Times of Tunbridge Wells 21st December 2016

Happy Christmas

Local, National and International

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

to all our

readers

r ur Yo EE pe a FRwsp

All the news that matters

Ne

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Christmas comes early for Calverley INSIDE STORING UP HOPE

Bidborough shop is shortlisted for the ‘rural Oscars’. Page 11

HELPING HANDS

Local dentist flies out to treat Aleppo’s refugees. Page 7

THE SANTA SPECIAL

Spa Valley Railway puts mince pies on track. Page 68

THANK YOU, SANTA: Some of the children of the volunteers involved with the Calverley Adventure Grounds project gathered at the site yesterday [Tuesday] to celebrate the news of a £50,000 grant. The youngsters are (l-r) Daniel Tempest, Harry Bourne, Gus Harfoot, Alice Bourne, Isobel Roberts, Lily Tempest, Nia Harfoot and Jack Roberts

By Jonathan Banks

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk CHILDREN in Tunbridge Wells received an extra special Christmas present this week with the news that the Calverley Adventure Grounds has been given a £50,000 boost, putting the project on course for a summer opening.

Over the last eight months, volunteers have been working to generate money for the new playground in the town cen-

tre park where Queen Victoria played as a child, with a target of £225,000 to be raised by March.

They have now come within touching distance, following a grant of £50,000 from The Veolia Environmental Trust.

The funding raises their current total to £148,000, with just £77,000 to go.

“This is the best Christmas present that the many volunteers working on the initiative could have asked for,” said Trustee and Fundraising Director Kate Bourne.

“So many local children will benefit

from the exciting and innovative play space, which will be located in the town centre’s historic park.”

‘Transforming an unloved corner of town’ Trustee Project Coordinator Rhiannon Harfoot added: “This really puts us in a wonderful position to be able to raise the remaining £77,000 in time to build the Adventure Grounds by the summer.”

The aim of the community-led venture

is to transform the site of the former bowling green, now ‘an unloved corner of the town’, into a new play space for children to let their imagination run wild.

Fundraising initiatives have included an Easter Eggstravaganza that raised £3,000, a Black Tie Dinner that generated £28,000, and the Great Jam Jar Challenge that saw schoolchildren collect around £6,000.

Continued on page 4

STRESS-FREE LUNCH How to take the heat out of your festive kitchen. Page 52

4 ■ LOCAL NEWS

Officers leave police after sexual misconduct report TWO Kent Police officers faced allegations of gross misconduct through abusing their position of authority for sexual gain, it has been revealed.

The news comes after a nationwide report into police legitimacy, conducted by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate Constabulary [HMIC], found that 306 officers had been accused of sexual exploitation from 2014-16.

One officer was accused of having a relationship with a domestic abuse victim in 2013, while the other was alleged to have engaged in a relationship with ‘a potentially vulnerable woman’ in 2014.

The first officer resigned while under investigation and the other failed to attend a gross misconduct hearing and was immediately dismissed. Neither will be able to rejoin the force, although their alleged misconduct will not have an impact on their pension entitlements.

Kent Police refused to release further details due to the recent nature of the cases. However, since disciplinary hearings are now conducted in public, if similar cases of sexual exploitation arose, Kent Police say the identities of the officers would be revealed.

Kent’s Deputy Chief Constable Paul Brandon sought to reassure the public, highlighting the force’s dedicated ‘anti-corruption unit that proactively seeks out intelligence on potential abuses of authority’.

“Any officer or member of staff that is suspected of abusing their position for sexual gain will be fully investigated and the HMIC report recognises our transparency in terms of publishing outcomes of disciplinary hearings to improve public confidence,” he added.

Nationally, the HMIC Report, released on December 8, found that of the 436 allegations made, 40 per cent of ANTI-CORRUPTION cases involved Deputy Chief Constable victims of Paul Brandon domestic abuse.

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 CHIEF REPORTER ADAM HIGNETT adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 576051 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES GEMMA HAK ghak@markerstudy.com | 01892 779580 FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews IF YOU HAVE A STORY WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU Contact details above

16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU

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

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

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

PRINTED BY NEWBURY NEWS LTD Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2DW

Wednesday 21st December 2016

Handy approach taken to help ease the pain of bed blocking

By Murray Jones murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

BED blocking is costing Tunbridge Wells Hospital more than £100,000 a week, based on figures released

by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells (MTW) NHS Trust.

In November, six per cent of patients in the two hospitals run by the trust, in Pembury and Maidstone, were ‘delayed in their transfer of care’.

This equates to a daily average of 26 beds at Pembury being taken up by people who are healthy enough to go home or can be moved along to a less acute stage of care, such as at Tonbridge Cottage Hospital or care homes.

An average bed in the Pembury hospital costs £600 per day to maintain, which means up to £15,600 a day is being spent on providing bed space for those who do not need the medical care.

This amounts to £109,200 a week, or £5,694,000 a year.

And the number of blocked beds has been gradually rising. In October 2014 it was 20 beds, in

October this year it was 34. This means, within two years, the problem is costing the Trust an additional £58,000 per week.

As well as the financial burden, bed blocking puts pressure on the hospital to find space for incoming patients at a time of year when winter ailments increase the demand for care.

Challenges Tunbridge Wells, along with all hospitals, has been told by the NHS it must get capacity down to 85 per cent this week.

For MTW Trust, Lynn Gray said: “Patients with delayed transfers of care are a challenge faced by the majority of acute trusts in the country. However, it is vital that the right care and support is in place for them when they leave hospital.

“If it isn’t in place, they cannot be discharged. The safety of our patients is an absolute priority.”

Often the beds are blocked by elderly and vulnerable people who

want to live independently but are delayed in leaving hospital because aspects of their homes may no longer be suitable for their needs if they have suffered an injury or they are unable to access necessary services.

To try to address this issue, a Housing and Health Co-ordinator and handyman David Walker have been based at Pembury since November to assist people who want to go back home.

The scheme is a joint effort by the local authorities of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & Malling and Sevenoaks.

Cllr Lynne Weatherly, Cabinet member for Communities and Wellbeing, said she has already ‘received very positive feedback’ about the £61,000 scheme.

“Many patients don’t want to be in hospital and want to return to their own home so if this initiative helps them that is a good thing, as well as saving the NHS money.”

GETTING HOME Handyman David Walker will help patients get out of the hospital; (left) Cllr Lynne Weatherly

Playground dream set to become reality Continued from page 1 Veolia awarded the Friends of Calverley Grounds [FoCG] a grant of £50,000 through the Landfill Communities Fund.

The grant is one of 33 made to community and environmental projects in England, part of a grant total of over £1million.

FoCG’s Sarah-Kate Tempest said: “The play area will be a place where children of all ages and abilities will be able to let their imaginations run wild. We cannot wait to see work start and, perhaps more importantly, finish.”

The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Paul Taylor, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support this exciting and innovative project. Our application process is a competitive one, so FoCG must be congratulated on their success.”

Rhiannon Harfoot added: “We are extremely grateful to Veolia, and hope this latest news will encourage local families and businesses to add their names to the Calverley Community Wall to help us complete the project on target.”

Renowned public artist Gordon Young has designed the Calverley Community Wall in

order to recognise all those who have sponsored the project.

People can have their business or family name designed by Gordon to fit across a number of Corten panels mounted along the wall adjacent to the site.

Corten is a rich-hued material, used in landscaping, architecture and sculpture, and was chosen as a subtle reference to the iron-rich Chalybeate Spring that helped found Tunbridge Wells. Sponsorship starts from £175 for an individual name.

For more information about the project, visit: www.calverleyadventuregrounds.co.uk

MAY YOUR CHRISTMAS BE MEMORABLE FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS It’s nearly here – Christmas. The time of the year when tradition has it that we think of family, friends and others less fortunate. A time to reflect.

There are lots of things that could be better in Tunbridge Wells. The roads into and out of town (particularly the Pembury Road), the parking (particularly in the town centre) and the train services (who would be a commuter?). But in the overall scheme of things they’re pretty irrelevant. What does it really matter if you are a few minutes late because of traffic or trains?

Frustrating yes. But let’s keep it in perspective.

What really counts in a town is its people, they’re the piece of the jigsaw that make somewhere a good place to live. And in Tunbridge Wells we have all the right pieces and a pretty good balance.

In this week’s paper we have mentioned two different ventures that are great examples of how the town ticks. There’s the

Mayor’s Christmas Toy Appeal for youngsters who would be facing a bleak time without the surprise visit from Santa bearing unexpected gifts thanks to the generosity of locals and the work of numerous elf volunteers.

Then there’s the news that Calverley Adventure Grounds has received a grant of £50,000 towards the children’s playground.

In little more than eight months the volunteers behind the initiative have raised £148,000 towards the target of £225,000.

Much of it from local businesses and townsfolk who have added their name to the Community Wall.

On top of that there are so many other organisations playing their part at this time of year, like Nourish Foodbank which reaches out to families who even in this town would go hungry this Christmas without extra help.

But, you know, giving is not just for Christmas, it goes on throughout the year.

Hundreds, no make that thousands, of people give up their time and energy for

12 months of the year to reach out to those in need.

For me the spirit of this town is perhaps best summed up by those who open the door at the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre. The charity has a terraced house in Monson Road, and is open four days a week, helps around 3,000 people a year and is run entirely by volunteers. All the helpers and therapists work for free. They even pay for coffee.

Before anyone complains about bias let’s place on record the fact that this writer happens to be Chair of the Pickering Board of Trustees. That’ll surprise some cynics who have a jaundiced view of journalists. The truth is, being at Pickering is a very humbling experience and a great insight into the social fabric of Tunbridge Wells.

Whoever you are, wherever you are, or whatever you need...may your Christmas be a memorable one for all the right reasons.

Richard Moore, Editorial Director

LOCAL NEWS �

NEWS IN BRIEF

Post Office staff defy the union’s strike call

Mayor has the gift of making his Christmas presence felt

IT WAS business as usual at the Crown Post Office in Tunbridge Wells this week as staff defied union calls for strike action.

The Communication Workers Union hoped to shut 300 main branches in a dispute over jobs, pensions and closures. Yet only a handful shut their doors on Monday and Tuesday and Tunbridge Wells was not among them.

Local customer Michael Ewing, queuing to collect an Amazon package, said: “I think it’s absolutely marvellous they stayed open.”

Teenager stabbings A 17-YEAR-OLD from Tunbridge Wells has been charged with two counts of wounding with intent following a double stabbing on Dudley Road. He is due to appear before Maidstone Magistrates today. [Wednesday]. The incident happened last week [December 14.]

Two men, aged 19 and 22, sustained stab wounds. Their injuries are not life threatening.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also charged with one count of possessing a knife blade in a public place.

Charge more for 4X4s LIB Dem councillors in Tunbridge Wells are pushing for higher parking charges for 4X4s and additional permits in order to tackle congestion and pollution.

Cllr Ben Chapelard said the council was ‘missing an opportunity’ to encourage cleaner cars and reduce congestion on the roads. He added: “Some cars pollute more than two and a half times the cleaner cars but they pay the same for a resident’s permit.”

AXA accident victim A PEDESTRIAN was struck by a car on Forest Row on Monday leading to an hour long road closure. The woman, believed to work at AXA, was said to be using the pedestrian crossing when the incident occurred. She was treated at the scene for injuries, including hip pain, before being taken to hospital.

A RECORD number of children will be able to enjoy a happier Christmas than they might have expected this year after presents to the Mayor’s Toy Appeal passed the 1,000 mark – an all-time high.

Generous donations mean 243 children in the borough will wake up on December 25 to find Father Christmas has delivered a sack of gifts. Each child will have three main presents and a handful of smaller ones.

Around 20 volunteers have been working flat out at the Big Yellow Self Storage depot on Longfield Road to ensure the children receive appropriately wrapped gifts that would meet with the approval of Father Christmas.

Thanking those who contributed to the appeal, Mayor David Neve said: “People have been such good sports.

“This year must be a bumper

5

record for the number of toys donated. I don’t think it is because of me but perhaps I do have the gift… or perhaps my presence may have something to do with it.”

The Mayor is well known for his pun making.

As well as individual donations, gifts come from schools that organise toy giving assemblies, from churches that hold toy services and businesses and staff groups that join forces to donate presents.

There have been 17 collection points this year, including; Baldwin’s Travel Agency, Barsley’s Department Store, Pembury Library and the Town Hall.

The toy appeal has been an ongoing part of the Mayor’s duty for almost 30 years and last year saw 205 children receive a visit from Santa.

No respite in sight for the All change as Mead’s head hard pressed commuters announces her replacement using the Pembury Road MOTORISTS facing the gruelling commute along the Pembury Road each day will be forced to wait a little longer for a solution to the congestion.

Plans to build a roundabout at the road’s intersection with Blackhurst Lane and Hall’s Hole Road to help make the traffic flow easier have been put on hold due to a lack of available funding, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has disclosed.

The £1.35million scheme was first announced in March and it was believed much of the funding would come from the council’s underspend on the road improvements on London Road in Southborough.

Out of the £1.8 million earmarked for those improvements, undertaken in partnership with Kent County Council (KCC) which has responsibility for roads, only £600,000 was needed, leaving the rest for the roundabout.

At the time, Vicki Hubert, the strategic transport planner at Kent County Council, said it was ‘hoped’ the shortfall could be met with developer contributions.

However, although there was optimism a new roundabout would not cost the full £1.35 million, it was acknowledged that this figure was a ‘very broad estimate.’ KCC documents stated ‘significant construction issues’ may hinder the delivery of the project.

A spokesperson for the Borough Council said: “We don’t have a date for this project yet. Initial work has identified that the cost of such a scheme exceeds the funding we currently have available. This is disappointing but we are exploring additional sources of funding and the work we’ve done so far is helpful as it means we’re in a position to move forward very quickly.”

THE Headmistress of The Mead School “My family and I are very much on Frant Road will be stepping down looking forward to joining such a at the end of the summer term after wonderful community and I’m thrilled 30 years at the helm. to be at the helm as The Mead moves Angela Culley, who founded the into an exciting new era.” independent primary school at its Mrs Culley said: “In Andrew we current site in 1987, will be replaced have found someone who really

by Andrew Webster, the current understands the school’s ethos and deputy of Daneshill Prep School in I feel absolutely confident entrusting Hampshire. him with the future of The Mead.”

Described as the ‘stand out After stepping down Mrs Culley will candidate’ among a strong field, Mr sit on the advisory board of Wishford Webster was selected due to his focus Schools, a family-run group of on supporting and challenging every independent prep schools which The child to be the best of their ability.

Mead joined in March.

The married father of two said: “I feel privileged to become only the second head teacher of such a reputable and thriving prep school.

“Within moments of my first visit, I sensed the unique warmth and comradery built into the NEW ERA: Andrew Webster with wife Jo and fabric of The Mead and I their two children was hooked.

Wednesday 21st December 2016

6  LOCAL NEWS

Fiancé plays romantic lead by popping the question at theatre

Private schools greet proposal for free places

By Murray Jones

By Andrew Tong

murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

INDEPENDENT schools in the area have welcomed a proposal for up to 10,000 fee-paying school places to be offered free of charge nationwide.

The proposal comes from The Independent Schools Council [ISC], which suggests that if the government pays £5,550 per place – the cost of putting a pupil through the state system – the schools will cover the rest.

This is expected to cost up to £80million and will help to justify charitable status for the schools, which provides tax and business rate relief.

Tim Haynes, the Headmaster of Tonbridge School – which charges boarding fees of £37,539 a year – described the plan as ‘innovative’.

He added: “The school is determined to widen access further to ensure that boys who can benefit from a Tonbridge education are able to do so regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

Mobility “We will of course be delighted to discuss these ideas further with partners in the education sector.”

The Headmistress of Kent College in Pembury, Julie Lodrick, echoed Mr Haynes’ enthusiasm, insisting the school ‘wholeheartedly supports’ the proposal which has ‘the potential to create a robust, workable model for social mobility using the expertise and enthusiasm of independent schools’.

The ISC proposal, however, has been criticised by Chief Inspector of Schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, who said the plan did not go far enough. “If I was government I would be asking them to do more as a quid pro quo for their tax privileges,” he said.

Both school heads highlighted the fact that they offer some means-tested bursary provisions, with Tonbridge claiming around 10 per cent of pupils receive fee remissions – which costs the school £2.5million a year.

This includes waivers up to 100 per cent, meaning they effectively offer free places already.

When asked by the Times why the school deserved its charitable status, a spokesman for Tonbridge School pointed to the ‘20,000 hours of work and support on community and charitable projects per year’ that pupils and staff provide.

Wednesday 21st December 2016

STAGE MANAGED Amy and Alex beneath the canopy

AMY LAWRENCE was taken aback when she looked out of her office window in Tunbridge Wells last week and saw a proposal of marriage.

Her fiancé Alex Kelly had arranged for the message – ‘Amy will you marry me’ – to be put up on the front of the Assembly Hall theatre on Friday.

Mr Kelly, 38, popped the question after messaging Ms Lawrence, who works in the AXA PPP Healthcare offices opposite the venue on Crescent Road.

“I told her all the women were congregating around the windows of her offices and that she should go

and see what was happening,” Mr Kelly said. “She was amazed. She said it was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to her. Of course she said ‘yes’.

“I had been wracking my brain for an inventive way of asking her,” he added. “How could she possibly turn me down?”

The happy couple, who met through online dating nine months ago, have yet to set a date.

“We are going to get Christmas out of the way first,” said Mr Kelly. “It’s our first one together.”

The Assembly Hall, which is showing the pantomime Snow White, tweeted: “Congratulations Amy & Alex 4 their marriage proposal earlier today we love a happy ending #PantoDay.”

Constables receive awards for helping to save lives

By Phil Spacey

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk TWO Tunbridge Wells-based police officers have been recognised for their work in the community at a Kent Police awards ceremony.

Constable Chloe Youngs was commended at the West Division awards for her actions that helped save the life of a one-year-old girl on May 4 this year.

PC Youngs assisted paramedics treating the youngster for cardiac arrest at a public park by performing CPR and first aid on the child.

She was presented with a certificate of merit by Chief Superintendent Julia Chapman, the commander for Kent Police’s West Division, at a ceremony in Aylesford Priory on December 14.

