’. If you’re not a member, you can still attend by paying £3 on the door.

Over at Trinity Theatre, novelist Victoria Hislop will be giving a talk as part of the Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival. The author, whose

>> FRIDAY The much talked about film Kingsman: The Golden Circle starts at the Hop Farm’s Moonlight Drive-in Cinema from tonight at 7.30pm until October 19.

The action spy comedy, which is produced and directed by Matthew Vaughn, stars Colin Firth, Channing Tatum and Julianne Moore.

Another great way to start your weekend is tonight’s New Zealand Wine event at the Hotel Du Vin. Matthew Gay from Liberty wines will guide you through sampling the portfolio of Kim Crawford and Greywacke wineries. All wines will be paired and served to a bespoke three-course menu. Tickets cost £68 per person, which includes an arrival drink with canapés and the dinner. www.hotelduvin. com/locations/tunbridge-wells >> SATURDAY It’s the annual Tunbridge Wells Library & Museum Fun Day from 9am-1pm. There will be lots of free activities for all ages, including face painting, balloon modelling, treasure hunt, crafts and more!

Kingsman

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

There will be an RNLI talk in Sherborne Close Hall today by Brighton Lifeboat’s Operations Manager Roger Cohen. It costs around £177million annually to keep the lifeboats afloat nationwide so hopefully this will help contribute. Entry is free and there will be a raffle. For details, contact Joan Hamilton-Smith on 01892 539551 or email: cjay13@hotmail.co.uk Childrensalon, the local emporium selling designer threads for young ones, is hosting a casino night in aid of Nourish Community Foodbank tonight at Salomons. Tickets to the #Luckyforsome event cost £20 per person, and raffle tickets for the impressive draw are £1. Top prizes include Pilates classes, pantomime tickets and Farrow & Ball paint and colour consultations.

For more details, see www.childrensalon.com >> SUNDAY For those who’ve popped, or said ‘Yes’ to the big question, it’s the Salomons Estate Wedding Fair today from 11am-3pm. If you are looking for a venue with elegance and history, this is the place for you. It’s free to enter, and not only will you meet a range of quality wedding suppliers, but all couples getting married will receive a goody bag. Pre-register at www. mainweddingsandevents.co.uk The annual 4ART exhibition is at Tonbridge Castle from today until October 19. The pop-up gallery will be open from today at 10.30am-4pm

and from 10am every other day. 4ART is a group of four local artists: Margaret Barrett, Marilyn Garwood, Jill Goldsworthy and Sue Vass who meet every week to draw and sketch in a variety of places in and around Tonbridge and in each other’s studios to produce a mix of contemporary paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture.

Between 11am and 2pm there will be an Autumn Amble at Penshurst Place. Take a guided stroll through the changing colours and learn more about the stately home’s ancient woodland and

PICK OF THE WEEK

Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival October 13 & 14, Trinity Theatre and other venues

Enjoy exciting, innovative and contemporary puppetry in the second Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival this Friday and Saturday.

Founder Linda Lewis told the Times: “There really is something for everyone.” There will be numerous shows over the two-day event, including The Carnival of the Animals and Clementine’s Fabulous Roadshow. Most shows will take place at Trinity Theatre, but there are other venues involved, including The Assembly Hall and The Forum. For more information, see www.puppetryfestival.org

What’s On

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

history. Afterwards, you can enjoy a delicious two-course roast lunch in the Garden Restaurant.

To book tickets, go to www.penshurstplace.com From 11am-5pm, Pippins Farm, Maidstone Road, Pembury, will be hosting an Apple Day, which will include tours of the farm’s orchards as well as juice and cider tastings, a hog roast and an ‘apple art’ exhibition. Tickets cost £4 per adult with proceeds going to Hospice in the Weald. For more details, call 01892 824544 or visit www.pippinsfarm.co.uk Colin Stone plays a special concert for CODA at Rose Hill School’s theatre at 3pm today. The acclaimed pianist will play Beethoven’s ‘Tempest’ Sonata, Schubert’s ‘Wanderer’ fantasy and Schumann’s Kreisleriana. Tickets cost £14.50 for members and £17 for non-members. Under-18s go free. To book, visit www.codatw.co.uk >> MONDAY Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers continues until October 21 at The Oast Theatre, Tonbridge.

