Times of Tunbridge Wells 31st December 2019

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Tuesday December 31 | 2019

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Tuesday December 31 | 2019

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HAPPY NEW YEAR to readers and advertisers

A21 New Year closure is postponed following complaints about timing

By Robert Forrester

Handmade Kitchens & Furniture

FESTIVE CHEER: Youngsters who a visit from players at Tonbridge had to spend time in Tunbridge Wells Hospital over the Christmas period Angels football club. They’re had spirits boosted by seen here with staff and toddler Lola. Story page 36.

Amelia work to beg but it won’t be open untin il 2022

By Richard Williams

see your regular free magazine and paper inside

Designed to stand the test of time Tunbridge Wells 01892 520730 Sevenoaks 01732 762682 www.rencraft.co.uk

WORK on the new £13.2million cultural and learning centre in Tunbridge Wells town centre is set to begin – a year behind schedule – after the appointment of the major contractor.

Now, the contractor has finally been selected and work on the borough council-led project, which has the backing of Kent County Council [KCC]

‘A lot of behind the scenes

Willmott Dixon Interiors has won the government procurement work has taken place’ process to convert the former library Councillor Jane Marsh and museum into The Amelia Scott cultural hub.

Construction was scheduled to start in the summer with completion the and £4million in funding summer of 2021, but as from the reported in the National Times in September, Lottery, can get underway. the project has However, the combined suffered delays and the library, redevelopment museum, of the existing site has tourist information yet to begin centre and art gallery will now not be expected

to open to the public until ‘early 2022’.

The borough council came under fire earlier this year after they decided to drop the surname of Amelia town’s famous suffragist Scott, the and social reformer, from the building’s name.

After being accused of ‘trivialising’ women, the Council did a U-turn on the name, but it is understood the Council ran into problems finding the right contractor to renovate the Grade II listed buildings.

Willmott Dixon Interiors chosen for the development has been because of

Continued on page 4

THE closure of the main trunk road serving Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge has been ‘deferred’ following complaints over the short notice of the scheduled works.

The planned closure of the A21 between the A228 and the junction with the A26 Tonbridge East was meant to take place from 8pm on Wednesday, January 8 to 6am on Monday, January 13.

The five-day closure of seven miles of the A21 was to carry out maintenance work on the Medway Viaduct above Haysden and the Manor Farm subway near Leigh, currently the location of 50mph speed restrictions.

Criticised A year ago, issues were identified with the structure of the flyover, which had been causing large potholes to appear on the bypass’s road surface.

The closure would have seen all northbound traffic diverted through Tonbridge industrial estate as vehicles made their way to the Hildenborough and Sevenoaks junction on the A21, and Southbound traffic diverted at the same exit and sent and sent along the A227 through Tonbridge.

While the works on the viaduct need to be completed Highways still England has yet to confi rm any new dates. A spokesman told the Times that the works were being ‘deferred due to supply chain issues’ and they were currently awaiting for a new date for the works.

However, on announcing the plans before Christmas, the government body was heavily criticised for the short notice of the planned dual carriageway closure.

Continued on page 4

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ALMOST 50 % of all marriages end in divorce and for many, it can be the most traumatic time in their lives. Months and sometimes years are spent deciding whether to separate and then, when the decision has been made, it can take an age to pluck up the courage to take action. Emotions run high and delays are usually down to fear of the unknown and what life will be like after the separation, not to mention how you’ll cope financially and what you’ll tell the kids.

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Tuesday December 31 | 2019

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Times OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

HAPPY R NEW YEAd an to readers rs advertise

A21 New Year closure is postponed following complaints about timing

By Robert Forrester THE closure of the main trunk road serving Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge has been ‘deferred’ following complaints over the short notice of the scheduled works.

The planned closure of the A21 between the A228 and the junction with the A26 Tonbridge East was meant to take place from 8pm on Wednesday, January 8 to 6am on Monday, January 13.

The five-day closure of seven miles of the A21 was to carry out maintenance work on the Medway Viaduct above Haysden and the Manor Farm subway near Leigh, currently the location of 50mph speed restrictions.

Handmade Kitchens & Furniture

FESTIVE CHEER: Youngsters who had to spend time in Tunbridge Wells Hospital over the Christmas period had spirits boosted by a visit from players at Tonbridge Angels football club. They’re seen here with staff and toddler Lola. Story page 36.

to open to the public until ‘early 2022’.

The borough council came under fire earlier this year after they decided to drop the surname of Amelia Scott, the town’s famous suffragist and social reformer, from the building’s name.

After being accused of ‘trivialising’ women, the Council did a U-turn on the name, but it is understood the Council ran into problems finding the right contractor to renovate the Grade II listed buildings.

Willmott Dixon Interiors has been chosen for the development because of

A year ago, issues were identified with the structure of the flyover, which had been causing large potholes to appear on the bypass’s road surface.

The closure would have seen all northbound traffic diverted through Tonbridge industrial estate as vehicles made their way to the Hildenborough and Sevenoaks junction on the A21, and Southbound traffic diverted at the same exit and sent and sent along the A227 through Tonbridge.

While the works on the viaduct still need to be completed Highways England has yet to confirm any new dates. A spokesman told the Times that the works were being ‘deferred due to supply chain issues’ and they were currently awaiting for a new date for the works.

However, on announcing the plans before Christmas, the government body was heavily criticised for the short notice of the planned dual carriageway closure.

Continued on page 4

Continued on page 4

Amelia work to begin but it won’t be open until 2022

By Richard Williams

Designed to stand the test of time Tunbridge Wells 01892 520730 Sevenoaks 01732 762682 www.rencraft.co.uk

WORK on the new £13.2million cultural and learning centre in Tunbridge Wells town centre is set to begin – a year behind schedule – after the appointment of the major contractor.

Willmott Dixon Interiors has won the government procurement process to convert the former library and museum into The Amelia Scott cultural hub.

Construction was scheduled to start in the summer with completion the summer of 2021, but as reported in the Times in September, the project has suffered delays and the redevelopment of the existing site has yet to begin

Now, the contractor has finally been selected and work on the borough council-led project, which has the backing of Kent County Council [KCC]

‘A lot of behind the scenes work has taken place’ Councillor Jane Marsh

and £4million in funding from the National Lottery, can get underway.

However, the combined library, museum, tourist information centre and art gallery will now not be expected

Criticised

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Tuesday December 31 | 2019

Trust ends year on a high as it hits all cancer targets

By Richard Williams THE NHS Trust that runs Tunbridge Wells Hospital, which was languishing at the bottom of a nationwide list when it came to cancer waiting times, has now hit all eight government targets for the condition.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust [MTW], which was in financial special measures until the end of 2018, was ranked 131 out of 131 of all NHS trusts in the country earlier this year when it came to cancer referral targets.

In September this year, the Trust announced it had finally hit the government target that aims for 85 per cent of cancer patients to start treatment within 62 days of a GP referral.

Now MTW has continued to turnaround its performance after the latest data has shown the Trust has hit all eight NHS cancer targets simultaneously.

Latest data shows that MTW reached the 85 per cent target for three months running as well as maintaining the target for a second consecutive month for seeing patients within 14 days of GP referral.

In addition, MTW has also exceeded six further

A21 closure delayed Continued from front page Newly re-elected MP for Tonbridge & Malling, Tom Tugendhat, had said it would ‘have huge consequences for traffic in Tonbridge and Hildenborough’.

The Leader of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Nicolas Heslop told the Times that he had not been told about the deferral and said: “The planned works would have had a massive impact on communities in Hildenborough and Tonbridge.

“The lead time for residents and businesses has been too short. I have said this was not good enough and I am pleased they listened to me.”

He added: “Now I will be inviting Highways England officials to the next meeting of the Tonbridge Forum, to explain when they intend to carry out the works, the timetable for the works, and for them to give plenty of time for us all to plan for the evitable impact on our local communities.”

No new date has been set for the closure.

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 DEPUTY EDITOR EILEEN LEAHY eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 576037 CHIEF REPORTER RICHARD WILLIAMS richardwilliams@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 240626 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES ENQUIRIES GHak@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 779650 FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews

NHS cancer targets including treating 96 per cent of patients within 31 days of decision to treat, as well as going above and beyond the 90 per cent target for treating patients within 62 days of screenings for cancers such as breast and cervical – hitting almost 96 per cent for October.

Changes The last time all eight targets were met was back in March 2014 and figures from September 2018 showed MTW was treating just 58 per cent of patients within 62 days, but the latest data indicates a radical increase in cancer performance, with MTW now being placed within the top 20 per cent of trusts nationally.

The news follows a raft of changes introduced by the Trust to improve its cancer waiting times and respond to the rise in demand, including investing in more staff and upskilling more nurses to be able to deliver chemotherapy treatment.

Chief of Service for Cancer Services at the trust, Dr Henry Taylor, said: “Reaching these targets is testament to all of the incredible hard work undertaken by our clinical staff, working alongside

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk HADLOW COLLEGE has sold its Betteshanger site and hailed the move as ‘an important step forward’ as it faces debts of more than £40million.

The college became the first in the country to go into education administration in May, and in November the administrators BDO revealed that the site had been valued at £12.3million.

Unsecured The Hadlow Group, which runs the agricultural college and also West Kent & Ashford College [WKAC], said the sale price was ‘not something that we’re prepared to divulge at this point’.

It was hoping to sell the 299 acres of land in East Kent, consisting of a business park and a country park, for £40million.

Hadlow currently owes £40.3million, including £35.1million to 317 unsecured creditors including many local businesses.

But BDO told the Times ‘there is no requirement in educational administration for any particular

HERE at the Times Local News we strive to deliver fair, accurate and balanced reports. When we don’t meet our own high standards we will accept the responsibility and publish clarifications and corrections.

If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor at David Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0TF, or email newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Markerstudy Leisure is a trading name of One Media and Creative UK Limited registered in England and Wales under company number 5398960 with registered office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB.

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improve since achieving the 62 day target.

“We will now build on the good work we’ve implemented to fulfil our ambition of becoming an outstanding cancer centre, where patients can access world-leading, high quality cancer care and treatment.”

an outstanding administrative team, who are dedicated to delivering the best possible care to our patients throughout their cancer journey.

“We are extremely proud of the progress we have made as a team over the last year, with the latest data also showing we have continued to

College sells off site of mining museum debts to be settled’.

However, it has said that despite listing a £9million pension benefit scheme deficit, ‘the college has paid all contributions due to pension schemes and will continue to pay the required level’.

Both Hadlow and West Kent Colleges are also in the process of being sold, to North Kent College as recommended by the Further Education Commissioner Richard Atkins.

BDO are overseeing the transaction but were not able to comment on what happens to the debt ‘due to its commercially sensitive nature’.

The statement of proposals regarding West Kent’s debt is expected shortly. Hadlow College owes it £4million, with the two being classified as separate legal corporations.

Mr Atkins has identified Betteshanger as one of the strands of the group’s assets that were not ‘financially successful, nor core business’ paving the way for its sale.

Another part of the business included in that assessment was Rosemary Shrager’s Cookery School in Tunbridge Wells, which closed down in September.

Salomons Estate, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0TF

CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS

MEETING OF MINDS: The co-founder of the Tunbridge Wells Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre, Polly Taylor, chats to Princess Anne during her visit to Maidstone Hospital. “She seemed impressed by the fact we help around 3,000 people every year by raising our own funds and using only volunteers,” said Polly, who was among the guests because of her ongoing work supporting those with cancer

Amelia work finally starts Continued from front page the company’s extensive track-record for restoring such Grade II properties, having completed the refurbishment of Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall and also the upgrading Dagenham Civic Centre into Coventry University’s new London Campus.

Delighted Councillor Jane March, the Cabinet member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, said: “The Board is delighted that we have reached a very exciting point in the plans for the new Amelia Scott building.

“A lot of behind the scenes work has been taking place, and now we have the construction contract signed work can get underway early in the new year.”

Graham Shaw, Managing Director of Willmott Dixon Interiors, added: “We are looking forward to be working with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

“It’s an exciting project that celebrates the legacy and history of Tunbridge Wells and we’ll be utilising our skills as a UK specialist for refurbishing heritage buildings to ensure we create a modern space; one that brings the community together.”

THE VISION: How the new hub should look

NEWS IN BRIEF

Police receive violent crime funding boost

New Year honour for former Lord Mayor

Disruption continues after rainfall causes landslip

POLICE and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott is to receive more than £1.1 million from the Home Office to tackle violent crime.

Kent is among 18 force areas worst affected by serious violence in the country to get a share of £35 million to pay for early intervention ‘violence reduction units’. Home Secretary Priti Patel, said: “These units are already playing a vital role in diverting young people from crime ”

A FORMER Lord Mayor of London from Tunbridge Wells has been honoured with a knighthood.

Peter Estlin has spent the majority of his career in finance, initially as a partner in Coopers and Lybrand, before moving into senior banking roles in Hong Kong, New York, and London.

The 58-year-old went on to serve as Sheriff of the City of London between 2016 and 2017 and then Lord Mayor of the City up until last month.

ATTEMPTS to reopen the line between Tonbridge and Redhill after a landslip have been halted because it is ‘too dangerous’ for rail workers The land slide occurred next to the Tonbridgebound track in a ‘remote location’ near Crowhurst, west of Edenbridge, on Sunday December 22 and was caused by heavy rain.

A replacement bus service is being operated by Southern.

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

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Two towns to launch their own loyalty card discount scheme

By Richard Williams A LOYALTY card scheme is being launched to provide those living, working and socialising in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge with exclusive discounts.

Named ‘thetncard’, it has been developed by marketing specialist Jess Gibson from Tonbridge as a means to encourage people who live in the towns to support local traders.

Ms Gibson told the Times: “We’re a loyalty card for those living, working and socialising in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge – with the aim of

encouraging locals to support our town centres and independent businesses a little more.

“It’s free for businesses to join the scheme, but they need to offer an exclusive discount to card members.

“The focus is smaller independent businesses, but we’re welcoming support from communityfocused chains where it’s offered.”

She added that there will also be additional benefits for businesses in signing up, including social media exposure, being listed on ‘thetncard’ website, plus window stickers and other marketing material.

REWARDS The thetncard card provides shoppers with exclusive discounts

For local people, the card will cost £20 for a year’s membership, which would provide the individual with exclusive discounts from local businesses in both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, as well as invitations to member-only events.

Ms Gibson continued: “We have a physical card for members, but also there will be the option of accessing us using the app Stocard. And ten per cent of all card sales goes to supporting West Kent Mind.”

Exciting The loyalty scheme is being launched on Wednesday February 5 at the Hotel du Vin in Tunbridge Wells and The Old Fire Station in Tonbridge, and ‘thetncard’ already has the backing of both the local authorities.

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council leader Nicolas Heslop said: “I met with Jess to hear about her plans for thetncard and offered to support the promotion of this exciting initiative.

“It already has great support from retailers, and my offer of support includes helping make introductions to other retailers for them and raising the profile of the loyalty card.

“We do have a vibrant high street, but it is also important we support retailers by spending and buying locally.”

While Cllr Jane Marsh, head of Culture, Leisure and Economic Development at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, added: “I am always very pleased to hear of any initiative that encourages support for local businesses and will watch the progress of this project with great interest.

“The charitable element of the card supporting

LOYAL SHOPPER Jess Gibson West Kent Mind will, I am sure, be welcomed by shoppers.”

And a spokesperson for West Kent Mind said: “We are thrilled to be part of this brilliant community initiative and are thankful for the support shown to our charity.

“Supporting local businesses whilst raising awareness around mental health among those who live and work locally is key to our ethos and position within the community.”

For those wanting to sign up or to learn more, please email: info@thetncard.com

be able to cope with the additional demand.

6

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accommodate new homes.

the town.”

Businessman at centre of multi-million fraud documen investigation attempts to hide Tuesday December ts 31 | 2019 FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

That Tim wasesthe year that was…

Wednesday February 6 | 2019

Local, National and International

By Robert Forrester

THE Tunbridge Wells businessman at the centre of a multi-million pound mini-bond scandal has taken administrators to court in an attempt to stop them from viewing his confidential documents, it has emerged.

Simon Hume-Kendall, the former chairman of London Oil & Gas [LOG], the company that Eridge-based London Capital & Finance [LCF] lent the majority of its money to before collapsing and owing creditors £237million, is taking the administrators of both companies to court.