PC Reece Hinton was also awarded the certificate of merit for his actions in protecting the life of a vulnerable 93-year-old woman in Tunbridge Wells after he heard about concerns for her welfare.

He had to resort to forcing his way into the pensioner’s house on July 1, where he found her

collapsed. He called an ambulance and the woman was taken to hospital.

However, when he revisited her house the next day, he found her collapsed again and provided first aid until ambulance crews arrived.

Medical staff said that, had it not been for his actions, there could have been serious implications for the woman’s health.

Chief Superintendent Chapman said: “The contributions made by the people awarded on this night are wide-ranging and highlight the many different requirements of local policing.

“Each day officers face difficult, unpredictable and potentially dangerous situations. They do this with the utmost professionalism and often go above and beyond what is expected to protect and serve the public.

“It is only right that their outstanding contributions to Kent Police are recognised.”

EXEMPLARY PC Chloe Youngs and PC Reece Hinton

LOCAL NEWS 

7

Dentist flies out to treat Aleppo’s refugees

By Andrew Tong

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Germany, a lot have got family over there, and they are just waiting. That creates tension. And you don’t know the language, you can’t communicate with people.

“But we received good support from the local authorities and HPF. After a few days I found myself more comfortable – I was not so scared.”

A TUNBRIDGE WELLS dentist has been treating a special group of patients – hundreds of refugees.

Romulo Greco, who works for Southborough Dental Practice, spent a week in November at refugee camps in Thessaloniki, Greece, providing ‘He had to keep blowing through dental care to those who fled the conflict in Syria. a tube to keep the boat afloat – The 46 year old, who moved into this area with his wife Karin and two children last year, pursued with his children on board’ his humanitarian venture after being moved by the plight of the migrants.

In fact, he soon found he was too busy to be “As you go through the media you afraid. There were five camps of different sizes; see that there is a real need for some had 300 refugees, some had 1,000. He was people to help out,” he explains. seeing 20 to 25 people every day.

He got in touch with the Health “You can actually carry out treatments.

Point Foundation [HPF], which The equipment is quite limited, runs projects to help it’s very basic, but it’s somerefugees, and the charity thing you learn to work with.”

Dentaid.

Dr Greco’s background was Dr Greco admits to very helpful. He was born in harbouring some Brazil, and having qualireservations before he fied at São Paulo Univerembarked on his sity he was used to mission. “Initially, I working on a shoestring. was a bit anxious, He said: “I came to the reading the reports UK ten years ago, but about what people had before that I was doing seen who had gone out this sort of job. I was to the camps,” he says. working in the slums TOP TEAM “The refugees do for 12 years with very (L-R) Dr Romulo Greco get agitated with the limited resources.” with nurse Sophy McKee situation. They are living Despite being hardand fellow dentist in tents and they want to ened to deprivation, he Dr Emer Watters move on with their lives. was profoundly moved Most of them want to go to by the stories he came

CLOSE QUARTERS The volunteers in their surgery

responsibility for what is happening. But you feel guilty personally at not being able to do much.

Coming back here, you realise how blessed you are. We really don’t have any problems.”

Dr Greco wishes the wealthy service providers in his industry would contribute. “I have to look at other resources to raise funds. You think of all the big pharmaceutical companies that produce the medication and equipment – if a handful of them gave £500 each, it would be nothing to them.”

Homeless but hopeful across. “I had the opportunity to have a chat with a gentleman over there who took me on a tour of the camp and gave their views of the situation.

“He told me how he had crossed borders, how dramatic it had been to cross the ocean, how he had to keep blowing through a tube to keep the boat afloat – with his family and children on board.”

The war was raging over the water in Aleppo, where the majority of his patients had come from.

“These people had been leading normal lives.

They had been to dentists before, some of them already had braces. But they had to flee because of the war. They just had to leave everything behind.”

He was particularly moved by one man’s story.

“This gentleman, his name was Ahmed, showed me on YouTube how a Russian aircraft crashed into his house, and the film showed him being removed from the rubble.

“His story was very touching for me. To get in a boat and go across borders costs a lot of money.

He had spent 6,000 dollars to get to Greece.”

The experience has left Dr Greco with an even greater resolve to return to Greece. “I will definitely do it again next year,” he said. “The war out there is never-ending. Our governments do have

During his humanitarian work in Thessaloniki, Dr Greco came upon pictures drawn by children in the refugee camps. “I found these drawings on the wall,” he said. “Nothing extraordinary, would you say? However, it came to my mind what these kids have left behind and what they are longing for.”

DRAW COMFORT The children’s wall art at the refugee camp in Diavata, Greece

Wednesday 21st December 2016

8  LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

Unaffordable homes are the legacy of Cameron’s government, Shadow Housing Minister claims Labour MP John Healey, a Housing Minister in the Labour Government and now Shadow Housing Minister, visited Tunbridge Wells as guest speaker at the local Labour Party’s Christmas gathering. Adam Hignett took the opportunity to ask him why anyone should trust Labour to solve the ongoing housing crisis?

What do you think are the main problems with the housing market in the South East?

As Shadow Housing Minister, I have seen housing pressures all over the UK, but each region is different. In the South East it is a crisis of cost.

You see that here in Tunbridge Wells very clearly, both to rent and to buy, particularly for young people and those on ordinary incomes.

Your average private rent now in this town is over £1,000 a month, and it has soared in recent years, well ahead of the rise in earnings. And deposits for houses are well beyond the reach of those people who cannot get help from their families.

So what would a Jeremy Corbyn-led government do about it?

The first thing that could be done would be to better target the help that is already in place.

For example, the Help to Buy scheme should be only for first-time buyers, and it is not. It should be specifically targeted at young people and confined to those on ordinary incomes.

Over the last three years, more than 2,000 people earning £100,000 or more have received that taxpayer help to buy a home. That is badly targeted and can’t be justified.

At the heart of the housing crisis, however, you have to build more homes, especially affordable ones.

But some people would argue the last Labour administration’s record on housing, when you were a Housing Minister, was not actually that good…

In 13 years of Labour, there were two million more homes and one million more home owners over that period – 2009 saw the largest investment into social housing for a generation.

George Osborne cut that by over half when he came in [as Chancellor].

So where would you build new houses in Tunbridge Wells?

Before I came here, I visited the Town and Country Housing Association. What was interesting is they said there is no shortage of sites to build on in Tunbridge Wells, but there is a shortage of government help to build affordable homes.

homes, or using incentives to get the private sector to build more?

I would advocate a national plan, which will be looking for more from every part of the industry.

More from private builders, housing associations and councils.

Do you advocate the Ed Miliband policy of penalising companies that build up land banks?

I think there is a strong case for saying that when there have been planning permissions given and new building doesn’t follow, then there should be some sort of use it or lose it scheme.

Would you scrap Right to Buy? I led the opposition to the extension of the right to buy housing association stock because the plans were to fund that by forcing councils to sell off their best homes, which makes no sense because you lose what little affordable housing is available anyway.

The problem with Right to Buy is not the Right to Buy itself, but the failure to replace housing. Right to Buy has become a distraction from what really matters, which is building more affordable homes to buy or rent.

Yes, even Prime Minister Theresa May seems to be considering that now…

Well they haven’t done it yet, but they are starting to talk about it.

For the past six years, whichever housing minister is in charge, we have seen big promises but little delivery – which is why we have seen such disastrously low levels of new building.

Last year’s total of new affordable homes built was the lowest in 24 years. Cameron’s legacy was fewer new homes than any Prime Minister since Lloyd George.

Would you want to see the government having a direct role in the construction of new

BUILDING ON LABOUR’S HOUSING POLICY MP John Healey

Cutting edge county businesses win biotech research funding A BIOTECH consortium based near Tonbridge has secured £1.9million in funding from the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council for nationally important crop research.

Berry Gardens, the UK’s leading berry and stone fruit production and marketing group – which has its headquarters in Five Oak Green – has joined forces with NIAB EMR, formerly East Malling Research, to fund a six-year PhD studentship programme for fruit crop research, through a collaborative training partnership.

The programme, due to run from October 2017 to September 2023, will consist of 16 studentships in core research areas. These include plant breeding, plant pathology, entomology, soil science alongside plant physiology and crop agronomy. NIAB EMR will also partner with the universities of Cambridge, Nottingham and Reading to provide the students with top-level research expertise and facilities.

Richard Harnden, Director of Research at Berry

Wednesday 21st December 2016

Gardens, said: “This pioneering partnership between businesses and research providers will provide a world-class horticultural and bioscience UK research training programme.

Challenges “I’m confident that the new Collaborative Training Partnership for Fruit Crop Research will address the scientific challenges faced by agri-businesses, from crop production and food quality and supply through to consumer preference and reducing waste in the supply chain.”

Berry Gardens are joined by industry partners spanning the supply chain, including Worldwide Fruit, M&W Mack, Univeg UK and the National Association of Cider Makers, as well as retailer Marks & Spencer. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board will support the exchange of knowledge with the industry.

Will you be looking to introduce rent caps?

We went into the last election saying that if you look at the problems in the private sector it tends to be short-term tenancies, with landlords that can turn around with two months’ notice and jack the rent up.

So what is needed is some of the legal rights and protections for renters that any of us would get in any other market.

That means longer tenancies becoming the norm and – as part of those tenancies –

a break on rents going up in that period.

There are one and a half million kids growing up in rented accommodation. You can’t raise a family, put down roots, if you are worried about being moved on with two months’ notice.

A report by housebuilding company Taylor Wimpey pointed very clearly to the problem young people have now where it costs more to rent privately than it would to pay a mortgage, but they don’t have the financial ability to get the mortgage in the first place.

That’s where our help should be targeted.

Many landlords, and some economists, argue there are negative unintended consequences from rent caps I talk to landlords frequently, and what’s interesting is there is a mix of views.

For many landlords who are interested in having people in their properties without chopping and changing, it’s in their interest, and they would be happy to see longer tenancies.

They are happy to give the guarantees on rent rises over that period.

You need to regulate as a government only when there are problems and failures in the market, or when the market is unfairly balanced – in this case between private landlords and tenants.

You regulate only to deal with the worst, especially in a period when we have seen such a rapid increase in the number of people who are now long-term renters.

To summarise, what is Labour’s position on housing?

Build more houses…

That’s number one – number two: Act on the worst of the problems for private renters, and put in place regulation to make it a fairer market.

Thirdly, and this is my campaign in the run-up to Christmas, act to stop the rapidly rising level of homelessness in this country. It is not inevitable in a country as wealthy as ours.

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

ifour Christmas quiz proves global hit two years running FOLLOWING the success of their 2015 film-themed Christmas quiz, which was shared around the world in over 131 different countries as far as Panama and Vietnam, Pantiles-based creative agency ifour are hoping to go one better this year.

Titled ‘We’ve got 99 problems’, this year’s music-

themed quiz was launched on their website quiz.ifour.co.uk on December 7 and has already been viewed by almost 6,000 people in 44 countries, ranging from Cape Verde to Ecuador, Sri Lanka and Kenya.

Those playing are presented with the image of a living room which is full of an assortment of ran-

dom objects, each of which is a cryptic clue hinting at a famous band; for example, the Bible with ‘chapter one’ written on it is Genesis.

Founder and Creative Director Graeme Hall is the brainchild behind the quiz at the company, which celebrated ten years of business in October.

9

BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF

Innovative firms losing out on R&D support TAX specialists Crowe Clark Whitehill claim businesses are missing out on the benefits currently available for research and development [R&D].

The Tunbridge Wells firm say many companies are failing to utilise a scheme called Patent Box, which means earnings on products created in part by using an item patented by the company will only be taxed at ten per cent – half of the current corporation tax rate. HMRC figures reveal that despite the benefits, only 700 companies nationwide are utilising the scheme.

The warning comes after Chancellor Philip Hammond proposed a further £2billion in R&D support during his Autumn Statement.

Crowe Partner Simon Crookston said: “Patent Box suffers from the perception that it is complicated to apply for and take advantage of, but recently we’ve seen growing interest from firms on how to take them through the process, especially as many start to plan for their new trading relationships with the EU and further afield.

“Once Patent Box status has been approved, the company can benefit from tax savings throughout the life of the patent, which can be significant. By not applying, local innovative firms are missing out on what is a major financial benefit for the cutting-edge work they are already doing.”

Theft damages firm

Boost for builders as population growth leads to strengthened planning protocol PLANNING in Kent is to be streamlined after key organisations involved in the process agreed a new protocol last week, in a move which has been welcomed by central government.

Efforts to tackle the ‘hugely complex and lengthy’ business of obtaining planning permission come as the county faces a predicted rise of more than 410,000 people in its population over the next 20 years, requiring the construction of 188,200 new homes.

The Kent Planning Protocol sets out a shared approach to development by planners, local authorities and developers.

It has been formulated and agreed by all of the district councils in Kent, as well as Medway Council, Kent County Council, Kent Developers Group, Kent Housing Group and Kent Planning Officers Group, supported by Locate in Kent.

Attempts to streamline the process were praised by Housing and Planning Minister Gavin Barwell [pictured right], who said: “Planning reform is essential to delivering the new homes this country needs in places people want to live.

“It is fantastic to see local planning bodies working together in such an innovative way to improve and strengthen the planning process.”

‘We anticipate considerable advantages and efficiencies in developing this approach further’ The planning protocol seeks to make the current process more efficient by enabling greater collaboration in the pre-application and planning application stages of the process through better communication and consistency.

Nick Fenton, Chairman of Kent Developers Group, said: “Although not a binding document in planning terms, the protocol sets out a shared and public commitment to working together to deliver high-quality and sustainable development for Kent, which we have now all signed up to.”

Eileen Martin,

Chair of Kent Housing Group, also welcomed the protocol, saying a ‘tremendous amount of work’ had gone into making it.

She added: “It clearly demonstrates our commitment to collaborative joint working, and clarifies what this means in practice.

“We anticipate considerable advantages and efficiencies in developing this approach further, and will work with all parties concerned to maximise the benefits that will result.”

Simon Thomas, from the Kent Planning Officers Group, said the protocol would ensure that all new development is of high quality and ‘serves the needs of the people of Kent’.

THE KENT PLANNING PROTOCOL SETS OUT THE FOLLOWING SERIES OF COMMITMENTS AND GUIDELINES  Ensure appropriate resources are made available to deliver an efficient, high quality planning service  Promote training opportunities  Communicate effectively  Increase certainty and consistency

A CONSTRUCTION firm in Tunbridge Wells has been left devastated after thieves stole £15,000 of heavy machinery from a work site on Frant Road.

Business owner Michael Cooper discovered both his digger and dumper had been taken during the early hours of December 14, despite stringent security measures in place to guard against theft. CCTV footage shows the equipment being loaded on to a 7.5-tonne flatbed lorry at 7.30am.

The father of four said his medium-sized firm, Mick’s Carpentry and Building, will not be able to replace the plant until next year, and his digger driver will be out of work over the Christmas period. Police are undertaking enquiries.

No fizz in water profits SOUTH EAST WATER saw revenues creep up to nearly £111million in the first half of its financial year, a rise of one per cent.

The drinking water supplier serves 2.1 million customers in large parts of Kent, including Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, as well as the counties of Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.

Pre-tax profits remained flat at £21.8million, but complaints were down by a third during the six-month period compared to the previous year.

Claimant count down UNEMPLOYMENT fell slightly across Kent last month as UK figures show that nationwide joblessness has hit an 11-year low.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in November was recorded at 18,270 throughout the county – a fall of 130 on the previous month.

Tunbridge Wells has the second lowest number of claimants in Kent at 560, a reduction of five over the same period, with only Sevenoaks having a lower claimant count at 505.

Wednesday 21st December 2016

10 � COMMUNITY NEWS

ellenor opens doors to make a real difference HOSPICE charity ellenor was invited to a reception at 10 Downing Street to celebrate the government’s inaugural Local Charities Day. The reception on December 14 was hosted by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport Karen Bradley with the Minister for Civil Society Rob Wilson.

Rachel Holweger, ellenor’s Director of Income Generation, offered ‘a huge thank you to the government for highlighting the impact that local charities make across the UK’.

PUDDLE PADDLE Mums and babies enjoy PJ Week

Puddle Ducks splash out in support of Bowles Rocks Trust’s outdoor activities

Energy She added: “We are reliant on our local community in helping us to provide vital support to families facing terminal illness and we also couldn’t continue the work we do without the help of our hardworking volunteers.”

“On Local Charities Day we are shouting from the rooftops about small, local charities – their energy, commitment, expertise and the benefits they bring to their communities,” said Mr Wilson. ellenor is the only charity in Kent that provides hospice care for people of all ages and their families.

This includes pain and symptom relief, end-of-life care, respite, bereavement support and emotional and spiritual care.

For more information visit www.ellenor.org

Wednesday 21st December 2016

POWER DRESSING (L-R) Rachel Holweger, ellenor’s Director of Income Generation, and Claire Cardy, Chief Executive, with actor Kelsey Hardwick and Charlotte Hawkins of Good Morning Britain, who are patrons of the charity.

BABIES and children from Puddle Ducks West Kent and East Sussex raised more than £1,000 for the Bowles Rocks Trust.

The charity, which is located between Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough, has been helping children to build their confidence and learn new skills through outdoor activity for more than half a century.

Every year the swim school holds a week-long Charity Pyjama event where children raise money by attending lessons dressed in their pyjamas.

This helps them to learn valuable water safety and survival skills.

Clive Relf of Puddle Ducks said: “Our Charity PJ Week is a great way of teaching our children important lifesaving skills in a fun and relaxed

environment, whilst raising money for such a great cause.

“We were delighted to fundraise for the Bowles Rocks Trust. We have a close link with them and provide swimming lessons at the centre.

“They do fantastic work and we fully appreciate the importance of helping children and younger people to grow and develop. Our little swimmers thought it was wonderful to help other children.”

Puddle Ducks provides award-winning swimming programmes for children up to four years old. It focuses on teaching in a nurturing environment with tailored activities to suit all abilities.

