Times of Tunbridge Wells 22nd January 2020

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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Businessman at the centre of LCF scandal accused of inflating company accounts By Robert Forrester A BUSINESSMAN embroiled in the £237million collapse of Tunbridge Wells investment firm London Capital & Finance [LCF] has been accused of manipulating his firm’s accounts. Elten Barker from Hadlow Down in East Sussex was co-director of London Oil & Gas [LOG] alongside Simon Hume-Kendall – the former Tunbridge Wells Conservative Party chairman who original set up LCF. LOG fell into administration last year with just £800 in its bank account shortly after the demise of LCF.

SIGN OF THE TIMES Tunbridge Wells town centre ‘is not alone’ in feeling the pinch. See page 6 for more

Call for reforms as empty units cost town millions in lost rates By Richard Williams EMPTY retail and business units are costing Tunbridge Wells millions in lost business rates, new figures show. In the borough around £1.5million is lost on average each year due to empty business properties. When businesses close down or move elsewhere, a government backed relief scheme means owners do not have to pay any rates on the empty property for three months. In Tunbridge Wells, this means around 2.3 per cent of the £56million total potential business rate income collected by the Council is lost each year. The Council only gets to keep around 4 per cent of the money it collects in the tax, although it is permitted to keep 50 per cent of any growth in business rates – currently worth an additional 1 per cent – which the authority says is ‘vital’

for them to be able to invest in assets. It is a similar picture in Tonbridge where the amount of business rates lost to empty premises is around £2.8million a year, or 4.5 per cent of the expected £60million that should be collected. But the figures from the BBC show that the two town Kent towns are faring much

‘The Government must commit to moving forward with vital reforms ’ better than many others when it comes to lost income from closed businesses. In Croydon, the Council missed out on nearly £10million last year alone, or 6 per cent of the £150million it should have collected. Nationally, around £1billion is lost to local authorities out of the £25billion

they received for providing local services, which has sparked calls for central government, who set the tax, to begin ‘vital reforms’. Richard Watts, who chairs the Local Government Association’s Resources Board, said business rates were ‘an extremely importantsource of income’ for local authorities’. “The Government must commit to moving forward with vital reforms, which include addressing business rates avoidance and the impact of reliefs, such as empty premises relief,” he said. Businesses have also called for urgent reforms with the tax blamed for a number of closures in recent years. Cllr Tom Dawlings, the Cabinet member for Finance at the Council said: “Creating a good economic climate and attracting new business is the best means of helping the local authority’s financial position.”

Injunction Under the directorship of Mr Barker and Mr Hume-Kendall, LOG was a principal borrower of LCF funds, receiving more than £129million from the bond firm before both companies collapsed. The two men were among five arrested by the Serious Fraud Office last year in connection with LCF’s failure, which resulted in more than 11,500 people losing their investments, but nobody has yet been charged and all the men deny any wrongdoing. The administration of both firms is being overseen by Smith & Williamson, but Mr Barker and Mr Hume-Kendall have both refused to be interviewed. As reported last year, Mr HumeKendall recently sought an injunction to prevent administrators from reviewing certain confidential or privileged information connected to the case, but his court action failed. Mr Barker has now attempted to get

Continued on page 4

Don’t Leave Your Wealth to the Government Do you know the true cost of dying without a will? Are you one of the 60% of Britons who haven’t made a will? If so, you may end up leaving much of your wealth to the Government instead of your family. ACCORDING to unbiased.co.uk, 76% of people aged between 18-34 have no will in place. For those aged 35-54, 68% have no will. The over-55s are better prepared, with just 36% who haven’t made a will… but don’t leave it too long. Between 2016 and 2017, the Treasury gained a massive £19 million because so many people died without making a will. Don’t make the mistake of thinking wills are just for the rich. If you own a home, you’re worth more than you think: the average homeowner has more than £214,000 worth of property to leave to loved ones. Wouldn’t you rather that money went to people you choose, instead of being distributed by the Government?

Most of us would — so why do so many people take such a risk by not making a will? ■ Many people believe they’re not worth enough to bother. ■ Many think everything will automatically go to their partner or children when that’s not always the case. ■ And many people think it’s too expensive. But dying without a will — even if you’re not rich — can cause real problems and heartache for the loved ones you leave behind. Dying Intestate May Mean Your Loved Ones Miss Out If you die without a will — which is called “dying intestate” — the Government decides who gets what from your wealth, referred to as an estate. Your spouse or civil partner is first in line, but won’t necessarily receive everything. Next in the queue are children or grandchildren, parents, siblings or their children, half-siblings or their children, grandparents, uncles and aunts or

their children and, finally, half-uncles and aunts or their children. If your estate is worth more than £250,000 and you have children, your spouse will probably receive the first £250,000 as well as all your personal possessions. They’ll also receive 50% of what’s left — with the other half passing to your children. If you have no relatives, your estate passes to the Crown or the Duchies of Cornwall or Lancaster. These rules are known as the laws of intestacy. So, as you can see, if you die without making a will it’s entirely possible some (or all) of your wealth could go to people you don’t know very well — or at all. Friends, carers, and charities would miss out on your generosity. Will Your Partner Automatically Inherit? Some time ago, an unmarried couple who had been together for more than 30 years came into our law firm. They didn’t have children but were shocked to discover that if one of them died their assets wouldn’t go to the other partner. They had thought the “common law wife” concept would protect them. No such concept exists in UK law. Because each person owned everything in their individual names all assets would have passed to their respective families. And because the property they lived in was solely in the man’s name things would have been particularly difficult if he died first. Under the intestacy rules his estranged brother would have inherited the house — and they had no idea where he was. The partner wouldn’t have received any part of the property. She would have had to make a claim against the estate. This couple only needed simple wills — but what a difference they make. Now they’re both protected. Don’t Pay More Inheritance Tax Than You Need To Generally, any estate worth up to £325,000 is free of inheritance tax. For any assets over and above that threshold, estates can be taxed at 40%. You may not think

your estate is worth that much, but when you combine property, vehicles, and other assets it all adds up. If your estate is larger, you’ll definitely want to think about inheritance tax: a specialist solicitor will be able to write your will in such a way that you minimise the amount of tax due, leaving more money for your loved ones. In fact, they may be able to save your beneficiaries many times the solicitor’s fees. How To Save Headaches And Heartaches Dying without a will can cost your loved ones thousands of pounds in wasted administration costs, and lead to bitter family arguments. Professionals will have to locate family members who may be scattered far and wide, as well as gather any investments you may have in various places. When you make a will, you can take care of all that — and appoint the appropriate relatives or friends as guardians to take care of your children after you’re gone. You can be sure your funeral wishes are fulfilled and make sure people you trust will take care of administering your estate. In short, making a will takes away any guesswork and reduces the risk of any disputes. You can ensure your family and friends don’t have to deal with difficult administrative affairs while they’re grieving for you. Book A Free Consultation Today Whether you think you need a will or not, it won’t cost you anything except a little time to come and talk to one of our experienced Private Client solicitors in an initial consultation. You can come to our offices and ask us anything – and we’ll help you work out what’s best for you.

For further information and to apply for a FREE CONSULTATION call us on 01892 526442 or email us at enquiries@keenemarsland.co.uk today quoting reference KM0120

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If you’re facing the end of a relationship, do it with your eyes wide open and register for your complimentary copy of The Good Divorce Guide: Facing Reality When Your World Is Turned Upside Down. The end of a relationship can feel like the end of the world. But you don’t have to face it alone. This book, by family law experts, will guide you through the legalities of divorce and financial settlements and help you make informed decisions about your future. Discover how to deal with the practicalities of the family home, dividing the family finances, maintenance, dealing with your business assets, your children and much more… To order your complimentary copy, email your name and postal address to: tgdg@parfittcresswell.com Alternatively, The Good Divorce Guide is available to purchase in paperback at Waterstones book store or Amazon in paperback and Kindle edition.

Why separation and divorce can be a civilised affair If you are experiencing the anxiety and loss of a relationship ending and suffering sleepless nights worrying about the future, you are not alone. ALMOST 50% of all marriages end in divorce and for many, it can be the most traumatic 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 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 cope financially and what you’ll tell the kids. The truth is there is no easy way out. 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 proactive and take the lead and put a stop to the fighting, anger and hurt. Divorce and separation is a life changing event and mistakes can be costly both emotionally and financially and you must be prepared to invest to secure your future. To take control you need information and advice from an experienced and trusted advisor, which will allow you to make informed decisions about your future. Our dedicated team at Keene Marsland is hand picked for their experience working with people who are going through a relationship breakdown. They are all members of Resolution, which means that they have the legal experience required to give you the best advice, and are committed to solving your problem in a conciliatory way if possible – saving you the emotional drain of the legal court battle and the legal fees that go with it. They understand the emotional pressure

and stress you are going through and they can help ease the pain. We work closely with leading family barristers and other specialists and together we will work with you to achieve the best outcome possible for you to move on with your life. Our service is confidential, discreet and bespoke to you. For a limited period, I am offering a

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your emotional and financial future so apply today to see how we can help you achieve the outcome you want. For further information, and to apply for a FREE CONSULTATION, call us at Keene Marsland on 01892 526442 or email us at enquiries@keenemarsland.co.uk today quoting reference KM2020

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this week…

LAWYER ON LEASEHOLDS: Mark Steggles warns landlords that changes to the law could be costly p10

LCF businessman Continued from front page

FAILED Calverley Square was dropped last October after years in the planning

More to be spent on Calverley Square following audit calls By Richard Williams

HOME FROM HOME: New Hospice in the Weald cottage unveiled at Five Ashes p12 IN FINE TUNE: Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra perform gala concert bill p39

GOING FOR GOLD: Talented ten-year-old Eilidh Paterson wins prestigious fencing medal p54

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 576037 CHIEF REPORTER RICHARD WILLIAMS richardwilliams@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 240626 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES ENQUIRIES RSinger@markerstudy.com | 01892 739763 FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews

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Wednesday January 22 | 2020

THE failed theatre and civic centre scheme that has already cost taxpayers nearly £11million is set to cost even more, as councillors demand an external audit to find out what went wrong. Last week, councillors rejected proposals by the Council to commission a review into the £108million Calverley Square scheme by Mid Kent Audit Services – the shared independent body that reviews projects for Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Swale councils. A group of cross-party councillors have instead insisted that an external audit is commissioned to scrutinise the costs of the failed project and claim ‘millions’ more had been spent than the Council has claimed Calverley Square, which was officially closed at last week’s Finance and Governance Cabinet Advisory Board, has already cost taxpayers £10,627,960. In addition, nearly £3million has been earmarked in April’s budget for repairs to a number of buildings that were expected to be sold after the new civic centre development and theatre were built and are now in urgent need of repair. Now more money could be spent on an external audit to scrutinise the project that could take six months to complete, but which opposition councillors say it is necessary to find out what the ‘real cost’ of the failed project was. Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, Cllr Ben Chapelard, says he disputes the Council’s £10.6million figure and claims ‘millions’ more was spent than has been reported. He told the Times: “The Conservative-run

council will only admit to costs of £10.8million. We believe there are millions missing from this figure. “Therefore, to know the true cost, the audit must be conducted by a competent body wholly independent of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Residents – who are paying for this failed project – deserve to know the real cost to the taxpayer.” But Cabinet member Cllr David Scott dismissed such claims as ‘nonsense’ and blamed the Liberal Democrats for the wasted money after they changed their mind about the project once it was underway.

Scrutiny He said: “The way to waste lots of public money is to always change your mind at the last moment. That’s what the Liberals have done to this town. Whatever we do next, even if it is simply to maintain the existing buildings, could potentially cost more.” He continued: “A financial audit will tell us nothing. We know exactly what was spent and where every penny went. Calverley Square has been subject to a raft of scrutiny from a Grant Thornton audit to the CPO inquiry. “We know what went wrong. What we need to review is how the Council makes decisions in the future and avoids having the rug pulled out from a project at the eleventh hour. “All council decisions, no matter who makes them, take time to come to fruition. The problem is a decision made by a council at one point in time is then overturned a number of years later, and you end up wasting money.”

administrators removed from the case by claiming that his company’s administration had been unnecessary because the business owned shares in a company called Independent Oil & Gas. But during a High Court judgement last week, Judge Jones found that Mr Barker had ‘overvalued’ the shares in LOG’s books by nearly three times their actual worth. He said: “The evidence leads to the conclusion that the balance sheet is unreliable because assets have been over-valued.” He added that Mr Barker’s valuation appeared to be based on a share price of 59.05p, but the administrators found the highest share price for Independent Oil & Gas in 2019 was just 21.75p. Judge Jones concluded that LOG had a total deficit of some £80.7million, mostly owed to LCF. Finbarr O’Connell, partner at Smith & Williamson, which last year discovered that LCF transferred £1.5million to Mr Barker just before it collapsed, said: “Mr Barker had no legitimate interest in bringing his application to have the LOG Administrators removed from office. “His intention was to avoid having to cooperate with the administrators and not to attend an interview with them. The court has now made clear that he must cooperate with the administration and that he must attend such an interview very soon. “Mr Barker’s application failed, as have recent legal applications by Mr Barker’s co-director Simon Hume-Kendall.” He added that the adminstrators would be seeking to recoup LCF and LOG’s costs, estimated to be around £500,000. Mr Barker was unavailable to comment. ELTEN BARKER OF HADLOW DOWN

Administration throws department store’s future into doubt By Andy Tong THE future of Beales department store in Tonbridge was thrown into doubt when the retail chain went into administration on Monday [January 20]. The group, which operates 23 stores nationwide, said the move was necessary as it ‘continues to acclimatise to the ever-changing landscape and challenges of the retail market’. It had warned that administration was likely if a buyer could not be found and added: “Investment is sought to deliver a sustainable business model for the future.” Accountants KPMG will oversee the process. The Tonbridge store, based at the Angel Centre in the High Street, will continue to trade and staff will be kept on during the process – the company employs around 1,050 people. Beales, which has been in existence since 1881 and is based in Bournemouth, has been in Tonbridge since 2002, when it took over Bentalls - who previously occupied the premises. “With the impact of high rents and rates exacerbated by disappointing trading over the Christmas period, and extensive discussions around additional investment proving unsuccessful, there were no other available options but to place the company into administration,” said Will Wright of KPMG. Beales had already held talks with landlords

over rent reductions, through a Company Voluntary Arrangement. Chief executive Tony Brown has criticised local councils for failing to help High Street retailers. He told the BBC: “At the moment, in my view councils really don’t care. “They get their business rates, whether we’re there or not, because the landlord pays if the store closes. We’ve only managed to get one council to help us out - on a temporary basis. “Landlords - not all of them but predominantly most of them - have been helpful and they see a long term. “But in a number of our stores, I pay three or four times more business rates than I do rent.

Now that can’t be right.” He added: “The sheer weight of the additional costs that are piled upon us - if you take the pension increases, you take rates, you take changes in the way we can apply for lending there is a co-ordinated effort, or what feels like it, to make it as difficult as possible [to be in retail].” Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s Leader, Nicolas Heslop, said: “It is regrettable that Beales has gone into administration and the news will mean a particularly anxious time for the staff at the Tonbridge store.” He added: “While we can offer discretionary rate reliefs in certain circumstances, these are generally only available for smaller businesses.”