Mr Hume-Kendall, who was also once the chairman of the local Conservative Association and who resides in a mews home off Pembury Road, filed an application for an injunction at the High Court in London last month.

The aim of the injunction is to prevent administrators Smith & Williamson from viewing documents he claims are private.

Smith & Williamson are attempting to get back the millions of pounds owed to more than 11,500

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

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investors – many of them retirees – after LCF went bust earlier this year.

The High court application is being made jointly

by Mr Hume-Kendall’s wife, Helen, and says that the documents in question are ‘privileged’ as they relate to conversations with their lawyers.

Declined

Smith & Williamson, who described multi-million pound transactions between LCF and Mr Hume-Kendall as ‘highly suspicious’ in their administrators report, have declined to comment on the application.

Earlier in the year, the Serious Fraud

Office arrested four men in relation to the collapse of LCF. A fifth man was arrested in the summer.

Nobody has yet been charged and the investigation is ongoing.

As previously reported in the Times, Mr HumeKendall, along with former LCF boss Andy Thompson, Crowborough businessman Spencer Golding, and Elten Barker from Hadlow Down have all failed to cooperate with administrators.

Mr HumeKendall has also declined to speak to the Times when we visited his mews home HELEN AND SIMON Pembury. near HUME-KENDALL

As we bid farewell to 2019 we look back at some of the stories that made our page headlines over the last twelve months.

From the successful battle to block the new theatre, to the crash of a local business that lost savers hundreds of millions of pounds, to the Hollywood star Johnny Depp popping into a local pub. How much of it do you remember?

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ite d. in TunTHERE are not enough homeless people bridge Wells to warrant opening the Churches Winter Shelter this year, organisers say.

The initiative, made up of around 35 local churches, has traditionally provided emergency accommodation for rough sleepers during the winter months.

But following dwindling numbers of homeless people in the borough, organisers have told church volunteers there is no need to open the shelters this year.

Last year, only seven people were found to be sleeping on the streets of Tunbridge Wells during the night of the annual rough sleeper count, and

How we react to the changing face of our town will determine our future

The BIGGEST local paperl and it’s stil

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OF TUNBRID GE WELLS

the Council says they have since rehomed more than 30 homeless people.

While they admit a number of rough sleepers still remain in the town, they say these ‘are people who are do not want to accept help’.

Initiative

Last year, the Council was issued with of a government grant to help launch its Rough Sleeper Initiative, which has been successful at re-homing people.

The Council was also awrded a further grant this year of around £170,000.

Jane Lang from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s housing services, said: “The Council is fully committed to ending rough sleeping in our borough.

“We work closely with partner organisations and volunteer groups such as Tunbridge Wells Churches, Porchlight and Look Ahead Care and support a number of different schemes to help rough sleepers find suitable accommodation.

“In March 2018 we use grant funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to launch our Rough Sleeper Initiative project, aimed at working with some of our longer term rough sleepers.”

This was one of the headlines that inspired our cartoonist Peppy…

WE BELIEVE IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS: In February, the Times ran a campaign aimed at highlighting all that is good about Tunbridge Wells, inlcuding the many new developments set to change the look of the town, to the many great local groups, charities, businesses and organisations that make Tunbridge Wells such as wonderful place to live and work. will cost in the region of £500million.

Think the old cinema site, the new library and museum, the upgrading of Royal Victoria Place shopping centre and the planned Civic Complex along with a new theatre.

And yes the councils – both borough and county – will not always get it right. Who does?

Ask, yourself, though, what’s the alternative?

We can bury our heads in the sand and watch the town centre slowly wither and die, as many others will over the coming decades.

Or we can accept that we are entering a defining moment for Tunbridge

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FIELD OF DREAMS The area around Tudeley in Capel, the site of a new town

By Robert Forrester

Banner vandal strikes again

A BLUEPRINT on future house building plans is due to be unveiled today [Wednesday] and shows a new ‘town’ to be built on EVEN MORE Wells.NEWS VISIT: Tunbridge the outskirts of FOR slashing VANDAL who to double also set is been townhas AnA existing the many banners Green to theevents Council move as theadvertising in size Tunbridge around and in festivals and Belt to satisfy their commitment to build again. struck Wells, homes over 15 years. newhas 13,500 a fortnight Times in the As reported housebuilding mass for the Earmarked advertising banners nine ago, around development is Paddock Wood, which Jazz on The Pantiles had been slashed will effectively become twice the size. organiser Julian just days after event aid he the sleepy village of Tudeley in And £24 per put up.

Leefe-Griffiths had them from the bormile a Capel, of parish the the money Now banners situated around the in will Malling, and Tonbridge der with officers. and Road Pleasant Mount of junction a small town. turned into effect be sioner attacked. the High Street have been spect of with housing, the council Along The slashed banners are promoting is known as intends new infrastructure, events, including Pub in the Park variousbuilding mount and opportunities employment schools, Food Festival. week’s Pantiles and last A-road. a newLast week, an onlooker called the e policing 6,600 are council thesay total, to InTimes onth for a a dark hoody inbuilding a figure Around two parishes. in thearound homes newwas an provide the banners lingering of Padtown thethe will orbitbut lyof these 4,000 unknown the evening, during at the last Its population Wood. dock when challenged. disappeared man 8,263 and this is 2011 insay census are investigating. theywas Police expected to grow to more than 16,000 by 2036 after the development. ing a life In Capel, 2,600 houses are being built of the

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there were some who took to social media declaring that we don’t need more shops (a small part of the development) in the town centre. Really?

We live in uncertain times, although some things are in our own hands, such as seeing the positives instead of the negatives.

This campaign is aimed at highlighting all that’s good about our town and inviting those who share our views and values to register their support.

Our campaign is called We Believe in Tunbridge Wells (#WeBelieveTWells) and you can find out more details on pages 4, 10 & 11. It’s worth a read – after all, it’s your town!

free Tories in FI Y N F s F B R ou Belt Green n town onLocal, International falleas garde National and New ee L Arebels news that matters All the R T E r pw R OEG L try toagunseat e s nt’ of opposition new Leader amou 6p O FEA S ‘large faces fa or I N S Times The E WELLS

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Wells and throw our support behind the initiatives that will keep our community alive and vibrant. Sadly, there are those among us who only see negatives where there are positives.

This newspaper last month carried a front page story about tourism putting £278million into the local economy.

Great news, you might think? Not for some who, through social media, talked it all down.

Then last week the Times ran another front page story on the fact that work will actually start this summer on our biggest ‘grot spot’ – the old cinema site.

We have waited almost 20 years for this to happen, so good news? Again,

LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

TUNBRIDG OF COMMENT EDITORIAL

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CONSERVATIVE rebels are threatening to bring down the new leader of their group on the council just a week after he was elected.

This morning [Wednesday], at the first Full Council meeting of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] since the local elections, councillors will formally vote for a new Leader of the Council.

As broken by the Times website last Wednesday, Cllr Alan McDermott, the former Deputy GREEN BELT PLANS: In now deposed the HOUSING under Leader as leader May, Tunbridge Wells Borough was chosen Jukes, David Group, Conservative majority of the Council unveiled its draft Local to take be expected would and Capel is primarily Green Belt and sits Plan, which featured the over on agricultural land west of Tudeley, of TWBC. Leader Jukes’ role as Mrborough’s which will become what has been dubbed right on the border of the nearby bormost ambitious house But his appointment has not by central government as a ‘garden town’ ough of Tonbridge and Malling. building plans in a generation. led and colleagues his all pleased large a for ‘prepared are they TWBC say with its population of a few hundred instantly to the resignation of amount of resistance’. growing to more than 6,000.

Cllr David Reilly, Cabinet on has worked whoNews Alan McDermott, 3 member NEWS s.co.uk project is part Local timeslocalnew The mass housebuilding HERE’S JOHNNY: It is who under Jukes sat as Portfolio of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s the Local Plan in his role as Cabinet not every week that Holder for Finance and Governance.

[TWBC] Local Plan and is the result of Member for Planning and TransportaHollywood royalty pops McDermott’s Cllr blamed He will “It proposals: the of said central government legislation that was tion, into a local country Square Calverley the for support We introduced in 2014 which insisted coun- involve the release of green belt land. pub, but Johnny Depp Council’s development—the cils had to more than double their are aware of the effect it will have on the and civic of visits theatre controversialpaid a number local area, but we have to plan for the housebuilding efforts.

Calverley square project next 15 years and there are difficult decitonear the to Middle House in down. his stepping Grounds—forMayfi sions to be made.

‘Irrespective of which party eld earlier this In an open letter to the Times, the in power party whichhat “Irrespective posed for a few scarf, andis cowboy wearing aof year, sparking rumours we will have to is in Richard Williams By power, and member If weto former Cabinet these to build have with we willselfies mainly ‘kept buthouses. regulars Edward houses’ buildOFthese said: “I Pembury councillor forthe we could be in trouble and the do nothimself’. star Johnny Depp THE CARIBBEAN PIRATES and the room so back tobuild tends to sit with his that, following the regret to say Scissorhands could lunch in Mayfield this Sunday a roastAlan enjoyed Planning“He Inspectorate McDermott Councillor know he’s there,” said the do not people they Pirates ofmeeting the Carribean night’s week, amid rumours that he is in the area housesmost outcome of last wanted.” wherever home. looking to buy aLocal the as Leader youmay which elected star haveofbeen Planning for TWBC, Stephen of regular.

Headpub Plan, which was original TWBC’s Depp’s latest film, City of Lies, a crime drama Depp, 55, who this time last year divorced wife resign must Group, I to Conservativelooking is Plan Local Draft the “If said: Baughen 20 last to move to the was and 2006 in up drawn was BIG, Notorious rapper of murder about the Amber Heard in a very public and acrimonious member.” as a Cabinet area. will allow thatproblems it is a strategy agreedreportedly as Westminster to the actor’s duethe obsolete, now is is years, beset with Sadly, Mr Depp buying Davina to be considering rumoured split, He continued: “Our losses in the government-imposed to meet on-set behaviour. erratic housebuildin Wadhurst. Council the borough mansion insists £3.2millionboosts McCall’s has not been spotted in a be seeking elections were far in excess A-lister recent is conthe Hollywood thatcould in the way stardom targets housingBut to international who rose actor, to nearly 700.

The300 a year homes ing from Mayfi eldcouncil’s sinceCUTS last ADVERTISING has he believe locals as future, tranquil in more was Conservative other Scissorhands, of for Edward film the appropriate most following Some housing is already in the pipe- sidered to be the targeted posters the of Some six-bedsprawling McCall’s January.

Davina see to been on Mayfield House, Middle our the in that spotted demonstrating clearly Kent the borough as a whole.” line around the borough, such as the been in room home in Wadhurst, which comes complete Sunday, and it is not the first time he has Homes development in 250-Berkley with 38 acres of private parkland, its own the pub. houses 400and Continued on Page 2 proposed 5 court and private access 4 and Hawkenbury pages Full details tennis pool, swimming a couple of his manager in with “He was and Course.

Golf of Hawkhurst sitepeople,” to the local train station. on the who wished regular said a pub other PHOTO: Craig Matthews

| 2019

FOUR years ago the Times was created to support local businesses, the community at large, and to promote all that’s great about our town.

This week we launch a campaign to reinforce that commitment because Tunbridge Wells is on the cusp of changes that will transform the town in which we live and work.

But it will not be pain free.

Last week saw the start of pedestrianising the road past the War Memorial into the town centre. There may well be traffic delays, noise and some dust, with more to come as other projects get underway over the coming months and years. It’s estimated they

Johnny Depp seen in Mayfield – amid rumours he’s relocating

Tories wavering on theatre consider a public referendum and new leader not to be named.

“He came in the Sunday before too, but we get quite a few celebrities in here. The other week we had Jeff Beck, Cate Blanchett and Davina McCall all on the same day.”

The star, who did little to hide his appearance,

The former Big Brother presenter has had the property on the market since her split with husband Matthew Robertson last year.

The property was listed on estate agent Savills website before Christmas but is no longer showing it is for sale.

ordered ‘to Project should be ‘stopped immediately’ and officers onstart withdrawal’ Work begins The £90million Calverley Square

traffic-free zone

with many distancing themselves from

Several cabinet members have already

By Richard Williams comment on ruled themselves out from taking over or refusing the plans dis- Council national along withWells ALL CHANGE: May proved to be a decisivedevelopment, month for Tunbridge politics.

Leader DavidtoJukes lost his seat during the local elections over the the running of the council from Mr go ahead. delays and tailbacks they should Theresa May’s handling of whetherMOTORISTS over sent on Group Conservative controlling THE facing be could Council’s plans to build a new £108million theatre and civic centre complex in Calverley Grounds, which was fi nally scrapped in October. his Speldhurst and Bidlost who Jukes, receiving scheme the This is despite Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is in disarray as it gathers tonight [Wednesday] to find a way forward and elect a new Leader after last week’s disastrous

Brexit, led to the Conservative Party’s

The Council will have spent

in Tunbridge Wells town centre from next week as

borough seat to Lucy Willis of the Tunthe Planfrom independent plan to develop council’s phase of the the nextbacking report his Wells who released centre Wells Alliance, the party set up to town bridge ning Inspector, of Tunbridge another stretch Council’s use of Compulsory oppose Calverley Square. into thebegins. t

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Times

FOR EVEN MORED NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

O N IS ’T Local, National and International All the news that matters SU M E ISS O T F H SO E M SE A PT WELLS OF TUNBRIDGE G E A M Vin du Hotel at available are tickets raffle and bids Auction win Vin to du chance Hotel the at given available being are are tickets Kent in raffle and lovers bids ZI B Wine Auction win to Wine lovers in Kent are being given the chance N E the where 29, 11 to September from Road Crescent on raffle E R the and where auction 29, to charity a in September wine of from Road bottles valuable Crescent on raffle and auction charity a in valuable bottles of wine

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The nominations for candidates and 52 finalised last week All the news that matters seats are being contested in 23 wards across the borough of Tonbridge & Malling.

Only one ward, Down and OF Mereworth, is not being contested because Conservative councillors Ann Kemp and Piers Montague, who replaces Matthew Balfour, are not being challenged.

All current councillors in the town represent the Conservative party. There are four Liberal Democrats in Larkfield and East F I Borough Green Malling, F Lwhile Bward has two and Long AMill T REG independents.

were Wednesday April 17 | 2019

ROTTEN LUCK: Robert Smith was told his fruit and vegetable stall for Pavilion Flowers is ‘not the sort of thing we have any more’

Times

Greengrocer is told to move stall Alliance after thetoHigh Street offplans WELLS 25 years OF TUNBRIDGE

Times

Wednesday June 26 | 2019

All the news that matters

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7

NEWS

Council stalwarts

PHOTO: Craig Matthews

Woman’s body found in police hunt for missing photographer

Local News

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funding for the group. It’s administration.

COLLEGE INSOLVENCY: West Kentmore in Tonbridge and its sister important to know where this has The move comes as the Hadlow Hadlow College became the fi rst two further education spent’. been Y agricultural the runs which Nseee F Group, ou He added: “The law has been R school is being Kent, pw to go into education administration. r and West ainstitutions g R

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Trustees [L-R] and it’s UKIP. and four from music of the reassured Initially the firm was not going to renew they issued a statement: “We have been independents andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk for ge R O L Nigel Bent, Paul ‘The scale sweet is that this law standing Ten of the Greens are probe was Dunton, Jason The his lease, but after a meeting with local working with Mr Smith to move him to a 6 OF AS 15 which has Live & the town,fans in Local of andfinancial mess is so accepted.” has Dormon he which unit suitable of Leader the and Tugendhat Tom MP who greengrocer the SMITH, ROBERT fo I S is now in place. theTaylor launched Lib Dems, followingPeter “They tried to hold the old health and Conservatives, eight The r d NinGthe local WELLS runs a stall at the High Street entrance to Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, WELLS OFwhoTUNBRIDGE OF TUNBRIDGE Williams Richard By UKIP from two Labour, Church Road had been closed to all was a familiar face to many from as seven described clarify police didn’t unheard they but and up Goacher, Ms card deep safety ST a new accommodaof series a January, “In Heslop, Nicolas a GE after The Pavilion, is having to move BIG of principal et resignation

By Richard Williams Stacey music festival in why,” said Mr Smith. “Then they said it and one independent, THE largest annual being 5ft 4ins tall and of slim build, traffic since July for roadworks, and music scene. tions have been reached. quarter of a century. a local paperl and the ‘deliberate’ against become a registered insolvency regime for is upPaul Wells has Pilgrim, who Tunbridge She worked with a numberilsof bands STRATEGIST considered off as ‘co-ordinated’ was an insurance issue. remained cordoned of nationally of co-operation and his Hannan a yellow jacket yesterday stil wearing retail area is owned waiting was last seenis The walk-through are today [Wednesday] d it’sLack anPOLICE it for the future. secure helping charity, ward.

