Times of Tunbridge Wells 25th January 2017

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OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

FOOTBALLER ‘SO EXCITED’ TO SIGN FOR CHAMPIONS LEICESTER CITY Page 103

RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AT ODDS OVER NEW PARKING PLANS Page 5

CANDICE KICKS OFF 16 PAGES OF FOOD AND DRINK FOR ALL TASTES See inside

For details of how to enter see page 10

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All the news that matters

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Wednesday January 25 | 2017

BREXIT LEGISLATION IN DAYS – DESPITE RULING ON NEED FOR A VOTE Page 14

Curtain goes up on civic complex and theatre

IMPRESSIVE What the new development could look like

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A VISION of what Tunbridge Wells may look like in five years’ time was unveiled by the borough council on Monday as plans for the town’s most ambitious redevelopment project for 80 years forge ahead.

Concept images of the proposed civic complex, and the new theatre set to be built on the site of the Great Hall car park, reveal the grand scale of the task ahead.

The £70 million project has in large part been pushed forward by Council Leader David Jukes, who believes there is an ‘obligation’ to deliver something for

future generations that will boost the local economy and make Tunbridge Wells ‘a centre for the arts’.

It will see the council eventually relocate to a new 50,000sq ft building on Mount Pleasant Avenue away from the current Town Hall which the council believe is no longer fit for purpose.

Silent majority Both the new civic complex and 1,200 seat theatre, partly modelled on Canterbury’s Marlowe, will be built overlooking Calverley Grounds and accompanied by an underground car park with 253 spaces.

The project has not been without its crit-

ics. Various councillors from each party, members of the public and some organisations in the town have questioned the cost and viability of the scheme.

But the project is supported by the majority of councillors. In the immediate wake of the EU referendum result, the council voted overwhelmingly to approve a £2million funding package to see plans reach the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) project stage three, defined as the ‘Developed Design’ level.

Cllr Jukes believes it will attract the support of the ‘silent majority’ of residents.

For full story see pages 6-7

A FAMILIAR SIGHT Calverley Grounds today

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Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Police investigate the school assault that led to a strike threat by teachers JOINING FORCES: (L-R) Jim Stewart, Raheem Sherazi, Cliff Allen, Yasser Balesaria and Mark Barker

Christians and Muslims come together in move to ‘meet hate with love’ PEOPLE of different nationalities, ethnicities and faiths (or none) will be joining together in an event at the Town Hall in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday called ‘Love Your Neighbour’.

It has been organised by Churches for Tunbridge Wells (CfTW), Tonbridge and Area Churches Together (TACT), and the Muslim community of Tunbridge Wells and surrounding area.

Individuals are invited to take along an A4 or A3 sized sign with the words ‘Love Your Neighbour’ written in their native language as part of an initiative to bring people together from different backgrounds.

Cliff Allen, one of the organisers said: “As local Christian and Muslim communities we wanted to offer an opportunity to draw people together in a positive way to build greater

community cohesion.

“It is our desire that we meet hate with love, confusion with hope, anger with peace and fear with joy, and this begins by getting to know those who live around us, and doing something positive in their lives.’

Yasser Balesaria, another organiser of the event said: “We hear a lot about being ‘tolerant’ of others, but tolerance can be quite passive, whereas the call to ‘Love our Neighbour’ is powerful and positive and can have a profound impact in our community.

“The motto of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is ‘Love Where You Live’, but we are calling on people to ‘Love Your Neighbour – where you live.’”

The event will be held on Saturday January 28 from 1.30-3pm on the steps outside the Town Hall.

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By Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

THE ‘serious assault’ on a member of staff by a pupil at Saint Gregory’s Catholic School, which led to the threat of strike action by some teachers, is being investigated by Kent Police.

As reported exclusively in the Times last week, 24 members of staff at the Reynolds Lane School threatened to take industrial action following what they perceived to have been the school’s poor handling of the incident, which took place on December 16.

Officials from the National Union of Teachers (NUT), representing the school’s staff, had also threatened to refuse to teach the pupil concerned and were pushing for their expulsion.

But on January 19 a spokesman for the school said it was now ‘very unlikely’ the union will take action after an agreement had been reached.

The statement said: “An incident was reported on December 16 which has been investigated and the school’s behaviour policy and exclusion procedures have been followed.

“The school is very clear about its responsibilities for the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff and we have been working closely with the teachers’ unions to ensure that our staff are assured that we meet those responsibilities.

“Agreement has been reached with the union on the measures the school has been taking and it is very unlikely that any further union action will take place.”

A spokesman for the NUT confirmed that

SCHOOL PROTEST Union action is ‘very unlikely’ constructive talks with the school have taken place, and said the union ‘hoped’ strike action would not prove necessary.

The union added: “Following an assault – by a student on an NUT member – NUT members at St Gregory’s Catholic School, Tunbridge Wells believed that the response by the school and the Academy Trust was insufficient to secure the safety of staff and students.

“Members called on the NUT for support and were willing to be balloted for industrial action if the matter could not be resolved through negotiation.

“In discussions on January 18 the school

and the Trust were keen to reassure the NUT and its members that they were taking the matter extremely seriously, further measures to be taken by the school were discussed, and next steps are being shared with staff at the school.

“The discussions were positive and will continue. It is hoped that the need for any industrial action can be avoided.”

Kent Police have confirmed to the Times that they are investigating the incident. A spokesman said: “Kent Police is investigating a reported assault alleged to have taken place at a school in Tunbridge Wells on December 16, 2016. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Financial manager charged with fraud Mental health gets a £250,000 boost A WOMAN has been accused of fraudulently taking more than £200,000 while working at Calverley House in Tunbridge Wells.

Klare Meyer, 36, of Northwood Road, Tonbridge, is alleged to have taken the money while working as the Ice Organisation’s Financial Manager between February 2011 and February 2016.

She faced five charges of fraud by abuse of position. She pleaded guilty to one charge, relating to the largest figure of £170,835.14, at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court.

She pleaded not guilty to four other charges of defrauding an additional £35,000 via wages and company credit cards.

She will now appear at Maidstone Crown Court on February 7, after being released on unconditional bail.

The company was launched by former Airmiles Managing Director Jude Thorne in 2010. It runs the Ice Loyalty Scheme which allows customers to earn credit and rewards from shopping with associated brands, such as Marks & Spencer and John Lewis.

A FUND of a quarter of a million pounds has been announced to tackle the fact that a third of police time is spent dealing with mental health issues.

Bids for a share of the money can be made by charities and local authorities, who can soften the burden on the county force by providing services for people in crisis. Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, said the current situation was ‘not sustainable’.

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF BEING LEADER OF THE COUNCIL AND PLAYING SOLOMON BEEN a bit of a mixed week for the people who beaver away at the Town Hall. On the upside came the unveiling of their plans for the new theatre and civic complex. Wow, what a dream initiative. On the downside came the escalation of the parking showdown between businesses and residents. Wow, what a nightmare.

First, though, that development project for the centre of Tunbridge Wells.

The initial mock-ups are impressive and if everything goes to plan, in about five years we will end up with a flagship theatre and civic complex that takes this town to another level.

For example, the theatre will pull in major productions, attracting bigger overall audiences and generating an additional £25million plus for local businesses. Not bad.

There will be those who oppose the

development and some of them will have personal agendas. But with the way the scheme is to be financed and with the promise that the current Assembly Hall will not be closed until the new place is open – and the same with the Town Hall offices – it’s hard to generate much enthusiasm for protest.

When the protests start, and they will, most will be directed at the man behind the scheme, the Council Leader David Jukes. He has to be the original ‘Marmite Man’. You love him or hate him and it’s probably an even split.

But there’s one thing you can’t take away from him; he gets things done. He’s been the driving force behind this new development and it’s not just because he wants to leave a legacy.

He cares about the town, even though he lives outside the boundaries.

We should all wish him well in his endeavours.

That’s the upside of Cllr Jukes’ job. Now let’s look at the more interesting challenge he has; needing the Judgement of Solomon.

That’s the Biblical king, who displayed much wisdom – not the local country estate, which is spelt differently.

Cllr Jukes will have to decide which way he wants to come down in the fight between residents near The Pantiles who believe parking spaces outside their homes should be reserved for them and them alone, and nearby businesses who believe their customers should be allowed to park in those spaces when they are shopping.

It’s a classic lose-lose for the Council Leader!

Richard Moore, Editorial Director

Local News

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

Teenager faces trial for double-stabbing AN 18-YEAR-OLD who allegedly stabbed two men in Tunbridge Wells has appeared at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with wounding with intent and possessing a knife or sharp, pointed object in a public place. He had previously pleaded not guilty.

The incident took place in Dudley Road on December 14, and two men were taken to hospital with ‘injuries consistent with stab wounds’.

District Judge Paul Goldspring ordered a pre-trial hearing to be held at Medway Magistrates’ Court on February 3. A threeday trial will take place at the same court starting on February 8.

Pantiles development A VOTE will be held on whether or not to grant property firm Dandara permission to redevelop Union House tomorrow (January 26). If given the go ahead by borough councillors, it will represent one of the most significant changes to the face of The Pantiles, since the current office structure was erected in the 1960s.

The new building will house 127 residential apartments, alongside retail, office space and car parking.

An evening of dark arts WATERSTONES bookshop in Tunbridge Wells will be hosting a Harry Potter evening on February 2 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Philosopher’s Stone, the first in the series of novels by J K Rowling. Harry Potter Book Night will be held from 6pm-8pm at the store on Calverley Road. Residents are invited to put on their wizards’ outfits and attend. The event is free.

Go down to Woods...

SHOULD your Teddy be looking a bit the worse for wear or needs a spring clean, Woods restaurant on The Pantiles is offering a Teddy Bear Repair and Cleaning Service on Saturday February 4.

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Parking row that pitches business against local residents escalates Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk BATTLE lines have been drawn over council plans to greatly restrict parking across swathes of Tunbridge Wells in order to favour those with residents’ permits.

Business owners warn of the impact on their trade and while their customers have found themselves up against residents’ associations who support the proposals that will affect approximately 40 roads in the town.

Interest over changes to Zone A and C parking has been so great that the council extended the consultation deadline until January 31 so more people could submit their views. A council spokesman said they have received ‘just over’ 450 responses, so far.

One businessman based on Warwick Park has described the plans as ‘totally ludicrous’.

The proposed changes involve standardising the various parking restrictions to ‘permit holders only’ from Monday to Saturday 8am to noon and 3pm to 8pm (or 7pm on some roads) and Sunday

‘This will have a devastating effect, we may be forced to shut down’ 11am to 3pm. In effect, the changes will result in parking for shoppers and visitors on most roads limited to just three hours in the middle of the day, as opposed to the current option of a two hour slot at any time.

Dr Joseph Perera, Principal Dentist and owner of Warwick Park Dental Practice, has strongly criticised the plans and in a letter to patients encouraged them to ‘express their objections’.

He said: “Almost all of our patients find the current two hour slot very helpful, allowing them easy access to the practice. Should it [the changes] go ahead, it would impact patients’ access immensely as many of them are elderly. It will also have a huge impact on numerous local businesses, making it very difficult for their staff and customers to access the area. This will have a devastating effect on the future running of the practice and as a business I am greatly concerned that we will be forced to shut down.”

Dr Perera questioned the rational of a ‘blanket approach’ by the council. In order to support his case, he had staff members conduct a survey of the

ROAD TO RUIN Dr Perera is concerned for his business surrounding roads which will be affected to see how many of the properties have off-street parking.

They found large disparities with some streets, such as Linden Park Road, recorded as having 100 per cent of its 50 houses having driveways.

On the other hand only five per cent of the 60 houses on Guildford Road have off street parking. In Warwick Park, where the practice is based, 70 per cent of homes have a driveway.

Dr Perera said: “Any parking proposal amendment should be made on a road by road basis. The demands from some residents are totally ludicrous and unreasonable.”

However, the proposals have found strong support among members of the Warwick Park Area Residents’ Association (WPARA), which covers numerous streets within Zone A. Association head, Anthony Pawson said: “WPARA wholly supports the principle behind the proposed changes to Zone A parking restriction times: the use of roads in the area as free car parks by commuters and other long-stayers makes life increasingly difficult for residents, as noted in the Borough Council’s Parking Strategy, and, having consulted residents, supports the proposals for the roads in our area.

Mr Pawson added that his ‘personal evaluation’ is that for SIGN OF The Pantiles area to thrive, it THE TIMES needs adequate and convenient Is residents car parking capacity into the only parking longer term, and that the existon the way? ing spaces are not viable in the long run.

He said: “Personally, I think we should extend significantly the car park on the town end of the Common opposite The Pantiles and accept, exceptionally, the loss of that part of the Common.”

The Warwick Park resident Kelly Parker, 36, who has lived on the road for three years has mixed views on the proposed changes.

She said: “As we have a parking space on our drive it doesn’t affect us a great deal. We do get a lot of people parking on our street to go to The Pantiles, but we already have a two hour non-residents parking restriction in our area so in theory there is a high turnover of spaces.

“I guess they are trying to prevent the commuters from staying all day, which they do further up the road where there are fewer restrictions.”

The Council’s position

A council spokesman said: “In the Council’s Parking Strategy we explained the measures we hoped to implement following feedback from residents who were asking for changes to permit-only hours to make it easier for them to park near their homes. We published a draft and consulted on the strategy before it received final approval. The current consultations are the first step in implementing these measures.”

It is believed a decision will be made between April and August.

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Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Grand visions unveiled for the new theatre and council’s civic complex Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk TUNBRIDGE WELLS will be a destination for theatre goers coming from London, rather than the other way round, once a new 1,200 seater venue is delivered, the Council Leader insists.

Cllr David Jukes found it hard to rein in his enthusiasm as he talked to the Times this week about his vision to redevelop the town and make it a ‘centre for the arts’.

HIGH ASPIRATIONS A bird’s eye view of the developement

Pouring over newly published concept designs for the proposed theatre and civic complex from the architectural firm Allies and Morrison, the engineer said he is ‘extremely confident’ that the project will be delivered and prove popular.

“Tunbridge Wells is at the crossroads between London and Brighton, Kent, Sussex and Surrey,” he said, pointing at a map on the wall of a council office.

“We will be able to draw people in from London and the surrounding areas because the new theatre will have the capacity to put on and attract the right sort of shows that can run for weeks.”

He compares the planned theatre, which forms part of a £70 million scheme to redevelop the area adjacent Calverley Grounds, to the Marlowe in Canterbury – although he believes it will beat its rival ‘hands down’ when completed.

“We will be able to draw people in from London and the surrounding areas because the new theatre will have the capacity to put on and attract the right sort of shows that can run for weeks.”

TIPPLE ON THE TERRACE An image of the theatre bar overlooking Calverley Grounds

“The Marlowe has had 1.8 million people through its doors since it opened in 2011. Over this period it has helped generate £120million for Canterbury’s economy.”

Cllr Jukes has commissioned studies which suggest the same sort of benefits will be felt in Tunbridge Wells, with the new theatre adding around £25million per annum to the local economy.

Concerns had previously been raised by Liberal Democrat Cllr Ben Chapelard in June about the capacity of the planned theatre, which will be built on the site of the Great Hall car park. He suggested any venue under 1,500 seats will require ‘an ongoing subsidy’ and therefore what is proposed will ‘never pay for itself.’

Local News

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

But Cllr Jukes said he ‘hopes’ the planned theatre – like the Marlowe which has the same capacity – will be able to pay for itself ‘within five years’, and added: “We have yet to decide how it will be run but there are three options; run it ourselves, use a management company or put it into a trust.”

A second major component of the redevelopment is the creation of a 50,000sq ft civic complex building on the site of Mount Pleasant Avenue car park.

This building will be used to house the Borough Council and make a return by letting approximately 20,000sq ft of floor space to private enterprises, as well as having certain sections available for venue hire.

Cllr Jukes justifies the estimated £12million price tag for this part of the project by comparing it to the predicted £13million cost of renovating the Town Hall.

“Public buildings are not being put up by private enterprise. The Town Hall is 80 years old and not fit for purpose. Someone had to do something, we are obliged for future generations,” he said.

Although the Council was dealt a blow when a company that had signed up for a pre-let agreement to rent the office space pulled out in the wake of the Brexit vote, the Council Leader is confident another will come along soon.

“We do not have a commercial tenant yet but have had a lot of interest. We will not be actively marketing yet but I believe we will have one by the time planning is submitted.

“Building offices should be a good earner,” he continued, adding that the declining amount of available office space in the town will make it a very desirable location.

Eventually the old Town Hall and Assembly Hall will be sold off either for redevelopment or to an ‘institutional organisation’.

But the Council Leader is keen to reassure people that any visual impact from the redevelopment on the Town Hall site would be restricted due to it being a listed building.

A NEW HOME The Council’s planned offices

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NIGHT FEVER The theatre will host West End hits

The final part of the new project is the inclusion of an underground car park to make up for the loss of capacity when the Great Hall car park is demolished to make way for the theatre.

Originally planned to be situated beneath the new theatre, updated proposals will see it built under the civic complex instead.

‘This is the most ambitious project in the town for 80 years’ It is believed this will prove an easier area to excavate as it takes advantage of the naturally elevated part of Calverley Grounds behind the Crescent Road AXA building, overlooking where the ice rink is situated in the lead up to Christmas.

The number of spaces provided is expected to be 253. “When combined with the expansion of Crescent Road car park of 90 additional spaces, this will make up for any loss of spaces at the Great Hall car park,” Cllr Jukes confirmed.

Ultimately, many people may baulk at the estimated £70 million cost of all the projects combined. But Cllr Jukes assured the Times it will have ‘no impact on Council tax’.

“We are borrowing from the Government through a public works loan at less than three per cent interest, which is one of the best rates in the country. I believe in total it will take around 70 years for it to be completely paid off.

“This will be the most ambitious project in the town for 80 years, since the original Town Hall was built. I am extremely confident about it and think the silent majority will back it.”

If the Council meets its schedule, planning will be submitted by November, followed by 30 to 36 months of construction to complete the buildings ‘co-terminus’, meaning an opening date is likely to be in 2022.

There are no plans to close either the Town Hall or the Assembly Hall until the new project is completed, Cllr Jukes said.

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BUSINESS

Local Business News

Biddenden Vineyards drinks to bright future for Kent wine industry

By Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk NOT so long ago English wines were a novelty, a thing to try on occasion, but hardly the staple of the discerning connoisseur.

But now it is big business. Sparkling varieties are beating French champagne in tasting competitions on its own turf, and still whites, reds and other varieties are also coming into their own.

For Julian Barnes, owner of the 24-acre Biddenden Vineyards, the future of the industry is looking bright.

“English wine competes on a world stage now,” he said. “Over the next five years, I think we will see the number of hectares planted dedicated to growing grapes for wine double from the 2,000 hectares we currently have.”

Mr Barnes listed three main reasons why he expects the industry to thrive.

Firstly, the English winemaking industry is a direct beneficiary of the lower pound. And although Biddenden Vineyards is a relatively small operation which does not export directly, the positive effects have still filtered through.

ACCOLADE FOR BIDDENDEN BIDDENDEN Vineyards have reached the final stage of Produced in Kent’s prestigious Taste of Kent Awards 2017.

In a strong endorsement of the company’s capabilities, it has secured two of the three final places in the Kent Wine of the Year category for its Gribble Bridge Sparkling Wine and Ortega. It is against The Mount Vineyard in Shoreham with their Sparkling Rose 2011.

It has also been entered into the final three for Kent Juice Producer of the Year.

Following the initial public vote, Biddenden and the two other finalists in the Wine of the Year and Juice Producer of the Year will be put forward to be judged by a separate panel.

The winners will be unveiled at a gala dinner held at the Kent Event Centre at Detling on Thursday 9 March 2016.

He said: “We are benefitting greatly from the lower pound and a noticeable increase in tourism to Kent.

“If you walk down Tenterden high street you hear far more foreign languages being spoken than you used to. Along with more British people choosing to holiday in the country, it has helped boost our sales.

“What we are finding is people now tour all the vineyards of the area as part of their holiday to pick up a case of wine here and a case of wine there and this increases our sales.”

The vineyards operator also believes the winemakers in the county have benefitted from the ‘incredible growth’ in its food offering, and concerted efforts by organisations such as Visit Kent to make it ‘a destination’ rather than ‘a corridor to London’.

“For the industry in general the lower pound is helping exports, although we are still focusing on the domestic market, which is expanding rapidly. Last year, Waitrose reported a 32 per cent increase in its English wine sales,” he added.

A second reason why the amount of acreage dedicated to producing English wine is set to increase is, perhaps more controversially, due to what Mr Barnes believes is an upside to global warming.

He explained: “Warming from climate change is playing a part in producing really quality still wines, while the uneven weather is helping create the right acidity levels for sparkling wines.

“Certainly as far as Kent is concerned, it has the right climate and geography for vineyards. But vineyards are being set PLENTY OF BOTTLE up all over the country, Julian Barnes sees a partly by already great future after Brexit established players who want to ensure they are

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

‘English wine competes on a world stage now. Over the next five years, I think we will see the number of hectares planted double’

not over-exposed to the climate in just one part of the UK.” But there are downsides to uneven weather as well, with Mr Barnes describing it as ‘the great leveller’.

“We produce on average 65,000 bottles per annum. But in 2012, the exceptionally wet weather meant we only made 28,000. This was a big drop from 2009, which was a great year when we made 85,000 bottles.”

The final reason why winemaking looks here to stay is the fact it has managed to move beyond a sort of semi-cottage industry into a lucrative business which has money behind it and, more importantly, an established skills base.

Mr Barnes, who is in his 50s, is himself a product of this process as most of his adult life has been spent taking an active part in running Biddenden Vineyards, which have grown from a single acre of vines planted by his parents in 1969.

Local Business News

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

return as well. Not only does it export, but it employs many people directly, and even more in the service industries associated with it.

“The government could help by ensuring there are incentives for research and development in this field. It could invest in ensuring skills are preserved through college courses.”

Either way, Mr Barnes believes it is a resilient industry which is ‘here to stay’. He certainly does not think Brexit will prove detrimental to it.

“Winemaking in this country has had very few subsidies, and the industry as a whole has grown up without money from the Common Agricultural Policy. This has been one of its greatest strengths, and I believe to its credit.

“Last year was a bit of hard work, but since this year has started I have heard a lot of optimism.

Once people get over the result of the vote, they will realise we have a lot to play for.”

A VINE ROMANCE Kent has taken grape growing to its heart

Originally, the farm on which the vineyards are based consisted predominantly of apple orchards, but Mr Barnes’s parents, decided to dedicate a single acre to viticulture as a way of diversifying their business.

Four years later, the first bottle of wine was produced, and the family decided to dedicate more resources to winemaking.

It has become such a family business that Mr Barnes, who runs the vineyards with his wife, is training up his son, Tom, to take over one day, and thus ensure the skills required for a successful winemaking business are not lost.

“During the 1980s, English wine was having a spell of popularity, but the problem was most of those producing it were doing so on a very small scale,” he said.

“It was mainly old colonels and retired generals cultivating plots of less than 15 acres. They were good at what they did, but it was more of a hobby, and when they passed on there was no succession and the industry collapsed, leaving few skilled

people around.

“A popular misconception is that growing grapes in England with a reasonable sugar level to make wine is hard. We have always been able to do it, but what we lacked in the early days was the knowledge to actually produce wine.”

In the last couple of decades, the picture has changed considerably, with ‘serious amounts of money’ being invested in production.

It has become such big business that Mr Barnes believes that unless people have ‘been in the game a while’, anyone thinking of starting up a vineyard will need ‘deep pockets’ to make it commercially viable with their first vintage.

But the investment and the growth means that even if a vineyard is not family run, there are more and more people with the right skills around to make it sustainable.

It is something Mr Barnes believes the government should be actively encouraging.

“The benefit to the country is that this is not only an expanding industry, but one that makes a

TASTE OF SUCCESS English wine sales are soaring

BUSINESS

ENGLISH WINEMAKING: THE STATS  Number of vineyards: 502  Average size of vineyard: 4 hectares  Annual production (2015): 5.06m bottles  Total hectarage under vine: 2,000+  Number of wineries: 133  Approx style of wines produced: Sparkling:

66%, Still White: 24%, Red/rosé: 10%  Largest estate: Nyetimber (West Sussex)

approx 170ha/420 acres  Approximate retail value based on market-

ready volumes: £82m  Share of the UK market is still less than 1%

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Local Business News

Wednesday January 25 | 2017 Wednesday, November 2, 2016

International PAGES12-13

TODAY this newspaper breaks with tradition and publishes on the front page a cartoon that illustrates the stand-alone position that Tunbridge Wells took in last week’s EU Referendum.

The borough was the only one in Kent to come out in favour of Remaining in Europe and was one of only a handful in the south east, outside of the capital, to take that route.

Countywide the vote was 59 per cent Leave with 41 per cent Remain.

In Tunbridge Wells it was very different with Remain on 55 and Leave on 45.

Yet again Tunbridge Wells demonstrated that on certain levels it has little in common with its neighbours and reinforces its Wikipedia entry ‘as being the archetypal conservative Middle England town’.

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

COMMENT

Residents know it as an affluent place more readily identified today with London, there was also an overwhelming where vote to Remain, than with its Kent neighbours. The tag ‘Little London’ might now be more appropriate for the town.

Twitter lit up when the announced. Andrew Steadman results were declared: “It’s so Tunbridge Wells to be different from the rest of Kent.”

Patrick Thompson said: “We’re building a wall. Becoming an independent state, introducing a new currency and waiting for all this to blow over.”

Bobby Bewl wrote: “There’s something about Tunbridge Wells that makes it different to its neighbours.”

There certainly is something different about our town. But whichever way any of us voted, let’s remember one thing: To survive we have to live in harmony with our neighbours. It’s good to vote but not to gloat.

Federation’s awards SMALL businesses in Kent and Medway have a chance to win up to £12,000 in the FSB and Worldpay UK Business Awards 2017.

Entry is now open for the awards, which celebrate SMEs across 11 categories, from Micro Business of the Year to Employer of the Year.

The awards will take place on May 10 at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London. Each of the category winners will receive cash prizes of £2,000 and are in the running to be crowned the FSB Worldpay UK Business of the Year 2017.

The exceptional business and overall winner awarded this accolade will also win a further cash prize of £10,000.

Stephen Askew FSB Kent Steering Group member said: “The FSB and Worldpay UK Business Awards give smaller businesses the opportunity to tell their story. For the past four years, the awards have helped demonstrate the excellence that exists within the dynamic world of SMEs.”

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cost retailers £1million

THOUSANDS SIGN UP TO PUPILS’ PETITION FOR LOWERING VOTING AGE

TRIBUTES PAID TO ‘OUTSTANDING’ FORMER MP WHO HAS DIED

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Pages 12-13

INSIDE WEDDING DAZE

Eight page special with tips happy couples. Pages 79-86from

OLDEST SALESMAN’S AMAZING STORY

Page 33

YOUR

FREE PAPER

Continued on page

GREAT RESULTS the trend Town’s schools buck 10 Page with GCSE scores.

GOOD MORNING TUNBRIDGE WELLS

2

Pages 62-63

covery ad to Sre l on ro the red Hospitatan l NH Trust out of t heads team to pul

By Adam Hignett

bridgewells.co.uk

adam@timesoftun

A GLASS ACT

‘within that time

frame’.

said Mr

for the trust The finest homes on the ay a marketA spokesman Hospital are e Wells featured be its primary day-to-d across 44 pages Worthington will with giving Tunbridg

took up his new THE man charged Simon Worthington, week in order the trust’s clean bill of health, ‘He will oversee ent Director last ry plan’ role as Financial Improvemreduction programme. debt financial recove to oversee the trust’s August 22 comes after the Maidon s, adding: His appointment was put into spefor special measure e Wells NHS Trust the discovered contact stone and Tunbridg on behalf of NHSI auditors when s in July “He will oversee cial financial measure rise to £23million in 2016-17. is taking to develop to actions the trust forecast come was will plan and deficit its Worthington’s position their financial recovery READER OFFER Funding for Mr financial deficit.” ent (NHSI). its reduce Improvem Enjoy NHS 50% Chief Execudiscounts at the been directly from trust’s alongside theone60’s Mr Worthington has July Meatto Fest.

Page 12 come He will be working members board other and tive, Glenn Douglas,

at e and Director of Finance Deputy Chief Executiv Trust since 2013, where ion Bolton NHS Foundat financial turnaround. he supported a similar ion Trust is now rated as Bolton NHS Foundat ion and is Quality Commiss ‘Good’ by the Care in financial surplus. profession, by nt A chartered accounta at South London worked Mr Worthington Director of Trust as Deputy Healthcare NHS to Bolton.