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

NEWS IN BRIEF

Town to remember the Holocaust 75 years on A SERVICE will take place on Monday to commemorate the Holocaust. This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day takes place 75 years after the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 27, 1945. The Mayor, Cllr James Scholes, is expected to lay a wreath at the War Memorial in Tunbridge Wells at 11am while the Royal British Legion are expected to make a short address.

Barnsgate liquidation WEDDING and events venue Barnsgate Manor has collapsed into liquidation. The business in Herons Ghyll, near to Crowborough and Uckfield, announced the firm’s collapse on their Facebook page saying: “On January 17, 2020, Barnsgate Manor Vineyard Ltd has ceased trading and is in liquidation.” Customers with forthcoming weddings or events at the manor house have been urged to contact administrators Thomas D’Arcy and Chris Latos of White Maund Insolvency Practitioners who have been appointed as joint liquidators.

EE network disruption A PHONE mast fault has left customers of one of the largest mobile networks without a signal for more than a week. EE has apologised for the ‘reduced service’ which they blame on a ‘power outage’ with a transmitter on a roof in Lonsdale Gardens, Mount Pleasant. An EE spokeswoman said “Our engineers are working hard to restore power as quickly as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Puppetry festival event THE team behind Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival is bringing a new project to town with its first Puppets & Pastries session for the over 65s. The event takes place at Age UK in Wood Street, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, January 25 between 2-5pm. Linda Lewis, creative director for the Puppetry Festival that comes to the town every two years, said: “We want to keep the spirit alive in the local community and projects such as Puppets & Pastries enable us to do this.” For further information email linda@twpuppetryfestival.org

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Pub in the Park announces line-up By Holly Stafford THE celebrity chef behind one of Tunbridge Wells’ most popular summer events has announced some of the line-up for 2020. Pub in the Park returns to Dunorlan Park on July 10-12, and organiser Tom Kerridge has unveiled some of the Michelin-starred and local chefs and restaurants signed up for the festival. New this year joining Mr Kerridge’s Michelin starred The Hand & Flowers and The Coach eateries, will be Marcus Wareing’s Tredwells, Birmingham’s Michelin starred Purnell’s, Bristolbased Roots, The Mariners Public House from Rock, Sabor from Mayfair, Paul Foster’s Salt, The Star and Garter in Leamington Spa, and the Michelin starred The Olive Tree from Bath. Local favourites The Small Holding, The Kentish Hare, The Compasses Inn, Tim Allen Flitch of Bacon, The Churchill Arms, The Star Inn and The Half Moon Inn, are also set to return for 2020.

Indulge Also returning this year will be the popular Café Spice Namaste and Michel Roux Jr.’s The Wigmore. Mr Kerridge said at every event this year, which for 2020 includes two new locations – Chichester and Dulwich – there will be a celebration of ‘the very best food the country has to offer, combined with fantastic live music, chef demonstrations, top quality shopping and other festival fun.’ Last year’s Pub in the Park saw more than 15,000 foodie and music revellers descend on Dunorlan Park where Rick Astley, Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, Will Young and Basement Jaxx entertained the crowds. But the main event was the food, with more than 28,000 dishes on offer over the three-day festival,

PARTY IN THE PARK Foodie fans at Pub in the Park

including dishes served up by the Tanner brothers and Sankey’s, who joined Mr Kerridge’s own The Hand and Flowers pub team. Festival goers were able to indulge in a tipple with a range of Champagne, cocktails and beer on offer and sport fanatics were well catered for with many enjoying the cricket on Sunday afternoon which was beamed live on to screens

around the park. Mr Kerridge promised Pub in the Park 2020 would be just as good. He said: “Wow. Pub in the Park was an absolute blast. I’ve had a sneak peek at the line-up for 2020, and wow, it looks good – tasty food, more amazing chefs and awesome musicians all in your local park.”

Another town centre road to close for works By Richard Williams CAMDEN ROAD is set to close next month, just a matter of weeks after the last town centre street was dug up. South East Water says the four-day closure starting on February 15 is for ‘essential maintenance’ and for ‘safety of the public and workforce’ while works are underway. The works come after a number of closures in the town centre in recent weeks. Last year, Monson Road was blocked for a number of months due to the borough council’s public realm works, which sparked concern from a number of businesses in the area worried about

passing trade. Just as the road re-opened, gas company SGN closed Calverley Street in the run up to Christmas to replace metal piping, despite protests from the Council who said recent closure had put ‘traders on their knees’. The week-long disruption was reduced to four days following intervention by Greg Clark MP.

Diversion Now South East Water want to close Camden Road for four days blocking the popular thoroughfare to traffic and sending drivers on a long-winded diversion through Quarry Road,

Grosvenor Bridge, Upper Grosvenor Road, Meadow Road, Goods Station Road and Victoria Road. Regional Network Manager, Jenny Rhodes said the closure was necessary for ‘the safety of pedestrians, motorists and our contractor’. She added: “We always look to work collaboratively with other utilities at every given opportunity and we recognise the benefits this brings in reducing disruption to customers. On this occasion, we were not able to carry this work out at the same time as another utility. “I would like to reassure our customers we are working as quickly and as safely as we can to fully reopen the road and apologise to our customers for the inconvenience this has caused.”

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Wednesday January 22 | 2020

BBC documentary shows we ‘are not alone’ says RTW Forum chairperson By Richard Williams THE CHAIRMAN of the Town Forum says a BBC documentary exploring the decline of retail in Britain’s high streets shows Tunbridge Wells is not alone. Adrian Berendt said last week’s Panorama: How to save the High Street, highlighted that towns are now paying the price for adopting the same retail model during the 80s and 90s. “I think Panorama showed me that Tunbridge Wells is not alone in the issues that we face,” he explained.

Engagement “All towns adopted this same model of being shopping centres and that was a mistake. “Clearly what needs to happen is that we need things other than retail in our town centres, such as more leisure activities. Retail should be a part of it. If you take Tunbridge Wells, The Pantiles and the High Street are really thriving, it is the top of town where there are issues. “But the key thing for me is that a town centre should be about community and places for people to meet and engage with one another. It should not just be about buying stuff. We need a mix of services that encourage people to visit our town centre.” He says while he understands that is exactly what the Council were trying to do with their now failed Calverley Square scheme, he felt

CHAIR OF TOWN FORUM Adrian Berendt

HIGH STREET WOES Town centres all over Britain are looking to reshape

there was a lack of engagement with the project. He continued: “Having spoken to a lot of local people and businesses about Calverley Square, the big message coming back was a lack of consultation over the process. “People seemed to like many different aspects

‘The community really has to buy into any vision for Tunbridge Wells ’ of it, but just not all of it. The community really has to buy into any vision.” And while the documentary showed a number of different schemes various towns were trying up and down the country, Mr Berendt warned that Tunbridge Wells couldn’t simply borrow

Gritting goes high-tech as cold snap moves in By Robert Forrester GRITTERS were out in force last night after the Met Office issued a weather alert yesterday [Tuesday], but a new form of ‘smart technology’ is now being used to help them keep the county’s roads moving. A total of 120 high-tech temperature sensors have been installed by Kent County Council [KCC] as part of Kent SmartWinter, a project developed by the authority and services provider Amey. The Road Surface Temperature [RST] sensors collect real-time information to help monitor the roads and schedule gritting based on temperature differences. The sensors alert operators when temperatures fall below 3°C, meaning gritters can be directed

to those areas, rather than being deployed everywhere across the county.

Resources The technology has already saved KCC up to £15,000 on a single night. Carol Valentine, Winter Service Manager at KCC, said: “Finding ways to improve our Winter Service delivery is vital. By working in partnership with Amey the Kent SmartWinter project enables us to further optimise the roads it currently treats. “Targeting our gritters more accurately will improve the safety of our roads and benefit the people living, working and travelling through the county, and also help us save money.”

David Ogden, Business Director at Amey who provide the sensors, explained how they work: “This is the largest network of RST sensors in the UK, delivering real-time information to operational managers so they can direct their fleet of gritters and the 23,000 tonnes of salt they deliver each year more appropriately. “The technology ensures gritting only takes place in areas where it is needed, saving time, money and resources, which can only be good news for Kent’s road users. “It was very well received at the World Road Association, with organisations from across the globe interested in reviewing our success with a view to implementing the scheme across their own infrastructure networks.”

ideas from other towns. “All towns are different so they need to try different things. I think it really is about asking the community what they want their town centre to be. But now is the time to act because the pressure is mounting. Of course we mustn’t do anything that is too kneejerk, but we do need to get on with it. We need to hurry slowly, if I can coin the phrase.” He added that the BBC programme will be discussed at the next Town Forum meeting at the Town Hall on January 30. Panorama’s How to save the UK’s High Street is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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Police clampdown on town centre anti-social behaviour By Richard Williams POLICE issued a dispersal order in Tunbridge Wells last week following complaints from a number of local businesses and shoppers about anti-social behaviour in the town centre. The order, commonly used in larger towns and cities where there is traditionally higher levels of anti-social behaviour, was issued after a number of incidents by ‘groups of young people’ in the town. The incidents included criminal damage, abusive language and dangerous cycling in retail areas. The 48-hour order was put in place across the town centre from 4pm last Friday [January 17] and was lifted at 4pm on Sunday January 19. The move by Kent Police meant that any group of two or more people ‘found causing, or likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress’ could be dispersed by a uniformed police officer. Youths under 16 were also subject to a curfew over the weekend, as anybody not accompanied by an adult between 9pm and 6am, could be taken back to their home if officers deemed it appropriate.

Nuisance Inspector David Higham of Tunbridge Wells Community Safety Unit – a partnership of local organisations and Kent Police – said: “While we want young people to come to the town centre to meet friends and socialise, they must do so in a way that is responsible and considerate to others. “Unfortunately some people are choosing to behave in a manner that is a nuisance to visitors, businesses and residents.

HANG-OUT Fiveways is a popular gathering spot for youths

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PCC asks for ‘fair share’ of new officers for Kent KENT’S Police and Crime Commissioner met with the Home Secretary Priti Patel last week to ensure Kent gets its share of the Government’s proposed new officers. Boris Johnson’s government has promised 20,000 new officers for forces in England and Wales over the next three years. Mr Scott, who is running for re-election as PCC for the Conservative Party again in May, said: “There’ll be more than 500 more police officers in Kent by March, compared to when I was elected.

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“Our officers will regularly be patrolling the area covered by the order and will intervene where anyone is found to be misbehaving. “Failure to comply with an instruction given by an officer could also lead to an arrest being made.” A spokesman for Kent Police added dispersal orders, which are used more frequently in places such as Maidstone and Thanet, were the preferred choice of the force to ‘nip anti-social behaviour in the bud’. He also said that the order could be reintroduced if similar anti-social behaviour reoccurred in the future. This is not the first time a dispersal order has been issued in Tunbridge Wells.

The first time Kent Police used the legislation, which was introduced in Tony Blair’s AntiSocial Behaviour Act 2003, was also in the borough, when a dispersal order was issued after complaints of ‘juvenile nuisance’ in Pembury back in 2004. The Council has had the power to issue Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) in Tunbridge Wells since their use was approved by Full Council in April 2018. PSPOs can result in a fine for anti-social behaviour associated with rough sleeping, begging, public drinking of alcohol, and noise that causes an ‘unreasonable disturbance’. But to date the Council has not issued a PSPO.

“I was determined to get more boots on the ground to fight crime and be visible in our local neighbourhoods. Kent Police is not only delivering the increase in numbers that I have been driving, but is already training the first of the 20,000 extra officers promised by the Government. “I will continue to make the case for Kent’s share.” He added that by March 2023, the national programme to boost police numbers by 20,000 could see Kent’s 3,714 police officers joined by a further 440 new recruits. In a separate meeting with Policing Minister Kit Malthouse, Mr Scott said he asked if more could be done to provide support for unpaid Special Constables and police support staff in Kent. HOME OFFICE Matthew Scott [centre] Priti Patel and Kit Malthouse

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BUSINESS

Local News

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A seventh generation developer returns home to Tunbridge Wells By Richard Williams A PROPERTY developer has returned to work in Tunbridge Wells, seven generations after his family began operating in the area. London-based Penhurst Properties can trace its routes back to 1879, when the first John Elkington began a builder’s merchants in Tonbridge. Mr Elkington’s great, great, great grandson, who shares his name, started his own business more than 30 years ago in London, but has returned to the area to convert one of the buildings previously occupied by law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore.

Location “I was born in Tunbridge Wells, so it is very much home to us, but we have primarily been operating in London in the buy-to-let market up until now,” said John Elkington, Chief Executive of Penhurst Properties. “So it really is nice to be involved in a project back here.” The company, which 12 years ago also developed Riverside House, a business centre in River Lawn Road, Tonbridge – on the site of the original Elkington building firm – said it now plans to convert the £3million Lonsdale Gardens office complex in Tunbridge Wells into a similar development. “We are planning to turn the main building into 45-50 serviced offices, complete with an upstairs gym, and then around nine to 13 residential flats

at a later stage the development,” Mr Elkington confirmed. This is the second development being built on the site of the former Thomson Snell and Passmore buildings, with Billings Group already renovating Heathervale House next door, as well as the law firm’s former car park, which they plan to turn into office complex. “The big selling point is the location, and being right in the heart of Tunbridge Wells,” continued Mr Elkington. “We should be in a position to be able to begin letting office space around April or May. “We think there is a big shortage of office space in the town, so we believe there is going to be a good market for it.” To assist in the project, he has brought on board the next generation of John Elkingtons. His son, the seventh generation of the family to take the name John Elkington – although he goes by the name of ‘Jack’ – has been appointed a director on the project. “I started doing work experience for the family when I was 15 and 16, but the work has always interested me” said the 25 year old. “I enjoy the creative aspect of seeing properties complete. “I have been involved with the London business for some time, mainly in the residential side, but it is great to be a director of the business centre side in Tunbridge Wells as well.”

MY GENERATION John Elkington with son John ‘Jack’ Elkington

Town makes the list for electric vehicle ownership MORE people in Tunbridge Wells are switching to electric vehicles compared to most places across the UK. The town is among the top ten towns and cities across the country where electric vehicle ownership has grown the most. According to data requested by car-selling comparison website Motorway.co.uk, last year the town saw the eighth fastest percentage growth of electric vehicle car registrations in the UK. In 2018, only 17 electric were registered to car buyers in Tunbridge Wells. Last year, this number more than quadrupled with 73 electric vehicles registered in the town, a rise of 329.4 per cent. According to the figures, Birmingham has seen the fastest growth in electric car ownership of any town or city in the UK, with 2,132 vehicles registered last year – compared to just 340 in 2018 - five times the UK average. Unsurprisingly, London saw more new electric cars on the road of any UK town and city last year, with 3,308 DVLA registrations up to the end

of September 2019 - an increase of 95 per cent compared to 2018. Electric vehicles are a greener alternative to internal combustion engines, but a limited range and a lack of charging points means not all drivers are willing to buy all-electric models.

Green argument Alex Buttle, Director at Motorway.co.uk, said: “The government is under huge pressure to encourage switching to electric cars and these figures do suggest that car buying habits are changing, although not equally across the UK. “The green argument is a powerful one, and many of us would happily drive less polluting cars, but many people who rely on their vehicles every day are concerned about the number of available public and private electric charging points.” Tunbridge Wells has free-to-use charging points in both the Great Hall and Crescent Road car parks.