For more information call 01892 617246 or visit www.puddleducks.com/local-teams/west-kenteast-sussex

COMMUNITY NEWS 

11

Bidborough Stores named in national awards shortlist

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

BIDBOROUGH STORES has been named among the South-East’s finalists in the 2016 Countryside Alliance Awards, known as the ‘Rural Oscars’.

The store is on the shortlist for the category of village shop or post office. The only other entry for Kent was Park Farm Butchers in Hawkhurst.

The awards are the Alliance’s annual celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage through small, hard-working businesses. There were a record 7,500 nominations this year.

Reshma and Kiran Masrani (pictured) have run Bidborough Stores for 10 years and they won both the Ethical Business title and the overall prize at last year’s Love Where We Live awards.

Mr Masrani is TOP TEN Reshma and Kiran Masrani have run Bidborough Stores for a decade

renowned for his range of own-recipe curries, which he cooks fresh on Friday and Saturday and dishes up to fans from far and wide.

They also stock an impressive variety of local produce. Their bread comes from Rusbridge Bakery in Tunbridge Wells and they source ice cream and cheese from Hall Place Farm in Leigh.

“We know everyone in the village and it’s about being loyal to your customers, supplying what they want, everyday and specialist items,” says Mr Masrani.

“It’s important to provide local produce because people are more into that in the villages these days.”

Villager Denise Reynolds adds: “We’re so proud of our shop. You always receive such a warm welcome in here, and it’s so much more than a convenience store, with all the local produce they stock.”

Earlier this year the store was runner-up to Speldhurst Village Stores and Post Office in the neighbouring village for the award of Best All-Round Rural Retailer in Kent.

DEEP CONCERN: (L-R) Catherine Rose, Paediatric Ward Manager, Rachel Shaw, Trustee of Emilia’s Little Heart, and Sheree Marks, MTW Play Specialist, at the opening of the new children’s play room

Children’s room will reduce anxiety over hospital stays CHILDREN at Tunbridge Wells Hospital are enjoying a new therapy play room in the Woodlands Unit, funded by the charity Emilia’s Little Heart.

The charity, which was set up in memory of a young patient, aims to ensure that every child in hospital should be helped to cope with the environment through play and distraction from pain.

Emilia’s Little Heart joined forces with Play Specialist Sheree Marks of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to maximise the room’s impact and meet strict infection prevention standards.

Ms Marks says: “Play can often help children to recover more quickly and reduces stress and

anxiety. This room will be so important to the families who visit us.”

The £2,000 project includes a mural, toys, books, an arts and crafts area and comfortable seating.

Catherine Rose, Paediatric Ward Manager, says: “We are passionate about delivering child-centred care and this new play therapy room provides a quiet and calming space for children and their families away from the main waiting area.”

Rachel Shaw, a Trustee of Emilia’s Little Heart, says: “This area will help ensure that children can see hospital as a positive environment, a way to meet other children, to explore, have fun and play.”

Wednesday 21st December 2016

12  NATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Chancellor prepares for double budget in 2017 PHILIP Hammond’s Budget will be on March 8 – just weeks before Theresa May’s deadline for triggering the Brexit process.

The Chancellor will deliver his financial statement in the Commons as the Prime Minister prepares to invoke Article 50, starting the two-year process of talks to leave the European Union.

Mr Hammond had announced plans to scrap the spring Budget and move it to the autumn, meaning that there will be two full budgets in 2017 to switch to the new timetable.

Smoking control call THE MP for Harrow East, Bob Blackman, has called on the government to publish a new tobacco control plan to replace the one that expired last year.

The Conservative made the plea during the Christmas adjournment debate, which gives MPs the chance to raise any issue they want to in the Commons. He said ministers must bring forward a new plan as soon as possible to reduce smoking in the UK or risk undoing the progress already made.

Berlin market massacre suspect released due to lack of evidence CONFUSION surrounded the Berlin lorry attack in the hours after the Christmas Market massacre when German investigators admitted the suspect who had been apprehended and put in custody may be the wrong man.

Immediately after the attack, police arrested a 23-year-old Pakistani man who arrived in Germany on December 31 last year.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said the man has denied any involvement, and on Tuesday he was released due to insufficient evidence.

Yesterday [Tuesday], investigators said the person behind the atrocity may still be armed and at large – and there could have been several attackers

involved in the incident.

German authorities are calling the truck attack an ‘act of terrorism’ which had all the hallmarks of Islamic extremism. So called Islamic State (IS) have since claimed responsibility for the attack.

Federal Public Prosecutor General Peter Frank said the ‘modus operandi’ of the attack had echoes of July’s atrocity in Nice, in which 86 people died, and could have been the work of Islamic extremist groups, with the target of the attack being ‘highly symbolic’.

He told a press conference: “For now, we don’t know whether there was one attacker or several attackers.”

Eleven people were killed and many others injured when the stolen articulated lorry careered through huts and stalls at the Christmas Market near Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

A Polish man was found dead inside the lorry’s cab, and has been named as Lukasz Urban. He had been stabbed and shot, reportedly when his truck was hijacked.

Colleagues of the 37-year-old driver said he was so dedicated to his work and his truck that he would have defended the vehicle ‘to the end’.

Holger Munch, Head of the Federal Criminal Police Office, said the country is now on a state of ‘high alert’.

MARKET SHRINE Floral tributes

Drugs hidden in Pepsi DRUG smugglers tried to get cocaine with a street value of £680,000 through the Port of Dover in Kent, by hiding it under a legitimate cargo of Pepsi Max cans. They were inside a Bulgarian freight lorry aboard a ferry coming from the Netherlands.

The lorry driver, a 40-year-old man with dual Macedonian/Bulgarian nationality, was arrested following the seizure on December 9 and bailed pending further enquiries.

Union packs up strike A PLANNED 48-hour pay strike by baggage handlers and check-in staff at 18 airports has been called off.

Members of Unite employed by Swissport called off the walk-out following talks at the conciliation service ACAS. British Airways cabin crew are due to strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in a separate dispute over pay. The airline said it will run a full service despite the strike.

Wednesday 21st December 2016

STREET TERROR: Police inspect the lorry used in the attack

Anti-fracking campaigners vow to fight on after court rejects challenge CAMPAIGNERS say they will fight on after losing their landmark High Court challenge against one of the first planning applications to carry out fracking in England.

Residents from the village of Kirby Misperton in Ryedale, North Yorkshire, were supported by environmental group Friends of the Earth in a bid to block a decision to allow hydraulic fracturing near their homes.

But Mrs Justice Lang, sitting in London, dismissed their application for judicial review in a decision which allows fracking to go ahead.

Fracking company Third Energy was granted permission to start operations by North Yorkshire County Council in May 2016.

The judge ruled that the terms and conditions afforded ‘a considerable degree of protection to residents’ and the council’s decision was lawful.

One of the lead campaigners, Reverend Jackie Cray, who lives just a quarter of a mile from where fracking is to take place, said: “I’m obviously disappointed in the verdict, but it doesn’t end here. We are not prepared for Ryedale to become a sacrifice zone for the sake of industry greed.”

Third Energy welcomed the court ruling and Chief Executive Rasik Valand said: “We are confident we will prove to the local community that their elected representatives were right to grant this permission.

“We look forward to the results of the test fracks, which will help establish whether gas can be

produced from deeper and tighter rock formations at the Kirby Misperton site.”

Andrew Cooper, energy spokesperson for the Green Party, said the county council had ‘let down’ local people.

He said: “The decision to allow fracking in North Yorkshire is a bitter blow, not only to the communities there, who have fought so hard to stop this from happening, but to all who care about the fight against climate change.

“If we are to stop climate chaos, there can be no new dirty fossil fuel infrastructure.

“We should be choosing an energy system powered by the renewable sources that we have in abundance and keep fossil fuels in the ground.”

14  NATIONAL AND WORLD NEWS

Director given community order after death of human cannonball A STUNT company director has been given a 12-month community order for health and safety breaches following the death of a human cannonball who was killed after being fired into the air at a Kent show.

Stuntman Matthew Cranch, 24, died after sustaining multiple injuries when a safety net intended to break his fall collapsed after the mechanism was set in a falsely closed position.

He had been fired from a lorry-mounted cannon in front of hundreds of spectators during Scott May’s Daredevil Stunt Show at the Kent County Showground in Detling on April 25 2011.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that a mechanism which triggered the release of the safety net was not properly set.

An inquest jury last year ruled the death was an accident.

Mr Cranch’s boss, Scott May, 40, of Stunts UK Ltd, was sentenced at the Crown Court to the community order, including 150 hours of unpaid work, after pleading guilty at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court in July to a health and safety charge.

A judge said his offence was ‘committed through omission rather than act’.

A guilty plea was also entered on behalf of Stunts UK Ltd and it was fined £100,000.

Prosecutors said Mr May, of Higher Bosavern, St Just, near Penzance, Cornwall, had ‘failed to discharge the duty’ as an employer to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of employees, including Mr Cranch.

Mark Watson, prosecuting, said the mechanism which triggered the release of the safety net was not properly set, leading to the net dropping when the lorry recoiled upon firing the cannon.

Mr Watson said Mr May had not deliberately breached his duty but he had ‘hands-on control’, was responsible for safety and was present on the day of the tragedy. He described the firm’s health and safety as ‘lackadaisical’.

He added that induction and training for staff was ‘informal’, and it was ‘telling’ that one of the few documents that new employees were asked to sign was a disclaimer.

Mr Cranch, who was living in Newquay, Cornwall, had performed the showpiece human cannonball stunt five times before the tragedy.

He had joined the stunt team just four weeks COMMUNITY ORDER before his death.

Scott May Kent Police

announced in December 2012 that no criminal prosecution would be brought over Mr Cranch’s death and the matter was handed to Maidstone Borough Council, which prosecuted Mr May and STUNTMAN: Matthew Cranch Stunts UK Ltd. In film footage which wasa shown at the inquest, Mr Cranch could be seen being propelled from the cannon amid a cloud of pyrotechnic smoke as the safety net in front of him suddenly collapsed. Despite efforts to save him by medical staff, he later died at Maidstone Hospital.

In mitigation, Tanya Robinson, defending, said hard-working family man Mr May was ‘truly sorry’.

Ms Robinson added: “Mr May considered members of staff like extended family. In the immediate aftermath, he was not even sure that he wanted to carry on with the business.”

She explained how Mr May had no knowledge that the mechanism which triggered the safety net could be set in a falsely closed position because it had never happened in the previous 1,000 performances of the human cannonball stunt.

Possibility of second Scottish referendum lingers says Sturgeon NICOLA STURGEON has published detailed proposals to keep Scotland in the European single market, stating that they are a ‘serious and genuine attempt’ to ‘unify the country around a clear plan’.

The options outlined in the paper, Scotland’s Place in Europe, represent a ‘significant compromise’ on the part of the Scottish Government, the First Minister said.

“I hope and expect that the UK Government in considering these proposals will demonstrate the same flexibility and willingness to compromise,” she said.

Ms Sturgeon has made it clear that Scotland must retain access to the single market under any Brexit deal after the majority of Scots voted to remain in the EU in the June referendum.

A soft-Brexit deal is entirely democratically justifiable, Ms Sturgeon said, although she conceded it seems an ‘unlikely outcome’.

The paper also outlines ways in which Scotland could stay in the single market even if the rest of the UK chooses to leave.

The option of a second referendum on independence remains on the table but talk of another vote was played down.

Ms Sturgeon said: “The day after the referendum in June, I made a clear commitment.

“I promised to explore not just my preferred option of independence but all options to protect Scotland’s place in and relationship with Europe.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “If Nicola Sturgeon really wants to unite the country, she should take this opportunity to rule out another independence referendum.”

WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF

Tennis star knifed

Bank seeks bailout

TWO-TIME Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has been injured by a knife-wielding attacker at her home in the eastern Czech town of Prostejov.

The 26-year-old suffered an injury to her left hand – her playing hand – during the attempted burglary on Tuesday morning.

The tennis star suffered severe lacerations to all four fingers and she is undergoing surgery on the injuries, which have been described as potentially career-threatening.

Kvitova had already withdrawn from the Czech Republic team at next month’s Hopman Cup mixed-team tournament because of an earlier foot injury.

ITALY’S new government is asking parliament to approve up to an additional ¤20billion (£16.7billion) in funding to rescue the country’s troubled banks if necessary.

The cabinet approved the measure late on Monday, but parliament must vote before the new funding can be allocated.

Italy’s banking system is weighed down by some ¤360billion (£302 billion) in bad loans which banks will struggle to repay due to the weak economy.

Drone returned to US CHINA has handed back an underwater drone belonging to the United States after its seizure near the Philippines raised tensions following signs

by President-elect Donald Trump that he plans to introduce a tougher policy towards Beijing.

Chinese officials said the drone was removed from the water to ensure the safety of passing ships, but domestic political experts believe the move was a warning to Mr Trump not to test Beijing’s resolve over Taiwan.

Gunman at embassy A MAN who fired shots in front of the US embassy in Ankara, several hours after Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, was killed in an attack in the city, has been detained by police.

It is reported that the man took out a pump action shotgun he had hidden in his coat and fired around eight shots in the air early on Tuesday. He was overpowered by the embassy’s security guards.

Wednesday 21st December 2016

Horns in the picture AN ORDAINED pagan priest in the United States has finally been allowed to sport goat horns in his driver’s licence photo after claiming the headgear did not obstruct his face.

Maine resident Phelan Moonsong appealed to the state after explaining his religious beliefs to Bureau of Motor Vehicle staff. He said that unless he is sleeping or bathing, he always wears his goat horns, which serve as spiritual antennae and help him teach paganism.

Tragedy at wedding A 61-YEAR-OLD woman who died when a tree fell on a wedding party at a California park has been identified as the mother of the bride.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office released the victim’s name as Margerita Mojarro, of San Pedro.

She was one of a group who had gone to Penn Park in Whittier just after the wedding to pose for photos. A large eucalyptus tree uprooted and crashed down, trapping several people underneath including Mrs Mojarro and a fouryear-old girl who suffered critical head trauma.

16 � BUSINESS NEWS BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF

BT, Plusnet and EE top of table for complaints BT, PLUSNET and EE were the most complained about broadband providers during the third quarter of 2016, Ofcom figures show.

BT, which owns the Plusnet and EE brands, came top of the list with 36 complaints per 100,000 subscribers, followed by Plusnet with 30 and EE on 26, the regulator said.

This was ahead of the industry average of 20.

Plusnet and EE also topped the landline complaints table, with 24 and 20 complaints per 100,000 customers respectively, followed by the Post Office (20) and BT (19).

McColl’s adds to chain CONVENIENCE store chain McColl’s has won clearance from Competition and Markets Authority [CMA] for a ‘transformational’ deal to snap up nearly 300 outlets from the Co-operative Group.

The acquisition was first announced in July, and will see McColl’s add another 298 shops to its 1,000-strong convenience store estate.

It will also allow the Co-op to focus on its larger stores.

Lloyds Banking Group pays £1.9bn to buy MBNA credit card business LLOYDS Banking Group has swooped for consumer credit card business MBNA from Bank of America in a £1.9billion deal.

The banking giant said MBNA, which holds assets of £7billion, would deliver strong financial returns and bolster its position in the UK prime credit card market.

Antonio Horta-Osorio, Group Chief Executive of Lloyds, said MBNA was a ‘good fit’ with the bank’s current credit card business.

He added: “The acquisition, funded through strong internal capital generation, increases our participation in the expanding UK credit card market with a multi-brand strategy, and advances our strategic aim to deliver sustainable growth as a UKfocused retail and commercial bank.”

The deal will provide a £650million-a-year boost to Lloyds’ group

revenues, while enhancing the bank’s group net interest margin by around ten basis points per year.

Once it is given the green light by regulators, the tie-up is expected to be complete by the end of the first half of 2017.

The move will see Lloyds buy MBNA from Bank of America subsidiary FIA Jersey Holdings Limited, delivering cost savings of around £100million a year within two years.

The announcement comes after Lloyds took another step towards privatisation last week, when the government announced it had sold off a further chunk of the bank, taking its stake down to less than 7 per cent.

This means that more than £17.5billion has been returned to the government’s coffers since its £20.3billion bailout of the bank at

CARD GAME Lloyds waits for green light

the height of the financial crisis.

In October, Lloyds said it had set aside another £1billion to meet compensation claims for the mis-selling of payment protection insurance [PPI] as it attempts to draw a line under the scandal.

On the MBNA deal, the bank said its purchase price includes £240million for future PPI claims, adding that its ‘exposure of PPI liability’ would be ‘capped at this amount’.

MBNA, which booked post-tax profits of £123million in first half of 2016, will be kept as a challenger brand and help Lloyds strengthen its credit cards market share from 15 per cent to 26 per cent.

The bank said its underlying and statutory performance was strong, and it remains on track to deliver ‘a progressive and sustainable ordinary dividend in 2016’.

Money maker sold

Airport owner owns up to price fixing with car park company

CUMBRIA-based Innovia, the firm that makes the new plastic £5 note, has been bought by Canada’s CCL for 1.13billion Canadian dollars (£680million).

Its new £5 note for the Bank of England attracted controversy after it was found to contain animal fat. It sparked a 132,000-strong petition to ban the note.

THE UK’s third largest airport operator has escaped a £12.5million fine after admitting it had fixed car park prices.

The Civil Aviation Authority [CAA] found East Midlands International Airport [EMIA] had flouted competition law by fixing prices with Prestige Parking Limited between October

Wednesday 21st December 2016

2007 and September 2012.

However, Manchester Airports Group [MAG], which owns EMIA, had any penalty reduced to zero after it confessed to the Competition and Markets Authority [CMA] before an investigation took place.

Prestige also admitted to price

fixing, but will not face a fine because it is no longer trading.

MAG owns four airports – Stansted, Bournemouth, East Midlands and Manchester – and provides services to around 42 million passengers each year.

Richard Moriarty, Markets and

Consumers Director at the CAA, said both firms knew they were harming competition but had failed to act.

“Competition at airports is crucial,” he said. “This case should serve as a clear sign that we are prepared to take action to protect consumers wherever necessary.”