NHS Finance prior to moving Tunbridge Wells Maidstone and five NHS organisa Trust was one ßof in financial tions to be placed Simon Worthington

Continued on page

2

£5million fund launched to boost local businesses

to expand.

Applicants must be 18+ and operating a limited company within the boundaries of the county of Kent.

Alongside financial help, successful applicants will receive advice and support, by way of legal, accounting and business strategy, from a network of advisers.

The idea is to bring more innovation and opportunity to Kent, with an initial key focus on Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area, by helping companies grow at an early stage of their development – creating employment and revenue.

Applications for funding will be considered by a panel of principal investors or their representatives.

MP Greg Clark said: “For our area to continue to be prosperous requires our businesses to be successful – new start-ups to be created and established business to grow. An investment fund

that provides extra support is to be warmly welcomed and I look forward to seeing the benefits in action.”

Cllr Jane March, cabinet member for tourism, leisure and economic development said: “The fund is a great idea - we know from independent work commissioned by the West Kent Partnership that Tunbridge Wells is an extremely innovative, creative place with more business start-ups and better survival rates than anywhere else in the country.

“We look forward to seeing which initiatives and companies emerge from Tunbridge Wells, where this sort of investment and expertise will enable our businesses to thrive.”

Turn to pages 6 and 7

RVP, with a voice over the Tannoy asking people to calmly make their way out of the shopping centre.

PICK

Turn t0 page 4

YOUR NETWORKING STYLE

Continued on page 3

Page 51

EASTER FEAST, CHOCOLATIER SHARES HIS STORY Page 54

PAGE 5

NEW DISCOVERY SPORT BOOK YOUR TEST DRIVE TODAY CALL HARWOODS TONBRIDGE ON 0844 2479036

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Pages 20-21

Page 33

.com

INSIDE

NINE months ago this newspap launched with er was the Today we are morning Tunbrid front page headline ‘Good taking the front that we wanted ge Wells’ and the message ‘thank you’ to all of our readers, page to say to bring a differen and other friends advertisers publicat for their support t weekly the ionBRANC REMEM to the town; opening year in making one that was end andunveiled of the Plaque focused on E high- Wells such a success. Times of Tunbridge hero businesses.

We said that to warlocal Success that we wanted to a time when the news that many other towns comes at matters – local, publish ‘all country are across the international’. losing their national and traditional local We believe we newspapers. done just that have have with more than But we also and features 3,000 stories want to use and this edition Tunbridge Wells nearly a third of them on bring you two stories, inside to the newspaper, businesses. that for us epitomis e all that is good Tunbridge Wells. about

of campaigning

, a public inqu iry and countless the dualling of false starts, the A21 finally starts

PAGE 2

GATWICK

The first shows the co-opera local business tion bet es and food bank volun to make sure no one goes hungry at special time of the year. Their appropriately campaig called The second story Our Town Cares. is about the Appeal. It has Mayor’s attracted thousan sents from shopper ds s, office workers of p dents who want and r to make sure needy child get a visit from Santa.

On their behalf we also want you’ and wish to say ‘tha all of you a very Merry Christma

nf the towwo The day ng rk road resurfaci

Thousands of people respond to MP’s aircraft noise survey

Could be to bla county council

CROSSING afternoon s started on Monday at about A cyclist negotiate water The heavy rain being hit by flood worst affected. the waters with properties basements were ebb saw sew5pm. Those with flat, Kit Hawes-W height of five � At his Pantiles the toilet to a age pour in through d possessions. the town were when lost treasure He items across es feet. save a business Hoopers helped when almost HOMES and � Customers at store and through flood this week poured into the hours. hit by a flash of water ‘flood matter a fell in like a river’. drains were month’s rain King saw water departments turned into rivers, the fire briowner Varanya the ceilings, Roads were and � Kai’s Kitchen with the deluge for ‘the toilets, PAGE 5 unable to cope emergency calls coming through fittings and even the fuse more than 60 light gade received the windows, ting help. yesterday investiga for board’.

PARKING council removed the borough Council workmen the worst area � A team from Innovative town where they had The Pantiles, centre from the streets, be blocked by drains near parking trial extended drowned rats and drains. ed them to by up from sewers Hoare saw his flooding, discoverroad has been resurfaced been washed John to The owner dam. leading pub, here tarmaca � At Cassidys in recent weeks “I have been ted d. He added: have contribu Kent County Council anything like stock destroye the work might have never seen questions that for 18 years and .

Rescue Service to the flooding this.” for Kent Fire and sudden so was A spokesman ur e the downpo d as a flash and 5 said: “Becaus Turn t0 page 4 it has been classifie and intense, PAGE 8 flood.”

PEOPLE

Widow’s battle with giant over account energy name

•

By Julie Rae “For decades, the to Tonbridge has road from Pembury THE bulldozers been one of the biggest problem are town’s s. It’s like a country work on a project closing in on the A21 as but it’s the main aimed at ending lane road motoring misery years of south coast. Everyon from the M25 to the finally begins.

Next Tuesday, in or visits Tunbridg e who lives in, works work is to start on the dualling of the e Wells will benefit road between from this dual Pembury carriage and Tonbridge, a £70m project Although the buildingway.” which has come to fruition of the road has not yet started, years after it was proposed as a originally means working for monthsexperts have been Greg Clark, pictured of easing congestion. the ancient woodlanon ‘translocating’ , who has campaigned for improvements ds through which the dual carriage to the A21 since way will run, and elected MP for Tunbridge Wells, he was protecting the wildlife which said: wouldn’t give lived up until the bulldoze “I there. The project in. I’m delighte is due to be rs moved finished d work is finally by spring 2017. starting.

See pages 6&7 for full details

Adam Hignett

idgewells.co.uk

adam@timesoftunbr

‘For decades, the road from Pembury to Tonbridge has been one of the town’s biggest problems’

Greg Clark

PAGE 8

76/7876/78 76/78 HighHigh 76/78 76/78 High Street High 76/78 Street Street High & Street High 76/78 63& Street & High &63 76/78 Street 76/78 High 63 63 High High & Street High & 76/78 Street 63High High 76/78 63 Street Street High Street | High Street Street & Royal High High 63 |Street | |Royal Street &63|63 Royal High Street & Street Tunbridge Royal High Tunbridge |& Royal Street Tunbridge High & Tunbridge Royal 63 63Wells Street Tunbridge High High | Street Tunbridge Royal 76/78 Wells Wells |Royal Wells Street |Street | Tel: Royal Tunbridge High |Wells | 01892 |Tel: |Tel: |Wells Tunbridge Tel: Tunbridge Royal Royal Street 01892 | 01892 01892 | Tunbridge Tel: 534018 Wells Tel: Tunbridge &01892 534018 534018 01892 Wells 534018 63 | Wells Tel: |High www.gcolli 534018 Wells |Wells 01892 |534018 Tel: ||Tel: |Street www.gcolli www.gcolli www.gcolli 01892 ||534018 |01892 Tel: Tel: | Royal nsandsons. |www.gcolli www.gcolli 534018 01892 01892 534018 nsandsons. nsandsons. nsandsons. | Tunbridge www.gcolli 534018 com 534018 nsandsons. |www.gcolli |nsandsons. www.gcolli com com com |Wells |nsandsons. www.gcolli www.gcolli com com nsandsons. | nsandsons.

Tel: com nsandsons. nsandsons.

01892 com com 534018 com com

w00 www || R nsan Tel: |01892 Tel: ||53401 Tel: 01892 www.gco www.gcoll www.gcolli |Street ||Tel: |534018 01892 |Wells Wells 534018 www.gcolli |High Tel: 01892 | Wells 63 534018 Wells 534018 534018 &01892 Tel: Tunbridge | Tunbridge Tel: 534018 Wells Tunbridge | 01892 01892 01892 Street Royal Royal Tunbridge Tel: |Wells |Tel: Royal |Tel: | 01892 |Royal |Wells High Tunbridge | Tel: |Street Street Wells Wells Wells 76/78 Tunbridge Royal |Street Tunbridge High High Street High 63Wells Royal 63 |& Tunbridge Royal & High Tunbridge Street Tunbridge &63|63 Tunbridge Royal Street Street High & Street Royal Street | |Royal |Street 63 Royal High High & Street | High High Street High 63 Street Street 63 & 76/78 High Street 76/78 High & Street 76/78 High High 63 Street High 63 76/78 &63 High Street & 63& High 76/78 & Street High Street Street 76/78 High Street 76/78 High HighHigh 76/78 76/78 76/7876/78

| www.gcollinsandsons

.com

As the paper hits the 100 mark it’s time to reflect...

TO RECOGNISE the 100th edition of the Times of Tunbridge Wells, we launched on March 4 2015, we’re publishing a selection of some of the front pages that have helped make this newspaper the biggest in town with an officially audited circulation of 26,000 copies a week.

And that has only been possible because of the support from you the reader, and you the advertiser.

Since the launch we have had some

strong page one stories that have ranged from investigations into the apparent unfairness with certain aspects of business rates, to saving one of the most popular social events in Tunbridge Wells - Jazz on The Pantiles.

We’re also publishing a cross section of individuals who have graced our pages.

When we started the Times we said we wanted to reflect the social fabric of the town, the things that makes Tunbridge

al an

WEL LS

YOUR

PAPE

MADONNA BACKS NEW SERVICE

PAGE 3

PAGE 16

Local, Nation

matters

FREREFRE

and 5

At long last!

After a decade

Win a £1,000 romantic break at a five-star hotel

Pages 4

GE OF TUNBRID

Page 13 76/7876/78 76/78 HighHigh 76/78 76/78 High Street High 76/78 Street Street High & Street High 76/78 63& Street & High &63 76/78 Street 76/78 High 63 63 High High & Street High & 76/78 Street 63High High 76/78 63 Street Street High Street | High Street Street & Royal High High 63 |Street | |Royal Street &63|63 Royal High Street & Tunbridge Street Royal High Tunbridge |& Royal Street Tunbridge High & Tunbridge Royal 63 63Wells Street Tunbridge High High | Street Tunbridge Royal 76/78 Wells Wells |Royal Wells Street |Street | Tel: Royal Tunbridge High |Wells | 01892 |Tel: |Tel: |Wells Tunbridge Tel: Tunbridge Royal Royal Street 01892 | 01892 01892 | Tunbridge Tel: 534018 Wells Tel: Tunbridge &01892 534018 534018 01892 Wells 534018 63 | Wells Tel: |High www.gcolli 534018 Wells |Wells 01892 |534018 Tel: ||Tel: Page |Street www.gcolli www.gcolli www.gcolli 01892 ||534018 |01892 Tel: ALL Tel: nsandsons. | Royal |www.gcolli www.gcolli 534018 01892 01892 LIT UP Page 62 534018 nsandsons. nsandsons. nsandsons. | Tunbridge www.gcolli 534018 com 534018 nsandsons. |www.gcolli |nsandsons. www.gcolli com com com |Wells |nsandsons. www.gcolli www.gcolli com com nsandsons. | nsandsons.

Tel: com nsandsons. nsandsons.

01892 Tunbridge com com 534018 com com Wells | www.gcollinsandsons ice rink

Southborough man helps create amazing new ears

COMPETITION

DAME KELLY KICKS OFF NEW YEAR PARTY

FLOOD LINE Commuters faced delays

that All the news

OF TUNBRID GE WEL LS

PAGE 3

IT’S another new day but one with a difference because today sees the publication of a new local paper with the announcement that it’s launching a £5million investment fund to help local businesses.

The Times of Tunbridge Wells, working with high net worth individuals, has developed an initiative to support entrepreneurs across the county.

It will be open to a range of businesses from start-ups requiring seed capital to existing businesses looking for money

Page 3

Two stories tha t epitomise all that’s g

SCIENCE

Six members of the Page 4 fly the flag at Calverley.

Loca

Spirit of Chr

Adam Hignett

BUSINESS

L OLYMPIC SPECIA GB Rio team

TOWN’S UKIP LEADER QUITS

resurf county councilacing work by the be to blame?

The heavy rain adam@timesoftunbr PALM OIL idgewells WARS .co.uk with properties started on Monday afternoo being hit by flood n Hostile CROSSING 5pm. Those with water at about HOMES and takeover bid leads to basements were major businesses battle � At A cyclist negotiate worst affected. his Pantiles flat, across Page 7 hit by a flashcorporate s were flood this week the town the waters age pour in through Kit Hawes-Webb saw sewmonth’s rain when almost fell in a matter a feet. He lost treasurethe toilet to a height of five of hours.

Roads were d possessions. turned into rivers, � Custome unable to cope rs at Hoopers drains were More than 100 shops in with the deluge and ‘flood water poured helped save items when RVP gade the fire briinto the store cinct were shut at 10.13am and the pre-help. received more than 60 emergen departments and through like a river’. cy calls for with custom� Kai’s Kitchen ers and staff timesof being owner Varanya evacuated by police Council workmen yesterda tunbrid coming through King saw water drains near y investigating and security staff. Itgewells.co.uk @times ‘the toilets, The oftw Pantiles was originally the the All windows, light , the worst area flooding, discover the news fittings and even ceilings, that matte for thought the case might rs board’. the fuse containtarmacadam. The ed them to be blocked by � A road has been explosives. team from the Local, Nation Kent County Council resurfaced by borough council al drowned rats removed and Internationa One of the stores nearest questions that the in recent weeks leading to from the streets, August 26, 2015 l toto the work might have day,Wednes been washed where they had Wednes day, April 1, 2015 up from sewers contributed the phone box, Boots, flooding CHRISTM � At AS STORM and drains. was A spokesm .

Cassidys pub, owner John Hoare Boogie an for quietly evacuated five Storm Kentstrut stock destroye Fire and theirRescue stuff Service saw his min-said: “Becaus d. He added: at big elights the switch-on utes before the fire “I have been for 18 years and Page ur was here alarmand intense, it has downpo so11sudden have never seen been classifie this.” anything like was sounded throughoutflood.” d as a flash YOUR

INSIDE

Staff shortages threaten company expansions

rs

OF TUNBRID GE

The day the to wn flooded Could road

Why every outdoor space should have a few… roses. Pages 98-99

to balance the books up with a viable plan months’, with NHSI over ‘the coming improvement stating they expect

that matte

Cash-strapped hospitals find ways to beat deficit Page 5

BLOOMING GARDENS

Chartered accoun

Pantiles All the news

PAPER

NHS BUDGET CUTS

Just who is to blame for Pembury Road nightmare?

Community spending 12-13 Pages fears of rate relief.

FLOOD The on Monday

23, 2015

FREE

TRAFFIC

CHARITY SHOPS outweighs

TWO ROSETTES FOR TOP RESTAURANT

Pages 20-21

TWITTER OUTBURST

MP sparks social media frenzy after TV appearance Page 4

YOUR

Yo u

wsRE r pa E pe r

INSIDE

Tunbridge Wells A CONTROVERSIAL meeting of vicar is hosting a this week. They will disgruntled clergy ic’ plans to break discuss ‘embryon ation process away from the modernis of England.

Church taking place in the of St Mark’s Rev Dr Peter Sanlon ter Down invited Broadwa on Church ten other parishes representatives of to issues such reactions to discuss their marriages. as blessings for same-sex Councils, REV DR PETER The 11 Parochial Churchfrom the SANLON which include members of which ‘Upholding r– traditional dioceses of Rocheste ry a part – Canterbu is Wells e Christian Tunbridg teaching’

AT FOURTEEN HE STARTED AN AWARD WINNING INTERNET BUSINESS

THE SPORTY , SELF-ASSURED MERCEDES A-CLASS

ational

Wednesday, Decemb er

By Andrew

Photo: Fiona Hanson

Page 21

Businesses hit by bomb scare INSIDE Sealing off town centre could

al and Intern

WEL LS

rs of misery

s Rebel vicar lead IN call for action over gay-friendly C of E

F OF LE % A 75 r S -3 TO e ges 2 m m e pa Su Se

Local, National and

OF TUNBR IDGE WELLS

OF TUNBRID GE

YOUR FULL GUIDE TO LOCAL & LIVE –

Page 10

By Andrew Tong

Local, Nation

TH

OUT

matters

HUMAN RIGHTS PROTEST

Third runway night flights banned – but what about PEOPLE Gatwic Public flocks k’s burden? to show support for Calverley play area

INSIDE

rs

HT p62 R NIG BE IZ TEM QU EP Y S IT 8TH AR DAY CH URS

All the news that

that matte

YOUR

FREE

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

MP Nus Ghani answers Our readers’ questions

All the news

m

GREAT EU DEBAT E

s.co

PAGES 80-81

2015

tion

CELEBRATION TIME Tunbridge Wells RC cup final to remain wins Twickenham unbeaten all season Turn to page 6

ra to

FOOD & DRINK

Why The Riverside making culinary is waves

Wednesday, August 26,

THE decision to award the runway expansion project to S GIFT Heathrow seemed like a EXCLUSI VE THE QUEEN’ victory replica to ByRoyal Adamapproval for those who want to protect Hignett for festival PAGE 4 go on display at arts the skies over West Kent from THE 15-year fiasco further surround noise pollution. ing the GATWICK cinema site may finally be coming old New campaignBut one aspect of the deal, end with the news to an group set the that up the in land Tunbridge to be sold. pledge is about Wellsto outlaw night flights on The Times can the third runway, has led reveal that negotiati the Year for his to are in the closing ons Business Hero of renewed calls for action stages for the Signal UK, who won sale of to reduce Cancer Drop-In Centre. ‘fun night’ the parcel of land that has become the noise pollution caused during a support of Pickering borough’s most media declared it the infamous eyesore.

Outpourings on social businesses’.

It is PAGE early hours by Gatwick.

3 od understo local that a condition that was ‘great for the audience: “If offer for the town al told The Currie provision centre site has said that there Guest of honour Edwina been a chance and make accepted by the CINEMA current would be no flights between be optimistic, take NEW RVP owners, the CarPAGE 7 you do your best, invest That is why I havelyle Group. to poised possible. is is Council 11.30pm and 6am. There centre r Bellhous the effort almost anything here tonight.” Develope are in shopping e Joseph £7million l is believed for those gathered to be the currently restrictions on ationa buyer so much admiration Intern in a deal that air BUSINESS could see National and mixed retail built on Local, Local talent istraffic at Heathrow, Gatwick and the site within 12 and 27 onwards next three years, key for company which movedStansted including a small the Continued on pages between from London these times, hotel. but no outright ban.

Applauded The numbers of night flights ROBOT AT WORK The move comes HOPE permitted at Gatwick and after intensive Troops prepare ing in recent months lobbyThe cinema site

by Tunbridge Stansted already far outstrip the disposal device Borough Council, Wells the spearheaded cil leader David quotas applied to Heathrow. by counPAGES 6-7 Jukes.

At a full council As the next set of figures be coming in meeting last are N will by Cllr Jukes said: PAGE 19 week, AUCTIO Members applaudethe end of the year.”

“I am delighted considered, CHURCH the Department for have some movemenof landmarktobuilding say d ‘I am delighted Future t on the cinema we ment and mayor David the announce“Lawyers have PROPERTYTransport (DFT) is warning that Elliott site. ‘good news in the balance hangs now been indeed’ and ‘fingerssaid it was appointed to to do heads of now A say we £4 million country numbers could rise at Gatwick. terms and we crossed’.

Developer Bellhous

By Murray Jones and stores were evacuated understand with fishing rights house agents from the e Joseph The worked closely and closed MP for Tonbridge & on river developer will have got some has 4, 2015for murray@the Wednesday, March with the Carlyle see our planners be in to since up to five hours.

International and timesoftunb National Local, ridgewells.c Group it bought the Malling, Tom Tugendhat, very shortly o.uk about what will @timesoftw All the news that matters to talk movement on raised timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk The shopping centre Although details site in 2011. be put on the the matter with the Transport attracts thousands site. over their arrangem “Hopefully, a planning of visitors every day. ent TUNBRIDGE WELLS the cinema site’ application Turn Secretary, Chris Grayling, Initial estimates was brought to a t0 page 3 when Council leader from businesses and standstill on Monday after David Jukes he announced the government retailers police called in who ’s talked to the Times indicate a bomb disposal team decision in the House of to deal with a ‘suspithat the cious loss package’. in 3 trade PAGE It had been left by the could run to Commons on October 25. side more than £1million.

PAGE 25 of the phone box (right) Mr Tugendhat said: “Could on the pedestrian ND he precinct outside Royal MUSICAL WEEKE please talk about the six-and-aVictoria Place (RVP). still going Bank Holiday Unfest The army team used a ‘It doesn’t seem like the half hours’ relief he is, quite robot to carry out kind strong after two decades a controlled explosion rightly, offering the people of place people would on a small suitcase of bomb’ which was reported to Heathrow? Could he not police by a member 76/7876/78 extend 76/78 HighHigh 76/78 76/78 High Street High 76/78 of the public. Police later Street Street High & Street High 76/78 63& Street & High &63 76/78 Street 76/78 High 63 63 High High & Street that ban to Gatwick, where High & 76/78 Street 63High High 76/78 63 Street Street High Street | High Street said that the conStreet & Royal High High 63 |Street | |Royal Street &63|63 Royal High Street & Tunbridge Street Royal High Tunbridge |& Royal Street Tunbridge High & Tunbridge Royal 63 63Wells we Street Tunbridge High High | Street Tunbridge Royal Traders 76/78 Wells Wells |Royal Wells Street |Street tents | Tel: Royal Tunbridge High described |Wells | 01892 were |Tel: |Tel: |Wells Tunbridge Tel: Tunbridge Royal Royal Street 01892 found to be harmless. | 01892 01892 | Tunbridge Tel: 534018 Wells it as ‘a disasTel: Tunbridge &01892 suffer all the time?”

534018 534018 01892 Wells 534018 63 | Wells Tel: |High www.gcolli 534018 Wells |Wells 01892 |534018 Tel: ||Tel: |Street www.gcolli www.gcolli www.gcolli 01892 ||534018 |01892 Tel: Tel: nsandsons. | Royal |www.gcolli www.gcolli 534018 01892 01892 534018 nsandsons. nsandsons. nsandsons. | Tunbridge www.gcolli trous day’ with many 534018 com 534018 nsandsons. |www.gcolli |nsandsons. www.gcolli com com It is not thought there com |Wells |nsandsons. www.gcolli www.gcolli com com DAILY GRINDshop in nsandsons. | nsandsons.

Tel: com nsandsons. nsandsons.

01892 shoppers com com was any malicious having 534018 com com | www.gcolli DRIVE SCHOOLS closes nsandsons.com intent behind FERNANDO gone Perk & Pearl Continued the incidentALONSO MISSING the timeHOUSING WHAT’S Page 7 they on page 2 that saw streets reopened. home byLOCAL MARK CARNEY CONGRATULATIONS Medical means he around the precinct favour of online trading.

Some spoke of a drop right) ON THE FOOD cordoned in PAGES 98-99 Dealer errors at MARKET Edwina Currie (far misses Australianoff. Shops takings of around 80 per cent.

FRONT? with award winners bank revealed Pg 20 Grand Prix Pg 54 Pg 14 Pg 12 Tong

WEL LS OF TUNBRIDGE

PAGES 8-9

Res

Winners ranged of Outstandi the title rs ng matte that the world and took of the printers around All the news to Paul Chapman Business of the Year,

re

the rugby cup

Continu success ed on ongoing page 4 and by contribution to the had started to arrive, Within days the entries appointed the figure was of judges 2016 panel 31, 11 categories.

August the time the day, Wednes 200 entries across had soared to almost

PAPER

LONDON MAYOR SAYS THERE SHOULD BE NO SECOND REFERENDUM

INSIDE will mean the end of yea

viduals to outstanding indi -pound companies From multimillion

UP

YOUR

n centre store

ell Ca ge gew rid nb rtu

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Pages 96-97

siness The best in the bu

ta

THERESA May’s Government has received a thumbs up from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) following the publication of its industrial strategy green paper.

We won The organisation, which champions growth in Kent and surrounding counties, praised it for recognising the need to support business and create the right conditions for growth across the area. As the largest LEP in the country, covering FREE a population in excess of four million and a 344,500-strong business community, SELEP will play an integral part in Government’s plans to VOTE MAKES THE improve the country’s economic performance.

TOWN STAND OUT FROM THE REST… Among the objectives of the new industrial strategy are; investing in science, research and innovation, developing skills, upgrading infrastructure and improving procurement.

Other objectives include encouraging trade, inward investment and ‘cultivating worldleading sectors’.

Christian Brodie, Chairman of SELEP, said: “Developing an economy based upon innovation, infrastructure and skills is a vision we share with the Government.

“While we recognise the urgent need to improve productivity across the whole of the country we continue to argue the case that in these time of uncertainty, the Government must back the South East as a proven winner.

LOCAL & LIVE Any decision on whether Organisers forced the will be transferr to ed will also have lease sion with Canada down biggest music tone approved by Life is that they festival site owners Canadato be keen but have ANOTHER ‘mid-pric are which itself yet to Investm coming to Tunbridge’ retailer will be subsidiaents, an asset managemLife formal approval. The grant their own for 15 years, had been allowed to fester proposed assignent but could see ry of the insuranc e Wells with news that The development the begin next year. e giant.

However, while Range ‘Good for the the former Morrison is due to move into stands the Times underReflectin local econom this has yet y’ lors, Cllr g the mood among councilCouncil officers s site. to be granted, clear Jane at that it’s the Town Hall March, portfolio ment is to homewa set to approve were the idea. the company are ‘keen’ holder re store The Range.” for Economic Develop the transfer of on News that the rent lease to ment, said: was very pleased Vale Road site Jonathan MacDon “I the homeware the curto avoid revertin to is likely the store late Planning yesterday (Tuesday ald, former Morrison be informed that PAGE 5 ). & Development Director of sore’ will come g to a disused ‘eyes store will not and whittling The Range was empty for too at Tunbridge as Wells Borough be scoring the entries founded in 1980 much longer. who can rememb a relief to residents Council, said tycoon Chris Dawson, Hours were spent by retail in the eventual winners.

“I am encoura Royal yesterday derelict er when it was response to shortlists and then a former street ged thatTunbridge COUNC down toIL dor, and turned out to be. left tocontinue questions from remember at the for six years ELECTIONS a night culmina-es themFull line-up it turned WAS into a chain with ven- Times: “We received tolast – the business after the IT seeweek Morrison Tunbrid an impressive results than 100 stores what ge Wells including win on Friday a request first pulled out in 2006 more for approva place 2016 s and as a Andfor where theybest offering 65,000 Businesss Awards companie Wells before Lib Dem Peter l to enable an returning. They the should later It search home, lei- of sure and garden be investing.

Lidstone admiration for is goodfor assignment also closed the Morrison products. a six-month for the local tion ofthe for a second s’ lease.

‘I have so much store shows economy and the borough. time on tonight’ confiden “My understa s in and around to recog2 this year. cethe individual in Times The move coincide April nding from my the town by those gathered here borough and its the decision the discus- the .” s with y and thestarted It all sale ofwith communit old cinema business site 200 yards lon, which trades honour the local nise andaway, of our town. from the Childrensa

Vin

over Morrison INSIDE s tow

leisure giant mov ing into empty

Eyesore cinem a site to be sold a t long last New deal Page 6

Pages 50-51

icca ss

e, garden and

Exculsive by Adam

Hignett adam@timesoftu nbridgewells.co.uk

RETURNING TO THE

WORKPLACE

Page 4

PAPER

PAPER

FACE THE MUSIC AT TRINITY

ACADEMY GIVES PUPILS LONGER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

VICTORIA TRUMAN’S VIEW OF CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

Pages 82-83

Page 70

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BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF

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BUSINESS

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10

Wells such a great place to live. We have also not shied away from addressing problems that need to be resolved.

We believe we have met that mandate, if reader feedback is to be believed, and now look forward to delivering even more relevant stories. As our page one masthead declares we print: All the news that matters, local, national and international.

Hopefully that will continue for a long time to come...

CHANGING FACES Some of the people who have helped shape the news

Local Business News

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

The 7,456-mile journey A FREIGHT train from China bound for London made its first trip through Kent after travelling 7,456-miles, through seven countries. The freight, which consisted of 34 containers packed with cloths, bags and millions of socks, passed through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France before entering the UK via the Channel Tunnel.

The journey, between the city of Yiwu in eastern China to a rail freight terminal in Barking, took 18 days.

Employment rise TUNBRIDGE WELLS was one of the biggest contributors to the drop in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Kent. County-wide, there were 18,185 claimants on either jobseeker’s allowance or universal credit in December, a fall of 105, following a decrease of 130 in November, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The decline all but cancels out a jump of 240 across the county back in October.