Trench in Bates Pam Mayor and festivals insurance local at blanket a have regular a was Morgan and “JP conof crime officers and scenes pic- police with owned JP Morgan, and Mr handbagthey by the American bankRobert ‘It makes me so sad. on the results of a post-mortem follow- and carrying a black have frozen some of the men’s assets. around 20,000 Further Education brings inin Live London &deputy together, business LumsdonMark changes notable Among theLocal for all their properties but most of their last 13 years she that special “It’s not the sort tinued to examine the area where the music events. For the Smith says he was told:Chris Williams Richard people to the town each year, but the in woodland tures of witches on it. of a body discovery ing theBy quesandat the arrested also Owen Mayor They havealso I love what I do, and former from buildings are up in London. I’ve been personnel, free Group, borrowed £154.6million popular part time in thethis year. worked colleges was has been cancelled event of thing we have any more.” body was found. earlier Taylor near to Tunbridge Wells town centre, Baldock is standing the here for 25 years without a problem.” have of funding. a lack from in connection past due todown circumstances five men tionedsaid I really love the town’ in Tunbridge went amissing.

Sports Bar with of which He says he has been ‘coerced’ into movCassidy’s £28.5million LCF, over police spokesman night investigated Last four THE to a talented that ofbeing be men of understood years 35 now after are Ward Castle ‘Detectives introduced, so there is founder and organiser, Now eventEducation The 59-year-old, who lives in SouthborSecretary ing into one of the vacant shops in the but all have been released of a Wells. collapse results for theLCF waiting that a firm officers were FS Equestrian Services, investPaul Dunton, has joined forces with local photographer. the collapse of a Tunbridge Wells ough, said: “I work hard, the margins are public service. considered’ be to arcade, though he will retain a smaller the establish to local a also was working woman young The are Dormon Jason an orderly process in ‘detectives musicians that local and fellow post-mortem investigations. further attended made The 62-year-old Damian Hinds lived intothe Goacher, Sabrina help in finding listed Spencer Golding as its patron, also pending “I’m a fifth generation greengrocer and small but I’m here all the time – my wife refusing arewho firm 30, ment presence where his flower stall is located and Forum, Wells Tunbridge the from the for including organiser, events of cause the establish to comworking now from Ridgeway School in ’ her death ofborrowed cause since Sunday from Smith & Wiltown, had it makes me so sad,” Mr Smith said. complains about it.

Finbarr O’Connell the on the Angel Centre side. £12.3million and Peter Taylor from the at the Nigel Bent have of pounds that MP Tom Tugendhat place for managing millions of missing tensbeen the and she also Coalition, Small Charities ROTTEN LUCK: American bank JP Morgan were forced FINANCIAL SCANDAL: The collapse of Eridge-based & Finance up in grewapplication and being treated as Capital and I Southborough her death’, which wasLondon days a weekto here seven “We’re walking home Royal Oak pub to create an official when she was last seen vending has to cease “They want to sterilise the whole set-up. I pavement the But extraordibeen has “[It] said: Spokesman liamson Police Kent to trying are pany, and administrators and Hadlow. campaigned on behalf of the homeless.

Speldhurst LCF inrequest gone missing. arrest Fifth financial difficulties ‘unexplained’. & Live Music’.

‘Local charity: of the college, Road, near to Grosvenor because it is now deemed as an insur- love what I do, and I really love the town. often have to be up at the markets in LonDunstan worse, make To an electronics complex. asbecoming in raising He worked By a registered charity they been active Elms in hadmatters she or Nine he Lately don, Covent Garden to formerly officers have yet narily they all say hello to me. Robert While £237million.

[LCF] fell everyone, Finance back after theyI know told Greengrocer Smith inalong January saw more 11,500 people lose Local businessman & Deer Capital asset manageBlack ‘The by the bank’s riskdown ance Road, than of Camden the bottom atLondon Bridge scandal as it now mini-bond secure,will where a college enters is far event the say the Ministry engineer with she got court aofmore and Samaritans, for had no coalmostwhich have confirmed money “Tonbridge is going to go from strength Vauxhall, at 3am.

Threadneedle.

Columbia called identify the body, police administrators companysaw On Monday owing night, officers were 6am.

Banks to at around close administration in January

By Jonathanment into Festival to asked were men ‘The peoof death encourage to the want We following with strength. to probinvolved a been family never has there Goacher’s Ms Although that confirmed a after involved 8.47pm, at parties in Wells main administration. arrested the been Tunbridge tohas man has operation from ANOTHER contacted had toitpeople leave the Pavilion in Tonbridge.

Simon Hume-Kendall been implicated inbeenthe scandal. and friends family Worried decide Continued 2on Page 2 whether to approve it. page on 11,500 investors.

Continued to around descend £237million 10,000 Saunders, a that one area of ple to come and shop in the High Street.” Continued on page 2 believed before, musician friend, David informed of the discovery. a havean in into connection with Tunbridge Wellsdiscovered body was aside thatisswept party of house supervi- woman’s THE Alliancelem bor- band and its police after the front escrow the company both with LCF, money isn’t an outcome any this in put moneywooded “Clearly who lostsecluded peopleCollege, the ofand for Many MP Park’ the rock Eridge on alternative with Tugendhat, player Tom based investment firm that How the body was found and by bass area off Church Road, Ashford sor for West Kent rowers, which the administrators con- the Tory candidates in the last collapsed earlier this year owing lifesavhadasploughed yet known. so has whom is not but none Road and Mount London account between college wants. But the scale of the an events their also worked she scandal where the Tonbridge & Malling, described the to build now meanwhile, is set to elections are affordable homes that we need to 11,500 people. co- borough councilPaddock £237million probably and 2 page Wood, Continued on sider to be deliberate The talented young photographer which bond scheme, firm’shome. and next to the Common.

Alliance leader a Ephraim ings into to return failedthe coordinator, runs Paul Careless, 43, whosituation financial mess is so deep and far materialised’ the Lib planning to target as ‘uncharted territory’ ordinated.

By Andy Tong meaning there could be ourselves.” size,and inDems double was offering interest rates as high as Brighton-based Surge Financial, of ‘childish beha “These matters have significantly the Greens, the Times can disclose. unheard of nationally that special for London marketingand the which has called for the officials to Tom MPdid local is eight per cent. who Boughton, Cllr through development e.co.uk continuous one by his own party andy@timesoftonbridg Capital & Finance [LCF] was arrested The party was created with the track down information on horses added to both time and cost.” ensure that ‘students are protected’. circumstances have to be week.hope added:last “I assistant, Tugendhat’s the theatre prote Tudeley. into Green Oak the Five stopping of objective sole around recovered have they added He helia as well as owned by the company It is the first arrest by the Serious lifestyle’ considered.” commuter on the take with closely ‘sophisticated a worked has has He and will character’ with Council civic Confronted ‘bursting £108million LCF by when February property

By Richard Williams worth of Fraud Office sinceIt’s Thatandhas also prompted fears that it Tunbridge Wells Borough newly theatre copter formerly owned by Golding which £200,000 raised beenfrom have CONCERNS Aqua Park. bagsAnne centre withto in a town in shops as thir- cialist the Wells four men were questioned Milton, Ranking Tunbridge written has He of Calverley edge the on FE complex and come. to Education more for be could there Department and infraon Banks sell.

Jonathan to By pressures want the restauadministrators vibrant seriously town’s Chair of the Tunbridg the THE take busiaddition, In PadChief supplying linking be Palmer, LCF were meant to teenth on the list of best places to live of charm,” said Tim connection with the collapse of the elected councillors across the political would create a conurbation including The Ivy, Giggling rant scene,and Live. of Best Places Alliance, Robert Chris, ha the his- writer East, they describe “What is encouraging, however, is the Grounds. in the South for Skills ofto State in the South East have Minister Fifteen locations firm. to Eridge-based They say they asked all the men to Atkins Richard Commissioner ness loans with the money to a wide consider and Tonbridge, Cafe in Rustic Pig, Black The structure Bill’s, Squid, itself.

Tonbridge to character’ Wood with dock ‘bursting as town toric Borthe by his own poli criticised been recognised as being among spectrum As reported in last week’s Times, is expected toWells fruit andTunbridge is bearing about work and Sofia’s Colombian Kitchen are all for also they – looking schools ‘We’re seek ‘outstanding’ to with Tunrange of start-ups, but in reality most of hand over money in escrow but and UK the in live to Apprenticeships, places best out of for ‘childish behaviour’ d the bestciteway establish loca-bridge Wells development in more sustainableCommissions have of Tunbridge Wells cuts a Alliance borough the town’s proximity to London as community spirit along with mentioned. he said. a newof the The recoveries,” to buildmembers is one of them. in further result proposal Council’s ough it went to business interests connected none has materialised. named that were later in Petworth in West Sussex was protests points. selling of its great one weekend the at revealed reassurance. was list The little as with culty diffi nancial fi the from landbywhen also been suspended convenience and culture’ in, livepolice. the ‘highly Wells Some oftown’ Tunbridge as the South East’s best town toby LCF was setup through Tonbridge at the tions than rural agricultural The collapse of LCF is also small swathe The national newspaper say they use edge of Tonbridge. the Sunday Times Best Place to on the suspicious’ to just four men. ‘garden said was ‘proof that pretty which they The Sunday Times local was unveiled. Anotherand Helen Davies, businessman andLive The Times understands probe statistics, including media network, FE Commissioner’s The Britain in impact as exclusive, students transactions being looked at by the community social on staff robust investiWood.”onformer being mean and traditional doesn’t have toparty The men include LCF founder and forchairman, up-to-date house prices as well as an Conservative party Sevenoaks. authority’s early roundabout on Woodgate Way where it between Tonbridge and Paddock members are callin the list wasSimon The neighbouring the past’. in Education in the include a £27million Nextdoor, for ‘soapboxing’ against administrators Among the key the by stuck gated by the inquiry anattractions reported that Tun- expert panel to decide where are the follows The newspaper Hume-Kendall. resign his position as mer Tunbridge Wells Conservative Party toTimes possible. councilParty Green new a Hood, Sunday The Mark Davies, Helen the cites Times Road.

Sunday the Tudeley borough, with UK. be unveiled never been afraid to best locations to live in the Wells has Plan will its Local draft froze the theatre. intersects land in fraud squad thebridge developing Last month,SIMPLY companies loan toof party.

Serious very said, “Finding our editor THE BEST: Tunbridge Wells was among fiHome fteen High Weald AreaAgency of the paths its ancient Wells for chairman, Simon Hume-Kendall, as [ESFA] chose “We Funding the spasaid: Skills They said and the times. with Mr move been “I’veTunbridge Tugendhat to Hume-Kendall & assets belonging “Tonbridge says: Ward, Judd in lor Chris has lead th borand Robert the to Beauty up Natural right havOutstanding runs of business ward the commuter the on despite take Medway Verde, sophisticated Cape Tudeley well-toattracting identifies about It all was d u town a r F today [Wednesday]. well as Elten Barker from Hadlow and several other men, including soonthe will to reservoir, which Water Bewl for2 as campaign to block plans schools and beautiful group greataccounts on Page Continued paid unusually ele- lifestyle, money into seeking an do families I by the concerned deeply hear toDown to any land. legal rightsWood ing noPaddock locations the South Times Elten in businessman Office who Hadlow Wipeout-style for a TotalSunday venue the great spe- be theby well as somenamed der and Matt Boughton, the newly elected Malling Green Party is concerned countryside asEast Down, LCF director Andy Thomson, as the locations for Warned vated and elegant commuter lifestyle. £108million theatre and and from Barker, Spencer Goldinghave schemes. loaned LCF deal, apprenticeship another In way the about hearing been on the edge of C complex planned is Spencer and equestrian businessman, told the that a massive development Crowboroughthe Conservative LCF chiefplaces to live in the UK. and former by 2036.Through an aggressive houses Lonnewcompany, aroundto6,600 best social councillor there, which is close its parent £840,000 The Hadlow Group’s schools have Grounds, Andy Thomson.

Golding from Crowborough. public money has been used, and Wells on the Green Belt at Tudeley. executive he lives.

Tunbridge Tonbridge,turned “Like Times: Green attacked that has built be to campaign would buy on media them Group, All of don Financial Savers had thought money out for Thursday’s regular jazz Visit Kent.

Earlier this year when confronted by the andthis week students, Dozens of Alliance supp 10,000 to was one ofaround Williams Minister

By Richard Skills the asked were have into LCF ‘mini-bonds’ settleinvested num- the centre as Black Deer do ajoin the town such effectively Wells project, “Events will the of Tunbridge “This favour plaguing in it many sell those addiand for Road, need night.

London helicopter a A26 the on significant a queue, This has JAM: A IN Borough TOWN’S THE Tonof gathered outside the Tow Belt land adjacent to the border the Times at his mews home in Tunin the week, thousands of ber of things. Firstly, they really catch going to a range of start-ups, visitors 20,000 ESFA dispute that it was entitled to earlier this month [Octob NEARLY to fivecame to Tun- Earlier unseat a very careful record as the keep on to an American Alliance managed a massive willintoput and together as 8 per mentspeople’s returns as high local the generating bring them eye, helping housing, tional bridge Wells Mr Hume-Kendal four watched fanshelp borough. as festi- sports to last weekespecially Wells during bridge & Malling bridge protest against the deve the local The 2019 winners take to the stage during went to a company for a ‘quick Conservatives secondly they help broaden cent,schools millions of pounds. Repaying the days of county cricket at goes on. vals, events, sporting fixtures and soarsaid: “The intention is to pay all including but in reality moneyinvestigation services local onand strainarea, housing. affordable A handful of people who suitable find people of Tudeley, village the appeal of a small number of companies in what picturesque The on from seats the Nevill Ground, as has six and in crowds drew elections adminisbut temperatures ingnow profit’ the theatre plan were als money could further damage the the money back.” called ‘highly administrators town.

“Hadlow College is a really Nottingham-be network Kent took onshould The road wide. and medical facilities. any development “However, Ton- farInand of Council. which lies a mile from the edge the A number of supporter “ F e s t i v a l s suspicious’ transactions.

Despite this assurance, Wells shire – and won.

Tunbridge which in week a finances. group’s local the of Continued on page 2 part Marketing, Surge important Calverley Square theatre Brighton-based area.” behind also this forces events in and driving the pressure of One under already is addiput not and reveltowns sunshine, fantastic existing some close to bridge, has been allocated 2,600 homes enjoyed administrators, Smith & Wilfor what they £57million paid was audiences banners ‘ripped out new bring attend to thousands May their in in the election forcame the strategylers and I am keen to see the owner, who asked and pop in, but that is not the case at the had community the of came representative Revellers Tonwas in say a into diversity and liamson, say Mr Hume-Kendinfrastructure by anti-theatre p on hands’ strains tional is It pipeline. the in in arranged were already that business Another – 600 are Simon Hume-Kendall was Robert Chris the various is now party whoevents sector. Banks in the Jonathan commissions paidBy town.” on page 2 including Robert Chris.

Continued ound companies been the moment.” theirnumber of of students protected.” the four other around the town. rights all along with not to be named, said: “It’s individuals to multimillion-p 2 page outstanding Continued on With From where we have ainlarge and his wife Asked about the arrest, a a ‘garden town’. andbridge, as Helen tourism responsilikely to be renamed App

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are refusthey Busiing millions the Times night a splendid as WHAT 2019 turned out to be. ness to co-operate. ingAwards figOne of television’s most beloved They have revealed that Mr ures, ballroom dancer Anton du Beke, and hisofassociHume-Kendall more a sell-out audience wowed out the a before handing people through than Barker, ate,200Mr awards themselves.