ADVERTISING FEATURE ■

Why separation and divorce can still be a civilised affair

BY TERESA PAYNE

suffering sleepless nights worrying about

Almost 50% of all marriages end in divorce

They are all members of Resolution which

time in their lives. Months and sometimes years are spent deciding whether to separate and then, when the decision has been made, it can take an age to pluck up

You may or may not have ‘security of

My dedicated team are handpicked for their experience working with people who are

and for many it can be the most traumatic

lease in the first place!

informed decisions about your future.

the future, you are not alone.

End of lease guide for business tenants more expensive to sort out than taking the

trusted advisor which will allow you to make

and loss of a relationship ending and

LEGAL NEWS

What happens at the end of a lease can be

and advice from an experienced and

If you are experiencing the anxiety

tenure’ depending on whether certain forms were served on you by the landlord

going through a relationship breakdown.

before the start of the lease. Even if you have security the landlord can oppose

means that they have the legal experience

the grant of a new lease if they can prove

required to give you the best advice and are

certain grounds for possession.

committed to solving your problems in a conciliatory way if possible –saving you the the legal fees that go with it.

Sharing Property with the Elderly

They understand the emotional pressure

Sharing a property with an elderly

and stress you are going through and they

relative may seem to be the perfect

cope financially and what you’ll tell the kids.

can help ease the pain and will work with

answer to rising property prices and

The truth is there is no easy way out.

you to move on with your life.

the courage to take action. Emotions run high and delays are usually down to fear of the unknown and what life will be like after the separation. Not to mention how you’ll

However, the actions you take now and the choices you make will have a big impact on your new life.

Your future is in your hands. You can choose to be reactive to your situation or you can be

emotional drain of the legal court battle and

you to achieve the best outcome possible for

bespoke to each client and we will never

arrangement should be aware of the legal and practical problems which may

disclose your information to others. Out of hours appointments are available if required.

Choosing the right legal team is key to your

ways to share property, but an equal

emotional and financial future so contact us

number of pitfalls, whether legal,

today to see how we can help you achieve

financial or relating to tax.

the fighting, anger and hurt.

number of potential clients an opportunity

emotionally and financially and you must be

but people contemplating such an

The right legal team is key to your emotional and financial future. Family Law Solicitor Teresa Payne.

For a limited period I am offering a selected

event and mistakes can be costly both

concerns over care for the elderly,

Our service is confidential, discreet and

proactive and take the lead and put a stop to

Divorce and separation is a life changing

17

to meet with one of the family solicitors

arise. There are a number of different

the outcome you want.

in my team for a free initial consultation

For further information and to apply for

to discuss the options available. Due to

a free consultation please call Keene

high demand I am only able to offer 20

prepared to invest in order to secure your

Marsland Solicitors on 01892 526442 , or

appointments this month and I know that

email enquiries@keenemarsland.co.uk

future. To take control you need information

the appointments will book up very quickly.

and quote reference FTTW 1216

Making an Inheritance Act claim to challenge a will or the Rules of Intestacy Generally, we are free to dispose of our assets as we want to. However, the law does provide protection for people who

Children should always come first when a family separates When families break up, children can feel very isolated, puzzled and worried about why Mum and Dad are not getting on and what might happen to the family. It is easy to overlook how badly the children can be effected when you are caught up in the emotional hurt and turmoil.

Tunbridge Wells Law firm, Keene Marsland are only too aware of these issues and challenges.

They have produced ‘Hey! We’re part of it too!’, a children’s guide including a DVD to help them understand what happens when their parents

have been financially dependant on

Hey! We‛re part of it too!

the shape of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants Act ) 1975, known as the Inheritance Act. The Act

separate and divorce. It is so important to reassure the children that they are as important as ever and to help them realise that it is not their fault.

‘Hey! We’re part of it too!’ normally retails at £4.99. We are now offering Times of Tunbridge Wells readers a free copy of the guide to the first 50 applicants. To order your free copy, please call Keene Marsland Solicitors on 01892 526442 , or email – enquiries@keenemarsland.co.uk and quote reference FBTTW 1216

the deceased. This protection comes in

is there to help spouses, children, civil partners, cohabitees and other surviving dependants who have been left to cope without sufficient money to enable them to get by.

Our experienced legal teams can help

When families break up A young persons guide

you with any of the above issues.

Please call 01892 526442

WILLS, PROBATE, POWER OF ATTORNEY, TRUST & TAX AND ELDERLY CLIENT SERVICES CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TODAY AT KEENE MARSLAND SOLICITORS ON 01892 526442 APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS, EDENBRIDGE AND HAYWARDS HEATH Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority no 71480

Wednesday 21st December 2016

18  LETTERS

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 Small businesses deserve a bit better

At this busy time of the year it’s important for us to remember to show respect to shopworkers I would like to wish your readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. For many this is always an exciting time, but we know it can be frantic trying to get everything ready for the big day.

I want to gently remind your readers to remember that shopworkers are people as well.

They will be working really hard to make your shopping experience as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

A recent Usdaw survey showed that every minute of the working day, another shopworker is verbally abused, threatened with violence or physically attacked. Shopworkers tell us that incidents are more frequent throughout the Christmas and New Year period when shops are busier, customers can be stressed and are more likely to take out their frustration on staff.

Talking to our members who work in retail, I know that verbal abuse cuts deep. Many will go

Exit Brexit for Better Britain I’m afraid everyone, including Leave voters, is going to be very disappointed if Brexit goes ahead.

Those who hanker after a more independent UK have already been shocked by the American-born Foreign Secretary, along with the erstwhile leader of USAKIP, fawning over President-elect Trump, who will soon be in control of spy bases and nuclear weapons in this country, and determining how we vote at the United Nations.

As for Parliamentary sovereignty, Ian DuncanSmith recently described the home of our elected representatives as an ‘interfering institution’.

The Autumn Statement contained the need for £58billion Brexit Borrowing – spread over a few years that’s more than the bogus ‘£350m’ a week claimed to be coming free to spend on the NHS. Businesses making quality products will have been dismayed to hear Jacob Rees-Mogg (who one suspects will accept nothing less than the North Korean independence model, financed by exciting new trade deals with Empire powerhouses like Ceylon and Rhodesia) call for British standards to be aligned with those of India.

Theresa May has spent more time pursuing trade deals with India and the Saudi Royal Family than telling the public what her plans for Britain are, whilst also letting the headbangers do and say what they like.

Britain’s problems are the result of 40 years of British Governments driving to make the rich richer and the poor poorer, and are nothing to do with the EU; the winners of the coup of June 2016 will use Brexit to put

home after a shift upset about an unpleasant incident that took place at work that day and worried that it will happen to them again.

That is why the shopworkers’ union is running a Respect for Shopworkers campaign, asking customers to ‘Keep your Cool at Christmas’. It’s a simple message, but remembering that shopworkers are working extra hard at this time and treating them with respect will mean that everyone can have a happier Christmas.

John Hannett, General Secretary Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw)

afterburners on the engine of decline.

If disappointed Leavers and Remainers work together, we can Exit Brexit in 2017, and demand the government make a Better Britain instead.

John Hurst Tunbridge Wells

Daytime meetings deter those with jobs On the Tunbridge Wells councillors’ allowances [December 14], the case for claiming more taxpayer money for promoting diversity falls flat when the majority of members are retired, white and middle-class Conservatives to a man. In fact, many meetings are still held during the day, thus deterring those still in employment.

Alan Bullion Tunbridge Wells

Stop taxis sitting with engines idling Martin Brice pointed a week or two ago that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE] says harmful air pollution is linked to 25,000 deaths a year in the UK. The stretch of road from Tunbridge Wells station to the top of Mount Pleasant is particularly bad, and usually has lots of children and infants on the pavement along it. The traffic volume problem is a long-term fix, but an easy short-term one would be to stop taxis and buses sitting at the stand with their engines idling and fumes churning out. Is there any good reason why taxis do this, or why we shouldn’t prohibit it?

Gay Blakeley Via email

It was apparently Small Business Saturday the other week, an occasion marked by Greg Clark [MP] taking a stroll to a couple of hand-picked stores which are doing well (can’t be seen in a struggling shop now, can he?) and some free space for pop-ups.

It’s a nice idea, and goodness knows many of the small businesses in this town need help, but if it was such a big deal, why was everyone completely unaware of it?

I only learned about it from your article. I was out and about that day doing a shop and happened to pass through Ely Court on my way back home, and whilst Royal Victoria Place itself was swarming with people, that neglected little corner of the precinct was pretty much dead.

I felt sorry for those running the pop-ups, and some of their wares were rather good. There were no signs directing people in the right direction and raising awareness, no stewards handing out flyers saying it was happening, nothing at all, really.

The pop-ups themselves were in units that felt freezing cold.

I gather much of the day was run by Royal Tunbridge Wells Together and perhaps the shopping centre itself.

Roger McIntyre Via email

Thank you to the people of Southborough May I please say a huge thank you to Justin and Gemma, the Managers of Tesco and Costcutter in Soutborough who very kindly allowed Southborough Lions Club to hold a Christmas collection outside of both stores last Saturday.

Thanks to the generosity of their customers, we collected almost £300 in donations.

This income will enable us to continue with our year-round activities that the community enjoy so much, including our Winter Sleigh Runs, where we take our sleigh around local streets and where Father Christmas hands out gifts to children (at no charge).

Tim Sparshott Fundraising Chairman Southborough & District Lions

The bubble has burst with the French It’s reported that sales of Champagne in this country have fallen – which is hardly surprising.

I continue to buy wines and produce from Spain, Portugal and Italy, but no longer France, which was usually our first choice.

Since they started bullying over our decision to leave Europe, we’ve struck them, and everything French, from the list. Our last holiday was in Corsica in September, but only because it had been booked a year ago. No more.

Edward Baker Via email

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

Wednesday 21st December 2016

Calverley YOU JUST have to hand it to him. The Leader of Tunbridge Wells Council, that is – David Jukes.

During the final session of the year, the thorny question of allowances arose and the debate in the chamber became quite interesting. A real rarity. Anyway, one wag, with tongue in cheek, suggested that much money could be saved if the number of councillors was slashed and they had just one person in charge – a dictator.

In the hush, all eyes turned to Cllr Jukes. Did he glow red with embarrassment? Not at all. Not in his nature. With a twinkle in his eye, he saluted the Chamber. The man has style.

CALVERLEY is forever grateful to one of his many undercover agents out in the field who sent this picture of the new Range store ‘illegally’ advertising on the side of a phone box. It was near the station, just up from their shop. The irony is that this is the very same discount store that believes readers of this esteemed publication are too posh, as reported in this column, and not its target audience for adverts. If the side of phone boxes is where they look for customers, perhaps they are right.

CHILDHOOD memories are always evoked when the name of Enid Blyton occurs in conversations (That’s showing His age). Who can forget the author’s series of the Famous Five books that followed the antics of a band of youngsters. Five Go Adventuring was a favourite, along with Five on a Treasure Island.

It came as a bit of a surprise, then, when Calverley was confronted with ‘Enid Blyton for Grown-Ups’ while perusing the shelves at WH Smith. Five Give Up The Booze was nestled alongside Five Go Gluten Free. Another memory shattered in this ever politically correct world.

AND FINALLY a very Merry Christmas to all you dear readers, and Calverley knows you are out there because he gets loads of feedback, some of it even complimentary. Enjoy the moment.

Chin, chin readers

Education in association with:

www.right-tuition.co.uk

EDUCATION ■

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

Grammar students win awards in countywide arts competition ERIC PARKER, from Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, and Ella Leadbetter, from Tonbridge Grammar School, are celebrating after their artwork gained them two impressive placings in a prestigious competition.

‘Eric showed an extraordinary range of ideas’ Eric took the top prize in the painting category for 11-16 year olds in the annual John Downton Awards for Young Artists, which commemorate the work of John Downton, the celebrated Kent artist, poet and philosopher. Meanwhile, Ella was awarded bronze in the same age group for her painting.

Judges said Eric ‘showed an extraordinary range of ideas’ while Ella’s work has ‘a great depth of intensity which holds your attention right across the room’.

The talented pupils’ work was praised at the awards ceremony, which was held at County Hall, Maidstone. Their exhib-

BEST IN SHOW Eric Parker with his certificate and painting its, along with those of the other students, will be on show until Tuesday January 3, 2017.

The John Downton competition encourages and celebrates the diverse talent of a new generation of artists.

Each year, students from schools and colleges across Kent are invited to participate, giving young artists aged 11-18 the opportunity to exhibit their work, possibly for the first time.

The awards were established in 2000 at the request of the artist’s sister, Hilda Downton, and are hosted by Kent County Council with support from Canterbury Christchurch University, the University of Kent and the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate.

The competition attracted a high number of submissions this year, with 345 students from 28 different schools and colleges entering. A total of 97 artworks were selected for the exhibition, and included photographs, paintings and mixed media projects.

The judging panel was made up of artists and teachers, but visitors to the exhibition will also have the chance to express their opinions by voting in the People’s Choice Award, which will be announced in the New Year, once the event is over.

19

School welcomes real-life spy AS GUESTS of honour go, securing the former Director General of MI5 is a pretty impressive achievement – and that’s exactly what Kent College did earlier this month.

The independent school in Pembury welcomed Dame Stella Rimington, the first female and publically-acknowledged Director General of the country’s security service, as their guest speaker at the school’s 130th birthday lecture.

After she had participated in a Q&A with the school’s newspaper team, Dame Stella gave a talk to the whole school and members of the public about her illustrious career.

Rumoured to have been the inspiration behind the female casting of M in the Bond films, Dame Stella talked about how she had never expected to be given the secret service’s top role, but how hard work

and perseverance had played a great part in her getting the job.

After joining MI5 in 1969, Dame Stella worked in a number of departments, including countersubversion and counter-terrorism, before being awarded the service’s most prestigious role.

She told the audience that greatness can be achieved in anything, and people should believe they can do what they really want to if they are focused enough.

Head Girl Christelle Pungong commented: “I think I can speak on behalf of all of us when I say it was an absolutely fantastic talk.

“In my opinion, it is very important for communities like ours, and girls’ schools all over, to hear talks like these, made by people who have defied and surpassed society and gender roles or norms.”

THE SPY WHO THEY LOVED Dame Stella Rimington with Kent College students

Wednesday 21st December 2016

20  WEEKLY COMMENT

Peter Lidstone

Tunbridge Wells councillor

Volunteers are the people that help make Tunbridge Wells such a special place SIX months in, the two questions I hear most often as a Councillor are what is the biggest challenge of the role, and am I enjoying it?

The answer to the first question is straightforward: time. On top of daily communication with residents, there are an array of policies, procedures and reports to read in preparation for every meeting. I fully admire my colleagues who manage to raise a family at the same time.

My answer to the second question is mostly yes. The highlight of being a Councillor is not collecting the monthly allowance (as helpful as that is), but rather the feeling that you are working with people to achieve a common goal.

With Tory cuts in full flow, it seems to me that individuals will be increasingly asked to fill the void being left by Government. There are numerous community groups in Tunbridge Wells who already help to keep the ship afloat, volunteering their precious time, energy and

Wednesday 21st December 2016

resources to achieve something together that they could not alone.

Our Town Forum is full of enthusiastic characters willing to spend hours of their free time poring over and scrutinising Council plans, for little or no personal glory. I’ve found their input invaluable.

Another great example is the Friends of Calverley Grounds, who are volunteers with a vision for an adventure play area on the disused bowling green in Calverley Park. When told there was nothing in the Council coffers, they set about raising £225,000 themselves. The plans look fantastic, and when they get to their target we will all have a play area to be proud of in one of the town’s finest parks.

How do we keep people involved in their community in an increasingly individualistic society? This is a key question. One solution is to get out and be visible. The Lib Dems have run a stall in the centre of town most weekends since

The youngest member of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Peter Lidstone, aged 32, is a Liberal Democrat councillor and was the only candidate to successfully dislodge a Conservative opponent at the last local elections. With a full-time job as part of the charity Build Africa, the former law student of the University of the West of England is also fluent in French. His interest in politics came after attending a conference on the subject at Christian Aid about why Christians should get involved

COMMUNITY SPIRIT The Wells Angels WI attracted 300 members to their inaugural meeting last September

September, collecting signatures for our glass recycling petition. Many stop to support us, some stop to shout at us over tuition fees, but the key is to be out meeting with and listening to people.

In a digital age, we are seeing a move back towards traditional community. Look no further than the popularity of our local W.I. for evidence of this trend. Attendance in our churches may

be waning, but I believe this is due a reversal as people long to belong to something bigger than themselves. It’s where I learned to relate to and respect my elders, and those who see the world differently to me. And it provides a wonderful sense of perspective when the workload threatens to take over.

Wishing you all a merry and peaceful Christmas

22  THE PANTILES NEWS IN ASSOCIATION WITH: Targetfollow Group Ltd and The Pantiles Traders Association

PANTILESNews

The

Hug-Many family party set to pull in New Year crowd

P

LANS are being finalised for the town’s biggest ‘street party’ of the year – Hug-Many on The Pantiles.

Some 2,000 people are expected to see in the New Year with a bagpiper and fireworks at midnight. Music will come from the Blues Brothers Little Brother, Joking Apart, singer Charlotte Bartholomew and DJ Simon Padley.

Last year, two charities – ellenor, for families facing terminal illness, and The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre shared the profit

from the event after costs were paid. Each received £4,000.

“This is the third time Hug-Many has taken place and it just gets better and better,” said Pickering co-founder Polly Taylor. “It has become a real family event with people of all ages out enjoying themselves.”