In Tunbridge Wells, there was a 6 per cent drop of 35, from 560 to 525

11

Major jobs boost as social Vehicle firm’s care company expands… administration Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk TUNBRIDGE Wells and Tonbridge have received a welcome boost to their local economies after one of the country’s largest homecare providers committed to creating an extra 100 jobs in the two towns last week.

Bluebird Care, which has an office on Vale Road, Tonbridge, said the move was in response to a ‘significant increase’ in demand in the West Kent area. The company, which was founded in 2004, operates as a franchise model, and has 200 operations across the UK serving 20,000 customers each day. It primarily cares for the elderly, people

Market in award finals TONBRIDGE Farmers Market has been shortlisted as a finalist at this year’s Taste of Kent Awards.

It is battling Cliftonville and Shipbourne for the Kent Farmers Market of the Year, sponsored by Hadlow College. The winner will be crowned a winner on 9 March 2017 at the Kent Event Centre in Detling.

BUSINESS

A BOOMING BUSINESS: Bluebird Care

with physical disabilities and adults with learning disabilities. Care Manager, Claire Stanley, said: “With increased demand for the services we provide, we will continue to employ committed and passionate care assistants which has been a huge part of our success in recent years.

“We will only ever be as good as the staff we employ and our staff are excellent! They are always professional and have real empathy for the people that they look after.”

Figures released by the Kent Public Health observatory predict an 8.8 per cent increase in the number of over 65s in Tunbridge Wells borough by 2020. In Tonbridge it is estimated to rise by 7.6 per cent.

leads to buyout

COMPETITION and cash flow difficulties have pushed a car and van maintenance company that operates in both Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells into administration.

Just Motor Care, which was founded in 2014, operates across 13 locations throughout the South East, including the two towns. The company has been unable to repay its debts leading Richard Keley and Andy Pear of BM Advisory LLP to be appointed joint administrators of Just Motor Care Ltd on January 16.

All but the franchise sites in Hastings and Eastbourne have since been sold to Motest Southern Ltd, in a deal which secured 29 jobs. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Confident Mr Keley said: “Following an accelerated distressed business sale process, we are delighted to have completed a sale of the business and assets to Motest. The sale of the sites preserves the jobs of the majority of the workforce and represented the best outcome for creditors, as well as the business and its stakeholders.

“The company has a longstanding reputation with a high level of repeat custom and, under new ownership, we feel confident it will be able to prosper.”

John Ball, managing director of Motest, added: “It’s always sad when a good business gets into difficulty, so I am pleased for the JMC staff and customers that we could bring such a good strategic fit into Motest.”

NEWS

Community News

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

POPPED IN Kelly Turner with the Kaiser Chiefs’ Ricky Wilson, who visited her at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London

Tree of Hope is rooting for Kelly as she seeks £1million Tree of Hope helps young people with disability or illness by supporting their families to raise the funds that they need to pay for specialist care that is not offered by the NHS. TUNBRIDGE WELLS charity Tree of Hope has The Turners have been hampered by the fact joined forces with a Kent family in a bid to raise crowdfunding campaigns are not entitled to claim almost a million pounds to help treat their teen- Gift Aid, which boosts donations by 25 per cent. age daughter, who has cancer.

They were also denied access to corporate donaThe parents of 16-year-old Kelly Turner have tions because companies only donate to regisalready received £380,000 through crowdfunding. tered charities. In addition, organisations such as Tree of Hope can make applications to charitable ‘Tree of Hope have been a trusts and foundations on a family’s behalf.

Kelly’s father, Martin Turner, said: “Tree of Hope lifeline to our family’ have been a constant source of information and But despite this remarkable success, the Turn- support, and always on hand to offer advice on the ers, who live in Dover, still need a further best way to maximise on our fundraising £600,000 to afford ground-breaking efforts. They have been a lifeline to our medical care in the US. family. I just wish I had known about Now they have no enlisted the them before we went down the help of the registered charity to road of crowdfunding.” reach their target after finding Gill Gibb, the charity’s Chief that crowdfunding was Executive, said: “Tree of Hope restricting their ability to supports over 1,000 individual maximise their money. campaigns, providing the govKelly was diagnosed with a ernance and financial capabilrare, aggressive form of ity to allow parents to fundraise cancer called desmoplastic professionally and legitimately.” small round cell tumour, and If you would like to make a was told that she only had two donation, text KPTF99 and the years to live. amount to donate to 70070, or visit Kelly Turner In a bid to increase Kelly’s life www.treeofhope.org.uk expectancy, she has been accepted for a clinical trial at the Memorial Sloane Kettering hospital in New York, where she can have a pioneering treatment which is not available in the UK – at a cost of $1.2million.

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

The Forum is hard to beat in backing Mayor’s charity...

THE FORUM, which celebrated its 24th birthday on Sunday January 15, began its celebratory weekend by helping to raise money for the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells’ charity of the year, Beat – or Beating Eating Disorders.

The Friday night gig began with solo singersongwriter Joanne Louise Parker, and the audience took heed of her request to stay silent and listen.

After the Mayor, Cllr David Neve, had introduced the Beat charity, there was more music from Americana group Ukelear Fallout and Higgs and the Bosons.

The headliners for the evening were The Breretons, who were performing ahead of their long-awaited album launch in February.

The Forum would like to thank all the acts who played for free, and those who have donated money to Beat.

Saturday saw an opening set from Tunbridge Wells band Lady Bird, followed by a warm-up

reggae-based DJ set from Don Letts. Then a party erupted as Londoners Rotten Hill Gang raised the roof with their unique sound of ‘rap ’n’ roll’ – a mix of punk, funk and hip-hop.

The venue has also launched a blog to capture audience and artists’ memories and memorabilia ahead of its Silver Anniversary next year.

Visit www.theforummemories.wordpress.com

PHOTO: Nigel Martin

12

NIGHT MAYOR David Neve with Higgs and the Bosons

St John’s pub wins cup again THE OWNER of St John’s Yard has praised his ‘loyal and brilliant’ staff after it was crowned the best pub in Tunbridge Wells for the second year running.

Thousands of votes were cast via social media to decide who won the Tunbridge Wells Best Pub Cup in a World Cup-style knockout tournament.

St John’s beat Fuggles Beer Café in the final by a narrow margin of 50 votes, after defeating The Pantiles’ Ragged Trousers in the semis.

Ish Rafet, 42, has owned the pub since it opened in St John’s Road in 2009, and said he was ‘humbled’ that so many people had voted.

“I think our success is down to the fact we are a community pub and we’ve tried to never lose sight of that,” he said.

“We have 18 year olds all the way up to our oldest regular,

who’s 92, so there is a really nice group here.”

The pub tournament was first organised by Kent Police Officer Martin Bryant last year as ‘just a bit of fun’, but it has since acted as a catalyst for a ‘bit of friendly competition’ between the

YARD OF ALE Martin Bryant congratulates owner Ish Rafet

town’s establishments.

“I didn’t realise it would get such a reaction,” said Mr Bryant. “More than anything, I hope that it encourages people to try new pubs in the town because there are a lot of great ones out there.”

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NEWS

National News

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Brexit laws to come ‘within days’ as Supreme Court defeats Government

CASE CLOSED Gina Miller celebrates her victory LEGISLATION will be introduced ‘within days’ to ensure the Government can stick to its timetable of triggering the process of leaving the European Union by the end of March, Brexit Secretary David Davis has told MPs. Mr Davis said the Government’s defeat in a his-

“There can be no turning back.

The point of no return was passed on June 23 last year.” toric court battle over Brexit in the Supreme Court would not derail Theresa May’s timetable to kick off the two-year process of withdrawal negotiations.

He said the Supreme Court ruling did not affect the fact Britain will be leaving the EU in line with the result of the 2016 referendum, telling MPs: “There can be no turning back. The point of no return was passed on June 23 last year.”

By a majority of eight to three, judges at the Supreme Court rejected the Government’s argument that the Prime Minister could use prerogative powers to kick off the talks under Article 50, ruling instead it must first seek Parliament’s approval.

In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Davis said this would be done by means of DISAPPOINTED ‘the most straightAttorney General forward Bill possiJeremy Wright ble to give effect to

the decision of the people and respect the Supreme Court’s judgment’.

The purpose of the bill will be ‘simply to give the Government the power to invoke Article 50 and begin the process of leaving the European Union’.

Mr Davis added: “Parliament will rightly scrutinise and debate this legislation but I trust no one will seek to make it a vehicle for attempts to thwart the will of the people or frustrate or delay the process of exiting the European Union.”

Mr Davis said: “This is not about whether or not the UK should leave the EU. That decision has already been made by the people of the United Kingdom.

“We will work with colleagues in both Houses to ensure this Bill is passed in good time for us to invoke Article 50 by the end of March.”

With Labour declaring it will not frustrate the invocation of Article 50, there was little doubt the Prime Minister can get a bill through Parliament.

However, she risks having her hands tied in negotiations by any conditions inserted by MPs into the legislation, with the Scottish National Party declaring it will table 50 ‘serious and substantive’ amendments.

How the court arrived at its verdict: Giving a short summary of the court’s findings, Supreme Court President Lord Neuberger said: “The issues in these proceedings have nothing to do with whether the UK should exit from the EU, or the terms or timetable for that exit.”

Withdrawal from the EU would mean a ‘fundamental change’ to the UK’s laws by cutting off one of its sources, as well as changing the legal rights of British citizens, he said.

“The UK’s constitutional arrangements require such changes to be clearly authorised by Parliament.

“Any change in the law to give effect to the referendum must be made in the only way permitted by the UK constitution, namely by an Act of Parliament.

“To proceed otherwise would be a breach of settled constitutional principles stretching back many centuries.”

To relief in Downing Street, the Supreme Court judges unanimously rejected the argument that Mrs May must also consult devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before triggering Article 50.

What the main players say: Attorney General Jeremy Wright, who led the Government’s legal fight, said ministers were ‘disappointed’ by the ruling, but added: “The Government will comply with the judgment of the court and do all that is necessary to implement it.”

A Downing Street spokesperson commented: “It’s important to remember that Parliament backed the referendum by a margin of six to one and has already indicated its support for getting on with the process of exit to the timetable we have set out.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party would not ‘frustrate the process for invoking Article 50’ but would seek to amend the legislation to prevent the UK becoming a “bargain-basement tax haven”.

“Labour is demanding a plan from the Government to ensure it is accountable to Parliament throughout the negotiations and a meaningful vote to ensure the final deal is given parliamentary approval,” he said.

The SNP’s Alex Salmond confirmed plans to table multiple amendments, adding: “If Theresa May is intent on being true to her word that Scotland and the other devolved administrations are equal partners in this process, then now is the time to show it.”

The Supreme Court ruling was welcomed by Gina Miller, the lead claimant in the case against the Government.

Speaking outside court, she told reporters: “This ruling today means that MPs we have elected will rightfully have the opportunity to bring their invaluable experience and expertise to bear in helping the Government select the best course in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Post Office banking move

Courageous policeman

Strike action protected

MORE people and businesses will be able to do their everyday banking at the Post Office under a new agreement.

The Post Office said new, simplified arrangements with the banking industry mean 99 per cent of UK personal banking customers can do their day-to-day banking at the Post Office, up from 95 per cent.

The proportion of business customers able to do their day-to-day banking at the Post Office has nearly doubled, from around 40 per cent previously to over 75 per cent.

A POLICE officer who risked his life to protect the public during a shoot-out with a gang member has been awarded the George Medal.

Martin Finney, an undercover firearms officer with the National Crime Agency, received the nation’s second highest level of recognition for bravery when he challenged a gang member who open fired at a pool bar in Tottenham, north London, in May 2014.

Mr Finney, who was alone and not wearing body armour, was shot at seven times.

MPs have blocked proposals designed to limit strike action, amid concerns they were an “attack” on workers’ rights.

Conservative MP Chris Philp wanted a High Court judge to adjudicate on whether the strike action among critical national services such as the NHS and public transport was ‘proportionate and reasonable’, and fair to the public.

The proposals would include a skeleton service during the strike to allow the public to get to work or seek medical treatment.

16

NEWS

National News

Public’s view of Southern is falling fast PASSENGER satisfaction with Britain’s railways has suffered a ‘significant decline’ over the past 12 months, according to a survey carried out by a transport user watchdog.

The proportion of passengers satisfied with their journeys fell from 83 per cent to 81 per cent in the latest autumn survey of 29,000 people by Transport Focus.

Punctuality and reliability of services was the factor showing the largest deterioration, down from 78 per cent to 73 per cent.

‘The timetable on parts of the London and South-East’s railway can be a work of fiction’ Public transport campaigners claimed the results show more emphasis should be given to short-term investment projects.

Lianna Etkind of the Campaign for Better Transport said: “This survey confirms passengers are paying through the nose for a shoddy service, and the Government appears not to care as long as the money keeps rolling in.

“There is no point spending billions on increasing capacity whilst ignoring smaller scale investment in reliable infrastructure.”

The Southern franchise was among the largest drops in satisfaction, down 12 percentage points to 65 per cent.

Three south-east lines made up three of the five worst performing lines in terms of punctuality.

Southern had the lowest approval rating at 44 per cent, while Thameslink were second worst at 56 per cent and Southeastern came fourth with 68 per cent.

Transport Focus chief executive Anthony Smith said: “The timetable on parts of the London and South-East’s railway can be a work of fiction which passengers cannot rely on.

“As passenger numbers rise, parts of the rail network will remain brittle until welcome improvements are in place and working.”

Analysis found that satisfaction is ­‘significantly lower’ for those passengers who travel into London during peak hours.

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Derailment causes chaos on Southeastern service COMMUTERS in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge faced severe disruption yesterday (Tuesday) because of a derailment – on the day that Southern said it was returning to normal following a series of strikes.

A freight train derailed at Lewisham in south London at 5.30am, causing major upheaval on the Southeastern network for hundreds of thousands of passengers. The line is not expected to be reopened until tomorrow (Thursday).

Meanwhile Southern admitted there had been ‘one or two cancellations’ involving the non-availability of train crew, arising from one case of sickness and a ‘train planning error’.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Southern were on strike in a dispute about driver-only trains. The main drivers’ union, ASLEF, has called off its strikes and ended an overtime ban and is continuing talks with the company, without the RMT being invited.

The RMT, which has 12 driver members at the company, mounted picket lines at some stations.

General secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT is a recognised union for drivers on Southern and it is disgraceful that we have been carved out of the current talks process set up by the TUC and the Government. That is a kick in the teeth for our members.

“RMT has repeatedly requested access to the talks process involving the TUC, the employers and our sister union, but we have been roundly snubbed and our executive committee find that wholly unacceptable.

OFF THE RAILS A freight train came off the track at Lewisham

“All parties should be at the negotiating table and RMT’s continued exclusion means we have had no option but to press ahead with our industrial action today.”

Talks will resume today (Wednesday) to try to avert more strikes on the London Underground over jobs and ticket office closures.

The RMT and Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) staged a 24-hour strike earlier this month which crippled Tube services and caused disruption in the capital.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: “Our

negotiating team will continue engaging in ACAS talks with London Underground for the remainder of this week.

“Frankly, this dispute has been going on for far too long and our members’ patience is running wafer thin. Due to chronic staff shortages, they have been exposed to a spike in both verbal and physical abuse from irate passengers which has no place in our society, never mind the workplace.

“Let’s hope common sense prevails and a deal can be reached that makes our Tube safe once again for both passengers and staff.”

Girls suffer from ‘gender pay gap’ in pocket money A POCKET money ‘gender pay gap’ has been uncovered by a survey, with girls being paid £2.20 a week less than boys on average.

Boys aged five to 16 receive £10.70 per week from pocket money, an allowance or money from paid jobs or chores, while girls of the same age typically receive £8.50, according to market research agency Childwise.

The report, based on a survey of nearly 2,000 children from across the UK, also suggested the gap is bigger among older children.

Boys aged from 11 to 16 receive an income of £17.80 per week on average, compared with just £12.50 among girls of the same age – a difference of £5.30.

The report also found parents are more likely to hand over pocket money as a cash payment to boys, giving them a taste of financial independence from an early age.

Meanwhile, girls are more likely than boys to tell their parents to hold on to their money and give it to them when they need it.

“Girls appear to have less financial freedom than boys,” said Childwise research manager Jenny Ehren.

“They are more likely to have things bought for them, including expensive items such as clothes and footwear, and lower cost purchases such as toiletries, hair products and make-up.”

The research also found children are most likely to buy sweets and chocolate with their money, followed by crisps and snacks, soft drinks and spending on going out.

National Business News

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

400 jobs to go as HSBC shuts more branches FOUR hundred jobs are at risk after HSBC revealed plans to slash its IT staff and make further cuts to its branch network.

It will now shut a further 62 bank branches on top of the 55 closures announced last year, putting 180 jobs under threat.

The closures are caused by an increase in online banking. The bank said the number of customers using branches has dropped by nearly 40 per cent in the past five years.

HSBC also confirmed that 204 IT jobs could be lost as part of plans to find ‘significant cost savings’ by the end of this year.

BT shares take £5bn hit from ‘improper behaviour’ in Italy TALL ORDER BT suspended managers in Milan

easyjet loses £35m EASYJET has revealed a loss of £35million as it feels the effects of the weak pound.

The budget carrier said the currency fall is now expected to cost it around £105million over 2016-17, up from the £90million estimated in November, with fuel expenses also falling by less than expected.

It added that the impact of the Christmas market attack in Berlin was in the ‘low millions’ as bookings dropped for the city.

Builder’s profits soar HOUSEBUILDER Crest Nicholson has seen its annual profits rise by more than a quarter after reaching its target to sell at least £1billion of homes.

It posted a 27 per cent jump in pre-tax profits to £195million and said it was now on track to build 4,000 homes by 2019.

SHARES in BT plummeted yesterday (Tuesday) after the company warned that profits would take a hit from the fallout of an accounting scandal in its Italian division, which will see it book a £530million writedown.

The figure was revised up from a previous estimate of £145million and the news saw shares

plunge by up to 19 per cent in morning trading, wiping more than £5billion off its market value.

The telecoms giant said that following an independent review of the business by KPMG, the ‘extent and complexity of inappropriate behaviour in the Italian business were far greater than previously identified’.

An investigation revealed improper accounting practices and a ‘complex set of improper sales, purchase, factoring and leasing transactions’ which led to an overstatement of earnings at BT’s Italian business for several years.

The group first revealed the accounting errors in October and says the investigation was ‘substantially complete’. The Italian business accounts for around 1 per cent of its total earnings.

BUSINESS

17

BT Chief Executive Gavin Patterson said: “We are deeply disappointed with the improper practices which we have found in our Italian business.”

“We have undertaken extensive investigations into that business and are committed to ensuring the highest standards across the whole of BT for the benefit of our customers, shareholders, employees and all other stakeholders.”

The group said in a statement: “The improper behaviour in our Italian business is an extremely serious matter, and we have taken immediate steps to strengthen the financial processes and controls in that business.”

It added: “We suspended a number of BT Italy’s senior management team who have now left the business. We have also appointed a new chief executive of BT Italy who will take charge on 1 February 2017.”

BT also warned that the outlook for UK public sector and international corporate markets has ‘deteriorated’.

For its business and public sector divisions, it is pencilling in a double-digit year-on-year percentage decline in fourth-quarter underlying earnings.

BT is also conducting a broader review of ­financial processes, systems and controls across the group and its remuneration committee will ­‘consider the wider implications’ of the BT Italy investigation.

British Gas Business fined over billing system BRITISH GAS BUSINESS agreed to pay a £9.5million fine as the energy watchdog said it ‘let customers down’ after billing and complaints issues.

The Centrica-owned supplier left tens of ­thousands of business customers with delayed or inaccurate bills after it launched a new IT billing system in 2014, according to regulator Ofgem.

More than 6,000 new customers had delays in

registering with the supplier, and British Gas Business handled many complaints over the issues ‘poorly or not on time’.

Ofgem said the company came forward voluntarily in December 2014 to flag up the billing issues.

Dermot Nolan, chief executive of Ofgem, said the firm was right to report the problems but ‘didn’t act quickly enough to put things right’.

Ofgem said British Gas Business failed to protect customers from issues surrounding the launch of its new IT system, did not ensure its customer service processes were adequate and then did not have enough staff to deal with complaints.

British Gas Business, which has around 400,000 customers, initially compensated some affected customers after discovering the billing issues.

18

NEWS

World News & Sport

SPORT IN BRIEF

Cooke throws spotlight back on Wiggins’…

NICOLE COOKE has told a panel of MPs that cycling is a sport ‘run by men, for men’ and that the fight against doping is being waged by ‘the wrong people, in the wrong way, with the wrong tools’.

The former Olympic and world road race champion (pictured) contrasted her experience of the corticosteroid triamcinolone with Sir Bradley Wiggins’ use of the same drug.

Both were given therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) – doctor’s notes that allow athletes to take substances which would otherwise be banned – for injections.

In Wiggins’ case these were on the eve of the 2011 and 2012 Tours de France and the 2013 Giro d’Italia.

Cooke explained she used it to treat a serious knee injury in 2003 and 2007, when the only alternative was surgery, and did not race until ‘long after the performanceenhancing effects had worn off’.

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Minorities back in the frame for Oscars but not too many Britons NOMINATIONS for this year’s acting Oscars are the most diverse for a decade.

Seven nominees are people from ethnic minority backgrounds, a reversal of the trend of 2015 and 2016 when every actor nominated was white.

Meanwhile Britain has slumped to its lowest number for at least 10 years.

It is represented by just 12 nominees – down from a total of 29 at the 2016 awards.

The Academy Awards, which were severely criticised for an all-white shortlist in the acting

categories last year, has now selected the most minority performers since 2007, which also produced seven nominees out of 20.

Denzel Washington has been nominated in the Best Actor category for his role in Fences, while Ruth Negga is in the running for Best Actress for her part in Loving.

If the Irish-Ethiopian wins, it will be the first time in 15 years that the Best Actress award has gone to a non-white performer.

British stars Dev Patel and Naomie Harris are

BEST OF LUCK (L-R) Ruth Negga and Britons Dev Patel and Naomie Harris

Fergie praises Rooney SIR ALEX FERGUSON does not believe anybody will be able to beat Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United goal record.

The 31-year-old scored his 250th goal for the club on Saturday to move clear of Sir Bobby Charlton on the all-time list.

The former United manager, who signed Rooney from Everton in 2004, said of the record: “Well, it lasted for 44 years, I think, and when Wayne Rooney joined the club I could never imagine anybody could beat Sir Bobby’s record.

“So his achievement is outstanding. It’s amazing. He’s 200-odd games short of Bobby’s playing record and that makes it even more amazing.”

London clubs charged QUEENS PARK RANGERS and Fulham have been charged with two counts of failing to control their players by the Football Association following Saturday’s west London derby at Loftus Road.

QPR coach Marc Bircham and Fulham’s manager of first-team medical and sports science Marco Cesarini have been charged with improper conduct.

Tempers were frayed near the end of the 1-1 draw with both teams’ management staff involved in an altercation which saw Bircham sent to the stands by referee Keith Stroud, who then booked Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney after a tussle with Ryan Manning.

Welsh lose pro status LONDON WELSH have been removed from English rugby’s professional ranks and will immediately forfeit their place in the Championship.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has declared Welsh’s position in the second-tier competition as ‘untenable’ after the club failed to convince England’s governing body of a sound future financial footing.

The Old Deer Park club fell into liquidation in December, before being granted a temporary licence that expired on January 21.

among five people of ethnic minority background listed for Best Supporting Actor or Actress.

Meryl Streep has broken her own record to earn her 20th nomination, just weeks after US president Donald Trump called her one of the most ‘over-rated actresses in Hollywood’.

She is included for her role in comedy-drama Florence Foster Jenkins, in which she plays a tone-deaf opera singer.

Streep, 67, was criticised by Mr Trump after she took aim at him during her Golden Globes acceptance speech on January 8 while picking up the Cecil B DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contribution to entertainment.

The Hollywood star said Mr Trump’s actions legitimised bullying and cited the moment he appeared to ridicule a disabled reporter, saying it ‘kind of broke my heart’.

Streep previously held the record for Oscar nominations with 19 under her belt and three wins – two best actress accolades for Sophie’s Choice and The Iron Lady and the best supporting actress prize for Kramer Vs Kramer.

Musical La La Land leads the way for the 2017 Oscars with an impressive 14 nominations.

The Damien Chazelle-directed film, which stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, now ties with blockbuster Titanic and All About Eve for the most Oscar nominations. It beat the previous record for a musical, 13 for Mary Poppins in 1965.

EU trade chief attacks Trump over ‘wall’ THE EUROPEAN Trade Commissioner has said US president Donald Trump’s trade policies are ‘doomed to fail’, and that the EU remains committed to open borders and economies.

Cecilia Malmstrom said most countries still share the same vision of open trade and investments.

She said that ‘building a wall is not the answer’, adding: “The success of the EU relies on our open societies.”

Ms Malmstrom said: “Those who in the 21st century think that we can

become great again by rebuilding borders, re-imposing trade barriers, restricting people’s freedom to move – they are doomed to fail.”

Mr Trump’s decision to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on Monday has been widely regarded as an indicator of a more enclosed US trade policy.

The US president has argued he is protecting domestic jobs by pulling out of the TPP agreement, which would have lowered barriers to trade between the Pacific countries.

McIlroy will not hurry comeback RORY MCILROY does not expect to be back in golfing action from his rib injury until the WGC-Mexico Championship in March – just a month before the Masters at Augusta.

The Northern Irishman missed last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and will also be absent for the Dubai Desert Classic.

He said: “I am trying to get back for Mexico, that’s my timetable for return.”

“I could maybe get back before that, but if I were to play Honda [Classic in Florida] and then go straight to Mexico, that would be playing two weeks in a row.

“I would like to ease my way in gently.”

Despite being in pain, McIlroy competed in the 2017 BMW SA Open on January 12-15.

Following tests, however, it was confirmed McIlroy had suffered a stress fracture of a rib and he was advised to rest.

The Masters, which begins on April 6, is a competition that the four-time Major winner has yet to add to his collection.

Ms Malmstrom insisted the ­ roblem is an inability of economies p to deal with evolution – in this case ‘automation, with machines and computers replacing manual work’.

She added: “Against this reality, trade deals are a handy scapegoat.”

The EU had wanted to seal a free trade deal with the United States before former President Barack Obama left office.

Proponents said it would have added around £86billion per year in output to each side.

“The election of Donald Trump seems likely to put our EU-US negotiations firmly in the freezer,” said Ms Malmstrom.

Instead, she said the EU would now focus on deals with some other nations and trading blocs, including Japan, Mexico and the Mercosur South American trade group.

As Mr Trump has been talking about undoing Nafta, the North America free trade deal, the EU is on the verge of clinching an agreement with Canada.

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NEWS

Letters

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU

Free healthcare is one of the symbols of a successful, caring society – so stop all the moaning about the NHS You have to feel for the staff at Tunbridge Wells Hospital as well as the patients who have to wait so long to be treated [January 4].

In this ‘post-truth’ world it seems like the facts can simply be shouted down, but the plight of the NHS may have been the original example of this phenomenon.

“The NHS is rubbish because it can’t treat me within six hours” is all too easy an accusation to make without taking into account the incredible complexity of the demands placed on the service.

Will parents take up PTA challenge?

Thank you so much for publishing the letter [January 18] about the need for more parents to get involved in volunteering to work in schools, particularly with the PTA. It pointed it out to a number of parents who might like to take up the challenge. All expressed an enthusiasm. But how many will follow it through?

Elaine McCartney Via email

Investing in rail benefits everyone Reading your front page about season tickets [January 11], it was interesting to learn just how people think their season ticket provides them with little value for money.

It seems not a day goes by without there being more problems with our railways, whether it be strike action over the role of conductors and ticket offices, or delays because of staff shortages.

At a time when the country is fretting about remaining competitive economically in the wake of Brexit, surely it should be a priority to get everyone to work on time?

Free healthcare is one of the symbols of a successful, caring society. Something of which we can be genuinely proud. But you have to pay for it somehow. And that’s why we pay tax.

The fact is that we give less money to our health service than they do in France and Germany, and we have to realise that if we are going to invest in anything in our society, it is surely health and education. Don’t even bother talking about housing in the UK. So come on, let’s appreciate the fact that we can get some kind of treatment free at the point of care. And also, let’s understand that it’s the public who need educating that sometimes you just don’t need to go to A&E. There are other resources for dealing with lesser injuries or ailments. And perhaps if we took responsibility for ourselves when we get drunk, that would help, too.