The legend from BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing proved the icing on the cake when the finalists gathered for a black-tie gala night at Salomons Estate in Tunbridge Wells on Thursday.

Businesses from around West Kent came together to celebrate the quality and range of talent across Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks.

More than 40 businesses had made the shortlist in the ten categories. They

individual entrepreneurs – all leaders in their respective fields.

Chair of the judging panel Jo James, CEO of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said: “What really amazed me this year was the breadth of talent and the number of new companies that have entered.”

Winners on the night were ‘over the moon’.

Young Business Anton Person of the Year du Beke Sean Rozen: “I never

thought I’d win. In fact, my mum signed me up. I’m so glad she did.”

While Entrepreneur of the Year

‘I am delighted to be back in the area. I really enjoy celebrations of local businesses’

we have entered in liveawards.” whothe the Social media was buzzing on Tunbridge Wells. He night, with the @TimesLocalNews Times the told 50,000 incredible an Tweets reaching announced, wereyear awardsthis he users as the earlier day. nextall caught up and as people ‘tothepay intended Among them was former Big Brother back.’Davina the money local resident presenter and McCall, who screamed ‘Yeeessss’ when SPN Lifestyle took the title of StartUp Business. Anton also liked several Times’ Tweets and retweeted to his 225,000 followers.

At the awards, Anton, originally from Sevenoaks, said: “I am delighted to be back in the area. I really enjoy celebrations of local businesses.”

REWARDING TIMES: The Times Business Awards proved to be yet another Claire Burroughs success with hundreds of local firms entering the competition in 2019. commented: “It is such good payback for all our hard work.”

John Ould of Archway Automotive, which took the Service Exellence Award, said: “We are in our 20th year, but this the first time

For more see pages 10-15

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Town named as one of the best places to live in entire country

Summer festivals bring the crowds and major boost to town’s economy

Businesses hit as the half-term roadworks cause traffic chaos

leaders chairman. HeAtand 10,000 people weekend, theother thousands to for the Black Eridge Parksite. descended proposed to the on live next door Deer Festival, as the weather matched attend has Pope Nick Alliance Cllr that of the Deep South. various events Torysaw 7,000 people weekend also already publicly The warned and Jazz Festival, the second head against vote Gin doto not members who is a lot going on at

Continued

which organisers say was one of the ‘best and busiest events’ ever put on at Pantiles.

Thepage 2 And this was in addition to on the thousand or so keen music fans who

“There the moment in Tunbridge Wells,” commented Deirdre Wells OBE, Chief Executive of

ble for £4billion of Kent’s economy, she added: “Tunbridge Wells is doing a really fantastic job in contributing to that with everything that’s going on.”

The busy week has also been a boom for hotels, which have

Continued on page 2

SUMMER OF SONG: Festivals and summer events saw tens of thousands of revellers flock to Tunbridge Wells.

and

PICTURE: @jameskaymedia

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Town under threat from plan to build 2,600 houses in Tudeley

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Careless said: business owners spokesman for MrRESIDENTS, not been have been left fuming this “Paul Careless hasmotorists bail.a series of ongoing roadworks not onafter charged and he is week brought traffic in the town repeatedly supplier “Surge was a third-party lengthy standstills. to to relation of services used incentre did not alone, there were ten sets oneIt day OnLCF. raising investment for had no with temporary traffic handle client money roadworks of and of deployment involvement in thelights causing long delays and closures companies.’ funds to borrowingfor those trying to get into or through

Tunbridge Wells.

worst October we can remember and it’s all down to the roadworks – who coordinates all this work?”

‘It’s almost as if the town is closed for business.

It’s insanity’ Businessman Toby Dicker

The delays are expected to have cost local businesses thousands as shoppers, workers and business people battled to get around town in the face of roadworks on Mount Ephraim, St John’s Road and London Road causing lengthy queues.

Frustrated motorists took to social media to complain about the traffic jams.

Darrell Edmondson told his Twitter followers that it took 40 minutes to travel 2.5 miles from North Farm to Major Yorks Road. Others described the road delays as ‘hideous’.

Roadworks cost the national economy £4billion a year due to delayed deliveries and people being unable to get to work on time, and it is estimated that last week’s raft of repairs could have cost the

The party has confirme incident happened, with councillor Nicholas Pope on social media: “There footage that the TWA ch snatched a banner and s it. It was childish behavi damaged someone else I do not condone this be and spoke to the chairm immediately after I foun had happened.”

Several Conservative cou reported that on the night jeered and sworn at by Alli supporters and protestors

Continued on page 2

Continued on page 2

The mile-long journey from Frant has MEN AT WORK: Multiple roadworks Tunbridge Wells and clofor roadworks caused Responsibility been taking up to an hour, with many potential shoppers giving up, turning sures rests with the Highways Departto all grind tojourney a halt October.

County Council, not Tunof Kent mentin home. The and going round but Council. would normally take five to ten minutes.

Businessman Toby Dicker, of The Chapel hairdressers in Chapel Place, said: “It’s almost as if the town is closed for business. It’s insanity. There seems no forethought or planning.”

bridge Wells Borough Astrid Kucoussey, store manager at Pure Collection in the High Street, said: “Even though last week was half term it affected footfall. We get a lot of occasional shoppers who will stop outside

Snapped

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Decade of growth celebrated in a lavish 1920s-style party

By Richard Williams A TUNBRIDGE WELLS business that was started on a kitchen table has celebrated its tenth birthday after a decade of rapid growth that has seen it become one of the country’s fastest growing PR agencies.

CEO Victoria Usher founded GingerMay in 2009 because she couldn’t find a suitable enough job that would allow her to also be a hands on parent.

Proud A decade later and the businesses has become synonymous as a leading PR firm for the very latest tech companies to emerge from Silicon Valley.

With offices in London and New York, the operation is still run from their HQ overlooking The Pantiles. The company also employs around 50 people in both London and Tunbridge Wells.

This month, Ms Usher and her employees celebrated the ten years of business with a 1920sthemed celebration at the Buxted Park Hotel.

“I founded GingerMay because I was unable to find a job with career progression that would allow

me to also be a hands-on parent,” said Ms Usher.

“Little did I know that ten years later we would be celebrating our anniversary as a multi-awardwinning business with world-leading technology clients, global offices, and 50 members of staff.”

She continued: “We’re proud of everything we have achieved during this time, particularly our mission to promote a positive work-life balance.

“This remains an overlooked area, yet is essential to encourage working parents to continue with their careers.

“With an exceptional staff retention rate and numerous company culture awards in the cabinet, our efforts are paying off, and we know we are inspiring other businesses to adopt the same proactive approach.

“We have huge ambitions for the future and the coming decade will certainly be an interesting one.

“Our next goal is to become the most sustainable PR agency in the world, so watch this space.

“Of course, the biggest thank you goes to our team, clients, and the incredible Tunbridge Wells network for their support over the past decade. We couldn’t have achieved all of this without you.”

Estate agents are readying for post-election property boom FOLLOWING the General Election, which ended the uncertainty over Brexit, estate agents say they are bracing themselves for a busy start to the New Year.

Property websites such as Rightmove and Purplebricks have already upgraded their growth forecast for asking prices in 2020, with online estate agents estimating prices could rise by up to 13 per cent next year.

Prior to the EU referendum in June 2016, the annual growth rate of property prices was more than 8 per cent, but it has declined ever since

‘We have a huge amount of pent-up demand from buyers’ as uncertainty over whether the UK will be leaving the EU caused reluctance with potential buyers and sellers over fears prices could soar or plummet at any moment.

Natasha Firman, Director at Winkworth in Tunbridge Wells, says they expect to see the market bounce in the New Year, and are urging homeowners to get their

property on the market soon to take full advantage of the anticipated heightened activity.

She told the Times: “We’re feeling very positive for what’s to come for the property market next year.

“After what has been a prolonged period of political uncertainty, we feel that this is a momentous occasion.

“And we have a huge amount of pent-up demand from buyers which we expect to be unleashed in the New Year.

“Of course, we’re not out of

the water yet as we still have Brexit to navigate, but we feel strongly that now, with a solid majority in place, this new government will bring closure to the waves of uncertainty felt over the past few years.

“Those looking to take advantage of this pent-up demand should instruct an agent soon, so their property is on the market and ready to be seen by the huge amount of buyers in the New Year.”

• See also the end of year review in our Property Section

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

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10

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Community News

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Forget-me-not Café helps LGBT+ people who live with dementia

OPEN AND TRUSTING: (L-R) Sara Grist, Head of Care at Home Instead, Symone Salwan, Founder and Managing Director of Home Instead, Jim Glennon, trainer with Opening Doors London, and Liz Pryke of Home Instead Bromley

By Andy Tong A FREE café for people in the LGBT+ community who are living with dementia has opened in Tunbridge Wells.

The Forget-me-not Café in Halls Hole Road has been launched by Home Instead Senior Care, a company that provides care for older people in their own homes across Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Edenbridge.

The fifth such venture in West Kent, it offers companionship and encourages people to ‘get out and about, to socialise and make new friends’.

The first four Forget-me-not Cafés were set up in Edenbridge, Westerham, Sevenoaks and Hildenborough for the benefit of all local residents.

Symone Salwan, the Managing Director of Home Instead, set up the new project with seed funding from Kent County Council’s Dementia Friendly Communities.

Symone said: “Older members of the LGBT+ community would have grown

up in an age when it would have been difficult or even impossible to be open about who they were, often creating feelings of isolation for these individuals.

“It is so incredibly important for members of this community who are living with dementia to ‘feel safe’ as their condition can trigger memories of less tolerant times when homosexuality was illegal.

Companionship “This café provides a caring and comfortable environment for those who would like to join in with regular fun activities and enjoy the companionship of others.”

The team at Home Instead has undergone training with the charity Opening Doors London to increase confidence among its caregivers, allowing them to become more familiar with the terminologies used when discussing LGBT+ subjects.

Symone added: “At Home Instead

many of our clients are living with the loneliness of dementia, so we realise the importance of simply having a chat over a cuppa – it can have a huge impact on someone’s life.

“By using the right language and terminology with our older LGBT+ clients, our caregivers provide additional reassurance.

“We look forward to welcoming members of our LGBT+ community to this new café, and understand particular sensitivities and wishes they have so we can help them to feel able to discuss this topic and share their later life goals with us in an open and trusting environment.”

The café runs on the second Friday of every month from 10.30am to 12.30pm at 1 Long Barn, Mouseden Farm, Halls Hole Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 4RF. To find out more, telephone Sue Solomon on 01892 731264, email: admintw@homeinstead.co.uk or visit forgetmenotcafe.org.uk

Students support hygiene and food banks SPLASH OF COLOUR Students with the Hygiene Bank donations

BEACON ACADEMY students and staff held a successful Christmas non-uniform event in Crowborough to help two local charities which support local families and individuals living in crisis.

On the last day of term all students were invited to attend school in festive non-uniform, in return for a donation to Crowborough Foodbank or giving toiletries and baby products to Crowborough Hygiene Bank.

The two organisations work in partnership to distribute emergency food supplies and essential toiletries as

well as hygiene, beauty and grooming products to a network of community organisations and services.

Among others, they go to refugees, the homeless and Baby2Baby & Beyond, which supports families with babies and children up to 11 years old.

Marketing and Communications Officer Cara Hoper said: “We would like to thank everyone that has helped to support this charity collection for our community.

“We have received an enormous amount of donated items for the Hygiene Bank, and over £1,107.80 has been raised to

date for Crowborough Foodbank.”

Gillian Goldstone, of Crowborough Hygiene Bank, said: “Thanks so much for the donations from the students and their families.

“These items will go to help local people in our community and make their lives easier. The generosity of Beacon Academy is amazing and very much appreciated.”

Parents and carers that have not yet made a donation to Crowborough Foodbank will be able to do so via the school until the first week of Term 3.

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

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Tuesday December 31 | 2019

Sevenoaks Gypsy Wedding twins suicide pact over cancer diagnosis THE deaths of two men whose bodies were found in a country road in Sevenoaks are not being treated as suspicious, police have said.

The men were named locally as 32-year-old twin brothers Billy and Joe Smith, who appeared on the Channel 4 TV show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

The brothers were found by a tree in Dibden Lane, Sevenoaks on Saturday morning. It is thought they had made a suicide pact after Joe discovered he had cancer.

The force said the incident is not being treated as suspicious and officers are compiling a report for the coroner.

But speaking to The Telegraph at the weekend, the twins’ cousin Phoebe Charleen Smith said one of the brothers had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

She said: “Joey had cancer, and Billy told him ‘I’d never be able to live without you.’

“Joey told the family he got the all-clear after chemo two months ago, but we don’t know if that’s true now.

“They went missing, and Joey’s phone was turned off. Then we found a note. It said that they wanted it like this, and we would find them in the woods where they played with the family years ago. My uncle ran up there and found them.”

ABLAZE Wildfires continue to spread across rural Australia

Sydney’s New Year fireworks get go ahead despite wildfires SYDNEY will set off its famous New Year fireworks display after being granted an exemption to a total fire ban.

Other Australian cities had cancelled their celebrations due to the worsening wildfire risk in the oppressive summer heat.

Pressure had built for Sydney’s spectacle to be scrapped before the New South Wales Rural Fire

Service approved the event on Monday.

The popular celebrations are expected to attract one million people to Sydney Harbour’s famous foreshore and generate 130million Australian dollars (£69million) for the state’s economy. An estimated one billion people worldwide watched last year’s display on television.

NEWS IN BRIEF

British woman guilty of false rape claims

Firefighter still missing after Lewes night out

A BRITISH teenager has been found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus.

The 19-year-old was convicted of a single count of public mischief at Famagusta District Court in Paralimni on Monday.

She claimed she was attacked by up to 12 Israeli tourists in an Ayia Napa hotel on July 17 before making a retraction statement 10 days later.

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said the teenager had not told the truth and had tried to deceive the court with ‘convenient’ and ‘evasive’ statements.

He adjourned sentencing to January 7.

POLICE searching for a firefighter who disappeared in Lewes, East Sussex, during the run-up to Christmas have ‘no indication’ as to where he went after he was last seen, according to an officer.

Anthony Knott, a 33-year-old father-of-four from Orpington, Kent, disappeared on December 20 after going to the Lamb pub in Fisher Street at 7.16pm.

Detective Inspector Jon Gillings told BBC Breakfast that ‘at present’ police have no indication where he went on the night he went missing.

CCTV footage shows Mr Knott walking through Lewes shortly after his phone was switched off.

Monty Python’s Neil Innes dies at 75 MONTY Python collaborator and Rutles singer Neil Innes has died at the age of 75, his agent has confirmed.

The comedian and musician died unexpectedly last night, Nigel Morton told the PA news agency.

A statement released on behalf of his family said: “It is with deep sorrow and great sadness that we have to announce the death of Neil James Innes on December 29 2019.

“We have lost a beautiful, kind, gentle soul whose music and songs touched the heart of everyone and whose intellect and search for

truth inspired us all.

“He died of natural causes quickly without warning and, I think, without pain.”

Innes was one of only two non-Pythons to be credited as a writer for the TV series, alongside NEIL INNES Douglas Adams.

He was also a founder of The Beatles spoof act, The Rutles.

National News

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Tuesday December 31 | 2019

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor, Times Local News, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG

We need to change electoral system – starting locally POLITICAL LANDSCAPE Opposition to Calverley Square adjusted the balance

stiffen the resolve of the EU negotiators to string it out and play hardball.

The initiative has now passed to Britain; it is wrong and unproductive to continue with your dissent and that is why you will now languish on the back benches. You can count yourself lucky because you came within an ace of deselection and no longer being an MP. Joseph Hahn Tunbridge Wells

UK is no longer a true democracy

A Proportional Representation [PR] voting system, it is claimed, would have given the Conservatives 288 seats (not 365) and the Lib Dems 70 (not 11) in the General Election.

Clearly some votes were pointless – ah, but not here, in local elections. Here we have a genuine local democracy.

Really? Look at these examples.

The local elections in 2015 show a clear Conservative win with a 51 per cent majority producing 16 council seats. The other 49 per cent of the vote produced no council seats for any other party.