The evening starts around 7pm on Saturday December 31, and people attending are encouraged to make donations of £10 a head to cover costs.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Blues Brothers Little Brother with New Year’s revellers

Wednesday 21st December 2016

PICTURES: David Bartholomew

‘This will be the third time Hug-Many has taken place and it just gets better and better’

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

Divine inspiration

Your chance to own a former bishop’s home

bracketts

est. 1828

Wednesday 21st December 2016

26  PROPERTY SECTION

BISHOPS LODGE FOREST ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£2,080,000

Substantial detached family home with spacious interior in a prime location

Wednesday 21st December 2016

PROPERTY SECTION �

27

FACT FILE n Reception hall n Drawing room n Family room n Conservatory n Sitting room n Study n Kitchen/ dining/ family room n 2 cloakrooms n 5 bedrooms n 3 bathrooms/ shower room n Gas fired central heating n Garage n Workshop and garden store n Heated swimming pool n Garden n About 0.38 acres

£2,080,000 For sale through Hamptons 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

‘Significantly extended and refurbished, the accommodation is light, spacious and flexible’

Wednesday 21st December 2016

28  PROPERTY SECTION FACT FILE

CROSS LANE COTTAGE

■ Entrance hall

TICEHURST

■ Inner hallway

■ Drawing room

£850,000 FREEHOLD

■ Sitting room ■ Cloakroom ■ Laundry room ■ Kitchen/ dining room ■ Principal bedroom ■ Dressing room ■ 3 further bedrooms ■ Paved terrace ■ Gravelled driveway and offroad parking ■ Garden laid to lawn ■ Flower bed surrounds ■ Walking distance of village

‘This cottage boasts a paved terrace, making this a perfect home for alfresco dining and entertaining’

■ 4.8 miles from Wadhurst Station

£850,000 FREEHOLD For sale through Country Property Group 01892 724488 www.countrypropertygroup.com

Newly refurbished contemporary cottage within walking distance of village

Wednesday 21st December 2016

30  PROPERTY SECTION DESIGN WITH THE TIMES

John Bullock

Architectural services

Having studied at Edinburgh College of Art and The Royal Academy of The Hague, John Bullock launched John Bullock Design in 2003. With offices in Tunbridge Wells High Street, John has won awards for his work and is committed to delivering the best outcomes for clients. www.johnbullockdesign.com

How to light up your family life with clever electrical upgrades Living in a large residence with outdated electrics, Karen and Gerald Draper are willing to consider a number of options to update the lighting throughout the house, but the job is feeling a little daunting…

YOUR QUESTION:

Dear Design with the Times, We recently moved into a spacious home in Tunbridge Wells with outdated lighting. We want to upgrade the whole house and don’t know where to start. It is a busy family home with lots of different needs so, ultimately, we are looking for help to know how to combine practical lighting, especially for the kitchen and work areas, with restful lighting for our family downtime.

The house has standard ceilings with no particular features. It does, however, have one or two picture windows that we would like to make more of, and also long, narrow hallways which need brightening up.

The conservatory has a roof lantern, which we don’t know how to light, and the sitting room has a heavily wooden-clad fireplace which does nothing to make it feel cosy. We do have a few pieces of artwork, which we would really like to set off, too, and we also hope we could include lighting for a few mature trees in the garden.

It all feels very daunting and we don’t know where to begin. Should we get an electrician to help us work out what we want, or could you offer design and lighting advice to help us realise the potential of our lovely home?

We are prepared to consider various lighting combinations and are open to energy-saving options, too.

Karen & Gerald Draper Tunbridge Wells OUR ANSWER:

Dear Karen and Gerald, Thank you for your letter. Lighting is so important to a design scheme, and especially at this time of the year when we have short days, and for a busy family – when everyone comes together in the evening – good lighting can be uplifting and soulful. Therefore, careful consideration needs to be given to create the best results for functioning and atmospheric spaces.

In the past few years, lighting technology has advanced quickly, and with the introduction of LEDs it is important to ensure the correct fittings are specified for the best colour rendition. It’s not difficult, but good guidance is required.

We asked our in-house lighting expert, Fiona Lee, to assess your requirements and offer advice: It is always so good to hear from someone who considers lighting will make a difference to the way they live. I agree it can be a daunting

Wednesday 21st December 2016

prospect, especially if you are changing a lot of your existing lighting, but for others, with an understanding of modifications available, making small changes are just as important and can make a really positive impact on the way you enjoy your home.

In answer to Karen and Gerald’s request for combinations of different lighting, my first advice is to consider what type of lighting is available and what they aim to do.

Invariably, joists will restrict the positioning, so these are even more important a choice if there is a particular spot you want to fill with light.

Another popular option is to use uplighters.

These can help to create drama in the narrow hallways as well as provide practical lighting.

Karen and Gerald’s picture windows could benefit from uplighters and, if you want to add interest to a room, they are great to use to light up arches or to wash light up walls.

Types of Lighting I would consider downlighters to be a very popular choice, as they are so versatile and relatively easy to install. There are, however, so many choices on the market, it can often be difficult to know where to begin.

My advice would be to choose a fitting for LED bulbs, and if you want a more atmospheric effect, to choose a fitting with a deeper recess.

This controls the flood of light and will produce a narrower pool of light.

They are such a versatile lights and can highlight features, flood light on to work areas and fill walkways. Adjustable downlighters are worth considering if you are not sure how you plan to use them or want to wash a wall with light.

‘The key things to be aware of are the colour temperature and consistency. The temperature refers to the amount of the white light… We recommend a warm white for domestic use’ Linear lighting has taken off in the past few years, and are strips of miniature bulbs that create a continuous light when used along linear surfaces. They work so well in kitchens, display shelving and bookcases, and can also be used to create gentle lighting with the use of dimmer switches. These would work particularly well along the inside edge of the large wooden fireplace in Karen and Gerald’s home to soften

the feature, as well as provide visual interest.

Spotlights are another great way of controlling the direction of light. They are particularly good on exposed beams and could work on the conservatory roof. Garden trees lit with spot or floodlights will create a great impact when entertaining in the garden, as well as creating a pleasing backdrop from within Karen and Gerald’s home at night.

More traditional lighting choices are equally important. Five amp circuits, where a number of table lamps can be turned on from one switch, are a great way of creating ambient lighting at the ‘flick of a switch’. Wall lights, high, low or for steps, are also very effective, especially in bathrooms, hallways and more formal areas, to combine elegance with practical lighting.

Energy Saving Since 2010, regulations have been introduced to ensure all new builds use at least to 75 per cent LED lights. The reason being they offer increased efficiency, a longer lifetime and little infra-red and UV emissions. It can be very confusing knowing what to select, especially after our long reliance on the trusted wattage bulb.

But it is very important, and invariably can

PROPERTY SECTION 

31

So, a great deal to consider, but the principles of good lighting are, to a degree, straightforward.

The key is to take a holistic approach to the design of a space, consider the room layout in its entirety, its function, the finishes, and where furniture and paintings will be located. Once this is defined, then the lighting scheme will bring the space together and create the soul of the room.

External lighting can also be essential, especially where there are large, undressed, glazed areas in a room which turn black and reflective from the inside at night time. By lighting external features, walls and trees, the blackness of the glazing is lifted and the view is extended into the garden and the landscape beyond.

At John Bullock Design, our lighting design service aims to ‘incorporate a variety of different lighting techniques that will enhance the properties features, create practical work spaces, and add warmth and ambience with an element of surprise’.

If you would like to find out more, please contact John Bullock Design 01892 525732.

If you have a question you’d like John Bullock to answer, please email it to: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Please mark the subject as: Design Team change the effect in a home without anything more to alter. The key things to be aware of are the colour temperature and consistency.

The temperature refers to the amount of the white light and are measured in kelvins. We recommend a warm white for domestic use, which can range from 2200k to 3200k [kelvin].

The other important fact to consider is the ‘consistency’. The components that make up this term are: Watts, the measure of energy; and lumen, a measure of light output and efficiency; and the relationship of the two. Essentially, the lower the watts and higher the lumens, the better efficiency is achieved. It all sounds very baffling,

but if you can grasp it, it is really worth taking a look at the lights and bulbs used in your home to see if you can invest in making changes to produce your desired effect – and with the added benefit of improving the energy efficiency in your home.”

Thank you, Fiona.

You can also write to us at: Design Team Times of Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge 16 Lonsdale Gardens Tunbridge Wells TN1 1NU

Wednesday 21st December 2016

PROPERTY SECTION 

35

POOK COTTAGE WADHURST REGION OF

£1,200,000

FACT FILE ■ Entrance porch ■ Dining room ■ Sitting room ■ Kitchen/ breakfast room ■ Utility room ■ Garden room ■ Master bedroom with en suite ■ Guest bedroom ■ Family bathroom ■ 2 further bedrooms ■ Off road parking ■ Gardens and paddock ■ In all approximately 5.3 acres Annexe: ■ Kitchen/ sitting room

Detached period property in rural paradise with additional annexe

■ Bedroom ■ Shower room

£1,200,000 For sale through Batcheller Monkhouse 01892 512020 www.batchellermonkhouse.com

Wednesday 21st December 2016

40  PROPERTY SECTION FACT FILE ■ Entrance hall ■ Sitting room with dining area ■ Garden room ■ Kitchen/ breakfast room ■ Utility room ■ 4 bedrooms ■ Bathroom ■ Shower room ■ Detached annexe ■ Oil fired central heating ■ Garaging ■ Gardens ■ Grounds of approximately 2.9 acres

£1,200,000 FREEHOLD For sale through Hamptons 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

‘The impressive sitting room with dining area is a delightful space with exposed beams and timbers and a brick surround inglenook’

Wednesday 21st December 2016

Room to roam in Grade II listed converted barn

PROPERTY SECTION �

41

ANGELS BARN WADHURST, EAST SUSSEX

£1,200,000 FREEHOLD

Wednesday 21st December 2016

44 n GARDENING

Plan ahead for bigger harvests

By Hannah Stephenson

C

REATING a vegetable patch, whether on a large piece of ground or within a smaller raised bed, can bring rich rewards if you plan carefully.

Growing compatible crops together is likely to reap better harvests, while not treading soil from one bed to another, and keeping your tools clean between use, will help keep soil healthy and reduce the likelihood of the spread of pests and diseases.

The idea behind crop rotation is that you avoid planting the same crop in the same bit of ground more than one year in four to stop root diseases building up, and to make the most of resources

‘Avoid planting the same crop in the same bit of ground more than one year in four to stop root diseases, and to make the most of resources such as manure’

Wednesday 21st December 2016

such as manure, which is needed for certain crops but not for others (like root crops).

Crops which can be grown together include legumes (peas and beans), including broad, French and runner beans; the onion family, including garlic, leeks, onions, shallots and spring onions; roots and tubers, including carrots, parsnips, beetroot, potatoes and tomatoes; and brassicas (the cabbage family), featuring Brussels sprouts, cabbages, Chinese greens, pak choi, radish, cauliflowers, swedes and turnips.

Green veg, which require regular watering, can be separated from less thirsty root crops. Lettuces are often grown with cabbage family crops as they need organic matter, nitrogen fertiliser and regular watering.

Perennial veg, such as rhubarb and asparagus, are best kept out of crop rotation beds.

Squeeze quick-growing crops of lettuce and other salad leaves wherever they will fit, using them as a catch crop between slower-growing types, such as winter brassicas.

By swapping the main groups of vegetables around in a regular order, you can make best use of the nutrients in the soil because separate crops need different amounts of nutrients.

If you’re starting a new plot, or creating raised vegetable beds, prepare the ground thoroughly, digging to break up compacted soil and weeding.

Then add bulky organic matter before the planting season starts. It may be better to do this in spring, using compost as a surface mulch.

If you have an existing vegetable plot, dig it over each winter, inverting lumps of soil to bury annual weeds, but leave the clods intact.

Frost and rain will break them down and leave a crumbly soil by spring.

On light, sandy soils, wait until spring before digging. Sandy soils may also need liming regularly to give them a neutral pH. If in doubt, buy a soil tester to test the pH of your soil.

The four-year rotation is a good technique which is easy to plan. Divide your plot into four separate sections if you have space, and then operate a four-year rotation on each

YEAR FOUR

YEAR ONE

On smaller vegetable plots, conventional crop rotation is not practical, so just aim not to grow the same crop on the same patch of ground any more often than you need to.

Separate the main crop groups as far as possible. Grow potatoes, onions and the cabbage family in a different area each year and fit other crops around them.

Keep a yearly plan as to what you have grown where and you won’t go far wrong.

Plot A – potatoes; Plot B – pea family; Plot C – cabbage family; Plot D – onions and roots.

YEAR TWO

Plot A – pea family; Plot B – cabbage family; Plot C – onions and roots; Plot D – potatoes

YEAR THREE

Plot A – cabbage family; Plot B – onions and roots; Plot C – potatoes; Plot D – pea family

Plot A – onions and roots; Plot B – potatoes; Plot C – pea family; Plot D – cabbage family

GARDENING n

45

A cactus is for Christmas What to do this week…

BEST OF THE BUNCH – Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) These low-maintenance houseplants come into their own in the festive season when their vibrant pink, red and purple flowers burst into bloom on long, arching, succulent stems. Buy them in bud and place them on a windowsill, or somewhere light but not with direct sunlight. They like humidity, so place them on a moist, gravel-filled saucer and keep them at a minimum temperature of 12.7°C (55°F) and water regularly. If you want them to come back when they have finished flowering, they need a resting period from January to March when you should put them in a cooler room and reduce watering. Their growing season is April to September, when you need to increase watering and move them to a warmer spot, maintaining a temperature of 18-20°C (65-69°F) if possible. You can put them outside in a shady spot in summer, but they will need a second resting period from mid-September, keeping them dryish and cool until the flower buds form.

n Order or buy seeds of plants

n Keep Christmas hyacinths

that need to be sown during mid and late winter to ensure they get the long growing season they need n Plant brightly coloured winter stems such as dogwood, willow and rubus, to give your garden a boost n Prune winter-flowering shrubs over three years old after they flower

cool or the leaves will grow quickly and obscure the scented flowers n Remove mummified fruit from apple trees, but don’t add them to your compost bin or they could spread disease n Continue to plant bare-root hedging n Harvest winter brassicas, including Brussels sprouts

and sprouting broccoli n Continue with winter digging if the soil isn’t too hard, but stay off clay soil until the weather is dry n If your acer needs pruning, do it now while it is dormant to stop the wounds bleeding sap and weakening the plant n Take hardwood cuttings of willow, buddleia and dogwood to increase your stock

upturned dustbin in mid-January or early February.

When you see long stems with pale yellow leaves appearing, pull as many as you want until the end of March, uncovering the plant to allow it to grow naturally, and taking just a small crop of stems for the rest of the season.

EASY TO GROW YOUR OWN – Rhubarb After paying an extortionate price for rhubarb at my greengrocers (£3.80 for three stems), I think it’s about time we all started growing our own, given that rhubarb is one of the easiest vegetables to grow. This long-lived perennial needs little attention and can also look spectacular in a herbaceous border, with its huge leaves and bright-red leaf stalks. Grow it in a sunny spot in moist but not waterlogged soil. Plant dormant crowns in late autumn or early spring in richly manured soil, allowing 90cm (3ft) between plants.

Remove any flowering stems which develop in summer – these are the strong, upright ones growing through the centre of the plant – cutting them out as close to the base as you can. When the foliage dies down in autumn, remove the dead leaves, sprinkle fertiliser around the plants and mulch generously. For early stems, force rhubarb by covering a well-established crown with an GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT – Harvesting celeriac Celeriac is a hugely flavoursome root veg which can be combined with potato and garlic for a delicious mash, or grated into salads to add a fresh flavour. When the stem base has swelled to around 10cm in diameter, it should be ready for harvesting. The leaves should be cut off the root and can be added to stocks and soups. Once you’ve dug it up, trim off the fibrous roots and clean off excess soil, then dry it in a cool, frostfree place before storing it in dry sand. You can leave celeriac in the ground over winter, but beware that the slugs might get to it first. You can also freeze it by cubing and blanching it.

Wednesday 21st December 2016

52 n FOOD AND DRINK

The recipe for a perfect Christmas family feast Using great, fresh ingredients and employing a little planning will give you plenty of time to enjoy a delicious feast with your family and friends. Here, Tunbridge Wells Farmers’ Markets Manager Bruce McMichael shows you how to have a stress-free festive lunch

F

ARMERS’ markets and farm shops are fun places to visit at any time of year, and particularly at Christmas, when carol singers, fairly lights and mulled wine make it an extra special occasion.

Many of us will have ordered turkeys from artisan butchers, farmers’ markets or farm shops and will be collecting them anytime now. Such planning is essential for a successful Christmas Day, and to reduce stress levels, remember to write a menu, shopping list and schedule for the big day.

One of the biggest decisions is whether to have turkey with all the trimmings or a goose or ham.

Many people claim turkey is a boring meat, plain tasting and dry. However, with a little care and attention, it can become a showstopper.

If you’re using a frozen turkey, it will need hours to defrost. If you keep it in the fridge, it will take 3-4 days for a 12-16lb bird to defrost, for example.

Placed in a bowl and covered with cold water, you’ll need approximately 30 minutes per lb for thawing – and make sure you change the water every hour or so.

On Christmas Day morning, trim the sprouts, dry them and store in food bags in the fridge. Peel carrots and parsnips, cut the smaller ones in half lengthways and the larger ones into quarters, and store them in a bowl of water to prevent them browning. These are great dotted with butter with a shake of caraway or fennel seeds to add extra interest.

Peel the potatoes and cut into large chunks

Wednesday 21st December 2016

ready for roasting, then cover with cold water to keep fresh.

To make the stuffing, try blitzing some onion, bread, sage, garlic and butter in a food processor before shaping the mixture into balls. Then cook at 220°C for 20 minutes until golden brown.

Finally, turn the oven down to 170°C to cook them through for around ten minutes, but check on their progress after five minutes or so.

The trick to cooking turkey well, and retaining the natural succulence, is to roast it on a high temperature before cooking long and low.

Leaving roasted meats and birds to rest for a minimum of 20 minutes before carving will also help to retain the juices, delivering a rich, delicious flavour. If cooking a full turkey, stuffing the cavity will also increase the flavour and stop it from drying out.

To make the gravy, start by finely dicing some carrots, onions and celery. Heat your roasting juices and pan scraping on a medium heat, add the diced vegetables and any herbs you like and wait until the vegetables caramelise.

Adding a generous splash of red wine before reducing the mixture gives the gravy a greater depth of flavour, as will whisking in a knob of butter at the final stage.

Finally, plate-up and get some little helpers to serve your Christmas feast on a sparkling table and take pleasure in your food.