And just imagine, if we didn’t have so many nurses from our EU neighbours coming over to fill the staff vacancies, we would be even worse off.

Soon enough we could be in danger of seeing fewer medical professionals from overseas helping us out. But at least we’ll be getting an extra £350million a week for the NHS when we finally disentangle ourselves from Europe.

We will, won’t we? Hang on, it’s all gone a bit quiet. And while we’re on the subject of hanging on, let’s hope we’re still alive to find out.

Tanya Simpson Via email

Foreign investors will not be impressed by the idea of a workforce that can’t get in on time, whereas a transport system that functions well can only be a huge attraction to outside interests.

In addition, pumping money into our country’s infrastructure will create jobs and add value to the economy. It doesn’t have to be funded by French companies like our utilities, or by the Chinese as in the case of nuclear energy, because it will generate its own revenue.

And such inward investment is something that can be done without needing to worry about what the rest of the world thinks of us.

And while we’re at it, decent railways would mean fewer people would commute using cars, and that would be beneficial to the environment and also stop the roads from being clogged up.

Peter Watson Via email

EU gravy train jibe is accurate Alan Bullion accuses me [January 18] of making cheap jibes, but in fact what I have said about the EU gravy train is nothing more than the truth.

In attacking a few dozen individuals from UKIP who have benefitted from being MEPs, he is straining at a gnat, but swallowing the camel of hundreds of politicians from the main parties who have made a good living from the EU, either as MEPs, or as obscenely well-paid bureaucrats within the Brussels machine.

One only has to think of Roy Jenkins, Leon Brittan or the Kinnock family, among many, many others. There are also hundreds of unelected apparatchiks, lawyers, etc who have had their snouts in the trough for decades.

I do agree that there have been some bad apples in UKIP who, having been elected on a platform advocating a cleaner politics, have then let down those who voted for them by grubbing around with the worst of those they have condemned.

I have nothing but contempt for such people, but they do not represent those of us who have worked for a free Britain for decades, without seeking or accepting a penny from the EU. Every party suffers from such people, but this does not change the basic principles upon which UKIP was formed.

I, too, am from a working-class background, and I look forward to the day, not too long now, when all the British MEPs and Eurocrats will be called home and made redundant.

Colin Bullen Via email

Free counselling for veterans This time of year can be particularly hard for the elderly, with many men and women suffering from depression, which can be the result of bereavement, marital problems or a whole host of other issues, and yet they receive very little help from the NHS. Aged Veterans Counselling, a governmentbacked organisation supported by veterans charities, offers a free counselling scheme across the UK to anyone born before 1950 who was in the military or completed national service.

Incidentally, most men who are over the age of 66 did complete national service, and will therefore qualify.

Aged Veterans Counselling are able to offer vital support to those in need, providing up to six free counselling sessions in the comfort of their own home, provided by accredited professionals, which has proved to have an immensely positive impact on those who participate.

So can I ask your readers to spare a thought for loved ones, friends, neighbours, or someone in their care who might qualify and benefit from this free counselling service?

They can contact, in confidence, Aged Veterans Counselling on 0300 0120 247 or online at www.agedveterancounselling.org.uk Josephine Bey Programme Director

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

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

CALVERLEY is ever grateful to his legions of undercover agents who hide behind the aspidistras and feedback the nuggets that make this column so popular, or irritating, depending on where you sit. He is therefore more than happy to share the most recent unedited dispatch from the field that aptly illustrates the unexpected faces of our beloved town. Obviously, the name of this particular agent has been withheld: WHILE in a local chemist, I saw two elderly gentlemen sitting together, waiting for prescriptions. One was white, the other Bengali in traditional dress. To my surprise, the white elderly man greeted the Bengali man with “Salaam alaikum’ and explained how he had worked once in Saudi Arabia.

Who says Tunbridge Wells isn’t multicultural?

That’s a story that will confound a few people.

TWO genteel elderly ladies were standing on Bishops Down, close to a zebra crossing, chatting. A young whippersnapper came up to them and told them they shouldn’t stand so close to the road as the cars were slowing down expecting them to cross. As he walked off, one of the ladies made a two-fingers sign to his back. Not so genteel!

Only one thing to do in this situation – take away their bus passes.

ALWAYS nice to know that people read the letters. There was evidence of this when Calverley popped into Sainsbury’s. There, taped to one of the checkout tills, was a letter we pubished about staff being verbally abused by some customers in the hectic holiday period.

Sadly, the next day Himself noticed it had been removed. Now who could have done that?

REGULARS will know that Calverley occasionally finds sanctuary in the odd glass. Last week, on such a mission, he uncorked a bottle at one of his favourite watering holes, the Mark Cross Inn. And there, chalked up on a board, were words he might well have written himself. Cheers!

Chin, chin readers

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NEWS

Education

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

Valuable lessons to be learned from this new school’s impressive progress report Bodiam’s Claremont Senior School was only founded in 2011, but has had a remarkable first six years. Here, Headmaster Giles Perrin explains why it’s enjoying such success, and its plans for an even brighter future…

SINCE its opening, Claremont Senior School has quickly established itself as a leading centre of academic excellence in the South East.

Our recent examination results are among the best in East Sussex and, despite being the area’s youngest independent school, Claremont has quickly acquired a reputation for academic vision and ambition. The reason is because we have a genuinely holistic programme, and have the highest expectation of all our students, regardless of their ability. We expect them to fully contribute to all aspects of school life, whether in the classroom, through our service projects, or within our sporting or creative programmes.

Claremont remains proudly non-selective, and yet it attracts students of the highest calibre. When the Ofsted inspectors came last May and asked me how we were managing to deliver such fantastic results,

they discovered what we already knew: Claremont School has a unique atmosphere, the relationship between staff and pupils is second to none, and the support and care that is given to each individual is exceptional. The resulting inspection report graded Claremont as Outstanding in every department.

The school’s site now boasts a wide range of new facilities, including a sports hall, sixth form centre, boarding house and a performing arts centre.

A new floodlit Astroturf is due for completion in March 2017, and in September 2018 work will start on a brand new two-storey classroom block as part of a redevelopment programme in the heart of the school.

We are holding Open Mornings on Friday March 3 and Saturday March 4 from 9.30am-1pm. Should you wish to visit, a tour can be arranged by contacting the School Office on 01580 830396.

FANTASTIC Students of the highest calibre

Education

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Why extensive subject choice really matters Headmaster Aaron Lennon, of Tunbridge Wells’ Beechwood Sacred Heart School, tells the Times why he believes that giving students a wide selection of subjects to study at both GCSE and A-level is so beneficial to their education in general IN MOST schools, the spring term is a time when pupils in Years 9 and 11 will give serious consideration to option choices for the following academic year.

Now pupils in Year 9 will, for the first time, be able to select courses of study in addition to compulsory courses in English, mathematics and science.

At Beechwood, ‘choice’ is a key word as we offer 22 subjects at GCSE and 24 at A-level.

This breadth of subject choice enables pupils to study subjects they really want to explore and develop at school and into higher education.

At a time when funding cuts or prescriptive inspection judgments are causing some state schools to shrink their curriculum offer, the opposite is true at Beechwood,

where choice matters.

We are fortunate to have a wonderful pupil body who have a diverse range of interests and ambitions. To meet this demand, we offer an outstanding range of GCSE and A-level subject choices, and welcome new 13+ and 16+ entrants to the school each year.

Compared to most educational systems around the world, UK pupils specialise or choose their academic subjects earlier. Excellent advice is provided to pupils and parents in order to ensure that option choices match future ambitions.

To find out more about what Beechwood can do for your child, or for information on our Year 9 Options Evening on February 23, please contact our Registrar by emailing: registrar@beechwood.org.uk

CLASS ACT Aaron Lennon with some of his pupils

NEWS

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24

NEWS

Weekly Comment

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Andrew Sharp Chairman of Tunbridge Wells Constituency Labour Party

Andrew Sharp is an experienced freelance Political, Communications and Organisational Adviser. He is a former National Officer of the Labour Party who specialised in Organisation, elections, legal and constitutional management and a former Borough Councillor in Essex. The Times also publishes regular opinions from Conservative and Liberal Democrat Party members

Labour will be ready for the ballot box in 2017 It is likely to be a year of many challenges and opportunities for the Labour Party in 2017, not just nationally, but in Tunbridge Wells constituency too.

■ In Health we see pressures on GP Practices, increasing A&E waiting times, staff and funding shortages. Patients should have the right to get a GP appointment quickly or see that their appointment at the Pembury Hospital isn’t on some long waiting list or is postponed – or that the right kind of support for an elderly relative is available without blocking NHS beds or greater pressures on A&E. ■ In Rail so many depend upon a good and affordable service from Tunbridge Wells, High Brooms and Paddock Wood and when services are unsatisfactory it is right for users to complain about Southeastern Trains as reported by Which in your paper last week.

■ In Housing, more affordable homes are needed in the Tunbridge Wells area. Last year, John Healey MP, Shadow Cabinet member for Housing visited Tunbridge Wells to find out more about the concerns for young people as they try to find affordable homes to buy or rent in the

Tunbridge Wells area or are forced to move away from their home town.

■ Local families in work should have enough to live one. At the end of last year, Jon Trickett MP, the Shadow Cabinet Member for Campaigns met volunteers in Tunb ridge Wells who were having to deal with increasing foodbank referrals to help working families who were struggling to make ends meet.

■ Businesses need some certainty over Brexit plans. Last year, Pat Glass MP, the then Shadow Europe Minister visited Tunbridge Wells to hear first-hand from people involved in local businesses about the possible effects of Brexit and their respective work forces.

In 2017, Labour locally will listen, learn and look at what can be done to support local people.

Labour will be out on the doorstep to listen to electors in Tunbridge Wells about their concerns.

To learn more about the problems facing many people locally as mentioned above. To look at what Labour can do to support our local communities in trying to make Tunbridge Wells Constituency a better place for all.

Labour does this where we have been elected.

VOTES COUNT Winning power matters

Our councillors work doubly hard to ensure the concerns of Southborough and High Brooms and Labour views are listened to across the Borough.

Labour’s influence increases by winning elections. Our big test this year will be at the ballot box when we contest the Kent County Council Elections and Labour needs to improve its share of the vote. There could even get a General

Election sooner rather than later depending on how Brexit talks go. Labour must be ready.

While in opposition it is possible to put pressure on the Government to change course, Labour can only bring about real change by being elected.

Protests, placards and petitions all have their place. Winning elections, as we did in 1997, 2001 and 2005, then Labour can make a real difference.

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T H E N E W S PA P E R F R O M T H E A WA R D W I N N I N G P U B A N D R E S TA U R A N T G R O U P

CAUSING A STIR Candice Brown winner of The Great British Bake Off 2016

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

‘Never in a million years did I ever go into the show thinking this would happen’

A word in your shell like…

The 15th Rye Bay Scallop Week takes place in February between Saturday 18 and Sunday 26. This popular foodie festival offers seafood lovers the perfect excuse to taste and enjoy an array of delicious scallop dishes and to also attend cooking demonstrations, take part in workshops, quizzes and tasting events. A number of the town’s restaurants including The George Hotel’s Grill, Ypres Castle Inn and the Hope and Anchor Hotel will be showcasing a variety of scallop inspired menus. Visit www.scallop.org.uk

Dress to impress It’s no good slaving over a hot stove if the plates you’re serving your gourmet creations on aren’t up to scratch. If you’re still passing off chipped crockery then splash out on some gorgeous new plates and platters. We’ve discovered the heavenly Sthal collection’s new Arabesque range which allows you to create the ‘ulitmate colourful canvas for your food.’ The fact they also hit this year’s key Pantone colour trend is another added bonus. Talk about getting your greens! Prices start from £8 for a dipping bowl.

For more information visit www.sthal.se

The rise of a great star Life is looking pretty sweet for Candice Brown right now. Gastro finds out what’s in store for the winner of the Great British Bake Off and why she’s keen to get her fingers in plenty of different pies role as a regular contributor to The Sunday Times’ specialist monthly food publication The Dish but there are also rumours that Candice will be doing an Antiques Roadshow-style trip around France with her former Bake Off contestant and now firm friend Jane, and that she also has plans to open her own vintage-inspired tea shop.

Add to this rich mix her numerous appearances on ITV’s This Morning and Loose Women as well as Channel 5’s The Wright

Stuff plus a series of personal appearances at specialist foodie festivals and you’ll instantly see that Candice is very much in demand these days.

Born in North London, Candice was surrounded by food from an early age thanks to the fact her parents ran a number of pubs. But unlike her brother Ben and sister Tanya, the Bake Off champion showed a real interest in it, thanks mainly to the fact she often stayed with her ‘beloved’ nan Margaret who had a real penchant for baking.

In a recent interview Candice paid tribute to her saying: “She was brilliant and modest, and I loved spending as much time cooking with her as I could. She passed away eight years ago and my world fell away when she did.

Lots of my ideas come from her and I still have her handwritten recipes. She was a dinner lady and would make everything from boiled fruitcake to Bakewell tart.

All of it was perfect.”

See page 3 for more on Candice Brown >>

PHOTO: @Radio Times/Jude Edginton

A

fter weeks of creating mouthwatering sugary confections and deftly avoiding the odd burnt crust or dull glaze, Candice Brown was crowned the victorious winner of the Great British Bake Off late last year. The 32-year-old, who beat Jane Beedle from Sevenoaks and Andrew Smyth from County Down in the BBC1 final, has since quit her day job as a PE teacher and is now considering numerous lucrative projects.

The first confirmed one is her

More cheese please A group of expert cheese makers have recently launched The Cheese Academy, a professional accreditation programme for the UK’s top quality cheese makers. The idea is the brainchild of Mary Quicke, from Devon based cheesemakers, Quicke’s.

Mary had seen how the Certified Cheese Professional (CCP) exam in America, elevated the role of those in the cheese supply chain and wante to see this happen in the UK. With the support of the Guild of Fine Food, the qualification programme is now happening and level one will be ready to sit and pass in spring 2017. Visit www.the academy ofcheese. co.uk

GASTRO | 03 Continued from page 1 >>

What’ll it be, then?

F

IRST AND FOREMOST, Happy New year to all our customers, both old and new.

2017 brings exciting times here at Whiting & Hammond as we launch our new edition of Gastro in a handy newspaper format in association with the Times of Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge.

Within the pages of our new spring issue you will learn all about the history of our prestigious family run pubs and what they have to offer. We’re fortunate enough to boast sites in Kent, Sussex and Surrey so there’s always a Whiting & Hammond hostelry to enjoy wherever your travels take you.

Also in our new edition, we have some handy tips on what seasonal produce and ingredients are best to enjoy over the coming months as well as plenty of recipe ideas, including one from our Operations Manager’s favourite dish and which wine will perfectly complement it.

We also kick off our new style paper format with a profile piece on the lovely Candice Brown, winner of the seventh series of The Great British Bake Off. Candice talks about how she got into baking and why she has recently quit her job as a PE teacher to bake full-time. I think I would need to do both jobs if I baked cakes all day and ate them but there you go!

I thought it would also be a nice idea to feature some of the suppliers Whiting & Hammond use so you can see just how local and easily traceable all our food is. We work incredibly closely with our producers and try to use as many regional ones as possible, this allows us to have daily deliveries of fresh produce and to cut down on wastage. In this edition of Gastro we speak to Dion Massey from Penshurst Fine Foods who we have used since Whiting and Hammond was established back in 2003.

We also have a round-up of the latest food and drink news for you to savour as well as the low down on some amazing new gadgets.

We also have some great events coming up over the next few months so get in early if you would like to book a table for Valentine’s or Mother’s Day. We hope you like our new style and format of Gastro. The simple truth is that without your continued support we would not be where we are today and it’s because of you that we are able to proudly call ourselves not just a company but a family that grows with every person that comes through the doors.

So pull up a stool, enjoy this issue of Gastro and get a round in… I’m off to the pub to do the same!

Cheers, Brian Keeley-Whiting Managing Director

Candice also admits that she found baking a ‘haven’ from the stress of teaching. Until recently she was a PE teacher at Ashlyns School in Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire but made the decision to leave her post at the end of last year.

“This has been such an agonising decision to make,” she said at a press conference at the time. “Never in a million years did I ever go into the show thinking this would happen. This is why I have been back at school teaching since I won the Bake Off final.

“At first I kept telling the school I would stay until December but they were so incredible and told me I had to grab everything whilst I could.

“My headteacher told me: ‘You’ve got to do this, you can’t do it half-heartedly. I wouldn’t forgive myself if you missed out. It’s not that we don’t want you here but you have to give it 100%. If we can’t encourage our staff to follow their dreams and inspire, then we are not doing our job properly.

You are showing the kids that anything is possible.’”

Candice, who is an avid Tottenham Hotspur and England rugby fan, was crowned Bake Off’s 2016 winner thanks to the array of impressive sweet and savoury creations she whipped up in the show’s famous tent. These included a gingerbread replica of a Medieval Bedfordshire pub

she’d lived in as a child and an ambitious marzipan peacock cake with a blueberry surprise in the middle. Intriguing and inspired bakes such as these helped Candice to land the show’s prestigious Star Baker title three times in the series of ten episodes, which drew in a record 14.8 million viewers for the final.

“I baked continuously,” Candice said when commenting on what she did to prepare herself for taking part in the much loved show, that will soon be screened on Channel 4 with only one original cast member, Paul Hollywood, left presenting. Mary Berry, Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc all declined to move with the show.

And when Candice was introduced as the Sunday Times’ new Dish contributor she revealed the key to her cooking prowess: “I would say my style is homely and old-fashioned with a twist. I’m particularly good at what I call the ‘guessa-cake’, when I make a cake by measuring all the ingredients by eye. My theory is that if it tastes good raw, it will taste good cooked.”

Her love of posh, rich toned lipsticks and chic chignons which became her trademark look on the show - belied the fact that Candice is also very much a homely kind of girl when it comes to her personal life. She and her tree surgeon boyfriend Liam Macaulay and their pug Dennis live near her brother Ben in Bedfordshire

My headteacher told me: ‘You’ve got to do this, you can’t do it halfheartedly. I wouldn’t forgive myself if you missed out. It’s not that we don’t want you here but you have to give it 100%.’

THREE’S COMPANY Candice with her fellow finalists Jane Beedle and Andrew Smyth

and she’s still very close to her parents, often tweeting pictures of her with her dad at sports matches.

Perhaps the toughest time for Candice since officially winning the show was having to keep quiet about her impressive victory. The Great British Bake Off is filmed in late spring and the final takes place in June but it wasn’t until October that the result was officially announced and Candice could talk about it. When asked by colleagues and pupils what she’d done at the weekend (when the show is filmed) she says she would just say she ‘baked a lot’. The support of her fellow contestants on the

show helped though. In a recent interview Candice revealed they had a WhatsApp group entitled Bakers Uncensored where they all chat and catch up on a regular basis.

Given the amount of fame past Bake Off finalists including Frances Quinn, Ruby Tandoh and last year’s Nadiya Hussain have enjoyed, the future looks very bright for Candice.

And whether she wants to turn her hand to presenting cookery shows or open that dream tea shop Candice Brown is certainly someone that’s able to have her cake and eat it right now.

“I’m a very lucky person,” she concludes.

The Gastro team Editor

Eileen Leahy eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk Design and Production Manager

Lee Smith lsmith8@markerstudy.com

ONE MEDIA AND CREATIVE UK LTD 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU 01892 779 650 • www.one-media.co

Commercial Director

Nick Moore nmoore@markerstudy.com Contact sales

sales@onemediauk.co.uk

Whiting & Hammond Gastro is owned by Whiting & Hammond Ltd and published/distributed by One Media and Creative UK Ltd. All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the owner or publisher. All prices are correct at the time of going to print. Neither the publisher nor the owner can accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these materials whilst in transit.

04 | GASTRO

The Blue Ball gets a bounce after

Events

Our popular hostelry in Walton on the Hill near Epsom, The Blue Ball, has beaten off competition from 1,100 other pubs to be crowned Star Pub of the Year in national awards run by the Heineken owned Star AWARD WINNING Brian accepts the Pubs & Bars.

Star Pub award The prestigious from Chris Kamara award was received at a gala celebration night in Liverpool from football legend and broadcaster Chris Kamara.

Brian Keeley-Whiting took over the establishment in 2015 after it had been closed for two years and the award marks the dramatic transformation he has brought about thanks to a stunning £750,000 refurbishment which has restored The Blue Ball to a thriving village pub once again since it reopened in September last year.

The judges said it brought together all the most valued features of the British pub: ‘An excellent pint, good food and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere’. They noted how everything was delivered to the very highest standards, singling out the pub’s perfectly served range of draught beers and cask ales and its seasonally changing menu which is freshly prepared using locally sourced ingredients.

The Blue Ball also received a special commendation for its careful renovation which

EVENTd FEBRUARY

has made it an ‘attractive feature’ of Walton on the Hill’s green. The judges loved the pub’s garden and heated huts as well as its large central fireplace and beautifully decorated interior.

Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs & Bars managing director said: “The Blue Ball puts the ‘great’ into great British pub. Brian and his team saw the potential in The Blue Ball when it was in a sorry state and are to be commended for their commitment and vision in reopening it. Its success is proof of the enduring popularity of the traditional pub.”

Brian commented: “We’re thrilled, it makes all the hard work worthwhile. It’s great to be recognised, especially against such tough competition, and a real tribute to all our brilliant staff. We see it as an award not just for The Blue Ball but for the whole community who have welcomed and supported our reopening of the pub.”

All the dates you’ll need on your W&H calendar

RESTAURANTd

being named ‘Pub of the Year’

by

BRITISH YORKSHIRE PUDDING DAY 5th February BRAMLEY APPLE WEEK 6th – 12th February VALENTINE’S DAY 14th February SHROVE TUESDAY 28th February

MARCH

BRITISH PIE WEEK 6th – 12th March ST PATRICK’S DAY 17th March INTERNATIONAL WAFFLE DAY 25th March MOTHER’S DAY 26th March NATIONAL BUTCHER’S WEEK XXth March

APRIL

UK COFFEE WEEK 10th – 16th April GOOD FRIDAY 14th April EASTER SUNDAY 16th April

Whiting & Hammond up for two top awards

NATIONAL GARLIC DAY 19th April NATIONAL TEA DAY 21st April

It’s been another great start to 2017 for another of the newest Whiting & Hammond pubs.

The Rose & Crown in Green St Green are finalists in the Best Designed Casual Dining Pub or Bar and the Whiting & Hammond group are also a finalist in the Multiple Casual Dining Pub of the Year. Visit www.cdawards.co.uk

ST GEORGE’S DAY 23rd April For more information on how to book any of our events, check with your local venue or visit www.whitingandhammond.co.uk. You can also keep up to date with what’s happening by liking us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/whitingandhammond or by following us on Twitter @Whiting_Hammond

The food of love

Under new management We are pleased to welcome Harrison Mackenzie as our new manager at The Blue Ball. He has completed the team with his great enthusiasm and energy and comes with good experience from running food-led sites. Harrison will be an integral part of the team working alongside the Head Chef, Steve Ednie, to produce some great home cooked food in the Whiting & Hammond way.

Treat your nearest and dearest to a slap-up meal at any of our award winning pubs and restaurants over the coming months. On Tuesday February 14 you can wine and dine your beloved with some of our sharing platters on Valentine’s Day, while on Sunday March 26 you won’t want to forget to spoil the most important woman in your life by taking your mum out for a traditional British meal on Mother’s Day. For more information on how to reserve a table visit your nearest Whiting & Hammond local or head to our website for further details.

Visit www.whitingandhammond.co.uk

Seasonal sensations 06 | GASTRO

Every season brings with it a new crop of delicious ingredients to enjoy. Here’s a taste of what spring has in store for the keen cooks who want to liven up their mealtimes…

As the cold winter months ebb away and we edge closer to springtime we bid farewell to all those wonderful root vegetables such as swede, turnips, sweet potato and celeriac which have helped us to create hearty, fulfilling soups, stews and pies in order to satisfy our tastebuds.

With the arrival of a new season there’s a wealth of inspiring ingredients and specialist produce to discover and enjoy cooking with. Heading towards the official start of spring you’ll start to see plenty of fresh fish including cod and oysters coming into season as well as citrus fruits and leeks.

To help you plan your menus and mealtimes we’ve produced this handy guide which shows you the culinary highlights of the season.

We’ve also singled out a couple of hero food ingredients for each month and given you some tips on how to use them in your own recipe repertoire. Bon appetit!

February’s Must Buy Meat: Venison Although it’s coming to the tail end of its official season venison is still a great meat to cook with this month. Its lean, red meat is low in fat but packed full of flavour. Venison is the name given to any species of deer sold as meat in the UK and can be classified as wild, park or farmed deer. The most common varieties in the UK however are red, fallow and roe. Cook it as you would beef to create mouthwatering casseroles, pan fried steaks or shred it into fresh pasta. Perfect pairings for venison include juniper, gin, red wine, port, rosemary and redcurrant.

What’s in store:

March

Fruit and Vegetables:

Banana  Bramley apple  Brussels sprouts  Cabbage  Cauliflower Celeriac  Chicory  Grapefruit  Jerusalem artichoke  Leek  Lemon  Onion  Pak choi  Parsnip  Pepper  Pomegranate  Potato (coming in)  Purple sprouting broccoli  Rhubarb  Sorrel (coming in)  Spinach (coming in)  Spring greens  Spring onions  Sweet potato  Watercress (coming in) Meat and Fish:

Beef  Chicken  Cod  Mussels  Oyster  Pork  Salmon  Spring lamb

What’s in store:

February Fruit and Vegetables:

Apple  Banana  Bramley apple  Brussels sprouts  Cabbage Cauliflower  Celeriac  Chicory  Clementine  Grapefruit  Jerusalem artichoke  Leek  Lemon  Onion  Orange  Pak choi  Swede  Sweet potato  Turnip  Parsnip  Purple sprouting broccoli  Radicchio  Rhubarb  Pepper  Pomegranate Meat and Fish:

Beef  Chicken  Cod  Mussels  Oyster  Pork  Spring lamb  Venison

February’s Must Buy Vegetable: Jerusalem Artichoke Knobbly and rather odd to look at, what they lack in aesthetic appearance Jerusalem artichokes more than make up for in taste.

Full of nutty, sweet and crunchy goodness they are satisfying and delicious. This particular type of artichoke is a member of the sunflower family and is simple to cook and surprisingly diverse. You can prepare it like potatoes or parsnips and then roast or sauté it.

Alternatively, try dipping some slices of it in batter and then frying.

Jerusalem artichokes are also fabulous puréed for a warming, delicious soup or you could try adding it to a pork and cider stew, including it in a white fish and cheese gratin or pan fry with plenty of garlic, sage, bay leaves and olive oil then toss into a crisp salad.

March’s Must Buy Fruit: Pomegranates Red, round and bursting with scarlet pulp and juice, pomegranates have been enjoying somewhat of a super food status over the past few years. Native to Iran but also now grown in India, Africa and South East Asia the pomegranate dates back two thousand years or so but it would seem that foodies here in the UK have only discovered its health inducing benefits and its ability to conjure up a culinary delight relatively recently. Its sweet and sharp juices and pulp are great used in a healthy smoothie or a naughty vodka-based cocktail, while its berry-like red beads liven up a lamb dish or exotic North African couscous salad perfectly.

March’s Must Buy Meat: Spring Lamb As we head into spring now is the time to start seeking out the first cuts of new season spring lamb. Spring lamb is fantastic for roasting simply with garlic and herbs and is on average three to five months old. It is very tender and boasts a more delicate flavour due to the fact the animals haven’t had as much time to graze. The younger the animal the sweeter, more tender the meat and milder the flavour. When cooking it just needs a bit of seasoning; this is one reason why new season lamb is so popular. The spring lamb season runs roughly from February until June.

Try roasting a leg, grilling some loin shops, braising a shoulder or mince it to make lamb burgers.

What’s in store:

April

Beef  Chicken  Lamb  Spring lamb  Pork  Salmon

 Halibut  Crab  Banana  Cabbage  Cauliflower 

Celeriac  Grapefruit  Lettuce (coming in)  New potatoes – At their best Peas (coming in)  Pepper  Pomegranate  Potato  Purple sprouting broccoli  Rhubarb  Sorrel  Spinach  Spring greens  Spring onion  Watercress – At its best.

April’s Must Buy Fish: Fresh crab There are more than 4,000 species of the crustacean known as crab including European brown, Dungeness, Spider and Atlantic Blue. Its season runs from April until November and its claws boast sweet, rich white meat, not too dissimilar to that of lobster, while the flesh in the upper shell is dense, soft and brown. If you buy cooked crustaceans, eat them within 24 hours of purchase and never after the ‘best before’ date. Crabmeat can be eaten hot or cold and is a luxurious and tasty addition to salads, fresh pasta dishes or homemade fish cakes. Its perfect partners are cream, chilli and lime.