Opposition to the Calverley Square project did adjust the balance to a degree, with five council seats each won by the Conservatives

Voters have changed their minds With only 43.6 per cent of the vote, Boris has no moral right to take us out of the EU. Add in the Brexit Party (2 per cent) and you still don’t get anywhere near the 52 per cent that voted for Brexit first time round, and you’re still short of a 50 per cent majority.

You could add some Labour supporters who want Brexit but could not bring themselves to vote Tory. But if so, they clearly don’t want a Boris Brexit.

On the other hand, you need to subtract all those who are against Brexit, but voted Conservative because they thought it was the ‘will of the people’.

Clearly the voters have changed their mind.

Well done, Boris, you managed to get a huge majority in Parliament under our voting system.

Please do the right thing and give us a second referendum.

The SNP with 45 per cent of the vote and Lib Dems with a further 9.5 per cent proves that

(28 per cent share), Lib Dems (27 per cent) and Alliance (18 per cent).

But in that same May 2019 election, 24 per cent of the overall vote for the other parties produced one council seat.

Under the first-past-the-post voting system, the same party and its predecessor (with the exception of the four years your editorial mentioned) has held control of Tunbridge Wells going back into the 1800s, even when there was no overall majority.

Isn’t it about time the voting system became democratic so we do not continue to disenfranchise so many local residents?

John Elliott Tunbridge Wells Scotland should have a second referendum.

The EU was not allowed to vote on whether we left, so only Scots should decide on their future.

Finally, we need Proportional Representation so that we don’t have tactical voting.

Graham Salmon Tunbridge Wells

Mr Clark wrong to continue dissent Greg Clark’s pronouncement on your front page [December 18] shows how he continues to be in denial of the result of the referendum, the sentiment of the country and the new government’s clear and unambiguous statements.

He says, emphatically, that Britain will not leave the EU without a deal and will not trade under WTO rules; the Prime Minister avers quite the reverse.

Mr Clark, it appears to be hard work, but we are leaving the EU by the end of 2020 – with or without a deal – and words to the contrary only

Brexit is many things, but democratic is not one of these. The narrow referendum result was a combination of fraud, Leave overspending and Russian cyber intervention, while in the most recent General Election the Remain/another referendum parties gained some million and a half votes more than the Brexit parties.

Without truth, rational argument and strict proportional representation in an electoral system there is no true democracy.

The UK has never been more than a sham democracy, and arguably not a democracy at all.

Remainers should not be ready to show a white flag to Boris Johnson just yet.

In reply to Ralph Steerpike [December 18], I was merely pointing out that Kosovo was a NATO operation and not an EU one, as a previous correspondent maintained.

However, one should remember that the Kosovo intervention ended with the NATO bombing and deaths of innocent civilians in Belgrade, also a war crime. Moreover, the operation was carried out without UN sanction, which set an undesirable precedent for other nations to follow, as Russia has done in Georgia in 2008 and again later in Ukraine.

As a result of these developments and the Anglo-American aggression against Iraq in 2003, the UN has gone the same way as the inter-war League of Nations as an unsuccessful instrument for the prevention of war. The world is now more unstable than at any time since 1945.

James Robertson Pembury

Time to look to our glorious future In 1946, Clement Attlee, Labour’s greatest Prime Minister, admonished Harold Laski, Chairman of the Labour Party, with the pithy remark ‘a period of silence on your part would be welcome’.

This advice should be heeded by the rump of the Remainers who believe either that they can still somehow prevent Brexit, or else create a ‘rejoin’ movement to reverse the decision to leave at a later date.

Given that the people have twice voted to Leave, it is certain that such a party would not prosper while, in a few years’ time, the EU will in all probability have disintegrated, with perhaps only a few dependent satellite states of Germany remaining.

The Remainers should cease their carping and get behind their own country as it strikes out for a great and glorious future.

Colin Bullen Tonbridge

TW Council Leader looks at challenges in the year ahead THE year 2020 looks set to be a good year for Royal Tunbridge Wells and the wider borough.

In the town, we can look forward to work starting on The Amelia Scott – a £16million project to integrate and expand the town’s cultural facilities, the completion of an £11million upgrade of Royal Victoria Place, and (at long last) work starting on the cinema site.

Across the borough there are a range of other things happening, including work starting on the Southborough Hub and firm progress towards community centres in Paddock Wood and Cranbrook.

Whilst there are some positive things to look forward to, there are also challenges – over the past few years, we have lost the entirety of our government grant (£4.6million); our high streets, along with those elsewhere in the country, are struggling to cope with online competition; and we have to meet some exceedingly challenging housing targets in an area with many planning constraints and limited infrastructure.

We’re committed to ensuring that if the houses are built they are accompanied by employment opportunities, infrastructure and cultural and leisure facilities.

Climate change has also emerged as an issue of huge public concern, and the Council is committed to playing our part in tackling this.

Tunbridge Wells regularly ranks as one of the best places to live, bring up children or to be happy, and my New Year’s wish would be that the Council, residents, businesses and partners all work together to keep it so.

Cllr Alan McDermott [Con] Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Cllr Alan McDermott

We do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words | Calverley is busy pressing his tails for tonight’s ball

MONDAYS United Reformed Church

Tonbridge High Street, TN9 1SG (Acess is to rear of the venue by the Petrol station) Mondays 5.30pm & 7.30pm Call Sally 01732 780163 TUESDAYS St Peters Church Hall

Bayhall Road Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4UX Tuesdays 9.30am Call Susie 07717177892 St Pauls C Of E Primary School

Entrance Via Gladstone Road Rusthall, TN4 8RZ Tuesdays 5.30pm & 7.30pm Call Sandra 07942888722 WEDNESDAY

Rusthall Club

St Pauls Street Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8RJ Wednesdays 9.30am & 11.30am Call Sandra 07942888722 St Lukes Church Hall

St Lukes Road Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9JH Wednesdays 5.30pm & 7.30pm Call Kay 07752496986 St Marks Primary School

Ramslye Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8LN Wednesdays 7.30pm Call Susie 07717177892

THURSDAYS All Saints Church Hall

All Saints Church Hall

Tonbridge Angels Football Club

Birken Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3TE Fridays 5.30pm Call Jesse 07710549334

Church Road, Crowborough TN6 1ED Thursdays 9.30am, 11.30am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Call Mary 07738014528

Longmead Park, Darenth Avenue Tonbridge, TN10 3JF Thursdays 9am, 11am, 3.30pm, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Call Jennie 07985750933 St Dunstans Catholic Church

London Road, Southborough Tunbridge Wells, TN4 0QA Thursdays 5.30pm & 7.30pm Call Kay 07752496986 FRIDAYS

Tonbridge Angels Football Club

Longmead Park, Darenth Avenue Tonbridge, TN10 3JF Fridays 9am Call Jennie 07985750933

Church Road, Crowborough TN6 1ED Fridays 9.30am & 11.30am Call Mary 07738014528 St Phillips Church

SATURDAYS

St Barnabas C Of E Primary School

Quarry Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2EY Saturdays 8.30am & 10.30am Call Jesse 07710549334 The Judd School

Brook Street, Tonbridge TN9 2PN Saturdays 8am & 10am Call Lorraine 01622 729890

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Martin Betts

Vice Chair of Tunbridge Wells Constituency Labour Party

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

Labour Party member Martin Betts lives in Southborough and has long been active in local politics. He retired after a long career in the Civil Service, where his last job at the Department for Work & Pensions was in communications. He qualified at Leicester University in human resources and training and development. The Times also publishes regular opinions from Conservatives, Lib Dems and members of The Green Party.

The Labour Party is down but not out REFLECTING on the results of the General Election, we have to be brutally honest – they were a disaster for Labour and a huge regret locally, where our excellent candidate, Antonio Weiss, ran such a good campaign.

We are left with the lowest number of MPs since 1935, and our worst result in Scotland since 1910.

In 45 years, only one Labour leader has led his party to victory.

Labour should have romped home and won.

For over three years the Tories have been in a state of civil war, lost MPs and a Prime Minister.

Over ten years they have presided over austerity that has almost broken many of our public services. And for most, living standards have declined or remained stagnant.

We have a Prime Minister who, despite all the privilege and opportunities given to him, has written words widely considered as racist, has an appalling reputation for telling untruths, and whose party now represents large parts of the country which were most damaged by the previous economic decisions made by him and his party.

So where did Labour go wrong? Evidence is telling us a significant number of voters didn’t like or trust our leader, didn’t like our stance on Brexit, and didn’t think our spending plans were plausible. This is uncomfortable to hear but Labour must learn from this defeat to become a

convincing opposition and future government.

By failing to win the General Election we have let down those who desperately need a Labour government, including the poorest, the most marginalised and vulnerable.

Inequality will worsen, the NHS and public services will continue to be underfunded, the climate emergency will be ignored, and a hard Brexit will hurt us all.

Challenge Over the next few months Labour has a responsibility to choose a new leader that is a credible candidate to be Prime Minister.

She or he needs to be someone who can lead a strong and effective opposition to challenge and hold the government to account. They need to command confidence and reach out far beyond Labour’s traditional base.

It will take a long time to get back to power, and we have to learn from our mistakes. Across the country we need to build on the efforts of 6,000 Labour councillors who work daily to represent the views of their communities.

We have four Labour councillors on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and will be looking to increase this number in May. Here, Labour councillors help to ensure there

CAMPAIGN TEAM: The local Labour Party at the start of the General Election period are no more daft theatre schemes and provide a voice on climate change, building genuinely affordable houses, tackling poverty, and providing better local services.

Labour will continue to listen hard to people and stand up for the communities we represent on local councils as well as in Parliament.

Despite their wild aspirations, the Lib Dems started the elections with 12 MPs, now have 11, and lost their Leader.

It is clear only Labour can provide effective opposition to this Conservative government and has to work to regain the trust of voters.

This work has already started.

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

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ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PROPERTY, IN TERIORS & TOP TRENDS

INSPIRATION FOR MOVING AND IMPROVING timeslocalnews.co.uk

End of year review by local property experts Page 24

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A fabulous façade on a former farmhouse Page 24

RARE CHANCE TO BUY AND IMPROVE

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FINE RECTORY WITH FURTHER PLANS

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Best property buys for...

We all love to see homes with the ‘wow’ factor – which could apply to the kitchen, reception room, garden, or something else. Sarah Bond homes in on specific aspects that make these properties well worth a look…

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

East Hill House

East Hill, Tenterden GUIDE PRICE

£1,250,000 CONTACT • Savills, Cranbrook • 01580 720161 • savills.co.uk An outstanding Grade II*-listed townhouse believed to date from the 18th century which is on the market for the first time in almost 20 years. Full of period features, it provides a marvellous project for a spot of sympathetic updating. In particular, both the grand reception hall and conservatory are superb.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

n Double doors open to an impressive reception hall with wide staircase

n Drawing room n Dining room n Sitting room n Kitchen and separate breakfast room n Amdega conservatory n Ground floor shower room n Boot/utility room n 2-room cellar n Generous landing with seating area and elegant Venetian window

n 8 bedrooms n 3 bath/shower rooms n Further sitting room/study n Gated walled garden with potting shed, workshop, greenhouse

n Detached double garage and off-road parking n Period outbuilding

The CONSERVATORY...

A variety of period features include high ceilings, exposed pine and parquet flooring, painted panelled doors and sash windows

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

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The PRICE…

The FOREST VIEW…

Hopwood Gardens Tunbridge Wells GUIDE PRICE

£599,950 CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk Victorian semi-detached house spread over three floors in the popular St John’s area.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST ■ Reception 1/dining room with angular bay ■ Reception 2 featuring chimney breast with log burner and French doors to garden ■ Kitchen with oak butcher block worktop ■ 4 bedrooms and family bathroom with rolltop bath, plus separate shower room ■ Landscaped garden with two patios and lawn, plus timber shed

End House

Sandy Lane, Colemans Hatch GUIDE PRICE

£2,250,000 CONTACT • Fine & Country, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 701900 • fineandcountry.com A beautifully located equestrian home beside Ashdown Forest, with amazing views over the treetops, a great kitchen, heated pool, stunning pool house, tennis court, stables and paddock.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

■ 3 reception rooms ■ Improved kitchen/breakfast room ■ Ground floor bedroom with its own entrance and adjacent bathroom

■ Master bedroom with dressing room, study area, en-suite bathroom and large balcony

■ 3 further bedrooms and 2 further bathrooms ■ Terraced formal garden with stream ■ Heated pool and a pool house built in the style of a traditional barn with room for guests, plus showering facilities

■ Hard-surface tennis court ■ 3-acre paddock, stables and a field, with the forest on the doorstep being perfect for hacking

■ Accessed via private lane, with double garage and off-road parking for numerous vehicles

■ The plot is around 4.9 acres

Holborough Lakes Snodland PRICES START AT

£265,000

NEW SHOW HOMES

Help to Buy available on selected homes

CONTACT • Sales & Marketing Suite • 01634 775643 • holboroughlakes.co.uk Berkeley Homes’ latest two-bedroom show apartment and a three-bedroom show home have been unveiled at its lakeside development near West Malling. Waterview Apartments overlook the lake, while The Herrington house type is in Providence Walk.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST ■ Generous open-plan living areas and kitchens with Bosch appliances ■ En-suite master bedrooms ■ French doors to a balcony at the apartment and a private garden at the house ■ Landscaped grounds ■ Community amenities include a nursery and primary school, a village hall, village green, residents’ gym and outdoor trim trails

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

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Old Parsonage

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AT A GLANCE THE OLD PARSONAGE TIDEBROOK, WADHURST n With Gothic-style exteriors, this renovated one-time rectory was built in 1860s and sits beside a church n Period features include stone mullioned windows, internal shutters and a variety of fireplace styles n Reception hall n Drawing room with bay window and fireplace with painted surround n Dining room n Study with Gothic-style stone fireplace n Kitchen/breakfast room with Mark Wilkinson cabinetry, oil-fired Aga, Miele appliances and French doors to garden n Cloakroom and laundry room n Studio/gymnasium and shower room n Cinema room n Games room n Office n Master bedroom with en-suite shower n 7 further bedrooms and 2 bathrooms

A Victorian rectory boasting eight bedrooms, plus gorgeous gardens, paddock, woodland and planning

n Mature landscaped gardens of approximately 1.03 acres, including a terrace and a bridge over a stream leading to a paddock of approximately 3.448 acres and woodland n Drive providing turning and parking n In total, approximately 5.91 acres n Planning permission from 2016 for a single storey extension, garage and tennis court

GUIDE PRICE

£1,895,000 CONTACT • Hamptons International, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 516611 • hamptons.co.uk

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Property Focus

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

SAVILLS’ PROPERTY PICK: THE AMAZING SECRET BEHIND EASTWOOD

END OF YEAR REVI EW

General election brings instant property boost as caution fades Rumours are abounding that following the General Election the property market is getting busy again. So, for an end-of-year round-up, Sarah Bond asked two of our area’s top estate agents what effect the election result has had on the local housing market so far – and their property market forecasts for the next five years…

MOVING FORWARD Graphic from the cover of Knight Frank’s UK Residential Market Forecast 2020-2024

We also asked Will Peppitt what his favourite property is on Savills’ local books at the moment. His pick is the truly extraordinary Eastwood, in Chilsham Lane, Herstmonceux – guide price £1,950,000. Here, he tells its story: Most new owners of a pretty turn-of-the-century farmhouse might consider a loft extension or a conservatory. Not this time!

Instead, the current owners of Eastwood left the original farmhouse in situ, ripped the cover off, and put on another that was more to their liking – transforming a modest Victorian house in an idyllic spot into one of the finest houses in the area.

They built the most spectacular four-columned portico façade as well as matching wings to each side, incorporating elements of Renaissance, Baroque and Neo-classical design. All this was made possible by Robert Adam [of ADAM Architecture], recognised both in the UK and internationally as one of the leading figures in the development of both traditional and classical architecture.

As well enormous charm and warmth, Eastwood makes an immediate impression and leaves you with a smile on your face.

On arrival, you are welcomed by that fabulous façade topped with a very regal looking bronze lion. Once inside, you are warmly greeted by a central reception hall with vaulted ceiling and fireplace – very much the heart of the home.

And home it is. While Eastwood might look stately, in reality it is a very comfortable and useable family home in a private, quiet position.