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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BUSINESS

Local News

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Landlords warned leasehold changes could prove costly

GAME ON! The illuminated main stage of a global computer games tournament in Russia

A TUNBRIDGE WELLS lawyer has warned that possible changes to leasehold arrangements could result in a dramatic fall in premiums payable from leaseholders to landlords. Earlier this month, The Law Commission of England and Wales published a report setting out options to reduce the cost that leaseholders have to pay to buy the freehold or extend the lease of their homes – known as ‘enfranchisement’.

Travel firm enters the e-sport market By Richard Williams A TUNBRIDGE WELLS tour operator has opened a new department to focus specifically on the growing e-sport travel market. CT Travel Group, based at the Orchard Business Centre in North Farm Road, have set up a specialist e-sports division to provide comprehensive and personable travel management to the e-sports industry, saving teams time, money and stress. E-sports are competitive video game tournaments where players can travel around the world to compete against other gamers. Professional e-sports players have been known to earn millions from tournaments, playing such well-known games as Fortnite, Call of Duty, Overwatch and HALO. CT Travel says that while sports teams have used travel management companies for many years, until now the industry has neglected to recognise the scale and popularity of e-sports and the intricacies of their travel requirements. Alan Margerison, a travel consultant at the company, and a former gamer himself, explained why

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

there has been a rapid rise in the e-sport market. He commented: “When I used to play competitively, there wasn’t such a thing as professional players. I understand with the massive amounts of money on the line, fans, lights, shout casters and millions watching now, that the amount of preparation required is huge.

Services “Because I still have a love for watching and playing games, I can see the real benefit that CT E-sports Travel Management can offer organisations and teams. “Not only can we save teams money on travel, we can also remove all the stress from the players and managers and let them focus on the game at hand.” He added that the e-sport division at CT Travel provides a complete suite of travel management services to e-sports organisations, handling every aspect of travel – from flights, hotels and visas to group travel and end-to-end event management, all with their personable, high-touch service.

‘The report sets out a path for making leasehold enfranchisement simpler’ Currently, when a homebuyer purchases a leasehold property, they do not possess it outright. Instead, they gain the right to occupy it for a set number of years. When a property is sold on, the number of years left is also sold, although leaseholders have the right to ask for an extension. However, landlords have been known to charge tens of thousands of pounds for this, due to something called ‘marriage value’, which can be added when a lease has fewer than 80 years left and can result in hefty payments from leaseholders to landlords. The new reforms not only have the potential to GOOD NEWS make the AND BAD NEWS process Mark Steggles easier

and more affordable for hundreds of leaseholders in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge who wish to buy their freehold or extend their lease, but also they do away with the marriage value, something that could be bad news for landlords, but good news for tenants. Mark Steggles, a Partner at the Tunbridge Wells-based law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore, explained: “The Law Commission’s report sets out a path for making leasehold enfranchisement simpler, more transparent and cheaper for leaseholders. “The report sets out three alternative options for a new regime for calculating the premiums payable to extend a lease or purchase a freehold, and a further seven sub-options in terms of items to consider when calculating the premiums for each regime.” But he warned: “The potential abolition of marriage value (the increase in value that occurs where a tenant acquires the freehold) is the proposed reform most likely to concern landlords, as it would decrease the value of the premiums payable by the tenants. “However, this proposed reform – together with the proposed introduction of prescribed rates for calculating premiums and a suggested route for capping the impact of ground rent escalators that are causing such controversy at the moment – are likely to be warmly received by leaseholders,” added the lawyer.

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Community News

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Hospice in the Weald growing and innovating after 40 years

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

to avoid going to hospital, and I supported that, but we were struggling. “Once we heard about Cottage Hospice, we knew it was for the best. As soon as Bill arrived there he was settled and comfortable in a bed, it was like a great weight had lifted from me. “The facilities are just wonderful and I was so impressed with the team. If anyone needs Cottage Hospice, I would tell them not to hesitate. “Welcome it with open arms. You won’t find a better place to care for your loved one and to be helped in caring for them at the end of life.”

‘You think no one will ever look after your children like you do. But coming to the hospice, we’ve seen that they do’

HOME FROM HOME The new Cottage Hospice at Five Ashes

By Andy Tong THIS year Hospice in the Weald is marking 40 years of enabling local people to celebrate life and have a dignified death. The charity, which supports patients with a terminal illness and those who are close to them, was founded in 1980. It began as a service which saw patients at home, and the Hospice in the Home service remains an integral part of the hospice to this day. During the 1990s support for its work grew, enabling the charity to house the Hospice Day Service and In-Patient Ward in Pembury. Now it has five services to ensure the individual needs of every patient and family across West

Kent and northern East Sussex are met. After the addition of its Counselling and Support Service, its latest provision is Cottage Hospice, which opened last month in Five Ashes, near Mayfield. This presents a new way of caring for patients, with family caregivers looking after their loved ones with the support of volunteers and nursing staff. Holly Cowan, Head of the Cottage Hospice, said: “We know that the majority of people wish to die in the comfort of their own home. “Sadly, the reality is that many die in hospital because of the challenges of caring for someone at home in the final weeks to days of life, and the lack of services providing 24/7 support. “Cottage Hospice is the first of its kind in the

UK to offer a ‘home plus’ environment which empowers family caregivers to continue to care for their loved one at the end of life. “It’s a purpose-built home from home, offering all of those comforts with more support day and night. Our specially trained volunteers are on hand, and there is always a registered nurse or hospice paramedic on site. “It will help us meet the wishes of more people, keep families together and meet more unmet need in the local community.” Anne and Bill came to the Cottage Hospice after the couple found they were struggling to cope with Bill’s needs at home. Bill had become very weak and was growing closer to the end of his life. Anne said: “Bill had wanted to die at home and

Tim and Gill Balsdon, whose son Simon was cared for by the hospice last year, said: “As a parent, you think that no one will ever look after your children like you do. But coming to the ward at the hospice, we’ve seen that they do.” More than 1,700 patients, or those who are responsible for their care, turned to the hospice for support during 2019. For many local families it offers a welcome break from the challenges of living with a terminal illness, alongside the vital care it provides. The hospice is celebrating its 40th birthday by bringing its supporters together with new events and fundraising activities, including a Gala Dinner at Tonbridge School on June 27. Kate Bourne, the hospice’s Head of Fundraising, said: “The commitment and generosity of our supporters in helping us reach over £7million every year is just wonderful. We are so glad to be seeing supporters take on new challenges in 2020 to help us mark 40 years of care. It is so important that we continue to fundraise and ensure that the hospice is there for generations to come.” To find out how to get involved in fundraising activities, from running and cycling to activities at work, visit hospiceintheweald.org.uk

Pets at Home raises thousands for Cranbrook Labrador Rescue home POOLING RESOURCES Parents and children enjoy PJ Week

Young swimmers learn vital skills while raising funds for Demelza LOCAL children raised £1,427 for the charity Demelza Hospice Care for Children when they took part in Puddle Ducks’ annual charity swim in their pyjamas. The baby and child swim school hosts an annual charity PJ Week, which raises money for charity while also teaching babies and toddlers vital swimming techniques. One of these is to find out what it would feel like if they ever found themselves in water fully clothed, which makes the fundraiser highly appropriate as well as fun. For many children, the event is also their first introduction to charity fundraising, offering an early insight into community spirit. Demelza Hospice Care for Children provides specialist care and emotional support for children with terminal conditions and their families, so they can enjoy important time together. The hospice looks after children with a range of different conditions, some of which are very complex and so rare that they have no name. Every year they provide care for more than 750 children and those closest to them in Kent, East Sussex and South East London.

Lindsay Relf, co-owner of Puddle Ducks West Kent and East Sussex, said: “We are so proud to have raised £1,427 for the wonderful Demelza Hospice Care for Children, and would like to thank all our little swimmers and their families who took part. “Wearing pyjamas during swimming lessons is not just about having a lot of fun, it’s also about teaching lifesaving skills, whilst at the same time raising money for a good cause. “If we were to fall into a body of water, we are most likely to be fully clothed. This is why PJ Week is so important. “It teaches our little swimmers that they can still swim, reach for safety and turn in, as well as demonstrating to them how it feels to be fully clothed in the water.” Puddle Ducks provides swimming classes for children from birth to ten years old. Teachers focus on creating a nurturing environment, which supports independent swimming for children of all abilities. For more information, call 01892 617246 or visit puddleducks.com/local-teams/ west-kent-east-sussex

STAFF and customers at Pets At Home in Tunbridge Wells raised £6,351 for the charity Support Adoption For Pets’ Santa Paws fundraising appeal. The proceeds will go to Labrador Rescue Kent and Borders in Cranbrook, which has helped more than 2,000 dogs find new homes since 1997. The money will go towards essential vet bills and care costs. Trustee Maggie Hinks said: “Lots of dogs come in with nothing, so with the help of Pets at Home we can give them food, collars, leads and beds – and if course toys and treats.” The campaign has raised £1.9million nationwide as part of Support Adoption for Pets’ Charity of the Year scheme, which builds relationships between stores and rescue centres. Support Adoption For Pets’ Fundraising Manager, Amy Wilson, said: “Every year we set

LAB OF LOVE One-year-old Lily was rescued before Christmas

ambitious fundraising targets for our Santa Paws appeal. “But in 2019 in particular, our new Charity of the Year partnerships allowed rescues and their local Pets at Home stores to build even stronger relationships to raise these vital funds. “We would like to thank everybody who made a donation in Tunbridge Wells. Your help and continued support in 2019 brought wagging tails and smiles, not just at Christmas, but all year round, to the lives of pets who need it most.” Pets at Home established Support Adoption For Pets in 2006, and since then it has helped more than 1,000 rehoming centres and animal welfare organisations across the UK. For more information on Support Adoption For Pets, visit supportadoptionforpets.co.uk To find out about the work of Labrador Rescue Kent and Borders, go to labrescuekent.co.uk

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

NEWS IN BRIEF

Minister defends lie detector testing plan THE Justice Secretary has defended plans to make terrorists take a lie detector test to prove they have reformed and are not planning to carry out another attack. Plans to introduce polygraph testing were announced by the Government as part of a wave of measures being described as a ‘major overhaul’ in the way terrorists are punished and monitored in the wake of the London Bridge attack. Robert Buckland told Sky News: “You can get people who are in effect sleepers for many years and then suddenly back come the hatreds and the prejudices and we see atrocities like the one we did at Fishmongers’ Hall.”

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Jess Phillips pulls out of Labour leadership race STEPPED DOWN Jess Phillips is no longer in contention to replace Jeremy Corbyn

Brexit Lords defeat THE government has lost a number votes in the Lords over its Brexit legislation – its first defeats since the election. Among the votes was a call by peers for for EU nationals to be given a physical document as proof they have the right to live in the UK after it leaves the bloc. They also voted to remove ministers’ power to decide which EU Court of Justice rulings can be disregarded or set aside by UK courts and tribunals. Ministers are expected reverse the moves when the bill returns to the Commons.

Farmers to get subsidy PROPOSALS to continue subsidies to farmers in the months after Brexit have cleared their first Commons hurdle. MPs approved the Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Bill at second reading, paving the way for it to undergo further scrutiny at a later date. Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers explained the Bill would provide ‘clarity to farmers on funding support this year.

League-table warning SCHOOLS have been warned against ‘gaming’ their league-table ranking by getting pupils to take qualifications that are of low value to them. Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman said good grades were ‘hollow’ if children missed out on a rounded education. The head of England’s education watchdog criticised too narrow a focus on exam results.

JESS Phillips has abandoned her bid to be Labour leader, acknowledging that she would not be able to unite the party. The outspoken backbencher said the party needed a figure who could bring the party together and help reverse the ‘cataclysmic’ election defeat. She said: “I truly believe that unless we talk to the country on their terms, not just on ours, that we won’t be able to make the gains we need to win an election - and do what everyone in the Labour movement wants to do, and that is make people’s lives better.”

Nominations She continued: “In order to do that, the Labour Party will need to select a candidate that can unite all parts of our movement - the union movement, the members and elected representatives – I have to be honest that at this time, that person isn’t me. “In order to win the country, we are going to have to find a candidate in this race who can do that and take that message out to the country of hope and change for things to be better.” Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer is the frontrunner in the Labour contest, having already secured his place on the final ballot paper as a result of nominations from the unions Unison and Usdaw and the Socialist

Environment and Resources Association. Sir Keir, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry and former shadow cabinet minister Lisa Nandy were all at the GMB union hustings in London, while speculation about Ms Phillips’s future was fuelled by her absence from the event. Candidates need the nominations of three Labour affiliates, including at least two unions, which amount to at least 5 per cent of affiliate members. The only other route on to the ballot paper is by receiving nominations from at least 33 constituency Labour parties (CLPs). Ms Thornberry said she was ‘very sorry’ that Ms Phillips had pulled out of the contest, arguing that favourites Sir Keir and Ms LongBailey needed to face a challenge. She said: “We need to broaden our debate, not narrow it, and force the two favourites to prove they’re up to the fight by pitting them against some real strength. “Jess is a sad loss in that effort, but we will keep going.” Ms Nandy, who has the backing of the BMG union, which has given a boost to her chances, also said she was sorry that Ms Phillips had dropped out. She added: “She has made waves, shown great friendship and I’ll miss her in this contest.”

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President Trump criticises climate ‘prophets of doom’ THE US President has called environmentalists ‘prophets of doom’ in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Mr Trump called for a rejection of ‘predictions of the apocalypse’ and said America would defend its economy. In his keynote speech, Mr Trump said that it was a time for optimism, not pessimism, in a speech that touted his administration’s economic achievements and America’s energy boom. Speaking of climate activists, he said: “These alarmists always demand the same thing absolute power to dominate, transform and control every aspect of our lives.” They were, he said, ‘the heirs of yesterday’s foolish fortune tellers’. The President gave his speech while activist Greta Thunberg was in the audience. Earlier the teenager had told a panel in the Swiss ski resort that her generation had found its voice and can work with those in power to bring about the necessary change to limit climate change. “We need to start listening to the science, and treat this crisis with the importance it deserves,” said the 17-year-old, just as US President Donald Trump was arriving in Davos and was due to give a speech. Mr Trump has pulled the US out of the Paris accord to limit climate change and has traded barbs with Greta on social media.

Osbourne has Parkinson’s ROCKER OZZY Osbourne has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The Black Sabbath frontman and reality TV star, 71, told US morning show Good Morning America it was discovered that he had the disorder after a fall. The Birmingham born singer, said: “I did my last show New Year’s Eve at The Forum. Then I had a bad fall. I had to have surgery on my neck, which screwed all my nerves and I found out that I have a mild form.” Osbourne continued: “I’m on a host of medications, mainly for the surgery. “I got a numbness down this arm for the surgery, my legs keep going cold. “I don’t know if that’s the Parkinson’s or what, you know, but that’s the problem. Because they cut nerves when they did the surgery. “I’d never heard of nerve pain, and it’s a weird feeling.”

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National News

NEWS IN BRIEF

Bank of England looks at digital currencies THE Bank of England has joined forces with a raft of counterparts to look at the case for launching their own digital currencies. The group - also comprising the Bank of Canada, the Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, Sweden’s Sveriges Riksbank, the Swiss National Bank and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) - will pool research and thoughts on the potential for a central bank digital currency (CBDC). It comes amid the emergence of private sector digital currencies, such as Facebook’s Libra, which is due to be launched this year.