April’s Must Buy Vegetable: Rhubarb This long, pink tangy ingredient is actually a vegetable and not a fruit and although it is traditionally eaten sweet, it can also work well in savoury dishes such as duck and fish. Originally used as a medicine in ancient China it was brought to Europe by Marco Polo and is one of the UK’s favourite seasonal ingredients. The reason it is classed as a vegetable is due to its botanical roots – it’s related to sorrel and dock.

It grows in two crops with the first being forced up by candlelight around January. The second arrives around now and is known as ‘maincrop’ rhubarb.

Unlike the earlier variety it boasts a more intense flavour and has deeper red stalks. Neither type of rhubarb can be eaten raw as it is too tart and should always be cooked, preferably with plenty of sugar.

To mix things up try roasting it with pork and black pudding or infused in a chutney with dates and ginger – perfect with cheese.

GASTRO | 07

Spring into action Acclaimed local food expert Mary Gwynn gets your tastebuds tingling with some delicious seasonal delicacies which can be sourced from your nearest farmers’ food market February and March are sometimes referred to by chefs as the hunger gap or famine months, as we all wait for longer days and warmer weather to stimulate the new season’s growth and the bounty ahead. But spring is just around the corner, and as the clocks go forward, it’s time to say goodbye to hearty comfort eating and welcome the arriving warmer and lighter days with fresh flavours and textures in our food. After all, that’s one of the real joys of seasonal local shopping – life moves on, ingredients come and go with the changing year, and we can all enjoy knowing we are eating food at its finest whilst giving vital

Linguine with scallops, chilli and parsley A really wonderful way to enjoy scallops while they are at their finest, is this simple recipe which can also be made with prawns. Use quality dried pasta made with durum wheat for the best results Serves: 2 Prepare: 5 minutes Cook: 10 minutes

support to local producers who are working flat out to cope with the challenges the British weather keeps throwing at them.

So, although the basket may be less varied in the spring why not make it a time to appreciate the simple pleasures of what we have available. For fish lovers, sea bass is a good choice this month or try a wonderful warming fish stew as a good way of enjoying superb local fish and seafood - a combination of cod, mussels and clams cooked with parsley, garlic and lemon will go wonderfully with a chilled locally made white wine.

Or you could spoil yourself a little with the finest local lobsters and native oysters, clams, cockles and mussels.

Spring storms permitting, Kent and Sussex scallops are at their finest in early spring so enjoy one of the great pleasures of the season.

For meat eaters, venison is available both farmed and wild in many farmers’ markets and game dealers.

With only 5% to 7% fat, compared to red meat such as lamb which has on average 25% or more, depending on the cut, venison makes a healthy choice for spring eating. The lower fat content means picking the right cooking method to stop the meat from drying out, so avoid cooking it in traditional stews and casseroles.

Today’s game has been very carefully selected and prepared by your local dealer; it’s no longer hung to quite the same stage of ‘gameyness’ and as a result is less strong and much more tender. Therefore it calls

150 – 200g linguine 2 tbsp olive oil 5 fresh scallops with their coral, cut into pieces 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped large pinch crushed chillies 2 -3 tbsp dry white wine 3 tbsp chopped flat leafed parsley squeeze of lemon juice salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 Cook the pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water according to packet instructions. Keep the water at a good boil to avoid the pasta sticking and don’t stir apart from when you first add it to the water.

2 When the pasta is nearly cooked, heat the oil in a medium frying pan.

Add the scallops and sauté quickly over a high heat to seal and brown. Add the garlic and chilli and cook for half a minute – don’t allow to burn - then add the wine and boil to reduce by half. Stir in the parsley and seasoning and add a squeeze of lemon juice.

3 Add a splash of cold water to the pasta to stop it cooking then drain thoroughly.

Toss with the scallops and all their lovely juices. Serve immediately in warm bowls.

For more recipes by Mary Gwynn visit www.trufflehound.wordpress.com

for more modern, time-friendly techniques such as flash-frying, grilling or even home smoking which are all better suited to lean, tender cuts.

Cabbages, cauliflower, purple sprouting broccoli, leeks and kale are all good now. They need little cooking and are at their best simply shredded and steamed. Or try quickly stir-frying them with garlic, ginger and chilli for an accompaniment to good local sausages. Cauliflower goes well with an array of Asian spices so try it in vegetable curries, soups and fritters.

The harbinger of spring in the vegetable world must be local asparagus, one of the great treats of the season.

Asparagus is at its best when picked and cooked within hours, something easily achievable when bought locally at the market. Make the most of the delicate flavour by serving simply steamed with melted butter or hollandaise, or toss with crumbled local goat’s cheese, some toasted pine nuts and a simple olive oil and lemon vinaigrette. As the season progresses, use in risottos, tarts, salads and soups.

Beautiful pink forced rhubarb is at its best in spring but the season is short so make the most of it before the main crop arrives. Use in crumbles, fools, ice creams and sauces – it goes particularly well cooked with ginger. Or make up batches of rhubarb compote and freeze in pots for later in the year.

For information on your nearest farmers’ market and dates visit www.kfma.org.uk

08 | GASTRO

It’s All Inn Keeping Since 2003, we have worked hard to build a chain of local, independently-run pubs that have made their names from great grub, amazing ales and exciting annual events. In this the first issue of our new look Gastro we thought it would be fitting to take a look back at each of our success stories and get the lowdown on how they started, where they are now and what the future holds for them

THE CHASER INN Shipbourne Welcome to the one that started it all. As our maiden voyage into the uncharted seas of hospitality and catering, it has been smooth sailing for this tremendous tavern since its inception, even boasting some rather prestigious punters in the form of Hollywood movie stars, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who were partial to popping in for the occasional tipple every now and then.

The Chaser Inn well and truly got the ball

rolling when we took it over from Greene King in the summer of 2003. It was a big refurbishment to this beautiful site; we relocated the kitchen and toilets and increased the overall capacity to 90 covers.

Taking its name from the local Fairlawn Estate, where the Queen Mother’s steeple-chase horses were trained The Chaser is situated in the heart of the British countryside. Sitting next door to the beautiful church of St. Giles and opposite a large grassy common with spectacular views, it dates back to 1880 when it was built by the Cazalet family, who owned the huge estate at the time. In fact, Major Peter Cazalet trained the Queen Mother’s horses personally and upon her arrival to visit them, the jockeys would wait in the Chaser’s now affectionately named ‘Jockey Room’ to meet her.

It is this sense of time-honoured tradition rooted in a comfortable, friendly and homegrown environment that has made The Chaser the success story it is today.

Stumble Hill, Shipbourne, Tonbridge, Kent, TN11 9PE  01732 810 360 www.thechaser.co.uk

THE MARK CROSS INN Mark Cross Another notch on the Whiting & Hammond belt was added in September 2006, when we happily purchased the lease of this extraordinary pub near Tunbridge Wells.

What drew us to this new location was the view; we knew that the rolling hills and luscious greenery of the East Sussex landscape would be a key factor in drawing in customers who love nothing more than an ice-cold cider on a warm summer’s day in their local pub garden. Once again, wanting to get the most out of this new development before it opened, we immediately shut down the pub for an intensive 12 week renovation, which included a substantially enlarged kitchen, as well as the installation of brand new toilets.

Inside, we made great use of the large space that was available to us. Much like The Little Brown Jug, the open plan design was hugely beneficial, allowing us to be creative with the pub’s interior.

So, whether you’re just popping by for a cheeky half or settling in for a full-blown three course meal, there is a lively bar to prop up, as well as more intimate, secluded dining areas for those special occasions with your nearest and dearest.

The beauty of a pub like the Mark Cross is that

THE LITTLE BROWN JUG Chiddingstone Causeway Following the previous owner’s decision to cease trading, we were approached by the Greene King brewery with an offer we couldn’t refuse and therefore jumped at the chance to take on this exciting new project in April 2006.

Opening with a small team from our existing establishments, this latest operation soon boomed and saw an abundance of new faces passing through its doors. Ever the perfectionists, however, we decided to close for six weeks in February of the following year for a major refurbishment, including moving the pub’s kitchen.

As a result, turnover doubled and continues to grow to this day, with punters being drawn to the pub’s sleepy, idyllic location in a small Kentish village, not to mention the open-plan layout, filled with rustic bookshelves, cosy corners and a roaring wood burner, which

THE FARM @ FRIDAY STREET Eastbourne In the wake of The Mark Cross’s hugely successful opening, we were next approached

by Enterprise to take over this enthralling inn, which we gladly did in December 2007. Located on the outskirts of Eastbourne in Langney, The Farm is a more urban environment than many of our other locals.

Dating back to medieval times, it benefits from a unique open kitchen and many of the

we have endeavoured to make as inviting as it is charming. There are three distinctive and immensely popular in the beer garden, which create a fantastic, one-of-a-kind dining experience that makes the Little Brown Jug stand out in its own right.

Chiddingstone Causeway, Tonbridge, Kent, TN11 8JJ  01892 870 318 www.thelittlebrownjug.co.uk

pub’s original beams and walls are still in place today. Before the early 20th century, Friday Street was also the only access road to and from Eastbourne, making the pub an important local landmark through the centuries.

Our ‘Mezzanine’, which we refer to as the Gallery, is the perfect place to hold private functions for up to 50 guests, while also providing an ideal setting for numerous annual celebrations.

We are also particularly proud of our senior management team here at The Farm, who have been showered with an assortment of accolades for their efforts. In 2009, the honour of South East Managed Pub of the Year was bestowed upon them at the Morning Advertiser Great British Pub Awards, as well as a finalist position for Managed Pub of the Year at the Great British Pub Awards, which it was also recognised for in 2011.

15 Friday Street, Langney, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 8AP  01323 766 049 www.farmfridaystreet.com

THE CRICKETERS INN Meopham

every customer who comes in has their own personal story, memory or anecdote about it. One such story is that of the underground tunnels that supposedly ran between our cellar and the local church, evidence of which can still be seen today. They were used by members of the clergy as a means of popping into their local for a pint without causing a stir among the community.

According to local legend, the tunnels were hit by bombs during wartime, collapsing on one unsuspecting vicar as he tried to make his way to the bar and trapping him inside. Over time, the pub has borne witness to endless ghost hunts, this story being the basis for many of them!

Mark Cross, Nr Tunbridge Wells, East Sussex, TN6 3NP  01892 852 423 www.themarkcross.co.uk

For our next foray into food and fine ales, we took on The Cricketers Inn. Steeped in history and tradition, this magnificent pub dates back to the 18th century, and its name has stayed intact for almost 300 years. Set in the picture postcard village of Meopham in Kent, it is flanked by a stunning windmill on one side and a cricket green on the other, cultivating a nostalgic feel that will take you back to a quaint, bygone era.

We acquired the pub in the summer of 2010 and have made it our goal to give the people of Meopham their local pub back, returning it to its former glory and restoring the locals’ faith in a place of which they can be truly proud.

To that end, we have been heavily involved in local community projects, including taking up sponsorship of the Meopham Cricket Team and supporting various events that the local parish council have undertaken.

Having undergone a complete refurbishment,

our bar and lounge have a wonderfully warm and welcoming feel, complete with wood and stone flagged floors, four open log fires, bookcases and curious pictures. This look, while in keeping with the village’s rustic aesthetic, has ensured that we do not cater to any stereotypical customer type.

Wrotham Road, Meopham, Kent, DA13 0QA  01474 812 163 www.thecricketersinn.co.uk

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est. 1828

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PROPERTY

To suit your budget

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Your at-a-glance guide to

LANTERN COTTAGE CROWBOROUGH

£675,000

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

DO YOU HAVE A STORY?

UNDER £250,000 LOWER GREEN ROAD, RUSTHALL

£180,000 LEASEHOLD

A one-bedroom ground floor flat in Rusthall with a private entrance, situated close the village centre.

The property includes a lounge with laminate-style flooring, a modern fitted kitchen, a modern fitted

bathroom, a bedroom with a fitted wardrobe and French doors to the private courtyard garden. The flat is in the vicinity of a range of local shops and is a short bus journey from Tunbridge Wells town centre.

CONTACT KMJ Property Rusthall 01892 515188 www.kmjproperty.co.uk

UNDER £350,000 BOYNE PARK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£325,000 LEASEHOLD

Set in a favoured area off Mount Ephraim, this individual top floor maisonette offers an open-plan living/dining room with a fireplace and several Velux windows, allowing for a good degree of natural light,

two double bedrooms (one with a balcony), a bathroom with twin basins, a kitchen and residents’ parking. The property is accessed from the rear of the building with external stairs to the front door.

CONTACT Andrews Tunbridge Wells 01892 515 144 www.andrewsonline.co.uk

To suit your budget

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

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great properties by price range…

Under £450,000 BROOMFIELD, BELLS YEW GREEN

£430,000

Located in a modern village development, this four-bedroom end-of-terrace townhouse is close to Frant mainline station on the LondonHastings line. The ground floor is comprised of an entrance hall, kitchen, living/dining room with access to the enclosed garden, and a WC. The first floor consists of three bedrooms and a family bathroom. The master bedroom is on the top floor, with en-suite and storage. Outside there are gardens to the front and rear and a garage.

CONTACT Andrews Tunbridge Wells 01892 515 144 www.andrewsonline.co.uk

UNDER £650,000 HARTLAND COTTAGES, HARTFIELD

£600,000-£625,000

With far-reaching rural views and over half an acre of gardens, grounds and a paddock, this cottage is located by Ashdown Forest and a footpath to Pooh Bridge, and has scope for enlargement, subject to consents. The sitting room has an inglenook fireplace and double doors to garden, and there is a large, open-plan refitted kitchen/dining room plus a utility room/study. Upstairs is an en-suite master bedroom, two further bedrooms and a bathroom. The gardens include an outbuilding that could be used as an office/worskhop.

CONTACT Mansell McTaggart Crowborough 01892 662668 www.mansellmctaggart.co.uk

UNDER £800,000

UNDER 1 MILLION

LANTERN COTTAGE SCHOOL LANE CROWBOROUGH

OAKFIELD COURT ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£810,000

£675,000 This period house in the St John’s area of Crowborough comprises an entrance lobby with quarrytiled floor, a sitting room with two open fireplaces, a family room, a kitchen/dining room with double doors to the garden, a utility room and a ground floor shower room.

Upstairs there are three double bedrooms and a bathroom with a roll top bath. Outside, there are

gardens and grounds of over half an acre and several outbuildings, including a large detached timber building with power. There is also the benefit of a detached garage.

CONTACT Mansell McTaggart Crowborough 01892 662668 www.mansellmctaggart.co.uk

This four-bedroom, semi-detached character house close to Camden Park includes an updated kitchen/dining room and bathroom. The circular bow window in the first reception room is a particular feature, as is the working open fireplace with period surround in the rear sitting room. There is also a large attic for possible conversion, subject to consents, a front garden and large rear courtyard garden. Permit parking available.

CONTACT Sumner Pridham Tunbridge Wells 01892 516615 www.sumnerpridham.co.uk

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Architectural Advice

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

DESIGN WITH THE TIMES

John Bullock

Architectural services

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

Look to the attic if you want to create more space with ease…

Converting existing attic space to expand your accommodation can prove much simpler and less disruptive than some other remedies, with builders most likely to work from outside the house until the final stages YOUR QUESTION: Dear Design with the Times, We live in a semi-detached Victorian house in the centre of Tunbridge Wells and have been here since moving from London nine years ago. During this time, our family has grown and we have literally run out of space.

We have been looking to move to a larger house, but have been unable to find something we like within our budget, so have been thinking about making changes to our current home to make it work for us.

Our current house suits us really well as it’s close to all our friends and the school, but is now too small. The house has three bedrooms and our two younger children are sharing a room, our eldest son is in a room of his own.

We have a large attic area which is empty and only used for storage and would like to explore the possibilities of developing and converting this to create a bedroom and possibly a bathroom.

Please can you advise if converting the attic would be possible and how we would undertake this work?

Thank you, Ali and Sara Frederick OUR ANSWER: You are certainly not alone, and ‘running out of space’ in a family home is a common problem we help clients with on a regular basis.

Considering the existing space within the house is often the best way to try and achieve FLOODED WITH LIGHT Through roof light windows at the front

more accommodation, and attic conversions are generally a fairly cost-effective option, which puts them top of the list for the space-hungry family.

The Victorian stock of housing in Tunbridge Wells is well designed and laid out. These houses are solid and built to a high standard of construction. They have good ceiling heights and fabulous detailing with cornices, sash windows and doors, so will always be in fashion and in demand, thus improving the space could be financially beneficial.

HOW IT COULD LOOK With two double bedrooms and a bathroom

‘The attractive thing about an attic conversion is that it can largely be constructed with minimal impact to the household’ The Victorians built their houses to last, so they are usually relatively easy to work with, and can take a lot of bashing around and alteration.

The key with an attic conversion is to ensure it fits with the existing accommodation and the flow between levels is created effectively and efficiently.

Your attic area is vast, and with careful design and planning could actually create two large double bedrooms and a separate bathroom. This configuration would be well worth exploring as it would offer a fifth bedroom for guests or a den for teenagers.

Storage for children’s rooms is also important to consider and good storage and a place for everything saves a great deal of inconvenience.

Looking at your plan, it lends itself well to

locating and running the staircase above the existing one, which is to one side of the property.

This will leave the principal section of the floor plan uninterrupted and as usable living accommodation.

We would suggest the new staircase is made to match the original one of the house, thus giving the impression it has always been there.

The house is nearly ten metres deep with a 50degree pitched roof, so the attic can accommodate a bedroom to the front and one to the rear. This would work well and create two good size rooms.

The landing area could offer some space for a study, or possibly a small kitchenette, if live-in help with a nanny was necessary.

The bathroom would be created to the front with a shower, separate bath, wc and basin.

Getting light into the attic area will be fairly straightforward. Within a conservation area, dormer windows to the front of a house are not considered acceptable, but good size conservation roof light windows would flood light into the front facing bedroom. We would suggest two windows here and another in the bathroom.

To the rear, dormers are usually considered more acceptable by the planners, and we would recommend one large dormer. The benefit of a dormer window is that it adds a little more height to the room, and within the dormer a desk for homework could be located.

There are a number of technical considerations when converting an attic: Planning Permission – is this required?

Your house sits within a conservation area and some of the works could be undertaken under permitted development rights [PD].

For example, any roof lights or skylights that don’t protrude above the roofline by more than 150mm don’t require planning permission.

However, a dormer window might require formal planning permission.

Architectural Advice

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

It is always best to seek written confirmation from the council that works to your home can be carried out as permitted development, as this is often asked for by solicitors when a house is sold.

Not having this paperwork can cause delay to house sale/purchase.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council can provide an informal view in writing through its Preapplication Advice service (available through their website). Alternatively, an application for a Lawful Development Certificate [LDC] can be submitted. An LDC will provide formal confirmation that the works can be carried out without planning permission.

Building Regulations – what are the implications?

A building regulations application will be required for these works, and this can be made either through the local authority or with an Approved Inspector.

In our experience, it is always best to fully define the details of the scheme in advance and submit a Full Plans application. This would contain plans and specification information showing all the construction details, including how the roof would be insulated and ventilated and detailed structural calculations.

If your plans comply with Building Regulations you will receive a notice stating that they have been approved and works can then commence.

It would also be necessary to employ the services of a structural engineer, as it’s likely that the floor to the attic will require upgrading and some steelworks installed.

There are other implications to consider, as the doors throughout the house on the escape route to an exit point will need to be fire resistant.

Victorian doors are usually fairly substantial, and if your doors are thick enough they could potentially be upgraded with intumescent card inserted into the panels. You would need to get specialist advice.

Party Wall Act – will the proposed works affect your neighbour?

This is an area that often trips up the unaware and can cause delays. We asked party wall surveyor Mark Michel from MMA Surveyors Ltd to offer advice: “Undertaking a loft conversion will, generally, give rise to some form of building work which affects the wall separating adjoining buildings, commonly called the party wall. This may involve cutting away chimney breasts to accommodate

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and competitive tender process with a minimum of three contractors, which offers options.

Choices are often made on a combination of cost, timeframe and personality.

So how much will this all cost? This is always the most difficult question to answer!

There is no doubt that costs for building works have increased over the past year, and a budget for an attic conversion of this size should cost between £70,000-£100,000, depending upon the final design and selection of finishes.

A SPOT OF EXTRA SPACE You may be able to add a dormer window to the rear of the house

If you would like to find out more, please contact John Bullock Design 01892 525732 YOUR QUESTION ON LIGHTING: Dear Design with the Times, We read your article in the Dec 21 issue entitled ‘How to light up your family life with clever electrical upgrades’ and would like some help.

We have a dark staircase which is lit by two pendant lights with 100-watt bulbs. We would like new lampshades, but they all seem to say ‘60 watts only’. Is it possible to get a simple shade that takes the equivalent wattage?

Michael Sefton stairs, or inserting steel beams to support the roof, new dormer or floor. Such work gives rise to obligations under The Party Wall etc Act 1996.

“Most importantly, the owner undertaking the loft conversion must notify the adjoining owner (this is not necessarily the person living there) of the proposed work. The notice must be issued in writing at least two months before the intended start date. In most instances, the adjoining owner will consent to the works – especially where they have been consulted during the design process.

“Nevertheless, I would always advise the owner undertaking the work to ensure the consent is in writing, and to commission an inspection of the adjoining property. This avoids arguments later if damage should occur.

“Where the adjoining owners disagree with the works, the good news is that they cannot prevent the work. The bad news is that the owner undertaking the work and the adjoining owner must either agree to appoint a single surveyor, or appoint their own surveyor. The surveyors will impartially regulate the work and prepare a document called a Part Wall Award, which details the works and the way they should be undertaken.

“Unfortunately, the owner undertaking the work will also be responsible for all fees.

“More positively, the Act also gives the owner

undertaking the work certain other rights.

These include the ability to raise the Party Wall (meaning the dormer can extend the full width of the building); and to cut away a neighbour’s overhanging roofs and eaves. A good surveyor will help the owners reach agreement swiftly and without undue stress, and make the process of the building works much less stressful.”

Construction – how can it be constructed efficiently and what will it cost?

The attractive thing about an attic conversion is that it can largely be constructed with minimal impact to the household, therefore staying put during the building process, and not moving into rented accommodation, is possible.

Usually, scaffolding would be constructed around the house and then access for builders and materials would be via an opening in the roof. It would only be at the last stages of construction that an opening to create the stairs would need to be formed, thus keeping disruption to a minimum.

A successful building project is always about finding the right team or building firm who you can get along with, and who has an understanding of the requirements. Building can be stressful so this is key.

We would always advocate a formal tender

OUR ANSWER: We are pleased that last month’s column on lighting caught your eye.

Fabric-covered lampshades often have a minimum of 60 watts to ensure their fire retardancy. Choice of lampshades is always personal, and it is difficult to recommend one specific type. However, it would certainly be worthwhile looking at lampshades made of other materials. For example, glass lampshades are likely to take a larger wattage bulb.

Alternatively, it would be worth considering changing the pendant lights to a form of LED light fitting which would, in the long term, be more cost-effective to run and last longer.

If you have a question you’d like John Bullock to answer, please email it to: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Please mark the subject as: Design Team You can also write to us at: Design Team Times of Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1NU

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

AT A GLANCE THE GREEN LANGTON GREEN ■ Entrance hall ■ Sitting room ■ Family/dining room

The Green

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‘This delightful detached house has planning consent to extend the rear ground floor’

■ Kitchen/breakfast room ■ Utility room ■ Principal bedroom with en-suite bathroom ■ 3 further bedrooms ■ Family bathroom ■ Gas-fired central heating ■ Garden

GUIDE PRICE

£895,000 Available for sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Improved and overlooking The Green

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Advertising Feature

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Properties that are good for business The commercial property market in Tunbridge Wells is alive and well with space for offices and enterprises being snapped up. Here we look at some of the most favourable properties currently on the market through Broadlands Commercial Property Agents.

I

f you prefer an out-oftown location, then Chapman Way in High Brooms is ideal as it boasts good space, easy access to the A21, and is only a few minutes’ drive from Tunbridge Wells town centre.

For leasing at 3 Chapman Way, is a property available on a short-term basis for up to a maximum of three years at £8psf pax.

It has office space on both the ground and first floors and good loading and car parking facilities. There is also some air conditioning in place and the rateable value is £85,000.

Elsewhere, in the attractive semi-rural location of Lamberhurst, The Old Granary is approximately 1.5 miles from the village centre and sits adjacent to the A21. Providing high quality office accommodation, with fully fitted kitchen, double-glazing, air conditioning, energy efficient Category 2 lighting and full insulation. There are in excess of 20 car parking spaces available at the property, on the market to rent

at £28,000 per annum exclusive.

Unit E, The Brewery is a self-contained office suite, located in Bells Yew Green, Frant, Tunbridge Wells.

Presented in good decorative order with kitchen facilities and parking spaces on site.

Sitting at 590 sq ft, this space is up for rent at £5950 per annum exclusive with a rateable value of £4950.

A sign of the times is the fact that one of Tunbridge Wells’ most centrally located properties, 1 Meadow Road, has recently be sold. The building, bought by Canterbury Christ Church University [CCCU], comprises 16,000 sq ft and comes with 64 car parking spaces. Since being taken over by CCCU it is also undergoing a full refurbishment.

For more information on any of these commercial properties, please visit Broadlands at 52 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1XF or visit their website www.broadlands.co.uk

Advertising Feature

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

SPACIOUS AND CONVENIENT 3 Chapman Way is available

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SELF-CONTAINED OFFICE SUITE UNIT E in The Brewery, Frant

PRESTIGE OFFICE ACCOMMODATION The Old Granary in Lamberhurst is available

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PROPERTY

Blythe Cottage

BLYTHE COTTAGE BUTCHERS LANE, MEREWORTH

£697,000

Character country house with stylish interior

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Blythe Cottage

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AT A GLANCE n Entrance hall n Sitting/dining room n Study/playroom n Family room/bedroom 5 n Ground floor bathroom n Kitchen n Utility room n Master bedroom with en suite n 3 further bedrooms n Bathroom n Large garden n Integral garage n Driveway and off-road parking

£697,000 Available for sale through Firefly Properties Paddock Wood 01892 838363 www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

‘In a perfect location along a country lane, yet on the doorsteps of the M20 and M25 and the village of West Malling’

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Advertising

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

High View

PROPERTY

AT A GLANCE HIGH VIEW WOODBURY PARK ROAD TUNBRIDGE WELLS ■ Panelled entrance hall ■ Drawing room ■ Kitchen/dining room ■ Utility room & boiler/storeroom ■ Master bedroom with veranda & view ■ 4 further bedrooms ■ Bathroom ■ Self-contained lower ground floor gym/studio with shower room ■ Integral bike store/workshop ■ Driveway, off-road parking & garden

£925,000-£950,000 Available for sale through Sumner Pridham Tunbridge Wells 01892 516615 www.sumnerpridham.co.uk

‘An abundance of period features… and superb southerly views’

Arts & Crafts influence and a top floor veranda

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PROPERTY

Luxford House

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

‘There are some magnificent, centuries-old carvings and oak panelled walls depicting scenes of battle, Tudor roses, Scottish thistles, cherubs and grapevines’

Tudor home full of historic carvings AT A GLANCE ■ Grade II listed dating from 16th century ■ Entrance hall ■ Drawing room ■ Sitting room ■ Dining room ■ Library ■ Ante-room ■ Kitchen/breakfast room & utility room ■ 2 cloakrooms ■ 4 first floor bedrooms ■ 3 bathrooms and separate WC ■ 3 top floor bedrooms and shower room ■ Gas-fired central heating ■ Studio/summerhouse with kitchen ■ Landscaped gardens, 2 driveways, 2 double garages, garden stores and greenhouse ■ In total about 2½ acres

£1,875,000 Available for sale through Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Luxford House

PROPERTY

LUXFORD HOUSE LUXFORD LANE, CROWBOROUGH

£1,875,000

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Move and Improve

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

MOVE & IMPROVE

Oak Framed Extension

When a local client approached us recently to assist with extending his substantial detached dwelling, we jumped at the opportunity.

The property, which boasted exposed timber features and joinery supplied by our workshop, appeared particularly suited to an extension constructed from an oak frame, our speciality.

The initial remit was clear; the homeowner

wanted naturally lit, additional ground floor space for a new kitchen and dining area, with a floor above for a bathroom and storage areas.

Our team then advised on the most practical and attractive way this could be achieved.