Check kfma.org.uk/marketcalendar to find your local farmers’ market

HOME-CURED GRAVADLAX Kick-start the celebrations with a traditional, home-cured salmon gravadlax. It takes minutes to prepare and promises to impress. Serves 4

What you need: 200g fillet of salmon 2 tbsp salt 1 tbsp sugar 1 tsp mustard seeds 2 tbsp dill, chopped, plus sprigs to garnish 2 tbsp Dijon mustard 2 tsp vinegar 300ml sunflower oil 1 shallot, finely chopped 4 slices of brioche

What you do: In a bowl, make the marinade using the salt, sugar, mustard seeds and one tablespoon of chopped fresh dill, then add the salmon to the marinade.

Cover and marinate for 20 minutes at room temperature Then rinse and dry with a paper towel.

Cut the salmon slices to 4 x 1 cm in size.

For the sauce, mix the mustard and vinegar in a bowl, then gradually add the oil to make a thick emulsion.

Add the shallots and one tablespoon of chopped fresh dill and mix gently.

Serve on a slice of brioche with the sauce on top, and finish by decorating with a few sprigs of dill.

FOOD AND DRINK �

Images and recipes courtesy of Seafood Norway & Belle France. www.bellefrance.com

Here we offer some recipes, which add a twist on a popular starter dish, a traditional turkey and a dessert with a difference

BÛCHE DE NOËL For the butter cream 70g caster sugar 50ml water 3 egg yolks 30ml water 240g Unsalted butter, 30g Dark Rum 200g Candied chestnuts,

ROAST TURKEY WITH CHESTNUT STUFFING What you need: Stuffing 150ml Madeira or white wine 20g pack dried porcini mushrooms 2 onions, halved and sliced 25g butter, plus extra 15g pack thyme, use the leaves and reserve the stalks 2 x 454g packs Cumberland sausages, skins removed 200g pack whole cooked chestnut Zest 1 lemon (halve and reserve the rest to use for the turkey) 15g pack flat-leaf parsley, chopped 85g fresh breadcrumbs 10 rashers streaky bacon Turkey 1 onion, quartered 4½ -5.6kg/10-12lb bronze turkey, giblets removed (to use in stock) 85g soft butter 1 whole nutmeg 10 rashers streaky bacon 125ml glass Madeira or white wine Watercress sprigs, to garnish

Adding a rustic, nutty chestnut stuffing to your turkey will really make it the star of your Christmas meal. For a vegetarian option, why not make a chestnut and mushroom stuffing?

What you do: First, make the stuffing. Pour the Madeira or wine into a bowl, then crumble in the mushrooms. Fry the onions in the butter for 10 mins until golden. Cool, then mix with the thyme leaves, the mushrooms and their soaking liquid, and all remaining ingredients, apart from 8 of the chestnuts and the bacon. Season well.

Set aside half of the stuffing. Line a greased 500g loaf tin with bacon. Pack the rest of the stuffing into the tin, then bring the rashers round over the top and secure in place with cocktail sticks. Use the reserved chestnuts to fill the spaces where the bacon meets. Chill until ready to cook. This will keep in the fridge uncooked for 2 days or can be frozen for up to a month.

Prepare the turkey. The night before, put the onion quarters, reserved lemon halves and thyme sprigs in the cavity between the legs. Pack the reserved

stuffing into the neck end. Secure the neck skin with skewers and tie the legs together. Weigh the turkey. Calculate the cooking time at 40 mins per kilo, plus 20 mins.

Put a large sheet of extra-wide foil in a large roasting tin and put the turkey on top. Smear the breast with the butter then grate over half of the nutmeg and season well. Cover with bacon, then pour over the glass of Madeira or wine. Seal the foil well to make a parcel. Chill overnight.

The next day, roast it on a high temperature for approximately 15 minutes at 190°C before cooking long and low.

As stated, leaving roasted meats and birds to rest for a minimum of 20 minutes before carving will also help to retain the juices, delivering a rich, delicious flavour.

The latest advice from the British Turkey Information Service is that if the turkey is over 4kg, calculate 20 mins per kg + 90 mins. If the bird is under 4kg, calculate 20 mins per kg + 70 mins.

53

For the sponge biscuit (Genoise) 4 egg whites 60g caster sugar 4 egg yolks 60g plain flour 15g unsalted butter, melted

What you do: For the sponge biscuit Pre-heat oven to 180˚C. In a mixing machine on full speed, whip egg whites, gradually adding the sugar until they reach soft peaks. Reduce speed to medium and whisk in yolks.

Remove bowl and sieve in half the flour then with spatula gently into whipped egg whites. Repeat for remaining flour, trying to keep as much air as possible in mixture.

Pour in the melted butter and mix.

Line pastry tray with silicone paper, place a little of the mixture under each corner of the paper to secure it to tray, and pour in the mixture.

Using a small palette knife, spread to 1cm thickness. Cook in preheated oven for 10 minutes until a light golden colour is reached and it springs back to the touch.

Remove from oven and leave on a wire rack to cool.

For the butter cream In a small saucepan, bring sugar and 50ml of water to 121˚C. Using a whisking machine, whisk yolks and 30ml of water for 5 minutes on full speed until light and aerated.

Turn down to a medium speed and pour sugar syrup halfway down on side of bowl. Make sure it’s away

For the soaking syrup 40g caster sugar 40ml water 25ml dark rum

from whisk or it will spray syrup around bowl rather than on to egg yolks. This syrup will partially cook the yolks, giving you a silky, stable sabayon. Reduce speed to medium and run machine for 3 minutes to allow mixture to cool to around 25˚C. On a slow speed, add rum then gradually add soft butter. Whisk on full speed for 3 minutes to generate a little more lightness and volume.

Add some chopped chestnuts.

Save a third for filling bûche and the rest for decoration.

To build the bûche In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to boil, take off heat and add the rum. Using a pastry brush, evenly soak the sponge.

Place sponge upside down on a clean tea towel and peel away greaseproof paper. Spread one third of butter cream over sponge, then roll it into a tight roll 30cm long; start by folding over top edge towards you by about 1cm then use this to roll log up, making sure it’s tight all way through.

Wrap log and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Unwrap bûche and place on serving dish or cake board.

Trim each end for straight sides.

Evenly spread remaining butter cream all over and using a fork, mark cream to give the impression of a log. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

To serve Dust with a little cocoa powder, Slice end off bûche and place on top so you can see inside to give a sawn-off log effect. Garnish with a few chocolate flakes and whole sweetened chestnuts.

Wednesday 21st December 2016

56  ADVERTISING FEATURE

A new brand for looking forward

Having been established in the area for over 300 years, Buss Murton have become central to the legal community. Now, in 2016, the established firm has a new image for the future. Hannah Patterson sits down with Managing Partner Andrew Linton to find out what you can expect from their new brand…

Tell us briefly about Buss Murton’s origins…

Buss Murton Law traces its origins back to an Attorney at Law who opened a practice in Cranbrook in 1713, which was subsequently acquired by Charles Murton. He gave his name to the firm along with Thomas Buss, who set up practice in Tunbridge Wells in 1888.

Buss Murton became a Limited Liability Partnership [LLP] on April 1, 2003. We acquired the Dartford office in 2003, and then expanded further in 2014 with the acquisition of Elaine McGloin Solicitors in East Grinstead, bringing the total number of offices to four and the current number of staff to 75.

Andrew Linton Managing Partner

Wednesday 21st December 2016

As a Managing Partner, what does your role cover?

My role covers all facets of running the business, from strategic thinking and marketing through to building professional relationships. All of this is geared towards providing the best possible legal advice to our clients. At the same time, I ensure that the business is run in a professional and compliant manner and that our staff are rewarded properly and have opportunities for personal and professional development.

Was law always something you were interested in?

How did you get to where you are today?

Having completed a history degree, and thinking that I wanted to become a teacher,

‘There is always a thread connecting the past to the present to the future. The firm is committed to ensuring that the high quality of legal services that we have delivered for over 300 years will continue and improve’

I spent a year travelling and then decided against teaching. Law was something that I wanted to do.

In 1993, I managed to secure five months’ work experience with Buss Murton, then went to law college, where I completed the Common Professional Examination in 1994, and then the Legal Practice Course in 1995. I then returned to Buss Murton as a trainee solicitor.

I qualified in 1997 and undertook mainly matrimonial and civil litigation work before moving into employment at the turn of the millennium. I have continued to provide employment advice to employers and employees ever since.

The development of my understanding

of employer and employee relationships was something that I found both fascinating and challenging, and led me to want to develop my career in a management role as well as continue to provide legal advice. I became Head of Department in 2003 and Partner in November 2006. I have spent a lot of my management time developing the firm’s HR standards together with the Lexcel and Investors in People programmes.

You’ve recently undergone a rebranding. What prompted this?

I came here as a trainee in 1995, so it has been 21 years now. Within that time, the management structure has really

BUSS MURTON PARTNERS (L-R) Andrew Linton, Alex Lee, Alex Smith, Helen Batt, Melanie den Brinker, Edward Walter and Daldeep Jaswal

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

changed, prompting a need to modernise and find an image that best reflected our staff and values.

Although we are proud of our firm’s past, our focus is very much on the future and our branding needed to reflect this.

The services we offer are not confined to a particular demographic. It is important that our image is inclusive and appealing to all kinds of clients.

Essentially, the rebrand came about because of the need to look forwards and meet a wider and more digitally adept audience.

What other changes have you implemented for the future?

On the June 1, 2016, we changed our status to an Alternative Business Structure [ABS], allowing non-solicitors and professionals without a legal background to become partners in the business.

We wanted the flexibility to offer staff the opportunity to progress through the firm and at the same

time secure our succession for the future. To this end, we have just appointed a non-lawyer with a background in IT and finance as a Partner within the firm. In addition, the new structure provides the business with the flexibility to consider strategic opportunities as they arise which otherwise would not have been available to us.

Buss Murton have been established in Kent for a very long time. Tell us about your relationship with the community here As a firm that has been around for over 300 years, we have deep-rooted connections to the communities in which we operate. This is one of our key strengths, and it is one of the things that we will keep on developing further. Our relationships with the local community allow us to better understand local issues, thereby enabling us to provide bespoke advice to our clients.

We continue to have strong ties with schools, charities, cultural and sporting organisations.

You specialise in a wide range of legal matters, relating to both individuals and businesses.

What’s the secret to providing high-quality services and advice across the spectrum?

Delivering results for our clients.

We want each and every client to know that we will listen to their instruction, understand their requirements and offer tailored advice that specifically meets their needs. Our job is also to manage expectations and be transparent with regards to time and cost. It is also important to be honest about the likely outcome in each case.

We feel that we need to be able to offer a full range of legal services to individuals. We are able to meet clients’ needs in most areas of the law – whether in relation to running their business or as individuals.

We will always refer them to other trusted professionals when necessary.

In a service business such as ours, our most valuable asset is our staff.

We place huge importance on supporting, developing and rewarding our employees. Having the best lawyers and support staff is key to delivering the best service to our clients.

As a business, it is also important for us to be flexible enough to provide advice in areas where opportunities present themselves through economic circumstances or changes in the law; we are an evolving practice.

‘If we remain approachable and speak a language that people understand, then there will be opportunities for continued development in the future’ This year has been a turbulent one for both national and international politics. In what ways, if at all, has this affected your practice?

We are aware that this year has created the potential for considerable change and a degree of uncertainty. It would be foolish not to continue to monitor developments and the potential impact on our own business, our clients and on the wider community.

The work will continue to flow in, providing our standard of service remains high. If we remain approachable and speak a language that people understand, then there will be opportunities for continued development in the future. As a firm, it is important for us to be able to adapt once the impact becomes apparent.

THE HEART OF TOWN Outside Buss Murton’s offices in Wellington Gate

57

Tunbridge Wells Office Buss Murton Law LLP Wellington Gate 7-9 Church Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1HT

What are the key challenges facing law practices today, in your opinion?

To maintain a high quality of advice whilst at the same time being in a more consumerist society generally.

We know that information is abundantly available on the internet, but solicitors offer peace of mind. You really get what you pay for and we trust that people understand that.

Traditionally, when I first started here, senior solicitors would have clients from different generations of one family.

You very rarely changed solicitor then.

Now, because of the internet and greater access to information, clients can change solicitor a lot more easily. This has only reinforced our determination and focus on forming personal relationships with our clients. I believe that is the key to success in a modern law practice.

Looking towards the future, what can we expect to see from Buss Murton?

There is always a thread connecting the past to the present to the future. The firm is committed to ensuring that the high quality of legal services we have delivered for over 300 years will continue and improve.

You can expect to see more connections between our services, whether in a personal or business capacity. We will also be investing in technology so that clients can access our services in the way that works best for them.

Locally, we expect to see continued growth in the number of owner-managed businesses and the legal services that they require. We also expect to see growth in the volume of personal work that we undertake for individuals across the communities which we serve.

www.bussmurton.co.uk info@bussmurton.co.uk 01892 510 222

Wednesday 21st December 2016

58  ADVERTISING FEATURE

A mix of art and science

No.6 Clinic has been a must-visit for a while, but this year has seen a huge revamp of the brand and the future is looking bright. Director Samantha Clarke tells us all we need to know about the new hot-spot for all your aesthetic needs…

THE EXPERTS (L-R) Samantha Clarke, Ellie Beach, Bethany Jones and Josie McKeon

Tell us a little about the history of No.6 Clinic and its ethos…

I’ve been working as an aesthetic nurse since 2001. My journey to No.6 began in Harley Street before moving on to clinics in Brighton and Tunbridge Wells. In 2006, I decided to take the plunge by renting a room at a medical practice – that’s where it all began. Since then I’ve moved three times.

This year I decided to separate our services by moving all the advanced skin treatments, beauty and retail into St John’s Road, as it’s becoming quite a little hub for independents and, with the great parking, it seemed like a natural move.

Dr Gilani and I still have the No.6 Clinic in Clayfield Mews and that is purely a medical aesthetic practice.

You’ve recently won the Muddy Stilettos Award for Best Beauty Salon – what’s the secret of your success?

I’m a trained nurse, so caring has always been central to my ethos. I genuinely care about people and want to make a difference to their day or week.

I think providing a space for my clients where they can enjoy some true ‘me’ time is a big contributor to why so many keep coming back.

Ensuring that they trust you and feel looked after is just as important. We are providing the highest quality treatments by experienced, caring and friendly staff.

You’ve also recently revamped your premises. What prompted this?

We did it so we are better able to provide the advanced treatments and the variety of products that we offer.

All the brands we use are result-driven, but we also design our own signature facials to ensure it’s a relaxing and therapeutic experience.

Wednesday 21st December 2016

The retail is also important as these products are in high demand and you can only buy them from an authorised clinic. Our products include Environ and Dermaquest, plus the full range of pure mineral make-up by Jane Iredale.

How have your services evolved over the past year?

We now employ eight team members and are open six days a week, including evenings. There is also an online booking service available to our customers. Our website is run by my husband, Matt Clarke, and is growing month by month. We are fortunate enough to have Skinceuticals available on there as of next month. When that happens, we will be the leading cosmeceutical brand website in the UK.

grow in popularity as it’s amazing for the skin.

It plumps, reforms and hydrates with no downtime. Our signature No.6 power facial combines a prescribed peel and light therapy for your skin type, this saves on cost to you plus increases and lengthens the results you see in your skin. It’s completely prescribed for your skin type, so there are huge variations in the peels that are available.

Tell us a little about your men’s range of treatments, and your decision to branch into men’s health?

The decision simply came from client demand.

Lots of my customers were booking for their partners. There were so many enquiries that it seemed ridiculous to not move in that direction.

We did a lot of research on male beauty and launched our male menu.

Which treatments and procedures do you find are particularly popular around this time of year?

Facials and eye treatments are exceptionally popular this season as the cold winter months begins to dry out the skin. Christmas is also a very busy, and sometimes stressful, period, so our brand new relaxing treatments are certainly going down a storm.

What trends are you anticipating in the New Year?

Jessica Phenom nail polish, without a doubt.

We’ve just starting doing the manicures and soon we will be stocking retail. The quality of the polish is fantastic – it nurtures nails and leaves a gel-like shine. It’s essentially a cross between gels and varnish. It lasts longer and there’s no need to soak the nails to remove the colour.

Skin peels are getting more and more advanced, gentle on the skin but more active.

The results really are spectacular.

LED and infra-red light will only continue to

LOOKING FINE The newly revamped No.6

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

59

‘We pride ourselves in being able to offer the most advanced skincare and treatments available, and tailor-make them all to the individual’

More information on this is available on our website.

BRIDGING THE GAP: Michael with his happy tenants PROFESSIONAL AESTHETICS Beauty is a work of art

Your website states that the No.6 Clinic is where art and science create beauty – tell us about the science of beauty We are a result driven clinic, so all of our products contain active ingredients such as AHA to exfoliate, vitamin C to fight damage and vitamin A to renew.

We pride ourselves in being able to offer the most advanced skincare and treatments available, and tailor-make them all to the individual.

We offer a new discover skin session, which is a free 30 minutes and includes a mini 10 facial to see the difference.

We’re passionate about skincare and the results speak for themselves.

The art side is the finishing touches, such as defining the eyebrows and make-up technique.

Describe No.6 in five words…

Caring, trustworthy, experienced, relaxing, pampering.

No.6 77a St John’s Rd, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9TT 01892 240120 www.no6clinic.co.uk info@no6clinic.co.uk Opening Times Monday 9.30am – 4pm Tuesday 9.30am –7pm, Wednesday 9.30am – 4pm, Thursday 9.30am – 8pm Friday 930-6pm Saturday 930-4pm

Wednesday 21st December 2016

60 � LIFE AND STYLE

DECK YOUR HALLS WITH ESTATE -GROWN MISTLETOE Enjoy a hassle-free Christmas shopping experience A relaxed yuletide shopping experience waits at Penshurst Place this festive season. This secret present inspiration ‘hot spot’ is filled with local Kent and Sussex produce, wreaths, Christmas trees, estate-grown mistletoe and an array of gift ideas.

THE SCI SEE OFF LONDON COMPETITION Tonbridge’s Strength & Conditioning Institute ranked second in South of England

Best of all, you can avoid the crowds and park for free. The Christmas shop is open daily and free to access from 10.30am to 4.30pm until December 24.

The Strength and Conditioning Institute [The SCI] bagged a trio of certificates at the National Fitness Awards in Leicester on Friday night, to add to their impressive award collection.