The juxtaposition of old and new, grand and humble, really shouldn’t work – but it does!

by two leading local estate agents…

KNIGHT FRANK

DIGGING INTO THE DETAIL:

SAVILLS

Knight Frank has produced a five-year UK Residential Market Forecast for the UK covering 2020-2024 – the latter year being the date of the next scheduled General Election.

It says markets remain highly localised and the South East should do well, with a higher than average cumulative growth of 17% predicted by 2024.

Overall across the UK, we are forecasting a price growth of 2% in 2020 and of 15% cumulatively between 2020 and 2024.

Supply and demand in the South East has been relatively even in recent months; buyers cautious about the future prospects of the market and sellers reluctant to expose their properties to modest demand.

Since the election result, we have already seen an increase in new buyer enquiries as well as requests for valuations from prospective sellers.

Clarity

Growth

The report reflects that uncertainty regarding the outcome of Brexit weighed on buyer sentiment through the past year, particularly in London and across the South, but that the clarity afforded by the General Election should remove some of that.

In the short-term, this will pave the way for the release of some of the pent-up demand that has built in recent years.

Looking back at 2019, the headline rate of house price growth across the country continued to slow, leaving annual house price growth at 0.7% by the end of October, down from 3% at the same point last year, and down from more than 6% as recently as 2016.

Once the Brexit deal is completed, we forecast rising momentum across all markets, with price growth reflecting this from 2021 onwards.

Unless there is real imbalance between the two, we should see a steady market in 2020 with a greater volume of trade.

Savills house price forecasts suggest only modest price growth in 2020 on the basis that, despite domestic political uncertainty receding, some economic uncertainty will remain until a trade deal is agreed with the EU – even if, as is widely expected, the UK leaves the EU by the end of January without a further extension of Article 50.

Looking further ahead, over the next five years, mainstream house prices in the South East are forecast to rise by 11%.

And prime house prices are expected to rise by 13.6% in the ‘inner commute’ region, which includes Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks, and 14.2% in the ‘outer commute’ region in the same period.

PICS: Eastwood: ADAM Architecture/John Critchley. Ross Davies: Sofia Yang Martinez Photography

Will Peppitt, Director & Head of Residential in the South East 01892 507000 savills.co.uk

Ross Davies Partner & Office Head Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 knightfrank.co.uk

• Corinthian colonnaded entrance • Square dome-topped turrets • Clock tower • Reception hall • 5 reception rooms • Kitchen/breakfast room • Cloakroom and laundry room • Galleried landing • 8 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms • Around 32 acres of gardens and grounds, including a rose garden, summerhouse, lake, orchard, substantial greenhouse, parkland and paddocks • Outdoor heated swimming pool • Tennis court • Former garaging currently used for storage, former stables and stores • Driveways and parking area

GIVING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON ON GIVING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES. BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

It’s time to see things differently...

Hello and happy New Year!

Winkworth Tunbridge Wells is changing... ...we’re under new management!

New Year, New Beginnings...

I am thrilled to announce that I have recently become part of the Winkworth family in Tunbridge Wells.

My goal in 2020 is to make Winkworth your estate agent of choice, and to build a reputation that is based on trust, outstanding customer care, and creating strong links with the local community.

We will be posting lots of information on social media, about our properties and the market over the coming months, so watch out for us!

Meet Natasha Firman, the I am also offering free valuation appraisals, so ring me any time for an appointment - or just pop into the office, we’re opposite the White Bear! new owner A brand you can trust, delivering a fresh approach to real estate in Tunbridge Wells. of Winkworth MRICS, Director, Winkworth Tunbridge Wells “Whether you’re looking Natasha to buy,Firman sell, rent or let, we’d love to hear from you for all your property needs.”

01892 519600 | twells@winkworth.co.uk Tunbridge Wells TUNBRIDGE WELLS £875,000 WILMINGTON £850,000 Natasha MRICS, Director, Winkworth Tunbridge Wells Attractive double fronted 4 bedroom 1930's family house inFirman the Claremont catchment area with off-road parking, garage & garden.

Occupied & maintained to very good standard this character home is located within the village area of Tunbridge Wells convenient for nearby parks, schools & station. Presenting in mostly original configuration with potential to extend -VIEWINGS from 23/3/18

Charming detached period house circa 1850 in a delightful setting of mature landscaped gardens | with the added advantage of a studio above the double & single garage | double aspect living room with feature fireplace | well appointed modern kitchen/family room with island and doors leading into the garden | wet room & utility room | master bedroom with walk in wardrobe & en-suite shower room | 3 further bedrooms l modern family bathroom

TUNBRIDGE WELLS £535-565,000

NORTH CHAILEY £750,000

THE PANTILES HOUSE, NEVILL STREET, TUNBRIDGE WELLS £385,000 COLEMAN WARWICK WELLS £315,000 Attractive recently improved bay fronted 1920's 3 bedroom semi detached character house with original wooden floors & panel doors located at the end of a Beautifully presentedCOURT, detached Victorian cottage located ROAD, on the edge ofTUNBRIDGE Chailey Common with direct access & convenient for Haywards Heath.

Beautifully presented two double bedroom apartment with two off-street parking spaces, situated in a cul-de-sac, walking distance to Grammar Schools & St John's Recreational Ground l 2 reception rooms connected by an open fireplace with double sided quiet spot just of The Pantiles within walking distance to the mainline station. wood burner l fully equipped kitchen l timber frame glass & brick side return l 3 bedrooms l bathroom l additional 3rd floor attic room l south facing garden

TONBRIDGE £359,950

AEntrance beautifully presented, 1 bedroom, 2nd floor apartment finished to an excellent standard, situated porch to drawing room l kitchen/dining room - French doors to garden l further sitting room - French doors to garden & study/family room l just off the High Street close to the mainline station. master bedroom suite l en-suite bathroom l 3 further bedrooms, 2 with views l family bathroom l parking for several cars l garage l secluded garden

TUNBRIDGE WELLS £292,500

Superb newly refurbished Victorian mid-terrace house providing accommodation over 3 floors. Close to excellent shopping Newly refurbished attractive 2 double bedroom self contained ground floor apartment with private front & rear garden. Set in a quiet facilities & a few minutes walk of the train station offering good service into London in about 45 minutes attractive sitting cul-de-sac & comprisingGARDENS, covered private entrance l 24' hallway l separate desk/study area & storage l spacious sitting room£320,000 with central TUNBRIDGE WELLS SHRUB LANE, BURWASH £625,000 MONTACUTE room l kitchen/breakfast room l 3 bedrooms l study l shower room l bathroom l rear brick paved garden l parking for 2 cars fireplace & doors to conservatory with door to garden l Shaker style kitchen l white bathroom suite with shower 95 year Lease A stylish, 2 bedroom, 1st floor flat with residents parking and walking distance to the Pantiles and A modern, 3 bed, family house of considerable charm and character, occupying a secluded, semi-

town centre.

rural location on the edge of a thriving village.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS519600 01892 519600 519600 FOREST ROW822255 01342 822255 822255 LEWES471471 01273 471471 471471 TUNBRIDGE WELLS | 01892 FOREST ROW LEWES | 01273 TUNBRIDGE WELLS FOREST ROW LEWES | 01342 | 01892 | 01342 | 01273 twells@winkworth.co.uk forestrow@winkworth.co.uk lewes@winkworth.co.uk twells@winkworth.co.uk forestrow@winkworth.co.uk lewes@winkworth.co.uk twells@winkworth.co.uk forestrow@winkworth.co.uk lewes@winkworth.co.uk

TUNBRIDGE WELLS | 01892 519600 @WinkworthTwells @WinkworthTwells @WinkworthTwells twells@winkworth.co.uk @WinkworthTwells

winkworth.co.uk winkworth.co.uk

winkworth.co.uk/tunbridge-wells

@Winkworth_f_row @Winkworth_f_row @Winkworth_f_row

@Winkworth_lewes @Winkworth_lewes @Winkworth_lewes

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Tuesday December 31 | 2019

Life&Times

ARTS & CULTURE TOP EVENTS FOOD & DRINK PUZZLES SPORT

IN PRINT AND ONLINE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK timeslocalnews.co.uk

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DRUM IN THE NEW YEAR

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LAST CHANCE TO DANCE ON ICE

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NEW CHEF ON THE BLOCK

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Going on a magical musical journey with The Snow Queen

Page 29

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The man behind the haunting songs of Trinity’s Snow Queen The talented musician who scored the amazing music for Trinity Theatre’s Christmas show The Snow Queen is Mikey Kirkpatrick.

Here, he tells Eileen Leahy how he was inspired to compose it…

W

HEN it comes to music, Mikey Kirkpatrick certainly knows a thing or two. The Londonbased singer/songwriter and musician has been involved with it since the tender age of seven and has since dedicated his life to it, releasing music under his Bird Radio moniker and even co-running his own record label, Avocado Music, for a decade.

Mikey’s musical journey began with him learning the flute – still a huge influence in his music – and soon he was busking and getting involved in local community music and theatre projects before going on to study music at Goldsmiths University in London.

He released his first solo album ‘The Boy and the Audience’ in 2013, along with a film trilogy and his first feature film soundtrack, followed shortly afterwards by Chiara Ambrosio’s debut feature ‘La Frequenza Fantasma’ (The Ghost Frequency).

Around the same time he started composing music for various venues, including the Birdsnest Theatre company

PHOTOS: Ziebell Photography

arts

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

Mikey Kirkpatrick

LIGHTING UP THEIR LIVES Books and stories are a key part of the show

‘I hadn’t been to Trinity Theatre before, but now I know it and love the space very much!’

THE ART OF ILLUSION The Snow Queen, which has two performances you can see today [Tuesday] at 11am and 3pm, uses wizardry and puppetry to create its on-stage magic

and working with influential people such as the director and puppeteer Michael Fowkes on different projects.

“I enjoy collaborating and storytelling through my music,” says Mikey. “Writing for theatre is ideal for me as it gives me the opportunity to explore different genres and approaches to composition, so I am always learning something new.”

His latest project has been scoring the music to The Snow Queen, Kezia Cole’s first production as Artistic Director of Trinity Theatre. So, how did the commission come about?

“I was contacted by Kezia while we were both involved with separate shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival earlier this year,” says Mikey. “She had heard some of my previous Bird Radio albums and invited me to compose the soundtrack for The Snow Queen based on that. I hadn’t been to Trinity Theatre before, but now I know it and love the space very much!”

Although it was an exciting project for Mikey to undertake, it certainly wasn’t without its challenges: “It was the shortest timescale ever for me – and the biggest project to date! I ended up doing 19 songs as well as the incidental music for seven performers. I really liked the script and original fairy tale, and it’s rare to be invited to compose a soundtrack based on your previous work with very few constraints, so I was very happy to take on the challenge!”

Kezia contacted him at the end of August, and Mikey started work on the soundtrack in mid-September.

“The first thing I did was read the original text. It’s a very special fairy tale for me – and as always with Hans Christian Andersen, it doesn’t hold back on complexities of relationships. It has plenty of darkness as well as light.”

The score itself took two months to complete and the music rehearsals were directed by Mikey and Anna Vanosi, the show’s musical supervisor, who he also met at Edinburgh.

“The actors were excellent and picked up the music very quickly,” reveals Mikey. “Working with pre-written lyrics gave me an interesting creative challenge. My last two solo albums were poetry settings (Oh, Happy England, Walter de la Mare, 2015, and Crow, Ted Hughes, 2019) and I enjoy how unexpected rhythms, melodic shapes, moods and meanings lie waiting in the words of a silent page.”

Joyful Mikey says he did most of the composing in the wee small hours of the morning, juggling his numerous teaching jobs as well as providing childcare for his young daughter.

“I believe overthinking is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in the creative process, and there isn’t much chance of thinking much at all at 4am in a cold recording studio with a coffee in one hand and microphone in the other!

“Tight deadlines can be very useful for making things

happen and trusting instinct and intuition! ‘Happy Flowers We’, Summer’s Number, was written at dawn on a wintry London morning. I’m always fascinated by how an environment affects the way one composes. Clearly I was looking for some summer warmth that morning!”

What did Mikey enjoy most about this creative process?

“I really enjoyed the experience of the songs appearing one by one, and getting to know each of the characters.

“I particularly enjoyed writing for and singing The Snow Queen’s voice, which pushed me into a falsetto that I don’t normally use – definitely inspired by Kate Bush! I also felt the tragic loneliness of her character in the original text, which I wanted to get across.”

Mikey says that bringing the music to the actors was also a joyful experience. “They are good improvisers and were willing to make the music their own. It was great to leave them to rehearse the music and hear it transformed into something new again.

“The warmth of the ending was important to me, too.

Hearing the cast sing the final song in the first rehearsal was a truly beautiful moment for me.”

In terms of what he hopes the audience enjoys most about his ambient score, that’s pretty simple: “I hope it makes them smile and that they feel transported into Hans Christian Andersen’s magical world.”

MIKEY’S MUSICAL INFLUENCES

I admire many artists – right now some of the music I am listening to includes Jessica Hoop, Lonnie Holley, Leonard Cohen (the posthumous album is stunning), Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Scott Walker, Richard Dawson… but I think the music for this show was most influenced by David Bowie (possibly my biggest inspiration), Phillip Glass and Kate Bush.

Kezia sent me a beautiful playlist to help give me a sense of the soundworld and atmosphere that she envisaged for the show. This included Steve Reich, Samaris, You are the Wolf, Agnes Obel, Bev Lee Harling and more.

When I compose I never think ‘I’m going to write this song in the style of…’ – but afterwards I recognise my influences are always sitting nearby.

I have also been studying Japanese folk music and Middle Eastern music, so you might notice some of these sounds rising to the surface, too.

You can see and hear lots of Mikey’s music, old and new, at birdradio.co.uk

30

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Going Out

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goingout 7 days of activities

By Jerome Bowman

SUBLIME SCOTNEY Enjoy second-hand book bargains as well as winter walks at the castle

TUESDAY – NEW YEAR’S EVE Dance the year away at The Forum’s Boogie Nights tonight from 9am till 2am on New Year’s Day. DJs Richard Marshall and Markus Holler will be playing Funk, Soul, Disco, Hip hop and Classic House, all on vinyl. Tickets cost £15. This is an over-18s night only (and possibly you need to be at least twice as old as this to truly make the most of disco!) To book, visit twforum.co.uk WEDNESDAY – NEW YEAR’S DAY Why not start the New Year with a hearty Winter Walk at Hever Castle? There will be plenty of plants in bloom, including Daphne and Viburnum, and the grounds will look delightful in the winter light. Entry to the grounds today will also allow you entrance to the castle, so you can warm up around a log fire. For more information on tickets and opening times, visit hevercastle.co.uk THURSDAY See light-hearted but controversial comedy Jojo Rabbit, which stars two young boys from the Uckfield area – Roman Griffin Davis and Alfie Yates as Jojo and Yorki – at The Odeon this evening at 9.15pm. Written and directed by Taika Waititi, the unusual tale surrounds Johannes, young boy growing up in Nazi Germany, whose

imaginary pal is Adolf Hitler. But after Johannes discover his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in the attic, he must come to terms with his humanity and the inhumanity of his fictional friend. Tickets cost £11.75 and can be booked at odeon.co.uk FRIDAY For a bit of magic in the cold grey soup of reality brought on by January, The Close-Up Show is back at The Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks.

An intimate show held in the bar, it features incredible sleights of hand by top illusionists Chris Wood, Abel Megyes and James Pritchard.

The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £19.50. Book online at stagsevenoaks.co.uk SATURDAY I came, I saw, and I bought some tickets and took the children to see Horrible Histories: Rotten Romans at the Uckfield Picture House! In the tale, as punishment for a failed scheme, skinny Roman teenager Atti is sent to cold, wet Britain, where he is captured by feisty Celt Orla. They become friends, but then Atti is returned to his legion, and he must face Orla and the Celts at the Battle of Wattling Street. The film starts at 10.30am. For more information and to book tickets, which cost £3, go to picturehouseuckfield.com

Start your New Year with a new resolution by joining Tunbridge Wells Park Run at 9am today in Dunorlan Park. This is a 5km run that you can join in with for free, and if you would like time stamps you can register online. All are welcome and there are no pace requirements. For more information on the route and how to register, visit parkrun.org.uk

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

ANDRÉ RIEU: 70 YEARS YOUNG Enjoy a screening of his celebratory concert at Trinity Theatre

SUNDAY Musical maestro André Rieu turned 70 Years Young in the autumn and celebrated with a lavish party. The good news is you can still attend! Today, Trinity Theatre will be screening a recording of the special concert held in Rieu’s magnificent castle in Maastricht, where he also talked to concert host, Classic FM’s Charlotte Hawkins, about his life and music. Tickets cost £20 and can be booked at trinitytheatre.net This is the final day Calverley Grounds Ice Rink will be open. With a special rink for the toddlers and a Bavarian Curling Rink as well, there’s something for everyone, and a pop-up bar and restaurant for when you need to warm up. Ticket prices vary, so for more information, go online to assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk For avid bookworms, why not combine a visit to beautiful Scotney Castle in Lamberhurst with a browse round Betsy’s Bookshop – a secondhand emporium of tomes which is open every day. Books are donated by visitors to the National Trust site and can be bought for a bargain price.