The initial step was a visit by our site surveyor.

During an extensive consultation, the client’s needs were more thoroughly assessed and possible design themes discussed. Sketches were then drawn up and revisions suggested and acted upon.

The result was an outline proposal for an oak framed extension featuring direct glazing, exposed oak beams and a gable roof profile (as this best complemented the house). Once finer details had been agreed, CAD drawings were produced and signed off, before frame manufacture began in our workshop, using traditional crafting techniques.

As with approximately half of our projects, we carried out the fitting of the frame. The size of the oak beams used in construction and the large amount of glass involved necessitated extensive planning and attention to detail on site, but this was fully justified by the stunning final result.

Move and Improve

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

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Your dream garden no matter the size At WW Landscapes, we have been building gardens for 20 years and pride ourselves in creating ideal spaces for our clients. We have undertaken a multitude of gardens large and small. Here are a couple of our favourite gardens we built from 2016.

SEVENOAKS

This was a large project we undertook over two years and finished last year. Situated in Sevenoaks, the house was developed to include a new pool and gym extension, garage complex, relocated drive entrance, new drive and a total garden makeover.

This included a children’s play area, vegetable garden and Paddle tennis court.

Surrounding the new pool house and gym, we constructed an area for entertaining which continued in front of the main house through planted boarders - softening the overall look. Entering from the road

driving through electric gates, the drive takes you down to the new garage complex and house through specimen planted trees and boarders.

The drive finished with Resin Bound gravel which gave you a smooth quality finish without the mess of small stones getting everywhere.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS TOWN HOUSE

This was a small town house garden we constructed on the old Hospital site in Tunbridge Wells. It has a trampoline built in under the lawn area which can be easily accessed by lifting bi folding doors turning the lawn into a children’s play area. The lawn is artificial grass laid on a soft rubber

matt underlay, making it child friendly and creating the perfect lawn area when the trampoline is not in use. We constructed the decked area with a composite deck board, which has a multitude of finishes and colours to choose from and is hard wearing, easy to clean and maintain.

The seats are constructed with hinged lids giving plenty of

storage space, keeping the garden clutter free. Using the artificial grass and the composite decking helps keep the garden user-friendly throughout the year. In the winter months, the grass never gets worn and muddy and the deck doesn’t become green and slimy (making it slippery to walk on), so it can be enjoyed all year around.

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Move and Improve

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Expecting a new arrival?

Time to start expanding Heidi and Andrew contacted London Wells Construction Ltd nine months ago as existing clients and, advised that they were pregnant, required a meeting to discuss their house options. Should they move or improve? The clock was ticking!Will Gemmel, Director of London Wells, a Construction and Chartered Builder arranged a home visit to discuss the potential to improve the existing house versus the option to move.

IMPROVE OPTION

The current house was a three bedroom Victorian terrace on a lovely street, and it suited their current needs and requirements. They got on with their neighbours and liked the street but were not sure of the impact of the building works and if they could make it work for the future.

London Wells had previously refurbished their bathroom and decorated the house when they moved in three years ago, but no further work had been done since. They had some equity in their house and had managed to generate some savings.

MOVE OPTION

We discussed the option of moving and the various costs associated with stamp duty, agent and solicitors fees, as well as and the time and stress involved.

Will advised that London Wells offer a ‘pre purchase home buyer report’ where he could visit potential properties for peace of mind.

He also advised that there is often a hidden cost involved in the inevitable desire to change the internal décor when moving into a new property.

DECISION TAKEN Heidi and Andrew decided to design and build a ground floor extension and bespoke kitchen. Timing was tight, but not impossible.

With London Wells managing the whole process from start to finish, all parties felt confident that they could deliver the project before the baby.

Website: www.londonwells.com Email: hello@londonwells.com Phone: 02032860221 /07568 485532

Move and Improve

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Need Extra Space?

If you’re aware of the average cost of a home extension, you’ll know that creating space in your home is an extremely expensive commodity.

This modernisation of a garden building has propelled it from the dark dingy depths of the web infested shed, to the bright exuberant heights of a modern garden room. Johnsons Garden Buildings make tailor-made, purpose built spaces to meet your every desire.

Johnsons home new extensive features such as double glazing, electrical packages, climate control, roof and floor insulation.

Its clear to see why the garden building is no longer just a summer haven, as you can now utilise your garden building come rain or shine, hot or cold – creating the total outdoor space experience.

Best of all, this can be achieved at a fraction of the cost of an average home extension, constructed by expert installers generally within two days. The majority of buildings do not require any planning permission.

It is worth mentioning that not all garden buildings suppliers provide the functionality and features mentioned above, however Johnsons Garden Buildings have been at the

forefront of the development and innovation we see in todays garden buildings. Johnsons is a family run business established in 1960, priding themselves on supplying a superior product at affordable prices.

Offering free home site surveys to take into account any of those pre-sales anxieties, it’s clear that Johnsons are dedicated to providing the best service possible. All of Johnsons package prices offer a wide range of choice for your preferred building with no hidden costs and include expert construction.

Discover outdoor space with Johnsons Garden Buildings. Visit our website or call us now for a brochure.

Phone: 0845 4599444 Website: www.johnsonsgardenbuildings.co.uk

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MOVE & IMPROVE The NEW monthly feature on how to get the most from your home Want your business to be involved?

Please call 01892 774781 for more information

GASTRO | 09 THE KINGS HEAD Bessels Green

THE BLUE BALL Walton on the Hill

THE ROSE & CROWN Green St Green

The Kings Head is situated in the beautiful setting of Bessels Green, two miles from the centre of the historic and picturesque town of Sevenoaks. The Kings Head joined the family nearly three years ago. After an intensive refurbishment the pub reopened within weeks with highlights including the three huts in the garden and the fascinating wall of rolling pins.

The Kings Head menu ranges from traditional British classics such as fish and chips and a steak burger to interesting, seasonal dishes which use the freshest ingredients sourced from our local suppliers. It’s in a beautiful listed building, opposite a green and near a church and has a stunning garden – funnily enough, much like a lot of our other pubs!

Our usual Whiting & Hammond touches have been added, as well as a few extra bits to give The Kings Head its individuality.

The Blue Ball is situated in the beautiful setting of Walton on the Hill, Surrey, midway between the market towns of Reigate and Epsom. The village has a large pond, offers lovely walks and is home to the famous Walton Heath Golf Club.

It is a little further afield than our usual heartland, but we were keen to spread our wings and expand into Surrey. This pub was a perfect choice, having been closed for more than two years, it was in a sad old way, but we couldn’t wait to get it up and running once more.

Working closely with Star Pubs we brought the site back to life with an extension, a top of the range kitchen on the first floor and three magnificent huts in the garden.

A combined budget of £750,000 enabled us to reopen the doors in August 2015, carrying forward the true Whiting & Hammond style and ethos of providing fresh locally sourced produce and a top selection of draught beers and cask ales in the pubs food and drink offering.

It is suggested that the name derives from the blue ball that innkeepers hung on a post outside as a signal for stagecoach drivers to

Our latest addition to the family is The Rose & Crown in Green Street Green. The newly refurbished Rose & Crown has had a wonderful makeover with an oak extension in the restaurant; we’ve moved the bar to create more space and extended the kitchen to make room for the charcoal flame BBQ. Heralding the Whiting & Hammond ethos for excellent customer experience, our menu changes daily, all produce is sourced locally and uses the best fresh ingredients that are sourced through carefully selected local suppliers to ensure the daily offerings on the menu are of great quality and value as well as interesting and flavoursome.

We have an extensive wine lists

2 Westerham Rd, Bessels Green, Sevenoaks TN13 2QA  01732 452081 www.kingsheadbesselsgreen.co.uk

stop for passengers.

Last year The Blue Ball won the Star Pubs’ ‘Pub of the Year 2016’. It also received a special commendation for its careful renovation which has made it an ‘attractive feature’ of Walton on the Hill’s green. The judges loved the pub’s garden and heated huts as well as its large central fireplace and beautifully decorated interior.

“We’re thrilled, it makes all the hard work worthwhile,” says Brian. “It’s great to be recognised, especially against such tough competition, and a real tribute to all our brilliant staff. We see it as an award, not just for The Blue Ball, but for the whole community who have welcomed and supported our reopening of the pub.

Deans Lane, Walton on the Hill, Tadworth, KT20 7UE 01737 819 003 www.theblueball.co.uk

containing great descriptions for each bottle, if you are still unsure of which bottle would best go with their meal the front of house staff are all on hand to help.

One of the Rose & Crown’s unique features is the commanding “Tiki Huts” in the pub’s garden. Four perfectly cylindrical huts, two seating 8-10 people, one seating 10-12 and the largest 20-22, they’re perfect for any special occasion.

The huts give a sense of privacy with heating, lighting and comfy cushions, blankets to make them cosier and a ‘waitress call’ button for service.

With its roaring fires and wonderful garden it is the perfect place for families and friends.

The garden has also had its own makeover with the children’s play area, including swings and climbing frame and a boules pit.

The garden also hosts its own kitchen and BBQ hut.

Inside, there is seating for 140 people with space outside for 200.

Farnborough Way, Orpington BR6 6BT 01689 869 029  www. the-roseandcrown.co.uk

10 | GASTRO FOOD FOR THOUGHT

A taste of China If you’re looking to expand your recipe repertoire then why not get a little adventurous with Asian style cooking. This beautiful new foodie tome, China: The Cookbook is brimming with delicious culinary creations and is a very comprehensive guide to the world’s oldest and best-loved cuisine. It boasts all the recipes you’ll need to conjure up an Eastern style feast including grilled fish with Chinese celery and Beijing noodles. It will be a luxurious addition to your cookery book shelf thanks to its gilt-edged pages which contain over 650 different recipes and cultural notes by authors Kei Lum Chan and Diora Fong Chan.

Published by Phaidon www. phaidon.com and available for £29.95

My Favourite Dish

Anyone who has ever perused one of our menus will know what a tough process it can be deciding which dish to go for. With our fresh and flavoursome offers changing on a daily basis, it certainly isn’t difficult to see why. When we posed the million pound question to our Operations Manager, DARREN SOMERTON, however, he came through in style with a decidedly delicious option...

Jack’s the fad Jackfruit, a spiny-shelled Asian fruit that’s closely related to the fig, is set to be big news in 2017. Dubbed the ‘pulled pork for vegetarians’ it’s one of the hottest trends to emerge in the happening kitchens around the globe thanks to the fact its texture makes a convincing, all-natural alternative to meat.

The largest tree-borne fruit on the planet, it’s delicious savoured with plenty of pickles and fried shallots. Try it in tacos or flatbread with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of chillies and coriander.

Bear Necessities Every now and then a new idea comes along and you think to yourself now why didn’t I have that clever brainwave? Bearfaced Groceries is one such example as it’s a clever box scheme that caters for those who are gluten free, dieting or just don’t have time to get to the shops. Bearfaced Groceries’ Gluten Free box for example costs £65 and contains everything you need to create a variety of delicious dinners including gluten-free chicken, grass fed 28-day aged beef stewing steak and haddock fillets as well as a range of healthy fruit and vegetables. All Bearfaced Groceries boxes are packed full of premium quality produce that is locally sourced and handpicked by their specially trained teams. So now there really is no excuse not to eat well – if you’re starved for time. For more information visit www. bearfacedgroceries.co.uk

“My favourite dish is a real winter warmer. I’ve chosen braised oxtail in a red wine sauce served with roasted root vegetables and creamy mashed potato. It’s a real hearty dish and I think it’s also typical of Whiting & Hammond as it showcases classic ingredients that you don’t always see on menus anymore. Oxtail is a great test for a chef.

To get the best out of this relatively cheap cut of meat, they will need to have some good cooking skills so that, when cooked properly, it results in a truly fantastic dish that’s bursting with flavour. Whenever I see it on one of our menus, I can’t resist!”

GASTRO | 11

Braised oxtail in a red wine sauce

Serves: 6 Preparation Time: 20 mins Cooking Time: 2–3 hrs Ingredients • 6½ lb (3kg) oxtail (separated) • ½ cup seasoned flour • 3 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp chopped thyme • 2 tbsp chopped rosemary • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 2 onions finely chopped • 5 shallots finely chopped • 2 carrots, cut into large chunks • 2 sticks celery, diced • 2 garlic cloves, sliced • ½ tbsp tomato purée • 300ml beef stock • One 750ml bottle of hearty red wine • Chopped parsley, to garnish

Directions Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Toss the oxtail in flour to coat lightly. Heat two tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan over medium to high heat. In batches, add the oxtail and cook, turning occasionally for about five minutes until browned. Keep to one side. In a large flameproof casserole dish, sweat the chopped onions, herbs, garlic, celery and diced carrots in a little butter until softened. Add the tomato purée and cook out for a few

seconds. Arrange the browned oxtails over the vegetables and add the wine and enough broth to just cover the oxtails. Bring the liquid to the boil and braise the oxtails, covered, in the middle of the oven for three to three and a half hours, or until the meat is very tender but not falling off the bone. Transfer the oxtails with a slotted spoon to a bowl and keep warm. Pour the braising liquid through a fine sieve into a large saucepan and discard the solids, then skim off any fat and check the seasoning. Serve the oxtails with creamy mashed potato and roasted root vegetables.

WE’LL DRINK TO THAT WHITING & HAMMOND’S WINE SUPPLIER LINTON NEIL RECOMMENDS THE PERFECT WINE TO ENJOY WITH THIS CLASSIC OXTAIL DISH… ‘Finding your perfect partner can come with a whole string of requirements and ideals, no I’m not talking dating but matching wine and food. The scent, body, appearance and complexity all have to be considered. So my perfect match for this rich winter warmer is a mighty, full-flavoured Don David Malbec from Bodegas El Esteco. Its velvety texture, spicy dark chocolate and rich flavours hold their own against this fabulous slow roasted oxtail dish. Bodegas El Esteco was founded in 1892 by French immigrants David and Salvador Michel, and it is one of the oldest, family-owned wineries in Argentina. This hidden gem can be found nestled in Salta’s Calchaqui Valley, Argentina’s most northerly wine producing region which is home to some of the highest vineyards in the world at over 1,700 metres…

Cheers!’

El Esteco Don David is available from all Whiting & Hammond pubs priced £28 a bottle, and is also available by the glass.

WORKING FOR CATERER’S BEST EMPLOYERS IN THE SMALL PUB GROUP CATEGORY 2015 Whiting & Hammond is a multiple award winning pub company with nine sites now based across Kent, Sussex and Surrey. We are very proud of our pubs and we are always looking for passionate people to join our team. We offer great training including apprenticeship schemes and the chance to progress in your career.

WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ENTHUSIASTIC: Head Chefs, Sous Chefs, Chef de Parties Commis, Kitchen Porters, Managers Assistant Managers, Bar Supervisors Front of House Staff

If you’re interested in joining our team, please email lisa.mordan@whitingandhammond.co.uk • For more information, or visit www.whitingandhammond.co.uk

FROM THE FULL ENGLISH TO HEALTHIER OPTIONS, GET YOUR DAY OFF TO A GREAT START. PLEASE SEE WEBSITES FOR MORE DETAILS

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✁ SIMPLY FILL IN THE FOLLOWING TO REDEEM THIS OFFER WE PROMISE NEVER TO SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH OTHER COMPANIES

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TERMS & CONDITIONS: ONE PER PERSON, ONLY REDEEMABLE WITH A FULL PAID BREAKFAST, VALID UNTIL 30TH APRIL. CANNOT BE USED AGAINST ANY OTHER PROMOTIONS OR OFFERS/EVENTS. THIS OFFER IS ONLY REDEEMABLE AT THE TIMES PUBS ARE SERVING BREAKFAST - PLEASE CHECK WITH SITES FOR SPECIFIC TIMES.

14 | GASTRO

Spotlight on a supplier In every issue of Gastro we talk to one of the key companies or producers used by Whiting & Hammond’s to ensure its food and drink is always the best quality and as local as possible. In our spring issue we chat to Penshurst Fine Foods’ founder DION MASSEY who provides a wealth of dairy and dry goods to Whiting & Hammond Please tell us a little bit about your company . . .

Penshurst Fine Foods was started in 1993 in the premises of the Penshurst Village Stores with myself and my parents at the helm. Now I run the business with my wife, Lisa and our great team of staff. Originally, we were a specialist cheese wholesaler but over the years our business and relationships with our customers have grown. We have therefore expanded to cover a huge range of products including meats, dry goods and other dairy staples. We now supply 250 customers daily with their catering needs throughout the south of England. So if you have eaten out in the south you have probably enjoyed some of our products!

How long have you worked with Whiting & Hammond?

We have been working with Brian and his team from the very beginning in 2003. We have all grown up together, from the days

of having a coffee and bacon sandwich with Darren (who was then Head Chef at The Chaser and is now Whiting & Hammond’s Operations Manager) to now sitting down - still with a coffee and bacon sandwich – and discussing new products and prices with Colin (the company’s Executive Development Chef).

What is so special about your relationship with them?

Brian was one of my first customers when he was the manager of The Hare at Langton Green way back in 1993. He gave me the chance to supply him and

this is one of the key events in our company’s history. By supplying Brian, it enabled us to grow our customer base and supply hundreds of people over the years and a lot of this I put down to the great relationship we have with him and his team of chefs. Our friendship has grown over the years and we spend lots of time together – usually over a bottle or two and something to eat.

Are there any unique products you supply that you wouldn’t find elsewhere?

A key part of our business is keeping on top of food trends and ensuring our customers get the products they need to provide top quality food. So although we do sell a lot of food ‘staples’ we also have a range of

more unique items such as our smoked goods.

Using smoking as a technique in order to bring another dimension to the flavour of food has proved to be very popular. So, as well as supplying classic oak chips, we also have more unique varieties available such as maple, which gives a lovely sweet and nutty smokiness to food. You cannot go too far wrong with a maple smoked ham joint!

How important is traceability and food’s provenance to you?

They are both incredibly important to us. From a health and safety perspective we need to ensure any food we sell to our customers can be traced back to a producer, so traceability is an absolute must. We have also seen a rise in consumer interest over the years in the provenance of what they are eating and that’s really great to see. People want to know more about not just what they are eating but also

GASTRO | 15 where it has come from and how it was made.

It is therefore very important to us that we can bridge the gap between producer and consumer and get people talking more about food.

What, in your opinion, are the hero products Kent and East Sussex generates?

Kent and East Sussex are great producers of quality British food. Romney Marsh Lamb is an amazing product that can only be sourced from Kent. Grazing the sheep on the natural salt marshes gives the meat a richer, sweeter flavour and helps add some lovely marbling to ensure it stays moist. Then of course there is the cheese.

This area is a prolific producer of top quality ones including Kentish Blue from Kingcott Dairy in Staplehurst, and Olde Sussex and Stonegate Goat’s Cheese from The Traditional Cheese Dairy in Stonegate. A dollop or two of the delicious chutneys available from Deerview Fine Sussex Foods in Haywards Heath will finish these off a treat.

Do you also work with other suppliers outside of the local area and if so why?

Well as much as Kent and East Sussex have a number of hero products, it is important we also look at the great produce coming out of other regions. This is to ensure we can keep providing top quality, interesting products for our customers like smoked sea salt from Cornwall and going back to some classic cheeses like Roquefort or Reblochon from France to buying maple syrup from Canada. It’s all about getting the correct ingredients from the correct source.

Can you predict any key food trends for 2017?

Predicting food trends is always a tricky one!

Picking up on a few which started to emerge in 2016, I would say we will see a continuing rise in pickles and preserves being given the attention they deserve. Kimchi – a Korean dish of seasoned vegetables, is another that really burst onto the food scene last year and I think products like that will keep growing in popularity. Freeze dried products should also start to gain some more momentum as they are a great way to preserve and showcase an ingredient’s properties.

Drink this in Isn’t it annoying when you make yourself a hot drink to enjoy on the go and by the time you come to drink it it’s lukewarm? Well thanks to the Corkcicle Tumbler from Root 7 tepid tea or cold coffee will be a thing of the past as this clever cup will keep your drink warm for up to three hours. It will also keep your summer drinks ice cold for up to nine hours, too. Available in a variety of cool colours it also looks super stylish.

Available online from www. root7.com in two sizes: Small (473ml) for £22 and Large (710ml) for £25.

A cut above Taylor’s Eye Witness has a tranche of utterly covetable and beautiful products that will make the perfect gift for the stylish foodie. Their new range for 2017 focuses on the trend for rose gold in the home with coloured ceramic knife blades and marble accessories. Some of their glamorous gadgets also include

Dulux’s 2017 Colour of the Year: Denim Drift, a blueish-grey tonal which perfectly suits their sought after signature range. Products are available in a range of cook’s knife sets, steak and cheese knives, as well as kitchen gadgets and accessories.

Prices start from £6, Available from Robert Dyas and all good department stores.

In the mix Whiskle™ combines the two essential tools for making perfect pancakes in one; a good-sized whisk to aerate the mixture and a silicone bowl scraper to save time, reduce mess and save on extra washing up. Whiskle™ is available from Joseph and Joseph for £10, www.josephjoseph.co.uk

Gastro Gadgets Any keen cook will know that the right ingredients are only half the story when it comes to creating a fantastic feast. Another essential element is a clever piece of equipment to help you seal the culinary deal. Here are our top buys for this season…

Kitchen confidential Tapping into the copper trend is this stunning KitchenAid 175 Artisan 4.8L Stand Mixer which performs as good as it looks.

Essential for whipping everything from cakes and bakes to soufflés into shape it will be your best friend in the kitchen and impress any visitors thanks to its state-ofthe art design and performance.

The KitchenAid 175 Artisan 4.8L Stand Mixer costs £739.95 and is available from John Lewis stores and www. johnlewis.co.uk

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FEATURES

Food & Drink

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

The future is looking golden With ongoing expansions to increase capacity, and busy weekends that demand reservations, the future for this popular Indian restaurant in Tonbridge is only getting brighter. Hannah Patterson sits down with owner Kamrul Islam to find out more about the secret of Turmeric Gold’s success I remember when we first bought the place, we were worried about the location, but now it’s probably one of the key factors to our success.

Our client base is huge; people travel from Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Chatham and West Malling. We get customers who have paid £40 for a taxi, each way, just to come and visit us.

And are the suppliers you mention local?

Some are local, some are not. All our vegetables come from Spitalfields Market in London, which we collect three times a week. We use local butchers and Bookers cash & carry.

For those who don’t know the history of the restaurant, tell us about the origins of Turmeric Gold…

We started out almost nine years ago now, as a small restaurant with just 60 seats.

It was previously an old pub, and needed everything doing to it. From day one, we were booming and really busy!

The weekends proved particularly successful – some evenings we would have 100 people sitting in the bar waiting for a table. Even after hearing the wait could be as long as an hour, they would choose to stay.

As a result, it was pretty early on that we realised we needed to do something more, and so we added an extension upstairs.

Even now, with all the extra seating, it doesn’t feel like enough on some nights.

Why do you think you are so successful?

A bit of everything, I think. Service, consistency of food, and the quality of the produce itself.

The fact that we are a family business also helps provide a consistency to what we do – running a restaurant isn’t necessarily difficult, it’s maintaining the expectation that is.

We use as much fresh produce – such as meat and vegetables – as we can. We often get offered cheaper suppliers, but we don’t want to cut corners.

When do you find you are busiest, and do you have a lot of regulars?

We are actually busiest in the summertime, which is rare for an Indian restaurant. There’s no point in the year where business noticeably drops, though. Often we find our regulars go away on holiday, and instead we have lots of families trying us out over the summer break.

Most of the restaurants around here find summer their quietest time of the year, but for us it’s lovely to have more families dining in.

I think having the garden in the summer certainly helps, too, which seats another 30 or 40 people on top of our usual 160 capacity.

How would you describe your menu to someone who doesn’t have any knowledge of Indian cuisine?

A lot of our food isn’t Indian. In fact, most ‘Indian restaurants’ in England are actually serving solely Bangladeshi food. We do a mix of the two.

The difference isn’t massive, but in Bangladeshi cuisine the sauces are thicker, cooked for longer, and are often spicier, whereas Indian food is often milder and watery.

We have our own mix of contemporary and classic dishes – there are probably about 20 of our own fusions on the menu that you can’t get anywhere else!

We like to experiment with mixes involving ingredients like mango, honey, and coconut milk.

Is your passion for cooking and creating these fusions something that runs in your family?

I worked in a bank for 13 years, originally, but I was always helping out at our family restaurant at the weekends.

‘Everyone’s going to love something different, and the variety here is so great’ Having restaurants in the family has meant I have always had an interest in the catering industry and a love for good food.

In the 90s, my family owned a couple of takeaways in this area, and my dad was a chef before he passed away when I was 11.

Seeing him work as a chef definitely inspired me to follow in his footsteps.

What would be your speciality dish?

Everyone’s going to love something different, and the variety here is so great that everyone will have their own personal favourite.

A speciality dish would have to be something with a lot of flavour, appealing to look at and of a good portion size. I couldn’t narrow it down to one dish myself, as I eat curry about five or six days of the week.

It’s funny, as I do like lots of other foods, such as lasagne, Thai food and pasta. But even when I’m on holiday I miss a good curry by day two.

It’s an addictive cuisine because there’s just so much variation.

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Wednesday January 25 | 2017

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A taste of India Beetroot bread

by Krys O’Brien

What does the future hold?

We are due to extend our kitchen in the first week of March. It’s still a pub-style design, and we are looking to expand that into being more open plan.

We need to be able to fit more staff in the kitchen, as we have about a nine-people capacity at the minute, despite seating 160 people!

This extension is less about customer capacity and more to enhance customer experience by having a much more open-plan feel.

We want people to be able to see into the kitchen and feel a part of the restaurant.

Turmeric Gold Crockhurst Street, Tudeley, Tonbridge, TN11 0NT 01732 361 772 www.turmericgold.com Lunch All week 12pm til 2:30pm Dinner Sunday to Thursday 5:30pm til 11:00pm Friday and Saturday 5:30pm til 11:30pm

Turmeric Gold in Tudeley is an awardwinning, family-run restaurant that provides a true taste of India in the beautiful Kent countryside.

Previously a popular Irish pub, the building was transformed nine years ago by owner Kamrul Islam and his brothers – Tonbridge restaurateurs who hail from Bangladesh. Since the takeover, the restaurant has doubled in size through various extensions, whilst still maintaining the original, and very welcoming, bar. None of the renovations have eaten into the parking area at the front, so there’s no need to fret about driving.

What struck me when I first walked in was the décor. Although a little stark for my taste, it had a clean and uncluttered elegance. The scheme is mostly white and brown, with an occasional splash of colour running across the walls, evoking understated sophistication.

There is an extensive eat-in and takeaway menu, with well-priced generous portions cooked to order. The brothers concoct their own healthy creations, including their popular Dilkush, Coco Chilli King Prawns and Turmeric Thaal, which adds originality to the menu.

For starters, I ordered Chilli Paneer. I asked for mild, which did not quite reach the kitchen, however, this did not detract from the divine taste of tender Indian cheese cubes, tantalisingly cooked with a spicy and tangy sauce, and tossed with bullet green chilli and mixed peppers, served with a crisp salad.

The presentation of the dish, it is worth

noting, was truly impressive.

For my main course, I ordered Mushroom Piazza with Pilau rice. This, again, was well presented and colourful, and ideal for those who don’t like their Indian food too hot. The mix of the melt-inthe-mouth mushrooms, fried garlic, tomatoes, onions and fresh coriander was sensational. The rice perhaps was a little bland, but with all the flavours of the Piazza, this didn’t matter much.

Although the drinks menu is impressive, with a wide variety to suit all tastes, I like to judge a restaurant on their house brand and ordered a glass of wine, which was full-bodied, fruitful and pleasantly surprising.

The dessert menu is a selection of extravagant ice creams and sorbets, and I went for the Pistachio Kulfi – a delicious Indian ice cream made with whole milk, nuts and fruits, which is firmer and more textured than English ice cream, and which for me was the perfect antidote to the Chilli Paneer.

The Kulfi was a sight to behold, with strips of white chocolate lava pouring down the sides and dark chocolate swirled around the base, enhancing the taste of pistachio. I would recommend you dig your spoon in from the top of the mound down. If pistachio isn’t to your taste, it’s available in mango and toffee, almond and strawberry, and orange with cream, too.

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Travel

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

The ever-evolving Galápagos

By Sarah Marshall

O

PENING her eyes for the very first time, a newborn sea lion gurgles through a mouthful of sand. Coated in a translucent film of bodily fluid, her skin glistens in the sunlight as she wriggles free of the pulsing umbilical cord still attached to her mother.