Dixons Carphone error DIXONS Carphone had to reissue its Christmas trading figures yesterday [Tuesday] to say sales went down, not up over the period. The retailer – which owns Currys PC World – had earlier reported a rise in sales, but later said it had made a “clerical error”. It issued a fresh statement for the last 10 weeks of the year, saying sales had fallen by 2 per cent rather than risen by 2 per cent as the firm had earlier reported.

France to delay tariff FRANCE has agreed to delay collecting a new tax on multinational technology firms until the end of 2020, a French government official has told the BBC. The US had threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on $2.4bn (£1.8bn) of French goods, including Champagne and cheese, after the tax was passed in July 2019.

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Wednesday January 22 | 2020

Unemployment remains at 45 year low THE number of people who are claiming unemployment benefit dropped by 7,000 to just below 1.31 million in the three months to November, according to new data. It means that 3.8 per cent of people who are looking for work do not have a job, largely unchanged on the previous quarter, and in line with expectations. However, the figure is 0.2 percentage points lower than a year earlier, according to numbers from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It means that unemployment is currently at its lowest level since December 1974. The number of women who were unemployed fell by 9,000, while men were more likely to be unemployed, up by 2,000 from the last quarter, the ONS figures revealed. Around 729,000 men and 577,000 women were unemployed.

Stalled It came as the UK employment rate grew to its highest point on record, at 76.3 per cent, 0.6 percentage points higher than a year earlier and up 0.5 on the previous quarter. David Freeman, the head of labour markets and households at the statistics agency, said: “The employment rate is at a new record high, with over two-thirds of the growth in people in work in the last year coming from women working full-time. “Self-employment has also been growing strongly, and the number of people working for themselves has now passed five million for the first time ever,” he added. Meanwhile, vacant jobs fell by 11,000 in the quarter, to 805,000. This is 49,000 fewer vacancies than the same period a year earlier. The growth in average weekly earnings stalled, remaining unchanged at 3.2 per cent in November, the same as figures from a month earlier – although this was 0.1 percentage points

ahead of what analysts expected. This increase includes bonuses. Without them, growth slowed to 3.4 per cent, down from 3.5 per cent. “While pay growth has eased since last summer, with inflation remaining subdued, earnings are continuing to increase in real terms,” Mr Freeman said. Earnings are still lower than in the run-up to the financial crisis, the ONS said. In real terms, average regular pay was £472 per week, which is £1, or 0.2 per cent, less than in March 2008. Wage growth was driven by increases in the construction sector, and among financial and business services employees. Minister for employment Mims Davies added: “With unemployment at its lowest since the 1970s, our jobcentres go beyond getting people into work – they are about community and progression.”

INTEREST RATE CUT LESS LIKELY NOW New employment figures are likely to take some of the pressure off the Bank of England to slash interest rates next week, analysts have said. Not only has unemployment fallen but also employment has far outstripped expectations, hitting an all-time high of 76.3 per cent. The news has thrown uncertainty into the works, as the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which sets the rates, is due to meet next Thursday. Governor Mark Carney has said a further deteriation in the economy could persuade them to vote for an interest rate cut from its current 0.75 per cent, but the new data could now ease pressure on the bank.

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Letters

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Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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, Times Local News, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG This subservience to a shopping centre cannot be allowed to continue

Deception is a sign of moral decline Boris Johnson may or may not be racist, but he is certainly intoxicated by the sound of his own voice as the lies, broken promises and other deceptions continue to pour out. That such a person should ever become Prime Minister is a sign of the moral abyss into which our country has been steadily falling for the past 50 years or so. Another is our retention of a political system unfit for democratic purpose. James Robertson Pembury

The bells should ring out for Brexit

WATCH THIS SPACE The council is set to spend £855,000 on the RVP car park I read with interest [January 15] about the planned improvements to the Royal Victoria Place [RVP] car park, which are to be paid for by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. As your reporter pointed out, this is on top of the £1million paid by the council to go towards the spruce-up the shopping centre is currently going through. I find it bizarre that the council is still tied so closely to Royal Victoria Place. I can understand that back when Tunbridge Wells, like many other small towns of the 1990s, was so attracted by the idea of gaining its own shopping mall, it was all too happy to give the developer favourable lease terms to encourage building of the centre. But times of changed. RVP is no longer a draw for people outside the town. It is half-empty, and many of the

The way forward is clear, Mr Clark Greg Clark [MP] is right to correct the mistake in my previous letter: We leave the EU on January 31, not by the end of the year; by the end of the year we will have a trade deal or we will leave without one – something Mr Clark still does not recognise. As for putting the divisions of the past behind us, as he puts it, he should recognise that he was a principal agent of those divisions; the vote was to leave or remain, not some post referendum cobble of qualified ifs and buts and onlys; not an ‘ah yes, but only with a trade deal’ – Mr Clark’s version of leaving. He may not like this, but what was on the ballot slip was Leave or Remain. Joseph Hahn Tunbridge Wells

Scotland will be more likely to leave I stand by my figures on the 2019 election results [December 31], which come from the BBC website: For the whole of the UK, Conservatives (43.6 per cent), Labour (32.2 per cent), Lib Dems (11.5 per cent), SNP (3.9 per cent), Greens (2.7 per cent), Brexit Party (2.0 per cent).

stores that remain are either on reduced rents or are paying virtually no rent at all. Understandably, British Land have shelved any major development of this shopping centre in favour of a lick of paint and a few new lights, and who can blame them? So what next for RVP? More importantly, what next for Tunbridge Wells? Retail is not going to return to what it once was in our town centres, so let’s cut these ties with big retail developers and shopping centres. We need a new plan to bring money in that doesn’t involve shopping, and now the Calverley Square theatre project has also been shelved, we need it fast. Steve Bennett Tunbridge Wells I make that over 90 per cent, so these are votes cast, not the electorate, Ben Hardy [January 8]. The other minor parties, including those in Northern Ireland and Wales, make up the balance. Boris [Johnson] has the right to govern under our first past the post system, but my point regarding no moral right to take the country out of the EU still stands. Similarly, the figures for Scotland are SNP (45 per cent), Conservatives (25.1 per cent), Labour (18.6 per cent), Lib Dems (9.5 per cent), Greens (1 per cent) and Brexit Party (0.5 per cent). Adding the SNP and Lib Dem votes you get 54.5 per cent, which is a clear mandate for a second referendum for Scotland. The reason that constituencies vary in size is that it is easier to knock on the doors of voters who are close together in a city, than those who are spread out over the Scottish Highlands and Islands. No doubt the next boundary changes will mean fewer seats for Scottish MPs and less of a say in Westminster. This may make them even more determined to leave. Graham Salmon Tunbridge Wells

Brexit day, when we once again become an independent country after over four decades of yielding control of our nation to the EU, is fast approaching. There should be public celebrations to mark this momentous event, at least in the Leave supporting constituencies, such as Tonbridge & Malling, much as there was on VE day. It should certainly be possible for beacons to be lit, and those churches possessing a peal of bells to ring them at 11pm on January 31. For over three years the political class sought to frustrate the will of the people, and we have earned the right to salute the fact that they failed, and that Britain will once more be a sovereign democracy. Colin Bullen Tonbridge

An icy blast – and multiple issues To Calverley’s rant on broadcasters mispronouncing words [January 15], he can add ‘Alantic’, as in ‘gales sweeping in from the Alantic’, and ‘Artic’, as in ‘an Artic blast from the north’. Include ‘vunerable’ as well – everything’s ‘vunerable’ these days, especially that elusive ‘l’. Once we had many this; a number of that; lots of the other, we now have ‘multiple’, as in multiple people, multiple occasions, multiple things. It’s awkward, lacks elegance – the first rule of language – and unnecessarily long. KISS – keep it simple stupid. Edward Baker Tunbridge Wells

What an utter waste… I find it unbelievable to read [January 8] that our waste collection has proved (like many people suspected, unlike the council) a total disaster. The council mention in the same edition they are to submit a fine to the contractor. Where will that go? Either a rebate or frozen council tax? The old cinema site has been an eyesore. It should have been kept and updated. Businesses would have survived and, being central in town, people could have eaten and maybe have a drink prior to or after a movie. Easy to reach by bus or train. The town has become a run-down embarrassment with overpriced or failed projects by the council at the public’s expense. Name withheld Tunbridge Wells

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

CALVERLEY SQUARE nimbys who blocked the theatre complex being built on their doorstep must be rubbing their hands with glee following this years Rotten Borough Awards from Private Eye. The mischief-making satirical magazine that is famous for lampooning public figures has again featured former Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Leader David Jukes. It talked about the May election voters inflicting ‘humiliation on a smug Tory regime’ determined to press ahead with a £100million ‘vanity project’, and referred to the fact that 13 Conservative councillors lost their seats, Ian including ‘pig-headed’ Hislop David Jukes. That’s one way of looking at it. Oh, and by the way, Private Eye Editor Ian Hislop lives just outside Tunbridge Wells, so he must know what he’s talking about? Right? Others, however, believe that generations to come will see the Alliance Party campaign that stopped the theatre as a pyrrhic victory: The end of an innovative initiative to secure the town’s long-term future, replaced by an increasing drift towards becoming simply a dormitory for commuters. The Alliance has certainly managed to muzzle the controlling Conservative group on the council. And in the meantime, it has made major developers think again about investing in a town where, they believe, you can no longer rely on commitments made by the council. (Think here of the £100million that we were told was to be spent on Royal Victoria Place shopping centre.) This column has more than once referred to David Jukes as a Marmite man with those who love him and those who don’t. Say what you might, he was a Council Leader with a vision and a passion for making Tunbridge Wells a great place to live. He believed it was a town that needed major surgery to survive, not cosmetic facelifts. Where now are those with a credible vision for Tunbridge Wells? Answers, as usual, on a postcard… David Jukes

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 January 22 | 2020

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Education

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EDUCATION Times

Local lessons in how to achieve wellbeing for life Last week Dulwich Prep School in Cranbrook hosted another of its annual Wellbeing Weeks, which aim to improve pupils’ self-esteem and confidence both inside and outside of the classroom. The Times found out about what was involved for children, parents and the wider community WELLBEING WEEK at Dulwich Prep Cranbrook is now an annual event which provides pupils with a number of activities in order to promote a healthy sense of wellbeing. This year it took place from January 13 to 17 and activities included yoga, art and sewing, as well as visiting speakers and special events such as the ‘Big Sing’ – where children are able to share the joy of music as a community. “The aim of pastoral care at Dulwich is simple, everything is focused on helping the children believe in themselves, to flourish in the classroom and thrive as individuals and be active members of the school community,” said a spokesperson. Inspired by the hashtagged theme of #ChildrensMentalHealth, Dulwich Prep Cranbrook were encouraging the children to follow the #Findyourbrave initiative. “Bravery can be deemed as sharing worries and asking for help, trying something new and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone,” continued the school spokesperson. “Finding ‘your brave’ can be about building your confidence and selfesteem and making you feel good about yourself.”

The school also participated in an ‘ambitious’ upcycling sewing project, transforming old clothes into stylish shoulder bags. Other activities that pupils got involved in as part of the Wellbeing Week included creating a large mural inspired by nature and painting pebbles in the art department. These were then placed in the school grounds for a treasure hunt. An active Football Fun day rounded off the week, and raised funds for Football Beyond Borders, a charity which uses football to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Anxiety There were also discussions about healthy eating and the importance of good nutrition for both pupils and parents. All sessions were run by Childnet, the nonprofit organisation that helps makes the internet a safe place for children. Activities for parents included talks about Managing the Transition to Senior School, and sessions on Anxiety and how to manage it, both

ART PLAYED A PART The children created a nature mural

organised in conjunction with leading children’s mental health charity Place2Be. “Dulwich have their own dedicated Place2Be team based permanently in school, available for one-to-one counselling and small group drop in sessions. Children also make use of the informal Place2Talk sessions where they can talk freely about friendship issues, self-esteem and anxiety,” added the spokesperson. Dulwich Prep Cranbrook also hosted the Mental Health Champions Training for School Leaders, run by Place2Be, supporting them to bring about strategic change to create ‘mentally healthy’ schools.

“Dulwich has pledged to promote the importance of a focus on positive mental health throughout our local community, supporting local school and youth leaders with the opportunity for expert mental health training.” Headmaster Paul David commented on the success of the week, saying: “The happiness of children is our top priority, and Wellbeing Week shines a light on our commitment to a very proactive approach towards mental health. “We are constantly striving to improve our strong support networks, access to experts, open communication and to develop a close, compassionate community.”

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Greg Clark

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

Greg Clark was first elected MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005 and held a number of positions in Government, including Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells

It is a new era in our political history AS we begin a new decade, we begin a new era. In Parliament, since returning after Christmas, a sense of purpose and progress is palpable. There is universal acceptance that for better or worse the Brexit debate – which divided communities and families, often bitterly – has been settled. There is a sense of goodwill and mutual respect, much more than characterised the last year. The Liberal Democrats have turned to looking for a new leader and a new purpose having now accepted that the Brexit legislation must pass. Some Labour MPs have even been coming up to me in the corridors expressing relief that Jeremy Corbyn did not make it to Downing Street. One of the most striking experiences is having 109 new Conservative MPs taking their seats for the first time, representing constituencies the length and breadth of Britain, from St Ives to Aberdeen. They include MPs from towns like Blyth, Bishop Auckland, Redcar, West Bromwich, Bolsover and Wrexham, that have not elected Conservatives for nearly 100 years. This is a tremendous shot of energy, and comes with a particular sense of responsibility. The Conservative Party, at its best, has been a party of One Nation. Disraeli’s warning of the danger of Britain becoming two-nations – in which the lives of the prosperous proceeded in

parallel to the lives of the poor – was a motivation always to pursue policies and to act to bring all parts of society together. A parliament of 365 MPs representing every type of place in Britain from big cities to rural villages, from industrial towns to commuter suburbs, means that the imperative for national cohesion is felt very strongly. In truth, I always found attempts to imply that people in our country belonged to different

Most people are practical, suspicious of ideology and dogma, but instead expect to see pragmatic government delivering concrete results. A government with a significant majority, with a Parliament of five years, representing all parts

of Britain has a wonderful opportunity to reinforce this sense that we should put the divisions of the past behind us and seek to come together as One Nation. It is an exciting start to the new decade, and a new era in our political history.

‘Whether you live in Tunbridge Wells or in Tyneside, most people believe in the same things’ tribes, with little to unite them, the opposite of my experience. Whether you live in Tunbridge Wells or Tyneside, most people believe in the same things. In working hard to get on. In taking pride in our country and its history – while knowing we need to so new things well to succeed in the future. In knowing that things have to be earned and paid for, rather than conjured from the air. That everyone must pay their taxes, but they should be spent responsibly on useful things, not squandered.

MAJORITY The government now has an opportunity to bring the nation together

Mark Hood Councillor, Judd ward and Co-chair, Tonbridge and Malling Green Party

Mark Hood has established the Barden Residents’ Association, is a founder member of Keep River Lawn Green, and campaigned to save the Barden Boatyard and River Lawn from development. He is also one of the organisers of the Tonbridge Calling festival.