For more information, go online to nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle

A LEAP OF THE IMAGINATION In Jojo Rabbit at The Odeon

MONDAY Put on two pairs of socks, a woolly hat and, ideally, grow a thick coat of fur for more bracing winter walks out in the country. There are plenty of enjoyable free roaming routes to choose from in our area. But if you want something more organised, then have a look at the variety on offer at National Trust properties such as Scotney and Bodiam Castles, Sissinghurst and Ightham Mote.

For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk TUESDAY If you’re looking for a New Year bounce, and a fun way to entertain the children when the weather is cold and miserable, then hop along to Tonbridge’s trampoline park, Jump In, which offers floor and wall trampolines, giant airbags, dodgeball, gladiator areas, a foam pit, slides and total wipe-out style obstacles. For further details on prices, times and offers, visit gojumpin.com

PICK OF THE WEEK:

Hug-Many New Year’s Eve The Pantiles Tuesday, December 31, 7pm to 12.30am Party on The Pantiles with live music from funk band Oomphf and DJ SimonP. With plenty

LAST CHANCE TO SKATE In Calverley Grounds

PREVIOUS GUEST Local sporting star Dame Kelly Holmes

of eateries, cafés and pubs open, it is set to be as lively a New Year’s Eve as in previous years. There will also be lasers, a countdown clock and fireworks. Entry to the event is a £10 voluntary donation per person, with proceeds going to local charities.

For more information and to book, go online to hug-many.co.uk

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Tuesday December 31 | 2019

THE MANAGEMENT Band member Mike Wilton

Going Out Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) (Ticket only) Dinner and live music from The Violet Jive THE CROSS KEYS PUB St John’s Road Free entry, music from 9pm till late Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) Soul Train New Year’s Eve

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites pdag.co.uk & thegreylady.co.uk Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) New Year’s Eve Special with Into The Blue Sunday Will Locke, Scarlett Surgeoner

live music

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM The Common Event information and tickets at twforum.co.uk Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) Boogie Night’s New Year’s Eve Special

With Paul Dunton

THE PANTILES BANDSTAND The Pantiles Full event information at hug-many.co.uk Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) New Year’s Eve Hug-Many: Live music from Oomphf plus DJ SimonP, a piper, Countdown Clock, fireworks and more, raising money for local charities including The Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre, Trinity Theatre and Nourish Community Foodbank

H

APPY New Year! As we enter the first week of 2020, the local music scene traditionally winds down, however there are still some wonderful live gigs to be enjoyed and plenty of local venues will have great music, from bands to DJs tonight [New Years Eve], as noted right and in last week’s festive column.

This Friday, there is a rockin’ night

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

at The Sussex Arms Basement with On Hollow Ground and Infirm of Purpose, and The Royal Oak host their ‘first Friday’ acoustic night.

Excellent On Saturday, The Management are at The Beau Nash Tavern, and on Monday night The Tonbridge Folk Club hosts the excellent Morrigan.

THE SPA HOTEL Mount Ephraim Music from 9.30pm till late Full details at spahotel.co.uk

THE ROYAL OAK PUB Prospect Road Free entry Music from 8pm till late Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) New Year’s Eve Party Friday Acoustic Night from The Oak Stage THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Free entry, music from 8pm till late Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) New Year’s Eve with Grosvenor Road Saturday The Management

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THE NELSON ARMS Cromer Street, Tonbridge Free entry, music from 9pm till late Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) New Year’s Eve with Hudson & Cutler MUSICSTATION Bank Street, Tonbridge Booking essential For information, call 01732 350629 Thursday & Friday 8pm-9.30pm Adult band workshop, all levels welcome THE SUSSEX ARMS BASEMENT Sussex Mews All event information and tickets available at twforum.co.uk Friday EMV Events : On Hollow Ground, Infirm of Purpose TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB The Flying Dutchman, Hildenborough All event information at tonbridgefolkclub.org Musicians’ hat collection with suggested contribution of £7 (£5 concessions) Monday Morrigan

Will Locke

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food

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Food & Drink FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

Savouring a taste of Tunbridge Wells One the country’s most respected and talented chefs, Marcus Wareing, has relocated to Tunbridge Wells with his family. Eileen Leahy catches up with the MasterChef judge to find out his thoughts on the local food scene…

Marcus, you’re originally from Southport so what brought you to Tunbridge Wells?

Well although I’m a northerner I have lived in the south since my professional career began. I moved to London when I was 18 and started work at The Savoy. Around the age of 23 I worked at Gravetye Manor, near East Grinstead, for a year as second chef under Head Chef Steven Morey. I really enjoyed living in Sussex, and actually met my wife Jane at Gravetye Manor, so the area has meaning for us both. Now, by chance, our three children all attend school in Kent, so it made sense for us to have a base in the area.

How long have you been based in Tunbridge Wells and what do you enjoy most about living here?

We have been here for 18 months now and love the area and the nearby countryside. It’s a fantastic alternative to the hustle and bustle of our London life, but still only an hour door-to-door.

And we never tire of the views over the Weald…

A CAPITAL CHEF! Marcus Wareing has three restaurants in London – Marcus at The Berkeley, Tredwells in Upper St Martin’s Lane, and The Gilbert Scott at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

Do you find it relatively easy to commute elsewhere for all your chef and TV commitments?

We are based in London during the week, so commuting isn’t an issue. However, I also have a motorbike which makes a

A FIRM FAVOURITE Fish and Chips – here served at The Ivy

big difference if I need to travel during rush hour or to East London, where MasterChef: The Professionals is filmed.

What do you think about the local food scene here in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area?

Well, as we are relatively new to the area we’re still getting to know it. In terms of restaurants, we are on the hunt for the best steak! There is plenty of

local produce available in a variety of places, which I love as we do a lot of cooking at home. We also just bought a new wood-fired pizza oven, so we’re currently testing out our favourite toppings.

Are there any favourite local haunts you have found that you like to frequent?

In terms of eating out, we are regulars at The Ivy. We have had lunch at the Abergavenny Arms a few times as it is close to home and always friendly.

We have also been to Pizza Express a few times – it is one of our children’s favourites! There are a few places we still have to try, such as Seventeen, Juliet’s and The West House, which is a bit further out but has a Michelin star.

Additionally, we like to visit Gravetye Manor, where Jane and I used to work, at least once a year. The garden is beautiful and the new restaurant is well worth a visit. George Bloggs is cooking some great food and it’s only about 40 minutes from where we live. Finally, The Bell at Ticehurst serves a very nice fish and chips!

And what attracts you to these various places?

The menu offering is important as you need some choice, but not too much. A smaller menu is easier for a chef to get

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

RINGING ALL THE RIGHT BELLS The Bell Inn, Ticehurst

right than a very long one. Other essential elements include decent décor, attentive service and simple food that’s cooked and seasoned well. And nothing more than that, really. Oh, and a reasonably priced wine list helps, too!

Wells, which is great. Personally, I have not been to Pub in the Park – but events like this are a great way to encourage people to try different foods and perhaps introduce good local restaurants they may not know about.

What do you think events like Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park bring to the area?

Well, it brings people here to Tunbridge

And finally, do you have any plans to open up your own restaurant in Tunbridge Wells any time soon?

No, not at the moment…

LOCAL PRODUCE Fuller’s Farm Shop

Where Marcus Wareing likes to shop locally We like to support a few of the garden centres in the area as we enjoy gardening and they also stock some great local produce.

Additionally, the TN2 Food & Wine deli in Tunbridge Wells has some great wines. And I am a big fan of Fuller’s Farm Shop in Bunny Lane. I like to buy meat from the counter and the English cheeses are great as well.

The Weald Smokery at Flimwell looks good, and there are some great little shops on The Pantiles.

Ringden Farm in Flimwell has great jam and they juice our apples. I have heard of the Secret Cellar at Wadhurst but not managed to get there yet.

We really enjoy living in the area!

To learn more about Marcus, visit marcusrestaurant.com

Ring in 2020 with some lovely bubbly First impressions count, so before dry January is upon us, Times Drinks Editor James Viner selects four delectable fizzalicious bottles to see in the New Year 1) FESTIVE BARGAIN SPARKLING GEM FROM ALDI 2016 Exquisite Collection Crémant du Jura Brut Chardonnay, France (Aldi, £7.99, 12% Alc) On New Year’s Eve, popping a bottle or two of bubbly is tradition. If you’re looking for a decently priced, highquality party fizz, this classy dry, zesty, apple and citrus-scented traditionalmethod Alpine chardonnay from eastern France gets my vote. Supremevalue party bubbles with oodles of crowd-pleasing, easy-swigging apple blossom and pear pizzazz. Brilliant value and refreshment. For supersized celebrations, also nab Aldi’s rollicking, creamy and juicy black/red-fruit stashed, tobacco-leaf-scented, mellow and magnanimous magnum of 2015 Pata Negra Rioja Reserva (£15.99, 1.5L) before everyone else does. Decant and pour with Manchego, oxtail stew, steak and kidney pudding or lamb. Party on!

2) RAISE A GLASS TO CO-OP’S FIRST ENGLISH PINK BUBBLY FROM KENT Co-op Irresistible Eight Acres English Sparkling Rosé NV, Kent, England (Co-op, £18, 12.5% Alc)

This is one of the most accurate, inexpensive and finest English sparklers of the year, and it is made for the Co-op by Kent’s Hush Heath Estate. A very delicately coloured pink, it has a lip-smacking bouquet of flowers, wild strawberry and redcurrant, red-fruit flavours, admirable tension and a longlasting finish. A refined wine for the price – it will take you through the festivities in style.

3) COMPELLING NON-VINTAGE APÉRITIF CHAMPAGNE Berry Bros & Rudd Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV Champagne by Le Mesnil, France (BBR, £33, 12.5% Alc)

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Champagne smacks of revelry and festive occasions. Blow the budget on this exhilaratingly dry and focused own-label blanc de blancs (100% chardonnay) from an on-song co-operative positioned in Champagne’s greatest Grand Cru Chardonnay village, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Grace, poise, class and depth. Excellent.

4) MUST-TRY SYBARITIC AND OPULENT VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE 2009 Pol Roger Brut Vintage Champagne, France (Waitrose, £64, 20% off, through to Jan. 2. Was £80, 12.5% Alc) I have chosen one thrilling top-end Champagne on a cracking supermarket offer in this year’s New Year’s Eve wish list. Lots of personality in this swanky, complex, earlierdrinking Pol Roger, aged eight years prior to release in deep cellars (33 metres below street level). Beautifully tiny bubbles. Really exciting! Drink this with smoked salmon and your palate will go into orbit. A really chic splash-out aperitif.

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Follow James on Twitter: @ QuixoticWine

Food & Drink

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Recruitment

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

WITH THE

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

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

CODEWORD 4

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

9 3

2 5

1 6 2

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Codeword:

2 4 7

4 9

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

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DIFFICULTY RATING:★★★★

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★✩✩

CLASSIFIEDS

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Puzzles

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

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

Puzzle solutions will be published in a forthcoming issue

D O C T O R S O N A I R

UMM Y E N I O J OM P U T E I C R C H E S T R L S U F F I X F R Z W L E A N A L I B F N G I E F E H T L I T C H I E

R A D I A T I N G

I Q U R I C K E B R

E S L R R A E N V E G

U E N F T R E Y E S U I C T R I O A N

Sudoku:

6 2 9 5 1 4 3 7 8

4 1 5 8 3 7 9 2 6

8 7 3 9 6 2 4 1 5

3 9 1 2 4 6 5 8 7

7 8 2 1 5 3 6 4 9

5 4 6 7 9 8 1 3 2

9 5 8 4 2 1 7 6 3

3 2 9 4 5 6 8 1 7

6 5 1 7 2 8 9 4 3

4 8 7 9 3 2 5 6 1

2 6 4 3 7 5 8 9 1

1 3 7 6 8 9 2 5 4

Jigsaw Sudoku:

7 3 4 1 8 5 6 2 9

8 9 5 2 4 1 3 7 6

5 4 2 6 7 9 1 3 8

1 7 6 8 9 3 2 5 4

2 1 8 3 6 4 7 9 5

9 6 3 5 1 7 4 8 2

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

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Sport

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

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

BROTHERS IN ARMS: The two squads after the game

Old Boys dig deep to secure bragging rights Rustics denied Tunbridge Wells All Stars 7 Skinners’ Old Boys 12 top spot after Beckford triple

Friendships After a series of assaults near the Old Boys’ line, James Webb crashed over from close range and with the conversion added, the All Stars took a 7-5 lead.

Despite being a friendly there were some big hits going in all over the park as neither side could find a way through.

With five minutes to go the Old Boys managed

McKimm criticises lack of passion as Tonbridge laid low by injuries

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: MANAGER Steve McKimm was scathing in his criticism of his team as Tonbridge Angels were brushed aside by a superior Dartford side at Princes Park.

Unlike in the thrilling 3-2 victory at Longmead earlier in the season, the visitors were no match for the Darts in a one-sided first half.

Injuries had depleted Tonbridge’s central midfield, and operating with such a small squad they struggled to impose themselves on the game.

It was always going to be a struggle for the Angels and they were subjected to an almost continuous series of raids on their goal.

After 27 minutes a trademark Dartford attack left Jonny Henly isolated in the Tonbridge goal and

although he blocked the first attempt he was powerless to stop Darren McQueen scoring from the rebound.

Just before half-time D’Sean Theobalds was fouled on the edge of the area and his free kick was well delivered, providing a free header for Alex Bentley but he directed it straight at the keeper.

The visitors improved in the second half with two chances for Small and another for Joe Turner, but on 68 minutes Dartford struck again.

Elliott Romayne picked up the ball just inside the Tonbridge area and let fly from 25 yards, comprehensively beating Henly.

A strange incident occurred in the home penalty area in the 86th minute when the referee showed a straight red card to Dartford defender Josh Hill for violent conduct but did not award a penalty.

It transpired that a Tonbridge player had committed a foul just beforehand, which was the

ANGELS BRING FESTIVE GIFTS

PHOTO: David Couldridge

Dartford 3 Tonbridge Angels 0

first offence in that passage of play so it was a free kick to Dartford.

Dartford added a deserved third through substitute Charlie Sheringham, son of former England forward Teddy, in stoppage time.

Frustrated boss McKimm said: “My players let themselves down, let the club down, and let the fans down.

“This was a Christmas Kent derby: where was the passion, where was the intensity? I didn’t see it apart from perhaps the first 20 minutes of the second half.

“Yes we have a small squad which, with injuries, makes things difficult but I expected far more from the team I put out this afternoon.”

They head into the New Year second from bottom of the National League South table, with only three points from 11 games on the road.

Tonbridge now face another derby with a visit to the Gallagher Stadium to take on Maidstone on New Year’s Day (kick-off 3pm).

The first match in the local double-header, at Longmead on Boxing Day, was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS skipper Tom Parkinson makes a new friend, Arlo, as the club’s firstteam players and their manager Steve McKimm made a surprise visit to Tunbridge Wells Hospital children’s wards over Christmas.

They brought gifts for all the patients, who were aged from eight months to 10 years, chatted about their football careers and answered questions about how to become successful in the game.

Sara-Jane Stevens, Healthcare Play Specialist for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, invited the team and said: “Thank you for visiting us and making our afternoon so much happier on Hedgehog and Woodlands ward.”