Overhead, plundering frigate birds, hungry for a bite of the afterbirth, threaten to shatter the idyllic picture. And even higher in the sky, a bigger metal bird roars past, bringing a different species of new arrivals to the island of San Cristobal.

Sitting quietly on the beach, I witness the birth, while children paddle in the surf just metres away.

It’s the perfect fairy-tale portrayal of the Galápagos Islands – a utopia where animals and humans harmoniously co-exist.

Cast away in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator, the volcanic archipelago is famous for its endemic species, whose largely predator-free existence has left them fearless.

Isolation (it’s 1,000km from the mainland) has been vital to the success of these fragile ecosystems, but an increase in the number of tourists and the expansion of human settlements could potentially upset that delicate balance.

There are now 25,000 people living permanently in the Galápagos, and visitor figures amount to around 225,000 annually.

It’s hard to believe this new world could bear any resemblance to the pristine environment Charles Darwin explored in the early 19th century.

But as the ground-breaking naturalist identified, evolution is in the DNA of these islands.

In San Cristobal, the closest island to Ecuador, sea lions have learned to live comfortably with their two-legged neighbours. At the beachfront Golden Bay Hotel, two Balinese day beds have been commandeered by boisterous, blubbery pinnipeds, and every evening a mischievous adolescent affectionately known as Samuelito splays his flippers on the best seat at the cocktail bar.

Eager to explore the islands in a sustainable way, I’m embarking on a cruise with the MV Origin, a sumptuous 20-passenger yacht that has been custom-designed for greater fuel efficiency, and fitted with an on-board treatment plant to avoid dumping grey water into the ocean.

The facilities are first class – vast en-suite bedrooms with king-size beds and a wall of windows framing the sea. And the service is five-star – two top-grade naturalists attentively guide the group, which is double

‘It’s hard to believe this new world could bear any resemblance to the pristine environment Charles Darwin explored in the early 19th century’ the allocation given on most ships.

Exploring the Galápagos Islands is a meticulously planned operation; access is restricted to 70 landing sites, and ships cannot revisit the same location within a 14-day cycle.

As a result, crossovers with other groups are rare.

But life on board never feels rushed or scheduled; lunches are long with ample time for dreamy siestas, often spent rocking gently in hammocks on the top deck as curious frigate birds soar above.

MV Origin operates two seven-day itineraries.

I choose one incorporating Genovesa, in the north east, where three types of booby bird can be found.

Red-footed boobies wrap their russet red webbing around the brittle branches of parched

bushes while their blue-footed counterparts cavort in buffoonish play below.

Then tufty-feathered juveniles frantically – and futilely – flap their wings in a premature attempt to fly, completing the Big Top entertainment.

A male yellow warbler bird doffs his brilliant red cap to the performance, and hops through the undergrowth in search of bugs.

Avian displays are a highlight on any Galápagos itinerary. It was the finches, after all, that helped shaped Darwin’s theory of evolution.

But not all birds here are native.

The greater flamingos on Santa Cruz island ended up here accidentally, marooned by the trade winds from Miami.

“You could say they were trapped,” explains our jovial naturalist, Gaby.

“But I prefer to believe they chose to stay here.”

Watching the carefree pink swirls parade balletically through a brackish lagoon, I tend to agree with her.

There are an estimated 650 flamingos in the Galápagos, but the residents of Rabida island have all disappeared, frightened away by sea lions.

Doe-eyed pups stare at us inquisitively as we stroll along the beach, where washed-up starfish form sorrowful constellations in the iron red sand.

Fortunately, many still shine below the waves.

Snorkelling in the warm water, I cross paths with a harmless basking shark and watch turtles nonchalantly glide by.

I spend an enjoyable few moments conducting a shoal of sardines with my swim strokes – they disperse and reform, falling into perfect harmony. Foreign visitors seem to make very little difference to their world. But nowhere is completely impervious to change.

On Fernandina, the youngest island in the archipelago, formed 600,000 years ago, the El Nino weather phenomenon nearly wiped out a population of marine iguanas.

A rise in water temperature caused a decline in their main food source, red algae, leading the scaly black creatures to starve.

When we visit, a stench of death still clings to the air, and several shrivelled carcasses curl around solidified lava flows.

But numbers are bouncing back. Piles of iguanas gather on the shore, seeking heat from the sun,

IN THE SWIM Green turtles off Isabela, the largest of the Islands

Travel

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

LAND OF THE LIZARDS The islands are home to land and marine iguanas

fresh meat on the seafarers’ long voyages.

However, nothing can stop the irrepressible struggle for survival here.

Perhaps it’s something to do with the magic of the islands…

‘Bewitched’ was a common term used by confused pirates, who claimed these mysterious islands would often disappear in a thick mist.

But I prefer the erroneous translation of the Spanish phrase ‘las islas encantadas’.

‘Enchanted’ is a much better fit.

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TRAVEL FACTS  Sarah Marshall was a guest of The Ultimate Travel Company (020 3051 8098/ www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk), who tailor-make a luxury 12-day land and island hopping Galápagos adventure from £8,450 per person.  Includes two nights in Quito and two nights on San Cristobal with private guided sightseeing, before a seven-night full-board MV Origin cruise.

and large, belligerent males size each other up, rocking their mohawk heads like punk rockers in a display of bravado.

But then species in the Galápagos do have a history of recovery.

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, it is estimated that 150,000 giant tortoises were taken from the islands by whalers, who used them as food stores on ships.

Able to live for six months without eating, these gentle giants were a convenient source of

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The price includes all flights, transfers and park fees.  KLM (020 7660 0293 / www.klm.com) offers three weekly flights to Guayaquil via Amsterdam Schiphol.

Return economy fares from London Heathrow start from £466 and are inclusive of taxes.

Regional departures also available from Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol.

PADDLE POWER Exploring Black Turtle Cove

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Wedding

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Marrying amid medieval grandeur From flirting in French to a proposal in the ocean, the love story of Harriet Roessler and Adam McGlue was a dream romance. They went on to have a wedding to match in historic Penshurst Place, complete with string quartet, the perfect dress and an ‘Avenue of Fire’, as the bride tells us How did you and your husband meet?

We met three years ago on Tinder! It’s probably more commonplace now, but at that time we hadn’t heard of many other Tinder success stories, let alone marriages! We flirted in French and got on so well. But I tried to cancel our first date when I discovered Adam was a DJ, as I thought he’d be too cool for me! Good job I didn’t…

Tell us about the proposal We spent a few days relaxing at the stunning Ikos Olivia resort in Halkidiki, Northern Greece.

Because the resort was so new, and because of the time of year, its private beach was blissfully empty, so when Adam got down on one knee in a pedalo, a 100 or so metres from the shore, it really felt like we were alone with the ocean.

Where did you get married, and how did you choose the venue?

We decided to have a short engagement because there didn’t seem much point in waiting. I also loved the idea of a Christmas wedding! As a result, we didn’t spend ages deliberating over

venues. Penshurst Place was only the second one we visited, and it took our breath away. From the striking Medieval Baron’s Hall with its suits of armour, candelabras and central fire pit, to the cosy, wood-panelled Sunderland room where we had our wedding breakfast, the whole venue was just ‘wow’. We loved the idea of having the ceremony, wedding breakfast and dancing all in one place so nobody would have to worry about getting from A to B. It looked absolutely spectacular in the winter mist that had settled on the day.

Tell us about the big day itself It was truly magical. My family, bridesmaids and I woke up to thick fog at the Leicester Arms, just round the corner. The morning was wonderfully relaxed, and we ended up being ready an hour and a half early – our photographer and videographers said that was virtually unheard of!

I wore an ivory French lace gown by Suzanne Neville with a mermaid tail, gorgeous covered buttons down the back, and a subtle metallic embroidering – set off by the gold sparkle in my full-length veil.

There were a few

more hitches at the boys’ end. I later found out Adam managed to put his back out lifting cases into the car.

Fortunately, we live a few doors away from a physiotherapist who was incredibly good-natured about being woken up on a Saturday morning and asked to give emergency physio.

I think it’s probably best I didn’t know at the time that Adam was still sprawled on the bed with acupuncture needles in his back an hour before we were due to get married!

What were some of the main highlights?

The Medieval Baron’s Hall as a ceremony venue was spectacular. It had a huge Christmas tree, a roaring fire and red uplighters on the stone walls.

Music was provided by the Blonde string quartet and we chose to include some festive pieces like Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy from The Nutcracker and Walking in the Air from The Snowman.

Our guests enjoyed mulled wine and canapés round the fire whilst we zipped off to do some photographs in the rapidly fading light.

Wedding

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

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THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS

1 2 3

Photos: Craig Prentis

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‘The Medieval Baron’s Hall as a ceremony venue was spectacular. It had a huge Christmas tree, a roaring fire and red uplighters on the stone walls’

To add some originality, the menus were jigsaw puzzles which tables had to complete before the food came out, and instead of favours we designed some amusing ‘Wedding Advice’ cards that the guests were asked to fill in between courses.

These made for some hilarious reading in the days following the wedding, and will be great to look at in the future and reminisce over!

After we’d eaten, our fantastic videographers (In Verve) managed to capture our very own ‘mannequin challenge’ – no mean feat, but the footage we’ve seen so far looks incredible!

Festive cocktails were served in the snug Buttery downstairs for the guests whilst I nipped back to the Leicester Arms with a couple of my bridesmaids to change into an ivory satin dress by Ghost, for the evening. The night finished with fireworks and sparklers, and we drove away up an Avenue of Fire.

How did you start your married life together?

We had a mini-moon in the Cotswolds. Our hotel room had its own lounge with an open fire and a private courtyard with a hot tub for stargazing!

We hosted our first Christmas at our place, and are heading off on our real honeymoon on Wednesday – Abu Dhabi and the Maldives.

Talk through your key suppliers and brands and how they helped make the day special Our stunning floral displays were very natural

and flowing: Roses, ranunculus, antirrhinums, lisianthus, hypericum, thistle and spray roses in ivory and reds, seasonal foliage and hints of gold in the pine cones and berries. And lots of candles!

Instead of a traditional wedding cake, I actually designed a cake table with a variety of cakes by Konditor & Cook. The carrot cake and curly whirly cake were huge hits!

We were lucky enough to have our stationery designed by a very talented graphic designer who is a friend.

The dance floor was also a massive success thanks to the quality music courtesy of Storm DJs. We were able to speak to our DJs ahead of the event, and they put together a set that perfectly matched our genre expectations and taste. The sound quality, mixing and mash-ups were really a cut above your average wedding DJ. We also booked an amazing live saxophonist through Storm who ad-libbed alongside the DJ. We’re still getting compliments on the music!

We also had a fantastic psychological illusionist/ magician (think Derren Brown) in the form of Neb McIver, who had us all completely enthralled. We have the open-mouthed photos to prove it!

Supper was served courtesy of Leith’s caterers.

We had home-cured gravadlax with mustard, beetroot and dill to start; guinea fowl with a pear and rosemary farce and celeriac dauphinoise for main; and a trio of apple and blackberry desserts to finish.

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Don’t spend too long deliberating; crack on and make decisions You don’t need years to plan a wedding – we did it in six months and, to be honest, most of the key stuff was done in the first four weeks! More time means more choices and more agonising Be wary of other people getting too involved – the more decisions you make as a couple, without others pitching in, the easier it is Consider getting married off season – you’ll save lots of money and people will be really excited to come to your wedding as it will be a novelty from October to April Don’t be afraid to negotiate – weddings are expensive. Just view each purchase and each service as a business transaction pure and simple!

Also worth mentioning is the fantastic Natasha from Morgan Hodges Hair in Tunbridge Wells (my usual salon), who did my hair, and Olivia Ferrer, who did my make-up and the bridesmaids’ hair – both were equally amazing!

Describe your husband in five words I may go over five words, but Adam is gorgeous, kind, enterprising, laid-back and knows his own mind!

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Life & Style

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

TITLE SPONSOR OF THE CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE - LITERARY FESTIVAL 2017 The Tunbridge Wells office of investment management firm Brooks Macdonald is proud to announce its title sponsorship of the Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival 2017, taking place in Chiddingstone, Edenbridge, Kent from Sunday 30 April to Tuesday 2 May 2017.

THE PIANO SHOP KENT

Having a good piano to play and practise on is vital to the enjoyment of making music and to progress. Some think that an old piano bought as a ‘beginner instrument’, that perhaps ‘just needs tuning’, will be good enough for them or their child. But the reality is that a piano with an uneven touch, poor tone, or perhaps loose tuning pins will limit enjoyment and discourage learning. Our used pianos have been thoroughly reconditioned and are guaranteed for five years. This gives you the confidence that they are of the highest quality and will support any pianist in achieving their potential.

The Piano Shop team are passionate about everything to do with the piano, and between them have decades of experience.

The founder, Nigel Scaife, studied at the Royal College of Music and is an examiner for ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) and a regular contributor to Pianist magazine.

He understands what makes for a good instrument, and brings his experience as a musician and teacher to the careful selection of pianos.

The best way to find the right piano is to come to The Piano Shop Kent and try them, as comparison is key. No two pianos are the same and everyone will like something different. Being based in the Nevill Estate Yard means that there’s plenty of easy free parking, and we’re open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. There is free ground floor delivery on all pianos – so why not visit us and find the perfect piano for you?

Nevill Estate Yard, Eridge, TN3 9JR 01892 543233 www.thepianoshopkent.co.uk

The new sponsorship adds to the Tunbridge Wells office’s other sponsorships including professional golfer David Callaway, Junior Bromleians Football Club, Speldhurst Juniors Cricket Club and West Surrey Golf Juniors.

PHOTOGRAPHY: JEZ TIMMS, TORPEDO JUICE

The Piano Shop Kent is near Tunbridge Wells on the A26 and has a fantastic selection of pianos, both upright and grand, new and restored. There are starter pianos, many of the popular Yamaha U1/3 uprights and a wide range of other great makes, as well as digital pianos. We also have a workshop and offer restoration.

Pam Beith, Senior Investment Director and Head of Brooks Macdonald’s Tunbridge Wells office, said:

CREATING POSSIBILITIES Ingrid Cohen-Pope and Belinda Raitt are two women who are lucky enough to be doing something they love: coaching other people to create space to think and to develop their talent, whatever that might be. They each run their own coaching business, and have come together to collaborate on an innovative group coaching programme for women - Creating Possibilities.

During their years of coaching, they have noticed particular common themes come up more often with women, particularly around confidence, priorities, and identity. So they decided to develop a programme for women who would like to work out what is holding them back, how to develop their confidence, and how to tap into their strengths to achieve more and take control of their life.

Coaching is about helping people to move from where they are now, to where they want to be, more quickly and effectively than if they were acting alone. Group coaching is particularly powerful, because it creates a shared frame of reference where participants can support and learn from each other as well as about themselves.

Creating Possibilities is an experiential programme - where participants learn by doing/experiencing, not just listening. Belinda and Ingrid are running a taster workshop at 19:00 on Tuesday 21st February at The Royal Wells Hotel where you can find out more about them, about the programme, and about yourselves.

There will be a mini group coaching session, so that you can experience what it’s like and see if it’s for you. The workshop will also give you a chance to think and talk about what’s important to you and what you’d like more of in your life.

For more details about the programme and how to sign up, visit the Creating Possibilities information page at: http:// creatingspacecoaching.co.uk/events/

“We are very proud to be the title sponsor of the Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival 2017. The Festival is now in its second year, and was a huge success in 2016. This year’s event will once again have an impressive line-up of wellknown authors covering a wide range of topics. The Festival really has something to offer all age groups.

We have an established history of supporting the arts, charities and sport throughout the firm and it is great to be able to support initiatives in our local market. Sponsoring the Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival 2017 also provides us with a wonderful platform to raise awareness of our business in Kent and the South East.”

Events will take place over three days with a special programme for local schools on Tuesday 2 May. There will be vintage food vans, a bar and organic coffee trikes, along with the Castle’s own courtyard tea rooms serving cakes, sandwiches and light lunches.

Tickets for each event on Sunday and Monday will be £12 for adults and £5 for children including entry into the Castle and Collections. Online ticket booking will be available via the Castle website from 1 March with discounts for Early Birds. Tickets for the school events on Tuesday will be £4 per student and are available for purchase directly from the Castle from 1 February 2017.

Motoring

WITH THE

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Ferrari 488 GTB

By Jack Evans

WHAT IS IT?

LOOKS AND IMAGE Make no mistake, the 488 GTB is a prettylooking car. With air intakes sitting in just the right places and a supremely low ride height, it looks just as you would want a supercar to look. Granted, it lacks the out-there styling you’d find on a Lamborghini, but there’s little chance people won’t notice you in the 488.

Ferrari’s image remains impressively strong, with good residuals and reputation meaning that wherever you go people will stop and stare.

That’s no bad thing, but if you’re looking for a car that’ll take you under the radar, the 488 may not be the one for you.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY Despite being a low, two-seater sports car, the 488 GTB offers a decent amount of practicality. There’s a boot in the nose of the car with a 230-litre capacity, which certainly provides enough room for two weekend bags, or a week’s worth of shopping – if you’re planning on taking your 488 to the supermarket.

Inside, there’s a cupholder and a tray for your keys and phone. There’s also a small glovebox, which gives you a little bit of space for smaller items.

A Ferrari supercar is never going to be practical, but the 488 is easier to get along with than you’d expect.

BEHIND THE WHEEL Here’s where things get really interesting.

In the low-slung driving position you feel

FACTS AT A GLANCE MODEL: Ferrari 488 GTB ENGINE: 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 TRANSMISSION: Seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph in 3.0 seconds, top speed 205mph POWER: 661bhp, 760Nm ECONOMY: 24.8mpg (combined) EMISSIONS: 260g/km CO2

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THE TOWN’S TOP MOTORING GUIDE FROM E V E R Y D AY D R I V E S T O LU XU RY SU P E R C A R S

FIRST DRIVE

A new Ferrari is a pretty big deal.

This is the 488 GTB, the latest highperformance offering from Maranello, and a car designed to try and eclipse the awe-inspiring 458 Italia.

That car was powered by a 4.5-litre naturally-aspirated V8. A true firecracker of an engine, it gave the 458 all the frenetic, tip-toe energy that you could want from an Italian supercar. The 488 GTB, in comparison, is powered by a 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8.

Moving to forced induction was a big move for Ferrari, especially given the reputation set by the 458. However, with 661bhp and 760Nm on tap, the 488 isn’t lacking in power.

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perfectly set up. It isn’t often you get into a car and find yourself in the right place immediately, but that’s just what you get in the 488. With a large windscreen and slim pillars, there’s an excellent view of the road ahead too, which makes it a little more comfortable to drive around – especially in towns.

Up and running, you immediately notice just how easy the 488 is to drive. Yes, the steering wheel mounted buttons are a little complicated – the lights, indicators and washers are operated here – but after you work that out, it feels quite simple to whisk along. You could almost be fooled into thinking it normal – until you press the accelerator, that is.

The way the 488 gains pace is nothing short of ferocious, with each gear bringing with it another wave of speed. Keep your foot in it, and you’ll sail past licenceworrying speeds without even realising, so be warned. The gearshifts are supremely quick, while the car’s throttle response puts any idea that turbocharging negatively affects performance out of your mind.

In figure terms, the 488 GTB will reach 60 in three seconds, and will carry on

accelerating to a top speed of 205mph, which is fast in anyone’s book.

That incredible pace is well matched to a chassis that offers all the agility you could want, and while the steering is quick, it makes for a car that eats up corner after corner.

You still need to be on your toes, however, as the large rear tyres fitted to the 488 have a tendency to break traction quite easily. Although fitted with cuttingedge traction control systems, the 488 still likes to remind you that it’s a Ferrari – and should be treated with respect.

VALUE FOR MONEY The 488 GTB retails for just under £185,000. However, few cars will actually cost this, as the options list is almost as impressive as the car’s performance. Even the trademark Ross Corsa paint, which our test car came in, costs a frankly remarkable £7,104.

However, when you contrast the car’s price with its exceptional engine, controls and looks, it very quickly starts to look worth the money. Certainly, if you found yourself driving a Ferrari 488 GTB, you wouldn’t worry about how much it cost – just how far you could drive it.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? The 488 GTB is ideal for those who want a supercar with poise, pinpoint handling and addictive performance all wrapped up in a double-take body.

There’s no arguing that it’s expensive, but then cars in this category are. Ferraris have been held in high esteem throughout history, and it’s cars like the 488 GTB that keep this reputation going.

‘You wouldn’t worry about how much it cost – just how far you could drive it’

THE NEED FOR SPEED The new Ferrari reaches 60 in three seconds and can go up 205mph

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Motoring

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Get ready to Trek in this limited edition truck HOT TO TROT The snazzy i30 range

Plenty of choice as Hyundai unveils its new hatchback HYUNDAI has announced the pricing and specifications for its all-new i30 hatchback, which is set to go on sale on March 1.

There are five different specification levels available on the i30: S, SE, SE Nav, Premium and Premium SE. Pricing for the entry-level S model, with a 1.0-litre, 118bhp petrol engine and sixspeed manual gearbox, starts at £16,995, while the top-of-the-line Premium SE, with a 1.6-litre, 109bhp diesel engine and a seven-speed dualclutch automatic transmission, will cost £24,745.

Cars in the SE trim are priced from £18,695, while i30s in SE Nav specification will carrying pricing levels upwards of £19,645. Prices for Premium specification vehicles start at £22,195.

Customers will have a choice of one diesel and

two petrol engines, as well as either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, depending on specification level.

The sole diesel engine is a 1.6-litre CRDi unit that produces 109bhp. In terms of petrol engines, customers will be able to choose between either a 1.0-litre T-GDi unit that puts out 118bhp, or a 1.4-litre T-GDi that develops 138bhp.

The entire range of i30s offer a high level of standard safety equipment that includes lane departure warning, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking and hill start assist systems. In terms of standard features, S-specification i30s get 15-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights, DAB radio and Bluetooth, auxiliary and USB connectivity.

Nissan has revealed an exclusive variation on its Navara pick-up truck at the Brussels Motor Show…

DUBBED Trek-1° – a reference to the longitude of the Navarre desert in Spain – Nissan’s newcomer differentiates itself from the top-spec Tekna with a range of extra equipment.

Only 1,500 examples will be built, each featuring black sport styling bars behind the cab, two forward-facing LED spot lamps and black side bars.

A new load bed cover and black 18-inch alloy wheels round off the external modifications.

Customers will be able to choose from two colours – Pearlescent White and Black Metallic – as well as two power outputs.

The basic engine is a 158bhp version of the Navara’s 2.3-litre diesel, but there is an option to upgrade to a more potent 187bhp variant, which is also offered with a seven-speed automatic transmission.

Motoring

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

IT’S ALL HERE IN BLACK… AND WHITE The stylish Trek-1° comes in a choice of two colours

Inside, the Trek-1° specification is based on the range-topping Tekna model, which comes with satellite navigation, rear parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera.

In addition, several optional extras are available. Heated seats, leather upholstery and a powered sunroof can all be specified.

The Navara Trek-1° is set to go on sale in the UK during the next few weeks, with prices expected to start at around £32,000.

FEATURES

91

Boss is so happy to reveal the Stinger in Kia’s branding tale DESPITE having completely transformed the look of the Kia brand in the last ten years, the company’s President of Design, Peter Schreyer, says his job is not done yet.

Speaking at the launch of the firm’s new Stinger – a car he has personally wanted to see made for years – he said that although Kia’s look has been refreshed, there are still challenges for him to tackle.

“My job will never be done,” he said. “Since I’ve been there, more than ten years, the perception of the brand has really changed a lot. If you look at the product range, it is very different now.

“But you always need to stay hungry – and now I have the challenge of Hyundai, and Kia, and Genesis, and this is another level for me, to develop all that.

“Genesis is a unique and challenging job to develop as a brand, and it’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Speaking about the Stinger, the their new high-performance sports saloon, Schreyer said he was in the mood for partying after finally seeing it revealed. “Today I am so happy that we have this,” he said.

Peter Schreyer And he isn’t the only one who is smiling. Looking back at The Stinger’s evolvement, he said: “I remember in so many presentations that even though they were serious discussions, they still did so with big smiles on their faces.

“At one point we did a model in this red colour [the launch model], and forever after that they never spoke of the codename for the car – the CK – they instead spoke about the ‘red car’.

Everyone was convinced, happy and optimistic.”

92

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Births, Marriages and Bereavements

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

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To help you provide the information required please email info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or call 01892 779650.

We try to publish reports as quickly as possible after receipt and when space allows.

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Puzzles

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

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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.

Codeword:

S H R U I E T O X I W P L U T O N S Q U A T S E L U D R A I S L E O L R O Y A

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

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B M I C A L G A E R N D R O J A F F A I O B L I S S A I R L L A L WA L AW N E Y U T T A R E A S S U Z B E L D E R A L Y A R

2 1 7 6 9 4 8 5 3

8 5 4 7 1 3 6 9 2

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R O P O P R L E S Y S O E R V E K O D S

Jigsaw Sudoku:

Sudoku:

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.

5 7 8 3 4 2 9 1 6

6 9 2 8 7 1 5 3 4

1 4 3 5 6 9 2 8 7

7 8 5 4 3 6 1 2 9

4 6 1 9 2 5 3 7 8

3 2 9 1 8 7 4 6 5

8 7 5 1 6 4 9 2 3

2 3 9 4 1 8 7 5 6

9 4 1 3 7 2 6 8 5

6 5 8 7 4 1 2 3 9

3 1 2 6 9 5 8 4 7

4 9 3 8 2 7 5 6 1

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

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OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

7 2 6 5 8 3 1 9 4

5 8 7 9 3 6 4 1 2

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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DIFFICULTY RATING: ★III

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

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SOLUTIONS (FROM LAST WEEK)

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★I

CODEWORD

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FEATURES

NEWS

Recruitment

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

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

94

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Recruitment

NEWS

95

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

96

FEATURES

Arts & Culture

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Prepare for a regal performance The London Ballet performs The Snow Queen at Trinity on Sunday, January 29. Show director Sophie Wright tells Eileen Leahy all about it…

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FTER having danced since she was very young, Sophie Wright took the brave decision to form her own ballet troupe as she felt there was a need for a ‘performance platform’ for young aspiring dancers.

In 2010, The London Ballet Company was born, and over the past six years they have put on all manner of performances, including one about the London 2012 Games entitled ‘Olympic Dream’, another inspired by the James Bond film Skyfall called ‘00 and his 7’, and most recently there was ‘Poppy’, which commemorated the centenary of the Great War and came to Trinity in November.

Yet despite their different themes, each London Ballet Company production has a common thread running through it – and that is being something a modern-day audience can easily relate to. “It was extremely important to find a way to make our performances more relevant,” explains Sophie. “With this understanding, and some very talented and dedicated dancers and choreographers, we developed our own unique repertoire from subjects of topical interest, or current social and media attention.”

As an example, that could involve a more contemporary interpretation of a classic tale, dressing dancers in 21st-century clothing, or swapping traditional pointe ballet slippers for stilettos in order to express the traits of a certain character.

“We’re very lucky because we have such a versatile group of dancers,” says Sophie. “In our shows we often have both contemporary and classical sections, so they have to swap between the two genres, and they are very good at doing that – better than even those at The Royal Ballet I would say.”

The Snow Queen, which tells the tale of a newly mar-

‘We’re very lucky because we have such a versatile group of dancers’

TAKING CENTRE STAGE Scenes from The Snow Queen

Arts & Culture

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

ried royal whose husband dies on their wedding day, also boasts a mixture of modern and conventional scenes. For example where the Queen languishes in her frozen kingdom remains very faithful to Hans Christian Anderson’s original fairy tale. Another scene, with the two friends, Gerda and Kai, (whose relationship the Queen tries to destroy), is set in a playground, with the dancers kitted out in school uniforms.

‘Our dancers are very good at acting out the scenes with their moves and expressions’ “It helps to make it more believable and to draw people in,” continues Sophie. “My aim is to share my love of ballet with those who would, perhaps, never choose this form of entertainment.”

Integrating a mix of different styles, costumes and eras into productions helps the audience to become more absorbed in the action, says Sophie, despite the lack of spoken dialogue – which can sometimes alienate people.

“Our dancers are very good at acting out the scenes with their moves and expressions, and making them more pedestrian and realistic so those who are not familiar with watching ballet know what is going on.

“But because we include both contemporary and classic elements to each show, there really is something for everyone.

“The love of ballet is shared by all my dancers, and allows us to utilise music, movement and choreography to reflect the time and place of a subject, and to tell a story without words.”