Decorated with reindeers and baubles, the shop is stacked with traditional gift ideas, from books, candles and scarves through to specialty food and drink, including Kentish wines, figs soaked in brandy and handmade sweets and preserves. Shoppers will also discover a selection of hampers with wine, beer or tea themes.

The Tonbridge business was named runner-up in the Regional Gym of the Year category, meaning the world-class facility is officially ranked the number two gym in the South of England – a huge region, which includes London. The gym was also named runner-up for the prestigious Customer Service Award, and took second place in the hotly-contested Gym Team of the Year category.

Afterwards, you can enjoy a well-earned break and seasonal fare in the adjoining Porcupine Pantry. With festive treats, the winter menu has warming drinks, such as salted caramel cappuccino and mint hot chocolate. To add to the Christmas mood, check out the winter art display in the Pantry, where Crowborough Arts has decked the walls with canvases many of which are for sale and can be collected just before Christmas – making an ideal gift.

The awards, organised by Script Events and leading industry publication Workout, are now in their seventh year and recognise excellence and achievement in all aspects of the fitness industry across the country.

The SCI went through a rigorous assessment process, which involved being visited by a member of the Workout team, who explored the facility, chatted to members and staff and examined all areas of the business from member retention to customer service. Reports were then passed on to an expert judging panel, which decided the winners in each category from a shortlist of six finalists.

www.penshurstplace.com

JEWELLERY THAT’S A PRODUCT OF EXPERIENCE Visit Gabriella Fine Jewellery and Watches this Christmas. The Chapel Place store has over 100 years of experience in the jewellery trade with 35 of these coming from Sales Director, Matt Delves. Matt has worked with Richard for over 23 years starting in the Tonbridge store then moving with the business to Croydon, Bromley and eventually to Burrells Tunbridge Wells until that business was sold in 2014. Matt says “I’ve had a passion for jewellery from a young age and have always enjoyed working with Richard and we’ve seen some changes in the industry during the last 23 years. Personally, I think what we offer here at Gabriella is unrivalled. We focus on the customer experience and share our knowledge and expertise to ensure the customer gets exactly what they want.” Matt works closely with Gabby (Operations Director) who manages the day to day running of the store and Richard Burrell (MD), who remains a very active part of the business and gives advice and guidance drawing on his 52 years in the trade.

Gabriella Fine Jewellery and Watches is open until Christmas Eve and have something for all budgets and tastes – so why not come in and say hello to the team?

9 Chapel Place Royal Tunbridge Wells 01892 579906 www.gabriellajewellery.co.uk Wednesday 21st December 2016

The independent panel of judges said: “A gym that can move to new premises and not lose a single member in the process must be doing pretty much everything right.”

National Workout editor Christina Eccles, who was part of the team which carried out site visits to the shortlisted gyms, said: “We were really impressed with the standard of entries we received this year and all of our finalists should be very proud. To be named runner-up in three categories is a great achievement, so congratulations to all at The Strength and Conditioning Institute.”

SCI Director and Head Coach Alex Shoebridge said: “There are hundreds of gyms in our county alone, thousands across the South of England, and that number only climbs when you factor in London. So to be ranked in second place in this massive category is absolutely amazing news. We are incredibly proud to see The SCI reach these heights on a national scale, especially as we are still a relatively young business.”

SCI fellow Director and Head Coach Martin Shyvers said: “We pride ourselves on the professionalism and passion of our coaches, and the friendly atmosphere at The SCI. To see both of these aspects recognised with certificates in the nationwide Gym Team of the Year and Customer Service categories affirms that our approach is spot-on, and that we are realising our mission of being No Ordinary Gym.”

www.thesci.co

PUZZLES �

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU 7

8

9

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

N

10

11

23

24

Z

12

13

25

26

6

12

20 5

13

15 15

15 18

8

9

N

23

4

25

2

12

8

16 20

10

13

15

13

16

26

13

13

6

16

12

15

12

14

15

13

8

19

6

20 24

3

12

25 13

8

15

5

13 8

8

9

N

12

20

12

21

21

15

22

8

12

15

8

11

24

13

1

N

12

16

N

12

6

6

12

6

9

9 13

13

15

15

15

8

6

13

17

9 13

12

N

21

19

15

13

13

9

25

8

Z

17

N

24 17

8

12

15 8

12 17

5 10

7 13

12

13

13

2 7 3 5

5

9 2 5 1

15 8

12

6

Numbers are substituted for letters in the crossword grid. Above the grid is the key with two letters solved. Try to complete the first few words to give you more letters, or look for a frequent number that might reveal a common letter. As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

5 7 4 4 9 7

9 2 3 4

Codeword:

1 7

6

COM B I N L A R I N S T A L M A Q B E I J I N E D S WA G R W U E V E N S S E T A S O P R U U I P A P U A

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

24

26 4

5

3 9 1 5 2 6

3

A B C D E F G H I J K L MNO P Q R S T U VWX Y Z 24

1

7

6 6 9 3 9 1

1

3 5

8

2 2

9

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

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

Puzzle solutions will be published in next week’s paper

Sudoku:

1 9 4 8 6 2 7 3 5

7 8 3 5 9 1 6 4 2

5 6 2 4 7 3 9 1 8

E

A C H E S S A P L K N I L D A E R A G N I F T Y O C U E D Z E A L P X U N V E I L S N O N A T R I P P E D U L C S WE E T L Y Jigsaw Sudoku:

3 4 5 6 2 7 1 8 9

9 7 6 1 3 8 2 5 4

2 1 8 9 5 4 3 7 6

4 3 7 2 8 9 5 6 1

6 2 1 7 4 5 8 9 3

8 5 9 3 1 6 4 2 7

7 8 5 1 9 3 6 4 2

3 9 6 2 1 4 5 7 8

1 5 4 8 6 7 2 9 3

9 3 8 6 4 2 7 5 1

2 7 9 4 3 8 1 6 5

4 1 3 7 5 6 8 2 9

5 6 7 9 2 1 3 8 4

8 2 1 5 7 9 4 3 6

6 4 2 3 8 5 9 1 7

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

6

★★★★

5

DIFFICULTY RATING:

4

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

3

★★II

2

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

1

SOLUTIONS (FROM LAST WEEK)

DIFFICULTY RATING:

CODEWORD

61

Wednesday 21st December 2016

62 n MOTORING NEWS

Wednesday 21st December 2016

MOTORING NEWS ■

Aston brings its rare DB4 GTs back to life ASTON MARTIN is to build a special series of 25 ‘continuation’ DB4 GT lightweights according to the original blueprints.

The 25 vehicles will be powered by a 3.7-litre straight-six engine that sends its 340bhp output to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox.

The original GTs were launched in 1959 to offer a shorter, lighter and more aerodynamic version of the DB4, and just 75 were produced. A mere eight were built as lightweight racer variants.

Production will recommence in the third quarter of 2017, and the 25 extra vehicles will have in-sequence chassis numbers, carrying on from the final car ordered – 0202R. They won’t be road-legal, but Aston Martin has done a deal with race tracks across the world which will allow the owners to drive the cars on track.

It’s said the continuation models will have improved performance, handling, braking and safety without affecting the original’s character.

State-of-the-art digital scanning technology will be used to stay as true to the original as possible.

Aston Martin says the vehicles will be offered to enthusiasts, although there’s no official word on how much they will cost.

63

Audi unveils a new fuel-conscious car AUDI has announced a fuel-efficient addition to the TT range – the TT TDI. Powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine, the new model offers an involving drive without the drawbacks that come with a large petrol unit.

Producing 180bhp, and available in coupé or roadster layouts, it also comes with the dependability offered by Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The engine is sent to the road via a sixspeed S-tronic twin-clutch transmission.

Despite being able to reach 62mph in 6.7 seconds, the TT TDI returns a combined economy figure of 54.3mpg. The roadster’s figure drops slightly to 52.3mpg. Emissions figures are

DIESEL DELIGHT Audi’s new TT TDI

137g/km CO2 for the former, and 142g/km CO2 in the latter.

A dynamic handling system is included as standard, allowing drivers to select from a range of Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Efficiency and Individual modes to change the driving style of the TT. This affects elements of the allwheel-drive system, as well as throttle response and steering assistance levels.

The new car sits alongside the other Quattro TT models, in the form of the TT 2.0 TFSI and the TTS models. Although prices are yet to be announced, order books for the TT TDI open in early 2017 with first deliveries starting in spring.

Nissan restore their wrecked rally star A HEAVILY corroded wreck from the 1987 ParisDakar rally has been fully restored to its former glory, and was recently returned to the Saharan desert to celebrate its off-road prowess.

The Nissan Patrol Fanta Limon Paris-Dakar took victory in 1987’s diesel category, as well as becoming the first diesel car to finish in the overall top ten of gruelling 13,000km (8,077 miles) rally.

Pedro Diaz, Manager of the electrical and electronics engineering team at NTCE, and the only member of the original 1987 team still at Nissan, said: “That was a proud moment. Our brains, hearts and souls have gone into this project and it has not been easy. But to see the car in the desert again was just fantastic.”

Car 211 entered a private collection for almost 30 years, until it was spotted on the internet in 2014

by NTCE technicians, who requested its return.

Juan Villegas, NTCE technician and part of the restoration team, said: “The engine was in terrible condition. It was impossible to start and many parts were heavily corroded. The front axle was quite damaged, but the worst thing was the electrics, which had been badly attacked by rats.”

The restoration team worked tirelessly to return the car back to racing strength, finishing last month.

Wednesday 21st December 2016

64 n RECRUITMENT

WITH THE

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

“

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

After just one day of the newspaper being out, our recruitment advert had received a great response from potential candidates; three of which we had at interview stage.

We will certainly use the Times of Tunbridge Wells for future recruitment adverts.

“

John Haynes, Partner, Belvoir Tunbridge Wells

Fill your vacancy now in print or online.

For more information contact Jordanne Reville on 01892 576049

Wednesday 21st December 2016

RECRUITMENT â–

65

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

NOT REALLY FITTING IN? To book a recruitment advert please contact us on 01892 576 049 jreville@markerstudy.com Wednesday 21st December 2016

66 ■ ARTS & CULTURE

Somewhere over the rainbow there is a wizard pantomime to enjoy…

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the EM Forster Theatre to see a seasonal version of The Wizard of Oz, which runs until Christmas Eve afternoon. Actor-producer Tom Swift, who plays the Scarecrow, tells us all about it THE FAMOUS FIVE Tom Swift (centre) with his friends from Oz

(hopefully) raise the roof once more.

LITTLE MUNCHKINS Colourful cast members

How many people are in your cast?

There are 13 professional cast members and 18 local performers in each show.

How long have you been rehearsing the pantomime?

We started rehearsing in November with the local ensemble, and then we were joined by the professional cast in early December. It’s been full steam ahead since then!

Will there be a ‘Wicked’ little twist added to your interpretation of this celluloid classic?

This is a fresh, rewritten pantomime version of the original story, so audiences can expect lots of hilarious comedy throughout.

I can reveal that we also have some human flying in the production, and also some other excellent special effects…

What made you choose The Wizard of Oz as the Wicked Productions pantomime this year?

It’s a classic story that is so well loved. It has so many wonderful characters within it, and works well in a pantomime format.

Why do you think it has stood the test of time and is still loved after all these years?

The classic 1939 MGM film was beautifully produced and has a certain charm to it. People have grown up with the film and know the story,

and that’s why hits like Wicked in the West End are still running.

You used to always perform your shows in Southborough’s Royal Victoria Hall Theatre.

Do you miss it since it was closed in the light of plans for a new community hub ?

Well, we are sticking with the classic audience interaction that our fans from Royal Victoria Hall will recognise. We’re even bringing back the classic end of show song sheet that will

What do you like most about performing for children and younger audiences?

Wicked Productions pride themselves on delivering comedy for the whole family.

I always think that you can’t beat the feedback from parents who say we have had their children in stitches throughout each one of our pantomimes that we’ve put on.

Has everyone in the cast and crew collaborated before?

The creative team responsible for putting on the pantomime have all worked together before, but

most of the cast are fresh-faced and new to the family. It really is a funny show.

The Wizard of Oz is being performed at the EM Forster Theatre until Saturday [December 24]. On most days there will be two performances of the show, with an additional morning showing on some others.

For timings and tickets, which are priced from £14.50 for adults and £12.50 for children, please visit www.boxoffice. tonbridge-school. co.uk/tickets

How Christmas came early for one local artist Tunbridge Wells illustrator Emily Richards has been commissioned by Waitrose to produce the artwork for their festive artisan mugs for the second year in a row. Eileen Leahy finds out more

A BIRD IN HAND Emily proudly displays one of her mug designs

WHEN it comes to gaining success and good sales, having your work featured in a high-profile Christmas advertising campaign pretty much does the trick.

Emily Richards, an illustrator from Tunbridge Wells, would certainly agree with this, as for the past two years she has been commissioned by Waitrose to create bespoke drawings of animals for the high-end supermarket chain’s charming, artisan-style Christmas mugs.

“The collaboration with Waitrose came about after my third year university exhibition at New Designers in Islington, London, in 2014,” Emily explains.

“The exhibition was sponsored

Wednesday 21st December 2016

by John Lewis, which Waitrose is part of, and showcased the work of over 1,000 graduate and professional designers and illustrators. A buyer from the company gave me one of their ‘We Love’ awards and said they were interested in my work.”

This led to Emily meeting the creative design team at John Lewis, where she discovered they wanted her to work on a creative collaborative project.

A year later, she saw her Christmas animal illustrations adorned on Waitrose’s popular limited edition festive mugs.

Emily, who trained for three years at the University for the Creative Arts in Maidstone and gained a BA Honours degree in illustration, now works as a graphic designer in Tunbridge Wells, and fits in her freelance work when she can.

Why does she think Waitrose saw something special in her work?

“I think my ability to capture the character of a subject is what makes my drawings unique,” she says. “I enjoy working with a free-flow mindset and allow the pen to take its own path when I draw. This would explain why my style of illustration isn’t ultra-realistic.”

Yet the fact that Emily’s designs are not truly lifelike is what makes them so alluring.

Citing artists such as Quentin Blake and Emma Dibben as her inspiration, Emily’s first designs for Waitrose were of chickens and sparrows, and this year she has created a special Christmas robin and reindeer, which are priced £6 and available to buy in store and online.

“I do hope my collaboration with Waitrose leads to more work,” she says.

“I am pleased to have done my second Christmas commission with them, but who knows what the future holds?”

FESTIVE FEATURES A selection of Emily’s designs for Waitrose

WHAT’S ON SPECIAL 

67

How to celebrate this New Year’s Eve in style Thinking of going out on December 31? Then let the Times be your guide. In part one of our selection of the best things to see – or be seen at – we highlight the finest restaurants and family events... >> DINING DELIGHTS: Thackerays – To see in the New Year in style, book a table at one of the town’s finest restaurants.

Thackerays will be offering a tantalising menu, priced at £98 per person, which includes a sparkling aperitif on arrival as well as foie gras and lobster ravioli to feast on. For an extra £50 per person you can have your wine selected by the sommelier to perfectly partner each course.

that includes their special à la carte menu and a pianist to get diners in the party mood.

The Barn – This establishment’s New Year’s Eve comprises a five course dinner which includes a glass of champagne at midnight and a disco for £53 per person. They are happy to accommodate diners who want to be elsewhere when the clock strikes midnight by offering the menu for £29 for adults and £15 for children aged 13 and under.

Abergavenny Arms – At New Year why not escape to the country and celebrate at the newly refurbished Abergavenny Arms? This charming pub in Frant is putting on a luxury buffet priced at £25 a head and offering a glass of celebratory fizz at midnight. There will also be music to get everyone up and dancing and in the party mood.

High Rocks – Just a few minutes’ drive from Tunbridge Wells this country retreat is actually hosting two different New Year’s Eve celebrations. The first will be in Giuseppe’s restaurant, where guests can enjoy a five course meal and live music until 2am for £75 a head. Or you can dine in The Great Hall Barn for £59 per person. Musical entertainment will also be provided until 2am.

The Warren – One of Tunbridge Wells’ newest restaurants will be offering a laid-back evening

The Tunbridge Wells Retreat – The former Smart and Simple hotel will be serving an impressive seven course menu in its recently refurbished Al Portico restaurant. Diners can feast on Italian delicacies such as beef fillet carpaccio and fresh lobster before retiring to the bar, which will be open until 1am.

Graze – This Tonbridge eatery is offering an eight-course tasting menu with a complementary flute of fizz on arrival and live music at £60 a ticket. Located on the river Medway, it’s ideally situated if you want to get out and about easily and enjoy all the New Year celebrations.

Vittle and Swig – New Year’s Eve is going to be a relaxed affair here. Diners can expect a delicious mix of classic and contemporary dishes until 9pm. The bar will be open late to get customers into the party spirit.

>> FANTASTIC FAMILY FUN: Hug-many – This unique ‘street party’ event started two years ago and has been extremely popular ever since. This year 2,000 people are expected to descend on The Pantiles where a bagpiper will welcome in the New Year along with a fireworks display. Musical entertainment will be provided by Blues Brothers Little Brother and Charlotte Bartholomew to name a few. Kent Balloons are giving away free Hug-Many balloons to the first 500 children at the event. There will also be a large bath and bell at which children can throw change, make a wish and help raise money for ellenor and Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre.

For more information on this event, which suggests a donation on the night of £10 per adult, see page 22.

Groombridge Place – If you want to make the end of 2016 a really special treat for your children then make sure you head along to this stunning stately home between 10am and 4pm. There will be a team of professional circus performers providing entertainment including stilt walking, juggling, tight-rope walking and balloon modelling. There will also be stalls selling candy floss, popcorn and face painting sessions. After all that fun, you can enjoy a walk through the forest

and see the resident fallow deer. Ticket prices are £12.95 for adults and £8.95 for children. www.groombridgeplace.com Calverley Grounds Ice Rink – This popular seasonal addition to the town’s festive offering is a great way to spend a fun-filled few hours and what could be better than heading down there on New Year’s Eve for a hot chocolate and skate?