Green voices are being heard in the Council Chamber for the first time 2019 was a massive year for Greens in Tonbridge and Malling. The local council election returned two Green councillors in Judd ward with thumping majorities and one of the biggest voter turnouts in the country. This achieved our ambition for Green voices to be heard in the Council Chamber for the first time. The general election of 12th December - sadly interpreted by many as a second referendum saw a 70 per cent increase in our vote share. The national result highlighted the iniquity of the first-past-the-post system when 860,000 Green votes delivered just one MP, no MP resulted from 644,000 Brexit Party votes, yet 244,127 votes secured eight DUP MPs. This shows that we need proportional representation more than ever.

best combination of traffic measures to make our town centre as safe as possible. We are finalising proposals for the Borough Council’s Climate Change Policy to ensure it is a meaningful undertaking. In 2020, we shall ask the Council to consider the redevelopment of the Angel Centre, and how best to use town centre property assets in partnership with other bodies including KCC. We

want to see a departure from a 20th century business model of selling lucrative plots to developers who then cream off the lion’s share of the profit. The Council has identified the need for temporary accommodation in the borough but refuses to build such housing in favour of seeking property on the open market. Other councils invest in housing for their communities

‘The Council has indentified the need for temporary accomodation in the borough but refuses to build it’ Ensuring the Air Quality Management Area is protected is key to us. We believe that solutions that reduce pollution and encourage low carbon transport should be at the heart of infrastructure planning. We have fought to have highspecification air monitoring equipment returned to Tonbridge High Street and want to find the

DEPARTURE The Green Party do not want the Angel Centre sold to developers

and ours should too. We want to ensure that the council gets the best possible value from its property so we are suggesting several schemes where a number of functions are served on the same site. We want to see the right homes built in the right places. Rather than destroying the Green Belt, this could be achieved by building on brown field land, for example at the huge Vale Road and Aylesford Newsprint sites. We will be making this point during the Local Plan Inspection. The chaotic implementation of the new waste collection ‘service’ shows the price to be paid from outsourcing to the cheapest contract available. We will continue to strive for value for money for the residents of our borough. We are appalled that Tom Tugendhat recently voted to block access for child refugees trying to be reunited with their families here and we will continue to hold him to account on this and other issues. We look forward to a fantastic summer of amazing events laid on by our community. People are the town’s biggest asset and we want to support them by introducing a brochure (including for instance a food and ale trail) to showcase the spectacular turnaround in our town’s fortunes against national trends. We believe in our town and we believe its future is Green.

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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Wednesday January 22 | 2020

Best property buys for... We all love to see homes with the ‘wow’ factor – which could apply to the kitchen, reception room, garden, or something else. Sarah Bond homes in on specific aspects that make these properties well worth a look… Temple Grove House Herons Ghyll GUIDE PRICE

£900,000 CONTACT • Knight Frank, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 772946 • knightfrank.co.uk A duplex apartment full of grandeur within an impressive Grade II-listed building near Crowborough. It’s surrounded by 15 acres of communal gardens and grounds, with a tennis court, swimming pool, lake and woodland walk. So everything you could want! MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

n Stunning entrance hall with vaulted ceiling n Kitchen/breakfast room with an abundance of character features, plus oak flooring and underfloor heating n Elegant drawing/dining room which is the heart of the apartment, with an incredible coffered ceiling, a working fireplace and large south-facing windows n Study with access to private terrace and communal gardens

The DRAWING/DINING ROOM…

n Master bedroom with a superb dressing room and en-suite bathroom featuring ‘his and hers’ basins n Good size bedroom 2 and separate shower n Private south-facing terrace and 15 acres of communal parkland, including the tennis court, heated pool, lake and woodland walk n Long private driveway, garage and parking space

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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The PRICE…

The KITCHEN/DINING ROOM…

Lonsdale Romford Road, Pembury PRICE

£595,000

CONTACT • Barnes Kingsnorth, Pembury • 01892 822880 • bkestateagents.com Handsome, character semi with views spread over three floors in a sought-after road. MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST n Sitting room with large bay window, plantation shutters and cast iron fireplace n Family room open-plan to: n Kitchen/breakfast/dining room with roof lights, roof lantern and opening to garden

Crestway

The Common, Sissinghurst Nr Cranbrook GUIDE PRICE

n 4 bedrooms, one with en-suite shower room n Family bathroom n Lawned front garden and rear garden with large patio, lawn and brick outbuilding n Driveway providing parking for two cars

£1,195,000 CONTACT • Savills, Cranbrook • 01580 720161 • savills.co.uk This large, improved, six-bedroom family home on the edge of the charming country town of Cranbrook offers further potential, subject to the necessary consents. Set back from the road, it has lapsed planning for a porch, new gates, garage extension and new conservatory.

Broadmead

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

£735,000

n Extensive improvements include a twostorey side extension which on the ground floor houses a stunning, bespoke Tom Howley fitted kitchen/breakfast room with utility room and pantry

Tunbridge Wells GUIDE PRICE

CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 512201 • bracketts.co.uk

n Sitting room

Contemporary detached home with a superb interior, having been much improved.

n Dining room

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

n Family room

n Reception room with French doors opening to patio and rear garden

n Conservatory n Upstairs study area n Master bedroom suite with walk-through dressing room and bathroom n 5 further bedrooms, including two served by a ‘Jack and Jill’ shower room n Family bathroom n Garaging and off-road parking n Mature south-easterly facing gardens n Cranbrook School catchment (2020)

n Stylish kitchen/dining room and utility room with door to side patio n Study/playroom n Stairs with glass balustrade n Master bedroom with en-suite shower room n 3 further bedrooms and a family bathroom n Landscaped front garden with driveway n Rear garden with patios and level lawn n Rear access to double garage with power and light connected

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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A beautifully preserved house with a wealth of period features and a handsome front elevation adorned with decorative quoins

AT A GLANCE QUOINS GOLDSMITHS AVENUE CROWBOROUGH n A detached period property built in 1925 with the benefit of some modern updates n Wide entrance hall with original tiled floor n 25ft drawing room n Sitting room with large original fireplace and parquet flooring n Open-plan kitchen/dining room with pantry n Utility room and WC n Galleried landing n 5 bedrooms n Dressing room n 2 bath/shower rooms n Secluded, mature south-facing gardens with patio n Gravel carriage driveway with ample parking for a number of vehicles

ASKING PRICE £995,000 CONTACT • Hamptons International, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 516611 • hamptons.co.uk

A superb home built in Regency revival style in the popular Warren area of Crowborough

bracketts est. 1828

C H FR AI EE N

When experience counts...

Tonbridge Guide Price: £600,000 - £625,000 Well-presented and maintained Detached House in a sought after and popular residential cul-de-sac. 3 Bedrooms, luxury bathroom, lounge-diner, 30ft conservatory/ family room, cloakroom, 70ft south facing garden. EPC D

Groombridge £745,000 An appealing detached house, in need of updating/modernisation, enjoying an enviable, convenient position close to village centre. 2 receptions, conservatory & greenhouse, kit/brkfst room, 4 bedrooms, bathroom. ORP & garage, front & rear gardens. EPC: C

Tonbridge Guide Price: £350,000 - £375,000 Extended 3 Bedroom (1 en-suite) Semi-Detached House at the north end of the town. Convenient for local shops, schools and about 1.5 miles from the High Street. Porch, hall, kitchen-diner, study, good size garden. EPC E

Groombridge £385,000- £850,000 - £400,000 Tonbridge £800,000 SAT 25 JAN 2-4PM – BY APPOINTMENT A beautifully presented home situated Substantial Detached 5 bedroom family house, retaining the charm and features ofinan a cul-de-sachome. setting3 opposite elds. Open plan living/dining room/kitchen with bi-fold Edwardian receptionfirooms, kitchen-breakfast room, utility, cloakroom, store doors, 3 bedrooms, bathroom. Level front garden & good sized rear garden. EPC: D rooms, garage, corner plot. EPC E

South Tonbridge Guide Price: £600,000 - £650,000 Bay Fronted 4 Bedroom Semi-Detached House in an established residential area, ideal for families needing to be close to schools etc., 25ft lounge-diner, conservatory, parking, garage, south facing rear garden. EPC E

Tunbridge Wells £2,150 pcm An impressive 2 double bedroom ground floor apartment in the elegant and highly sought-after historic Nevill Park, one of Tunbridge Wells’ most prestigious addresses. Includes parking for 3 cars, a communal garden & own entrance. Available now. EPC: D

bracketts.co.uk Tunbridge Wells 01892 533733 | tunbridgewells@bracketts.co.uk

Tonbridge 01732 350503 | tonbridge@bracketts.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells Henrietta Court, St John’s Road

25 JA TH 10 N & am U 26 T A – RY H 4p m

Initial Show Home Launch – Open Weekend

With great excitement we announce the opening of a furnished show home at this prestigious development of just 6 semi-detached town houses situated close to the town centre, schools and mainline station. Luxurious specification extending to 2,400 sq.ft. of accommodation over 4 floors. 4 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 parking spaces, one with electric charging point.

£995,000 Freehold Ready for immediate occupation

For further information contact: 25-27 High Street, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1UU tunbridgewells@bracketts.co.uk 01892 533 733

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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Kings Avenue

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AT A GLANCE KINGS AVENUE ROYAL WELLS PARK TUNBRIDGE WELLS n A Berkeley Homes townhouse built in 2017 in a traditional style and spread over four floors n Entrance porch and wide hallway n Leisure/cinema room n Utility room and storeroom n Cloakroom n First floor open-plan sitting/dining room with bi-fold doors to garden n Kitchen/breakfast room with Siemens appliances and door to balcony n Cloakroom n Striking master bedroom suite featuring a dressing room, shower room and a large balcony enjoying the morning sun n Guest suite with shower room and dressing area n 3 further double bedrooms n Family bath/shower room n Private enclosed garden with terrace and lawn n Forecourt parking and integral garage n Communal grounds, including a children’s play area

Immaculate mews-style family home in highly desirable town development Built to a high specification and conveniently placed for excellent schools

GUIDE PRICE £1,100,000 CONTACT • Savills, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 507000 • savills.co.uk

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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Wednesday January 22 | 2020

Go on an Eastern adventure right here on your doorstep On Saturday February 1 Chiddingstone Castle hosts its Zen Retreat Day – the first event in its ‘Year of Japan’ series of special Japanese-themed events in order to celebrate its links with the country. Here, Eileen Leahy speaks to castle curator Naomi Collick about the historical home’s Asian connection

FULL OF CURIOSITIES Chiddingstone Castle

N

which receives no public funding, so AOMI COLLICK, the I have had to think of creative ways official curator at to renew displays and work on other Chiddingstone Castle, projects with a very small budget!” absolutely loves her job. One of these has been to launch The graduate, who has been in a series of special events running the role for the past two years, says throughout 2020 that celebrate that after studying Japanese and Chiddingstone Castle’s link to Japan Buddhist art at university, getting in the year the Olympics are being the opportunity to oversee the held in Tokyo. The first is a Zen numerous and unique historical Retreat Day on Saturday February 1. collections of Denys Eyre Bower, “The Zen Retreat Day is an the historical property’s rather eccentric former owner, is a ‘dream’. opportunity to bring together local practitioners and experts in “It was always my dream to be mindfulness and wellbeing to offer able to work in a museum, so I was a refreshing start to our 2020 Year of incredibly lucky to find this role Japan programme,” explains Naomi. and this collection,” she says. “Nature, meditation, and mindful There are a number of special living are very important to Japanese rooms dedicated to various Zen Buddhism. collections, including “Zen practices Egyptian, Stuart and ‘Zen practices appealed to Samurai Jacobite ones as well warriors, who as an impressive appealed to themselves Japanese one. Samurai warriors, dedicated to mental and Naomi says Eyre Bower was a prolific who were dedicated physical discipline. “We have many artefact collector – to mental and objects which despite the fact he physical discipline’ belonged to the rarely travelled. Samurai in our “The collections collection. here are so eccentric “It’s also an opportunity to give and varied. I love being able to our visitors the chance to enjoy write and talk to people about mindful practices inspired by Zen the things I am most interested in our grounds. This is a wonderful in. I really enjoy giving guided way to connect people with our tours and writing our Object of the collections, Japanese culture, and Month posts on our website. have a healthy start to the new year.” “In a large museum, a curator The day will also comprise would normally work with a team sessions of wild yoga and forest of people, including conservators, bathing – also known as Shinrin exhibition designers and other specialists. Here we are a small team Yoku. The latter doesn’t actually require a swimsuit or any water and I am the only staff member as it involves walking around who focuses on the collections.” mindfully and appreciating the Naomi says this has given her natural surroundings. the opportunity to work on some And there will be a talk on really interesting projects, such as co-ordinating loans and organising Toyohari acupuncture – a practice which focuses on listening to your conservation work. body rather than using needles or “We are an independent museum

QUEEN OF THE COLLECTIONS Castle curator Naomi Collick

CASTLE & OBJECT IMAGES: Craig Matthews

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Wednesday January 22 | 2020

other treatments. Plus there will be lots of food and wellness advice available. “The day will begin with an introduction to Zen Buddhism and its link to Japanese art and culture, and our Japan Room will be open throughout the day for people to view the artefacts,” continues Naomi. “There are approximately 800 objects in the Japanese collection, and around two thirds are lacquerware.” Denys Eyre Bower, who was born in 1905 and died in 1977, was the last private owner of the castle, and acquired his collections over his lifetime. He particularly focused on Japanese objects during the 40s and 50s, and bought all of his objects from auctions and dealers in the UK. “Japanese objects were very popular in the late 19th century and were bought by collectors and owners of large country homes,” says Naomi. “In the mid-20th century, however, they had fallen out of fashion, and as Denys had an eye for a bargain he benefitted from sales of the contents of wealthy country homes. “He was skilled at spotting objects that other people overlooked and usually collected pieces if he liked the look of them. He could see that

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk they were well made rather than coveted for their popularity. As a result, the Japanese collection is eclectic but includes some very rare and high quality objects.” Naomi says that Eyre Bower’s passion for all things Japanese stemmed from childhood as his father collected many East Asian works of art: “In particular, his father owned Chinese porcelain. He was also drawn to the craftsmanship and visual impact of Japanese objects. We have a number of photographs in the archive of him proudly showing off items from his Japanese collection, including a giant Samurai sword, which was quite possibly made specifically to impress Western tourists!”