It’s a lighthearted comedy about a middle-aged, over-worked, under-sexed man who decides to join the sexual revolution – before it’s too late.

Tickets are £10 or £7.50 for members. www. oasttheatre.com >> TUESDAY The Tunbridge Wells Juggling Club, now in its 25th year, meets every Tuesday at St Dunstan’s Church Hall in Southborough from 7.309.30pm. New members welcome. See www.twjc.co.uk

JOIN THE CONVERSATION With Victoria Hislop at Trinity

Paul Dunton Live music For a great midweek outing, Lulu returns to the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall this Wednesday night supported by up-and-coming singersongwriter Chloe Reynolds.

On the same evening, The Varlies are at The Grey Lady supported by Peter Taylor and Aaric Snook.

This Thursday, Andrew O’Neill’s History of Heavy Metal takes centre stage at The Forum with support from local ukulele band The TWUNTS. The world-class Schubert Ensemble play at King Charles The Martyr Church this Friday, and on Saturday you can catch Fred Clark at The Bedford, Wayne Bridle at The Beau Nash, Dino Baptiste at The Grey Lady and Justine at The Rusthall Club. Also, Between Giants are at The Royal Oak and a superb Adele Tribute evening can be enjoyed at The Masonic Centre.

The TWUNTS ukulele night continues at The George on Monday, which is very friendly and fun, all ukulele players and non-players are welcome!

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

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

WEDNESDAY Aaric Snook, Peter Taylor, The Varlies FRIDAY Count Bouncy & The Boho Muso Troop

Codeword:

C R E S R E U I O L F ON S O F K U S S O L I N V E Z O R E S H L R J A Y T R A G M U I U P E R L A I E E N C I S O R

Sudoku:

6 2 9 5 1 4 3 7 8

4 1 5 8 3 7 9 2 6

8 7 3 9 6 2 4 1 5

S A C R I L E G E

U M E O S S I A X H

E S W MO O M P A M U A N S S T E E R

D I R M B A A Q C R I

Jigsaw Sudoku:

3 9 1 2 4 6 5 8 7

7 8 2 1 5 3 6 4 9

5 4 6 7 9 8 1 3 2

9 5 8 4 2 1 7 6 3

2 6 4 3 7 5 8 9 1

1 3 7 6 8 9 2 5 4

7 3 4 1 8 5 6 2 9

8 9 5 2 4 1 3 7 6

5 4 2 6 7 9 1 3 8

1 7 6 8 9 3 2 5 4

3 2 9 4 5 6 8 1 7

6 5 1 7 2 8 9 4 3

Sorry, there are no puzzles in this week’s paper

4 8 7 9 3 2 5 6 1

2 1 8 3 6 4 7 9 5

9 6 3 5 1 7 4 8 2

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

M A S A I

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A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

LAST WEEK’S PUZZLES SOLUTIONS

A N A E M I A

FEATURES

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

SATURDAY Dino Baptiste SUNDAY Imy Laurie, Caleb HowardAlmond, Frampton Sisters, Matt Falloon TUESDAY Guy Sharpe, Mangetout Recovery, Jono Harrison, Emily Izen Row THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

SATURDAY Wayne Bridle THE GEORGE

29 Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm till late

MONDAY TWUNT: Ukulele Jam Session

Event information at www.twforum.co.uk

RUSTHALL CLUB

THURSDAY Andrew O’Neill’s History Of Heavy Metal + TWUNTS FRIDAY Lucy Spraggan (Sold Out) SATURDAY Puppetry Festival: 6pm7.30pm + Back To The 80s DJ night SUNDAY Dragonforce + Power Quest

5 St Paul’s Street, Rusthall, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm onwards

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

Nevill Street, tickets and information at www.kcmtw.org/music/concerts/

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

WEDNESDAY Lulu + support from Chloe Reynolds FRIDAY The Carpenters Story 2017 SATURDAY The Selecter / The Beat Feat Ranking Roger THE BEDFORD

2 High Street, open all day, free entry www.thebedfordtw.co.uk

SATURDAY Fred Clark THE BEAU NASH TAVERN

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

SATURDAY Justine

THE MASONIC CENTRE

St John’s Road For show times and ticket prices, visit www.seetickets.com

SATURDAY – Adele Tribute

KING CHARLES THE

THE PUNCH & JUDY

MARTYR CHURCH

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

FRIDAY Schubert Ensemble Fred Clark

TUESDAY Steve Boltz Bolton

78

NEWS

Sporting Times

CONTACT US:

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

Wells hang on for narrow win despite red card for Hathaway

Wells built further phases which resulted in a penalty slotted home by Frank Reynolds. The offence saw an opposing lock sent to the sinbin and the teams went in all square 13-13 at half-time.