Cinderella – If you haven’t been along to see this fantastic production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic at Trinity Theatre then what are you waiting for? It’s a highly enjoyable, feelgood production with a superbly talented cast, fantastic sets and clever puppetry. Tickets cost from £19 for adults and £16.50 for children. www.trinitytheatre.net Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Pantomime is an absolute must at this time of year and if you want to see in the New Year in the funniest way then head along to the Assembly Hall and enjoy all the laughs to be had at this brilliant afternoon performance which stars the legendary Su Pollard as the Wicked Queen, Jamie Rickers as Muddles, Millie Booth as Snow White and Jamie Steen as Nursie. It’s fun for all the family, with the show starting at 1pm. Tickets cost from £23.50. www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Next week: The best bars and gala dinners for New Year’s Eve 2016

Wednesday 21st December 2016

68  WHAT’S ON SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON

Eileen Leahy

WITH THE

Local events

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

be performed from 7.30pm until 9.30pm. To book visit www.spahotel.co.uk Trinity Theatre is offering a seasonal antidote to a traditional pantomime courtesy of its production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

Running until January 2, it features a talented cast, mesmerising sets and a live orchestra. Tickets are priced at £20. To book, visit www.trinitytheatre.net

SCOTNEY IN THE SNOW Enjoy a pre-Christmas walk through the castle woodlands

>> SUNDAY HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

>> WEDNESDAY From today until Friday, at 11.30am and 1.30pm, there will be an opportunity to escape the madness of getting ready for Christmas by joining in a woodland wonder walk through the picturesque winter landscape of Scotney Castle.

Each walk will take approximately one hour and is sure to revive your senses and put a spring in your step once again. For further information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle You can get into the festive spirit of things by attending the St John’s Window Wonderland Awards Ceremony, which is on from 3pm until 5pm at Glazy Daisy. Tickets cost £10 per child, and as well as watching the prize-giving, little ones will have the opportunity to participate in plenty of fun activities and a quiz during the afternoon. To book your tickets, call Glazy Daisy on 01892 519 719.

That seasonal celluloid classic, White Christmas, is being screened at Trinity Theatre from 7pm this evening. Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, it’s a heartwarming World War II tale which sees a sister act putting on a festive musical with some soldiers in order to save their commander’s hotel business.

To book tickets visit www.trinitytheatre.net >> THURSDAY The Wizard of Oz is on until Christmas Eve afternoon at the EM Forster Theatre in Tonbridge.

Local actor and comedian Tom Swift plays the scatty Scarecrow, with Amanda Swift taking on the

role of the good witch Glinda. Read more about what you can expect when you see this pantomime on page 66.

Groombridge Place’s Christmas Elfxtravaganza happens every day in the lead-up to Christmas, from 10am to 4pm. Children will enjoy dropping in on the Elves’ Craft Workshop, where they’ll have the chance to decorate their very own gingerbread, or they can visit Santa in his grotto. There will also be a treasure hunt and an opportunity to write letters to Father Christmas. Ticket prices are £12.95 for adults and £8.95 for children. A family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) costs £39.95. See www.groombridgeplace.com for further details. >> FRIDAY Throughout the Christmas holidays, Hever Castle is celebrating the history of pantomime in its Once Upon a Castle exhibition. Visitors will have the opportunity to wander around Hever’s grand state rooms, which will be beautifully decorated and boast lots of interesting information on the history of panto. There will also be a snowy Christmas trail to follow, where the story of Jack and the Beanstalk will unfold with the help of fairy-tale characters and props. Santa will be present, with seasonal bites and gift shop delights also on offer. www.hevercastle.co.uk

>> SATURDAY From 6.30pm, The Spa Hotel will be hosting a three-course Christmas Eve dinner with live jazz music. Tickets HIS HOME IS HIS CASTLE cost £55 per person Father Christmas at Hever and include a drinks reception with mulled wine and canapés.

Diners can enjoy their festive feast anytime between 7pm and 8.30pm and the jazz will

Wednesday 21st December 2016

>> MONDAY Shake off the excesses of yesterday’s big feast by going for a bracing Boxing Day walk. There’s plenty of enjoyable routes to choose from in our area, but if you want to go on an organised jaunt and soak up some scenic seasonal countryside then why not join in the one happening at Bodiam Castle from 9.30am? Lasting two hours, it will take you around the beautiful grounds and also includes a private tour of the castle. Tickets are priced £15 and include a breakfast bap and hot drink afterwards in the Wharf tea room. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiam-castle Similar events will be taking place at other National Trust properties.

As it’s Boxing Day, what could be more traditional than going to see a pantomime? Snow White and

LET OFF STEAM Children will be chuffed with the Spa Valley Railway’s Mince Pie special

WE’RE DREAMING OF… A White Christmas

the Seven Dwarfs is on until January 2 at the Assembly Hall, and is already proving to be a big hit with audiences. Hi-de-Hi!’s Su Pollard heads up the comedy cast, playing the Wicked Witch who is determined to bump off Snow White as she claims her spot as ‘fairest of them all’. Oh no she doesn’t, oh yes she does… Tickets cost £18 and are available from www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk >> TUESDAY If you’ve been at home for the past few days, then dust off the cobwebs with an outing to the ice skating rink in Calverley Grounds. Ticket prices start at £10.50 for adults and £7 for children. To book visit www.tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com Every day until January 2 there will be a Mince Pie Special on the Spa Valley Railway. Children only pay £1 to travel on the diesel and steamended trains that chug up and down between Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge, where you’ll have the opportunity to see Santa’s sleigh just days after his busy gift-giving tour, and enjoy locally-made mince pies whilst on board. For more information visit www.spavalley railway.co.uk

WHAT’S ON 

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton

69

Marie White

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

Live music With the Christmas weekend virtually upon us, many venues traditionally put things on hold until after Boxing Day, however there is still plenty of live music to be enjoyed across the local scene.

Tonight [Wednesday], popular local three-piece The Standard Lamps headline The Forum with great support from the Bluetones’ Mark Morriss and local up-and-coming band The Crew. This is an excellent opportunity to see The Lamps in their home town before they head off on tour with The Who in the spring.

Another good option for tonight [Wednesday] is The Acoustic Reverb Collective Christmas

Showcase at The King William pub in Pembury.

Tomorrow [Thursday] at The Grey Lady, local singer-songwriter Marie White headlines and is supported by Kyla and Nat, Katy Virgoe and Holly Stanford.

The Forum hosts another stellar line-up on Friday evening, with The Soul Of Buddha show featuring Fat Stanley, Bombay Monkey and The Melting Pot. After Christmas, local group Blackadder will be at the Punch & Judy pub in Tonbridge on Tuesday night performing a rocking mix of popular covers from the 60s to the present day.

The Standard Lamps

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

THE ROYAL OAK

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

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

WEDNESDAY The Standard Lamps + The Crew + Mark Morriss THURSDAY Panoptic Xmas Party FRIDAY The Soul Of Buddha: Fat Stanley + Bombay Monkey + The Melting Pot

THE CROSS KEYS

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

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

WEDNESDAY Sonny’s Jazz MONDAY TWUNT: Ukulele Jam

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

WEDNESDAY Jimmy Harrison, Alana Hazzard, The Frampton Sisters, Emily Izen Row THURSDAY Holly Stanford, Katy Virgoe, Kyla and Nat, Marie White FRIDAY Over The Edge MONDAY The Paul Dunton Orchestra, Mark Morriss, Charley Blue, The Harry Whitty Quartet TUESDAY Annie Chew, Duke Lloyd, Tom Harvey

MONDAY Open Mic Night

KING WILLIAM IV

Pembury, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm onwards

WEDNESDAY TARC Christmas Showcase featuring 8 Car Attach, Andy Twyman, Darcie Mountnay and Dickie Ticker THE PUNCH & JUDY

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

TUESDAY Blackadder

Wednesday 21st December 2016

70  SPORTING TIMES

CONTACT US:

Akrofi storms in to steal points from talented hosts Dulwich

High-flying Ashford leave troubled hosts sinking in sea of fog

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Tonbridge Angels 2

Tunbridge Wells 0 Ashford United 5

FOOTBALL: FACING the league leaders Ashford United in difficult foggy conditions proved a challenge too far for a hard-working Tunbridge Wells side.

The Wells required a solid start against their table-topping visitors to stand a chance.

However, within six minutes Ashford had taken the lead in what would prove to be a frustrating afternoon for the home side.

‘The difference between the teams in the league table told its own story’ Even from that early moment it was difficult to see how an unsettled Tunbridge Wells team would pull themselves back into the fixture – and not simply because of the playing conditions.

Young Wells goalkeeper Steve Lawrence tried to keep the score down but by half-time it was already a much-deserved 3-0 scoreline in favour of Ashford.

In the second half, Tunbridge Wells supporters continued to sing despite the one-way traffic and their Ashford counterparts were also impressively vocal, contributing to a healthy 357 attendance.

Tunbridge Wells rarely threatened throughout while Ashford went on to add another two goals.

The thumping 5-0 win allowed the visitors to maintain their position

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Steve McKimm praised his team’s ‘smash and grab raid’ at Dulwich Hamlet in the Ryman Premier.

After a tentative start, in the eighth minute former Angel Nathan Green’s back pass to Dulwich keeper Preston Edwards was underhit – but Damian Scannell couldn’t quite take advantage.

The home defence failed to clear their lines properly from an Angels corner on 25 minutes. The attack was recycled with a chance falling to skipper Tom Parkinson, who made no mistake from eight yards out to put the visitors one up.

The goal stung the hosts into action and four minutes later Anthony Di Bernardo was forced into a block save to keep the visitors’ lead intact.

In terms of possession the rest of the half belonged to Dulwich but at the break they were still a goal down. It was to be expected that Hamlet would come out full of fight and they didn’t disappoint.

Tonbridge were having difficulty keeping the ball and in the 49th minute the almost inevitable equaliser arrived.

The Angels once again lost the ball in a dangerous area and Mitchell Nelson could only help the ball into his own net.

Buoyed by their goal, and with the large home crowd in good voice, Dulwich started to play the possession football that their talented squad are capable of. The Tonbridge defence had to work really

at the top of the Southern Counties East Football League.

But it left the home side languishing in the bottom third of the table with quite a task to pull free of the relegation zone.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Wells with a trip to the league’s form team, Crowborough, in their next fixture before hosting Sevenoaks Town on January 2 in an A21 derby.

Wells boss Jason Bourne said: “There was a great atmosphere around the ground, and the players from both sides looked to flourish from that.

“Ashford started very strongly and the difference between the teams in the league table told its own story.

“It was one-way traffic for the first hour, with our keeper Steve Lawrence pulling off numerous saves to keep the score down.

“The second half was much more even, with Jon Pilbeam hitting the post, and several chances wasted.

“Despite being much more of a contest in the second half, Ashford still always threatened, and more goals came their way. They were good value for their win.”

The manager added that his team face some tough fixtures over the next few weeks but he was optimistic about the squad’s prospects for 2017.

While Bourne felt his side are a match for most teams in the division, greater consistency is needed in order to boost their standing in what is a fiercely competitive league.

SHROUDED IN MYSTERY Wells fans struggle to follow the action amid the fog

LAST GASP Alex Akrofi (far left) heads home his late winner

PHOTO: David Couldridge

By Phill Allcorn

If you have a sports story or you would like to see your club’s reports and results featured in these pages…

hard to keep themselves in the game and with the arrival of Alex Akrofi and Tommy Whitnell from the bench, they were able to steady the ship.

On 66 minutes, Jack Parter crossed to Akrofi but he was unable to get any direction on the header. Six minutes later, Akrofi was fouled just outside the area but Luke Allen’s freekick went wide.

It looked like it was going to be a very difficult last 15 minutes for Tonbridge when former Dulwich player Scannell was sent off for a second bookable offence.

But the Angels appeared not to have read the script.

On 88 minutes Akrofi, whose pace clearly worried the

defence, drew a foul five yards from the edge of the box.

Wheeler’s delivery was perfect and Akrofi won the header, placing the ball past the keeper for the winning goal.

Manager McKimm said: “We defended against a very decent side who always play good football. Under the circumstances I would have been happy enough with a point, but sometimes in football events can work in your favour, and that’s what happened today.

“We’ve had two good chances and scored from them both, but we’ve suffered the same in reverse. Look at the recent Staines and Kingstonian home matches.”

Kent and Robinson show class as Tonbridge youth teams look strong Tonbridge U-13s 3 Larkfield U-13s 1 Maidstone U-16s 2 Tonbridge U-16s 2

PHOTO: Phill Allcorn

By Jim Rowe

Wednesday 21st December 2016

FOOTBALL: WITH Tonbridge Angels’ senior side recording positive results in the run-up to Christmas, the club’s youth teams have also been in strong form.

Earlier this month, the Under-13s boys took on a strong Larkfield team at Longmead Stadium and emerged as 3-1 winners.

The home side went behind early on but the equaliser

came after a half-volley pass saw Joe Tyrie racing through to hit a first-time shot on his left foot. The keeper made a great save but Chester Smith was on hand to side-foot the rebound into the net.

Angels’ Billy Kent headed home a second shortly afterwards from a Toby Lansdowne cross and then added a fine third before half-time, holding off two defenders and bending a shot into the right-hand corner.

The Angels Under-16s’

last match of the year at Maidstone turned out to be a close encounter that went to the wire.

Applying early pressure, the home side scored within 90 seconds thanks to a defensive miscue. Despite competing strongly, Angels found themselves 2-0 down before the break.

However, they responded positively and pulled a goal back through a penalty, which gave the team hope.

With just minutes to go,

Angels had a free-kick on the left, midway into Maidstone’s half, and Josh Fisher stepped up to take it.

His delivery was perfect and his low, out-swinging cross caused disarray in the defence. Harvey Robinson, captain and Angels’ top scorer, found the time to pick out the bottom corner and made it 2-2.

SPORTING TIMES 

…or on our website at www.timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk please email them to sport@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or sport@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

71

Galbraith-Lowe double keeps TJs top after close encounter Combe 8 Tonbridge Juddians 25

By Adam Hookway RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS emerged victorious from the fog at Combe in a closely contested top-of-the-table clash in National Three London & South-East.

Combe had inflicted TJs’ only defeat of the season back at The

DOWN THE LINE Tunbridge Wells Men’s 1st XI

Slade and were lying third in the table with TJs at the top.

Tonbridge took the lead through a Liam Prescott penalty and then extended it when George Lawson intercepted to race 80 metres and touch down, giving them a 10-point lead.

However, the home side began to control the ball. Tonbridge’s

HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS Men’s 1st XI will be hoping to carry their recent winning streak into the new year and overtake current leaders Maidstone, who sit one point above them.

After the disappointment of relegation from the South Premier League back into the regional set-up, an indifferent first half to last season was followed by a very strong second half, which saw Wells finish third in the league.

First place in this campaign

would ensure promotion, while second spot may offer another bite via a play-off. However, the complicated workings of the England Hockey League can mean that there is no playoff and therefore no second promotion place up for grabs – it all depends on the geographical location of clubs being relegated from higher leagues.

There was no play-off last season, so the one way that Wells can make things simple would be to overhaul Maidstone.

There are probably four or five sides in the league that could secure a top-two finish, so Wells

will not underestimate their challenge. But the first half of this season has certainly put them right in the mix.

With a small first-team squad, they will hope to avoid injuries to key players like player-coach Ben Allberry and skipper Callum Wood, which affected them in October and November.

There is also the mouthwatering prospect of a Kent Cup semi-final against Canterbury to come, where they will hope to gain revenge for a last-minute defeat at the same stage of the competition against the same opposition last season.

SWEET HANDS TJs celebrate

Mills speeds away to secure victory over rivals Sevenoaks

‘In the second half we bludgeoned them into submission with some strong possession’

OUT OF REACH Jack Jones goes on the charge for Tunbridge Wells

Sevenoaks 8 Tunbridge Wells 27

By Neill Barston

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

By Francis Bridgeman

PHOTO: David Couldridge

Wells look to avoid injury in bid to secure promotion

defence were on their guard but Combe’s big pack had a sniff of the line and added a converted try to a long-range penalty to level the scores. TJs closed the half with a second Prescott penalty to go in 13-10 ahead.

The home team’s forwards then started to exert pressure.

Two tries followed on the left but crucially only one was converted as the kicker hit the bar with a long-range effort. At 22-10 the home crowd smelt victory.

As the Combe pack tired, TJs upped the pace and spread the ball wide on the left wing.

Murray Galbraith-Lowe took advantage of some sweet TJ hands to crash over and get his side within striking distance.

A second yellow was awarded to one of Combe’s wingers as he high-tackled Galbraith-Lowe in the act of scoring. Again TJs looked fluent in attack and again Galbraith-Lowe clinched the vital score to take TJs to a 22-25 win.

It was another hard game for TJs, and one where their defence and team ethic again stood out.

Their energy levels and desire were impressive.

The win puts TJs into the Kent Cup final, where they will face either Blackheath or Sidcup.

RUGBY: THE Chairman of Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club hailed the key win at Sevenoaks as one of the team’s strongest displays of the season.

Graham Withers believed the performance placed the team in prime league position as they approach the second half of a promising campaign.

With the side now sitting just four points behind secondplaced Havant in the London One South table, Mr Withers felt the team had built up valuable momentum after enduring mixed fortunes last month.

He praised man of the match

Jake Mills for a standout display amid a convincing team performance that saw their local rivals decisively beaten.

Wells opened the scoring through Frank Reynolds, but Sevenoaks soon opened their account through Dan Phoenix.

But in the second half the visitors really started to take control of the game and by the 55th minute they were 20-8 up.

Then Mills picked up the ball and went on a long run to score a try and ensure the win.

Mr Withers said: “We’re very pleased with the result, as it was a tough game for us.”

“It would have been good to have got a bonus points win, but it was a hard game.”

Head Coach Matt Cook praised his team for ending a run of inconsistent displays, saying: “The team to put in a lot of hard work but they were rewarded. In the second half we bludgeoned them into submission with some strong possession for a well-deserved win.

“It leaves us in third place in the league and we are now set up well for our next games in January. If we can overcome Tottonians at home, then we will be in a very good position within the league.”

Coach Cook added that he is making good progress from an injury sustained earlier in the season, and hoped to be fit for selection in February.

Wednesday 21st December 2016