Arts & Culture

lacquer techniques were used for the decoration.” And does she have a personal favourite? “I would say the life-size models of animals and insects expertly carved in iron. “Using cleverly concealed links and pins, the animals were made to be fully movable. The most amazing is a large dragon which has rows of separately linked scales. “They were made by Samurai armourers during the peaceful 17th-19th centuries, when they did not have to make as many suits of armour, so they instead showed off their metalworking skills with these decorative animals.” CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE’S YEAR OF JAPAN There will be a series of Japan-themed events throughout 2020, including:

n A drop-in demonstration of ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging

Casket Would Naomi say there is one particular highlight of the collection? “Yes, it is what is known as the ‘Chiddingstone Casket’ – a rare, small, 17-century Japanese lacquer casket or jewel box. “It was part of a small group of very high quality lacquer boxes made for export to the West. It is rare because it is shaped like a European building but covered in intricate Japanese lacquer designs in gold, silver, and cut shell. The most expensive and complicated

n A special Japanese-themed music performance

n Tours of the Japanese Room n Traditional crafts, including koi carp flag-making

n A Japan Festival day on August 16 which will include martial arts demonstrations, music, traditional dance and demonstrations of Japanese art forms such as calligraphy For more information, visit: chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

‘We always aim to take the audience on a complete emotional journey, from tears to laughter and everything in between’ The Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra will host its second Opera Gala on February 2 at the Assembly Hall Theatre. Ahead of the concert, the Times catches up with its musical director, Roderick Dunk What is on the programme for the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra [RTWSO] Opera Gala on February 2? Some of the most thrilling, popular and well-known music from the operatic repertoire. Arias, duets and quartets from Madam Butterfly, Carmen, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Faust, Don Giovanni, and many more besides. Is it always a challenge to decide upon a concert’s content and running order? Yes, but only because there is such a huge amount of great music from opera to choose from. What to leave out of the programme is always the biggest problem. Do you aim to always have a good variety of music for your audience to enjoy? Of course, variety is so important in a gala like this. This sort of concert is a very theatrical occasion, more than a standard symphony concert, so we always aim to take the audience on a complete emotional journey, from tears to laughter and everything in between. Are there any particularly special pieces you will be performing? All of the music is special, in that all of the pieces are jewels of the operatic repertoire. But there are some that are particularly emotionally charged, like the great Love Duet from Madam Butterfly, or the duet for tenor and baritone from the Pearl Fishers – a firm favourite on Desert Island Discs! Carmen is also a really popular opera, and we have plenty from that, including the famous Toreador Song, so it’s actually quite difficult to say what would be particularly special. It’s all rather special!

Will there be any guests making an appearance? We have four fabulous opera singers with us: Susana Gaspar, Cátia Moreso, Jung Soo Yun and David Stephenson, all of whom sing regularly with many of the major opera houses and companies around the world, so the standard of the singing will be first rate. You have also performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Can you tell us about your highlights? That’s a very hard question. I was a frequent guest conductor on Friday Night is Music Night for the BBC over a 25-year period, during which time I conducted around 200 broadcasts of the programme. To pick out musical highlights from literally

thousands of pieces of music over that time would be impossible. However, I often say that one of the greatest privileges was to work alongside some of the greatest presenters and broadcasters in radio history – like Robin Boyle, Richard Baker, David Jacobs, and more recently Ken Bruce, all of whom I am lucky enough to count amongst my friends, although sadly the first three are no longer with us. They all brought something very special to the world’s longest running live music show. What are the fundamental differences between putting on an RTWSO concert and a BBC one? With an organisation like the BBC you enjoy the support and backup of a huge and well-funded professional organisation. With the RTWSO, which is a more local group of both professionals and very gifted amateur players, we rely very heavily on our wonderful volunteers, who do a brilliant job of managing and supporting the orchestra on very slim budgets. High quality classical music is expensive to produce, so we are always looking for more financial support from local businesses and sponsors to help support the high quality work. What do you think the audience will enjoy most about the Opera Gala? The ‘theatre’ of the occasion, definitely, and the electrifying emotional atmosphere that this wonderful opera music produces in the hall, every time, and without fail! What are the RTWSO’s plans for the rest of 2020? We still have another three concerts left in our 2019/20 season, with great soloists like the pianist Martin James Bartlett and violinist Thomas Gould. We have fabulous music by Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart and Bruckner, and of course all eyes and thoughts are focusing already on our 2020/21 season, and then 2022 – which will be the orchestra’s 100th anniversary year. Full details of all future programmes, and how musicians can audition for the RTWSO, can be found at rtwso.org

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Going Out

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goingout 7 days of activities

By Jerome Bowman

NOT SO SHINING ARMOUR Terry Gilliam’s latest film, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, is on at the Odeon

WEDNESDAY You can still catch the play Glorious, by Peter Quilter, at The Oast Theatre in Tonbridge until Saturday. In 1940s’ New York, Florence Foster Jenkins might be the worst singer of all time, but her enthusiasm for opera and bombastic costume make her a music legend. You can see this evening’s performance at 8pm, and tickets cost £11. For more information and to book, go online to oasttheatre.com

THURSDAY The Man Who Killed Don Quixote will be showing at Odeon Tunbridge Wells today. Starring Adam Driver and Jonathan Pryce, this is Terry Gilliam’s latest film, telling the story of a cynical advertising director trapped in the delusions of a Spanish shoe-maker who believes he is the heroic knight. Gilliam’s signature style of comic surrealism and mad adventure make this a fascinating watch. The screening starts at

8.15pm. To book tickets, which cost £14.25 with concessions available, visit odeon.co.uk FRIDAY Join three class-act comedians at the EM Forster Theatre in Tonbridge at 7.30pm for the Tonbridge Comedy Night. Your compere for the evening will be master improviser Russel Hicks, with supporting act and break-out comedian Njambi McGrath. The headliner will be sixstring silly man Jonny Awsum, known for his appearances on Britain’s Got Talent and his amusing musical musings. Tickets cost £13. To book, go to emftheatre.com Hever Castle is celebrating Burns Night a day early. You can combine an overnight stay with a traditional Burns Night Supper, and there will also be a pre-dinner drinks reception and a Ceilidh Band performing. Plus, you get a private guided tour of the castle the next morning. Prices vary and include your overnight stay and all of the above activities. For more information, go to hevercastle.co.uk It’s the dawn of a new era for comic Tom Stade with his new show You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet. Known for his drunken Canadian drawl, he was once desribed by Scotland’s Herald as ‘Part Jesus, part Charlie Manson’, and this show is all about Tom embracing change now that the kids have moved out. Tickets to see this beloved comedy veteran cost £18 and can be booked at trinitytheatre.net SATURDAY Enter a world of pure imagination and industrial tribunals with the Wadhurst Dramatic Club’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the musical). The show starts at 7.30pm, and you can expect Oompa Loompas, spoilt children, chocolate rivers and plenty of singing and

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

dancing. Not recommended for those whose new year resolutions involve giving up sweets! Golden tickets cost £8 for adults and £5 for under 16s, and can be booked online at wadhurstdramatics.co.uk Salomons Estate is celebrating Burns Night from 7.30pm this evening. Enjoy neeps, tatties and haggis (which are notoriously hard to catch), in a three-course meal for £28.50. There will also be poetry reading and whisky, so book your place by calling 01892 515152 or by emailing: reservations@ salomons-esate.com

SUNDAY Grab your binoculars and join local bird expert Liz for the Big Garden Bird Watch at Grosvenor and Hilbert Park. This survey gives you opportunity to help the RSPB track bird numbers and see ducks, moorhens, black headed gulls and kingfishers. The event is free to attend, and you should meet Liz at The Hub wearing suitable clothing. For more information, visit fogh.org.uk The Winter Lantern Parade is returning to Tunbridge Wells on Saturday February 8, and in preparation you can attend one of many Lantern Making Workshops available in the run-up. Today’s workshop will be at St Barnabas’ Primary School from 10am-12.30pm. If you fancy having a go, you can purchase a lantern pack from between £5 and £10 to take home or to use in the workshop, with plenty of helpful volunteers on hand to help you out. For more information and to book tickets, go to facebook.com/WinterLanternParade NJAMBI MCGRATH See the comedian at the EM Forster Theatre

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MONDAY See the new exhibition at Tonbridge School’s Old Big School Gallery, Beast. Exploring the complex relationship between people and animals, Beast features sculptures and paintings from many internationally renowned artists, including Laura Ford, Mark Fairnington and Kay Walsh. Entrance WHISKY GALORE! Enjoy Burns Night at Hever Castle and Salomons Estate

CREAKY-VOICED CANADIAN Tom Stade brings his new show to Trinity Theatre

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Going Out

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is free and special events, including talks with the artists and creative workshops, will be available in the coming weeks. For more information about the exhibition, the gallery and up-coming events, visit oldbigschoolgallery.co.uk TUESDAY Black Fate is the latest immersive theatre production from Get Out Of My Space at The Beacon pub. Set in late 19th-century London, this adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet intertwines ten narratives that happen often simultaneously. As audience members you will be masked and encouraged to roam the venue, seeking answers or experiencing the action first-hand as two rival crime families vie for power in Elephant and Castle, and two young lovers try to cross the divide. Tickets £25 and can be booked at gooms.co.uk

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY See a new musical production of the Roald Dahl classic in Wadhurst

PICK OF THE WEEK Static – Mark Scammell

Trinity Theatre January 27-February 9 Artist Mark Scammell shows us a selection of his four colour crossstitch depictions of various places, spaces, nooks and crannies. His main points of interest are the overlooked, mundane and everyday environments that surround us, and the exhibition reflects his interest in merging the traditional technique of cross-stitch embroidery with the contemporary landscape. The exhibition will also feature related works on paper. The gallery is free to attend and is open when the theatre is. For more information, go to trinitytheatre.net

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Going Out

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Free entry, music from 8pm till late Saturday The Violet Jive

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites pdag.co.uk & thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday David Migden & The Twisted Roots, Harry Whitty Band Friday The Informers Saturday Closed for a private party Sunday Alex Beharrell, Hannah Richards, Rob Picazo Monday Singers’ Night

live music With Paul Dunton

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ONIGHT [Wednesday], renowned Americana/blues act David Migden & The Twisted Roots is headlining at The Grey Lady Music Lounge, with support from The Harry Whitty Band. My top picks for Friday include the superb Ezio & Lee Martin at The Tunbridge Wells Forum. And over at the The Sussex Arms Basement, there is a rockin’ night in store with Veridian topping the bill and support from Roseview and AvaGrace. Saturday night sees The Violet Jive make their debut at The Beau Nash Tavern, Riff Raff return to The Royal Oak Pub, and local three-piece The

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

Gallerys are at The Forum. For those into jazz, blues and soul, the EM Forster Theatre at Tonbridge School is hosting The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars – 60th Anniversary Concert. Fans of Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams and Adele can enjoy a triple bill tribute night at the Mercure Tunbridge Wells Hotel in Pembury. Close out the weekend in style at The Grey Lady Music Lounge on Sunday evening with local singersongwriters Alex Beharrell, Hannah Richards and Rob Picazo. Looking ahead to next week, Tuesday night will see The Punch & Judy Pub in Tonbridge host the popular duo Second Helpin’.

MUSICSTATION Bank Street, Tonbridge Booking essential For information, call 01732 350629 Thursday & Friday 8pm-9.30pm Adult band workshop, all levels welcome THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM The Common Information and tickets at twforum.co.uk Friday Ezio, Lee Martin Saturday The Gallerys, Blabbermouth, The Circus Birds THE SUSSEX ARMS BASEMENT Sussex Mews All event information and tickets at twforum.co.uk Friday Veridian, Roseview, AvaGrace THE EM FORSTER THEATRE Tonbridge School All event information and tickets at emftheatre.com Saturday The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars – 60th Anniversary Concert

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THE ROYAL OAK PUB Prospect Road Free entry Music from 8pm till late Saturday Riff Raff

The Gallerys THE MERCURE TUNBRIDGE WELLS HOTEL Pembury Music from 7pm till late Event information at mercuretunbridgewells.co.uk Saturday Multi-tribute show featuring: Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams and Adele THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim

THE CROSS KEYS PUB St John’s Road Free entry Music from 8.30pm Saturday Soul Train THE GEORGE PUB Mount Ephraim Free entry Music from 8.30pm Monday TWUNT: Ukulele Jam session THE PUNCH & JUDY PUB St Stephens Road, Tonbridge Free entry, music from 8pm Tuesday Second Helpin’ David Migden & The Twisted Roots

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food

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Tom’s tasty treats Following the news that Tom Kerridge is bringing his grooves and gourmet event Pub in the Park back to Tunbridge Wells this summer, we caught up with the Michelin-star chef to find out all about his latest book – which focuses on healthy eating…

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OM KERRIDGE – the man behind the South-East’s two Michelin-star restaurant The Hand And Flowers, and the Pub in The Park festival, which returns to Tunbridge Wells in July – has just published his latest cookbook, Lose Weight & Get Fit. The tome, which also has an accompanying BBC Two TV series, concentrates on calorie-controlled LOVING FOOD AND FITNESS Tom Kerridge

meals that can support your exercise training (Kerridge is something of a cardio fan these days), as well as your day-to-day existence. “I found myself facing the same everyday challenges that pretty much every other middle-aged bloke is,” he says wryly. “You’re constantly trying to fight against what you like eating, what you want to do, trying to fit in family life, work life, and everything else, but at the same point trying to make sure you try and eat well, and get to the gym and get moving.”

Motivated In the book there are copious salads and multiple ways with salmon, but there are also dishes you wouldn’t expect to wrangle their way into the average diet book, like home-made chocolate hazelnut spread, tahini and honey pancakes, chickpea scotch eggs, peri peri chicken and steak tacos. “It’s all about finding a balance and being motivated – physically and mentally – by the food you’re cooking and eating,” explains Tom. “As you lose weight and get fitter, you see physical changes and you recognise and feel better when you do things. “We all know that if you’re going to

buy carrots, broccoli, new potatoes, cabbages, then that is way better than going to the frozen pizza aisle and buying oven chips! “If you think that is the healthy option, you are lying to yourself. “Taking responsibility is the biggest thing, and it’s no one’s responsibility except your own.”

If you’re feeling inspired by Tom’s healthy eating philosophy, then why not give these two recipes a go?

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Malaysian beef curry Ingredients: (Serves 4) n 650g lean stewing beef n 1 tbsp vegetable oil n 1 litre fresh beef stock n 1 cinnamon stick n 2 star anise n 2 kaffir lime leaves n 150ml tinned coconut milk n 1 tbsp tamarind paste n Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper For the spice paste: n 8 shallots, quartered n 4 garlic cloves, peeled n 2 dried chillies, stalks removed n 2 long red chillies, deseeded n 2.5cm piece fresh ginger, diced n 2.5cm piece fresh galangal, diced n 2 lemongrass stems, coarse layers removed, chopped n 1 tsp ground turmeric To finish and serve: n 500g cooked brown rice (freshly cooked and drained or 2 pouches) n A handful of coriander leaves n 1 long red chilli, finely sliced METHOD: 1. First, prepare the spice paste: Put all the ingredients into a food processor along with 1 tsp salt and blend until smooth, adding a splash of water if needed. 2. Cut the beef into 2.5cm cubes. Place a large non-stick saucepan over a high heat and add the oil. When hot, add the spice paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant. 3. Add the beef and cook, stirring regularly, for 5 minutes until starting to brown. Add the stock, cinnamon, star anise and lime leaves. Bring to a low simmer, cover and cook gently for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

and cook for a further 20 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened and the beef is tender. 4. Increase the heat, stir in the coconut milk and tamarind paste and cook for a further 5 minutes. Meanwhile, if using pouches of rice, heat up according to the packet instructions. Season the curry with salt and pepper to taste and discard the cinnamon stick and star anise. 5. Divide the rice and curry between warmed bowls and top with coriander leaves and chilli slices to serve.

Miso stir-fried greens with fried egg

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk garlic is golden – don’t let it burn. 3. Add the broccoli and asparagus with 1 tablespoon water. Stir-fry for 1 minute, then toss in the mangetout and stir-fry for a further 1 minute. Add a splash more water if the pan looks like it’s drying out. 4. Add the cavolo nero, cabbage and miso mixture and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes or until the cabbage is cooked and wilted. Add the chard and cook for another minute, then remove the wok from the heat. 5. Place a medium non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Add a few sprays of oil, crack the eggs into the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. 6. Divide the greens between warmed plates and top each portion with a fried egg. Sprinkle with furikake to serve.