The Snow Queen will be performed at Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, this Sunday (January 29) at 2.30pm. To book tickets, which are priced at £8 per person, go to www.trinitytheatre.net

FEATURES

97

The singer who’s returning to her musical roots Six years after she last performed at The Forum, lead singer Gazel is coming back with her five piece band on Saturday. Here she tells the Times why she’s so excited about her hometown concert ON SONG Gazel performs at The Forum on Saturday

other middle-eastern sounds to create melodic songs with a dark, otherworldly sound.

How long have you been together?

I’ve been writing and producing my own music since I was 16 but having a band is a recent development. At first I was doing it on my own, then Roy joined. Since then we’ve been adding a new member each time we do a show. Our newest addition is Lele, our percussionist. The Forum show will be the first time he’s played with us.

Can you tell us a little bit about your band?

Gazel is both my real name, and the name of our band when we play together live. There are five of us – Roy, Mao, Sara, Lele and me – each from a different part of the world. We take my studio songs and bring them to life, layering live electronics with strings, native wind instruments and

You started off as a solo performer, how does it feel to be part of a collective now?

It feels amazing. I spend most of my day working alone in my studio, so playing with a group of people is a welcome break from that. I feel lucky to be playing my songs with such established musicians and lovely people. It’s a lot of fun!

Who would your key musical influences be?

I’m influenced by all kinds of music, but when I’m looking for inspiration, I always turn to Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic or African music. I feel very connected to those sounds. Being a young person in London, I’m also

exposed to a lot of electronic music, and my songs are often inspired by electronic dance tunes which get mashed-up with Turkish folk songs in my head. I enjoy doing sound-design, which also comes out in my production. My most listened-to artists this year have been Aynur Dogan, Fatoumata Diawara and Burial.

As Tunbridge Wells is your home town how excited are you to be playing The Forum?

Extremely excited. It’s been six years since I played there last, and I’m excited to be coming back there as a five-piece band. I went to watch shows at The Forum regularly while I was in school, I’ve seen some of the best gigs of my life there. It’s a venue that’s very close to my heart.

Tell us about that first gig…

I did my first gig at The Forum when I was 17 - singing solo to backing tracks that I had produced in my bedroom. I did about three of those gigs that year, and the place was packed out every time with school friends and their parents. I have good memories from those shows.

What can audiences expect from your latest concert there?

Haunting melodies and electronic

soundscapes with a middle-eastern atmosphere. We play our songs with a backdrop of live projections from Maidstone-based illustrator Acid Lake.

Each song has its own illustration which is one scene of a complete visual story. It’s an exhilarating experience for us and for our audiences.

What’s the next few months shaping up like?

On February 23rd we’ll be supporting Goran Bregovic at the Hammersmith Apollo, on the London date of his world tour. It’ll be our first show to over 5,000 people, which is very exciting for us! As well as this, we have upcoming shows at The Waiting Room in Stoke Newington (February 16), and FloVibe festival on June 3. We’re planning more shows and festivals for the summer, so watch this space!

Tickets cost £5 and are available from www.twforum.co.uk

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FEATURES

What’s On

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON WITH THE

Eileen Leahy Local events

CLOWNING AROUND The story of Chocolat >> WEDNESDAY Trinity Theatre is showing Chocolat this evening at 8pm. It’s the story of a former Afro-Cuban slave, Rafael Padilla (played by Omar Sy) who was the first black artist to become mainstream and popular in France. A legendary character on Paris’s Belle Epoque scene in the late 1800s, Padilla was painted by Toulouse Lautrec and filmed by the Lumière brothers. Directed by Roschdy Zem, it’s an illuminating watch. Tickets cost £10.50 and can be booked via www.trinitytheatre.net London and Scottish quintet Van Susans will be playing a gig at the Velo House this evening from 6.30pm. They’ll be featuring songs from their first album, which is entitled Paused in the Moment.

Tickets cost £15 and can be booked at www.songkick.com

SNAPPED: See Sarah Clark’s 366 Portraits at Trinity

>> THURSDAY From 10.30 am, there will be a Will Writing and Estate Planning event at Trinity Theatre. Buss Murton will be providing legal advice and AVTrinity will be on hand with their financial expertise for anyone who requires it. The morning session will be followed by a screening of the film Burn Burn Burn, which stars former Downton Abbey actress Laura Carmichael with Alison Steadman and Jane Asher. There is no charge for the event but booking is required.

The Pantiles Decorative and Fine Arts Society [PDFAS] will be hosting a talk entitled The Ship Burial at Sutton Hoo at Holmewood House School at 7.45pm. Guest speaker Imogen Corrigan will examine how a rich hoard discovered in Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, and dating from the seventh century AD, reveals a great deal about the country at that time.

PDFAS offer illustrated lectures by nationally renowned experts covering a wide range of decorative and fine arts, including paintings, sculpture, textiles, jewellery, gold and silverware, glassware, ceramics, architecture, gardens and music.

Annual membership costs £45, or £7 per lecture. For more information visit www.pantilesdfas.org.uk Over at the Vittle & Swig restaurant in Camden Road there will be a comedy evening starting at 8.30pm. Rudi Lickwood, Paul F Taylor and Russell Hicks will all be taking part. For more information visit www.vittleandswig.co.uk If you’re craving sunshine and sangria, then head on down to The Grey Lady, where there’s a fabulous Flamenco evening happening tonight.

There will be live dance and music from Lydia Ramirez Padilla and tickets cost £6. If you fancy making a meal of it, then there will be a special Spanish menu on offer if you want to relax and have dinner, too.

For more details, please see www.thegreylady.co.uk

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

>> FRIDAY Trinity’s art gallery space is showing a new photographic exhibition entitled 366 Portraits.

It is the work of Sarah Clark, a photographer specialising in portraiture who set herself the task of publishing one portrait a day for the whole of 2016. She chose to capture images of people when they were least expecting it in order to ensure a genuine and natural portrait. The exhibition is free and runs until this Sunday.

The much talked about La La Land is showing at the Hop Farm from tonight until next Tuesday courtesy of the Moonlight Drive-in Cinema.

Starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, it harks back to the golden age of movie musicals and is tipped to win plenty of Baftas and Oscars this awards season. Tickets cost £25 per vehicle and can be purchased from www.moonlightcinema.com

>> SUNDAY Staying with the Grosvenor and Hilbert Park there will be a Basket weaving workshop happening today. The full day course costs £30 per adult and will be led by expert John Waller, who will show you how to make a willow basket. The ticket price also includes equipment, materials and light refreshments. To book your place, email steff.dagorne@tunbridgewells.gov.uk The London Ballet puts on their performance of The Snow Queen today at Trinity Theatre at 2.30pm.

Tickets are priced £8 per person. Turn to pages 96-97 for our exclusive interview with the ballet’s Sophie Wright. www.trinitytheatre.net Recollections: Private Collections; from pencils to Picasso is now on at Tonbridge School’s OBS

>> SATURDAY Keep your New Year resolutions going well beyond January by joining the weekly park runs which happen at both Dunorlan Park and the Castle Street recreation ground in Tonbridge. They’re free to enter, all you have to do is register your details beforehand so you can participate in the 5k circuits, which start at 9am. For more see www. parkrun.org.uk FLAMENCO Meanwhile, NIGHT there’s another At The Grey Lady Saturday craft club happening today at the Tunbridge Wells Library and Museum. The Snappy Camera sessions run from 10am to 12noon and 2pm to 4pm, and will encourage children to take an interest in all things visual and hopefully encourage them to get into photography.

Dave Arthur will be returning for another fantastic Storytelling Event in the Hub at Grosvenor and Hilbert park today. The free drop-in event will have story sessions starting at 10.30am and 11.30am and is suitable for all ages. As well as listening to professional storyteller Dave’s magical tales, there will also be the opportunity to sing songs and join in a craft session or two.

Burns Night at the Elephant’s Head, Wednesday, January 25 2017, 7pm

PICK OF THE WEEK

Celebrate the Scottish festival of Burns Night by indulging in a traditional meal at the Elephant’s Head near Lamberhurst, which is under new management. On the menu will be a delicious array of dishes, including Cullen Skink, haggis, tatties and bashed neeps for just £22.50 per head. Booking is advisable, and a deposit of £5 will be taken. For more information call 01892 273 9525.

What’s On

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

gallery. It’s a wonderfully rich selection of artworks, pictures and pieces of memorabilia from a number of personal collections owned by former teachers and pupils of the school. One of its aims is to examine the power of the object in the digital age and the myriad meanings these pieces hold for the people who covet and collect them. The exhibition is free to attend and can be viewed every weekend from 12 until 4pm until March 5. For more information visit www.tonbridge-school.co.uk/obsg >> MONDAY Join the Community Engagement Officer at Grosvenor and Hilbert park this morning to learn all about the park’s birds. Meet at the Hub at 9.30am to join in on a bird walk where you are encouraged to note down the different varieties you spot. The survey results will be collected and then submitted as part of the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. No booking is required for this free event, just turn up and join in. >> TUESDAY The Cross Keys pub in St John’s holds its weekly quiz night from 8pm. All are welcome to this event, which offers players the ‘chance to compete against each other for money, sweets, glory and the occasional smug point’. For more information visit www.crosskeystw.co.uk

WATCH THE BIRDIE At Grosvenor and Hilbert Park

FEATURES

99

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton

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

Live music IT’S A busy week across the local music scene with an array of fantastic gigs and concerts to be enjoyed, from Mark Morriss to a David Bowie tribute act and the latest Local & Live Sessions…

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

Mark Morris

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

FRIDAY Bowie Experience THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

FRIDAY Mark Morriss (From The Bluetones), Cyrano and The Gallerys SATURDAY Gazel, Island Cassettes and The Ackerleys THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

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

THURSDAY Spanish Flamenco Night with Lydia Ramirez Padilla FRIDAY Salsa Camina SATURDAY Studio 54 SUNDAY Vispers, Ellie Wade, Leanie Kaleido and Lee Willz TUESDAY Frankie Swain, Kelly Bourne, Robert Bearsby and The Crew

THE VELO HOUSE

5 St John’s Road, for tickets and show times visit www.thevelohouse.com or contact direct on 01892 554 500 or email shop@thevelohouse.com

WEDNESDAY Van Susans THE SPA HOTEL

Mount Ephraim, free entry, music from 8pm to 10pm Dinner reservations@spahotel.co.uk

FRIDAY Live Jazz: The Ray Rich Duo

THE BEDFORD

THE KING WILLIAM

2 High Street, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm onwards

Pembury, open all day, free entry, music from 7.30pm onwards

SUNDAY Atlas

FRIDAY Abba Tribute Show

THE BEAU NASH INN

THE CROSS KEYS

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

St Johns Road, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk

FRIDAY Soul Night SATURDAY Justine

TRINITY THEATRE

MONDAY TWUNT: Ukulele Jam Session

Church Road, information on times and tickets at www.trinitytheatre.net

THE ROYAL OAK

SATURDAY Local & Live Sessions: Worry Dolls, The Tringham Sisters and Isabella Coulstock

SATURDAY Off The Cuff MONDAY Open Mic Night

Prospect Road, open all day, free entry, music from early evening onwards

THE PUNCH AND JUDY

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

TUESDAY The Vultures

Sporting Times

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Man on a mission: From meningitis to marathons

By Andrew Tong

newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk ONE man who will be taking part in next month’s Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon knows all about the long road to recovery.

Zak Moore, 53, was attending his regular yoga class on June 18, 2015 when he suffered an attack of bacterial meningitis. He returned home, fell into a deep sleep, and his daughter found him the next afternoon.

Adult meningitis is rare but affects some 3,400 people in the UK every year.

Around 10 per cent of cases are fatal.

Lasting effects can include brain damage, loss of limbs, hearing or sight.

‘Running helped me get back to normal. I’m 100 per cent’ It causes the membrane surrounding the brain to swell, increasing pressure inside the skull. In Zak’s case it led to intracranial bleeding and septicaemia.

He was taken into intensive care and placed in an induced coma for two weeks to allow his brain time to recover.

Within 10 months Zak was competing in the Brighton Marathon, even though he had not been running for 25 years.

He has also written a book about his experience, entitled Comarathon Man. The comeback trail has been tough but it is an inspiring story.

Next month he takes part in the Tunbridge Wells Harriers’ Half Marathon as a warm-up for another crack at the full distance down on the south coast.

“I was unconscious for two weeks in the coma. After I woke up, even taking the four steps to the toilet was very, very scary,” he says.

“They jacked me up with some fancy drugs and the two larger toes on my left foot went numb. I couldn’t get the balance right and I was knackered all down my left side.

“I lost hearing in my left ear until the

swelling in my brain went down after six months and I could wear a hearing aid.”

Born in Ayrshire, Zak is an IT expert who has lived in Tonbridge since 1998.

His wife, Clare, is a nurse and they have three children.

Caitlin, now 18, was the daughter who found him after his attack – and to whom he dedicates his book, ‘for saving my life’.

“I used to run a lot when I was in the Territorial Army in the Eighties,” he says. “Then I did nothing for 25 years.

“In hospital I had to hold on to the therapist’s arm to walk 100 yards and I would be very tired.

“Then we got up to 400 yards by the end of July, walking like a Thunderbird puppet who was being controlled by a speed freak.”

Having left hospital after two months, he embarked on a 10-week course with a personal trainer, Emma McMahon, from the gym at Tonbridge School.

He had managed to walk twice around the running track there when he saw an advert for the Brighton Marathon in a newspaper and pledged to take part.

Emma was left in a state of disbelief, but his family was supportive. “My wife said ‘Once you set yourself a goal, you’ll do it’. Plus it got me out of the house.”

He went from running with the

dog to doing repeats up and down hill and eventually slogging 18 miles in one go. He says ‘the running has made me feel 20 years younger’.

It also helped with his neurological state. “I could actually see the decisionmaking process in my head. It would take about 30 seconds for the facts to come back from my brain.

“When I remembered something it was like a forest growing in my head. Then I had a layer of emotion growing on top of that. The running helped me get back to normal. I’m 100 per cent now.”

Zak raised £1,000 for Meningitis UK when he ran on their behalf in his first marathon last year. All donations from readers of his free book will go to the same charity.

He is planning another book now: “When I was writing, there was a business book bubbling away inside. It’s about taking concepts from music and using them to synthesise new ways of working.”

One piece of feedback about the book which really made an impact on Zak was a message he received from a Matron at King’s College Hospital in London, Clair-Louise Harris.

“Clair was given a copy of the book by a researcher,” he says.

“She told me that it helped her with her reflective practice when she was treating patients.”

Zak’s experiences are likely to prove an inspiration to many more people. His story has got legs and it will run and run.

To read the book or donate to Meningitis UK, visit comarathonman. com. To enter the race on February 19, visit www.twharriers.org.uk or www.race-nation.com MEMORY LANE Zak Moore says running made him feel 20 years younger

NEWS

101

Three weeks to go:

Work out what fuel to put in your tank EATING the right things in the run-up to and during the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon can make all the difference to how well you perform on the day – and how much you enjoy your race.

Getting your nutrition right for race day is something that you need to practise in order to find out what works best for you.

“Some runners can eat a big breakfast and then run 30 minutes later, others can’t run for hours after eating,” explains Jane Dew, a fitness instructor at Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing Gym on Knights Park Leisure Park and a run leader for Runtogether.

“You don’t want to be doubled up on race day, so make sure that do your experimenting on your long runs, ideally mirroring race day,” advises Jane.

“The Half Marathon beings at 9am, so try and start your training run then and eat breakfast at the time that you intend to on race day. See if that suits you or if you need to adapt your plans.”

Although sugar has had a very bad press recently, it is not the enemy when it comes to endurance sports.

Dehydration Jane says: “There is discussion about the effectiveness of fat as an energy source, but on sports nutrition workshops I’ve been to, the belief is that carbs provide the fuel needed for endurance athletes.

“The carbohydrates get glycogen to your muscles, which creates energy when you are in an aerobic state to keep you going.”

Your fuel for the race starts the night – or even a couple of days – before. “People talk about carbloading, but that is not the same as calorie-loading,” cautions Jane.

“You should eat roughly the same sized meal, just increase the carbs

FITNESS TIPS Jane Dew on the plate and reduce the rest.

If you calorie-load, you are likely to feel heavy and sluggish during the race.”

During the race, how you refuel is very much a personal choice.

Most runners need some carbs, but some get around on a handful of jelly babies or a few sips of a sports drink, while others need something more substantial, like energy gels or bars.

“You should experiment during your training runs to find out what works for you and don’t be tempted to change your routine on race day. If it works in training it will work on the day,” says Jane.

“You must stay hydrated all through the race. Take a drink at every water station, even if it’s a few sips, or carry a drink with you.

“Even mild dehydration will affect your performance to a degree. The more you sweat, the more you need to drink.”

Jane adds: “If you are not sure about race nutrition, see a personal trainer, such as those at Nuffield Health and other gyms.

“They can advise you on what to eat and drink to make sure you have a great race.”

Slick Canterbury in command despite Hunt’s attacking edge Canterbury 2nd XI 2 Tunbridge Wells Ladies 1st XI 0

By Brandon Begg

BEATING HEART Bertie Organ worked hard in midfield for Tunbridge Wells

HOCKEY: A WELL-DRILLED Canterbury 2nd XI disposed of Tunbridge Wells Ladies 1st XI at Polo Farm Sports Club in their first East Women’s league match following the Christmas break.

Canterbury were a side on form having put together a string of victories before the New Year.

Yet it was Tunbridge Wells who looked the more dominant side during the opening stages of their return to action.

Bertie Organ and inners Jen Hunt and Ollie Gerrett worked tirelessly in midfield, breaking

down play, keeping possession and linking well with the forwards. Meanwhile in the defence Amy Hare swiftly repelled the opposition’s attempts to enter the area.

However, Canterbury capitalised on a counterattack to score their first goal, and soon afterwards they found the back of the net again in a slick penalty corner routine.

Tunbridge Wells maintained their fighting spirit in the second half, with player of the match Hunt looking increasingly dangerous in attack.

Ele Cairns was also causing havoc for the opposition up the right wing. But the visitors were unable to test the Canterbury keeper.

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NEWS

Sporting Times

CONTACT US:

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

LEARNING CURVE GCK members showed their skills

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

Wood finds his kit and the target to lift Wells to the top Tunbridge Wells Men’s 1st XI 3 Burnt Ash 1

The Gymnastics Club Kent reaches out to grass roots GYMNASTICS: THE NDGA in Tunbridge Wells has changed its name to The Gymnastics Club Kent.

The rebranding aims to provide gymnastics to a wider range of children and adults than before, as well as introducing more people into the sport from a grass-roots level.

The Gymnastics Club Kent (GCK) held an open evening on January 6. Guided tours by the coaching team allowed potential new members to test out the range of equipment.

Around 30 freestylers demonstrated their skills, and GCK’s British Veterans Championship gold medallist Julia Kirk showed how gymnastics is a sport for all age groups.

The club also staged a Q&A session with Operations Manager Grace Spencer, Head Coach Amy Battell and Louise Orchard of British Gymnastics, the sport’s governing body.

They were on hand to talk about how the changes are intending to benefit the local community as well as current and new members.

What made you decide to rebrand?

Grace Spencer: “We wanted to rebrand

the club to look at offering more people the opportunity to enter the sport of gymnastics from a grass-roots level.

“British Gymnastics have done a lot of research which looks into the demand for gymnastics within the UK. “Their findings have shown there are currently 1.1 million people who would like to take part in Gymnastics but are not currently involved.

“We would like to offer as many people as possible the chance to become involved.”

How can gymnasts make progress?

Amy Battell: “We have various options for making progress. Classes have been split into optional gender classes, giving boys and girls full access to equipment.

“We also offer intermediate and advanced classes in both which are of longer duration.

“This gives the gymnasts the chance to refine skills they have learnt in their beginner class, and the chance to learn more advanced skills.”

What opportunities are there to become a coach?

Grace Spencer: “British Gymnastics have a

leadership scheme which allows gymnasts to start coaching from the age of 11.

“We offer the leadership programme at GCK, as a way of helping children who may no longer wish to participate themselves in gymnastics to stay within the gym to do coaching and start working in an environment they are familiar in.”

What award schemes do you have at the club?

Amy Battell: “The Gymnastics Club Kent follows the British Gymnastics badge award scheme.

“This gives children something to work towards during the terms to achieve the next badge.

“We have a badge week at the end of every term, which incentivises the children to perform well and achieve awards which they can keep as they move up through the scheme.’

Prices at The Gymnastics Club Kent start from £8.50 a session. Class trials are available in all classes at GCK. To book a trial, call 01892 550530 or email info@thegymnasticsclubkent.co.uk

Hopes of reaching play-offs are out of our hands

By Graham Withers RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS’ London One South match against Gravesend fell foul of the cold snap last weekend and will now be played on February 4.

This was particularly frustrating as Wells were keen to bounce back from the disappointing defeat at Havant

in the previous week, which put the hopes of a promotion play-off place out of their hands.

What they must do now is try to win all their remaining fixtures and hope their Hampshire rivals slip up somewhere along the line.

This Saturday sees Wells travel to west London to play at Chiswick for the first time in the club’s history.

The hosts sit 11th in the league and went down to a surprise 25-15 defeat at previously winless Gosport & Fareham at the weekend.

The teams met at St Marks back in October with the home team prevailing 46-18. But the victory was not as comfortable as the scoreline might suggest, with three late tries allowing the points tally to climb.

HOCKEY: AFTER heavy frost led to two cancelled training sessions and one postponed fixture, the first team were quickly back to winning ways and rose to the top of Kent/Sussex Division One. The surface at Kent College in Pembury was playable and the team knew they had to settle fast, concentrate and execute their plan.

It was clear that both sides were rusty with the lack of stick on ball. But soon the breakthrough came when skipper Callum Wood positioned himself at the top of the D and got on the end of a well anticipated pass by coach Ben Allberry.

He knocked the ball round the keeper but was faced with a defender between him and the goal. Wood’s only option was to flick the ball hard and the Burnt Ash back blocked it with his body, allowing Allberry to score his second penalty flick of the season.

Wood had earlier left his stick and shinpads in the car when he was dropped off by his fiancée, so it was fortunate that he managed to retrieve them after a chase through town.

The game subsequently became scrappy and Burnt Ash managed to squeeze in a goal before half-time to make it 1-1.

Allberry’s half-time pep talk was to execute the easy stuff and keep discipline. It worked as Wells made strides on the Burnt Ash defence and looked to be the team on top.

Newcomer Ali Sitton showed good strength in the midfield, and it was

Allberry heads for Super Sixes PLAYER-COACH Ben Allberry will once again be representing East Grinstead, one of four sides taking part in England Hockey’s National Super Sixes indoor finals day at Wembley Arena this Sunday.

The gala occasion will also feature several of Team GB’s Olympians, including players from the gold medal winning ladies’ team.

Two weeks later, Ben and his East Grinstead team mates, who won the Super Sixes last year, head to Vienna for the European Championships.

PHOTO: Brandon Begg

By Brandon Begg

ON THE CHARGE David Hemsley moves forward only a matter of time before they took the lead again. A two-on-one with the keeper resulted in Allberry converting his second for the game.

Meanwhile Jack Garwood received two green cards for poor tackles and Mitch Hawksbee also received a green for the same offence.

As the game drew to a close a Wells attack in the D looked to have broken down but a bad touch from one of the Burnt Ash defenders from a cross meant Wood could ensure victory.

Wells are at home again next week and will look to consolidate their top spot against 10th-placed Worthing, who beat them early in the season.

Sporting Times

Wednesday January 25 | 2017

PHOTO: David Couldridge

FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS put in a ­lacklustre display in losing 1-0 to a mid-table Harlow side who ­outmuscled them in all areas and played some good football.

Harlow could have ended up sharing the points by not taking their chances but that would have been undeserved.

After five minutes Angels keeper Anthony di Bernardo had to be alert to deal with a cross cum shot from Mario Noto cutting in from the left, Six minutes later he was called into action to deal with Alex Reid’s shot.

As the game progressed Noto became an increasingly influential figure. It was no surprise when Harlow took the lead in the 32nd minute.

Noto fed Junior Dadson, who calmly placed the ball past Di Bernardo and saw his shot go in off the post.

After Mitchell Nelson had a header cleared off the line, Harlow should have extended their lead with chances falling to Jared Small and Reid.

Angels had a chance to level things just before the interval but another Nelson header was cleared off the line.

Just three minutes after the break Reid had a chance to double the hosts’ lead but his shot was from a tight angle and it flashed across the goalmouth with nobody available to apply the finishing touch.

The game then became something of a midfield battle with Harlow having the better of it but unable to convert that supremacy into genuine chances.

On 68 minutes Small was put through by playmaker Noto and Di Bernardo had to be quick off his line to cut out the chance.

With the game moving into the last 15 minutes, Tonbridge suddenly realised they needed to apply the pressure.

Tom Phipp came on after 77 minutes and provided more bite in midfield. In the next three minutes chances fell to Elder, Alex Akrofi, and Phipp twice.

If only the Angels had shown this much effort earlier in the game, there might have been a different outcome.

A ‘handbags’ incident in front of the dugouts saw Nelson and Harlow sub Syrus Gordon both cautioned.

There was one more chance deep in stoppage time for the away side but Luke Allen’s shot hit a Harlow defender and ran out for a corner.

Angels Manager Steve McKimm conceded it was a poor performance.

“We had them watched twice, knew their strengths and weaknesses and gave the appropriate instructions to players including tracking the runners, which they failed to do for the goal.

“I’m not going to make excuses about injuries. Today simply wasn’t good enough. We can’t win the league now, but we can still make the play-offs with the matches we have left.”

Rusthall make changes as promotion hopes rise

By Richard Smith FOOTBALL: RUSTHALL remain on top of the Southern Counties East League Division One table despite not having a game at the weekend.

Title favourites Glebe are just a point behind them and have three games in hand. But K Sports missed the chance to

close the gap on the top two when they went down 4-3 at home to Orpington.

Rusthall have lost just once in their 25 league games to date, which is an amazing turnaround from last season’s struggles that saw them finish second from bottom of the table.

The club have ambitious plans for the Jockey Stadium with the pitch being levelled and new drainage installed

during the summer. At the same time a 100-seater stand is being put in.

This work will give the club facilities good enough for promotion to the Premier Division, should they manage to achieve a top two finish.

The reserves are chasing promotion too in their first season in the Kent County League and are top of Division Three after beating Guru Nanak 5-0.

PHOTO: David Couldridge

By Andrew Tong

Di Bernardo’s heroics fail to save lacklustre Angels

By Jim Rowe

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Prodigy McLeod signs for Premier League champions Leicester

TOP EFFORT: Nathan Elder rises above the Harlow defence

Harlow Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

NEWS

FOOTBALL: A TALENTED midfielder from Tunbridge Wells, Sammie McLeod, has been recruited by the Premier League champions Leicester City Sammie (pictured), who has just turned 17 and lives in Tunbridge Wells, spent last week at the club’s King Power Stadium being put through his paces after signing a deal with the club.

He told the Times: “I’m so excited to get that professional contract after all the hard work I’ve put in, It’s my dream to be a pro footballer.”

The central midfielder, who went to Hayesbrook School until he was 11, now attends Maidstone Academy.

He forged his reputation playing for Maidstone United before signing recently for Tunbridge Wells along with fellow hopeful Rhys Bartlett.

Sammie revealed: “I was at Aston Villa in the summer and I thought I was on the verge of getting a contract but it didn’t go through.

“The Under-23 manager at Leicester was previously with Aston Villa. He knew me when I was at Villa on trial and was so shocked that I didn’t get a contract that he told the main man at Leicester to basically give me a trial and it went from there.”

Free health checks in honour of Junior

By Murray Jones YOUNG people in Tonbridge are being encouraged to sign up for a free heart screening next month.

The sessions are being provided by Tonbridge Angels Football Club for the second year running.

They were started in July 2015 after Junior Dian, aged 24, collapsed on the pitch and died during a pre-season friendly at Whyteleafe FC due to undetected cardiac problems.

Seven years before, Angels’ Under-18 player Jack Maddams, 17, also died from an undetected heart condition.

Club spokesman Jim Rowe said: “Following Junior’s death we all believed that enough was enough; none of us who witnessed one of our players fighting for his life on a football pitch, despite the best endeavours of both club physios, ever wished to witness such an event again.

“Through the Football Fightback fundraising initiative £30,408 has been raised to date by voluntary donations to fund the cost of heart screenings for young people.”

TRAGIC LOSS Junior Dian died on the pitch in 2015 The screenings will take place at the club’s Longmead Stadium on Darenth Avenue on February 18-19 for those aged 14 to 35.

Places must be booked in advance.

To sign up, visit www.testmyheart.org