Rolling mauls

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

Sutton & Epsom 26 Tunbridge Wells 27

BLIND-SIDED Chaz Spence sets off on another blistering run

By Owain Withers RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS held on courageously to secure a thrilling win at Sutton & Epsom [S&E] in the London & South-East Premier.

Chaz Spence worked a narrow blindside channel and after racing up the touchline he found Hayden Pengelly, who fed Max Douch and he sprinted from halfway to open the scoring.

The hosts slotted a penalty and after 20 minutes a strong maul rolled S&E upfield and their fly-half

went over for the score. Their rolling maul was used to good effect again 10 minutes later, this time resulting directly in a try to make it 13-5.

By then Wells had lost lock Alex Burman to a head injury with Mac Popham replacing him. But they dominated the end of the first half. Although a penalty went begging, a good backs move led to Blaise Salle being held up in the left-hand corner and the ensuing scrum resulted in a try.

No 8 Nick Doherty broke off the scrum to place the pass to his brother Mike, who despite fumbling it managed to force his way over.

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Despite being a man down, S&E started the second half stronger and soon led 20-13. Wells conceded a free-kick for an early push at the scrum five metres in front of their own posts and after a few phases the home side were over.

They extended their lead when Pengelly was penalised for not rolling away at the ruck and given a yellow card for his troubles.

With half an hour left Wells stepped up their game and it was their turn to use the rolling maul to great effect. One surging maul was only halted when it was illegally pulled down with S&E’s No 8 sent to the bin. Wells put the ball into the corner and set the maul rolling again.

It fell short of the line but Spence was there to burrow over, and Reynolds nailed the conversion to put Tunbridge Wells three points in arrears.

After a period of territorial battling Shaydn Osgood was penalised in front of Wells’ posts and the penalty was slotted to give S&E a 26-20 lead.

With 10 minutes remaining Wells took the lead for the first time. Nick Doherty did well to secure the ball at the back of the scrum, it was worked out to the backs and Ryan Taylor-Dennehy dotted down in the left-hand corner. Crucially, Reynolds hit a fine conversion to put his side a point ahead.

Both sides defended resolutely until the end. On 73 minutes Mike Hathaway was shown a red card, having been adjudged to have hit an opponent.

But the penalty was missed. Wells had to hold out with 14 men and they did so stoutly until, with a minute left, the referee penalised the visitors again, this time for being in front of the kicker.

However, that kick also went astray and Wells held on for a remarkable bonus-point victory.

Their next fixture is a crunch derby game at home to Westcombe Park on October 21 (kick-off 3pm).

STICK WITH HIM James Beck hunts down Purley

Allberry keeps up impressive start Tunbridge Wells Men’s 1st XI 5 Purley Walcountians 1

By Francis Bridgeman HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS are already sitting on top of South Premier League Division Two after a ­comfortable win over Purley at Kent College.

Purley had a goal disallowed after an initial save from James Harris in the Wells goal had gone on to strike a Purley foot.

Buoyed by this escape, Wells proceeded to score two sharp goals. First Ben Allberry struck and then Ben Brandt touched home after the visitors’ goalkeeper could only parry Alberry’s shot.

Purley did sneak a goal shortly before half-time as a deflected straight strike was volleyed home.

The second half saw a professional performance from the home side to secure the points, with a goal from Chris Smith, a second for Allberry and a tap-in for Ali Clarke after Allberry had deftly controlled a long aerial ball from Chris Pelmore.

On Saturday October 14 Wells travel to EH Trophy winners Blackheath & Elthamians (kick-off 3pm).

McHugh’s hat-trick in vain as Rams leave TJs battered Crostyx punish Ladies on break Tonbridge Juddians 24 Redingensians Rams 47

RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS came up short in National Two South as Redingensians Rams took the game by the horns at The Slade.

TJs trailed 19-0 at the break after the Rams had scored three tries, one a scrum penalty try, in a half of very few TJ chances. The few passages of forward progress for TJs came from turnover ball but they rarely got inside the Rams’ 22.