Ingredients: (Serves 2)  3 tbsp white miso paste  2 tbsp soy sauce  1 tbsp mirin  3-4 tbsp water  1/2 tsp vegetable oil  1/2 tsp sesame oil  3 garlic cloves, finely chopped  2.5cm piece fresh ginger, julienned  125g tenderstem broccoli  125g asparagus  125g mangetout  175g cavolo nero, ribs removed and roughly chopped (100g prepared weight)  100g Chinese leaf cabbage, thickly shredded  100g rainbow chard, roughly chopped into thirds  1-cal sunflower oil spray  2 large free-range eggs  1 tsp furikake (Japanese seasoning), to finish METHOD: 1. In a small bowl, mix the miso paste, soy sauce and mirin with two tablespoons water until smooth. 2. Place a large non-stick wok over a high heat. When it is almost smoking, add the oils, garlic and ginger and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes, until the

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Raise a dram to Rabbie

Drinks Editor James Viner says ‘slainte’ as he recommends tipples for Burns Night Suppers, which will be held this Saturday to mark the 261st anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s most revered poet

ROBERT BURNS, born on January 25, 1759, is widely deemed the national bard of Scotland. ‘Rabbie’, as he’s commonly known, lived 37 years and was a pioneer of Scottish Romanticism. The eldest of seven children, who sired 12, he composed tunes including Ode to a Haggis, Auld Lang Syne and Scots Wha Hae, which long served as Scotland’s unofficial anthem. But which drink should you pick as you tuck into the iconic haggis? Here are two bottles and a beer to enjoy on a late-January budget. 1) A WEE DRAM TO ADDRESS THE HAGGIS AND TOAST THE BARD Glen Marnoch Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Scotland (£17.49, Aldi, 40%) Whisky is traditional on Burns Night, and I recommend the lightly peaty and floral splendour of Aldi’s Glen Marnoch Highland Single Malt Whisky to sip with your haggis, tatties and mashed neeps. Hats off to Aldi, fresh from winning Supermarket of the Year and Own Brand Supermarket of the Year at the 2020 Icons of Whisky Scotland Awards, because it’s hard to beat this breezy, no-agestatement single malt whisky (which displays evident sherry

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Lose Weight & Get Fit by Tom Kerridge is published by Bloomsbury Absolute, priced £22 Photography Cristian Barnett

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cask influence) for the price. It is medium-weight but fabulously persistent on the palate, too. Have a nip on the rocks and/or pour a little over the haggis, enjoying the rest of it in a Bobby Burns cocktail, adding sweet vermouth, Drambuie and a couple dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters. Grand value and an Aldi must-buy. 2) SUB £10 GENTLY PEPPERY, FULL-BODIED RED WINE 2017 Ventoux Remy Ferbras, Southern Rhône, France (£8.79, Waitrose, 14%) For the non-whisky drinkers who still wish to commemorate the Bard of Ayshire with a haggis dinner, swap the Scotch for a full-bodied, grenache/syrah/mourvèdre (GSM) blend from the southern Rhône, Australia and elsewhere. This one is a spicy, herbal and peppery French country red from the lower slopes of Mont Ventoux with a big heart and a bold character. Lock and load for your happy haggis hour this Saturday.

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3) CHEERS TO THE BEER THAT’LL HEIGHTEN THE HAGGIS FLAVOUR (£2.39, BeerHawk, widely available) This Wolf strong ale from Scotland’s Windswept Brewery makes a suitably robust partner for the gamey flavours of haggis. Follow James Viner on Twitter @QuixoticWine

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Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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Advertorial

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Transform your smile with dental implants Are you tired of uncomfortable dentures or embarrassed by missing teeth? Dr Jasper Westhuizen of Hill House Dental Care explains how dental implants could be the solution Why get dental implants? As busy restorative dentists and implant surgeons, we carry out some form of implant-related dentistry every day. And it never ceases to amaze us how dental implants can improve a person’s confidence and general wellbeing. No one wants to feel self-conscious about their smile when they’re out socialising or meeting new friends. It’s no surprise, then, that an increasing number of people want to get rid of their existing dentures and replace them with implants.

‘No one wants to feel selfconscious about their smile when they’re out socialising’

How dental implants work One of the common problems our patients face is a lower denture that constantly moves around and falls out – especially when it comes to eating and drinking. Fortunately, a straightforward way to remedy this problem is by using two dental implants to help hold a denture in place in the lower jaw. This treatment has become so successful, it’s regarded within the profession as the gold standard of treatment for a person with missing teeth. Once the dental implants have been placed in the lower jaw, locators are fitted to the implants – and retaining caps fitted into the denture. These work in a similar fashion to a press stud, clipping the denture down on to the lower jaw.

MEET THE DENTIST for you beforehand. MANY practices tend to refer to As every implant case is specialists to carry out treatments. bespoke, successful At Hill House, all our in-house treatment relies clinicians carry a wealth on skilled dental of experience and professionals qualifications. working together Jasper is a highly with ease. experienced general Hill House dentist and provides patients implant restoration appreciate for missing or failing that the team teeth and full jaw can keep them implant restorations. comfortable He has gathered throughout experience and treatment, knowledge in many and you can aspects of dentistry. feel sure that you Jasper has numerous are receiving the postgraduate qualifications advice and care of a in orthodontics, sedation, knowledgeable and highly implant dentistry and facial experienced dental team. aesthetics, and accepts If you are nervous in a clinical referrals for these. Dr Jasper Westhuizen environment, or would prefer to Jasper has completed sedation be completely relaxed during your treatment, training through the Society for the Hill House also offer dental sedation. Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry in addition to training in implant dentistry and bone augmentation. He has since worked with EXCLUSIVE AND FRIENDLY CARE many patients to deliver sedation and oral Hill House Dental Care has a relaxed surgery, including implants. atmosphere that instantly puts patients at Jasper’s interests include: Sedation; ease; from the friendly smiles at reception to cosmetics; implants to reconstruct and the modern décor, their aim is to be a cut above rejuvenate the often-debilitating effects of your average dental practice. tooth loss and dentures; head and neck, The team are known for their warm welcome relieving migraines and headaches from a and are experienced in ensuring that clients are pressure build-up and/or painful restricted always comfortable and relaxed. mouth opening with clicking jaw joints. Patients can expect to receive expert care both during and after treatment.

OVER 15 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE

If you’re hoping to restore your false teeth for good, we can help. Here at Hill House Dental Care, we’ve been placing dental implants and helping patients restore their smile for over 15 years. We can help you gain a set of natural-looking teeth using dental implants and bridgework. We’re also able to replace individual or multiple teeth without damaging any neighbouring teeth, so you can get rid of that partial denture, too. What’s more, our practice is fully equipped with a CT scanner – which allows us to determine an appropriate treatment option

How to book an appointment at Hill House Dental Care: Call our friendly reception team on 01892 888630 to book on appointment, or to find our more, visit hillhousedental.co.uk

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travel

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‘WHO GOES THAR?’ Below: An orca calf spy-hopping to look at whalewatching boats in Northern Norway

Travel

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Wednesday January 22 | 2020

Natural born thrillers

Why swimming with ocean predator whales can be safer than you think Norway is one of the best places to snorkel with orcas. Sarah Marshall takes a deep breath…

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OME call them sea wolves, others prefer the term killer. Claiming the broadest prey base of any animal, orcas have rightfully earned their reputation for being skilled ocean hunters. Yet respect for the apex predators has always been counter-balanced by fear: Ancient mariners labelled them monsters, and in Roman mythology Orcus was a god of the underworld. But despite a degree of mistrust, both fishermen and their foes have one thing in common – the same prize lures them to the cold, rough waters of the Norwegian sea. Every year, millions of herring overwinter along the northern Norwegian coast having spawned further south. This protein-rich magnet attracts a procession of orcas, humpbacks, open sea birds and – more recently – tourists. Right now, slamming through waves on a RIB boat, I’m one of them. For years I’ve been fascinated by whales – their intelligence, tactical hunting strategies and complex social interactions which we still don’t fully understand. Observing from the surface is one thing, but so much more goes on down below. If even for a moment, I want to be part of their world.

SWIMMING WITH KILLERS Norwegian entrepreneur Rolf Malnes began offering orca snorkelling safaris in 1996 in the Lofoten Islands, where herring returned for two decades to the same fjords. At that time, whale watching was a novel activity, and getting in the water with these ‘sea monsters’ was – in many quarters – considered a death wish. “I remember hearing a story about one fisherman who saw a pod of orcas approaching and pulled in his nets immediately, he was so afraid,” chuckles Rolf, who admits he has no official background in marine biology, but has learned along the way. His scientific backup comes from cetacean expert Tiu Simila, who’s studied Norwegian whale populations since the 1980s. Sharing similar tales of ingrained local prejudice and fear, she recalls using newspaper reports warning fishermen killer whales were in the area to locate their whereabouts and conduct her own research. Beyond simple superstitions, there was an economic driver for these beliefs: Herring stocks were depleting and orcas were being blamed. Between 1979 and 1981, Tiu says 171 animals were killed in hunts partially subsidised by the government, until light

TO BOLDLY GO… Swimming underwater with ‘killer’ whales bulbs illuminated and overfishing was understood to be the real culprit. A MOVABLE FEAST Where herring go, orcas follow – forcing whale watching tours to shift operations accordingly. After several winter seasons in Tromso, the fish have moved north to fjords around the municipality of Skjerv0y. Between November and January, Rolf has chosen to base his company, Lofoten

Opplevelser, out of the cosy Reisafjord hotel in Sorkjosen. In December, when sun-starved days stretch into one long polar night, mountains loom like hulking spectres above the tiny, waterside village, which – conveniently – has its own airport. Flights from Tromso take less than 30 minutes, but run infrequently, generally requiring an overnight stay one way. Accommodation in the aurora capital

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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ON THE LOOKOUT A swimmer waiting for orcas goes quickly, so I booked an Airbnb – a more convenient and economical option all round. Otherwise, it’s a three-and-a-half-hour journey by road. MY BIGGEST FEAR? THE COLD A latitude of 70 degrees north should plunge these fjords into a deep freeze, although the warming effects of the Gulf Stream keep channels ice-free. But science had done little to ease my anxieties earlier that morning, as I squeezed into padded under-armour and a bulky dry suit. Clumsy gloves and a neoprene balaclava – which made me look like some sort of aquatic crusader – had prepared me for the worst. In truth, the water was a ‘mild’ 6°C – which was hard to imagine from the discomfort of our sea-spray-soaked, 12-passenger RIB boat. Fine splinters of half-light groaned from far below our jagged horizon, and waves blacker than a moonless sky swirled with the viscosity of oil. As blasts of hail pelted my skin like a rain

‘A humpback the size of a bus blinked at me. We locked eyes for less than a second, but it felt like forever – a moment I’d never forget’ shower of steel nails, I began to ask myself: “Why am I here?” That question dangled far longer than I’d have liked as we searched for a pod willing to accept our company. Rolf believes a successful whale watching encounter hinges on respect for the animals: “First of all, we need to read their behaviour,” he insists. “If they go away from us, we have to wait.” TWO TIMES LUCKY Orca safaris depart once per day, lasting around three to four hours – equivalent to the amount of twilight at this time of year. To maximise my chances, I booked two excursions. No trip, says Rolf, is ever the same.

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Multiple calves are born in winter, so it’s not uncommon to see babies porpoising alongside mothers or playfully flicking their flukes in the air. Being so low to the water, we were at eye level with their dorsal fins as they sliced through waves like butter. But it was my second outing the following day that really delivered the goods. Predictions of gale force winds kept most boats in the harbour, but any storm clouds lost their puff overnight. During the commercial fishing season, smart whales follow trawlers, but with quotas met by mid-December (they start again in January), the marine mammals find food for themselves. In low light and darkness, herring rose to the surface, and a flock of squawking gulls diving and circling indicated a feeding frenzy was about to take place. Picking up pace, we flew alongside orcas as they surfed over whitecaps, firing faster than bullets. Four colossal humpbacks soon joined the party, waving their angel-white pectoral fins with glee. Amidst the chaos, with revellers happily distracted, Rolf told us it was time to get in. IN THEIR WORLD Sharp and unexpected, the cold was breathsnatching – so, too, was the spectacle ahead. Flecks of shiny fish scales sparkled like stardust in an underwater universe, where orcas twist and turned with a mesmerising combination of athletic power and balletic grace. Above the surface, fins slapped and feathers flapped chaotically, illuminated by a pillar box of orange light bleeding through the dark sky. Down below, it was slow and calm, allowing me to tune into the whales’ communicative clicks, squeals and groans. Anyone who’s watched the controversial documentary Blackfish, which recounts the sad story of captive whale Tilikum, might have reservations about getting into the water with these ‘killers’. The truth is, there have been no reported fatal attacks on humans in the wild – and as I turned my head, I was frozen in awe and wonder rather than fear.

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Metres away, a humpback the size of a bus blinked at me; given excellent visibility, the ventral grooves beneath its chin were remarkably clear. We locked eyes for less than a second, but it felt like forever – and I know (to coin a cliché) this was one of those moments I’d never forget. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Although there are no guarantees, Rolf predicts herring will return to this area next season. A lucrative fishing industry also justifies detailed studies into their movements. Wherever they go, an increasing number of tourist boats will tag along – a topic of constant debate amongst veterans who’ve been offering these tours for some time. Remarkably, there are no official whale-watching regulations enforced in Norway, making it even more imperative to choose an operator who understands and respects wildlife, because it’s humans who pose the real dangers. Defying so many outmoded beliefs, these masterful mammals were simply born to thrill.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP Visit Lapland offer the Swim with Orca in Norway activity for £217 per person, alongside a wide range of whale watching, dogsledding, Northern Lights, Sami or snowmobiling experiences. visitlapland.com Double rooms at Reisafjord Hotel cost from £137 per night with breakfast. reisafjord-hotel.com For affordable and flexible accommodation in Tromso, visit Airbnb. airbnb.co.uk

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Motors

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Motoring News

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

This week… n Animal dangers n An SUV for summer n More electrification

Our dangerous encounters with animals on the road

MORE than half of UK drivers have hit or experienced a near-miss with an animal, new research has revealed. Data from GoCompare found 51% of 2,000 UK drivers have had an animal-related incident on the road. Of those, 68% say they experienced an incident while on a country road, with 24% saying one had happened while in an urban setting. In 66% of cases, the blame for accidents or near misses was animals running out on the road, while 22% blamed driving at night. Speed or distraction was blamed by 8%. This research did, however, suggest the time of day wasn’t a huge factor in incidents happening, with 32% occurring in broad daylight and 29% in the evening/dusk.