MIXED FORTUNES Luke Adams scored his 15th goal of the season but picked up a groin injury

PHOTO: Brendan Kemp

RUGBY: A LATE burst by George Gommersall proved enough to propel his side to victory in the second festive match between Tunbridge Wells All Stars and an Skinners’ Old Boys on Boxing Day. In the midst of the downpour the contest was abbreviated because the muddy pitch was not conducive to a fast-flowing game of rugby.

But it was to prove a competitive battle with the All Stars mixed in age from 18 to 60-plus against a school Old Boys side packed with youthfulness.

The contest saw some father-son combinations on opposing sides. Tim McCabe, the Old Boys’ skipper, played alongside his sons Max and Laurie, while John Ridley of Tonbridge Juddians lined up with his sons Liam and Patrick for the All Stars, as did Andy Child (TWRFC) and his son Harry.

A late change saw the Tunbridge Wells

Chairman, veteran Mike Rigby, step in to play at scrum-half for the All Stars.

The Old Boys’ former club Colt prop Duncan Colf made an early break and from the next phase the visitors took the lead when they went wide with numbers and Thys Van Der Zanden scored an unconverted try in the corner.

For the All Stars, guest second row Duncan Hales of London Cornish used every ounce of his 6ft 8in frame to make inroads.

PHOTOS: Bruce Elliott

By Fran Colangelo

to get the ball wide and Gommersall went over for a try, converted by Tom Burgess to give the visitors the lead.

The home forwards drove to the line in responce and Lewis Langman eventually went over but his effort was disallowed for a double movement.

So Tunbridge Wells were beaten, as they were last year, but they could enjoy a celebration of the club allowing seniors like Andy Maynard to take the field, returning ex-players renewing old friendships and guests from other clubs who came to show off their skills.

With a crowd of nearly 150 attending, the clubhouse was packed with cheer reminiscent of some of the old Boxing Day games in years gone by.

This year’s chosen charity was The Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre in Tunbridge Wells which will receive an estimated £400 from a ‘shirt sale’ sponsored by Nortrade.

Wells return to league action when they host Brighton on Saturday [January 4].

SC Thamesmead 4 Rusthall 1

By Rich Smith FOOTBALL: RUSTHALL suffered a Christmas hangover at Thamesmead to dash their hopes of ending the year on top of the table in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.

To make matters worse, leading scorer Luke Adams limped off with a groin injury straight after scoring his 15th goal of the season.

Thamesmead were first to every ball and did not look anything like the side that were beaten 6-1 at the Jockey Farm Stadium back in August.

The home side went in front on nine minutes when Tim Beckford’s shot from the edge of the box was deflected beyond the reach of Rusthall keeper Billy Johnson.

The Rustics were unable to find their normally fluent passing game and were guilty of continually giving the ball away.

Promotion Beckford doubled Thamesmead’s advantage on 32 minutes with a smart finish inside the area after Rusthall failed to clear.

And eight minutes into the second half Chris Hubbard made it three when he struck a superb right-foot shot that gave Johnson no chance.

The Rustics introduced Reuel Powell-Downey and the lively striker made an immediate impression, setting up Adams to claw a goal back on the hour.

It looked as if Rusthall might get back into the game but on 69 minutes Beckford completed his hat-trick to make it 15 for the season.

This is a game that the Rustics will want to put behind them quickly as they head into the new year still looking well placed to gain promotion back to the Premier Division.

The first game of 2020 sees Greenways visit the Jockey Farm Stadium on Saturday (January 4, kick-off 3pm).

Tuesday December 31 | 2019

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Battling through the Alps, three countries – and my first blisters

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE Tara ascends Tete de la Tronche, at 2,581m the highest point of the race Among the many sporting achievements of 2019 one that really stands out is that of Tara Taylor, a 54-year-old who ran through some of Europe’s highest mountains for 24 hours non-stop.

TARA TAYLOR of Tunbridge Wells Harriers spent almost exactly 24 hours running 101km through the Alps – in one of trail-running’s toughest and most beautiful challenges.

The mountain race, called Courmayeur Champex Chamonix, takes in three countries and includes 6,100m of climb.

The CCC starts at the foot of Mont Blanc in the Italian Alps, goes through Switzerland and finishes in France.

After running through the night, bumping into cows in the darkness and scaling multiple peaks, Tara finished in 24hr 11min 26sec, coming 1,111th out of 2,132 starters.

She was 14 hours behind the winner, but came ninth overall in her age category V2 female, for those aged 50 to 59.

Almost 10,000 runners descended on the French town of Chamonix to run one of the seven challenges of the UTMB week – the world summit of trail-running – with races varying in length from 40km to 300km.

Tara said the first challenge was to get past the health and safety team: “The atmosphere in this picturesque Alpine town was amazing. But there is a very stringent kit check which was a strangely stressful experience.

“My waterproof gloves had to be passed by the authorities before I could proceed.”

It was her third mountain run and she was nervous on the start line as the speakers blared out Vangelis’s Conquest of Paradise – and the sensation heightened when she was told she would be in the first wave of participants.

But though the challenge began with a short leg to the highest point of the race, at 2,581m, she soon settled into her stride.

“I didn’t actually find this too difficult – there were much steeper climbs to traverse later on.

MILES OF SMILES Tara arrives at the finish line in Chamonix

Given the glorious weather, the panoramic views of Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses were stunning.

“Following this climb, the next 12km were beautifully runnable trails to the third checkpoint. My only goal was to get around within the cut-off times, so I was pleased to arrive there with two and a quarter hours to spare.”

Next came the ascent of Grand Col Ferret, where the race enters Switzerland. “There were unbelievable views from the top, and then it was 10km downhill, which should have been easy.

But that’s what I can’t do.

“In the light of my torch I saw two cows both wearing enourmous bells round their necks” “All the runners around me skipped down the incline while I proceeded at a more pedestrian pace. A significant ankle sprain six weeks prior to the race, with three weeks of no running, didn’t help my confidence.”

On reaching the bottom they began another steep ascent straightaway, to the midway point at Champex Lac, where Tara was able to refuel with pasta, sitting down for a few minutes.

Then she strapped on her head torch and headed out for the first of the three climbs that made up the second section of the course.

“On the descent into Triente there was a timing station in a cattle milking parlour blasting out AC/DC’s Highway to Hell.

“It was somewhat surreal running in the mountains at night, particularly when I found myself on my own.

“At one point I heard bells and thought that I was nowhere near an aid station and that there could be no one around, only to then see in the light of my torch two cows both wearing enormous bells around their necks.”

At Triente, with 19km to go, she said there was a real party atmosphere, but ‘given I was so slow on the descents, I spent little time in the station before heading out for the next big climb.

“Although not the highest point of the race at 2,118m, the final climb up La Tete aux Vents at 80km was the hardest part.

“I was on my own as I came out of the trail and caught sight of the mountain. It was still dark, being 4am, but there were hundreds of head torches stretching up into the night sky.

“My heart sank as I asked the race marshall if that was where I was heading. ‘Oui, oui! Allez!

Allez!’ came the joyous reply.”

Hours later, after scrambling up many rock faces and a further torturous descent, Tara made it to the final aid station at La Fegere, 9km from Chamonix.

“Despite the pain in my legs and feet - I had never before suffered from blisters – I now felt confident that I would make it to the line.”

Having come ninth overall in her age group, she accrued enough points from finishing the race that she intends to have another go next year.

Sport

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d he ! s i rb m efu wroo r y ntl s sho e c re ell r ou dge W t i Vis nbri Tu

Designed to stand the test of time The difference is in the detail

Please call for a brochure or visit our showrooms Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0ES Tel: 01732 762682 www.rencraft.co.uk

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Don’t Leave Your Wealth to the Government Do you know the true cost of dying without a will? Are you one of the 60% of Britons who haven’t made a will?

If so, you may end up leaving much of your wealth to the Government instead of your family.

ACCORDING to unbiased.co.uk, 76% of people aged between 18-34 have no will in place. For those aged 35-54, 68% have no will. The over-55s are better prepared, with just 36% who haven’t made a will… but don’t leave it too long.

Between 2016 and 2017, the Treasury gained a massive £19 million because so many people died without making a will.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking wills are just for the rich. If you own a home, you’re worth more than you think: the average homeowner has more than £214,000 worth of property to leave to loved ones. Wouldn’t you rather that money went to people you choose, instead of being distributed by the Government?

Most of us would — so why do so many people take such a risk by not making a will?

■ Many people believe they’re not worth enough to bother.

■ Many think everything will automatically go to their partner or children when that’s not always the case.

■ And many people think it’s too expensive.

But dying without a will — even if you’re not rich — can cause real problems and heartache for the loved ones you leave behind.

Dying Intestate May Mean Your Loved Ones Miss Out If you die without a will — which is called “dying intestate” — the Government decides who gets what from your wealth, referred to as an estate. Your spouse or civil partner is first in line, but won’t necessarily receive everything. Next in the queue are children or grandchildren, parents, siblings or their children, half-

siblings or their children, grandparents, uncles and aunts or their children and, finally, half-uncles and aunts or their children.

If your estate is worth more than £250,000 and you have children, your spouse will probably receive the first £250,000 as well as all your personal possessions. They’ll also receive 50% of what’s left — with the other half passing to your children.

If you have no relatives, your estate passes to the Crown or the Duchies of Cornwall or Lancaster. These rules are known as the laws of intestacy.

So, as you can see, if you die without making a will it’s entirely possible some (or all) of your wealth could go to people you don’t know very well — or at all.

Friends, carers, and charities would miss out on your generosity.

Will Your Partner Automatically Inherit?

Some time ago, an unmarried couple who had been together for more than 30 years came into our law firm. They didn’t have children but were shocked to discover that if one of them died their assets wouldn’t go to the other partner.

They had thought the “common law wife” concept would protect them. No such concept exists in UK law.

Because each person owned everything in their individual names all assets would have passed to their respective families.

And because the property they lived in was solely in the man’s name things would have been particularly difficult if he died first. Under the intestacy rules his estranged brother would have inherited the house — and they had no idea where he was. The partner wouldn’t have received any part of the property. She would have had to make a claim against the estate.

This couple only needed simple wills — but what a difference they make. Now they’re both protected.

Don’t Pay More Inheritance Tax Than You Need To Generally, any estate worth up to £325,000 is free of inheritance tax. For

any assets over and above that threshold, estates can be taxed at 40%. You may not think your estate is worth that much, but when you combine property, vehicles, and other assets it all adds up.

If your estate is larger, you’ll definitely want to think about inheritance tax: a specialist solicitor will be able to write your will in such a way that you minimise the amount of tax due, leaving more money for your loved ones. In fact, they may be able to save your beneficiaries many times the solicitor’s fees.

How To Save Headaches And Heartaches Dying without a will can cost your loved ones thousands of pounds in wasted administration costs, and lead to bitter family arguments. Professionals will have to locate family members who may be scattered far and wide, as well as gather any investments you may have in various places.

When you make a will, you can take care of all that — and appoint the appropriate relatives or friends as guardians to take care of your children after you’re gone.

You can be sure your funeral wishes are fulfilled and make sure people you trust will take care of administering your estate.

In short, making a will takes away any guesswork and reduces the risk of any disputes. You can ensure your family and friends don’t have to deal with difficult administrative affairs while they’re grieving for you.

Book A Free Consultation Today Whether you think you need a will or not, it won’t cost you anything except a little time to come and talk to one of our experienced Private Client

solicitors in an initial consultation.

You can come to our offices and ask us anything – and we’ll help you work out what’s best for you.

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

Divorce doesn’t have to be a war zone Order your complimentary copy of The Good Divorce Guide today

If you’re facing the end of a relationship, do it with your eyes wide open and register for your complimentary copy of The Good Divorce Guide: Facing Reality When Your World Is Turned Upside Down. The end of a relationship can feel like the end of the world.

But you don’t have to face it alone. This book, by family law experts, will guide you through the legalities of divorce and financial settlements and help you make informed decisions about your future.

Discover how to deal with the practicalities of the family home, dividing the family finances, maintenance, dealing with your business assets, your children and much more…

To order your complimentary copy, email your name and postal address to: tgdg@parfittcresswell.com Alternatively, The Good Divorce Guide is available to purchase in paperback at Waterstones book store or Amazon in paperback and Kindle edition.

ADVERTISING FEATURE LEGAL NEWS

End of lease guide for business tenants What happens at the end of a lease can be more expensive to sort out than taking the lease in the first place!

You may or may not have ‘security of tenure’ depending on whether certain forms were serveed on you by the landlord before the start of the lease.

Even if you have security the landlord can oppose the grant of a new lease if they can prove certain grounds for possession.

DIY probate could come back to bite Understand the risks before taking the plunge

By Teresa Payne

Sharing Property with the Elderly Sharing a property with an elderly relative may seem to be the perfect answer to rising property prices, and concerns over care for the elderly, but people contemplating such an arrangement should be aware of the legal and practicle problems which may arise. There are a number of different ways to share property, but an equal number of pitfalls, whether legal, financial or relating to tax.

Making an Inheritance Act claim to challenge a will or the Rules of Instestacy Generally, we are free to dispose of our assets as we want to. However, the law does provide protection for people who have been financially dependent on the deceased. This protection comes in the form of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants Acts) 1975, known as the Inheritance Act. The act is there to help spouses, children, civil partners, cohabitees and other surviving dependants who have been left to cope without sufficient money to enable them to get by.

Parfitt Cresswell’s experienced legal teams can help you with any of the above points. Please call 01892 526442 or email enquiries@keenemarsland.com

According to the consumer watchdog Which?, while many Executors use solicitors to handle the entire probate process, around a third of probate applications are carried out by those who have opted for the DIY route.

The obvious reason for this is to save money. However, failure to follow the correct procedures could cost you dearly further down the line. Here are some factors to keep front of mind: If things go wrong, you must accept liability The Executors are personally and legally responsible for the Estate and beneficiaries, which means they must accept any liability if things go wrong.

The process can be time-consuming You must be willing to invest the time to prepare the probate papers. You may also be required to attend an interview at the probate registry to obtain the grant of probate before collecting all the assets and distributing them in accordance with the Will or Letters of Administration.

If you fail to act correctly, you could be sued by one or more

of the beneficiaries As the legal Executor, you can’t afford to cut any corners. You’ll need to know how to deal with relatively technical areas such as the income tax of the deceased with HMRC. If required, you’ll also need to protect the Estate by placing an advert for creditors and minimising any tax payable.

So why should you consider instructing a solicitor rather than doing it yourself?

Some people just don’t feel capable of doing it themselves and would rather put their trust in a professional to handle matters for them. Others simply aren’t up to it emotionally. Then there are those who just aren’t willing to accept the risk in case a mistake is made.

It might come as a surprise to learn that instructing a solicitor who is a specialist in probate, taxation and administering an Estate could not only pay for itself, but also leave a greater amount of funds in the Estate to be distributed.

Solicitors will also check to see if the Will is as tax efficient as possible at the time of death, even though it may have been prepared many years earlier. If it isn’t, they will look at options available to minimise the amount of tax paid. This again often

results in tax savings to the Estate which can be substantial, frequently amounting to tens of thousands of pounds saved in fact. This, in turn, is passed on to the beneficiaries.

In a recent case, we saved one of our clients more than £300,000 in tax on the Estate. So even after the payment of our legal fees, the beneficiaries of the Estate received more inheritance by instructing us than they would have done by doing it themselves.

Instructing a solicitor to deal with the Probate and administration of an Estate is an investment from both an emotional and a financial standpoint. However, you need to make sure that the person you are instructing is able to demonstrate to you that they offer a service that is tailored to your needs and that all tax implications are fully considered.

My Probate team are all qualified solicitors and legal executives with many years’ experience of dealing with not only the application process, but also with taxation issues, HMRC and other third parties. They fully consider the tax implications of the Will at the time of death and ensure that you are advised of any tax saving measures available.

So, make sure you make an informed decision when deciding how to deal with the Estate of a loved one. Mistakes could cost you dearly if you make the wrong choice. Furthermore, if you are the Executor or Personal Representative, the beneficiaries would be entitled to pursue you for any loss of the Estate caused by unnecessary tax payment or failure to carry out a relevant step during the process.

Each month, I offer a limited number of potential new clients an opportunity to apply for a free consultation with one of my expert solicitors. This month we have ten free consultations available.

If you wish to be considered for one, simply call 01892 526442 or email: enquiries@keenemarsland.co.uk quoting reference KM2020