The side from Reading impressed in the scrum and their No 8 Robbie Stapley was the stand-out player on the day as TJs fell foul of the officials.

New recruits Finlay Coxon-Smith and hooker Ryan Jackson put themselves about for the hosts, the former looking like he could be a handful on the wing if TJs can find him with the ball.

TJs knew they had to be the first side to score after the break but it was Rams who did so, creating a hole in the TJ defence again and flooded through the gap for a try.

And they dotted down again to get to 33 points before TJs managed to open their account - coinci-

dentally perhaps when Stapley was resting on the bench.

On the hour Rory McHugh scored his first from the second row and 10 minutes later it was 17-33 as Mike O’Sullivan and McHugh, again, had crossed, Nathan Holmes adding a conversion.

The TJ faithful smelt a comeback but Rams shut the gate on them LINE CALL with a period of presRory McHugh grounds the ball for one of his tries sure that saw them add to their lead.

TJs still had a four-try bonus point to go for and back quickly knowing that even one point is better McHugh secured it with his hat-trick score. than none in a tight league Rams dominated play for long periods and with The loss saw TJs slip to ninth in the table with a greater accuracy of passing they would surely record of three wins and three defeats. have scored more.

On Saturday October 14 they travel to secondTJs will have to lick their wounds and bounce placed Chinnor in Oxfordshire (kick-off 3pm).

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

By Adam Hookway

Tunbridge Wells Ladies’ 1st XI 1 Crostyx 2

By Francis Bridgeman

HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS Ladies found t­ hemselves up against one of the season’s pacesetters in Crostyx in East Region League Division One South at Hawkenbury.

They welcomed back captain Jen Hunt after a prolonged absence through injury. But the home side started slowly and fell behind to a short corner goal within the first five minutes.

This forced Wells to up their game and they soon levelled the scores, Miar Murphy firing home off the keeper from a well worked slip move.

After withstanding sustained pressure, the visitors made one decisive break and regained the lead mid way through the second half.

It came against the run of play as Wells’ defence had nullified any threat until then thanks to an outstanding performance from Lou Richardson.

On Saturday October 14 the Ladies travel to Lee Valley to face mid-table East London (kick-off 3pm).

Sporting Times

Wednesday October 11 | 2017

Cullip’s heroics fail to halt Sevenoaks

Controversial

Rusthall 0 Sevenoaks Town 3

By Richard Smith FOOTBALL:

SEVENOAKS TOWN completed a league double over the

Rustics at the Jockey Farm Stadium but for long periods the home side were very much in the game.

Goalkeeper Joe Cullip made several superb saves to keep the

Sevenoaks went ahead in c­ ontroversial fashion on 17 minutes, with striker Mark Jones seeming to force the ball over the line with his left arm from a cross.

Cullip twice thwarted Byron Walker when through he was through on goal to ensure that the Rustics were only 1-0 down at the interval.

Rusthall should have equalised three minutes into the second half.

Michael Tubb’s cross from the right was met on the volley by Ryan Waterman but his fine effort went agonisingly wide of the right post.

Rusthall lost in-form striker Steph Harper to injury but despite piling on the pressure Sevenoaks were unable to increase their lead with Cullip again making two great saves.

With 14 minutes left, however, a poor header back to Cullip fell short and Walker nipped in to finish.

On 81 minutes the visitors made it 3-0 when they caught the Rustics on the counter-attack and a fine deep cross from the right found the head of Rory Hill who gave Cullip no chance.

Sevenoaks looked impressive and should be among the contenders for promotion at the end of the season.

On Saturday October 14 Rusthall face an away game at Corinthian (kick-off 3pm).

BRACE YOURSELF Lauryn Underhill scores her second goal

Underhill shows finishing ability Tonbridge Angels Ladies 3 Burgess Hill Town 2 FOOTBALL:

Akrofi steals in as defence holds firm FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS were indebted to Alex Akrofi to get them over the line against a Wingate & Finchley [W&F] side who could have snatched a draw.

Visiting skipper Ahmet Rifat had an excellent chance at the far post in the second minute as W&F created several chances.

The best of the opportunities came on 33 minutes when Sean Cronin hit the base of the post with a firm header.

Angels’ best reponse in the first half came from Luke Blewden’s stinging volley which forced a good save from Wingate’s keeper Luke Sheldrake.