Shockingly, 68% of respondents said they wouldn’t know what to do in the event of hitting a larger animal. By law, the police must be informed if a driver hits a dog, horse, cattle, sheep, pig or goat. But 39% of drivers who had hit an animal admitted to driving on without stopping. In 27% of incidents, common birds were the victim. Cats fell in second at 23%, while large game birds accounted for 20%. GoCompare Chief Executive Lee Griffin said: “While some encounters may not be dangerous, a close call with an animal on the road can happen anywhere and at any time… “The action taken by a driver to avoid a bird can be just as dangerous as hitting a large mammal.” BEWARE OF THE UNEXPECTED More than half of drivers have hit or had a near-miss with an animal on the road

READY TO ORDER The impressive SUV variant

Pricing revealed for new Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 IT HAS been announced that the price of the new, performance-focused Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 is £48,665. The SUV variant features a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 302bhp and 400Nm of torque, promising 0-60mph in five seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Efficiency-wise, it’s said to deliver up to 32.5mpg while emitting 171g/km of CO2. GLB 35 models come with an eightspeed automatic transmission coupled to all-wheel drive and AMG adaptive damping. Inside the car, standard equipment includes Mercedes’ latest MBUX infotainment system with voice activation, a 10.25-inch digital cockpit

display and 10.25-inch central touchscreen, augmented reality navigation, DAB radio, and smartphone integration with wireless charging. Other equipment includes LED headlights with adaptive high beam, a panoramic sunroof, 20-inch AMG alloy wheels in matt black, heated front seats and a Burmester surround sound system. The GLB 35 also gets Mercedes’ driving assistance package, which features various driver aids such as parking assistance, route-based cruise control speed adjustments, lanekeeping assist and automatic braking. The Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 is available to order now, with deliveries scheduled to begin this summer.

Hyundai plans new models for 2020 HYUNDAI has revealed plans for a variety of new models in both its traditional ‘i’ series of cars as well as in the SUV segment. An all-new version of the firm’s i20 hatch is expected to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Later on in the year, we will see the arrival of two updated SUV models – likely to be the Sante Fe and Kona – with an all-new model arriving after that. Given Hyundai’s push towards electrification – the firm expects to electrify 75 per cent of its line-up by the end of the year, including mild hybrids – it’s likely that this new SUV will be electrified in some way.

Important Hyundai Motor UK MD Ashley Andrew told the PA news agency: “Electrification is incredibly important. We’re in a great position because we have a lot of electric and alternatively fuelled vehicles in the market right now, and we’ve got a significant increase in the number of electric vehicles we’ve got coming through for 2020. “At the moment, 75% of our cars come with an electrified option, and as we move to 2025 everything will have an electrified option. “With i10 we give a proposition which is attractive to our existing customers, and at the same time we can attract new customers with more of the electric SUV.” Hyundai also has plans to introduce a new battery-electric vehicle and new crossover in 2021.

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Recruitment

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

WITH THE

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

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

CODEWORD 4

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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.

1 2 6 9

6 3

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7 3 9 4

7

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5 6 9

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

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

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DIFFICULTY RATING:★★★✩

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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★✩✩✩

CLASSIFIEDS

Life&Times

Puzzles

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 a forthcoming issue

B U T T O N A R N N E A R S J F T O F F A V I G A R C H E R N T A I WA N I S GO L I A T U E N A N S O N

S S E K I N I Z E R A D G U H N E S E X Q H U A A M E L

T AM P L O T I A L B Y G I N G O NMA N A R E P Q O S U A L I K I S S A

1 6 7 4 9 8 5 3 2

4 5 2 6 3 7 1 8 9

5 2 3 1 7 6 8 9 4

9 5 8 3 1 6 2 7 4

6 8 7 5 9 4 3 1 2

2 3 4 9 8 5 7 6 1

Sudoku:

2 9 5 7 6 1 3 4 8

3 4 8 2 5 9 6 7 1

7 1 6 8 4 3 9 2 5

8 3 9 5 1 2 4 6 7

9 8 4 3 2 5 7 1 6

6 7 1 9 8 4 2 5 3

Jigsaw Sudoku:

7 6 5 1 3 2 9 4 8

8 4 9 2 7 1 5 3 6

1 2 3 8 4 7 6 5 9

4 7 2 6 5 9 1 8 3

5 1 6 4 2 3 8 9 7

3 9 1 7 6 8 4 2 5

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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Wednesday January 22 | 2020

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Sport

FOR EVENstories MOREto: NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.ukor newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Please send sports newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Wednesday January 22 | 2020

Eilidh makes her point with medal at nationals By Andy Tong

EN GARDE Eilidh (right) takes on her Tunbridge Wells team-mate Lloyd Osbourne

FENCING: TEN-year-old Eilidh Paterson is

following in her mother’s footsteps as she becomes a rising star in the discipline of fencing. She is preparing for her first international competition at the renowned Challenge Wratislavia event in Poland after making her mark in the English championships. Eilidh, from Langton Green, won a bronze medal in the National Grand Final of the Elite Epee Junior Series in Peterborough in the Under-10s category. The Elite Epee Junior Series is a league which takes place across the country throughout the year, with the top eight in the rankings qualifying for the Grand Final. Eilidh fences at the Royal Tunbridge Wells Fencing Club and was joined by another local prospect, Alexander Lambert of Tonbridge School, at the final. She took up the sport at the age of eight, inspired by her mother Valerie Cramb, who used to compete for Scotland and Great Britain. She said: “My mum used to Fence so I wanted to give it a go. I went to a trial course and really liked it so I haven’t stopped. “I go to a good club in Tunbridge Wells, which

Championships. After she retired she became the Scotland team’s manager for eight years. Valerie said: “I got into fencing through school in Scotland. It enabled me to be part of some great teams, travel the world and make some long-lasting friendships. “To succeed in fencing, like any sport, takes a lot of training, dedication and commitment. “It would be great if Eilidh went on to get as much enjoyment and sense of achievement from the sport as I did. “But she is still young and also swims at RTW Monson, plays netball and attends Italia Conti

is really friendly. Fencing is fast, exciting and fun, and I have made lots of friends.” Eilidh, who is now part of the RTW Advanced Junior Squad, will be taking part in her first international competition in Wroclaw in March, in the Under-11 Girls’ Epee. Valerie won the British Championships in her youth and went on to represent Scotland at four Commonwealth Championships, winning a team medal in all of them and an individual silver medal in 2002. She was also part of the Great Britain team at the World Student Games and then three World

[Academy of Theatre Arts] – so who knows what direction she will take? “It’s important that Eilidh is doing something she enjoys, and the Royal Tunbridge Wells Fencing Club is a friendly, welcoming club.” The club is held in the Territorial Army Centre on St John’s Road on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. Junior beginners’ classes are available on Sundays from 10-11.30am and Mondays from 6.30-7.30pm, while adult beginners’ sessions are on Thursdays from 7.30-8.30pm. For more information visit rtwfencingclub.com

Islanders’ fights back in try-fest

DOUBLE TROUBLE Angus Horne scores one of his tries

Tunbridge Wells 30 Guernsey Raiders 33

PHOTO: Bruce Elliot

By Graham Withers RUGBY: WITH St Marks suffering the effects of heavy rainfall, the 4G facility at Bennett Memorial school became the venue for a tough challenge against a powerful Guernsey side. The home side got off to a flier when the ball found its way to tight-head prop Carl Straeche on the right wing and he powered over for his first try in the senior side after three minutes, but Frank Reynolds missing the conversion. Wells had an attacking line-out 15 metres out and from the ensuing maul Mike Doherty forced his way wide on the left, but the conversion was missed. The home side would not let Guernsey into the game. Full-back Ryan TaylorDennehy ran deep into the opposition half and slipped the ball to Angus Horne, who dived over for another unconverted try on 17 minutes. Guernsey’s large pack finally got their team on the scoreboard from the maul,

though this time it was Owen Thomas’s turn to miss the conversion on a tough day for kickers. Replacement Matt Spicer responded by engineering an exquisite pop-up pass to Eddie Croft, the scrum-half crossing out wide on the left for the bonus point try after 27 minutes but he did not convert. The visiting pack were starting to demonstrate a clear edge and a powerful pick-and-go saw them score again, with Thomas converting the first kick of the day at the sixth attempt. Mike Doherty was cleared out illegally by visiting prop Jacob Pinkney, who received a yellow card. When a penalty was awarded to Wells, there was a bout of ‘handbags’ that led to two more players heading to the sin-bin, Wells’ Stuart Nicholls and Guernsey’s flanker Dom Rice. After Reynolds kicked for the corner from another penalty, the Wells backs joined the maul and lifted Tui Tauaika over the line for an unconverted try, giving the hosts a 25-12 lead at half-time.

Eight minutes into the second half Horne set off on a pacy run down the left and crossed in the corner for his second try, which was not converted. But it was now that Guernsey turned the tide. After a series of drives No 8 Doug Horrocks burrowed over under the posts, Thomas converting. Nick Doherty was sent to the sin bin and from the ensuing lineout a driving maul surged over, Thomas adding the extras to reduce the deficit to four points. A high-tackle penalty then saw Guernsey pick-and-drive at the posts before cleverly switching the play back to the blind side for left wing Mike AgyeiKing to cross. Thomas’ fine touchline conversion give the visitors a three-point lead on 72 minutes. Injury to Tauaika saw Wells down to 14 players but they held on for a richly deserved bonus point as Guernsey ran down the clock. Wells entertain league leaders Rochford Hundred on Saturday (January 25, kick-off 2pm).

Taunton Titans 20 Tonbridge Juddians 5 RUGBY: A RUN of five straight wins over Taunton

came to an end when National Two South leaders TJs travelled to Somerset for a crunch match against the third-placed Titans. TJs were presented with a golden opportunity from the kick-off when Taunton conceded a penalty but they lost the ensuring lineout, which was to become a major failing. The match settled into a largely even contest with Taunton having the better of position and possession. An attacking line-out close to TJs’ line saw the home side take the maul over the line for hooker Alex Spurdle to score an unconverted try. Tonbridge’s response was immediate as speedy winger Tom Chapman wriggled his way through the home defence for a try that was not converted. Taunton took the lead again with a penalty

kick by full-back Gary Kingdom and the home side went in at the break 8-5 ahead. Then Taunton took advantage as TJs conceded penalties and through their first effort was ruled out, a second drive off the scrum brought a close-quarters try for prop Isaac Dalton which was converted by Kingdom. The visitors’ position worsened when Taunton scored their third try off a driving line-out, again through prop Dalton. It was was not converted. Home flanker Ratu Vakalutukali received a yellow card but TJs failed to take advantage when they lost the lineout again. Taunton piled on the pressure in the last 10 minutes but were denied a further try. TJs drop to second place in the table, four points behind Henley Hawks while Taunton close the points gap on TJs to four. Tonbridge now host Worthing at The Slade on Saturday (January 25, kick-off 2.30pm).

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

TJs knocked off the top by tough title rivals Taunton

TITANIC STRUGGLE A rare TJs attack is held up

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Wednesday January 22 | 2020

Sport

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Dylan shows promise on World stage By Andy Tong

‘Keep up the good work Dylan! It was a pleasure to see you playing in the WSF tournament’ PHOTO: Matt Huart of World Snooker

SNOOKER: LOCAL potting prodigy Dylan Smith was the youngest player to qualify for the knockout stages when he made his world debut in Malta this month. The 12-year-old was taking part in the inaugural WSF (World Snooker Federation) Junior Open for under-18s at the new Malta Snooker Academy. The six-day tournament featured 55 young players from around the world, with the winner receiving a two-year professional card for the main World Snooker tour and $5,000. In the group stage Dylan found himself up against China’s Yi Ze Wu, a 16-year-old who narrowly lost a match against, professional player, John Higgins 5-4. His first opponent, though, was a nine-year-old Moldovan, Matvei Lagodzinschii, and Dylan found himself locked in an early battle. The Mascalls pupil took the first frame 64-46 but Matvei hit back in the second, winning it 64-35. Dylan responded in style, taking took two frames in a row, 58-33 and 67-45. The second day saw him having to play two matches, against the Polish junior No 2 Lukasz Jezierski, 16, and China’s No 1 Yi. The first contest began in similar fashion with Dylan taking the first frame by 41 points to 52 but then losing the second on the final black ball, 58-48. Again the Paddock Wood tyro came back strongly to take the next two frames, 52-44 followed by a crushing 45-7 margin. Yi is a regular century breaker and he proved too strong for his English opponent, winning three frames 78-10, 101-1 and 87-27 including a break of 73 in the second. Dylan did manage a classy break of 24 in the final frame after which Yi’s father and coach

POCKET ROCKET Dylan Smith lines up a pot

Jason Ferguson World Snooker Chairman

talked to Dylan and his father Lee on Google translate, praising the youngster’s cue action and professional attitude. On the third day Dylan lost 3-0 again, this time to the experienced 16-year-old England international Isa Ishtiaq from Leeds (49-29, 52-44, 63-50).

Impressive But he impressed again in the final frame with a break of 26 and was confident of going through to the knockout stages. After those two defeats, however, his frame average was poor and he had to contest a preliminary play-off match. He found himself up against the experienced Welsh international Bradley Tyson, 16, with the

Two Rustics see red as defeat dents ambition Stansfeld 1 Rusthall 0 By Rich Smith FOOTBALL: RUSTHALL suffered a severe blow in their bid for promotion when they lost to mid-table Stansfeld while their rivals at the top of Southern Counties East League Division One all won. It was to prove a bad-tempered contest which was marred by three red cards. The game was fairly even in the first half with Rusthall’s prolific Reuel Powell- Downey having several chances to take the lead. The only goal came in the 40th minute when the Stansfeld forward Macey Malyon, found himself one-on-one with the keeper and side-footed past him into the net. The Rustics’ Steve Comacho was sent off late in the first half for a second bookable offence. And just one minute later Stansfeld’s left-back was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Louis Anderson, making it ten against ten. Then in the 82nd minute Rusthall centre-half Robbie Bissett went on a run from deep within his own half. On the edge of the Stansfeld penalty area the ball bobbled away from him, he made a desperate lunge to retrieve it and was also sent off. The setback leaves Rusthall in third place, three points behind leaders Rochester United with two games in hand. Rusthall now visit Bridon Ropes, who have already beaten them this season, on Saturday (January 25, kick-off 3pm). Tonbridge Angels’ National League South fixture against Hampton & RIchmond at Longmead Stadium on Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.This Saturday they travel to Billericay Town (kick-off 3pm).

YELLOW PERIL Steve Camacho was sent off for two bookings

winner going on to play in the last 32 against England’s No 1, Sean Maddocks. Tyson raced into a convincing lead, taking the first frame by 53 points to 10, but a tired-looking Dylan drew on his reserves again and came back in frame two to win 53-26. Tyson stamped his authority back on the tie, taking the third 58-28, only to see Dylan fight back again convincingly to win frame four 53-20. The decider was a tense affair with Tyson making the early running and Dylan mounting an impressive comeback. But it proved too little too late and Tyson went on to clear the final colours and take the frame 61-26 to win an epic tussle 3-2. Tyson lost to Maddocks in the next round, with the English boy going on to reach the final where he lost to China’s Gao Yang, 15; his compatriot Yi

lost to him in the semi-final. Lee was bullish about his son’s prospects afterwards, saying: “I think we saw a glimpse of the Dylan of the future in frames two and four, and it was enthralling to watch. “I would predict not only a professional career for him but a potential world champion in the making.” He added: “Dylan can be proud of his efforts here, as he played in a sporting and professional style and has made many new friends and admirers from around the world. “He can reflect that he was the youngest player to make the knockout stages of the tournament.” World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson tweeted: “Keep up the good work Dylan! It was a pleasure to see you playing in the WSF tournament.”