The hosts came out for the second half in more assertive fashion and in the 52nd minute Blewden’s cross should have been converted by Nathan Elder.

In the 60th minute the breakthrough arrived in controversial fashion. Blewden appeared to have been fouled in the penalty area and while the players waited for the whistle to blow, the ball ran through to Alex Akrofi who played to the whistle and scored for the home side.

The game should have been made safe for Tonbridge as chances fell to Dan Thompson and Akrofi in the last half-hour.

They nearly paid the price with Rob Lainey forcing a great save from keeper Jonny Henly in the

COASTING HOME: The Tunbridge Wells ten compete in Lydd

TARGET MAN Nathan Elder shields the ball up front 80th minute. But Angels secured their fourth clean sheet in five games, and assistant manager Barry Moore said: “We got ourselves deservedly in front

and then treated the ball like a hot potato in defending that slender lead.”

Angels now travel to Hendon on Saturday October 14 (kick-off 3pm).

Whitby and Fitzpatrick share second TRIATHLON: TEN triathletes from T­ unbridge Wells braved brutal headwinds for the End of Season Sprint race in Lydd, which had been selected as the Club Championships.

The race started with a 530m open water swim before the 20km bike leg out to Camber Sands and back.

The wind made bike-handling ­unnerving for some and progress was slow as athletes battled the elements.

The contest concluded with a 5.3km run looping around the lakes.

The race was won by Thomas White in

1hr 3min, while Kieran Fitzpatrick was first home for Tunbridge Wells, claiming second place overall in 1:04. A strong bike leg saw him move up from 17th after the swim.

Dave Mahon claimed first veteran and third overall in a time of 1:07, ahead of Lloyd Collier who recorded the second fastest run leg to finish fourth in 1:08.

For the ladies Pippa Whitby claimed second place in 1:19. Suzanna Kinsella followed shortly after in 1:25 to take third place overall. Clare Roche kept up her good form to finish first F60.

PHOTO: David Couldridge

Tonbridge Angels 1 Wingate & Finchley 0

By James Rowe

79

PHOTO: David Couldridge

score at 1-0 before two late goals secured the points for the leaders of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.

Cullip was back between the sticks after recent signing Steve Lawrence rejoined Tunbridge Wells – having kept goal for three unbeaten games for the Rustics.

It was also the last game for ­influential skipper John Sinclair before he headed off to university – he will be a hard act to follow.

AT ARM’S LENGTH Joe Cullip keeps Sevenoaks at bay

NEWS

WITH three crucial games looming in the space of a week, Angels Ladies chose to contest a friendly in a bid to keep up their impressive form in South East Counties Kent Division One – and they ran out winners in the last minute.

They made seven changes to the starting line-up and were a goal down inside the first minute from a break through the middle.

The equaliser came after five minutes to settle the nerves. Jodie Coombes chipped a pass into the path of Lauryn Underhill, who fired home.

The scores remained level until half-time and then Coombes got herself on the scoresheet after 52 minutes, driving in off the inside of the far post.

A sting in the tail arrived on 76 minutes when a clearance by keeper Tracy Edwards went straight to a Hillian midfielder, who quickly lobbed her from 40 yards out to equalise.

Tonbridge regained the lead in the 90th minute.

Sam Wright played a perfect through-ball to Underhill, who delivered another calm finish.

The lead could have been extended twice in injury time. Abbie Skilton’s header hit the bar and Megan Akehurst had a shot cleared off the line.

The Ladies now face cup visits to Barming on Sunday and Charlton Athletic on Wednesday October 18 before a big league game at home to leaders Long Lane Development on October 22.

ANGELS TO START GIRLS’ TEAM Tonbridge Angels Ladies will be holding training sessions for girls aged 12 to 16 for six weeks starting on October 26.

The coaching will be held on Hayesbrook School’s 3G on Brook Street on Thursday evenings from 6-7pm.

The sessions are open to girls of all abilities, especially those interested in playing for a new Tonbridge Angels age-group team.

The sessions will be run by our Ladies team coaches, all of whom have FA Level 1 and Safeguarding certification.

The girls will train alongside the Ladies, who will be available to answer any questions too.

There is a £2 fee per session for all players, or you can pay £10 up front for the full six weeks.

If you or your child are interested in taking part, email tonbridgeladiesfc@gmail.com